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Australia's complete digital lifestyle companion
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A U S T R A L I A ’ S C O M P L E T E D I G I T A L L I F E S T Y L E C O M P A N I O N
BUMPER HOLIDAY COMPETITIONS WIN $8500+ IN PRIZES
Why the time is right for Blu-ray 5 players ranked and rated Latest movies reviewed
TRUE BLU EDITIONPIONEER’S9TH-GEN KUROAND BD PLAYER
REVIEWED THIS ISSUE• SAMSUNG LA46A950 • SONY XBR KDL46XBR45• KLIPSCH CS-700/
ROOMGROOVE• GRUNDIG
MISURO GLCD-2206HDV
• DENON AVR-589/SYS-56HT PACKAGE
• GENEVA MODEL XL
IT’S A WRAPThe 12 tech days of Christmas PASSPORT
TO FUNHoliday gear as mobile as you are
TANNOY HTS200 • KODAK CAMERA PACKS • YAMAHA RXV 663 AV RECEIVER • HP TOUCHSMART IQ515
MORE TOP TECH: CAMERAS, MOBILE PHONES, GPSHOW TO: MAKE YOUR SYSTEM FAMILY FRIENDLYPLUS
WIN $8500+ IN PRIZES HP TOUCHSMART IQ515
ISSUE 21 $7.95
The new, bigger 80GB PLAYSTATION 3 allows you more of everything: more fantastic games, plus photos, video, internet, fi lm and music – and more space in your living room.
LOVE GAMES BUT WANT MORE?
The new 80GB PLAYSTATION 3 is making a serious play for the centre of your home – and it’s worth taking a look at what’s on offer. The best in games, media capabilities and ample storage space means this bit of high-tech kit enables you to experience all-round entertainment for the whole family.
Of course, this is PlayStation – so you can expect great, original games as standard. You can give your brain a workout, enter an off-road race or, with a broadband internet connection, become part of the huge online family building new challenges for other players in LittleBigPlanet. You can invite the family over and download a game for the kids, giving you space to catch up with the gossip before causing family strife with a National Geographic Buzz! trivia quiz. When the weekend rolls around, you can throw a roof-raising SingStar party where everyone becomes a performer.
But it’s not only about great games: with PLAYSTATION 3 you can choose your own form of entertainment. PLAYSTATION 3 plays high defi nition Blu-ray movies, standard DVDs and audio CDs. Then, there’s the web as well as your music, photo and video collections, which you’ve now got in one handy place.*
The sizeable memory – 80 gigabytes worth – means that you don’t have to fi ght with friends, family or fl atmates for storage space. You just have to fi ght about what to do with your PLAYSTATION 3 next – whether that’s trying out the latest downloadable games, chatting with a pal overseas via PlayStation Network, subjecting everyone present to a slideshow of holiday snaps, or throwing a party and letting PLAYSTATION 3 provide your favourite music.
So what’s the catch? Well, when you consider its amazing gaming power as well as all its other abilities, PLAYSTATION 3 is fantastic value. It also delivers in terms of actual space: imagine a games machine placed on a Blu-ray player stacked on top of a stereo balanced on a PC (with a digital video recorder teetering on the top of the pile); it’s an unpleasant image compared to this sleek black box that opens up a world of digital entertainment. As far as we can see, the only catch is that your sofa’s going to take some wear and tear in the near future.
LOVE GAMES BUT WANT MORE?
* Broadband internet connection required for online functionality Check out au.playstation.com for more details.
FOR A LIMITED TIME, IFYOU BUY A PLAYSTATION 3YOU CAN GET A FREE GAME. CHOOSE FROM ONE OF FOURNEW-RELEASE TITLES:• LITTLE BIG PLANET • SINGSTAR ABBA • RESISTANCE 2 • MOTORSTORM: PACIFIC RIFT
10 THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR PS3 AND ITSHANDY HARD DRIVE Play top-selling games at great prices with Platinum from just $49.95 Party with your friends on SingStar or Buzz! Register with PlayStation Network and play online for free with PSN communities Download demos, trailers and videos Buy great add-ons for your games Surf the web Play your favourite music Keep and view your photos Buy a PlayStation Eye camera and video chat online with friends Enjoy movies on DVD and Blu-ray
YOU CAN GET A FREE GAME.
