Electronics Products Review

Demystifying Surround Sound Terminology

2010-05-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

Just in case you've been reading around and researching the many terms and topics that concern surround sound and the many surround sound systems on the market today, I thought it might be a good idea to explain some of the terminology that is floating around. First of all there are many initials names and numbers floating around when it comes to surround sound technology and equipment, it's no wonder that many of us mere mortal consumers are more than a little confused by it all. Hopefully the information you find below will prove helpful as you weave through the wired jungles of modern sound technology.

The first and probably most common thing you will see in these circles is Dolby Digital. While there are many complicated definitions of this term the one that will matter most to you, as a consumer is that right now it is the leading format on the market when it comes to processing the digital data that your system will need to process. There are better brands such as DTS when it comes to musical sound for this function but the vast majority of television broadcasts and DVDs are optimized for Dolby.

Speaking of DTS, at the moment they are Dolby's primary competition. While most items you find on the market such as DVDs are viewable in both DTS and Dolby you need to make sure that they system you purchase whether Dolby or DTS can read both formats for those times when your favorite flick just might not be enhanced for both.

Now perhaps the most confusing of terms when it comes to surround sound systems would be 5.1. It looks so innocent just sitting there but most people are ready to pull out their hair when they realize that it really stands for a system that includes 6 speakers rather than five. The ".1" in the name refers to the frequency of the subwoofer (or Low Frequency Effects-LFE), which is .1. Despite the existence of 'better' systems on the market today, most movies are optimized for this particular set up so this will be of the most value to you with the current products on the market rather than spending more for systems that the DVD makes haven't yet caught up with.

DTS ES refers to a format commonly referred to as 6.1. In this format there is one additional speaker moved to the center rear of the configuration and the two-rear left and right speakers are moved forward. And THX EX 7.1 is what happens when you add yet another speaker. There aren't too many films at the moment that use this particular format some notable exceptions would be the Star Wars movies. This means that movies haven't really caught up to the technology of either of these systems but they are on the market and some people simply must have them. I recommend going with a superior 5.1 channel surround sound system for the time being and adding speakers when there are more reasons to do so.

This list is by no means exhaustive but will give you a basic overview of the information that is relevant to you as you look into the various surround sound systems on the market today. You shouldn't have to weed through volumes of confusing terminology in order to find out that the system you are interested in actually has 6 speakers rather than 5. My hope is that you can go in armed with basic knowledge that will help you make an informed buying decision.

Building a Home Theater on a Budget

2010-05-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

Americans tend to spend a lot of time in front of our television sets. Whether we are movie junkies with multiple memberships to Internet movie rental companies or are serious addicts to all things reality on television we are addicted to our entertainment. Since we spend so much time watching our televisions it makes sense that we make a sizeable investment in our home theater in order to get the best possible quality picture and sound from our systems.

We do not, however live in a one size fits all world, which has lead to a good deal of healthy competition within the entertainment industry as well as the electronics industry. This is excellent news for consumers that must live within the constraints of their budgets. As competition emerges along with newer technologies we see a downward trend in the prices of existing technology. The real trick however is to be content with last year's technology today and you could actually save thousands on your home theater.

If you are even willing to go a step back as far as technology, trust me it isn't evolving all that noticeably fast when it comes to home theaters, you can still get a great home theater on Ebay or even in your local paper that is of excellent quality for a fraction of the cost you would have paid for the system had you purchased it brand new. If you are merely budget conscious or are going through a budget famine you should find that there are some outstanding options available through second hand home theaters.

If you are like many (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this) who do not like purchasing used items for whatever reason, the most common being a lack of a warranty, then it makes perfect sense not to consider this particular option. Selecting this option however does not leave you without options by any means. Perhaps my favorite option is to build your own home theater one piece at a time. You might be surprised to find that in the end you have a superior system to most of those you will find on the market today.

Life is a series of choices and that process doesn't end at all when you are choosing the right home theater for your home and needs. Unfortunately neither does the fact that we often must live within budget restrictions that we do not appreciate nearly as much as we enjoy the idea of Dolby Digital Surround Sound or Bose speakers. The good news is that if you look and take your time by checking out and comparing your likes and dislikes in many systems you will have become an informed consumer. This is the best gift you can give yourself when shopping around.

Compare prices, beg, bargain, and barter. See if stores will match the prices of other stores or throw in freebies in order to compete. You should also remember that unless you have the equipment and skills necessary for the installation of your home theater it is quite likely that you will need to pay for that as well. A retailer that is willing to throw in free installation might be a bargain worth giving a little more thought.

In the end, the goal is to get the best possible home theater for your home for the least amount of money possible. By learning about your options you will know when you leave the store whether or not you got a good deal on the home theater you bought. There cannot be enough said about the knowledge you will gain about home theaters through this process or what you will learn about the price of things compared to their value. More importantly you just might learn the real price we often pay simply to go with a name that we know. You can save a great deal of money by taking a chance on emerging companies but do your research fist and learn as much about the company as possible before you give them your hard earned money.

Building a Great Home Theater

2010-05-17T23:22:00.000-07:00

It could be very easy to spend tens of thousands of dollars building the ultimate home theater experience for you and your family and if you use your home theater on a regular basis and have the money to spare you might find well worth the investment. However, you can also build a fantastic home theater for significantly less money if you are willing to put a great deal of effort into finding the right parts for the right price for your system. Everything comes down to matters of preference and available funds when building any sort of home theater.

The truth of the matter is that most of us cannot afford to spend more than ten thousand dollars creating the home theater of our dreams. Many of us must seriously budget well in order to spend a couple thousand dollars on our home theaters. The good news is that for a few thousand dollars you can create a truly phenomenal home theater if you do your homework and invest your money wisely in components for your home theater system.

My first recommendation when building a good quality home theater is to buy one piece at a time rather than building it all at once. This allows you to constantly upgrade your system without breaking the budget all at once. It also allows you the time to save up for better quality pieces within your system rather than attempting to make an all or nothing purchase. One thing to remember when purchasing pieces individually is to make sure that they are all compatible (this is especially important with speakers, which I recommend purchasing together as a set whenever possible).

The television is the first thing you should purchase when building your home theater as almost everything in your home theater will center around your television. High definition televisions are becoming more and more common and provide superior quality to many other televisions you will find on the market. If you have the means with which to purchase this sort of television I highly recommend that you do so. Once you have your television you can begin purchasing other components in order to complete your system.

The next component I recommend is a receiver or amplifier. This is the piece that brings all other components together. Without a decent receiver it is virtually impossible to have a decent home theater. The receiver acts as a sort of conductor for the sound and picture of your home theater. This is a piece of equipment that should not be skimped on when it comes to quality, as you will completely miss an important part of the 'theater' experience without it.

Next are the speakers. Speakers are also very important to the 'theater' experience of your home theater. The speakers are what provide that 'movie quality' sound that is so important to most enthusiasts and what will make your system the envy of the neighborhood. I highly recommend purchasing speakers as a set in order to insure compatibility.
Finally, the DVD player or recorder rounds out the system. It is up to you and your preferences whether or not you wish to invest in a high dollar (at the moment) high definition DVD player. If you have HD television and plan to purchase HD disks for your movies then this is the way to go. Otherwise it is a complete waste of money in my opinion until the rest of your system rises to meet the technology. The good thing about purchasing one component at a time is that you can constantly work towards upgrading your system to meet rising technology.

Common Surround Sound Formats

2010-05-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

In case you hadn't figured it out by now, surround sound is named as it is because the sound literally surrounds the listener. While there have recently been significant leaps and bounds in this technology there was a huge gap in time between the introduction of this technology and the significant improvements we have seen in recent years. This is especially true when the evolution of sound technology is compared to how fast the world of video has evolved over the last three decades.

There are many different formats on the market today. This can be confusing for many consumers though the good news is that most devices that interpret the formats do so automatically. In other words, you won't need a PhD in terminology in order to enjoy the latest blockbuster hit to come out on DVD with your surround sound system. You will however need a good AV receiver and even better speakers in order to get the maximum enjoyment from your home theater and surround sound system.

If you are simply curious or like to know a little about a lot, then you just might find some of the following explanations for common surround sound formats to be useful. Dolby Digital AC-3 is by far the most commonly seen surround sound format. It is a 5.1 channel format (this means five speakers plus one subwoofer). This is what most DVDs will include and some programs that are found on digital cable or satellite channels will have this type of surround sound as well. You can use Dolby Digital for older mediums that do not include surround sound in their format, as surround isn't required in order to use the system.

