Home Entertainment Buyers Guide - Autumn by The Gadget Group

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5 DOCKS THAT ROCK Hi-fi rated iPod speakers HOW TO:

Switch to digital, the cheap way Buy the best TV in 2010 Create cinema on your PC Bring HD to your big screen

Why you’ll want it

BUYING SPEAKERS 10 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW

REVIEWED • SENNHEISER RS 160 • LASER MP32 • LG 47SL80YD • LEOWE ART 42

• BENQ W1000 • DENON AVR-890 • MITSUBISHI HC7000 • SENNHEISER RS 180

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Let Optoma give you a hand with their full range of projectors. Mobile or stationary, personal or business, Optoma always has the best deal. Optomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse line-up of data and home theatre projectors provide the perfect solution no matter what your needs may be. For more information please contact Amber Technology on 1800 251 367 or visit www.ambertech.com.au

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FAST FOREWORD

010 WILL BE THE YEAR 3D BECOMES AVAILABLE to the living rooms of Australia, with Panasonic to offer a complete “out of the box 3D solution” by mid-year. This means a range that will include a 3D Blu-ray player, a series of 3D Viera plasma full HD televisions, plus the necessary eyeware. It’s also likely that 3D Blu-ray movies will be part of the purchase package. Sony, too, will flood stores with 26 new Bravia LCD televisions from this month, including seven 3D models and 21 with the ability to access 15 free internet TV channels (IPTV) over a home broadband network. Eleven of the 15 free ‘Bravia Internet Video’ channels will be available from this month, and include specialised programming, video on demand and catch-up TV services from SBS and Yahoo7. (Curiously, though, Yahoo’s Channel 7 programming is not available via Tivo, which is part-owned by Channel 7, and the ABC’s popular iView catch-up service, which is available on the Sony Playstation 3, is not part of the Sony offering.) More broadband entertainment channels will be added over time, says Sony, and while many will be free some may offer pay per view content and movies, with the Sony Pictures catalogue being a likely - and ready - source of programming. Samsung, too, will have a strong line-up of TVs from April, and with 3D appearing in LCD, LED LCD and plasma, the company is showing no prejudice as to a best platform for the technology. Samsung will also provide a suite of streaming video channels and a Widget gallery for its large range of Net-enabled sets, plus the ability to Skype from the big screen in select models. I can’t recall a time when feature sets have been so strong. 2010 will be a hero year for TV in Australia, and an absolute gift for home entertainment lovers. THE 3D DEMONSTRATIONS WE’VE SEEN ARE GENUINELY impressive, providing an authentic re-creation of the cinema 3D experience. See it and it will be hard not to want it, and that’s despite its premium price - $4000 to $7000 on initial reckonings – and the lack of native 3D movies. You’ll need these, because proper 3D is a system requiring content, a player and a display with active shutter glasses. There is a psuedo 3D system that Managing Director Valens Quinn valens@gadgetgroup.com.au Publisher Peter Blasina peter@gadgetguy.com.au Editorial Director Anika Hillery anika@gadgetgroup.com.au Art Director Bill Chan bill@gadgetgroup.com.au Advertising Director Athan Papoulias athanp@gadgetgroup.com.au Advertising Manager Nathan Yerbury nathan@gadgetgroup.com.au Director Tony Read tony@gadgetgroup.com.au Editorial Contributors Anthony Fordham, Nic Tatham, Thomas Bartlett, Max Everingham, Nathan Taylor, Colin Hinton Printing The Quality Group Distributed by Gordon & Gotch www.gordongotch.com.au

converts standard video to 3D, but it’s like the simulated surround experience – OK, but not a patch on the real deal. Despite it’s appeal, 3D is not something that will receive an outing every day of the week. You’re unlikely, for example, to watch the news or breakfast TV in 3D. So 3D is for event viewing, and while some commentators claim it’s the biggest thing to happen to TV since colour, it should be remembered these words, too, were said of digital TV, then high definition, then Blu-ray. All of these emerged in the last decade, which not only says something about the rapid rate of development during this period, but should make us all wonder what innovations we can expect in the next ten years. Consider 3D, then, as just one of a suite of many compelling possible features in your next TV. And because the technology will appear only in premium model flat panels, your 3D telly will, by default, deliver a superior conventional 2D experience. REGULAR READERS WILL NOTICE WE’VE MADE SOME changes to Home Entertainment. We’ve listened to your comments and returned to our original quarterly Buyers Guide format, providing you with more of the expert shopping and technology guides you’ve been asking for, plus more reviews and, of course, your favourite regular sections. As always, we aim to equip you with the knowledge you need to understand and get the best value from your home entertainment technology purchase. Cheers

Anika Hillery

Australian Home Entertainment Buyers Guide is published quarterly by The Gadget Group Pty Ltd, 120 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, Australia 2011. Australian Home Entertainment Buyers Guide is available for licensing overseas. For further information, please contact The Gadget Group on +61 2 9356 7400 or email info@gadgetgroup.com.au All care is taken in the compiling of this magazine,the editors and proprietors assume no responsibility for the effects arising therein.Correspondence,manuscripts and photographs are welcome,and books, equipment and materials may be submitted for review.Although care is taken,the editors and publisher will not accept responsibility for loss or damage to material submitted.The magazine is not aligned with any company or group within the Australian electronics industry.Its editorial policy is completely independent.Views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. All rights reserved and reproduction without permission is strictly forbidden. Price on cover is recommended retail price only. ISSN 1327-0338 Copyright 2009

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 1

CONTENTS AUTUMN 2010

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2 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

HOW TO:

BUYING, SHOPPING AND SETUP GUIDES

How to choose speakers

TVs of 2010

HD shows

Little boxes

The ten most important things you know before shopping for surround sound speakers. By Thomas Bartlett.

Movies wirelessly beamed from the web, 3D and smartphone-like apps – just a few of the features this year’s TVs will offer. By Anika Hillery.

An overview of today’s key sources of high definition programming and the gear that plays it. Bringing digital TV to every room of the house doesn’t have to mean a new TV for every room. Our roundup presents eight set-top boxes that let you do it on the cheap.

Desktop cinema

Anthony Fordham outlines how to turn your PC into a mini home theatre.

FEATURES

Show and tell

3D television

A wrap-up of audio-video entertainment trends and technologies from the world’s biggest electronics show, Las Vegas CES. By Jack Walsh.

Will 3D be the biggest thing to happen to TV since colour, or is it just a gimmick? Max Everingham investigates.

REVIEWED IN THIS ISSUE Group test: iPod docks 62

REGULARS Random play

Home entertainment news and product highlights.

Tech corner

You wish

Time warp

Gear log

Ears, eyes, thumbs

You need a digital antenna to receive digital TV. Or do you? Anthony Fordham goes aerial.

Five drivers, each with the trademark Tractrix horns of their maker, are key to the Klipsch Palladium’s $39,990 hi-fi cred.

A retrospective of milestone entertainment products and technologies. This issue: digital amplifiers.

GadgetGuy, Peter Blasina, presents a showcase of standout electronica.

Watch, listen, play. Max Everingham’s roundup of the best movies, music and games.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini Geneva Sound System Model 5 Pioneer XW-NAS5 Revo Blok Revo Ikon

64 65 66 67 68

Box Fresh Sennheiser RS 160 Mitsubishi HC7000 Laser MP32 Leowe Art 42 Denon AVR-890 LG 47SL80YD BenQ W1000 Sennheiser RS 180 Edifier Luna5 iF500

69 70 71 72 75 76 79 78 80

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 3

RANDOM PLAY

Panasonic 3D by mid-2010 Panasonic will introduce 3D products by mid-2010, including a Blu-ray player, a series of full HD Viera plasmas (the VT20 series) and eyewear. A champion of plasma, the company asserts that the DISTRIBUTOR

performance criteria which makes the technology the best choice for big screen viewing – contrast, colour and speed – are even more relevant for 3D TV.

Panasonic Australia WEB www.panasonic.com.au

Sony’s 26 new Bravias debut IPTV and 3D Sony will join Panasonic in offering 3D television this year, with seven models to roll out from July. Based on LCD technology running at 200Hz – so alternating images are presented to left and

4 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

right eyes 100 times a second – the Bravia LX series (52 and 60 inch models) will be 3D-capable out of the box and the HX800 (40, 46, 55 inch) with HX 900 (52, 55 inches) models to be upgradeable to

Its 3D system is based on active shutter technology Panasonic calls “Frame Sequential Technology”. This works by showing alternate frames (each at full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution) to the left and right eye at the rate of 100 times a second. The alternative images transmitted by the television are then filtered by glasses

and combined in the viewer’s brain to have the appearance of depth. Because each eye is presented with an image at a frequency of 100Hz, Panasonic’ 3D plasma runs at 200Hz, a specification previously used only to describe the refresh rates of only the fastest of LCD televisions. Panasonic says it will offer 3D in plasmas over 50 inches, and was unlikely to offer it in its LCD line-up, which currently tops-out at 42 inches. While no pricing was available at the time of going to press, 3D TV sets are likely to be $5000-6000, in line with current premium models. At least one set of glasses will be supplied with purchase, with additional pairs available separately for a currently unknown amount. Home Entertainment Buyers Guide estimates a cost of between $100 and $200.

3D with the purchase of a transmitter and a pair of active shutter lenses. More important to Sony, however, are the IPTV (internet TV) services to be offered in 21 of its 26 new 2010 Bravias. From March, select Net-connected televisions from the line-up will be able to access 15 free video streaming channels over a home broadband network. Content includes specialised programming, video on demand and catch-up TV services from SBS and Yahoo7. Other channels include Billabong, You Tube, Wired, Golflike, eHow, Video Detective, Livestrong, Ford Models, Epicurious, blip and Style.com, with Sony indicating that more will follow. Like all streaming services, however, the buffering of video may impact the viewing experience and, should your appetite for broadband entertainment exceed your monthly data allowance, you’re likely to receive unexpected charges from your ISP provider. The key here is to pay close attention to the amount you’re downloading, or get yourself an uncapped data plan. Sony’s Internet video-enabled Bravias start at $1299 and go up to $6999. No pricing was available for the 3D models but expect premiums in line with current top-shelf models from the marque. Select models from the flood of Sony televisions to land this year will also

display the company’s new ‘Monolith Design’. This insets the LCD panel into a length of luxe bushed aluminium baseplate and tilts it backwards by six degrees. The brand claims this is the ideal angle for making larger screens appear less dominating, but beware reflections from overhead lighting.

DISTRIBUTOR

Sony Australia WEB www.sony.com.au

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 5

RANDOM PLAY

Edifier Esiena iF360 Edifier has some sound quality cred in the iPod speaker arena (see review on page 80), with its most recent offering, the Esiena iF360, promising to deliver an “elegant, all-in-one home audio solution”. The unit provides iPod and iPhone docking, FM radio plus CD playback, with support for MP3 and WMA files. Good connectivity DISTRIBUTOR

in the form of a video output for sending photos and video from iPods and iPhones to a connected display is on offer, plus there’s an SD slot and USB port with support for the above same file formats. A remote control, digital clock with alarm function, and a 50 watt Class D amplifier round out the $599 package.

Edifier International WEB www.edifier-international.com

Mitsubishi HC3800 Based on a single-chip DLP (Digital Light Processing) design with six-segment colour wheel, Mitsubishi’s HC3800 projector debuts a new digital micromirror device (DMD) that, with a smaller mirror cavity diameter and narrower gaps between mirrors, improves the aperture ratio of the imaging chip. The benefit, according to the company, is a smoother image and a higher contrast ratio for better overall blacks, whites and colour reproduction. With 1080p resolution, the projector is ideal for Blu-ray setups, and with a 1.5x short throw zoom lens, provides sharp images on DISTRIBUTOR

100 inch–plus big screens, even in smaller rooms. The HC3800’s lamp is rated is rated at 5000 hours, meaning you can watch around 3333 movies back to back before needing to change the bulb. The fan, essential for the cool running of the projector, contributes only 25dB (in low mode) to operating noise, meaning the projector shouldn’t intrude on your viewing experience. Other features include vertical keystone correction, a projector screen trigger and anamorphic lens compatibility. The HC3800 costs $3299.

Mitsubishi Electronics WEB www.mitsubishielectric.com.au

6 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

More LED in Sharp’s pencil Buyers are catching onto the high contrast and low energy consumption benefits of LCD TVs with LED backlighting, and television makers are integrating it into more models in response to demand. Sharp, for one, has expanded its existing Aquos LED range with three new models, the 46 LC-46LE700X ($2599), 52 inch LC-52LE700X ($3899) and 46 inch LC-46LB700X with integrated Blu-ray player ($2899; pictured). Each full HD set features Fine Motion Advanced Technology DISTRIBUTOR

for 100Hz motion smoothing, a fast pixel response time of 4ms, a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, and the company’s X-Gen Panel with advanced pixel control to minimise light leakage. Aquos Link allows users to control compatible HDMI connected products using a single remote control, SRS TruSurroundHD and Bass Enhancer improve performance from onboard audio systems, and eco cred is conferred by official energy ratings of six (46 inch) and seven stars (52 inch).

Sharp Australia PHONE 1300 135 530 WEB www.sharp.net.au

Concentration of power Got an MP3 player? How about a mobile phone , GPS device, camera and PSP or Nintendo DS? Charging everyday items of mobile electronica typically means locating multiple chargers – often with different connections – and negotiating a mess of cables. It’s a scene the Powerdock intends to overcome by allowing you to charge four different devices simultaneously from a single mains-connected unit. The standard Powerdock comes with three interchangeable charging ‘slices’, each supporting a different connector – USB, mini USB and iPod/iPhone. Ten other charging slices are available (ie: connections for phones by Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericson, games units such as Sony PSP and Nintendo-DS) for $15 each. The Powerdock itself costs $79.95. DISTRIBUTOR

Crest Electronics PHONE (07) 3817 6941 WEB www.crest.com.au

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 7

RANDOM PLAY

Bedside rave We’re already spoilt for choice when it comes to iPod alarm clock docks, but Ravon Audio has determined that one million and one of these bedside music systems is not one too far. Its i231A has a wooden enclosure with two 3 inch full-range drivers and a rated power output of 20 watts RMS. There’s a built-in FM radio with 10 preset memory stations, a remote control and a large LCD for viewing the time, station information and your iPod’s playlists. As per other iPod clock radios, the i231A gives you the option of waking up to radio or a selection from your iPod’s content list. It costs $329.

DISTRIBUTOR

Audion Innovision PHONE (03) 5831 8833 WEB www.audion-mm.com

8 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Bug music With one million and one iPod speaker systems currently available (see opposite), the Vestalife Ladybug II and FireFly employ eyecatching design to stand our from the pack and, presumably, appeal to the entomologist in us all. Each sports flip-up and flip-down ‘wings’ that, according to the company, “embody the movement and style of a ladybug and firefly”.

Compatible with iPod and iPhone, they integrate a subwoofer for increased bass performance, plus a digital amplifier, touchsensitive controls and interchangeable faceplates. They are powered by mains or, for use out and about, batteries. The Ladybug II costs $159.95 and the Firefly (pictured) $199.95

DISTRIBUTOR Try & Byte WEB http://tryandbyte.com.au

Full LED meets full HD Korean electronics giant, LG is looking to sell 3-4 million LED LCD televisions globally this year and, locally, has followed up on the release of its Borderless SL90 (see review page 76) with the 55 inch LH95. LG calls this a ‘Full LED’ TV, claiming it uses seven times more LEDs (total: 3360) than existing edgelit televisions to produce brighter, clearer pictures. An enhanced dimming feature divides the full HD resolution screen in 200 blocks, allowing light from the LEDs to be more précisely controlled in response to the video material on the screen, and at just 24.8mm thick, the distance between the LEDs and the LH95’s screen is minimal – meaning maxium brightness is transferred. LG also integrates 200Hz technology to maintain “a vibrant, smooth image even during fast paced action scenes,” and the ability DISTRIBUTOR

to receive uncompressed 1080p video from DVD players, games consoles and home theatres systems. The LH95 LED LCD TV costs $6499.

LG Electronics PHONE 1300 542 273 WEB www.lge.com.au

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 9

RANDOM PLAY

Bang for (mega) buck For a trifling $33,500, the 55 inch BeoVision 7-55 comprises a full HD resolution LCD panel, 100Hz processing, integrated Bu-ray player and the latest in LED-backlight technology. This entails a new direct-type LED-backlight with local dimming that, according to Bang & Olufsen, enables greater contrast ratio performance. A digital surround sound decoder is built in to the 7-55, with movie and TV soundtracks reproduced by the matching BeoLab 7-6 stereo loudspeakers. These feature a three-way bass-reflex design DISTRIBUTOR

Bang & Olufsen Australia and New Zealand WEB www.bang-olufsen.com

Lady GagGa in the head Celebrities say weird things, and weird celebrities say even weirder things. Take Lady GaGa, the ‘fashion forward’ dance-pop sensation, on her motivation for the ‘Heartbeats by Lady Gaga’ headphones. “I would die if I was forbidden to write, forbidden to love, or forbidden to fashion. Heartbeats embody the trinity of my human being, with one additional vowel: that sound matters.” Diva silliness aside, Heartbeats are the latest addition to the Beats by Dr Dre family of high resolution headphones. The result of a collaboration between audio heavyweight Monster Cable and super-producer Dr Dre, these claim to reproduce the full spectrum of sound heard by musical artists and producers in professional recording studios. So there’s substance on the inside, and Lady Gaga style on the outside, including a multi-faceted satin surface with a jewel inspired earpiece. Costing from $160, Heartbeats are available as a metal body with a rose red earpiece, with an all-chrome look or as a classic all-black finish. DISTRIBUTOR

incorporating 6 x 125 watt ICE power amplifiers, with thermal protection circuits and Adaptive Bass Linearisation (ABL) ensuring that “the loudspeaker can perform without distortion even at a very high volume”. Available finishes include natural aluminium, black, dark grey, red, and blue, and the above price includes the Beo 5 remote control with basic programming, motorised floor stand, integrated DVD/Bluray player and BeoLab 7.2 or 7.4 centre loudspeaker.

Convoy International WEB www.e-hifi.com.au

10 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Yamaha soundbar AV receiver Yamaha’s $999 YHT-S400 is a unique take on the home theatre in a box concept, combining a soundbar with a subwoofer-integrated receiver and Air Surround Extreme processing for generating authentic surround-like effects from just a single speaker at the front of the room. The NS-BR300 is a super-skinny front speaker system that, with width and height adjustable feet, can be positioned neatly in front of most 32 to 50 inch televisions, regardless of the shape or width of the TV stand. The SR-300 incorporates a 100 watt 13cm subwoofer plus 3 x 50 watts for driving the NSBR300. Three HDMI sockets are provided for connecting HD video sources, FM radio tuning is built-in and iPod compatibility

is provided via the company’s optional YDS-11 dock. Yamaha’s UniVolume mode claims to maintain a consistent volume level when switching between different TV channels, ads and programs, while Extended Stereo mode is said to help with imaging, allowing you to feel you are listening to a pair of speakers two metres apart rather than the single 80cm long NS-BR300.

DISTRIBUTOR Yamaha Music WEB www.yamaha.com.au

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 11

RANDOM PLAY

Blu times two Denon’s DBP1610 Blu-ray player supports BD Live for connecting to online movie-related material (where individual discs provide for it), a highly rigid chassis and centre-drive mechanism for reliable performance, 1080p unconversion for improving the quality of movies on DVD, plus DivX-HD playback and AVCHD playback from BD discs created from HD camcorders. The $999 unit also doubles as a quality CD player by integrating a dedicated two-channel analog audio output with high-class Burr-Brown 192kHz/24bit D/A converters. The company’s DBP-4010UD (pictured) is a videophile offering that, at $3499, still costs considerably less than its flagship DVDA1UD. A BD Live player, it also plays back DVD-Audio and SACD DISTRIBUTOR

discs, and discs created using AVCHD and Divx-HD formats. An SD card reader is built in, and for integrating into custom installation setups there’s an Ethernet port that allows IP control, Web browser capabilities and remote access. On the inside, the DBP4010UD houses a bunch of top-shelf processing technologies, including DDSC-HD (Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit – High Definition) for advanced decoding of all the latest HD audio formats, multiple Burr-Brown 24/192 PCM1796 DACs for superior surround sound reproduction, and the company’s Advanced AL24 Multi Channel processor for, according to Denon, “the ultimate in CD and PCM decoding”.

Audio Products Group WEB www.denon.com.au

Audio Technica gets into the head If it’s meant to get inside your head, Audio Technica probably has a set of earphones to deliver it. The Bloom (CKF300) fashion lineup, sports a newly developed 9mm driver, girly pastel shades and handbag-proof floral design storage boxes for $40. The CKM55 feature a new body design that ensures a comfortable fit as well as a good seal on the ear canal to minimise ambient noise, according to Audio Technia. They have a 12.5 mm driver, 200 milliwatt power handling and come with three different sized earpieces for $90. The CKS50 canal phones ($80) claim to magnify low frequencies by passing the earphone output through a sub-chamber then through a ‘canon’, which Audio Technica describes as “a kind of acoustic horn”. The $80 WM55 over-ear headphones provide deep cushioned pads, 30mm drivers, a retractable 1.2 metre cord and interchangeable coloured discs for changing the look of the ear covers to suit your mood, T-shirt or backpack. DISTRIBUTOR

Audio Technica WEB www.audiotechnia.com.au

12 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

So easy, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laughable. The whole family will get a kick out of the simplicity that is Nevo. With this intuitive house companion, you can control not only your home entertainment system, but almost any IR device you want. Dim the lights, close the curtains, sprinkle the lawn or check whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at the door. The NevoS70 and NevoQ50 can be easily personalised for every individual in the home, are infinitely upgradeable and offer a range of accessories making the possibilities truly limitless. Get the most out of your world.....Get Nevo. Member

1800 251 367 | (02) 9452 8600 | www.ambertech.com.au Australian distributor Amber Technology Ltd.

TECH CORNER

Aerial manoeuvres There are some simple ways to improve digital TV reception, writes Anthony Fordham

he time has come. You can put it off no longer. The switch over to digital TV is well underway and the clock is ticking on that relic of the 20th Century - analog. You’ve been hearing the rhetoric around digital TV for years now. Perfect picture, every time. No more ghosting, static, or rolling. All your reception problems, fixed with the purchase of a TV with a digital tuner, or a digital set-top box. Well, of course it’s not quite that simple. The digital TV signal uses the electro-magnetic spectrum, just like analog. And that means that unlike when regional UHF broadcasts began in the late 1980s, you don’t need a new antenna to receive digital. But your antenna does need to receive a quality signal to give you reliable, problem-free digital TV. And that can get a bit tricky.

14 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Reception problems

On an analog station, you can tell very easily when you’re not receiving a perfect signal: you’ll see all those artefacts we’ve long accepted, and which digital TV is supposed to cure. Ghosting, caused by the signal bouncing off terrain. Static and snow. “Move it a little bit to the right, darl!” was the catch-cry of the selfinstaller, and tweaking would improve the signal to the best ability of your antenna and physical location. Thing is, digital TV can suffer from the same signal quality problems, but you don’t immediately see it as you watch. Digital TV, by definition, either works or it doesn’t. You either receive a perfect picture, or no picture at all. Well, that’s not quite true. What you get is perfect image and sound for a few seconds, then everything breaks up into squares, like a dirty DVD. What’s most

“WHEN IT COMES TO QUALITY OF ENTERTAINMENT LIFE, $300 FOR A PROFESSIONAL INSTALL COULD BE THE BEST MONEY YOU’VE EVER SPENT” Receivers, cables and rabbit ears

irritating about this is that a broken digital TV signal is completely unwatchable, unlike a poor analog signal which might have a ghosty image, but perfectly serviceable sound – Australia might field 22 men, but at least you won’t miss the score.

Antenna fixes

The good news though is that your digital signal can fluctuate, and as long as it doesn’t dip below a certain threshold, you won’t notice. So storms, waving trees, windy nights won’t mess up the picture like they did in the old days. It’s worth getting your antenna sorted out for digital, though. When it comes to quality of entertainment life, $300 for a professional install could be the best money you’ve ever spent. For a start, your friendly local antenna specialist knows where the transmitter towers are. So he (and occasionally she) will jump up on the roof and point the antenna straight at where the signal is coming from. They’ll also mount the antenna as close to the tower as your roofline allows, and that can make all the difference. Back in the lounge room, the installer will use a signal meter on your wall socket, which will give them a very accurate reading on which stations could be problematic. Then it’s back on to the roof to tweak the antenna accordingly. Money well spent indeed.

Reception doesn’t stop at the outlet though. While any decent built-in digital TV tuner – a tuner physically inside the TV, that is – will give a good signal, some of the cheaper set-top boxes will struggle with anything but a perfectly clear signal. Some boxes even have a maximum signal strength they can handle, and will freeze up if the station is too strong! Why is it so? Cheaper circuitry means less-effective error correction, and like any computer, a set-top box can crash. Cheaper ones crash more often. The cables that run from your antenna down to the wall outlet should be of good quality too, though your installer will sort this out. And a weak signal can be boosted by, well, a booster. All this said, if your current analog reception is really good, with clear, static-free images, odds are you won’t need a new antenna at all to make the switch to digital. Just plug in a set-top box, let it scan for channels, and enjoy. You can even watch digital TV on a vintage television. Set-top boxes include an RF modulator plug: the digital signal is converted back into an RF TV signal, which is then played into your old TV’s analog tuner. The picture won’t be as awesome as an AV or component connection (never mind an internal digital tuner or HDMI connection) but it will still be a lot better than analog. And in some areas – such as those folks who live in the actual shadows of TV transmitter towers, or at least within a few kilometres with direct line of sight – you’ll even be able to receive digital using rabbit ears. Though if you do go internal, it’s worth investing in an antenna that has some kind of booster, just for a bit of extra juice.

