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High-Def Digest’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009: HD Gear

Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 06:15 PM ET
Tags: Holiday Guides 2009, Best of 2009, High-Def Retailing, Michael S. Palmer (all tags)

The first of High-Def Digest’s annual holiday gift guides has arrived. This installment focuses on HD Gear, and a few choice titles for testing out your new favorite things.

by Michael S. Palmer

‘Tis the season, my friends. A favorite, festive time. For charity. Goodwill. And, bless us all, a chance to toss a new toy under our tree into our family rooms.

Hard to believe it’s upon us already, but next week is Thanksgiving, which fires off the holiday shopping season’s official opening salvo: Black Friday. A day of deals to be followed by a month-long shop-a-thon, where by the most experienced may survive only through sheer will and a steady Cinnabun diet.

But thing’s are tough, I know. The economy did a cannonball into an empty swimming pool, and now we’re all doing our best to recover while indulging out HD addictions. But the worst is over. It’s time to pull together, learn from the past, and jumpstart our future. Which is why, on this historic day, we are starting a brand new campaign:

SAVE AMERICA. BUY HIGH-DEF!

This is patriotism, people. Pure and simple. Purchase a high definition home theater system to watch a Blu-ray Disc or play a video game, and you employ the millions who designed, built, shipped, sold, and installed your gear. Not to mention the thousands of names on the credits of that epic film or game franchise based on your favorite best selling novel. And don’t forget the fnancial obligations of handsome high-def writers and reviewers.

With our civil duties properly outlined, it’s time to prepare. First: Budget, budget, budget. Remember, we’re in the “want” category of life (as opposed to “need”) so save your pennies first, then spend only what you have.

Second: Research is key. In the crowded, frenzied malls of the season, you don’t have the time to park the car, let alone properly demo gear. So head to the stores in advance, ask friends, read reviews (or helpful holiday shopping guides written by handsome high-def writers), and above all, loving shopper, listen to your husband/wife/kids to see what they really want this year.

TO BLACK FRIDAY OR NOT TO BLACK FRIDAY?

The Bard’s most famous question (or close approximation there of) for those who now have their list of wants. Black Friday Info is your go-to source for all sales on the day. But is it really worth it to spend a night on an icy sidewalk outside sears? The truth is, Black Friday is just a marketing gimmick. And like all things that worked well to bring out droves of potential consumers, it’s no longer limited to one day a year.

Amazon starts “Black Friday” this Monday, November 23 with a week of deals (as always, Amazon is the place to be for free shipping and no sales tax (unless you live in Washington state)). Beyond that, most stores are going to be riddled with sales for the rest of the year. The key is to look out for the products you already want, and cross check the major retailers to find the best price (many have price-matching policies, which create easy one-stop shopping).

With our list in hand, it’s time to get shopping, and save money while doing it. Here’s a list of fantastic gear I’d ask Santa for this year as well as recommend to my friends and family. I know everyone’s budget is different, so I've tried to find entry, mid, and high-end options to help start or improve your home theater set up (as usual, faithful readers, add your own suggestions to the forums!):

HDTVS

Remember the golden rule: below 40 inches, don’t worry about 1080p because you’ll probably be sitting too far away to tell the difference. I always tell my friends to get the biggest TV they can afford/fit because with HD, you’ll always want more.

Sony Bravia KDL-40V5100. At around $879, this 40-inch, entry-level LCD has a solid picture, and 120hz.

JVC LT-46P300. Find this 46-inch LCD for just over $1,000. Another entry-level model, this one is pretty big, has a good picture, and an easy-to-use built-in iPod/iPhone dock which can be hooked to your home theater receiver via the TV’s Dolby Digital out on the back.

Panasonic TC-P54V10. This massive 54-inch plasma sells for $2,399, is Internet ready, and according to CNET delivered “the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we’ve tested so far this year.” Plasmas excel at deep, rich black levels, and it won’t have the same motion flicker that bothers some LCD owners.

Mitsubishi 737 Series. The last of the rear projection DLP. If you don’t need to hang something on a wall, and want “bigger for cheaper,” look for this series at 60 inches for as little as $1,200. The whopping 82-incher sells for $4,500 (forklift not included).

Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR10. At 52-inches and $3,999, the super thin XBR10 featuring 240Hz anti-blur technology is Sony’s flagship LED-LCD. Not only does this HDTV have every adjustment imaginable, but it has built-in web capabilities, and wireless high-def hookup. Simply mount this flat panel on the wall (and over the power outlet). Then, hook up the separate “Media Box” to your receivers, Blu-ray Disc players, and cable boxes. Simple. No need to run or hide cables.

BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS

LG BD370. A well priced, fully functional Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Disc player, the BD370 retails for $150, and can be hardwired with a broadband Internet connection for access to streaming content such as Netflix, YouTube, and CinemaNow.

LG BD390. At $270, the BD390 is the older brother. Same great picture and sound, but the BD 390 has a built-in Wi-Fi abilities, and includes access to Vudu’s On Demand streaming service. Vudu’s “HDX” encoded movies look and sound almost as good as the Blu-rays you’re watching.

Sony PlayStation 3. At $299 for the newer slim, the PS3 is an amazing, versatile machine. Still, in my opinion, the best console around. Not only is it a wireless Internet ready Blu-ray disc player, it has its own web browser, a huge hard drive to act as a media server, and, oh yeah, it plays video games.

RECEIVERS

Finding a great, multi-feature receiver is pretty easy, and quite affordable. In addition to the brands and models listed below, check out Harmon/Kardon, Pioneer, Yamaha, and Integra for great, modern AVRs (or audio/video receivers capable of HDMI video/audio content used in Blu-ray and even cable or satellite boxes).

Denon AVR 1610. At $379, this is a great entry-level machine. It has 3 HDMI inputs, and can decode all the newer HD audio codecs into stunning 5.1 surround sound, 75 watts per channel @ 0.08% THD (total harmonic distortion).

Denon AVR 2310. For $849, one gets 5 HDMI inputs, 7.1 surround sound capabilities, 105 watts per channel @ 0.08% THD and bells n’ whistles like Audyssey MutlEQ and Dolby’s new ProLogic IIz. Personally speaking, I have last year’s model, the 2309, and I can’t turn it up loud enough.

Onkyo TX-NR5007. For $2,295, one gets this monster of an AVR: THX Ultra2 Plus certified, 8 HDMI inputs, new technologies like Dolby Volume and ProLogic IIz, and a staggering 9.2 channels of surround sound with 145 watts per channel @.05% THD.

SPEAKERS

There are literally so many choices out there, it should always be noted that speakers are best tested out by each individual buyer. If you don’t like these, check out Infinity, Definitive Technology, Martin Logan, and Klipsch. There’s something for everyone, and the main lesson here is simple:

Never use your TV’s own speakers. They’re cheap, and can never compare to a 5.1 surround sound experience.

Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1 Speaker System. Your choice of black or white finishes, this is the perfect little system for someone just starting out in surround sound, or who needs to save on space. Take it home for $499.99.

HSU Research HB-1 MK2 5.1 package. Home Theater Sound’s 2008 product of the year, this set for mid-sized rooms provides outstanding performance at a bargain. Priced online direct from HSU, pick these up for as little as $1149 (for the satin black finish), which includes 1 HC-1 MK2 center, 4 HB-1 MK2s bookshelf speakers, and 1 VTF-1 Sub.

Kef iQ Series 7.1 Speaker System. Britain’s own Kef Speakers are fantastic. Deep lows, clean mids, and mountainous highs. Checking around online (using 2 iQ90 fronts, 1 iQ60C center, 4 iQ30 surrounds, and the PSW2500BL Sub), bring home Kef in 7.1 channels for $2320. There are cheaper options as well (smaller fronts, or less surrounds), but these are world class speakers for a fair price.

In the speaker world, there is no budget limitations (Revel’s Ultima2 Salon2 front Towers are ONLY $21,998 per pair!). Above are some, albeit pricey, “entry-level” surround sound systems featuring quality satellite, bookshelf, and floor standing speakers. But I implore you to only buy when you hear what you love and can’t live with out. Happy hunting.

HD ACCESSORIES

No surround sound system is complete without a few finishing details:

Monoprice is a great place to save on all sorts of accessories, including speaker wire, HDMI cables and flat panel wall mounts. Accessories are like printing money for local retailers. They’re hugely overpriced, and you’ll save when you remember to NEVER BUY MONSTER CABLE. Do they work well? Of course, but why buy name brands when the Monoprice version works just as well, yet sells for a 10th of the price? It’s okay, I’ll wait for your answer.

