Home Theater Systems

Panasonic SC-HTB15 Home Theater System/Sound Bar

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:34:19 +0000

If you’re looking for a good deal and high quality sound this holiday season, you’ll find the Panasonic SC-HTB15 sound bar to be the perfect companion to your large screen TV.

The Panasonic SC-HTB15 is a multi positional sound bar which can split up into two equal parts, letting you position it however you please within your home theater setup. The best thing about the SC-HTB15 from Panasonic is that it gives you enough alternatives for positioning and mounting to accommodate any setup.

The sound bar itself comes along with a subwoofer and can be used in a horizontal layout, under your HDTV or vertically, on each side of your screen.

As for the Panasonic SC-HTB15 subwoofer, it will deliver a powerful bass when placed on the floor to lend the impression of a large theater room. The sound bar, on the other hand will reflect the immersive sound towards the display giving the impression that the soundtrack is coming out of the screen and improving your home theater experience even more.

The SC-HTB15 sound bar from Panasonic is compatible with the ARC (Audio Return Channel) feature. The ARC feature allows the receiving the audio signals from the TV, on top of the preexisting HDMI function of sending audio/video signals to the TV with just one cable. This feature simplifies connection by eliminating the audio cable connection between the TV audio output and the main units audio input. * ARC compatible TV is required.

The Panasonic SC-HTB15 is able to decode high definition audio with the aid of its Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, features two HDMI inputs and one HDMI output, offers 3D compatibility and Clear Mode Dialog for an immersive sound experience.

The SC-HTB15 has received some great reviews on Amazon.com lately. So, if you’re looking for a great, new sound experience you should definitely check out the Panasonic SC-HTB15. It’s currently available for $254 on Amazon, but if you wait a while you can get an even better deal with Black Friday fast approaching.

The Panasonic SC-HTB15 is also available in Europe and you can get it just in time for the holiday season, on Amazon UK for £212.

LG LHB996 Network 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:09:53 +0000

Here’s a brand new home theater system coming from LG. The LG LHB996 7.2 Channel Network 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System is definitely high-end gear coming with six speakers and a receiver that will make your music and movie collection seem out of this world. The LG LHB996 is here just in time for the holiday season for $1169 on amazon.com.

LG LHB996 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System Features

The LHB996 delivers 1280W of power, supports 3D content and provides the ultimate surround sound experience for your 3D movies. Apart from the 7.2 channels that were designed for audio excellence, the LHB996 also comes with high definition audio decoding in the form of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The high definition audio decoding embedded in the LG LHB996 will deliver lossless multi-channel audio, allowing for a deeper, wider and more detailed audio experience than you ever imagined was possible.

The LG LHB996 has been equipped with 192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown D/A converters on all channels, providing high resistance to clock jitter.

Smart TV
3D Blu-ray Disc Playback
3D Sound
Built-in Wi-Fi
Dual Subwoofers
DLNA Certified
1080p Upscaling
Made for iPod/iPhone
2 HDMI Inputs
SIMPLINK Connectivity

LG LHB996 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System Connectivity

If you’re thinking about connectivity, you needn’t worry as the LHB996 has been equipped to deliver in all areas. You can use this 3D home theater system to connect your iPod or iPhone and access your portable media in a matter of seconds. You also AM and FM radio and “music tags” to let you know the name of the song playing on the radio at any time. The “music tags” make for a great feature when you’re buying media in the iTunes store.

Other connectivity features include built-in WiFi, DLNA, Smart TV applications (LG App Store, Neflis, VUDU, CinemaNow etc), USB 2.0 playback, SIMPLINK Connectivity, two HDMI inputs to connect with your 3D display and dual subwoofers.

LG LHB996 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System Performance

What’s really great about the LG LHB996 is the high quality audio that it’s able to provide. You’ll never be able to go back to your old system again.

The LHB996 is able to improve the quality of MP3 and AAC audio formats using the Advanced Music Optimizer on-board, that is able to decode the entire file and compensate for the lost bit information which happens during the encoding of the particular file.

The design is very sleek coming in a black, glossy finish that will look fantastic and deliver the highest performance on the market this season.

