Selecting Blu-Ray Surround Sound Systems

If you've been wanting to make the leap to Blu-Ray, but don't know enough about surround sound to pick a system out for yourself, read our article. we take a look at the two best surround sound systems for your situation.

So Many Choices...

Blu-ray by itself is already an impressive technology, and while I hate to take a tagline from BOSE, great picture without great sound is not good. That then begs the question: “What sound system do I need to take advantage of the Blu-Ray to its maximum potential?” Here are two to start off with:

Onkyo HT-SP908 7.1 Channel System

HT-SP908

The Onkyo systems aren’t usually cheap – this one gives you the complete package for $900. Now, if that sounds like too much, consider the following:

1. You get the complete, complete package – this includes even an upconverting DVD player that you won’t need, but it also includes the receiver and several cables.

2. The receiver alone would set you back nearly $300, and that’s not even counting a single speaker.

3. The set comes with SEVEN, yes, count them, SEVEN speakers.

4. You’re getting a surprisingly good 7.1 surround sound system that is capable of handling any HDMI source you throw at it

The HT-SP908 is a total solution, but more than that, the 7 speakers and the Subwoofer provide the HD sound you’ve been looking for. Even if your room is small, the 7 speakers are small enough to tuck into bookcases, nooks, and just to hang off the walls. If you’re looking to spend under $1000 for an amazing system, this is definitely one of the best deals you’ll find out there in the wild.

Panasonic SC-BT100 5.1 Channel System

SC-BT100

The SC-BT100 provides less sound and only 5 channels of surround sound for a fraction of the cost, at about $500 instead of the almost $1000 price tag of the HT-SP908. But there’s a few things to keep in mind when looking at this speaker system.

First of all, the system is only 5.1 – while I’ve already written about the differences of 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound in my video gaming surround sound article, suffice it to say that the 7.1 systems are the future.

Keep in mind also, that the Panasonic systems aren’t as high quality as the Onkyo systems. They’re less specialized as a company, whereas Onkyo only makes these kinds of surround sound systems. Be prepared for lower quality speakers than the ones found in the first package.

One of the major selling points of this system is the fact that it comes with a complete set of speakers and the BD drive. If you don’t have the blu-ray drive yet, you definitely want this one over the other one to avoid having to spend several hundred extra for the Blu-ray player.

Fundamentally, speakers are a personal choice. But if you’re more of an audiophile, I would recommend the first speakers rather than the second ones. And vice-versa if you’re wanting a complete package rather than just the speakers and receiver.

Selecting a Multimedia Projector

Selecting a multimedia projector for your home center is actually quite easy. You just have to make sure some important specs are what you need. Things like brightness, resolution, contrast ratio, aspect ratio are some important issues to consider. This article looks at what are good values.

Introduction

There is wide range of technological choices available in multimedia projectors. But, that lets you make some general choices based on which technology is better and so on. The quality of the picture you depends on a number of factors and you should look at the important specifications of a projector in this regard. Brightness, resolution, contrast ratio are some of the most important specs.

Technology

The prevailing technologies in multimedia projectors are LCD and DLP. The newest kid on the block is known as LCoS or liquid crystal on silicon. LCD uses liquid crystals to pass light on or not depending on the input signal. When three such projectors are combined for the red, green and blue of color video signal, you get a full color projector. DLP or the digital light processor technology, on the other hand uses micro mirrors on a digital micro mirror device to project or or withhold light. In general, LCD projectors have a better color accuracy while DLP has a better definition of objects and does not allow pixellation to show up. Pixellation is the effect you see on a video where you get to see boxy areas when fast action is taking place. This could become a issue with the compressed video formats MPEG2 and MPEG4, which are in use today. LCoS is the newest technology and possibly provides the sharpest images with great color definition, but it costs a little bit more.

Brightness

This defines the light output. Depending on the distance of the screen from the projector, this spec tells you how bright the image would be on the screen. This is usually defined in ANSI Lumens and range from about 1000 to 3,500 or more. For home use, a brightness spec of 2000 to 3000 should suffice. The distance of the projector from the screen is an issue. While this spec applies to the light output just outside the lens, the brightness decreases as you move the screen further from the projector.

Resolution

This specification tells you how many pixels you can see on the screen. If you are planning to see full resolution HD DVD movies, then it is 1920 x 1080 resolution that you are looking for. Otherwise you can buy one with less resolution such as 1400 x 1050, 1025 x 768 etc. In this day and age however, you are probably better off buying the 1920 x 1080 product.

Contrast Ratio

This spec tells you the gradation of brightness difference between the darkest black pixel to the brightest pixel. It’s the ratio of luminance of the brightest white pixel to the darkest black pixel. Usually a dynamic contrast ratio is quoted. This is the capability of the system as it displays a changing picture, such as a movie. The ratio spec available varies in the range of 15,000:1 to 35,000:1. Projectors are available that can go up to 100,000:1. Generally the higher the ratio, the better the picture brightness range is.

Lamp Life and Recurring Costs

A bright lamp is the only recurring cost in the product life. You need to check out the life of these bulbs and the replacement costs. Typical life is 2000 to 4000 hours. That’s about one year of continuous use with about 8 hours use per day, just to put a perspective on it. They will probably cost you around $300 to $400 each time however. You’ll need a screen and cable kit too.

Planning On Installing a Flat Screen TV Above a Gas Fireplace?

Mounting a flat screen TV on any wall can be difficult - so what about installing above a gas fireplace? Obviously there are considerations such as heat and position and ideally placing a flat screen TV above a fire should really only be done when space is at a premium

Consider Position, Heat And Power

A brand new 48 inch flat screen TV... a perfect piece of wall just above the fireplace... surely a match made in heaven!

While installing a flat screen TV above a gas fireplace is quite possible, it isn't the easiest thing to do, and there are several things that need to be considered.

Chief among these are the physical aspects such as the strength of the wall and the size of the TV - but don't forget to factor in the element of heat rising from the fire. Soot and smoke also rise...

Consideration also needs to be given to cabling and how you provide a tidy solution routing power and signals to and from your new TV. Whether you have a games console, DVD or Blu-Ray player or a surround sound system hooked up to your TV, unsightly cabling is going to cause problems at some point.

Let's take a look at each of these aspects and see how installing a flat screen TV above a gas fireplace can be done safely and without any reduction in heat output from your fire and any harm to your new TV!

Plasma TV above fire

The Physical Factors

The physical factors of TV and wall weight to area ratio and the natural properties of burnt gas are the key concerns for anyone fixing a flat screen TV to a chimney breast or other wall already partially occupied by a fireplace.

