tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-230410522026-04-02T17:08:24.006-07:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-88205292658544636802008-03-27T02:39:00.000-07:002008-03-31T02:44:26.889-07:00

Who needs a TV? Use your monitor insteadPros: Easy to set up and use; very good picture quality; lots of sockets; well designedCons: Poor internal speakers; priceyBottomline: Excellent as both a TV and as a monitor, but the speakers could have been much betterManufacturer: LG ElectronicsIt’s amazing that products such as this aren’t more common, being a normal widescreen PC monitor with the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-56288061664108092992008-02-28T21:33:00.000-08:002008-02-29T21:36:52.817-08:00

Ditch digital radio and go onlinePrice: £120Manufacturer: IntempoPros: Easy to set up. Provides access to radio from around the world.Cons: Sound quality is not great. Station quality varies widely.Bottomline: The GX-01's price means it's a niche gadget but it's good at what it doesThis is a digital radio with a difference – rather than picking up Dab broadcasts over the airwaves, it streams

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-4830124453443480642008-02-26T10:16:00.000-08:002008-02-27T10:18:35.584-08:00

Digital TV? Do it yourselfPros: Noisy when in use. Not good value.Cons: Good EPG. Two tunersBottomline: Annoyingly noisy and not very cheapPrice: £60Although some people enjoy the challenge of sloshing paint around and wrangling with tiles, the attraction of DIY for most is that it can cost less than hiring a professional.Similarly, those with a lot of technical know-how sometimes like to build

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-338817141096288392008-02-13T23:58:00.000-08:002008-02-14T00:03:26.676-08:00

Media streaming on a real budgetPros: Supports many media servers. Works with memory cards and some USB hard disksReasonably easy to set upCons: Unappealing text menus. Can't play WMA or WMV files. No HDMI portBottomline: No frills but if your streaming needs are simple then the DMP-1120w could be enoughPrice: £84Manufacturer: SolwiseYou could listen to music, watch movies or browse digital

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-6182183887198370202008-02-05T06:33:00.000-08:002008-02-29T00:25:57.871-08:00

In the past, BenQ's products have always been remembered for their value-for-money proposition. These have included its extensive range of affordable yet competent projectors and LCD TVs. This, however, may be a thing of the past taking into consideration some of its recent releases. Most notably, the S$12,999 (US$8,551.97) W20000 full-HD projector which took the crown for one of the priciest

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-75625490601153125082008-01-30T20:20:00.000-08:002008-02-29T00:55:34.901-08:00

Pros: Produces a deep level of black; highly accurate initial color temperature; clean, sharp image; numerous picture controls; sleek design.Cons: Relatively expensive; some color inaccuracies and minor false contouring; less-effective glare-reducing screen.Bottomline: Although we were impressed by the picture quality of the Panasonic TH-58PZ700U 58-inch plasma HDTV, we prefer the value

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-69525178952308132542008-01-28T09:19:00.000-08:002008-01-28T09:29:14.313-08:00

Logic3's Soundstage is a surround sound unit that has only one speaker section instead of the usual six.While normal surround sound speaker sets rely on the user to place the various speakers in the right positions around the room, the Soundstage sits directly under the television and distributes the sound around the room from there.It's similar to the Evesham Soundstage in this regard, but

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-31160682130333583152008-01-27T23:14:00.001-08:002008-02-28T22:07:18.969-08:00

While JVC is probably not the first name that will cross your mind for entertainment projectors, its 2007 DLA-HD1 was an instant hit among enthusiasts and videophiles alike. Most were mesmerized by its 15,000:1 native contrast deep blacks, though the beamer's less-than-perfect sharpness was widely criticized, too. Expectations are running high for its successor, the DLA-HD100. So did the Japanese

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-88657004373751488232008-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:002008-02-29T00:59:33.581-08:00

LCD technology has two core problems that to some extent blight almost every LCD TV we see: poor black levels and a loss of resolution when showing moving objects.With its new 47PFL9632D, available for around AU$4000, Philips reckons it's finally solved both problems once and for all. And you know what? It might just be right.Read full reviewDesign and FeaturesAfter that intro, we're really duty

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-21434884270119136972008-01-05T04:13:00.000-08:002008-01-05T04:29:30.535-08:00

Among the mainstream home theater component vendors, none has been more renowned than Marantz for its products' musicality. Some of these sweet-sounding equipment include various products in the K.I Signature-series--tweaked by its brand ambassador and audio guru, Ken Ishiwata. The SR8002 is another strong example of its music-first philosophy judging from what we have gathered so far. Here's our

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-36234071051538310472007-12-31T02:07:00.000-08:002008-02-28T22:07:04.460-08:00

Panasonic has been in the front-projection business for a long time, and has been aggressively pricing its home theater projectors for just as long, which has effectively driven prices down in the category as a whole. As a result it's now more affordable than ever to get a big-screen theater experience at home. The company's latest effort, the PT-AE2000, is a 1080p mode that promises to follow

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-40432901782728253262007-12-26T07:33:00.000-08:002007-12-26T07:37:25.357-08:00

Both front projectors and flat-panel HDTVs are plummeting in price while offering more and more in the way of features and performance. Sanyo's LCD-based PLV-Z2000 has a solid feature package for easy installation and fine tuning of the picture, and also offers comprehensive connectivity. Its flaws in picture quality, while notable, are generally shared by most front-projection systems,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-32567150867773200112007-12-24T07:29:00.000-08:002008-02-28T22:08:54.720-08:00

