Xitel Moviecenter for iPod Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a third generation iPod nano that I use to load up with video clips that I download from the web or from Tivo. I have hooked up the Moviecenter to an old TV in the basement that I have set up as part of an exercise area. Now I can watch the iPod while working out. The Moviecenter remote works fine for sound, pause, fast forward, reverse. While it is little pricey ($50 would be a better price point) it does what it says it will do.

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CONNECT IPOD TO TV STEREOCOMPUTER NEW VIRTUAL HOME THEATER

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OPPO OPDV971H Digital HD-Ready Up-Converting DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I just got this player thru Amazon, and ran two region1 DVD disks: LOTR Return of the King Platinum and Dying Young. The short review: The wife is so impressed with the Oppo's picture quality (that's probably the most important consideration when buying anything like this). I was expecting the quality, since I was able to demo a Samsung earlier that could do DCDI/Faroudja/upconvertion. ADDED: I also tried Star Wars DVD. WOW!! The picture quality really blew me away. I can see details in the movie I have never seen before on a TV.
Our Oppo/HT setup: Panasonic AE700 widescreen lcd projector hdmi, ht=61" x wd=108" diy "blackout" screen (viewing distance=3.5meters), Yamaha RXV2095 receiver, Pioneer DV515 (old non-progressive dvd player via 12meter sVideo, 1.5meter fiber optic audio), Oppo DV971H (via dvi-to-hdmi adapter, 5meter hdmi cable, 3.7meter 75ohm component video cable, 10meter 75ohm coax audio), Speakers: Wharfedale Diamond 8.4 L/R/C and Bose AM10 L/R/C/Surr, Wiring AWG12. Home Theater PC setup (6meter VGA output, 1.5 meter fiber optic audio, Asus Pentium 4-2.67GHz notebook, ATI Radeon 9000-64MB, 512MB, 40GB HDD, ZoomPlayer, FFDShow, PowerStrip, WinDVD6, PowerDVD6). (1meter = 3.28ft)
I have observed a significant video improvement over our old pioneer DVD player. I also tried a 1970's movie (I won't mention the title) that was so poorly transferred to DVD (region3), and I noticed a significant improvement in the video playback over the old player. The noise artifacts were minimized, and the sharpness had a significant improvement. I guess that was the DCDI/Faroudja chip doing its work.
I've tried the 480p,720p,1080i upconvertion using the "dvi" button on the remote and although I couldn't really notice the difference in quality between the three modes even on such a large screen, the lcd projector saw the difference and reported the corresponding "input source signal". I may have to observe some more and change the projector's picture mode, we usually leave it at "Cinema1 mode".
ADDED: okay, I've now looked A LOT closer using Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon region3 DVD. Basically, as I move up the DVI resolution from 480p to 720p to 1080i, I did noticed that less and less horizontal lines were becoming visible (a good thing).
BUT, since our projector uses hdmi, the picture does suffer from hdmi cropping issues (varies with the resolution being used). Using component/analog gives the largest picture that can occupy the screen (unfortunately there is no upconversion using component, only the Oppo's DVI output has the upconversion). At the projector side: Using hdmi input, the picture appears cropped (black bars at the left and right, sometimes at the top and bottom, sometimes a combination of both). I also cannot change aspect ratio using hdmi, while you can using component/analog inputs of the projector.
ADDED: The Oppo I have can play DVD-Audio, something not stated in the manuals or the unit's array of logos. The DVD-Audio sampler disc I used came from Creative Lab's Audigy 2 for the PC.
ADDED: I also compaired the Oppo's component output vs. the dvi-to-hdmi output, basically, there's a big difference in the picture quality, you should connect using the dvi output if possible.
I also noticed that the subtitles on the movies are much easier to read now when compaired to the old dvd player, but on one brief moment the subtitles on Dying Young were garbled -that's never happened before on the Pioneer.
ADDED: Okay, this has now happened to a bunch of other DVDs, sometimes it garbles one single line of subtitle per entire single dvd I watched. That is still an acceptable problem to me.
I also heard no apparent difference in audio quality between the Oppo and the old Pioneer despite the length of the coax. Naturally I set all audio sound effects to off when compairing audio CDs.
I also compaired the Oppo to our HTPC. Basically, the HTPC could output better video than the old Pioneer, but when compairing with Oppo, I prefer the Oppo. I don't want the hassle the HTPC is giving me. I saw no significant video quality difference between the HTPC and the Oppo. So my take on this is if you're happy with your HTPC, stick to it. If you want convenience then Oppo is something to look at. If you can't demo an Oppo, try looking at anything with DCDI/Faroudja.
Bottom line: I am happy with the purchase. Good value for the money. It's region free and can upconvert, and that's what's important to me. I chose Oppo vs. Momitsu V880 because I prefer Faroudja over Sigma Designs. BUT, BUT, here are my Oppo gripes....
1. I don't like the remote's key layout, it also seems flimsy, it could use a backlight.
2. I don't like the el-cheapo plastic disc tray. It looks like it will break easily. It's weird having to insert a disc if the tray doesn't comeout 100% all the way. I just hope this is the design, not a defect.
3. I don't like the bright blue light which is distracting in a completely dark home theater room.
4. The player's buttons are a little hard to press, well, maybe because it's still new. As with other players, not all remote functions can be found on the unit itself. So take care of the remote.
5. I wish the unit was color black instead of silver.
6. I don't like the OSD font, could use a better readable font.
7. The setup menu could be more descriptive, the manual helps but not enough...
8. I wish it was HDMI rather than DVI, but the adapter solved that issue.
ADDED: 9. Subtitle display is sometimes garbled (sometimes happens once on a single line per DVD watched).
ADDED 05/28: Okay, after 3 months and almost 200 hrs of use, I am still happy with this purchase. However, not all DVD titles appeared fantastic thru the DVI upconversion output (hdmi input on our projector), such as Top Gun r1. I had to watch it thru the component output. It appeared too visually noisy via DVI.

Eric Gutierrez
Manila, Philippines

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Improve the picture quality of DVD movies shown on your high-definition television with the versatile OPPO Digital OPDV971H DVD player, which provides 480p/540p/576p/720p/1080i resolutions and can upconvert 480i video from DVDs to the high definition 720p/1080i formats. Featuring a slim and elegant design, it featurs a sleek, silver design that will fit in nicely the rest of your home theater's components. In addition to standard DVD move and CD audio discs, it's also compatible with DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, (S)VCD, HDCD, and CD-R/RW discs as well as WMA and JPEG digital content. It also plays DivX 5, DivX 4, DivX 3, and DivX VOD video content (in compliance with DivX Certified technical requirements).
The OPDV971H features Faroudja's Emmy award-winning DCDi deinterlacing and scaling technology to up-convert standard video in DVDs to HD resolutions. DCDi (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing) technology eliminates the jagginess that conventional upconverters introduced to diagonal edges in video. FaroudjaÕs unique DCDi algorithm identifies all the moving edges in a scene and adjusts the angle of interpolation at each pixel so that the interpolation always follows the edge instead of crossing it, eliminating staircasing or jagged edge artifacts.
Other features include a 108MHz/12bit video D/A converter, super error correction with twin laser and intelligent laser wavelength control, NTSC/PAL output (from both NTSC and PAL formatted discs), multi-angled view capability, virtual surround sound, and built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders. Future upgrades to the firmware can be updated to the player via a CD-ROM disc. It offers the following connection options:
DVI Out: 1 (480p, 576p, 540p, 720p, 1080i resolutions)
S-Video Out: 1
Composite AV Out: 1
Component Out
Subwoofer Out: 1
Optical digital audio Out: 1
Coaxial digital audio Out: 1

