For those burned by either DVD-Audio, SACD or HD DVD (or, heaven forbid, any combination of the three), you're probably taking a rather defensive approach to Blu-ray audio. Now that said format is the sole king of high-definition media (in the physical realm, anyway), it's just a matter of time before firms start pushing out full-fledged audio discs while trumpeting the incredulous sound quality. After all, with 50GB of space, you can fit an awful lot of high-resolution audio on there. We've already seen the first BD record released and we already know that Neil Young's entire archive will soon be loosed on the format, but are the puzzle pieces aligned for Blu-ray audio to take off? From our standpoint, we're still hesitant to say yes. With CD players still dominating dashboards and BD drives still a long ways from being commonplace in computers, BD audio is apt to remain a niche good for years to come. Even still, do you think it has what it takes to overcome?

Read - Refreshed Intimus line
Read - Bravus subwoofers

If you've already dumped coin on NuVo Technologies' Grand Concerto or Essentia E6G multi-room audio system, you might as well cough up a little more to snag this puppy. The newly announced NuVo Music Port is a hardware / software package that enables "home desktop and laptop PCs to act both as sources and as controllers" in either of the aforesaid systems. Essentially, the device transforms a PC into a multi-output source for a NuVo system and enables any web-connected device on the home network to double as a media controller. The software end of the deal tosses in a swank browser interface that includes cover art and the like, and just so you know, it can be added to existing systems or installed with new ones. Hit the read link for all the gory details.

We've seen a few HTIB systems trickle out from the Pioneer labs of late, but never four at once. Today, the firm has made official a foursome of home cinema systems slated to hit Europe in the fall, so we'll cut right to the chase. The LX03 is the lone system with a DVD / SACD player and USB port, while the others thoughtfully include Blu-ray decks. The LX03BD (satellite speakers included) and LX08BD (no satellites included) feature 500-watts of power, HDMI 1.3 sockets (2 in / 1 out), KURO LINK, an iPod connection and a 7-band equalizer. The LX01BD includes omni-direction speakers, 400-watts of power and pretty much everything else found on the LX08BD. For complete specifications, be sure to give the read link a visit; as for availability, you'll find the LX03, LX03BD and LX08BD systems in October while the LX01BD arrives in November.

No sooner do we ask about just how many readers actually give a hoot about multi-channel audio, in comes this. Considering the plethora of folks in the exact same situation, we knew right away it'd made a beautiful Ask Engadget HD question. Without further adieu:

"I recently splurged on a hot new plasma, but now I am looking for a surround sound system to complete the joy. My issue is that I currently live in a rental property, and don't have the luxury of poking holes in walls to set up my system. I know there are a few options out there for people in my position (sound bars, wireless rear speakers, PowerLine?) but I have no idea which gives the best surround sound result. I was looking to spend no more than $2,000."

We'll be honest -- almost anything is possible at $2,000, unless that includes the price of a few (very) nice drivers. We've seen solutions from Rocketfish and a slew of other companies that essentially enable users to add two rear surrounds sans wires when running cabling towards the back proves problematic, but often these are underpowered and flaky at best in actual use. Let us know what you've found to be superior in comments below.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

With all this focus on HDTV of late, we've been wondering if high-def junkies care nearly as much about their audio as they do their video. Sure, we know video trumps audio in the general public's eye, but we're talking home theater freaks here. Folks who make a point to hang up sheets to eliminate light from a room. Folks who take a vacation day just to calibrate their TV -- you know, people like yourself. Toss your vote in below and feel free to elaborate on your audio setup (or lack thereof) in comments below.

[Image courtesy of Infendo]

Sun Microsystems's pledge to aid the widespread development of interactive content on Blu-ray wasn't the only thing going down today at the JavaOne Conference in San Francisco. Rather surprisingly, famed musician Neil Young announced plans to "release his entire music archive on Blu-ray discs that can be updated over the internet." Reportedly, the first installment of Young's archive will cover 1963 to 1972 and will be released as a ten-disc set this fall on Reprise / Warner Bros. Records, and subsequent archives will be released chronologically and "include some previously unreleased songs, videos, handwritten manuscripts and other memorabilia." Stressing Blu-ray interactivity, it was also noted that fans could download more songs, photos and tour information via their internet-connected decks. Needless to say, we're pretty stoked about the whole ordeal, and can only hope that more artists follow suit in serving up their work via Blu-ray.

[Thanks, JDS]

Naim Audio, a name synonymous with high-end, has recently launched its very own hard drive-based music server, and on paper, it's a fairly mesmerizing piece of kit. The HDX packs a pair of 400GB hard drives (one primary and a back-up) and claims to be a "fully integrated CD ripping and data storage system." Aside from giving users a way to catalog their gargantuan CD collection in digital form, it'll also play tracks back in the finest of detail. Packed within is a Burr-Brown PCM1791A DAC, 24 bit/192kHz internal architecture, ultra-low jitter re-clocking circuits and a built-in touch panel, too. Best of all, any tunes stored on network / USB drives can also be played through the device, and it can send up to six different streams of music simultaneously over a home network. The rub? At £4,500 ($8,772), you're probably better off hiring Daft Punk to just play at your house.