Rectangles into squares

One more oddity of watching digital on an analog TV though, is that almost all digital channels now broadcast their programs in widescreen, 16:9. This will put black bars at the top and bottom of your 4:3 CRT TV. Even worse, if the channel plays an older 4:3 program, even more black bars are added to the side, so classic TV has a fat black border all around it! Yes, you can watch digital TV with your existing antenna and an old CRT TV with a set-top box. But the new age of widescreen and HD means you really should seriously consider upgrading to a proper HDTV, 40 inches at least. And while you’re at it, have your antenna guy come over and do a proper install. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. n

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 15

CES 2010

SHOW&TELL The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is the world’s biggest gadget-fest, providing a pipeline view of major technology trends and a heads-up on what products you can expect to see in stores in the coming year. Here’s our selection of the 2010 standouts. By Jack Walsh in Las Vegas

16 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

his year’s Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has been one of the best, with a record 330 new exhibitors coming on board to boost the number of companies to 2500. Combined, more than 20,000 new products were launched, once the final numbers are audited, attendance is expected more 120,000, up by 10 percent from 113,085 in 2009 For a lot of the attending journalists and analysts, it was the big 3D television launches that everyone had come to see, but there were plenty of other products from the major players. Here’s what some of the world’s biggest electronics brands are likely to deliver to a store near you over the next 12 months.

LG Electronics claimed that, while 3D was important, it would hold back with a major 3D television release for the time being. Instead, it released two major products – a Super Slim LED that is 6.9mm thin, and

LG’s “world-first” projector. what it claims to be the world’s first 3D projector. LG also showed a Skype-compatible television that will require you to buy a new television and a webcam accessory, with four-directional microphone as an attachment.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 17

CES 2010 ET than a serious piece of consumer electronics equipment. Even though it is hitched to pushing the plasma format, Panasonic continues to hedge its bets in the flat panel arena, with the company selling only LCD at 40 inches and below and plasma only at 42 inches and above. Panasonic joined in the Skype revolution and to back it up also showed off a video conferencing solution. The company’s president, Fumio Ohtsubo, was so confident in the conferencing software and hardware that he decided to present to the CES crowd from the comfort of his Osaka offices in Japan. New Lumix cameras were unveiled and new North American content agreements were announced, but the key message from Panasonic was that it was the only company capable of an end-to-end 3D solution from image capture to duplication, distribution and reproduction.

Sharp’s 68 inch LCD features the company’s new Quad Pixel technology, which introduces a yellow pixel into the traditional RGB colour spectrum.

Samsung

Sharp

While Sharp unveiled a 3D prototype on its stand, the company focused instead on the introduction of a fourth-pixel to the traditional red, green, blue RGB spectrum. The new yellow-pixel is designed to assist with the reproduction of ‘sunflower-yellows’ and brass tones. Sharp creates some of the best panels in the market, but has a reputation as a poor marketer. It appears that among the overwhelming amount of reporting that has been published from the show, Sharp the Quad Pixel Technology didn’t make the same impact that others did – again.

Toshiba

Toshiba’s big moment came with the unveiling of the Cell TV. This comes with a nice big black box containing the Cell processor that was co-developed with Sony and which now helps run the most expensive Blu-ray player on the market – the Playstation3. The Cell TV claims to upscale all 2D content to 3D (but who wants to watch Mel and Kochie in 3D at 7.00am?). Toshiba’s emphasis on this one product represented to many a company with mistaken identity – a computer company trapped in the television business.

Panasonic

For Panasonic, CES was a great opportunity to boast about its multi-million dollar investment in Avatar. The most successful movie of all time, the film should help shift more than a few televisions this year when the 3D Blu-ray version is released. Avatar movie producers were rolled out and Panasonic reinforced its movie industry mojo with a 3D camera. It costs a cool $20,000 and looks more like Wall-E or

Samsung emphasised the importance of the brand as a leader in television, with the release of its 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series televisions, including the top of the range C9000 which will be 3D compatible. More content agreements were announced, with Dreamworks and Technicolor coming on board delivering Monsters and Aliens to Samsung’s upcoming 3D Blu-ray TV and player bundle.

Sony

Sony presented the industry with an onslaught of new product previews that even made CEO Sir, Howard Stringer, beg “You might even think we’re cool again”. Sony reminded everyone that it was an entertainment company, with a performance from Taylor Swift (in 3D of course) plus a swathe of content agreements with companies such as ESPN, Discovery Channel and Imax. The gadgets weren’t far behind: Dash – a wireless internet tablet to put in every room of the house to deliver music, video and subscription information from content partners such as the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Bloggie is a high definition camera for Generation Y with 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 270 degree rotating lens and a five megapixel still images. A new range of Vaio laptops was also released, including one shipped within a bag made from recycled soft drink bottles…. but without a manual – you have to download that from the website to save on paper.

With a 3D high definition camera and new 3D televisions, Panasonic provides the means to create and watch 3D movies.

LG and Pansonic showed televisions that allow you to make Skype video calls over the web from the big screen in your lounge room.

18 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

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CES 2010

Sony also had a few televisions to debut: the high end LX series will be the company’s 3D range, supported by the design focused NX and DX series which are 3D ready (you have to buy the glasses). The EX series will be an entry-level range.

NAD

Away from the main crowd, the high-end audio companies preferred the comfort of hotel suites to showcase their new products. One of the highlights was the NAD M2 Direct Digital Amplifier. This features ultra-

low noise and distortion and a streamlined signal path with a completely new amplifier design ($US5999) and is complemented by the new M5 CD player ($US1799).

Meridian

The hero product within the Meridian suite was the 861 version 6 Reference Digital Surround Controller ($US26,000) with analog inputs, Meridian Speaker Link and MMHR input for up to eight channels from the HD audio processor. For the colour conscious audio file, Meridian debuted the Select system, which provides

2010 TECH TRENDS 3D

While 3D TV is the headline technology from the 2010 CES, it is also the one about which least is known – partly because there is so little content and many the products showcased were either prototypes or for demonstration purposes only. The important things to remember about 3D is that you need a new television, some glasses and probably a new Blu-ray player – unless you have a Playstation3, that is. With a downloadable firmware upgrade, Sony’s games console becomes a Playstation3D.

Whichever way you look at it, tooling up for 3D will be a serious investment, and once you buy a few expensive 3D Bluray discs and an upgrade to your Pay TV service (Foxtel has said it may trial 3D in 2011), it may be worth taking the family to the movies for a bigger experience. When it comes to 3D content, animation and big-budget movies specifically produced in 3D are far more engaging than sport or television shows that have been scaled up from 2D to 3D. Gaming could be the dark horse in the 3D race. This could be where it really takes off, so watch out for the cool kid at school with the rich parents.

HDMI

HDMI - High Definition Multimedia Interface - is the new USB and, in the age of high definition, really represents the tagline – “one cable, more able”. Samsung’s top-end television, the C9000 (likely to be called the 9 Series in Australia when it arrives mid-2010), has four HDMI ports, while the company that makes the most from the category, Monster, rolled out a new 3.5mm superthin HDMI cable.

Televisions from Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, LG and Philips showcase 3D as the tech de jour of CES 2010.

The thick cable characteristic of HDMI connectors has been reduced to just 3.5mm by US company, Monster.

20 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

The new HDMI 1.4 standard, which supports 3D and allows a single Ethernet connection to be shared between devices, featured on a few new products, including Panasonic’s Soundbar and the majority of the new 3D Blu-ray devices.

Skype

There’s a very large base of Skype consumers, 500 million to be exact, who are going to be really excited when Panasonic and LG ramp up their marketing for Skype TV this year. Whether it’s calling up loved ones or conducting some amateur teleconferencing, Skype on the big screen in the lounge room turns the TV into a terrific communication tool. You’ll need a new television that pairs a nifty webcam with four-directional microphones, however, but because these TVs can communicate with Skype on a PC or any other device, there’s no need for both parties to invest in a Skype television.

OLED

The bridesmaid of the television technology at CES 2010 was the organic light emitting diode (OLED). LG tried to create some excitement with a 15 inch (38cm) model it referred to as the “world’s largest commercially available”, plus there were 3D OLED demonstrations and prototype

Music producer Dr Dre and the uberweird Lady GaGa launch eponymous headphones on the Monster stand.

the opportunity to order specific colour variants of all DSP active loudspeakers and 800 series electronics. The eager should expect a 4-6 week wait. Meridian also showed off the next stage of its Sooloos media server business, which was acquired shortly before CES last year. Sooloos is a server music system that classifies music by genre, age, artist and composer and provides the user with remote web access to the library from work or even on holidays. The new Meridian 808.3 CD player is now featuring the ID40 Sooloos card to communicate with the server.

models above 30 inches (76cm) on the Samsung stand. It was Samsung, too, which showed off the active-matrix OLED – also called AMOLED – within a music player. Called the IceTouch, the screen displaying the information was transparent, indicating a new use for the technology in screen applications. Samsung also showed off an AMOLED photo frame with selfluminescent screen that enabled bright, high contrast 1024 x 600 images.

Onkyo

Onkyo previewed the THX certified PAMC5500 power amp with 9 x 150 watts all-discrete amplifiers and the PRSC5507 nine-channel THX certified pre-amp. Both products are yet to be released and are expected to be rolled out over the coming weeks.

Klipsch

Klipsch North America claims it has survived the difficult economic times by releasing a number of products at key price points to meet consumer

Sony Reader Daily Edition.

E-books

A few companies climbed aboard the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader bandwagon at CES, but apart from Samsung, they weren’t the companies you’d think would be in on this game. In what appears to be a replay of the digital photo frame debacle, a number of smaller companies are creating what looks like a very large MP3 player for words and music to undercut the emerging market. As always, functionality and capacity is determining the cost of the devices, but there are some pretty good knock-offs to be had. One of the more interesting products is a recipe reader containing 2500 recipes – like an iPod for the foodie rather than the muso.

Wi-Tricity Samsung IceTouch with transparent AMOLED screen.

One of the more interesting products which went largely unreported was the wireless television from Haier. This demonstrated the wireless transfer of HDMI signals and electricity (yes, power minus the cables!)

from a resonant coil mounted on an adjacent wall to the Haier television. But how does it work? The circuit in the resonant coil converts standard AC power to a higher frequency and feeds it to a power source. This then uses the current to induce an oscillating magnetic field. The device to be powered (ie. the TV) is tuned electronically to the same frequency as the power source in a process called “resonant magnetic coupling”, and the energy of the oscillating magnetic field induces an electrical current to power the device. Simple.

Tablets

The twisted sister of the e-book is the tablet that doesn’t quite know whether it is a computer or a reader. Sony presented an original take on the tablet with the launch of the Dash, a product likely to be upstaged by Apple’s iPad, which is expected to be released in May 2010. In the meantime though, Dash is something that can live anywhere in the house and, while it looks like a photo frame, it can be everything from a media player, to an email device or a lifeline for the Facebookaddicted.

The EeeReader from Asus.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 21

CES 2010

TOP 10 PICKS

1. 3D TVs

The product of the show – no question – and no lack of content will stop them from coming. Of real interest is whether 3D will succeed through gaming rather than movies and sport, and only time will tell on this count.

2. Panasonic 3D camera

There’s no real point in having 3D television without something to capture it with. The 3D camera may look a little like Wall-E, but it does the job… for around $US20,000.

3. Skype on TV

So you thought you had to huddle around your PC to conduct a group Skype video call – think again. LG and Panasonic have come to the party with new TVs that integrate an additional USB camera and four-way microphone to allow for Skypefrom-the-couch.

4. Quad Pixel

Sharp has added a fourth colour to the traditional RGB video spectrum, with the new yellow pixel introduced at CES increasing the number of colours in the company’s LED televisions from one million to one billion. The company also introduced a new dimension to television, with a 68 inch version of its new LE920 Aquos series.

5. Sony Dash

“For a lot of the attending journalists and analysts, it was the big 3D television launches that everyone had come to see, but there were plenty of other products from the major players” For a lot of the attending journalists and analysts, it was the big 3D television launches that everyone had come to see, but there were plenty of other products from the major players.

expectations. This has seen the brand release three of its least expensive home theatre products ever, and the first under $US1000. One system is priced as low as $US399, and features a centre channel, sub and four satellite speakers. Complementing these products are four sets of headphones that have broken the $US99 price barrier: the S2 and S4 both come with or without microphones for use with smart phones. At the high end, the Klipsch Palladium P39 tower speakers have been 10 years in the making and are beautiful products with a stunning price of $40,000 a pair. (see our article on page 24) They are complemented by matching centre and surrounds from $4500. Other towers in the Palladium range sell for $US8000 and $US12,000 a pair, with matching centre and subs available. According to Klipsch’s Roger Kauble, “if we were Toyota, Palladium’s our Lexus”.

Jamo

Toshiba came to CES with one product – the Cell TV. This uses the chip technology co-developed with Sony that features in the PS3, with the television promising to upconvert all 2D images to 3D.

Despite both being family owned companies under the one banner, Jamo and Klipsch are being positioned differently, with Jamo representing a more European aesthetic. Jamo engineers are creating products with female consumers in mind and consequently they are being more involved in the creation of the products. New for Jamo at CES was a new on-wall THX system and a new architectural line of speakers.

8. Readers

Yamaha

Specifically named for the hectic nature of its target market, Dash is a photo frame with the functionality of a wireless internet device. Check your social networking, email, news headlines and weather, and interact with music and video in the one device.

6. Wireless home theatre

Most of the major companies displayed the latest in DLNA technology and other wireless technologies. This is improving wireless home theatre systems and the transfer of information between PC and AV devices.

7. Cell TV

Beating Apple to the punch, a number of companies – including Samsung and iRiver – released readers with reading, writing and MP3 functionality. These take advantage of inbuilt memory and upgradable SD card slots.

9. SD-XC

Now available in 64GB and potentially 2TB capacities, this new format of SD card is so good that Sony has loosened its ban on the format and will be integrating it into its products.

10. 3D Blu-ray players

The most crucial part of the next generation home theatre will be the 3D Bluray player. This will need to be purchased from major suppliers alongside a 3D panel and an HDMI 1.4 connection. As for the television networks, we’ll all have to wait for them to contemplate how to broadcast in 3D.

22 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Yamaha showed off its Neo HD media controller, which allows you to enjoy all AV sources using just a single remote control. The controller unit features five HD inputs, including 3 HDMI, as well as iPod and Bluetooth compatibility.

Hype and hipshooters

The most overhyped product launch at the show would go to Lady Gaga and music producer Dr Dre for their headphone launch on the Monster stand. It was typical celebrity theatre, with the female performer wearing a hat made from her own hair. And what could be better than being the celebrity behind one consumer electronics product? Collecting endorsement dollars from Polaroid as well, with the press conferences being held just footsteps away from each other. While this exhibit counts as one of the show’s most disturbing, top prize goes to the plethora of Tazer selfdefence products which are designed to electrocute intruders and attackers. As the sales rep reassuringly confirmed: “It’s nonlethal and completely legal”. n

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AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 23

OBJECTS OF DESIRE

Klipsch Palladium P-39F T

hese boys ain’t little, and they ain’t blue, but boy do they blow their horns. “Horn-loaded” speakers are all the rage up in the rarefied air of the ultra high-end, as horn technology improves the efficiency of each driver in the speaker. There’s nothing particularly arcane about it: there’s literally a horn in front of the diaphram, and it provides “impedance matching” between the dense material of the driver’s diaphram, and the much lower density air. It’s not electronic, it’s not virtual, it’s good physics. According to Klipsch, horn-loaded speakers “just sound better” and that’s why the Palladium range makes the most of the company’s horn legacy and original vision of its founder, Paul W Klipsch.

24 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

The P-39F’s are the flagship of the range, and the all-important Tractrix horns on each of the five drivers are made from acoustically inert carbon-infused thermoset composite. The drivers themselves include a 19mm titaniumdiaphram “super tweeter”, a 114mm inverted aluminium tweeter, and three 228mm hybrid aluminium Rohacell Kevlar diaphram woofers with dual Faraday aluminium shorting rings. The tweeters are powered by neodymium magnet motors and a 4:1 high-compression chambered phase plug. All this means two things: these speakers are espensive, and they provide an absolutely flat response from 3kHz to 30kHz. To boot, the drivers are arranged just so, so they don’t build up heat and the speakers retain their full dynamic capability no matter how hard you pump up the tunes. Naturally, the P-39Fs are a matched pair: all drivers and crossover components are acoustically matched

Klipsch Palladium P-39F

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to ensure the two speakers complement each other perfectly. On speakers like these, the componentry inside isn’t just the ‘crossover’, it’s the ‘network’. The network here combines with a “smooth natural roll-off of the drivers” to create what Klipsch calls a “fourth-order electro-acoustic filter”. It’s built into a damped area in the base of the speaker, and is arranged so the tri-wire input connectors are tucked away. And yes, it’s probably worth buying the expensive cables for these babies. Hit up Klipsch’s Palladium mini-site at www.klipsch. com/palladium for reams and reams of fascinating detail. Marvel at such esoterica as “a copper-capped pole piece which reduces inductance modulation” and “a unique three-part neodymium magnet structure with dual stabilising rings that reduce nonlinear flux”. Replace all the unfamiliar words with “these speakers sound awesome” and you’ll get the core message. And the additional pics are pure audiophile pornography. Who buys the P-39Fs? Interestingly, their price at $39,990 puts them just a little bit above the top of what high-end hi-fi retailers call their “volume” systems. Total two-channel setups that add up to less than $50,000 are considered quite sensible and modest, in these sorts of circles. So perhaps these speakers are best suited for the discerning listener who’s not too proud to go digital from time to time. Or for someone who can’t see the value in spending $15,000 on a turntable, so similarly doesn’t need $100K speakers to match their ‘modest’ $5000 phono. These speakers are also for the audiophile who needs something a little more discreet – though we use

the term advisedly. But you do at least have the option of making the P-39Fs dominate your room... or fade away into the corners. Compared to some of the utter behemoths at this price-point, these 74.9kg beasties are almost svelte. Kilpsch is banking heavily on the horn-loading tech in these speakers to win ears, hearts and wallets (more or less in that order) in showrooms across the world. Like all speakers at this level, true appreciation can only be gained at audition, so book a session at your local super-high-end hi-fi store today! n

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 25

3D TELEVISION

26 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

TV makers are putting their money on 3D, so what will you need to get ready, how much will it cost and what will there be to watch? Max Everingham gets behind the hype

his year, fashionable geeks, gadget lovers and that much-maligned endangered species, the ‘early adopter’, worldwide are expected to down tools, up wallets and head off to stores to purchase 3D televisions. Maybe not quite yet, perhaps, as the first wave of products aren’t due until the middle of 2010, but anyone who’s anyone in consumer electronics circles should at least be girding their loins, readying their credit cards and firing off a warning SMS at bare minimum to their bank manager in preparation for the off. The purpose of this article is to explain how this shiny new technology works, what content is coming and what you’ll need to view it, and why you’d want it in the first place, not necessarily in that order.

3D, THREE WAYS

There are several ways of displaying 3D content, but they are all work by presenting each eye with a slightly different image of the same scene. These ‘stereoscopic’ images combine in the brain, confusing it sufficiently enough to trick us into thinking we’re seeing real depth.

Attempting to create 3D imagery harks back to the mid-nineteenth century (over 160 years ago, for the mathematically challenged), with the first 3D anaglyph movie seeing the light of day in 1915. That’s before the First World War – if you’re American – and serves as a convenient segue into explaining how it all works. It may be the first time you’re heard the expression ‘anaglyph’, but this refers to the first mainstream form of creating 3D television, by making you wear those horrible ‘red and blue’ cardboard glasses; remember them? Anaglyph technology forced the eyes to each view slightly different images by filtering colour and leaving your brain to overlap them for the three dimensional effect. But they were rubbish, really, and messed up all the colours. A new version of anaglyphs was needed, so enter ‘polarised 3D’. Using a similar concept, dual images themselves are polarised and simultaneously superimposed on the screen, then the viewer needs to wear polarised glasses that restrict polarised light and nudge the brain into creating a 3D image of it all. This is a much better technology as far as color integrity goes – and the lenses of the glasses tend to be of a uniform, less ridiculous, hue.

ANAGLYPH 3D

Red and blue lenses in anaglyph glasses filter the onscreen images so that only one image enters each eye. The images seen with each eye overlap in the brain to create the impression of 3D.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 27

3D TELEVISION televisions, such as its flagship 165cm LX900 model. This technology involves originally capturing images with dual, ‘side-by-side’ cameras and back at home relies on the television itself controlling special ‘shutter glasses’ that you wear, sending images at 60 frames per second (50 in our PAL system) alternately to each eye, leaving it to your brain to combine the images, make sense of it all and produce 3D.

POLARISED 3D

TAKING SIDES

Each lens has a different polarisation, which allows only one of the projected images to be seen by each eye. The images seen with each eye overlap in the brain to create the impression of 3D. Sony has been using polarised 3D glasses in recent demonstrations but, confusingly, has moved to the other stereoscopic technology when announcing a summer release of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in 3D, launching with its first 3D-compatible Bravia

Sony and Panasonic are in the ‘active shutter glasses’ camp, with each set to ship HD televisions this year complete with one pair of ‘RealD’ glasses. Samsung too, supports this tech with its DLP 3D TVs and the recentlyannounced LED and LCD 3D TV range, in 40, 46, and 55 inch models. While clever, and a more active technology than polarised glasses, the need for the powered shutter glasses means they’ll cost a whole lot more than the three bucks or so you currently pay down at Hoyts; perhaps even 20 times more. Typically, your 3D TV will come with a pair, maybe two, but everyone else in the room will need to bring their own And that’s not the main problem, the way we see it. The flashy ‘lifestyle’ photos these companies put out featuring slick, guffawing youths can’t hide the fact that you look pretty dumb with the glasses on your face, even if you go the extra, pointless mile and make the frames vibrant, ‘cool’ colours (yes, we’re talking to you, Sony). As one wag said, only a welder would call them beautiful. Likewise, Panasonic encouragingly refers to the specs as “as a stylish and lightweight pair of activeshutter glasses” but, frankly the only people who aren’t going to feel like complete tools wearing these

ACTIVE SHUTTER 3D SCREEN PROJECTS ALTERNATING LEFT AND IMAGES

INFRARED SIGNAL BEAMS INSTRUCTIONS TO GLASSES

RIGHT AND LEFT LENSES TURN ALTERNATIVELY ON AND OFF

LEFT EYE ON

R L

RIGHT EYE ON

LEFT EYE ON

RIGHT EYE ON

The screen shows alternating left and right eye images, with special glasses turning off the left and right lenses in rapid succession. The images seen with each eye overlap in the brain to create the impression of 3D.

28 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Transform your living room into a night at the cinema, with Mitsubishi Electric’s range of full HD home theatre projectors. With stylish black designs and employing cutting-edge HD components, the range of home theatre projectors from Mitsubishi Electric take home theatre enjoyment to new heights. Unique technology such as the “Diamond Black Iris” and “Original Contrast Control” allow these projectors to deliver amazing contrast levels, for the deepest

HC7000

blacks, brightest whites, and most stunningly vivid colours in between. Top of the line image processors, such as the Reon-VX with HQV™ (Hollywood Quality Video) technology, ensure image reproduction is second to none, even when displaying video from standard DVD players. Whisper quiet performance, and some of the longest lamp life available in the home theatre market (up to an astonishing 5000 hours), mean you can always be assured of distraction-free performance for months on end.

HC6800

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3D TELEVISION

With new equipment, the cinema 3D experience can soon be enjoyed in the home lounge room.

things are those folk who are already accustomed to looking that way – those braying packs of road cyclists who litter the roads at the weekend, for instance, or business-suited chappies who still think the Bluetooth headset worn on the ear while in the supermarket mark them out as rather dashing. Hopefully, this will all change someday soon, as with all ‘interim’ new technology, and we won’t need the silly specs at all. Indeed, Philips has already hinted that it will have such TV sets by 2011. And, of course, if you don’t want to always watch in 3D, you will be able to disable the feature on your 3D-capable TV and still be left with a top-notch 2D unit.

3D EQUIPMENT

Home entertainment fans get used to hearing about new formats and how they’re going to have to jump over the flaming hurdles of convincing themselves, convincing the significant other, finding a heap of cash, making a tough decision on who to back and, hardest of all, waving a sad farewell to their existing gear and stacks of media which has now become, gallingly, history. And so it is with 3D TV, because virtually nothing you have now has the legs to embark on the journey into the exciting, third dimension. You’ll need that new, ‘3D-compatible’ television for turning 2D TV into 3D, a new 3D Blu-ray player and a 3D Blu-ray movie disc. Sony says it’s Playstation3 will become 3D capable with a firmware upgrade, which is handy for current owners of the console, and with a high definition IQ2

Playstation3 – 3D ready via a firmware upgrade.

box you should be able to access Foxtel’s planned 3D transmissions in 2011. For everything to play nicely, together, though, all equipment in the chain needs the extra bandwidth offered by new HDMI version 1.4 connections and cables. All current equipment supports version 1.3, meaning existing AV receivers will be excluded from your chain of new 3D gear, for video at least (you can route audio optical/coaxial connections). Your PS3 can utilise HDMI 1.3 for sending 3D to a compatible TV, but it won’t support any of the new features of version 1.4.

WHO’S FIRST WITH 3D?

Panasonic is early out of the gate, with Full HD, 3D-capable Viera plasmas due for release in by mid2010, from the TC-P50VT20 50 inch 3D-compatible HD plasma TV to the colossal 65 inch (165cm) TC-P65VT25 model. The company also offers the new DMP-BDT350 full HD Blu-ray player. Sony, too, is ready for the next dimension with a 3D Blu-ray player (BDP-S770), home theatre in a box system (BDV-HZ970W) and compatible Bravia televisions from July. LG and Toshiba have shown 3D TVs at CES, with the latter well and truly deserting its HD DVD roots by introducing a 3D Blu-ray player (BDX3000). Samsung also announced a 3D home theatre in a box system and standalone Blu-ray player, the BD-C6900, to complement the March range of 3D TVs in LED, LCD and plasma units. Most manufacturers are adopting the active shutter approach, which has important implications for displays. Active shutter glasses mean each eye only gets to see the picture on the screen half of the time, so the effective refresh rate for each eye is half of the total rate of your 3D television or projector. A 50Hz display then, would present only 25Hz to each eye, and the flicker would make the image unwatchable. A 100Hz TV,

3D LABELING

How will you be able to tell if equipment is 3D? This early on, there’s no indication exactly how the manufacturers intend to band together and confuse their buying public by endlessly debating a new type of ‘3D-capable’ sticker – there’ll probably be badges for ‘3D-ready’, ‘3D-capable’, ‘3D-compatible’, ‘3D-possible’, ‘3D-with-massive-further-outlay-of-cash’ and ‘3D-in-its-dreams’, if the advent of HD televisions was anything to go by.