Tech Talk DivX is a video codec (a piece of software encoding and decoding video) based on the MPEG-4 compression format, that blends good quality video with a low bitrate. This translates to a smaller file size (around 15 percent of a standard DVD's video file), making it easier to transfer to portable devices as well as quicker to create (encode).
HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) is a disc encoding format for audio CDs and DVDs. It can encode 20 bits of audio information into a conventional CD 16-bit channel, yielding a greater dynamic range and a more true-to-life sound when decoded. HDCD-equipped players will improve audio quality for even traditionally recorded CDs and DVDs. Conversely, because of the recording process, HDCD-encoded media will also sound better than traditionally CDs and DVDs on players that don't have the HDCD chip.
DVI (Digital Video Interface) provides an uncompressed transfer of high definition video from a digital video source to a digital display device. HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) ensures copy protection of the content. The DVI output is also essential if you want to watch copyrighted DVDÕs at a higher, upconverted resolution (other video connections do not provide upconversion).
What's in the Box DVD player, remote control (with batteries), video cable, RCA L/R audio cable, printed operating instructions

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Axion AXN6070A 7-Inch Portable DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)At the same time that I purchased the Axion AXN6070A 7" Portable DVD Player for my kids, I also purchased the Phillips PET824 8.5" portable DVD player for myself. The Phillips is in a different league than the Axion, and if you're a traveler that will rely on the battery life of the portable DVD player, then you definitely don't want the Axion. The Phillips is a bit more expensive, but it has everything and more than you could want out of a portable DVD player.
Both the Phillips and the Axion LCD screens are crystal clear. You lose a little definition as you move side to side (as with most LCD type screens), but nothing too drastic that would warrant a complaint. The Phillips PET824 has an 8.5" screen and the Axion a 7" screen. The 1.5" difference is not dramatically different, but the larger Phillips screen does enhance the viewing experience.
The sound is fair on both the Phillips and the Axion without headphones, but I don't think that the idea was to use the units without them. Sound is fabulous on the Phillips with a good pair of headphones, and just okay on the Axion; your iPod headphones will do just fine for either unit (and if you don't have a pair you'll need to buy one because the players don't come with any). Both have two audio output jacks, and a 3-way splitter (not included) worked fine on both so that 4 people could watch and listen at the same time with headphones.
Here's the big difference between the two units: Battery Life.
I've gotten almost 7 hours out of the Phillips' battery, and the Axion's battery gives you less than 2 hours. Therefore, if you're an airline traveler or just want to bring your player somewhere that you can't use either the car adapter or the DC adapter, then you absolutely don't want the Axion; you want the Phillips.
On a recent airline trip the Axion--after a full charge--conked out after less than two hours...that's not even a full movie in most cases.
The Phillips' battery is a bit bulky. You'd think that with today's technology they'd be able to slim it down, but you can't complain about the 6+ hours of life you get with it after a full charge. The Axion's battery is smaller and more lightweight than the Phillips, but what can you do other than watch a few SpongeBob episodes with less than two hours of battery life. The Phillips PET824 is good for at least 2 full-length features before charging and that's awesome for long trips where you can't use the DC adapter or car adapter.
The car adapter on both the Axion and the Phillips work great and they both have long cords. So no need for the battery on car trips. The Axion at best might be a nice, less expensive alternative if you won't be taking your portable DVD player to places that require battery use.
Both the Phillips and the Axion fit in my small briefcase, and they're both relatively light. The Axion is a feather compared to the Phillips. Amazon sells cases for the units that can mount on the back of the driver or passenger seats. The case I got also mounts in between the driver and passenger seats. I'd highly recommend a case for your player. I went with the Case Logic Koskin DVD Player Case.
All in all....The Phillips PET824 was a much more satisfying purchase for me. For my purposes, the Axion just won't do for airline trips, and that's a major requirement; hence, the Axion is a major disappointment. But as I said earlier, the Axion is certainly a viable alternative if you don't mind sacrificing screen size and you don't plan on the need for battery power.
Choose your view.


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The Axion AXN6070 portable DVD player has a 7’’ Wide-Screen TFT LCD monitor with hi-resolution and hi-brightness. It features a top-loading DVD/CD/MP3 player with anti-shock and anti-vibration features to avoid skipping and stalling when used in a moving vehicle. It has an audio/video output jack for a camcorder’s input and for supporting external TV/monitor. It comes with a card-style remote control. It comes with small built-in stereo speakers on the front of the monitor, or two people can listen at a time via the dual Hi-Fi stereo headphone output. In addition to the typical volume adjustment, this player also lets you adjust screen brightness.The AXN6070 operates on 9V DC, with AC/DC adapter for indoor use, cigarette lighter adapter for in-car use, or rechargeable battery pack at bottom for portable use. It has a flip up screen, with the viewing angle adjustable up to 180 degrees (vertical). The DVD menu includes up, down, left, right, ok pause, stop, wide, previous, play, and next buttons.

What’s in the box: Axion AXN-6070 portable DVD player, rechargeable battery, AC adapter, cigarette lighter adapter, Remote control, Instruction Manual.

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Etymotic Research ER20 High-Fidelity Earplugs (White with Clear Stem) Review

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(More customer reviews)These little plugs are great. I'm in a band and go to a lot of live shows, and the regular foam plugs just didn't cut it any more. The advantage of these plugs is that the sound response is flat; you still hear the full range of frequencies, only, it's just quieter. You can totally have a conversation with someone in the middle of a crowded dance floor.
I love these so much, I actually bought a few more and gave them to my bandmates and girlfriend. They come with a cord in case you have a problem with losing them.
A note: make sure they're inserted correctly (ALL the way in) -- you'll definitely know. Also, the first few times you wear them it feels like an octopus is attacking your brain. You'll get used to that. Finally, it helps if you lubricate them on the way in with a bit of spit.

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ETY-Plugs (TM) earplugs use patented technology that replicates the natural response of the ear canal so that sound heard with these earplugs is as clear as the original, just quieter. ETY-Plugs earplugs have nearly the same fidelity as Etymotic's Musicians Earplugs (TM) (custom earplugs worn by professional musicians) and are a low cost alternative.Hearing loss is a function of exposure time, the average sound level, and the peak level of very loud sounds. Exposure to excessive noise can cause permanent hearing loss depending on the intensity and duration of the sound. Some persons are more susceptible to hearing loss from high-level sound than others.Protect your ears.In high-noise environments, wear Ety-Plugs.Includes one pair of Ety-Plugs, carrying case, black neck cord and instructions.