Pro Logic is a system used by Dolby in order to translate or decode the signals from other mediums such as old videocassette tapes or television broadcasts. This is becoming widely known for its ability to take two speaker sounds and turn them into shockingly realistic surround imitations.

DTS is the largest competitor for Dolby when it comes to sound. DTS is this company's answer to Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. This is mostly seen only on DVDs.

DTS-ES is the above-mentioned company's answer to Dolby's 6.1 surround system (this is 6 speakers plus 1 subwoofer). Of course DTS is also going to have their own answer to Pro Logic and that answer would be DTS NEO:6, which is said to produce great imitations of surround sound from existing 2 channel mediums very much like Pro Logic.

You may be wondering why we went through all of this information and the primary reason is so that you know there is a difference and you purchase equipment and DVDs that are compatible with one another. Failure to do so could result in a sound that is less than desirable. Most systems will at the very least support both Dolby Digital and DTS, however, you should make sure that you are aware of the format your system requires from the start in order to make the proper decisions when purchasing.

Much like anything in life the proper formats and surround sound system comes down to a matter of choice. The more speakers (such as you would find in the 6.1 or 7.1 surround systems) will present a great quality of sound than fewer, however poor quality speakers can completely ruin the beauty of the sound of your surround sound system. Your speakers should be your single largest investment when it comes to building your ideal surround sound system.

There are many things that go into creating not only the perfect surround sound system for your home but also the perfect surround sound set up. Do not get so caught up in researching these systems online that you neglect to walk into your local stores and actually hear the sound systems you are considering for purchase. There is noting like hearing the quality of the sound to help you make your final selection.

Box Kit Home Theaters

2010-05-14T01:27:00.000-07:00

We live in a world where convenience is increasingly growing in demand. For this reason many home theater buyers expect convenience when it comes to the purchase and set up of their home theater systems. It goes without saying that there are all kinds of consumers in the world and even in matters of convenience supply and demand have not emerged to create a one size fits all society. We all want similar things in many ways yet we still want autonomy and selections from which to choose.

The demands of a society that likes the ease of buying prepackaged goods have reached such a point however that packages are common place in everything from prepackaged dinners to prepackaged home theater systems. On one level these types of prepackaged theater systems provide a great deal of convenience to consumers. Among those benefits is the ability to know the cost of the entire system up front. This is actually a small benefit when compared to some of the other benefits that consumers who purchase these systems experience.

Compatibility

Consumers who purchase these pre packaged home theater systems know when they buy the system that every part will work in conjunction with the other parts in the system. There are no proprietary issues to worry about, the components have been created and designed with the intent of not only working well together but also of complementing each other in the process. All pieces work together for maximum quality and efficiency-for the price.

Price

Most of these boxed systems will cost less than purchasing similar individual components. For many this alone is enough of a reason to purchase a box kit. This is actually in addition to the convenience of knowing the price for the entire package ahead of time. There is a wide variety of parts and components on the market and you can find many pieces in each price range, it is often confusing when comparing prices because it is often difficult to understand details of quality simply by comparing boxes.

Knowledge

When it comes to the prepackaged box kits, you can actually see and hear them in action as a part of the hole. This means that you know how the system will sound when working together rather than hearing a hodgepodge of pieces and components while remaining unsure of how they really work individually. There is a lot to be said about the ability to try something before you buy it. Prepackaged home theater systems allow consumers to do just that.

Installation

This for many is probably the biggest reason to go with the prepackaged kit rather than a huge system of individual component-ease of installation. Most, if not all, of the prepackaged kits are very simple to install, which eliminates the need for professional installation and takes a great deal of hassle out of the installation process.

The prepackaged systems are not however, the type of systems you will want to purchase if you intend to build a better system over time as they are not easily upgradeable and most true enthusiasts are often disappointed with the quality of the speakers and sounds that come with these systems. However if you have limited space and limited funds, these systems are often a great place to start when it comes to a home theater. You can always pass it on to your children if you decide to upgrade later.

Basic Components for a Home Theater

2010-05-13T18:44:00.000-07:00

Many people never bother looking into purchasing a home theater through sheer fear of the decisions that may need to be made in the process. Many among these aren't even sure of exactly which components are included in a home theater or which ones are needed in order to create an effective and entertaining home theater. For this reason, many people simply do not bother going through the process of looking at their options when it comes to these wonderful systems on the market today much less ever bother actually purchasing one.

If you are one of the many who has experienced some degree of confusion when it comes to the individual parts and pieces that are included in a home theater system and what they do, hopefully you will gain a better understanding once you've finished reading. The first thing to understand is that there are varying degrees when it comes to home theaters. The following components are the makings of a very basic home theater that will provide excellent functionality. They are not however inclusive of every possible piece or part that could make up a home theater system.

Off to the basics, the first thing you'll need when creating a home theater for your family to enjoy is a television. It might seem a little too obvious to some but I have yet to find a box kit that includes a television-mainly because the choice of screen is for many the most personal aspect of selecting a home theater. There are essentially three choices in today's television market: front projector, rear projector, and plasma. There are variations within each of these and the prices fall anywhere from modest to quite costly. This is the component that most home theater owners spend the most time contemplating and it affects the types of components that will be most effective later on in terms of things such as high definition and other choices you can make.

A receiver is another important component. You will probably have a DVD player or recorder of some sort as part of your system; you may have a Tivo and cable box or satellite and will probably have speakers of some sort for your system. The receiver is the box you plug them all into-it receives all of this inputs and correlates it so to speak. This is the ultimate traffic director when it comes to your home theater and I suggest you spend a good portion of your home theater budget making sure that this is a good quality part.

Speakers are where your sound will flow. One of the best things to me about a home theater is the ability to experience surround sound very similar to what I experience in theaters while having the ability to put my feet up or snuggle under blankets (which simply can't be achieved in a theater). Speakers come in all shapes and sizes and are also quite personal for some consumers while give and take for others. You can purchase these are part of a kit in order to make the selection process easier.

Finally, you have your DVD player or recorder. If high definition is important to you, you now have that option. If your television isn't HD ready or capable, I'd pass and go for an older (less expensive) model of DVD player until something more up-to-date is called for. These items are a great start for any home theater and you can build, expand, and upgrade over time for an even better system. Enjoy!

Budget Friendly Surround Sound

2010-05-13T01:57:00.000-07:00

A good home theater and surround sound system for your movie enjoying pleasure is a rather large investment for the common movie buff-at least if you are purchasing a really high quality system for your home theater or media room. This isn't to say that you cannot find decent surround sound systems for small spaces that come with much lower price tags than you will ordinarily find on the market. In fact, there are many ways in which you can buy a decent surround sound system for a small room even if you are limited by budget constraints.

Second Hand Systems
Buying second hand from Ebay carries some degree of risk but a reputable seller is often a good place to start. There are some people who simply can't stand to have technology that is 6 months or even 6 days for some matters, old. Their loss is your gain as you can score a really nice surround sound system, speakers included at amazingly low prices if the bidding works in your favor and you know a little about brands and quality. Pawnshops and electronics consignment stores are other good places to find bargains on this particular sort of equipment.

Buy Boxed Sets

I'm typically opposed to box sets when it comes to electronics as there have been many instances in the past where these were merely a method of pawning off inferior goods on an unsuspecting public. However, big names such as Bose have gone over to the dark side so to speak and are beginning to offer box sets of surround sound speakers at surprisingly and amazingly reasonable price tags. There are cheaper brands than Bose, don't get me wrong, I use them as an indication of the wide variety and standards you will find in surround sound speaker systems that come in box sets today. The good news is that you can get really good prices on speaker systems such as this if you are willing to shop around.

Compare Prices

It really does pay in this day and age to do just that. Even if you have a favorite retailer chances are that you could get a better price through them by doing a simple search online and looking for a lower advertised price. If not, it might be worth your while to go with the Internet provider this time and save your money for DVDs and music with which to enjoy your new surround sound system. I also recommend seeing what local competition has to offer; you'll be amazed at some of the wonderful bargains you can find by walking into a store on any given day. I know that stores like Circuit City have great bargains on featured items during the week in order to boost sales. You never know when one of those items might be an outstanding surround sound systems or a phenomenal set of speakers.

