HomeTheaterReview.com

Definitive Technology UIW 75 In-Wall Speaker Reviewed

2009-11-04T21:51:27Z

One of the primary functions of a first-rate in-wall speaker is its ability to disperse superb high-end audio to every part of the room, no matter where the speaker itself is placed. The design team at Definitive Technology knows just how important this design element is, and the UIW 75 in-wall speaker was built to deliver a broad spectrum of sound to any room it is installed in.

This $399 speaker ($798 per pair) was designed with the discerning home theater enthusiast in mind, not only as an in-wall speaker that can be easily installed, but also as an LCR (Left, Center, Right) speaker that can replicate any movie's soundtrack, sound effects and dialogue sequences with aplomb. The UIW 75 uses two six-inch high-definition bass/midrange drivers in this speaker's design that drastically increases the overall low-end audio quality that most home theater purists love so much.

The weight of the UIW 75 is about eight pounds, and this in-wall speaker features a one-inch pure aluminum dome tweeter for sending clear and clean high-end audio to the soundstage at all times. High-frequency equalization is made possible with the Linkwitz-Riley crossover network integrated into the speaker system's inner circuitry. This speaker's reported frequency response is 26 Hz- 30kHz and the non-resonant cast baskets that are an integral design element of the UIW 75 help substantially with sustaining more pure low-end audio once these speakers are powered up.

The speaker features one pair of five binding posts and comes with precision templates for extremely easy home installation purposes. This is a very modern-looking speaker and serves quite well as an in-wall speaker that will be primarily used in a home theater audio configuration since it can also be well hidden within most home theaters without much trouble at all.

High Points
• The UIW 75 does a remarkable job of dispersing a wide range of audio, including immaculate high-end.
• This in-wall speaker is much more easily installed than your average in-wall speaker, due to its size, weight and superb templates and how-to instructions.
• The pure aluminum dome tweeter creates a clean mid-range and high-range audio signal that surpasses many other in-wall speakers in the same price range or even higher.
• This speaker did such a great job delivering dynamic low-end to the listening area that a subwoofer was not even needed during a recent demonstration of the UIW 75 in a modest sized room.

Low Points
• This speaker matched other Definitive Technology speakers very well, but I would not recommend that the UIW 75 be matched up with most other speakers, to keep an overall uniformity of sound.
• Even though the UIW 75 is sleek in its design, it's not as "hidden" compared to some newer, shallower, in-wall speakers like Definitive's own DI Series of in-wall speakers.

Conclusion
Since finding the "perfect" in-wall speaker can be nearly impossible, Definitive Technology recently entered the lower-end price range of the speaker marketplace and has delivered a quality speaker that should do well with the average home theater fanatic who is looking to upgrade their current in-wall speaker configuration.

The designers at Definitive Technology have definitely succeeded in creating an in-wall speaker that consistently out-performs other speakers in the same price range while also incorporating highly structured and efficient inner circuitry contained within the UIW 75.

Overall, these speakers will work perfectly well for medium sized and larger sized home theater rooms that need to be filled with clear and concise surround-sound audio for true movie-watching enjoyment.

Outlaw Audio ECS-10 Subwoofer Reviewed

2009-11-04T21:48:51Z

A major problem in the past with small and compact subwoofers was their inability to deliver strong and deep low-end to the average soundstage. Outlaw Audio's design team was well aware of this challenge when they started developing the ECS-10 subwoofer. They made sure that the ECS-10 maintained a compact footprint yet packed the punch that fans of Outlaw subwoofers have come to expect, courtesy of a long throw 10-inch woofer.

Assisted by this subwoofer's eight-inch piston that drives the audio signal to the woofer cone, Outlaw Audio is standing by their assertion that the ESC-10 will destroy the negative image that the compact subwoofer currently has, as this small but powerful subwoofer is designed to deliver as much deep bass as any other subwoofer twice its size.

The relatively low cost of this subwoofer's $850 MSRP results in a price range that the average audiophile can really get behind. The ESC-10 also contains dynamic design elements such as a 1000 Watt RMS amplifier, 180-degree phase control for quick audio signal response and a sealed design that allows for a highly impactful low-end.

This subwoofer weighs in at 46-pounds and has a very modern-looking design that conveys its overall power once you get a good look at the jet-black veneer casing and the black speaker grille that does a great job of eliminating noise blur while playing back any audio CD. The ESC-10 stands thirteen-inches tall, twelve-inches deep and is around thirteen-inches wide.

Looking at the rear panel, this attractive subwoofer has easily accessible controls such as a main volume knob, low-pass crossover control, R/L outputs, four speaker level inputs and an automatic on/off, inactive/active switch. These connections and inputs are perfectly designed so that any consumer can integrate their other audio components directly into the subwoofer with very little effort.

When listening to various rock bands and rap vocals using the ECS-10 as the main speaker component delivering the musical low-end, I noticed that this subwoofer was more than capable of dispersing powerful bass throughout the entire room, providing vibrant low-end that was clean and precise at the same time. Even though the ECS-10 is a lot smaller than most subwoofers I had demo'ed in the past, this fact did not seem to impair the amazing amount of adroit bass audio that I was experiencing during my demo of the ECS-10.

Moving the subwoofer around the room, playing with open air and corner placement did not totally change the sound of nor impact the depths reached by the ECS-10. That type of placement experimentation speaks volumes about how a subwoofer can either excel at sound displacement or fail, and the ECS-10 passed this test with flying colors. While watching movies with the subwoofer, I was amazed at how accurately this smallish subwoofer was able to replicate the bombs and explosions associated with the average Hollywood action movie. All in all, I had a very good demonstration of what a compact, yet powerful subwoofer can bring to overall soundstage.

High Points
• Outlaw Audio's latest subwoofer delivers low-end very powerfully, yet does not overwhelm the listener at any time.
• The ECS-10 perfectly compliments any audio receiver it is hooked up with and is easily integrated with most other subwoofers and speaker components.
• This subwoofer's overall design in nice and compact while still giving off a feeling of raw power.

Low Points
• This subwoofer, while being very powerful for its size, will not fill up a larger room with enough low-end audio that many consumers may have a need for. Then again if your room is larger, the ECS-10 is so affordable you could easily purchase two and set them up in a stereo configuration for better integration and bass response.
• The fact that the subwoofer only comes in jet black might not sit well with some consumers who desire choice with other color schemes to match their own audio system.

Conclusion
With the introduction of the ECS-10 compact subwoofer, Outlaw Audio has done a fine job in changing my mind: that when it comes to big, powerful bass, size doesn't always matter. The ECS-10 is an affordable, compact and easy to use subwoofer that is as much at home in a lifestyle oriented home theater or media room as it is in a discriminating enthusiast's system.

Toshiba REGZA 46SV670U LED LCD HDTV Reviewed

2009-11-02T09:01:20Z

LED backlighting is the way of the future for LCD televisions. Most of the top-selling LCD manufacturers now offer at least one line that uses LED backlighting. Some of these models only place the LEDs around the edges of the panel, while others use a full array of LEDs behind the LCD panel, with local-dimming technology that allows the individual LEDs to respond dynamically to the content onscreen--i.e., they can shut themselves off to create deeper blacks in areas of the picture that require it. These two LED approaches have different performance characteristics: While edge-lit LED-based LCDs have some advantages in power consumption and form factor (they usually have a super-slim profile), they don't offer the same performance benefits you get from a full-array LED backlighting system. If top-tier performance is what you crave, the latter design is where you'll find it.

Toshiba's new REGZA SV670U Series, which includes screen sizes of 46 and 55 inches, uses full-array LED backlighting, with a local-dimming system called FocaLight. The SV670U Series also features Toshiba's ClearScan 240 technology to reduce motion blur, Film Stabilization to reduce film judder, Resolution+ to improve the appearance of standard-definition sources, 14-bit PixelPure processing, and a 10-bit LCD panel. A healthy connection panel and attractive design round out the package. We reviewed the 46-inch, 1080p 46SV670U, which has an MSRP of $2299.99.

