Once again, I was invited to see Panasonic’s newest projector at their facility right next to Universal Studio in Hollywood although to be honest its really closer to North Hollywood than Hollywood.

As for specs, the projector is rated slightly higher going from 1500 lumens in the AE-2000 to 1600 in the AE-3000. I have always been impressed on the brightness of the Panasonic projectors and this one continues with a nice bright picture. The big increase comes in the the contrast department. The projector goes from 16,000 in the AE-2000 to 60,000 in this new projector.

Most if not all of the features that came with the AE-2000 are still found in the AE-3000. The box itself is almost identical except that the ring around the lens is now silver.

The biggest new feature is the lens memory control. You now have the ability with a touch of a button, to make the lens fill up a 2.35 screen with a 2.35 movie and then with the same button move the lens so that it will display a 16×9 size image in the 2.35 screen. You also have the ability to program other aspect ratio. Now, this is what we call the poor mans 2.35 system. There is no anamorphic lens, no scaling involved and no full use of the 16×9 chip. This is the cheaper way to do 2.35 and while there are many good reason to go the lens route, going this way will still produce a bright and beautiful picture. The only limitation results from the use of the lens shift. I think the Panasonic can lens shift up to 100% of the screen, however if you intend to use the memory lens control, you are limited to 50% lens shift. Even with that limitation, it should work with most people’s setup

Another feature is the frame rate control (I think i have the name wrong). You have the ability to turn on or off the 120hz feature. Unlike Smoothscreen, you have the ability to turn this on and off. Makes a big difference in the picture. They showed a picture of a map going from left to right and the image with the feature on was a lot clearer adn sharper. Works great with high motion sequences. They give you the ability to turn it off as with static images you may want the feature off

I asked about the dust blob issues and they are very well aware of the issue. They have added additional filters inside the machine to take care of this. They feel that these additional measure should take care of any dust issues.

As for the picture, I was very impressed with it. I own a Williams Phelps calibrated RS-1 and I think it has a very good picture. The AE-3000 blacks were superior to what I have. The image is very sharp. Panasonic has been criticized for having the Smooth Screen feature which gets rid of screen door. While I agree that it prevented the image from being ultra sharp in the AE-1000 and prior machines, the AE-2000 and AE-3000 both have sharp looking image. Panasonic has been able to remove any the side effects from the Smooth Screen with their processor.

I spent about three hours there talking and watching movies and you kind of forget things so you if you have any questions please ask. The one thing i did forget to ask is that game mode people are talking about. I am sorry about that. However, I should be getting a demo model to take home soon, so when i get it I would have a better opportunity to test the projector

I was very impressed with the projector and would more than happy to include it in my home theater

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HYDRA 8
Unit is pristine, like new, and performs flawlessly. Comes with original box. $1500

ANACONDA HELIX ALPHA 20A POWER CORD 1.8M (6ft)
Shunyata’s finest, this is like new and comes with original case. $1500

HYDRA 8 details:

Shunyata’s Hydra 8 defines high-end power conditioning in a way no power conditioner has before. Experience silence and musicality unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Notes hang and shimmer in a deep natural soundstage, instruments each have their own space, yet bloom and resonate with a life and passion that no other power conditioner can match. Listen to a Hydra 8 today and find out why the world’s best ears have called it ‘the real key to musical satisfaction.’ The key to the Hydra 8’s phenomenal sound is in the details; every aspect of its performance has been optimized for effortless high-current transfer and the ultimate in sound quality. Four of Shunyata’s custom manufactured proprietary outlets are individually wired to enormous 2.5 lb. copper Buss bars. These are then hermetically sealed into a separate internal chassis and shielded by Shunyata’s patented FeSi-1000 noise-reduction compound. Add Shunyata’s patented Trident defense system, which provides extraordinary protection from high-current transients and it’s no wonder that Stereophile exclaimed…

‘Adding [Hydras] to an already high-performance system may well prove to be a more cost-effective sonic upgrade than replacing components.’ — Paul Bolin, Stereophile

“Although I’ve only recently installed Shunyata products in my system, their effect on the sound is so dramatic that I’ll award them a Golden Ear in advance of my full review. The products include the Hydra-8 and Hydra-2 AC conditioners and Anaconda Helix and Python Helix AC cords. Used together, they elevated my system to a new level of transparency, resolution, spaciousness, and bass definition!”
- Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound, Golden Ear Award, February 2006
Specifications:

* TRIDENT DEFENSE - Power Protection System
* Shunyata VENOM noise-reduction filters (6 elements)
* Patented FeSi-1002 noise-reduction compounds
* 8 cryogenic treated proprietary Shunyata outlets
* Four isolated individually filtered circuits
* Massive cryogenic grade CDA-101 copper buss array
* Advanced hydraulic electromagnetic circuit breaker
* 2400 watt / 20-amp power rating
* Dual chassis– all aluminum case
* Input Voltage: 100 VAC – 120 VAC @ 50/60hz
* Output Voltage: 100 VAC – 120 VAC @ 50/60hz (unregulated)
* Maximum continuous current: 20 amperes
* Dimensions
* Height: 6”
* Width: 13”
* Depth: 9.5”
* Weight: 15.5lbs
* Ship Weight: 20lbs

ANACONDA HELIX ALPHA 20AMP AC CORD details:

The ultimate in high end performance!

Do you own an exceptional piece of audio equipment? It deserves to be fed by an Anaconda power cord. Why? Because an Anaconda will improve the sonic performance of even the highest grade components by giving them access to virtually limitless and exceptionally clean AC power. Effortless dynamic range, stunning transparency and exceptional purity of tone, the Anaconda is unlike any power cord on the market. An enormous 8 Ga cable, Anaconda uses 13 ultra-high purity copper conductors hand-braided into the patented Helix geometry and terminated with proprietary Venom AC plugs; a combination which yields a cable lightweight and flexible enough to be wrapped around your arm, yet powerful enough to be used on even the most demanding high-current amplifiers!

“Adding [Anacondas] to an already high-performance system may well prove to be a more cost-effective sonic upgrade than replacing components.” –Paul Bolin, Stereophile August 2004

Specifications
Patented 6×6 Helix geometry
Hand-Braided
13 conductors with an 8 gauge aggregate
Cryogenic CDA-101 pure copper
Shunyata Venom AC & IEC (Silver plated, cryogenically treated)
Flexible 1.0′ diameter - 6ft/1.8 m length

HT Omega has released a new soundcard based on the CM8788 chipset. Info suggest this card has been built for analog quality and has a new relatively new feature in the form of a high quality quality Headphone amplifier for both low and High impedance headphones. This also has replacable opamps for those who love to dial in their own sound with opamps.

Specifications
C-Media Oxygen HD CMI8788 Audio Processor:

TPA6120A2 - Built in 120dB Headphone AMP IC from TI supports up to 600ohm headphone
Jumper switch to select different impedance level of headphone.
High Quality RCA connectors for each analog outputs.
24-bit/192kHz AK4396VF (120dB-part spec.) DAC
24-bit/192kHz AK5385BVF ADC for line input
Integrated up to 192k/24-bit S/PDIF high grade special Optical output (up to 5.1ch output)
Integrated up to 192k/24-bit S/PDIF high grade special Optical receiver
Supports onboard Coaxial or CD Digital input connector (An optional Cable (CA-1) is needed for Coaxial input connection)
Supports onboard 2pin digital output connector (An optional Cable (CA-1) is needed for Coaxial output connection)
Standard 10pin Front Panel Audio supports: connectivity for stereo audio output and a microphone input from PC case

Accessories;
- 10ft (3m) optical digital cable
- RCA cable
- RCA-Stereo convertor
- Stereo extension cable

Operating systems: Microsoft Windows VISTA, VISTA (x64), XP, XP (x64).

The card comes in two Flavors
HT Omega Claro Halo- Stereo output and surround sound support via digital conenction
LINK

And

HT Omega Claro Halo XT- Adds the XT daughter card for full 7.1 analog output
LINK

This card looks very interesting for those looking for analog output or headphone nuts.

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<This story begins right after “A Good Day”>

She came awake, suddenly and completely. She didn’t move at all. She remembered the ignoble position she had been in, then blackness. She hadn’t expected to wake up. She hadn’t expected a human to be working with the… others. She wasn’t sure what had happened or where she was so she was taken completely by surprise when a voice spoke.

“I know you are awake, please don’t struggle, you will pull out the IVs.” Her eyes flew open and she saw a small, tiny even, figure beside her… her bed? Her eyes narrowed as she took in her surroundings. Large bed, much bigger than any of the pallets or cots she had slept on previously. It was also, her body informed her, much more comfortable. Her wrists and ankles were restrained to the bed, but the bonds were not uncomfortable. A gentle test showed that they were completely unbreakable, by her anyway. She looked around the room. Medical gear was to her left, tubes and wires from that gear snaked under the sheet that covered her and some clung to her scalp. Besides the bed and a certain amount of medical gear the room seemed empty. She returned her gaze to the figure beside her bed. Human, female, age… hard to say since she was so small. She had to be older than she looked. The figure spoke again.

