Home Theater Gear

NuVision heretofore known for their premium quality LCD TVs, has introduced their first foray into the projector market, the LED powered ProVu P2 cinema projector. The latest of the LED light engined home theater projectors, the P2 boasts a 20,000 hour lamp life, about 7 times that of the average UHP lamp used in traditional DLP and LCD home theater projectors. In reality, it should be the only lamp you'll ever need for this projector.

Lamp life is far from the only reason you might want to venture into the world of LED illumination when choosing your next  home theater projector. LEDs are a much more efficient light source, using only about 40% of a traditional bulb system. The NuVision's bulb draws 135 watts, vs. 200 – 250 watts for most other home theater projectors' lamps. Although even for the most die hard home theater user the savings won't add up to make or break numbers, every little bit helps.  

All the energy savings in the world won't mean squat if the image isn't up to home theater standards, and thankfully NuVision is known for delivering a great image. One thing that separates an LED engined unit from traditional single chip DLP projectors is the absence of a color wheel, the Achilles heel of a traditional single chip machine. The fast response of the LEDs allows for a 22x refresh rate, more than 3 times that of the fastest color wheel units. That means no video artifacts or eye fatigue, Yipee!

Since LEDs can be very quickly modulated, the projector achieves extreme dynamic contrast ratios, and the response time is much quicker than any mechanical dynamic iris system can muster. How it deals with dark scenes with a bright element, such as a spaceship against a black background remains to be seen, although other examples of the genre seem to do this well.

LED engines also allow for a very wide color palate and the P2 delivers here as well. One of the great things about this projector from a user's perspective is that unlike other projectors, the P2 requires absolutely zero cool down or warm up time. You just fire it up and enjoy the show!

Some Specs for the NuVision P2:

Two Lens Options for greater placement and installation flexibility –
standard throw lens 1.85 – 2.4:1
short throw lens 1.56 – 1.86

Inputs: HDMI x 2, S-video x 1, composite video x 1, RGB x 1, component x 2 (BNC, RCA)
Video Processing: Gennum 10-bit

 Price for the NuVision P2 is set at $16,995 (but you won't need to spring for $500 bulbs every 2,000 hours)

Posted by 1touch at 07:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I posted a few weeks ago on the new TiVO premier series DVR. For those of you wondering what this new generation of TiVO will do, here's you answer. It won't wash your dishes or project an image, but just about everything else is fair game. To wit:

• Stream music: play music files on your TV or home entertainment center from the home computer across the network or via the internet
• View personal photos and slideshows on TV from a networked computer
• Watch free music videos and other web videos (not just YouTube) and even subscribe to regular updates via RSS feeds from various sources

It will also download HD movies and TV from many sources including Vudu, Blockbuster, and Netflix. It supports cable and Verizon FIOS, but not satellite or AT&T U-verse. It also fully supports 1080p video.

The fact that it records live TY, and allows you to pause, rewind and replay live TV goes without saying for a TiVO.

At only $299 for the smaller box, that could qualify as the bargain of the century.

Posted by 1touch at 01:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 

What to do if you want to see your media center PC in HD on your TV, but the TV has no computer input, and the computer, just a VGA output? In years gone by that would have required an expensive transcoding / scaling solution, but technology never slows down. Altona Technologies has come to your rescue with it's new ATI-HDVieW.

The ATI-HDVieW takes a VGA in with an HD-15 connector, and outputs beautiful HDMI in resolutions up to 1080p. “What about the audio?”, you say. Well Altona has that one covered too. You can plug in the headphone jack, and it will convert the analog audio to digital and imbed it with the HDMI for your TV.

In auto mode, it detects the EDID from your TV and adjust it's resolution accordingly, so your TV gets the best signal it is capable of reproducing, up to and including 1080p. If you'd rather choose your own resolution, you can choose between

480p@60, 720p@60, 1080p@60, 1280x800@60, 1366x768@60, and 1920x1200@60.

From your computer, the unit accepts up to 1900 x 1200.

The device is powered from your computer's HDMI port, so it requires no external power supply. Speaking of external power supplies, it is about the size of your laptop's power supply and weighs in at half a pound, so can stuff into your laptop bag. The price for all this technology? A mere $119.95.

Posted by 1touch at 06:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 TiVO has released their new Premier and Premier XL DVRs. For those of you who wanted a TiVO, but couldn't abide by the 20hrs of HD recording time on the regular HD TiVO, the new premier has you covered with an increase to 45 hrs. The Premier XL stays with the HD XL's 150 hours, which should be enough for even the most die hard user.

As you can see from the GUI shot above, it is an improved version of TiVOs well regarded interface, but  even greater functionality. Online content can now be integrated into the TiVO menu, so that your content is all found the same way, in the same interface, no matter the source.

The new TiVO has not only a new, slimmer design, but inside it boasts a faster processor to allow all this new gegaw stuff to work, and do it even faster than before. Yes, the GUI is rendered in full HD, so it looks better and is easy to see all the details in. It has a live video window, so you can keep track of what you were watching while you search for new programming.

It supports both 1080i and 1080p through the HDMI output so when 1080p content is there, you'll be ready for it. All the Blockbuster Online, Amazon Unboxed, and YouTube content functionality is still there, and you can pull content from your computer too.

The 150 hr Premier XL is THX certified and retails for $499 when it hits shelves in a few days, while the 45 hr Premier model will come in at $299.

Posted by 1touch at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just as CFL gave way to LED as the light source of choice for LCD flat panel displays, LED technology will soon become the light source for most front projection displays as well. Having taken a good look at the new Digital Projection M-Vision Cine LED this afternoon, I can report that that day can not come too soon.

The Good:

This projector wasn't perfect, but it definitely had some strong points, and dramatically demonstrates why you can't put too much stock in certain specifications when evaluating home theater gear. To wit, the brightness figure given for the Cine LED is but 600 ANSI lumens. In a day when any home theater projector worth it's salt claims at least 800 lumens, with many hitting two or three times that, you could be forgiven for thinking the Cine-M LED would be nigh on unwatchable. If you were to make that decision based on the numbers from the spec sheet alone, you'd be depriving yourself of a very satisfying viewing experience.

In a conversation with Joe Kane last summer he indicated that I shouldn't be too quick to judge his latest masterpiece based upon the relatively low light level. He claimed the image quality and perceived brightness would belie the notion that the picture would not be bright enough.

He was right on the money then, and it is much the same with this new unit from DPI. It was definitely plenty bright enough on the 45 x 80in, matte white screen I was watching on. I did have the luxury of a totally light controlled environment, but even when some overhead lights were turned up to about 30%, the picture was still watchable for casual viewing.

Based upon my (alll too) brief, un-instrumented viewing session, I would have to say that the DPI's new baby gives one of the most broad and accurate color palettes I've seen from an DLP projector at any price point. The color rendition was simply fantastic.

I have always been a big fan of 3-chip DLP projectors, but their high price has kept them out of the theaters of all but the most well-heeled enthusiasts. With this new piece, you can get that rainbow free, deep, film-like image for about ½ the price you'd pay for a 3-chip, 1080p projector. I watched for about half an hour and saw nary a hint of any sort of rainbow, as I typically would with even the best color wheel single chip projectors. There were no other appreciable artifacts either, based upon the program material I was watching. I did not, however, que up any torture test material, such as the Silicon Optix test disc for a more thorough evaluation.

From an economic standpoint this projector is about $15,000, although that number is a bit misleading. You see, with most projectors, there is the slight matter of a bulb replacement every 2,000 hours or so, with some stretching that figure to 3,000. When bulb replacement time comes, get ready for a $500 - $700 bill if your friendly custom installer has to come out for a visit. The LED light engine in this unit lasts for around 60,000 hours. If you'd ever even use your projector for 60,000, you'd save approximately the cost of the projector in bulb replacements, not to mention the embarrassment of having the bulb warning message come on the screen at the start of your Superbowl party.

The Not Quite as Good:

I couldn't go so far as to call this the bad, but I did see a hint of video noise in the picture at times, notably in one scene from Harry Potter, before the cake falls on the woman's head, but wasn't sure if that was from the BluRay or some other artifact that would be there in any other projector. When I get one of the reference projectors back up, I'll be sure to take note of the scene to see if it returns. Check back for an update.