If you’re looking for the ultimate audio and video experience for your movie collection this holiday season, the LG LHB996 is a great gift for any home theater enthusiast out there. The LHB996 will lend new life to your movies and music and you won’t be able to watch anything on other equipment than your own LHB996.

The LG LHB996 will make for a great gift and it’s now available for $1169 on amazon.com.

The Best Home Theater Design

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:30:46 +0000

During my teenage years when I was not yet allowed to watch movies with boys I would often sneak out of my room. My date would meet me with a bucket of popcorn and a cold soda and we would go to the movies. It would take a week’s allowance for my date and me to afford another movie, so we scheduled it as a weekend activity. We were always excited for the weekend because the movies were so different than just watching old movies at home. The sound was good and the screen was so much bigger. That was then.

Now, with the constant innovation in technology, we can already taste the same experience that of being inside the cinema houses at the comfort of our homes. Home theater is the new way to enjoy lengthy films with the whole family without having to get out of the house. A home theater room is a special area exclusive for watching movies. Home theater furniture would include a big flat screen television, surround stereo system, a player, some comfortable chairs, a DVD rack and maybe a corner for some refreshments. One of the advantages of setting up a home theater is the savings on gas and expensive snacks. It is also convenient since you don’t have to get dressed and can watch the movie at any time. The best benefit you can get is the time you can spend and bond with your family.

The Perfect Home Theater Arrangement

For people like me who love watching movies, I might as well make my home movie theater at par with the public theaters because it’s what I enjoy doing the most. For my home theater design, I would take into consideration the lighting, the home theater seating, the stereo output I’m going to use, the size of the screen and its location. For lighting, I would install the right number of ambient light with dimmer control for perfect watching experience. Next to consider is the home theater seats. How many people would fit in the room? How would I arrange the theater chairs without blocking the view of the screen and the view of other people? Theater seating for home is quite tricky as comfort of chairs must be balanced with the fitting in the limited space. Typical home theater seating is arranged side by side in rows with the screen in front, but if the space does not allow such arrangement, adjustments must be made. A good home theater chair must be made of soft and durable materials to give comfort while being seated for hours. It must not strain the back of my guests and must have enough leg room to avoid cramps. Of course I won’t forget that it must have a cup or a bottle holder for my soda. If I had enough money, I would buy a chair that has controls in it for various recycling positions and the lights. Once everyone is seated, all I have to do is hit some buttons and there goes off the lights, in time with the opening credits of the movie. That would be neat, huh?

My Dream Sound System

For my sound system, I would set up surround speakers with subwoofer bass to give me the best audio output. Clear, crisp and loud. It would provide enhanced music score and the dialogues of the characters. The subwoofers would definitely make me scream when the thunder rumbles and will make my heart skip a beat when there’s a jet crashing. For my player, I would choose one that is top of the line quality. I am thinking I should spend quite a sum for this so that I would get the feel of being inside the real theater. I would buy a fully packed audio-video system that is really designed for home theaters. It must have multi-purpose ports compatible with USB flash drives, MP3s, video and audio importing and a remote control to make my life easy. My player should be one that plays Blu-ray discs, 8 regions coded DVDs and is compatible with my HDTV screen. Since I have already mentioned my television set, which should it be? A Plasma, LED, LCD, HD or Bravia which one is it? I’m not particular on those types; I just want a big flat screen with perfect picture quality and sound output. If it’s already with full LED backlights, why not?

I can already vividly imagine my home theater now. The room is located just near the staircase for easy access. When you enter the room, the lights are already dimmed; speakers are well installed in all corners with the comfy chairs arranged just like theatre seating, in the middle. On one side of the wall there goes my flat screen with the player and audio system just below it. The Blu-ray discs are well arranged on the side. There’s a little table I see for some refreshments. On one corner of the room is where the mini bar is located which is actually where I can get my snacks. I have stocked some peanuts, microwaveable popcorn, candy bars, different flavored water and soda and maybe some chips.

Now, who wants to watch a movie with me?

Acer S5201M Ultra-short-throw Projector

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:17:57 +0000

Acer has just released a new ultra-short-throw projector coming with Acer’s SmartPen product. The SmartPen allows users to write and project the image at the same time, leading to a more interactive presentation.

The Acer S5201M is a DLP 3D ready projector featuring a sleek design, a dark steel finish and rounded corners. As for the features, the Acer S5201M comes with XGA resolution, 3000 ANSI of brightness, 4500:1 contrast ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate. You can set it to work at a maximum UXGA resolution and 1080p Full HD reoslution and 16:9 aspect ratio. There’s also the option of projecting 3D content if you add a 3D player and 3D glasses.

You will get this projector with the Acer eProjection Management software allowing this projector to be controlled via LAN and WiFi. You can also playback presentations and images directly from a USB drive, without the help of a computer or laptop.

In terms of connectivity, the Acer S5201M features two HDMI outputs, two USB ports, miniUSB, composite and component video and a mini stereo jack.

You will also get the Acer SmartPen which will dramatically help your presentations become more interactive and also serves as a remote control which can be used up as far as 32 feet away from the device.

The Acer S5201M projector is available right now for $999.99 in the US and Canada.

LG LZ9600 and LW5700 – the new NANO Full LED and passive 3D TVs

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:24:54 +0000

LG is planning something special once again. The Korean giant has announced today the release of two new models featuring ultra slim bezels and passive 3D technology.

The two models are part of the new LZ9600 series of NANO Full LED models and include the 47-inch LG 47LZ9600 and the 55-inch LG 55LZ9600. The features ar pretty high end and you’ll be able to find the latest technology on the market when you purchase one of the two LZ9600 models. They both come with IPS panels and Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) as well as TruMotion 480Hz, built-in Digital TV Tuner and you’ll be able to record your favorite shows directly on your USB hard drive.

This couple is expected in Japan by the end of the month, however there’s now word about the availability world wide.

LG has also introduced the LW5700 series of 3D enabled displays. The series comes with three new models – the 32-inch LG 32LW5700, the 42-inch LG 42LW5700 and the 47-inch 47LW5700. These three models come with Full D IPS panels and Edge LED backlight, they also feature a built-in Digital TV Tuner, 5.1 channel surround sound and 2D to 3D conversion and USB HDD recording. You’ll also get two pairs of passive 3D glasses with any of the three models.

Panasonic TX-P42GT30B 3D LED TV review

admin — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 13:55:06 +0000

The GT30 line from Panasonic is the affordable line of 3D LED TVs coming from the company in 2011. The Panasonic VT30 is indeed the star series in 2011 from Panasonic, featuring the latest 3D technology on the market this year. The prices however are huge for the average person.

If you’re looking for a 2011 3D TV model, that’s also affordable, a much more suitable choice would be the TX-P42GT30B from Panasonic.

The Panasonic TX-P42GT30B features both Freesat HD and Freeview HD tuners which makes possible a 17 second waiting time when tuning in the standard Freesat channel. The TX-P42GT30B provides a manual tuning option where users can control polarisation, frequency as well as symbol rate.

The TX-P42GT30B from Panasonic comes with the new VIERA Connect platform that will allow users access to online content from BBC, Ustream, Shoutcast, YouTube, DailyMotion and even photo sharing services such as Picasa. You will be able to video chat with your friends with the newly implemented Skype functionality, and even tweet and update your Facebook status in front of your new HDTV.

The Panasonic TX-P42GT30B is all about media sharing so you’ll never get bored again. Users will be able to stream media across your home network from your personal computer, laptop or NAS or access contet directly from Panasonic Blu-Ray recorders or the new 2011 DIGA DVD from Panasonic.

This 3D TV is pretty generous in terms of format compatibility featuring network streaming support for AVI, MKV and even AVC HD or audio formats such as AAC, WMA and, of course, MP3.

As for the picture quality, the TX-P42GT30B delivers in both 2D and 3D alike. The 2D picture quality excels with deep blacks and rich colors while the 3D crosstalk has vanished in comparison to last year’s models.

There will be no 3D glasses coming with this set, so you’ll have to get the glasses separately. The Panasonic TX-P42GT30B allows users to record content directly onto external hard-drives connected through the USB port on-board. It will also allow timeshifting, however there are some restrictions. You won’t be able to switch to another channel as long as you are recording from a channel.

If you’re currently on the market for an affordable 3D TV, the Panasonic TX-P42GT30B seems to be a candidate for your shortlist. You will also get Smart TV capabilities and the latest 3D technology for a decent price.

The Panasonic TX-P42GT30B 3D LED TV si now available at amazon.co.uk for only £936.90.

Top 5 Most Popular Home Theater Products in 2011

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:15:28 +0000

With only four months in 2011, a few home theater products have distanced themselves from the crowd. People clearly appreciate quality in their gear and often enough they wait a bit for prices to drop, in order to get a good deal for the home theater system they have their eye on.

Here’s your chance to find a good deal on the product you wanted so bad a while back but probably forgot all about it. These home theater products and sound bars listed below are all about low price for premium quality, that’s why they made it to the top 5 of the most popular products list in the first four months of 2011.

Klipsch HD 500 Compact 5.1 Home Theater System

This HD Theater 500 from Klipsch is the first in our list and there is no doubt about the quality of this home theater system. The Klipsch HD 500 is a 5.1 home theater system, consisting of four compact speakers, center channel speaker and a subwoofer. You will need a decent A/V receiver for this home theater system to offer the best surround sound possible and complete your home theater experience. Another huge plus is the curvy, high gloss design this system comes in, which will make it look great next to your HDTV.

As for the technical features, the Klipsch HD 500 features 2.5” heavy duty IMG woofer and a .75” Aluminum Micro-Tractrix horn-loaded tweeter while the subwoofer includes phase, crossover and level controls for a complete surround sound experience.

You can find the Klipsch HD 500 Compact 5.1 home theater system on amazon.com for $399, a great deal many people are taking advantage of right now.

Sony BDV-E770W Blu-ray 3D Home Entertainment System

Coming at number two on our list is the BDV-E770W Blu-Ray home entertainment system from Sony. The Sony BDV-E770W is a 5.1-channel surround sound home theater system coming with a 3D-capable Blu-Ray player. You will be able to enjoy the latest 3D movies on the BDV-E770W as well as 2D movies in Full HD 1080p resolution.

The Sony BDV-E770W also comes with Internet streaming features from services such as Netflix, Slacker or YouTube so you’ll never get bored due to lack of content. Further more, the S-AIR rear speakers are wireless so there’s a minimum amount of wires to stretch out all around your room. You can also remote control the BDV-E770W with the aid of your Android smartphone or iPhone by only installing a free app.

You can find the Sony BDV-E770W Blu-Ray 3D home entertainment system right now on amazon.com, for only $367.99. There’s also the newer version of this entertainment system, the Sony BDV-E780W, available for pre-order right now for $599.99.

Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System

The Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar comes in at number three in out list by providing immersive sound and enhancing your overall TV experience. The HT-CT150 will deliver powerful surround sound and is also 3D compatible and you can easily turn it into an entertainment hub by connecting multiple 3D or HD devices using a single HDMI cable. This 3D sound bar offers high definition sound decoding and will look great either on a wall or on a shelf. It’s a perfect addition for your Sony BRAVIA HDTV and is now on sale on amazon.com for only $299.

Onkyo HT-S6300 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver and Speaker Package

The Onkyo HT-S6300 is a 7.1-channel home theater receiver which also includes a 7.1-channel speaker set delivering immersive surround sound. The system includes a subwoofer, one center channel speaker and six satellite speakers. There’s also an iPod/iPhone dock on-board for easy access to your portable media. The Onkyo HT-S6300 offers an entire array of high definition audio decoding options, including Dolby Pro Logic IIz, Dolby True HD as well as equalization technologies and Audyssey room-correction.

The Onkyo HT-S6300 7.1-channel home theater receiver is available on amazon.com for only $488.88 . If you want the entire package, this system is the way to go.

Energy 5.1 Take Classic Home Theater System

This landmark Energy 5.1 Take Classic home entertainment system flaunts superior MDF cabinets finished in sophisticated high-gloss black. It includes a powerful 200-watt subwoofer with a front-firing port, 8″ driver and patented Ribbed Elliptical Surround(TM) for well-defined bass reproduction. But the coup de grâce is the newly added Convergent Source Module (CSM) with its 3″ poly-titanium woofer and .75″ Hyperbolic(TM) aluminum-dome tweeter. This proprietary technology provides a dynamic frequency range and an expansive soundstage, resulting in smooth, realistic sound that emanates from each satellite speaker as well as the center channel. Music and movie lovers can now rejoice because the Take Classic not only breathes life into every entertainment experience, it incites an intense passion in every listener.
You can find the Energy 5.1 Take Classic home theater system for $399 on amazon.com.

Onkyo TX-NR709 A/V Receiver features Network Connectivity

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:11:15 +0000

Many have found that an Onkyo AV receiver can really make a difference in their home theater setup. Most of the time, you can wait a while so you don’t need to take out a loan just to buy an AV receiver. I’m not saying people remortgage their home just to buy a receiver, but the prices tend to be a bit on the high side when it comes to Onkyo products. Often enough, if you wait a while you can get a pretty good deal and amazing quality without spending a lot of money or going in debt.

The new product from Onkyo is a new network capable A/V receiver featuring 7.2-channels, which has been dubbed TX-NR709. The TX-NR709 replaces the old TX-NR708 model in the company line-up, introducing new company technologies including Audyssey MultiEQ XT advanced room correction technology, the Marvell Qdeo 4K video upscaling processor and comes with two HDMI outpus and one HDMI input as well as dual subwoofer outputs.

The network connectivity feature coming with the Onkyo TX-NR709 will enable this device to stream PC audio as well as Internet Radio from services such as Pandora, Napster or Rhapsody.

The Onkyo TX-NR709 comes with high definition audio processing and can decode formats such as Audyssey, Dolby and DTS with the aid of its WRAT amplifiers. There’s also WiFi connectivity with the new UWF-1 Wireless USB adapter and USB ports which you can use to playback media from external devices. The TX-NR709 also features DLNA so you can stream media to and from DLNA-enabled devices in your home.

You can purchase the new Onkyo TX-NR709 Network AV receiver for $899 at amazon.com.

Samsung D8000, D7000 and D6500 plasma ranges in stores now

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:54:02 +0000

Samsung has introduced its 2011 line of plasma TVs, back in January at the CES in Las Vegas. The new models are quite impressive and are now in stores. The new plasma TV models from Samsung bring one extra inch of screen due to their extremely thin bezels, feature 3D capabilities and improved picture quality as well as Samsung’s new Smart TV interface.

The large screen plasma TVs in the flagship D8000 series are now available in 51, 59 and 64-inches sizes featuring and elegant, aluminum design. The two models available are the PN51D8000 and the PN59D8000. Both models come with 3D features, built-in WiFi and a 25,000,000:1 Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio and Smart TV capabilities. You can purchase the PN51D8000 from amazon.com for $1,977 while the PN59D8000 will cost you $2,519.

The mid-end D7000 series plasma TVs have been also made available in the form of the 51 and 59-inch models 51D7000 and 59D7000 and are now available at amazon.com for $1,900 and $2599, respectively.

Last but not least, there’s the PN51D6500 also available from Samsung’s 2011 plasma TV line, for $1,600.

Onkyo BD-SP309, the first 3D Blu-Ray player from the company

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:01:33 +0000

Onkyo has decided to release their first 3D Blu-Ray player in the form of the BD-SP309. The famous A/V receiver manufacturer takes an important step, although there is a lot of ground to cover catching up with the competiton. There’s a slew of 3D Blu-Ray players on the market already in 2011 and most likely the Onkyo BD-SP309 will be just another name in the crowd. However, Onkyo fans might be warmer to the idea of a 3D Blu-Ray player to match their Onkyo A/V receiver and choose the BD-SP309 to join their home theater setup.

As for the features, the Onkyo BD-SP309 comes with access to the most important Internet streaming services available such as Netflix, VUDU or Pandora, the ability to playback both 2D and 3D content and even offer upscaling of your old DVD collection to 1080p, which seems pretty cool.

In terms of connectivity you will find two USB ports you can use to connect external storage devices for direct playback.

The Onkyo BD-SP309 3D Blu-Ray player will be available in May for $249, however if you want to be the first in line to get your hands on one of these, amazon.com is currently accepting pre-orders, for only $199.