Qustion: Using my 2003 Canon PowerShot S50 recently, I noticed it is very slow to save pictures to my old CF card. I'm pretty sure my card is slow because it takes forever to download photos to my PC. Are there different speed classes of CF cards, as with SDHC cards? I've seen some deals on 32GB CF cards and am thinking of buying one.

A: CF cards do not have classes like SDHC cards, though there is an ultrahigh-speed standard called UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access) that is supported by some of the latest digital SLRs.

Your camera is not designed to work any faster with high-speed memory. Also please note that the maximum card size your camera supports is 4GB, so you will have to pass on those 32GB cards for now. A 4GB card holds 1,600 full-size images from your S50.

Though the camera won't work any faster with high-speed memory, if you use a high-speed card with a high-speed card reader it will download images in a fraction of the time of your current card. Just buy a fast 4GB CF card and a fast card reader and you will be set.

Q: I am looking to add better sound to my TV. Do you favor the Soundmatters MAINstage HD or the Zvox 325? I would like to add an affordable single piece system and these two seem like they would be perfect.

A: I have not heard the Zvox products so I cannot comment other than I have heard good things about them. I am familiar with the Soundmatters products and can recommend the MAINstage HD. Both are around $300.

For readers looking for something more affordable, I recently found a wonderful product that will work anywhere high quality stereo sound is desired.

The Swan M200 Mk. II powered speakers are available from The Audio Insider, of Acculine home theater speaker fame. This beautifully styled, beautifully made system looks and sounds like high-end bookshelf speakers. They ooze class and quality from the moment you open the box. Each speaker is enclosed in a soft cloth bag and white gloves are included so you do not smudge the walnut and black finish.

The M200 Mk. II includes cables compatible with computers or any component using miniplug or RCA outputs.

As for the performance, the easiest way to tell you is to say they sound as good as they look -- beautiful. The M200 Mk II has decent bass, extraordinary midrange detail, and an air of quality and smooth refinement. The volume control is set so that you can't overdrive the amplifier and create distortion, so even turned up all the way the sound is exceedingly clean. This limits the total output somewhat and they won't shake the furniture, but they play loud enough to fill an average sized room with satisfying sound.

It is hard to believe they are only $209 per pair. It is like getting high-end bookshelf speakers and an amplifier for about 200 bucks! Connect your computer, TV, iPod or DVD/CD player and you have a complete system that will blow you away.A more detailed review is on my website and you can see them at www.theaudioinsider.com.