Home Theater A/V
October 11, 2009
LG outs Mark Levinson-approved Blu-ray home theater system
LG announced the HB954SP Blu-ray home cinema system this past Thursday bringing Mark Levinson-approved audio to the masses. The 5.1-channel theater system features 1080p video playback, 1000 Watts of power and 5 oval-shaped pictures. The included Blu-ray player has an attractive design with a slide-out slot for an iPod Touch or iPhone, both of which can be controlled by remote control. The Blu-ray player is also Profile 2.0 so owners can access interactive film content on the web via the built-in Ethernet port. Full YouTube integration is also included if you're more of an amateur video fan. Other specs of note include standard-def video upscaling to 1080p, a pair of HDMI slots, a USB connection, and the LG Sound Gallery, enabling owners to access 7 sound controls to match the room ambiance. While LG hasn't released a price yet, the HB954SP Blu-ray home theater system is expected to arrive on retailers' shelves in November.
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September 19, 2009
Denon 9.3-channel AVR-4810CI ships for $2999
Denon has introduced the AVR-4810CI audio/video receiver, a 9.3-channel receiver outfitted with 9 built-in amplifiers configurable to a plethora of system designs. Features include 6 HDMI inputs/2 outputs, all certified for HDMI 1.3a, support for Dolby Pro Logic IIz with Front Height Effects Channels, as well as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master audio. Video-specific features include 2.35:1 CinemaScope, Anchor Bay Technologies-powered 1080p/24 analog upscaling, and more. An Ethernet port and Wi-Fi connectivity are also provided for audio, video and photo streaming. Shipping now, the AVR-4810CI AV receiver is a great companion home theater piece for the DBP-4010UDCI Universal Blu-ray Disc Player, and costs $2999. Definitely pricey, but seemingly worth it for the features bought.
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September 6, 2009
Philips Wireless HDTV Link transmits 1080p video up to 30 feet
Philips intends to clean up your home theater cable clutter with the Wireless HDTV Link, a small box capable of transmitting 1080p/30 content to any major brand HDTV from up to 30 feet away. Small enough to fit behind a standard wall mount, the Philips Wireless HDTV Link also has 2 HDMI ports and 2 component slots. Costing the equivalent of US$850, the Wireless HDTV Link is expected to ship soon (probably in Europe).
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September 5, 2009
Samsung adds YouTube streaming, MKV file support to 2009 Blu-ray and home theater products
Add YouTube video and MKV file support to the growing list of capabilities that Samsung's 2009 Blu-ray players and home theater systems offer. Blockbuster support was announced earlier this summer and is still on track to debut this fall, but a free firmware upgrade available now enables BDP-1600, BDP-3600, and BDP-4600 Blu-ray owners to start streaming SD YouTube videos now. MKV file support (often used for torrents) is also included in the update. Blockbuster and YouTube support will also be available later this year for the HT-BD1250, HT-BD7200, HT-BD8200, and HT-BD3252--Samsung's 2009 Blu-ray home theaters. The company hasn't specified an exact date that the home theater firmware update will be available.
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August 15, 2009
LG LHB953 Blu-ray HTIB gets reviewed: a solid buy
LG first announced a trio of Blu-ray HTIBs at CES earlier this year, and now the product reviews are beginning to roll in. CNET put the screws to the LG LHB953 Blu-ray HTIB recently, and by the time the review was done, the LG home theater unit had thrown the screws right back.
Though the LHB953 wasn't the best HTIB from an aesthetic perspective released so far this year (it's a little big), it's Blu-ray image quality and 5.1-channel audio playback was top of the line. Furthermore, it's excellent streaming capabilities which include Netflix, CinemaNow, Pandora and Youtube really push it over the top.
CNET says the LHB953 could use some video inputs, as well as automatic speaker calibration and a wireless rear speaker option. But for $436, it's well worth the money spent for the overall quality purchased.