One area projectors have made tremendous strides in the past few years is noise. Just a few years ago, it was completely normal to be able to pick out the noise of even the quietest projectors during soft passages of a show. Now that offending behavior has been almost completely banished, and it's great to be rid of it. The Cine-M LED though, still has a hint of noise emanating from it's charcoal gray hull. It's not overly noticeable, even when directly below it, but neither is it almost nonexistent, as with the latest projectors from the likes of JVC, Planar, Optima, and Runco.

Call it a Wrap:

Overall I was immensely satisfied with the new M-Vision Cine-LED from DPI. It is the best single chip I've seen since Joe Kane's Samsung, and although I was smitten with that projector, I could still detect a hint of the dreaded rainbow color wheel effect. Not so here. The DPI unit has the film like grace of a 3-chip, great looking color, and excellent black levels, although I would like to compare the black level against the latest offering from JVC. The gray scale, and low level detail looked superb as well.

All in all this one of my new favorite projectors, and if it is a hint of what's to come from LED, there will be happy days in home theater land ahead.

Posted by 1touch at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Never one to let a great sales event opportunity pass them by, most of the major big box and department store chains are blasting out cheap LCD TVs as Superbowl specials. Thousands of new TVs are sold every year in anticipation of the nation's largest sporting event. After all, why watch the Superbowl on your old, postage stamp sized TV when you could plop down a new 42", 46, or 55in set to impress your friends at your annual Superbowl fest?

Here are some examples of what retailers will be offering for TV specials this year:

Walmart -

37-inch 1080p Sanyo LCD TV - $448, 55-inch 1080P Vizio $1,298

Target -

55-inch 1080P Vizio $ 1,299, 47-inch Philips 1080p 120Hz LCD $848,

42-inch 1080p Magnavox LCD $499

Best Buy - 

Samsung 46-inch, 120Hz LED LCD UN46B6000VF (with free BDP-1600 BluRay player) $1,600

If you're lamenting the Black Friday sales you missed, and are looking for a chance to snag a new flat panel before the NFL's biggest game, you still have a few days left.

 

Posted by 1touch at 08:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What kind of cool, new TVs will we see at the 2010 CES in Las Vegas? Here's one, Vizio, the LCD TV manufacturer that has made a name for itself as a purveyor of mid to low end LCD TVs with prices to match has just introduced something that may change everyone's minds about the brand; a 2.35 aspect ratio LCD HDTV, the XVTPRO580CD. If you will be doing most of your viewing of Cinema Scope movies, this new set may be just what you're looking for.

But wait, there's more: The Cinema Wide Display also includes VIA, built-in wireless (802.11n dual-band) or wired networking, and a Bluetooth universal remote control with sliding QWERTY keyboard. It is expected to ship later this year.

Not through yet! Can you say 2.35, 1080p? You can if your panel resolution is a full 2560 x 1080! Not only does the new TV have an unusual aspect ratio, it also has local LED dimming to improve perceived contrast ratio. In case you're wondering it is not one of the new ultra fast refresh rate TVs, being content to give you new pixels every 1/120th of a second.

Other new TVs in Vizio's pro series are not held back by a 120HZ speed limit however, stretching their refresh legs all the way to 480HZ! Vizio has 3 new sets that hit that 480Hz figure, in 72”, 55” and 47” sizes. All have 480Hz refresh rates and LED backlighting. The 72in set has a robust 480 zones of individually addressable backlighting more than twice that of the other two units.

These XVT Pro Series sets have an integrated Wireless HDMI receiver built-in, using SiBEAM’s robust 60 GHz technology to receive HD content from high definition sources such as Blu-ray players or set-top boxes with full HD 1080p resolution when paired with a separately available VIZIO XVT Pro Wireless HDMI Adapter.

Of course they are also 3D ready, but VIZIO's Full HD3D TVs can display full 1080p video to each eye by rapidly alternating between the left-eye and right-eye images within the same visual space. Most other 3D sets incorporate passive stereoscopic imaging. Vizio uses special, active-shutter glasses, which communicate with the television over Bluetooth, then transform each lens from opaque to transparent in perfect synchronization with the images displayed on the TV, which allows for delivery of the full frame rate capable by the television for the ultimate 3D HDTV viewing experience.

Of course everyone who's ever seen a TV knows that specs aren't everything. The proof is in the viewing, so I'll reserve final judgment until actually seeing how these babies perform in person. Stay tuned for more soon.

Posted by 1touch at 01:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

RCA has introduced a slew of new mid sized LCD HDTVs. If you need a home theater on a budget, or want a new set for the bedroom, office, or kid's playroom, you are who RCA has in mind for their new TVs. Available in sizes from 19” to 46”, they all meet the new Energy Star 4 energy consumption standards.

There are 2 new series of TVs available from RCA, the F120 and F11 series.

From RCA's release

“LCD flat-screen technology continues to be the most popular way for consumers to upgrade

their viewing experience, and we’ve developed new products that respond to consumer demand for

affordable second and third-room screens. Some are perfectly sized for movies – and kids -- with built-in

DVD players, and others have the ‘bells and whistles’ needed to deliver a Full HD experience when

connected to a Blu-ray player or gaming console that can output 1080p signals,” said Richard Dinsmore,

Vice President of TTE’s North American Business Center.

All of the 2010 RCA HDTV sets also feature Enhanced Natural Vision (EN-V) – an RCAexclusive

picture processing technology that delivers enhanced resolution and contrast, the two most

important characteristics detected by the human eye to determine picture quality.

High Standards of Energy Efficiency

TTE is also readying RCA Televisions that qualify for the latest federal ENERGY STAR®

efficiency label, including two entire series of products that are fully qualified with tighter efficiency

regulations that take effect this spring. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized

ENERGY STAR 4.0 specifications that establish new standard for “on mode” power consumption.

Those tighter regulations take effect on May 1, and all of the new RCA HDTV sets will qualify for the

ENERGY STAR mark. 26-inch and larger models in the new F11 series utilize the RCA Intuilight™

Light Sensor that detects ambient room light to automatically adjust contrast on the screen. The result is

better energy efficiency that is perfectly balanced for your room’s environment– night or day.

F10 Series: Value for Every Room

High-definition screens in the RCA F10 series are available in 19-inch, 26-inch, 32-inch, and 40-

inch LCD screen sizes. The smaller screens in the series (L19HDF10, L26HDF10, and L32HDF10) all

feature 1366x768 high-definition resolution, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) and HD

component video connections, and a USB 2.0 interface for display of .JPG images and playback of mp3

audio files.

The largest F10 model, the 40-inch L40FHDF10, is equipped to display Full HD 1080p signals at

1920x1080 resolution through one of three HDMI inputs. This model also includes eight watts of audio

per channel.

F11 Series: “Invisible” Speakers Highlight Slim Design

With a remarkably slim profile and stunning front panel design, on-board speakers in the RCA

F11 series are designed to hide underneath the front edge of the panel bezel. This design cue makes the

speaker grille invisible when viewing the set from the front, and insures that the beautiful product will

easily slip into custom cabinetry.

The F11 series’ 24-inch, 26-inch, and 32-inch models feature 1366x768 HD LCD picture

resolution. Models L24HDF11, L26HDF11, and L32HDF11 also include multiple HDMI and one HD

component connections, and USB connections for playback of .JPG photos and mp3 audio.

Larger screen sizes in the F11series can display 1080p video signals from Blu-ray and gaming

consoles through one of three HDMI inputs. “Full HD” Models L32FHDF11, L40FHDF11, L42FHDF11

and L46FHDF11 also feature 1920x1080 LCD resolution and an additional HD component video

connection. These models also come equipped with “invisible” speakers that offer eight watts per

channel of audio power as well as digital optical connections for surround sound audio systems.

The most advanced screens in the F11 Series are 1080p-capable models that feature 120Hz

scanning for enhanced resolution. The 40” L40FHD2XF11 and the 46” L46FHD2XF11 also come

equipped with four HDMI and one HD Component connections, USB media playback, eight watts per

channel of audio power through “invisible” speakers, and swivel stands.

Also in the 2010 line is the stunning and full-featured 46-inch L46FHDE9A, a 1080p-capable

model with 1920x1080 resolution, 4,000:1 contrast ratio, eight watts per channel audio power, three

HDMI and one HD component video connections, and a digital audio output for surround sound systems.

