Tom Norton

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CEDIA 2009
Do Do That Vudu
Tom Norton  |  Sep 09, 2009
LG Electronics has just added the high-definition streaming movie service from Vudu, Inc. to its BD390 Wireless Network Blu-ray Player. Vudu offers rental or purchase of a wide range of movie and TV titles, including more than 2,200 in 1080p. The BD390 ($399) currently provides Netflix, Roxio, CinemaNow, and YouTube streaming content as part of its “NetCast Entertainment Access” feature. The Vudu addition will be available later this month (September 2009) as a free player upgrade.
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CEDIA 2009
New Sony LED Edge-Lit LCDs
Tom Norton  |  Sep 09, 2009
Sony is launching the new Bravia XBR10 series at CEDIA, featuring an ultra thin design, wireless transmission, an Ethernet connection for receiving Sony Bravia Internet Video over broadband, Motionflow 240Hz, and edge-lit LED backlighting— but no local dimming. The only Sony local dimming models are the XBR8s, and they are being phased out. There may be new local dimming models from the company down the road, according to one Sony source, but I suspect not this year. The XBR 10s are available at 47-inches ($4500) and 52-inches ($5000).
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CEDIA 2009
A Wicked Change-Up
Tom Norton  |  Sep 09, 2009
Sony is introducing the CX7000ES Blu-ray mega-changer ($1900) to complement the BDP-CX960 Blu-ray changer ($800) currently available. The BDP-CX7000ES can hold up to 400 discs—either Blu-ray, standard DVD, or CD—. Sony made it a point to mention that four of these changers piggybacked together can hold all of the Blu-ray titles currently on the market! The player can download all relevant disc information via a broadband connection to Gracenote.
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CEDIA 2009
New Sony Projectors
Tom Norton  |  Sep 09, 2009
A new projector or two every year is a CEDIA tradition from Sony, and they did not disappoint us this year. The new VPL-VW85 video projector offers significantly enhanced brightness compared to the VPL-VW70 (known as the VPL-VW80 in some markets), and deep blacks courtesy of a combination of SXRD chips with superior contrast and Sony's well-established Advanced (dynamic) Iris. It also has a variety of user-selectable gamma settings, custom gamma adjustment via an external computer program, a Motion Enhancer feature operating at a 96Hz frame rate with the option of either full brightness or darkened interpolated frames, and an aspect ratio for use with an add-on anamorphic zoom lens. $8000, in October. A review of the VPL-VW85 is currently scheduled for the November 2009 issue of Home Theater. There's also a new, lower priced Sony SXRD projector, the VPL-HW15, with a claimed peak contrast ratio of 60,000:1 and 1000 ANSI lumens output at a suggested price of $3000. Also in October.
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CEDIA 2009
Helioscopy
Tom Norton  |  Sep 07, 2009
For the 3-chip DLP experience, Projectiondesign is introducing the Avielo Helios, the flagship of the Avielo range. Included are Projectiondesign features such as RealColor advanced color management and Advanced Color Optical Processing technology (ACOP), which together are said to allow for accurate calibration to the REC709 HD color standard.
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CEDIA 2009
Quantum Physics
Tom Norton  |  Sep 07, 2009
Projectiondesign's new Avielo Quantum, at 6.5 lbs., is the smallest and lightest of the company's 1080p, single-chip DLP home theater projectors. It's available with four different lenses, incorporates Projectiondesign's RealColor color management system, and is hand-built at the Projectiondesign factory in Fredrikstad, Norway.
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CEDIA 2009
Toshiba Sings the Blues
Tom Norton  |  Sep 04, 2009
In a sign that Blu-ray has finally arrived, Toshiba (yes, Toshiba) is launching its first Blu-ray player. The BDX2000. It offers full BD Live capabilities, Bonus View (such as picture-in-picture video commentaries), and an SD card slot for viewing personal photos and videos. It can also decode the new audio formats (Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio) internally and send them to your A/V receiver as multichannel PCM or, alternatively, as bitstreams—in both cases over its HDMI output. Available in November at $250.
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CEDIA 2009
And JBL Exemplifies
Tom Norton  |  Sep 04, 2009
JBL's new LS series loudspeakers are ready for their close-ups. They combine proprietary PolyPlas polymer-coated-cellulose-fiber cone woofers (say that fast, three times) and the company's Bi-Radial constant-directivity high frequency horns with real wood veneer cabinetry. The line includes the LS Center ($799) LS40 stand-mount ($699 each, shown here), and two floor-standers: the LS60 ($1099 each) and LS80 ($1499 each). The latter two employ 3.5-way crossover networks.
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CEDIA 2009
Mark Levinson Amplifies
Tom Norton  |  Sep 04, 2009
Mark Levinson has announced a new No.500H series of audiophile power amplifiers with a new balanced CFA (current-feedback amplifier) design. There are four different models in the lineup: the monoblock No.531H ($6500 each), the No.532H (2 channels, $8000), the No.533H (3 channels, $10,000), and the No.535H (5 channels, $12,000). All are rated at 300 Watts per channel into 8 ohms except the No.535H (200Wpc), and all are expected to ship in October.
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CEDIA 2009
Revel Digs Deep
Tom Norton  |  Sep 04, 2009
Revel has announced two new subwoofers, the Ultima Rhythm2 (shown) and the Performa B150. The latter is the first major redesign of the current B15a since the latter's introduction at the start of the millennium. The B150's 15" driver offers a linear bass excursion of 1.5-inches, driven by an amp that features 1200 Watts of continuous power and 2400W peak. The Rhythm2 (shown) goes this one better, with an 18" driver and 2400 Watts continuous, 5600W peak from its on-board amp. No delivery dates or prices were announced.
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