LATEST ADDITIONS

CES 2010
McIntosh Shows MX-150 AV Controller
uavGary Altunian  |  Jan 09, 2009

In conjunction with showing their 60th anniversary legacy products, McIntosh is introducing the new MX-150 AV controller featuring Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, HDMI 1.3 capability Room Perfect auto-EQ functionality. The Room Perfect system was developed by Steinway-Lyngdorf, a Danish company that also manufactures high-end audio components. I've used the Room Perfect room equalization system in my listening room with excellent sonic results. The MX-150 also includes software for additional set-up and equalization functions to fine tune it for each installation.

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CES 2009
Samsung Ultra High Definition
Tom Norton  |  Jan 09, 2009
Will we ever see HD resolution higher than 1920x1080 for the home? Do we need it? While Samsung didn't answer that question, it did show two UHD prototype sets, this plasma and a larger LCD, both doing 4K by 2K. Vaporware? For now, probably, but nice to know that some are thinking about it.
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CES 2010
A Simpler Approach
uavKim Wilson  |  Jan 09, 2009

While the ZeeVee offers a more sophisticated solution, with their own UI, Altona is sure to sell a ton of their simple USB to HDMI converter, the HDPix. Priced at $179, the convertor allows you to hook up your computer via USB to any TV (or projector) with HDMI. Its also Mac and PC compatible. On the input side there is both a USB port and a mini jack that you plug into the audio output of your computer. The converter automatically embeds the audio into the HDMI out. I don't see this as a high end solution but it surely is an inexpensive solution for getting your computer output to a TV.

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CES 2009
Samsung Gets Razor Thin
CES 2009  |  Jan 09, 2009
Another big trend at the 2009 CES is ultra thin LCDs and plasmas. But that was a trend last year, too, and few of the sets have yet reached the market. Interestingly, the 9mmn plasma that Pioneer showed last year was a no-show this year. Are consumers willing to pay a premium for extra skinny displays? Are they unhappy with their current 4" thick flat panel. The jury is still out
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CES 2009
Samsung Powers Down
Tom Norton  |  Jan 09, 2009
Samsung, like other CE manufacturers, is serious about producing sets that are less power hungry. Shown below the screen here is the amount of power this high efficiency LCD flat panel is using.
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CES 2010
The ZeeVee Solution
uavKim Wilson  |  Jan 09, 2009

ZeeVee started delivering product in the fall of 08, so they are hardly a household name yet. What they offer is a solution for integrating your computer, not just your files, to a remote TV or even your home theater. The ZeeVee interface offers a simple scroll and click interface with icons for key internet sites where you can watch TV programs such as Hulu.com, CBS, Fox, CNN etc. Like many other networking systems, you can access the media files on your computer. However, ZeeVee goes a step further and does something I have not seen yet. Your entire desktop is now on a TV in another part of your house, so not only can you browse the internet you can open you applications and launch into Word, Photoshop, or whatever. The basic unit is not exactly cheap at $499 though it includes an RF remote & transmitter that sits at your computer. A RF keyboard is on the way to complete the integration (Price-TBA). Currently, it is only PC compatible but the Mac firmware upgrade should be available in late Q1.

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CES 2009
LG is Big
Tom Norton  |  Jan 09, 2009
LG appeared to have the biggest booth at this year's CES, and is clearly touting its position as a major player in every video category. And like Samsung, a good portion of its booth was dedicated to showing off not just its current product, but its dedication to research into upcoming terchnologies as well. It even showed small OLED displays.
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CES 2009
Mega is the Word
Tom Norton  |  Jan 09, 2009
Another big theme this year is enhanced contrast, for which we have SED, Pioneer Kuro, LED backlighting with local dimming, and Home Theater mag to thank (OK, we're blowing our own horn here a little bit for continuing to make a big deal out of better blacks). Clearly, LG believers it is Mega-ready.
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CES 2009
Sim2 Rolls out the Red Carpet
Debbie Stampfli  |  Jan 09, 2009
Those who want to equip their home theater with the best performance and service money can buy might want to take another look at SIM2. The company’s latest version of its HT5000E three-chip DLP projector combines reference-quality performance with unexpectedly personal service. The projector promises high-end image quality with the latest DLP chipsets from Texas Instruments. It includes three 0.95-inch DarkChip4 DMDs that work to display clear, uncompressed 1080p material.
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CES 2009
Aren't We Special
Tom Norton  |  Jan 09, 2009
LG has vert special sets for all of our very special readers. More below.
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