Combination TV/DVD for Convenience

Three combo products in 2010 bring together the convenience of merging a standard DVD player

with a high-definition LCD screen. Featuring 1366x768 LCD resolution, the new RCA models are

available in 22-inch, 26-inch, and 32-inch sizes. Each combo model has a slot-loading DVD player with

“disc eject” function on the handheld remote control and each also qualifies for ENERGY STAR

recognition:

• The L22HD34D includes 800:1 contrast ratio, five watts per channel of audio power, and a single

HDMI and also an HD component video connection.

• The L26HD35D includes 800:1 contrast ratio, five watts per channel of audio power, and two

HDMI and also an HD component video connection.

• L32HD35D includes 1200:1 contrast ratio, five watts per channel of audio power, and two HDMI

and also an HD component video connection.”

Posted by 1touch at 04:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sanus Systems is introducing a new low profile (only 2in), quiet, motorized flat panel TV mount. The motorization enables you to easily change the angle of the TV from your remote.

From Sanus:

"The VLMF109 Full-Motion Motorized Mount supports 37 to 56 inch flat-panel TVs
weighing up to 110 lbs. and offers full-motion movement with an included IR
remote control. With just the touch of a button, users can change the viewing angle
of their TVs by extending the mount up to 9 inches from the wall and swiveling it
up to 120 degrees. When the mount is fully retracted, it sits just 2 inches from the
wall—an incredible feat for a motorized mount, which usually requires more depth
for its motor.

The lateral shift feature allows the
user to slide the TV left or right on the wall plate during installation so the TV is
positioned appropriately on the wall. The mount is also RS-232 compatible for
integration with home automation systems. The open wall plate design allows plenty
of space for routing cables through the wall and accommodates both 16-inch and
24-inch wall studs for flexibility in placement. The automatic setup feature detects
the location of the wall and programs a stop-limit to ensure the TV won’t bump into
the wall when the mount is swiveled."

It should be available by the time you read this.

Posted by 1touch at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's no secret that home theater projectors using LED illumination technology will be the wave of the future. The benefits of LED projectors are primarily that they use far less energy than a traditional UHP or Xenon lamped projector, and that the bulb (illuminator) life is around 40,000 - 50,000 hours, instead of 2,000 - 4,000 hours. When a projector lamp costs on the order of $500, that's a welcome change indeed.

Home theater projector manufacturers are closing in on this technology with reckless abandon. Several were shown at the CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, and now one of these, the Runco Q-750i is now shipping.

"BEAVERTON, Ore. --(Business Wire)-- Dec 02, 2009 In September, Planar Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLNR), a worldwide leader in specialty display solutions, unveiled its Runco QuantumColor™ Q-750i and Q-750d lampless LED projectors to Runco’s worldwide dealer network. Dealers have responded very positively and have placed orders for hundreds of demonstration projectors for their showrooms in the first few weeks after announcement.

“The QuantumColor projectors mark a new era in video projection for the industry and for Runco. Lampless LED is the future of video projection and Runco, through its innovation, is the leader in this category,” stated Planar CEO Gerry Perkel. “The QuantumColor projectors have it all – no lamp to replace, never-before-seen colors, high reliability, and low power consumption. The industry response is strong and our dealers have shown incredible support for the product by booking orders in record numbers, making the ‘Q’ the best-selling demo product in Runco history.”

Traditional home theater projectors utilize a lamp for illumination, which are expensive to replace, cause downtime and only last about 2,000 hours. Collaborating for more than a year with Texas Instrument’s® DLP™ business to create the technology for Runco’s LED platform, Runco has engineered its QuantumColor products to eliminate all moving parts in the engine, including the mechanical iris and color wheel. Runco’s InfiniLight™ also boasts a 70-percent reduction in power consumption, a mercury-free illumination system, and InstantOn™, which eliminates the need to put the projector in standby mode. These breakthroughs combine to create an energy-efficient solution with high reliability.

Beyond light-source innovation, Runco QuantumColor projectors produce the largest color gamut ever available in front projection; achieving and exceeding the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) standard for the first time in home theater front projection. The QuantumColor projectors offer Runco’s Personal Color Equalizer™ (PCE), which enables owners to create color settings from the largest pallet ever available and to project images exactly to their preferences. Runco delivers flawless REC 709 Hollywood cinematic standard, Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) standards, and even the vast Adobe RGB color space. Runco PCE, which works just like an audio equalizer, allows each color (red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow) to be dialed up or down to exactly match an owner’s specific taste – a capability never before available.

To ensure color adjustment doesn’t spoil overall image integrity, Runco created its Runco SmartColor™ (RSC) technology to maintain image realism and accuracy. RSC is a proprietary hue-compensation curve with gamut mapping, which maintains the integrity and true-to-life representation of flesh tones. Without this intelligence, flesh tones can look oversaturated, which results in people who look unnatural or sunburned. The flexibility of this incredible customizable image has been met with overwhelming positive response in the custom home theater market who have been using the same adjustment technique with high-end audio for years.

“Runco has been innovating and changing projection technology for years,” noted Joel Silver, founder and president of the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF™). “An LED lampless light source is clearly the next step in front projection, and Runco’s innovation in color gamut and customization puts its QuantumColor projectors well ahead of the pack.”

In addition to debuting its QuantumColor projectors to the entire custom installation industry at CEDIA EXPO 2009 in September, Runco demonstrated the Q-750 to media at its headquarters in early November and at sponsored events in New York, Los Angles, Minneapolis, Denver, and Portland.

Runco’s QuantumColor Series Q-750i features integrated video processing, and the Q-750d is paired with Runco’s latest DHD controller/processor. Both the Runco QuantumColor Q-750i, with an MSRP of $14,995, and the Q-750d, with an MSRP of $17,995, are now shipping. "

Digital Projection also has an LED home theater projector in this price range. In a few years LED illumination will become the norm in the upper end of the market, and prices on UHP bulbed units will drop even further.

Posted by 1touch at 07:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In the last stop before they start handing them out as door prizes, retailer Meijer willl have Black Friday Blu-Ray disc players for only $89.95. Granted, the players are from Sylvania, not NAD, Marantz, Sony, or Samsung, but cripes, what do you want if you're getting change back from a C-note?

Posted by 1touch at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

JVC anounced today that their new home theater projector, the DLA-HD990 has garnered a International CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Award. The judges use the following criteria to determine the winners:

• Engineering qualities, based on technical specs and materials used
• Aesthetic and design qualities, using photos provided
• The product’s intended use/function and user value
• Unique/novel features that consumers would find attractive
• How the design and innovation of the product compares to other products in the marketplace

This new JVC DLA-HD990 is targeted at the high end home theater market, and has an MSRP of $10,000. It is the top end of JVC's consumer projector line. Their other projectors range down to $5,000. As with all JVC projectors, it uses a 3-chip version of their H-DILA version of LCOS imaging technology. JVC has a proprietary grid polarizing system to deliver outstanding black levels. JVC eschews the iris systems used by many other projector manufacturers to get high contrast numbers and deep blacks.

Speaking of high contrast numbers, JVC claims the new projector, and it's JVC Pro Series counterpart, the DLA-RS35, achieve 70,000:1 contrast ratios, despite their lack of an iris. JVC has indicated the iris systems can harm the image when there are very light and very dark portions within the same image. They have demonstrated this phenomenon numerous times at trade shows, dealer shows, and press events.

Other notable features included in the JVC projector line this year are Silicon Optix REON HQV video processing, available on all 6 JVC home theater projector models (It's really closer to three. The pro side and the consumer side have nearly identical units. There are three different projectors in each of the two product lines)

I have installed several JVC RS series projectors over the last few years and can attest to their excellent image quality and almost utter lack of noise. I'm definitely a fan of these things. They bring the aforementioned excellent contrast, good color rendition, and a film-like image, courtesy of the high fill factor DILA imaging devices are known for.

The other big plus with these projectors for me is that I've always been a 3 chip guy. The price of entry for 3-chip when you're playing in the DLP space is rather lofty. With JVC's projectors, on the other hand, all are 3-chip devices, which makes me feel kind of warm and fuzzy.

I have seen other projectors that I like as much or better than the JVC units, such as the excellent Samsung / Joe Kane units, and the Planar 3-chip DLP projectors, but these cost a bit more than the JVC. If you're projector shopping, the Marantz VP-11S2 is definitely worth a long look too. It has excellent video processing and shows what great optics can do for picture quality.

Congrats to JVC on picking up the 2010 CES Award for the DLA-HD990.

