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Gizmodo: Panasonic isn’t taking no for an answer on this 3DTV business. To make the prospect of switching over a little more appealing, they’re rolling out the SC-ZT2: a fully wireless home theater audio system designed specifically for Full HD 3D.

The SC-ZT2 promises 7.1-channel sound from just two speakers, each of which houses four tweeters and a long-stroke woofer. More important, though: 3DTV owners have a wireless sound system of their very own now. That is, if you’re willing to cough up an extra $1000 after you already sprang for that fancy television and glasses.

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Dvice: Now that simple home theater gear like soundbars is popular, is there really any reason to own a home theater receiver anymore? One thing holding back receivers is that manufacturers have been slow to include features that are in sync with how people get their music and movies today — namely, digitally. That’s why we were so glad to hear about Pioneer’s new receivers and their ability to play music via Bluetooth streaming. (more…)

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What HiFi: Pioneer may have pulled out of the TV market, but it has a comprehensive line-up of new products for 2010. There are two new Blu-ray players (with a pair of 3D models to follow later in the year), eight new multichannel receivers, three Blu-ray home cinema in a box systems, a trio of DVD home cinema systems, five new iPod docks and a vast array of headphones.

Blu-ray players

The two Blu-ray players, due this month, are the BDP-LX53 (£399) and BDP-330 (£299). Both new models offer a choice or wired or wireless internet connectivity, BD-Live capability. YouTube and RSS feed browsing and control via a free iPhone/iPod Touch app, but they don’t do 3D (nor will they be upgradeable to make them 3D compatible).

They have onboard decoding for audio formats up to the HD versions of Dolby Digital and DTS, and can output as either raw data or Linear PCM.

In addition they use Pioneer’s Precision Quartz Lock System to ensure jitterless digital audio transmission over HDMI to suitable Pioneer AV receivers. The system works by synchronising the digital clocks of player and receiver.

The upmarket BDP-LX53 is set apart from the mainstream model by its rigid construction, using a layered chassis and drive stabiliser Pioneer calls its ‘Armoured Chassis Concept’. This reduces vibration, and thus plays a part in the player’s superior audio performance. It’s also fitted with more advanced audio components.

Home cinema receivers

There are eight new multichannel receivers from £250 to £1200.

All of the new models (aside from the entry-level VSX-420) can be enhanced with wireless Bluetooth audio streaming and are capable of supporting 3D via the latest HDMI version 1.4 connection. 

All but the cheapest two models are Works with iPhone certified too and thanks to the Pioneer iControlAV app you can use your iPhone or iPod Touch to fully control your receiver.

Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding is on board all but the entry-level model, as well as Dolby ProLogic IIz height channel processing.

The VSX-920, VSX-1020 and VSX-1025 feature the new Pioneer-developed Sound Retriever AIR specifically developed for use with Bluetooth sources, as well as internet radio.

And the forthcoming Pioneer VSX-LX53 is a replacement for the outgoing VSX-LX52 model.

There’ll be two additional high-end multichannel receivers available later this year: the SC-LX83 and SC-LX73, replacing the existing ‘LX82 and ‘LX72. Pioneer has not yet release any details on these two, but we do have a picture (below).

Blu-ray home cinema systems

Pioneer is releasing three new Blu-ray in a box home cinema systems for 2010. Key technical features common across all three models include:

• BD-Live Profile 2.0

• 1080p/24fps resolution

• 12-bit Deep Colour support

• Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential

• Wireless music playback via Bluetooth

• DLNA home network connectivity

• Made for iPod/Works with iPhone certification (iPod dock included)

• Support for DivX, DivX HD and MKV vieo files

• Support for WMA. MP3 and AAC audio files

• FM radio with RDS

iPod docks

There’s a five-strong range of iPod docks, building on the success of last year’s XW-NAS5. The XW-NAC3 and NXW-NAC1 are equipped with docking stations for two iPods or iPhones so, using the ‘shuffle’ function, music can be played back from both of the docked devices at random. Both models are Bluetooth-enabled too.

The XW-NAC3 also includes internet radio via the Vtuner portal, DLNA connectivity and a multiline display.

For those who want video capability with their dock, the XW-NAV1 has a built-in CD/DVD drive with 1080p upscaling via HDMI, an FM radio, USB connectivity and iPod video/photo playback (via composite connection).

Later this year, two further models will arrive: the wall-mountable XW-NAW1 (£199) and the more upmarket XW-NAM1 at £350.

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iPodNN: Sony today showed three upcoming sound systems for the home that have 3D sound capability. This includes the HT-CT150 and HT-CT350 3.1-channel sound bars and the 5.1-channel HT-SF470 surround sound system. All have a 3D pass-through with an HDMI repeater that includes three inputs and one output along with another HDMI pass-through connection.

The HT-CT350 is made to work with Sony’s 40-inch and larger BRAVIA HDTVs, thanks to a bracket that attaches the soundbar directly to them. It has 400W of power, evenly split between the three speakers and subwoofer. The HT-CT150 gets 340W of power, with 85W going to each speaker and the sub. Its design mimics that of 32-inch BRAVIA HDTVs.

The soundbars otherwise support lossless linear pulse code modulation (LPCM) Blu-ray Disc audio and BRAVIA Sync for controlling compatible Sony TVs from the same remote. They also get a coaxial and optical digital audio inputs. An iPod cradle for the two soundbars can be bought separately.

