speakers

Did you know that B&H sells computers? In this edition of Meet B&H, we give you a tour of our computer department. Encompassing a sizeable amount of space in the store, there are rows and rows of computers, laptops, tablets, netbooks and accessories, for customers to get a feel for before making an informed decision. Everything from Apple, Acer, Sony, and more.

As a former PCMag staffer, I can genuinely say that this is Toys R Us for geeks.

Nothing beats floating in your pool or enjoying your hot tub unless you count the addition of music. The Grace Digital Aqua Sounder is a transmitting dock for your iPod, paired with a waterproof floating speaker. The speaker (left) can be up to 150 feet away. The transmitter is powered by four AA batteries or an included AC wall plug. The speaker seals in six AAs, good for up to 10 hours of your favorite sounds.

Why should you purchase studio monitors for audio production when you already own speakers? Working at B&H I’ve met a lot of photographers and videographers who understand the need for using a calibrated graphics monitor instead of their TV sets to establish accurate color values when making correction decisions. They get it. They know that audio engineers also need special-purpose gear to evaluate how loud material is when mixing. Meet the studio monitor.

Do you have 20/20 vision? If you do, consider yourself lucky. Nothing is stranger than sitting with an optometrist and seeing things more clearly when you thought your vision was fine before you walked in. Your ears are similar. You never know what you’re missing until they have been introduced to a brand new sound perspective.

Home is no place for earbuds. They get in the way while shaving or when your family is trying to ask you a question during dinner. When earphones aren't cool but music is welcomed for all, options include putting your Wi-Fi network to work, broadcasting in FM, and leveraging the Wi-Fi compatibility of an in-hand or docked iPod touch or iPhone.

The giant balloons in the Thanksgiving Day Parade cry out to be seen on a big screen. The roar of a football game shouts surround sound. Classic holiday movies demand to be seen anew in high definition. And home videos and digital slide shows of gatherings past signal family members to come to the sofa.

The holidays and home theater were made for each other. After all, when the eating's done, it's then that sports nuts and movie connoisseurs get down to some serious holiday viewing. Unless you're a video equipment enthusiast, though, creating a crowd pleasing system can be as elusive as putting together the perfect black truffle soufflé.

Setting up a home theater isn't difficult once you understand how each component contributes to the big picture. Here's grandma's recipe for what you need – or what someone you know deserves.

One TV Screen

There seem to be as many flat screen choices as boxes in the cereal aisle. Don't despair. Your first choice should be a known brand featuring "Full HD" resolution, meaning if you counted the number of picture elements, you'd find 1920 pixels across and 1080 pixels down. The bigger the screen, the more you'll appreciate the lifelike quality of high definition programs. So, a 40-inch model (measured diagonally) is an entry point, but a 50-incher is even better.

LCD and plasma technologies have become such strong performers that you can't go wrong with either type of TV. One example is the Samsung LN40A650, a 40-inch LCD model. Another is the Panasonic TH-50PZ85U Viera 50-inch plasma HDTV. Both come with built-in stands for placement on furniture, but the stand can be removed if you'd prefer an optional wall mount.

Samsung LN40A650