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IFA 2015 Home Theater Wrap-Up: Ultra HD Blu-ray, OLED, HDR, High-Res Audio and More!From September 4-9 in Berlin, the world's top consumer electronics manufacturers all gathered together for the IFA 2015 tech show. Like CES, the European tradeshow highlights some of the most exciting new and upcoming home theater gear products and HD gadgets. [teaser]From Ultra HD televisions and 4K projectors, to premium headphones and Hi-Fi speaker systems, this year's event showcased plenty of buzz-worthy items that should have tech enthusiasts drooling with anticipation. [/teaser] Now that the show has come to an end, here's a full breakdown and analysis of all the big stories that broke last week, along with video reels straight from the show floor. Ultra HD Blu-ray Heats Up The BDA finally completed the Ultra HD Blu-ray spec back in May and Panasonic even showed off a "prototype" player at CES (it was basically an empty plastic box), but concrete details on hardware, titles, and release dates have been few and far between. Thankfully, Samsung and 20th Century Fox have decided to peel back the curtain just a bit. Though pricing is still a mystery, at IFA 2015, Samsung revealed its first Ultra HD Blu-ray player along with the first crop of Ultra HD Blu-ray titles from Fox. The Samsung UBD-K8500 features a sleek, curved design to complement the company's curved-screen TVs. The device will support playback of Ultra HD Blu-ray discs at a resolution of 3840x2160 along with support for expanded color gamuts, high dynamic range, high frame rate content, Samsung's smart hub, multi-room link, and object-based audio tech like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. In addition, future Samsung Ultra HD Blu-ray player models will also include support for the format's "Digital Bridge" feature, allowing customers to side-load content off of their discs and onto other devices. On the content front, 20th Century Fox declared their full support for Ultra HD Blu-ray, and announced plans to release all of their new titles on Ultra HD Blu-ray at the same time as their standard Blu-ray and Digital HD releases next year. Likewise, the studio will be authoring all of their discs in HDR (high dynamic range), providing enhanced levels of brightness and contrast to create more realistic highlights and shadow detail on supported displays. The initial crop of Fox Ultra HD Blu-ray titles will include: 'Kingsman: The Secret Service,' 'Exodus: Gods and Kings,' 'Fantastic Four,' 'X-Men: Days of Future Past,' 'Life of Pi,' 'The Maze Runner' and 'Wild.' However, as exciting as this announcement is, it should be noted that according to IMDB many of these films were not actually shot or completed in true 4K resolution. With that said, should these movies simply end up upscaled to Ultra HD, the format does still offer other picture quality benefits besides resolution, including HDR and 10-bit color depth. Sadly, despite early indications, it looks like the format will not hit stores in time for the 2015 holiday season, as Samsung's UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player and Fox's first Ultra HD Blu-ray titles are both scheduled for release in early 2016. Damn, there goes half of my Christmas wish list! With both companies now firmly marking their 4K territory, these announcements should help pave the way for more Ultra HD Blu-ray details from additional studios and manufacturers, bringing some exciting 4K content altnernatives to the current crop of compressed streaming services. HDR Fever That's right, the display industry has a fever... and the only cure is a higher dynamic range! After making a splash at CES, HDR technology is continuing its sweep across the TV landscape as more and more manufacturers are releasing new high dynamic range models and firmware upgrades. For the uninitiated, HDR is a content grading and display process that provides more intense brightness and contrast levels on supported titles and TVs, resulting in superior highlights and shadow detail. During IFA 2015, Samsung announced the release of a free HDMI 2.0a firmware update for its 2015 Ultra HD and SUHD lineup. With HDMI 2.0a support, these displays will now be able to play HDR content from internal and external sources, including streaming services and upcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray players. Check out the above video for a tour of Samsung's IFA 2015 booth! Meanwhile, Sony also revealed plans to release an HDR firmware update for its 2015 Ultra HD TV lineup. The XBR-75X940C and XBR-65X930C already include integrated