30 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

3D BLU-RAY STANDARD The industry-wide Blu-ray 3D standard was set in December 2009 and requires that all players output full HD (1920 x 1080p) 3D resolution. It states that: • 3D players must deliver 1080p Full HD to each eye • 3D players must operate with any brand or model 3D-enabled HDTV • 3D players must play standard 2D Blu-ray discs as well as 3D ones • Current Blu-ray players will all be able to play 3D titles, however only in 2D • PlayStation 3 game console will be upgradable to play 3D titles in 3D • The standard includes new graphic features, such as 3D menus and subtitles

which presents 50Hz to each eye, is therefore the bare minimum for 3D displays, with 200Hz (or higher) being optimum. Note, too, that Samsung and Sony claim their sets will convert conventional 2D content into 3D in realtime, although the effect will not be as convincing as that from programming originated in 3D. You’ll even be able to get a 3D projector. “We plan to deliver advanced 3D technology across a wide range of products – LCD TVs, plasma TVs as well as projectors” Dr. Woo Paik, President and Chief Technology Officer at LG tells Home Entertainment Buyers Guide, brandishing the $10,000 Full HD 3D projector, the CF3D, as a first step.

3D TV TRANSMISSIONS

On the software side, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) is one organisation determined to make your transition a bit easier, attempting to “provide a single, deliverable 3D format for content producers”. However, in an admirable display of honesty Peter Symes, head of SMPTE, recently declared “I think we need to be careful to remember that all of these things are very, very hard”, given that the 3D content can be delivered on disc, over the airwaves, via satellite, and cable. A recent candidate is to provide a ‘multi-view’

Optoma’s HD66 3D projector uses DLP imaging technology and a resolution of 720p. It costs $US700 and is not available locally.

extension to the MPEG-4/H.264 standard, with the major stumbling block being the handling of the extra bandwidth required for 3D.

LG showed 3D televisions with a refresh rate of 480/400Hz at CES.

CONTENT

Content is king. Content is always the most fundamental driving force behind any new format in consumer technology. A dearth of it killed MiniDisc, a superfluity of it guaranteed the success of VHS (thanks porn!) and DVD. Forget the $$-driven bombast from the guys who make the boxes, because the proof of the 3D TV pudding will be in the quality of the content that is served up. Movies will probably be most compelling, because they’re already around and there are reportedly nearly 30 new 3D films already in production. But while the ‘pokey arrows and spears’ of Avatar are great, more thought needs to go into making truly effective 3D. Directors have to ditch conventional techniques to make things appear exciting, like fast-moving, swooping cameras (bleeeurrg!) and create and film content specifically with 3D in mind. For broadcast television, given the tech, TV makers are going to have to produce very high, stable refresh rates – a minimum of 100Hz and, even better 200Hz – for broadcasters to exploit and 3D be perceived by viewers as sufficiently smooth. In this respect, the programmers of videogames – which have been vaunted as one of the most attractive 3D applications – have their work cut out, according to one gaming insider, as they’ll all need to “effectively double the frame rate” of their games to avoid degradation in performance and the potential alienation of their customers. Great Britain’s BSkyB is on the case, however, promising a Sky 3D channel this year to owners of a new, 3D-compatible television, so long as they also already have one of the company’s Sky+HD boxes (same as the Foxtel iQ2 over here) and ESPN is promising 3D sports content by the winter. And, in a world’s first, SKY 3D is broadcasting 24/7 right now in avant-garde South Korea, courtesy of Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting, showing a mix of sport, docos, animation and more educational fare. Locally, Foxtel has said it will trial 3D transmissions in 2011, and around 25 games from this year’s FIFA World Cup will be captured and displayed in 3D at designated public venues in select world cities, including Sydney. Sony Pictures will create a 3D film of the soccer World Cup, with 3D promotional trailers to be shown at stores – including Sony Centres – that sell Sony products.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 31

3D TELEVISION WHAT YOU NEED FOR 3D

3D stereoscope games

Blu-ray disc

The internet

Broadcast

3D compatible Blu-ray player and Streaming/download content 3D compatible PS3

3D glasses 3D compatitble TV

3D LOOKS LIKE LIFE

The FIFA World Cup in South Africa will be one first major sporting events to be filmed in 3D.

Why would you want all this? Well, 3D TV aims at creating a visual stage that reaches out, envelops and absorbs you, the viewer, bringing the imagery out of the 2D plane and giving the impression of wrapping around you, much like a good surround sound setup can create a 3D sound stage in the audio department. Depending on your viewing preferences, this could create new levels of immersion: sports fans might feel that they’re standing on the sidelines of their favourite footy pitch; music fans will be in a virtual mosh pit, almost able to reach out and touch their beloved band members and porn fans, well, yes, never mind.

Filmed and coded well, 3D TV will be to television what surround sound was to audio, putting the viewer in the middle of the action like never before.

I DUNNO, I JUST CAN’T SEE IT

But despite the best efforts the industry’s 3D protagonists, the final word is ironically left to Mother Nature, or at least your Mum and Dad. Because, we’re told, up to 10 percent of people cannot perceive depth from a 2D image at all and are ‘stereo blind’. So if your particular genetic provenance isn’t quite of the ‘crystal-clear, infinity pool overlooking a breathtaking ocean vista’ variety, you may never get to watch 3D television. Rafe Needleman*, a CNN online correspondent, is apparently one of the unfortunates and he certainly isn’t alone. I, for example, have been personally blessed with the inability to superimpose one 2D image over another to merge them, although the new 3D glasses work for me and I am apparently not colour blind. I like to attribute this fact to a personal ‘blessing’ that makes me feel singled out in a good way rather than, say, categorise it as a freakish physical defect. 3D glasses give me a headache, too. That’s just me, however, and you could be only mere months away from boldly going where no person has gone before; 3D TV, the final frontier. n REFERENCES Rafe Needleman, CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/ TECH/01/15/3d.tv.opinion/index.html

32 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

When you want to get into home entertainment but need to learn more, our How to Buy section is the perfect starting point. Our expert advice, buying and setup tips will help put you in the know before you venture onto the shop floor.

HOW TO BUY How to choose speakers 34 The top ten things to consider before buying surround sound speakers.

TVs of 2010

A pipeline view of the exciting changes this year’s TVs will bring to the lounge room.

HD shows

The broadening choice in high definition content, and a guide to the equipment that plays it.

Little boxes

Set-top box roundup

• Bush DFTA1A • DGTEC DG-SD3401 • Topfield TBF7120 • Strong SRT5425 • Uniden 8000UPVR • Kogan HD set-top box • TEAC HDB848 • Grundig GSTB4100FV

Desktop cinema

Creating a mini theatre system, with your PC as the centrepiece.

REVIEWS Group test: iPod docks

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini Geneva Sound System Model 5 Pioneer XW-NAS5 Revo Blok Revo Ikon

64 65 66 67 68

Box Fresh

Sennheiser RS 160 Mitsubishi HC7000 Laser MP32 Leowe Art 42 Denon AVR-890 LG 47SL80YD BenQ W1000 Sennheiser RS 180 Edifier Luna5 iF500

69 70 71 72 75 76 79 78 80

OUR RATINGS

The Home Entertainment Buyers Guide star rating systemindicates how any given product compares to other products in the same category and price range. A $1000 product that earns a five star rating, for example, is not directly comparable to a $10 000 product from the same category – the ratings are specific only to the product category and price range of the product under review. Products are rated for feature set, performance, price and ease of use. Where stated, an ‘Overall’ rating is an average of these criteria. Poor

Fair

Good Excellent Reference

Performance Features Ease of use Value for money AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 33

HOW TO BUY

HOW TO CHO Looking for surround sound speakers? Here are ten things you should ask yourself before buying a system. By Thomas Bartlett

home theatre or stereo system consists of many components, but of them all it is the loudspeakers that have the most effect upon the sound. They will also constitute a large proportion of the total cost of a system. So it isn’t surprising that choosing the correct loudspeakers for you and your system – and your room – is vitally important if you’re going to get the kind of home theatre experience that you’re seeking. We reckon there are probably about ten questions you would like answers to before hitting the shops, since these are the questions that we get asked all the time.

34 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Let’s answer them all here! But before we start, what do loudspeakers do anyway? Actually, they do the hardest thing that is done in a home theatre system: they turn electrical energy into acoustic energy. They take the electrical output from amplifiers (built into the home theatre receiver), and use it to vibrate membranes which, in turn, vibrate the air. Sounds simple, but it isn’t. That’s why there is such a huge range of loudspeakers, as manufacturers wrestle with such a wide range of technologies in attempts to provide good performance at affordable prices. Your questions, our answers:

OSE SPEAKERS 1

How much do I have to spend?

One of the great things about home theatre is that it isn’t something exclusive to the rich. The speaker system can range in price from well under $500, to well over $50,000. Clearly, the high end will sound better than the low end. But the surprising thing is that the low end can sound pretty damned good. At the entry level, you can consider a ‘home theatre in a box’. This is usually a set of five satellite speakers (more on this later) and a subwoofer, generally with a receiver of some kind. All you need supply in addition is a DVD or Blu-ray player and a TV. Sometimes a DVD player is built in. This sort of thing can range from under $500 to a couple of thousand dollars. The ‘normal’ sort of system doesn’t include the

amplifier. Instead these are typically five decentquality satellite speakers and a subwoofer, or maybe two floorstanding stereo speakers, three satellites and the sub. This kind of system can range from well under a thousand dollars to several thousand.

Front surround speakers combine multiple drivers in a single long cabinet and use DSP to simulate multichannel effects.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 35

HOW TO BUY

Big cabinets with multiple drivers are a good general recipe for high volume sound.

Small satellite speakers can provide quality sound, but must be paired with a good subwoofer for anything approaching good bass performance.

Also mixed in there are some special ‘front surround’ solutions, which each use a single speaker ‘bar’ to project sound around the room, with the aim of eliminating surround speakers. These are compromise systems that can suit some environments, but do limit performance. Finally, there is the top end. Let’s say $5000 and up. And by ‘up’, we mean extremely high. Some custom surround installations can take quite a chunk out of a million dollars. So how much do you have to spend? In most rooms you will get mighty impressive performance with an expenditure of $2000 to $3000 on the speakers and subwoofer. Five hundred dollar systems will have severe limitations. Ten thousdand dollar systems will generally sound noticeably better, but the returns diminish as the dollar value goes up.

which is to say that they have to be large. Other purists will tell you that a home theatre system should be based on satellites and a subwoofer, which is to say that the main speakers produce only the midrange and treble, which is to say that they can be small. In other words, there is no ready answer to this question. But the main principle is to not worry about this at all. Pick your loudspeakers based on other things: how they sound, how they fit into your room, how much they cost. Excellent results are available with large speakers, and with small ones as well (as long as they have a good subwoofer). When it comes to room size, even a big room doesn’t necessarily demand big speakers, as we’ll see with our answer to question number 7.

What size loudspeakers do I need? Some purists will tell you that all your loudspeakers must be ‘full range’, which is to say that they have to produce deep bass as well as midrange and treble …

Where will they need to go? We may have been very flexible in the last question, but there is no dispute with this one: surround speakers must be properly located for the best sound. When the engineer mixes the sound in the first place, he has his surround speakers in a very particular set of locations. If yours don’t match, then the surround sound will seem very different. Fortunately, the home theatre receiver will adjust for the level of sound from each loudspeaker, and for their distance. So all you need to worry about is putting them in the right direction. That direction? The centre channel above or below your display screen or TV, directly ahead of you. The front left and right speakers to either side of the display screen. Have them so that the centre channel is evenly placed between them, and they are the same distance apart from each other as they are from your normal seat. That will help them sound as good with stereo music as they do with surround sound. The two surround speakers should be out to the sides, just a little behind your seat, and about a metre higher than your ears when you’re sitting. If you have a 7.1 channel system, then you will have two ‘surround rear’ speakers as well. These also should be up high, directly behind your seat and about a metre apart from each other. In general, a subwoofer works best tucked into a corner at the front of the room. This can lift its volume level so it can better handle those explosions in the

36 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

How a speaker works

High frequencies (treble)

Tweeter (driver) Crossover Divides audio signal into bands of frequencies

Audio signal

VOLUME 15 DOLBYŁ TRUE HD

PLAY 00:01:15

CD PLAYER

Woofer (driver)

AMPLIFIER Low frequencies (midrange, bass)

ENCLOSURE (CABINET) movie, but be prepared to experiment with it if it sounds a little boomy.

Must my loudspeakers look awful?

There was a time – a time that lasted many decades – where good loudspeakers were truly imposing beasts. Thankfully, that time has passed. Today, whether you want big or small, there is a huge range of finishes and shapes. Some are in-yourface high-tech, others feature a traditional wood grain that would suit a gentlemen’s club. You can get glossy colourful finishes, or a laid-back black ash. Even floorstanding speakers tend to be relatively narrow these days, so they are less of an imposition on the eye. But you can abandon even these, and choose satellites and a subwoofer. The sub can be tucked into a corner where it is out of sight, while the satellites tend

Once installed in your home, speakers are something you’ll have to look at everyday. It’s best, then, to buy speakers you like the look of.

to be less noticeable due to their very compactness. Some are so tiny that you will barely notice them at all.

What’s bass-reflex, and the alternatives?

As with any field where engineering rules, there is a lot of jargon that goes with loudspeakers. Read a review of a loudspeaker in these pages and you will see references to ‘bass-reflex’, or ‘sealed enclosure’. These are simply different ways of trying to best undertake the difficult task of producing bass. A bass-reflex enclosure has a carefully designed hole in the box that allows some of the energy from the back of the speaker driver to emerge. When done well (as it usually is on reputable speakers) this allows the bass balance to be maintained to lower frequencies than would otherwise be the case. Check out the box on page 40 for a bunch more terms you will commonly find used to describe loudspeakers. But what we suggest is that you don’t get too hung up on them. There are many ways to solve the realworld problems of loudspeaker design, and no one way is the complete solution. So judge the results – the way the loudspeakers sound – rather than the techniques. You will be more satisfied with the result.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 37

HOW TO BUY Anatomy of a driver

Diaphram (cone or dome)

Pole piece

Voice Coil

Dust cap

Magnet

Many centre channel speakers are designed differently to left/right home theatre speakers because the are positioned horizontally. LCR – left/centre/right – speakers such as those pictured are designed to perform equally well, regardless of where they are placed in the front stage.

Must they be built like a brick outhouses?

How loud will my new loudspeakers go?

As we keep saying, things have changed. In general we prefer heavily built loudspeakers. Solid walls on the enclosure can reduce ‘colouration’ of the sound through sympathetic vibrations. Heavy loudspeakers suggest big magnets in the speaker drivers, which in turn suggests plenty of power handling and, usually, high efficiency (see the next point). But clever designers making efficient use of materials and high tech design techniques have managed to produce better sound from lightly built loudspeakers than was available from the biggest and best of a couple of decades ago. So, once again, don’t worry too much about size and build. Pay more attention to sound.

Back at number 2 we basically said: size doesn’t matter. What does matter is something called ‘sensitivity’. Loudspeakers are horribly inefficient. Most of the energy an amplifier pours into them doesn’t get turned into sound, but into heat. ‘Sensitivity’ is a way of marking how efficient a loudspeaker is at turning power into sound. It is stated as a figure, usually between about 85 and 95: which is the number of decibels (ie. the volume level) the loudspeaker will produce, when fed a 2.83 volt

38 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

electrical signal (this is the voltage required to produce one watt of power in an 8 ohm resistance), measured at a distance of one metre. The important point of this measurement is that every 3dB increase in sensitivity – say, from 89dB to 92dB – will produce the same volume level increase as doubling the amount of power! If you have 100 watts available from each channel of your home theatre receiver, and your speakers are rated at 89dB sensitivity or more, you should get plenty of volume in normal domestic lounge rooms. Going for 92dB, or even more at 95dB, will allow you to fill a much bigger room … or to entertain the neighbours, willingly or not!

Speakers from the same family, range or brand will be best matched to each other, which helps a ensure seamless and even sound performance.

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HOW TO BUY Common speaker terms and specifications Bass reflex/ported: A loudspeaker enclosure (aka cabinet) that uses a carefully designed tube to control the flow of bass sound from the inside of the enclosure to the outside. It can enhance the level of the bass, making the loudspeaker sound ‘larger’. Bipole: A type of speaker – usually small – where the sound is fired in two different directions. This approach is sometimes used for surround sound speakers to give a more diffuse effect. Dipole: Like a bipole speaker, but with the two sounds out of phase. This makes the sound even more diffuse. This approach is recommended by THX, the standards and testing body, but is rarely used in practice. Frequency response: Frequency refers to the rate at which the air vibrates. The higher the rate, the higher the pitch of the sound. Frequency response refers to the range of frequencies – bass, midrange and

If you love music, build a surround system around a quality stereo pair of speakers.

treble sounds – a speaker can reproduce, with most rated at between 20 vibrations per second (called ‘hertz’) and 20,000 hertz. Power handing: The amount of power a loudspeaker can cope with from an amplifier. This is always an uncertain measurement and depends on distortion levels, among other things. The claimed figure for the speaker should be regarded as the upper limit. Satellite speaker: A very small loudspeaker designed to be mounted on a wall or such. It won’t produce significant bass so needs to be accompanied by a subwoofer. Sensitivity: The acoustic level, expressed in decibels, produced by a loudspeaker, measured at one metre, when driven by a 2.83 volt signal (the voltage required to produce one watt of power in an 8 ohm load).

Should I buy the same brand for all of them?

Insofar as traditions exist in an area with as brief a history as home theatre, traditionally we would recommend that all five (or seven in the case of a 7.1 system) loudspeakers should come not just from the same manufacturer, but from the same range. The reason is that much of the sound is supposed to seem as though it is coming from between the speakers, not directly from them. If two speakers don’t sound the same as each other, then the between-them sound will be smeared and imprecise. Loudspeakers from any one series by a manufacturer are almost always designed to sound very similar to each other. But these days, many home theatre receivers have various equalisation functions built into them, along with automatic setup microphones. These can adjust the tonal balance of the all the speakers to achieve exactly the same end. Still, it will make the receiver’s job easier, and offer a more aesthetically pleasing look in your room, if you stick with the same range. Subwoofers are a different matter, though. They perform a different function, so you may find better performance by choosing from a different range, or even brand.

40 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Three-way: A loudspeaker design in which at least three ‘drivers’ (the moving parts of the loudspeaker) are included, with the sound divided between them by way of frequency, with the bass going to the large one or ‘woofer’, the middle frequencies to a ‘midrange driver’ and the high frequencies going to the small ‘tweeter’. Two-way: A loudspeaker design in which at least two drivers are included, with the sound divided between a tweeter and one or more woofers by frequency. THD: Total Harmonic Distortion, the most common distortion afflicting home entertainment equipment. Modern electronic equipment usually keeps this down well below one percent of the original signal, but loudspeakers produce much higher levels. It is very rarely quoted for loudspeakers for this reason.

For my music or my movies?

If you are only interested in home theatre, then place equal weight on the quality of all your loudspeakers, with perhaps an emphasis on the centre channel (which is going to produce the vast bulk of the movie dialogue). But if you love high quality sound in your music, then it is generally best to choose the stereo speakers within your budget, according to what sounds best to you, and then simply add the centre and surround speakers from the same range. You will generally not find yourself disappointed with a surround system that has been optimised for stereo, but the other way round can be disappointing for music lovers.

I’m going to the shop, so what comes next?

What comes next is listening. You are not buying a refrigerator or a chain saw. You are buying a sound system which should produce for you a glorious aesthetic experience. So none of this quick-in, quick-out. Take some DVDs (or better yet, Blu-ray discs) and some CDs, and then spend time at the shop. Play the bits that you know the best and make sure that the result pleases you. Try several different systems if there are a number that suit your eye and budget. Remember, a shop that won’t happily oblige you in this should not be rewarded with your purchase. n

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HOW TO BUY

42 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

TV makers spent the last year in the R&D labs devising reasons for you to buy a new flat panel. Here’s a look at the hot technologies you can expect to find in the best TVs of 2010. By Anika Hillery

he television was once such a simple thing. You plugged in the mains power and the aerial, sat four feet away from its teeny, square screen and guffawed and cried and fell asleep to the things displayed upon its curvy surface. Those days are gone. Televisions now measure more than a metre across the diagonal, connect all manner of equipment – including computers - and hold within their skinny chassis more technology than most people care to understand. But knowledge is power, and when you’re looking down the barrel of a several thousand dollar spend, a little power is good thing. So here’s a rundown of the major technology features and trends you’ll see in the new televisions being released by major – and minor – nameplates from March year. Some, such as 3D and Skype, are making their debut in 2010 and won’t be fully realised in the average household for some time to come, while others such as DLNA and LED backlighting are refinements of technologies that appeared in 2009 models. Every one of them improves the utility of the idiot box, strengthening its position as the entertainment and information centrepiece of the home.

NET-CONNECTED TVS In today’s parlance, ‘networked’ TVs are those which can access and share content over a home broadband network. These TVs can link directly to the Internet, or play photos, movies and music residing other networked devices, such as computers, mobile phones, music systems and digital cameras. The benefit here is that there’s no need to swap actual physical media between devices, and the content can typically be enjoyed on more than one device – and in different rooms – at the same. A TV will connect to a network in a number of ways. It may have an Ethernet port for making a wired link to your broadband router, or come

LG’s Skype TV allows you to view your contacts on the big screen, then video call using an accessory camera and microphone.

NETWORKED TV The networking trend in televisions developed around five years ago, with the appearance of SD and USB slots. These ports allowed you to insert thumbs drives and memory cards and enjoy the stored video, photos and music on your TV and through a connected sound system. Some of today’s TVs even allow you to record TV shows to a thumb drive, and by mid-year you’ll be able to attach any hard drive to some models and turn your TV into a PVR. Still, while these features provide a level of interconnectedness between different devices, the ability to access and share content is limited.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 43

HOW TO BUY

Increased smarts will go hand in hand with new designs and materials as TV manufacturers work to stand out from the competition on crowded retail floors.

with a USB dongle that provides a wireless connection to the same. These grant it entrée to the entertainment storehouse of your computer (or a NAS – Networked Attached Storage – device) as well as the Web. No TV is actually equipped with a browser (yet), so you can’t search the Internet for your favourite sites like you do on a computer. Instead, Net-connected sets provide direct access to ‘select’ Websites, such as Flickr (see Widgets), and streaming video channels, such as YouTube (see IPTV), via internal menu systems. The type and variety of Web-based content varies between brands, and is currently limited to the partnership deals struck between the different hardware and Website brands. This ‘walled garden’ offering isn’t ideal, but it’s early days and the number of alliances will only expand.

DLNA TV Televisions can also network with other devices over a Wi-Fi network via a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance). This is basically a ‘plug and play’ standard for your digital equipment, guaranteeing that gear badged DLNA – mobile phones, music systems, printers, and some games consoles – can share music, video and photos with each other. Want to view the photos from your DLNA camera on the big screen? Just DLNA it. Ditto for the video captured on your DLNA camcorder. And you can beam

44 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

music from your DLNA smartphone to your TV to enjoy through your connected surround sound system. DLNA debuted in several LCD and plasma televisions in 2009, but only a few allowed video to be streamed wirelessly. This year’s DLNA televisions will deliver this as a matter of course, as well as broader support for video, photo and movie file formats.

WIDGETS A Widget is a shortcut to a specific website, much like an app on a smartphone. They appear as a graphical icon within an onscreen menu on Net-connected televisions and, with click of a button on the TV’s remote, take you directly to their associated Website. Essentially, a Widget allows you to access the information, social networking, photo-video sharing and video streaming sites you’d usually visit via computer, by using your TV instead. The websites can be viewed full screen, or as an inset to the TV show you’re watching. LG, Sony and Samsung led with Widgets in 2009, with YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Picasa and Flickr a common theme, along with weather, sports and financial information websites. In other markets, shopping via Ebay plus internet entertainment and video-on-demand channels such as Amazon Video, Showtime, Blockbuster and NetFlix were on offer, and 2010 will see the introduction of similar features locally (see IPTV). What’s more, the range of TV-accessible websites should expand greatly in the next year, as TV makers follow the smartphone ‘app’ model and release SDK (Software Developer Kits) to the tech community. In

Widgets are like smartphone ‘apps’, and provide a shortcut to a Website from your TV. this scenario, TV makers get to increase their appeal to consumers through offering a comprehensive gallery of Widgets, and third parties benefit from being embedded within the products of global TV brands.

IPTV Last year saw the debut of Internet TV on Web-enabled set-top devices such as Playstation 3 and Tivo, but in 2010 video from the Web will be served directly to your Net-connected TV. Many of Sony’s new Bravia sets will provide direct access to broadband video channels, including catchup TV from SBS via SBS.com.au and Channel 7 (via the Yahoo7 portal). Other broadband channels include niche programming from Billabong, Wired, Golflike, eHow, Video Detective, Livestrong, Ford Models, Epicurious, blip and Style.com. Panasonic, Samsung and LG have a roadmap for similar services when their new models are released from April this year. Sony says that its broadband entertainment channels will continue to grow, with some of them to be made available for free and some, no doubt, to be offered as pay-per-view or on subscription by content providers. For Bravia owners, the Sony Pictures catalogue will be a ready - and likely - source of ondemand programming, while other marques may pair up with the likes of, say, Netflix, Bigpond Movies and Blockbuster. In a perfect world, the excellent Apple TV service would be available on a Net-connected TV, as would Hulu, a site that legally streams TV shows from the major US networks for free to households in the

US. And in a perfect world, these services would not be exclusive to one brand of TV, but available on all marques. One of the pitfalls of Net-connected tellies, however, is that, with such ready access to on-demand streaming video, you may exceed your monthly data allowance and be hit with a usage bill greater than your rental fees. Strike an unmetered deal with your ISP, however, and a Net connected TV promises to broaden your entertainment options beyond free-to-air broadcast and Pay TV.