Wait it out

If you have your heart set on one surround sound system and nothing else will do, then it may be in your best interest to wait until the price drops. In electronics terms that often means waiting about 6 months or until the next consumer expo event (this is when all the new technology is introduced, which makes all the existing technology drop its prices in order to seem more appealing). Both of these options may seem unappealing but can mean very real and very significant savings on your part if you are willing to wait in order to get what you really want. Not only does this give you time for the prices to decrease but also for the size of your savings to increase.

While shopping on a budget isn't always the preferred method it is very possible to get a decent home theater or surround sound system for your home even if you are working within the limits of a seriously impaired budget.

Bringing Theater Quality Sound Home

2010-05-13T01:34:00.000-07:00

If you are one of the many people around the world who loves the sound quality of watching movies in theaters but hates the hassles (crying babies, people talking, cell phones ringing, etc) of actually going then I hope you are seriously contemplating the value that a home theater or surround sound system could bring to your movie enjoyment. In fact, a good surround sound system cannot only improve your overall enjoyment of blockbuster hits but also your favorite music and video games as well. Surround sound is far more than a tool for watching movies at home, it is an entirely new way to look at and listen to your television in general.

You do not have to begin your home theater or surround sound experience with a top of the line piece of equipment. It is quite possible to start small with a surround sound system and build a better system as you go. In fact, I seriously recommend that people invest heavily in speakers from the beginning and sacrifice the number of speakers in favor of better quality speakers. In addition to this there are many box kits out there that are designed for almost any budget on the market. You can find box kits for everything from basic surround sound systems to home theater in a box. If you are seriously considering the enjoyment this can bring into your home there is no time like the present to start checking out your options.

I never recommend simply walking into the store and purchasing the first kit you find though you are certainly welcome to do just that. I feel that you might walk away from the experience a little jaded however and highly suggest that you go to a local retail center that has sound rooms set up in order to listen to the many options that are currently on the market and compare the sound and the quality of the sound within those items in your price range. I suggest that you start on the low side and work your way up rather than starting at the high end and working your way down.

When you find the quality of sound you are most comfortable with, this is the system I recommend you go home and research. Compare prices online to see if you can find any major values and bargains. The Internet is usually full of good deals for consumers that are willing to sort through many companies that market online. While the Internet is the land of opportunity for some, I also recommend that you take the lowest price you find online to your local retail store and see if they can match it or throw in a few perks to sweeten the deal. You could find some interesting deals by doing this and it costs nothing to try and could save you money in the long run.

The point is to get the best system your money can buy (without sending you to the 'poor house' in the process). Once you have decided on the system you want all bets are off when it comes to finding the best price. We live in a consumer driven marketplace and as a consumer you do have control over where your money is spent and whether or not you are willing to pay the price of spending your money elsewhere.

You know the quality you expect, as you've listened and compared in the stores, and you know the price that you are willing to pay for that quality. Most consumers are learning this fact and willing to make concessions in order to compete with those companies that operate online. See what your local retailers can offer you and if they can't match what you've found online you should be willing to go with the online service. This is a great way for you as a consumer to know what you are getting and feel as though you've gotten a good deal in the process. More importantly you get to bring the theatrical experience you love so much into your very own living room. Now the only kids crying over your movie will be your own.

Logitech X-540 5.1 Speaker System (Black)

2010-02-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

Strike your brave to the incoming take with surround pronounce so sumptuous and careful, you can discover your enemies before they probe you. With this 5.1 adjoin strong system on your endorse, you'll center every stride and where the bullets are moving from. Frequency Directed Duple Wood equipment speakers and a thundering subwoofer make a three-dimensional soundstage that envelops you and immerses you in the spread. From tender cleanable highs to deep clump vocalist, this is everything you essential to go from activity the brave to idea

5.1 surround sound for an intensified game and movie experience

Absorb yourself in the litigate with richly careful and accurately reproduced 5.1 adjoin substantial. High-performance follower speakers use Ratio Directed Threefold Drivers (FDD2) to destruct untrue rate response-the enunciate twisting that occurs when whatsoever frequencies are unnaturally louder or softer than they were meant to be. The ending? A slippery and single set of contain enunciate throughout the position, without the barren zones and hot symptom sometimes created by formulaic threefold wood satellites.

Matrix mode transforms classic games from stereo to surround sound

Your lover old games are active to exact a anomaly jump in enounce grade. Opt the Matrix Fashion and the articulator system forthwith converts 2-channel biaural to pragmatic 5.1 skirt pronounce. The conflict in oftenness force is so melodramatic, it's similar chance your creation exposure games, movies and music for the opening moment.

Control pod with headphone jack puts sound control at your fingertips

With the rough controller pod, all your controls are at hand-power, skipper volume, part level, plane Matrix Average. So it's effortless to correct secure in the energy of attempt. And when you essential to fix the gamy all to yourself, there's a headset diddlyshit for esoteric hearing.

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Sony HTSS360 5.1 channel Home Theater System (Black)

2010-02-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

A perfect workforce to Blu-ray Disc separate movies and sophisticated play platforms, this thin, contact quantify headphone scheme offers naiveness in set-up and connectivity. Participate the ladened help Blu-ray Disc subject sound was industrial for with tercet HDMI inputs. Introduce HD sources with a singular television and flat way them through the systems distant contro. One switch criterion is also addressable with BRAVIA Sync discipline and the scheme cosmetically compliments Blu-ray Round players and TVs.

Technical Details

Surround sound home theater system optimized for HD
3 HDMI inputs with Active Intelligence
Cosmetically compliments BRAVIA TVs and Sony BD players
BRAVIA sync
iPod and other sources playback, with DMPORT accessories

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LG 37LH40 37-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV, Gloss Black

2010-02-01T20:01:00.000-08:00

The LH40 Serial from LG has all the features you requisite, and the profession you status for the individual undergo. Get the advisable ikon visible with Brimming HD 1080p, virtually eliminate happening change in sports and fasting state scenes with TruMotion 120Hz, and get your impression automatically conform to the featherweight and colourize condi

TruMotion 120HZ

No more blur import when you're watching your competitor game, spreading wink or playing a hot new recording strategy. By responding rapidly to distort changes, TruMotion 120Hz subject, conjunctive with LG's unparalleled IPS panels, virtually eliminates move dim and improves represent grade at dissimilar vigil angles.

Full HD 1080p Resolution

Enjoy enhanced picture quality over standard HDTV with almost double the pixel resolution. See sharper details like never before. Just imagine a Blu-ray disc or video game seen on your new LG Full HD 1080p TV.

Sharp Aquos LC42D65U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

2010-02-01T19:56:00.000-08:00

The AQUOS LC42D65U sets a new measure for large-screen mat panel TVs. With Sounding HD 1080p resolve and an refined new figure, it produces a exciting show level that is ordinal to service. The LC42D65U utilizes Sharpened's proprietary Late Caretaker View/Black TFT Window with Spectral Opposition Engine, providing piping Propulsive Contrast Ratio, 6ms greeting instant and ample viewing angles (176?H x 176?V). The LC42D65U is Telecasting with built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC tuners and permit 5 HDMI? inputs, matched with 1080p signals, and 2 HD 1080p constituent video.

Technical Details

42" HDTV LCD-TV with Full HD 1080p resolution
10,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
5 HDMI� inputs
RS-232C Input for control

Panasonic SC-HC3 Ultra-Slim iPod Docking Speaker System with CD player, AM/FM Radio, Clock, Alarm, and Remote (Black)

2010-01-31T22:33:00.000-08:00

Panasonic SC-HC3 Overview; Elated Dimension Sound:The SC-HC3 achieves sharp calibre unbroken from concise speakers. The Bamboo Conoid Speakers create heat, remove vocals. The two nonviolent radiators that are positioned at the frontmost and wager of the verbaliser unit balance out vibrations region the utterer thusly suppressing unwanted

Built-in Universal iPod Dock
Dynamic and Clear sound with Dual Passive Radiator and Bamboo Cone Speakers
Ultra Slim Design
Low Power Consumption at Standby Mode
Built-in CD player and AM/FM Digital Tuner

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Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

2010-01-31T22:29:00.000-08:00

For stunning picturing with direction and speed relaxation, lie no promote than Canon's EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebelling XSi brings staggering study creativeness to the group. It features Canon's EOS Joint Cleanup Scheme, Smoldering Message Answer, a omnipotent DIGIC III Someone Processor, plus a new 12.2-megapixel CMOS device and is getable in a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS organ with Optical Simulacrum Stabilizer. The EOS Disloyal XSi's elegant, ergonomic organization includes a new 3.0-inch LCD watercraft, sympathy with SD and SDHC retentiveness game and new accessories that raise every vista of the photographic undergo.

