For the last few product cycles, decoding of lossless audio codecs (DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD), along with video transcoding and scaling to 1080p, were the king and queen of required features in midrange AV receivers (AVRs). With this year’s release of units branded with the Dolby PLIIz and Audyssey DSX logos, Height and Wide channel processing is the new king of must-have features for those on the bleeding… View this story
Preamplifiers • Receivers • Deals • Product News

I like watching TV. Clearly, the people at ZeeVee do, too, because their ZvPro 250 and ZvBox 150 turn TV viewing into an all-you-can-watch, anywhere-you-can-watch-it-in-HD experience. Suffice it to say, I really liked my time with the ZvPro 250. I like that the ZvPro 250 turned my condo’s coaxial network into a high-definition video distribution system. ZeeVee says there’s no limit to the number of HDTVs that can receive content… View this story
Multiroom Video • Web Services • Reviews • Product News

If deals like this keep coming, Black Friday is going to look darn near unimpressive. For the rest of this week, Best Buy has the Panasonic TC-P42C1 42” 720p Plasma display for a silly-low $498.99. While only a 720p display, it boasts 30,000:1 native (real) contrast ratio, 600Hz refresh rate, two HDMI inputs, and side SD card input.  If you’ve been looking at a smaller set for a bedroom, living… View this story
Plasma • Deals • Product News

The California Energy Commission (CEC) delayed a vote on setting new energy-efficiency standards for TVs in the state, planning to now address the issue at its Nov. 18 business meeting. The Commission is considering proposed sales restriction for energy-hogging TVs that will be imposed in two tiers, in January 2011 and January 2013, though the first phase of restrictions will not include TVs larger than 58 inches. Click here to… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • LCD • Plasma • Industry • Manufacturers • Dealers • Retailers • Green Technology • Info and Answers • Product News

Black Friday can come weeks early if you know where to shop online. BuyDig.com has a great combo deal on the LG 42PQ30 42” 720p plasma with a Panasonic BD60K Blu-ray player with a GGI Hookup Kit for $619. If purchased separately, the price would be around $885. The 42-inch plasma features a 600hz sub-field drive, 12,000:1 contrast ratio, and 3 HDMI inputs. The BD60K is an entry-level player that… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • Plasma • Blu-ray • Deals • Product News

The end-of-the-year shopping season means lots of goodies on the Blu-ray front. Sadly, November’s docket of Blu-ray releases doesn’t include any movies starring Megan Fox. But there are a number of blockbusters scheduled to come out to coincide with the holiday shopping season. Going where no Blu-ray release has gone before, new Blu-ray titles include movies starring Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, Sulley and Mike, Tom and the Griswold family.… View this story
Miscellaneous • Movies and Music • Blu-ray • Product News • Slideshows

I’ve always been skeptical of power conditioners—could they really make that much difference in an entertainment system’s performance? It didn’t take much time with the Tributaries T100 Power Manager, which conditions and protects power, to answer yes, they really can. Setup was simple. The slim black box took the place of a Monster PowerCenter HT700 surge protector, and I followed basic guidelines suggested in the T100 manual while transferring power… View this story
Power Management • Line Conditioners • Surge Protectors • Reviews • Product News

OK, now this is what we’d call a banner week for the Blu-ray format. We’ve got special anniversary releases of some great films, all-encompassing collector packs, Oscar winners, holiday movies, action blockbusters and more. Let’s start with the two anniversary edition standouts—Say Anything… (20 years old now and still keeping us young) and North by Northwest (50 years since Alfred Hitchcock gave us this masterpiece). Will you be blown away… View this story
Blu-ray • Movies and Music • Product News

I’m not sure if NewEgg is just ramping up as Black Friday approaches, but they’re having a heck of a day when it comes to Home Theater deals.  First, as the morning/afternoon segment of their daily Shell Shocker available until 4 p.m. EST today, November 2, you can grab a new (not refurbished) Harmony 659 activity based remote for $39.99 with free shipping. This is a slightly older Harmony model… View this story
Digital Media Servers • Remote Controls • Deals • Product News

Triad Speakers is set to deliver its new DesignerSeries Speakers that can be completely hidden and sealed behind walls or ceilings. The line of “invisible” speakers features three mono versions and two stereo models that can produce maximum sound pressure levels up of 105dB. The speakers can be used for a variety of installation scenarios, including multiroom audio, home theater rear surrounds, and environmentally-challenging situations like wet and humid pool… View this story
Speakers • In-Wall Speakers • Surround Sound • Audio • Product News