AVRev.com News and Reviews

Angels & Demons (2009)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:46:28 +0000

A lot of hype was made about “Angels & Demons,” over a year before its theatrical release. It seemed that every time the television channel landed on a program like Entertainment Tonight, they were always covering the latest news about the film. “Angels & Demons” is the sequel to the blockbuster bust, “The Da Vinci Code.” Both films are based on the novels by Dan Brown. “The Da Vinci Code” was highly anticipated, but ultimately a letdown. It is difficult to turn a complicated book into a movie, but the filmmakers took too many liberties with the story arcs. Unfortunately, the same goes for “Angels & Demons.” There are many holes and jumps in the story. To compare, the Harry Potter books have been turned into films that capture the audience. While numerous items have been changed or removed from the story contained in the book, the Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/blu-ray-movie-disc-reviews/mystery-suspense/angels-demons-2009.html)

Olive Releases 4HD Hi-Fi Music Server

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:43:25 +0000

The Olive 4HD Hi-Fi Music Server is a product that’s as impressive as it is niche. It was created for one purpose – to play high definition digital music – and it pulls out all the stops. The 4HD features two terabytes of space for storage of digital music in a variety of formats. It’s capable, as one would expect from a high end music server, of playing back media files in AAC, MP3 (at 128 and 320 kbit/s), WAV and FLAC. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/music-servers-mp3-players-news/olive-releases-4hd-hi-fi-music-server.html)

ELAN Brings Power and Efficiency to D Series Amplifiers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:41:14 +0000

Along with the announcement of the availability of the D12 Amplifier from ELAN, the company has also announced the D16, which is set to ship in March. ELAN’s new highly efficient ‘green’ amplifiers were redesigned from the ground up in order to create energy efficient and powerful amps. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/power-amplifier-news/elan-brings-power-and-efficiency-to-d-series-amplifiers.html)

3DeeSlide Allows Glasses-Free 3D Content Viewing on the iPhone

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:39:23 +0000

The recent industry focus on three dimensional video has left consumers asking a lot of questions from technical concerns about what televisions and devices will be able to view the content to the somewhat shallower question of “Do I really have to wear these stupid glasses?” Spatial View, in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment Germany, has answered both of these concerns in a more positive way than you might expect. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/music-servers-mp3-players-news/3deeslide-allows-glasses-free-3d-content-viewing-on-the-iphone.html)

Shorts (2009)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:36:57 +0000

Robert Rodriguez, the creator of the hit saga, “Spy Kids,” returns to his roots with “Shorts.” Unfortunately, the film is a bust. The trailers indicate that it had promise, but in the end the film fails to teach anything or keep audiences interested from beginning to end. The film topped out at $20 million at the box office, which is hardly anything compared to the amount spent on the production of the film. “Shorts” is structured somewhat like “Vantage Point.” The movie begins with narration by the lead kid character. When he reaches a certain point he rewinds to a different perspective and part of the story, hence “shorts.” The film is comprised of a half dozen short films that are all supposed to fit together in the end. Unfortunately, there really isn’t reason to do this. It could have been done all in sequence. It was Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/blu-ray-movie-disc-reviews/sci-fi-fantasy/shorts-2009.html)

Emotiva ERC-1 CD Player Review

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:59:16 +0000

When people learn that I write reviews of A/V equipment, invariably I get asked, “Do you get to keep it after you're done?” I always chuckle and say, “Sure. If I pay for it.” Accumulating shelves full of gear is not my goal; rather, satisfaction comes from sharing my hobby and passion with others. If I uncover a piece of equipment that I believe is otherwise hidden from the public, share my findings and offer another option to outfit a system, then that's a success.My philosophy stems from frustration with brick-and-mortar shopping. Outside of major metropolitan areas, there are few – if any – places for consumers to experience or experiment with gear outside the realm of the Sony's of the world. Nothing against Sony, but there are hundreds of other manufacturers' products that shoppers will never know about unless they engage in some active Internet research.I live Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-audio-sources/cd-players/emotiva-erc-1-cd-player.html)

Yamaha YMC-500 neoHD Media Controller Review

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:40:38 +0000

I think there will come a time at Halloween when I could hand out the remote controls scattered about my house along with candy corn and gum, and satisfy the string of trick-or-treaters that canvass my neighborhood. Honestly, in each room where I listen to music, watch TV or movies I have a minimum of six remotes. It gets tricky, particularly for a reviewer, when one remote will turn on an unwanted component during use of another. I'm not lazy, but it's maddening to leave the chair to turn off a piece of equipment you didn't want to engage in the first place. The universal remote is not a new idea, but most are far more complicated than the originals they intend to replace. If I have a choice between spending an evening listening to music, watching a DVD or reprogramming a half-dozen remotes to do either of the former, Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-media-servers/home-theater-media-center-pcs/yamaha-ymc-500-neohd-media-controller.html)