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Philips Blu-ray Disc Player, BDP7200/37 Review

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(More customer reviews)Have owned/installed dozens of DVD players.
Comparing this one with Sony 301, BX1, Toshiba A2, E500, Philips 5992 and Oppo 970HD.
Blu-Ray - ok. If you must have a BD player, this may be a nice choice. Especially if you need Divx compatiblity. No Ethernet tho.
SD DVD - Upconversion is typically poor, as is most BD players. Not as good as HD DVD, E500, or Oppo. Even $39 5992 is superior.
Divx - poor resolution, compared to 5992. Subtitles are not well formatted, compared to LG/Zenith Divx compatible players.
Pros:
Cheaper than sony BD players up til now.
Cons:
No ethernet, poor divx quality/compatibility. typical BD sluggish remote command response. Remote is long, heavy, button layout is horrible.
5992 has much better remote.
Summary:
I returned this unit. Too many drawbacks. Especially at this price. Will wait for a player that make me happy in all respects. If I had to buy something now for a HDTV HDMI setup, it would probably be the $39 Philips 5992. Great value and performance.
Reviewed using a 50" PDP 1080i using HDMI connection.

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Play your Blu-Ray discs with high definition picture and superior sound. Enjoy the thrill of full high definition pictures delivered by the BDP7200. Indulge in every detail, silky smooth action and vivid colors with Deep Colour. Current DVD favorites can also be enjoyed, with upconversion to 1080P via HDMI. See more. Blue-ray Disc playback for sharp images in full HD 1080P. 1080P at 24fps for cinema-like images. Full HD 1080p for razor sharp images. Deep color for vivid images in over a billion colors. DVD video upconversion to 1080P via HDMI. Engage more. CD& DVD for enjoyment fo familiar favorites. Bonus view for Picture-In-Picture video and audio mixing. EasyLink for easy control of connected devices via HDMI CEC.

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Epson PowerLite S1 Multimedia Video Projector Review

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(More customer reviews)Looking at the S1 in respect to using it for home theatre -
* it provides a brighter picture than most Home Theatre Projectors at 1200 Lumens
* the picture is very clear
* the colours are accurate and vibrant
* the contrast is average. DLP PJ's like the Infocus X1 have better contrast but u risk seeing rainbow effects with cheap DLP PJ's
* It has a short throw lens so 10 feet gets approx 100 inch diagonal screen so it can suit small rooms down to say 9 x 9 feet
* It doesnt have a genuine zoom feature so placement in a room is limited
* It is SVGA resolution but with the .5 size pixels (instead of .7 on most SVGA PJ's) screen door/pixelation is much reduced. I have it in my 12' by 11' bedroom at a diagonal screen size of approx 95' and it looks supurb.
* Fan sound is about average. It exhausts the air out the front so can be mounted close to a wall
* It doesnt have manual individual colour adjustments. The 5 preset viewing modes will be fine for most, coupled with the ability to adjust contrast/brightness.
* Try to position the PJ at right angles to the screen in order to avoid using keystone correction. The picture looks slightly better if u dont use keystone correction with this PJ.
* The PJ itself is very inexpensive and the replacement lamps are the cheapest i have ever seen. Would be good if the lamp could go more than 2000 hours but since they are so cheap its not so much of an issue.
* Many S1's are sold/have been sold so it should be easy to get replacement items such as lamps in the future.
* Doesnt have a individual component video connection. U have to use the RGB port so if u have a pc u have to share this port. Would have been good to have a seperate component video port.
There are several entry level PJ's which are providing performance at a level previously only found on PJ's much more expensive. At similar to the EPSON S1 price point you could look at Infocus X1, Hitachi CPS210, Sanyo Z1 amongst others.
In Summary Epson S1 - Bright, very clear picture, excellent colours, short throw, cheap globes
Im very happy with the S1. The most important issue above all is the picture and this PJ's picture is crystal clear, bright and vibrant.
Regards Talisman

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Early Adopters Pick: July 2003. The S1 from Epson is a price-busting portable projector that delivers brilliant, full-featured SVGA performance, under $1,000.
With a footprint of just 14.6 by 10.4 inches, the S1 sets up on nearly any convenient surface and weighs just 7 pounds, making transportation painless. An SVGA native resolution of 800 x 600 ensures that projected images retain their clarity even at great distances, while 24-bit color support of over 16.7 million colors results in accurate, true-to-life images. A monitor out capability lets you display images on both the projected screen and on a monitor simultaneously, while compatibility with both PC and Mac operating systems ensures that your presentations a snap to set up, no matter where you are. The 400:1 contrast ratio provides sharp detail, and 1,200 ANSI lumens of brightness results in projections that are easy to see from anywhere in the room. The 132 W UHE lamp provides over 2,000 hours of lamp life, while the internal power supply consumes 180 watts during normal operation and just 5 watts in stand-by mode.
The S1 has a variable aspect ratio of either 4:3 or 16:9 and an adjustable projection screen size of 30 to 300 inches. The digital zoom/manual focus lens has an F-number of 1.4 and an f-number range of 16.6mm, which combine with digital keystone correction of plus or minus 15 degrees to help achieve accurate, in-focus projections across the entirety of the image. The S1 supports NTSC, NTSC4.43, PAL, M-PAL, N-PAL, PAL60, SECAM, and HDTV formats, the latter including 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. Mini DIN, RCA, and mini D-sub signal inputs and an RS232C control input are provided. The internal fan emits less than 33 dB of noise during normal operation, while the internal 1-watt mono speaker provides a clear, intelligible internal audio output. The remote operates at a distance of up to 19.7 feet and provides control over a wide range of projector functions. The S1 also comes backed with a two-year limited warranty.
What's in the BoxProjector, power cable, computer cable, projector remote control with lithium battery, presentation remote control, soft carrying case, air filter, CD-ROM, Quick Setup Sheet

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Power Acoustik PTID-8970NRB 7-Inch In-Dash Widescreen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD Review