Don’t forget a universal, computer programmable remote to easily run the whole system (the technical term is making it “wife proof” because who really wants to figure out what each of the 7 remotes on the coffee table actually do?). The Logitech Harmony series is excellent. I have owned the 550 and 880. The Harmony One, at under $200, is easy to program, illuminates in the dark and includes a rechargeable battery, but remember: if you want to run your PlayStation 3 using a Harmony remote, you will need the $60 “PS3 Adaptor” to go along with it.

MOVIE & GAME DEMOS

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Now that you have your first system, or maybe you’ve just brought home a new Blu-ray Disc Player, video game console, or surround sound system, it’s time for the best part: DEMO!!! Time to show yourself and your family that there will be no buyers’ remorse for this money well spent because if there’s one way to win over high-def converts, it’s to simply let the technology speak for itself. Here’s a handful of must buys for cinema and gaming enthusiasts:

‘Star Trek’ is out now, and this action/special features packed reboot soars in high definition.

‘The Godfather Collection’has never looked this good, classic cinema lovers.

‘Up ’ might be the newest Pixar release, but this year alone they’ve released (or re-released) ‘Monsters, Inc.’, ‘Cars’, and ‘A Bug’s Life’ on Blu-ray disc. Not only do these movies represent the finest digital picture and sound, but Pixar continues to make the best movies of any year. There’s no better way to gather as a family, than over heartwarming adventures that connect to every generation with equal appeal.

‘Taken’ is a visceral ride for adult-oriented action junkies, and along those lines, watch the opening studio logos for ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’. Viewing the movie itself may cause brain damage, but kudos to the sound engineers for engaging the viewer on every flying star as they whoosh across the screen and settle around the word “Paramount.” It’s stunning.

TV fans won’t find better television, or better high definition than this year’s releases of ‘LOST: The Complete First Season’ and ‘Band of Brothers’.

As for gaming, look no further for stunning graphics than these bestsellers and new releases: ‘Madden 10’, ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’, ‘Gran Turismo 5: Prologue’ (the most realistic driving graphics I’ve ever seen, courtesy of the PS3), ‘HALO 3: ODST’, ‘Assassin’s Creed 2’, and ‘Uncharted 2: Among Thieves’.

Happy hunting. Happy saving. And Happy Holidays, dearest readers, from all of us at High-Def Digest. And remember, always:

SAVE AMERICA. BUY HIGH-DEF!

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Sharp Wins ITC Ruling – Recommended That Some Samsung LCDs Be Banned

Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 10:00 AM ET
Tags: Sharp, Samsung, High-Def Retailing (all tags)

After much deliberation and investigation, the International Trade Commission has determined that certain new Samsung LCD televisions contain patented technology belonging to Sharp.

Specifically which models would be prohibited from entering the US under this ruling is still a bit of a mystery, but with four total patent violations, it’s likely that this will affect more than a few displays.

The patents in question involve technologies created by Sharp, and not licensed to Samsung for use. Two of these patents have to do with liquid crystal alignment, which affects brightness and response time. Another is for a display with a wider viewing angle, and the fourth has to do with a technology created to reduce display flickering.

Samsung has a sixty day window to continue bringing these displays into the country – just enough to make sure that they have a happy holiday season – pending further review. If it is determined that the ban on these items would be against the public interest, the ruling by the ITC can be overruled.

Samsung states that they have workaround technology for their displays, and that their sales will not be affected. “We are fully committed to honor our responsibility to our business partners and are taking appropriate actions to meet the market demand for Samsung LCD panels and products without any interruption,” said Samsung spokesman James Chung.

Source: Reuters

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'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' Streams Free for New Sony Owners

Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 09:00 AM ET
Tags: Sony, Industry Trends, High-Def Retailing (all tags)

New owners of Sony internet connected televisions and Blu-ray players will get free access to an early stream of 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' in 720p. Existing Sony owners, you’ll have to pay $25.

To show off the streaming capabilities of their new hardware, Sony is hooking new Bravia owners up with a free rental of 'Cloudly With a Chance of Meatballs.' Customers will be able to watch the movie in a 24 hour window, anywhere from December 8th until January 5th.

This availability marks a unique offering from Sony, as the streaming rentals will start nearly a month before the film’s January 5th DVD and Blu-ray release date. The rental will be in a 720p resolution, rather than the 1080p of Blu-ray discs, and while pausing and rewinding will be possible, recording will not.