Posted by 1touch at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

JVC announced today they are releasing a new Blu Ray Disc player just in time for the holiday shopping season. Hitting the shelves at only $199.95, the new player will be a hit with consumers looking for a high definition disc player from a reputable manufacturer at the all-important under $200 price point.

 

From JVC

"JVC today announced the availability of a new entry-level Blu-ray player. The new JVC XV-BP11 is a truly versatile high definition player, offering playback of high definition Blu-ray discs, plus playback of the AVCHD format, the high definition format widely used for HD camcorders, including the JVC HD Everio line.

JVC XV-BP11 Features

Playable Discs: BD-Rom, BD-R/RE, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW

Playable Formats: AVCHD, WMV, JPEG, MP3, WMA, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, DTS HD Master Audio/Essential

Connections:
o Video: HDMI V1.3, composite
o Audio: Analog L/R, coaxial, HDMI V1.3
o USB Host (front panel)

Convenience Features: Quick loading, cinema zoom (x16), parental lock, slim design

The new JVC XV-BP11 Blu-ray player is available immediately for $199.95."

 

Posted by 1touch at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

JVC jumped on the 3D bandwagon with another intro by JVC Pro for the custom install channel. They whowed off their 46-inch, 3D LCD monitor at the CEDIA Expo. The monitor is already popular with major Hollywood studios. JVC Pro will now make it available to the custom installation market for cutting-edge home installations. The GD-463D10 is 1-1/2 inches (39mm) thin and uses JVC’s unique high-quality 3D visual engine to deliver a natural, flicker-free visual experience. 

The C provides flicker-free 3D images by adopting the Xpol ® polarizing filter method and battery-free passive circular polarizing filter glasses. Video input is compatible with industry standard line-by-line and side-by-side 3D formats. JVC’s unique 3D decoder translates images into the optimal Xpol display format wit subtle gradations and shades of color.

Primary Features of JVC’s GD-463D10:

1. Attractive high gloss cabinet houses all electronics including the 3D decoder/formatter. Its 46 inch display offers a wide viewing angle permitting stunning off-axis 3D viewing. JVC’s unique high-quality 3D visual engine reproduces high-quality images befitting this new era of wide, high-resolution displays. The compact 1-1/2 inches (39mm) depth allows for greater flexibility in the layout of 3D visual environments.

2. The GD-463D10 is compatible with the industry standard line-by-line and side-by-side 3D video formats.

3. The Xpol polarizing filter method offers a more comfortable and stable 3D viewing experience. Left-eye and right-eye information is constantly displayed, so there is no need to use strobing glasses that switch between left/right images. The GD-463D10 includes two pairs of battery-free, light polarizing glasses.

4. The GD-463D10’s three HDMI input terminals are compatible with standard HD video signals, including 1080/24p, 50p, 60p, 50i and 60i. Input signals in line-by-line or side-by-side format can be displayed as 3D images (50i and 60i for side-by-side format only).

Development Background
Although JVC has developed the GD-463D10 to meet content producer requirements in the producton and editing, it also offers cutting edge homeowners an early opportunity to get in the 3D market. The monitor is capable of providing a rich 3D visual environment, the future of home entertainment, while also functioning as a normal 1080p HD monitor.

Only for the well heeled video and gaming enthusiasts, the MSRP of theGY-463D10 $9,153 and is now available.
Specifications of JVC’s GD-463D10
 
Power Requirements    AC120V/60Hz（US）、AC220-240V/50･60Hz（EU）       
Resolution    6,22 million dots (1920H x 1080V x RGB)       
Contrast ratio    2,000 : 1 (Native), 10,000 : 1 (Dynamic)       
Y/C separation    (3D Y/C)       
Noise reduction function    (Digital NR/MPEG NR)       
Color temperature    Warm / Mid / Cool       
Dimensions (W x H x D) and Net Weight
With Tabletop Stand     42.16 x 28.54 x 10.82 inches; 59.3 lbs,
[1071 x 725 x 275mm; 26.9kg]        
Monitor Only    42.16 x 26.77 x 2.95 inches; 50.48 lbs,
[1071 x 680 x 75mm; 22.9kg]       
Viewable angle    178 degrees from top, bottom, left and right    
 
Audio Power Output    10W + 10W       
3D compatible HDMI input    3 terminals that support 1080/24p, 50p, 60p, 50i, 60i       
Accessories    2 pairs of polarizing glasses    

Posted by 1touch at 09:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you've been waiting for aBlu Ray / hard disc combo recorder for your theater, your wait is almost over. JVC Pro will begin shipping two new models, the SR-HD1500 and SR-HD1250, next month.I hope you've been saving your pennies.....

Go below for more info on these new combo players -

JVC Professional Products, division of JVC U.S.A., introduced its new SR-HD1500 and SR-HD1250 Blu-ray disc and HDD recorders at the CEDIA EXPO in Atlanta (Booth 1043). The new players are the latest in JVC’s series of high performance professional combo decks. They feature a built-in Blu-ray recorder and an internal hard disk drive for easy duplication and disc authoring without a PC.

With the SR-HD1500 and SR-HD1250, users can record and author professional BDMV (with menu) or BDAV discs. Advanced MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 (H.264) encoding provides support for HD and SD sources, and a built-in format converter can downconvert HD content for recording to a standard DVD. The units support BD-R or BD-RE (erasable) Blu-ray discs.

The decks offer a variety of digital inputs, including USB and i.Link (IEEE-1394) ports and an SDHC card slot, for wide compatibility with today’s digital SD and HD camcorders. Composite and S-Video inputs provide interfaces for legacy analog devices as well.

Users can transfer videos from a camcorder or other device to the internal hard drive. Then, using a simple, menu-driven interface, edited clips can be assembled into a completed project and recorded to Blu-ray discs. Discs can also be authored for auto-start or repeat playback, which provide ideal options for presentations, kiosks, and point-of-sale displays.

Unprotected DVD and Blu-ray discs are easily duplicated as well. Simply insert the original disc into the drive, then specify how many copies to make. Disc content is temporarily stored to the hard drive, then burned to blank discs.

Both models include component and HDMI outputs for flexible monitoring options. The SR-HD1500 features a 500 GB hard drive, plus an RS-232C terminal and support for .MOV files (for Apple Final Cut Pro), which makes it compatible with footage recorded with JVC GY-HM100 and GY-HM700 ProHD camcorders in the SP (19/25 Mbps) mode. The SR-HD1250 has a 250 GB hard drive, but does not include RS-232C connectivity of .MOV support.

The SR-HD1500 has an MSRP of $2,550 and the SR-HD1250 has an MSRP of $1,995. The new combo decks will be available in next month.

Posted by 1touch at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Digital Projection International, one of the pioneers of DLP projection technology, announced a new, compact, 3-chip DLP projector at the CEDIA Expo today. The HIGHlite Cine 280 is 2,000 ANSI lumens and 12,000:1 contrast, and is affordable (for a 3-chip 1080p projector). Once you've seen 3-chip DLP, it's hard to watch anything else. The problem is that most people don't get the opportunity, due the high cost of such projectors.

It not only has that amazing 3-chip image quality, but installers will appreciate the 30% horizontal and 120% (really) vertical image shift capability. That will make things a bit easier, and open up some installation options. There are a range of lens options, with a .73 short throw fixed lens, and several zoom lenses to accommodate throw ratios from 1.25 on the short end, up to 5 on the long.

The projector is an entirely new design for DPI, and is not based on any of their current projectors. It also features 2 HDMI inputs, a VDA input, a component input a composite input,  and RS-232 control. Prices weren't announced, but it is said to be comparable to upper end, single chip 1080p projectors, so expect something in the $15,000 - $20,000 range.

DPI also showed their new, LED illuminated projector, the M-Vision CineLED, which is a single chip design. More on the new LED projector shortly.

If you're in Atlanta, head over to booth #519 to see it.

Posted by 1touch at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sony always has a large presence at the CEDIA Expo and this year is no different. Sony's booth is the first one you run into when you go through the main entrance. In it they are introducing a pair of new LCD TVs, their Bravia XBR10 series, in both 46" and 52" sizes. Sony has something interesting to show us every year. Last year it was Motion Flow 240Hz, and this year it is the edge lit LED XBR10 sets. They are sporting 240Hz, naturally and have Ethernet connectivity as well. The Bravia Internet lets the new sets play streaming content. You'll be able to see the sets in stores next month, but no word on prices yet, but they are possibly $4,500 and $5,00 for the 46" and 52" respectively.