SKYPE When part of a home network, forthcoming Skypeenabled TVs from LG and Panasonic will allow you to talk for cheap with other Skype users you know, with their lovely mugs displayed right up on your big screen. So, the whole family no longer needs to crowd around a small computer screen when they want to catch up with rellies overseas, but sit comfortably, instead, all together on the couch and enjoy a 40-plus inch video feed of Nan, Pop and the cousins on the living room flat panel. Expect Skype televisions to become available from April 2010.

With Skype on your TV, the folk on the other end of the connection are writ large in your lounge room.

Sony is the first to provide direct streaming of internet video channels to its televisions.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 45

HOW TO BUY

HDMI 1.4 Many of the televisions to hatch here this year will Active shutter glasses will be supplied with a 3D TV, with extra pairs available separately for $100-200.

3D A handful of televisions this year will bring the

sport a new iteration of HDMI. Version 1.4 won’t look any different to the HDMI 1.3 ports and cables used in current equipment, but it will support a suite of seven new features that, some time in the future, you may want to make use of. Of most immediate interest is the support it provides for 3D and how it allows Net-enabled gear – such as Blu-ray players, TVs, set-top boxes – to share a single Ethernet connection. The benefit of this ‘HDMI Ethernet Channel’ is that you don’t need separate Ethernet cables or wireless dongles for each device, and Web content can even be shared between devices connected over HDMI 1.4. (Note: HDMI v1.3 will support 3D Full HD video, which is how the PS3 will able to be upgraded to play 3D Blu-ray discs, but it will support none of the other enhancements offered by v1.4.) It’s a good bet that forthcoming HDMI 1.4 equipment such as AV receivers, 3D Blu-ray players and TVs – won’t be supplied with the v1.4 cables, and you can bet these will be more than a pocket of pennies. The connections are, however, backwards compatible with v1.3 cables, so you only need to dig deep for 1.4 cables if you want 1.4 features.

immersive movie 3D experience of the cinema the home environment, and from our initial auditions, these sets deliver with impressive authenticity, and in full HD to boot. There are two types of 3D experiences on offer – Real 3D and Simulated 3D. The latter will use clever algorithm jiggery pokery to give conventional video material the appearance of extra depth. It’s OK, but not the real deal. This can only be achieved through a complete 3D system, involving 3D content on Blu-ray, a 3D Blu-ray player (or PS3, which can be upgraded via firmware), a 3D capable TV and compatible eyewear. A Mickey Mouse 3D system, then, will be a significant equipment upgrade to any existing entertainment setup, with the TV representing the largest cost – between $5000 and $6000. But while 3D tech du jour is firing the imaginations of consumers and retailers, it is less likely to become a fixture in everyday households before other technologies mentioned here. It’s not just the premium pricing of the sets at play here, but the dearth of available native 3D content - either on disc or via broadcast – that will limit the hardware’s appeal to mainstream buyers for some time. For early adaptors, though, any 3D television purchased this year will not HDMI 1.4 will appear on televisions this year, enabling be wasted – these sets are flagship kit and will display a range of new features including 3D and the sharing of Web-based content between equipment. conventional 2D video to a premium standard.

‘Real 3D’ is an entertainment system, comprising 3D Blu-ray disc, 3D Bly-ray player, 3D TV and eyeware.

46 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

LAVAZZA A MODO MIO. GET THE AUTHENTIC ESPRESSO SYSTEM. C a l l 1 3 0 0 6 7 5 6 1 3 o r v i s i t w w w. l a va z z a m o d o m i o. c o m . a u Available in store at Harvey Norman, Myer and Selected Retailers

HOW TO BUY

WHAT HAPPENED TO….

Picture smoothing 100 and 200Hz motion technology will be available at cheaper price points, bringing enhanced picture quality to entry-level TVs.

LED Unless plasma is your preference, LED backlighting should be on your checklist of LCD TV features. TV sets with LED backlighting use the LEDs instead of the usual, always-on fluorescent lamps. This has a number of benefits: blurring is reduced, contrast is improved, with deeper blacks and more vivid colours, power consumption is lower and the TV set itself can be made thinner. Much, much thinner. While LED backlighting has been a premium feature of LCD televisions for the last two years, it will become far more affordable (and commonplace) this year as budget brands – Hisense, Tyagi and Kogan – introduce it across their ranges. The bigger nameplates will provide LED technology in mid-priced tellies, and differentiate at the higher end with a form of ‘dynamic backlighting’, where groups of LEDs behind the panel dim and brighten precisely in response to the picture information on the screen. In an area of shadow, for example, the LEDs will dim to say, 10 percent brightness, while daylight scenes will be fully illuminated. Well implemented, dynamic LED backlighting provides a more evenly-lit picture, with well-balanced light and dark areas across the entire onscreen action.

100, 200 and 400 Hz ‘TruMotion’, ‘Auto Motion Plus’, ‘ClearFrame’, ‘Motionflow’. All these are terms for a technology that basically doubles the regular refresh rate of 50 frames per second to 100Hz (or, in the case of LG, Sony and Samsung, doubling that again, for a 200Hz refresh rate). This goes a long way to improving the appearance of fast-moving video on LCD televisions, but is often attended by a heat haze-type artefacting around the moving subjects, which can be more distracting than the motion blur. If it bothers you, the feature can be turned off.

“In a perfect world, the excellent Apple TV service would be available on a Netconnected TV, as would Hulu, a site that legally streams TV shows from the major US networks for free to households in the US” 48 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

At the beginning of last year, we were excited about wireless HDMI, a technology that allowed uncompressed 1080p/24 standard video to be transmitted – without the need for cables - from a media box to a television positioned up to 15 metres away. So, you could connect a Blu-ray player, pay TV box or high definition PVR in a cabinet in another room with the media player, and have their pictures beamed — stutter and artefact-free — over thin air to the skinny hang-on-the-wall TV in another room. It was cool, and great for minimalist design conscious interiors, and Sony and Panasonic went to market with a couple of models and now it’s nowhere. We’ve seen product roadmaps from four of the big TV makers, and wireless HDMI is just not there. Which just makes us wonder about which of the features we’ve boldly predicted will change the face of TV will vanish completely by this time next year…

Relatively common in mid- and upper-priced TVs, 100Hz technology will prove the ‘trickle down’ effect and appear in many entry-level LCD televisions this year, with 200Hz becoming more affordable too. And for the first time, 200Hz terminology may be applied to plasma. Conventional plasma technology presents images quickly enough to prevent the appearance of blurring and smearing, but because 3D essentially halves the information going to each eye every second, the frequency with which the image is presented needs to increase to provide a smooth, seamless picture. Panasonic’s 3D plasma model, for instance, runs at 200Hz, meaning each eye is presented with an alternating image 100 times a second. We may also see a television rated at 400Hz, if LG introduces the flagship 3D LCD previewed at the Las Vegas CES. As per the explanation above, this TV presents each eye with an alternating image 200 times a second.

ENERGY RATINGS With the introduction of the Australian Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPs) all TVs must be labeled according to how much power they consume. The more stars on the sticker, the better a TV is for the enviroment… and your wallet. Manufacturers are all working hard to earn more stars than their competitors and impress buyers looking for eco cred, which just means that power saving features will be a strong theme in televisions this year. The stickers you’ll notice on sets instore have two pieces of information. The most eye-catching is the set of six energy rating stars shown in the example (four more are provided as a ‘Super Efficiency Rating’ crown, should any TVs qualify in the future). More important both for your pocket, and in absolute terms, is the number labelled ‘Energy Consumption’. This is the actual amount of energy your TV will consume over the course of the year ... if you use it at default settings with any light sensor switched off for ten hours a day. You can multiply this figure by your power bill rates per kilowatt hour (typically 10–15 cents per kWh) to determine how much it will cost you to run. Government figures suggest that in Australia one kWh of energy consumption results in about one kilogram of carbon dioxide emissions, so you can estimate the greenhouse gases involved in running the TV. n

TV sets with good money-saving eco cred will crowd retails shelves in 2010.

HOW TO BUY

HD SHO

Where do you g

50 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

OWS

get ’em?

You have a high definition LCD or plasma TV, but where do you find the content to feed all the pixels on its glorious screen? By Anika Hillery

ou can spend thousands on a whole stack of HDcapable equipment – TV, projector, AV receiver, PVR, disc spinner – but of course to enjoy high definition pictures you’ll need to provide that equipment with some HD content. In 2010, the main sources of HD content are TV broadcasts and Blu-ray discs. Getting either is easy: for HDTV, you just add a HD set-top box to your existing television or buy an LCD or plasma TV with a built-in HD tuner (that’s most of them these days). For Blu-ray you need a BD player. Blu-ray discs are on sale at all major retailers, with ranges increasing every month. There are more than 900 titles available, and many local video stores have a Blu-ray section, with HD versions of the most popular new releases. You can also get HD via the internet, by downloading a movie or video clip at a resolution with 720 or 1080 lines vertically, with the latter delivering better resolution. You can download directly from the net using a PC (and watch it on the computer’s screen or connect the PC to a TV), or you could use a networked device that sits beneath your TV in the lounge room, such as a Tivo, Apple TV, Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 games console.

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HOW TO BUY DIY high definition – with today’s digital camcorders you can create your own HD movies and watch them on the big screen.

Remember, however, that these files will be very large and you’ll need a fast broadband connection unless you want to spend weeks waiting for a movie to arrive! HD files, because they are so large, also chew through your download quota quickly, so that’s something to beware of too. Finally, you can create your own HD content if you own a video camera with an HD picture quality mode. Most cameras have a maximum resolution of 1080i rather than 1080p, and this is something you’ll encounter elsewhere in the world of HD.

FREE-TO-AIR TV BROADCASTS

The cheapest way to get HD is via free-to-air TV. You need an HD-capable set-top box or PVR (which allows you to record as well as watch HD) or an HD tuner in your TV, but then it’s just a matter of scanning for the channel and tuning in. HDTV can be a bit of a misnomer, because while the HD channels broadcast 24 hours, they don’t always show HD content. What’s more, the maximum broadcast resolution in 2010 is 1080i. That’s the interlaced version of full HD, which

High definition programming makes up more than 20 percent of all free-to-air broadcasts from the major television stations. High definition programming is increasingly being offered through connected devices such as Apple TV (interface pictured), Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Expect HD programming via the Tivo media device later this year.

BEST HD PLAYERS

PlayStation 3

A killer HD games console and Blu-ray movie player that streams video, music and photos and which, with the addition of accessories, becomes a HDTV receiver and PVR. Price: $499 (PS3 Slim 120GB)

Apple TV

Apple TV offers a great selection of HD TV shows and movies to rent or buy with no ongoing subscription cost. Also streams HD video and photos from your computer to the big screen, and plays your iTunes library of songs. Fabulous, easy to use interface.

Price: $299

Panasonic DMR-BW850

The only Blu-ray player that allows you to copy high definition TV recordings to disc for archiving. Price: $2000

52 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Foxtel provides 15 channels of high definition programming, including movies, on demand content, sport, nature and international dramas.

is 1080p. So free-to-air TV will display at a slightly lower resolution than a Blu-ray disc. It can be tricky telling exactly which programs of the broadcast are in HD. SD content might be upscaled to 1080i, or you might also be watching the mid-range HD resolution: 720p. Eventually you’ll learn to spot the difference: US crime dramas are native HD, as are Australian soap operas and an increasing amount of live studio content. The good news about 1080i is that your LCD or plasma or HD projector will upscale it to 1080p and you’ll be hardpressed to tell the difference… unless you switch over to Blu-ray right away!

PAY TV BROADCASTS

Foxtel also has an HD offering, in the form of the HD+ subscription service. For an additional setup and monthly

fee, you’ll have your existing pay TV box replaced by an HDcapable unit. It’s the same as changing from an SD receiver to an HD unit.

“As well as the free-to-air HD channels, pay TV plans offer access to 15 HD channels, comprising sports, movies, nature and documentary programming” Tivo

The best PVR interface for high definition TV, with an expanding library of downloadable video on demand programming to boot (HD to come later in 2010). Price: $599 (320GB)

WDTV Live

Cheap and simple way to bring the HD content on your PC or external hard drive to the TV in the living room. Price: $199

TEAC HDB841

Solid, affordable, no frills set-top box delivering all the new digital Freeview channels – including the HD programs – to analog televisions. (Note: HD shows will display in standard definition on analog sets.) Price: $150

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HOW TO BUY

As well as the free-to-air HD channels, pay TV plans offer access to 15 HD channels, comprising sports, movies, nature and documentary programming. Again, this is 1080i HD, not full 1080p. For that, you need Blu-ray.

BLU-RAY

Offering the best in high definition video and audio, there are now around 900 Blu-ray titles to choose from.

The ultimate HD experience (for now, at least) Blu-ray – or BD as the actual discs are known – run at full, native 1080p, the highest resolution a full HDTV can display. You’ll need a dedicated player, of course, and the prices of these have fallen from around $1500 to less than $200 in just four years. Discs are available at most retailers and video stores now, and are a mix of brand new movies and classics. You may notice some, shall we way, lower budget films getting a BD treatment ahead of your favourites. Films that are shot on HD cameras instead of film – to save money – can be easily converted to BD. Classic movies shot on 35mm film need to be scanned, retouched, processed and more – an expensive process that can take years. Still, a classic movie on Blu-ray has been lovingly restored, and will often look even better than the director originally intended! To encourage take-up of Blu-ray, some studio houses are also packaging a DVD version of the movie, as well as a digital download of the film, with Blu-ray titles. The download version is obtained by accessing a dedicated website and

54 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

“A classic movie on Blu-ray has been lovingly restored, and will often look even better than the director originally intended!”

entering a unique code supplied with the disc. The movie file is stored on your PC and can be transferred to a specified number of portable devices, making these packages a great way to get more value from a HD movie purchase. n

Where to buy Blu-ray

JB Hi-Fi stores typically have the best selection of Blu-ray movies, and with ultra-sharp pricing. Look out for Buy-2-Get-1-Free deals and discounts on boxsets and digital copies. You can order titles online, but the site isn’t pretty; price and shipping, however, beat dedicated online vendors such as DStore. EzyDVD is another reliable online vendor with competitive pricing and quick delivery times. You can of course buy from international online sellers if you have a region-free machine, but with the Australian dollar close to parity with the US, it’s hardly worth it. Back to bricks and mortar stores, and Target rates closest to JB for selection and price – though this isn’t consistent across all stores.

ROUND-UP

When you can’t afford to put a new hi-def TV in every room of the house, a set-top box is the cheap and easy way to get ready for the digital switchover. By Anika Hillery

igital switchover has begun, and by mid-year parts of Australia will not longer receive analog television transmissions. This scenario will be played out across the country until 2013, when all analog TVs will go blank. To get ready for digital, you may have already replaced the old tube-style TV in the living room with a fully digital flat panel television, but what about the TVs in the kids’ rooms and the study? Or the sets in Nanna’s place, the caravan and holiday house? Do you have budget to replace all of them?

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The good news is that bringing digital TV to every room of the house doesn’t have to cost you a limb – you can keep your existing tellies and just add a digital set-top box. A standard definition set-top box will give you access to Freeview’s 11 SD digital stations. Freeview is the name for digital TV in Australia, and is made up of all the major free-to-air broadcasters, including ABC, Seven, Nine, Ten, SBS and regional networks such as Southern Cross, Prime and WIN. To enjoy the full suite of 16 digital channels available in metropolitan areas – including the five high definition channels – you need a high definition set-top box. You don’t have to have a high definition TV to watch these channels mind you – a standard definition LCD or plasma (if bought one of the early model flat panels available) or CRT relic will do the job. You just won’t be able to see these shows with the detail that HD offers. Prices range from less than $50 for standard definition models up to around $80–200 for high definition set-top boxes. All provide an EPG (electronic program guide), a weekly schedule to all programming across the Freeview channels that you can read on your TV screen. Some set-top boxes marry this programming information with a hard drive for recording your favourite shows. These types of set-top box also allow you to pause and rewind live TV. While the cheapest

PVR we’re aware of costs just $100, prices of $300 to $800 are more the norm.

What to look for

There are several things to look for when shopping for a set-top box. Here’s a rundown of some key features. RF modulator: Truly antique televisions will not have audio-video sockets into which you can plug a settop box (or VCR or DVD or any other source). They will have just an aerial socket. A set-top box with an RF modulator built in will convert the digital audiovideo signal from the set-top box to an RF signal for connecting to your TV’s aerial input. Alternatively, you can buy an adaptor (about $25) that will allow set-top boxes without this feature to do the same. RF loopthrough: An RF loopthrough allows the aerial signal going into one device to carry through to another device. An RF loopthough, for example, will allows you to watch digital TV through your VCR, which is useful if your TV doesn’t have enough sockets to connect both components at once. It also allows you to use the one aerial for two devices, and means you can use the VCR when the set-top box is turned off, and vice versa. USB: Check what functionality the USB plug on a settop box supports. It may be for receiving only firmware upgrades, or for playing back pictures, video and photos from a USB flash drive. If so, be sure to check the file types supported. A growing number of models allow you to record TV to an attached flash drive or external hard drive via USB, allowing you to turn your set-top box into a PVR for little or – if you already have a hard drive – no cost. Number of tuners: This is relevant only for hard drive PVRS. A single tuner restricts you to watching the digital channel you’re recording (though you could watch a different channel by switching to the analog tuner in your TV). A PVR with two HD tuners lets you record one channel while watching another, or record two channels at once while watching another show recording on the hard drive. Widescreen or 4:3: Digital television is broadcast in 16:9 aspect ratio which is a perfect fit for widescreen televisions. Unless your old-style 4:3 boob tube is very large, however, widescreen programming displays as a skinny strip of action across the centre of the screen. Set-top boxes have a mode in the setup menu that allows you to fill the screen with a widescreen picture, albeit at the loss of some of the action at the edges of the picture. Video connections: All HD set-top boxes will have HDMI and component connections for sending high

“Digital television is broadcast in 16:9 aspect ratio which is a perfect fit for widescreen televisions” definition video to recent-model televisions. If your television is older than ten years, composite video connections are standard, but if your equipment supports it, connect your TV and set-top box via the better quality S-Video. Audio connections: For better quality sound than what your telly offers, all set-top boxes have analog RCA outputs for connecting to the stereo input plugs on a hifi system. When you’re ready to tool-up for home

Freeview channels SD simulcast of analog SBS

SDTV with unique and catch-up viewing

HD simulcast of SBS1

SD simulcast of analog 7

HD simulcast with up to 15 hours unique programming

SDTV unique programming

SD simulcast of analog 9

HD simulcast with up to 15 hours unique programming

SDTV unique programming

SD simulcast of analog 10

24/7 HD sports channel with unique programming

SD simulcast of analog ABC

HD simulcast of ABC1

Possible SD channel

SDTV with unique and catch-up viewing

SDTV Kids channel by end 09

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 57

ROUND-UP

Digital TV Ready stickers: These stickers describe the capabilities of a set-top box; whether it will receive all the digital TV channels, including the HD ones, or only the standard definition channels. theatre, use the box’s coaxial or optical audio output to send digital stereo – or the surround soundtrack found on many digital TV shows – to an AV receiver and 5.1 speaker system. Note, though, that most set-top boxes provide only optical audio output, so your AV receiver needs to have a corresponding input in order to decode digital surround. Closed captions: Many digital programs offer Closed Captioning for the hearing impaired. You need to activate this in the setup menu of your set-top box to take advantage of them. Favourites – If you don’t want to scroll through all the available digital channels every time you surf

the remote, you can set up a ‘Favourites’ listing. This displays only your preferred TV stations in the index of channels. Some set-top boxes cater to the tastes of different family members by allowing numerous Favourites lists. Parental lock: This prevents certain channels or programs with a specific rating from playing on your TV, which is handy if you want to control what younger viewers watch. The blocked channels or programs can be accessed only after a PIN is entered. Freeview sticker: Set-top boxes with the Freeview logo comply with a number of criteria. Mostly saliently, the stickers identify models that are high definition, that do not permit ad skipping (though they can offer up to 30x fast forward) and which deny you the ability to recordout from the set-top box, or transfer recordings made within it. In light of this, non-Freeview boxes can provide a more flexible set of features. Being compatible with new MEPG4 broadcast standards, however, Freeview equipment is more future-proof than non-compliant products. It is unknown when MPEG 4 broadcasts may be introduced.

BUSH DFTA1A We can see this appealing to two types of customer: those who, while not greatly fussed about television, wouldn’t want to live without it entirely, and that group looking for the cheapest solution for being ‘forced’ to go digital. The RF loopthrough makes this Bush a good fit for basic TV/VCR setups, and you shouldn’t be alarmed at the absence of HDMI – you need it only for exporting HD video. Price: $60 Quick specs: SD tuner; RF loopthrough; composite video output Pros & cons Cheap as chips RF loopthrough connection Chunky styling No front panel display No digital audio output Contact: www.bush.com.au

DGTEC DG-SD3401 With an LED that displays DTV channel information on the front panel, DGTEC’s standard definition set-top box presents a prettier face to the world than the Bush. It also packs a few more features, including a signal strength indicator, the ability to make a favourite channels listing as well as block programs with a certain rating from being viewed. Price: $59 Quick specs: SD tuner; favourite channel listing; parental rating setting;

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time-zone and daylight saving options; front LED; composite, S-Video, component video outputs; coaxial audio output; USB for software upgrades Pros & cons Good user features at this price point Coaxial output limits digital audio connectivity with AV receivers Contact: www.dgtec.com.au

TOPFIELD TBF7120 One of a growing breed of high definition receivers, the TBF7120 is what Pros & cons Upgradability Topfield calls ‘PVR ready’, meaning you need only wipe the contents of the Favourite list takes pain out of channel surfing external drive in the study (household accounts, ugly birthday photos be Pricier than similar models gone!), connect it via USB and start recording TV. Recording, however, is Quicker FF speeds would be useful for tracking through recordings clearly not the 7120’s raison d’etre, as it provides only a single HD tuner Front USB port untidy way to permanently connect a HDD drive and 6x fast forward speeds on recordings. Contact: www.topfield.com.au Price: $329 Quick specs: HD/SD tuner; Freeview compliant; PVR ready; Favourites list; HDMI, composite, component video output; optical audio output; USB2.0 supporting 500GB drives

STRONG SRT5425 Like the Topfield, Strong’s SRT5425 is an HD set-box that, should you wish, can be upgraded to a PVR – just add an external hard drive. In a nice bonus, it will also play back files stored on an attached hard drive or thumb drive, making it something of a multimedia hub. The front-mounted USB slot, however, means storage devices are connected somewhat inelegantly – the cable to your HDD will hang untidily across the fascia and thumb drives may be prone to being snapped off. Price: $129

Quick specs: HD/SD tuner; PVR-ready; USB2.0 host supporting JPEG, MP3, MPEG, AVI, DAT, MP3, DivX, VOB; composite, component, HDMI video outputs; optical audio output; RF loopthrough Pros & cons Upgradability Plays back music, photos and video on attached storage devices Broad file support Front USB port untidy way to permanently connect a HDD drive Contact: www.strong.com.au

UNIDEN 8000UPVR Another PVR-ready unit, the Uniden 8000U is a solid receiver that, being Freeview-certified, is equipped to deal with any future changes to Australian broadcast standards. Again, though, with the USB port on the front panel, the connection of storage devices will be an untidy affair. Being an HD unit, it delivers all the new digital channels to your existing TV, but lacking digital outputs, you’ll be limited to analog stereo audio from digital broadcasts if your TV or AV receiver lacks HDMI. Price: $250

Quick specs: HD/SD tuner; Freeview certified; PVR-ready; Channel Lock function; USB2.0; composite, component, HDMI video outputs; analog stereo outputs; RF loopthrough Pros & cons Upgradablity Front USB port untidy way to permanently connect a HDD drive No digital audio output Contact: www.uniden.com.au

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ROUND-UP

KOGAN HD SET-TOP BOX Kogan’s budget HD set-top box becomes a PVR with the addition of an external HDD up to 1TB in capacity – enough for more than 100 hours of HD recording. Recordings made to thumb drives can be transferred to computers and other USB devices, and MP3 music files and JPEG photos will play on your TV via the box. Like the DGTEC, this Kogan has only a coaxial audio output, limiting the digital audio connection possibilities with older model AV receivers that lack HDMI. Again, we don’t like the front mounted USB slot, but at less than $100 (plus postage) this Kogan unit is the cheapest PVR-ready set-top box in this roundup. It’s available only online from the manufacturer’s website. Price: $99 + (plus postage)

Quick specs: HD/SD tuners; PVR-ready; up to 1TB HDD support; MP3 and JPEG file playback via USB2.0; component, HDMI composite video outputs; coaxial audio output; RF loopthrough Pros & cons Super-cheap price Upgradability External storage up to 1TB Front USB port untidy way to permanently connect a HDD drive Limited file support Coaxial output limits digital audio connectivity with AV receivers Contact: www.kogan.com.au

TEAC HDB848 TEAC’s HDB848 receives and presents all available digital TV channels and comes with a USB port for receiving system upgrades and playing back multimedia files stored on a thumb drive or hard drive. If you want time shifting capability, find another $50 and look to its big brother, the HDVR845. This allows an attached hard drive - up to a 1TB - to be used for recording, or pausing and rewinding live TV.

Price: $149 Quick specs: HD/SD tuner; HDMI component, composite video outputs; digital audio output, USB port for multimedia support No frills feature-set PVR features available elsewhere for this price Contact: www.teac.com.au

GRUNDIG GSTB4100FV A no-nonsense HD receiver, Grundig’s GSTB4100FV will also serve photos and music from thumb drive to a connected TV and/or sound system via its USB slot. No PVR-like features are offered via this port, but to compensate somewhat, the 4100 claims to comply with Australian Minimum Energy Performance standards (MEPs). Price: $179

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Quick specs: HD/SD tuner, Freeview certified; MEPs compliant; HDMI, component, composite video output, digital audio output, Parental Control, RF loopthrough, MEPS compliant, USB input supporting MP3, WMA and JEPG files. Music and photo playback functions No video play back support from USB storage Contact: www.bush.com.au

GROUP TEST

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Inexpensive iPod docks abound, but will moving up the price ladder yield a music system that better serves your playlist? Alex Kidman tests the theory with five premium models.

hese days, if you want it you can pretty much get any particular AV item with an inbuilt iPod connection, whether you fancy something to carry in your pocket or stack in front of your TV. The iPod and iPhone are primarily personal music players, but that hasn’t stopped a healthy market popping up for iPod docks that share your musical tastes with others. An added benefit of most docks – particularly those tethered to the wall via an AC socket – is that they’ll recharge your iPod or iPhone while you’re playing back music. Does that mean you should buy the cheapest available dock? Probably not. For a start, very cheap docks have a strong tendency to look awful, with cheap plastic construction. Beyond the aesthetics of that choice, the construction of a cheap dock is often reflected in the audio quality you receive from it. A simple plastic enclosure with cheap speakers gives cheap sound, in other words.