[Via CNET, thanks Andrew]

Fans of Scissor Sisters and HD music alike will be able to enjoy a concert scheduled to air on Logo next week as it teams up with sister (ahem) channel MHD. Reportedly, the simulcast will mark the "first high-definition broadcast from a gay television network" (that'd be Logo, for those unaware), and the concert in question will be Scissor Sisters: Live at the O2 Arena. The event will be an hour-long special of the band performing in London, and for those who won't be sitting around the tube next Thursday, you can view it online as it happens via steaming video on the network's website. Sound good? Set your HD DVRs for 8:00PM ET / PT on April 24th, or better yet, kick back and enjoy it as it unfolds. Full release after the jump.

Not content with just 160GB in the NV-M3 music server? Never fear, as NuVo Technologies has a capacious new version that packs a full half-terabyte of space and an even more astounding price tag. The June-bound NV-M3-500 handles WAV, WMA and those ghastly compressed MP3 files, and its ability to sync to a home computer means that it won't take issue with playing back DRM-laden tracks, either. On the unit itself, you'll find a polycarbonate, capacitive touch front panel interface with an OLED display and a smattering of ports 'round back, but we still can't understand how NuVo landed on $2,999 as a suitable price for this thing. Nevertheless, the full release is posted after the jump for those interested.

NAB Show 2008 is in full swing, and just in case you haven't heard, here's something worth taking a listen at. DTS has just revealed v1.6 of its DTS-HD Master Audio Suite toolset for Blu-ray Disc and DVD production, which includes "numerous highly anticipated file management features [along with] the public release of Dynamic Automation for DTS Express." The latter is an interactive secondary audio codec for BD, and according to Brian Towne, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Division, "the latest feature set empowers content creators with the freedom and flexibility to dynamically vary the primary audio volume, which is essential for picture-in-picture, alternate tracks, director commentaries and other interactive features for Blu-ray Disc." Best of all, DTS Express streams encoded for Blu-ray with MAS v1.6 are playable on Profile 2.0 and Profile 1.1 players, and it's available as a free upgrade (right now) for existing customers.

For those spending upwards of $6,000 on a sophisticated Q110 music management system, having an expansive 17-inch touch panel to control things is a practical necessity. The new TS17 controller can be wall-mounted or used on a tabletop in order to delve deep within your music library and come as close as you'll ever be to being a conductor. Additionally, Qsonix is introducing the v2.42 software, which enables users to burn CDs while playing back and adds client support for DirectWay and satellite-based internet service providers, the ability to import music from external USB drives and Ready-to-Play CD conversion service. No word on a price for the TS17, but current Q110 owners can snatch the update gratis right now.

[Via Electronic House]

Gospel Music Channel has announced plans to not only re-launch its video-on-demand suite on April 7th, but to also introduce an HD VOD channel in May. According to the network, the new GMC VOD service will "feature revamped category titles and a streamlined / more intuitive navigational process for viewers." Currently, the channel itself is available in some 16 million homes (most notably on DirecTV channel 338), and the new VOD offerings will be split up into five categories to showcase live performances, full episodes from its original biography series, music videos, clips from original specials and Spanish language programming. No word on which carriers will be hosting the HD VOD material just yet, however.

Being that music lovers everywhere are scrambling to find bona fide replacements to their suddenly antiquated compact disc players, it follows logic for Olive Media to give us one more option besides the OPUS Nº5. The OPUS Nº4 is a high-end digital music server which features between 320GB and 1TB of internal storage space, an integrated CD burner, 4.3-inch 480 x 272 touchscreen, gigabit Ethernet / 802.11g WiFi, a USB 2.0 port, a slew of audio outputs and native support for WAV, FLAC and MP3 files. As for the iPod-friendly MELODY Nº2 companion, it enables various rooms of the home to access tunes stored on the OPUS Nº4 as well as songs on any networked Mac, PC or NAS drive. If you couldn't guess, both units are aimed squarely at the affluent sect, which probably explains the $1,499 to $1,799 (OPUS Nº4) / $599 (MELODY Nº2) price tags.

[Via Macworld]

Just days after DirecTV announced the Supreme Court of Comedy series that would soon be hitting The 101 in HD, the firm has now found yet another way to utilize the exclusive channel to its benefit. About a month from now, DirecTV will enable subscribers to listen in to all three days of the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, and yep, each day will indeed be broadcast live in beautiful high-definition. This year's SXSW Live will reportedly feature "24 live performances, backstage interviewees, behind-the-scenes coverage and commentary by music industry experts," and if that wasn't enough, an "interactive feature" will be available via DTV remote controls providing band schedules, information and history. Sound good? Feel free to tune in March 13th through 15th -- things will get kicked off each evening at 5:00PM EST.