“I’m sorry we had to restrain you. But we don’t know you. My name is Kat, What’s yours?”
She didn’t answer, she just turned her head away.

“You had nightmares. You thrashed so hard we were worried about you. If you promise not to move around too much I can release the restraints.” The woman on the bed snorted.

As if they would…

Just as she completed that thought her bonds released and sank out of view. She stared after them in shock and then at the woman. The woman, Kat she had called herself.

What kind of a name is Kat?

She tried to sit up but collapsed and Kat immediately was at her side.
“Whoa, whoa… You have been unconscious for a while. And you were hurt…” the human woman seemed sympathetic, but she knew there had to be a trick somewhere. Kat continued. “The implants have been removed.” She froze.
“We knew the moment we saw your body what had happened to you. Do you think you are the first person we have met who escaped from a Bane prison?” The strange human touched a control and the bed shifted under her, inclining her head and shoulders up.
She licked her lips. “I…” her voice cracked and broke. Kat grabbed a cup, filled it with water and held it to her lips. She drank greedily. Kat refilled the glass and held it again. This time she only drank half and Kat nodded.
“Smart. You know your body isn’t able to hold it yet.” She put the glass on a table the woman hadn’t seen and sat in a chair beside the bed.
“Shall we start again? My name is Kat.” She waited and the woman in the bed sighed.
“Laneii, my name is Laneii”
“Please to meet you.”

Laneii wasn’t sure what to make of her… captor wasn’t right. Healer wasn’t right either… Keeper, that seemed to fit best.
“You know what happened to me?”
“Not the particulars. However, the injuries you sustained and the implants we pulled out of your body suggest you were a prisoner of the Bane for some time.”
“I…” Laneii broke off.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. But…” Kat grimaced. “It helps sometimes.”
Laneii sighed. “It doesn’t really matter now. I am a hybrid, but I am… I was useful… I was with the Larai Grupa. I was posted with the guards of a Enforcer named Rein…”
“Rein?” Kat winced. She knew some of that story. Betrayed by a traitor to the Bane and captured. And then…
“Yes.” Laneii shuddered in memory. Kat laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, then sat back.
“The others… one by one they took my comrades and…” She couldn’t continue.
“I know.”
Kat had heard the story and seen the reports. The Bane had used prisoner biological material to make new and ‘improved’ warden bots. It had taken a full squad and not a few casualties to stop the first of them, called “Abomination”. And when they had dissasembled it to see what made it different… They had found pieces of the Brann known as Rein. The squad had been so enraged that they had torn the Bane facility building the bots into very small pieces. But the Bane rebuilt it. The AFS had a standing policy in the Thunderhead region now. “Kill as many warden bots as possible while on patrol. And if possible blast the facility again.”
Anything to delay the Bane producing more of those… things.

“How did you escape?” Kat asked after a moment of silence.
“We were in Quasso… I think an AFS team hit the station. I was unconscious. When I woke the cell was open, I grabbed some gear and ran. I felt sick. The Bane had been…” Laneii broke off.
“It’s okay. You’re okay. You are safe now.”
“Am I?” Laneii asked warily. She had seen the human working with the others. The tiny woman smiled gently. Then she leaned across the bed and gave Laneii’s shoulder another gentle squeeze.
“You are.” Laneii shuddered and then burst into sobs. Kat jumped onto the bed and held the young woman as she finally gave into her emotions and poured out all of her rage, pain and sorrow.

