> HDTV REAR PROJECTION

KenI

ver the last 30 years or so, I have As a representative of M&K speakers, I was might expect a theater of hundreds of seats, one had the pleasure of serving many invited on several occasions to visit the Lucas that would rival the best commercial theaters of the quality manufacturers in this facility in Northern California, Skywalker Ranch, around. Well, that would come later, but this industry as their representative in but was never able to make it in all those theater was intimate and incredible with a 50- the Southern California market. Products like years. Who knew what this whole inch Fujitsu plasma and an M&K surround sys- Triad, Sonic Frontiers, B&W, Apogee, thing would become? tem driven by a moderate stack of home McCormack, Sumiko, API, Signet, M&K Sound, Fast forward to today, and as Marshal electronics. It still resonates with me that to etc... From 1977 to 2001, 1 represented and Rosenthal, our Senior Entertainment Editor, truly show off the incredible visual and sonic distributed the best of the best. wrote his news on the release of Star Warn, prowess by , this was where they In 1977, a movie introduction came along I was invited to tag along. WOW! There isn't wanted to demonstrate. Kudos to M&KSound that changed the way we heard movies. Star anything I can say that would describe this for being a true state-of-the-art manufacturer Wars was the beginning of great sound in the place. Tucked away in the mountains of of what audio performance at real-world pric- theater. was an early pioneer and Marin County in Northern California, this was ing can offer. The six S125C centers used as wanted us all to experience his vision with in- an escape any Star Wars freak would have died surrounds, the three S150 front LCRs and the credible realism. He worked toward this goal for. But of all the day's adventure, technology two MX350 subs - which are incredible - by promoting controlled surround environ- and wonders, the very first demonstration has rocked this room. Money no object, if it's ments. Theaters were then challenged to im- stuck with me the most. good enough for Lucas. . .incredible!! Thirty prove their auditoriums as the consumer Within the cavernous halls of this phenom- years later, M&K is still second to none. 0 demanded better sound. THX, Dolby Digital, enal studio, our first stop was in a room about SDDS and DTS became common badges that the size of a small home theater - maybe 17 we all now recognize. M&K Sound and Ken feet by 24 feet, with three rows of modest, oc- Kreisel were advocates and early adopters of casional club chairs. I made my way to center the approval process as recommended speak- seating in the second row. A representative ers that met certification. M&K was one who from THX was on hand, along with our host had to do nothing to change or improve their for the day, Jim Ward, Senior Vice-president of speakers - they already did everything right - Lucasfilms and President of Lucas Arts. A - Thank You! while others tried to reinvent themselves. small group of us had the first demo. Now, one Michael R Laurino

Â¥T ETC. DecemberIJanuary 2006 www.hdtvetc.corn