With your new TV you should receive detailed instructions on how to mount the set on the wall. With a space above the fireplace already identified, it's a case of ensuring that weight distrubuition issues are settled with the correct mounting rack, and cracking on with the work.

The other main concern for anyone planning to stick a flat panel TV on the wall above a gas fireplace that they expect to use is of course heat.

Using a gas fire results in a habitable amount of heat which is radiated away from the fire. Heat of course rises and often carries with it smoke and soot. What will become of a TV mounted on a wall above a fire?

The Elements

With a gas fire situated in a chimney, heat, smoke and soot can be all but ruled out as any form of threat to the TV. Heat will rise within the chimney, barely heating the back of the wall the TV is mounted on, and carry away with it the majority of smoke and soot.

A standard gas fire in most modern homes will come with a blower fan to push generated heat away from the fire and into the room. A filter will remove smoke and soot, while heat generated by the fire and channelled around the cavity will dissipate as it spreads throughout the wall or be radiated away by the casing.

There is however one other thing to consider - heat and the minimum of smoke and soot that does escape from the fire and travels upwards, coming into contact with your flat panel TV and potentially damaging it.

Luckily, this can all be prevented with a standard mantelpiece. The mantel will buffer the heat, sending it into the room and away from the TV. It's also worth noting that various safety standards ensure that the TV itself is protect from outside influences such as domestic heat and dust in order to continue working without issue.

A Wooden Mantelpiece

Keep Your TV Tidy

There are countless methods to keep your cables out of the way. Power cables and HDMI cables running to the TV from the mains and other hardware can be an eyesore.

If you're drilling into the wall to affix mounting clamps, then chiselling a few inches of brick or plaster for the power and HDMI cables to run along might not be too much of an extra job.

Standard cable tidies can help meanwhile, as can office-style cable runners. These can be affixed to the wall with a strong backing adhesive and once the cables are successfully laid inside they're covered. Cable runners are available in a limited range of colours however, and look best running alongside a larger object as a fire surround or skirting board rather than jutting in from the right.

One of the best solutions is IConceal, a stylish cable runner available from www.iconceal.com. Designed to enclose cables running from the floor to your TV, these concealers can be cut to length - perfect for masking a gap between a fire surround and a plasma TV!

DTV Converter with HDMI

The digital TV or the DTV transition has happened. All the free terrestrial programming is now completely digital. If you have to receive these signals on your existing analog TV, you'll need a converter. This converter is capable of receiving the digital TV signal and feeding analog TV.

Introduction

If you are connected to cable or a satellite-based DTH service and do not receive any local TV transmissions, this switch would not affect you at all. However, if you depend on the local programming available and receive these through an antenna on your rooftop or the balcony and your TV set has an analog tuner, you are going to need a additional box. This is the now famous converter box. It receives the new digital signals through your existing antenna and produces a RF modulated signal compatible with your analog TV set.

The DTV Converter

The digital transmission takes place in the so called ATSC format and the converter box has to have an ATSC tuner. The tuner just tunes into the signal of a particular channel. To get the video signal carried in the carrier, the video will have to be completely decoded to the original analog form. At this point you this video signal can be fed to the analog TV set at its video inputs. These are the inputs that are used by the DVD recorder to play back movies locally. The converter provides another means of getting the signal to your TV set. The video signal modulates a RF carrier and creates a signal that is in an exact format as would be expected by an analog TV set. You just connect a cable from this RF output to the antenna input of your set. Actual antenna connection comes from your outdoor antenna or the rabbit ears to the converter box. The converter box provides you a third kind of output known as the analog pass-through. The box just passes the antenna signal to this output port. This is to enable reception of analog TV, if there are any in your area. Low power analog TV transmission is allowed locally.

Since the direct video connection is the most convenient, many would use that. There are several forms this signal can be made available in. The oldest is the composite and there’s S-video. They are slowly falling into disfavor as the video quality produced by these formats could be improved. Component signals are a large improvement, and many converters will provide these connections beside the old set of one video cable with two audio (L+R) cables.

The component cables carry just the video signal, and you need additional cables for the audio. These can be quite a few if you are using home theater sound and 5 channels plus sub-woofer or 7 channels plus sub-woofer can produce quite a tangle of cables to be connected to the TV from your converter box. The HDMI is even better in terms of carrying video quality and it carries audio signals also on the same cable. If you a HDTV capable set you will have the component as well as HDMI inputs. It is better to have HDMI connection back to your set from the converter for best results. Of course, if your set is digital capable, meaning it has an ATSC tuner built-in, you would not need any converter box. Review your product literature or check with your dealer to find out what your set is capable of.

Some Example Boxes

There is a document here that has the requirements of a coupon eligible converter box under the federal coupon scheme. Some products may still be available for coupon redeeming. Here is a list of all eligible products.These devices are not required to have HDMI outputs. They also have only 480i resolution support.

For near HD or for full HD resolutions you’ll need a more expensive DTV converter and they typically would have HDMI support included. Many of these would come with an HDMI cable included. One such example is the Samsung product DTB-H260F that is available for a price of around $100 to $125. Shenzhen SDMC Microelectronics Co Ltd has products that have HDMI connectivity. The DIGINET Terrestrial Set-top box is also an example of a very recent product.

These products are obviously meant for older so called "HD Ready" TV sets that did not come with a digital/ATSC tuner. What is curious is if any of these sets did have HDMI for the best kind of video inputs. HDMI, of course, is a comaparatively recent phenomenon. Possibly some manufacturers may have included the HDMI connection for the best reproduction of DVD movies. It makes one wonder how many of these sets might be out there!

Ed.- Do you have a TV with an analog tuner and HDMI inputs? If not, what led you to this article? We'd like to know why you were interested in a digital TV converter that has HDMI outputs. Please feel free to answer in comments. Let's get a discussion going about this

Personal Video Recorder for HDTV

A PVR or DVR is a means of recording digital TV signals. With increasing use of HDTV, the DVR/PVR devices need to have more capability. This article looks at the cable STB, DTH STB, and PC based alternatives of the DVR/PVR. Some actual product examples are discussed.

Introduction

Unlike the VCR of old days, the personal video recorder or the PVR is a processor based application. One big difference is VCR was analog, recording analog TV/video signal on a magnetic tape. The PVR handles digital data and records the digital data stream that is the digital TV/Video signal. The digital TV/Video signal is also a compressed signal. Digital data created out of the digitized video is a few orders more that what the analog signal would have needed. The signal is compressed and the techniques are known as MPEG2 and MPEG4. The current and most efficient compression in the MPEG4 scheme is the H.264 encoding method.

