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Home Entertainment
How to set up your surround speakers
By Tim LeFevre
03:45 November 11, 2008 PST
The world of home theater seems ever changing. New formats, new innovations and cheaper prices have made an altogether bigger audio-visual experience more accessible for everyone. Two channel systems have been common place in our lounge rooms for decades now, but you might need a few more tricks in your arsenal to get the best out of the latest multi-speaker systems. Tim LeFevre investigates. Read More
JL Audio Fathom f212 subwoofer
By Tim LeFevre
14:21 November 9, 2008 PST
Well known to car audio enthusiasts, JL Audio subwoofers set a high standard in clean, deep bass reproduction. So it’s not surprising that when they turn their attention to home audio the results are just as impressive. Enter the Fathom f212 dual 12-inch subwoofer. It employs JL Audio’s new 12W7 subwoofer drivers, boasting the most powerful and refined motor system JL Audio has ever used on a 12-inch woofer. The result is even greater output and accuracy than the single 12-inch Fathom subs in the range. Read More
Belkin's FlyWire provides wireless HD AV
By Kyle Sherer
16:53 October 31, 2008 PDT
Available from January 2009, Belkin’s FlyWire wirelessly delivers uncompressed 1080p True Cinema HD content from Blu-ray players, receivers, video-game consoles, and set-top boxes to HDTVs and projectors. FlyWire operates in the open 5GHz band, and intelligently manages its own connection, adjusting frequency and power to avoid interference. Read More
Onkyo upgrades THX Certified Home Theater Package
By Darren Quick
21:48 October 30, 2008 PDT
The new Onkyo HT-S9100THX combines a home theater receiver with a 7.1-channel home theater speaker system, all of which were designed to conform to THX's Integrated System Plus certification protocols. It also boasts1080p capable HDMI v.1.3 connectivity, Faroudja DCDi video upscaling, Audyssey 2EQ and Dynamic EQ, and complete decoding for the latest high resolution audio formats. The system also includes the new THX Loudness Plus technology which compensates for the tonal and spatial shifts that occur when the volume level is reduced below the reference levels. Read More
Mitsubishi's Laser TV now shipping in the US
17:31 October 29, 2008 PDT
October 30, 2008 Following its premiere as a totally new display category at the CES in January, a 65-inch version of Mitsubishi's LaserVue high-definition television has hit U.S. stores. The world's first laser-powered TV, which promises unparalleled performance including twice the color and significantly lower power consumption than both its LCD and Plasma cousins, is being sold for USD$6,999. At 10 inches, it might be slightly thicker than some of the flat-screen offerings we've seen in recent times, but the trade-off is a set that delivers 1080p definition at 120Hz and operating power of approximately 135W using laser beams to provide "an extensive range of rich, complex colors, along with truly distinct clarity and immersive depth of field" according to Mitsubishi. Read More
Edifier S200V premium desktop speaker system
By Darren Quick
00:56 October 27, 2008 PDT
In part created by renowned loudspeaker designer Phil Jones, the S2000V from Canadian based audio specialist Edifier International boasts a total power output of 80 Watts RMS with a newly developed 5.5” subwoofer with HSCC (high strength cotton composite) cone designed to deliver impressive bass and mid range performance. Read More
Sony's latest iPod dock range
By Darren Quick
20:02 October 22, 2008 PDT
Sony's new range of iPod compatible products makes good on the company's stated promise to “continue to develop products that are compatible with popular hardware formats and audio codecs.” Not surprisingly, this includes Apple’s ubiquitous portable player. The five-strong range includes a mini hi-fi system with docks for two iPods and DJ functions, two designs of iPod speaker system and two clock radios, one having CD playback in addition to its iPod compatibility. Read More
Sharp AQUOS DX Series LCD TVs feature integrated Blu-ray recorders
22:23 October 21, 2008 PDT
October 22, 2008 Sharp's new 16-model AQUOS line-up is the first series of LCD TV's in the world to be equipped with built-in Blu-ray Disc recorders. Ranging in size from 26-inch to 52-inch, the all-in-one DX Series design means there's no cords cluttering the back of your TV stand and viewing, disc-playing and recording can be simply controlled using one remote. Read More
