Hauppauge HD PVR

Component Personal Video Recorder

This is the most interesting device I have seen a while.  The ability to get a component signal to my PC in H.264 format in real time caught my eye.  The highest resolution it can handle is 1080i, so the "HD" in the title may mislead some people.  Personally I would consider this a standard definition device and leave it set to 720p as my default resolution.  This device can take composite video, s-video or component with audio and transfers it over USB to a computer, for play back or editing at a later time.  There is an option to record digital audio from a 5.1 optical source as well.  It provides 3 recording formats depending on how you will be using this device (.TS, .M2TS or .MP4)  These video formats will allow you to play back the recorded files on You Tube, Play Station3 and XBox360 as well as your TV.  So if your a big nerd and find enjoyment in recording your video gaming adventures and sharing them with the world, this might be a good option for you.









Check it out:  Hauppauge HD PVR
Amazon price: $184.99

Logitech Squeeze Box

Wi-Fi (Internet) Radio

You can plug the Squeeze Box into the internet directly or set it up to get the internet communication from a wireless router.  You can access free internet radio stations, music stored on your computer and online music subscriptions.  There is a line out so you can plug this into a larger sound system or it also works as a stand-alone portable system.  To access music stored on your computer you will need to download and install SqueezeBox Server on your computer.  This will allow you to stream MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, AAC or Apple Lossless files stored in the "my music" folder of your computer.

Check it out: Logitech SqueezeBox

Denon AVR-589

7.1 Surround Sound Receiver

I installed this receiver with a Boston Acoustics Horizon Series MCS100 Speaker System.  It sounded great especially after fine tuning the speakers with the provided set-up microphone and digital signal processing designed to maximize and customize surround sound quality for the given room.  I did encounter a problem when after 6 months the receiver went into protection mode to prevent over heating.  I tried to factory reset the unit but nothing worked.  I sent the unit back to the factory because it was under warranty.  They fixed it and noted that there was a cold solder point that may have caused the amplifier to fry.  The unit has been performing properly since the service date. 

Check it out: Denon AVR-589

TV One LM-1750HD

Multi-format 17" LCD Color Broadcast Rack Mount Monitor

Just saw a demo of this product from the manufacturer.  It can be used as a poor mans windowing processor as well as a monitor of up to 6 input sources: HDMI, PC, Component, SDI, S-Video & Composite Video.  It has an HD-SDI output.

Check it out: TV One LM-1750HD

Western Digital WD TV Live

Full 1080p HD Media Player

I saw this product being used to send HD video to a monitor during a product demo.  This product intrigued me so I did some more research on line.  There are a few things to consider before you run out and buy one.  This device does not have any storage space built in to it.  In order to play your collection of various media you need to connect a separate USB drive to this device with a USB cable or connect this device to your home network with an ethernet cable.  It can be configured to sit on the wireless network but you will need a separate wireless USB adapter.  Both wired and wireless network connections take up bandwidth on your network.  As you view media at higher resolutions you may experience degradation in signal quality.  Therefore the most reliable trouble-free way to connect this device to your media storage device is probably through a USB cable.  The remote will allow you to navigate through the different folders of your storage device or computer.



Check it out: Western Digital WD TV Live

Digital Projection M-Vision Cine LED

LED Projector (1080p)

I just saw a demo of this product and was very impressed. The 1080p high-def picture looked fantastic. The most notable difference in this new "LED" projection technology compared to other technologies are the vibrant reds, greens and yellows. The contrast ratio is 10,000:1 and which allows for a great high quality picture. The spec on the brightness is only 600 lumens, so this projector should be used in a room where the light can be controlled. For example a home theater with shades, rear projection application or command and control center that stays up and running 24-7. I believe the high contrast ratio really makes up for the lack of lumens. With this new technology there are no bulbs to replace. There is an RGB LED Engine that is rated to last 60,000 hours. The M-Vision Cine LED projector is extremely quiet compared with similar "bulb" projectors. I would say about 30% quieter even though the spec sheet has the same <35dB rating as it's louder cousin. This looks like the wave of the future in projection technology. For now the price is about twice as much as a similar bulb projector. Over time the cost should go down and brightness should up. I'll be watching this one.