Finally, she cried herself out. She wasn’t sure how long she had been crying and it didn’t seem to matter. Kat sat on her bedside and held her as she shuddered. Then she stilled. Kat looked at her.
“I’m sorry… I…” She found calm from somewhere. “What will happen to me now?”
“That depends. Do you want to go back to the Larai Grupa? We can get you…” Kat broke off as the brann hybrid shook her head violently. “What’s wrong?” She asked in a kind voice.
“I was a… thing… to them. I was not Brann. I was… different.” Kat looked at her in horror and then hugged her tight.
“You don’t HAVE to go back. You can stay here with us.”
“Who is ‘us’?
“We are a special operation. We need personnel.”
“I know… guns… I worked on the weapons for my team…” She broke off again. “but… how is it that you work with the others? They are beasts.”
“They thought the same of us.”
“What?” Laneii’s voice was quiet, disbelieving. Kat sighed.
“The ‘Others’ as you call them are sentient. They were here on Areki first. They didn’t mind sharing the planet with most of the Brann who came here, willing and non-willing. But the Bane, those… they have major problems with.”
“I have fought the others. Some work for the bane…”
“Those were brainwashed.”
“What is this ‘brainwashed’? Laneii moved her tongue around trying to sound out the word. “How do you wash a brain?”
“The Bane remove or destroy the minds of some of their captives. You have seen this.” It wasn’t a question, but Laneii nodded anyway. “Then they program the ’subject’ to obey them. We have seen it on many species. Both on Areki and Foreas.” The mention of that world drove all else from Laneii’s mind.
“You have been to Foreas? I have heard it is green.” She had never seen a green world.
“Parts of it are. Parts of it are as red as Areki. Matter of fact, here.” Kat hit a control and a panel set into the wall lit up. It showed an AFS base but… Laneii drew in a deep breath.
“Where is the sand? Where is the molten rock? Oh… that is Foreas?”
“Yes. If you want to, we can probably get you there sometime.”
“I think… I think I would like to see it, with my own eyes. It is very different.” Laneii couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.
“Indeed it is.” Kat looked at her and smiled slightly. Has she ever seen a forest? No I guess not… Then she sobered. Laneii was tiring visibly. “You need to sleep again.”
“I…” the Brann hybrid tore her eyes off the wall screen with effort and focused again on the young human. Her vision blurred, then cleared. “What is wrong with my eyes?”
“You are still recovering from surgery, as well as your ordeal. Your body is weak, but it will get stronger.”
“I must be strong or I will not survive.”
“Sometimes strength doesn’t matter. Here, let me show you something.” Kat touched her control again and this time the wall screen lit up with the image of a wound, a bad wound. It was a leg that had been struck by a Bane weapon, Laneii recognized the effect. She inhaled in sympathy.
“That person did not survive?” Kat grinned.
“That person was me.” Laneii goggled at her, she showed no sign of impairment. But that wound…
“How?”
“We can aid the body in healing. And we can speed healing up. Given enough time, we can heal almost any injury that does not kill outright. And sometimes we can revive the dead. But without the will to live, nothing matters. You have the will to live, Laneii. Let us help you. Please?”
“You have not already?”
“We have kept you alive. We have not done anything more, we will not do anything more without your consent.” Laneii goggled at that. Brann did not ask for help, they endured or they died.
“You… You give… me…” She broke off unable to speak. To a Brann the thought was unthinkable. But I am not a Brann am I? She knows my people, or the people who gave half of my DNA so I could be created… I am not Brann, they all made that quite clear, but…
“You must choose, Laneii. And soon or it will be too late to help you. Life or death?”
“If I choose death?” Her voice was quiet.
“You will go to sleep and not wake. You will feel no pain.” Kat’s voice was just as quiet.
“Then… I choose life. I…” She broke off and collapsed. Kat grabbed her tools. Stubborn Brann, why did she have to wait so long? She keyed in an urgent summons and began her healing, praying she was in time.

<A while later>
When Laneii woke again, things were different. She realized. She hadn’t hurt before, now she did. It was bad, but nowhere near as bad as some of the things she had endured. She remembered her conversation with Kat and sighed. A new voice spoke from nearby.
“Good morning.” The young woman opened her eyes and they widened saw the speaker, a Forean… no a Forean hybrid, sitting next to her bed. She had a book in her lap, and looked at the befuddled Brann hybrid with compassion.
“Wha-” Laneii broke off as her stomach rebelled. The woman jumped to her feet, grabbed a bin and shoved it under Laneii’s nose. She was just in time. Once Laneii was done, the unknown made a strange noise and wiped her face with a cloth. Laneii’s face flushed in embarrassment.
“It is not your fault.” the stranger said with some force. “Some of it is what the Bane did to you. Some of it is what they fed you, when they did. And some of it is your injuries. That is NOT a voluntary reflex. You have no control over it, so don’t feel embarrassed about that. I’m Sara.”
“I’m Laneii.”She looked but didn’t see Kat anywhere.
“I sent Kat to bed. She had been up for almost 26 hours. Now, your body is not up for hard foods so i have some soup here.” She reached down and set a tray on the table beside the bed. “Your body will be very weak. It is NOT your body’s fault. It is not YOUR fault. Do you understand me?”
“I…” Laneii tried to reach for the tray but her arm wouldn’t move more than a few centimeters. She looked at Sara in horror. Sara took Laneii’s hand in both of hers. Then she locked eyes with the young woman.
“You WILL be fine. Do you understand me? You are weak at the moment, you will heal quickly. I will help and so will Kat. Now…” She moved the tray up over the bed and laid Laneii’s hand back on the bed. “Humans call this a straw.” She put the straw into the bowl and moved it so Laneii could reach it with her mouth. Laneii resigned herself to being helpless. For the moment, ONLY for the moment…