Take note that the new Sonys are edge lit LED, not back lit with dynamic backlighting. That allows for a very slim form factor, but does not allow for the backlight in  individual areas of the screen to be dimmed to improve black levels.

 

Similar functionality is included on Sony's new Blu Ray disc player, the BDP-N460, set to start shipping next month. As has become the norm lately, the BDP-N460 supports streaming content including Netflix, Amazon On Demand, YouTube, and Slacker Radio. Other services are said to be supported as well. Pandora, anyone? The player will also allow you to play content off a thumb drive.

Several of the new Sony products support wireless 1080p content streaming using WiHD technology. This will let components share content wirelessly. Now can have that TV over the stone fireplace, as long as you remembered to put a power outlet up there.

What about the new Sony projector? Actually Sony has 2 new SXRD projectors at the show, the aforementioned Bravia VPL-VW85, and the VPL-VW15. The VPL-VW85 claims a whopping 120,000:1 contrast ratio! In addition the 85 brings with it Sony's Advanced Iris 3 technology and Motionflow 120Hz processing. It does have built-in anamorphic lens support.

Similarly to what JVC added to some of their projectors a few years ago, the new Sony has a panel alignment function on the VPL-VW85.Contrary to popular belief, not all is necessarily perfectly aligned in 3 chip projectors. In fact, it is common of one of the colors to be a pixel too far one way or the other. Just because the CRT is dead doesn't mean convergence errors are too, but Sony lets you correct this now.

The VPL-VW85 will ship later this month at an MSRP of $7,000. That si a great projector value, but still too rich for some folks. For those that want a Sony projector but can't quite bite off the 85, Sony will have the VPL-VW15.

Shipping next month the VPL-VW15 SXRD projector will still get you 1080p native resolution, but at a reduced (but still pretty darn good) 60,000:1 contrast ratio. You'll have to wait another month for the VPL-VW15, but when it shows up in October, it will be at a recession friendly $2,800.

Posted by 1touch at 06:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

    Mitsubishi loaded up some brand new projectors for the trip to Atlanta this year. The latest Diamond Series projectors use different technologies; DLP for the entry level HC-3800 and 3LCD for the step up HC-6800.

The HC-3800 DLP projector is targeted at home theater customers who would like a fantastic picture, but aren't in a psoition to go out and spend half the price of a new car on their projector. Maybe something in the used motorcycle range is more palatable for these folks. Mitsubishi didn't want to elave them with a tiny flat panel for theior theater display, so they introduced the HC3800. Actually, Mitsubishi has had well regarded entry level home theater projectors for years, and the HC3800 is just the latest iteration.

Some of the HC-3800's high points include:
 1,300 ANSI lumens brightness, 1080p native resolution, 6 segment color wheel, 4,000:1 native contrast ratio, and 12v screen trigger.

The HC-3800 also boasts an estimated lamp life of up to 5000 hours in low mode, plus
    * 25dBA quietness in low mode operation
    * Blu-ray 24P direct output for smooth movement and up to twice the speed of cinema film
    * Anamorphic lens compatibility widens range of cinema-scope images (support for mode 1 and mode 2)
    * Consumes less than 1W of power consumption when in standby mode for energy savings
    * RS232 support for compatibility for 3rd party remote control devices
    * Convenient top Access lamp design for simplified lamp replacements
    * Includes a 2 years Parts and Labor and 1yr/500hrs lamp warranty


Step up to the HC-6800 LCD projector and you'll be rewarded with the Silicon Optix Reon-VX image processor, a 17 element lens system, improvoed auto iris (over the previous HC-6500), and 1,500 ANSI lumens (drops to 910 when calibrated to D65).

More features of the HC-6800 include:

    * Diamond Black Iris instantaneously tracks and adjusts projected light quality and brightness, toning down blacks as needed.
    * Original Contrast Control technology maintain optimal whites
    * Blu-ray 24-P direct output for smooth movement and up to twice the speed of cinema film
    * A bright 910 ANSI lumens is maintained even when using Cinema mode (D65)
    * Wide-range cinema color filter adjusts color balance spanning the green and cyan spectrum, so the HD projector reproduces colors with exceptional depth and brightness
    * RS232 support for compatibility for 3rd party remote control devices

The projector supports an anamorphic lens system with the proper internal scaling modes right out of the box.

Posted by 1touch at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sanus Systems, heretofore best known for their line of A/V furniture and TV mounts, has a several series of products they will be introducing at the Atlanta CEDIA Expo tomorrow. These new offerings include some interesting HDMI cables. Their new Sanus Elements™ 1.3b HDMI Cables are designed to meet the highest performance standards for HD image and sound. The cables are available in various lengths—some with an in-wall rating and a built-in amplifier for long distance runs.

Their HDMI cables feature a pivoting head that swivels 180° for placement in hard-to-reach ports or behind wall-mounted TVs with less than an inch of clearance. If youve ever tried to get your flat panel right up against the wall, you'll appreciate that. It's not just the pivoting head that makes these cables installer friendly. A flexible cable material makes them easy to route where ever you need to for a neat installation.

Posted by 1touch at 09:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Days ahead of the 2009 CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, Gefen announced a new, wireless HDMI solution that delivers clear, crisp uncompressed 1080p/60 video and 5.1 digital surround sound up to 30 feet with no wires. Gefen is one of the first manufacturers to release new 60GHz consumer wireless products.

The GefenTV Wireless for HDMI is based on SiBeam radio technology. If you've wanted to put your new LCD TV over a stone fireplace but were a bit daunted by fishing an HDMI cable there, you're in luck! Hopefully you already have power to the TV location.

The 60GHz technology has little competition form other consumer devices such as microwave ovens, wireless networks, cell phones, and cordless telephones, so there is virtually no chance of interference that can degrade the video signal. It has a bandwidth of 4GB/second, so there is ample bandwidth to get your favorite movie from your BluRay player to your TV. Presumably, cable manufacturers are not happy, or are working on their own wireless HDMI solution.

Posted by 1touch at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wathc out! NAD has lost their minds!! They are giving dealers the green light for a blue light special of biblical proportions! Until the special stock of their T587 Blu Ray Disc players is expired, they have lowered the MSRP from $1,499 to only $799!

The T587 includes:

• Plays BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE
• Plays DVD, DVD+R/ RW, DVD-R/RW
• Plays Audio CD, CD-R/RW
• Decodes MP3, WMA, DiVX, JPEG, PNG
• Network BD Live (Profile 2.0) via Ethernet
• BD Java (Profile 1.0)
• Picture-in-picture (Profile 1.1)
• Resolution up to 1080p 24/60 over HDMI
• Upscales DVD to 1080p over HDMI
• HDMI Output with support for Deep Colour and xvYCC Extended Colour Space
• Component Video Output up to 1080i
• Composite Video Output 480i/576i
• Linear PCM (uncompressed) via HDMI
• Dolby TrueHD (decoded to LPCM or encoded bitstream)
• DTS HD/MA (5.1 decoded to LPCM or encoded bitstream)
• Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus via HDMI, Optical or Coax
• DTS via HDMI, Optical or Coax

This is NAD's high end player, so it should uphold their reputation and give excellent audio quality when playing not only Blu Ray, which you'd expect, but also regular CDs (remember those??)

 

Posted by 1touch at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sony just announced they are having a limited time sale on refurbished 52” BRAVIA® LCD HDTV (KDL52XBR6. This is Sony's top of the line 52" LCD TV and they are giving a $600 discount until the end of the month.

It is 120Hz and has a 10 bit LCD panel with a 10 bit video processor. They will probably show its replacement at CEDIA  next month, but it is a good price on a great TV now.

Go to Sonystyle to see more about the LCD savings.

Posted by 1touch at 05:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Axonix, manufacturer of the high end media Media Max line of media servers has introduced new software, their new MediaLoader 2 and NetPlay 2 - V7.12 Software  

According to their latest press release,
they have just introduced

"The MediaLoader 2. It is a completely new media loader of movies and music that
includes a new fluid, full screen, 3 Dimensional Interface (3DI) with rotating Cover
Art carousal, on-screen metadata editing keyboard and broader Blu-ray Cover Art database.