Surround sound is one of the greatest inventions in home entertainment--nothing involves you in the on-screen action more than an immersive soundtrack rumbling out from all around you. The problem is, if you have limited space, or simply don't want to run speaker cables all over your living room, surround sound really isn't an option.Read full reviewEnter all-in-one speaker systems, designed to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-45388905135551121132007-12-21T06:57:00.000-08:002008-02-28T22:10:00.151-08:00

Like a forgotten child, the new Samsung PS50P91FHX would have gone under our radar if not for a tipoff from vigilant home theater buffs. Probably the company's first response to its competitors' full-HD entries, the P9 is easily one of the sleekest and most handsome-looking panels in the market. Many are also attracted by its aggressive pricing, tagged at S$5,999 (US$3,946.71) a set, which is

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-49981576676428832482007-12-19T06:43:00.000-08:002008-02-28T22:11:36.600-08:00

Sony's 2007 flagship front projector, the VPL-VW200, uses the company's variant of LCoS, called SXRD, and like most high-end projectors, it features a native resolution of 1080p. Those specs and jargon may well impress your buddies, but the real story is in the picture. The VPL-VW200 is the most color-accurate front projector we've seen for less than S$45,000 (US$29,605.26), and it basically

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-73934526311613444022007-12-17T05:46:00.000-08:002007-12-26T06:30:02.323-08:00

This has been a landmark year for A/V receivers. Traditionally, receivers have just been the muscle of a home theater, but now there's no denying that they're the brain. As well, they contain more functionality than nearly any other piece of home theater equipment. The Denon AVR-3808 is the epitome of this new breed of receivers, with a high-def graphical user interface, built-in digital music

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-41957508111462491482007-12-14T05:35:00.000-08:002007-12-26T05:40:18.445-08:00

It's a protracted battle between the HD-DVD and Blu-ray consortiums with no foreseeable let-up from both camps. So you have an option to either pick a side or sit out the tussle--which is what most folks are doing anyway. Alternatively, you could also go format neutral by embracing one of the two upcoming universal HD players, the Samsung BD-UP5000 or LG BH200. Here's our take on the latter which

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-60261058159452632622007-12-12T04:14:00.000-08:002007-12-26T05:21:07.425-08:00

You probably haven't heard of Planar before. But on the evidence of the PD7060, you'll surely be hearing more about it in the future for its high-quality pictures that could well have more established rivals scurrying for cover.ProsPlanar has hit the nail right on the head with the PD7060's delightful combination of a glossy black exterior with silver trim and a tastefully rounded shape. It also

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-29234281357601112342007-12-10T04:00:00.000-08:002007-12-26T04:04:06.124-08:00

If you are a Toshiba Regza diehard holding out for a 2007 100Hz-driven model, we have both good and bad news for you. On the positive side, there is finally a glimpse of hope with the Z3500-series' impending December launch. Having said that, you will need ample space in your living room to fit the mammoth 52-incher which may be a bit of a space crunch for many city dwellers. In fact, the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-9375033213423881012007-12-07T01:44:00.000-08:002007-12-26T01:49:48.831-08:00

It may have been only a 1080i player, but the Toshiba HD-E1 has found a place in our hearts. Firstly, despite the fact that it's 1080i, it makes no difference when you watch film material. Secondly, it's cheap and simple.Its technical successor, the Toshiba HD-EP30, has much to live up to. It has to be a low-cost, high-quality way to see HD-DVDs. Can this new model succeed like its predecessor?

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-2517830459955392212007-12-05T02:51:00.000-08:002007-12-25T03:24:45.227-08:00

Expectations are running high for this impending Samsung dual-format player, especially after the recently announced worldwide shipping delay originally scheduled for the coming holidays. Rumor has it that the Koreans are holding back the launch to fix its software interactive (BD-J 1.1) support. If this turns out to be true, the upgraded capability will give the BD-UP5000 a much-needed boost

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-64219071549067820732007-12-03T02:19:00.000-08:002007-12-25T03:24:42.690-08:00

First, it was the budget hotels, and then there were the value airliners that charged no more than a ferry ticket. With cost of living soaring in Asia, cautious consumers are increasingly on the lookout for value-for-money goods and services. To cash in on this fast growing trend, a number of first-tier electronics vendors are now rolling out low-cost full-HD flat panels. The latest is Samsung

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-31333707759327585072007-11-26T03:13:00.000-08:002007-12-25T03:10:36.180-08:00

It has been a long and winding road for Samsung when it comes to its past and current lineup of standalone HD players. The Korean company did beat the competition with its world's first Blu-ray player, the BD-P1000. But in the process of rushing out the product, it missed a software bug plaguing its pilot offering with softer-than-expected visuals. This development may have prompted its Asia

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-90768701327046418172007-11-21T19:37:00.000-08:002007-12-05T20:13:57.367-08:00

Philips is injecting a new lease of life to its unique Ambilight system in its latest Aurea range of TV panels. Earlier this year, the company switched to LED in a bid to improve color reproduction and lower power consumption. Now it's pushing the envelope one step further with a new revamped platform. Built upon the same environment-friendly LEDs, the Spectra iteration employs a semi-translucent

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23041052.post-4638771415420355232007-11-16T00:01:00.000-08:002007-12-25T03:10:36.183-08:00

With Sony's PS3 still sitting pretty as Asia's cheapest Blu-ray option--especially with the S$559 (US$367.99) 40GB PS3--we find ourselves intrigued by Sony's first standalone Blu-ray player, the Sony BDP-S1E, for S$1,699 (US$1,117.99).Will the player really be able to justify its much higher cost and persuade us to buy it even though it doesn't also play games?StrengthsIt doesn't take long in the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0