<2 days later>
“Laneii for the love of god, it’s only been two days!” Kat was amazed at how quickly the brann hybrid had bounced back. It had taken her a week of recuperation to be able to move easily, but this woman, girl really, was pushing her body so hard she was surprised the girl was conscious. She had expected to find her mobile. That had been a shock the day before to find Laneii out of the bed and doing calisthenics. As soon as Sara found out she had laced Laneii’s soup with a sedative. That had kept her out for a day, but now, the girl was almost bouncing with energy. Kat could see the strain she was putting on her body though. But Laneii would not listen to them, she was polite, oh yes, but not really… Kat’s musing broke off as a voice spoke in Brann! Kat was glad suddenly that her translator had Brann installed.
“Enough.” Laneii froze as a figure entered the room. Kat goggled. Gerin speaks BRANN? How in the hell… She froze as well as his regard swept over her.
Laneii knelt in an odd, formal pose. Gerin squatted on his heels in front of her. He studied her, from head to toe. Then he spoke again, still in Brann.
“I bring you a message, Laneii of the Larai Grupa. Will you listen?”
“I will.” She replied in the same language.
“My message is this: Kappa Grupa Lohen sends his regards and wishes you a full recovery.” Laneii tensed. What did the boss of all the Brann syndicates on Areki want with her?
“He also says this. The individual responsible for what happened to your group has been dealt with.”
“He…” She broke off.
“Speak.” Kat had never seen Gerin quite like this, there was something literally inhuman about how well he portrayed a Brann mobster.
“Why would the Kapa Grupa take notice of me? I am not Brann…” Laneii’s face burned with her shame.
“You fight well. You are a credit to the donors who created you. You are a credit to your race. But he knows about you because I have spoken of you to him.” Laneii couldn’t recall any human… wait…
“Who are you?”
“I am Gerin.” Laneii tensed, in fear and shock. The name didn’t translate well into Brann but Laneii had heard it before. All Brann knew the story. How he had walked into the Staal tavern and braced an enemy there. When the enemy had laughed at him, surrounded by picked enforcers, Gerin had warned the whole community, in the way of the Brann, the consequences for protecting such a one. Vendetta…
Laneii shuddered. Then seeing Gerin waiting for an answer, screwed up her courage and spoke.
“I do not understand.”
“The first step towards wisdom is acknowledging your ignorance. You are a credit to your peoples, one I would like to see in my family.” Laneii could not hide her shock, he was proposing ADOPTION!
“I… You are mistaken. I am unworthy.” Kat winced as Gerin slapped her. Laneii did not react.
“It is done. Do you dispute my choice? Will you dishonor me? Make MY choice a bad one?”
“No.” Her voice was small. “No Kapa. I will not.”
“You are Laneii. Of my kindred. There is no shame in losing to a superior opponent. You fought, hard. Two of your companions did not. They fled the battle before it was done.” Laneii looked at him and he nodded. “They now reside in the Incurables Ward.” Even in her rage at their cowardice, she winced. The fate of people in that hellhole was not an easy one. “You have a question, child? Ask.”
Laneii looked at the man who had just given her more than anything she had ever hoped for.
“Why me?” he looked at her and smiled for the first time since entering.
“Why not you?” He looked to where Kat was standing in shock. “You will listen to the medical professionals. They are knowledgeable in the ways of the body. If you injure yourself, you do dishonor to yourself, and thus to me. Do I make myself clear?” Laneii stiffened.
“Yes.”
“Good.” Without a further word, Gerin got up and left the room. A few minutes later Kat followed. She caught up with him in the mess hall.
“What was THAT all about?”
“Different culture, different rules.” Gerin bit into a ration pack and Kat followed suit. “She ok?”
“Yeah. I have her scheduled for light duty. I understood she was bored. But…”
“But in her culture you have to command respect.”
“Yeah, I never knew you spoke Brann.”
“You never asked.”