NetPlay 2 adds to MediaMax more than a dozen new online services including:


Movies and Videos: NetFlixT, HuluT, YouTubeT, MTVT

Music: PandoraT, Last.fmT, ShoutcastT

Photos: PicasaT, FlickrT"

Integrating stored content with web and network based based content is the direction of the future, and other companies are now or will soon be doing the same thing. Vudu and Request both give viewers the ability to watch content from YouTube on their TVs, and the Vudu allows Flikr and pandora. The Vudu is a download terminal only and does not allow you to rip your own CDs or DVDs, or import content from your computer. Request allows users to import content from Amazon.com into their library, and listen to Finetune streaming content through the system.

The attraction to all these systems is the same simple GUI for all media sources, and the ability to easily transport media around the home. They also have the advantage of being able to easily integrate with high end control systems such as Crestron and AMX, so complete media control can be integrated with other functions on a simple to use touch panel or remote control.

Posted by 1touch at 04:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Starting this Thursday, August 20th, Mitsubishi is offering consumer money back rebates on it's line of DLP rear projection TVs. These make prices on them even more attractive. As the price of plasma and LCD TVs creeps lower, Mitsubishi is betting that the rebates will help stimulate sales. Hey, it worked for the auto industry. Maybe Mits should offer generous trade in allowances on CRT sets.

The cash back rebates are as follows:

WD60737, WD65737 - $100

WD73737, WD82737, WD65837 - $200

WD73837, WD82837 - $300

Mitsubishi's 82" set is the largest rear projection TV you can buy, so if you want a large screen in your home theater, but can't use a two piece projection system, Mitsubishi has your TV. Of course, the TV supports 3D, ready for the day that content actually arrives in your living room. See your dealer or custom installer for more info. The rebates end on September 7th, 2009.

Posted by 1touch at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you think an LCD TV with a built in Blu Ray Disc player is a good idea, Sharp agrees with you. In fact they think it is such a good idea they announced today they would be selling an incredible 13 new models of LCD TVs with built in Blu Ray players. Not only that, but they're taking your sentiments one better, by including Blu Ray recorders, rather than just players.

As you may have guessed, from the sheer number of intros, the new Sharp sets come in a variety of sizes, from a kitchen sized 26” set, to a home theater / family room oriented 52” unit. In between the LCD size train stops at 32”, 40” and 46” sizes, just about guaranteeing a size for any occasion, except the home theater that needs a real, large screen display.

The new DX2 TVs offer several improvements on the only 7 month old DX series of LCDs from Sharp. On sets 40” and above, Sharp is including its High-Picture-Quality Master Engine, for improved image quality. In addition, the new TVs are sporting Internet connectivity that are rapidly becoming de rigueur on new TVs to facilitate content and software downloads.

If you're looking for technology such as LED backlighting, you'll have to look elsewhere, as Sharp is eschewing such advancements in favor of proven CCF backlights. In keeping with the green movement that's so pervasive around the globe these days, the sets are energy efficient. The 46” units only draw 267 watts, and the 40” sets only 235. In standby mode, power consumption for both drops to an infinitesimal 100 milliwatts.  

Perhaps the biggest news is on the Blu Ray recording front though. They recorders built into these new TVs are Sharp's 7X models, giving faithful reproduction of the full HD from the original broadcast. In 7x mode the recording time is approximately 15 hrs on a single BD-RE/-R: 25 GB disc.

One would assume at least some of the models are 120Hz units, but Sharp did not reveal such info in their announcement.  

The models in the announcement will be released in Japan on September 10th. The U.S. Versions should be on display at the CEDIA Expo in Atlanta at about the same time.

Posted by 1touch at 09:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Do TV retailers do things to sell their LCD TVs on the showroom floor that make problems associated with the sets worse? One of the most reported problems with LCD TVs, especially the less expensive models, is poor black level and gray scale performance. Tremendous strides have been made in this area in the past few years, with technologies such as dynamic LED back lighting enabling the TV's back lights to be dimmed or shut off entirely when the image on screen warrants it.

Many lower end sets do not have such leading edge technology however. Although even the least expensive LCD TVs of today look better than their predecessors, a report published by ZDNet suggests that some retailers adjust the ambient light in their stores to improve the TV's perceived image quality.
 
How do they do this? Simple, they increase the ambient light in the TV sales area, or in some cases, fail to dim it. That makes the relatively poor black level and gray scale performance of less quality TV's less noticable. In some cases the ambient light level exhibited in the store's display area was many times that of your living room at home.

While retailers have been playing tricks with sets for decades in an effort to achieve higher sales figures, this has mostly involved maxing out the contrast settings on the TVs they wanted to sell to give the set's greater “pop” when compared to others on the showroom floor. Now TVs have the opposite problem. While CRT sets had excellent black levels but limited light output, most LCD TVs have fairly robust light output. It is the darker end of the spectrum where they fall flat.

Just be aware of this trick when you're shopping for a set. Few retailers show their display units after calibration, and many big box stores, such as Costco or Sam's Club, have no one on staff that can perform such an adjustment. If they could do so, you'd have to get them to dim the lights first, so the calibration could be performed in an environment similar to the room in which you'd actually be watching your TV at home.

Just know that these problems exist when shopping for your next LCD (or plasma) TV.

Posted by 1touch at 05:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It appears that home theater video manufacturer Runco will be back at the CEDIA Expo next month after all. Not only that, but they will be debuting over 10 new video products, and running a full slate of training sessions to boot.

Runco had previously indicated they would not have a booth at the CEDIA Expo, and would use those resources to help dealers, and implement a trade in program to help consumers buy new projectors.

CEDIA wouldn't have been the same without them. If you'll be at CEDIA, you can visit Runco at Booth 3069, or the training rooms in C-301 and C-302.

Posted by 1touch at 05:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just ahead of September's CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, Samsung is unveiling a new line of premium, thin, LCD TVs for home theater, media room, and family room applications. What's different about Samsung's new 8500 series? Well, an advertised 7,000,000 to 1 dynamic contrast ratio for one thing. How Samsung was able to best the Sun is a question for another time, but the new TVs promise spectacular images.

The 8500 series TVs use LED clusters for illuminating the screen. These can be individually dimmed to control the light at exact points on the screen, when the image dictates the areas should be dark. This is superior to a traditional edge lit LCD or CFL back lit implementation, because LCD has traditionally had difficulties completely eliminating light where it is necessary. That elads ot black level problems on most LCD TVs, although newer sets are much improved over those from a few years past.

Another advantage of modulating the backlight is lower energy consumption than sets with CFL or coinstant illuminating LED systems. That helps the 8500 series achieve their Energy Star v3.0 certifications, so you can install your new TVs and get that warm feeling inside because you're so environmentally concious.

Other performance features on these sets include Samsung's 240Hz refresh rate technology implementation, dubbed Auto Motion Plus.

Naturally, the sets have network connectivity as well. This allows streaming content from Flickr, Yahoo Video, YouTube, and USA Today sports. You can even get tweets on these TVs, so you don't have to crack your laptop, or look at your mobile.The connectivity suite is replete with 2 USB 2.0 ports for connecting thumb drives, digital cameras, and camcorders

Dealers and custom installers will receive the 46-inch ($3,600 suggested retail) and 55-inch ($4,500) screen sizes in September.

Posted by 1touch at 08:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Proving that the death of plasma as a TV technology has been greatly exaggerated, Runco yesterday introduced a slew of new plasma TV models. Known for their high end video displays, Runco has been a pioneer in the home theater video arena. 

Runco cut their teeth by combining high end video processing and advanced displays, then charging a premium price for their products. As can be seen from their latest efforts, things haven't changed much. Their new plasmas include the CinemaWall XP-OPAL50 and CinemaWall XP-OPAL65, both with integrated vidfeo processing. The PlasmaWall XP-OPAL50 DHD and PlasmaWall XP-OPAL65 DHD feature Runco's VIVIX DHD 3 external video processor and switching unit. The DHD 3 incorporates Runco's new generation VIVIX III processing.

What does Runco consider premium pricing? If you have to ask how much the Ruinco plasmas go for, you know what they say.....

In this case, the sets are definitely premium priced. The PlasmaWall XP-OPAL65 will set you back a hefty $15,495, while the least expensive / most value oriented unit, the CinemaWall XP-OPAL50 conmands only $6,995. It wasn't long ago that those were pretty representitive prices for flat panel displays, but those days are long gone. Runco has a well deserved reputation for delivering the goods with regard to picture quality, but these must be some pretty spectacular pictures.