PVRs are able to handle this digital data. A PVR may operate on your PC making it easy to record video on it. It could be part of the set top box that has been provided to you by the cable service operator or the DTH ("Direct to the Home") satellite service operator. It can also be part of the converter box that you need to catch digital TV transmitted over the air now that analog TV is dead!

Advantages of PVR/ DVR

The PVR is able to do scheduled and unattended recordings. It can skip ads while recording, and you can record a program on a channel other than the one that you are viewing. Some PVRs will even let you set the recording schedule remotely via the Internet. For this purpose you can even access a website from the program provider that gives you the time schedule of specific programs broadcast by the channels. The ability to pause live TV is an interesting new feature not possible in anything other than a DVR. Thus if your cable service operator or the DTH operator offers a set top box with PVR for a reasonable additional subscription/cost, it will make sense to subscribe to that.

HDTV implications on PVR

Increasingly TV programming is in high definition or HD format. Commercial movies on DVDs are in HD format. In fact, most videos are changing over to the HD format. Your TV at home probably has already changed to a HD unit. We have already discussed how digital video data produces much more data than in analog format. HD television increases even that. That is mainly because the resolution of the pictures that you see on a HDTV is much more than what it use to be in standard definition television earlier.

Whereas standard definition (SD) TV such as NTSC format reproduced 720 x 480 the full HD pictures (ATSC format) carry signal about 1920 x 1080 pixels. That again is a few times more even in digital format compared to the standard definition TV. The picture frame time or the time for which one picture frame is shown on your TV has not changed between the SD and the HD standards. What that means is that the PVR for HD has to handle many times more data than a digital SD recorder. The implications are that a more powerful processor has to be used to run the PVR application. This has a direct cost implication, and you can expect HD PVRs resident in various flavors of set top boxes and the digital TV converter boxes to be more expensive than just SD capable recorders.

Some Examples

The set top box from Motorola is an example of a PVR (DVR) inside a set top box (STB). Cable TV providers offer for as little as $10 a month a fully functional High Definition DVR with over 100GB of storage space and Dual-tuners. Many of these cable providers use the Motorola product. Satellite DTH providers Dish Network as well as Direct TV provide a PVR/DVR option.

ATI makes the HDTV WONDER, a PCI card for analog TV, over-the-air digital TV, and full quality free over-the-air HDTV reception with a DVR. You can turn your PC into a HD TV recorder. You would be able to receive over the air HD TV broadcasts also with an antenna that is available for purchase.

Images

Rustic Home Theater Ideas

Rustic home decor is old fashioned and enduring with a rural flair. This might seem contradictory to the high tech features of a home theater. These ideas will help you find home theater pieces that marry rustic with modern for a home theater that is all your style.

Rocky Mountain Decor

Rocky Mountain Decor offers a wide selection of rustic, hand-crafted wood furnishings, including home theater pieces. There are a variety of rustic themes in home decorating, and Rocky Mountain Decor takes this into consideration. For example, the Adirondack Three-Drawer Armoire looks as though it might belong in a charming lodge. The three drawers are ideal for storing DVD's, CD's and remote controls, while the cabinets will hold a medium-sized television. Crafted from hand-peeled Northern White Cedar and embellished with hand-stained birch bark and twigs, this piece will likely become a family heirloom.

Still decidedly rustic, but with a distinctively different style, the Back Porch Armoire is a charming piece with a country cottage feeling. With color choices such as Ruby Red Peeled Paint and Green Apple Scraped Paint among others, there is sure to be an option that will suit your home theater.

Rustic Furniture Depot

Rustic Furniture Depot is home to some of the largest choices in rustic home theater pieces. For instance, the Big Daddy sports a 55" by 55" center, large enough to hold many sizes of big screen television sets. This massive entertainment center is categorically rustic, with a natural wood appearance and strong hardware pieces. It also features lots of storage for all of your home theater needs, from surround sound to DVD player and other media. It is also worth mentioning that this sturdy piece sells for under $800.

Other rustic home theater furnishings available at the Rustic Furniture Depot include the Jailhouse Star Wall Unit, a natural wood piece embellished with decorative metal bars and emblazoned with several Texas stars, perfect for the rustic home with a wild west ambiance or the Sierra wall unit, with a bit of Southwestern appeal.

RusticFurniture.com

RusticFurniture.com features rustic, hand-crafted, American-made furniture in rich, sturdy woods such as hickory, pine, alder and aspen with an assortment of finishes and designs. If you are aiming for a home theater with a log cabin atmosphere, you might enjoy the Frontier Log Furniture Television Stand. Fashioned from hand-peeled pine, this charming TV stand looks as though you chopped down a tree and created it yourself - that is, if you were a skilled carpenter. Best of all, since these pieces are handmade, you can even request a custom size or stain.

Rustic and yet distinctively elegant, the Augustine Plasma TV Stand is inlayed with intricate cast iron grills and crafted from sturdy, stylish acacia wood. The cabinet is enclosed with four doors, with one shelf behind each to store your cable box, DVD player and other home theater needs. The inlayed grills allow remote controls to access these devices while hiding them neatly away.

Once you have selected the rustic home theater furnishings that suit your needs and complement your decor, be sure to read How to Organize your Home Entertainment Center for tips on maximizing space in your home theater.

Surround Sound Speaker Kits - Wireless Sound

We look at how you can better hide your surround sound cables, by eliminating them altogether. Inside you'll find out which two wireless systems are best suited for your current setup.

Wireless for Your Convenience

You’re ready to go on your surround sound system, but you can’t seem to figure out how to wire up the whole system. Maybe it’s time to consider a wireless system. Back in June, I wrote an article discussing the merits of wireless over wired speakers, you can find it here. Today we’ll be looking at two wireless speaker systems that give you the most bang for your buck.

RocketFish Kit

RocketFish

The Rocketfish kit isn’t something I’d normally recommend, but the Rocketfish system performs rather admirably in normal conditions and transmits the audio data from the receiver to the speakers with an unprecedented fidelity.

This is thanks to the advanced RF receivers and transmitters that RocketFish uses. And that’s without having to pay a special premium for the system. However, this doesn’t come with any speakers, so you’ll just have to hook up to the speakers you currently have or shell out more money for new speakers.

The receiver is effective up to 100 Ft away, but I wouldn’t test that theory. Generally, a speaker and the receiver should be separated by no more than say 15 - 20 feet. With a wired connection, at that distance the connection could start to break down because of small defects in the wire; with the wireless connection, the chances of interference with the system start to increase dramatically.