LG LHB953 Blu-ray HTIB-->At Amazon
August 10, 2009
Onkyo outs high-end TX-NR807, TX-NR707 AV receivers
Last week the prolific Onkyo announced its HT Series AV receiver duo. This week the company has shipped a pair of additional models in its TX line. The TX-NR807 and TX-NR707, successors to the TX-NR607 launched last year, cost $1100 and $900, respectively.
The flagship TX-NR807 is packed with features. Among them: Audyssey DSX processing (up to 9.1 speakers), Dolby Pro Logic IIz, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio support, THX-Select2 Plus certification, 1080p video upconversion, DLNA 1.5-compliance, 6 HDMI inputs, and streaming audio from Pandora, Rhapsody, Sirius and vTuner internet radio. Support for MP3, WMA, FLAC, Lossless, Ogg Vorbis, and AAC files from hard drives and network-attached PCs is also included.
The TX-NR707 has all the features of the TX-NR807 with the exception of streaming audio and networking support. It also has less power.
Onkyo TX-NR807-->At Amazon
Onkyo TX-NR707-->At Amazon
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August 8, 2009
Atlona AT-HD530 HDMI downconverter converts HD video to SD
Usually resolution is converted upward from standard-definition to 720p or 1080p high-definition resolution. In the case of Atlona's AT-HD530, the down-converter changes high-def video content to standard-def. The unit accepts high-def sources over HDMI or DVI inputs, converts it, and then sends it to a standard-def display over composite or S-video outputs including any accompanying audio.
The AT-HD530 not only accepts 1080p video content from HDTVs but also UXGA (1600 x 1200 pixels at 60 Hz) content from a Mac or PC. Also, both NTSC and PAL signals are supported so the AT-HD530 is good to go in North America or Europe.
On sale this month, the Atlona AT-HD530 will cost $299.
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August 5, 2009
Onkyo adds HT Series HT-RC180, HT-RC160 to its AV receiver line
Onkyo has added a pair of home theater receivers to its roster today. Called the HT Series, the first model is the 7.2-channel HT-RC160. Key features include Dolby ProLogic IIz, 5 HDMI inputs and an MSRP of $549. The step-up HT-RC180 features include those of the HT-RC160 and adds in THX Select2Plus Certification, and networking features that include streaming radio from Pandora and Rhapsody. The HT-RC180 has an MSRP of $1049.
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July 14, 2009
Blockbuster OnDemand available through 2009 Samsung home theater hardware
I've long been calling for the death of Blockbuster, big cynic that I am and all. But a partnership announced today with Samsung is probably the best thing that's happened to the former video rental bigwig in a long time. And it could be a big step in proving my long-standing prediction wrong.
Blockbuster OnDemand, the company's streaming video service, will be integrated into Samsung's home theater products by this fall. As part of the agreement, Blockbuster OnDemand will be available through all 2009 Samsung HDTVs coming this fall, and have preferred placement on Samsung Blu-ray players.
Furthermore, Samsung Blu-ray products will be sold in Blockbuster's bricks-and-mortar stores as well as through Blockbuster online.
Blockbuster OnDemand allows users to rent or buy movies directly from Samsung products. It can be managed directly from the HDTV using nothing more than a remote. No PC integration or management is needed.
For those of you who have already bought early 2009 models, a firmware update will allow you to access Blockbuster OnDemand on Samsung LCDs and plasmas 650 and above, and LED HDTVs 7000 and above.
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July 13, 2009
LaCie LaCinema Rugged multimedia drive: Never watch a TV repeat again
There's plenty of good made-for-the-web video content available today. It's fair to say the web video industry has come a long ways in the past few years. If you're not part of the 20% of web video viewers who watch less traditional TV thanks to new media, at the very least it's great during the primetime offseason and its neverending repeats. But what's the best way to stream the content from the web to your HDTV?
LaCie's new LaCinema Rugged multimedia drive provides an easy solution without the need for any elaborate HTPC setup or monetary outflow. The $350 hardware hooks up to your PC or Mac via USB 2.0 and then accepts downloading video, audio and pictures. Most popular video codecs are accepted included H.264, MKV, WMV9 and MPEG4.