Check it out: Digital Projection M-Vision Cine LED

Dell Inspiron 1545

15" Dual Core T4300 , 2.1 GHz, 800Mhz, 1M L2 Cache Laptop

I am not much of a computer guy. I'm an audio/video guy so this is a little out of my jurisdiction. To be honest this laptop was on sale the week of December 10th 2009 and I was in search of a Christmas gift for my wife. The main reason I picked this was because it is customizable & comes in different colors (like green with stripes for example). It was really a joint gift to use around the house. It is important to note that the firewire port is no longer included in this line. It came with windows 7 (64-bit) Premium, which is an operating system that is new to me. The most evident new feature is the dock (which I uninstalled because I wasn't used to). The new look and layout is nifty. It was very easy to set up a home network between my old XP machine and new Windows 7 machine. The big down side that sucked all the wind out of Windows 7 for me was the incompatibility between Microsoft Office XP software. I bought the MS Office package in 2003 with Word, Excel, Power Point etc and because the new Windows 7 OS is 64 bit it is not compatible with the old MS Office software. I actually called Dell and they instructed me to buy the new 64-bit MS Office package for about $150-$200. I was annoyed and to avoid paying for the software again I set up a remote desktop connection that allows me to access the old MS Office XP computer from the new Windows 7 laptop over the home network. It's not a perfect situation but it works for me for now. The built in wireless works great. The built in camera is mediocre at best. The battery life is long enough to watch a movie, so that is good. Bottom line: It's a great home laptop for email, internet, pictures, video, music & Netflix. If you want to do heavy duty editing & processing go with something more robust.

Connections:
(1) VGA - 15HD Out
(1) Audio - 3.5mm Line Out
(1) Microphone - 3.5mm In
(1) Ethernet - RJ45
(3) USB 2.0
(1) 7 in 1 Media Card Reader
(1) Half Mini Card Slot

Check it out: Dell Inspiron 1545

Eiki LC-X85

LCD XGA 7000 ANSI Lumen Projector + Long Throw Lens

This projector ended up being the perfect solution to my problem. Or I guess you could say the only solution to my problem. My church was in need of a projector replacement and I was given the task of researching the market and finding an adequate one.

Here were the requirements:
-60 ft. Throw Distance
-108" X 81" Image Size (4:3 Aspect Ratio)
-At Least 6000 ANSI Lumens
-Less than $10,000 Price Tag

The one difficult spec to accommodate was the price. There are plenty of manufacturers out there that make products to meet the needs above, Christie, Panasonic, Digital Projection & Projection Design to name a few. The problem is they cost anywhere from $20,000 - $50,000. The Eiki LC-X85 had the functionality and it had the right price. The final price came in at $7000 for the projector & $1500 for the long throw lens for a total of $8500. The budget was met and the church now had a brighter fully functional projector. I should mention that I had to shop around to find the best price and the first few dealers I checked with did not have much knowledge of the market and gave me an estimate that was way too high. Eventually I found a great deal through HB Communications. The Eiki has been up and running for 2 months now and no problems to report.

Check it out: Eiki LC-X85

Xantech 29110-DB-KIT

4 Device IR Repeater Kit

Here is a solution to the line of sight issue when using an IR remote. For example you may have just programmed your universal remote and the first time you sit down to use it you realize the coffee table is obstructing the remote from communicating to the DVD player. Or your Stereo is behind a cabinet door. This Xantech IR repeater system is a great way to solve this problem and it can even allow you to hide all your unsightly equipment in another room, closet or cabinet. Just make sure you locate the IR receiver in an optimal place and you can run the control cable to that location. Usually this is just above or below the TV. They also make models of IR receivers that fit into a 1-gang wall box or even a small hole in the wall. Depending on your room layout and furniture either in-wall or table top receiver will be appropriate. The model featured in this post happens to be a table top version.