support, and HDR will now be added to the XBR-75X910C, XBR-65X900C, XBR-55X900C, XBR-75X850C, XBR-65X850C, and XBR-55X850C through a future software update (due by the end of the year). Not wanting to be outshined (literally) by Sony and Samsung's displays, LG unveiled some HDR news of its own, announcing the launch of high dynamic range streaming on its OLED Ultra HD TVs through Amazon Instant Video. LG HDR support was recently added to the 65EG9600 and 55EG9600 curved-screen OLED HD TVs through a firmware upgrade, and can also be found on the upcoming 65EF9500 and 55EF9500 flat-screen OLED Ultra HD TVs. Currently, Amazon is offering the first season of its original series 'Mozart in the Jungle' and 'Transparent,' along with the pilot episode of 'Red Oaks' in the HDR format. Check out the above video for a look at LG's IFA 2015 OLED lineup! Finally, Dolby also provided an update on its Dolby Vision tech. Through new partnerships with Realtek, HiSilicon and MediaTek, Dolby's HDR and wide color gamut format will be integrated into various System-on-Chips (SoCs) for multiple playback devices. These new SoCs will allow manufacturers to incorporate Dolby Vision into upcoming Ultra HD set-top-boxes, Smart TVs, Over-the-Top (OTT) online streaming, Ultra HD Blu-ray players and Digital Media Adapters (DMAs). The first Dolby Vision consumer display is set to be VIZIO's upcoming Reference Series Ultra HD TV. Panasonic Enters OLED Market! Since the sad demise of Panasonic's beloved plasma line, home theater enthusiasts have been waiting for the company to announce a worthy successor to that defunct technology. Well, at IFA 2015, the manufacturer may have finally done just that. Following in LG's footsteps, Panasonic is now ready to release its very first large-screen OLED display. With its emphasis on picture accuracy and premium features, the TX-65CZ950 is poised to become one of the industry's top display models. The 65-inch TV uses a curved-screen OLED Ultra HD panel capable of absolute black levels, offering superior contrast, uniformity, and viewing angles over traditional LCD sets (and even previous plasma models). Likewise, the TV includes support for high dynamic range content and meets the recently announced CEA HDR guidelines. But what really makes the set so special -- and what might give it a notable leg-up over LG's already impressive offerings -- is Panasonic's commitment to picture accuracy. The TX-65CZ950 uses a specially modified professional-level 4K Studio Master Processor, and offers THX certification and a "True Cinema" picture preset fine-tuned by leading Hollywood colorist Mike Sowa to ensure an accurate picture that stays true to the director's original intent. For more information about the company's OLED 4K Pro philosophy and manufacturing process, check out the above and below videos! Though an exact release date and price point have not been revealed yet, Panasonic's TX-65CZ950 will bring some much needed competition to the OLED market, which will hopefully help to bring down retail prices and improve performance. With LG once again reiterating its commitment to the impressive panel technology, and Panasonic now joining the fray, it looks like OLED might finally be making some important steps toward becoming the TV display standard of the future. Likewise, it looks like I might finally have a compelling reason to upgrade from my current Panasonic plasma! New 4K & Mobile Projectors Beyond TVs, IFA 2015 also brought some notable projector news, including new 4K models and mobile solutions. On the portable front, Lenovo is releasing the new 10.1-inch YOGA Tab 3 Pro. In addition to some impressive specs, the tablet actually offers a built-in 70-inch projector for mobile big-screen entertainment. The device is set to launch in November for $499. Thankfully, Sony hasn't forgotten the home theater projector market either, and the company highlighted three new models, including two 4K Ultra HD units. The VPL-VW520ES and VPL-VW320ES are both native 4K projector models with SXRD panels, Sony’s proprietary TRILUMINOs engine, Motionflow picture technology, built-in RF 3D transmitters, and HDMI connectivity with HDCP 2.2 compliancy. In addition, the VPL-VW520ES offers HDR support. Finally, the VPL-HW65ES is Sony's new Full HD projector with a 120,000:1 contrast ratio. Prices haven't been revealed yet, but all three will hit stores in October, offering some compelling options for those who feel a 65-inch TV just isn't big enough to truly show off Ultra HD content. High-Resolution Audio Gear Of course, display technologies weren't the only highlights at IFA 2015, as there