New Canon 12.2-megapixel CMOS device and DIGIC III representation processor Canon's CMOS (inessential metal oxide semiconductor) device captures images with particular quality and pitch straddle, and offers the most pixels in its form. It offers umteen of the similar new technologies to tap apiece component's ill assemblage efficiency that were primary seen with the grownup EOS-1D Disfigure III theory. It's an APS-C size device (22.2 x 14.8mm), and there's an utile 1.6x increment in the lens's scarred focal length when related. Canon's DIGIC III Person Processor dramatically enhances image caliber (more...)

Samsung LN46B650 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

2010-01-28T02:14:00.000-08:00

With the Samsung 46-inch LN46B650 HDTV, you're investing in ahigh-quality LCD TV that offers top-of-the-line represent property with 1080p piercing definition resolution. Like the sharpest information and vivid justify with a 100,000:1 slashing contrast ratio for solon real images and Samsung's Deep Stuff Enhancer 3 field for a author natural interpretation of emblem. It also incorporates a sign of innovative features to bound the occurrence representation and person vibrate, which traditionally swarm LCD HDTVs when displaying accelerated

A comfortable variety of transmission devices can be engaged to the set finished any one of the quadruplet HDMI 1.3 inputs (including one on the surface), and the accessible Anynet+ dimension (HDMI-CEC) lets you command all your CEC-enabled peripherals--such as a DVD or Blu-ray player--using right one device. Connect HD digital devices similar saucer players, strategy consoles, and star dish components into the two face connections and use the side-mounted signal for cameras, camcorders, and laptops. HDMI is the human performing programme for displaying an HD author on an Telecasting.

HDMI (version 1.3): 4

Component: 2 rear

Composite A/V: 1 rear/1 side (shared with component)

USB 2.0: 2

PC input (15-pin, D-Sub): 1

Ethernet: 1

RS232C: 1

Digital audio output: 1 optical

Samsung LN52B750 52-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LCD HDTV with Charcoal Grey Touch of Color

2010-01-28T02:06:00.000-08:00

See smoother, bolder, statesman breathtaking overfull HD 1080p images and progressive connectivity options justness on the LN40B750. The LN52B750 With the groundbreaking Perception of Alter system, the 750 features the ultra Motorcar Happening Plus 240Hz application, which produces an unbelievably pass show, no matter how hurrying the sue. The Ultra Liquid

52-inch high definition TV with 1080p resolution

Four HDMI, two component, one PC, and two composite video inputs; two 10W bottom speakers and SRS TruSurround HD for a rich surround-sound experience from two speakers

Samsung technology like Auto Motion Plus 240Hz, 2ms response time, 150,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and Wide Color Enhancer 3 for a stunning high contrast picture

Medi@2.0 lets you enjoy Internet@TV for content via Yahoo! and more; sync home electronics with DLNA; enjoy pre-loaded Flash content like recipes; use USB 2.0 for connecting thumb drives or cameras

One-year parts and labor warranty (more...)

Canon XLH1

2009-03-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

On September 18 of 2005, Canon broke new ground in the digital video camera industry, announcing the XL H1, which was Canon's first DVC featuring high definition. Originally developed based on the needs of professional and enthusiast videographers, the XL H1 retains the operability of Canon's very popular XL2 while increasing the professional function and supporting high definition recording.

The flagship DVC for the company of Canon, the XL H1 is ideal for use all across the spectrum of professional content making, from film and television production to filming weddings. The XL H1 also comes equipped with a HD 20X zoom video lens, the XL 5.4-108 mm L IS II, which contributes to Canon's development aim of delivering the highest possible quality of recording available today.

As Canon's first HD video camera, the XL H1 camcorder and 20X HD video zoom lens will provide broadcasters with a low budget 1080i resolution option for ENG, documentary or even reality television productions.

Film makes will also fall for the extensive Cine controls and 24 frame rate option the XL H1 has to offer. Canon's custom jackpack features include uncompressed digital HD-SDI output for

seamless integration into broadcast studios or high quality image transfer to non linear editing systems.

The genlock feature will allow movie sets to easily synchronize camera settings across multiple

camcorders and SMPTE time codes will allow for streamlined tape and edit management.

The XL H1 also offers three 1/3 inch 1.67 megapixel interlaced CCDs that capture images at 1080i resolution. It also features selectable frame rates of 50i and 25F, so capturing fast motion and just about everything else is possible with the XL H1.

Nintendo Wii Review

2008-08-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Nintendo has ventured off the beaten path with its newest system, and the company knows it. While the Sony PlayStation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 both emphasize their impressive graphical capabilities, Nintendo downplays the importance of graphics on its new console. While the Sony and Microsoft consoles keep the branding of their respective predecessors, the oddly named Wii is a semantic departure from Nintendo's more literally named 2001 console, the GameCube. And while the PS3 and the Xbox 360 both use conventional gamepads bristling with buttons, control sticks, and directional pads, the Wii uses a device that looks more like a TV remote than a gamepad to control its games.

Like the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, The Wii can be oriented horizontally or vertically, thanks to its angled plastic stand. Once you've positioned it, your next step is to plug in the power supply (which is about the size a laptop brick), and connect the bundled composite audio/video cables to your television. To output content at the Wii's maximum 480p resolution in 16:9 wide-screen format, you'll have to purchase the optional component cable separately.

Opening the box

The Wii box includes everything you need to hook the system up to a standard television: the Wii console, a wireless controller with nunchuk adapter, the sensor bar, a cradle (for mounting the console vertically), the Wii's modestly sized power adapter, and a set of composite A/V cables. Unfortunately, composite cables don't support the Wii's top resolution of 480p, so HDTV owners will want to also purchase a set of Wii component cables (sold separately).

The console itself is downright tiny--easily the smallest and lightest of the new generation of game machines. At 1.75 inches high by 6.25 inches wide by 8.5 inches deep (when oriented horizontally), it is--as Nintendo promised--about the size of three DVD cases. The initial model is available only in iPod-white, but it's a safe bet that we'll see plenty of other colors become available as the months and years progress. Like with the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, you can lay the Wii horizontally or stand it vertically (either by itself or, for added stability, in the included plastic cradle). Like the PS3, the Wii uses a slot-loading mechanism; it accepts the Wii discs (full-size 12cm) and older GameCube discs (mini 8cm), without the need for an adapter.

The Wii includes 512MB of internal memory for storing saved games, downloaded Virtual Console titles, and other data. If that half-gigabyte of onboard storage isn't enough for you, the system has a standard Secure Digital card slot for additional storage. SD cards are cheap and plentiful, and the Wii's support of them is a refreshing change of pace from the proprietary memory cards used by older game consoles.

While it doesn't come with a memory card or component-video cables, the Wii does include one pleasant surprise in the box. The system comes with Wii Sports, a simple but infectious sports game that lets users get a feel for the Wii's capabilities without investing in additional games. Wii Sports uses the system's wireless controller as erstwhile sporting equipment, letting users swing and mock-throw it to play baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, and boxing. The different games can support up to four players at a time, but most modes require more than the system's single controller for multiplayer options. Players can swap the remote back and forth for golf and bowling, but players who would like to box or face each other in a tennis match or a baseball game will need to purchase at least one more controller. Wii Sports feels more like a collection of five minigames than a fully fleshed-out title, but it lets users have fun right out of the box while simultaneously showcasing the system's potential.

A Little Box With Plenty of Power

As with every console, much of the buzz surrounds the specs. The Wii boasts 512 MB of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports, and a slot for SD memory expansion. The system’s technological heart -- a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named "Broadway" and a graphics chipset from ATI code-named "Hollywood" -- deliver stunning performance. And instead of a tray, Wii uses a single, self-loading media bay that plays both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs.

