CANADA HiFi Magazine: The Home Theatre, Home Theater, Audio, Video and Gadget GuideWelcome to the CANADA HiFi Home Theatre, Audio, Video and Gadget News Blog.RSS Feed
Integra has just introduced two mid-priced audio-video receivers designed to provide state-of-the-art home theater performance plus sophisticated integration with home automation systems. The new Integra DTR-30.1 and DTR-20.1 are, respectively, 7.2- and 5.2-channel, two-zone AV receivers designed for modern high-definition audio and video systems. In addition, the DTR-30.1 is the first Integra A/V receiver that incorporates the new Dolby ProLogic IIz which lets users engage sonic ambience in three dimensions, not just two.
Boston Acoustics' new surround sound system consists of ultra-compact satellite speakers. The new SoundWare XS 5.1 Surround Speaker System are the smallest loudspeakers Boston Acoustics has ever produced. Each one presents a square face measuring a miniscule 4 inches but, like previously released SoundWare systems, the cabinet is a polyhedron that allows angled placement in a variety of ways.
The driver complement includes a 2.5" (65mm) cone and a 0.5" dome (13mm) tweeter. A compact, separate active woofer with an 8" driver powered by a 100W amplifier completes the package.
The digital age has provided us with many innovations both in the audio and video world over the past several years. The most dramatic and accessible improvements have been in the video domain with the advent of affordable high definition displays and a wide variety of high definition material courtesy of HD broadcasts and the Blu-ray format. The HD standard brings with it a new set of performance parameters that need to be optimized in order to unlock the full potential of HD video. In order to optimize your TV or projector you will need to use appropriate calibration material.
Once upon a time, PS Audio developed a fine reputation for CD drive units and Digital to Analog Converters (DACs). In the nineties I owned a PS Audio Lambda drive and UltraLink DAC, which produced pretty much state of the art sound for the time. Over the years, better DACs came along but the Lambda drive was a classic and completely bullet proof - many units are still in service today.
Seiko Epson recently revealed a new inkjet printing technology that will enable the printing of 37 inch and larger OLED displays for TVs. Satoru Miyashita, General Manager of Seiko Epson's Core Technology Development Center, says that the company excepts that we’ll see OLED TVs in the 37 inch range by 2012, and predicts that sales for OLED TVs will really take off by 2015.
Pictured above is an Epson inkjet processed 14 inch OLED panel.
We are now well entrenched into the digital age - yet it is not uncommon to come across headlines like this: Vinyl May Be Final Nail in CD's Coffin (Wired, October 29, 2007), Vinyl Gets Its Groove Back (Time, January 10, 2008), Sagging CD Sales Put Vinyl Back In The Groove (City News, Toronto, March 26, 2008), How Vinyl Got Its Groove Back (CBS News, August 19, 2008).
It's been 8 long years, but Triad Speakers is releasing its first new subwoofer line.
It includes multiple in-room versions, two in-ceiling versions, two in-wall versions and three companion RackAmp amplifiers. Each subwoofer incorporates digital signal processing to help installers deal with the problems of small-room acoustics.
The new subwoofer line complies with CEDIA and CEA's recently released best-practices guidelines. CEB22: "Home Theater Recommended Practice: Audio Design" guidelines define recommended subwoofer placement options and configurations.
Yamaha introduces the MusicCAST2 Network Music System, a convenient, flexible and expandable wireless system for streaming music throughout the home. MusicCAST2 is a WiFi-based system with no unsightly wires that can be set up quickly and easily. The system can distribute audio to up to 32 rooms from a vast array of sources, including Rhapsody digital music streaming service, Internet radio, computers (PC and Mac) and NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices.
I love to entertain regularly at my house, whether it's a family get-together or an evening of cocktails with friends. Consequently I'm always on the look out for fresh ideas to keep my guests entertained. Naturally, music is one of the key elements to creating a fun, relaxed or upbeat atmosphere. My selection of tunes comes from a desktop computer, a CD player and a turntable.
Looking for a media streamer that will handle practically every format available, has two SATA drive bays (internal and front-loading), an assortment of USB ports, Internet streaming support (YouTube, etc.), and wired and wireless (802.11n, optional) connectivity? The Popcorn Hour C-200 is just around the corner!