Reviewed on the following pages: • Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini • Geneva Sound System Model 5 • Pioneer XW-NAS5 • Revo Blok • Revo Ikon

Another factor to bear in mind when purchasing an iPod dock is iPhone compatibility. Any dock with a standard iPod connector will accept and should play back music from an iPhone, but unless they’re certified as shielded from EMF interference, you may find that incoming calls and SMS messages cause interference during playback. If you’ve ever popped your phone too close to your car’s speakers in transit, you’ll be familiar with the burst of bass-heavy static this can cause. The iPhone is clever enough to detect appropriate docks and warn you that they’re not specifically designed for this purpose, with the choice to either turn on airport mode, stopping incoming calls and WiFi connections, or go ahead and play anyway. You won’t harm your iPhone going ahead, but may have intermittent musical interruptions along the way. It’s entirely possible to spend a lot of money on a really good iPod dock and still get rubbish results. Except at the highest possible AAC settings, iPod music is still compressed to fit, and that compression affects audio quality. You’ll get a lot more music onto an iPod if you record it at 64kbps MP3 or AAC, but on a good set of speakers you’ll quickly notice the difference, with music that sounds flat and lifeless. To get the best possible performance from any investment you make in a quality iPod music system, use lossless AAC or MP3 formats, or encode your own music at 320kbps.

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GROUP TEST

BOWERS & WILKINS ZEPPELIN MINI T SPECIFICATIONS

Price: $599 Warranty: 12 months Contact: Convoy International 02 9700 0111 www.e-hifi.com.au Audio: 2 x 75mm drivers; 2 x 18 watts; 38Hz and 20kHz (–6dB) frequency response, bass reflex cabinet design Connections: 3.5mm mini jack, USB 2.0 for streaming synchronisation and software upgrades Features: iPod/iPhone compatible, iPod Sync capability, remote control, PC streaming, DSP modes, Dimensions (WHD): 320 x 200 x 100mm Weight: 2.5kg

PROS AND CONS

Stylish design Rotating dock Good audio quality Dock sleeves hard to remove Fingerprint magnet

he most immediately arresting thing about the Zeppelin Mini is how eye-catching it is. It’s tough not to look at the Zeppelin Mini and not just stare at it.

FEATURES

Bowers & Wilkins’ Zeppelin range has included eyecatching models in the past, and the Mini is no different, with a reflective concave top to its solid speaker array, above which floats your iPod or iPhone. While many iPod docks can be eye-catching, the Zeppelin did have us rather entranced thanks to the hall of mirrors style distortions that play over its reflective surface. Sadly, as with most shiny gadget surfaces, even the lightest of touches leave it with plenty of fingerprint smudges. The Zeppelin Mini is an AC-only powered dock that will recharge connected iPod and iPhones, and can even be used as a synchronisation dock if you add a USB cable to it. This will also allow the Mini to stream music from your PC.

RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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Rather than use small dock adaptors, the Zeppelin Mini comes with an assortment of plastic backing boards that your iPod slots into very snugly. One criticism here is that it can be a bit tough to remove an iPod once it’s slid its way into position. It supports vertical or horizontal orientation once an iPod is locked in, and it’s shielded for iPhone users. The remote is from the looks-before-utility school of design. It’s a pleasant-looking black egg with tiny buttons, and it’s genuinely quite hard to pick orientation on it without looking. Given one end houses the on/off button, this is less than optimal.

Those wanting solid audio in an eye catching form will be very happy with the Zeppelin Mini” PERFORMANCE Audio quality was quite good across a variety of genres, but not stellar in the range of higher end docks. That’s somewhat understandable given the Zeppelin Mini’s small size, as there’s less differentiation between the stereo speakers, and from a distance some audio detail is lost. Up close though, it will give subtle nuance to most musical types.

CONCLUSION It’s not the be all and end all of audio quality, but those wanting solid audio in an eye catching form will be very happy with the Zeppelin Mini.

The Geneva Model S is a solid iPod dock in audio terms, but it’s a system you’d buy as much for the sheer visual appeal as you might for the actual audio quality”

GENEVA SOUND SYSTEM MODEL S T he Model S is a stylish iPod dock with good general audio quality, but don’t be fooled by the rather weak bass/treble controls.

FEATURES

Geneva’s Model S sells itself as much on style as features. Our review sample was a bright carmine red box with an optional circular stand, but it’s also available in white or black. Rather than cheap-looking light plastic, the stand is a full metal column that provides solid support and looks highly enticing. The Model S is a full service kind of dock, with inbuilt FM radio. It’s also an alarm clock as well as a dock, although with no iPod attached it’s not even obviously a dock at all. That’s because the dock connector rests on the top under a motorised cover. Flick to iPod mode and it rotates into view, which is one of those little party pieces that just plain impresses, no matter how simple it actually is. The remote control in our review sample had a similar striking red and silver design, and unlike many docks includes the ability to tweak bass and treble settings alongside volume. Next to the dock is a touchwheel that will emulate the features of a touchwheel iPod. Its utility is a little suspect, as it’s very sensitive, and if you rest your fingers in the wrong spot while adjusting your iPod, you may accidentally bump playback or volume options.

PERFORMANCE

often found that their tiny incremental steps made little difference to the audio output.

CONCLUSION

Like the Zeppelin, then, the Geneva Model S is a solid iPod dock in audio terms, but it’s a system you’d buy as much for the sheer visual appeal as you might for the actual audio quality. As a bit of room furniture it’s very appealing, but if you’re more audiophile than aesthete, you may be better served elsewhere.

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: $599 Warranty: 12 months Contact: Tivoli Hi-Fi 03 9813 3533 www.tivolihifi.com.au Audio: 2 x 3 inch drivers, 2 x 15 watts output Connections: 3.5mm audio input Features: iPod/iPhone support (not iPhone 3G), FM radio with 6 presets, alarm clock functions, CD player, remote control, LED display, ‘Embracing Sound’ DPS Dimensions (WHD): 141 x 235 x 185mm Weight: 3.35kg

PROS AND CONS

Stylish design Solid construction Motorised dock cover What happens when the motorised dock dies? Bass/treble controls don’t alter much No iPhone support RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

Audio output was good for a unit of this size. The inclusion of bass and treble controls on the remote is nice, but we

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SPECIFICATIONS Price: $899 Warranty: 12 months Contact: Pioneer Electronics 1800 988 268 www.pioneer.com.au Audio: 2 x 5.2cm midrange drivers + 10cm woofer; 2 x 15 watts + 30 watts output, bass reflex cabinet design Connections: RCA audio input, composite and component video outputs, optional Bluetooth Features: iPods from 2006, iPhone in Airplane mode, FM radio with 10 presets, ambient Soundscapes, LED clock with snooze, wakeup and sleep functions, 4 metal finishes, battery charging, auto level, bass/ treble controls, remote control Dimensions (WHD): 420 x 148 x 210 mm Weight: 5kg

PROS AND CONS

Good sound quality Optional Bluetooth Video out Stylish design Large for an iPod dock Soundscapes are gimmicky Credit card remote feels cheap RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES

PIONEER XW-NAS5 P ioneer’s high priced iPod dock includes some great features such video output and optional Bluetooth, alongside less stellar features such as Soundscapes.

FEATURES

Pioneer’s NAS5 is one part soundbar, one part iPod dock, with a size that removes any question of portability beyond moving it from one room to another. Like the Geneva Model S, its dock connector hides under a flap, although this is strictly a lift-it-yourself affair. At $899 RRP this is a premium priced dock option, but it does bring with it plenty of features not found on cheaper units. Bluetooth is an optional extra via a dongle that plugs into the rear of the unit, although we weren’t able to test that particular feature. The premise is to allow you to wirelessly transmit music from Bluetooth devices, such as mobile phones, for playback on the dock. The rear also houses composite and component video output ports, giving this dock a little more flexibility if you’ve got a TV nearby and have photos or video you want to show off in larger detail. One feature that does appear a little cheaper than the NAS5’s price point might suggest is the remote control, which is credit card sized. It does work, but it feels flimsy and inconsequential. One concession to price here is that a wall mount is supplied for the remote, so it shouldn’t be lost in five seconds flat.

EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

in the mood for beach waves crashing over your tunes, or the sounds of cars going by. Retro audiophiles may get a slight warm glow from the setting that simulates LP hiss and crackle, but frankly if we wanted to listen to music with lots of audio interruption, we’d go outside. The NAS5’s AC power tethering rather makes that a non-starter. Thankfully, Soundscapes are disabled by default, and without them in place the NAS5’s audio output is solid, aided by the integrated subwoofer driver which has enough room (thanks to the NAS5’s larger than average enclosure) to pump out some solid bass. The NAS5 also worked better than most docks, actually filling a room with music rather than just a small area in front of the dock.

The NAS5’s audio output is solid, aided by the integrated subwoofer which has enough room (thanks to the NAS5’s larger than average enclosure) to pump out some solid bass”

PERFORMANCE

CONCLUSION

One truly gimmicky part of the NAS5 offering are what Pioneer calls Soundscapes. These superimpose additional sounds over whatever you’re listening to, whether you’re

If you’re after a full room solution but space prohibits a sound system incorporating docking functionality, this is a good middle ground.

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REVO BLOK I

f you’re after an iPod dock that looks the part of a bit of high end audio equipment, and has audio qualities to match, it’s hard to overlook the Blok. If you don’t like wooden components, it’s going to be harder to warm to.

FEATURES The Blok is undeniably an eye-catching premium iPod/ iPhone dock. As its name suggests, it’s rather blocky. That’s not just a description of its shape, however, but indicative of the materials used in its construction. You won’t find much plastic here; instead, the majority of the Blok is made out of rather solid wood, with machined aluminium accenting the controls and faceplate. Moving onto the unit’s minor quirks, the Blok is not shielded for iPhone users, which means you’ll either have to disable the inbuilt 3G/GSM radio (turning your iPhone into an iPod Touch) or put up with potential interference. The Blok’s remote is also an oddity, as it’s a hockey puck-shaped disc. Despite the odd shape, this also works well. Placing it flat doesn’t press any of the buttons hard enough to impact anything, and the range of the remote is good. The size of the Blok allows it to locate its two 20 watt drivers a reasonable distance from each other. Or at least reasonable by iPod dock standards.

PERFORMANCE The Blok’s size makes it rather less portable than many other docks, but also gives it enough rigidity to allow for minimal sound distortion even at high volumes. The effect of this on audio is quite marked, with rich smooth tones from most musical styles. Speaker separation is quite good when compared to other iPod docks.

The effect of this on audio is quite marked, with rich smooth tones from most musical styles”

CONCLUSION Like many other iPod docks at a premium price level, there’s as much an aesthetic as a practical choice to make with the Blok. Some will love its retro wooden style, while others find it less compelling. In either case, it’s hard to overlook the high quality of its audio reproduction.

SPECIFICATIONS Price: $599 Warranty: 12 months Contact: Bush Australia 1300 131 072 www.bushaustralia.com.au Audio: 2 x 4.5 inch (11.5cm) NXT Balanced Radiator drivers with neodymium magnet systems; 2 x 20 watt (RMS) output , 55Hz-20kHz frequency response, bass reflex cabinet design Connections: audio input Features: iPod compatibility, ‘Kontrol’ remote control, real wood enclosure Dimensions (WHD): 316 x 148 x 153mm

PROS AND CONS

Heavy-duty construction Excellent audio reproduction Some won’t like the look Large for an iPod/ iPhone dock No shielding for iPhones RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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SPECIFICATIONS Price: $649 Warranty: 12 months Contact: Bush Australia 1300 131 072 www.bushaustralia.com.au Audio: 2 x 15 watts output, 2 x 58cmm square NXT ‘BalancedRadiator’ drivers with neodymium magnet systems, 90Hz to 20kHz (-6dB) frequency response, 98 dBSPL audio output (maximum) Connections: RCA audio input Features: DAB+, FM radio, PC streaming, internet radio, iPod/ iPhone support, 3.5 inch colour touchscreen display, digital alarm clock with sleep and snooze, remote control Dimensions (WHD): 345 x 207 123mm

PROS AND CONS

DAB+ compatibility Simple touchscreen Home and Internet Radio streaming iPhone compatible Some distortion at top volume Screen display is bland for iPod use

REVO IKON R evo’s Ikon dock is a jack of all trades, with plenty of features that other iPod docks in this price range lack, including DAB+ support. The downside with this approach is that audio quality isn’t quite as sharp.

FEATURES

EASE OF USE

Apart from iPod music playback via a dock that slides out from the front, the Ikon also offers inbuilt support for DAB+, internet radio, last.fm and home streaming via Ethernet. The credit card-sized remote is surprisingly bereft of controls given everything the Ikon can manage. That’s largely because it also sports a 3.5 inch (9cm) touchscreen that uses simple icons for menu selection. Stick an iPod Touch or iPhone underneath it, and you’re looking at a lot of stroke-able screen real estate. The screen itself is good for displaying DAB+ content where radio broadcasters can be bothered presenting any, but on the iPod side it’s a rather bland, mostly monochrome affair.

VALUE FOR MONEY

PERFORMANCE

RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES

You can’t get something for nothing. The Ikon’s functional ability comes at something of a cost, and that’s an aesthetic one. The Ikon is slightly striking in

VERDICT So does increasing the price you pay for an iPod dock lead to better quality audio? Well, above some of the really woeful absolute entry-level docks, it’s certain that it does, and even the most waxy ears would be able to pick that in a split second. There’s a logical point where the quality of your music compression will determine overall quality, and if you’ve got a lot of iTunes music that you haven’t upgraded to iTunes Plus music, this will be particularly noticeable due to the lower bitrates iTunes originally offered tracks at. If we had to choose between these docks, though, it’d come down to a couple of contenders. Pioneer’s XW-NAS5

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The Ikon also offers inbuilt support for DAB+, Internet radio, last.fm and home streaming via Ethernet”

appearance, but it’s also undeniably of fairly ho-hum plastic construction. Beyond aesthetics, this had an effect on audio quality at louder levels, where distortion became very noticeable. If you’re planning on using the Ikon as a desk-based dock at moderate volume this shouldn’t be too much of a problem, but those planning on filling a room with high and heavy tones may find the abrasiveness too much to bear.

CONCLUSION If you want a dock that does more than just play back iPod music and you don’t particularly want your music blisteringly loud, the Ikon’s a solid option. Those who want more bump to their bass should look elsewhere, however.

fills a room nicely with rich sound, but it’s the most expensive of the group. Revo’s Ikon is a feature rich iPod dock, but it’s not quite the room filler that the XW-NAS5 is. Still, if you want an iPod dock that can do it all, it’s a decent pick. For those who want a dock that’ll look good at a furniture level, either the Geneva Model S or Zeppelin Mini are good choices. For all round value without breaking the bank though, and especially if audio fidelity is your core criteria, our pick would be the Revo Blok. It’s not awash with features and frills, and the wood style is one you’ll either like or hate instantly, but its audio prowess takes some beating, especially at the price. n

BOX FRESH

SENNHEISER RS 160 T he entry-level model for a new range of wireless headphones from Sennheiser, the RS 160 incorporates digital wireless technology from Kleer to produce some of the cleanest sounds we’ve heard from wireless headphones. They’re also designed for portability, with a small ‘hockey puck’ base station that can be powered from batteries when you need it. Volume controls are located on both the base station and the headphones, and the batteries in the headphones can be recharged directly from mains power.

FEATURES For an ‘entry-level’ product, the RS 160 headphones provide outstanding performance. They provide plenty of volume and a very level frequency response, meaning you hear sounds how they’re meant to be heard. It is especially good in the midrange frequencies, and only starts to lose cohesion in the very high-frequency ranges. The sealed cans also provide excellent noise isolation – for both you and those around you – and the headphones are very comfortable to wear for long stretches. The headphones are simply outstanding all around. But what really shines about the RS 160 is the quality of the wireless transmission. You can have the best headphones in the world, but if the wireless link suffers from RF interference then the quality of the headphones means nothing. With the RS 160 (and 170 and 180 models), Sennheiser introduced digital transmission technology from Kleer into its wireless headphone range. It previously used FM radio transmission.

PERFORMANCE And boy does it make a difference. We could detect no wireless artefacts in the transmission from the base station. No hiss when we moved, no static ever. The audio remained perfectly in sync. It was just like being connected to the base with wires.

We could detect no wireless artefacts in the transmission from the base station. No hiss when we moved, no static ever. The audio remained perfectly in sync”

There are some sacrifices to be made with the new technology, however. The biggest is range – where the RS 130, for example, could receive at 150m in open air, the RS 160 is limited to just 20 metres (if you need a longer range, we’d suggest the RS 170 or 180). In our in-home testing, we started to get dropouts at about 13m, but that was through several walls. In-room reception was perfect. Although the headphones are billed as portable, thanks to the compact battery-powered base station, you will need to pack the headphones with some care. They’re full-size cans with heavy padding and they don’t fold up. While they’re quite solid, we’d never put them in check-in baggage. Still, having the option to take a good set of wireless circumaurals on the road with you is pretty neat.

CONCLUSION With a street price of around $300, the Sennheiser RS 160 is a bargain. The headphones produce excellent audio, and the compact base station can be battery powered. It doesn’t have the long wireless range of the older models – but it more than makes up for that with near-flawless wireless transmission, a very high comfort-level and outstanding audio reproduction. Definitely worth a look. Nathan Taylor

SPECIFICATIONS

Category: Wireless headphones Price: $299 Contact: Syntec International (02) 9910 6700 www.syntec.com.au Headphone type: circumaural (wireless) Frequency response: 18Hz–21,000Hz Impedance: 32 ohms Sound pressure level: 106dB Total harmonic distortion (THD): <0.5% at 1KHz Transducer: electrodynamic Audio input (base station): 3.5mm Audio output (base station): None Wireless technology: Kleer-based (uncompressed minimum shift keying digital transmission at 2.4GHz) Wireless range: 20m (rated) Headphone pairs per base station: 4 Base station power: mains or two AA batteries (with 24 hours operating life) Headphone power: 2 x AAA NiMH rechargables (24 hours operating life) Weight: 226g Warranty: 2 years

PROS AND CONS

Excellent audio production Comfortable Hiss-free wireless transmission Limited wirless range Limited headsetsper-base station RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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BOX FRESH

MITSUBISHI HC7000 E

SPECIFICATIONS

Category: Projector Price: $5299 Warranty: two years (lamp: 500 hours or one year, whichever comes first) Contact: Mitsubishi Electric Australia 1800 652 216 www.mitsubishielectric.com.au Image: 16:9 native, 3 x 1920 x 1080 18.8mm LCD panels; Brightness: 1000 lumens; 72,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio Lamp: 2000 hours in regular (160 watts) mode, 5,000 hours in low output (128 watts) mode Inputs: 1 x composite, 1 x S-Video, 1 x component, 2 x HDMI, 1 x D-SUB15 computer Features: powered zoom, focus, vertical and horizontal lens shift; 17dBa noise in low output mode; Reon-VX HQV video processing; Deep Colour support; Anamorphic Lens support; RS-232C control port; 12V trigger port Supplied accessories: remote control Dimensions (WHD): 427 x 159 x 440mm Weight: 7.5kg

PROS AND CONS

Excellent picture quality Brilliant Reon-VX/HQV video processing Easy setup with powered controls Very good black levels Lacks some leading edge features, such as frame-interpolation motion smoothing RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

ven though the Mitsubishi HC7000 is the highest cost unit from that company’s three model line-up, it still comes in at only a little over $5000. Yet for that you receive performance that would have cost you eight times that amount five years ago.

FEATURES The projector is based on LCD technology, which has come a long way in recent years. The three LCD panels offer the full high definition resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and quite respectable levels of black ‘natively’. However that is enhanced enormously by the use of what Mitsubishi calls its ‘Diamond Black Iris’. This is a technique for clamping down on the levels of light produced by the projector by physically blocking it, limiting it to the momentary requirements of the picture. In Mitsubishi’s system, this can operate at up to 1/60th of a second, so no matter what the format – from DVD to Blu-ray – each individual frame of the video receives the optimum amount of light for its contents. The company says that the dynamic contrast ratio of the projector is an impressive 72,000:1. The projector also sports powered adjustments, so you can use the remote control to set the focus and the zoom (1.6x), plus apply left and right, and up and down lens shift. That allows considerable placement flexibility for the projector. You get the usual range of analog video inputs, plus two HDMI ones. There is also an RS-232C port so installers can wire it into a control system, and a 12 volt trigger output allows the unit to fire up an automatic projection screen to be automatically deployed.

PERFORMANCE Setting up this projector was very easy, thanks to the good range of adjustments and the ability to use the remote control to make the adjustments. Some powered adjustments on other projectors can be hard to get right because the control adjustments are too course, but this projector has two speed settings, so you can get things very precise. A menu item allows these adjustments to be locked in place so they won’t be upset by an accidental press on a remote control key. Once this was done, I was able to enjoy a massive 100 inch picture of extremely high quality. I used the default reduced power mode which more than doubles the lamp life and found that it produced plenty of brightness in my room, while also

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delivering strong blacks. The default colour settings were pretty good, although I made some small improvements with a little tweaking of the colour settings using a calibration disc. One of the major problems with large display screens is that any instability in fine detail, or artefacts generated by poor quality video processing, is extremely obvious. But this projector uses the Reon-VX processor to do all progressive scan conversion and scaling. This is one of the best video processors in the business, so even in automatic mode the results were very nearly perfect. There are ‘mode’ settings also available (‘Film’ and ‘Video’) that can be used to override the automatic processing should even this prove unequal to the task. Even the most troublesome DVDs, fed to the projector in native 576i format via HDMI, were rendered absolutely perfectly when ‘Film’ was selected. So I just set my Blu-ray player to output the ‘Native’ video format, whether 576i from PAL DVDs or 1080i or 1080p from Blu-ray discs. And the results were as good as it’s possible to get.

I was able to enjoy a massive 100 inch picture of extremely high quality… it produced plenty of brightness in my room, while also delivering strong blacks” CONCLUSION Perhaps the only significant omission from this projector is that it does not incorporate any form of motion smoothing, judder reducing technology that generates intermediate frames between the real ones. But if you’re primarily interested in seeing a faithful rendition of whatever source you are feeding your display, this projector comes closer to that faithfulness than most. Thomas Bartlett

BOX FRESH

LASER MULTIMEDIA PLUS MP32 W e at Home Entertainment love TV. On the daily commute, waiting in the carpark for mum to return with the groceries, camping down at the river, on the sidelines of little Bruce’s soccer game, or under the covers long past bed time – we can’t get enough of it. Which is why we were excited about Laser’s MP32, a ‘pocket’ digital TV that receives all the standard definition Freeview channels – including the new ABC2, ABC3, Go, One and 7TWO services – records television and plays and records DVB-terrestrial radio channels. Only SBS and ABC are transmitting these right now, but load up an SD card with tunes and the MP32 compensates as a handy music player (MP3, WAV). It will also play photos and movies stored on SD card or a USB2.0 hard drive via a mini-pin connection. Video formats supported include MPG4, DivX4.0/5.0, DAT, VOB and AVI, with JPG, BMP and GIF image files also supported.

DESCRIPTION While not exactly pocketable (120 x 78 x 20mm), the MP32 will fit easily into a handbag or backpack and weighs a mere 200 grams, which is less than most smartphones. The screen is a bright, colour 3.5 inch LCD displaying 320 x 240 pixels, to the right of which is a small speaker that outputs audio at acceptable volumes, though for outdoor use you’ll need a set of earphones. Below that is a simple seven-button thumb pad for controlling volume and channel selection, and for easily navigating the software menus. Three transport control buttons, an SD card slot supporting up to 32GB, lock and power buttons are located at the top edge of the unit. A tiny telescopic antenna pulls out from the body of the MP32, or you can use the included set of miniature ‘bunny ears’ via the unit’s external antenna plug. A 3.5mm headphone socket doubles as an AV output for sending analog audio and composite video to a larger display, making the MP32 a teeny take-anywhere digital set-top box (a plug-in coaxial antenna adaptor for hard-wired aerial reception is supplied). A kickstand pulls out from the rear of the unit, allowing the MP32 to be located for viewing on a flat surface. A rechargeable polymer battery is integrated into rear of the body, with power sourced from an AC adaptor. Considering this is a portable device, a 12 volt (cigarette lighter) charger unit would have been a nice inclusion. It is, however, a cheap enough aftermarket purchase. Operating time is stated at three hours, and in the absence of any advice from Laser, we assume this rating applies to video playback.

IN USE The graphic interface of Laser’s Pocket Digital TV makes accessing its various functions easy. You can view the available digital channels via an electronic program guide that displays Now and Next information alongside a video PIP of the current broadcast on your selected channel. A more comprehensive program list by channel is accessed by doing deeper into the menu. There’s also a Channel Info feature that shows signal strength and quality as a bar graph. When the bars are yellow or green you have reception; when they are red the picture breaks up or vanishes to a black screen. We saw a lot of black screens.

RECEPTION Laser recommends the MP32 be used only where digital TV reception is strong, such as metropolitan areas, and our test locations were in the Sydney CBD – around two kilometres from a transmitter – and an eastern beach suburb eight kilometres from the CBD. We were unable to sustain a solid signal in either location; we’d find a room where strength and quality were ‘green’ and locate the MP32 at that spot, but the signal rating never remained constant and we frequently experienced picture drop-out and pixelation. We spent a lot of time wandering through rooms like a water diviner, holding the MP32 before us and ‘twizzling’ its tiny antenna in search of reception. The external antenna, which Laser recommends be used indoors, made no noticeable improvement. On the roam, reception was intermittent too; the MP32 is not something that will amuse the kids on long car trips. Ironically, we managed good reception in the back yard under a tree – but strong ambient light meant we couldn’t see the picture on the LCD.