Revolutionary Control

No bigger than a small traditional remote control, the wireless Wii Remote is a truly multi functional device. The magic of the Wii Remote's design lies within; acellerometers inside the controller measure movement in all directions and at all speeds. In a tennis game, it serves as your racket as you swing away. In driving games it serves as a steering wheel, allowing you to swerve to avoid obstacles or pickup power-ups. In first-person shooters, it acts as a firearm that you can point directly at an on-screen enemy. The controller also has a force feedback "Rumble" feature and an expansion port for use with accessories, such as the Nunchuck, which adds an analog thumbstick and trigger buttons. The system allows for up to four controllers to be linked at a time and utilizes standard Bluetooth wireless technology. For those who prefer the feel of a traditional controller an adapter is available that fits over the Wii's remote.

This revolutionary design isn't completely wireless: to function, it requires the placement of the Wii's sensor bar either on top of or beneath your television screen. Fortunately, the sensor bar is extremely unobtrusive, and we forgot it was even there minutes after setting up the system. The sensor bar is a small and light plastic rectangle about the size of two pens laid end to end, and it connects to the Wii with a very long cord (about eight feet), so its setup is simple and flexible. The sensor bar comes with a tiny, clear plastic base with adhesive squares on its feet, so you can stick it securely on the top of your television, even if it's a narrow flat-panel screen. (If the thin cable is an issue, the battery-powered Nyko Wireless Sensor Bar works perfectly well.)

Conclusion

Is the Wii worth picking up? It all depends on what you're looking for. If you've been clamoring for an all-purpose next-generation multimedia box with blinding HD graphics, the Wii will be a disappointment. But Nintendo didn't intend to compete in that arena anyway: the Wii is focused squarely on delivering fun and innovative gameplay, leaving Sony and Microsoft to battle it out at the high end. The Wiimote and its motion-sensing, pseudo-virtual-reality controls are the biggest draws of the console, and its online capabilities, Wii Channels, Virtual Console, and GameCube backward-compatibility are just a thick, sweet layer of icing on an already tasty cake. Likewise, the Wii is the only home console that lets you play games featuring nostalgic Nintendo-only franchises such as Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. With a price far less than those of its competitors and the included Wii Sports disc that provides mindless fun out of the box, the Nintendo Wii won't disappoint.

Amazon Wii purchase limit policy

As you may know, the Nintendo Wii is in great demand, and there are shortages of this product across the U.S. In an effort to provide as many customers as possible with the opportunity to purchase a Wii, we are limiting the total number of Wiis that can be purchased. As a result, each household may only purchase up to 3 Nintendo Wii units total.

Click Here to See Available Wii Sellers

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot

2008-08-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

Cleans routinely, so you don't have to. 500 Series robots offer the latest innovations from iRobot with unprecedented efficiency, coverage, and cleaning performance.

Life happens in busy homes, and keeping up with accumulating dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and debris can be a daily challenge. Introducing the iRobot Roomba 560- a member of iRobot’s newest generation of Roomba Vacuuming Robots.

Now there’s a better way to maintain cleaner floors every day. With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, particle filtration, and scheduling capabilities, the Roomba 560 picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris from your floors with the touch of a button--so you don’t have to.

The Roomba 560 even cleans on schedule when it’s most convenient for you. Use the on-board scheduling system to easily program up to seven days and times per week for Roomba to vacuum--whether you’re at home or on the go. The Roomba 560 also offers the most efficient room-to-room cleaning available using two innovative, new Virtual Wall Lighthouses.

With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration, the Roomba 560 vacuuming robot picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris with the simple touch of a button. The powerful unit features innovative spinning side brushes that grab dirt and dust from corners and along wall edges, as well as two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up pet hair, cat litter, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. The vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin, and its improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the unit, reducing infiltration into the living environment.

Helpful Customer Review

A Worthy Successor to the Roomba Line, December 12, 2007
By Lisa Shea "LisaShea.com"

We have two Roombas plus a Scooba in our house. When one of the batteries on one of our Roombas finally reached the end of its life cycle, we decided to donate that Roomba to a friend and to get ourselves the new top of the line - the Roomba 560. We got this right when it first came out, but we waited several months before posting a review. It's pretty much impossible to review one of these Roombas after only a few days! It takes weeks if not months to start to see how well they last over time, and what breaks down. Believe me - been there, done that.

So now it's many months later, and I have to say, we are quite pleased with the improvements of this Roomba over the previous generations of Roombas. So first, for those who don't even have ANY Roomba yet (hard to believe!). Roombas are awesome. We have cats, and we work from home so we're home all day. It is AMAZING how much dirt and dust and junk collects in the carpet every single day. Who really has time to vacuum their carpets twice a day any more? With the Roomba, you set the scheduler to do it while you are asleep. You wake up in the morning, the carpets are clean, the air is fresh, and you empty out the dust bin. It is just wonderful.

Even those without pets might be amazed how much lint and such the Roomba will find every morning for you.

I have a noise meter and have done several tests with the noise meter. The Roomba is much quieter than other regular vacuums. It is NOT silent - it can't be! How could it vacuum up dirt and be silent? But it is quieter than the alternatives, and heck, you're sleeping anyway. I can easily sleep through a Roomba running.

Now, on to the improvements of this new Roomba over previous models. First, it has a cool feature where the speed drops when it senses it is approaching a solid object. The old Roomba would just run full tilt into an object - wall, couch etc. - and then turn around. This one slows down so that it hits the object gently. Sure the old Roomba wouldn't dent the walls with its powerful force, but still, it's nice to have it be gentle on furniture and your building.

Next, for better or for worse, the new Roomba is much more aware of when its bin and brushes are getting grungy. I admit I didn't clean my other Roombas as often as I should have. And it led to problems. This new Roomba will actually stop and warn you when it's getting full and when the brushes should be cleaned. If you're a procrastinator like I am, this is a good thing. If you're a clean freak that empties the bin every time, and cleans the brushes every time, then you probably won't even notice this feature.

The anti tangle technology is nice. The previous Roomba would start to eat a cord and just keep going until it was really stuck. This Roomba at least tries to get itself untangled. Still, I don't recommend leaving cords and strings and things lying around. You're just asking for trouble if you do.

The new system uses a "lighthouse" instead of just a wall. With a lighthouse, you mark out a room so the Roomba finishes with that room completely before going on to the next room. They are like section markers. We tend to just use walls, but if you have two large rooms the lighthouse feature might be really helpful for you.

After several months of running we have had NO problems at all with our Roomba. No broken brushes, no falling off pieces, nothing. It is still going strong and we are very pleased with it.

Highly, highly recommended! I am happy to give personal advice and I even have videos of Roombas on my website. I love Roombas, they have saved me countless hours of work, and they make my home a much cleaner and easier-breathing place to be.

Buy iRobot 560 at Amazon.com

Increase Your Fitness Level With a GPS Tracking Watch

2008-07-16T02:20:00.000-07:00

People exercise for a slew of different reasons. A few love testing themselves against the power of nature and like asking questions like, "What is more powerful, my legs or this mountain?" Others like to break up dull gyms by getting out into the sun and under the blue sky. Still others don't want to fork out the money to exercise in a stinky, grimy hole in a wall. No matter what the reason is why you choose to do some of your workouts out doors you can benefit from a GPS tracking watch.

As the name suggests, these devices can track information - a lot of information. Most true GPS watches record some basic data, like your speed, total distance traveled, and changes in atlitude. These are all things that you might be able to gather without the watch, but the best you will able to get for most of them is a rough estimate.

Not so with a GPS watch. These devices can give you precise information concerning the distance you traveled as well as measuring the changes in altidute along the way. When the watch is combined with a heart rate monitor the information gathered by these devices is particularly powerful.

Here is a quick example: You just ran a 5.5 mile trail in 37 minutes. Without the GPS watch the best you can get is an average speed throughout the entire run (6:46 miles or about 10 miles per hour). With a the watch you can get a glimpse at how fast you were running throughout the entire run. You will be able to see where you ran faster, where you slowed down, and how well you were able to keep a steady pace.

This type of information is very important to those interested in improving their fitness and their stamina. By recognizing the difficult parts of your run you will be able train your body to cope with those situations.

Are you losing speed and momentum on your uphill climbs? Then introduce hillier courses into you exercise routine. Do flat, long stretches tire you out and slow you down? Practicing a quick and easy pace on a cadence might the solution to your problem.

Without the GPS tracking watch you will be forced to rely on your 'feeling' about your run rather than on cold, hard data. Data is much more objective than our feelings and often provides a truer picture of how well we performed.

