27
Jun
2011
What Hi-fi: First there was the Model 20, then the Model 25, now comes news of the £450 TVee Model 30 soundbar from Boston Acoustics.
Shipping in July for £450, the slim 3.1-channel ‘virtual’ surround soundbar and matching wireless subwoofer is designed to deliver “powerful, room-filling sound”. (more…)
22
Jun
2011
What Hi-fi: Chances are you may have bought a slimline TV, so you want a slimline home cinema system to go with it.
Enter these two new systems from Pioneer, the £700 HTP-SLH500 (above) and £750 HTP-SLH600 (below), both of which come with a slimline VSX-S300 multichannel receiver.
A set of equally compact ‘Sound Wing’ speakers are supplied as part of the package. (more…)
10
Jun
2011
What Hi-fi: German direct seller Teufel has added yet another surround speaker package to its line-up, this time in the form of the Columa 200, finished in walnut. (more…)
13
May
2011
What Hi-fi: First came the £500 TX-NR609, soon followed by the £800 TX-NR709, and now the £1000 TX-NR809 has landed on these shores – the third ofOnkyo‘s Spotify-enabled home cinema receivers. (more…)
03
May
2011
Techfavor: Open your new experience and enjoy your new imagine of the power of Samsung 3D Home Theater. Comes with a 13.1 x 16.9 x 2.4 inches of dimension, 1330-watt SamsungHT-D6730W Home Theater System, built-in WiFi means you’re ready to connect right away.
Including with the amazing 7.1-channel, 1330-watt SamsungHT-D6730W Home Theater System. Treat your eyes to captivating 3D depth and clarity – even upconvert existing 2D titles to 3D. Advanced “3D audio depth” technology lets you experience the sounds that accompany the sights. Advanced Vertical Surround adds an extra level of sonic bliss.
Samsung Smart TV also puts the power of the entire internet at your finger tips: browse websites, search content online and on yourTV, and access Samsung TV apps.
18
Apr
2011
Akihabaranews: Introduced at CES 2011, the HT-D6750W is Samsung new premium Full HD 3D 7.1Ch Home Theater. Launched today in Korea and set to be available later this Week in Europe and soon in North America the HT-D6750W is the company ultimate one-box solution with Samsung’s AllShare DLNA, Smart Hub including Twitter as well as some VoD internet services, 3D Blu-Ray Playback and 2D to 3D conversion, iPod cradle and Wireless rear speakers!
Offering a stunning 1300W 7.1Ch total output, this Wi-Fi monstrous HT-D6750W Home Theater comes with gorgeous 1,320mm-high towers and a elegant slot-in Blu-Ray player.
05
Apr
2011
What Hi-fi:Sony‘s long-awaited BDP-S780 3D Blu-ray player makes its UK debut today, along with a pair of new 2.1 Blu-ray home cinema systems.
The BDP-S780 slots into the 2011 Sony range above the already-announced BDP-S380, BDP-S480 and BDP-S580.
The BDP-S380 delivers Full HD 3D images from Blu-ray discs, has bult-in wi-fi and Skype, includes 2D to 3D upconversion and has Advanced IP Content Noise Reduction Pro technology to improve picture quality on low-quality web content.
The player can be operated via a smartphone using the Media Remote application.
Also joining Sony’s 2011 range are the BDV-L600 (above) and BDV-EF200 (below) Blu-ray in a box systems.
Both are 3D compatible, and include Bravia Internet Video with YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Sky News and LoveFilm.
Virtual surround sound is delivered courtesy of Sony’s S-Force Pro 3D technology, and like the BDP-S780 standalone player the 2.1 systems incorporate IP picture noise reduction.
The Sony BDV-EF200 comes with a built-in iPod dock too. Prices on all three models to be confirmed.
05
Apr
2011
Harman Kardon just began offering two home theater in a box systems. The BDS-400 and BDS-800 combine a Blu-ray, DVD and CD player along with an FM tuner along with a speaker system. The former uses two front speakers and a subwoofer, while the latter adds two rear speakers and a center channel.
Either receiver sports an HDMI output, a USB port for playing multimedia files and a preprogrammed/learning remote control. There is also support for iPods and iPhones, though the necessary dock is optional. Compatible files include MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MP3, WMA and JPEG. ID3 tags will also be displayed on a connected TV.
Both are now available, with the BDS 400 priced at $999 and the BDS 800 at $1,499. The BDS 2 SO receiver from the BDS 400 system can be had on its own for $649, while the BDS 5 SO receiver from the BDS 800 system costs $799.
14
Mar
2011
What Hi-fi: KEF has introduced an all-new version of its Universal Wireless System with enhanced software and a more powerful transmitter, for £450.
Primarily designed for home cinema enthusiasts who do not want wires trailing across the room to rear speakers, it is ideal for 5.1 home cinema systems, and a second KEF Universal Wireless System 2.0 set can enable expansion to a 7.1 system.
The system wirelessly transmits music from your Blu-ray, CD player or other source component to your speakers. All you have to do is connect the transmitter to your source, and each of the two receivers to a speaker and power outlet.
To guard against interference from other devices such as wi-fi routers, microwave ovens and cordless phones, the KEF system uses a narrow signal band coupled with KEF’s advanced error correction technology.
It also uses Advanced Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (AAFHSS) technology: a detector constantly searches for potentially conflicting transmissions, and if any are found it ‘hops’ to a different channel. keeping the signal stable.
“The KEF Universal Wireless System 2.0 is ideal for music and movie lovers who wish to eliminate wiring between amplifiers and speakers, allowing them to create an outstanding listening environment without the need for clutter or compromising sound quality,” said Steve Halsall, managing director, KEF’s UK Business Unit.
“It can also transmit sound from devices like computers and MP3 players, with a signal capable of powering speakers in nearby rooms and even outdoors.”
07
Mar
2011
HotHardware: It seems that the high-end home theater trend has started to fizzle somewhat, but those that have already invested in a home cinema of their own are obviously interested in keeping it up. Sony has been a big player in this particular market for some time now, and with this very company being a huge proponent of 3D from the start, it’s no surprise to see 3D as one of the standout features on their new line of A/V receivers.
The 3D compatible models, which are now available for pre-sale at www.sonystyle.com, include the STR-DN1020, STR-DH820, STR-DH720, and STR-DH520 AV receivers. Starting under $500, all models will be available this spring The flagship STR-DN1020 receiver is a gateway to streaming music with access to Internet audio services including Slacker and vTuner when connected to an existing broadband home network through the model’s Ethernet port. There’s also a 7.2 channel amplifier and support for Sony’s Remote Remote app, which turns an iPod, iPhone or Android device into a remote.
The line also has HDMI 3D pass-through, an audio return channel, six HD inputs, Dolby TrueHD, BRAVIA Sync and plenty of other amenities. The full spread is listed below.
11
Feb
2011
Übergizmo: Onkyo has a spanking newhome-theater-in-a-box (HTiB) receiver-and-speaker model that intends to bring the audio pedigree of Onkyo in a convenient packaged home theater system, where it comes in the form of the 7.1-channel Onkyo HT-S5400. Offering the latest implementation of the HDMIconnectivity standard alongside support for 3D video, lossless audio from Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, it will also come with an Audio Return Channel that sends an audio signal “upstream” from a connected HDTV’s tuner, doing away with the need for a separate audio cable.
Connectivity options include a quartet of HDMI inputs and one output, where the receiver will also be acocmpanied by a generous selection of digital and analog A/V inputs to handle a wide range of playback devices. The HT-S5400 has one extensive feature set with a couple of extra audio channels to help it support Dolby Pro Logic IIz, where this audio processing technology enables users to reconfigure the two surround-back channels as “front height” channels, increasing the ambience of movies and games.
Expect the HT-S5400 to arrive this April for $599 a pop if you’re interested – at least it gives you a couple more months to save up.
11
Feb
2011
Techradar: KEF’s new T-Series range of home cinema speakers are definitely a sign of the times. They’ve been designed with a clear purpose in mind – to be an aesthetic match to newer, thinner, flatscreen TVs, enabling buyers to couple their hi-def movies with authentic 5.1 sound without their living room looking like a branch of Sevenoaks. (more…)