MULTIMEDIA PLAYBACK The unit’s music playback, photo and video display features go a little way to making up for these shortcomings, though without internal memory, transferring media from a computer is less convenient that via USB. In addition, video files on SD can be only 4GB. Larger files will be broken into 4GB chapters, which according to Laser, represents around 2.5 hours of viewing. Recording broadcast programs to SD was a doddle, and playback (dropouts and all) was as per the original. The MP32 does not allow time-shifting, meaning recording is possible only when the MP32 is in TV mode – so, like, when you’re actually watching TV – and only for the channel displayed on the screen.

CONCLUSION We really wanted to like Laser’s pocket digital TV, but there are other multimedia devices that do music, video and photos better (though probably not cheaper), and provide photo and video capture into the bargain, plus larger storage capacity. The TV recording feature is useful, I suppose, if you see yourself wanting to keep a copy of a program you’ve already watched (albeit intermittently). As to its unique feature – that of portable digital TV reception – it’s just too flakey. While the blame for this may lay with the MP32 it’s more likely due to the highly variable nature of unwired television reception in general (TV tuner cards for PCs don’t do any better). Where the fault lies, however, is fairly academic. As a device you can count on for watching digital television indoors or out, the MP32 doesn’t impress. Anika Hillery

SPECIFICATIONS Category: Portable Media Player Price: $200 Contact: Display: 3 inch 320 x 240 TFT Features: DVB standard definition receiver; inbuilt telescope antenna, portable ‘rabbit ears’, plug-in coaxial antenna adaptor, stereo speakers Connections: USB 2.0 mini pin, 3.5mm output, SD card File support: MP3, WAV MPG4, DivX4.0/5.0, DAT, VOB, AVI, JPG, BMP and GIF Battery: rechargeable polymer; 3 hours operation Dimensions (WHD): 120 x 78 x 20mm Weight: 200g

PROS AND CONS

Easy to use Handy photo and music playback Doubles as a digital settop box for analog TVs Good TV picture in reception areas Easy recording Variable digital TV and DVB radio reception Can’t view screen in bright ambient light Limited multimedia features No HD channel support RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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LOEWE ART 42 SL DR+ LCD TV SPECIFICATIONS Category: LCD TV Price: $6999 Warranty: five years Contact: Audio Products Group 1300 134 400 www.audioproducts.com.au Image: LCD; 106cm diagonal; 16:9 native aspect, 1920 x 1080 pixels; brightness 500cd/sq m; 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio; 1300:1 native contrast ratio; panel response time 5ms Inputs: 1 x composite video, 1 x S-Video, 1 x component video (supporting progressive scan and HD), 1 x D-SUB15 RGB, 2 x SCART (1 supporting RGB or component, both supporting composite, S-Video and stereo audio), 3 x HDMI, 2 x stereo audio, 1 x centre channel, 1 x coaxial digital audio, 2 x USB Outputs: 1 x coaxial digital audio, 1 x stereo audio, 1 x proprietary multichannel analog audio output Audio: stereo, 8 speakers, 2 x 40 watts (music power) or 20 watts (continuous) Supplied accessories: remote control; setup guide; manual on CD ROM; swivel desktop stand Dimensions (WHD): 1046 x 703 x 90mm (without stand) Weight: 25.5kg (without stand)

PROS AND CONS

Very good picture quality State of the art motion smoothing Good sound from builtin speakers Effective USB functionality Black levels not class leading Not much clearance for HDMI cables – some with bulky plugs won’t fit RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

LOEWE ART 42 SL DR+ AND MULTI-SOURCE PACKAGE G erman TV and electronics manufacturer Loewe has had a small but significant place in the Australian market for many years, primarily with its amazingly high quality TVs. Back before panel TVs became the norm, Loewe consistently demonstrated that it was possible to have a beautiful smooth picture from regular analog TV broadcasts, and even more so with DVD. But the glass tube is dead, and all is now LCD or plasma. The Loewe Art 42 SL DR+ TV uses LCD technology in full high definition resolution and an unusually attractive styling.

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But we’ve also drawn in a couple of electronic devices from Loewe as well: a Blu-ray player and an unusual combination of DVD player, digital media player and FM radio.

FEATURES

First, back to the TV. As the name implies, this is a 106cm (42 inch) model and it of course offers a full high definition display. The TV has a dynamic backlight that allows it to darken overall during night scenes.

This is placed in an unusual enclosure, with a black border immediately around the picture, with a largish white panel at the bottom (holding eight small loudspeakers to produce its sound) and a white trim at the top. The most unusual aspect of this TV is that it is also a PVR, with a 250GB hard disk. Also unusual, but quite useful in some circumstances, is the ‘centre channel’ input. This allows you to use the TV’s own speakers as the centre channel in a home theatre system.

This is not an uncommon feature these days, except that Loewe does it spectacularly well… Even on really complicated full high definition Blu-ray scenes, the motion smoothing maintains its operation” To feed it signals, we looked at the BluTechVision Interactive Blu-ray player. Despite the name, this is a regular Blu-ray player, offering full BonusView and BD-Live capabilities. And instead of having to add some USB memory to support those features, it has 1GB of ‘persistent’ storage (ie. computer memory that retains its contents) built in. The Audiovision is a CD and DVD player with an FM radio tuner, and it also supports USB (it has two sockets) and an iPod using the included connecting cable. It is a source device only: you need a TV display, an amplifier and speakers. Or you can use it with other Loewe equipment, including a subwoofer, which makes full use of a special proprietary output socket to deliver full surround sound.

PERFORMANCE Let’s take them in turn. The TV offers a reasonably good screen, backed by pretty amazing video processing. The colour was excellent, and in a normally lit room the black levels were adequate. In a darkened room, its limitations became apparent. Even though the backlight could automatically turn down in response to dark scenes, it was not an LED system which could be adjusted differently for different parts of the screen. Still, there was no ‘pumping’ effect and black levels were moderately good. The processing included Loewe’s longstanding ‘DMM’ mode, which is a motion smoothing system that generates

intermediate frames between the real ones, thereby eliminating picture judder sometimes inherent in both DVDs and Blu-ray discs. This is not an uncommon feature these days, except that Loewe does it spectacularly well. I suspect it uses Philips technology for this (sadly, Philips no longer sells TVs here), but even on really complicated full high definition Blu-ray scenes, the motion smoothing maintains its operation. On these same scenes, those from most of its competitors find it all too hard and just give up, going back to motion judder. So Loewe’s system is actually worth using, since it produces very few artefacts and provides more information for the eyes about what’s happening in the picture. The other processing was of a similarly high standard, if not quite as much of a standout against the competition. This is one really nice TV. The PVR function – which can be programmed manually, programmed via the EPG, or invoked on the spur of the moment – worked smoothly as well. It was assisted by the fact that this is a twin tuner TV. You can record one station while watching another, or watch two at once with the PIP function. But you can’t record two stations at the same time.

AUDIOVISION CD/DVD/MP3 PLAYER In general the Audiovision unit was fairly good at what it did. Having an iPod cable in the box was a nice inclusion and this and the USB playback worked as well as any consumer electronics devices do with these new media. In fact, scrolling through long menu lists (the unit presents your iPod’s content list, for example, on a connected TV) was faster than most. The FM radio worked all right as well. But the DVD player section was simply not very good at all, which was quite surprising given Loewe’s experience. When the HDMI output is used – normally the best way to get great picture quality – the output resolutions available are 576p, 720p, 1080i or 1080p. Each of these requires the player to do a progressive scan conversion from the interlaced format of the DVD. This is where the player falls down. It seems to rely entirely on certain information – a ‘flag’ as to the format of the video – encoded into the disc, but with more than 90 percent of Australian DVDs, this information is wrong. So the player uses the wrong processes and generated some nasty artefacts. These included jaggies, moire patterns and flickering horizontal lines.

In operation, this is a dream player. It is fast. It starts quickly from standby. It loads discs very rapidly…”

AUDIOVISION CD/DVD/MP3 PLAYER WITH FM RADIO AND IPOD SUPPORT SPECIFICATIONS Category: multi-source player Price: $1499 Warranty: three years Contact: Audio Products Group Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 1 x component video, 1 x composite video, 1 x stereo analog audio, 1 x coaxial digital audio, 1 x SCART, 1 x proprietary multichannel analog audio output Inputs: 1 x stereo analog audio, 1 x coaxial digital audio, 2 x USB, 1 x iPod (cable included in package), 1 x FM antenna HDMI output resolution: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p @ 50 or 60 hertz Dimensions (WHD): 430 x 70 x 303mm Weight: 4.5kg

PROS AND CONS

Nice package of source devices in one compact unit iPod and USB connectivity Quite expensive. Poor video performance on Australian DVDs Remote control somewhat confusing RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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BLUTECHVISION INTERACTIVE BLU-RAY PLAYER BLUTECHVISION INTERACTIVE SPECIFICATIONS Warranty: Blu-ray player Price: $1599 Warranty: three years Contact: Audio Products Group Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 1 x component video, 1 x composite video, 1 x stereo analog audio, 1 x optical digital audio, 1 x coaxial digital audio HDMI output resolution: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p @ 50 or 60 hertz, 1080p @ 24 hertz Component output resolution: 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p, 576i, 480i @ 50 or 60 hertz Dimensions (WHD): 430 x 63 x 255mm Weight: 2.70kg

PROS AND CONS

Fast, fast, fast! Good deinterlacing of 1080i50, 1080i60 & 576i50 Decodes most versions of latest audio standards Built-in persistent storage Very poor value for money Remote control somewhat confusing

The Blu-ray player clearly comes from an entirely different lineage because when playing Australian DVDs it ignores that information and instead examines the video content, and tries to determine from that how to perform the progressive scan conversion. It does this correctly most of the time, to a level better than most other Blu-ray players. In operation, this is a dream player. It is fast. It starts quickly from standby. It loads discs very rapidly: typically in one-third to one-half the time taken by some of the slower current model players. It responds rapidly to the remote control. It can even decode all Blu-ray audio standards – including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio – to multichannel PCM should you need it to. There are only two real problems with it. The player appears to be based on the same platform as used in current LG players. That’s not a bad thing, because they are also fast. This player measured almost identically in speed and other performance characteristics. What is less impressive is that this Blu-ray player costs three times as much, and sheds some of LG’s more interesting functionality (WiFi support, YouTube and network media access). What you get, though, is tighter integration into Loewe’s scheme of electronics, with the ability of the remote from any these three units capable of controlling any of the other devices. Indeed, aside from labelling the remotes for the Bluray player and the multi-source player seem to be identical. The TV one is also identical, except that it is better built, with

RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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a brushed aluminium case rather than plastic, and even nice rubber rests at the back to assist it to be gently laid down. The downside of these is that some of the functions are rather difficult to discern from the labels on the remotes, and some transport controls are relegated to shared-function keys. So, to skip a chapter you press the fast forward key briefly. To actually fast forward, you hold the same key down for several seconds.

The PVR function – which can be programmed manually, programmed via the EPG, or invoked on the spur of the moment – worked smoothly as well” CONCLUSION The Loewe Art 42 SL DR+ TV is a dream machine. It is a genuinely great TV with PVR functionality. The other units could work well if you have this TV, primarily through the remote control convenience. Just remember to play DVDs in the Blu-ray player, not in the Audiovision. Thomas Bartlett

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DENON AVR-890 H ome theatre receivers tend to fall into three classes. There are those made to a specific budget, primarily by omitting features. There are high-end models with all the bleeding edge features, extreme performance attributes and even more extreme price tags. And there are those in the happy middle ground: they have little or nothing missing that you will ever mourn the absence of, but they are still reasonably priced and all their features work solidly. The Denon AVR-890 is one of the receivers occupying that middle ground.

FEATURES It offers 105 watts from each of its seven channels. If you ever stumble into unexpected wealth, you can retain all its virtues and simply upgrade the power by adding external amplifiers, thanks to the 7.1 channel analog outputs. But that’s unlikely to be necessary with the great majority of installations. You can redirect two of the built-in amplifiers to drive speakers in a second zone, or to bi-amplify the front speakers, or to drive ‘height’ speakers for the Dolby Pro Logic IIz processing. There are five HDMI inputs, plus legacy support for all the standards that have been around for years. All the video inputs will be converted by this receiver to HDMI. And to make sure it is done properly, Denon has used the highly regarded Anchor Bay Technology ABT2010 video scaling and processing chip. This otherwise appears in high cost external video processors. The receiver decodes everything yet invented in the way of digital audio. It doesn’t have a dedicated iPod port, unlike some other brands, but does have a special control socket that operates with Denon’s iPod dock (this uses regular inputs for audio and video).

PERFORMANCE Setting up this receiver was easy. The slowest part was wiring in the loudspeakers, but most of my other devices used HDMI so all was handled with simply inserted plugs. And then I ran the Audyssey calibration using the supplied microphone. Aside from setting the levels and speaker distances, this made available a number of room equalisation modes, optimised for either movies or music. The receiver sounded simply excellent. In a way, the EQ function removes much of the individuality from loudspeakers

(which is determined rather by their bumpy frequency responses) and so gives a presentation closer to what the recording engineers sought. With both music and movies, this receiver delivered superb performance. And powerful performance, driving my loudspeakers to create a huge impact on blockbuster movies. Yet it was nicely tuneful with all manner of music.

With both music and movies, this receiver delivered superb performance. And powerful performance, driving my loudspeakers to create a huge impact on blockbuster movies” Convenient operation was also provided by the three ‘Quick Select’ keys on the remote control (they are also on the front panel). In addition to selecting particular inputs, they also set in place the EQ settings and the surround mode associated with the input. I especially liked the way that the graphical user interface popped up as an overlay to the video. This isn’t merely a cute feature, but a useful one, because it means that your TV doesn’t have to switch video standards every time you need to use the menu. The video processing was extremely good too. If you have any legacy analog devices, the chances are that you will get better picture quality by having this receiver convert it to HDMI and feeding it to your display in that format, than to run separate analog cables to the TV or whatever.

CONCLUSION Denon is on a winner with the AVR-890 home theatre receiver. It has all the essential features and all the useful features, yet it delivers them along with a fine audio performance at a quite reasonable price. Any home theatre owner would be happy with this receiver. Thomas Bartlett

SPECIFICATIONS Category: AV receiver Price: $1899 Warranty: three years Contact: Audio Products Group 1300 134 400 www.audioproducts.com.au Power: 7 x 105 watts, 20Hz–20kHz, 8 ohms, 0.08% THD Inputs: 5 x HDMI, 4 x composite video, 3 x S-Video, 2 x component video, 6 x analog stereo audio, 1 x phono, 1 x 7.1 analog audio, 3 x optical digital audio, 2 x coaxial digital audio, 1 x calibration microphone Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 2 x composite video, 2 x S-Video, 1 x component video, 2 x analogue stereo audio, 1 x 7.1 analog audio, 1 x optical digital audio, 1 x analog stereo audio for Zone 2, 1 x 6.5mm headphone Surround standards: Dolby Digital EX, Plus and TrueHD; DTS ES and 96/24; DTS-HD Master Audio and High Resolution; Dolby Pro Logic IIx & IIz, DTS Neo:6 Features: Dolby Pro Logic IIz processing; Audyssey automatic calibration and EQ; Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey Dynamic Volume; Decodes new Blu-ray audio formats; Zone 2 capability, surround back amplifiers may be configured to bi-amplification or Zone 2 support; High quality ABT Video conversion and scaling (composite, S-Video & component to HDMI); GUI; front panel A/V input (composite, S-Video, stereo audio, optical digital) Supplied accessories: remote control; calibration microphone Dimensions (WHD): 434 x 171 x 377mm Weight: 11.2kg

PROS AND CONS

Very strong audio performance Highly configurable First class video processing and conversion Weird double-sided remote RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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LG 47SL80YD W FEATURES

hile some brands are moving towards extreme thinness in their LCD TVs, Korean giant LG has gone in a somewhat different direction: what it calls ‘Borderless’.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a thick TV. At 46mm deep (sans desktop stand) it is about half the standard thickness of a couple of years ago. But it is the ‘borderless’ aspect that is interesting. There is a border around the LCD screen part, and it measures about 35 to 36mm on the sides and top, which is quite narrow. But rather than standing forward of the display as is the norm, the whole front surface is flat, except for the very top, which actually bends back a little. It would be hard to determine how far back the pictureradiating surface is from the front panel glass without taking to the unit with a chisel. But it only looked to be about one or two millimetres. Aside from that, one other unusual point is support for Bluetooth: to allow you to listen with a Bluetooth headset, or to display JPEG photos and play music transmitted from a Bluetooth device, such as a mobile phone. Unfortunately it would not work with my (different brand) phone. If this feature is important to you, take your phone with you when shopping and see if you can get it to work. The panel is just under 120cm across the diagonal, so it provides a big picture, and offers full high definition resolution. In addition to the usual inputs is a USB socket for displaying JPEG photos, playing MP3 music, and a wide range of video formats – everything you’re likely to come across.

PERFORMANCE Of course, in plain English this TV is not borderless at all. But despite that, it manages to evoke a sense that it is, or very

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SPECIFICATIONS

nearly is. The fact that the picture-emitting display surface is very nearly in the same plane as what little bezel there is, combined with its narrowness and the sheer size of the picture, all conspired to make the picture appear to hover right on the face of the TV. It was a quite striking and, to my eyes, a rather attractive effect. With any ambient light in the room, the picture quality was excellent. LG seems to have been progressively enhancing performance over the past few years, so there was little difference between this TV and other leading brands. It even managed to do a fine job on 576i material fed from a DVD. Blu-ray delivered at 1080p24, the cinema-like ideal, also looked great. Some Australian Blu-ray discs are in 1080i50 format, like HDTV, and these tended to generate some processing artefacts. With these discs, it would be better to have a high quality Blu-ray player converting the picture to 1080p50 rather than feeding it to the TV in its native 1080i50 format. The TV has lots of video processing options and capabilities, of which the most interesting was its TruMotion 200Hz system, which smooths motion by generating intermediate frames, and also punctuates the flow of frames by inserting (very briefly) black frames between display frames,

LG seems to have been progressively enhancing performance over the past few years, so there was little difference between this TV and other leading brands”

thereby (says LG), reducing motion blur. As with most such systems, this generated artefacts, such as a swirly heat haze effect in some scenes, and occasionally on complex high definition scenes it dropped out of operation, presumably because the processing became too complicated. But in general, it gave a pleasant smoothness to the picture, and made digital TV in particular look better than usual. There are two ‘ISF Expert’ picture modes available which feature a host of colour tweaks that you can apply, if you find yourself dissatisfied with the picture quality. Of course, these are no pre-set to ISF (Imaging Sciences Foundation) standards, since that can only be done within a particular environment. The digital TV section worked well, and had particularly snappy station changes, which was a pleasant change to most TVs. The TV also supports the MPEG4 picture format, which may be introduced at some time in the future. The only disappointing aspect of this TV was that the screen seemed to have an uneven backlight, so that even with the dynamic black level processing turning down the backlight level during dark scenes, it still glowed a little excessively, especially near the top, during those dark scenes.

CONCLUSION Still, unless you’re watching in a dark room, this ‘borderless’ TV from LG gives an excellent picture, and with that little ‘special something’ extra. Thomas Bartlett

Category: LCD television Price: $3679 Warranty: three years Contact: LG Electronics Australia 1800 725 375 www.lge.com.au Image: LCD; 119.4cm diagonal; 16:9 native aspect, 1920 x 1080 pixels; brightness 500cd/sq m; 150,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, panel response time not stated Inputs: 2 x composite video, 0 x S-Video, 2 x component video (supporting progressive scan and HD), 1 x D-SUB15 RGB, 4 x HDMI, 5 x stereo audio, 1 x USB, Bluetooth Outputs: 1 x optical digital audio Audio: stereo, 2-way invisible speakers (downwards firing from bezel), 2 x 10 watts Features: analogue and HD digital tuners built in; MPEG2 and MPEG4 support; four HDMI inputs; TruMotion 200Hz motion smoothing; 1080p24 support; Bluetooth remote headphone use, display of photos and playback of music; ISF Expert modes; USB socket for playback of JPEG photos, MP3 music and video; ‘Borderless’ styling Supplied accessories: remote control; setup guide; manual on CD ROM; swivel desktop stand Dimensions (WHD): 1110 x 685 x 46mm (without stand) Weight: 23.7kg (without stand)

PROS AND CONS

Full high definition display ‘Borderless’ look adds to picture Top notch video processing for high picture quality Black levels not as strong as suggested by specs, and somewhat blotchy RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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SENNHEISER RS 180 S

SPECIFICATIONS

Category: Wireless headphones Price: $510 Contact: Syntec International (02) 9910 6700 www.syntec.com.au Headphone type: circumaural cans (wireless) Frequency response: 18Hz– 21,000Hz Impedance: 32 ohms Sound pressure level: 110dB Total harmonic distortion (THD): <0.5% at 1KHz Transducer: electrodynamic Audio input (base station): 3.5mm Audio output (base station): RCA Wireless technology: Kleer-based (uncompressed minimum shift keying digital transmission at 2.4GHz) Wireless range: 100m Headphone pairs per base station: 4 Base station power: mains Headphone power: 2x AAA NiMH rechargables (24 hours operating life) Weight: 204g Warranty: 2 years

PROS AND CONS

Excellent headset Comfortable Very long wireless range Clean digital signal Limited headsets-perbase station Automatic levelling can actually squash the audio a little RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

itting at the pinnacle of Sennheiser’s wireless headphone range, the RS 180 has everything you could ask for: audio quality, transmission clarity, range and response. Perhaps the biggest difference between this and the cheaper models in the range are the open cans, which provide an airier, more natural audio experience (but also do less to isolate the listener from external sounds) and the automatic levelling control, which intelligently tries to normalise the audio volume in order to make speech more intelligible and less likely to be drowned out by the score. It also has the added benefit of making advertisements less annoying.

FEATURES Like the RS 160 and RS 170, the RS 180 uses Kleer’s wireless transmission technology, and it is without question a vast step up from older FM radio transmitters. Although you can only link a maximum of four headsets to the one base station, each of those headsets will receive a very clear digital signal, free of RF noise and compression artefacts that deaden the sound. The Kleer technology technically delivers 2.37 megabits per second of bandwidth, which is enough to deliver uncompressed CD-resolution audio to the headsets (that is 16-bit, 44KHz) with headroom for error correction. To translate that into real-world speak, it’s like you’re connected to the audio source by wire.

PERFORMANCE The RS 180 certainly lived up to its billing when we tested it – at a range of 20m and through several walls the RS 180 delivered impressive audio, completely in sync with the onscreen images. Sennheiser claims that you can be up to 100m away and still receive clean audio. The headphones themselves are also top-shelf. In addition to being both light and comfortable, they produced clean audio across

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The RS 180 certainly lived up to its billing when we tested it – at a range of 20m and through several walls the RS 180 delivered impressive audio, completely in sync with the onscreen images”

the frequency spectrum and at both high and low volumes. There was some drop-away at very high frequencies, but you’re unlikely to ever encounter that in practice. The midranges were very nearly perfect, and the bass was strong enough without being overpowering. We’re still not sold on the automatic levelling control, however. In theory it’s a good idea, since we’ve seen too many DVDs and listened to too many CDs with poor sound levelling, but we’re not sure of its efficacy. It definitely had some effect, but sometimes loud moments are meant to be loud. The headphones can go for 24 hours between charges, and the base station doubles as both a transmitter and a charger. Hanging your headphones in it at the end of the evening will automatically recharge the NiMH batteries in the headphones.

CONCLUSION A fantastic set of headphones all around, the open design of the RS 180 will be seen as a boon by some and a bane to others. The RS 170 model is probably better value overall, but if you much prefer open cans then the RS 180 is the go. Either way, you’ll get a set of wireless digital headphones and a base station that deliver extremely high-quality audio over the airwaves, without the pops and hisses that have plagued wireless headphones in the past. These are well worth the asking price. Nathan Taylor

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BENQ W1000 N

ot too long ago, investing in a DLP projector was just that: an investment. Or rather, a way of flushing serious money down the toilet of impending obsolescence. Still, it’s all you folks who forked out $10,000 for a first generation projector who have made the W1000 possible. Thanks to economies of scale, you can now nab a full 1080p DLP projector for a buck shy of $2000 – and that’s pretty astonishing.

FEATURES The W1000 finds itself at the lower price end of an increasingly crowded market. Between $2000 and $3000, you’ll find a wide range of LCD and DLP projectors. So the W1000 is definitely a ‘budget’ projector, but in these enlightened times, budget still means full 1080p HD, 24fps compatibility and dual HDMI inputs. There is also a bunch of legacy inputs for your crumbly analog gear too. With a single Digital Light Projection chip on board, colour is handled by a rotating ‘colour wheel’. LCD and 3-chip DLP is better technology, but much more expensive. The well-labelled remote lights up, which is handy as you’ll want to use the W1000 in full darkness. There are plenty of image adjustment options – including straightfoward Cinema/ Dynamic/Standard presets which can be further tweaked to get those skin tones just the ghastly shade of unnatural you like.

PERFORMANCE Projector elitists may call the W1000 on its inability to show fine detail in very dark scenes, but these guys all spent $5000+ on their projectors. Fact is, at this price-point the image really is fantastic: excellent colour, punchy contrast. The DLP ‘rainbow effect’, where you can spot fringes of odd colour in some areas of some images, can be seen on the projector, but not to any degree that will ruin the experience of watching it. Colour is excellent, even those skin tones. As always, it’s worth investing in a properly reflective screen rather than projecting straight onto a painted wall – white ain’t as white as it seems when you’re watching Blu-ray! The inclusion of HDMI and 24fps compatibility means you can plug in said Blu-ray player and really appreciate

The W1000 is definitely a ‘budget’ projector, but in these enlightened times, budget still means full 1080p HD, 24fps compatibility and dual HDMI inputs”

full HD, and numerous keystone and other image tweaking options via the intuitive remote mean positioning remains flexible.