The Hookup
Toshiba uses some fancy terminology to describe this TV's appearance. "Infinity Flush Front" describes the seamless front panel with no raised bezel, while "Deep Lagoon" describes how the front panel's glossy black fades to clear at the edges, like a lagoon meeting up with the sand (ahhhh). I'll just say that the design is distinctive and elegant, but also subtle enough not to draw unwanted attention to itself. The down-firing speakers are invisible from the front, and the TV comes with a matching, rounded base that has a swiveling mechanism. A prototypical Toshiba design, the remote has a clean, intuitive layout but is a little bulky and lacks dedicated input buttons. Even though all of the buttons look like they should light up, only the four Mode Select buttons actually illuminate.

On the back panel, you'll find three HDMI, two component video, and one PC input, plus a single RF input to access the internal ATSC/Clear-QAM tuners. The HDMI inputs accept both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 sources. The TV lacks picture-in-picture functionality. The back panel sports an IR port that allows for IR pass-through, but there's no RS-232 connection. The TV also lacks an Ethernet port for network connectivity, so you can't enjoy Web widgets or streamed video-on-demand content. Over on the right side panel, you get a fourth HDMI input, plus an SD card slot for photo viewing and a USB port that supports Divx, music, and photo playback. Many TVs include either an SD card slot or a USB port; Toshiba gives you the convenience of both.

As you'd hope for in a top-shelf model, the 46SV670U has an excellent array of picture controls, starting with six picture modes--including a game mode designed to improve response time with gaming sources, as well as an AutoView mode that automatically adjusts the image based on the content being displayed and the room's ambient light. As usual, I went with the Movie mode, which looks the most natural out of the box, and made general picture adjustments using my Video Essentials discs (DVD International). In addition to standard setup options like color, tint, sharpness, and an adjustable backlight, the TV's advanced setup menu includes a number of worthwhile selections. Instead of providing a few color-temperature presets like cool, neutral, and warm, this TV has a sliding-scale color-temp adjustment, from 0 (warmest) to 10 (coolest). This allows you to more precisely designate the color palette you want without having to access the advanced RGB offset and gain controls--which, thankfully, are also available if you wish to perform a more precise calibration. The ColorMaster function lets you adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness of all six color points, while the Auto Brightness Sensor enables automatic backlight adjustment, based on the room's ambient light. Static Gamma provides a +/-15-degree scale to fine-tune black detail, and both MPEG and digital noise reduction are available. Toshiba's Resolution+ technology is designed to make SD sources look more detailed; in the setup menu, you have the option to turn this feature off or on and adjust the level of improvement (we'll talk performance in the next section).

Within in the setup menu, a couple of items merit special attention. First is the DynaLight function: On other Toshiba TVs, DynaLight provides automatic backlight adjustment based on image content; however, on the SV670U series, it controls the local-dimming function. When I first turned on this TV and switched to the Movie picture mode, I noticed that the local-dimming function wasn't working. The LEDs were not shutting themselves off with black content; instead, the TV behaved like it had a traditional always-on backlight. In scanning the setup menu, I discovered that the DynaLight control is turned off by default in the Movie mode. Cycling through the different picture modes revealed that DynaLight is on in some modes, off in others. I can't fathom why Toshiba would turn this function off by default in the Movie mode of all places, but it's an easy fix--just make sure to enable DynaLight during setup.

As for the 46SV670U's anti-blur and de-judder technologies, Toshiba wisely separate these two features into different menu items: ClearScan 240 and Film Stabilization. ClearScan 240 specifically addresses motion blur, and the setup menu offers on and off options. Like the LG 55LH90 I just reviewed, the 46SV670U doesn't have a true 240Hz refresh rate: It has a 120Hz refresh rate and scans the backlight to create a "240Hz effect." In fact, Toshiba is careful to omit the "hertz" in naming the function (the name is just ClearScan 240), unlike LG, which calls its technology TruMotion 240Hz. The second menu item, Film Stabilization, deals with film-based sources and includes three settings: off, standard, and smooth. With sources output at 60Hz (like TV and DVD), the Standard mode performs basic 3:2 pulldown detection to minimize jaggies, moiré, and other digital artifacts in film sources. With 24p Blu-ray content, the Standard mode performs 5:5 pulldown, displaying each frame five times to equal 120Hz--an effect that's a bit smoother and less juddery than traditional 3:2. The Smooth mode, meanwhile, uses motion interpolation to more effectively eliminate the juddery look in film sources and create very smooth motion. We'll discuss how these modes performed in the next section.

The 46SV670U has six aspect-ratio options, including a Native mode for viewing content at its exact resolution, eliminating overscan. The TV also offers automatic aspect-ratio detection, but this menu setting is oddly located in the Preferences menu, not the Picture menu. The 46SV670U is Energy Star 3.0-certified, but the only specific power-saving feature in the setup menu is the Power-On Mode, which involves standby power consumption: You can go with the fast power on setting or with power-saving, which increases the time it takes to power up the TV.

I know we video reviewers tend to gloss over audio features in TVs, but the 46SV670U deserves some recognition for being the first TV I've tested that uses Dolby Volume to minimize level discrepancies between sources--for example, between commercials and Dolby Digital 5.1 HDTV shows. Many TVs have a feature that claims to accomplish this, but I've yet to see one that actually works. The Dolby Volume setup menu has off, low, and high settings, and I found that the technology worked as advertised, providing a more even output level across the board. The 46SV670U also includes Audyssey EQ technology, with a Surround menu that allows you to choose between off, spatial, and cinema surround settings; you also get voice enhancement and dynamic bass boost.

Performance
I had two other local-dimming LED-based LCDs on hand to compare with the Toshiba: the new LG 55LH90 and my reference display, the Samsung LN-T4681F (the first local-dimming model, now two years old). The two constants I saw with all three of these models are great blacks and excellent overall contrast. The beauty of local-dimming technology is that it can dim or turn off the individual LEDs around the screen to create true blacks while still allowing bright areas to remain bright. You don't have to turn the adjustable backlight all the way down to attain darker-looking blacks; rather, you can set the TV's light output to suit your viewing environment and not sacrifice deep blacks in the process. In comparing the three TVs, the newer LG and Toshiba models had comparable contrast, and both models showed improvement over the first-gen Samsung. The 46SV670U's image looked wonderfully rich and dimensional, regardless of whether the room was bright or dark.

The one limitation to local-dimming LED technology is that, because the number of LEDs used in the backlight is not a 1:1 ratio with the number of pixels, the lighting is imprecise, causing a glowing effect. This effect is most evident in stationary or slow-moving scenes where a few bright objects are surrounded by a completely black background. For instance, in an episode of Sunrise Earth on Discovery HD, when the moon hangs in a still-darkened sky, the 46SV670U's local-dimming function created noticeable glow around the moon. End credits featuring white text on a black background is another good example of a scene where the glow is readily apparent. In these specific cases, the 46SV670U exhibited more glowing effect than the LG 55LH90 and was on par with the older Samsung model. However, when I switched to scenes that had more movement and more juxtaposition between light and dark elements--even a dark sky filled with stars--the glowing effect wasn't as obvious. In dark scenes from The Bourne Supremacy (Universal Home Video), Casino Royale (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment), and The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Buena Vista Home Entertainment), the 46SV670U produced nice, deep blacks with no pronounced glow--and it did a very good rendering of fine black details. In these scenes, the Toshiba and LG's black-level performances were comparable. Each TV's processor seemed to interpret light levels differently, causing the local-dimming effect to react differently. Sometimes black areas looked darker on the Toshiba; sometimes they looked darker on the LG. Overall, I'd call it a draw--and both models certainly offer better black-level performance than you'll see from a traditional CCFL-backlight LCD.