were plenty of great audio products announced as well. Sony and Panasonic both revealed several new home audio devices with an emphasis on high-resolution playback and fidelity, including premium headphone models and more Technics branded components. For its part, Sony detailed the new h.ear (pronounced "hear") on headphone lineup, with over-the-head and in-ear models available in several bold color choices this November. Likewise, the company revealed two upcoming Walkman models set for an October release, and the CAS-1 compact sound system. All of the products include high-res audio support. Finally, Panasonic unveiled several additions to its high-end Technics audio lineup, including a pair of audiophile headphones due out early next year. In addition, the Technics brand will also be home to the new SU-G30 Network Audio Amplifier, ST-G30 Music Server, and OTTAVA SC-C500 HiFi System, providing more premium audio solutions for customers with a bit more cash to spend. Once again, all of the new products will include high-res audio support, continuing the industry's push away from compressed audio formats like MP3. Conclusion Thanks to some tantalizing previews of several exciting home theater products and technologies, IFA 2015 proved to be an eventful show. Ultra HD Blu-ray, high dynamic range, OLED, 4K projectors, and high-res audio gear are all paving the way for innovation in the consumer electronics industry, offering some exciting possibilities for customers. For now, what do you think about the show's major announcements and products? What gear items and upcoming tech are you anticipating the most? Will you be investing in any of these new products and formats? Let us know your thoughts in the forum!Posted Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 08:00 PM PDT by: -
Apple Unveils iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus with 12MP Cameras & 4K Video, Prices Start at $199[teaser]The latest iPhones have been announced. [/teaser] Apple has revealed its newest iPhone models. The iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus run iOS 9 and offer several new features and performance improvements. Both models use the new A9 3rd generation 64-bit chip which is 70 percent fast than the previous generation chip at CPU tasks, and 90 percent faster at graphics tasks. The iPhone 6s features a 4.7-inch Retina HD display with a resolution of 1334x750 at 326ppi, while the iPhone 6s Plus features a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 at 401 ppi. A 12MP iSight camera with 4K video recording and a 5MP FaceTime HD camera are also included. In addition, the camera is capable of taking new Live Photos, which capture motion and sound 1.5 seconds before and after the picture. Finally, the new iPhones also feature Apple's 3D Touch technology, allowing the screens to recognize force as well as touch, providing new navigation and selection options. Pre-orders for the iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus will begin on September 12. Both models will launch on September 25. The iPhone 6s will start at $199 with a two-year contract and the iPhone 6s Plus will start at $299 with a two-year contract. Source: ApplePosted Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Apple Details New Apple TV with Siri Voice Search & tvOS, Prices Start at $149[teaser]The new Apple TV has been announced. [/teaser] After countless rumors, Apple has finally revealed its next generation Apple TV model. The advanced media player offers a new OS, new remote, new features, new apps, and better performance. The Apple TV uses the company's new tvOS designed specifically for the living room with access to a wide array of apps and games. Under the hood, the player is powered by a 64-bit A8 chip with Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi. Likewise, the set-top box is capable of full HD playback at 60 frames per second. In addition, the device comes with an advanced remote with Bluetooth 4.0, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a glass touch surface for intuitive navigation, and a Siri voice search feature for comprehensive voice search results. The Apple TV will be available in October in 32GB ($149) and 64GB ($199) models. Source: ApplePosted Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 11:00 AM PDT by: -