CONCLUSION The real challenge facing the W1000 is that many competing 1080p projectors perform noticeably better. These projectors are typically more expensive... but less than $1000 extra means making the choice won’t be easy. Actual performance might not be up to the standard of today’s top-tier cinema projectors, but remember the W1000 does outperform a $5000 projector of just a few short years ago. The real value here is in the full 1080p display at this budget price. In a dark room, the W1000 can still redefine the way you watch movies at home. Anthony Fordham

SPECIFICATIONS Category: Projector Price: $1999 Contact: www.benq.com.au 02 8895 8800 Warranty: 12 months Display: single-chip DLP, 1920 x 1080, 24fps Brightness: 2000 Lumens Contrast ratio: 3000:1 Fan noise: 27dB Inputs: 2x HDMI 1.3a, 1x PC, 1x component, 1x S-Video, 1x composite Dimensions (WHD): 330 x 100 x 250mm Weight: 3.4kg

PROS AND CONS

Affordable price point Full HD resolution Easy to set up Dual HDMI input and 24fps playback No lens cap Detectable rainboweffect Limited detail in very dark scenes Love-or-hate styling RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

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EDIFER LUNA 5 ENCORE IF500 E difier’s Luna5 Encore iF500 eschews the square lines of most other iPod docks, positioning its drivers instead within a large circular speaker that looks more like an oversized match head rather than the moon it is presumably designed to resemble. This speaker unit stands around 44cm tall and measures 42cm across, so will make something of a statement wherever

Spread the sound is what it did, easily filling our 4 x 5m room with beats and tunes from the playlists of our Nano and iPhone” 80 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

you place it. The pundits at the 2010 Las Vegas international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) certainly liked the cut of its jib, though, naming it an Honoree at the International CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Awards (audio components category). Behind the black grille cloth, the speaker unit contains a 5.75 inch (14.5cm) subwoofer and two 2.75 inch (7cm) tweeter/ midrange drivers, according to Edifier. “Unique vibration and resonance control technologies” are incorporated to enhance audio quality and power output is stated as 2 x 10 watts + 35 watts (subwoofer). The speaker unit is mounted on a semi-circular base plate that provides the dock adaptor for iPods, a red LED and a number of touch-sensitive light-up control buttons – power, volume up/down, fast forward and rewind. There is also an input selector button for switching between iPod, the Encore’s inbuilt FM radio and an external (Aux) audio device. These connect via a 2.5mm jack secreted behind a rubber peel at the front of the base plate, below the infra-red sensor.

The AC power adaptor connects to the rear of the iF500, 12 black plastic iPod adaptors are supplied, along with various cables (2.5mm to 3.5mm, 3.5mm to RCA, and 3.5mm to 2.5mm) for connecting other equipment. While many other docks ship with a cheap and easy-to-lose card-like remote, the Luna5 iF500 is supplied with a 24cm-long handpiece that, in operation, turned out to be just as disappointing. But more on that later.

PERFORMANCE With a footprint around 23cm deep and 25cm across, the iF500 needs to be located on a tabletop rather than a bedside, and like all audio equipment, will disperse sound better into your living space better when positioned at ear level. And spread the sound is what it did, easily filling our 4 x 5m room with beats and tunes from the playlists of our Nano and iPhone. (Note, the iF500 supports iPhone only in Airplane mode. In this mode you are unable to take or make calls.) Spherical speaker cabinet designs claim lower diffraction and resonance, the benefit of which is reduced distortion. These characteristics be in play with the iF500 because audio quality was better than expected – certainly above the average dock system. Bass didn’t plumb great depths, but there was enough reach to deliver good low-frequency kick from dance tracks, and without too much distortion. Crucial midrange

performance was sometimes thin, but treble was detailed and clear. Control over the playlist is critical for any iPod dock audio system, and the touch sensitive controls on the iF500’s base plate provided access to all the necessary operations and were pleasingly responsive. Step away from the unit, however, and you’re stuck with the remote handset. This worked sporadically during our test period and only when pointed directly at the unit’s IR receiver from less than a metre away. We experimented further from a range of angles and distances with no joy, and new batteries (2 x AA) did not improve things either.

CONCLUSION Assuming the failings of the remote control were unique to our review sample, the Edifier Luna5 Encore IF500 stands out from the bulk of available iPod docks for looks and sound. For music reproduction it compares well with systems from other manufacturers that sell for twice its price. Anika Hilery

SPECIFICATION Category: iPod dock music system Contact: Edifier www.edifierinternational.com Price: $499 Warranty: one year Audio: 2 x 2.75 inch (7cm) midrange drivers + 1 x 5.75 inch (14.5cm) subwoofer; total output power of 2 x 10 watts + 35 watts Features: FM radio with presets; vibration and resonance control technologies; 6 lit, touch sensitive buttons; 12 iPod dock adaptors; remote control Connections: 2.5mm auxiliary/ headphone input, iPod dock connector Weight: 5.5kg

PROS AND CONS

For: Good sound Distinctive styling Good volume levels Distinctive styling Inelegant connection for auxiliary players RATINGS PERFORMANCE FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE FOR MONEY

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 81

CEDIA CEDIA INSTALLER DIRECTORY

WANT A CUSTOM INSTALL? Make sure you use a CEDIA CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL and have peace of mind. CEDIA members specialize in the planning, design, supply, installation and concealment of automated electronic systems for the modern, intelligent home. They can install anything from multi-room audio and home cinema systems to complete home networks and sub-systems which intelligently control lighting, HVAC and even garden areas. For more information go to www.cedia.com.au

ACT Millennium Audio Visual Unit C, 66 Maryborough St. Fyshwick ACT 2609 02 6162 3330 www.mav.com.au Sound Advice Australia 21 Molonglo Mall Fyshwick ACT 2609 02 6280 8777 www.soundadvice.com.au

NSW Andrew Parker Custom AV Installations 5 Honeysuckle Place Kellyville, NSW 2155 02 8824 7177 www.andrewparker.com.au Audio Connection 455 - 40Parramatta Road Leichhardt, NSW 2040 02 9518 3000 www.audioconnection.com.au Audio Connection (Drummoyne) 137 Victoria Road Drummoyne NSW 2047 02 9561 0788 www.audioconnection.com.au Audio Solutions 1133 Botany Road, Mascot, NSW 2020 02 9317 3330 www.audiosolutions.net.au Audiovisual Unlimited 5/686 New South Head Road Rose Bay, NSW 2029 02 9371 2052 www.audiovisualunlimited.com.au Audio Visual Lifestyle 86 Merewether Street Merewether NSW 2291 02 49 635304 avlifestyle@exemail.com.au Automated Innovation Unit 2, 51 Pacific Highway Bennetts Green NSW 2290 02 49 484812 www.automatedinnovation.com.au AVD Australia Pty Ltd 55 Atchison Street St Leonards NSW 2065 02 9906 2424 www.avd.com.au Castle Integrated Media 372 B Military Road Cremorne NSW 2090 02 9953 8037 www.castleintegrated.com.au

CHM Electronics 138 / 2 - 18 Buchanan Street Balmain NSW 2041 02 9566 2570 www.chmelectronics.com CONNEXIONS (NSW) Pty Ltd 19C Grace Ave Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086 02 9453 2766 connexions@cnxns.com.au Custom Home Electronics PO Box 564 Hamilton, NSW 2303 02 4940 0409 jefferson@customhomeelectronics. com.au David Leisk Electronics 25/1 Short Street Chatswood, NSW 2067 02 9882 3733 www.davidleisk.com.au E.C.S. Services Pty Ltd 22 Forestwood Cr West Pennant Hills, NSW 2125 02 9871 4061 www.ecss.com.au EBM Systems PO Box 1865 Hornsby Westfield, NSW 1635 02 9029 9245 www.ebmsystems.com.au Electronic Environments 1 Lansdowne Parade Oatley, NSW 2223 02 9585 1233 www.electronicenvironments.com.au Eris McCarthy Home Technology PO Box 8099 Tumbi Umbi, NSW 2261 02 4389 1990 www.erismccarthy.com.au Harvey Norman Commercial Home Automation Systems 15 - 21 Atkinson Rd Taren Point, NSW 2229 02 9710 4321 www.hncommercial.com.au Home Control & Audio PO Box 1324 Sutherland NSW 2232 02 9528 0071 www.homecontrolandaudio.com.au Infra Red Entertainment & Automated Interiors Ste. 2, 11 Albany Street St Leonards, NSW 2065 02 9439 6444 www.infrared.com.au Insound Pty Ltd 108 West Street Crows Nest, NSW 2065 02 9954 9122 tex@insound.com.au

82 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

Instinct Electrical PO Box 557 Dee Why, NSW 2099 02 9938 3188 www.instinctelectrical.com.au

Sturman Electronics Pty Ltd 443 Crown Street West Wollongong, NSW 2500 02 4226 6690 www.sturmans.com.au

Intelligent Control Systems ‘ICS’ 13/3 Apollo Street Warriewood, NSW 2102 02 9999 0766 www.icsonline.net.au

Sydney HiFi ASV PO Box 150 Mascot, NSW 2020 02 9578 0118 www.sydneyhifi.com.au

IntelliStream PO Box 4018 Kotara East,NSW 2305 02 4957 8820 www.intellistream.com.au

Sydney Home Cinema Pty Ltd PO Box 6072 Narraweena NSW 2099 0413 397 256 www.sydneyhomecinema.com.au

JFK Audio Visual L3, 18/81-91 Military Road Neutral Bay NSW 2089 0414 434 535 www.jfk.com.au

TJA Communications PO Box 300 Seven Hills, NSW 2147 02 9838 4622 www.tjacom.com.au

Jory Home Systems Pty Ltd 6 Morrisey Way Rouse Hill, NSW 2155 02 9836 5132 www.joryelectric.com

The Silent Butler 57 Himalaya Crescent Seven Hills NSW 2147 0416 153 433 www.thesilentbutler.com.au

Len Wallis Audio 64 Burns Bay Road Lane Cove, NSW 2066 02 9427 6755 www.lenwallisaudio.com

Tomorrows 430 New South Head Road Double Bay NSW 2028 1300 880 840 www.tomorrows.com.au

Life Style Store Pty Ltd Unit 8 - The Junction, 2 Windsor Road Parramatta, NSW 2150 02 9683 7222 www.lifestylestore.com.au

Zeale Group P.O. Box 1196 Albury NSW 2640 02 6041 1484 www.zealegroup.com.au

LovemyTV PO Box 3320 Sutherland, NSW 2234 0439 888 113 www.lovemytv.com.au

QLD

Matrix Audio Visual Services 22 Palm Street St Ives, NSW 2075 02 9440 0282 bradley@matrixaudiovisual.com.au McLeans Smarter Home Entertainment Cnr Minto & The Entrance Roads Long Jetty, NSW 2261 02 4333 3545 www.mcleans.info Neutral Bay Hi Fi 89 Spofforth Street Mosman, NSW 2088 02 9908 1285 nbhifi@bigpond.net.au New Fidelity Pty Ltd 392 Darling Street Balmain, NSW 2041 02 9818 2333 www.newfidelity.com.au Nova Comm Pty Ltd 8 / 280 New Line Road Dural, NSW 2158 02 9651 6430 www.novacomm.com.au Onetouch PO Box 3002 Balgownie, NSW 2519 0437 649634 mick@onetouch.net.au OPOC Solutions Pty Ltd 1 Campbell Avenue Normanhurst NSW 2076 02 9489 0906 www.opoc.com.au Pacific Hi Fi 62 Macquarie Stree Liverpool NSW 2170 02 9600 6655 www.pacifichifi.com.au Smart Home Solutions Unit 21 56 O’Riordan Street Alexandria, NSW 2015 02 9304 4700 www.smarthomes.com.au

Audio Dreams Australia 17 Lillypilly Place Mooloolaba, QLD 4557 07 5444 8122 www.audiodreams.com.au Auztech Industries Pty Ltd PO Box 4368 Logenholme DC, QLD 4129 07 3806 3133 www.auztech.com.au AVTEC 12 Buckle Court Sinnamon Park QLD 4073 07 3279 6353 www.avtec.com.au Digital Brilliance PO Box 981 Buderim QLD 4556 07 5445 2180 www.digitalbrilliance.com.au Electronic Interiors Brisbane (Formerly Toombul Music) 2 / 180 Northgate Road Northgate, QLD 4013 07 3266 2533 www.einteriors.com.au Electronic Living 14 Smallwood Place Murarrie QLD 4012 1300 764 554 www.electronicliving.com.au Fi Audio Video 3/3 Gibson Road Noosaville, QLD 4566 07 5455 6300 www.fiaudiovideo.com.au Harvey Norman Home Automation PO Box 5935 GCMC Bundall, QLD 4217 07 5584 3128 joe.blair@au.harveynorman.com HomeTech Systems Pty Ltd PO Box 979 Nerang QLD 4211 07 5502 0760 info@hometechsystems.com.au

Home Theatrix - Murarrie Unit 11 Nautilus Business Park 210 Queensport Rd Murarrie, QLD 4172 1 300 555 270 www.hometheatrix.com.au In Sight & Sound Pty Ltd 125 Shamley Heath Road Kureelpa, QLD 4560 07 5445 7799 www.in-sight.com.au Look & Listen 6 Ascot Street Murarrie QLD 4172 1300 765 322 www.lookandlisten.com.au Power Integration 9 Senden Crescent Manly West QLD 4179 1300 797 468 www.powerintegration.com.au The Big Picture 14/96 Gardens Drive Willawong QLD 4110 1300 799 734 mskehan@thebigpictureav.com.au Todds Sound & Vision 1 308 New Cleveland Road Tingalpa, QLD 4173 07 3907 7777 www.todds.com.au Videopro Level 1 1062 Ann Street Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006 07 3250 0000 www.videopro.com.au Visiontronics Unit 1/7 Endeavor Drive Kunda Park QLD 4556 1300 306 893 www.visiontronics.com.au Visual Focus 16 Clifford Street Toowoomba QLD 4350 617 4632 0402 www.visualfocus.com.au

SA Harvey Norman Mile End PO Box 288 Torrensville, SA 5031 08 8150 8000 www.harveynorman.com.au Sound & Vision Studio 237 Greenhill Road Dulwich, SA 5065 08 8364 4000 www.sv-studio.com.au

TAS Nation Technology Level 1, 2 Trotters Lane Prospect, TAS 7250 03 6343 0655 www.nationtechnology.com Soundtech Integrated Systems 262 York Street Launceston TAS 7250 03 6331 9900 david@soundtech.net.au

VIC Advanced Lifestyle Solutions Pty Ltd PO Box 360, Niddrie, VIC 3042 03 8307 5618 www.advancedlifestylesolutions.com.au Audio Trends 10 Argent Place Ringwood Vic 3135 03 9874 8233 www.audiotrends.com.au

Cableman Pty Ltd Level 1/1227 Glen Huntly Road Glen Huntly, VIC 3163 03 9572 8900 www.cableman.com.au Carlton Audio Visual 164 - 172 Lygon St, Carlton, VIC 3053 03 9639 2737 www.carltonaudiovisual.com.au Custom Home Theatre PO Box 963 Berwick VIC 3806 03 9796 2617 www.customhometheatre.com.au Encel Stereo - Richmond 84 Bridge Road, Richmond, VIC 3121 03 9428 3761 www.encelstereo com.au Frankston Hi Fi 450 Nepean Highway Frankston, VIC 3199 03 9781 1111 www.frankstonhifi.com.au Hidden Technology P.O. Box 1084 Altona Meadows 3028 03 8685 8544 www.hiddentechnology.com.au howdoi.com pty ltd 6a / 4 Rocklea Drive Port Melbourne, VIC 3207 03 9646 9116 www.howdoi.com.au IBS Audio Visual Pty Ltd 43 Dalgety Street Oakleigh VIC 3166 03 9568 2800 www.ibsav.com.au Impact Electrics 3 England Street Bentleigh East, VIC 3165 03 9209 8140 impactelectrics@optusnet.com.au Integrated Technologies Australia PO Box 570, Kilsyth, VIC 3137 03 9761 8700 www.integratedtechnologiesaustralia.com.au Interior Sound and Vision PO Box 1093, Niddrie, VIC 3042 03 9336 7643 www.isvinfo.com.au Inteverge Pty Ltd PO Box 2501, Kew, VIC 3101 0409 178 076 www.inteverge.com Smart Systems Pty Ltd 0Church Street, Hawthorn, VIC 3122 03 9818 8006 www.smartsystems.com.au Steve Bennett Hi Fi 174 Ryrie Street, Geelong, VIC 3220 03 5221 6011 www.sbhifi.com.au Tasman AV Pty Ltd 6 Hood St, Collingwood, VIC 3066 03 9416 2255 www.tasmanav.com.au

AVARNTI 1/ 325 Harborne St Osborne Park, WA 6017 08 9443 1288 www.avarnti.com

ALETRO Ltd PO Box 9680 Newmarket, Auckland +64 9 307 1238 www.aletro.com

Digital Interiors 319 Hay Street Subiaco, WA 6008 0417 921 223 www.digitalinteriors.com.au

Automation Associates PO Box 109722 Newmarket - Auckland +64 9 377 3778 www.aa.net.nz

Douglas Hi Fi Enterprises Pty Ltd 401 Murray Street Perth, WA 6000 08 9322 3466 www.douglashifi.com.au

Liquid Automation P.O. Box 300753 Albany Auckland 632 +64 9 444 2440 www.liquidautomation.co.nz

ECA Systems Unit 2/13 Clark Street Dunsborough WA 6281 1300 858 897 www.ecasystems.com.au

Smartline 37 Cracroft Street, Waitara, Fitzroy New Plymouth 64 6 754 6771 www.homenet.net.nz

Electronic Interiors WA 125 Burswood Road Burswood, WA 6100 08 9472 4800 www.einteriors.com.au Essential Cabling 1 / 6 Chullora Bend Jandakot WA 6164 08 94141961 mcairns@arach.net.au Frank Prowse Hi-Fi 6-14 Glyde Street Mosman Park, WA 6012 08 9384 1362 www.frankprowsehifi.com.au Hillstone Communications PO Box 599 Kalamunda, WA 6926 08 9293 3621 hillstone@westnet.com.au Home Cinema Systems 2 / 18 Port Kembla Drive Bibra Lake WA 6163 08 9434 5556 www.homecinemasystems.com.au Intelligent Home Automated Solutions 25 Wittenoom Street East Perth, WA 6004 08 9325 7775 www.intelligenthome.com.au Light Application Pty Ltd 78 Erindale Road Balcatta WA 6021 08 9240 6644 www.lightapplication.com.au

Sound Advice First PO Box 12-145 Christchurch 8002 +64 3 379 9416 www.soundadvicefirst.com Soundline Audio Ltd Box 2650, Christchurch 8002 +64 3 379 5695 www.soundline.co.nz Soundline Audio Ltd Capital Gateway Centre, 56 Thorndon Quay Wellington +64 4 471 0542 www.soundline.co.nz The Listening Post 657 Victoria Street Hamilton +64 7 839 0135 www.listening.co.nz Strawberry Sound 90 Falsgrove Street Christchurch +64 3 379 8477 www.strawberrysound.co.nz Strawberry Sound 21 Bath Street Dunedin +64 3 477 7742 www.strawberrysound.co.nz

Lynx Integrated Systems Unit 5 / 74 Kent Way Malaga WA 6090 sales@lynxis.com.au Northam Home Cinema 5 Oliver Street Northam, WA 6401 08 9622 5198 bevanautopro@westnet.com.au Surround Sounds Unit 3, 83-85 Stirling Highway Nedlands, WA 6009 08 9389 6900 www.surroundsounds.com.au Ultimation 488 Scarborough Beach Rd Osborne Park WA 6017 1 300 880 544 www.ultimation.com.au Vince Ross Audio World 162 Stirling Highway Nedlands, WA 6009 08 9386 8144 www.vinceross.com.au

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 83

Desktops just as Hewlett Packard’s TouchSmart combine power computing, Blu-ray and HDTV entertainment with a neat touchscreen. Desktop cinema can also be cost effective. For the price of a big TV, you can get an entire system. An entertainment-focused notebook PC, a 24 inch (60cm) monitor, and a DAC and T-class amp attached to a set of speakers. Or you could go for a tower-style PC, which offers even better bang-for-buck than a notebook. And this brings us to the next great thing about desktop cinema: customisation. You can choose whatever parts you like. The display, the speakers, the various bits inside the PC. And after that you can choose what you want to watch. Traditional DVDs? Movies downloaded via Bigpond? TV shows from iTunes? Or you could even get lost among the myriad 720p YouTube videos that are cropping up nowadays. Okay, so your desktop cinema won’t accommodate the whole family. It’s for the study or a smaller room. You need to sit close to the screen, headphones on. It’s a more intimate, personal entertainment experience. But sometimes, that’s just what you want. Let’s take a closer look at some of the individual elements.

Desktop cinema

When it comes to home cinema, there are times when bigger isn’t necessarily better. There are also spaces where bigger just doesn’t work. For those times and spaces, there’s desktop cinema. By Anthony Fordham

he niche of the home entertainment market described above is dominated by the PC. And it makes sense: here’s a machine that can do anything. Stream music and video off a hard drive or the web, play any optical format (including Blu-ray), and act as the ultimate communications tool, from SMS to video phone calls.

84 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

THE MACHINE

A PC is the heart of any desktop cinema. If you just buy another, small TV and a Blu-ray player, well, that’s just a spot to watch movies off a disc. A PC is the core of the system, because it is actually as capable of handling the requirements of audio-visual entertainment as any consumer-grade dedicated box. A PC is especially good at audio and video. With a powerful processor, it can generate a 5.1 signal, either decoding this to its own analog outputs, or squirting the datastream directly to an optical or S/PDIF port. A PC can also output a digital video stream via HDMI or a similar format called DVI (which doesn’t carry audio). It can handle all resolutions of video, from standard definition 4:3 all the way up to 1080p and beyond. In fact, most PCs can output as high as 2560 x 1600! Your choice then comes down to notebook PC vs a tower or ‘ATX’ system. An entertainment notebook is an all-in-one solution, which obviously has a built-in display and speakers. It’s also portable – not mobile, but portable. However, you do sacrifice customisation options, and every dollar you spend on a notebook could have purchased more power inside an ATX tower. A tower isn’t portable, though.

Or you could go for a tower-style PC, which offers even better bangfor-buck than a notebook. And this brings us to the next great thing about desktop cinema: customisation” If you fancy yourself a bit of an IT whiz, then a tower will be the best choice for you. If you want a desktop cinema experience that’s more like unboxing a traditional set of AV gear, then go for the notebook.

THE MONITOR

Whether you’re using a notebook or a tower, you’ll want to upgrade the performance of your desktop cinema when it’s in its ‘home’ position. Yes, you can carry a notebook from room to room, but its built-in speakers can’t compete with dedicated units, and you really want a 24 inch (60cm) display as a minimum for a true ‘cinematic’ experience. That’s the sweet-spot of price and size. You don’t need a 40 inch (101cm) display because you’ll be sitting much closer to it than you would your TV. PC displays can have higher resolutions at these sizes, too, though the 1920 x 1080 standard (which displays full 1080p HD) is becoming all-pervasive. And if gaming is a big part of your entertainment repertoire, then look for monitors with a fast response rate – 4milliseconds or less. Consider, too, that a 24 inch LCD is a little more luxurious than the mass-market 22 inch (56cm) units, and as a result usually comes with superior colour and image processing technology. Some even include HD TV tuners.

Of course, the more socially acceptable thing in your home might be a set of headphones. Here, the debate rages on. Are surround sound headphones – which include multiple drivers – really just a gimmick? Are you better off spending your money on a super high-end set of pure stereo cans? As far as Home Entertainment Buyers Guide is concerned, stereo phones will always give better sound. And with the signal so close to your ears, is surround really necessary? There’s a third option for audio though, and that’s to use a set of gaming speakers. These surround

Look for a monitor with full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, a fast refresh rate and a screen diameter of 24 inches.

Compact 2.1 sound systems will vastly improve the sound you enjoy from your computer-bound music collection.

THE SOUND

Along with a display, you’ll want a set of speakers or headphones. An entertainment notebook will have a ‘virtual surround’ mode, but naturally this doesn’t compare to discrete drivers in the corners of the room. For users who are serious about audio, there’s the wonderful world of USB DACs. A Digital to Analog Converter bypasses the PC’s own audio decoding hardware (which while capable, isn’t audiophile grade by any means) and generates a signal worth plugging into a T-class amp. Why T-class? These digital amps offer surprising performance inside an extremely compact housing. Some are no larger than a fat hardback book, but still pump 150 watts or more of very clean audio. Purists won’t be impressed, but for the rest of us, a T-class amp plus two to five satellite speakers creates a compact audio system that sounds great in a small room.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 85

WHAT YOU NEED FOR DESKTOP CINEMA COMPUTER

MONITOR

Desktops or notebooks Monitor • Priced from $600 • 22 inch models from $300 • HDMI/DVI outputs • Minimum resolution 1920 x 1080 • Blu-ray drive • Widescreen • HDTV tuners • Fast response time (4ms) • 2GB RAM minimum • 500GB HDD minimum, units consist of five matched satellites, a compact for storing videos, subwoofer, and a central module that decodes a range music, etc of digital signals (all the standard Dolby and DTS formats, natch) and has volume controls. Yes, these speakers are biased toward making explosions sound punchy, but let’s be honest: the reason you’re even considering a desktop cinema is so you can go watch your Hollywood action flicks without the rest of the family wrinkling their noses. And in this case, gaming speakers are perfect. Plus, they’re cheap!

THE FURNITURE

What is the perfect furniture for a desktop cinema setup? Since desktop cinema is all about customisation

86 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

AUDIO

Audio • 2.1 or 5.1 speaker system • Stereo headphones for personal listening • DAC and T-amp for improved stereo audio reproduction – all about you – this isn’t straightforward to answer. However, you might be surprised how comfortable it can be to watch a movie at a desk... if you have the right kind of chair. Investing in a high-backed office chair with a whole bunch of different reclining options is an excellent idea. Especially because once you’ve finished watching your movie, you can lean forward and belt out a few emails, browse the web, and of course play games. It can be useful to have a bookshelf in the room, whereupon you can place your speakers, since you won’t be using floorstanding units. What about the desk? Consider if you have room for an expansive office-style corner unit. This gives

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you much more flexibility about how far back you can place the monitor, plus there’ll be lots of surface area for your speakers, movie library, games collection, action figures... we shudder to think what else! Really though, watching a movie balanced on a tiny little desk is just pure misery. And desktop cinema is meant to be about luxury.

