All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

Montreal-based retailer AudioShop put together a splendid home-theater demo that featured one of the finest-looking plasma displays that our reviewers have seen -- the Fujitsu 4211, which retails for $15,000 CDN. Responsible for the equally fine audio performance was the Audio Design Associates (ADA) Rhapsody preamp/processor ($6000 CDN), which provided 6.1 channels of audio to the ADA PTM6150 six-channel amplifier ($4000 CDN). DVD source was by Proscan ($550 CDN). For speakers, a new home-theater system from French manufacturer Cabasse was used. The front-channel speakers were the Jersey ($1800 CDN per pair), rear channels were the Molene ($1500 CDN per pair), the front center-channel speaker was the Armen ($500 CDN), and the rear center-channel speakers were the Guerinsey ($1100 CDN per pair). For bass frequencies, two Santorin subwoofers ($1200 CDN) fleshed out the bottom end. Demo material was A Bug's Life. The elegantly designed system provided large-scale home-theater impact, with excellent finesse and clarity. And the video image was the best we saw in Montreal.