When this type of information is added to heart rate data taken from a heart rate monitor it can help us analyze our workouts even better. We can get a better gauge of our actual fitness level by seeing the ranges in which our heart performs under the stress of our workout. When this is added to information already provided by the GPS tracking watch we can truely target the parts of our workout that push our hearts and our legs to the limit.

This type of information is simply not available to those who do not use this tracking device. Who has the cordination to hit a trail hard with one hand on their carotid artery while looking down at their regular watch? Add to that the need to notice landmarks and record the times at which you passed them and you get an impossible task for somebody trying to exercise for fitness.

These watches provide all this information without requiring anything additional from you. They fit nicely on your wrist and interface easily with your home laptop or PC. They often even have online software for you to track yand analyse your progress from any computer in the world. These devices are unecessary, but they are still pretty cool.

Buy GPS Tracking Watch from Amazon

Polk Audio Atrium 45 All-Weather Speakers (Pair, White)

2008-07-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Tired of leaving the door open to hear your music on the deck? It's time for a pair of high-quality outdoor speakers like the Atrium 45 from Polk Audio. The speakers each feature all-stainless-steel and brass hardware for years of rustproof reliability and a rustproof aluminum bracket that permits multiple mounting options and full 90 degree rotation: you can aim them to deliver the best possible sound in a variety of positions.

The Atrium 45 speakers have a wide dispersion pattern, and they're very efficient, operating on as little as 10 watts per channel. They're designed to deliver good sound quality across a large listening area, but Polk recommends multiple-pair setups if you want high sound levels in an outdoor setting, as sound tends to dissipate more quickly outdoors than in.

The speakers' white finish is paintable to match your decor or trim color--you can even paint them green to blend with foliage. Their sculpted front baffle and rounded enclosures minimize diffraction (sound reflecting off of hard edges) for more open and lifelike imaging, and their rustproof aluminum grilles offer 55 percent open area for better high-frequency response than speakers with denser grilles.

Sealed-enclosure (acoustic suspension) cabinets result in taut bass, and the speakers' 2-way design incorporates a 4.5-inch long-throw polymer cone driver with butyl-rubber suspension and a .75-inch dome tweeter with a neodymium magnet to broadly distribute high frequencies. Gold-plated, 5-way binding post terminals will never corrode. The plugs also allow hookups in a range of methods, including convenient banana-plug-terminated speaker cable.

The Atrium 45 meets or exceeds ASTM D5894-UV Salt Fog, Mil standard 810 Immersion and Mil standard 883 Method 1009 8 for salt and corrosion tests.

What's in the Box
Two speakers (each with detachable metal grille and built-in mounting bracket) a user's manual, and warranty information.

Product Description
frequency response 75-20,000 Hz (-3dB) * sensitivity 89 dB * 8-ohm impedance * handles up to 80 watts * gold-plated 5-way binding posts * all hardware is rust-proof brass or stainless steel * speaker grille and mounting brackets are rust-proof aluminum * mounting brackets included * 9-1/2"H x 6-1/4"W x 7-3/4"D (with bracket) * warranty: 2 years

Helpful Reviews

Very impressive sound, March 24, 2008
By Jeff Chambers (Pleasanton, CA USA)

For the price, this is an excellent sounding set of exterior speakers. I replaced two older sony speakers with these and the sound quality is much better. Installation is easy and packaging and instructions are well put together.

These Little speakers ROCK !, November 14, 2007
By M. Mcgough (Fort Worth, Texas)

I was hesitant to purchase but these Rock. They sound the best when listening to classical. Nice crisp sound. The bracket is somewhat integrated into the speaker which hides it alittle to make a nice install. You should never have to remove the grills but you will need a screwdriver or something 'cause the grills are on tight. That's not big enough for a negative. Just mount and wire & so sweet sounding.

Excellent Speakers for Price, July 9, 2008
By T Akin (Florida)

We have a good size lanai/pool area and installed these speakers to replace older speakers. The sound quality is excellent and clear. We have found that we do not have to turn up the volume as much becasue the sound is very clear and strong at a lower setting. But when we do turn up the volume - the sound quality stays the same and does not distort. Excellent speakers for the money!

Buy Polk Audio Atrium 45 from Amazon.com

Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

2008-07-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

Samsung's 550 Series is a perfect way to step up to Full HD 1080p resolution. A fast 5 ms response rate produces smooth-motion scenes for sports and action movies, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1 makes for deep blacks and crisp lines (15,000:1 in 32-inch and 37-inch models). Superb connectivity and networking with a USB port and 3 HDMI 1.3 ports with Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) means these HDTVs play well with all of your other electronics. Easily enjoy MPEG and JPEG files stored on external devices by connecting through the side-mounted USB 2.0, turn your LCD into a full-scale home viewing gallery, or connect your MP3 player for a dynamic audio experience.

Key Features

New -- 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio: up from 15,000:1 on 2007 models (15,000 on 32-inch and 37-inch models)
New -- Fast 5ms response time: down from 8ms on 2007 models thanks to a new high-speed liquid crystal
Full 1080p HD
178-degree viewing angle from all four axes with Super Patterned Vertical Alignment
3 HDMI 1.3 ports: Simplay compliant
USB 2.0 port: connect devices directly to your HDTV--view JPEG photos or MPEG movies or easily listen to your MP3 player through your HDTV's audio system or your home theater system
DNIe Digital Natural Image Engine improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, and white balance
Hidden speakers with SRS TruSurround XT audio
Wide Color Enhancer technology and Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) offer a wider color range
Picture-in-Picture (PIP) enables convenient simultaneous viewing of TV programs and video or PC sources
V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content.
Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French.
Variable sleep timer to turn the TV off in varying time intervals.
Auto wall mount compatible: 3-dimensional operation via TV’s remote control; no external IR receiver required.
Swivel stand included
1 year parts and 1 year labor warranty (90 days parts and labor for commercial use), with in-home service, backed by Samsung toll-free support

Step Up Features

Series 6: 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, AutoMotion Plus 120Hz image interpolation for smoother motion, 4ms response time, Transparent and Opaque Color (TOC) bezel, Clear Panel, Ethernet port with Infolink free RSS feeds, 4 HDMI 1.3 ports, Sports and Game modes, Compatible with Samsung's Home Digital Media Adapter for playback and navigation of Internet and stored PC multimedia
Series 7: Internal flash memory (1GB) with pre-loaded interactive content such as cooking recipes, children's entertainment, HD artwork and more, Integrated woofer for an enhanced audio experience, DLNA-Compatible: for better interoperability with electronics, computers and mobile devices from many different manufacturers

Full HD 1080P

Full HD, or 1080p, contains 1.5 times more scanning lines than conventional HD TVs. More scanning lines mean more pixels, more details and a better picture. The new Samsung LCD TV with resolution that is approximately 2 times greater than conventional HDTVs, creating the most perfect picture imaginable.Samsung’s 1080p panel uses a new high-speed liquid crystal to cut response time to 4ms. The fast response time, coupled with Samsung’s Auto Motion Plus 120Hz motion blur reduction technology dramatically reduces motion blur and judder.

30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio/500 nit Brightness

30,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio will give you a picture better than you ever thought possible, with whiter whites, blacker blacks and a nearly infinite subtlety of gradations in between. As two of the most important determining factors in overall picture quality, contrast and brightness levels achieve new heights in this latest generation LCD panel. Samsung’s new LCD TV’s give the most stunning realistic picture quality ever.

Helpful Reviews

OH MY GOD AMAZING TELEVISION, April 26, 2008
By M. Moskowitz "Mike Mosk" (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

This television is truly something to be admired. I'd say it's also a work of art.

I have a high definition cable box with an HDMI cable to the TV and the HD channels are superb. I mean, the picture is totally 100% crystal clear. I have windows behind me and somehow there is virtually no glare. Yes, the TV looks better when it is dark outside versus light outside but it's perfectly great when it is light outside.

I'm writing this review on my couch. My laptop is connected to the TV via a VGA cable with a wireless keyboard and mouse. Unfortunately my laptop does not have HDMI but I can see very well with the VGA cable. Needless to say, I am going to become much more lazy as a result of this TV.

The 40 inches is great for my viewing pleasure. I'm sure 46 is bigger but I am 100% content with 40 inches. It comes down to price. I did not want to pay more than $1,200 for a TV (that's $100 a month for 12 months using the Amazon Store Card). So this was a no-brainer for me.

If you are in the market for a TV, I highly suggest this one. It is truly a wonderful TV.

