How well do the new compression schemes from Dolby and DTS stack up against uncompressed audio? We buff up our golden ears to audition and compare the latest Blu-ray audio codecs, in the design labs that developed them.

Compared to DVD, the tremendous increase in storage capacity of the Blu-ray disc format, necessary to carry the increased high definition video data payload, also provides for expanded audio options, including the ability to carry so-called lossless audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Which is better, or more precisely, which isn't worse

It's not that I hated Time Warner Cable. In fact, in a lot of ways I kind of liked them. For several years, I had the Scientific Atlanta 8000HD DVR box, which, after many updates, was a pretty decent piece of equipment. Then, after my second one died (as hard-drive based equipment is bound to do), they gave me the 8300HDC. This is the worst consumer electronics product I've ever used, and my days with TWC were numbered. And along came AT&T.

Can't Afford a new Rolls? How about this instead?

Hyundai is trying to be Toyota. And Honda. And why not, they're both some of the most respected and successful car makers out there. With the Genesis, Hyundai aims right in the middle of the luxury sports sedan market.

To help them with that image, they enlisted Lexicon to design the audio system. The only other car with a Lexicon audio system is the Rolls-Royce Phantom. So it's in good company.

Big. Shiny. Analog.

Released to the public in 1978, LaserDisc offered consumers a trifecta of the perfect product: no recording, expensive media and players and the need to flip the disc during the movie.

The response, historically speaking, was tepid.

With claims of decreased motion blur, better detail, world peace, and smoother motion, LCD manufacturers are drastically increasing refresh rates. But why?

First it was 120 Hz. Now it’s 240 Hz. Already manufacturers are talking about 480 Hz. I mean, 60 Hz is so 20th century. Are there really any advantages to these faster refresh rates? If so, how do they work?

Wall of Sound: Three new surround formats from Audyssey, Dolby and DTS aim to bring your theater sound to a whole new dimension. Literally.

You want me to buy more speakers? Yeah, I get that. To be honest, that was my first thought when I heard about height speakers. Just a gimmick, right?

Well, to find out, I journeyed up and down the California coast visiting the headquarters of the formats’ creators.

Why has the once shining symbol of the future of TV almost completely disappeared from the landscape?

It seems like every TV manufacturer either makes or sells LCDs, but only a handful make plasmas anymore.

With the departure of Pioneer from the market, what does that mean for the future of plasma?

Launching today, Disney's new Innoventions Dream Home has the kind of toys that adults will want.

Where once robots touted magical machines like microwaves and dishwashers, now it is all about the smart home. Key to the interaction of all the various bits is Life|ware, makers of extensive home automation gear.

Each room in the "house"(really just the center of the old rotating Carousel of Progress exhibit) has touch panels, and all interact with streaming HD feeds and HP media servers running Microsoft's Media Center.