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How Important is 4K in the Home?
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 30, 2011
The appearance of 4K home-theater projectors from Sony (4096x2160, seen above) and JVC (which is really more of a "pseudo-4K" that upscales 1080p to 3840x2160) has sparked increased interest in super-high resolution for consumers, especially since 4K seemed like a far-off dream until now. But many argue that the benefits of higher resolution are not visible on any screen size intended for home use. In fact, most people can't see the pixel structure of a 2K digital-cinema projector on a much larger commercial screen when sitting at a normal viewing distance, so how could they perceive the increased resolution of 4K on a smaller home screen?

Then there's the issue of 4K content, which I believe won't be available for distribution to the home for quite some time, if ever. Yes, we might see 4K-capable media in the next year or two—for example, BDXL optical discs and RedRay servers—but the studios give relatively few movies the full 4K treatment, and I bet those same studios will be loath to release movies for the home market at 4K. Until they do, owners of 4K displays will be limited to upscaled 1080p, which isn't all that much sharper than the original and carries the risk of scaling artifacts.

So I wonder how important 4K really is in the home? What do you think?

Vote to see the results and leave a comment about your choice.

How Important is 4K in the Home?
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Ask S&V
Samsung UN55D8000 vs. Sony XBR-55HX929
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 30, 2011
I want to buy a LCD TV with LED backlighting. I am not a "ultimate" kind of guy because I do not have the money. I am looking for a 55-incher for $3500 or less. I've heard you say Samsung is the one to get. What the model would that be? I think it is the UN55D8000.

John Phillips

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Signals
Four Eyes
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Sep 30, 2011

It seems simple enough. You wait in line, pay $15, put on the dorky 3D glasses, and watch the 3D movie. Popcorn costs extra. What you might not realize is the titanic struggle going on around you. And I’m not talking about the action on the screen. I’m talking about the theater owner who’s mad as hell at the movie studio.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Transformers - Dark of the Moon
David Vaughn  |  Sep 30, 2011
In 1959, a UFO crash-landed on the moon and it was the true catalyst for space race between the US and Russia as they hurried to investigate the incident. In present day, the Autobots become aware of the crash and race to the moon to do their own investigation. Onboard the spacecraft they discover a deactivated Sentinel Prime who can only be reactivated by Optimus Prime, who is curious what happened so many years ago.

I wasn't a big fan of the original Transformers movie and skipped the critically panned sequel, but had heard good things about this one and was willing to give it a chance. The premise actually had some promise, but everything I disliked about the first movie is repeated here—shallow plot, poor acting, senseless characters, and a never-ending third act that repeats many of the action scenes witnessed in the first two acts. Granted, Michael Bay doesn't make these films to win Academy Awards for Best Picture, but he'll certainly never win a Best Editor award because the bloated run time clocks in at 154 fatiguing minutes.

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Tech2
Battlefield 3 Free Open Beta Wants You!
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Sep 30, 2011

One of the most intensely anticipated games of the year, blah blah blah whatever...

GO DOWNLOAD THIS!!!

Battlefield 3 is in open beta until October 10th, which means you can play it in all its semi-buggy glory for free.

I'll help you sort through the hiccups after the jump.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Blu-ray Review: Straw Dogs (1971)
Ken Korman  |  Sep 30, 2011

Forty years have hardly put a dent in Straw Dogs, the controversial 1971 film by director Sam Peckinpah (which spawned the faithful remake now showing in theaters). With its graphic depiction of violence, the movie remains as disturbing as ever.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
DVD Review: Face to Face
Sol Louis Siegel  |  Sep 30, 2011

There’s one reason to see Ingmar Bergman’s 1976 drama, but it’s a compelling one: Liv Ullmann’s performance, which is among the greatest in any movie. (She was nominated for Best Actress but lost to Network’s Faye Dunaway.)

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Track One
Going At It His Own Way: Lindsey Buckingham Blazes New Live Trails
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 29, 2011

Lindsey Buckingham totally owned New York's Town Hall this past Tuesday night.

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AV Receiver Reviews
Sony STR-DH520 A/V Receiver
Kim Wilson  |  Sep 29, 2011
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $229 At A Glance: Low cost • 3D passthrough • Supports all current audio codecs • No onscreen display, networking, auto calibration, video upconversion • Spring-loaded speaker terminals

The audio and video performance of the Sony STR-DH520 is more than acceptable, especially given it's price and ability to pass 3D content, decode all current audio codecs, and deliver a full seven channels of amplification. However, setup and operation are limited by the features it lacks. If you can live with only five channels, there are other choices that offer similar performance, 3D compatibility, an on-screen display, and auto calibration. Step into the $400 price range and you will find increased value compared with the STR-DH520.

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Grace Notes
3D TV: Can You See the Emperor's New Clothes?
Leslie Shapiro  |  Sep 29, 2011

You know the story: an unscrupulous robe maker tells the king how wonderful his new, expensive, invisible robe is, king believes it, and king shows his butt to the world. A timeless tale that gets repeated over and over. And maybe a new version has just surfaced.

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