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(More customer reviews)I don't normally write reviews, but I decided I should for this product since there aren't many and I think the manufacturer deserves credit. I've used Power Acoustik amps and speakers before and liked them a lot. The company produces quality products but gets non-name-brand prices. So I wasn't too scared rolling the dice on this unit. I've been using it for a half a year now and it hasn't disappointed.
Sound is just fine. I doubt its audiophile quality, but it will stand with a good portion of the Sonys and the Pioneers. My one gripe there is that it doesn't seem to filter the low pass signals out of the main channels if you tell it to output to the sub channel, but this is a relatively minor problem and if you're not using a sub, you won't even care. The volume is sufficient.
Menu/control system is pretty good. You get some geek cred for having a touch screen and the basic functions are as you would expect. The external controls on the faceplate are a little weird. I definitely would have made the source easier to change than scrolling through by tapping the power button (I've never accidentally shut it off though--it's just you would think this would get its own button). I do like having the call pick-up and disconnect buttons that you can use when the faceplate is down.
iPod control is weird and I honestly don't use it. It's 100x easier to navigate your songs on the iPod itself. But I don't have use the custom ipod input because the basic audio input off a headphone jack is all i need there anyway and it lets me set my iPod in the console right side up. I suppose if I got into video on my ipod I'd give the ipod control another try, but it doesn't really worry me.
The Bluetooth handsfree option works fairly well. When someone calls you, no matter what screen you are in, it mutes your music, comes up with who it is and lets you choose to answer. It will also dial out strait from the head unit and interface with your phone's phonebook. It had troubles interfacing with mine. I actually prefer to just make the call from the phone and then the head unit takes over. I'm still out on whether I find the audio quality acceptable. In town its fine, but at highway speeds I think it picks up too much noise. Still, it's definitely usable.
Movies are pretty good. They can be a little washed out in the day depending on where the sun is etc., but generally the picture is great. I also like that it's not just a DVD player but a divx/xvid player and can use SD and USB storage devices. I haven't really used it, but I like knowing its there. If I did want to watch movies etc, I'd definately be using more the xvid/divx stuff than off the ipod. My one grip is that you have to use the remote for some of the navigation of the movie menus. I wish this was all touch screen, but you don't need it that often.
Navigation is the killer app for me. I just love it. It's also the part that I was most ambivalent about since there were no reviews of it. Well I'm glad I took the plunge. It's $200 extra, but well worth it. It's well programmed, you won't have a problem switching from a Garmin or a TomTom. It finds the satellites a lot quicker than my Garmin too, and I assume (though I don't have many tall buildings or mountains around me that it will hold on signal better there as well. And I have the antenna buried behind my glovebox. I imagine if I gave it more prominent positioning, the signal would be even better. The maps seem to be better than my garmin: it has less unnamed streets in my experience. And the fact that it's built into your dash and you don't have to sucker it onto your windshield is great. I'm really interested if anyone knows about software updates for it (just because I'm geeky that way). The website it points to doesn't seem to exist. You can quickly switch between your nav screen and your audio screens. You can continue listening to your source audio while in the nav screen and you can continue to get audio nav directions when off of the nav screen.
The security feature sort of scares me. The removable part isn't all that noticable when it's removed. It doesn't seem like much of a deterrent, which is all that really matters. I once had a head unit with top of the line smart card security. Well, it was stolen even though the card was out. All the thieves got was a dead stereo, but that didn't help me any. Anyways, this unit is so reasonably priced that I think the risk is worth it.
So all and all: everything is a little rough around the edges, it seems like it was designed a little hastily--maybe by the engineers, but it's feature-rich and most of the features work well. And if you tried to get anything similar from a big name you'd easilty be paying twice as much, which makes this a great buy.

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7-inch In-Dash Widescreen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD

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Samsung UN46C6800 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED HDTV (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Disclaimer: I actually purchased the UN46C6900 which is the exact same television with a different colored bezel, however all here applies to the 6800 as well.
After doing a great deal of research online and in the shops, this TV really seemed to make a lot of sense in terms of price vs. performance, and after my purchase I have to say I certainly agree. I am coming from a higher end 32" Samsung LCD from about 3 years ago, and have spent time with friends and their various Samsung, Toshiba, Sony LCDs and Panasonic plasmas. Hopefully this review will help you make a decision and also provide some insight into using it for various input sources, particularly with a PC.
The first question you need to ask yourself is if you want 3D... if you're like me, you'll find the added cost probably isn't worth it, particularly if you already have a Blu-ray player (given that you can get a better deal on 3D glasses with a Samsung Blu-ray bundle). For me it would have cost around $400-500 more to go 3D (for the added set cost of the UN46C8000 and two pair of glasses), and after seeing it in person, 3D will definitely get a lot better in the years ahead. Outside of the performance and illusion (which was pretty cool from my in-store demos), the two problems for me in particular were that the basic and advanced rechargeable glasses weren't comfortable with my prescription glasses, and the basic glasses use a non-rechargeable watch/coin style battery which sounds like a pain to deal with. That said I am definitely interested in 3D (particularly for games), in a few years I will likely upgrade looking closely at 3D sets to see if the quality and ergonomics have improved.
So anyway, actually on the topic of this tv! The main reason I chose this particular set was because I was interested in 120 or 240hz LED-LCD (mainly due to decreased energy consumption), and also some type of smart backlight technology to get better blacks. I've also had good success with Samsung sets, and they seem to offer the most models compared to Sony or Toshiba, so I could really dial in what features I wanted (or didn't want). So in terms of features, because many edgelit LED sets historically have been pretty horrible in terms of light uniformity, particularly in dark scenes, I was initially interested in the local dimming backlit LED sets such as the UN46B8500. Desire to save some expense and wanting to get a 2010 model year set (improved firmware considerations), I settled on this particular version given it's "precision dimming" functionality. Of course the challenge here is that the 6800/6900 set is edgelit, so while the same trickery in the B8500 was going to be impossible (turning off light directly behind the LCD), it pulls off a similar effect pretty admirably with a thinner profile and lot less cost. How this works is, first imagine a series of LEDs placed around the entire perimeter of the screen (picture a movie-star dressing room mirror with bulb lights all around it). These LED's can be turned on/off on the fly, dynamic to the content on the screen. For an extreme example, picture a game with a completely black loading screen, but with white text "Loading" in the lower right corner. In this scenario, all the perimeter LEDs are turned off, except for the ones in the corner, so the black areas are definitely black while the text is back/side lit. In some scenarios, where the solo text is in the middle of the screen, you get a bit of a projection of light from above and below, but this is very subtle and generally noticeable only from off center viewing. In dark scenes and places where pockets of black are on the sides of the screen, the precision dimming effect is really great. The design overall is a good compromise between the previous backlit LED sets in terms of price and form factor versus performance.
Regarding power consumption, I'll say I'm pretty impressed. Using a kill-o-watt meter on my complete system alternating both of my TVs (this and Samsung CCFL-LCD 32"), I did a test using identical conditions and watching the same video clip on my Playstation 3. While using this C6900, the system overall drew 80 less watts while watching the clip. I was especially impressed given that this set is quite a bit larger, so at most I was expecting the power savings from the CCFL would be offset by the increase in size. Actually saving power overall is a real bonus.
Regarding performance over different inputs... when using this set, I have the following items connected:
- Playstation 3 (via HDMI through Sony receiver STR-DN1000)
- Nintendo Wii (from component RGB to the Sony receiver, upconverted to 1080i and sent to TV via HDMI)
- PC (Windows 7 64-bit, slow fan spinning ATI Radeon 4850 via DVI to HDMI cable to HDMI1 port, designated for PC)
- Antenna (for over-the-air local HD, I don't have cable or dish, I generally just watch shows/movies through PC, Netflix streaming, Hulu, etc)
NOTE: If you are using a PC with this set there are many special considerations that I have discovered. As with many 1080p sets, to get perfect 1:1 pixel mapping at 1080p resolution, the TV and PC require proper configuration when using HDMI (or in my case DVI-HDMI).
First off, the PC should be connected to HDMI port 1 (labeled for DVI devices). Once you have the PC connected, turned on, it must be set to 1920x1080 resolution (note that if you have an ATI video card, you will also need to set the Overscan Ratio to 100% in Catalyst Control Center, with Nvidia or Intel graphics this is not required).
Second, the TV must be configured properly. There are two ways to achieve perfect 1:1 mapping (or close to it) that require separate settings on the TV and each have their own pros and cons. Both require changing the "label" of the HDMI1 input within the Samsung TV menu:
Method 1: Use the DVI-PC label. This method will provide perfect 1:1 pixel mapping and the sharpest possible picture from a computer. However, I have discovered the big downside is that in this mode, most the TV's bells and whistles are disabled including "precision dimming" and "auto motion plus" (the polarizing smoothing effect introduced with 120/240hz sets). Losing precision dimming sucks (particularly 4:3 content such as videos and emulated games) because you essentially get glowing bars and generally poor blacks, essentially making this TV in PC mode look like the Samsung C6500. This condition also exists when using the PC-VGA port, you lose most of the control over the set and most processing effects are disabled.
Method 2: The DVI Devices label. Initially this method scales the screen funny and does not appear to provide 1:1 mapping, but does enable all the whiz bang effects afforded by this TV (precision dimming, etc). However, much to my delight I recently discovered that by using the screen mode function (the method to toggle the screen between 16:9, 4:3, 4:3 zoom, etc), you can select a "screen fit" mode that effectively scales the 1920x1080 resolution to the total screen size with no over or under scan. The method provides an image that is probably only 98% (read: hard to notice) as sharp as method 1, but in my opinion getting precision dimming back well more than makes up for it. It looks great using this configuration with the PC when playing games (iRacing, Dirt2, colsole emulators), web browsing (text is plenty sharp enough in this mode), watching videos, etc.
Ultimately, because you need to configure the set in this way to get the most out of the PC connection (changing the input label), it becomes impractical to connect the PC via a receiver with all of your other gear connected to the TV via one HDMI cable. I was little disappointed by this initially, but running two separate HDMI cables and occassionally switching inputs on the TV is a pretty easy compromise. You COULD run just one cable, and change the label of the input each time you would switch between PS3 and PC for instance, but the way the TV menus are setup, it becomes a pain, particularly because each input type may have special contrast/color settings. In the end, I have found two HDMI inputs configured independently is substantially easier to deal with.
With all that out of the way, the other inputs via my PS3 and Wii via the Sony receiver look just as fantastic, I couldn't be happier. The color is great and the crispness is there particularly with HD signals. Since I'm a huge Wii gamer (Big props to Sin and Punishment 2, No More Heroes 1/2, Mario Galaxy 2, Zack and Wiki, Metroid Trilogy, and lots of awesome WiiWare games, Cave Story, Light Trax, You me and Cubes), I will concede I'm used to resolution compromises, so I bit the bullet with my old TV and got an upconverting receiver which takes the Wii component signal and upconverts to 1080i to the TV via HDMI. Obviously this doesn't do miracles to the 480p signal (or 480i in some games), but it produces a significantly sharper image than using direct input via component on this TV. Edges are sharper, but yet smoothed out quite a bit, and the colors really pop... Mario Galaxy 2 and Sin and Punishment 2 are particularly striking). I hightly recommend going this route if you're a Wii gamer who wants the most out of the systems's image quality. PS3 of course looks gorgeous via Blu-ray movies and various games I play such as GT5 Prologue, Street Fighter IV and Wipeout HD.
So far so good then, right? Well, the one small criticism I will levy towards this TV is that the viewing angles are not quite as good as was hoping for. I will say that my older Samsung 32", while not having the same black levels and brightness certainly, did hold it's image consistency better from an angle. If you're on center, it looks gorgeous, but move a couch cushion to the right or left (from 7' away), and...Read more›