Sony's BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc Player reaches mass market price
23:00 October 20, 2008 PDT
It seems that high-definition, 1080p viewing has well and truly entered the mainstream - at least when it comes to the players themselves. Our question is this: if you can pick-up a Sony BDP-S300 for under USD$250, why does it still cost $40 for a movie to feed it with? Read More
Philips’ next generation Aurea LCDs
22:06 September 30, 2008 PDT
Philips is rolling-out its 2008 Aurea LCD TV range with new 37” and 42” models boasting an improved in refresh rate of 2ms (compared with 3ms for previous models), a contrast ratio 30000:1, plus the latest versions of the company's Perfect Pixel HD Engine and Active Frame technology. Read More
Infinity Systems Prelude Forty Loudspeakers
By Tim LeFevre
17:28 September 25, 2008 PDT
To commemorate Infinity Systems 40th year in the industry, the company has released the Prelude Forty speaker system. Featuring a slim profile and the companies proprietary Maximum Radiating Surface (MRS) flat panel driver technology, the Prelude Forty aims to satisfy audiophiles and the design conscious alike, with it’s looks and the most advanced engineering innovations Infinity have to offer. Read More
Savant Systems' iPod media dock
By Kyle Sherer
18:31 September 24, 2008 PDT
Savant Systems’ ROSIE Media Dock connects compatible iPod and iPhone models with SAVANT multi-room AV systems allowing users to navigate their personal media players via a ROSIE user interface, which also displays artist, album and track information. Read More
The MX-6000 RF and WiFi capable universal remote
By Kyle Sherer
00:42 September 12, 2008 PDT
The MX-6000 touch-screen remote control provides users with access to their media library - including data on their PC and iPod - using both a narrow band 418 MHz transmitter and an 802.11 B/G WiFi transceiver. This makes it the first control to offer two independent communications and control methods simultaneously. Read More
Grundig's latest top model LCD - the Vision 9
00:15 September 4, 2008 PDT
Due to hit stores in September, the key feature of Grundig's new Vision 9 range is its integrated sound projector - an array of 16 cone speakers located in a sound bar beneath the screen combined with two rear facing sub-woofers in the back of the housing. The system replicates the surround sound of 5.1 systems by activating the individual speakers with a small delay to produce directional packets of sound that are reflected off walls at different points around the room. Read More
Philips unveil CinemaOne home theater system
By Darren Quick
02:15 September 3, 2008 PDT
Philips' new all-in-one DVD Home Theater System packs a range of home entertainment features into a distinctive, compact design. The CinemaOne includes an integrated universal iPod dock, built-in subwoofer and DVD player with HDMI 1080p upscaling in a unit that resembles a compacted, upturned trash can – only a lot more stylish. Read More
New Toshiba LCDs can process standard definition content into HD
By Loz Blain
06:24 September 2, 2008 PDT
September 2, 2008 HDTV equipment is selling furiously across the world; it seems every second lounge room now boasts a massive high-def LCD or plasma screen - that, as often as not, is displaying standard-definition video, because there's still a lot of standard-def DVDs floating about the place and a lot of broadcast content is still standard-def too. Toshiba has decided to work within the limitations of the media by introducing instant image upscaling technology on its new ZF575D monitors, which take standard-definition feeds and convert them to near-HD resolution while sharpening edges and details to produce a much clearer picture. Read More
One-step VHS to digital conversion for your old movies
By Loz Blain
04:40 September 2, 2008 PDT
Many of us remember the years when men were men, movies came on thick black VHS cassettes, and a well-dressed gent would wear an onion on his belt, as was the style of the time. Of course, these days we expect our media to be much more flexible, and with this in mind ION have released the VHS 2 PC - a VHS player with a simple USB output cable that lets you digitize all your old VHS content in one step and watch it online, on a DVD or a portable video player. Read More