Manley Labs MAHI Mono Power Amplifier Review

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:44:39 +0000

The first time I got to hear a piece of Manley Labs tube gear was when I reviewed their superb Neo Classic 300B Preamplifier a few months ago. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. Albert Schippits, Manley Labs National Sales Manager, was also sure I would also be interested in reviewing their MAHI® mono block tube amplifiers.Just to recap, Manley Labs, in Chino, CA, has been making pro audio and audiophile gear for several decades, and their leader, EveAnna Manley, has a distinct world view and a lot of common sense, in my opinion. First, she feels that the high end hobby should be fun, and that hifi components should be fun to use and listen to. I could not agree more. Secondly, she believes common sense and minimalism should rule the design. Simple, reliable design, with less circuitry in between your preamplifier, amplifier, and Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-power-amplifiers/mono-amplifiers/manley-labs-mahi-mono-power-amplifier.html)

EPA Announces New Energy Star Requirements – Expands Program

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:30:41 +0000

The latest Energy Star requirements have been announced by the Environmental Protection agency, and it all seems pretty reasonable. While agencies like the California Energy Comission set to ban televisions that use large amounts of power, Energy Star takes the other tact by rewarding manufacturers with Energy Star certification on products that meet the requirements. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/industry-trade-news/epa-announces-new-energy-star-requirements-expands-program.html)

Samsung Tops LCD Sales For Third Quarter – Market Share Still Dropping

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:29:19 +0000

Samsung has finally retaken its lead as the number one provider of LCD televisions in the United States with a solid 16.8% share of the market. Perhaps saying that Samsung has retaken anything is a bit grandiose though, since their share has still decreased significantly in the last year. In the third quarter of 2008, Samsung held 21.6% of the market share. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/industry-trade-news/samsung-tops-lcd-sales-for-third-quarter-market-share-still-dropping.html)

Warner Trades Old DVDs for New Blu-rays

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:27:45 +0000

Warner is getting behind the Blu-ray format in a big way with their DVD2Blu initiative, which lets consumers trade in their old DVDs for discounted Blu-ray versions of the same titles. With the format war long over, the standing argument from movie lovers to avoid Blu-ray adaptation is a nagging and seemingly unsolvable one. “But I’ve already got all the movies I love on DVD,” they say. “That means I’ll have to buy everything I own all over again.” Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/blu-ray-software-news/warner-trades-old-dvds-for-new-blu-rays.html)

2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Blu-ray Players

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:56:11 +0000

If the recent Blu-con conference (home-theater-feature-articles/other/blu-con-2.0-conference-coverage.html) in Los Angeles is any indicator, Blu-ray is officially here to stay. If you haven’t made the jump into the 1080p deliciousness of this high definition movie format, now is the time. With the holiday season rapidly approaching, there will be an astounding number of cheap Blu-ray players targeted at consumers finally ready to start replacing their DVD collections.Of course, with all the deals on the Blu-ray market, audio / video fanatics have to be careful that they are spending their money on high quality Blu-ray players. The following section of our holiday gift guide will provide solid recommendations on which players to keep your eye out for. In addition, we provided intermediate and videophile level picks for those looking to seriously upgrade their home theater Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-feature-articles/best-of-top-100-lists/2009-holiday-gift-guide-blu-ray-players.html)

Godzilla (1998)

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:33:15 +0000

“Godzilla” is Roland Emmerich’s 1998 blockbuster bust. There is no denying that Emmerich has created some of the most visually stunning films. “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Independence Day” are not known for their wonderful stories, only for their visual styles. “Godzilla” wasn’t a bust at the box office, having raked in over $130 million. Still, that doesn’t mean this was a good movie. It was seen simply for its visual effects. “Godzilla” suffers from a lame story, horrible dialogue and a lack of intuitive moves. Over the course of 139 minutes I lost count how many times the actors just stand and stare blankly at Godzilla or his hatchlings in front of them. Have they ever heard of running? Aside from the amount of screen time wasted on those shots, the film wastes more time on tricking Godzilla with mounds of fish and sideline stories. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/blu-ray-movie-disc-reviews/action-adventure/godzilla-1998.html)

RTI Details the ST-7 Universal System Controller

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:03:21 +0000

RTI unleashed a slew of details on their ST-7 Universal Controller. The ST-7, which is slated to hit in early 2010, has been named the honoree of CES’ Design and Engineering Award for Integrated Home Systems. The highly anticipated ST-7 is more than just a standard controller. The new offering from RTI features a seven inch LCD display, with an integrated multitouch capacitive touchscreen. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/remotes-system-control-news/rti-details-the-st-7-universal-system-controller.html)

InFocus Launches Two New IN550 Series Projectors

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:02:06 +0000

A pair of new projectors – the IN5534 and IN5504 – is now available from InFocus. Created especially for situations which would tax normal projectors, the IN5534 and IN5504 were designed to be able to run 24/7. Both projectors offer WUXGA resolution (1920 X 1200) and Texas Instruments DLP technology. Both feature automatic ceiling detection and keystone, which helps to eliminate common image distortion issues. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/dlp-front-projector-news/infocus-launches-two-new-in550-series-projectors.html)