Bose Kit

Bose

Bose once again lends their expertise in all things sound to a wireless system that is truly different and a cut above the rest, but at a premium (as is the standard for all things Bose). The SL2 Wireless Link makes the RocketFish kit look like child’s play, but it does cost twice as much.

The speaker uses the 5.8 GHz frequency, which as wireless network aficionados can tell you, means that the connection is much more likely to be steady and reliable than at a lower GHz range. At this kind of range, things like cell phones, microwaves, or other electronics won’t interfere with your sound.

The receiver for the speakers once again doesn’t come with the actual speaker itself. It comes with the connection to just make your current speakers wireless. The install is quick, painless, and color-coordinated. You’ll find that hooking up this little receiver is a whole lot easier than trying to connect the whole audio system if you’re among the uninitiated.

I usually don’t advocate wireless systems because of a loss in fidelity, but for $220, you can get this Bose Wireless speaker kit and still be satisfied with your sound. Of course, this pairs beautifully with a Bose system; for those of us that don’t have $3000 to throw around, you can stick with your current receiver and still manage to get great sound.

Samsung 52" LN52A650 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV

The Samsung 52" LN52A650 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV is a higher-end and high-priced television. But, it definitely has a lot of fun features that make it well worth the $2,000 price tag.

Dimensions, Viewing Angle and Response Time
Rating

The Samsung 52" LN52A650 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV is a gorgeous television. It runs approximately $2,000 online, which is pretty comparable to other televisions in this price range..

The LN52A650 comes with true 1080p HD quality and Samsung’s Touch of Color Bezel coloring effect. The TOC adds just a dash of color to the bottom for a sleek effect. But, you probably want to check out the television before you buy it. Many people don’t like the look.

The set weighs 66.4 pounds, and its dimensions are 50.2 X 4.1 X 31.7 inches. It comes with 4 HDMI ports, which allows you to hook up a variety of things to the television. It has a medium contrast ratio at 50,000:1. While this is not as high as many televisions in this price range, it will definitely make your colors and picture vibrant.

The model is pretty fast with a 4ms response time, which is higher than many other televisions on the market. With 178 degree viewing angle, you will be able to place your television and seating in a variety of ways. The 178 viewing angle basically means that you can look at the television at an off angle, and it still will look crisp and clear, without blurring.

Features
Rating

The Auto Motion Plus 120Hz on this LCD television increases frame rates from 60 to 120. This will make motion look better because you won’t get repeating frames, and the transitions between frames will look seamless.

The LN52A650 comes with a new anti-glare shield, which will reduce glare from exterior sources. It also comes with Cold Cathode Florescent Lamp backlights, which gives a more realistic viewing experience.

One major problem with this television is the “soap opera” effect. Basically, you feel like you are moving with the camera movements like a soap opera. You may have to tinker with your settings to correct this.

Some of the other features that this model has are the following:

· InfoLink, where you can get RSS feeds of news, weather and other information

· SRS TruSurround XT audio

· Hidden speakers.

· V-Chip System1

· Trilingual (English, Spanish or French) on-screen displays

· USB 2.0 port so you can connect to external devices, including your MP3 player, digital camcorder or digital camera. You can view your home movies or pictures right on your television

· Sports and Games mode for viewing these events better

· Swivel stand

· Series 7 interactive content, including entertainment for children

Drawbacks
Rating

Samsung did have a problem with this model before a recent firmware update. The television would turn off once or twice when you first started it. Or, once it was warmed up, it would shut off as much as 10 times an hour. The firmware update has taken care of this issue. If you should buy this model and it has this problem, just contact Samsung at (800) Samsung, and they will send you the patch to fix this problem.

Quality for the Money
Rating

While there are a few minor drawbacks to this model, it’s well-worth the investment. The price is pretty comparable to many other models in this size, and it comes packed with a lot of features and extras. Overall, it’s a nice investment for the money.

Creating an Epic Home Theater Package

Are you on the lookout for the ultimate home theater system? Perhaps you are just daydreaming about an amazing set-up? Check out this article for advice on building your own epic home theater package.

Epic Home Theater Package

There are so many home theater systems out there that finding the right one for you can be a tough slog. You have to consider what you want from it, how it will sync with your existing home set-up and your available budget. You’ll find all sorts of products which can work together to create your very own home cinema. In this article we examine systems in various categories and consider the best combination to create your own epic home theater package. It is possible to create a home theater system to suit most budgets.

Home Theater PC or Entertainment Server

To start with it is worth considering a home theater PC or server. Ideally you want a system that allows for high definition movies, your music collection and web access throughout the home. We are watching more and more content online and not having to store or load physical disks is convenient, so why not consider an entertainment server to tie together your home theater package? It will allow you to store all of your content - movies, music and even photos on a central server and access it from multiple rooms in your home. Just remember if you want to be able watch HD with 7.1 channel sound you’ll need something that supports at least HDMI 1.3 connectivity. There are advantages to a home theater PC. You can buy ready made systems however if you have the skills then the best approach is decide exactly what you want from it and build your own home theater PC.

Digital Video Recording

There are other DVR (digital video recording) options out there and probably the biggest brand name is TiVo. You can also get boxes capable of recording high definition footage with most satellite and cable providers nowadays. These systems are generally easy to use, fit in aesthetically with your home theater system and cater for most requirements. Of course your DVR system can always be connected to your PC so the two are not mutually exclusive.

Blu-ray

Even with a DVR solution or an entertainment server the chances are you’ll still want a good quality Blu-ray player. You should also consider something which will support DVDs as well as Blu-rays since few of you will have gotten around to rebuilding your film collection on Blu-ray. For maximum quality your Blu-ray and DVD player should support 7.1 channel surround sound and the latest HDMI connections. Here is an article on the 10 Best Blu-ray Disc Players.

Home Theater Projectors

Now that you have your entertainment player and recorder sorted out, you’ll need to select solutions for picture and sound. Let’s deal with the picture first. You have three options, a projector, an LCD HDTV or a Plasma HDTV. You’ll need to spend a lot of cash to get a quality projector. If you are interested in going that route then read this article on the Top Five Home Theater Projectors.

LCD Televisions

The most popular option by far is to purchase an LCD HDTV. LCD is fast emerging as the most popular solution and Plasma screens have struggled to keep up in recent months. You can get LCDs in various sizes and selecting the right one for you depends on your room size. You can check out this article on the Top Five 52 Inch LCD Televisions for some ideas.

Plasma HDTVs

You shouldn’t discount Plasma as a format simply because they are less popular. Plasma HDTVs offer better quality contrast with a much deeper range of blacks but they are also bulkier, they use more energy and they aren’t as bright. You can read this article on Who Makes the Best Plasma HDTV for some ideas.