From Blu-Ray rips to Internet radio to Flickr, the C-200 has you covered. An internal SATA drive stores all your media while the front SATA port even supports optical drives such as Blu-Ray, DVD-ROMs, etc.
Optoma Technology, one of the worlds’ largest manufacturers of projectors for data and home theater markets, announced it is partnering with Texas Instruments to launch a new series of 3D enabled projectors during the second half of 2009.Utilizing Texas Instruments’ DLP technologies, Optoma’s new projectors will enable 3D imagery from a single projector, driving greater cost efficiency, easier installation and usage.
Ultra-slim flat-panel television displays finally have met their sonic and aesthetic match, as Paradigm Electronics announces its first-ever partly-in-wall/partly-out-of-the-wall speaker designs. The new Reference Hybrid Millenia 10 and 20 integrate reference-quality build materials into a form factor that protrudes less than an inch and a half from the wall.
For those times when you've only got a set of stereo speakers or want to sample 2-channel on the computer, Gefen has just released a 2-channel converter that accepts S/PDIF & TOSlink and converts it to 2-channel RCA.
This device is also perfect for converting digital signals from newer devices that do not have RCA outputs.
Users can switch between the two inputs (S/PDIF, TOSlink) with a selector on the decoder. This allows a settop box and PC to be connected and switched to two-channel audio systems.
Have you ever thought about trying a DIY audio project but shied away from it because of its level of difficultly?Well, here's a power cable DIY project that just about anyone should be able to complete, even those that aren't too handy.What's the appeal of a DIY project you ask?You get to choose exactly the parts that you'd like to use and you can build a component that offers the same level of performance as a much higher priced ready-built product.But perhaps the biggest reason for building a DIY project is the self satisfaction that it will bring you.
Starting with the XVT Series which feature full-HD 1080p and 120Hz refresh rates utilizing Vizio's Smooth Motion technology. These sets are styled in Vizio's Thin Line cabinets. These leading edge models incorporate TruLED and Smart Dimming backlight technology. In all models, VIZIO has integrated USB video inputs that are enhanced and offer high quality 1080p video playback, along with Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio of up to 2,000,000:1 makes for incredible black levels. They also include advanced user interface control with picture in picture and picture on picture functionality. VIZIO XVT models all include a universal learning backlit remote control.
The new LCD HDTV product line offers extensive features, superior performance and elegant design while achieving pricing that will be attractive to value oriented shoppers.
Hitachi's UltraVision® series, which headlines the first of two new series of LCD HDTVs, will be available in a 55" home theater model and in 46" and 42" screen sizes. Each model boasts 1080p resolution, 120Hz panel speed and Hitachi's Reel120 smooth movie motion technology with up to eight high definition inputs and Energy Star qualification.
Sharp has just announced its new AQUOS E Series of Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) TVs, including the E77U models and the E67U models.
The technology behind Sharp’s E Series models is designed to work with any kind of in room lighting, providing an optimal viewing experience in any light condition. Through this proprietary AQUOS Advanced Super View (ASV) Superlucent Panel, viewers will notice dramatically brighter and crisper picture quality. The E Series also incorporates an elegant new design, featuring décor-friendly colour accents at the bottom of the frame and, with E77U models, a newly-designed swivel stand that makes it easy to adjust the television angle.
Morel introduces two models of its spherically-designed SoundSpot Music Theatre 5.1 speaker system.
The SoundSpot MT 1 consists of five 3.5" satellite speakers (model SP-1) and one PSW8 Subwoofer that offers 100W of power. It is a two-way point source system.
The SoundSpot MT 2, which will ship in Q3, features five 4" satellite speakers (model SP-2) and the 8" PSW8 Subwoofer.
Krell Industries has just announced the initial shipments of the S-1200 surround preamp/processor. The S-1200 release culminates more than two years of design work and is the latest addition to the Krell HMI 1.3 capable surround sound processor lineup.
The new JVC Xiview LT-42WX70 is a 42" 120Hz 1080p LCD TV monitor that targets digital imaging professionals and enthusiasts by providing a wider colour gamut.