What Consumers Need To Know Before They Buy A Home Entertainment System This Holiday Season
cambridgesoundworks.com's Audio/Video Experts Answer Some Common Questions

NEWTON, MA — OCTOBER 20, 2000 - - Consumers will spend billions on consumer electronics this year, and "home entertainment" products will make up much of these purchases. With countless new technologies being introduced daily, even die-hard tech fans can have trouble deciding what they need. Audio/Video experts at cambridgesoundworks.com, a retailer and information resource specializing in audio and video products, offers answers to some of the most common questions consumers may have this holiday season.

What do consumers need to create basic home theater systems?
Home theater is defined as the combination of a good video picture and surround sound. To get a good picture, a quality television with multiple video inputs and a screen that measures at least 27" diagonally is needed. To get surround sound, a home theater receiver and a few new speakers are needed. The cornerstone of a home theater system is a Dolby® Surround receiver. That is combined with five speakers and a subwoofer to deliver true theater-quality surround sound. A Hifi VCR, or better yet, a DVD player rounds out a home theater system.

What is Surround Sound?
In a theater, speakers surround the audience and they become immersed in the sound track. That's surround sound. Today, it's easy (and affordable) to experience in the home. Virtually all movies made today have 6 channels of recorded sound (a CD has two). Consumers need a Dolby Surround receiver to play back the extra channels. They will also need to add a few new speakers. A home theater system adds a center speaker, a subwoofer and two rear surround speakers to the standard left and right main speakers.

Should Consumers Buy a DVD Player?
Short answer. Yes. DVD (digital versatile disc) will eventually replace the VCR and videotape. The picture is far superior to video tape, and because it is a digital format, many discs (which look just like a CD) hold all kinds of cool extra features like interviews with actors and directors, documentaries, multiple-language options, story boards and other extra items. DVDs also allow the viewer to skip around the disc and they do not need to be rewound. The best news of all is that because demand is going up, the price is coming down. Consumers can now buy a high quality DVD player for under $200.

Is it worth buying a "High Definition" Television?
HDTV broadcasting is coming, but more slowly than expected. Prices for HDTVs and receivers are still pretty high, and there is very little actual high definition and programming available. However, consumers who want only the best and money is no option won't be disappointed by HDTV. For the rest, the best route is to go "HDTV-ready." HDTV-ready" TVs are really quite affordable -- a little more expensive than a conventional TV, but definitely worth the investment because they make regular broadcasts, as well as DVD movies, look better. Most incorporate a new technology called "line doubling" that makes video signals twice as rich and sharp as they are now.

Consumer looking for more information or advice on audio/video products can visit cambridgesoundworks.com or call an audio/video expert at 1-800-FOR-HIFI .

About Cambridge SoundWorks
About cambridgesoundworks.com
cambridgesoundworks.com is a multi-channel retailer specializing in audio and video products. cambridgesoundworks.com's offline and online channels include the www.cambridgesoundworks.com Web site and the branded cambridgesoundworks.com catalog. cambridgesoundworks.com also leverages its relationship with stereo and home theater manufacturer and retailer, Cambridge SoundWorks, featuring its award winning line of high-performance speakers and electronics, as well as other brands of high-performance audio and video products. Created to set the standard for customer service in the audio/video entertainment category, cambridgesoundworks.com offers leading brands, valuable information, and advice from audio/video and home electronics experts online and via its Call Center (1-800-FOR-HIFI ).

Cambridgesoundworks.com has been named one of the "Top 100 Web Sites" by PC Magazine, one of the "Best Sites on the Web" by TIME Digital, and received a "Best Site Award" from Computer Shopper Magazine. Gomez Advisors has also rated cambridgesoundworks.com #1 in customer confidence.

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This announcement relates to products launched in the United States of America. The product names, contents, prices and availability are subject to change and may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Maria Cataldo Cambridge SoundWorks 978-623-4400 x272 mcataldo@cambridgesoundworks.com