 

Posted by 1touch at 05:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Vizio, a leader in LCD TVs, volume wise, is set to introduce some new LCD TVs that incorporate several high tech features, such as variable LED backlighting. At their August 4th press event in San Francisco, Vizio will debut some tasty, new TVs. Among the sets and products rumored to appear are:

• XVT LCD Line including Backlight TruLED with Smart
Diming, 240Hz SPS, Slim Bezel Designs and VIZIO
Internet Apps (VIA) Connected HDTVs
• New TVs with Designer Frame Finishes
• EcoHD “Green TVs”
• Audio Sound Bar System w/Wireless Subwoofers
• VIZIO’s first Blu-ray player

 

Posted by 1touch at 04:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to an announcement today by Samsung Electronics and Blockbuster, the two will team up to incorporate the Blockbuster interface on new Samsung TVs and BluRay disc players starting this fall. That means that a simple point and click will be sufficient to watch streaming content from Blockbuster's huge video library. Samsung has agreed to give blockbuster prime real estate in their menu system, virtually guaranteeing the video pioneer many thousands, possibly millions of rentals and downloads to Samsung customers.

Thanks to the wonders of that little bit of electronic wizardry known as the firmware update, owners of existing 2009 model Samsung 650 series TVs and above  will be able to simply download a Blockbuster widget to get the Blockbuster streaming. BluRay owners need only update their firmware to receive the Blockbuster functionality. The update is free of charge, but then why would they charge you for the abil;ity to participate in their market? That would seem stupid, and neither company has shown themselves to be that. Yet another reason to make sure your TV is connected to the Internet.

 

Posted by 1touch at 05:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

LG has made some changes to its LCD model line up for the rest of 2009. Some models were deemed to have insufficient demand, and have been canceled.

 

LCD:
The LU55 series launch was cancelled.  A few units shipped out last month but the
demand for this series did not justify carrying the models any longer.
The planned 32" and 37" sizes of the SL80 series launch have been canceled in order
to focus on 42" and above.

The SL90 series launch has been added for late October. These TVs will be 1080p, 120Hz units with LED back lighting. Models include the 42SL90 and the 47SL90. They are expected to launch in mid October, 2009.

 

Posted by 1touch at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On Thursday, July 2nd a new ruling issued by a Texas court of appeals upheld the previous court opinion that Dish Network's DVRs were, in fact, infringing on TiVO's DVR patent. What did this mean for Dish Network? They had but 30 days to disable their DVRs (yes, if you have one of the 4 million units affected by the court's decision, that means yours too!) rendering all recorded content unwatchable. From a business standpoint, not only would Dish be forced to forgo the ongoing rvenue provided by their DVR service, but they'd have to pay TiVO some $103 million in fees and interest. This is in addition to the money that was previously ruled on.

Dish Network filed an appeal as the decision was rendered, causing the court to issue a temporary stay of execution for the satellite provider. Papers are due for the appeal no later than July 17th, giving Dish, and their subscribers at least a few more weeks of baseball before the curtain comes down.

Dish Network does have the option to settle the case with TiVO. Technology agreements withDish  rival DirecTV, and cable providers Comcast and Cox Communications are already in place, allowing them to use TiVO's time shifting technology without fear of legal action.

Here is the U.S. District Court order on TiVO's lawsuit:

http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/motions/Orders/2009/2009-1374.7-1-09.1.PDF.

 

Posted by 1touch at 04:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Panasonic announced yesterday they would lower prices on some of their VIERA® plasma flat panel TVs, effective June 28th. In addition, they also announced combo bonuses, where consumers would be eligible for larger discounts on Panasaonic plasma TVs if they purchased other Panasonic products at the same time.

 

The plasma TVs in the discount program are the entry leve 42", 720p model, to be at an MSRP of $799, a $100 discount on a pretty darned nice 42" set at that price point.

If you really need a larger TV, than Panasonic has TVs in the 46 inch calss slated for discounts as well. The  TCP46S1, formerly $1,499, is now $1,299; the TCP46G10, that had an MSRP of $1,699, will be reduced to $1,499; and the TCP46G15, formerly $1,799, will drop to only $1,599.

 

In other news from Panasonic, they announced their super slim 54", 1080p plasma TV, the TCP-54Z1 is now shipping and has an MSRP of $5,999.  To get the TVs thin factor to fashionable levels, Panasonic removed some of the sets electronics and placed them in an outboard box. No worries about cabling though; Panasonic has equipped the unit with a wireless transmission system to send 1080p video up to 32 feet, so the outboard box can be located in a cabinet or on a shelf, with no wiring worries. Now you can finally put your TV on that stone fireplace like you've always wanted to. Just watch the height.

Posted by 1touch at 06:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TiVO has big plans to dominate the set top DVR market in the U.S. according to several in the know sources. Bloomberg is reporting this morning that TiVO will use its recent court victory against Dish Network to leverage its way in to as many American TV watching households as possible.

Widely acknowledged as having a fantastic GUI that even the most technologically challenged can learn in no time, TiVO will use the court victory and it's strategic partnerships with content providers Blockbuster Video, Amazon.com, and Netflix Inc. to make a run for DVR dominance in the American TV landscape.

See more about the Bloomberg story here.

Posted by 1touch at 05:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The 3D Fusion Industry Consortium and the 3D Fusion Industry Consortium announced today they'd be collaborating on the effort to put a large screen, 3D display into people's homes. 3D has been all the rage at the past few CEDIA and CES shows, and has started to find its way into commercial cinemas. The two industry 3D associations don't want it to stop there, and are attempting to set 3D standards that will facilitate just such as outcome.

According to a joint statement released today by 3D@Home Consortium chairman Rick Dean, “Both the 3D@Home Consortium and 3DFIC share a common goal of ensuring 3D is successfully introduced and embraced by content creation community and consumers around the globe,” he said. “Working together with the 3DFIC membership, we will tackle the technical challenges faced by artists and electronics manufacturers in transforming the vision of home 3D into a reality.”

What does that mean for you, and how soon can you expect your local CEDIA member to be installing 3D displays in their custom home theaters? Well, displays have already been released that support 3D. Now that the way has been paved for a real set of 3D standards the source, display, and content industries can work from it. Combines, the two groups include such consumer electronics, broadcast, and production companies such as Eutelsat, Samsung, Sigma, Sony Electronics, Turner Broadcasting, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Intel, LG Electronics, and Mitsubishi Electronics of America.

Last month the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SEMPTE) announced they would begin developing the content standard for 3D TV. This would be a 3D master and the basis for all content produced, distributed and displayed in 3D for home use.

Posted by 1touch at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dish Network has been involved in legal battles with TiVO over its DVR technology. At stake is the ability of DIsh Netowrk to continue offering its customers DVRs using the same technology they use now. If you're a Dish Network Customer, you probably couldn't get along without your DVR, but based on a legal ruling handed down earlier this week in Texas District Court, you may well have to.

TiVO filed a patent infringement suit against Dish Network 6 years ago, which Dish lost in 2004. The legal battle looks to be just about over, judging from then latest court ruling. According to Dish Network statements, they are "investigating other potential design-around options, but at this stage, does not know whether a future design-around is even possible."

What does this mean if you get your TV through Dish? According to the court ruling, no DVR for you, even if you already have one. Yes, you read that right. Even if you already have a perfectly good DVR, that you paid good money for, it may turn into a very expensive paperweight. That is a bit of an overstatement. The satellite tuning portion of the device will still function, so you can still watch TV, but not in the time shifted, rewind live programming, skip the commercials way you are used to.

Dish has less than 30 days to figure out a solution, otherwise an estimated 4 million DVRs will have their hard drives stop spinning, and Dish Netowrk TV watchers scratching their heads. What will the ultimate effect be on Dish Network if this can't be resolved, or another DVR solution implemented? Possibly the death of the satellite provider. TV viewers have come to demand DVR functionality, and if they can't get it from one provider, they'll go to another that can give them what they want; a functioning DVR. 

Posted by 1touch at 05:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At this year's Infocomm, Stewart Filmscreen introduced a whole raft of new products for both commercial and residential home theater appliactions. They have several new sceens and have added window treatments to their stable of products. For home theater applications, Stewart's new gray screen materials, the GrayHawk RS G3 and GrayMatte 70, promise even better picture quality. Designed to optimize images when used with new, 1080p digital projectors of either LCD, LCOS, or DLP technologies.