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Samsung LED HDTVs combine breakthrough picture quality and advanced connectivity options that will keep you entertained 24/7. This UN46C6800 LED HDTV also makes it easy to be green, and will save you some green, by being ENERGY STAR compliant.

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Pioneer MVH-P8200 Multimedia AV Receiver with 3 In. Color Display Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros
-Sleek, clean interface
-Plays music, video, and images
-Great sound
-Great customization (appearance and sound)
Negatives
-No support for artwork on USB devices (save the iPod)
-Needs ridges on side of knob for easier grip
-Sometimes the knob can be hard to push straight in
Overall, I'm happy with this unit. The installation was pretty straightforward. It's easily one of the more customizable units on the market. You can adjust the background, screen color, button color, 8 different EQ settings, including using the 5 that they give you already.
One thing that bugs me is that it doesn't support artwork out of a USB device. It'll display artwork from an iPod but not a USB device. For being a media-centric device, this should be a big embarrassment for Pioneer. I was sorely disappointed when it wouldn't work, especially since all of my music is properly tagged with ID3 tags.
The second problem is lack of an HD radio. This is a hefty price to pay for a radio where they saved money by taking the CD player out.
For those reasons, I gave it a 4 out of 5.
Otherwise it's a pretty nice unit that definitely stands apart from the rest. The clean look along with the ability to play music, videos, and photos from USB devices OR the SD card is quite nice. The multi-control knob is actually quite nice and makes for easy adjustment of many settings. And once you get a hang of the home list, operating this is a piece of cake.
There's a reason I stick with Pioneer and this unit proves why. The sound quality is unparalleled. I have no problem recommending this unit.
Edit: One other thing that I want to mention is that other than the standard guidelines (so many folders, so many files, etc.) that this radio will handle (at least) up to a 16GB flash drive (more from what I read, with people actually hooking up 60+GB portable hard drives) and a 16GB SD card. I had previously read that the limit on the SD card was 2GB but this is not true; my 16GB card borrowed from my XSi worked beautifully.

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"Mech-free" receivers are all the rage lately, as more and more consumers migrate their music and media collections to hard drives rather than physical media. The MVH-P8200 from Pioneer is one of the company's first mech-free receivers, and has plenty to offer the digital-centric crowd. Enjoy direct control of your iPod, with simple navigation and search features. Play back MP3/WMA/AAC audio files, DivX video, and even JPEG images from USB devices or SD memory cards. You can even tag songs heard on the radio for later purchase. It's all conducted via the simple "Rotary Commander" control and simple user interface displayed on the unit's three-inch display.


MVH-P8200 Features
Smart Interface for Quick Access Pioneer's new user interface has a minimal yet powerful design, and scales to accommodate modern media sources easily. Tailor it to your own preferences with the customizable home menu, putting your favorite features right at your fingertips.
USB Input / SD Memory Card Slot Connect USB thumb drives or other devices and enjoy playback of your digital audio and video files. Ditto for SD memory cards. This makes it a breeze to quickly grab some media from your computer before a big road trip, and enjoy hours of entertainment on the road.
iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V required) Connect your iPod directly and experience exceptional sound quality while easily navigating through music, videos and album art on the AVH-P5200BT's screen. Say goodbye to the annoying static of FM transmitters and other iPod half-solutions.
Simple Search for iPod lets you quickly search your iPod/iPhone with alphabetical search by Song, Artist, Album or Genre categories.
MP3/WMA/AAC Playback Play back three of the most popular digital audio formats:MP3, WMA, and AAC. The MVH-8200's screen displays track info, and makes navigating directories/folders a breeze.
Video/JPEG Playback for Non-Stop Entertainment The MVH-8200 features a three-inch color display designed to take full advantage of all of your media. Play music videos and more from your iPod/iPhone, or from SD memory cards/USB devices. The MVH-8200 can decode Divx (AVI or DIVX extensions) video. You can even display JPEG photos using the Digital Photo Frame feature.
Auto EQ Automatically tailors acoustics by fine-tuning frequency bandwidths plus front/rear speaker digital parametric equalization. Result: smooth sound full of subtle nuance and clarity. Requires optional CD-MC20 microphone.
Customize Your Colors The MVH-P8200 will accommodate your taste or mood. Select from six colors (blue/violet/red/amber/green/white) for the display, and 112 colors for key panel illumination.
Connect, Tag, and Download Have you ever heard a great song on the radio, but couldn't remember what it was called or who sang it when you went to go look for it later? Now you don't have to worry about missing out on great music. iTunes Tagging gives you the power to "tag" all of your favorite songs without having to scramble for a piece of scrap paper in the car, then later preview or purchase music at iTunes Music Store. Works with stations transmitting RDS data.
Bring Your Music to Life with Advanced Sound Retriever This year you can hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of the highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files playing on your CD player. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality.
Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner Pioneer's legendary Supertuner IIID combines the best of digital and analog tuner technologies to reduce distortion to bring you exceptional FM and AM performance. If you live in an area where reception is weak, you'll hear a big improvement in signal strength. And when you're near tall buildings, Supertuner IIID reduces the effect of multi-path noise, which occurs when the signal is reflecting off of the buildings.
Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets. And when you're somewhere new, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the 6 strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
MOSFET 50W x4 Amplifier for the Power Hungry Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient, delivering power with less distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. And that doesn't just mean a boost in volume: it means that your music will be cleaner at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the amplification circuit. Clean, efficient power that will rock your vehicle.
For those who'd like a bit more power, three 4V RCA preamp outputs are also included for system expansion (front/rear/sub).
MVH-P8200 Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer MVH-P8200 Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