One other note on black level: like Samsung's Ultra Clear Panel, the 46SV670U's CrystalCoat front panel is reflective, designed to reject ambient light to help blacks look darker in a well-lit room. This proved to be effective. In a brighter viewing environment, the Toshiba's blacks consistently looked deeper than those of the LG, which has a standard matte screen.

With the past few Toshiba TVs I've reviewed, color has been a concern. Previous models had a very green push and lacked direct access to white-balance controls to fully correct the problem. In this respect, the 46SV670U offers needed improvement. The picture looks more natural, no longer veering excessively green. That's not to say the color palette is entirely accurate. The default color temperature is slightly cool (or blue) with bright content and noticeably cool in darker scenes. Frankly, this color temperature will probably appeal to many consumers, as it gives whites more pop. However, for those people (like me) who prefer a warmer color temperature, I was able to use the RGB offset and gain controls to dial in a more neutral temperature across the board. As for color points, the 46SV670U serves up rich but natural-looking reds and blues, but green and yellow are somewhat off the mark. This was evident when watching football or golf: The grass had an unnatural, overly yellow hue. Once again, the menu includes ColorMaster controls to precisely tweak each color point, and I was able to adjust greens and yellows to more closely mimic my reference display. Overall, while the out-of-the-box color is pleasing, the calibrated image, combined with the TV's fantastic contrast, really elevated the 46SV670U's game and produced a gorgeous image.

The TV's level of detail is excellent with both HDTV and Blu-ray content. With standard-definition DVD, I experimented with the Resolution+ technology to see how it affected the upconversion process. Toshiba claims that Resolution+ provides more than just edge enhancement, but that's definitely part of the process. If you enable Resolution+ and turn up the level to 4 or 5, you can clearly see the edge enhancement, or artificial sharpening, around lines. However, I found that a setting of just 1 or 2 did a nice job making the picture seem more detailed without adding a distracting amount of edge enhancement. At these settings, the Toshiba's picture looked more detailed than either the LG or Samsung with standard-def content.

In other processing areas, the 46SV670U did a nice job deinterlacing 480i and 1080i content, as long as the Film Stabilization mode was enabled (it doesn't matter if it's set for Standard or Smooth). With SD signals, the 46SV670U did a below-average job with the deinterlacing tests on my HQV Benchmark DVD; however, when I switched to my real-world torture demos from Gladiator (DreamWorks Home Entertainment) and The Bourne Identity (Universal Home Video), it performed quite well, producing minimal jaggies and no blatant moiré. Real-world scenes trump test discs in my book, so I'm giving the Toshiba good marks here. With 1080i sources, the TV did a solid job, both with test patterns from the HD HQV Benchmark BD and real-world demos from Mission Impossible III (Paramount Home Video) and Ghost Rider (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment). The processor was just a little slow to pick up the 3:2 cadence, creating an instance of moiré at the opening of chapter nine in Mission Impossible III, but then it locked on and rendered the rest of the scene cleanly. The 46SV670U also served up a very clean image--even with the noise-reduction controls turned off, the picture had almost no digital noise in backgrounds and light-to-dark transitions.

The ClearScan 240 technology successfully reduced motion blur, both with test patterns from the FPD Software Group Blu-ray disc and with real-world football broadcasts. During quick camera pans, finer details held up better with the Toshiba than they did with the older Samsung, which doesn't have a higher refresh rate. I'm not sure that ClearScan 240 is any more effective than Toshiba's ClearFrame 120Hz anti-blur feature, but they both accomplish the desired task: to reduce blur in faster-moving scenes. I really appreciate that Toshiba lets you enable ClearScan 240 without enabling the Film Stabilization mode, particularly the Smooth mode. A number of LCD manufacturers combine the anti-blur and de-judder technologies into one feature, so you can't have one without the other. I'm not a fan of motion interpolation, as I find it gives film sources an unnatural quality that's more distracting than judder. I will say that Toshiba's Smooth mode is subtler than what you get from Sony, Samsung, and others; if you love that super-smooth look, you might consider this a drawback. However, I consider it a plus. This is one Smooth mode I could actually watch, and it does not introduce as many smearing and stuttering artifacts as I've seen from some motion-interpolation modes. Again, if you don't like the smoothing effect at all, you can just set the FS mode for Standard with film sources.

Low Points
Local-dimming LED technology has elevated LCD's game to rival plasma as a theater-worthy display technology; however, there are still a couple of areas where plasma has the advantage. For one, because plasma pixels generate their own light, the best performers can offer exceptional blacks and contrast without creating the glowing effect that I described above. That said, the 46SV670U's glowing effect is only noticeable in a small number of scenes and was hardly a deal-breaker for me.

The other area where plasma still has the edge is in viewing angle. LED-based LCDs exhibit the same viewing-angle limitations as traditional CCFL LCDs. Image saturation drops off when you view the TV off-angle. In this case, the Toshiba's viewing angle wasn't as good as the LG's with bright content. Both models suffered from higher blacks and lost black detail with darker scenes. You should be mindful of where you position the 46SV670U in your room and may need to put the stand's swiveling mechanism into play at times.

The CrystalCoat panel offers the benefit of improved black levels in a brighter room, but its reflectivity can still be distracting. If you're trying to watch a darker scene in a really bright viewing environment, you'll notice room reflections off the screen, which both distracts and interferes with the ability to discern fine details.

Finally, the 46SV670U lacks the Web connectivity and a video-on-demand platform available with many other TVs on the market today at this price point.

Conclusion
I think you can tell that I'm a fan of full-array LED backlighting systems with local dimming. I've yet to review an LCD that employs this technology that I wouldn't be content to own, and the 46SV670U is no exception. Its picture quality is very good with minimal adjustment and can look excellent if you take the time--or hire a professional--to perform an advanced setup. Beyond a great-looking image, what gives the Toshiba an edge for me are some of its other features: I prefer the ClearScan 240/Film Stabilization combo to other anti-blur/de-judder technologies I've seen, and Dolby Volume is a real perk for those who plan to use the TV's sound system. Throw in its nice connection panel, attractive design, and more-than-competitive price with other full-array LED TVs, and the 46SV670U becomes an easy and glowing recommendation.

Paradigm Offers Special Edition Speaker Line

2009-11-01T22:17:36Z

Paradigm just announced that it is now shipping the Special Edition (SE) Series, a limited and unique addition to the Paradigm® collection. Combining elements from the affordable audiophile-quality Paradigm line and higher-end Paradigm Reference line, the SE series speakers brings a new generation of affordable elegance to the company's vast offerings. The SE series features the SE1, a bookshelf speaker, the SE3, a floorstanding model and the SE Center and SE Subwoofer, all outfitted with stylish real wood veneer cabinets. Paradigm Special Edition (SE) speakers, with soft edges, clean lines, state-of-the-art technology, compact dimensions and real wood veneer cabinets are a stepping stone to the world of high-end audio for budget conscious consumers.

Like the award-winning and ever popular Monitor Series, the SE line will boast Paradigm's SuperDrive technology, which combines very high efficiency with very high output and ultra-low distortion. This results in top-level performance from the Special Edition line regardless of amplification. The drivers represent a best of breed hybrid mix that includes high frequency drivers from the Paradigm Monitor Series and mineral-filled polypropylene bass/midrange drivers handed down right from the Paradigm Reference Studio Series. Both the SE 1 bookshelf and SE 3 floorstanding boast the benefits of an aluminum midrange including remarkable clarity, superb extended bass response and elimination of unwanted resonance and distortion.

Aesthetically speaking, the Paradigm SE series presents a system with clean lines, soft edges and general design characteristics seamlessly integrated into the home décor. With a reasonable footprint, this collection provides real wood veneer finishes for customers seeking sophisticated appearance at a competitive price.