Surround Sound

For any really decent home theater package you are going to want the best quality audio you can possibly get. Surround sound makes you feel like you are really there and the new Blu-ray format offers high quality sound to match the high definition picture. To take full advantage you’ll want something that supports 7.1 channel surround sound. If you aren’t obsessed by audio then 5.1 channel surround sound will no doubt prove adequate and there are lots of choices in both camps. This article gives you a couple of good options when Selecting Blu-ray Surround Sound Systems.

Universal Remote

The list of home theater options goes on and on. For a truly awesome experience you will dedicate a windowless room in your house to be the home cinema and fit it out with comfortable chairs. Sadly most of us cannot afford to do that so we’ll skip the leather recliner section and move swiftly along.

Now since the majority of us make our epic home theater packages by combining various different systems the final tool to bring it all together is the universal remote control. You may be interested to know how your universal remote works. Or perhaps you are just interested in finding the best option available in which case I’d say the Logitech Harmony is pretty tough to beat.

Home Theater Advice

There are an awful lot of things to consider when putting together an epic home theater package and hopefully this article has helped you in your task. You can always find additional advice, reviews and articles on the subject in the Home Theater channel here at Bright Hub.

LG's Blu-ray Baby: Blu-ray Home Theater System

It was bound to happen. LG wasn't going to let the Blu-ray home theater system market pass it by. Read about their latest home theater system entry.

LG's Blu-ray Entry Card

Hold onto your home theater seats, it looks like LG has done it again with the soon to be released fully Blu-ray home theater system. Known as the HB954TB, the home theater system will make LG the latest company to throw their hat into the Blu-ray ring.

Since Blu-ray was selected as the format of choice for the movie industry, more and more companies are looking to break into the market. LG is already well-known for the quality of their products, and this should be a reliable product once it’s fully released.

The Product

The HB954TB along with LG’s Blu-Ray player, the BD370, should provide the better audio and video quality of Blu-Ray along with the ability to improve the quality of your DVDs. Plus, you can play a variety of content on this system, including the YouTube and other streaming video content, without having to go to your computer. You can also listen to IPod via this system, even using the remote control to scan your IPod library of music.

The system comes with 5.1 channel surround sound, Dolby True HD, DTS-HD Mater Audio: Essential and Dolby Digital Plus (a full feature list is below). You can adjust your sound based on what program you are watching and use an equalization setting specifically for your videogames.

The American Wait

Americans will have to wait for the system though. So far, it’s only available in other countries, including India, the Phillipines and other Asian countries. But, the pricing for the Blu-ray Player BD 370 looks to be around $400 when released and the HB954TB Home Theater looks to be over $1,000. The system should be very interesting once released, making the transition to Blu-ray pretty seamless and allowing them to play more vibrantly than ever before. LG is known for their quality so this should make a great addition to any home theater system.

One thought to think about before you start turning your entire system into Blu-ray is still the price. Blu-ray DVDs are still more expensive than traditional DVD collections and probably won’t be coming down in price for a while. So, if you’re on a budget, you may still look to having a traditional home theater system and skip the bells and whistles for now until the retail prices start receding. You can buy regular DVD players that play Blu-ray. Or, just get a standard DVD player and buy regular DVDs until your ready to make the plunge into the more expensive home theater equipment, as Blu-Ray players continue to get cheaper.

Features

Overall Features

• iPod Docking System/MP3 Feature
• BD Live (Profile 2.00)
• 2 HDMI Input
• USB Directing Recording & Play
• Front Subwoofer
• Sound Gallery
• Specially Tuned by Mr. Mark Levinson
• Pure HD Audio Dolby Digital
• True HD & dts HD MasterElegant Glossy Plating FeaturesSound System Features
• Parabola Speaker System
• Total 1,000W (RMS) (155Wx5 + 255)
• Total 10,000W (PMPO)
• VSM (Virtual 10.1ch Sound)
• LG Sound Gallery
• VSM Plus

Picture Features

• HDMI 1.3 Deep Color
• Full HD 1080p Up Scaling

Sound System Features

• Parabola Speaker System
• Total 1,000W (RMS) (155Wx5 + 255)
• Total 10,000W (PMPO)
• VSM (Virtual 10.1ch Sound)
• LG Sound Gallery
• VSM Plus

Creating an Epic Home Theater Package

Are you on the lookout for the ultimate home theater system? Perhaps you are just daydreaming about an amazing set-up? Check out this article for advice on building your own epic home theater package.

Epic Home Theater Package

There are so many home theater systems out there that finding the right one for you can be a tough slog. You have to consider what you want from it, how it will sync with your existing home set-up and your available budget. You’ll find all sorts of products which can work together to create your very own home cinema. In this article we examine systems in various categories and consider the best combination to create your own epic home theater package. It is possible to create a home theater system to suit most budgets.

Home Theater PC or Entertainment Server

To start with it is worth considering a home theater PC or server. Ideally you want a system that allows for high definition movies, your music collection and web access throughout the home. We are watching more and more content online and not having to store or load physical disks is convenient, so why not consider an entertainment server to tie together your home theater package? It will allow you to store all of your content - movies, music and even photos on a central server and access it from multiple rooms in your home. Just remember if you want to be able watch HD with 7.1 channel sound you’ll need something that supports at least HDMI 1.3 connectivity. There are advantages to a home theater PC. You can buy ready made systems however if you have the skills then the best approach is decide exactly what you want from it and build your own home theater PC.

Digital Video Recording

There are other DVR (digital video recording) options out there and probably the biggest brand name is TiVo. You can also get boxes capable of recording high definition footage with most satellite and cable providers nowadays. These systems are generally easy to use, fit in aesthetically with your home theater system and cater for most requirements. Of course your DVR system can always be connected to your PC so the two are not mutually exclusive.

Blu-ray

Even with a DVR solution or an entertainment server the chances are you’ll still want a good quality Blu-ray player. You should also consider something which will support DVDs as well as Blu-rays since few of you will have gotten around to rebuilding your film collection on Blu-ray. For maximum quality your Blu-ray and DVD player should support 7.1 channel surround sound and the latest HDMI connections. Here is an article on the

Home Theater Projectors

Now that you have your entertainment player and recorder sorted out, you’ll need to select solutions for picture and sound. Let’s deal with the picture first. You have three options, a projector, an LCD HDTV or a Plasma HDTV. You’ll need to spend a lot of cash to get a quality projector. If you are interested in going that route then read this article on the Top Five Home Theater Projectors.