MOTORSTORM: PACIFIC RIFTMOTORSTORM: PACIFIC RIFT
The 80GB PLAYSTATION 3
is in storesnow for
$699.95 RRP
The Latest Technology.
QLF435 L
HD Audio? That’s just theMarantz Home
The Greatest Sound.
QLF435 R
beginning of your Entertainment Experience…
The new Marantz SR8002AV Receiver maintainsthe high standards forwhich Marantz has beenknown for since 1953.
With performance levels arguably surpassingthat of separate pre-power components inboth sheer brawn and subtle sophistication,this THX Certified AV Receiver offers aclean power output of 125 Watts RMS fromeach of its seven current-feedback amplifiers,accurately recreating both movie sound-tracks and music.
Reflecting Marantz’s musicheritage, the SR8002incorporates customisedcomponents for superiorsound quality, a copper-
plated chassis to minimise unwanted inter-ference and a huge Toroidal Transformerwith shielding for instant delivery of highpower levels.
With HDMI 1.3 connect-ivity providing brilliantHigh Definition videoswitching (Deep ColorTM
compatible) and full HDAudio (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby DigitalTrueHD, DTS High Definition, DTSMaster Audio and Multi-channel PCM),the SR8002 is ready for High DefinitionBlu-ray and HD-DVD soundtracks.
Even MP3, WAV or AACcompressed music files(including iPod music) willnow sound better with theactivation of the built-in
M-DAX (Marantz Dynamic Audio eXpander)compressed audio enhancement feature.
Setting up yoursystem could not beeasier, thanks toMarantz’s applicationof Audyssey’sTM ‘one
touch speaker set-up’ feature.
To experience the phenomenal performance
of the new SR8002 (or its smaller brother, the
HD Audio-equipped SR7002), please contact
us or your nearest Marantz stockist.
Distributed in Australia by QualiFi Pty Ltd • (03) 8542 1111 • [email protected]
www.marantz.com.au
The programmable main remote allows controlof your entire system – and for music inadditional rooms of your home, Marantzhave even included a separate dedicatedremote control.
4
FAST FOREWORD
There’s good news and bad news. First, the bad.
The high cost of exchange rates following the
decline of the Australian dollar on world markets
means New Year pain for home entertainment
and technology buyers. Since October, the dollar has dropped
around 30 percent in value against the Greenback, from a high
of 95 cents down to a low of just over 60, the rock-bottomest
bottom in eight years. With Australian electronics distributors
negotiating product deals with overseas factories in US dollars
(or Japanese Yen or Korean Wan, against which the Aussie is
doing equally dismally) their shopping lists are now signifi cantly
more expensive. Someone has to pay, and it’s us.
After Christmas, just about all consumer electronics gear –
including the tellies, amps, speakers and AV source equipment
so beloved by us at Home Entertainment – will cost more. Sony
has said its Bravia TVs will increase by between 5 and 15 percent
from 1 February 2009, with rises in audio, visual, digital imaging,
personal audio and recordable media products also slated for that
time. Sony warns the cost of its digital imaging products will rise
by between 5 and 30 percent, with notebook PCs and car audio
products to increase from 1 January.
Samsung and LG have also indicated their AV products will
be more expensive from late-January or early-February, with
LG indicating increases of 5–10 percent. Panasonic, too, has said
prices will rise, but didn’t specify when.
These forthcoming price rises are something of a precedent
for the audio-visual industry, where heavy discounting is
commonplace and consumers routinely negotiate with ready and
receptive retail staff for even better bargains.
According to Sony Australia General Manager – Consumer AV/
IT Sales, David Hargreaves, currency fl uctuations have never in
the history of the Australian television market given rise to a price
increase, and that next year’s hikes will be the fi rst to the Bravia
range since its introduction three years ago.
Panasonic echoes that position, with Electronics Director, Paul
Reid, saying he’s never seen a price rise in the television category
in over 20 years of sales experience.
So our favourite toys will soon cost us more, but not, at least,
before that time of the year when we bend the plastic more than
we would usually. So that’s good news, but not the good news.
All year we work, work, work and work and just as we’re ready
to expire we get a glimpse of Christmas and the week or more
that follows where we don’t work and it’s like we can breath again.
From late November, we see bus drivers wearing Santa hats, carol
singers at train stations, our neighbour’s eves festooned in lights,
council trucks draped in tinsel, presents under the tree and, from
the 24th to New Year’s Day, the shimmering promise of sarongs
and boogie boards, sleep-ins and the guiltless consumption of
lethal amounts of pavlova.
To help you enjoy whatever time out you have coming to you,
this edition is brimful of ideas for keeping you and your nearest
and dearest entertained, whether you’re home or away, or in
transit between the two. Be it one of the new sharply priced
Blu-ray players hitting the market, a portable media device, your
favourite movie or TV show on disc, or a fl at panel TV and sound
system to enjoy with the family during
the year to come, we’re confi dent you’ll
fi nd something in these pages you
never knew you wanted.
So start making your list. Spend
with your head not over it. And if you
wind up with any ‘excess’ baggage
after the holidays, we hope it came
with a frothy umbrella drink and gold
lame hotpants.
Cheers
Anika Hillery
Publisher Peter Blasina [email protected]
Managing Director Valens Quinn [email protected]
Editorial Director Anika Hillery [email protected]
Editorial Contributors Anthony Fordham, Nic Tatham, Thomas Bartlett, Max Everingham, Nathan Taylor, Alex Kidman
Art Director Bill Chan [email protected]
Advertising Sales Daniel Russell [email protected]
Director Tony Read [email protected]
Printing The Quality Group
Distributed by Gordon & Gotch www.gordongotch.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 2008
system to enjoy with the family during
the year to come, we’re confi dent you’ll
Good, bad and Santa
powered by passion
6
CONTENTS DECEMBER 2008 – JANUARY 2009
FEATURESBlu Yule 22Compelling movies. Affordable players. The best picture and sound achievable at home. Nic Tatham outlines the many reasons why the time to take the Blu-ray leap is right.
Power Trip 30Large-screen TVs are becoming a signifi cant contributor to green house gas production. Ella Smith reports on the scheme designed to make them greener and cheaper to run.
Kid-proof your Kit 34Got killer sprogs? Max Everingham outlines how to keep them safe around your precious home entertainment setup.
Gift Rap 38Anthony Fordham presents 12 gift ideas for each of the 12 days of Christmas, any of which work as the bulk of a stocking with serious home entertainment intent.
REGULARSRandom Play 8Home entertainment news and product highlights.
You Wish 28From the land of the Kiwi comes the Prerenaissance, a 4000 watt $US140 000 speaker system its maker prom-ises will be the last of its kind.
In Motion: Taking it with You 82A roundup of audio and video gear that allows your movies and music to be as mobile as you are.
Gear Log 89A showcase of standout electronica.
Ultimate AV: Laps in Luxury 92Designed by audio guru Mark Levinson, the entertain-ment system in the Lexus 600hL is worthy of the car’s
$250 000 price tag.
Ear & Eyes & Thumbs 94Watch, listen, play. Max Everingham’s roundup of the best movies, music and games.
Time Warp 98A retrospective of milestone entertainment products and technologies. This issue: 3-D video.
6
stocking with serious home entertainment intent.
WantHome
Entertainment delivered
straight to your door?
Subscribe on page 81,or online at
www.isubscribe.com.au
22 3834 92
7
LEXUS L600hLLEXUS L600
COLUMNSGuy Talk 18Channel Seven’s GadgetGuy, Peter Blasina, reports today’s technology trends.
Tech Corner 20 When HDMI replaced many cables with one cable, there was much rejoicing. Now with wireless HDMI around the corner, Anthony Fordham says it’s time to party like never before.
HOW TO BUYBlu Movie Stars 45With the current batch of Blu-ray players fully tricked up and costing often less than $400 in shops, DVD’s replace-ment is earning its place under the TVs of Australia. Thomas Bartlett evaluates fi ve of the latest models.
TechLife: Notebooks 73Light, small and portable, with a design and feature-set to suit all needs, the notebook computer is becoming a staple of today’s digital households. Nathan Taylor explains what upgraders and fi rst-time buyers should know before hitting the shops.
VISIT US AT
Reviews, articles and news fromHome Entertainment magazine online
Exciting digital
page-turning format!
BOX FRESHLG BD300 Blu-ray player 49
Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray player 50
Yamaha BD-S2900 Blu-ray player 51
Sony BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray player 52
Panasonic DMP-BD35 Blu-ray player 53
Klipsch CS-700 AV system/RoomGroove dock 54
Geneva Model XL speaker 56
Pioneer Kuro PDP-LX609A plasma TV/BDP-LX71 Blu-ray player 58
Grundig Misuro GLCD2206HDV LCD TV 62
Sony XBR KDL46XBR45 LCD TV 66
Samsung LA46A950 LCD TV 68
Denon AVR-589/SYS-56HT package 70
Denon AVR-789 AV receiver 72
WIN Digital Lifestyle Package worth $6500, plus one of three Kodak
Camera prize packs See page 61 and 64 for details and
enter online at www.gadgetguy.com.au
38 284692
8
RANDOM PLAY
Sony’s UCHI (Japanese for ‘home’), a converted warehouse in an inner Sydney’s industrial suburb, is the place that Sony likes to show off its technological wares. In the run-up to Christmas it had a lot of new gear to demonstrate, including the world’s thinnest LCD TV – the Bravia ZX1, which at just 9.9mm is approximately the same width as a CD case. Its new Z series LCDs shows what the company’s 200Hz Motionfl ow technology is all about – another TV fi rst for the company – and the full HD VPL-SW80 projector combines SXRD panels (Sony’s name for Liquid Crystal on Silicon, or LCoS) with the company’s Bravia2 video processing engine and Advanced Iris 2 technology to deliver a contrast ratio of 60 000:1, a two millisecond response rate and an image up
to 300 inches in diagonal. The SW80 (below) costs $6999 and the ZX1 is not
available for sale locally, but look out for aZ Series review in our next issue.
On the audio front there’s the world’s fi rst digital noise-canceling headphones and a new series of MP3 playing Walkmen (above). The NC500D ($699) headphones offer the benefi t of reducing up to 99.1 percent of the noise at 160Hz, the peak frequency of a jet engine, according to Sony, while the E Series Walkman offer extended battery life, the A Series Bluetooth connectivity and theS Series inbuilt noise cancellation claimed to reduce “up to 75 percent of ambient noise at the fl ick of a switch”. Prices range from $129 to $249, with capacities from 4–16GB.
First seen at the IFA show in Berlin, the Soutina loudspeakers (opposite) were also on show at UCHI. These illuminated 1.85m columns are made of glass and leather and produce sound around a full 360 degrees, but are not available for sale locally.
RANDOM PLAY
Sony’s UCHI (Japanese for ‘home’), a converted warehouse in an inner Sydney’s industrial suburb, is the place that Sony likes to show off its technological wares. In the run-up to Christmas it had a lot of new gear to demonstrate, including the world’s thinnest LCD TV – the Bravia ZX1, which at just 9.9mm is approximately the same width as a CD case. Its new Z series LCDs shows what the company’s 200Hz Motionfl ow
available for sale locally, but look out for aZ Series review in our next issue.