Apple Reveals iPad Pro with 12.9-Inch Display, Models Start at $799[teaser]The company has detailed its most advanced iPad yet. [/teaser] Apple has fully unveiled its newest iPad model. The iPad Pro is designed to offer new levels of performance, entertainment, and productivity, with support for new advanced apps. The device features a 12.9-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2732 x 2048 for a total of 5.6 million pixels, and measures 6.9mm thin and weighs 1.57 lbs. Under the hood, the iPad Pro is powered by Apple's new A9X chip, which is 1.8x faster than the previous generation A8X chip. An 8MP iSight camera and an HD FaceTime camera are integrated as well. In addition, the tablet includes a four-speaker audio system that can balance sound output depending on how the user is holding the device. The iPad Pro also supports new accessories like a smart keyboard attachment and the Apple Pencil, the company's advanced stylus. Finally, battery life is rated for 10-hours of use. The Apple iPad Pro will start at $799 for the 32GB model, $949 for the 128GB model, and $1,079 for the 128GB model with LTE. The Apple Pencil will retail for $99 and the Smart Keyboard will retail for $169. All of the iPad Pro products will be available in November. Source: ApplePosted Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 10:22 AM PDT by: -
Panasonic Expands Technics Lineup with Grand Class & OTTAVA Premium Class Audio Components[teaser]The company has revealed more premium audio products. [/teaser] Last week at IFA 2015, Panasonic unveiled the newest additions to its Technics lineup. The Grand Class G30 Series and the OTTAVA Premium Class Series both offer high performance audio components. Panasonic's Grand Class G30 Series consists of the SU-G30 Network Audio Amplifier and the ST-G30 Music Server. The SU-G30 features a JENO engine to eliminate jitter and a GaN-FET Driver to offer high-speed switching with minimal loss. Likewise, the amp includes a built-in network playback circuit, and support for a variety of input sources, from legacy, to high-resolution audio formats (384-kHz/32-bit, DSD11.2 MHz), and online music streaming services, internet radio, digital audio (DLNA, USB, Bluetooth) and analog audio (Line, Phone). Meanwhile, the ST-G30 Music Server features an Solid State Drive, an Optimally Activated Circuit System, and an internal CD drive with uncompressed audio ripping capabilities. The OTTAVA Premium Class Series consists of the OTTAVA SC-C500 HiFi System which combines a SU-C501 CD Stereo Amplifier, OTTAVA speakers and high-resolution audio support. The amp offers the Technics JENO Engine, LAPC, and Battery Driven Clock Generator. Meanwhile, the speakers feature "two woofers arranged symmetrically to reduce cabinet vibrations, as well as a spiral acoustic port design to produce rich and powerful bass that fills the room." Likewise, the system includes support for a variety of audio sources, including high-res network audio, CD, USB memory devices, USB-DAC, and smartphones. Pricing and availability for Panasonic's new Technics audio products have not been announced. Source: PanasonicPosted Tue Sep 8, 2015 at 06:30 PM PDT by: -
Sony Introduces CAS-1 Compact Sound System with High-Res Audio Support[teaser]The compact audio system is designed to offer premium performance. [/teaser] Last week at IFA 2015, Sony detailed a new addition to its home audio lineup. The CAS-1 is a compact sound system is geared toward creating an optimal acoustic field on a customer's desktop. The system features three components, including a main unit and two speakers. Likewise, two independent dedicated amplifiers are included as well -- one for headphones and one for speakers. Each speakers uses a 14mm soft dome tweeter and a highly-rigid 62mm woofer that is supported by a bass reflex port. LDAC supported Bluetooth, NFC, and USB connectivity are also included. Finally, the unit offers support for up to 24bit/192kHz quality High-Resolution Audio in both DSD and PCM formats including FLAC, WAV or AIFF files. Pricing and availability for the CAS-1 have not been detailed yet. Source: SonyPosted Tue Sep 8, 2015 at 05:30 PM PDT by: -
Marantz Announces SR7010 & SR6010 AV Receivers with DTS:X & Dolby Atmos, Prices Start at $1,399[teaser]Two more receivers with immersive audio tech have been revealed. [/teaser] Marantz has announced the newest additions to its AV receiver lineup. The SR7010 & SR6010 both include support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The SR6010 is a 7.2 channel receiver that can be expanded to 9.2 channels with an external amp. Meanwhile, the flagship SR7010 is a 9.2 channel receiver that can be expanded to 11.2 channels with an external amp. Both models include HMDI 2.0a connectivity with HDCP 2.2 compliancy and integrated Bluetooth & Wi-Fi. Likewise, the receivers offer built-in Dolby Atmos support and future DTS:X support via an upcoming firmware update. In addition, the SR7010 can also be upgraded to support Auro-3D audio through a future paid update. The Marantz SR7010 ($2,199) & SR6010 ($1,399) are hitting authorized dealers now. Source: TWICEPosted Tue Sep 8, 2015 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