LCD Televisions

The most popular option by far is to purchase an LCD HDTV. LCD is fast emerging as the most popular solution and Plasma screens have struggled to keep up in recent months. You can get LCDs in various sizes and selecting the right one for you depends on your room size. You can check out this article on the Top Five 52 Inch LCD Televisions for some ideas.

Plasma HDTVs

You shouldn’t discount Plasma as a format simply because they are less popular. Plasma HDTVs offer better quality contrast with a much deeper range of blacks but they are also bulkier, they use more energy and they aren’t as bright. You can read this article on Who Makes the Best Plasma HDTV for some ideas.

Surround Sound

For any really decent home theater package you are going to want the best quality audio you can possibly get. Surround sound makes you feel like you are really there and the new Blu-ray format offers high quality sound to match the high definition picture. To take full advantage you’ll want something that supports 7.1 channel surround sound. If you aren’t obsessed by audio then 5.1 channel surround sound will no doubt prove adequate and there are lots of choices in both camps. This article gives you a couple of good options when Selecting Blu-ray Surround Sound Systems.

Universal Remote

The list of home theater options goes on and on. For a truly awesome experience you will dedicate a windowless room in your house to be the home cinema and fit it out with comfortable chairs. Sadly most of us cannot afford to do that so we’ll skip the leather recliner section and move swiftly along.

Now since the majority of us make our epic home theater packages by combining various different systems the final tool to bring it all together is the universal remote control. You may be interested to know how your universal remote works. Or perhaps you are just interested in finding the best option available in which case I’d say the Logitech Harmony is pretty tough to beat.

Home Theater Advice

There are an awful lot of things to consider when putting together an epic home theater package and hopefully this article has helped you in your task. You can always find additional advice, reviews and articles on the subject in the Home Theater channel here at Bright Hub.

Home Theater in a Box Comparisons - Samsung vs Panasonic

In this article, we compare the Samsung HT-TZ512T and the Panasonic SC-PT760. After analyzing all the merits of the two, including wireless speakers, receivers, and iPod docking features, we come up with a winner - read on inside to find out who reigned supreme.

Let's Get Ready to Rumble

In talking about home theater systems, half the fun is talking about complete systems and pitting them against each other. Nowhere can you better differentiate between home theater systems than with the home-theater-in-a-box systems. This time, we’re pitting Samsung’s and Panasonic’s mid-range systems against one another in a battle of the systems.

Images

Panasonic SC-PT760

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-SC-PT760-Deluxe-Theater-System/dp/B0014TC8EW

The Panasonic System has quite a pedigree behind it. Panasonic provides you with a Kilowatt of power and a price that’s highly affordable for a starting home theater system. Increasingly, these Home-Theater-in-a-Box Systems come complete with the receivers also necessary to power them.

Among its best features, the SC-PT760 can upscale right out of the box all the way to 1080p, it also has a flip-down iPod dock (which is just about the coolest thing I’ve ever seen), and stereo sound that isn’t easily beat.

The setup is easily understood by even the most tech-challenged everyman. Amazingly enough, the back speakers are entirely wireless and work incredibly well. The system works in true 5.1 channel surround sound, unlike the previous 2.1 speaker system we showed you by Denon.

It’s a completely solid system for those that are looking for mid-range entry, and as such, I’m happy to have actually seen this in motion in real life.

Samsung HT-TZ512T

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HT-Z512T-5-1-Channel-Theater-Surround/dp/B0015AD934/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1246347362&sr=8-1

The Samsung answer to the Panasonic System comes in the form of the HT-TZ512T. The two systems are more alike than they are different, so I will instead be focusing on their differences.

The HT comes with iPod Capability, but through USB, which means that docking the iPod needs to be connected to a dock if you don’t want your phone or pod just laying around. This round goes to the SC for actually having an integrated dock that’s easily stowed away.

The HT has a USB port, which means that you can easily plug in a flash drive and watch your favorite DiVX or WMV files. The SC, well, you’ll need a separate device to do the same thing. So this round goes to the HT for being more versatile.

There’s a lot of wiring to both the “wireless” speakers, but at the same time the HT is better than the SC when it comes to the wireless transmitter. The HT’s transmitter is much smaller and the speakers look quite a bit better than the SC’s, while also maintaining the cool-ness factor.

If you’re pressed for time and have less cash than you do patience, you’re going to want the HT-TZ512T, simply put; it’s an incredibly impressive system for the price, considering that I’ve spent more on a single subwoofer than the entire system costs. But if you want an entry-level system, you’re not going to find a better option out there.

What's New in Home Theater System: A/V Receivers

Completing your home theater system can be a daunting task, especially with all the new items that keep coming on the market. One of those items are A/V receivers. Here is a list of some of the best new a/v receivers on the market

Onkyo TX-SR607

There are plenty of new things on the market for the home theater system owner. The ever-changing of world of A/V receivers is one of those markets that has really taken off in recent years, and there has been an acceleration in the number of companies offering these systems. So, the number of new releases is quite staggering. To help you decide which type of receiver that you should go with, we’ve put together a list of some of the best new releases on the market for your home theater system.

The Onkyo TX-SR607 has something none of the other models have. It is the first receiver to come with Dolby Pro Logic IIz. Why is this significant? Well, you will now have additional front height channels in addition to the standard 5.1 and 7.1 configurations. Basically, it adds a channel that sits both front and center. It also comes with a subwoofer and two channels that are completely full in range. And, at $599, it’s a relatively inexpensive model.

Yamaha RX-V1065

Yamaha has also come out with a new receiver that is chockfull of amazing features. The RX-V1065 comes with a full set of HD functions, including Dolby TrueHD and the ability to play HD radio. It has 1080p video upscaling, 105W output and an amazing four HDMI inputs. Plus, you can play your IPod, IPhone or Bluetooth stored music or other audio on this device. At $999.95, it’s more expensive than the Onkyo TX-SR607, but it also comes with a lot more features.

Marantz SR6003

For around the same price as the Yamaha model, you can also get the Marantz SR6003 A/V receiver ($999 online). But, the audio on this model may even be superior to the RX-V1065. For example, a rock band would sound like it’s in the same room as you are. And, the video features respond very well to whatever you happen to be watching. Plus, the SR6003 is quite compact, which makes it easy for it to fit in tighter spaces and is quite attractive even if it’s exposed somewhere. It’s really easy to setup and calibrate.

Home Theater in a Box Comparisons - Samsung vs Panasonic

In this article, we compare the Samsung HT-TZ512T and the Panasonic SC-PT760. After analyzing all the merits of the two, including wireless speakers, receivers, and iPod docking features, we come up with a winner - read on inside to find out who reigned supreme.

Let's Get Ready to Rumble

In talking about home theater systems, half the fun is talking about complete systems and pitting them against each other. Nowhere can you better differentiate between home theater systems than with the home-theater-in-a-box systems. This time, we’re pitting Samsung’s and Panasonic’s mid-range systems against one another in a battle of the systems.

Images

Panasonic SC-PT760

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-SC-PT760-Deluxe-Theater-System/dp/B0014TC8EW

The Panasonic System has quite a pedigree behind it. Panasonic provides you with a Kilowatt of power and a price that’s highly affordable for a starting home theater system. Increasingly, these Home-Theater-in-a-Box Systems come complete with the receivers also necessary to power them.

Among its best features, the SC-PT760 can upscale right out of the box all the way to 1080p, it also has a flip-down iPod dock (which is just about the coolest thing I’ve ever seen), and stereo sound that isn’t easily beat.

The setup is easily understood by even the most tech-challenged everyman. Amazingly enough, the back speakers are entirely wireless and work incredibly well. The system works in true 5.1 channel surround sound, unlike the previous 2.1 speaker system we showed you by Denon.

It’s a completely solid system for those that are looking for mid-range entry, and as such, I’m happy to have actually seen this in motion in real life.

Samsung HT-TZ512T

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HT-Z512T-5-1-Channel-Theater-Surround/dp/B0015AD934/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1246347362&sr=8-1

The Samsung answer to the Panasonic System comes in the form of the HT-TZ512T. The two systems are more alike than they are different, so I will instead be focusing on their differences.

The HT comes with iPod Capability, but through USB, which means that docking the iPod needs to be connected to a dock if you don’t want your phone or pod just laying around. This round goes to the SC for actually having an integrated dock that’s easily stowed away.

The HT has a USB port, which means that you can easily plug in a flash drive and watch your favorite DiVX or WMV files. The SC, well, you’ll need a separate device to do the same thing. So this round goes to the HT for being more versatile.

There’s a lot of wiring to both the “wireless” speakers, but at the same time the HT is better than the SC when it comes to the wireless transmitter. The HT’s transmitter is much smaller and the speakers look quite a bit better than the SC’s, while also maintaining the cool-ness factor.

If you’re pressed for time and have less cash than you do patience, you’re going to want the HT-TZ512T, simply put; it’s an incredibly impressive system for the price, considering that I’ve spent more on a single subwoofer than the entire system costs. But if you want an entry-level system, you’re not going to find a better option out there.

Green Home Theater Technology

Want to get off the grid even when watching your favorite action movie? Well, coming soon, you will be able to do just that. New home theater technology is being released to make your home theater experience greener than ever before!

How the Guiltless Green Home Theater System Works

With so many things going green these days, and the President himself promoting green technologies, it’s no wonder that home theater system companies are throwing their hats in the ring. The Sound Room has come out with what it’s calling “sustainable luxury” with the Guiltless Green Home Theater System.

This new home theater system functions just like a normal home theater system, except that it will take you “off the grid” (off your electrical grid that is) for approximately 15 hours a week for movie viewing. The system runs on solar power. Basically, four solar panels are installed on your roof, and the system is hooked up to that. The solar cells within the panels collect energy from the sun, and they transfer that energy to the power grid of your home. This in turn rewinds your electricity meter and helps save you money.

The Guiltless Green Home Theater system will collect sunlight for nearly four and a half hours a day, producing 700 watts per hour. This adds up to nearly 22,000 watts per week. This equates to almost two hours a day of your favorite movie, without having to draw energy from your home’s electrical grid. At full capacity, this green home theater system will require about 1,5000 watts per hour. So, you get 15 hours total of basically free home viewing pleasure a week.

What the System Comes With

The system comes with a 100-inch Stewart screen, a Sharp front projector and Speakercraft in-wall speakers and subwoofer. The home theater system will be available for viewing in one of The Sound Room’s showrooms in July. Showrooms are located at the following Missouri locations: Creve Coeur, Chesterfield and Chesterfield Valley. You can find out more about the system by calling The Sound Room at (636) 537-0404.

Cost estimates have not been released on the system. Solar panels generally run between $1,500 to $1,800 plus installation and the home theater system itself. But, the company is saying that the system should be ready in about four years.

Protect Your Home Theater with a Surge Suppressor or UPS

A surge suppressor will help keep voltage spikes from damaging your equipment, and is essential in keeping your electronics safe. A UPS is a battery backup system designed to keep things running for a short while, even if the power goes out.

Protection from Power

I’ve heard for years that one of the most damaging things you can do to any electronic component is, simply, to turn it on. That sudden rush of electricity flooding through all the circuitry puts the equipment at more risk than even regular all-day use. This is why a lot of people leave their computers and other electronic equipment on 24/7. Think about it – don’t light bulbs usually blow out the moment you turn them on? The same principle applies here.

After you’ve invested all that money in building up an awesome home entertainment system, don’t forget to spend a little more to protect it. There’s nothing like a lightning bolt or power surge to kill sensitive electronic components. In my experience working in the IT industry for over a decade, I’ve seen plenty of computers and other equipment fried because they didn’t have the proper protection in place. If you’ve got that $2,000 HDTV plugged directly into a wall socket, it’s like driving around without a seat belt.

Surge Suppressor

A surge suppressor, also known as a surge protector, is a device designed to block power surges from getting to your equipment. They come in many shapes and sizes and are often classified by how many joules they can withstand. You want to buy one that can take a 1,000 or more joules, otherwise it may prove ineffective.

Be careful to make sure that you are buying an actual surge suppressor and not just a power strip. A surge suppressor will be labeled as such, and should include some kind of indication of the power it can withstand. A power strip is nothing more than an expansion of your wall outlet, and doesn’t offer any protection. As a general rule, if it costs less than $10, then it is probably just a basic power strip. The two often look exactly the same, so make sure before you buy.

You can also use a surge suppressor to protect phone lines, as some have a jack to run the phone line through the suppressor. I’ve seen plenty of computers blown up via the phone line plugged directly into the modem, even though the PC itself was on a surge suppressor. Although people nowadays aren’t using modems as much as before, the same in-line phone protection could be used for a fax machine, if necessary.

UPS

You could also take your surge suppression up a notch and invest in an uninterruptable power supply, or UPS. These devices are basically giant battery backups that keep your stuff running in the event of a power outage or failure. They are most commonly found on network servers so that they can be properly shut down if the power goes out. Sometimes things like a clock or those custom audio preferences you set up will get lost even if the power blips out for a second. The sudden off and on shock to your equipment isn’t very helpful, either. Having a UPS for your home entertainment system is a great way of protecting the equipment, as well as its internal setting.

Definition of Home Entertainment System

A home entertainment system is a set of audio and video components that provides the same exhilarating experience of watching a movie inside a theater in the comfort of your living room. Here we discuss the definition of a home entertainment system as well as its components.

What is a Home Entertainment System?

There is no standard definition of a home entertainment system. However, it can best be described as a set of audio and video components that mimic the way theaters provide audio-visual entertainment right in the comfort of your own living room. Compared to a movie viewing experience on a regular TV screen, LCD TV or Plasma TV, a complete home entertainment system provides more sophisticated audio and video quality. For a superb audio experience, the sound quality coming from a home entertainment system is delivered through a separate surround system. For its video component, a home entertainment system provides clearer, crisper and more detailed image projection.

Simply put, a home entertainment system is any combination of audio and video components that gives you the same experience as watching a movie inside a theater.

Components of a Home Entertainment System

For a home entertainment system to be an effective system for delivering the same experience as watching a movie inside a theater, you need to have five major components. These are audio input, video input, processor, display and the atmosphere.

Home entertainment systems combine a great video projection and audio transmission system. For video projection, it could be as sophisticated as a high-end plasma TV or the cheaper LCD TV. Of course, since you are trying to recreate the same cinematic experience, a bigger display is required. This can take the form of either an LCD TV, video projector, Plasma TV, rear-projection TV or your plain old CRT TV. Preferred size of the display should be at least 27 inches.

A home entertainment system must also have a good audio output coming from at least four speakers. For a better experience, you can also add all the audio works, such as subwoofers and other audio enhancements.

You also need to have a good device processor that handles the audio input. This could be an AV receiver, a preamplifier or sound processor.

Equally as important are the video input devices, which can range from the high-end Blu-ray player or a cheaper yet good performing DVD player.

The last important component of a home entertainment system is of course the recreation of the theater atmosphere. This means the seating and organization of the area where your home entertainment system will be arranged which also includes good sound insulation and a wall that balances the sound in a room.

Creating a Home Theater System on a Budget

Saving money is the name of the game nowadays. But, you want entertainment too. Then, why not set up your own home theater system. Learn how to set up a home theater system on a tight budget

Surround Sound

Home theater systems are great ways to save money on entertainment for you and a loved one or you and your family, especially during a down economy. But, affording a home theater can be a different story. How do you going about setting up a home theater on a tight budget?

Well, the first thing that you want to do is look around your own house to see what’s already available. Many people have previously bought some version of surround sound for their house. Simply use what you have. If your home theater speakers don’t have the latest technology, it’s no big deal. As long as you can hear the sound from several angles, you’re good to go.

If you don’t have a surround sound system, you may be interested in purchasing what’s known as a Home Theater-in-a-box solution. These systems come with much of the necessary equipment (except the TV and DVD player) that you will need to start your home theater. But, you should sample the system before you buy it to see if it will work for your needs. Often the sound is not the greatest on the cheaper systems.

Choosing the TV and DVD Player

Perhaps the biggest part of your home theater is the television. If you’ve recently bought a new HD television, you’re probably set. If not, you need to shop around for the best prices. Also, while 50+ inch LCD or Plasma televisions are great, they’re not necessary. A nice 42-inch flat screen television will do the trick just as well. Check out some of the cheaper retailers like Walmart or Costco. Often, they have Samsung or similar quality flat screen televisions for right around the $1,000 mark.

Another feature that is completely necessary for your home theater system is a great DVD player. You may want to spend some extra money here and purchase a Blu-ray Disc Player since this is the format that the movie studios are now using, and they give the best quality. But, if you can’t afford the Blu-Ray Disc Player right now, don’t worry about. Purchase a nice HD DVD player. Plus, you’ll save money on the DVDs since Blu-ray discs are still very expensive.

On a budget, you can look to spend about $2,000 on your home theater plus your monthly bill to your satellite or cable company and the purchase of the DVDs. In the long run, however, you’ll still save money, especially since most movie theater runs for a family of four could run over $100 each time.

Top Five Home Theater Projectors

In recent years the home theater projector market has been evolving and developing improved products at competitive prices. In this article we examine some of the top options in an effort to find the best home theater projector around.

Home Theatre Projectors

Over the last few years consumers have been demanding bigger and bigger televisions. The advent of Plasma screens and LCD TVs has led to the development of the high definition standard. We are now enjoying bigger and better pictures than ever before. There is another choice for people seeking a high quality picture which is as big as possible and that’s the home theater projector market. Here are five of the best home theater projectors available today.

Panasonic PT-AE3000

This is an excellent option for people seeking a high quality home theater projector. It offers full high definition footage at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It uses LCD panels with an optimized lens unit for perfect focus throughout. There is also contrast technology and a color filter for deep rich colors and a good range of depth in black. The Smooth Screen technology is driven by the double speed drives which ensure that the action is always clear. You can even set the frame response rate to speed it up which is ideal for gaming. The intelligent brightness system adjusts frame by frame although you will always get better results with a projector if you watch in a darkened room.

The technical specifications are good with brightness of 1,600 ANSI lumens and a dynamic contrast ratio of 60,000:1. It is quite a big device as projectors go but it performs well and makes very little sound. It supports an image size from 3.3 feet up to 16.7 feet. You are really looking at a 16:9 100 inch diagonal picture and it has a powered zoom. There are also plenty of connectivity options with 3 HDMI ports, 1 VGA port, 3 component video ports, 1 composite video port, 1 S-Video port and 1 9-pin D-sub serial port. The Panasonic PT-AE3000 home theater projector is fantastic and you can order one for considerably less than the recommended retail price of $3,500.

Sony Bravia VPL-HW10

This home theatre projector is another excellent model which is in a similar price range to the Panasonic PT-AE3000 and once again you should be able to pick one up for less than the $3,500 RRP. The features aren’t quite as impressive as the Panasonic but this projector is slightly more compact. It does also offer full high resolution footage at 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a three panel LCD system and it also projects a 16:9 100 inch diagonal image from around 10 feet to 16 feet in distance. There is a 1.6x manual zoom and it outputs 1,000 ANSI lumens brightness with a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1.

The color depth, contrast and clarity are all excellent. It is also a very quiet device and can cope with fast action or gaming. In terms of connectivity you have 2 HDMI ports, 1 VGA port, 1 component video port, 1 S-Video port and 1 RS-232C port. It is an excellent device which performs extremely well. The Sony Bravia VPL-HW10 is great but there is no escaping the fact that it has fewer features than some of the other options in this price range.