The 500 GB drive can hold up to 700 movies, according to LaCie, and it has a similar form factor to the company's Rugged Hard Disk--an anti-scratch aluminum outer shell, a shock-resistant bumper, and internal anti-shock absorbers.
At LaCie LaCinema Rugged
July 1, 2009
Pioneer outs new Elite A/V receiver foursome
If you buy home theater equipment built by Pioneer, you're pretty well guaranteed quality gear. With the announcement of four new A/V receivers today, Pioneer has added to its Elite lineup and the pricing isn't bad either. The two top-end models, the SC-27 and SC-25, both have Class D amplifiers with ICEPower technology while the former is the first Class D to get THX Ultra2 Plus certification. The other two models, the Elite VSX-21TXH and VSX-23TXH, aren't as feature-rich but undoubtedly still high quality. The SC-27 and SC-25 will ship this month priced at $2000 and $1700, respectively, while the VSX models in order of mention above will ship in August for $700 and $900.
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June 26, 2009
Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K a must-buy, mid-range A/V receiver: CNET reviewer
If you have $500 to spare and want to spend it on an A/V receiver with multi-room functionality, a recent CNET review of Pioneer's VSX-1019AH-K indicates it's a potential best bet. Of all the midrange receivers tested by the CNET crew, the latest Pioneer model is the "go-to choice for sound-quality conscious midprice receiver buyers." Recognize there is no mention of video here, but that's because the VSX-1019AH-K's performance in this area leaves something to be desired. At the same time, it's video performance is the best out of midrange receivers so far this year and good enough for 1080p upconversion if you don't have an upscaling DVD player. Other pluses: an included USB cable for the latest iPods, 4 HDMI slots, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, automatic speaker calibration and Sirius radio. In the end, Pioneer's VSX-1019AH-K received an impressive score from CNET given its midrange status--a 4 out of 5.
Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K--At Amazon for $447
June 5, 2009
Never a miss a phone call again with the TV Silencer
We've all missed a phone call because the TV's been too loud at one time or another. Some of us more than others depending on the quality of our hearing or aptitude for constantly misplacing the remote. The TV Silencer is a handy little gadget that eliminates the chance of TV-responsible missed calls altogether. Basically a programmable remote, the TV Silencer hooks to your landline and automatically mutes your TV and/or pauses your DVD player when it detects an incoming call. It also doesn't require a separate plug-in, batteries or recharging, because it pulls power straight from the phone line. Nice. You can grab a TV Silencer now for $44.95.
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May 28, 2009
HDMI 1.4 specs announced; include 3D and 4K x 2K resolution support
HDMI Licensing, LLC unveiled what we can expect from the upcoming HDMI 1.4 standard today and it's some pretty impressive stuff.
First, an extra data channel will be added to HDMI cables for bi-directional communication over Ethernet. Second, an Audio Return channel will be able to send sound signals to any A/V receiver enabling home theater buffs to do away with a cable. Third, 3D over HDMI lists standard 3D formats enabling the standardization of inputs/outputs for 3D home theater devices. Fourth, 4K x 2K resolution support will enable four times the pixels of current 1080p resolution. 3840×2160 at 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz and 4096×2160 at 24Hz resolutions will all be supported. Fifth, sYCC601, Adobe RGB and AdobeYCC601 color spaces designed for digital cameras will be supported. Sixth, a new micro HDMI connector with 19-pins will be added supporting up to 1080p resolution from portable devices. It'll be roughly half the size of the current mini connector. Seventh, an automotive connection specification will be added specifically for HD content transmission to automotive entertainment systems.
While the new specs are great, they also mean that HDMI cables will become more confusing. Namely that there will be 5 to choose from:
- Standard HDMI Cable - supports data rates up to 1080i/60;
- High Speed HDMI Cable - supports data rates beyond 1080p, including Deep Color and all 3D formats of the new 1.4 specification;
- Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet - includes Ethernet connectivity;
- High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet - includes Ethernet connectivity;
- Automotive HDMI Cable - allows the connection of external HDMI-enabled devices to an in-vehicle HDMI device.
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