According to Stewart: "The G3’s ultra-fine optical coating improves uniformity for consistent brightness across the entire screen. This unique feature, combined with the screen’s neutral density gray base, dramatically increases black levels, shadow detail and overall color saturation, provides the viewer with maximum resolution and superb image quality. GrayHawk RS G3 is an excellent tool for lowering the black floor with high output projectors, without losing off axis performance and viewing cone width."

Also of interest to home theater enthusiasts are Stewart's new rear projection oriented screen materials. Rear projection is a fantastic way to get video to take up no space in the room, and combat high ambient light environments. Strewart showed the new CrystalView rear projection screen material. Designed specifically for high resolution rear projeciton applications, the CrystalView material is available in sizes up to 73” x 120”. Unlike previous dark tinted rear projeciton screen materials, the CrystalView material does not require a narrow viewing angle, and has excellent uniformity and brightness, even from far off axis viewing positions.

Posted by 1touch at 09:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

LG ELectronics is now shipping their new, Netflix ready flat panel TVs. The 1080p 47-inch 47LH50 ($2,100 MSRP) LCD TV and 50-inch plasma 50PS80 ($2,100 MSRP) started shipping to delaers and custom installers at the end of the week.

The 47LH50 LCD has 120Hz refresh, dubbed TruMotion by LG. The set also features 4 HDMI ports and an Ethernet jack to recieve LG's NetCast service, part of which includes Netflix streaming, in addition to YouTube videos and YahooTV widgets.

If you want something a tad larger, or would rather hang a plasma than an LCD on your wall, take a gander at the 50PS80. This also gets Netflix via LG's NetCast.

LG will release a 42 in LCD and a 60in plasma with Netflix streaming later in the summer.

On a related note, LED backlights for LCD TV and laptop computer applications experienced a dramatic spike in shipments. Sales of the LED backlights for LCD TVs, which replace traditional CCF LCD backlights, were up over 60% over the same time period last year, reports industry analyst DisplaySearch. Units destined for LCD TVs totaled 400,000 for Q1 of 2009. New emphasis on "Green" technology should increase the pace at which these new back lights are adopted for large screen LCD TV applications, since they use much less power than CCF backlights. On the plus side for TV watchers, properly implemented LCD backlights can improve picture quality as well.

Posted by 1touch at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After years of anticipation, the day is finally upon us; analog TV transmitters all around the country will go dark for the last time. It's June 12th, 2009, and after one false start back in February, we'll see iff pandemonium reigns supreme, or if the transition slides by with little fanfare.

There'll probably be some complaining from those people who actually get their TV from an analog antenna firmly affixed to their roof, where it's been for the last 40 years. As shocking as it seems for home theater and sports enthusiasts, many of these people could really give a rip about HDTV and all its glory. They just want to watch Wheel of Fortune, The Young and the Restless, and NBC news while they're camped in front of their aging Zentih consoles.

Thankfully, that's only about 3% of the U.S. population. Oh, sure many people have roughly the TV viewing habits, but a good percentage of them have seen Monday Night Football or the World Series in HD, prompting the "I've just gotta have it" light bulb to flash on in their heads, whereupon they raced down to Best Buy to pick up a new plasma TV. The funny thing is that they probably paid less for that new, 42" plasma than they did for their Zenith console TV they purchased back in 1968. Such is progress....

 

Posted by 1touch at 05:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sunfire, that wacky, do it a bit different company founded by the genius that is Bob Carver, has released their new media server, called, of course, the Theater Grand Media System, aka TGM-100. It uses a Flash based OS. The unit debuted at the 2008 CEDIA Expo in Denver (The last in Denver for a while, so sad. Now it's off to the humidity of Atlanta. Hope they've cleaned up downtown since the '97 CEDIA Expo)

A couple of thoughts on these servers here at http://1touchmovie.com/home-theater-gear. Yes, they are very cool, and they let you ignore the problems of using a standard PC as your main media server by using a real time OS and specialized UI. They are also a snap to integrate to a home control system and allow easy access from integrated touchpanel controls such as Crestron or AMX via some pretty sweet UIs.

However, they have been notoriously finicky and in some cases downright unreliable. It stands to reason that manufacturers of such expensive, specialized equipment would use enterprise class hard drives and power supplies, especially since these servers tend to be always on. However it seems reason didn't always prevail, for whatever reason, and so some of these units had exorbitantly high failure rates.

The time I had to tell a client he had lost his 500 CDs worth of data was a grim day indeed. Thankfully, the company involved stepped up to the plate and allowed us to ship his CD collection back to them, whereupon they re-ripped them back into the server, free of charge.

Hopefully those days are behind us. Recent units (with a couple of notable exceptions in the DVD storage department) have proved to be quite robust, so maybe companies have finally learned their lesson. That, or the iPOD dock has displaced the majority of the server business for many custom installers, so reports of failures are fewer and farther between. From personal experience however, the situation has improved significantly. 

Continue reading "Sunfire Ships New Theater Grand Media Server" »

Posted by 1touch at 08:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Molex releases the new HDMI connector. The next generation HDMI connector,  HDMI type D, is a micro connector suitable for all kinds of small, digital A/V products. The connector fully supports HDMI 1.4.

Just when you thought you were safe, now there is another HDMI cable variation.

Continue reading "New HDMI Connector Released" »

Posted by 1touch at 05:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Vizio, the world's largest maker of flat panel  TVs has announced an answer to critics who've charged that while the manufacturer sells more flat panel TVs than anyone else, Vizio LCD and Plasma TVs haven't always been up to par in terms of video quality and features. Now Vizio is shooting back with a new XVT series of LCD TVs (they stopped marketing plasma Tvs some time ago) that is aimed at the high performance video and home theater market. Vizio is once again holding the line on price though.

On the new XVT Series they are including some of the advanced features seen on sets from leading LCD TV manufacturers as Samsung, Sharp, and Sony.  One of these is Smart Dimming™ backlight TruLED™ LCD technology.

Vizio is also debuting a "full HD 1080p lineup featuring both 120Hz with Thin Line™ stylish designs and 240Hz SPS models using Smooth Motion™ technology, with the most sophisticated models incorporating TruLED and Smart Dimming™ backlight technology. In all models, VIZIO has integrated USB video inputs that are enhanced and offer high quality 1080p video playback, along with Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio™ of up to 2,000,000:1 makes for incredible black levels and almost three-dimensional imagery, they also include advanced user interface control with picture in picture and picture on picture functionality. VIZIO XVT models all include a universal learning backlit remote control. All models have superior audio, thanks to SRS Labs Technology with TruSurround HD™, which enhances clarity and produces surround sound without external speakers, and TruVolume™, which eliminates annoying volume fluctuations when switching channels or when commercials come on and off."

Here is a look at  their new line of LCD TVs -

New “XVT” Series Models and Features

Model

Description

HDMI Inputs

Audio

In-store

MSRP

SV320XVT - Thin Line

32” 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV

3

SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume

September

$749.99

SV370XVT - Thin Line

37” 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV

3

SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume

September

$849.99

SV421XVT

42” 1080p 240Hz SPS Full HD LCD HDTV

4

SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume

July

$1199.99

SV471XVT

47” 1080p 240Hz SPS Full HD LCD HDTV

4

SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume

July

$1499.99

VF550XVT

55” 1080p 120Hz Full HD LCD HDTV

5

SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume

Now

$1999.99

VF551XVT

55” 1080p 240Hz SPS w/Smart Dimming Backlight TruLED

5

SRS TruSurround HD & TruVolume

September

$2199.99

 

Posted by 1touch at 04:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The new Marantz Blu-Ray disc player, the BD-7004, is in the pipeline and should be shipping by the end of this month.

 

Some of the features of this new player include:

 
M1 Front Panel Design
• Center Mount Drawer
• New Chassis with heavy gauge top cover for reduced vibration
• 7.1 Channel Analog outputs
• High Quality Audio Stage, featuring Elna Capacitors for all 7 Channels
• Scaling by Anchor Bay
• Video Processing by Analog Devices -297MHz, 12 Bit (Based on BD8002)
• Gold Plated Audio & Video Outputs
• RS232C 2-way control for home automation controllers
• Discrete IR Commands
• IR Flasher Input
• Profile 2.0 for BD Live and Upgrades
• A 3 year warranty

MSRP for the new Marantz BD-7004 should be $799 when they arrive on dealer's shelves.

To enjoy the Marantz BD-7004 in your home theater - click here now

Posted by 1touch at 09:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)