Harman Readies New JBL Home Audio Products, Prices Start at $200[teaser]A new soundbar and compact TV sound system have been revealed. [/teaser] Last week at IFA 2015 in Berlin, Harman detailed the latest additions to its JBL home audio lineup. The upcoming JBL Cinema SB250 soundbar and JBL Boost TV are designed to offer enhanced audio for a customer's TV. "The JBL Cinema SB250 instantly enhances that at-home TV viewing experience through superior sound that makes you feel like part of the action," said Michael Mauser, president, Lifestyle Audio Division, HARMAN. "For shoppers looking for theatre quality sound at an affordable price, the SB250 is the ideal solution." The Cinema SB250 is a 200-watt soundbar system with a wireless subwoofer. In addition, the soundbar features Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music from mobile devices and uses optical and analog connections. Likewise, the device offers Dolby Digital and Harman virtual surround sound and JBL SoundShift tech. Meanwhile, Harman is also releasing the JBL Boost TV. The ultra-compact 30W speaker is only 15-inches long and features a simple plug-and-play setup with 2 X 50mm transducers and a 60Hz - 20kHz frequency response. The speaker also offers virtual surround sound, optical digital out with Dolby Digital, and wireless Bluetooth streaming. "The Boost TV delivers impactful sound precisely designed to elevate the small screen experience for home viewers," said Michael Mauser, president, Lifestyle Audio Division at HARMAN. "We are pleased to offer consumers a TV sound system worth staying home for, with first-to-market capabilities that make switching audio from the flatscreen to the screen in your hand as easy as possible." The JBL Cinema SB250 soundbar ($300) and JBL Boost TV ($200) will both be available in October. Sources: Harman 1, Harman 2Posted Tue Sep 8, 2015 at 10:30 AM PDT by: -
Pioneer Unveils Elite AV Receivers with Dolby Atmos & DTS:X, Prices Start at $1,600[teaser]Three more AV receivers with next-gen audio support have been announced. [/teaser] Pioneer has detailed the newest additions to its Elite AV receiver lineup. The SC-99 ($2500), SC-97 ($2,000), and SC-95 ($1,600) all offer support for Doby Atmos and DTS:X. All three models are 9.2-channel receivers with Class D3 amplifiers, MCACC Pro automatic acoustic correction technology, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, and HDCP 2.2 compliancy. The SC-99 offers 850W, the SC-97 offers 810W, and the SC-95 offers 760W. Each receiver includes integrated Dolby Atmos support and future DTS:X support through an upcoming free firmware upgrade, offering compatibility with 7.2.2 and 5.2.4 setups, as well as 7.2.4 and 9.2.2 setups with an additional external amp. The Pioneer SC-99 ($2500), SC-97 ($2,000), and SC-95 ($1,600) are now available. Source: PioneerPosted Fri Sep 4, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Samsung Releases HDMI 2.0a Update for 2015 4K SUHD and Ultra HD TVs, Expands HDR Support[teaser]The company's 4K displays will be the first to support the new HDMI standard. [/teaser] Samsung has announced the release of a free HDMI 2.0a firmware upgrade for its 2015 Ultra HD and SUHD lineup. The update will expand the displays' support for high dynamic range content. "Samsung provides cutting-edge technology that our consumers expect from an industry leader, and our SUHD TV’s are our best ever" said John Ryu, vice president of the visual display business at Samsung Electronics. "While our 2015 SUHD and UHD TV lines are already capable of delivering HDR capability from internal sources such as streaming services, this firmware update will enlarge the spectrum of available HDR content for our customers." With HDMI 2.0a compliancy, Samsung's 2015 Ultra HD and SUHD TVs will now be able to support HDR content from external sources, like upcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray players. High dynamic range displays and content offer greater brightness and contrast levels, allowing for superior details in highlights and shadows. Samsung a The free HDMI 2.0a update is now available for supported Samsung displays. The company also recently announced an early 2016 release for its first Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Source: Samsung via Business WirePosted Fri Sep 4, 2015 at 11:00 AM PDT by:
