By Scott Kessman
Aug 11 2006 09:19AM
We all want to hear good quality, crystal-clear audio from our stereo systems, but we don't want to have to purchase giant speakers or spend a large sum of money. The good news is, unless you are extremely particular about your audio to the point of being an audio fanatic, you don't have to worry about size or pricing. You can find a good set of bookshelf speakers that produce great sounding audio but are compact enough to sit comfortably on a shelf, out of the way.
There are a number of good sets of bookshelf speakers for under $100, capable of delivering astounding audio at a minimal cost, and superbly powerful despite their smaller size. Bookshelf speakers are not intended to be the equivalent of a top-of-the-line, full-on audio experience that will leave you breathless, but they are capable of producing excellent sound, even at a rather small size and moderate cost. Perfect for dorm rooms, small apartments, offices, or for anyone who simply doesn't want to clutter their home with large speakers, bookshelf speakers are an ideal option.
Be sure to visit the websites of the following manufacturers for more precise technical details regarding the bookshelf speakers. Prices may be better at online stores rather than traditional retailers.
The Sony SS-MB350H Bookshelf Speakers manages to achieve excellent audio with its 3-way acoustic suspension speakers, which pack 120 watts of power. Clean and crisp, the audio also manages to convey a proper bass without sounding too booming or distorted, and the high and low frequencies of sound are accurately represented. Offering a full range of sound, the Sony Bookshelf Speakers are a little larger than most bookshelf speakers, but not too large to be subtly placed in the corners of a room if desired and still be out of the way and unobtrusive.
They also work great as an inexpensive alternative to a full set of surround sound speakers, or most notably as the rear pair of surround sound speakers. The three-way format helps to spread the sound evenly throughout the room, providing a very enjoyable listening experience. An additional subwoofer is also available for purchase.
Another great set are the POLK AUDIO R15 Bookshelf Loudspeakers. Capable of delivering home theatre performance at a fraction of the cost of a home theater speaker system, the high-quality of the Polk Audio Bookshelf Speakers are ideal when paired with a subwoofer for the complete surround sound package.
Offering impressive wide frequencies with low distortion, the Polk Audio Bookshelf Speakers fill the room with high performance audio, with sharp details and clear vocals.
The Polk Audio Bookshelf Speakers can be set on the floor or a shelf, or they come with a variety of hook-up options for mounting or hanging. Use them separately or add them to an already existing speaker system as an accompaniment.
The JBL Northridge E20 2-Way 5-Inch Bookshelf Speakers are impressively small, and deliver outstanding audio performance. Loud, clear, and absent of distortion, the JBL Bookshelf Speakers are the ultimate in compact quality audio, and is available in a number of finishes to better match the decor of your room, such as Black Ash, Beech, or Cherry. The exquisite craftsmanship coupled with a vast assortment of high-technology features combine to form a harmonious pairing of sound and function.
With the JBL E20 Bookshelf Speakers, you can easily afford that stunning JBL quality and design. Paired with a subwoofer or existing speakers, they will enhance your audio to the extreme, filling the room with sharp, clear sound, but as a separate set, the JBL speakers still do a fine job of bringing out the subtle tones of audio that would otherwise be lost on lesser speakers.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
home theater speaker: A Genius Act: KYE-Tirupati Tie-Up
EFY News Network
(Friday, July 14, 2006 2:19:05 PM)
Tirupati to distribute KYE’s Genius brand of products in India.
Friday, July 14, 2006: New Delhi: KYE Systems, a Taiwan-based IT and consumer electronics company, has inked a distribution relationship with Kolkata-based Tirupati Enterprises to expand its Genius brand of product lines in India. This is the second distribution engagement by KYE in India, after the one with Transtek Infoways.
In India, Tirupati will distribute KYE’s Genius range of products, which include MP3 players, speakers and headphones for digital audio, remote controls and home theater speaker system for home entertainment, webcams for Internet video calling, headset for mobile phone, Internet talking, gaming and laser mice, and keyboards. But KYE has made it clear that Tirupati will offer different products than what is being offered by Transtek, KYE’s existing partner in India, to ensure that no conflict of product arises due to the new distribution tie-up.
"No doubt Transtek Infoways is doing a wonderful job for Genius in India and we appreciate their efforts in building up the brand; however, the geography of the country is so vast, so is our product basket, that it requires one more partner to tap the entire potential in the cut-throat competition," said Sandeep Ramani, country manager, KYE Systems (India) Corp.
Abhishek Kejriwal, GM, Tirupati Enterprises, said, "We are excited about our tie-up with Genius as it is a new line of business for us.” Genius being one of the top three brands in key boards, mice etc., we will definitely try to put focus and increase their market share in India.”
KYE is targeting, at least, a 100-per cent growth over the next 9-12 months.
(Friday, July 14, 2006 2:19:05 PM)
Tirupati to distribute KYE’s Genius brand of products in India.
Friday, July 14, 2006: New Delhi: KYE Systems, a Taiwan-based IT and consumer electronics company, has inked a distribution relationship with Kolkata-based Tirupati Enterprises to expand its Genius brand of product lines in India. This is the second distribution engagement by KYE in India, after the one with Transtek Infoways.
In India, Tirupati will distribute KYE’s Genius range of products, which include MP3 players, speakers and headphones for digital audio, remote controls and home theater speaker system for home entertainment, webcams for Internet video calling, headset for mobile phone, Internet talking, gaming and laser mice, and keyboards. But KYE has made it clear that Tirupati will offer different products than what is being offered by Transtek, KYE’s existing partner in India, to ensure that no conflict of product arises due to the new distribution tie-up.
"No doubt Transtek Infoways is doing a wonderful job for Genius in India and we appreciate their efforts in building up the brand; however, the geography of the country is so vast, so is our product basket, that it requires one more partner to tap the entire potential in the cut-throat competition," said Sandeep Ramani, country manager, KYE Systems (India) Corp.
Abhishek Kejriwal, GM, Tirupati Enterprises, said, "We are excited about our tie-up with Genius as it is a new line of business for us.” Genius being one of the top three brands in key boards, mice etc., we will definitely try to put focus and increase their market share in India.”
KYE is targeting, at least, a 100-per cent growth over the next 9-12 months.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
home theater speaker: LTB Audio Systems Promotes Low Cost Home Theater Sound System People Wear on Their Heads
LTB Audio systems is promoting the world’s only true 5.1 wireless sound system that sits comfortably on a person's head. The LTB-WR-5.1 Wireless Headphone system is the only one of it’s kind to offer true, non-compressed digital wireless 5.1 surround sound audio in a comfortable, lightweight headset.
Teterboro, NJ (PRWEB) August 3, 2006 -- LTB Audio Systems, the leading manufacturer of true digital 5.1 headphone technology, is promoting true 5.1 wireless headphones for home theater speaker enthusiasts who don’t want to shell out big bucks for surround sound. Since their introduction this year, the Cinema 1 wireless 5.1 headphones have become very popular with movie and console gaming enthusiasts. LTB has been promoting its true 5.1 headphone technology through retailers that sell HDTV products from 26–50 inches. The Cinema 1 headphone system offers customers with minimal budgets the ability to take full advantage of 5.1 audio offered in today’s HDTV broadcasts.
“With LTB true 5.1 headphones you don’t need to focus speakers to a central point in a room, because you wear them, you can move about or sit anywhere and you can have private control over the volume as well,” said Jon Miller VP of Marketing for LTB.
The latest addition to the LTB 5.1 lineup, the Cinema 1 True 5.1 2.4GHz RF wireless is a unique example of combined audio technologies that have been overlooked by other audio manufacturers. As in other LTB 5.1 Headphone products, the Cinema 1 series sports six independently chambered emitters that are pre-balanced to offer true Dolby 5.1 Center, Left, Right, Rear and Sub channel separation. LTB also believes in safe headphone usage: its safebass™ technology represents a true effort to limit problems from extensive headphone use by limited bass levels below 90db.
LTB Audio Systems technology is widely recognized as the true leader in 5.1 headphone technology. While other manufacturers may offer multiple speaker headphones, none can claim the true fidelity of LTB patented ISC (Independent Sound Chamber) technology or the safe functionality of Safebass. LTB Audio Systems has provided Vivendi Universal Games with true 5.1 headphones to be used exclusively to demonstrate the latest PC Gaming titles at this year’s 2006 E3 Expo in Los Angeles. LTB offers several wired 5.1 headphone systems that meet a variety of applications. LTB will release a new series for computer users based on their current Platinum pro series early this fall called Magnum 5.1. LTB True 5.1 Digital headphones are available from a variety of on-line vendors like
Radioshack.com, staples.com, techdepot.com, skymall.com, smarthome.com, buy.com, qvc.com, hsn.com and more.
About LTB Audio Systems
LTB, which stands for Listen To Believe, represents a product line focused on providing leading-edge audio and multimedia headphones designed to meet the optimal demands of the latest digital media in games and movies as well as music and hi-def audio. LTB controls various key technology patents that have made them an upcoming leading manufacturer of true surround sound technology products. For more information visit LTB at www.ltbaudio.com.
Teterboro, NJ (PRWEB) August 3, 2006 -- LTB Audio Systems, the leading manufacturer of true digital 5.1 headphone technology, is promoting true 5.1 wireless headphones for home theater speaker enthusiasts who don’t want to shell out big bucks for surround sound. Since their introduction this year, the Cinema 1 wireless 5.1 headphones have become very popular with movie and console gaming enthusiasts. LTB has been promoting its true 5.1 headphone technology through retailers that sell HDTV products from 26–50 inches. The Cinema 1 headphone system offers customers with minimal budgets the ability to take full advantage of 5.1 audio offered in today’s HDTV broadcasts.
“With LTB true 5.1 headphones you don’t need to focus speakers to a central point in a room, because you wear them, you can move about or sit anywhere and you can have private control over the volume as well,” said Jon Miller VP of Marketing for LTB.
The latest addition to the LTB 5.1 lineup, the Cinema 1 True 5.1 2.4GHz RF wireless is a unique example of combined audio technologies that have been overlooked by other audio manufacturers. As in other LTB 5.1 Headphone products, the Cinema 1 series sports six independently chambered emitters that are pre-balanced to offer true Dolby 5.1 Center, Left, Right, Rear and Sub channel separation. LTB also believes in safe headphone usage: its safebass™ technology represents a true effort to limit problems from extensive headphone use by limited bass levels below 90db.
LTB Audio Systems technology is widely recognized as the true leader in 5.1 headphone technology. While other manufacturers may offer multiple speaker headphones, none can claim the true fidelity of LTB patented ISC (Independent Sound Chamber) technology or the safe functionality of Safebass. LTB Audio Systems has provided Vivendi Universal Games with true 5.1 headphones to be used exclusively to demonstrate the latest PC Gaming titles at this year’s 2006 E3 Expo in Los Angeles. LTB offers several wired 5.1 headphone systems that meet a variety of applications. LTB will release a new series for computer users based on their current Platinum pro series early this fall called Magnum 5.1. LTB True 5.1 Digital headphones are available from a variety of on-line vendors like
Radioshack.com, staples.com, techdepot.com, skymall.com, smarthome.com, buy.com, qvc.com, hsn.com and more.
About LTB Audio Systems
LTB, which stands for Listen To Believe, represents a product line focused on providing leading-edge audio and multimedia headphones designed to meet the optimal demands of the latest digital media in games and movies as well as music and hi-def audio. LTB controls various key technology patents that have made them an upcoming leading manufacturer of true surround sound technology products. For more information visit LTB at www.ltbaudio.com.
Monday, August 07, 2006
home theater speaker: Genius appoints Tirupati Enterprises as its second disty
Genius spreads its wings to capture indian marketplace
New Delhi, New Delhi, India, 2006-07-14 (IndiaPRwire.com) -- Taiwan based Genius, one of the leading IT and Consumer Electronics brand across the globe, extends its distribution relationship with Kolkata based Tirupati Enterprises. This is their second distribution engagement in India as the first one is with Transtek Infoways.
"No doubt Transtek Infoways is doing wonderful job for Genius in India and we appreciate their efforts in building up the brand-GENIUS, however, the geography of country is so vast so is our Product Basket that it requires one more partner to tap the entire potential in the cut throat competition," says Mr. Sandeep Ramani, Country Manager, KYE Systems (India) Corp., and both the distributors would surely work in synergy with each other to achieve the company's objective.
Mr. Abhishek Kejriwal, GM, Tirupati Enterprises says, "We are excited about our tie-up with Genius as it is a new line of business for us". Genius being the top three brands in KeyBoards, Mice etc, we will definitely try to put focus and increase the market share in India.
Genius products basket comprises wide variety of products including MP3 players, Speakers and Headphones for digital audio, Remote Controls and Home Theater Speaker system for home entertainment, Webcams for Internet video calling, Headset for mobile phone, Internet talking, gaming and laser mice and keyboards to name a few.
Mr. Ramani further added, "Genius has a huge family of products with several variations, hence we require more partners to help us expand our reach with different products other than what is offered by Transtek. Tirupati will be offering different products than what is being offered by Transtek to the market thus ensuring that no conflict of product arises due to the new distribution tie-up, and we believe that multiple partners will only compliment each other and in turn, it would help everybody grow at a much faster pace. We are targeting to become a significant player in the Indian marketplace and we are looking for at least 100% growth in next 9-12 months period".
About Genius: Genius is the brand name of KYE Systems, a US$ 353 million Taiwan, Taipei based company. In 1985, KYE launched the brand Genius, which stands for technology and trust. Headquartered in Taiwan Taipei, KYE has three manufacturing units at Dongguan, China and the fourth plant is under construction, which emphasizes in the manufacturing of products with excellent Industrial & Mechanical design, Environmental Protection Application & Lead-Free Technology Selection, and with a light, slim, short and small look. KYE has been awarded with ISO 9001 Quality systems certification in 1994 and ISO 14001 in 1996. It has been traded in Taiwan Stock exchange since 1997. KYE has received many an accolades from various quarters i.e. National Golden Award of Excellence, Good Design Award in Japan etc.
About Tirupati Enterprises: Tirupati Enterprises is a leading importer and distributor of computer parts and peripherals with channels spreading throughout the territory of India. Based in Kolkata, its partners are located in all major cities across the country. Tirupati's major product lines include Genius, MSI, Ge-cube Graphic Cards, Corsair Memory Products, etc.
About Alliance PR
Alliance PR is a leading PR firm that specialises in communications and networking with a nationwide geographical spread to offer its services across India.
For more information, Please contact:
Sanjeev Kant
Manager, Alliance PR
011-416 4699
kant@proalliancepr.com
You can also visit www.proalliancepr.com for more information.
New Delhi, New Delhi, India, 2006-07-14 (IndiaPRwire.com) -- Taiwan based Genius, one of the leading IT and Consumer Electronics brand across the globe, extends its distribution relationship with Kolkata based Tirupati Enterprises. This is their second distribution engagement in India as the first one is with Transtek Infoways.
"No doubt Transtek Infoways is doing wonderful job for Genius in India and we appreciate their efforts in building up the brand-GENIUS, however, the geography of country is so vast so is our Product Basket that it requires one more partner to tap the entire potential in the cut throat competition," says Mr. Sandeep Ramani, Country Manager, KYE Systems (India) Corp., and both the distributors would surely work in synergy with each other to achieve the company's objective.
Mr. Abhishek Kejriwal, GM, Tirupati Enterprises says, "We are excited about our tie-up with Genius as it is a new line of business for us". Genius being the top three brands in KeyBoards, Mice etc, we will definitely try to put focus and increase the market share in India.
Genius products basket comprises wide variety of products including MP3 players, Speakers and Headphones for digital audio, Remote Controls and Home Theater Speaker system for home entertainment, Webcams for Internet video calling, Headset for mobile phone, Internet talking, gaming and laser mice and keyboards to name a few.
Mr. Ramani further added, "Genius has a huge family of products with several variations, hence we require more partners to help us expand our reach with different products other than what is offered by Transtek. Tirupati will be offering different products than what is being offered by Transtek to the market thus ensuring that no conflict of product arises due to the new distribution tie-up, and we believe that multiple partners will only compliment each other and in turn, it would help everybody grow at a much faster pace. We are targeting to become a significant player in the Indian marketplace and we are looking for at least 100% growth in next 9-12 months period".
About Genius: Genius is the brand name of KYE Systems, a US$ 353 million Taiwan, Taipei based company. In 1985, KYE launched the brand Genius, which stands for technology and trust. Headquartered in Taiwan Taipei, KYE has three manufacturing units at Dongguan, China and the fourth plant is under construction, which emphasizes in the manufacturing of products with excellent Industrial & Mechanical design, Environmental Protection Application & Lead-Free Technology Selection, and with a light, slim, short and small look. KYE has been awarded with ISO 9001 Quality systems certification in 1994 and ISO 14001 in 1996. It has been traded in Taiwan Stock exchange since 1997. KYE has received many an accolades from various quarters i.e. National Golden Award of Excellence, Good Design Award in Japan etc.
About Tirupati Enterprises: Tirupati Enterprises is a leading importer and distributor of computer parts and peripherals with channels spreading throughout the territory of India. Based in Kolkata, its partners are located in all major cities across the country. Tirupati's major product lines include Genius, MSI, Ge-cube Graphic Cards, Corsair Memory Products, etc.
About Alliance PR
Alliance PR is a leading PR firm that specialises in communications and networking with a nationwide geographical spread to offer its services across India.
For more information, Please contact:
Sanjeev Kant
Manager, Alliance PR
011-416 4699
kant@proalliancepr.com
You can also visit www.proalliancepr.com for more information.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
home theater speaker: Horizontally or Vertically, KEF’s HTB2 Sub Is A Powerful Winner
MARLBORO, NJ – July 25, 2006 – KEF, the British manufacturer of world-class home theater speakers, has added another award to its roster of accolades with the 2006 Electronic House “Product of the Year” Award. KEF was recognized for its unique HTB2 high-powered subwoofer, part of the dynamic KHT3000 Series 5.1 home cinema speaker system.
“We are truly honored to have received this recognition from Electronic House magazine,” said Alec Chanin, president of KEF America. “The HTB2 is a tremendously exciting product and continues our tradition of offering innovative, sophisticated, and décor-friendly solutions that deliver the 3D sound and stunning bass realism that are our trademarks.”
The HTB2 sports a radical new design that complements modern décor, and uses a 10-inch bass driver along with a 10-inch Auxiliary Bass Radiator. The ultra long-throw design and all-new 250 watt amplifier produce deep, defined bass with a tight response, and SmartBass ‘connect and go’ functionality means that set-up is quick and simple. The subwoofer also features an acoustically inert ABS-molded enclosure and its two-position phase switch and three-position bass boost switch lets users easily adjust sound at any time.
The HTB2 gives home theater enthusiasts complete placement flexibility. After careful research with consumers, KEF designed the HTB2 for either vertical or horizontal placement. This is achieved by simply removing the factory fitted base-foot (for vertical) and fixing the additional three feet to the rim of the driver (for horizontal). No matter how the sub is positioned, the control panel and connections are easily accessible.
The KEF Home Theatre 3000 Series builds on the huge success of the popular KHT2005.2 system, resulting in a 5.1 system that delivers the dialogue and sound effects of today’s digital soundtracks, as well as the streamlined looks design-conscious consumers demand. Currently available, the system comprised of 4 satellites, 1 center channel and the HTB2 subwoofer, retails at an MSRP of $1,500. To match a variety of home interiors, KEF offers the 3000 series in high-gloss silver or in a stunningly new high-gloss black finish. A la carté, the HTB2 retails at $799.
Winning products were selected by Electronic House editors based on reviews released throughout the year, product demos, installer feedback, innovative features and overall value. The winning products will be featured in the September issue of Electronic House and on www.electronichouse.com.
Talking Points:
- KEF’s HTB2 high-powered subwoofer wins Electronic House Magazine’s 2006 Product of the Year Award.
- The HTB2 sports a radical, ultra long-throw design featuring a 10” bass driver along with a 10” Auxiliary Bass Radiator.
- All-new 250 watt amplifier produces deep, defined bass with a tight response.
- Acoustically inert enclosure is shaped to eliminate internal standing waves for extreme bass realism.
- SmartBass™ ‘connect and go’ functionality makes setup a breeze.
- Two-position phase switch and three-position bass boost switch lets users easily adjust sound at any time.
- Complete placement flexibility allows for vertical or horizontal subwoofer placement depending on space requirements or taste.
- Part of KEF’s KHT3000 Series 5.1 home cinema speaker system comprised of 4 satellites, 1 center channel and HTB2 subwoofer. The complete system retails at an MSRP of $1,500.
- A la carté, the HTB2 retails at $799.
- Winning products were selected by Electronic House editors based on reviews released throughout the year, product demos, installer feedback, innovative features and overall value.
About KEF Audio
KEF, a division of GP Acoustics, is a UK based company that has earned a reputation as the premier manufacturer of stunning, audiophile-quality speakers for modern home cinema, hi-fi and custom installation applications. KEF products which are distributed around the globe, have won awards from both sides of the Atlantic, as KEF is a brand name long associated with style, quality and technical innovation.
Founded in 1961 by a British electrical engineer named Raymond Cooke on the banks of the River Medway, KEF is driven by a passionate belief in the power of new materials, new technologies and design ingenuity. Still occupying the same riverbank site, KEF passionately remains true to its patented, proven technologies such as Uni-Q® and ACE®. These characteristics, traditions and above all sound quality, secure KEF's world-class reputation.
About KEF, Inc.
KEF, a division of GP Acoustics, offers loyal North American audiophiles a stream of innovative speakers and components unmatched in the industry. Headquartered in Marlboro, New Jersey, KEF America shares the same guiding principles as its British counterpart: ground-breaking design, exceptional sound and an unshakeable commitment to excellence.
For additional information about KEF America and its award-winning products, please visit www.kef.com.
“We are truly honored to have received this recognition from Electronic House magazine,” said Alec Chanin, president of KEF America. “The HTB2 is a tremendously exciting product and continues our tradition of offering innovative, sophisticated, and décor-friendly solutions that deliver the 3D sound and stunning bass realism that are our trademarks.”
The HTB2 sports a radical new design that complements modern décor, and uses a 10-inch bass driver along with a 10-inch Auxiliary Bass Radiator. The ultra long-throw design and all-new 250 watt amplifier produce deep, defined bass with a tight response, and SmartBass ‘connect and go’ functionality means that set-up is quick and simple. The subwoofer also features an acoustically inert ABS-molded enclosure and its two-position phase switch and three-position bass boost switch lets users easily adjust sound at any time.
The HTB2 gives home theater enthusiasts complete placement flexibility. After careful research with consumers, KEF designed the HTB2 for either vertical or horizontal placement. This is achieved by simply removing the factory fitted base-foot (for vertical) and fixing the additional three feet to the rim of the driver (for horizontal). No matter how the sub is positioned, the control panel and connections are easily accessible.
The KEF Home Theatre 3000 Series builds on the huge success of the popular KHT2005.2 system, resulting in a 5.1 system that delivers the dialogue and sound effects of today’s digital soundtracks, as well as the streamlined looks design-conscious consumers demand. Currently available, the system comprised of 4 satellites, 1 center channel and the HTB2 subwoofer, retails at an MSRP of $1,500. To match a variety of home interiors, KEF offers the 3000 series in high-gloss silver or in a stunningly new high-gloss black finish. A la carté, the HTB2 retails at $799.
Winning products were selected by Electronic House editors based on reviews released throughout the year, product demos, installer feedback, innovative features and overall value. The winning products will be featured in the September issue of Electronic House and on www.electronichouse.com.
Talking Points:
- KEF’s HTB2 high-powered subwoofer wins Electronic House Magazine’s 2006 Product of the Year Award.
- The HTB2 sports a radical, ultra long-throw design featuring a 10” bass driver along with a 10” Auxiliary Bass Radiator.
- All-new 250 watt amplifier produces deep, defined bass with a tight response.
- Acoustically inert enclosure is shaped to eliminate internal standing waves for extreme bass realism.
- SmartBass™ ‘connect and go’ functionality makes setup a breeze.
- Two-position phase switch and three-position bass boost switch lets users easily adjust sound at any time.
- Complete placement flexibility allows for vertical or horizontal subwoofer placement depending on space requirements or taste.
- Part of KEF’s KHT3000 Series 5.1 home cinema speaker system comprised of 4 satellites, 1 center channel and HTB2 subwoofer. The complete system retails at an MSRP of $1,500.
- A la carté, the HTB2 retails at $799.
- Winning products were selected by Electronic House editors based on reviews released throughout the year, product demos, installer feedback, innovative features and overall value.
About KEF Audio
KEF, a division of GP Acoustics, is a UK based company that has earned a reputation as the premier manufacturer of stunning, audiophile-quality speakers for modern home cinema, hi-fi and custom installation applications. KEF products which are distributed around the globe, have won awards from both sides of the Atlantic, as KEF is a brand name long associated with style, quality and technical innovation.
Founded in 1961 by a British electrical engineer named Raymond Cooke on the banks of the River Medway, KEF is driven by a passionate belief in the power of new materials, new technologies and design ingenuity. Still occupying the same riverbank site, KEF passionately remains true to its patented, proven technologies such as Uni-Q® and ACE®. These characteristics, traditions and above all sound quality, secure KEF's world-class reputation.
About KEF, Inc.
KEF, a division of GP Acoustics, offers loyal North American audiophiles a stream of innovative speakers and components unmatched in the industry. Headquartered in Marlboro, New Jersey, KEF America shares the same guiding principles as its British counterpart: ground-breaking design, exceptional sound and an unshakeable commitment to excellence.
For additional information about KEF America and its award-winning products, please visit www.kef.com.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
home theater speaker: Top 12 User Rated Home Theater Surround Sound Systems
By Guy Wright
There are three main components to consider when building a home theater – a big screen TV, some content to watch (from a DVD player, VCR, cable, satellite, or broadcast source), and a surround sound system.
Not too long ago ‘Home Theater in a Box’ surround sound systems were notoriously poor quality, but in recent years these systems have improved dramatically. We scouted around and found an even dozen of the highest user rated home theater surround sound systems – rated by users who actually own them.
At the heart of any surround sound system is the receiver – sometimes it is a separate, stand-alone unit and sometimes the receiver is built into a DVD player. The receiver ‘decodes’ the specially encoded surround signals (Dolby, DTS, THX, etc.) into different channels, amplifies each of these channels, and sends them to the multiple surround speakers. Early surround systems had three speakers (left, right, and center) but today most surround systems have at least six speakers (left, right, center, two surround speakers, and a sub-woofer). Since many surround encoding schemes don’t actually have a discreet sub-woofer signal the receiver has to ‘synthesize’ the sub-woofer channel based on the other five signals which is why a six speaker surround sound system will have the designation 5.1 (the ‘dot one’ refers to the sub-woofer). These days there are 6.1 systems, 7.1 systems, and some with even more speakers (although you’d be hard pressed to find any content that is encoded for anything above 7.1).
Now you could go out and buy a surround sound receiver and cobble together an assortment of home stereo speakers from different manufacturers but the odds are you’d be disappointed with the results. That’s because it’s important for all the speakers in a surround sound setup to be ‘matched’ – in other words they should all have the same acoustic profiles. That is why manufactures started offering complete systems with receivers and sets of matched speakers.
There are three main components to consider when building a home theater – a big screen TV, some content to watch (from a DVD player, VCR, cable, satellite, or broadcast source), and a surround sound system.
Not too long ago ‘Home Theater in a Box’ surround sound systems were notoriously poor quality, but in recent years these systems have improved dramatically. We scouted around and found an even dozen of the highest user rated home theater surround sound systems – rated by users who actually own them.
At the heart of any surround sound system is the receiver – sometimes it is a separate, stand-alone unit and sometimes the receiver is built into a DVD player. The receiver ‘decodes’ the specially encoded surround signals (Dolby, DTS, THX, etc.) into different channels, amplifies each of these channels, and sends them to the multiple surround speakers. Early surround systems had three speakers (left, right, and center) but today most surround systems have at least six speakers (left, right, center, two surround speakers, and a sub-woofer). Since many surround encoding schemes don’t actually have a discreet sub-woofer signal the receiver has to ‘synthesize’ the sub-woofer channel based on the other five signals which is why a six speaker surround sound system will have the designation 5.1 (the ‘dot one’ refers to the sub-woofer). These days there are 6.1 systems, 7.1 systems, and some with even more speakers (although you’d be hard pressed to find any content that is encoded for anything above 7.1).
Now you could go out and buy a surround sound receiver and cobble together an assortment of home stereo speakers from different manufacturers but the odds are you’d be disappointed with the results. That’s because it’s important for all the speakers in a surround sound setup to be ‘matched’ – in other words they should all have the same acoustic profiles. That is why manufactures started offering complete systems with receivers and sets of matched speakers.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
home theater speaker: iGroove, My Book Clearly Speak To iPodders
July 28, 2006
The Klipsch family has been making loudspeakers for 60 years, but they're just getting the hang of all this iPod business.
The basic get-rich-quick iPod plan goes like this:
Design a docking station/speaker system; call it i-Whateveryouwant (the prefix, however, must be lowercase, just like the iPod); color it basic iPod white or black; and elevate the price to iPod territory, $250 to $350.
Late last year, Klipsch waded into the iPod market with the iGroove speaker system and got two parts of the formula right. It aced the lowercase-i part and hit the sweet spot in pricing, $280. But the silver iGroove, though a match for popular "lifestyle" home-theater speaker systems, clearly violated the iPod code.
Now Klipsch returns with the new iGroove HG in shiny Darth Vader black - it's HG, as in high gloss - with a new price ($250) that puts it distinctly below Apple's own iPod Hi-Fi ($349) and the Bose SoundDock ($299).
However it's dressed, named or priced, the iGroove gets the business that matters most - sound - dead right. That should have been expected from the company that popularized horn-loaded speakers. The horn (an alternative to the conventional tweeter, which reproduces high-frequency signals in a loudspeaker) works much like a megaphone. You know how wide, and how loud, a voice sounds through a megaphone? That's the Klipsch horn principle.
For the iGroove, Klipsch (www.klipsch.com) uses a hybrid design it calls MicroTractrix, horn-loaded tweeters that position a traditional 1-inch dome tweeter at the short end of a megaphone-shaped horn. Klipsch mounted one of these tweeters above a 2.5-inch midbass driver on each side of the iGroove. In the middle, the iPod dock sits like a throne for your favorite digital music player.
The iGroove, only 16 inches wide, is gently arced and tilted back slightly, which angles sound up, and outward, into a room. Combined with the horns, which broadens the soundstage, the iGroove plays much bigger than its size. It also plays surprisingly loud. A small port on the back side releases energy produced by the midbass drivers, allowing the iGroove to play lower notes louder and slightly deeper with less distortion.
Klipsch includes adapters for the iPod Nano and iPod Mini. A separate contraption called a J-Cup snaps into the iGroove dock, then becomes a dock itself for non-iPod music players or, with an extension cable, other devices like a DVD player, TV or computer. It worked perfectly, for example, as a home for the Pioneer Inno, which combines an XM Satellite Radio with an iPod-style music player.
The iGroove has two volume controls and an on/off button. Those functions and additional controls for play and forward/back are also accessible with a too-tiny remote control that didn't always obey my commands.
The iGroove and my black Nano made a very handsome couple, but I almost gagged at the thought that here sat almost $500 in electronic equipment. Shouldn't that buy something more substantial - like surround-sound for a home theater?
But it sounded extremely good, tapered obviously at both extremes of the sonic spectrum so that it might player louder, with less listener fatigue. It handled the driving jazz of guitarist John Scofield's "Works for Me," the unlikely Afro-Celtic fusion of Baka Beyond's "East to West," the authentically Celtic duo Pipeline's self-titled debut and anything else stocked on the Nano.
The iGroove is a serious, if diminutive, sound system that deserves some iPod action.
What's so wrong about silver, anyway?
Song Book
If you're paying 99 cents a pop tune, the digital music library sitting on your computer's hard drive soon becomes more valuable than the iPod it's feeding.
Your library needs a safe house like an external hard drive. Western Digital's My Book external hard drives not only store all of your music - they're available from 160 to 500 gigabytes - but do it with dignity. My Book, in fact, looks like one. If the Xbox 360 were a reader, this might be the type of volume on its shelf. Sure, it's a little mechanical- looking, but the 500-gigabyte Premium Edition ($349) holds 125,000 songs stored as MP3 files or 12,000 songs as uncompressed, CD-quality files.
It also could be used to store high-definition video (up to 60 hours), digital photos (up to 142,000) or anything else digital worth saving. Information: www.westerndigital.com.
Kevin Hunt, The Courant's consumer electronics columnist, wrote this for the Chicago Tribune. He can be reached at hunt@courant.com.
E-mail: hunt@courant.com
The Klipsch family has been making loudspeakers for 60 years, but they're just getting the hang of all this iPod business.
The basic get-rich-quick iPod plan goes like this:
Design a docking station/speaker system; call it i-Whateveryouwant (the prefix, however, must be lowercase, just like the iPod); color it basic iPod white or black; and elevate the price to iPod territory, $250 to $350.
Late last year, Klipsch waded into the iPod market with the iGroove speaker system and got two parts of the formula right. It aced the lowercase-i part and hit the sweet spot in pricing, $280. But the silver iGroove, though a match for popular "lifestyle" home-theater speaker systems, clearly violated the iPod code.
Now Klipsch returns with the new iGroove HG in shiny Darth Vader black - it's HG, as in high gloss - with a new price ($250) that puts it distinctly below Apple's own iPod Hi-Fi ($349) and the Bose SoundDock ($299).
However it's dressed, named or priced, the iGroove gets the business that matters most - sound - dead right. That should have been expected from the company that popularized horn-loaded speakers. The horn (an alternative to the conventional tweeter, which reproduces high-frequency signals in a loudspeaker) works much like a megaphone. You know how wide, and how loud, a voice sounds through a megaphone? That's the Klipsch horn principle.
For the iGroove, Klipsch (www.klipsch.com) uses a hybrid design it calls MicroTractrix, horn-loaded tweeters that position a traditional 1-inch dome tweeter at the short end of a megaphone-shaped horn. Klipsch mounted one of these tweeters above a 2.5-inch midbass driver on each side of the iGroove. In the middle, the iPod dock sits like a throne for your favorite digital music player.
The iGroove, only 16 inches wide, is gently arced and tilted back slightly, which angles sound up, and outward, into a room. Combined with the horns, which broadens the soundstage, the iGroove plays much bigger than its size. It also plays surprisingly loud. A small port on the back side releases energy produced by the midbass drivers, allowing the iGroove to play lower notes louder and slightly deeper with less distortion.
Klipsch includes adapters for the iPod Nano and iPod Mini. A separate contraption called a J-Cup snaps into the iGroove dock, then becomes a dock itself for non-iPod music players or, with an extension cable, other devices like a DVD player, TV or computer. It worked perfectly, for example, as a home for the Pioneer Inno, which combines an XM Satellite Radio with an iPod-style music player.
The iGroove has two volume controls and an on/off button. Those functions and additional controls for play and forward/back are also accessible with a too-tiny remote control that didn't always obey my commands.
The iGroove and my black Nano made a very handsome couple, but I almost gagged at the thought that here sat almost $500 in electronic equipment. Shouldn't that buy something more substantial - like surround-sound for a home theater?
But it sounded extremely good, tapered obviously at both extremes of the sonic spectrum so that it might player louder, with less listener fatigue. It handled the driving jazz of guitarist John Scofield's "Works for Me," the unlikely Afro-Celtic fusion of Baka Beyond's "East to West," the authentically Celtic duo Pipeline's self-titled debut and anything else stocked on the Nano.
The iGroove is a serious, if diminutive, sound system that deserves some iPod action.
What's so wrong about silver, anyway?
Song Book
If you're paying 99 cents a pop tune, the digital music library sitting on your computer's hard drive soon becomes more valuable than the iPod it's feeding.
Your library needs a safe house like an external hard drive. Western Digital's My Book external hard drives not only store all of your music - they're available from 160 to 500 gigabytes - but do it with dignity. My Book, in fact, looks like one. If the Xbox 360 were a reader, this might be the type of volume on its shelf. Sure, it's a little mechanical- looking, but the 500-gigabyte Premium Edition ($349) holds 125,000 songs stored as MP3 files or 12,000 songs as uncompressed, CD-quality files.
It also could be used to store high-definition video (up to 60 hours), digital photos (up to 142,000) or anything else digital worth saving. Information: www.westerndigital.com.
Kevin Hunt, The Courant's consumer electronics columnist, wrote this for the Chicago Tribune. He can be reached at hunt@courant.com.
E-mail: hunt@courant.com
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
home theater speaker: Apple Mac mini with Intel Core Duo Processor
Chris Chiarella, July, 2006
The fruit takes root in the living room.
A while back, we Home Theater drones were all on Macs, and life was good. Then, one day, the powers that be told us that the bulk of us were switching to PC, and that was that. I had a few annoying differences to work through, but I eventually forgot my first real computer. And then the Mac mini showed up for review in its pretty white cardboard box, and it reminded me of the experience of bumping into a friend from the old neighborhood: familiar, sure, but with a lot of catching up to do.
Although the Mac mini has been around for more than a year, the big recent news has been the switch from Apple's own internal processors to Intel CPUs, either the 1.5-gigahertz Core Solo or the 1.66-GHz Core Duo—new handles for Intel's multitasking marvel, the dual-core processor. These two preconfigured versions of the mini offer "good" and "better" specs. I reviewed the latter. Both share an identical form factor, which is breathtakingly compact and has a metal perimeter topped by a goes-with-everything white plastic roof adorned with the Apple logo. The front edge features a slot for the SuperDrive, which can do almost everything with optical media, including burning to dual-layer DVD. Not surprisingly, power comes by way of an external brick in the AC cord, which you won't have to see once you tuck it behind other gear.
BYODKM
The sparsely bundled Mac mini supports the Apple philosophy of "BYODKM," or "Bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse." Fortunately, Apple also loaned me their optional wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse. I highly recommend both if you intend to make this a living-room computer, as I did for the past month. The mini also offers digital optical audio output—sort of—via a novel dual-use audio port. It mates with a standard analog stereo minijack or an optional third-party Belkin adapter (see sidebar), which passes the raw digital optical signal. The computer supports Dolby Digital passthrough but not DTS. There is also a small built-in mono speaker. The single dedicated video output is DVI, although Apple includes a VGA adapter. An adapter for both composite and S-video is available separately. The Mac mini is intrinsically a desktop computer, but its many hardware and software refinements also make it a definite candidate for the home theater.
After the initial setup—only a couple of minutes and some easy questions—future boots took only about 20 seconds. The mini automatically detected my 802.11g LAN and asked if I wanted to connect to this nonsecure network. It also integrates Bluetooth 2.0 for further wireless interoperability. I confirmed that there is indeed a fan inside. It's all but silent beneath typical room noise, a feat that most HTPCs can't seem to accomplish. I tend to leave computers powered on for long stretches, and I noticed that a tremendous amount of heat spews out of the mini's back vents.
From the factory, the Mac mini defaults to the screen-gorging Overscan mode. If you deselect this mode via the Preferences menus (then Display, then Options), the image size will reduce. Some TV remotes can help you center the resulting desktop, which is surrounded by black borders. The effective onboard calibration tools for the computer image include color-temperature tweaking to best match your specific display. For an ideal presentation, you should also try adjusting your display's video menus. I found that the picture looked best with my TV's noise reduction turned off—your mileage may vary.
The preloaded Front Row entertainment interface and OS X 10.4 Tiger operating system work together seamlessly to provide an exquisite user experience that gently transitions between more diverting and more serious tasks. Front Row plays selected videos in their own angled windows while you sort through titles, for example, and can then return to the Tiger desktop with a subtle dissolve and zoom. The appropriately tiny IR remote is reminiscent in size and styling of the iPod shuffle. It brings up the Front Row main menu, selects and plays video or music, and also navigates other applications like QuickTime Player and the DVD player. One touch starts or pauses a movie or song. You can also view and manipulate digital photos. After a few-second setup, the mini located the hundreds of JPEGs on my networked PC and could download them via Ethernet. It similarly acquired my much larger music collection, and the latest version of iTunes promptly digested it.
What's On?
DVDs play at a maximum resolution of 480p via the DVI output. They tend to take on an unpleasant digital look, though, with visible decompression that doesn't appear to be big-screen ready. What else, then, are you to watch? One glaring omission amid all of this happy minimalism is a TV tuner, and therefore any sort of integrated DVR functionality. Elgato offers the Plextor ConvertX PVR add-on as a software solution, but this approach thwarts the Mac mini's austere aesthetic. In my opinion, nothing should be visibly connected that's more conspicuous than the occasional visiting iPod. The Internet is a limitless repository of content, and Apple makes available a growing collection of clips—mostly movie trailers—in true high definition, all the way up to 1080p resolution. Note that you cannot permanently download QuickTime HD videos (you can only stream them) without the $30 QuickTime Pro upgrade. Although the mini's versatility as a high-definition source is extremely limited, its quality is outstanding, as on the squeaky-clean coming attractions for Disney/Pixar's Cars or the hypnotically realistic CG hairs on Fox's Ice Age: The Meltdown critters. The music visualizer's constantly changing graphics also look spectacular in HD.
The QuickTime player also supports MPEG-1, MPEG-4, and H.264 video formats, among others, and you can download additional media players with further video codecs from third parties. Of course, which videos you acquire in these formats, and where (and how) you acquire them, are your own business. Home movies and public-domain curiosities are all well and good, but, for tried-and-true Hollywood entertainment, video downloads via iTunes are an interesting alternative to cable/satellite video on demand. Most of Apple's current TV-series selections are comprehensive, presenting every episode for sale, updated weekly. The half-hour or full-hour installments can become pricey at $1.99 each, or in the vicinity of $30 or more for some Season Passes. If Mac minis in the living room catch on, perhaps iTunes will work out some less expensive rental deal. Video files downloaded at slower-than-real-time via a shared DSL line. By comparison, my primary PC can download a song in a few seconds or a music video in about a minute using the same Internet access.
On my 50-inch Samsung DLP, the old-school ink and paint of Disney's short Ferdinand the Bull shows so much compression, the background appears to be throbbing at times. More modern animation like South Park fares a little better, still with some artifacting in the textures. Meanwhile, a live-action show like The Office shows some mild blockiness on the edges of objects. All the downloads were certainly watchable, but the DVI/HDTV display was not flattering, due to the iTunes videos' one-fourth of NTSC resolution (320 by 240). I do wish there were more content options, legally and easily, perhaps even high-def shows that you could set to download overnight due to the large file size. That might just be the killer home theater application that the Mac mini is missing.
Highlights
• The diminutive Mac mini rethought: DVI, digital audio output, Front Row interface
• Plays DVDs, CDs, and more, plus it displays digital photos, all via remote control
• Internet connectivity accesses a universe of audio/video content
Article Continues: Belkin Flip for Mac mini
The fruit takes root in the living room.
A while back, we Home Theater drones were all on Macs, and life was good. Then, one day, the powers that be told us that the bulk of us were switching to PC, and that was that. I had a few annoying differences to work through, but I eventually forgot my first real computer. And then the Mac mini showed up for review in its pretty white cardboard box, and it reminded me of the experience of bumping into a friend from the old neighborhood: familiar, sure, but with a lot of catching up to do.
Although the Mac mini has been around for more than a year, the big recent news has been the switch from Apple's own internal processors to Intel CPUs, either the 1.5-gigahertz Core Solo or the 1.66-GHz Core Duo—new handles for Intel's multitasking marvel, the dual-core processor. These two preconfigured versions of the mini offer "good" and "better" specs. I reviewed the latter. Both share an identical form factor, which is breathtakingly compact and has a metal perimeter topped by a goes-with-everything white plastic roof adorned with the Apple logo. The front edge features a slot for the SuperDrive, which can do almost everything with optical media, including burning to dual-layer DVD. Not surprisingly, power comes by way of an external brick in the AC cord, which you won't have to see once you tuck it behind other gear.
BYODKM
The sparsely bundled Mac mini supports the Apple philosophy of "BYODKM," or "Bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse." Fortunately, Apple also loaned me their optional wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse. I highly recommend both if you intend to make this a living-room computer, as I did for the past month. The mini also offers digital optical audio output—sort of—via a novel dual-use audio port. It mates with a standard analog stereo minijack or an optional third-party Belkin adapter (see sidebar), which passes the raw digital optical signal. The computer supports Dolby Digital passthrough but not DTS. There is also a small built-in mono speaker. The single dedicated video output is DVI, although Apple includes a VGA adapter. An adapter for both composite and S-video is available separately. The Mac mini is intrinsically a desktop computer, but its many hardware and software refinements also make it a definite candidate for the home theater.
After the initial setup—only a couple of minutes and some easy questions—future boots took only about 20 seconds. The mini automatically detected my 802.11g LAN and asked if I wanted to connect to this nonsecure network. It also integrates Bluetooth 2.0 for further wireless interoperability. I confirmed that there is indeed a fan inside. It's all but silent beneath typical room noise, a feat that most HTPCs can't seem to accomplish. I tend to leave computers powered on for long stretches, and I noticed that a tremendous amount of heat spews out of the mini's back vents.
From the factory, the Mac mini defaults to the screen-gorging Overscan mode. If you deselect this mode via the Preferences menus (then Display, then Options), the image size will reduce. Some TV remotes can help you center the resulting desktop, which is surrounded by black borders. The effective onboard calibration tools for the computer image include color-temperature tweaking to best match your specific display. For an ideal presentation, you should also try adjusting your display's video menus. I found that the picture looked best with my TV's noise reduction turned off—your mileage may vary.
The preloaded Front Row entertainment interface and OS X 10.4 Tiger operating system work together seamlessly to provide an exquisite user experience that gently transitions between more diverting and more serious tasks. Front Row plays selected videos in their own angled windows while you sort through titles, for example, and can then return to the Tiger desktop with a subtle dissolve and zoom. The appropriately tiny IR remote is reminiscent in size and styling of the iPod shuffle. It brings up the Front Row main menu, selects and plays video or music, and also navigates other applications like QuickTime Player and the DVD player. One touch starts or pauses a movie or song. You can also view and manipulate digital photos. After a few-second setup, the mini located the hundreds of JPEGs on my networked PC and could download them via Ethernet. It similarly acquired my much larger music collection, and the latest version of iTunes promptly digested it.
What's On?
DVDs play at a maximum resolution of 480p via the DVI output. They tend to take on an unpleasant digital look, though, with visible decompression that doesn't appear to be big-screen ready. What else, then, are you to watch? One glaring omission amid all of this happy minimalism is a TV tuner, and therefore any sort of integrated DVR functionality. Elgato offers the Plextor ConvertX PVR add-on as a software solution, but this approach thwarts the Mac mini's austere aesthetic. In my opinion, nothing should be visibly connected that's more conspicuous than the occasional visiting iPod. The Internet is a limitless repository of content, and Apple makes available a growing collection of clips—mostly movie trailers—in true high definition, all the way up to 1080p resolution. Note that you cannot permanently download QuickTime HD videos (you can only stream them) without the $30 QuickTime Pro upgrade. Although the mini's versatility as a high-definition source is extremely limited, its quality is outstanding, as on the squeaky-clean coming attractions for Disney/Pixar's Cars or the hypnotically realistic CG hairs on Fox's Ice Age: The Meltdown critters. The music visualizer's constantly changing graphics also look spectacular in HD.
The QuickTime player also supports MPEG-1, MPEG-4, and H.264 video formats, among others, and you can download additional media players with further video codecs from third parties. Of course, which videos you acquire in these formats, and where (and how) you acquire them, are your own business. Home movies and public-domain curiosities are all well and good, but, for tried-and-true Hollywood entertainment, video downloads via iTunes are an interesting alternative to cable/satellite video on demand. Most of Apple's current TV-series selections are comprehensive, presenting every episode for sale, updated weekly. The half-hour or full-hour installments can become pricey at $1.99 each, or in the vicinity of $30 or more for some Season Passes. If Mac minis in the living room catch on, perhaps iTunes will work out some less expensive rental deal. Video files downloaded at slower-than-real-time via a shared DSL line. By comparison, my primary PC can download a song in a few seconds or a music video in about a minute using the same Internet access.
On my 50-inch Samsung DLP, the old-school ink and paint of Disney's short Ferdinand the Bull shows so much compression, the background appears to be throbbing at times. More modern animation like South Park fares a little better, still with some artifacting in the textures. Meanwhile, a live-action show like The Office shows some mild blockiness on the edges of objects. All the downloads were certainly watchable, but the DVI/HDTV display was not flattering, due to the iTunes videos' one-fourth of NTSC resolution (320 by 240). I do wish there were more content options, legally and easily, perhaps even high-def shows that you could set to download overnight due to the large file size. That might just be the killer home theater application that the Mac mini is missing.
Highlights
• The diminutive Mac mini rethought: DVI, digital audio output, Front Row interface
• Plays DVDs, CDs, and more, plus it displays digital photos, all via remote control
• Internet connectivity accesses a universe of audio/video content
Article Continues: Belkin Flip for Mac mini
Sunday, July 23, 2006
home theater speaker: Urban Outfitters opens in a suburban setting
GREGORY J. GILLIGAN
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Jul 24, 2006
Contact Gregory J. Gilligan at (804) 649-6379 or ggilligan @timesdispatch.com
Dick Hayne opened a small shop in 1970 selling funky and eclectic clothes and household products. That shop on the University of Pennsylvania campus, called Free People, focused on items for the urban hipster. Hayne took that concept, changed the name to Urban Outfittersand built it into a growing chain. The retailer now operates more than 94 stores in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including its latest store that opened recently in the Short Pump Town Center in Henrico County.
"Our stores offer a unique and eclectic mix of fashion merchandise in a lifestyle-sensitive store environment," spokesman Kevin Lyons said.
Urban Outfitters focuses on young women's and men's apparel, accessories and footwear. The brands include 7 for all Mankind, Lacoste, and Diesel.
Some of the chain's t-shirts poke fun at various social stereotypes or prejudices.
Urban Outfitters also sells items for the young person's apartment, such as housewares, some furniture, books and gifts.
"Unlike many retail chains, we are only interested in catering to 18- to 26-year-old males and females," Lyons said.
Urban Outfitters Inc. has since created two other brands: Anthropologie, which targets women ages 30 to 45; and Free People, for women in their late 20s.
New products
Circuit City will start carrying higher-end audio/video components and high-definition televisions.
The new brands, two of which are being carried for the first time by Circuit City, are part of the chain's effort to enhance its home entertainment section.
The brands are:
Boston Acoustics, which makes speakers and audio products. The chain will carry its home speakers, home-theater speaker packages and tabletop radios.
Denon Electronics, a maker of home entertainment components. Circuit City will sell its stereo receivers, DVD players and home theater systems.
Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc., which makes high-definition televisions.
New Ukrop's planned
Ukrop's Super Markets Inc. plans to open three new stores in the next 12 months:
In Williamsburg, at the Williamsburg Marketcenter on Mooretown Road near state Route 199. It will open in October and be the chain's second location in Williamsburg.
In Roanoke, in the planned Ivy Market shopping center. The store, the chain's first in Roanoke, should open early next year. It was slated to open this year.
"It is taking longer," said Robert S. Ukrop, the chain's president and chief executive officer. "It's a complicated site."
In western Henrico County on Nuckols Road near the Twin Hickory development. That would open in summer 2007.
No bus trip
The bus trip that Nordstrom had planned from Charlottesville and Fredericksburg to the chain's store at Short Pump Town Center never happened.
The reason: lack of interest.
Only four people signed up for the trips, which were planned for July 15 and July 22, store manager Megan Becker said.
Customers told her they wanted to come on their own schedule and in their own car.
Contact staff writer Gregory J. Gilligan at ggilligan@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6379.
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Jul 24, 2006
Contact Gregory J. Gilligan at (804) 649-6379 or ggilligan @timesdispatch.com
Dick Hayne opened a small shop in 1970 selling funky and eclectic clothes and household products. That shop on the University of Pennsylvania campus, called Free People, focused on items for the urban hipster. Hayne took that concept, changed the name to Urban Outfittersand built it into a growing chain. The retailer now operates more than 94 stores in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including its latest store that opened recently in the Short Pump Town Center in Henrico County.
"Our stores offer a unique and eclectic mix of fashion merchandise in a lifestyle-sensitive store environment," spokesman Kevin Lyons said.
Urban Outfitters focuses on young women's and men's apparel, accessories and footwear. The brands include 7 for all Mankind, Lacoste, and Diesel.
Some of the chain's t-shirts poke fun at various social stereotypes or prejudices.
Urban Outfitters also sells items for the young person's apartment, such as housewares, some furniture, books and gifts.
"Unlike many retail chains, we are only interested in catering to 18- to 26-year-old males and females," Lyons said.
Urban Outfitters Inc. has since created two other brands: Anthropologie, which targets women ages 30 to 45; and Free People, for women in their late 20s.
New products
Circuit City will start carrying higher-end audio/video components and high-definition televisions.
The new brands, two of which are being carried for the first time by Circuit City, are part of the chain's effort to enhance its home entertainment section.
The brands are:
Boston Acoustics, which makes speakers and audio products. The chain will carry its home speakers, home-theater speaker packages and tabletop radios.
Denon Electronics, a maker of home entertainment components. Circuit City will sell its stereo receivers, DVD players and home theater systems.
Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc., which makes high-definition televisions.
New Ukrop's planned
Ukrop's Super Markets Inc. plans to open three new stores in the next 12 months:
In Williamsburg, at the Williamsburg Marketcenter on Mooretown Road near state Route 199. It will open in October and be the chain's second location in Williamsburg.
In Roanoke, in the planned Ivy Market shopping center. The store, the chain's first in Roanoke, should open early next year. It was slated to open this year.
"It is taking longer," said Robert S. Ukrop, the chain's president and chief executive officer. "It's a complicated site."
In western Henrico County on Nuckols Road near the Twin Hickory development. That would open in summer 2007.
No bus trip
The bus trip that Nordstrom had planned from Charlottesville and Fredericksburg to the chain's store at Short Pump Town Center never happened.
The reason: lack of interest.
Only four people signed up for the trips, which were planned for July 15 and July 22, store manager Megan Becker said.
Customers told her they wanted to come on their own schedule and in their own car.
Contact staff writer Gregory J. Gilligan at ggilligan@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6379.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
home theater speaker: Circuit City Grabs D&M Brands
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 7/17/2006
New York — D&M's Denon and Boston Acoustics brands are big winners in plans by Circuit City to expand its home entertainment areas.
The two brands will appear nationwide in Circuit City stores and on www.circuitcity.com for the first time beginning in late September in conjunction with the rollout of the chain's revamped home entertainment format, which is planned for more than 500 of the chain's 630 stores. In all stores, D&M's brands will replace two Harman brands — Harman Kardon and Infinity — that have been long-time stalwarts in Circuit City's home audio lineup.
Paul Bente, president of Harman Consumer Group's speaker division, said the Harman-Circuit City parting was “very much mutual.” Harman Kardon has been in Circuit City since 1986, and Infinity has been in since the early 1990s. “Business changes,” he said.
For Boston Acoustics, the Circuit account will complement the brand's strength in the custom installation channel and boost visibility among consumers, said Boston senior sales and marketing VP Phil Cohn. By opening Circuit, Boston will also make up for lost ground when Tweeter stopped selling Boston's speakers, but not tabletop radios, about a year ago. Circuit will be Boston's largest account by store count and will carry the brand's home speakers, home theater speaker packages, custom-install speakers and tabletop radios. Tweeter stopped selling Boston's car audio products in April, but Circuit didn't announce plans to pick up the car line.
For Denon, Circuit's launch of a derivative series of components and systems not available to A/V specialty and custom install dealers “will create more exposure for the brand as a premium brand for people buying advanced flat-panel TVs,” said Denon president Steve Baker.
The distribution coup potentially could propel Denon into the top dollar-share position in audio components, consisting of receivers, amplifiers, and tuners. Denon consistently ranks No. 1 in dollar share in the specialty A/V channel, but among all distribution channels combined, Denon consistently trades places with Sony for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots behind top-ranked Yamaha, according to The NPD Group statistics.
Circuit will get Denon's derivative home theater series of components, consisting of five receivers from $299 to $1,099, three DVD players and changers from $169-$349, a stereo receiver and a carousel CD changer. Circuit will also get home theater in a box (HTiB) systems based on the derivative-series components.
The derivative-series components are also available to TV/appliance dealers and such chains as Fry's, Baker said. Denon's custom series, in contrast, is targeted to A/V specialty dealers, regional A/V chains including PRO Group members, and custom installers. A/V receivers in this series are priced from $329 to $7,000.
“Our intention is to support all of our dealers in the custom and specialty channel,” Baker added.
Interestingly enough, Denon and Boston Acoustics will continue to sell products through Circuit's rival Best Buy and through Best Buy's Magnolia Home Theater stores. Boston Acoustics sells its Recepter table radios through Best Buy stores and its speakers through Best Buy's Magnolia stores. Denon sells its derivative-series HTiBs through Best Buy and its installation-series components through Magnolia.
For its part, Circuit called the two brands “a perfect complement” to the chain's home entertainment expansion, described by senior executives as the largest store-remodeling effort in company history. The nationwide retrofits will feature plasma display walls, home theater vignettes and revamped audio demo rooms that are “fully integrated into the home theater experience” and allow for faster A-B comparisons of components. — Additional reporting by Alan Wolf
New York — D&M's Denon and Boston Acoustics brands are big winners in plans by Circuit City to expand its home entertainment areas.
The two brands will appear nationwide in Circuit City stores and on www.circuitcity.com for the first time beginning in late September in conjunction with the rollout of the chain's revamped home entertainment format, which is planned for more than 500 of the chain's 630 stores. In all stores, D&M's brands will replace two Harman brands — Harman Kardon and Infinity — that have been long-time stalwarts in Circuit City's home audio lineup.
Paul Bente, president of Harman Consumer Group's speaker division, said the Harman-Circuit City parting was “very much mutual.” Harman Kardon has been in Circuit City since 1986, and Infinity has been in since the early 1990s. “Business changes,” he said.
For Boston Acoustics, the Circuit account will complement the brand's strength in the custom installation channel and boost visibility among consumers, said Boston senior sales and marketing VP Phil Cohn. By opening Circuit, Boston will also make up for lost ground when Tweeter stopped selling Boston's speakers, but not tabletop radios, about a year ago. Circuit will be Boston's largest account by store count and will carry the brand's home speakers, home theater speaker packages, custom-install speakers and tabletop radios. Tweeter stopped selling Boston's car audio products in April, but Circuit didn't announce plans to pick up the car line.
For Denon, Circuit's launch of a derivative series of components and systems not available to A/V specialty and custom install dealers “will create more exposure for the brand as a premium brand for people buying advanced flat-panel TVs,” said Denon president Steve Baker.
The distribution coup potentially could propel Denon into the top dollar-share position in audio components, consisting of receivers, amplifiers, and tuners. Denon consistently ranks No. 1 in dollar share in the specialty A/V channel, but among all distribution channels combined, Denon consistently trades places with Sony for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots behind top-ranked Yamaha, according to The NPD Group statistics.
Circuit will get Denon's derivative home theater series of components, consisting of five receivers from $299 to $1,099, three DVD players and changers from $169-$349, a stereo receiver and a carousel CD changer. Circuit will also get home theater in a box (HTiB) systems based on the derivative-series components.
The derivative-series components are also available to TV/appliance dealers and such chains as Fry's, Baker said. Denon's custom series, in contrast, is targeted to A/V specialty dealers, regional A/V chains including PRO Group members, and custom installers. A/V receivers in this series are priced from $329 to $7,000.
“Our intention is to support all of our dealers in the custom and specialty channel,” Baker added.
Interestingly enough, Denon and Boston Acoustics will continue to sell products through Circuit's rival Best Buy and through Best Buy's Magnolia Home Theater stores. Boston Acoustics sells its Recepter table radios through Best Buy stores and its speakers through Best Buy's Magnolia stores. Denon sells its derivative-series HTiBs through Best Buy and its installation-series components through Magnolia.
For its part, Circuit called the two brands “a perfect complement” to the chain's home entertainment expansion, described by senior executives as the largest store-remodeling effort in company history. The nationwide retrofits will feature plasma display walls, home theater vignettes and revamped audio demo rooms that are “fully integrated into the home theater experience” and allow for faster A-B comparisons of components. — Additional reporting by Alan Wolf
Monday, July 10, 2006
home theater speaker: Circuit City to Offer Denon and Boston Acoustics Products
Monday July 10, 8:45 am ET
RICHMOND, Va., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Circuit City Stores, Inc., a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics, today announced plans to introduce audio and video component product lines from Denon Electronics and Boston Acoustics, Inc. at http://www.circuitcity.com and Circuit City stores nationwide starting in late September 2006.
"As part of Circuit City's improved home entertainment offering, we are excited to add Denon and Boston Acoustics' premium brand products in our stores and on circuitcity.com," said Randy Wick, senior vice president, general merchandise manager of consumer electronics at Circuit City Stores, Inc. "We are always evaluating our product assortment to ensure we offer top- of-the-line merchandise to our customers. The premium position that Denon and Boston Acoustics occupy in the industry will be a perfect complement to our innovative home entertainment expansion, which we plan to rollout in 500-plus stores by the end of this year."
Denon is one of the world's premier manufacturers of high-quality home entertainment components. Known for their reliability and performance, Denon's audio/video products are innovative, with the latest technologies and fine craftsmanship. Products planned to be offered at Circuit City include A/V receivers, stereo receivers, DVD players and home theater systems.
Boston Acoustics is a premier manufacturer of high-performance speakers and audio solutions, and is a renowned value leader in the audio industry. Boston Acoustics designs, manufactures, and markets audio systems for use in home music and audio-video systems and after-market and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) automotive systems. Products planned to be offered at Circuit City consist of home audio speakers, including in-wall and outdoor speakers, table radios and home theater speaker solutions.
"We are very enthusiastic about Circuit City's commitment to home entertainment merchandising with their store enhancements, as well as their renewed commitment to the component audio category. We are pleased to make our products available to their customers," said Bob Weissburg, president of sales and marketing at D&M Holdings, Inc., owner of the Denon and Boston Acoustics brands.
About Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CC - News) is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics. The domestic segment operates through 630 Superstores and five other locations in 158 U.S. markets. The international segment operates through more than 950 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at http://www.circuitcity.com and at http://www.thesource.ca.
About Denon Electronics
Denon is a world leader in the manufacture of the highest quality home theater, audio and software products. Denon is recognized internationally for innovative and groundbreaking products and has a long history of technical innovations, including the development and first commercialization of PCM digital audio. Denon Electronics is owned by D&M Holdings, Inc.
About Boston Acoustics
Founded in 1979, Boston Acoustics, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets high performance audio systems for use in home music and audio-video systems, after-market and OEM automotive systems, and customer built-in audio systems. Highly regarded for creating The Boston Sound(TM), the company is renowned for delivering superior, competitively priced products emphasizing performance, consistency and value. For further information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.bostonacoustics.com.
About D&M Holdings, Inc.
D&M Holdings, Inc. (Tokyo: 6735 - News) is based in Tokyo and owns the Denon, Marantz, McIntosh Laboratory, Boston Acoustics, Snell, D&M Professional, ReplayTV, Rio and Escient brands. Denon, Marantz, McIntosh and D&M Professional are global industry leaders in the specialist home theater, audio/video consumer electronics or professional audio markets, with a strong and long-standing heritage of manufacturing and marketing high-performance audio and video components. Boston Acoustics, with its signature Boston Sound(TM), is a leader in premium loudspeakers for home and audio markets. Snell is a super premium speaker brand. The ReplayTV, Rio and Escient brands represent award-winning technologies in digital home entertainment. Additional information is available at http://www.dm-holdings.com.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010709/CCLOGO )
RICHMOND, Va., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Circuit City Stores, Inc., a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics, today announced plans to introduce audio and video component product lines from Denon Electronics and Boston Acoustics, Inc. at http://www.circuitcity.com and Circuit City stores nationwide starting in late September 2006.
"As part of Circuit City's improved home entertainment offering, we are excited to add Denon and Boston Acoustics' premium brand products in our stores and on circuitcity.com," said Randy Wick, senior vice president, general merchandise manager of consumer electronics at Circuit City Stores, Inc. "We are always evaluating our product assortment to ensure we offer top- of-the-line merchandise to our customers. The premium position that Denon and Boston Acoustics occupy in the industry will be a perfect complement to our innovative home entertainment expansion, which we plan to rollout in 500-plus stores by the end of this year."
Denon is one of the world's premier manufacturers of high-quality home entertainment components. Known for their reliability and performance, Denon's audio/video products are innovative, with the latest technologies and fine craftsmanship. Products planned to be offered at Circuit City include A/V receivers, stereo receivers, DVD players and home theater systems.
Boston Acoustics is a premier manufacturer of high-performance speakers and audio solutions, and is a renowned value leader in the audio industry. Boston Acoustics designs, manufactures, and markets audio systems for use in home music and audio-video systems and after-market and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) automotive systems. Products planned to be offered at Circuit City consist of home audio speakers, including in-wall and outdoor speakers, table radios and home theater speaker solutions.
"We are very enthusiastic about Circuit City's commitment to home entertainment merchandising with their store enhancements, as well as their renewed commitment to the component audio category. We are pleased to make our products available to their customers," said Bob Weissburg, president of sales and marketing at D&M Holdings, Inc., owner of the Denon and Boston Acoustics brands.
About Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CC - News) is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics. The domestic segment operates through 630 Superstores and five other locations in 158 U.S. markets. The international segment operates through more than 950 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at http://www.circuitcity.com and at http://www.thesource.ca.
About Denon Electronics
Denon is a world leader in the manufacture of the highest quality home theater, audio and software products. Denon is recognized internationally for innovative and groundbreaking products and has a long history of technical innovations, including the development and first commercialization of PCM digital audio. Denon Electronics is owned by D&M Holdings, Inc.
About Boston Acoustics
Founded in 1979, Boston Acoustics, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets high performance audio systems for use in home music and audio-video systems, after-market and OEM automotive systems, and customer built-in audio systems. Highly regarded for creating The Boston Sound(TM), the company is renowned for delivering superior, competitively priced products emphasizing performance, consistency and value. For further information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.bostonacoustics.com.
About D&M Holdings, Inc.
D&M Holdings, Inc. (Tokyo: 6735 - News) is based in Tokyo and owns the Denon, Marantz, McIntosh Laboratory, Boston Acoustics, Snell, D&M Professional, ReplayTV, Rio and Escient brands. Denon, Marantz, McIntosh and D&M Professional are global industry leaders in the specialist home theater, audio/video consumer electronics or professional audio markets, with a strong and long-standing heritage of manufacturing and marketing high-performance audio and video components. Boston Acoustics, with its signature Boston Sound(TM), is a leader in premium loudspeakers for home and audio markets. Snell is a super premium speaker brand. The ReplayTV, Rio and Escient brands represent award-winning technologies in digital home entertainment. Additional information is available at http://www.dm-holdings.com.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010709/CCLOGO )
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
home theater speaker: How to Place Home Theater Speakers
You have your television and home theater receiver; you just bought your new speakers and subwoofer and are ready to test things out. It's time to break out the measuring tape because precision is vital to achieving the full potential of your home theate...
by M.Bulot
You have your television and home theater receiver; you just bought your new speakers and subwoofer and are ready to test things out. It's time to break out the measuring tape because precision is vital to achieving the full potential of your home theater system. For this article, we are going to focus on a 5.1 surround sound system. The term "5.1" refers to the number of speakers and subwoofers in the system respectively. So for a 5.1 surround sound system, there are five speakers (the center channel, the two front speakers, and the two rear speakers) and one subwoofer.
When placing your home theater speakers, try to use the same amount of speaker wire for each type of speaker. For example, use the same length of wire for each of the front speakers. This will allow the signal to reach each speaker in about the same instant. I say "about" because there are variations in the wire which could cause the signal to reach one speaker slightly (fractions of a fraction of a second) before the other. By making the two lengths equal, you ensure that this delay remains tiny and unnoticeable.
Center Channel
The center channel should always be placed either immediately above or immediately below the viewing screen. Make sure the speaker is pointed directly at the audience.
Front Speakers
The two front speakers should be the same distance from the audience as the center channel. Doing this will ensure that the sound will travel from each speaker to the audience in the same amount of time and reduce the chances of their being a noticeable delay between what takes place on screen to when you hear it. Each of the front speakers should also be positioned an equal distance from the TV on either side. This distance is dependant on your specific tastes; just make sure that the distances are both equal.
Rear Speakers
The rear speakers should be mounted on the walls on either side of the audience. Their purpose is to provide a sense of atmosphere, not provide the main sound for your home theater system. Therefore, they should not be pointed directly at the audience's ears or you risk over powering the center channel and the two front speakers. Again, distance is important. Try to have the rear speakers the same distance from the TV in order to use the same amount of speaker wire and if possible have them placed equidistance from the audience.
Subwoofer
Bass tones by their nature are more difficult to localize than the midrange and high notes of the other five speakers. This will give you more freedom as to where to place the subwoofer. However, the location surrounding the subwoofer can greatly influence the bass tones you hear. Placing the subwoofer in a corner or under a table will create a deeper resonating tone as the sound waves reflect off of the surfaces. The placement of the subwoofer is up to you, depending on the type of bass you want. Experiment with different locations and find the one that best suits your taste.
Realizing the full potential of your home theater speakers is not a difficult task. By following these guidelines, you will be ready to enjoy your home theater the way it was meant to be heard.
About the Author
Jon Martin is the Webmaster of the Home Theater Accessories Resource. The Home Theater Accessories Resource is your guide to home theater accessories.
This article came from the Connecting Home Theater Components section of the site.
Copyright M.Bulot - http://www.home-theater-accessories-resource.com
by M.Bulot
You have your television and home theater receiver; you just bought your new speakers and subwoofer and are ready to test things out. It's time to break out the measuring tape because precision is vital to achieving the full potential of your home theater system. For this article, we are going to focus on a 5.1 surround sound system. The term "5.1" refers to the number of speakers and subwoofers in the system respectively. So for a 5.1 surround sound system, there are five speakers (the center channel, the two front speakers, and the two rear speakers) and one subwoofer.
When placing your home theater speakers, try to use the same amount of speaker wire for each type of speaker. For example, use the same length of wire for each of the front speakers. This will allow the signal to reach each speaker in about the same instant. I say "about" because there are variations in the wire which could cause the signal to reach one speaker slightly (fractions of a fraction of a second) before the other. By making the two lengths equal, you ensure that this delay remains tiny and unnoticeable.
Center Channel
The center channel should always be placed either immediately above or immediately below the viewing screen. Make sure the speaker is pointed directly at the audience.
Front Speakers
The two front speakers should be the same distance from the audience as the center channel. Doing this will ensure that the sound will travel from each speaker to the audience in the same amount of time and reduce the chances of their being a noticeable delay between what takes place on screen to when you hear it. Each of the front speakers should also be positioned an equal distance from the TV on either side. This distance is dependant on your specific tastes; just make sure that the distances are both equal.
Rear Speakers
The rear speakers should be mounted on the walls on either side of the audience. Their purpose is to provide a sense of atmosphere, not provide the main sound for your home theater system. Therefore, they should not be pointed directly at the audience's ears or you risk over powering the center channel and the two front speakers. Again, distance is important. Try to have the rear speakers the same distance from the TV in order to use the same amount of speaker wire and if possible have them placed equidistance from the audience.
Subwoofer
Bass tones by their nature are more difficult to localize than the midrange and high notes of the other five speakers. This will give you more freedom as to where to place the subwoofer. However, the location surrounding the subwoofer can greatly influence the bass tones you hear. Placing the subwoofer in a corner or under a table will create a deeper resonating tone as the sound waves reflect off of the surfaces. The placement of the subwoofer is up to you, depending on the type of bass you want. Experiment with different locations and find the one that best suits your taste.
Realizing the full potential of your home theater speakers is not a difficult task. By following these guidelines, you will be ready to enjoy your home theater the way it was meant to be heard.
About the Author
Jon Martin is the Webmaster of the Home Theater Accessories Resource. The Home Theater Accessories Resource is your guide to home theater accessories.
This article came from the Connecting Home Theater Components section of the site.
Copyright M.Bulot - http://www.home-theater-accessories-resource.com
Monday, July 03, 2006
home theater speaker: Panasonic’s Blu-Ray Disc Player to Become Available in September.
Panasonic Uncovers Blu-Ray Plans in the U.S.
Category: Multimedia
by Anton Shilov
[ 06/25/2006 | 11:58 PM ]
Major consumer electronics (CE) maker Panasonic has announced plans to release its first Blu-ray disc player long with new audio receiver and home theater speaker system in September. While the company is behind Samsung and Sony with the Blu-ray player debut, it will still remain among the first companies to offer the new tech in the U.S.
“The debut of our first Blu-ray Disc High Definition Home Theater solution, combined with Panasonic’s Plasma TVs, allows us to offer consumers the most advanced and complete integrated home theater solution available,” said Reid Sullivan, Vice President of Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company's Entertainment Group.
Panasonic Blu-ray disc (BD) player (DMP-BD10) will be able to playback CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, supporting, when necessary, up-conversion to 1080p resolution. In order to take advantage of the player, users will have to own a TV-set with HDMI input as well as appropriate HDMI-supporting speaker system. Panasonic did not unveil many details about the Blu-ray disc player.
Panasonic DMP-BD10 will cost $1299.95 in the U.S., which is about $300 more expensive compared to players from Samsung and Sony, but still $200 more affordable compared to the Blu-ray disc player from Pioneer.
The Osaka, Japan-based maker of consumer electronics will sell the DMP-BD10 separately, however, in conjunction to it, it would also make available matching receiver (SA-XR700) for $999 and speaker system (SB-TP1000) for $2999.95. Additionally, the firm said it would release a new 65” plasma display (TH-65PX600) with 1080p resolution in fall 2006. Panasonic is the first CE producer, which is to offer Blu-ray disc player along with the other products necessary for watching movies on BDs.
Category: Multimedia
by Anton Shilov
[ 06/25/2006 | 11:58 PM ]
Major consumer electronics (CE) maker Panasonic has announced plans to release its first Blu-ray disc player long with new audio receiver and home theater speaker system in September. While the company is behind Samsung and Sony with the Blu-ray player debut, it will still remain among the first companies to offer the new tech in the U.S.
“The debut of our first Blu-ray Disc High Definition Home Theater solution, combined with Panasonic’s Plasma TVs, allows us to offer consumers the most advanced and complete integrated home theater solution available,” said Reid Sullivan, Vice President of Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company's Entertainment Group.
Panasonic Blu-ray disc (BD) player (DMP-BD10) will be able to playback CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, supporting, when necessary, up-conversion to 1080p resolution. In order to take advantage of the player, users will have to own a TV-set with HDMI input as well as appropriate HDMI-supporting speaker system. Panasonic did not unveil many details about the Blu-ray disc player.
Panasonic DMP-BD10 will cost $1299.95 in the U.S., which is about $300 more expensive compared to players from Samsung and Sony, but still $200 more affordable compared to the Blu-ray disc player from Pioneer.
The Osaka, Japan-based maker of consumer electronics will sell the DMP-BD10 separately, however, in conjunction to it, it would also make available matching receiver (SA-XR700) for $999 and speaker system (SB-TP1000) for $2999.95. Additionally, the firm said it would release a new 65” plasma display (TH-65PX600) with 1080p resolution in fall 2006. Panasonic is the first CE producer, which is to offer Blu-ray disc player along with the other products necessary for watching movies on BDs.
Friday, June 30, 2006
home theater speaker: Ethereal Home Theater Speaker Cable Delivers All the Sound –
Posted by Denise Salvaggio on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 01:59 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Denise Salvaggio
EVOK Advertising
1025 Greenwood Blvd. Suite 175
Lake Mary, FL 32746
407-302-4416 (p)
407-302-4417 (f)
denise@evokadvertising.com
HOLLY HILL, FLA., JUNE 26, 2006: Ethereal Home Theater’s EM series speaker cables deliver high-end performance at reasonable prices. The series features 14ga. high purity (99.99%) oxygen-free copper and a low-loss polyethylene dielectric that presents the cleanest possible signal path between the receiver and speakers. Cable termination is completed with gold-plated heavy duty pins, with the tip at a 40-degree angle for a more secure connection.
The color-coded high gloss metal terminations are protected by non-conductive black plastic molded overlay. As with all EM series products, an elegant black braided sleeve covers and protects the main body of the cable.
Available in 2, 3 and 4-meter lengths. MSRP: $41.99, $51.99 and $56.99, respectively. Phone: 866-839-9187. www.etherealhometheater.com
Based in Holly Hill, FL, with offices in Long Beach, CA, Metra (www.metraonline.com) is a leader in the auto sound industry as parent company of such consumer and professional installation brands as Axxess, Install Bay/FishMan, Raptor, Silencer and Tsunami, as well as the Ethereal (www.etherealhometheater.com) brand of home audio/video interconnects.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Denise Salvaggio
EVOK Advertising
1025 Greenwood Blvd. Suite 175
Lake Mary, FL 32746
407-302-4416 (p)
407-302-4417 (f)
denise@evokadvertising.com
HOLLY HILL, FLA., JUNE 26, 2006: Ethereal Home Theater’s EM series speaker cables deliver high-end performance at reasonable prices. The series features 14ga. high purity (99.99%) oxygen-free copper and a low-loss polyethylene dielectric that presents the cleanest possible signal path between the receiver and speakers. Cable termination is completed with gold-plated heavy duty pins, with the tip at a 40-degree angle for a more secure connection.
The color-coded high gloss metal terminations are protected by non-conductive black plastic molded overlay. As with all EM series products, an elegant black braided sleeve covers and protects the main body of the cable.
Available in 2, 3 and 4-meter lengths. MSRP: $41.99, $51.99 and $56.99, respectively. Phone: 866-839-9187. www.etherealhometheater.com
Based in Holly Hill, FL, with offices in Long Beach, CA, Metra (www.metraonline.com) is a leader in the auto sound industry as parent company of such consumer and professional installation brands as Axxess, Install Bay/FishMan, Raptor, Silencer and Tsunami, as well as the Ethereal (www.etherealhometheater.com) brand of home audio/video interconnects.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Home Theaters Give You an Escape From Reality
There's nothing quite so satisfying as being able to immerse yourself in total darkness before seeing a crystal clear studio logo pop onto the big screen while a blast of 5.1 digital surround sound overtakes your senses and rumbles beneath you. You are experiencing the rush of watching a movie in a theater. But not just any theater, it's your home theater ...
by Heather Peters
There's nothing quite so satisfying as being able to immerse yourself in total darkness before seeing a crystal clear studio logo pop onto the big screen while a blast of 5.1 digital surround sound overtakes your senses and rumbles beneath you. You are experiencing the rush of watching a movie in a theater. But not just any theater, it's your home theater speaker.
That's right. No one kicking the seat behind you, throwing candy at your head or talking on the phone during the best scenes; if they do you can kick them out yourself!
In many ways the home theater experience far surpasses the big screens of movie theater chains. Not only the annoyances listed previously, but there's also the factors of cost and convenience.
With the price of a movie ticket running somewhere around $10, plus the cost of snacks, you could easily afford your own home theater just by skipping those evenings out for a year or two. Depending on how expensive your tastes are possibly even sooner than that. And there's no need to wait for the 7 o'clock showing or stand in line; you can start, stop and schedule your movie showings whenever it's convenient for you.
As true home theater enthusiasts we'd been designing our perfect escape since before we bought our house. We were just looking for the perfect house to fit our dreams. We found it a few years ago and proceeded to design our dream theater with gusto. We had most of our cinema equipment (just needing a few finishing touches like the 5.1 digital surround and more monster cables) so we dug into planning everything from seating arrangement and style, to carpet color and decor, to the large hinged wall with secret escape route (doesn't every kid want one?)
By doing most of it ourselves we saved thousands of dollars but it also took about a year to "finish." Well, it's finished enough for us to enjoy, we are always working on the little touches here and there. Many people hire professionals to design and build their theater's, which saves a lot of time (but not always money.)
After a long hard day at work, or an evening of frustrating parenting, the need to escape reality can become overwhelming. Being able to drop ourselves into complete darkness and seclusion and then immerse ourselves in a full senses banquet of sights and sounds from Hollywood we can quickly forget our own headaches and get wrapped up in the big screen. Those two hours are sanity savers without ever needing to leave the house (or get candy thrown at our heads).
Learn more about the world of home theaters at http://home-theaters.diyhomeremodeling.com You can have your own theater experience without the theater headaches.
Copyright Heather Peters - http://home-theaters.diyhomeremodeling.com
by Heather Peters
There's nothing quite so satisfying as being able to immerse yourself in total darkness before seeing a crystal clear studio logo pop onto the big screen while a blast of 5.1 digital surround sound overtakes your senses and rumbles beneath you. You are experiencing the rush of watching a movie in a theater. But not just any theater, it's your home theater speaker.
That's right. No one kicking the seat behind you, throwing candy at your head or talking on the phone during the best scenes; if they do you can kick them out yourself!
In many ways the home theater experience far surpasses the big screens of movie theater chains. Not only the annoyances listed previously, but there's also the factors of cost and convenience.
With the price of a movie ticket running somewhere around $10, plus the cost of snacks, you could easily afford your own home theater just by skipping those evenings out for a year or two. Depending on how expensive your tastes are possibly even sooner than that. And there's no need to wait for the 7 o'clock showing or stand in line; you can start, stop and schedule your movie showings whenever it's convenient for you.
As true home theater enthusiasts we'd been designing our perfect escape since before we bought our house. We were just looking for the perfect house to fit our dreams. We found it a few years ago and proceeded to design our dream theater with gusto. We had most of our cinema equipment (just needing a few finishing touches like the 5.1 digital surround and more monster cables) so we dug into planning everything from seating arrangement and style, to carpet color and decor, to the large hinged wall with secret escape route (doesn't every kid want one?)
By doing most of it ourselves we saved thousands of dollars but it also took about a year to "finish." Well, it's finished enough for us to enjoy, we are always working on the little touches here and there. Many people hire professionals to design and build their theater's, which saves a lot of time (but not always money.)
After a long hard day at work, or an evening of frustrating parenting, the need to escape reality can become overwhelming. Being able to drop ourselves into complete darkness and seclusion and then immerse ourselves in a full senses banquet of sights and sounds from Hollywood we can quickly forget our own headaches and get wrapped up in the big screen. Those two hours are sanity savers without ever needing to leave the house (or get candy thrown at our heads).
Learn more about the world of home theaters at http://home-theaters.diyhomeremodeling.com You can have your own theater experience without the theater headaches.
Copyright Heather Peters - http://home-theaters.diyhomeremodeling.com
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
home theater speaker: THX Introduces Certification Program for Integrated Home Theater Systems
SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2006--THX Ltd., the leading provider of technologies, certification programs and quality assurance standards for the entertainment industry, today introduced the first THX specification for Integrated Home Theater Systems. This newest THX Certification Program focuses on overall system design and performance, rather than individual component performance. It addresses the consumer electronics industry's largest market segment, consumers seeking mid-priced, easy-to-use home theater receiver/speaker packages.
Through a joint collaboration with Onkyo, the first system to meet the design and performance standards set by THX is the Onkyo HT-S990THX, a 7.1-channel speaker/receiver system that is now available to consumers at an SRP of $1,099.
THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems are geared to small home theater environments and residential living rooms, a space currently filled by home theater-in-a-box (HTiB) products. During the design and certification process for the HT-S990THX, THX worked closely with Onkyo to evaluate how each component performed as an integrated unit or system. Because the HT-S990THX was developed and successfully tested by THX as a system, its components -- receiver, speakers and amplifier -- are optimized to work together to deliver a THX quality audio experience in an affordable "all-in-one" package.
"The THX Certified Integrated Home Theater specification provides CE manufacturers a means to bring more affordable, high quality audio to the masses," said Robert Hewitt, vice president of sales at THX. "For years, THX has defined quality and performance in high-end home entertainment. Now, with the THX Integrated System specification and the Onkyo HT-S990THX, we are introducing a new category of home theater systems, one that bridges the gap between lower-priced HTiB products and premium home theater systems."
The HT-S990THX offers home theater enthusiasts full-blown THX performance and meets all THX requirements for output, noise, cross talk and distortion. In addition, the system meets all THX electrical and infrastructure parameters for playing at THX reference levels, features Boundary Gain Control (BGC) to help adjust bass response in smaller rooms, and includes all of the THX listening modes -- THX Cinema2 Mode, THX Music Mode and THX Games Mode.
"The HT-S990THX demonstrates a true breakthrough in system design and performance," said Paul Wasek, marketing and product planning manager from Onkyo. "We worked closely with the THX engineering team for several years to develop a home theater system that was worthy of THX certification. This collaboration has resulted in a system that combines the convenience of an 'all-in-one' speaker and receiver package with the performance of higher priced separate home theater components. With the HT-S990THX, home theater shoppers are afforded a THX Certified system that really cranks, at a price tag that won't break the bank."
THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems will appeal to a wide range of home entertainment enthusiasts, from movie and music buffs to video gamers. The systems' price tags and performance features will attract consumers who have recently purchased a high definition television (HDTV), users of MP3 players who want to take their tunes beyond their headsets, and gamers looking to take advantage of multi-channel soundtracks on next-generation consoles.
For more information about the THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems, visit www.thx.com.
ABOUT THX LTD.
THX Ltd. is dedicated to developing new ways to make the creation, delivery and presentation of entertainment content more efficient, more powerful and more enjoyable. Today, the world's premier commercial cinemas, post-production studios, car audio systems and home entertainment products incorporate THX technologies and have achieved the coveted THX Certified status. For more information, visit www.thx.com.
THX and the THX Logo are trademarks of THX Ltd., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved.
Through a joint collaboration with Onkyo, the first system to meet the design and performance standards set by THX is the Onkyo HT-S990THX, a 7.1-channel speaker/receiver system that is now available to consumers at an SRP of $1,099.
THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems are geared to small home theater environments and residential living rooms, a space currently filled by home theater-in-a-box (HTiB) products. During the design and certification process for the HT-S990THX, THX worked closely with Onkyo to evaluate how each component performed as an integrated unit or system. Because the HT-S990THX was developed and successfully tested by THX as a system, its components -- receiver, speakers and amplifier -- are optimized to work together to deliver a THX quality audio experience in an affordable "all-in-one" package.
"The THX Certified Integrated Home Theater specification provides CE manufacturers a means to bring more affordable, high quality audio to the masses," said Robert Hewitt, vice president of sales at THX. "For years, THX has defined quality and performance in high-end home entertainment. Now, with the THX Integrated System specification and the Onkyo HT-S990THX, we are introducing a new category of home theater systems, one that bridges the gap between lower-priced HTiB products and premium home theater systems."
The HT-S990THX offers home theater enthusiasts full-blown THX performance and meets all THX requirements for output, noise, cross talk and distortion. In addition, the system meets all THX electrical and infrastructure parameters for playing at THX reference levels, features Boundary Gain Control (BGC) to help adjust bass response in smaller rooms, and includes all of the THX listening modes -- THX Cinema2 Mode, THX Music Mode and THX Games Mode.
"The HT-S990THX demonstrates a true breakthrough in system design and performance," said Paul Wasek, marketing and product planning manager from Onkyo. "We worked closely with the THX engineering team for several years to develop a home theater system that was worthy of THX certification. This collaboration has resulted in a system that combines the convenience of an 'all-in-one' speaker and receiver package with the performance of higher priced separate home theater components. With the HT-S990THX, home theater shoppers are afforded a THX Certified system that really cranks, at a price tag that won't break the bank."
THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems will appeal to a wide range of home entertainment enthusiasts, from movie and music buffs to video gamers. The systems' price tags and performance features will attract consumers who have recently purchased a high definition television (HDTV), users of MP3 players who want to take their tunes beyond their headsets, and gamers looking to take advantage of multi-channel soundtracks on next-generation consoles.
For more information about the THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems, visit www.thx.com.
ABOUT THX LTD.
THX Ltd. is dedicated to developing new ways to make the creation, delivery and presentation of entertainment content more efficient, more powerful and more enjoyable. Today, the world's premier commercial cinemas, post-production studios, car audio systems and home entertainment products incorporate THX technologies and have achieved the coveted THX Certified status. For more information, visit www.thx.com.
THX and the THX Logo are trademarks of THX Ltd., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved.
Monday, June 19, 2006
home theater speaker: Onkyo Delivers World's First THX Certified Integrated Home Theater System
Posted by Gordon Sell Public Relations on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 05:04 pm:
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For photographs and high resolution JPEG image files, please visit http://www.gspr.com/onkyo/hts990thx.html
UPPER SADDLE RIVER (6/19/06) -- Onkyo has introduced the HT-S990THX, the world's first home theater speaker package system to carry THX certification. Consisting of an XM-Ready 7.1-channel A/V receiver and complete 7.1-channel speaker package, the HT-S990THX combines the performance of much higher priced separate components with the convenience and affordability of an all-in-one system.
The HT-S990THX A/V receiver features a precise 32-bit DSP and is capable of decoding Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, and DTS 96/24. Additionally, it includes processing for Dolby Digital ProLogic IIx, DTS Neo:6, THX Cinema2, THX Music, and THX Games which enable it to derive convincing surround sound from any two- or five-channel audio source. All audio channels feature 192kHz/24-bit digital to analog converters for clear, detailed reproduction, and the receiver's amplifier modules feature Onkyo’s exclusive WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) for outstanding reproduction of even the most demanding audio sources.
For ease of integration, the receiver has a wide range of connectivity options, including HD-capable component video switching for up to three high definition A/V source components such as HDTV tuner, DVD player, and gaming console. There are also three composite/S-Video inputs and two outputs, as well as four assignable digital audio inputs. Additionally, the HT-S990THX boasts Onkyo’s exclusive RI control system, enabling command of numerous components through a single remote and allowing for use with the company’s DS-A1 iPod dock.
In addition to a built-in AM/FM tuner, the receiver also features a rear panel XM Connect and Play port, allowing users to connect a portable XM Passport portable antenna and receive their XM Satellite Radio subscription directly through the home theater. The HT-S990THX even includes integrated Neural Surround processing, making it compatible with the service's XM HD Surround programming for 5.1-channel surround sound radio broadcasts.
The HT-S990THX’s powerful receiver is accompanied by an impressive speaker package that has been designed with ease of installation in mind. It features a set of seven two-way speakers that are perfectly tonally matched to each other. The front and center channel speakers each include a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter and dual 5-inch woofers constructed from Onkyo's acclaimed A-OMF (Onkyo Micro Fiber) cones. The front and center channels are also magnetically shielded to prevent interference with video reproduction when placed near a TV. Side and rear surround speakers all feature 5-1/8 inch a-OMF woofers and the same tweeter found in the front channels to deliver a seamless 360-degree soundstage. Deep bass reproduction is handled by a powerful 12-inch subwoofer with integrated 230-Watt power amplification module. The Onkyo HT-S990THX home theater system is currently available with a suggested retail price of $1099.
Onkyo, which takes its name from the Japanese "On" meaning 'sound' and "Kyo" meaning 'harmony,' has been producing precision audio components for over a half-century. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.
# # #
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For photographs and high resolution JPEG image files, please visit http://www.gspr.com/onkyo/hts990thx.html
UPPER SADDLE RIVER (6/19/06) -- Onkyo has introduced the HT-S990THX, the world's first home theater speaker package system to carry THX certification. Consisting of an XM-Ready 7.1-channel A/V receiver and complete 7.1-channel speaker package, the HT-S990THX combines the performance of much higher priced separate components with the convenience and affordability of an all-in-one system.
The HT-S990THX A/V receiver features a precise 32-bit DSP and is capable of decoding Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, and DTS 96/24. Additionally, it includes processing for Dolby Digital ProLogic IIx, DTS Neo:6, THX Cinema2, THX Music, and THX Games which enable it to derive convincing surround sound from any two- or five-channel audio source. All audio channels feature 192kHz/24-bit digital to analog converters for clear, detailed reproduction, and the receiver's amplifier modules feature Onkyo’s exclusive WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) for outstanding reproduction of even the most demanding audio sources.
For ease of integration, the receiver has a wide range of connectivity options, including HD-capable component video switching for up to three high definition A/V source components such as HDTV tuner, DVD player, and gaming console. There are also three composite/S-Video inputs and two outputs, as well as four assignable digital audio inputs. Additionally, the HT-S990THX boasts Onkyo’s exclusive RI control system, enabling command of numerous components through a single remote and allowing for use with the company’s DS-A1 iPod dock.
In addition to a built-in AM/FM tuner, the receiver also features a rear panel XM Connect and Play port, allowing users to connect a portable XM Passport portable antenna and receive their XM Satellite Radio subscription directly through the home theater. The HT-S990THX even includes integrated Neural Surround processing, making it compatible with the service's XM HD Surround programming for 5.1-channel surround sound radio broadcasts.
The HT-S990THX’s powerful receiver is accompanied by an impressive speaker package that has been designed with ease of installation in mind. It features a set of seven two-way speakers that are perfectly tonally matched to each other. The front and center channel speakers each include a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter and dual 5-inch woofers constructed from Onkyo's acclaimed A-OMF (Onkyo Micro Fiber) cones. The front and center channels are also magnetically shielded to prevent interference with video reproduction when placed near a TV. Side and rear surround speakers all feature 5-1/8 inch a-OMF woofers and the same tweeter found in the front channels to deliver a seamless 360-degree soundstage. Deep bass reproduction is handled by a powerful 12-inch subwoofer with integrated 230-Watt power amplification module. The Onkyo HT-S990THX home theater system is currently available with a suggested retail price of $1099.
Onkyo, which takes its name from the Japanese "On" meaning 'sound' and "Kyo" meaning 'harmony,' has been producing precision audio components for over a half-century. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.
# # #
home theater speaker: Surround Your Head With Sound
Mike Kobrin - PC Magazine
June 16
Stereo audio is nice, but 5.1-channel audio provides a much more immersive experience for movies and even certain kinds of music. So how can you get that surround-sound effect late at night while the kids are sleeping or when you're on a red-eye flight across the country? Why, 5.1-channel headphones of course!
"True" 5.1-channel headphones actually have multiple speakers in each earcup, with the intention of emulating the front, rear surround, center, and subwoofer channels of a home theater speaker setup. Surround sound with headphones is not as convincing as it is with actual speakers located in front and behind you, but it provide much better experience for movies than standard stereo headphones. Most of the difference is in how the headphones handle bass; movies generally require more "rumble," which occurs in a very low frequency range. To get this effect, many surround headphones wind up being bass-heavy, making them less suitable for listening to music.
I have tested three different solutions—the FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones, Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA, and LTB WR-51 Cinema 1—for getting the most out of your DVDs without driving your family or neighbors nuts whether you're at home or on the go.
The FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones have three speakers in each earcup. The headphones plug into your PC's USB port, and you can use the included software to adjust the level of each speaker independently. The build quality is pretty cheap, though, and they're not the most comfortable headphones on the market. Still, they do provide a low-cost entry into the surround headphones space.
The Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA has four speakers in each earcup, with the subwoofer driver overlaid over the other three speakers. Interestingly, the low-frequency driver vibrates a bit to give you a bit more rumble for explosions in movies and games. They require a 5.1-channel sound card with discrete outputs for each channel, though Voyetra also makes a 5.1-channel USB adapter called the Audio Advantage Roadie for systems without a 5.1-channel sound card (check back soon for my review of that product). An inline controller gives you separate volume wheels for each audio channel. The best thing about these headphones is that they sound excellent even for regular music listening, and they're quite comfortable.
The LTB WR-51 Cinema 1 have three speakers in each earcup, but they distinguish themselves by being the world's first wireless 5.1-channel headphones. The headphones receive audio signals over the 2.4-GHz frequency band from a base station which you can plug into your PC or standalone DVD player via coaxial or optical digital cables. The headphones are very comfortable, and with a little tweaking of the equalizer on your PC or stereo system, these sound pretty good for regular music listening. But the wireless signal isn't particularly robust, so you'll get some dropouts if you move around too much.
Want to know what else distinguishes these headphones from one another. Then check them out on our comparison table.
Depending on your needs (not to mention your budget), one of these headphones could give you the surround sound you've been craving. Read on to find your best fit.
Reviewed in this story:
FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones ($39.99 direct)
These entry-level surround headphones plug into your PC's USB port.
Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA ($99.95 direct)
These headphones require a 5.1- or 7.1-channel sound card, and they sound excellent for both movies and music.
LTB WR-51 Cinema 1 ($345 street
These wireless 5.1-channel headphones let you enjoy movies without being tethered.
Copyright © 2006 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
June 16
Stereo audio is nice, but 5.1-channel audio provides a much more immersive experience for movies and even certain kinds of music. So how can you get that surround-sound effect late at night while the kids are sleeping or when you're on a red-eye flight across the country? Why, 5.1-channel headphones of course!
"True" 5.1-channel headphones actually have multiple speakers in each earcup, with the intention of emulating the front, rear surround, center, and subwoofer channels of a home theater speaker setup. Surround sound with headphones is not as convincing as it is with actual speakers located in front and behind you, but it provide much better experience for movies than standard stereo headphones. Most of the difference is in how the headphones handle bass; movies generally require more "rumble," which occurs in a very low frequency range. To get this effect, many surround headphones wind up being bass-heavy, making them less suitable for listening to music.
I have tested three different solutions—the FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones, Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA, and LTB WR-51 Cinema 1—for getting the most out of your DVDs without driving your family or neighbors nuts whether you're at home or on the go.
The FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones have three speakers in each earcup. The headphones plug into your PC's USB port, and you can use the included software to adjust the level of each speaker independently. The build quality is pretty cheap, though, and they're not the most comfortable headphones on the market. Still, they do provide a low-cost entry into the surround headphones space.
The Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA has four speakers in each earcup, with the subwoofer driver overlaid over the other three speakers. Interestingly, the low-frequency driver vibrates a bit to give you a bit more rumble for explosions in movies and games. They require a 5.1-channel sound card with discrete outputs for each channel, though Voyetra also makes a 5.1-channel USB adapter called the Audio Advantage Roadie for systems without a 5.1-channel sound card (check back soon for my review of that product). An inline controller gives you separate volume wheels for each audio channel. The best thing about these headphones is that they sound excellent even for regular music listening, and they're quite comfortable.
The LTB WR-51 Cinema 1 have three speakers in each earcup, but they distinguish themselves by being the world's first wireless 5.1-channel headphones. The headphones receive audio signals over the 2.4-GHz frequency band from a base station which you can plug into your PC or standalone DVD player via coaxial or optical digital cables. The headphones are very comfortable, and with a little tweaking of the equalizer on your PC or stereo system, these sound pretty good for regular music listening. But the wireless signal isn't particularly robust, so you'll get some dropouts if you move around too much.
Want to know what else distinguishes these headphones from one another. Then check them out on our comparison table.
Depending on your needs (not to mention your budget), one of these headphones could give you the surround sound you've been craving. Read on to find your best fit.
Reviewed in this story:
FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones ($39.99 direct)
These entry-level surround headphones plug into your PC's USB port.
Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA ($99.95 direct)
These headphones require a 5.1- or 7.1-channel sound card, and they sound excellent for both movies and music.
LTB WR-51 Cinema 1 ($345 street
These wireless 5.1-channel headphones let you enjoy movies without being tethered.
Copyright © 2006 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Friday, June 09, 2006
home theater speaker: New technology adds to video game play
By Jonathan Takiff
Knight Ridder
1/83/8
The Gizmo: While spiffy new systems from the "Big 3" of the video-game industry (Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft) dominated reports from last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, there were plenty of other newsworthy unveilings at the Los Angeles trade show.
Environmental excitement
High-definition graphics and novel controllers that you wield like a sword or baseball bat aren't the only new ways to pull users deeper into a game. At E3, Philips unveiled a breakthrough called amBX to expand the game field and the player's sense of participation with light-, climate- and vibration-producing peripherals.
Coming first for PC play this fall, then for new-gen game systems in 2007, amBX will work with all games. But it will function most effectively with new games packing a proprietary coded "script."
Here's one scenario: When a lightning storm strikes on screen, amBX LED lights will flicker, transforming the whole room. Or, as you move across a desert landscape, color-shifting lights turn a brownish hue.
Put pedal to the metal in an auto-racing game and you'll really feel the wind in your face, the breeze blowing from small amBX fans.
If your vehicle crashes, you'll feel it in your hands and across the desktop, the impact reverberating through a wired, rumble-enabled amBX wrist pad.
Eight to 12 amBX-enabled games from four publishers will be available around the system's launch, starting with the global-adventure/puzzle-solving "Broken Sword IV" from Revolution Software and THQ.
A starter kit of amBX peripherals, including pairs of fans and LED lights (the latter neatly built into the tops of small desktop speakers), will cost in the $100 to $150 range from Philips' Peripherals and Accessories division. The rumble maker adds $20 to $30.
As the system is modular and linkable, many more devices can be easily added. For use with game consoles in a living room setting, Philips will offer larger lights to position around the space like a home theater speaker system, creating an enveloping game chamber. The peripheral array also is likely to include fast-response heaters and "active" furniture.
Noted game peripheral maker SpectraVideo PLC has likewise signed on to make amBX products under its Logic3 brand.
More from the floor
GestureTek's video gesture recognition technology will be deployed in the Xbox Live Vision camera for Xbox 360, Microsoft's answer to (and elaboration on) the Sony EyeToy.
Sony demonstrated a novel way to use its PSP portable system in tandem with the new PS3 game console. On an auto racing game, hold the PSP out to your side and it becomes a rear view mirror, showing who's creeping up behind you.
Nokia wants to make game playing a lot easier on mobile phones. A single button push on new N Series and S60 devices will take users instantly to Nokia's next-generation mobile gaming platform and N-Gage virtual arena, coming in 2007. (Current N-Gage owners will have to trade up to to play on the new system.)
Microsoft chief Bill Gates was also touting increased compatibility between the Xbox 360, the soon-to-come Windows Vista PC operating system and mobile phones. With any of those devices and a cross-platform "Gamer tag" ID, users will be able to communicate through the Xbox Live game network to send e-mail, chat or share content.
BestBuy.com used E3 to launch a line of pricey, custom gaming PCs from Velocity MicroPC.
Alienware and PCRides.com introduced a goofy line of PCs built into cases resembling a Dodge Magnum, Charger or Viper, plus limited-edition desktop and notebook PCs decorated with a big "Superman" logo, tied to the upcoming "Superman Returns" film.
Toshiba Satellite notebook computers (and soon, many other brands of PCs) will add a virtual gaming console, developed and managed by online game publisher WildTangent.
Five top-selling casual games will be built into the notebooks. Plus, the computer will link to a portal for fast and seamless download and installation of 3-D-quality games.
WildTangent also announced a new "currency" to pay for games on a per-session basis. "Wild Coins" are virtual tokens with a 25-cent retail value that consumer can earn, win or purchase to play downloadable games.
Ziff Davis Game Group has just launched the beta version of Gazerk.com, a search site to locate comprehensive game news, reviews, cheats, screenshots and more.
The broadband entertainment network GameTap hopes to keep subscribers coming back with its new "Sam & Max" game series, played in episodic, cliffhanger fashion like an old movie serial. Will this dynamic, dog and rabbit duo survive to fight crime again? Tune in and play next week!
Knight Ridder
1/83/8
The Gizmo: While spiffy new systems from the "Big 3" of the video-game industry (Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft) dominated reports from last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, there were plenty of other newsworthy unveilings at the Los Angeles trade show.
Environmental excitement
High-definition graphics and novel controllers that you wield like a sword or baseball bat aren't the only new ways to pull users deeper into a game. At E3, Philips unveiled a breakthrough called amBX to expand the game field and the player's sense of participation with light-, climate- and vibration-producing peripherals.
Coming first for PC play this fall, then for new-gen game systems in 2007, amBX will work with all games. But it will function most effectively with new games packing a proprietary coded "script."
Here's one scenario: When a lightning storm strikes on screen, amBX LED lights will flicker, transforming the whole room. Or, as you move across a desert landscape, color-shifting lights turn a brownish hue.
Put pedal to the metal in an auto-racing game and you'll really feel the wind in your face, the breeze blowing from small amBX fans.
If your vehicle crashes, you'll feel it in your hands and across the desktop, the impact reverberating through a wired, rumble-enabled amBX wrist pad.
Eight to 12 amBX-enabled games from four publishers will be available around the system's launch, starting with the global-adventure/puzzle-solving "Broken Sword IV" from Revolution Software and THQ.
A starter kit of amBX peripherals, including pairs of fans and LED lights (the latter neatly built into the tops of small desktop speakers), will cost in the $100 to $150 range from Philips' Peripherals and Accessories division. The rumble maker adds $20 to $30.
As the system is modular and linkable, many more devices can be easily added. For use with game consoles in a living room setting, Philips will offer larger lights to position around the space like a home theater speaker system, creating an enveloping game chamber. The peripheral array also is likely to include fast-response heaters and "active" furniture.
Noted game peripheral maker SpectraVideo PLC has likewise signed on to make amBX products under its Logic3 brand.
More from the floor
GestureTek's video gesture recognition technology will be deployed in the Xbox Live Vision camera for Xbox 360, Microsoft's answer to (and elaboration on) the Sony EyeToy.
Sony demonstrated a novel way to use its PSP portable system in tandem with the new PS3 game console. On an auto racing game, hold the PSP out to your side and it becomes a rear view mirror, showing who's creeping up behind you.
Nokia wants to make game playing a lot easier on mobile phones. A single button push on new N Series and S60 devices will take users instantly to Nokia's next-generation mobile gaming platform and N-Gage virtual arena, coming in 2007. (Current N-Gage owners will have to trade up to to play on the new system.)
Microsoft chief Bill Gates was also touting increased compatibility between the Xbox 360, the soon-to-come Windows Vista PC operating system and mobile phones. With any of those devices and a cross-platform "Gamer tag" ID, users will be able to communicate through the Xbox Live game network to send e-mail, chat or share content.
BestBuy.com used E3 to launch a line of pricey, custom gaming PCs from Velocity MicroPC.
Alienware and PCRides.com introduced a goofy line of PCs built into cases resembling a Dodge Magnum, Charger or Viper, plus limited-edition desktop and notebook PCs decorated with a big "Superman" logo, tied to the upcoming "Superman Returns" film.
Toshiba Satellite notebook computers (and soon, many other brands of PCs) will add a virtual gaming console, developed and managed by online game publisher WildTangent.
Five top-selling casual games will be built into the notebooks. Plus, the computer will link to a portal for fast and seamless download and installation of 3-D-quality games.
WildTangent also announced a new "currency" to pay for games on a per-session basis. "Wild Coins" are virtual tokens with a 25-cent retail value that consumer can earn, win or purchase to play downloadable games.
Ziff Davis Game Group has just launched the beta version of Gazerk.com, a search site to locate comprehensive game news, reviews, cheats, screenshots and more.
The broadband entertainment network GameTap hopes to keep subscribers coming back with its new "Sam & Max" game series, played in episodic, cliffhanger fashion like an old movie serial. Will this dynamic, dog and rabbit duo survive to fight crime again? Tune in and play next week!
Sunday, June 04, 2006
home theater speaker: Transmit Clean Digital Audio with Digital Coaxial Cables
In the world of digital audio, there are two types of cable to choose from; optical cables which use light to transmit signal and digital coaxial cable. These audio cables will enable your home theater system to transmit digital data between components. T...
by M.Bulot
In the world of digital audio, there are two types of cable to choose from; optical cables which use light to transmit signal and digital coaxial cable. These audio cables will enable your home theater system to transmit digital data between components. This will provide you with superior sound quality over typical RCA audio cables.
How Digital Coaxial Cable Works
Digital coaxial cables employ the same principles as other coaxial cables. The inner conducting layer is surrounded by an outer conductor as well as the rubbery insulating layer outside the cable. The digital signal is sent through the inner conductor as it travels between components. During the course of its transmission, the signal routinely comes in contact with the outer conductor. The outer conductive layer is created with materials that act as a reflector for the signal, thereby bouncing it back off of its surface. The signal will continue to reflect within the confines of inner conductor until it reaches the receiving component.
Dedicated to Digital Audio
Digital coaxial cable has only one purpose; to deliver digital audio between components. This is in complete contrast to RF coaxial cable which transmits both video and audio along the same path. As you may suspect, dedicating the entire bandwidth of the cable to sending only digital audio has excellent ramifications for your home theater's sound quality. This practice results in greater signal fidelity between the transmitting device and the receiving component. Greater signal fidelity means that the sound you hear from your home theater speakers will be truer to the way the sound was originally recorded.
Benefits of Digital Coaxial Cables
Digital coaxial cable also has another benefit related to its dedication to digital audio. In the manner that signal transmission usually takes place, the digital signal from the source, a DVD for example, is sent to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The signal is converted to analog and sent through the given cable where it reaches the receiving component on the other side. This component uses an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to reconstruct the digital signal as closely as possible. During this process, errors and variations can be introduced to the signal resulting in audible artifacts and distortions that diminish your home theater's sound quality.
Unlike with other audio cables, digital coaxial cable can transmit digital signals along its length without the need to convert to analog. Digital coaxial cable is capable of by-passing this process and delivers a cleaner signal to your home theater receiver.
Applications of Digital Coaxial Cables
Connections for digital coaxial cables can be found on everything from DVD players to home theater receivers. If it uses digital audio, then chances are there is a manufacturer who has made that component with digital coaxial cables in mind.
About the Author
Jon Martin is the Webmaster of the Home Theater Accessories Resource. The Home Theater Accessories Resource is your guide to home theater accessories.
This article came from the Connecting Home Theater Components section of the site.
Copyright M.Bulot - http://www.home-theater-accessories-resource.com
Related Keywords:
transmit, clean, digital, audio, digital, coaxial, cables, m.bulot, computers, internet, free, articles, articles, authors, credit, reporting, free, reports
by M.Bulot
In the world of digital audio, there are two types of cable to choose from; optical cables which use light to transmit signal and digital coaxial cable. These audio cables will enable your home theater system to transmit digital data between components. This will provide you with superior sound quality over typical RCA audio cables.
How Digital Coaxial Cable Works
Digital coaxial cables employ the same principles as other coaxial cables. The inner conducting layer is surrounded by an outer conductor as well as the rubbery insulating layer outside the cable. The digital signal is sent through the inner conductor as it travels between components. During the course of its transmission, the signal routinely comes in contact with the outer conductor. The outer conductive layer is created with materials that act as a reflector for the signal, thereby bouncing it back off of its surface. The signal will continue to reflect within the confines of inner conductor until it reaches the receiving component.
Dedicated to Digital Audio
Digital coaxial cable has only one purpose; to deliver digital audio between components. This is in complete contrast to RF coaxial cable which transmits both video and audio along the same path. As you may suspect, dedicating the entire bandwidth of the cable to sending only digital audio has excellent ramifications for your home theater's sound quality. This practice results in greater signal fidelity between the transmitting device and the receiving component. Greater signal fidelity means that the sound you hear from your home theater speakers will be truer to the way the sound was originally recorded.
Benefits of Digital Coaxial Cables
Digital coaxial cable also has another benefit related to its dedication to digital audio. In the manner that signal transmission usually takes place, the digital signal from the source, a DVD for example, is sent to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The signal is converted to analog and sent through the given cable where it reaches the receiving component on the other side. This component uses an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to reconstruct the digital signal as closely as possible. During this process, errors and variations can be introduced to the signal resulting in audible artifacts and distortions that diminish your home theater's sound quality.
Unlike with other audio cables, digital coaxial cable can transmit digital signals along its length without the need to convert to analog. Digital coaxial cable is capable of by-passing this process and delivers a cleaner signal to your home theater receiver.
Applications of Digital Coaxial Cables
Connections for digital coaxial cables can be found on everything from DVD players to home theater receivers. If it uses digital audio, then chances are there is a manufacturer who has made that component with digital coaxial cables in mind.
About the Author
Jon Martin is the Webmaster of the Home Theater Accessories Resource. The Home Theater Accessories Resource is your guide to home theater accessories.
This article came from the Connecting Home Theater Components section of the site.
Copyright M.Bulot - http://www.home-theater-accessories-resource.com
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