The "only" thing that isn't 100% perfect is the sound. The sound is good mind you, but it is not as perfect as the picture. But for the record, I have not played with the equalizer which people report helps the sound.

This is an amazing TV.

UPDATE 6/12/2008: This is still a remarkable television. I don't have any complaints about it at all. Even the sound is perfectly fine. However, you MUST either have a Blu Ray player or an Upconvert player with an HDMI cable to get the full benefit. Everything looks and sounds perfect on this TV.

Worth the wait., April 14, 2008
By J. Flood (New Jersey)

Very pleased with this TV so far. Setup was easy, plenty of inputs for my needs. No issue at all with the HDMI cables I got from Amazon for about $11. Picture is amazing with no issues with glare. HD pictures are tremendous off my Fios feed, plenty to choose from. Analog pictures are fine, varies from channel to channel-(supposed not really a strength of the Samsung's anyway). TV sounds really good all by itself, haven't hooked it up to the new home theater setup just yet-(waiting to run new wires). All in all a very nice TV worth waiting for. I haven't changed any of the factory settings, I played with the alternate picture settings, but the default settings were fine. I bought it from a box store because they matched the price and it was easy to get home and setup by myself.

EXCEPTIONAL LCD. AMAZING CLARITY AND SUPERB DEFINITION, May 23, 2008 By Sammy P. Panganiban "LordHalo" (Chicagoland, Illinois)

After owning this HDTV for a month now, I'm a very happy customer. Amazon offers the best price and was able to get $58 in refunds for the 30-day policy. Shipping took 4 days and CEVA did great although since I can't wait, I'm the one who went to the local CEVA warehouse on a Sunday to pick it up.

Out of the box, picture is amazing and sharp. Tweaking it will give you more satisfaction. Joining avsforums is very helpful. Sound is not that great but I tweaked it as well to my liking. NO dead pixels, NO banding, NO flashlight effect, NO problems. After owning a 30" Samsung Dynaflat HDTV, I am more than happy to upgrade. Like I said, this TV offers a sharp picture and image detail is outstanding. Comcast HD looks spectacular especially SciFi HD, Food Network HD and MHD. I love this HDTV and I will be enjoying it for years to come.

Buy Samsung LN40A550 from Amazon.com

Monster Home Theatre Reference HTS 3600 MKII PowerCenter with Clean Power Stage 3 v.2.1 Circuitry

2008-07-09T01:10:00.000-07:00

The fact is, analog audio equipment is painful to a various type of sound than video, meet as video is touchy to a disparate typewrite of trouble than digital, and so on. In the sometime, manufacturers hold utilized filters to battle the job of dissonance introduced via force sources. Alas, the filters were not optimized to attenuate at the various frequencies that are unique to digital, analog audio, and video realms. Products that managed to render truly storekeeper AC cause were thousands of dollars in terms, out of get for most fill. Participate Caput Variation Noel Lee. An hardline audiophil

More Than Just Surge! -Monster Clean Power
The following overviews of Monster’s isolated, specially tuned Clean Power filters demonstrate the methodology behind Clean Power’s development. The higher the Clean Power stage, the more advanced the noise filtration. The more advanced the noise filtration, the higher the level of component-to-component isolation.

Isolated Clean Power Digital FiltersOptimized to reduce noise generated by digital equipment digital filters isolate digital components from connected analog audio and video components for maximum rejection of interference.

Isolated Clean Power Video FiltersOptimized to reduce noise generated by video equipment, video filters isolate video components from connected digital and analog audio components for maximum rejection of interference.

Isolated Clean Power Analog Audio FiltersOptimized to provide maximum noise rejection for sensitive analog audio components, audio filters isolates audio components from connected digital and video components for maximum rejection of interference.

Isolated Clean Power Ultra-High Current FilterOptimized for maximum noise rejection, ultra-high current filters provide maximum current to high power components such as surround sound amplifiers.

Internal view showing the various filters and advanced circuitry. Pictured is the HTS5100.

Rear view showing the component-assigned outlets. Pictured is the HTS5100.

Reference Home Theater Power
Monster PowerCenters also offer the most comprehensive home theater system protection available, featuring higher joule ratings for faster acting, full capacity surge protection. Monster’s Multiple SurgeGuard and Tri-Mode Circuitry instantly detects any voltage surge or spike and immediately suppresses it before it can reach your components. And, for your total peace of mind, the latest generation of Monster Home Theatre Reference PowerCenters come with higher Connected Equipment Guarantees (CEGs).

Unlike other surge protectors, the PowerCenters’ ultra low-loss RF circuitry provides maximum protection with virtually no signal loss, especially important with the advent of HDTV. In addition, all PowerCenters display current draw and voltage.

Monster recognizes that convenience is vital, too. The PowerCenters feature component-assigned color coding with matching power cord labels for easy identification, and all are rack mountable, for easy integration into custom installed rack mount systems. Get All The Performance You Paid ForWith Monster Power’s Home Theatre Reference PowerCenters, you’ll get the best possible audio and video performance from your home theater system.

Get All The Performance You Paid For
With Monster Power’s Home Theatre Reference PowerCenters, you’ll get the best possible audio and video performance from your home theater system.

Product Description
10 AC outlets (2 switched, 2 delayed, 6 unswitched) * Clean Power Stage 3 (v.2.0) circuitry includes discrete filter sections for Analog Audio, Analog Video, High-Current Audio, and Digital components * 3 sets of coaxial connections for cable and satellite TV * RJ-11 phone input/output with splitter for DVR phone line or Internet connection * 6500-joule surge protection *

Helpful Reviews

Check your TV Warranty, March 22, 2008
By D. Bowman "Tech Dork" (LA, CA)

I love this overpriced surge protector for a couple of reasons.

- If you have a Sony, check your factory warranty. The only way they will replace your TV in case of an electrical surge or spike is if you have an "approved" surge protector. No worries here.

- I am always surprised the folks will pay $4K or more for a TV, another $1K to have it installed and mounted on the wall and then just plug it into the wall without any surge protection.

- Everything that plugs into my TV goes through the 3600, including the coax from my DirecTV dish. The only item that is plugged into the wall directly is this. It is great to know that everything has some sort of protection including what comes from my satellite dish.

- For the ultimate protection, try running this through a power stabilizer (ASV 2000) that ensures all components get fed a near perfect 120w instead of the fluctuating power you usually get. Consider it like running your car on high octane at all times, never slipping a gallon or two of 89 oct. in the tank.

- I also like the amp display instead of the wattage display. The voltage display just tells you what you are feeding your components, not how much power you are using. The amp display helps you keep an eye out if you might have left a component on and didn't mean to. My kids are always leaving the DVD player or stereo on. If you notice a high amp readout, you know something was left on. My components are behind dark glass, it is hard to see if items are left on.

This might be expensive, but you won't have any regrets. You'll know you took the right steps to protect your investment.

Great Improvement!!!, June 1, 2007
By Kenyatta Becktemba (Orlando)

I have read some luke warm reviews of this system. My review ONLY focuses on the sound. In fact for me, Two Chanel Stero is more important then all other things like Home Theater DD 5.1 DTS etc. The improvement on my system was immediate and unmistakable. The sound stage became wide and deep. But wait, as an audiophile i knew that i was capable of self delusion. Maybe I was talking myself into thinking the sound was better. Soon, my NON audiophile wife came home. She took two steps in the door and and asked me, ok what I you bought now? Nothing I said. I really did not count the Power Center as a audio purchases, but in retrospect it was one of the biggest improvements to my system. How well it will do on video I have no idea. Now for an interesting side note. Since reduction of electrical line noise made such a difference I saw a Belken unit that claimed Level 6 Line noise reduction. While in my mind I knew that it was not fair to assume that the levels of noise reduction were the same measurements I was lured with the prospect of getting even better sound. After all I reasoned, if the Belkin Listed for 700.00 Suggested and I could get one for 250.00 I might get even better sound... NOT!! The lack of dynamics and everything else was imediete. I deluded myself into thinking that it needed time to settle in. Yea that's the ticket. After a month I removed the Belkin and regulated to Video duty on our Home theater system. The Music had returned. Again, as for video I have no informed view. For audio, this unit is a dream. Note: This review is for the 3500 Mkii which I think is disconnected. I think the only diffrence is the Analog Metter(3500) vs the Digital one.

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Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device

2008-07-08T03:31:00.000-07:00

Product Description

Introducing Kindle™
Three years ago, we set out to design and build an entirely new class of device—a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is Amazon Kindle.