Existing Sony owners will not have access to the free rental. Sony isn’t completely leaving these customers in the lurch though, as they can opt to pay a $24.95 rental fee for the same 24 hour viewing window. That’s right, for around the same price as the Blu-ray disc of the same movie, you’ll be able to rent it in 720p for a whole 24 hours.

Information is fuzzy at best, as it is entirely unclear exactly which TVs and Blu-ray players will qualify to receive the free stream, and whether there is a certain time during which these purchases must take place. Sony has stated that PS3s will not have access to the film.

Source: Associated Press

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Wal-Mart’s Pre Black-Friday Sale Offers Impressive HDTV Discounts

Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 12:00 PM ET
Tags: Walmart, High-Def Retailing (all tags)

Black Friday is only a month away, but Wal-Mart is kicking things off early.

There’s little disputing the glory of Black Friday. Sure, lining up at 4am is a pain, but the opportunity to get a ridiculous deal can be impossible to resist. Need a new Blu-ray player, HDTV, or just a handful of movies to add to your collection? Black Friday is the day for you. Though the last year or two have been less than impressive, this year is expected to be huge.

Wal-Mart gets things started early with some pretty solid pre-Black Friday discounts on televisions, and a less than impressive mark down on a Blu-ray player. On Saturday, November 7th, the simultaneously loved and hated giant of a chain will be offering one day only specials.

A 42” Sharp LCD is first on the list, (LC42SB45UT) for $498. It’s a 1080p television that offers a native contrast ratio of 2,000:1 and four HDMI inputs. The $498 asking price is around two hundred dollars less than online retailers such as Amazon.

If that’s not your thing, there’s also a 46” plasma from Panasonic (TC-P46U1) for $788. At around $300 under the typical asking price, the Panasonic sports a 1080p resolution, a native contrast ratio of 30,000:1 and a 600Hz sub field drive that helps to reduce motion artifacts.

A Sony Blu-ray player (BDP-S360) is selling as well, but with a $148 price tag for an item selling online at $151, high demand doesn’t seem likely.

Also of note is an incredible deal on the Xbox 360 Arcade unit. The normal $199 price will net you not only a 360, but a $100 Wal-Mart gift card as well. The Xbox Arcade does lack a hard drive but does include enough built in memory to run Netflix and save a few games.

Source: Wal-Mart

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Best Buy to Embed CinemaNow on Most Connected Devices

Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 11:00 AM ET
Tags: Best Buy, Industry Trends, High-Def Retailing (all tags)

No, we’re not just talking about Dynex or Insignia here, Best Buy announced today that they’ll be embedding the Roxio CinemaNow service into nearly all capable devices sold in their stores, in a variety of brands. Oh, and there’s more.

The move will effect more than just Blu-ray players and HDTVs, as the CinemaNow digital distribution service will be embedded into not only the usual suspects but set-top boxes, personal media players, and even mobile phones. From what we’ve heard, essentially anything that can play video and connect to the internet.

So with a majority of the hardware purchased from Best Buy set to offer up the digital rental and purchasing service CinemaNow, what’s next? And how exactly does this aggressive move towards digital distribution benefit Best Buy?

Best Buy’s Chris Homeister has the answers. “We’re going into this business in a big way,” he states. “The idea is to let consumers pay once for a DVD and then eventually be able to play it on any device.” This would mean, essentially, that a DVD purchase from Best Buy or BestBuy.com would translate into digital rights for the same content.

Best Buy hopes that the inclusion of the service and the future availability of same day digital copies will create loyalty to the brand from consumers who tend to be increasingly concerned with bargain hunting.

Of course, an advertising and educational campaign is sure to follow, explaining to consumers exactly what they’re getting and how it benefits them. As Dave Habiger of Sonic Solutions puts it, “With Best Buy's ability to drive in-store promotion and education, consumers will come to quickly understand and appreciate the convenience, flexibility, and control that digitally-delivered video entertainment affords them.”

Source: Yahoo News


Wal-Mart Offering Home Theater Installation

Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 10:00 AM ET
Tags: Walmart, High-Def Retailing (all tags)

In an attempt to position themselves as an alternative to Best Buy’s Geek Squad, Wal-Mart steps up their offerings.

Wal-Mart is the absolute last place that a home theater enthusiast thinks of when they’re looking for a new TV, speakers, or Blu-ray player, but it’s one of the first for many consumers. Wal-Mart takes the all-in-one store concept a step further today by announcing their new home installation service.