Netflix Goes Live on Sony BRAVIA Televisions

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:46 +0000

It’s getting to the point where it’s nearly impossible to own a connected device that won’t stream Netflix. Sure, you might have a Panasonic Blu-ray player, a Samsung TV, a non TiVo DVR and a Nintendo Wii, but chances are there’s something connected to your television that provides access to the service. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/lcd-hdtv-news/netflix-goes-live-on-sony-bravia-televisions.html)

Wisdom Audio Adds Multi-Zone Capabilities to SC-1 Controller

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:36:58 +0000

Created for use either in the home or in a marine application, Wisdom Audio has added additional functionality to its already capable SC-1 controller. New software will be available in January – in time for CES according to Wisdom Audio – free for new and existing installations alike. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/music-servers-mp3-players-news/wisdom-audio-adds-multi-zone-capabilities-to-sc-1-controller.html)

NuVision Adds 32” and 37” TVs to Lucidium Line

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:26:15 +0000

NuVision's Lucidium line is expanding with a pair of midsized televisions that sport a few high end features. While the Lucidium line already featured a 32” and 37” set, the new televisions offer customers the option to take advantage of the FX5 120Hz processing found normally on NuVision’s larger sets. This FX5 technology eliminates the need for 3:2 pulldown by displaying each frame five times, thereby creating an effective 120 frame per second picture. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/lcd-hdtv-news/nuvision-adds-32-and-37-tvs-to-lucidium-line.html)

FLO TV Handheld Television Now Available

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:18:43 +0000

When people hear about a handheld television, they often think of those small antennae ridden devices that were good for watching a static filled version of whatever ball game was on, but very little else. Qualcomm is hoping to change the image by offering the FLO TV, a handheld touchscreen LCD that allows the viewing of live and time-shifted content from a variety of providers. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/cable-satellite-receiver-dvr-pvr-news/flo-tv-handheld-television-now-available.html)

Trends Audio Launches Tube Headphone/Pre Amp for iPhone

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:10:10 +0000

The iPhone and iPod line have proven themselves as an extremely popular portable audio option. That much is clear. iPods are small, they’re easy to use and they hold a decent sized chunk of music. Using the iPhone as a primary music device in the home, on the other hand, just seems wrong. But, according to Trends Audio Marketing Director David Ho, “iPhone-Fi is coming.” Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/music-servers-mp3-players-news/trends-audio-launches-tube-headphone-pre-amp-for-iphone.html)

Canton Introduces Two New Vento Speakers

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:09:09 +0000

A pair of new Vento speakers was added to Canton’s lineup today. The new additions mark the first use of Canton’s 6” aluminum cone woofer in the Vento line, which is responsible for a front baffle a full inch narrower than other Vento models. The three way bass reflex Vento 880 is a floorstanding loudspeaker. It stands thirty nine inches tall and slightly less than eight inches wide. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/bookshelf-monitor-loudspeakers-news/canton-introduces-two-new-vento-speakers.html)

Bergmann Audio Reveals Sindre Airbearing Turntable

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:16:16 +0000

In the world of high end electronics, there’s a tendency to focus on the latest and greatest. Blu-ray players, streaming audio, 9.2 channel surround sound and 4K resolution televisions hog the spotlight and classic media gets left in the lurch. That is, until a company like Bergmann Audio announces their new $20,000 airbearing turntable. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/audio-sources-news/bergmann-audio-reveals-sindre-airbearing-turntable.html)

Boxee Hardware and Beta on the Way

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:17:17 +0000

On December 7th Boxee is holding an event to preview its new Beta version software and will allow attendees early access. The company has also announced that they’ve finally signed a partnership with an as of yet unnamed company to produce Boxee set-top boxes. Very little has been revealed about what the Boxee box will entail or cost, but mockups and further information will be revealed at the preview event next month. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/home-theater-media-center-pcs-news/boxee-hardware-and-beta-on-the-way.html)

Insider Says Motorola Will Sell Set-Top Business

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:16:16 +0000

Motorola’s one of those companies that’s just so hard to get a grasp on. Their set-top boxes are regularly unimpressive, but up until they released the Droid, so were their phones. As one of the largest providers of set-tops in the US, this move has come as a surprise to industry analysts. Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/cable-satellite-receiver-dvr-pvr-news/insider-says-motorola-will-sell-set-top-business.html)

Velodyne Optimum-10 Subwoofer Review

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:15:41 +0000

A friend of mine likes to tell the story of someone who has too much money. It seems he had an acquaintance who was planning on upgrading a home theater system and wanted to jettison his old gear quickly. Instead of trying to sell it – or even donate it – he was just going to push it all to the curb and let any interested party have dibs. The first to go was a Velodyne subwoofer that had nary a blemish. When my buddy heard the news, he soon paid a visit and came away with a sweet subwoofer and not a dollar lighter. That same speaker has been proudly pumping out the bass for more than three years in its new home. Oh, were it always that easy to “adopt” speakers. When I received Velodyne's Optimum-10 subwoofer, I thus viewed my duties as akin to providing a temporary Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-loudspeakers/subwoofers/velodyne-optimum-10-subwoofer.html)