ELAC 3D-13 single stereo speaker
By Tim LeFevre
10:06 August 31, 2008 PDT
The ELAC 3D-13 is a fully active loudspeaker that is a modern solution for stereo listening from a single compact enclosure, replacing the more conventional pair of hi-fi stereo loudspeakers and amplifier. Designed for people than have no room for a conventional stereo setup, or those that never sit at the apex of the stereo triangle (the sweet spot), it uses a 3D speaker to transmit sound in all directions to flood the room with music. Read More
IFA eye-candy: Samsung all-in-one slimline TV
02:57 August 30, 2008 PDT
August 30, 2008 Among the forest of flat screen TVs on display at IFA 2008, Samsung's 52" UltraSlim LCD TV grabbed our attention in terms of sheer head-turning good looks. While not achieving quite the wafer thin profile of the Sony ZX1, which is under half an inch (9.9mm) at its thinnest point, Samsung's offering makes up or this with a silkily attractive design which looks almost as good from the back as it does from the front. Read More
The Sountina sound fountain – 1.85 metre tall glass and leather column delivering 360 degree sound
By Jack Martin
23:38 August 28, 2008 PDT
August 29, 2008 It’s taken us a few decades to fully wrap our brain cells around the fact that a loudspeaker doesn’t need to be box-shaped with an array of woofers and tweeters and equally, that remarkable sound quality can be produced from a single speaker. Taking it one step further is the new Sony Sountina: this single, elegant column, combining glass, leather and room-enhancing illumination, delivers music over 360 degrees, providing a sonic and visual focal-point for any room. The name comes from a fusion of the words ‘sound’ and ‘fountain’; just as people gather around a fountain, so the 1.85m tall Sountina will deliver amazing music to those all around it. Sony calls it a Circle Sound Stage, and it’s all made possible by brand-new Vertical Drive Technology. Check out the image library - beeeeautiful! Read More
Pioneer promises most powerful Blu-ray player ever built
By Kyle Sherer
11:07 August 28, 2008 PDT
August 28, 2008 Pioneer is unleashing a Blu-ray player that will out-do the PS3 – and probably outweigh it too. The US$2,200 Elite BDP-09FD is hyped as the most powerful Blu-ray player ever built, and will feature Ethernet, BD-Live playback, and 4GB of internal memory for downloads. Read More
ELAC shows of world’s smallest subwoofer – ‘probably’
By Darren Quick
11:05 August 28, 2008 PDT
August 28, 2008 German speaker manufacturer ELAC was showing off what they dubbed ‘probably the world's smallest hi-fi subwoofer’ IFA 2008 this week. Their 2.1 desktop speaker system is made up of two satellite speakers and the 2010 BT MicroSUB, which contains four amplifiers, (two for the two bass drivers and two for the two connected satellites), in a unit that measures just 21.8 cm tall, 15.0 cm wide and 17.8 cm deep, and weighs just 4.8kg. Read More
Hidden sounds from Revox speakers
By Emily Clark
11:04 August 28, 2008 PDT
Revox of Switzerland manufactures a wide range of audio equipment that implements functional technology into everyday items. Two of its more notable products are speakers designed to replace traditional ceiling lights and bass speakers that double as stylish leather seats. Read More
Parasound introduces the Halo P7 dual-mode analogue pre-amp
By Tim LeFevre
00:02 August 26, 2008 PDT
August 26, 2008 High-end Californian AV specialists Parasound have introduced their latest preamp, the Halo P7, which is designed to cater to multichannel music and surround sound from Blu-ray, HD DVD, DVD-Audio, and SACD players as well as to traditional stereo sources. To achieve this, it incorporates both a 2-channel and a 7.1-channel analog preamp, offering a range of balanced XLR and RCA stereo inputs and outputs. Read More
The US$2,900 NACSound Kayak Single Stereo Loudspeaker
By Mike Hanlon
07:26 August 25, 2008 PDT
Sonance will introduce a striking new loudspeaker at the 2008 CEDIA Expo in Denver, next month. The NACSound for Sonance Kayak is a single-source stereo speaker able to reproduce natural stereo sound from a single visually striking component. The Kayak can be suspended vertically or horizontally, and utilizes elements of both omnidirectional and multidimensional sound reproduction to produce an unprecedented stereo effect in either orientation. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
