Read My HDTV Lips By Darryl Wilkinson June 27, 2006 — Good things come to those who wait, but great video sometimes takes longer to arrive than great audio thanks to the extensive image processing that is typical with high-definition video. The result is a kind of psychic audio ability wherein the viewer is able to hear things before he actually sees them. Although it has nothing to do with Millie Vanillie or Ashlee Simpson, the phenomenon is technically known as "lip-sync error".

Two devices from Alchemy² are said to help eliminate lip-sync error. The DDL4 and D.DaD are both certified by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) and are designed to reduce lip-sync error by up to one second in 1 ms or 0.25 video frame increments. Each unit has digital inputs and outputs for four sources (2 optical, 2 coaxial), and each source can be individually delayed. The devices come with infrared remote controls that can select up to 10 preset delay settings. A built-in code learner allows both models to be controlled by any standard infrared remote control so the unit's source switching tags along as different inputs are selected on the main theater's a/v receiver or pre/pro.

The D.DaD has everything found in the DDL4 with the addition of de-jittering circuitry that's designed to enhance digital audio playback from DVD players and set-top boxes.

The DDL4 retails for $449. The D.DaD sells for $50 more ($499).