SPECIFICATIONS

SE 1 Bookshelf
• Two-driver 2-way bookshelf/stand-mounted:
• 5-1/2˝ M-ICP£ mid/bass, 1˝ H-PTD£ dome
• Estimated $299 MSRP
SE 3 Floorstanding
• Four-driver 2-1/2-way floorstanding:
• Two 5-1/2˝ carbon-infused polypropylene bass,
• 5-1/2˝ M-ICP£ mid/bass,1˝ H-PTD dome
• Estimated $699 MSRP
SE Center
• Four-driver 3-way center channel
• Two 5-1/2˝ carbon-infused polypropylene bass,
• 3-1/2˝ M-ICP£ midrange, 1˝ H-PTD dome
• Estimated $499 MSRP
SE Subwoofer
• Bass Reflex Single Driver Design
o 10 Driver with CAP£ Carbon / Aramid Fiber Polypropylene Cone
• 900 watts Dynamic Peak / 300 watts RMS Sustained
• Paradigm's Proprietary Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Design
• Comprehensive Range of Input and Control Facilities
• USB Port for use with the critically acclaimed Paradigm Perfect Bass Kit (PBK£) Room Correction System
• Estimated $699 MSRP

Paradigm's Perfect Bass Kit (PBK) is available as an upgrade and sold separately.

VIZIO Licenses Digital TV Patent Portfolio to SONY - Ends Dispute

2009-11-01T22:10:11Z

VIZIO announced that Sony Corporation has become a licensee under VIZIO's patent portfolio. VIZIO owns a substantial worldwide patent portfolio directed to digital television technology.

"We are pleased with the result of our patent licensing efforts. It further demonstrates the technical strength and value of VIZIO's patent portfolio," said Rob Brinkman, VIZIO V.P. of Operations and Administration.

VIZIO continues to expand its intellectual property including the development of new technologies that will be implemented in VIZIO's products available later this year and beyond. "We are excited about the new line of VIZIO HDTV's which will have technically advanced features. We are committed to providing the best HDTV experience possible to our customers," Brinkman added.

VIZIO also announced that it has successfully resolved its ongoing patent disputes with Sony, and that VIZIO now is a licensee under Sony's color television patent portfolio. "Having successfully resolved the disputes, we shall continue to aggressively protect our rights and actively expand VIZIO's licensing program. As an owner of patent rights and as a licensee of legitimate patent right held by others, VIZIO respects intellectual property and we expect our competitors to do the same," added Mr. Brinkman.

New High End Runco LED Projectors Save Energy

2009-11-01T22:03:23Z

Runco just introduced a new series of LED HDTV front projectors including their QuantumColor™ Q-750i and Q-750d. The QuantumColor projectors maximize the benefits of Runco's new InfiniLight™ lampless LED illumination technology and pair it with proprietary engineering to create energy-efficient systems that deliver high light output.

"LED-based projection is incredibly complex and Runco has significantly invested to lead in this category," stated Runco CEO Gerry Perkel. "QuantumColor is a revolutionary solution that maximizes LED performance and offers a never-before-seen color gamut. But, having these features is only part of the magic. To make this a revolutionary new platform, Runco created proprietary technologies that harness the impressive color gamut to create images that are nothing short of stunning."

Working in close collaboration with Texas Instruments, Runco has invested considerable time to create new color options for home theater projectors. QuantumColor projectors offer the most astounding arsenal of colors ever available in front projection, including DCI (Digital Cinema Initiative), Adobe RGB, sRGB, REC 709 and REC 601, to enable exact reproduction of any content. To harness these incredible color gamuts, Runco introduces its revolutionary new Personal Color Equalizer™ (PCE), a six-axis (R, G, B, C, Y, M) color adjustment that works like an audio equalizer and allows colors to be individually dialed up and down for every video source and multiple personal preferences. Runco's PCE enables custom integrators to achieve unprecedented colors that include those exactly defined by Hollywood's cinematographers and the color preferences that each individual viewer chooses for each source.

Color equalizing is revolutionary, but such a large color gamut can distort images if not coded properly. To eliminate unrealistic distortion, Runco developed Runco SmartColor (RSC™), which is a proprietary hue compensation curve and gamut mapping technology that preserves lifelike, accurate flesh tones by increasing color saturation, without sacrificing the purity of other colors. True to Runco's Installer Dependant™ legacy, RSC enables custom installers to create color preference settings for their clients who, for example, want REC 709 perfect HD encoding when watching Blu-ray, but prefer incredibly green grass that pops off the screen when watching football--all without sacrificing or adjusting other colors, which leads to unrealistic flesh tones and oversaturation. QuantumColor projectors never lose color alignment as they automatically assess and adjust color calibration every time they are turned on.

"Runco has been innovating and changing projection technology for years," says Joel Silver, founder and president of the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF™). "An LED lampless light source is clearly the next step in front projection, and Runco's investment in color gamut and customization puts its QuantomColor projectors well ahead of the pack. The innovation offered by Runco's Personal Color Equalizer easily enables accurate color gamut for all current sources."

Runco's proprietary technologies enable the Quantum Series to achieve a new level of customized HD video performance that, until now, has been unachievable. QuantumColor enables the projectors to produce immeasurable black/white contrast and new color standards, redefining projector specifications as we know them and demanding new ways to be measured. Runco's QuantumColor projectors are the first to measure ColorContrast™, the ratio of a single color at its darkest (black) to its brightest by utilizing an incident light meter. The difference between these measured colors is greater than lamp-based projectors and ColorContrast enables colors to be "turned up" to achieve greater realism and dimensionality. The result is an unsurpassed visual experience that must be seen to be understood.

Runco's InstantOn™ feature provides a nearly-immediate projected image when turned on, just like a TV, whereas most lamp-based products require two minutes to warm up. InstantOn saves the QuantumColor owner both time and money, because the projector no longer needs to be left in standby mode, which consumes power when the projector is not in use. Runco's implementation of InfiniLight technology has enabled a solid-state illumination system that eliminates the need for a lamp, mechanical iris and color wheel; the absence of which provides enhanced reliability. In addition, Runco's QuantumColor projectors operate using a staggering 70-percent less power than lamp-based projectors. Having no lamp to replace, the projectors also eliminate the disposal of hazardous material, including traditional lamp composites, such as mercury and lead.

Each Runco QuantumColor projector offers two lens options to accommodate nearly every theater and various screen sizes. For the ultimate in viewing flexibility and enjoyment, each model is available with Runco's exclusive, award-winning CineWide™ and CineWide with AutoScope™ technology. These technologies reproduce 2.35:1 CinemaScope™ movies with unparalleled accuracy and full vertical screen image height, and eliminate useless black bars.

Runco's QuantumColor projectors have it all - no lamp to replace, never-before-seen colors, high reliability, low power consumption - available exclusively through the best dealers in the home theater business, the Runco authorized dealer network. Like all Runco Home Theater products, each are built with quality and craftsmanship to ensure an amazing experience. All Runco displays feature a two-year RuncoCare standard warranty and extended options are also available. RuncoCare is simple, convenient and offers the best protection in the industry.

Runco's QuantumColor Series Q-750i features integrated video processing, and the Q-750d is paired with Runco's latest DHD controller/processor. The Runco QuantumColor Q-750i will ship in November 2009 with an MSRP of $14,995. The Q-750d will ship a month later with an MSRP of $17,995.

Leon's New 1.5-Inch Deep Horizon Soundbar For Thin LED HDTVs

2009-11-01T21:55:44Z

Leon Speakers just announced that it has extended its Horizon Series with the addition of the new Horizon 212 Ultra-Thin Soundbar. At only 1.5 inches deep, the Horizon 212-UT is the only high-fidelity soundbar available that matches the extremely shallow depth of the increasingly popular ultra-thin LCD displays. This progressive multichannel speaker achieves high-fidelity sound without sacrificing the sleek look that makes these new displays so desirable.