We designed Kindle to provide an exceptional reading experience. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips. It never becomes hot and is designed for ambidextrous use so both "lefties" and "righties" can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time.

We wanted Kindle to be completely mobile and simple to use for everyone, so we made it wireless. No PC and no syncing needed. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, we deliver your content using our own wireless delivery system, Amazon Whispernet. Unlike WiFi, you’ll never need to locate a hotspot. There are no confusing service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills—we take care of the hassles so you can just read.

With Whispernet, you can be anywhere, think of a book, and get it in one minute. Similarly, your content automatically comes to you, wherever you are. Newspaper subscriptions are delivered wirelessly each morning. Most magazines arrive before they hit newsstands. Haven’t read the book for tomorrow night’s book club? Get it in a minute. Finished your book in the airport? Download the sequel while you board the plane. Whether you’re in the mood for something serious or hilarious, lighthearted or studious, Kindle delivers your spontaneous reading choices on demand.

And because we know you can't judge a book by its cover, Kindle lets you download and read the beginning of books for free. This way, you can try it out—if you like it, simply buy and download with 1-Click, right from your Kindle, and continue reading. Want to try a newspaper as well? All newspaper subscriptions start with a risk-free two-week trial.

Kindle’s paperback size and expandable memory let you travel light with your library. With the freedom to download what you want, when you want, we hope you’ll never again find yourself stuck without a great read.

We're very proud to introduce Amazon Kindle and we hope you like it as much as we do.

Paper-like Screen

Utilizing a new high-resolution display technology called electronic paper, Kindle provides a crisp black-and-white screen that resembles the appearance and readability of printed paper. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. It reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.The screen never gets hot so you can comfortably read as long as you like.

Wireless Access with Whispernet™

Whispernet utilizes Amazon's optimized technology plus Sprint's national high-speed (EVDO) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, download, and read content on the go.

Unlike WiFi, you don't have to find a hotspot. Amazon pays for Kindle's wireless connectivity so you will never see a monthly wireless bill for shopping the Kindle Store. There is no wireless setup—you are ready to shop, purchase and read right out of the box.

Ergonomic Design

We wanted Kindle to be as easy to hold and use as a book, so we designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions often. Kindle's full-length, vertical page-turning buttons are located on either side, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably from any position. Navigation on both sides means both "lefties" and "righties" can easily use Kindle with one hand. And at only 10.3 ounces, Kindle is lighter and thinner than a typical paperback.

Helpful Reviews

Better than expected, July 7, 2008
By D. Polidori "dpolidori"

I wanted to buy one for months but had a hard time justifying the price. The price drop to $359 came just in time for my birthday and inspired me to buy one. I thought I would try it for a couple weeks and probably return it because it was too expensive. After playing with it for a couple days, I knew that I wouldn't be sending it back. I won't repeat what all the other reviewers have said about the pros and cons of the device, but will add a couple comments I haven't seen discussed much. I find myself reading much more now that I have it.

The NowNow feature is very handy and can be quite fun also. When on vacation (without internet access), I used it to get restaurant recommendations and phone numbers and always got helpful answers within minutes, free of charge. My kids also asked it a question about SpongeBob and got some humorous responses. Reading newspapers is also a much better experience than I would have expected. While people have complained about the subscription prices being high, you can get the Sunday New York Times for 75 cents (compared to $5 for the physical paper), which is quite a bargain.

A whole new world, July 7, 2008
By K. Stoub (Stockton, CA USA)

Great product! It's easy to use. No technical problems. Amazing way to have thousands of books at your fingertips. You'll never be stuck with nothing to read again! Hopefully more periodical content will become availble. Also a more extensive filing system for the books would be awesome, but great overall.

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Buy Kindle from Amazon.com

Sony DVP-NS700H/B 1080p Upscaling DVD Player, Black

2008-07-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

Product Description

Breathe new life into your DVD collection with the DVP-NS700H in both black and silver. Enjoy your DVD collection now upscaled to 1080p via the HDMI connection. Plus with BRAVIA sync, you can easily power on and synch the inputs of compatible Sony AV devices connected to the players via HDMI for hassle-free enjoyment.

Technical Details

1080p Upscaling through HDMI™ Connection

Precision Cinema Progressive™ Technology

BRAVIA™ Sync

High Resolution JPEG Output

Precision Drive™ 3 System for Flaws in DVD Discs

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Best of breed, April 11, 2008
By Samuel Chell

If all you're looking for is a DVD player, this newly released Sony is simply unbeatable. It replaces the popular, top-rated DVP-NS77, which is still available, but since Sony has lowered the price by about twenty bucks while retaining all of the specs of the NS77, there's little reason to look at another "upconverting," "upscaling" player unless it's a Blue Ray drive. This Sony provides a sharp and steady picture, is exceptionally trim and slim (a tad shallower than the NS77), and offers the user multiple options for adjustments to things like aspect ratio, image sharpness, contrast levels and black ratios, surround sound vs. normal stereo. The darn thing even comes with onboard music for home-made JPEG discs that lack it, and it controls most functions of a Sony TV.

Sony recorders are another story. As one of the Big 4 companies in the distribution of movies and CDs, Sony is notorious for not only issuing the usual legal threats but for engineering their recorders to reject copyrighted material. Those in the market for a DVD recorder might do better to check out the Toshiba DR410, which is priced so attractively it can be forgiven in the event it too balks at recording certain programs due to legal issues.

Why pay for Blu-ray?, April 16, 2008
By Deeperdarker

I went to a store to buy a Sony PS3, specifically for the Blu-ray playing capabilities. I wrestled with the high price ($400) for an hour, and ended up buying this Sony up-converting HDMI dvd for $75 instead, hoping that it would look ok. I plugged it in, put on "The Fellowship of The Ring" dvd and was floored by how good it looked. It made the standard definition dvd title look 95% like high definition. Having previously owned the XBox 360 HD-DVD player, I can tell you that the picture on my 52" 1080i Panasonic is identical in clarity and detail. Blu-Ray may be technically better, but for $325 less and an amazingly detailed, crisp picture, this Sony dvd player is a great deal!

Your Last DVD player ?, May 13, 2008
By Marvin Gozum

I recently reviewed the NS57 480p Sony, and its amazing they are nearly identical in function, making them easy to learn and use. All you need to do appreciate 1080p quality is to use the HDMI jack, and leave the rest to the player, automatically. With Blu-Ray now the higher level format, if this DVD player lasts 5 years, this could be the last DVD player you'll ever own as we await more Blu-Ray releases.

The only major difference between this Sony and the NS57 are the buttons are laid more to the top of the player, and the extra output jacks at back. The unit thus, is 1/4" wider in width.

Pros:

Sony has no trouble playing problem disks that plagued my other players. But, it also doesn't play a few disks my other players struggle to play.

Sony menu functions are very well integrated compared to the hodge-podge look of lesser brands making it easier to use this player without reading a manual.

Installation is very easy. The power cable is not removable. Just plug the HDMI jack into your TV and play as always.

The case is all black, with 4 buttons difficult to see against the black case. The DVD tray opens slower, but is quieter when it runs. The ELD display is far clearer and more informative about the status of the disk or the chapter playing.

Images, sharpness and colors are superb on default settings! Sony includes manual or preset image adjustments to maximize its output; aspect ratio can be forced to 16:9 or 4:3 or taken as automatic.

When powered ON, the Sony will resume playback from whence you stopped for up to 6 separate disks.

It has has on/off and volume control for TVs in the DVD remote.

Variable play from 1.4x to 0.5x speed, but with sound.

Sony has sound function that takes the basic output of 2 speakers and tries to emulate surround sound.

Sony will create thumbnails of each DVD chapter independent of the DVD menus. This helps quite a bit in home made DVDs that have no menus.

Cons:

Remote is well laid out, with similar function buttons set near each other but in opposite directions for opposite functions, i.e., rewind left, forward, right. However, like many el-cheapo DVD players, the buttons are too small and one cannot differentiate functions purely by feel. You have to gaze at the buttons to read the function.

All advanced functions are controlled by the remote, so its indispensable.

Although Sony explicitly mentions it has support for copy protection schemes built right into the data [ e.g. the video file or image, not just the disk], I have not yet encountered data that would not play.

Buy Best Price Sony DVP-NS700H/B from Amazon.com