PLAY IT ON PC!

Many games available on gaming consoles (Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3) also have PC versions. These versions have crisper, more detailed graphics (true 1080p, unlike consoles), more impressive graphical effects such as sunbeams and dust motes, and better controls thanks to the keyboard and mouse. Here are three titles that will both push your new PC, and give you a cinematic gaming experience.

MASS EFFECT 2 URL: masseffect.bioware.com This highly involved sci-fi sequel doesn’t require the gamer to play the original game, but you’ll get more out of it if you do. Lots of characters (including Australian actress Yvonne Strahovski), a deep plot, and a distinctive, Star Trek-style flavour. Your $100 outlay buys 30 hours of entertainment, here.

BIOSHOCK 2 URL: www.bioshock2game.com Less involved than Mass Effect 2 but with a more unique story. Explore a ruined undersea city in an alternate 1960s. Underwater sections use clever filters to look like you’re playing the cover of a vintage sci-fi pulp magazine. Story is a surprisingly effective mix of sociological theory and old-fashioned violence.

ALIENS VS PREDATOR URL: www.sega.com/games/aliens-vs-predator A remake of a 1999 game, this edition updates the graphics and sound until it really feels like you’re playing James Cameron’s epochal 1986 film. Except there are Predators in it as well. Once you’ve finished the main story, take the action online to battle your friends. Much better than the actual Aliens vs Predator films.

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THE SETUP

So which PC should you buy? The good news is, it doesn’t really matter. All modern PCs (except for netbooks) are capable of playing a 1080p video signal and outputting 7.1 channel surround. Notebook PCs have different feature sets, but here you’re looking for a display you like and the nature of the built-in speakers: they won’t be your primary method of listening to your content, but they might as well be decent, so you can unplug and carry the notebook out to the verandah for a spot of afternoon TV catch-up. For the ultimate in flexibility, have your friendly antenna guy install an outlet in the room that will house the desktop cinema. Many entertainment notebooks have HD TV tuners built in, or you can buy a card or USB tuner for your PC for less than $50. And as mentioned, some displays even have HD tuners, though if you use this you won’t be able to record TV. Plug everything in and arrange your surround speakers in the traditional pattern, elevating them to ear-height at the seated watching position. Then it’s a matter of choosing what software you’ll use to access your content. Here, the choice is almost limitless. If you’re on a Mac, everything is built-in. On PCs running most versions of Windows 7, you can use Media Centre to replace the desktop with a more TV-like interface – which can be controlled with a remote. Or you can delve into the scary underbelly of the internet and discover all kinds of freeware programs that allow you to watch or listen to content in almost any format you can think of. The VLC media player is an excellent example of this – we’ve yet to discover a file format it can’t handle.

Multimedia 5.1 subwoofer/ satellite systems will add impact to games and movies, but be sure to investigate the placement options in your room first.

Most notebooks today are as capable of playing music and movies as their desktop counterparts. However, only the most highly specified – and expensive – will match a tower PC for gaming. If you bought a TV tuner for the PC, it should come with software that allows it to record shows for you. Some of the more sophisticated cards even have multiple tuners, giving your PC the same capabilities as a TiVo unit. Except you can convert and export the recording any way you like. And remember: there’s so much more to desktop cinema than just watching DVDs or Blu-ray. As mentioned, YouTube has an increasing collection of 720p videos, and there’s nothing wrong with the standard def stuff either, if you want to relive your 1970s Saturday morning cartoon childhood. Music too is a big part of your desktop cinema. Your PC is like an iPod with a 1TB hard drive that can play audio in any format. And access internet radio, and IPTV services such as the ABC’s iView.

Many entertainment notebooks have HD TV tuners built in, or you can buy a card or USB tuner for your PC for less than $50” Get into desktop cinema, and you’ll find it such a versatile, flexible and powerful way of getting your AV entertainment fix, that you’ll start to wonder whether a PC can connect directly to your AV receiver in the lounge-room and output to your 50 inch plasma or projector, and do justice to your $5000 audio rig... The answer? Yes it can. But that’s a whole other story. n

For Mac people, the single-box BassJump promises to beef up sound from your iTunes library, and has the added benefit of being a cosmetic match for your MacBook Pro. Many notebooks optimised for multimedia duties provide dedicated keyboard controls – rather than drop down software

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 89

GEAR LOG

The GadgetGuy™ presents great gear and top tech for your digital life

APPLE iPAD

iWow Photos, movies and books aren’t at their best on the teeny screen of a smartphone, and when you just want to browse the web, a notebook is heavyweight overkill. Sitting somewhere between the two devices is Apple’s iPad, a 1.2cm thick ‘tablet’ that provides basic computing, wireless internet and a vibrant 25cm LED-backlit touchscreen for surfing the net, accessing apps from Apple’s iTunes store, viewing photos, watching movies and playing games. Electronic books, newspapers and magazines look great on the iPad too, though the iBookstore is no certainty to launch with the iPad in Australia this April. PRICE $$US499 (16GB) – $US829 (64GB) COMPANY Apple Australia WEBSITE www.apple.com.au

SONY BLOGGIE

HD in a snap Sony brings a touch of wizardry to video blogging with its Bloggie, a pocket camcorder with a flippable lens and an attachment for 360-degree capture that adds some pictorial pizzazz. The styling is very Sony, as are features such as face tracking and video capture options from high-def to low-res VGA. Stills are captured at 5 megapixels, the battery is removable and memory is expandable via Memory Stick and SD card. A nice touch is how the camera housing turns the unit on/off as it flips in and out of home position. PRICE $299 COMPANY Sony Australia WEBSITE www.sony.com.au

NAVMAN MY500XT

Top router Navman’s top of the range GPS has a very nice capacitive touchscreen that responds well even in the shakiest old car. Searches aren’t just limited to simple POI or destinations, with the inclusion of Lonely Planet guides pre-loaded. Too boot, many landmarks are rendered in 3D, although the utility of that is a bit suspect as the graphics can get in the way of the maps. It’s also equipped with an FM transmitter to send its directions and any music you load onto it to your car’s speakers wirelessly. PRICE $549 COMPANY Navman WEBSITE www.navman.com.au

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PANASONIC LUMIX FT1

Tough shot Rugged? You bet. And waterproof to three metres. Panasonic’s Lumix FT1 is fully featured, too, with 12 megapixel stills capture and all the mod cons of a good compact stills camera. The killer feature, however, is its AVCHD Lite video (720p at 30fps, with selectable quality), which gives personal camcorders a run for their money. With its durable build quality, this camera would suit the extreme sports lover. PRICE $499 COMPANY Panasonic Australia WEBSITE www.panasonic.com.au

HP TM2-1007TX

Touch me You don’t have to wait for the Apple iPad to arrive to have a touchscreen computer — there are plenty of products available right now. HP’s new multi-touch tm2-1007TX convertible tablet is one of them, sporting a lovely curved and patterned design, 12.1 inch multi-touch screen, Intel Pentium Intel Core 2 Duo 1.3GHz, 4GB memory, 500GB hard disk, DVD optical drive and wireless n networking in a 2.145kg package. PRICE $1800 COMPANY HP WEBSITE www.hp.com.au

LAVAZZA MODA MIO

Bean there Coffee snobs poo-poo capsule coffee makers, but they are an excellent alternative to messing around with ground coffee and look extremely funky on a kitchen bench. You don’t have to undergo any pretentious barista courses to use one and, besides, with the world’s largest coffee roasters now making pods, capsule machines are here to stay. Lavazza has been roasting coffee in Torino, Italy, for over a century and has partnered with Saeco to deliver seven of its best blends – in pod form – to the A Modo Mio. Just pop in a pre-packaged capsule, press a button and wait for an espresso to pour from the spout. A steam wand froths milk for lattes and cappuccinos, there’s a hot water spout for making tea and an adjustable tray for accommodating cups of different heights. The A Modo Mio comes in red, black and silver finishes for $399, with packs of 16 capsules costing $12. A 40 capsule starter pack comes with each A Moda Mio. PRICE $399 COMPANY Lavazza WEBSITE www.lavazzamodomio.com.au

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EARS & EYES & THUMBS

Entertainment for wherever you are — from movie room to laptop to mobile phone, and from HDTV to podcasts, DVDs and downloads. Compiled by Max Everingham.

MOVIES

THE WIRE

STARRING DOMINIC WEST, JOHN DOMAN, WENDELL PIERCE & LANCE REDDICK SERIES CREATOR DAVID SIMON RATED MA15+ SOUND DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 / DOLBY 2.0 DISTRIBUTOR WARNER BROS.

Warner has announced details of the final season boxset of the crack (sorry!) HBO cop drama The Wire at an RRP of $59.99. Only currently on DVD, not Blu-ray, The Wire is nevertheless one of HBOs – and television’s in general – shining crowns, portraying the frankly depressing and utterly hopeless streets of Baltimore, Maryland. The narrative in this fifth and final series continues the MO of concentrating on a single, different theme each series and focuses on kicking the fickle and sensationalist media for their failure to sufficiently acknowledge the desperate conditions so realistically portrayed in the show – something the series’ creator, David Simon, can speak of with some authority, having spent 13 years on the Baltimore Sun newspaper. Accordingly, the star ‘extra’ in the boxset is a serious look at the role of the media in a segment dubbed

RED CLIFF

‘The Wire: The Last Word’. Clearly, this is not really one for light, Saturday morning viewing but good on Warner, HBO, Simon and everyone else involved for producing entertainment that is trying to do a bit more than just provide the usual pointless, vapid fare we’re used to seeing come out of Hollywood. Theres’s also a ‘complete series boxset’ from Warner, which provides 60 hours of viewing pleasure at $149.95 and is allegedly ‘packed’ with bonus features, although we were not able to sample them, including 22 different commentaries.

STARRING TONY LEUNG CHIU WAI, TAKESHI KANESHIRO, FENGYI ZHANG & CHEN CHANG DIRECTOR JOHN WOO RATED MA15+ SOUND 5.1 DTS-HD/MASTER AUDIO 5.1 DISTRIBUTOR ICON

‘Face-off with swords’ is the best way to succinctly describe this John Woo production. Not only is there quite literally a re-enactment of the Cage/Travolta guns-pointed-at-each-other’s-chest face-off with swords in this film and, despite being set in 208 AD, there’s all the exaggerated violence, gore and balletic slow-mo nonsense you’d expect from the histrionic director. Served up in two versions: the release for Australian theatres and the Chinese four-hour-plus cut and in two flavours, on DVD or Blu-ray, Red Cliff is a dramatic retelling of the struggle to unite China under a Han Emperor via one of history’s most dramatically one-sided conflicts. In spite of the English VO narrator being unable to pronounce the name of the central Prime Minister character correctly, this subtitled epic is well translated and the hours (over four with the special edition) pass quickly in a flurry of artfully transposed but relentless beauty and gore, anger and reflection, violence and passivity.

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In an age when they really did shoot the messenger if he brought bad news – or, in this case, chop off his head – the central battle scenes in Red Cliff are savage, primal and tactically inspirational, full of historically interesting detail, whether that depiction is entirely accurate or not! The movie culminates in a series of increasingly ridiculous scenarios and some unconvincing over-use of CGI, and the extras on both DVD and Blu-ray are shockingly inadequate, offering only an interview with the director and a horribly-edited ‘behind the scenes’ feature. Red Cliff, however, ends up being a quite entrancing treat: implausible, silly, beautiful and utterly majestic.

LOOKING FOR ERIC

STARRING DOMINIC WEST, JOHN DOMAN, WENDELL PIERCE & LANCE REDDICK DIRECTOR KEN LOACH RATED MA15+ SOUND DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO 5.1 & DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 DISTRIBUTOR ICON

Described as an ‘heroic comedy’ by distributors Icon, Looking for Eric achieves that heroism not in the way you might expect from a diet of Rocky, Iron Man or even Inglorious Basterds, but in the most understated way possible, through perseverance and accumulative effort. If you’re OK with that but are still expecting a comedy, you’ll likely be surprised again. A kind of ‘guardian angel’ tale, the film’s two main characters are both called Eric – one fictionally, in the guise of a disenchanted and depressed postman, Eric Bishop, and one in reality, Eric Cantona, the refreshingly offbeat and individualistic Eric Cantona. That latter, who always fancied himself as a bit of a philosopher even while playing soccer in England for Man U, gets to live out his missed calling, coaching our miserable postie in the ways of life, love and so forth. ‘King Eric’, as Cantona is known by his starry-eyed fans, is an interesting presence, but the real allure of this film is the gradual development of the ‘other’ Eric, despite a pretty daft final act, witnessed in that down-to-earth, ‘feels almost like a documentary’ style of director Ken Loach. The DVD version only really has an audio commentary by Loach, although the Blu-ray offering is much better, including an entirely standalone short film Another City, following Bath football club, a long ‘fan documentary’ and extended Q&A segment, a sprinkling of deleted scenes (why, why?!), a music video and another shorter, short film.

FAME

STARRING KAY PANABAKER, NATURI NAUGHTON, KHERINGTON PAYNE & MEGAN MULLALLY DIRECTOR KEVIN TANCHAROEN RATED PG SOUND DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO 5.1 & 5.1 DOLBY TRUEHD (BLU-RAY) & DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 & DTS 5.1 (DVD) DISTRIBUTOR ICON

Having a mad crush on Irene Cara, as the livewire character Coco, from the original TV series Fame when I was a kid, and thinking that Leroy was the coolest kid on the block, I felt a natural reticence in firing this remake up in the DVD player and boy, was that reticence justified! An utterly vapid remake, Fame starts with a very ill-advised fidelity to the original, even as far as soullessly recreating the exact, same character types (moody, gifted keyboards geek; brash, abrasive acting girl dork, etc), stumbles through re-creations of key scenes from the far superior original and ends schmaltzy and vomit-inducing, entirely forgotten already. Rebuilt for the ‘MTV generation’, who apparently have trouble concentrating on anything that lasts longer than three seconds, there is such flimsy, fleeting character development in Fame that there’s simply no possibility for the viewer to learn enough about any of the yearning students to actually care. Unlike the touching and often movingly sincere first film, here you’re mostly left behind as the Fame juggernaut thunders towards the inevitable, crashingly-loud but vacuous musical climax. Kevin Tancharoen, better known as choreographer for Madonna and in his directorial debut here, really, really needs to stick to dancing and choreography and, if at all possible, never travel to England, where he might meet Alan Parker, director of the original film, and receive a damn good kicking.

Announcing the release of the iPad, covered elsewhere in this magazine, and all over the known, yuppie gadget-obsessed world – which is to say in San Francisco – Apple’s main man Steve Jobs opened a huge can of worms with his speech. Not content with metering out a severe kicking to the netbook, questioning it’s very existence, the somewhat smug CEO claimed all sorts of pioneering world firsts before making the even more grandiose statement that Apple’s new gadget, which he was going to share with us momentarily, was the “true third category device”. According to Jobs, the entire western world “all use laptops and smart phones now”. I’ll let my Gran know, she’ll be so embarrassed. It’s perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but then this is from the same man who claims that “Apple reinvented the phone, with the iPhone”. No Steve, you really didn’t. You may have given it a beautiful interface, but you know, the phone works just the same as it always has; dial a number, talk to someone a long way away. Anyhow, Jobs reckoned that, and quoting again from his launch speech, “the question has arisen, lately: Is there room for a third category of device in the middle, something that’s between a laptop and a smart phone”. We’re going to let that one slide. Ah OK, maybe not. I’m sure that the only place that question has actually arisen is in Apple’s marketing department, as Jobs cajoles them to think up ways of making even more money. But the thing is, that’s actually a pretty good question. People with far fewer ulterior motives have asked that question before, so it’s a good one to consider here. Justifying his new baby’s existence, Jobs says the iPad has to be far “Far better at doing some key tasks...some really important things.... than a laptop or smart phone; otherwise it has no reason for being”, by which he means web browsing, email, enjoying photographs and music and playing games. Whether you would categorise such activities as “really important” is another discussion entirely, but it’s not clear what Jobs means by “better”. Consider the existing alternatives. Anyone who’s lived with a netbook might be tempted to agree with Jobs’ hyperbole that they’re not “better at anything”. But they’d be wrong. Netbooks can be smaller, they can seamlessly integrate with your desktop PC (using something like Live Mesh, they can update and synch shared folders in real-time) and they’re far more versatile, in terms of software. They have built-in cameras – the iPad doesn’t – so are way better at videoconferencing. They run Flash, so your browsing can be better and so will playing Flash games; so the iPad isn’t better at games. Netbooks can store more stuff than the iPad, with bigger hard drives as standard, and feature USB ports for direct uploads. They can have full-sized, real keyboards, or near as damn it. On the other end of the scale, you have your smart phones, including the iPhone. The iPhone does everything that the iPad does, only it actually fits in your pocket – unlike the iPad, which is demonstrably bigger than Steve Job’s own head. And, again, the iPhone has a camera, but the iPad doesn’t. I have Kindle on my iPhone, and own an actual Kindle, so don’t need another e-book. So it looks like Jobs has written iPad’s epitaph himself: “it has no reason for being”.

AUTUMN 2010 | HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE 93

EARS & EYES & THUMBS

Entertainment for wherever you are — from movie room to laptop to mobile phone, and from HDTV to podcasts, DVDs and downloads. Compiled by Max Everingham.

GAMES

MASS EFFECT 2

PLATFORM XBOX360 GENRE ACTION/ROLE PLAYING GAME RATED MA 15+ DISTRIBUTOR EA

Mass Effect 2 may be another title published by EA but don’t let that put you off. Designed, coded, drawn and promoted by BioWare, Mass Effect 2 is, obviously, a follow-up to the popular sci-fi single-player PRG Mass Effect, but it’s had a devastatingly effective makeover and is now destined for greatness. With an opening scene rivalling any sci-fi movie, superb camera work and effects including reaction shots, extreme close-ups, dramatic angles, long shots, depth of field, slow motion and flashbacks (used to great effect, imbued with emotional impact) and some of the best ‘mini-games’ we’ve ever encountered, it’s the small things that make Mass Effect so entrancing. A sci-fi action adventure game at heart, there’s a huge map to explore, much improved combat from the first game, a superbly-integrated suite of main ‘campaign’ game missions and side missions, a well-paced and expertly-judged challenge, an entertaining and well-written narrative arc and it’s all set to an absorbing science-fiction theme. I’m gushing, but ME2 is what I’d always wanted a Star Trek game to be, but never was. Heaven in an Amaray case.

ARMY OF TWO: 40TH DAY

PLATFORM XBOX360GENRE ACTION/ROLE PLAYING GAME RATED MA 15+ DISTRIBUTOR EA

The sequel to EA’s rather disappointing attempt to make a co-op focused action shooter game almost two years ago now, 40th Day starts very badly, with the racist comment “I feel tall” spewing forth from one of the character’s mouths right at the outset, referring to finding himself in China. The own-foot-shooting is sporadically – but still very, very annoyingly – in evidence throughout this game, with archaic design decisions such as checkpoints that are too far apart, throwing you back to the start without the weapons you’d earned prior to being killed and then, to add insult to injury, making you sit through unskippable cut-scenes that you’ll find yourself forced to watch repeatedly. But it can be huge fun too, played with a friend over Xbox Live, co-operatively working your way through the Die Hard-ish plot. It looks superb and the ‘morality’ system at least offers up sufficiently difficult choices that you’ll want to play through a second time to see what happens if you take the other path, adding to the quite brief total campaign. The tagline for the game from EA’s PR geniuses “When a disaster of epic proportions strikes Shanghai...” could easily describe what’s happening to EA’s action games department and the terrible guidance most of their recent in-house releases have been subject to but here, at least, there’s some above-average entertainment

OPERATION FLASHPOINT: DRAGON RISING

PLATFORM XBOX360 GENRE ACTION/ROLE PLAYING GAME RATED MA 15+ DISTRIBUTOR ATARI

About a million years in the making, or at least it often felt like it, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising is a perfect example of a one-hit wonder that should have been left well alone, yet cast so may dollar signs in so many corporate execs’ eyes that it was never going to be well left in peace. Enter Dragon Rising, which attempts to re-create the amazing, go-anywhere and do-it-any-way freedom of the original PC game but fails miserably in the attempt. Plodding, horrendously buggy gameplay, inconsistent and risibly bizarre behaviour from non-player characters and a barren, uninteresting landscape do, ironically, give a ‘realistic’ idea of what it’s like to be a foot soldier – that being having to suffer, for the most part, through very long bouts of tremendously boring and painful inactivity or hard slog, interspersed with a few seconds of confusing, disorienting and inexplicable action – but it’s not fun and it’s not even competent. Seriously, anyone who’s written that this game’s re-creation of warfare is ‘realistic’ has never been within 100km of the real military and should be summarily shot.

DARKSIDERS

PLATFORM XBOX 360 GENRE ACTION/ROLE PLAYING GAME RATED MA 15+ DISTRIBUTOR THQ

So obviously and unashamedly Xbox 360’s God of War, Darksiders from Vigil Games via usually ropey publisher THQ, is much, much better than the dreadful PR blurb of “set in a Post-Apocalyptic demon-ravaged world” that presaged its arrival might suggest. Playing as ‘War’, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; a ludicrously over-sized, overarmored, grunting squaddie type character with an unfeasibly large (cough!) sword, the game nevertheless delivers some absorbing and enjoyable combat against often very detailed and appealing fantasy enemies. Despite the old design chestnuts - much mashing of the default ‘X’ attack button and the juvenile character art direction – the weapons and upgrades, empowering combat, overall graphical mastery and effects (the water, in particular, most impressive) plus, for us, the quite beautifully beguiling wings that war can conjure up make for an excellent rantasy romp, as Scooby would say. Not an original bone in its videogame body and very much under the influence, both good and bad, of its comic-book roots, but a blast all the same.

UNCHARTED 2

PLATFORM PLAYSTATION 3 GENRE ACTION/ROLE PLAYING GAME RATED MA 15+ DISTRIBUTOR SONY

A follow-up to the amazing Drake’s Fortune game, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves puts you in the shoes of a daring tomb raider and catapults you into a fantastic adventure with a great supporting cast, a host of really bad guys and some excellent monsters. It’s a beautifully crafted game that combines an entertaining adventure with tight action sequences, woven together with the best voice and motion acting you’ll see in any game this – or any other – year. Characters are distinct, credible and appealing, the pacing is perfect, the story interesting with the “could it be true?” intrigue of a Dan Brown novel, and graphically, this is the best looking title yet to grace the PlayStation 3; all the more precious given that it’s an exclusive.

94 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

TIME WARP

Class D amps S

urely an amplifier is just an amplifier? Actually, there are a multitude of designs, based on a dozen or more fundamental principles. That’s a pretty impressive achievement, given that the triode, a vacuum tube that allowed the very first amplifier designs, only appeared a little over a century ago in 1908. The major categories have class names, of which the most familiar to audio enthusiasts are Class A, Class AB and Class D. Each has its advantages… and its disadvantages. Class A is supposed to be the best sounding design because it eliminates something called ‘crossover distortion’, but it is horribly inefficient, wasting more than half the power used by the amplifier. Class AB is somewhat more efficient, but still wastes plenty of electrical power as heat. Class D is completely different. Now let’s get something straight: though the ‘D’ conjures the concept ‘Digital’, technically, a Class D amplifier is not necessarily a digital amplifier. In fact, depending on the source, the Class D amplifier originated in the early 1930s, or the early 1950s. And back in those days, digital had nothing to do with it. Class D is otherwise known as a ‘switching amplifier’. The reason that Class A and Class AB amplifiers are so inefficient – waste so much of the power which feeds them – is because their output transistors spend most of their time only partly on. Some of the electrical power is being allowed through to the speaker terminals, while some is being used by the transistors themselves to heat up. That is never the case with a Class D amplifier: its output transistors are either switched fully on, or fully off. In either case, the amplifier wastes hardly any power. Theoretically it uses none at all, but in the real world

The bass driver in each of these Bang and Olufsen BeoLab9 active speakers scores a massive 400 watts of power, thanks to ‘IcePower’ Class D amplifiers. IcePower was developed by B&O and is used in a number of other high-end brands.

96 HOME ENTERTAINMENT BUYERS GUIDE | AUTUMN 2010

electronic devices aren’t perfect. Nonetheless, better than 90 percent of the power drawn from the wall socket is used in a Class D amp to drive the speakers, instead of around 60 percent for Class AB. In addition to keeping your power bills lower, this means that less heat is dissipated, so smaller lighter heat sinks can handle matters. The result is smaller and lighter amplifiers, or more power for a given size and weight.

… Better than 90 percent of the power drawn from the wall socket is used in a Class D amp to drive the speakers, instead of around 60 percent for Class AB” Class D amplifiers have had a relatively long history in professional audio, particularly sound reinforcement, given their virtues of relative compactness (which equals transportability) and high output power. But they have made their ways increasingly into homes in recent years, in such implementations as the IcePower amplifier modules used in many higher quality devices, Sony’s ‘S-Master’ home theatre receivers, and various subwoofer amplifier modules. Given the need for prodigious quantities of power in high performance, compact subwoofers, this isn’t surprising. And with increasing use of digital signals, the shift from Class D to ‘Digital Amplifier’ is easy to understand. Class D is especially suited to being a digital amplifier. Like digital, it is on or off, and never halfway between the two. The technical details can be a bit tedious, but in short it uses Pulse Width Modulation to define the signal (Pulse Density Modulation for Sony’s S-Master system). Wide pulses indicate a high point in the signal, and narrow ones indicate a low point. The beauty of this is that Pulse Code Modulation – the ubiquitous workhorse of digital signals – can be readily converted to PWM, which can then be used to drive the speakers. All that’s needed then is a passive filter at the loudspeaker terminals to remove the ultrasonic noise inherent in such signals, and you have a highly efficient, highly powerful amplifier, perfectly capable of producing glorious sound. Valens Quinn

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