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Archos 405 2 GB Portable Media Player (Purple) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have two 405s, so nice I did it twice. Basic, simple to use, card slot and well built. One of the best players for the money. The only down side is you have to buy the dock separate for faster charging and TV connection. But if you go to the Archos Web-site the docks are usually sold at discount.

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The Archos 405 lets you enjoy all your digital entertainment straight from the palm of your hand in an incredibly robust and portable device. Less than 1/2 inch thick, the pocket-sized Archos offers expandable memory with its built-in 2 GB hard drive and amazing video playback on its high-quality 3.5-inch full-color screen. Other great features include mass storage capabilities and photo viewing support.
For added video playback versatility, the player is compatible with MPEG4, AVI, and WMV video files. You can also record live TV or schedule a recording by using the integrated TV program guide available with the compatible DVR station (sold separately). The player features robust music playback features, too. On-board music file playback capabilities support MP3, CBR, VBR, WMA, protected WMA, and WAV files. To help round out the player's multimedia superiority, the Archos even comes with photo viewing capabilities. JPEG, BMP, and PNG files are 100 percent compatible with the player, and the player can pull up PDFs for portable review -- an ideal means to take bigger documents or e-books in PDF format on the road with you.
Because of the Archos's USB 2.0 compatibility, a variety of different media files can be quickly transferred to the device. Charging the device can also be accomplished with an active USB connection. Other great features include mass storage capabilities, automatic firmware downloads, and a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack. With an advanced Li-Poly battery, the player supports up to 16 hours of continuous music playback and 5 hours of continuous video playback. Weighing in at a scant 4.2 ounces, the Archos generation 5 405 measures 3.9 by 3.07 by 0.5 inches.
New Dish Network Plug-in With a new plug-in, you can transfer recorded movies and TV shows from your Dish Network set-top box directly to your Archos 405. Play back Dish Network-recorded movies and TV shows on the go or on TV--in DVD quality.
Multi-language is supported. The plug-in is compatible only with Dish Network STB models 622 and 722.
What's in the Box Archos 405 portable media player, headphones, USB cable, DVR Station Gen 5 adapter, protective pouch, quick start guide, and legal/safety notice.
(1) On average; based on 3.5 mins/song & 64 kbits/s WMA, on 1000 kbits/s MPEG-4 audio/video encoding and 1h30/movie (for near DVD Quality), on JPEG, VGA

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Sanyo PLV-1080HD High Definition 1080p LCD Home Theater Projector Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We had been holding off buying a home theater projector since technology was improving and prices were coming down. I revisited the market this fall, doing some extensive research both online and at the local stores. I came across this Sanyo 1080p projector that seemed promising in its initial reviews -- and certainly was an attractive price point at $1,599. We have a large living room (29' by 16') that we intended to maintain as a multi-purpose living room/home theater. The room has one wall that has floor to ceiling glass with vertical blinds, which allows us to darken the room during daylight but certainly not to pure theater levels. For our situation our local retailers were promoting projectors that would cost $5,000 -- to be coupled with sound system, screen and installation that would push the cost to $10,000 or more. After researching the options, we bit the bullet and ordered this Sanyo 1080p projector from Amazon -- figuring it was cheap enough now that if it turned out to be a mistake we would just live with it for a few years until technology improved and prices came down further. In preparation for its arrival, we had our local cable company upgrade our service to digital which gave us access to their HD programming through their set-top box.
I am delighted to report that we could not be more pleased or impressed with this purchase. We had it up and working within 10 minutes of its arrival, using our white wall for our initial screen. I have to tell you that it looked so good that we decided to make the wall our permanent screen. The up-down and left-right lens shifting allowed us to place the projector about anywhere we wanted -- so my son and I designed a permanent installation with a wall mount near the ceiling. We added a $250 Sony "home theater in a box" for sound, concealed the wires, rearranged the living room furniture and have a complete home theater system for less than $2,000.
And the picture quality? Oustanding! We've set the picture size to the maximum for our room, which provides a picture that is over 6' tall with a 13' diagonal picture size. David Letterman is larger than life, and football games allow you to see the blades of grass and faces in the stands even on wide shots. With the 1080p HD, the "screen door" pixels are very sharp and clear at the wall but are virtually invisible when more than 3' away. The picture is as bright and clear as anything we saw in the local retailer home theater demo rooms -- maybe even better. Ambient light is no more of a problem than it would be with any TV in the room, and we find that we are using this as our primary TV. The setup and operating instructions were clear, setup was simple, the on-screen menus are easy to use, we don't hear the fan, and for our purposes, we can't think of a single thing we would change. If we have a concern, it's that we'll use it so much we'll have to buy that replacement lamp a lot sooner than we would like (3,000 hours they estimate) -- but we're beginning to consider that $300 cost a bargain compared to the entertainment value we're getting.

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If you’re looking for a home theater projector, you want one that is full high definition (1080p), easy to install and still affordable. SANYO is one of the largest LCD projector manufactures in the world.For many years it’s been a leader in projector technology with professional grade equipment.Now SANYO brings this high level of technical expertise to home theater.The SANYO PLV-1080HD offers many advanced features at an affordable price. First you are getting the best video quality with full 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution which is the highest available from any source material. The picture quality from HDTV, Blu Ray movies, HD video games, HD camcorder videos and still digital photos will look stunning on a TRULY big screen. With two state-of-the-art HDMI (ver 1.3b/Deep Color) source inputs and two component inputs you have the flexibility to connect all the HD sources available today.

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Vuzix Wrap 310XL Widescreen Video I-wear Eyewear Glasses Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was a little skeptical on these. However, purchase the shade or side covers with it. For one of the best effects lye on your back in a comfortable position and you will feel like you are in a different world with a total loss in the track of time. Nice get away anywhere. Dont use on the treadmill!

