All Home theatre & Audio Feeds

Asda talks budget Blu-ray players

Marc Chacksfield — 1210937160

Ed Watson, head of PR at Asda, has contacted TechRadar about Asda’s plans to release budget Blu-ray players on the market like its American counterpart WalMart. Unfortunately, it does look like we will have to wait a little longer for a cheaper way to play Blu-rays.

Speaking exclusively to TechRadar, he said that: “[There’s] no plans as yet but we will be getting them in the future at ASDA Price, of course.”

At the moment Asda is selling four Blu-ray players: Panasonic DMPBD30, SharpBD-HP20H, Sony BDPS300B, Samsung BDP1400.

Out of these player only the Panasonic’s DMPBD30 and Samsung’s BDP1400 are Profile 1.1, which gives the players Picture-in-Picture interactivity and BD-Java compatibility, essentially unlocking some extra features on selected Blu-ray Discs.

The price to pay

Out of the players available, the cheapest is the Profile 1.1 BDP1400 at an online price of £259.32. Alhough this is a competitive price for here in the UK, when you consider the BDP1500 (the Profile 2.0 successor of the BDP1400) is now selling at WalMart for $350 (£180) there does now seem to be a big gulf between the affordability of players across the water.

WalMart stocks cheap Blu-ray players

Marc Chacksfield — 1210935360

WalMart, the largest retailer in the world has announced it has began stocking the Magnavox NB500MG9, a Profile 1.1 BD player, for just $298. This is $100 less than a PlayStation 3.

In Blu-ray terms this is a significant mark-down in price from previous ‘budget’ releases.

And while it may be a budget deck, it doesn’t look like Magnavox – a sub-division of Philips – has scrimped on features.

Not only does the player have Bonus View capabilities, it also acts as a DVD upscaler to 1080p.

A quick glance at the rear panel shows the following connections: component video-out; HDMI v1.3 out; Audio-out; digital-out (coaxial); and video-out.

Audio-heads will be disappointed to hear that there’s no on board advanced codec decoder, but the player will reportedly bitstream hi-res audio out.

Two’s up

If a $300 BD player wasn’t enough to grab the retailer headlines, Walmart has also announced a cut to the price of the Samsung BD-P1500 Profile 2.0 BD-Live player. At $350 this is an absolute bargain, and will hopefully give Blu-ray the kick-start it needs and get the format not just into the living rooms of AV enthusiasts but everyday consumers as well . If only we lived in America.

WalMart was one of the most influential retailers in the success of DVDs. When it started to sell players at a similar price as the software, consumers bought in their droves.

A similar thing happened recently, when the supermarket giant chose Blu-ray over HD DVD as the format to sell. With the stocking of the NB500MG9 and BD-P1500, it looks like history is starting to repeat itself.

We have contacted Asda, which is owned by Wallmart, to see if the UK company will follow suit but it has not yet commented.

Top tips: 5 ways to build your own outdoor cinema

Rob Mead — 1210762069

Summer’s here and while most sensible people are heading outdoor to catch up some rays, others are doing the reverse - going indoors to watch the latest Hollywood blockbuster.

Luckily you can combine the two by sticking a big screen or TV in the garden - enabling you soak up some sun and some Spielberg at the same time.

There are loads of ways you can do this. Here are just five, ranging from the ludicrously cheap to the reassuringly expensive:

1. Use your laptop

Most almost all laptops have built-in DVD players these days so watching a movie from the comfort of your patio should a breeze. Of course you’ll get the best results if you’re sitting on a shady spot, but a, bright LED backlit display will come in pretty handy too. For ultimate in outdoor laptop pleasure, we reckon the Sony Vaio VGN-AR61U is worth a punt.

It packs in a 17-inch widescreen display, 512MB Nvidia graphics card and a Blu-ray drive, not to mention a built-in hybrid analogue / digital TV tuner. It also has an HDMI port so you can hook it up to a compatible high definition (HD) projector, as well as the usual audio outputs for private listening via headphones or neighbour-baiting outdoor speakers.Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro is another great laptop choice.

2. Buy a portable DVD player

As above really, only you won’t be able to play games on it, and the screen will be a lot smaller. Now while you can pick up a Hyundai HPD719 for as little as £80 on Amazon.co.uk, you’re probably better off plumping for something a bit more luxurious, like the Toshiba SD-P120T.

Available later this month, the SD-P120T portable DVD player has an 11.8-inch widescreen display, Freeview digital TV tuner and all the sockets you need, including an HDMI port, component video sockets, headphone and digital optical outputs. The battery’s good for up to 3 hours of use between recharges and the player even comes with a 4-in-1 card reader so you can watch movies and photos stores on SD and other flash memory cards. Handy.

3. Watch an outdoor LCD TV

Given that you can already watch TV in the bath or shower, watching one outdoors seems like a logical extension. UK company waterprooftv.co.uk sells a range of sets ranging from 32-inches to 55-inches size, with prices starting at £2,000. All the TVs are compliant with IEC IP56 weather-proofing regulations and are dust and insect-resistant too.

Our favourite is the flagship Aquivo 55-inch Outdoor TV, which can handle 1080p Full HD video signals. It comes with the full complement of HDMI and other AV ports, and even has non-reflective toughened glass. The Aquivo 55-inch Outdoor TV doesn’t ship with weather-proof speakers or an anti-theft bracket as standard, but you can add these for £300 and £250 respectively.

4. Blow up an inflatable cinema screen

If the prospect of a 55-inch TV just doesn’t do it for you, you can take the next logical step and team a portable projector either with a flat white wall, or - better still - an inflatable projector screen. Your choices here look pretty limited, with most UK companies only selling or hiring out the screens for use a professionally-organised events.

However Pro-Idee will sell you a 2.4m screen online for £519. For anything bigger though you’ll probably need to go elsewhere - US companies AirScreen and Open Air Cinema.

5. Buy a custom outdoor cinema

For the ultimate in outdoor movie viewing, we reckon Open Air Cinema is the place to go. Its CineBox range is designed partly with home use in mind and comes with all the kit you need to for a night out in front of the telly. For around $10,000 (£5,000) you can get a 3.7m (12ft) inflatable screen, plus a custom-made console that comprises a portable DVD player, compact 2500 ANSI lumens Sanyo projector, multi-channel audio mixer and a wireless microphone.

Included in the price are a pair of speakers and stands, plus all the ancillary equipment you need such as AV adaptors for your iPod, laptop, camera, etc. Best of all, Open Air Cinema says its happy to sell to customers in the UK - and says it has several satisfied customers here already. What are you waiting for?

Sonus Faber expands its loudspeaker range

Marc Chacksfield — 1210608300

Luxury hi-fi specialist Sonus Faber has announced an addition to its Cremona speaker range, the Cremona Auditor Elipsa.

The wall-mounted speaker system is in keeping with the Elipsa brand of Cremona speakers launched last year.

Aesthetically, the Elipsa looks the business. The curved cabinet stands at 341mm tall and is made of solid maple wood. But this is no style-over-substance, as the cabinet houses some pretty outstanding features.

Sounding out

Underneath the plush wood is a two-way speaker, a 25mm ultra-dynamic ring-radiator tweeter system and 150mm Symmetric Drive Motor System mid/base driver. The sensitivity of the speaker is 89dB.

Size-wise, the speaker, along with an included wall mount, is a modest 341 x 335 x 224mm, while a pair of them weigh in at 15.2kg.

As with all Sonus Faber’s luxurious kit, you do pay a premium for the quality, and the Cremona Auditor Elipsa is no exception. They are available to buy now for £2,690 a pair. Or if you want just one, expect to pay, not surprisingly, £1,345.

Pioneer updates its Blu-ray range

Marc Chacksfield — 1210586460

Sleek and sexy is the order of the day for Pioneer’s new range of Blu-ray players. The robust, piano-black machines boast impressive audio and visual capabilities, but it all comes at a premium.

Features-wise the BDP-05FD and BDP-51D are jam-packed. They both include 1080p/24fps video output, Picture-in-Picture interactivity, a DVD upscaling option (up to 1080p), and audio options so good that they deserve a new paragraph all to themselves.

Superior sound

Pioneer has managed to squeeze in support for all HD audio formats – an industry first. This means that Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS HD Master Audio all get a look in when it comes to watching your chosen Blu-ray Disc with superior sound.

As with Pioneer’s previous players, there’s added interactivity with its Kuro range of TVs and AV receivers giving, the company states, “the most true-to-life reproduction of HD feature films.”

The BDP-05FD is the Elite player of the two and has some extras added to its chassis, including gold-plated connection points, touch key buttons and an enhanced video processor.

What Pioneer has failed to include, though, is BD-Live (Profile 2.0). The company has instead decided to stick with BonusView (Profile 1.1). This means that those looking for the most up-to-date interactivity possible should look elsewhere - ie, buy a PlayStation 3.

Pricey players

Even though Blu-ray has won the battle for HD supremacy, the price point for BD players is still high. At the moment there’s no UK prices announced, but the BDP-51FD will be $599 (£300) and the Elite BDP-05FD will be available to buy for $799 (£400) when they are both released in the summer. As with all US-released Blu-ray players, expect the names of the UK versions to change. We will keep you updated prior to release.

Samsung's Soundbar due to arrive in UK in May

Tech Staff — 1209484746

Samsung is set to launch its all-in-one HT-X810T Soundbar wireless home theatre system in the UK next month.

First shown at CES in January this year, the HT-X810T Soundbar system is supplied in two pieces – a single speaker ‘Soundbar’ that sports a built-in upscaling DVD player, plus a separate wirelessly operated sub-woofer.

According to Samsung the Soundbar is specifically designed to sit directly below a wall-mounted flat-screen TV of 40-inches or more. Despite being a single unit, it’ll still produce up to 300W of 5.1 virtual surround sound, backed up by the low-rumbling sub, which can be positioned anywhere.

1080p full HD

The disc player on the front of the Soundbar unit is capable of upscaling standard DVDs up to 1080p, and can also process most audio and video formats including DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-A,WMV, WMA, DivX, JPEG, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3. The only notable absentees are, as might be expected, Blu-ray, SACD and DVD-OK.

Connectivity includes 5.8GHz wireless for the sub, plus USB, HDMI out, and Audio and Optical In. There are no Coaxial inputs though, and a humble iPod jack is sadly missing too. By way of scant compensation there is a in-built FM radio though.

We did contact Samsung’s UK PR consultancy to ask how much UK customers might expect to pay, but they had absolutely no idea. Samsung themselves were also out of the building when we called.

A cheaper way to get cinematic surround sound

Ian Calcutt — 1209039530

The classic 5.1 home cinema setup uses a disc player and amplifier (sometimes combined in one unit) plus five 'satellite' speakers for surround sound, bolstered by a subwoofer for deep bass.

With HD formats such as Blu-ray, you can have up to 7.1 audio channels. Meanwhile, Ultra High Definition TV, the next generation under development in Japan, employs an astonishing 24 sound channels.

But do you really need that many sound channels? I mean, really?

There's a growing number of systems that are ditching rear speakers altogether to offer a 2.1 virtual surround system. This comprises of a pair of stereo speakers and a sub (the '.1' part of the group).

It's not just a budget-end phenomenon either. For consumers seeking extra flair there's Denon's £900 S-302 or Arcam's Solo Movie 2.1, which costs £1,450 before you even add in the cost of the speakers. Onkyo is also getting in on the act with its new HTX 22HD boxes.

There is also the 'sound bar' concept, which adds everything except the sub into a long thin single unit that sits beneath the TV. Examples include Yamaha's Digital Sound Projectors, Philips' Ambisound and Denon's X-Space. These use a slightly more sophisticated form of 2.1 virtual surround, employing sound wave diffraction or reflection along with digital processing.

The mass appeal of 2.1 audio

Dolby's Andy Dowell told TechRadar why 2.1 packages are beginning to appeal: "As space for internal speakers within flat panel TVs is increasingly at a premium, 2.1-based home cinema systems offer a practical and simple way to achieve an improved sound experience. These systems have opened up the market to an even wider range of consumers."

The new wave of 2.1 products are attractive because installation is simpler than with more advanced multi-channel systems. Another benefit is reduced clutter, as Denon's Roger Batchelor explains. "We have identified that many 'potential' consumers for home cinema baulk at the idea of lots of cables and speakers."

Some 5.1 packages address this by minimising speaker size. Sony's DAV-IS10 uses five speakers measuring only 56mm tall. However, this approach almost always compromises sound quality, relying on a sub to deliver most of the noise. And you've still got masses of wiring to contend with.

Geoff Meads from Arcam says: "For me the 2.1 trend has come from a desire for simpler home decor which is at odds with typical surround speaker setups."

"People enjoy good music and good movies, and for enjoyable playback a high-performance 2.1 system can be extremely persuasive. It's perhaps unsurprising then that, with the exception of some large purpose built media rooms, 6.1/7.1 systems are rarely installed."

No compromises for true home cinema

A drawback of 2.1 or virtual surround systems is that it's not always possible to get a sense of true surround sound. The result can be like widely dispersed stereo. It's not just the whizz-bang effects that may suffer from a lack of distinction and accuracy.

If you're only using stereo speakers and a sub, then the absence of a dedicated centre speaker means dialogue sometimes loses some clarity. This is especially noticeable with cheaper systems when films throw masses of sound effects and music into the mix.

Roger Batchelor adds: "Those who appreciate true surround sound and the best possible performance will not compromise too much. Although the vast majority of systems in the UK seem to be 5.1, there is some renewed interest in 7.1 with some of the latest Blu-ray/HD discs containing discrete 7.1 tracks."

A 5.1 system enables you to put speakers in specific positions. The downside is that the two, three or even four rear speakers need cabling to run from the amp. With foresight you can hide this, especially if you are redecorating. Otherwise it's a case of trailing wires and strategically placed rugs.

Of course, there are some wireless systems available for rear speaker pairs. But even this isn't a cable-free solution as they need mains power. There is also a performance issue. For Denon's Roger Batchelor, wireless technology will be considered, "only when this can be achieved with no - or very little - loss of sound quality and at an acceptable price."

So how much of an audiophile are you?

For the time being, the choice between a multi-channel system or a slimmed down alternative comes down to how much you want proper cinema-style audio and whether your room can take the additional bits of tech.

Single-purchase 2.1 bundles are undoubtedly aimed at people wanting to bypass their TV's often weedy audio.

However, because the minimal-speaker propositions are so compelling, engineers are constantly aiming to improve their performance. Expect to see more of these systems on sale throughout 2008 and into 2009.

What sort of surround sound system do you have installed? Let us know whether you're a true-blue cinephile or if you think a 2.1 system is good enough.

Denon announces AVC-A1HD integrated AV amp

TechRadar Staff — 1208269434

It’s big, it’s brash and it costs as much, if not more, than a Rolex Oyster wristwatch. However, in terms of power, poise and the sheer number of features, AV amps don’t come any more complete than this.

Colloquially known as the ‘Son of Death Star’, the AVC-A1HD might just as well be called ‘The Daddy’. Weighing in at a colossal 29 kilos, internal circuitry is shielded from interference and protected from vibration via multi-layer construction techniques. Just for good measure, it’s then wrapped in a stainless steel outer shell.

Inside

Inside, the seven-channel THX Ultra2 AVC-A1HD is crammed full of all the latest audio and video processing technology enabling it to deliver premium 1080p video with unrivalled hi-def surround sound.

Featuring REALTA sxT2 HQV processing technology and HDMI 1.3a, the AVC-A1HD is able to upscale to 1080p, thus improving the picture of just about anything, from a standard DVD to an old VHS tape. The unit also boasts integrated Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoders alongside Auto Lip Sync.

The AVC-A1HD also features Wi-Fi ports to receive incoming streams from PCs, Macs and internet radio, while USB ports also lend the unit the ability to play MP3s direct from source.

Bulk

Despite its size, bulk and array of controls and connections, Denon remains optimistic that the AVC-A1HD is easily set-up and operated via an on-screen interface.

Once everything has been set up, the AVC-A1H is capable of outputting 7 x 170 watts into six ohms. By any standards, that’s pretty loud. Turn it up and any on-screen explosions should have the neighbours peering anxiously out of the window.

The AVC-A1H is available in the UK now at a cost of £3,700.

Sony's new Blu-ray players don't beat PS3

Audley Jarvis — 1204122418

Sony has announced the imminent launch of two new Blu-ray players that will be able to support the latest Profile 2.0 features, including BonusView (picture-in-picture) and BD-Live.

The first of the two new models is the $400 (£200) BD-S350, which is expected to reach the shelves by the summer. Although this model will reportedly ship as a Profile 1.1 player, BD-Live support can be added through a simple firmware update.

The S350 will be followed later in the year by the $500 (£250) BD-S550, which will be both BD-Live and BonusView ready straight from the box.

Both models will come with USB ports for local storage, and the BD-S550 will be supplied with a 1GB HDD. In addition, both players are able to support 1080p and can decode Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus.

The more expensive BD-S550 can also decode DTS-HD High Resolution Audio and Master Audio, and has 7.1-channel analogue outputs. Standard DVD upscaling to 1080p is standard on both players.

Designed for enthusiasts

There’s little doubt that both players are designed to appeal primarily to home cinema enthusiasts who might feel ill at ease using a PS3 alongside a heavyweight home cinema system.

However, viewed purely from a value-for-money perspective there is little to recommend either player over a PS3. Especially given the fact that by the time the machines become available the PS3 could cost even less.

TechRadar did call Sony UK to enquire about the availability of the two models in the UK, only to be told that they couldn’t confirm anything at present. If either model does make it to the UK though, we’d hedge our bets that the usual UK price premiums will apply.

Sony updates Bravia home cinema range

Anna Lagerkvist — 1203959070

Sony today updated its Bravia home cinema range with four new models.

The new additions are all designed to hook up ‘seamlessly’ to Sony’s range of Bravia TV sets using Bravia Sync. The idea is to have both units functioning using a single remote, minimising clutter. Syncing all your Bravia devices also means you’ll only have to switch one unit off for the whole system to do the same.

The new range, including the high-end Sony Bravia DAV-DZ860W, features 1080p upscaling to ensure your DVD collection looks as good as possible when watched back on HDMI-compatible TVs. The higher-end models also feature Sony’s new S-AIR wireless rear speakers.

Hook up your MP3 player

Sony said setting up multi-channel surround sound should be "easier than ever" thanks to its Digital Cinema Auto-Calibration. The featured digital media port lets you hook up all your portable and wireless music devices (including mobile phones, USB memory sticks, Sony Walkman models and other portable music players) to play through your home cinema system, and charge them up at the same time.

If you want to connect an Apple iPod or Apple iPhone, you’ll need an additional adapter.

The new Bravia DAV range includes the following models:

DAV-DZ260

Available in March, the Sony Bravia Theatre DAV-DZ260 offers a total output power of 850W, compact satellite speakers, optical and coaxial digital inputs and HDMI and Scart video outputs. It will play DVDs, DVD+/-R/RW discs, CDs, SACDs, DivX and MP3/JPEG files from disc (as well as Windows Media Audio and AAC2 via USB).

DAV-DZ560

Available in May, the Sony Bravia Theatre DAV-DZ560 uses large stand-mount/ wall-mount speakers for the front left and right channels, plus a matching centre speaker and compact rear speakers. It’s ready to be used with Sony’s S-AIR wireless rear speaker system (WAHT-SA1), which will be available as an optional extra. It has a total output power of 850W, boasts optical and coaxial digital inputs, HDMI and Scart video outputs, and will play the same formats as above.

DAV-DZ660

Sony’s Bravia Theatre DAV-DZ660 uses identical large stand-mount/wall-mount speakers for the four main channels (front left/right and surround left/right), plus a matching centre speaker. It’s also ready to be used with Sony’s S-AIR wireless rear speaker system, which will be available as an optional extra. It offers the same outputs and format support as the previous models, and will be available from May.

DAV-DZ860W

Launching in June, the high-end Sony Bravia Theatre DAV-DZ860W shares the same features as its siblings but offers a total output of 1,000W. It comes with Sony S-AIR Wireless rear speakers, 32-bit digital sound processing, and a ‘Sports Mode’ which lets you crank up the volume to the max when tuning in to see sporting events and live concerts.

UK pricing details will be confirmed nearer to the respective launch dates.