At only 3.25 inches tall and custom-built to the exact width and finish of any slim TV, the Leon Horizon 212-UT is the audio solution of choice for systems integrators and interior designers alike. It combines left, center, and right channels in one ultra-thin cabinet, and has been engineered to mount directly to any TV on a fixed, tilt, or articulating mounting bracket.

Customers get the design benefit of the panel's ultra-thin profile without giving up the sound quality that is demanded of these high-definition displays. For retrofit applications, the single unit Horizon 212-UT provides three of the five channels necessary to create an easy-to-install Leon 5.1 Living-Space Theater system. To complete the package, the Horizon 212-UT can be paired with Leon's new AAROS in-wall subwoofer and timbre-matched AXIS in-ceiling surrounds.

"When it comes to the new LCD displays, thin is definitely in. The problem for systems engineers and designers has been the integration of high-fidelity audio to match the sleek displays without disrupting the overall room design," said Noah Kaplan, president of Leon Speakers. "With our new Horizon 212 Ultra-Thin, we are filling this gap by offering a soundbar speaker that delivers unparalleled performance while matching the depth of ultra-thin LCD displays for a seamless, truly sophisticated look in any environment."

The Horizon 212-UT utilizes the finest drivers available: each L/R channel features dual 2-inch, aluminum-dome Peerless HDS woofers for excellent sound dispersion and off-axis response (the center channel features four Peerless drivers). Classic Morel MDT-12 1-inch, hand-treated, cloth-dome tweeters provide superior sound in the upper frequency range. The Horizon 212-UT is available in L/C/R, L/R, or Center channel configurations for all ultra-thin displays, and easily mounts on the wall or to any fixed or articulating mount with Leon's exclusive universal UnderMount bracket.

Custom-built in only three to five business days, the Horizon 212-UT Series is available now at a starting MSRP of $1,695 for the L/C/R combination, $1,495 for the L/R combination, and $1,295 for the Center-only configuration.

Boston Acoustics New Thin VS344 Speakers

2009-11-01T21:48:58Z

Boston Acoustics just announced the latest addition to their flagship VS Series, the VS 344 floorstanding loudspeaker (SRP: $1,250.00). With a super-slender cabinet design, the VS 344 delivers the same powerful musical experience as much larger speakers in an elegant and surprisingly unobtrusive package.

The VS 344's driver configuration and cabinet design bring together the power and performance of four 4 ½" Organic Composite Cone Material (OCCM) bass drivers with a 4 ½" OCCM midrange driver and a 1" Super Wide Bandwidth (SWB) tweeter. Standing only 44 inches high and a mere 5-3/8 inches wide, the compact size belies its room-filling audio power, with bass frequencies extending down to 42Hz. This new VS Series model has all the power and the sensitivity to faithfully reproduce any source material under any listening condition. Designed for both home theater and 2-channel audio applications, the VS 344 is voiced to blend seamlessly with all other VS Series models - allowing users to create the perfect combination of VS Series speakers.

Like all VS Series speakers, the VS 344's piano lacquer finish and high-gloss furniture-grade end panels cover a cabinet that literally dispels all notions of the familiar "rectangular box" loudspeaker. The structural elements of the cabinets are made of high-frequency-molded MDF, which feature curved surfaces that reduce internal standing waves and panel resonances, and substantial internal braces enhance the strength of the cabinets to provide an ideal environment for the high performance drivers. A rear-firing acoustically tuned port provides improved bass extension and output with virtually no distortion.

Details
• Exclusive Super Wide Bandwidth (SWB) Tweeters featuring a Coupled Dual Concentric Diaphragm (CDCD) - At high frequencies (i.e. above 10-12 kHz) the center of a traditional dome-shaped diaphragm gradually decouples, moving out of phase with the remaining structure and causing cancellation of higher frequencies and a loss of radiating surface area. By terminating the center of the diaphragm to a brass plug, the CDCD continues to work more like a piston -significantly lowering the "noise floor." The result is greater transparency and micro dynamics with a low frequency resonance point that allows for lower crossover points resulting in a more full-bodied sound character at high output levels.

• Organic Composite Cone Material (OCCM) for Mid-Range & Woofers - The OCCM cones featured in all VS Series woofers and midrange drivers, were developed for the purpose of maintaining rigidity with minimal sacrifice to sensitivity. This new composite cone uses a mix of select natural fibers to reduce resonance and improve sonic accuracy.

These new acoustical innovations, in conjunction with the "resonant free" enclosures provide incredibly pure sonic performance. The Boston Acoustics VS 344 is available now at select retailers. More information is available at bostonacoustics.com.

AV's Next and Biggest Generation of Clients Deeply Affected By Unemployment and Under-employment

2009-10-30T18:06:59Z

Baby Boomers have been the driving force behind both the audiophile business and most of the two-decade long rise in popularity of home theater. Economically for Boomers there have been far more good times than bad, with recessions feeling more like speed bumps on the road to wealth or even just conspicuous consumption. Ground breaking technologies like VHS, 5.1 surround sound, Compact Disc, satellite TV, DVD-Video, HDTVs and the Internet made making an investment in new AV equipment even in a down economy often more important than saving for a rainy day. Consistently rising home values during Baby Boomers adult lives only made it easier and easier to invest in adding home theaters, distributed audio and flat HDTV-based systems to our homes. With equity to spare (or to spend) who could resist the temptation of watching a Sunday football game on a $20,000 50 inch plasma?

Things are quite different for the younger children of Baby Boomers (Generation Y) as the world suffers through the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression in the United States during the 1930s.

Generation X (young adults in their 30s today like myself) saw a red-hot job market in the late 1990s with the tech and dotcom boom. Perks for our demographically smaller generation included allowing us to bring our dogs to work, noon-time foosball lessons and signing bonuses of as much as $20,000 paired with equity that if you were lucky, converted into stock that could go from nothing to millions overnight. We partied like it was 1999 and then we let the elevator bring us down as that hit song ended abruptly by mid-2000.

Generation Y has never experienced a truly robust economy. They know a post 9-11 world filled with wars and debt (and the bad guy still hiding in a hole in Pakistan). They know the Internet. They know student loan debt. They know that their parents' 401k retirements are worth a lot less than before, but they don't know if they will ever find a company willing to match them dollar for dollar. Generation Y is amazingly productive even when they spend a few hours a day of company time on Facebook or Twitter talking about what was in their burrito at lunch. Yet in an economy where 13 states currently have over 10 percent unemployment - Generation Y is struggling to find any work whatsoever. At the same time, there are now older (Xer and Boomers) candidates in the job market with a lot more experience and a very different work ethic willing to work for practically anything - especially if the job comes with benefits.

While Boomers and Gen-Xers have bought their fair share of consumer electronics in their lifetimes - there is a massive statistical problem facing the future of AV, home theater and electronics which is: Generation Y is the largest generation ever, yet they don't have the buying power of the last two generations. Some suggest that Generation Y just needs some time to come into their own and that argument holds some weight. As they get older, have children and ultimately buy homes - they will buy more consumer electronics. At the same time, Generation Y looks at intellectual property very differently than Gen X and Baby Boomers. They don't know a world without an iPod, the Internet and/or peer-to-peer file "sharing" (some say stealing), which has affected their view on value, especially when it comes to high end luxury items. Apple products speak to them. Text messaging is more addictive than a blazing rock of crack in a glass pipe. But will that 65 inch LED backlit LCD HDTV with a 7.1 audiophile surround sound rig be as much of a must have for Generation Y as it was for Boomers and Xers? If Generation Y as a whole can't get their careers on track in the next few years in an increasingly global workplace - don't count on the high end ever being the same again. Good enough is never a term a Baby Boomer muttered while shopping for a new tube preamp. Big enough was never a term that a Gen Xer used when shopping for a new plasma for his house when using his equity loan to fund the purchase. Gen Yers look at watching movies on iPhones and listening through ear buds as "good enough." Perhaps in the next five years when they own homes and make more money without the fear of losing their jobs - they will change their outlook.

Fear of Unemployment Is As Bad As Unemployment Itself
Through my wife, I know a 27 year old young man who lives in Orange County, California. He is employed with a major hotel chain and has more than five years experience doing everything from valet parking to being the night General Manager. He has a degree from a prominent California private university that brings him $800 a month in student loan debt. His job today, which is a good one, is to price hotel rooms for more than seven business and luxury properties in the Anaheim area for which he is paid $52,000 a year. By no means is he unemployed; however fear of unemployment is a factor in every dollar he spends. His department used to consist of 12 full-time employees. Today it is down to two people with his boss saying in December - the work of 12 people is likely going to be for one person to do with the other one on the unemployment line.

This young man works his butt off as he knows his parents can't support him with a safety net at 27. Today he now has roommates to lower his living expenses. He works project work, bar-backs and other tasks to make money on the side. He limits his dating because dinner out in Orange County can be quite costly. He doesn't pay for Internet but "borrows" it from a nearby neighbor who doesn't have a password lock on their network. His 160,000 mile Mitsubishi Eclipse is giving up the ghost in ways that would send 27 year old Boomers and Xers flocking to a car lot and driving home with something nice and shiny. And for AV gear - my friend loves it but if he wants the home theater experience, he comes over for dinner and a movie at my house, as Playstation 3 on a standard definition television is the most he can justify. A trip to Best Buy or even used gear he says is too risky when he could be weeks away from losing his income - and those student loans never really go away. He does pay extra into his debt when he makes some extra money.

It's easy and popular to jump to gloom and doom predictions in today's economy. Each and every one of us (in all generations) are feeling the pain on so many levels. However things aren't quite as bad as they seem. The Dow is currently up in 2009 - pushing or passing 10,000 depending on the day. The economy grew at meaningful levels in the third quarter. Housing prices in 20 key markets are showing signs of settling but this recovery will not be as fast or as satisfying as any of us want. The biggest generation since the Baby Boomers is being taught not to spend - especially on luxury goods, just as The Greatest Generation learned to save for a rainy day thanks to the Great Depression.

Retailers specializing in selling specialty audio-video, home theater and home automation need to start studying how Generation Y is vastly different than Boomers and Xers. Wireless is big. Bluetooth sells. And until there are prolonged times of economic boom that teach Generation Y that it's OK to splurge - value is going to be "job one" with every system sold. The days of loading a home up with $250,000 of Crestron might have been a solid sale to a dotcom CEO fresh after an IPO but as a whole, Generation Y isn't going to be as flamboyant with their money without being truly wowed.

The good news with Generation Y is that they love music more than any generation before them. 220,000,000 iPods and iPhones sold (and counting) only hammers that point home. They love the AV experience of video games that pack both HD video and perhaps better-than-Hollywood surround sound. Could this audience be sold home theater gear in large numbers? You're damn right they can. It just will be under new rules, with new tastes and new buying habits.

Energy ESW-V10 Subwoofer Reviewed

2009-10-29T23:53:30Z

Energy is an audio manufacturer that is fairly well known for developing quality speakers at a mid-range price and now they are slowly getting into producing a more high-end subwoofer product line starting with the ESW-V10. The list price for this 300-watt subwoofer is $800 and if you are looking for a speaker component that brings out detailed and concise low-end while you are playing video games or just for watching your DVD collection, the ESW-V10 might be just what your are looking for.

The rugged outward appearance of this model delivers a definite sense of strength with its high gloss black finish, squared-off corners and its 10-inch woofer cone. Even though this hefty subwoofer weighs in at almost forty pounds, the designers took great care in making sure that this speaker easily blends in with any speaker configuration you currently own, and that its overall size of 15-inches in height and 15-inches of width will not take up too much space in your listening room.

The ESW-V10 has 1,200 watts of dynamic power, a 10-inch woven composite fiberglass cone and a two-inch voice coil that delivers most of the mid-range associated with the higher end of this subwoofer's bass dispersion. The line-in/Sub-in and speaker inputs are all easily accessed in the back panel of this unit for convenient set-up that will take the average consumer about five minutes to hook up to their audio system and the equalization controls, sound controls and power on/off switch are all embedded into the rear panel as well.

In the audio configuration in which I was starting the demonstration of the ESW-V10, an Onkyo TX-SR506 digital A/V receiver was being used as the main audio component, and Energy's CB-10 bookshelf speakers were used as the Left-Right speaker combination. When playing back a wide variety of rock music using the ESW-V10 as the main sound component to drive the bass into my musical soundstage, I noticed how easy it was to perfectly set the low-end using the basic equalization controls in its back panel so that the bass elements complimented the music without overwhelming the mid-range emanating from the other Energy speakers.

While watching a few Blu-ray movies using this same audio configuration, I noticed that the ESW-V10 did an impeccable job of dispersing the low-end needed during the action sequences of all the movies I was watching, while at the same time, the subwoofer delivered a nice amount of bass elements during all of the movie's louder musical sequences. And while playing a few PS3 games, I made note that the ESW-V10 did a more than capable job of delivering the harder edged low-end that intense games like "KillZone 2" and "Borderlands" especially need to fully encapsulate the player in the two game's Cyberworld of hostile virtual landscapes.

High Points
• The ESW-V10 is one of the most attractively designed subwoofers on the market today and its size is nice and compact, perfect for the discriminating consumer who needs to save on square footage in his media room.
• This subwoofer does a great job of delivering clean low-end to the soundstage without overwhelming the listener with too much bass dispersion.
• The ESW-V10 is extremely versatile when it comes to bringing out the best musical elements during audio playback, no matter if you are watching a DVD, playing a video game or listening to one of your favorite CDs.

Low Points
• One of the weaker elements of this subwoofer is the ESW-V10's inability to spread out its low-end audio to exact parts of the room using minimal size correction implementation.
• While watching a movie during a more quiet film sequence, the ESW-V10 was not able to deliver the subtle bass elements to the listening area that was needed.

Conclusion
When it comes to designing an all-purpose subwoofer that will make the average audiophile happy while also insuring that the avid home theater fanatics and video gamers amongst us are getting the best low-end audio from their speaker configuration, Energy has delivered an exciting speaker that will not disappoint anyone who purchases the ESW-V10.

The subwoofer's ability to deliver pristine low-end to any listening area while also filling the musical soundstage with powerful dexterity more than makes up for the fact that room placement for optimal sound displacement is not an easy chore with the ESW-V10. Overall, this subwoofer performs well above its retail price of $800, without a doubt.

JVC LT-42X899 42-Inch LCD HDTV Reviewed

2009-10-29T23:50:41Z

If you have been looking for an HDTV that eliminates pesky motion blur while viewing action-packed Blu-ray discs, you should be very interested in what JVC is calling their "Clear Motion Drive III" technology. That technology is integrated into their LT-42X899 LCD HDTV and JVC states that this process eliminates edge blur and ensures an extremely clean image, no matter what type of movie or TV show you happen to be watching.

The impact that the LT-42X899's 42-inch flat-panel TV makes on everyone who comes into contact with it is one of immediate respect. This unit's black gloss finish, gun metal trim and anti-reflective deep black screen sends off a feeling of power that one does not get from the usual LCD TV's currently seen at your local home theater store. The front panel is designed with simplicity and does not feature any inputs at all on the front of the unit. The three HDMI (v1.3) digital inputs, the two component video inputs, along with the S-Video and three AV inputs are all situated on the back of the TV.

Looking closer at the unit's speakers that are attached to the side of the flat panel, you will notice that JVC has incorporated twin cone speakers that are designed with a bass reflex, thereby sending off a more powerful bass sound from these thin speakers than you would expect. The audio is rated at 20 watts of total power, but you will still need a complete surround-sound audio system to experience Dolby Digital in all its glory when watching the latest action-packed movie from the Hollywood studios, but you should have no problem with the clean and concise audio emanating from this unit when watching a typical TV program.

The main mode for viewing movies was the "Theater Mode", which produced more color saturation than the "Normal Mode" and will turn any action sequence into a much more cinema-like movie experience. This menu will allow you to adjust the TV's volume, brightness levels and surround-sound mode with ease. The HDTV's 1920x1080 resolution really brought out the action movie's deep blacks and penetrating whites, while never going too far with the vividness of the color saturation, keeping the action scene "natural" and not contrived or artificial-looking.

A Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray player was connected to the JVC LCDTV and the Blu-ray of the movie "Eagle Eye" (Dreamworks) was popped into the player's tray during the demo for this review. This movie features a lot of deep blacks during the night action sequences, so the LT 42X899 was put to the test of displaying these scenes in true 1080p resolution, as well as eliminating any motion blur that these sequences could cause with a lesser LCD model. During the scene in which Shia LeBouf's apartment is practically decimated by an unknown force, the detail of the glass shattering out of his windows while his entire apartment's walls are collapsing in on him was breathtaking in its realism.

High Points:
• Excellent anti-glare 1080p LCD screen that outshines most other LCD
HDTVs in the market today.
• No motion blur during action sequences, which makes for an outstanding home theater experience if you happen to be an action-movie fan.
• 36-bit processing brings out colors brilliantly, further enhancing the color saturation levels, resulting in a much more 'natural' high-definition home theater experience.
• The three HDMI connections contained in this HDTV means that you can connect all of your high-def components easily.

Low Points:
• The width of this model's frame should be thinner, as most consumers nowadays are looking for A/V components that naturally blend in with their living room or media room's walls.
• Bass emanating from the unit's speakers did not sound powerful enough during this demonstration, which means that if you are going to use the LT 42X899's main speakers as your only source of audio, you will be greatly disappointed while watching a high-energy Hollywood blockbuster on this unit.
• The lack of backlighting in the remote control results in a poorly designed remote unit that will be hard to find in your darkened home theater set-up.
• Not enough surround-sound modes that would allow a more fully encompassing sound stage while playing back a DVD that needs specific sound dispersion to enjoy, such as a sports movie, or while playing a video game on the HDTV that requires a more impacting, vibrant dynamic sound.

Conclusion
In the past, $1,800 would not have bought you an HDTV of this size or of this quality, but with the recession now in full control of our economy, JVC realizes that it must appeal to the average consumer who wants a true HD experience as soon as possible, but is also concerned about losing his job and is not willing to pay an arm and a leg to experience true HD.

That type of consumer does not have $4,000 or more to spend on a high-end HDTV, so JVC has taken the needed step of incorporating great design elements into a low-end price range when it comes to their LCD TV lineup, and I applaud them for doing so.

Vizio VT420M 42-Inch LCD HDTV Reviewed

2009-10-29T23:46:14Z

Vizio has been hard at work designing their full product line of HDTV's to compliment every consumer's desire to own a high-quality HDTV for less than almost any other A/V manufacturer around. This well-designed HDTV retails for just under $1,000 and it contains a lot of design elements that most other LCD TV's listed at the same cost don't include, such as SRS TruSurround HD and SRS TruVolume, both audio technologies that make listening to this HDTV's attached inner speakers a joy to your ears.

The 42-inch LCD screen displays a full 1080p HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 and contains a refresh rate of 120hz, along with smooth motion technology that insures there will be no motion blurring occurring as you start watching your Blu-ray or DVD collection using the VT420M as your main HDTV in your home theater configuration. This TV was designed with the consumer who needs an LCD TV to play video games on as well as watching DVD movies and TV shows with, so Vizio's designers made sure that this HDTV possesses a two million pixel resolution for both the avid video gamer as well as the common home theater fan.

This TV's high contrast ratio of 20,000: 1 results in an extremely vibrant display image, no matter what type of source material you happen to be watching. The fact that the VT420M comes with three HDMI inputs makes this specific high-definition TV very attractive to the consumer who needs to hook up his PS3 to this unit as well as his DVR and any other high-end audio/video component that delivers superb audio or video with an HDMI cable.

The five video modes that are easily switched via the very nicely designed remote control allows you to customize the color saturation levels and contrast to your own specifications if you prefer, but Vizio has done an excellent job of designing video modes for every type of movie or TV show available. The "movie" mode automatically softens up the video image of whatever you are watching so that the image replicates 35mm film resolution perfectly, and the "video game" mode brightens the contrast level of the video image so that the game you are playing looks more vibrant and 'alive'.

For the home theater consumer who is looking to upgrade their current HDTV that might lack certain design elements such as superior audio, smooth motion technology and multiple HDMI inputs, Vizio's VT420M should definitely fit the bill.

High Points
• This HDTV's ability to process TruSurround audio via the TV's inner speaker configuration goes a long way to insure that an accompanying A/V receiver is not required to enjoy realistic theater-surround sound.
• The 1080p full HD resolution displayed by the VT420M is completely crystal clear and the high (reported) contrast rate of 20,000: 1 results in a dynamic display video imaging that is hard to beat.
• Since the VT420M features three HDMI inputs, this HDTV makes high-end audio-video component hook-ups easily accessible and extremely convenient.
• All of the video modes that are displayed in the main menu greatly enhance the video imaging of the movie, TV program or video game that is being displayed at all times.

Low Points
• The black levels that this HDTV delivers to the display area are not nearly dark enough, and trying to customize the contrast levels to darken the black saturation levels does nothing to remedy the problem.
• A definite lack of important inputs on the HDTV's rear panel such as S-Video, composite video, USB port accessibility and a lack of RF connectivity means that the VT420M suffers immensely when it comes to multiple-input configuration.
• Although the frame surrounding the display area is nicely refined in jet-black refinished wood, the frame itself is not nearly thin enough when compared to other LCD televisions that are also in the 42-inch display range.

Conclusion
Even though the Vizio VT420M suffers a bit in the multiple-input department, the excellent video imaging that this HDTV delivers more than makes up for this small problem. The superior high-contrast definition that this television displays results in amazingly vivid images that really stand out from the other LCD televisions listed in the same price range as the VT420M.

And when you consider that this television can be used as a stand-alone unit that does not necessarily need an attached A/V receiver to replicate true theater surround-sound, Vizio needs to be commended on their ability to integrate excellently designed professional audio technology directly into their HDTV product line.

Yamaha BD-S1065 Blu-ray Player Reviewed

2009-10-29T19:26:24Z

Yamaha recently added two new models to its Blu-ray lineup. The BD-S1065 is the least expensive of the two, priced at $599.95. We have not performed a hands-on review of the BD-S1065, but here is an overview of the player's features. This Profile 2.0 player supports BonusView/picture-in-picture playback and BD-Live Web functionality, and it offers both onboard decoding and bitstream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The BD-S1065 does not support any type of video-on-demand platform, such as those offered by Netflix and Amazon.

In terms of video connections, the BD-S1065 offers HDMI, component video, S-video, and composite video outputs. This player supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions via HDMI. The setup menu does not include any advanced picture adjustments, such as preset picture modes or noise-reduction options. The BD-S1065 has the full complement of audio connections: HDMI, optical and coaxial digital, and 2- and 7.1-channel analog. As I mentioned, the player has onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. You can set speaker size, level, and delay for the analog audio outputs.

The BD-S1065's disc drive supports BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, and JPEG playback, but not MP3 or WMA music files. The back panel features an Ethernet port for BD-Live Web connectivity; this player does not have built-in wireless functionality. The BD-S1065 also lacks internal memory, so the addition of an external storage device is required to download BD-Live features; a back-panel USB port is provided for this purpose. The USB port is also used for firmware updates (you can't update the firmware via the network connection), and it does not support playback of media files, such as MP3 or JPEG. The player lacks RS-232, but it does have remote control in/out ports. The unit is compatible with the SCENE function available in many Yamaha receivers, which automatically launches a series of codes for certain tasks like "DVD Viewing."

The step-up BD-S1900 ($699.95) adds RS-232 and a Pure Direct audio mode.

High Points
• The BD-S1065 supports 1080p/24 playback of Blu-ray discs.
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI. It has multichannel analog audio outputs for use with older A/V receivers.
• It supports BD-Live Web content and can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
• It has remote control in/out ports.

Low Points
• The player lacks internal memory, so you must add your own USB storage device.
• It doesn't support wireless connectivity to your home network.
• The BD-S1065 doesn't support MP3 or WMA playback, nor does it provide access to any Web-based video-on-demand portal.

Conclusion
Purely from a Blu-ray standpoint, the BD-S1065 has the most desirable features to suit any A/V setup--such as 1080p/24 output, BD-Live, and HD audio decoding with multichannel analog outputs--and would be a logical fit for anyone who owns a Yamaha receiver. However, you can find other Blu-ray players that cost less and offer more perks, like video-on-demand and wireless network connectivity.

Mitsubishi Diamond Unisen LT-46249 LCD HDTV Reviewed

2009-10-28T19:32:27Z

The Diamond Unisen 249 Series is Mitsubishi's highest-end LCD line for 2009 and therefore is loaded with the company's most advanced technologies and features. The line includes screen sizes of 46 and 52 inches. We have not performed a hands-on review of the LT-46249, but here is an overview of the TV's features. This 46-inch, 1080p LCD has a traditional fluorescent backlight (as opposed to LED backlighting) and 18-bit processing, and it features Mitsubishi's Variable Smooth240 technology to reduce motion blur and film judder. Instead of a basic two-channel speaker system, the LT-46249 incorporates an 18-speaker integrated sound projector that provides Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound from a single soundbar. This TV also supports access to VUDU's 1080p streaming-video platform, has ISF calibration modes, and is EneryStar 3.0-certified.

The input panel includes four HDMI, three component video, and one RF input to access the internal ATSC and ClearQAM tuners (there is no dedicated PC input). The HDMI inputs accept 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 signals, and all four are located on the TV's back panel. One of the component video inputs is located on the side panel for easy access, as is a USB port that supports photo and music playback. The back panel includes an Ethernet port to access Mitsubishi's new Web portal, which includes the VUDU HD video-on-demand platform, as well as YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, Pandora, and an "On Demand TV" section. The Ethernet port is accompanied by two USB ports that allow you to add VUDU's wireless accessory bridge.

The setup menu includes a somewhat more thorough assortment of picture controls than you'll find on lower-level Mitsubishi offerings. You get six picture modes, including ISF Day and Night modes that provide access to more advanced calibration options. The general picture menu offers just two color-temperature choices (high and low), but you can adjust white balance more precisely in the ISF modes. Gamma adjustment is absent, but you do get noise reduction and the PerfectColor/PerfectTint system to adjust the hue and saturation of the six main color points. Mitsubishi's Variable Smooth240 technology addresses both motion blur and film judder; the LT-46249's setup menu differs from some lower-level Mitsubishi TVs: instead of high, standard, and off settings, you can perform incremental adjustment to produce the desired level of smoothness in film motion. The TV offers six aspect-ratio options for SD content and three options for HD content, including a full native mode to view 1080i/1080p signals with no overscan.

The integrated sound projector is attached to the TV's bottom panel and receives its audio signals directly via the TV's input panel. Audio signals can be input via the HDMI inputs, the RF/antenna connection, or a coaxial digital audio input. The LT-46249's back panel includes a subwoofer output to direct the low frequencies to an outboard subwoofer. The 18-speaker ISP is designed to present the complete multichannel soundfield, creating a sense of surround envelopment by bouncing sound waves off of room boundaries. The sound projector's setup menu includes manual and automatic setup options, and a microphone is supplied to perform the auto setup. The TV has internal Dolby Digital 5.1 and Pro Logic decoders to handle soundtracks from your DVD player or set-top box. Other audio setup options include four preset sound modes (stereo, surround, music and night), as well as bass, treble, and balance controls and a level sound feature to minimize volume discrepancies.

Finally, the back panel features an RS-232 port to integrate the TV into an advanced control system, as well as an IR jack that can serve as either an input for an external control system or an output, if you set up the TV's NetCommand system to control other devices.

High Points
• The LT-46249 has a 1080p resolution and will accept 24p sources via its HDMI inputs.
• This TV includes an integrated sound projector for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
• Variable Smooth240 technology helps reduce motion blur, and the setup menu gives you more flexibility to tailor the amount of motion interpolation used to reduce judder in film sources.
• This TV includes ISF calibration modes.
• The LT-46249 has a USB port and an Ethernet port for digital media, including the ability to access VUDU video-on-demand, YouTube, Pandora, and more.
• LCDs can be very bright, which makes them a good choice for a brightly lit viewing environment.
• An RS-232 port is included.

Low Points
• This LCD uses a traditional fluorescent backlight, so its black level is not as good as that of a higher-end LED-based LCD with local dimming.
• LCD viewing angles are only average.
• There is no dedicated PC input.

Conclusion
The LT-46249 is a complete A/V package, combining a 1080p LCD, a multichannel soundbar, and a network video player into one attractive package.

Sony BDP-N460 Blu-ray Player Reviewed

2009-10-28T19:29:33Z

The newest addition to Sony's Blu-ray line is a Profile 2.0 player that offers a wide variety of Internet-based media options. Its $249.99 MSRP puts it at the lower end of the price spectrum for Sony players. We have not performed a hands-on review of the BDP-N460, but here is an overview of the player's features. As a Profile 2.0 player, the BDP-N460 supports BonusView/picture-in-picture playback and BD-Live Web functionality, and it offers both onboard decoding and bitstream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Via its network connection, the player provides access to numerous online media platforms: Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, Slacker Radio, Sony Pictures Television, Blip.tv, Wired, and more.

In terms of video connections, the BDP-N460 offers HDMI, component video, and composite video outputs (no S-video). This player supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions via HDMI. The only picture adjustment is the ability to choose between three preset picture modes (standard, brighter room, and theater room). Audio outputs include HDMI, optical and coaxial digital, and two-channel analog. As I mentioned, the BDP-N460 has onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. The player lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so the only way to pass decoded high-resolution audio formats is via HDMI. Audio adjustments include A/V lip sync and an audio filter (sharp or slow) for analog signals.

The BDP-N460's disc drive supports BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, MP3, and JPEG playback. The back panel features an Ethernet port for Web connectivity and firmware updates; this player does not have the built-in 802.11n wireless connectivity found on the BDP-S560, but you can add the optional Linksys Wireless Ethernet Bridge. The BDP-N460 also lacks internal memory, so the addition of an external storage device is required to download BD-Live features; a back-panel USB port is provided for this purpose. A second, front-panel USB port supports photo playback, but not digital music or movie playback. The player lacks advanced control ports, such as RS-232 or IR.

High Points
• The BDP-N460 supports 1080p/24 playback of Blu-ray discs.
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI.
• It supports BD-Live Web content and can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
• This player supports a wide variety of online media platforms, including Netflix and Amazon VOD, YouTube, and more.

Low Points
• The BDP-N460 lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so it's not the best choice for someone who owns an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver.
• The player lacks internal memory, so you must add your own USB storage device.
• The player does not have built-in wireless connectivity to your home network; you must pay for an optional wireless bridge.

Conclusion
The BDP-N460 is the Blu-ray player many Sony fans have been waiting for: It combines key Blu-ray features (like 1080p/24 output, BD-Live, and high-resolution audio decoding) with multiple Internet video options--all at an entry-level price point.