The 5.1-channel HT-SF470 home theater system is 3D capable in conjunction with a Blu-ray 3D player. It’s rated at 1,000W, with the five speakers getting 157W each, and the subwoofer 167W. It gets 3D pass-through from each of its three HDMI inputs, an HDMI repeater and audio return channel. The speakers can be connected wirelessly to the receiver with optional parts. In addition to the same BRAVIA Sync, two digital audio inputs and the optional iPod cradle as the soundbars, the system also gets digital cinema auto calibration for setting up.

The HT-CT350 and HT-CT150 will ship in May, priced at nearly $400 and $300, respectively. The HT-SF470 surround sound system is due in June for $550.

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Born Rich: With their undying thirst for technology and innovation, Devialet® D-Premier has revealed a preamplifier equipped with the ADH® core (Analog Digital Hybrid). The amplifier is blessed with generous power and sensible features like compatibility with a wide range of loudspeakers, the best signal-to-noise ratio, the lowest intermodulation, the lowest output impedance, etc. The D-Premier comes in a luxurious, 32 mm high carved out and polished aluminum block, to place it horizontally, or hang it on the wall in a vertical position. Apart from the technical upgrades, the D-Premier comes with a removable cover to hide all the inputs for a discreet installation and to perfectly blend in your interior home décor.
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Akihabara News: The new Devon DCD-1500SE (SA-CD player) featuring a new Audio Processor “Advanced AL 32 Processor” matching the sound quality of high-end models like the DSD-SX, also comes with a USB port making our little player iPod Compatible as well as being able to read Music files stored on a USB key.

Sold as a stand-alone version priced at 95,000 Yen (about 750 euros), our SA-CD player also featured an optional matching Amplifier, the PMA-1500SE offering an output of 70W×2ch(8Ω), and 140W×2ch(4Ω). The PMA-1500SE is also sold at 95,000 Yen. Read more…

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Newlaunches: We have two new 5.1 home theatre systems from Harman Kardon. These are called the HKTS 20 and the HKTS 30. They both sport an 8 inch subwoofer, a 200W digital amplifier, 4 voice matched two way satellite speakers, a voice matched dual driver center channel speaker and a music sense trigger. The trigger turns the subwoofer on and off automatically. The difference between the two is that the HKTS 20 ($799) has a single 75mm midrange configuration while the HKTS 30 ($999) has a dual.

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Automated Home: Russian developers, iRidium Mobile, have just released the new version of their home automation control application.  Available on a range of platforms, – most notably now the iPad too – the system can be used to control AMX, EIB/KNX, ABB, Berker, GIRA, Jung and Modbus with DALI , X10 and Domintell protocols in the works too.  iRidium can also control XBMC, with support coming in the near future for Boxee, Windows Media Center and Apple TV. Read more

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What HiFi: This is no mere mains cable. Oh no. The Isotek Syncro incorporates some clever electronics that “further enhance audio performance”, the company claims.

The electronics are housed in an anti-resonant aluminium case positioned part way down the cable. The circuitry is designed “to synchronise the mains supply in order to promote a perfectly symmetrical sine wave, delivering significant sonic improvements when used with any hi-fi separates system”, says IsoTek.

Although the Syncro can be used on its own to power a single hi-fi component, it’s mainly intended as a “pre-filter” device to be used in conjunction with an IsoTek mains conditioning unit.

The cable itself is identical to IsoTek’s top-of-the-range Extreme power cable. It has heavy-gauge, triple-screened, 20Amp oxygen-free copper conductors suitable for high-current demands, coupled to high-quality connectors at either end.

The mains plug and IEC connector are precision machined from high-purity copper, plated in 24 carat gold, while the main body is made of injection-moulded polycarbonate.

The IsoTek Syncro goes on sale in April for £875 (967 euros).

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Newlaunches.com: More than capabilities come good looks and of course, the right amount of oomph. That’s just what the Leowe AG Mediacenter has. Besides its capabilities to play CDs and DVDs it can also receive radio signals from an antenna, cable and satellite. You can also use access media files from hard drives, media from iPhones, iPods and can even control external Blu-ray players. It uses your TV screen to display all your media.

Other cool features include updating album art of your DVD or CD from the Internet, easily browsing through your collection and a lot more. The OLED display guides you all along the way.

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Pioneer invite you to the Sound Sessions, to surround your senses, take hold of your emotions and shatter your expectations.
Pioneer Sound Sessions give you the opportunity to explore the very best in home entertainment, encouraging personal interaction with the products and offerdemonstrations with the specialist Pioneer Home Product Team. Our team will explain how to create your optimum sound set up and help you appreciate sound as the artist intended.

Please bring personal music and audio content to your event for live testing and demonstration.

Dates and locations here.

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HotHardware: Yamaha has been creating sound bars for years now, and they’ve been growing increasingly popular in homes where size is a problem.

Apartments and one-bedroom studios haven’t been able enjoy true surround sound due to the inability to shove 5, 6 or more speakers into their cramped living space.

Sound bars have enabled those living places to enjoy faux surround sound, and these two new ones add even more to the mix.

The YSP-5100 and YSP-4100 are the company’s two newest Digital Sound Projectors, with each one using just a single speaker but “dozens” of audio beam drivers.

They’re designed to sit underneath the front of flat-panel HDTVs, and they include four 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, UniVolume (for keeping the sound of TV programs and commercials and different sources at the same volume level), and one final kicker: yAired.

This is Yamaha’s own wireless technology, which enables iPods and iPhones to send music to the sound bar without any wires involved.

Unfortunately, neither comes cheap. The 5100 is priced at $2199.95 (€1,527), and the 4100 is priced at 1899.95 (€1,319).

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