For a cost of anywhere from $99 to $339, customers can have their new television, computer, network or home theater set up by Wal-Mart’s team. The service includes a pre-purchase consultation and a tutorial on how to use the newly purchased equipment once it is set up.

So when you’re standing under the bright glow of Wal-Mart’s overhead lights this holiday season trying to decide between the Sylvania and the Westinghouse display and mulling over whether or not to shell out the extra few hundred dollars for a HTiB, you can take solace in the knowledge that a Wal-Mart associate will happily assist.

Source: Reuters

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Sony May Be Looking To Hit Entry Level Pricing

Wed Oct 21, 2009 at 04:00 PM ET
Tags: Sony, High-Def Retailing, Industry Trends (all tags)

Looking for a way to strengthen their share of the market, Sony appears likely to release lower priced HDTVs

While there's a constant struggle to dominate in field of high end HDTVs, the economically priced entry level television market seems to be dominated by the likes of Vizio. Sony sees an opportunity there, and is set to launch a new B series of televisions.

According to Taiwan’s DigiTimes, Sony’s B series will launch with prices lower than their current entry level TVs in both 32” and 40” sizes. Sources say that “the price of a 32-inch B series Sony LCD TV is estimated at about NT $15,000 (US $462.96) or even lower.”

The other advantage of producing a less expensive line of televisions is that Sony would have a little more flexibility as far as production goes, something that would help the manufacturer hit the numbers it forecast earlier this year. Currently, it looks like Sony will only be able to ship 14 million sets in the 2009 fiscal year, despite a projected 17 million.

The B series is expected to launch in early 2010, and a more official announcement is expected soon.

Source: DigiTimes

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Redbox Tests Disc Sales Through Kiosks

Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Redbox, Industry Trends, High-Def Retailing (all tags)

In a move that’s a bit less appealing than their ever popular $1 rental kiosks, Redbox has announced DVD sales kiosks.

Clad in black rather than the iconic red, the new “Vidigo” kiosks will test consumer desire to make full DVD and Blu-ray purchases through kiosks. While no definitive information exists on Blu-ray pricing, DVDs will run between $19.95 and $20.95.

Current Vidigo kiosks are essentially Redbox kiosks colored black, but the new kiosks will be designed with space in mind, and will be smaller and slimmer. The new space saving design was created with the hope that Vidigo kiosks will be featured in convenience stores rather than large retail locations.

These ‘sell through’ kiosks would be in direct competition with stores that already sell DVDs, but certainly appeal to studios like Fox and Warner who have less than favorable opinions of the Redbox rental kiosks.

Source: Video Business

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Westinghouse Ships 42” 120Hz 1080p LCD for Only $750

Wed Sep 30, 2009 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Westinghouse, Industry Trends, High-Def Retailing (all tags)

Westinghouse has announced that they are now shipping their new sets, which feature a 120Hz refresh rate, at an unheard of $750.

Keeping in mind that Westinghouse isn’t a brand that leaps to mind in a conversation about quality and HDTVs, the release of their new TX-42F970Z is still fairly significant. When any technology gets filtered down to the economy brands, it can be seen as a fairly good indicator that not only do people want it, but it’s here to stay.

Ray Roque, the VP of Marketing at Westinghouse speaks highly of the new set. “LCD has clearly become the HDTV technology of choice for the majority of consumers in the U.S.” he says. “ Westinghouse is working to bring high-end, advanced HDTVs to all consumers at the most affordable price points possible.”

The TX-42F970Z also features a 4ms response time, a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, and four HDMI inputs.

Source: Twice

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Westinghouse Ships 42” 120Hz 1080p LCD for Only $750

Wed Sep 30, 2009 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Westinghouse, Industry Trends, High-Def Retailing (all tags)

Westinghouse has announced that they are now shipping their new sets, which feature a 120Hz refresh rate, at an unheard of $750.

Keeping in mind that Westinghouse isn’t a brand that leaps to mind in a conversation about quality and HDTVs, the release of their new TX-42F970Z is still fairly significant. When any technology gets filtered down to the economy brands, it can be seen as a fairly good indicator that not only do people want it, but it’s here to stay.

Ray Roque, the VP of Marketing at Westinghouse speaks highly of the new set. “LCD has clearly become the HDTV technology of choice for the majority of consumers in the U.S.” he says. “ Westinghouse is working to bring high-end, advanced HDTVs to all consumers at the most affordable price points possible.”

The TX-42F970Z also features a 4ms response time, a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, and four HDMI inputs.

Source: Twice

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