Check it out: Xantech 29110-DB-KIT

Logitech Harmony 550

IR 15-Device Universal Remote Control

Well this remote is an example of a IR universal remote with a "wizard based set-up" option. That means in order to program it you have to load the software on your computer and connect the remote to your computer via the included USB cable. I won't go into the details of how the wizard works because it is intuitive (other than the fact that you need an internet connection to log on to the remote's set-up page). The macros or button definitions are automatically created behind the scenes based on the information you tell the wizard. As with all IR remotes they are the most affordable of universal remotes compared to RF remotes. IR remotes need a line of site to the controlled device. Equipment can't be hidden in cabinets or behind walls. You will pay more for RF remotes but you will not be limited by the line of site restriction and can take the controller anywhere within range, similar to wireless internet or cordless phones. This particular Harmony 550 remote happens to be discontinued. It looks like it has been replaced by the Logitech Harmony One which is more expensive. You can find the 550 for a good deal on amazon. With all IR remotes you need to be patient after pressing a button that initiates a series of command controls to multiple devices. The remote usually pauses for a second between commands automatically so the devices get a clear IR signal.

Check it out: Logitech Harmony Remotes

Universal Remote Control Digital R-50

IR 18-Device Universal Remote

Here are some important things you should know if your interested in purchasing this remote. It requires 4 AA batteries (included) to power and it is not re-chargeable. There is no option for a charging cradle but it has a settings page that allows you to set the brightness of the screen to conserve power which is nice. All the set-up and programming can be completed on the remote. There is no need or physical way to connect the remote to a computer. Similar remotes are programmed via a software based set-up wizard that is installed on your computer. To program this remote you first complete a basic set-up by following the screen by screen directions. The different manufacturer remote codes are stored inside the remote & you simply hit the navigation buttons to toggle between codes. Most of the time the first one they recommend works. You can choose from a bank of icons to represent the function you create. In addition to DVD and TV function icons (to name a few) you can set the "Favorites" so that the TV-network logo can be seen on the screen for an easy way to jump to your favorite stations. The screen is not touch sensitive. The definitions of the 6 buttons around the screen change as you navigate from device to device. After basic set-up is complete you can further customize & fine tune the functions of the buttons in advanced set-up mode. This can be done by recording macros. Basically this is a fancy way of saying you can record a series of key strokes on the remote and assign that to happen automatically with the push of a single button. This remote can also learn IR commands from another remote via a similar learn & record button pressing procedure between both remotes. You can also copy & paste groups of commands and assign them to other devices. If you are AV and tech savvy you will like the freedom you have to create your own macros. If your not so confident in your AV and tech skills or your a newbie, you may want the help of a "set-up wizard" based remote. With all IR remotes you need to be patient after pressing a button that initiates a series of command controls to multiple devices. The remote usually pauses for a second between commands automatically so the devices get a clear IR signal.

Check it out: Universal Remote Control Digital R-50

Oppo BDP-83

Blu-Ray/DVD/DVD-A/SACD/CD Player

This universal disc player can play anything you throw at it including DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD. For the rare audiophile who appreciates high definition audio this player is sweet. Even though DVD-A and SACD never really became wildly popular it would be worth it to purchase this deck, in my opinion, if only to listen to "Dark Side of the Moon" or "Kind of Blue". Plus it has all the other play back capabilities. The cost is about 500 bucks. It is worth noting that the loading times are very fast. Most blu-ray players out there are extremely slow. Do your homework and find a fast one if you plan on using it frequently and switching between disc's. It's a small consideration but can be frustrating. In case you aren't familiar with high resolution audio here are some stereo formats to listen to. Basically they support a larger frequency spectrum and greater dynamic level which allows for more sonic detail. The opposite of an MP3.

CD: 16 bit / 44.1 kHz
DVD-A: 24 bit / 192 kHz
SACD: 1-bit DSD / 2822.4 kHz

Check it out: Oppo BDP-83

Samsung PN42B450

Best Bang For your Buck Flat Screen Plasma TV

This is a 42" 720p plasma TV made by Samsung. If your looking for a great quality picture and are looking to spend 600- 700 bucks this display will meet your needs. It stands out to me as a good pick because it has a VGA computer input unlike the similar Panasonic TC-P42X1 which has no computer input and is a little more money, yet still a great product. Of course the Samsung has HDMI, component & composite inputs. I really like the ATCS tuner built in so you can pick up free locally transmitted HD channels with any standard antenna. The difference between 720p and 1080p visually is small. The difference between 720p and 1080p monetarily is about double the price. Yeah you don't have the 1080p bragging rights but at the end of the day you have all the value of an HD plasma display at a great price. I'm an A/V enthusiast and I bought one. Don't get talked into all the 1080p hype if you haven't got a clue and you don't understand the difference. 720p is still HD and will look crystal clear. I went down to a local TV shop and compared this plasma with the new LCD/LED displays and found this plasma much easier to look at with a more true to life color. If your looking for a display to primarily watch movies & TV for a great price the Samsung PN42B450 will do the trick. If your primary use for a display is to impress all your friends and knock your socks off go spend twice as much and get a 50" 1080p model like the PN50B560. Hope this helps you figure out what your looking for.

Check it out: Samsung PN42B450

Boston Acoustics MCS-100

Affordable Passive 5.1 Surround Sound System

This is a great sounding system. It comes in two colors: midnight as shown above and mist which is an off white color. Included is a self powered sub that gets the job done for a mid sized home theater. The Front L/R, Center & Rear L/R speaker will need to be amplified. This can be accomplished with most standard 5.1 surround sound receivers. I recently installed this system with a Denon AVR-589 and was very pleased with the end result. The speakers have standard 1/4" 20 mounting points. I found that security camera wall mounts worked the best because of their compatibility, strength, adjustablity & low profile.

Check it out: Boston Acoustics MCS-100

Genelec 8250A DSP Surround Set

Top of the Line Active 5.1 Surround Sound System

These are just awesome speakers. If you are a real audio nerd and care about critical listening, flat frequency response and accurate studio quality sound reproduction you will appreciate these, (maybe someone from Umass Lowell SRT?) Beware they take an AES digital input so you won't find any RCA connections on the back. A pretty serious surround processor will be needed. That's my next assignment. Or the Genelec AD9200A analog to digital converter. This package also comes with a calibration microphone to make time & frequency adjustments. Each speaker has an RJ45 network jack for communication during calibration. Once this process is done you can store the setting via the dip switch located on the back of each speaker. Calibration is done using the supplied GLM software.

Check it out:
(5) 8250A Powered Speakers
(1) 7271A Powered Subwoofer

Chief LTM-Series

Versatile Tilt Wall Mount (for 37"-63" Displays)

This wall mount is ideal for home installs. It allows much more flexible and fine tuning than previous wall mounting technology. It is designed so that the location of wall studs don't dictate where your display must be mounted. Once secured to the wall or stud the bars slide freely allowing you to center the display on the wall or shift it around as needed. There is also a leveling adjustment to keep the display square or align with crooked ceiling or floor to match the room. The back of the display is accessible by unlatching via the bottom pull straps. This allows the display to swing out from the wall while still remaining secure. Pretty cool product considering generic wall mounts require re-drilling multiple holes to level and adjust.

Check it out: Chief LTM (Fusion Series)

Chief MST & LTT Series

Super Thin Fixed or Tilt Wall Mount

Back on June 17, 2009 I wrote about an ultra thin Samsung UN55B8000 LCD display. Well here is the perfect wall mount match for the Samsung. If your going to have a slim display you should have a slim wall mount as well. This is easy to install and allows you to shift the display left or right for basic adujustments. This model will put your display 0.39" off the wall. There is also a tilt wall mount version the LTT Series that will put yout display 0.75" off the wall. Keep in mind you may need to install a back box recessed in the wall for electrical and AV access because there isn't enough room for a standard power outlet. There 2 versions of this mount. A small version for 26"-47" displays and a large version for 37"-63" Displays.

Check it out: Chief MST Series (Fixed)
Check it out: Chief LTT Series (Tilt)

NEC CRV43

43" Curved Ultra Wide Display

This is a first. The native resolution is 2880 x 900. The response time is less than .02 ms according to the NEC spec sheet. Its about 15" deep so don't be fooled by the sleek picture but this is a cool display. Its got DVI-D, HDMI & USB connectivity.

Check it out: NEC CRV43

NEC WT610E

Short Throw Lensless Projector 100" Image Size (4:3 or 16:9)

At only 26" away from the screen this projector can produce a 100" 1080i/ 720p image. It puts out 2000 ansi lumens. Ideally I would use this in a rear projection basement home theater. It won't take up much space in a projection room. It can be mounted on the ceiling or setting on a desk or floor.

Check it out: NEC WT610E

Panasonic PT-AE3000U

Great Home Theater Projector, Supports 3 Aspect Ratio's 4:3, 16:9 & 2.35:1

If I were to install my own home theater projector this is one that I would consider. It has lens memory with zoom and focus for switching between aspect ratios on the fly. If your a hard core movie fanatic then you probably know about the cinema scope aspect ratio (2.35:1). If you go out to a theater the screen isn't 16:9 it is 2.35:1. With this product you can really bring the movies into your home. Before purchasing one of these Panasonic PT-AE3000U projectors you should think about the screen set up. You will need a 2.35:1 screen for viewing movies the proper way. In addition you can watch HDTV at 16:9 and the image will adjust automatically so long as the projector is mounted at the proper distance as specified in the instruction manual. This distance is crucial to accommodate the (3) different aspect ratios. Keep in mind the 2.35:1 screen will not be filled completely when viewing 16:9 and 4:3 content. Its got 3 HDMI, 2 component, 1 computer and 1 video input.

Check it out: Panasonic PT-AE3000U

Sony RDR-VXD655

1080p Component Output VCR/DVD Recorder & ATSC Tuner

This VCR/DVD combo player & recorder is cool because it can send both the VCR content and DVD content through the same component output. It is one of the first I have seen that has this functionality. I like this feature because it simplifies the connections and switching between TV inputs. The one touch dubbing from Tape to DVD works great. I have one of these units and it really make's it super easy to transfer your old home video's to DVD. I love the HD tuner also known as an ATSC Tuner. Who wants to pay for cable anyway? I was able to pick up 20 HD channels over the digital air waves with this unit and the help of an indoor HD antenna.

Check it out: Sony RDR-VX560

Samsung UN55B8000

Ultra Slim LED/LCD Display

This one caught my eye because of the 1.2" depth. You can literally hang it on the wall like a picture. No need for 3/4" plywood blocking with this display. The contrast ratio is considerably higher than the average LCD display. With a quick 2 ms response time and 1080p native resolution, this is cool I want one. It claims to use 40% less power because of the "LED" technology which I believe is a combination of LCD and LED technology that utilizes the LED's for brightness while maintaining a liquid crystal component to do everything else. I know LED's are small now, but can you really fit 1080 of them in a row with a 46" diagonal frame? I would guess not, but I could be wrong. I haven't seen this display in person yet but I will be on the look out.

Check it out: Samsung UN55B8000

NEC X461UN

Ultra-Narrow Bezel, LCD Display

Here is a neat LCD display manufactured by NEC that stands out in the crowd. This picture shows 4 of them put together in a video wall. It's called the Multi Sync X461UN. It boasts a 7.3 mm bezel (a little more than 1/4"). It is designed to be used in a video wall to minimize lost space created where the displays meet. I think this would look pretty cool in a living room. Its got plenty of connectivity DVI-D, VGA, HDMI, Component, S-Vid & Composite. the down side is the native resolution is 1360 x 768. All you 1920 x 1080 junkies would not be impressed simply as a stand alone unit. Just imagine 4 of these tightly wall mounted together in a seemless array. Now you just need a room big enough.

Check it out: NEC X461UN