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Transform your iPod or iPhone into a virtual 55" 16:9 widescreen home theater anywhere you go. Ideal for travelers and commuters, these Video Glasses turn your small video screen into a widescreen home theater with a virtual 55-inch display as seen from ten feet. Enjoy video games or watch 2D or 3D movies in both standard 4:3 and 16:9 screen formats. Individual focus adjustments allow for prescription eyeglass-free viewing. Stylish and wearable, Vuzix Video Glasses look just like normal sunglasses no one will ever guess their hidden function! They re compatible with all audio/video devices with composite video-out and include an iPod/iPhone cable for connection to all models of video iPod and iPhone devices. They run on two AA batteries (included) and include removable noise-isolating earbuds or you can use your own. Forget the small screen! Enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows and games on the virtual equivalent of a 55" widescreen. Order your Vuzix Wrap 310 Widescreen Video Eyewear from Brookstone today! iPod/iPhone not included. iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Made for iPod means that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. Works with iPhone means that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPhone and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

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Epson EX50 3LCD Multimedia Projector, XGA, 2200 Lumens Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a neophyte when it comes to using overhead projectors, but took a chance on this one. I was able to use the USB cord (included) to do a power presentation for a meeting, only 24 hours after the projector arrived. It was truly "plug & play."
A few days later, I needed to present a video clip to an audience. When I checked it out, I discovered that in videos, the USB cord was inadequate. So, I tried the "external monitor" cord (also included) and the situation was quickly resolved!
There were no worries about buying the right cords to connect anything, and there was no problem in getting it set up. It works well in a "dimly lit room." It has a nice feature that turns off the light (but not the projector) when the front cover is closed, and it is "instantly cool" after turned off. Besides the cords, it comes with its own carrying case and a cd with a manual to install on your computer.
I haven't yet run sound through the projector, since I have stereo speakers I use for that purpose.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely! Would I tell friends about it? Without hesitation.
*** Later note - I have since run sound through the projector. It is not as loud as using my stereo speakers, but it is OK in a smaller room.

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Ready for action in the office or on the go, the Epson EX50 delivers amazing color and image quality with ease. It ensures razor-sharp detail for flawless presentations, HD movies and more. With 2200 lumens, XGA resolution, and Epson 3LCD, 3-chip technology.Whatever the application, the EX50 makes it easy. Quickly connect to any computer with all-new Plug 'n Play USB 2.0 connectivity. With this simple setup, anyone can use a standard USB cable to connect and project without the hassle of computer function keys, bulky VGA cables, or tedious screw-in knobs. The lightweight EX50 is ready wherever your presentations take you. And, if you choose to install your projector, the EX50 shuts down quickly at the flip of a switch. Perfect for the boardroom or living room, the EX50 also includes a VGA-to-component video adapter for easy, high-quality connection to home entertainment devices such as DVD players, gaming consoles and more.

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Panasonic DMP-BD80 High Clarity Audio Blu-ray Disc Player, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)With the BD80, Panasonic has taken its popular BD55, with its excellent picture and sound quality, and added the ability to access online content via the new VIERA Cast feature. Currently VIERA Cast is limited to YouTube, Picasa online photo sharing, stocks and weather via "widgets" but Amazon's on-demand movie service will be available on the BD80 in May. Other internet-based content can be added by Panasonic over time, based on user demand (without the need for a hardware upgrade).
Overall, the BD80 works well as a multi-media player - they added a USB jack on the front for viewing photos, Divx and Xvid videos and listening to MP3 files. This is in addition to the SD card slot (and BTW, an SD card is still required for BD-Live). It would have been nice if the player supported MKV videos, WMV, WMA and M4P files, but I guess we can't have everything. Viewing YouTube is pretty straightforward - you can even log in to view your favorites - and it's nice to be able to do that without a PC connected to your TV.
For Blu-ray and DVD playback, the unit performs extremely well. It isn't the absolute best upconverting DVD player available, but it does a good job wringing detail out of standard def content. And it really shines as a Blu-ray Disc player with top-notch video and audio performance. The player decodes all of the latest surround sound codecs (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, etc.) to multi-channel PCM and to multi-channel analog outputs (5.1 or 7.1-channel) for compatibility with older receivers and surround processors that lack the latest HDMI audio support. If you do have a newer receiver with HDMI audio support, then you can set the player to bitstream these soundtracks to your receiver for decoding. The player also offers standard coax and fiber optic digital outputs though these do not support the new codecs.
In addition to VIERA Cast and the USB port, Panasonic adds a new "High Clarity Audio" feature which allows you to turn off analog video processing if you're using HDMI for your video output (improving sound quality) as well as a new "3D NR" noise reduction feature for cleaning up noisy Blu-ray and DVD transfers.
It's too bad Panasonic could not improve the load times for Blu-ray and DVDs. As it is, they're pretty much identical to the BD35 and BD55. But at least they did provide a "Quick Start" mode which allows the player to power on/boot up quicker than its predecessors. Even still, the player is a bit slower to load discs than the latest offerings from LG and Samsung.
For those who don't need the multi-channel analog outputs or Divx support, the less expensive DMP-BD60 may be a better choice as it offers the same audio and video processing as well as the same VIERA Cast feature.
Overall, the BD80 is a solid performer. I would have liked Panasonic to include an SD card in the box for BD-Live access (as well as an HDMI cable, instead of those silly composite video/analog audio cables), and it would have been nice to have a Wi-Fi option, instead of requiring a hard-wired Ethernet cable for internet access, but Panasonic is not the only vendor who omits these things. While the online content offerings are currently a bit light and the operational speeds are only average, the excellent audio and video performance and flexible media playback options make this a strong contender in the 2009 Blu-ray model line up.
You can view our more detailed review on Big Picture Big Sound (dot com).

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Panasonic, Blu-ray Player,7.1 Audio out,1080P HDMI output

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Sony STR-DE835 Surround Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Down to the cut and chase. This is a great Reciever. I am constantly looking, reviewing and comparing electronic equipment and would say that I have a good knowledge of the market. I give this product a Five Star rating because of the features it carries at the price it gives. If you want a Reciever that can do multiple S-video, digital, analog inputs/outputs for each component,(such as a DSS satalite,VCR,DVD,CD,MD,LD,Ect.)this may not be the Reciever for you. Sure the Reciever can recieve all of these components, just not in S-video & Digital. For support of all these functions you need a bigger (and more expensive, I might add!) Reciever. But if your looking for a Reciever that can handle three Digital/S-video,+ multiple analog inputs/outputs this is the reciever for you! It has plenty of power which is clean and very clear. I love the fact you can adjust individual Bass/Mid/Treble levels and frequencies, the distance and height of the speakers and Type of speakers. These funtions gives the listening point that sweet spot. It also has full Dolby digital/DTS decoding along with 27 soundfeilds that compliment the sound even further. This Reciever has allot of the functions and abilities of the higher end Recievers without the big bucks. Plus, it's from a reliable and reputable company. Sure this Reciever doesn't have it all, but that ALL includes the price.

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Sony's STR-DE835 A/V Receiver employs Dolby Digital and DTS decoding for incredible theater like surround sound in your home. Sony's Digital Cinema Sound system also provides the adjustments necessary to customize sound to your own listening environment. This home theater powerhouse provides 100 watts to each of its five channels which means you won't be asking for more power anytime soon. Discrete output transistors provide for low distortion for less background noise during those quiet movie moments. 5.1-Channel inputs, S-Video inputs/outputs, four digital inputs and a pre-programmed remote control complement the back panel.

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Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I went to Circuit City yesterday to purchase the Panasonic DMP-BD30K Blu-Ray Player. As the salesman showed me where the Blu-Ray players were located in the store I told him I was interested in the DMP-BD30K. His response was that I should consider the new Sony BDP-S350 instead. He claimed that the BDP-S350 had received great reviews and is a better player than the Panasonic DMP-BD30K. Usually I don't listen to anything the sales people at Circuit City say, but this time I decided to see if he knew what he was talking about. I did some quick research online, while in the store, and discovered that he was correct about the Sony receiving decent reviews. I had my mind set on the Panasonic DMP-BD30K after months of research and waiting until the price dropped below $300, so the prospect of the Sony BDP-S350 through me for a loop. I decided to purchase both players, try then both out, and then return the looser.
I have to admit that the results surprised me. As I said before I had my heart set on the Panasonic DMP-BD30K, but after installing the 2 players and carefully comparing their image quality and features the Sony BDP-S350 is the clear winner in my opinion.
Panasonic DMP-BD30K: (Profile 1.1)
The start up time was respectable (as the reviews I had read indicated) and the menu interface was straight forward and relatively easy to navigate. After setting up the player, my first test was to compare its ability to upconvert standard definition DVDs with my now obsolete Toshiba HD-A20 HD-DVD player. I had read online that the DMP-BD30K's upscaling abilities had something to be desired and my tests confirmed this. To be honest the results were a little disappointing. Next, I decided to move through the players setup menu and change a few settings. At this point I made another disappointing discovery. If for any reason you need to access the players setup menu while you are watching DVD or Blu-Ray disc the player will not remember where you left off. When you exit the menu and resume play, the disc will start playing from the beginning of the disc. Although accessing the setup menu looses your place on the disc the Panasonic does remember where you left off if the DVD is stopped or the the player is shut down and then turned on again. Other than these criticisms the DMP-BD30K is a very nice player that yields excellent results using Blu-Ray discs, but doesn't do a great job with SD DVDs.
Sony BDP-S350: (Profile 1.1, but soon to be updated via firmware to 2.0)
The Sony player was a pleasant surprise. The start up time was very respectable, and was comparable to the Panasonic DMP-BD30K. After setting up the player I proceeded to run the same tests that I ran on the Panasonic. I had read online that people were impressed with the BDP-S350's upconvertion abilities, but having owned multiple Oppo DVD players (in my opinion, some of the best out there) I was skeptical. I put in a SD DVD and could immediately see the improvement over the Panasonic. Although the image is a little softer compared to my obsolete Toshiba HD-A20 HD-DVD player, and my other Oppo DVD players, it was still excellent. It made the Panasonic's upscaling abilities seem unrefined and outdated. Next, I then jumped into the players setup menu and changed the players output resolution. What really amazed me was that when I exited the menu the player began playing my disc where I had left off. Finally, I tried powering the BDP-S350 down while in the middle of a DVD. When I powered the player back on it remembered where I had left off and began to play the disc. The Sony BDP-S350 seems the winner in my opinion due to its superior upconversion and disc playback memory.
Finally, I wanted to add that I read a review comparing the Sony BDP-S350 to the new Panasonic DMP-BD50K that declares the DMP-BD50K the winner (http://hdguru.com/first-review-of-sonys-latest-blu-ray-player-exclusive-sony-bdp-s350-vspanasonic-dmp-bd50/256/). This may be true, but the almost $300 price difference makes me feel that this is an unfair comparison. In my opinion, the Sony BDP-S350 is currently one of the best deals out there.

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The Blu-ray revolution continues with the Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Player. You can take full advantage of the Bonus View feature of select Blu-ray movies, and are ready to dive into BD-Live when the update is available. In true Sony fashion, the BDP-S350 will output a Full 1080/24p True Cinema picture, plus upscale your existing DVD collection to 1080p as well, when using the HDMI connection. On board decoding for Dolby TrueHD is here, also the ability to send out the bitstream for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD (Master Audio & High Resolution) as well. BRAVIA sync ensures that with the touch of a button, you can easily power on and synch the inputs of compatible Sony compatible BRAVIA flat-panel LCD HDTV sets and Sony audio/video devices connected to the players, via HDMI, for hassle-free enjoyment of high-definition Blu-ray Discs. Bringing it all together is the new Xcross Media Bar menu system, which is an icon based menu system for simple navigation of the BDP-S350’s menu system.

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XJ-A240 2500 Lumens 1280 x 800 WXGA 1800:1 DLP Projector Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have to say, I am pretty impressed with this projector. I am using it for home use right now to replace a TV. It works great even with the lights on. I am projecting on to an off-white wall (McCormick "Eggshell" flat) and it looks fantstic. Just remember that this is a business projector.. and that being said- it can be noisy if you set it at the highest brightness level. There are 3 modes. Eco 1, 2 and Eco Off. Eco 1 is the quitest and the dimmest. I can use it just fine in this setting and it is plenty quite that I forget it is there. Eco2 is probably where most people will keep it.. and it is just fine. Even with Eco off it doesnt bother me after a bit. It has a motorized zoom and focus and a digital zoom.. these features are awesome! I dont notice any chromatic aberration, the colors are fine- for me, brightness is fantastic.. even with light coming in from outside.. it will wash out the image (I had about a 10ft screen at the time) but you can still make out what is going on... in my basement with the two lights on the image is fine.. just seems like bright sunlight can wash it out if you have big windows. For business use it is great for traveling.. it is thin- about the size of a beefy laptop- but lighter and easy to set up. Works great in the conference room even if there is some light.
I have been reading that the blue color takes 100-200 hours to come to full power.. I watched avatar a few times and they looked blue to me. I am not too picky with the colors though. Also, some people and websites have been reporting that the actuall lumen brightness is abnormally low- Casio says it is from a misaligned led or laser.. but how will an end user know for sure? I sure as heck dont know. If the one I have is supposed to be brighter I will be shocked because it is pretty bright now.. maybe mine is fine though. Also, LEDs are supposed to last like 20,000 hours but some websites are saying that they are degrading fast. If you can wait to purchase an LED/Laser hybrid projector then do it.. that way enough people use it and see how fast it craps out.
4 Stars for this projector because what I really want is everything PLUS:
A 1080p version of this projector.. make it fatter and with a quiter fan if they have to! Keep the high lumen count but have another brightness setting to make the light dimmer.. hmm.. what else.. more color settings/adjustments.. a couple quick change settings to switch between different profiles and a couple more inputs.. oh.. and audio out/passthrough.. and get rid of the onboard speaker. A backlight controller or at least glow-in-the-dark text. I think if they did come out with a 1080p version and they got rid of the brightness I wouldnt get it.
I can make videos in differnt light settings if anyone is interested.. I will eventually come back to this post answer any questions if you have 'em.

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Casio XJ-A240 DLP Projector XJ-A240 Projectors

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