On the audio front there’s the world’s fi rst digital noise-canceling headphones and a new series of MP3 playing Walkmen (above). The NC500D ($699) headphones offer the benefi t of reducing up to 99.1 percent of the noise at 160Hz, the peak frequency of a jet engine, according to Sony, while the E Series Walkman offer extended battery life, the A
Sony’s technology comes home
Walkman offer extended battery life, the A
S Series inbuilt noise cancellation claimed to reduce “up to 75 percent of ambient noise at the fl ick of a switch”. Prices range from $129
First seen at the IFA show in Berlin, the Soutina loudspeakers (opposite) were also on show at UCHI. These illuminated 1.85m columns are made of glass and leather and produce sound around a full 360 degrees, but
available for sale locally, but look out for a
On the audio front there’s the world’s fi rst digital noise-canceling headphones and a new series of MP3 playing Walkmen (above). The NC500D ($699) headphones offer the benefi t of reducing up to 99.1 percent of the noise at 160Hz, the peak frequency of a jet engine, according to Sony, while the E Series Walkman offer extended battery life, the A
SONY AUSTRALIAPHONE 1300 720 071WEB www.sony.com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
9
In a prelude to a multitude of downloadable movie and TV content services planned for March 2009, Tivo owners will receive a free weekly movie download from Blockbuster from 1 December. Movies will be released every Monday, with TiVo users notifi ed in the preceding week of the next fi lm to follow. The aim, according to Tivo’s distributors, Hybird Televsion Services, is to “allow people to road test downloading video content over the internet straight to the lounge room and understand the critical role both internet speed and download quotas play in ensuring the service is a pleasurable one”. While next year’s service will enable progressive downloads and greater fi le compression, download costs and speeds will still have an impact on household broadband allocations.
The Tivo media device provides twin HD tuners, an internet-based EPG and a 160GB hard drive for recording. A Tivo-certifi ed terabyte drive can be added in 2009 to expand storage, and with the latest fi rmware update the device can share photos stored on a PC with the home entertainment system in the living room over a wireless network. While currently priced at $699, Hybrid Television Services has hinted that the Tivo media device will cost more in the new year.
Tivo movie of the week
Buyers of any Panasonic Viera full high defi nition (1080p) plasma TV between now and 24 December will receive a free Wii games console, with Wii Sports game valued at $400. The games bonus can be claimed via redemption from a dedicated website.
Paul Reid, Panasonic’s Director of Consumer Electronics Group, says “the latest models offer 134 billion viewable colours for powerfully-rich and smooth colour, while the dynamic contrast ratio of
1,000,000:1 creates deep blacks for an amazing viewing experience.”
Panasonic’s plasma lineup includes 42, 46, 50, 58 and 65 inch models, with prices ranging from $2500 up to $12,000. While all plasma televisions included the promotion provide full high defi nition resolution, the Wii console and Wii games are standard defi nition video only.
Free Wii
9
PANASONIC AUSTRALIAWEB www.panasonic.com.au/vierabonus
DISTRIBUTOR
stored on a PC with the home entertainment system in the living room over a wireless network. While currently priced at
TIVO AUSTRALIAWEB www.tivo.com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
10
RANDOM PLAY
Making it musical Two new Marantz AV receiver models continue the company’s tradition of delivering movies and music in equal measure. The $1399 SR5003 and $1899 SR6003 (pictured) have been designed to meet the needs of today’s high defi nition AV formats, while sounding the business with music. Both are clad in Marantz’ new-look ‘M1’ chassis, and incorporate an independent audio circuit that is isolated from noise produced by the video processing and other circuitry.
Decoding of all the latest HD audio formats is supported by both models, including Dolby True HD,
Dolby Digital Plus and both DTS-HD formats. To make the most of compressed music from your iPod or MP3 player, both receivers feature Marantz’ M-DAX system which boosts the audio quality of digital music fi les. The SR5003 is rated at 7 x 90 watts per channel, while the SR6003 musters some 100 watts across each of its seven channels. Both will upscale video sources to 1080p quality via HDMI, and feature Audyssey’s Multi-EQ Auto setup for optimising the soundfi elds in up to six separate seating positions.
Making it musical QUALIFI PTY LTDPHONE (03) 8542 1111WEB www.qualifi .com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
Sharp’s $499 BD-HP21X Blu-ray is described as “Final Standard Profi le for Picture-in-Picture (PinP) function”, however it’s far from fi nal. The player meets the Profi le 1.1 standard, meaning it has the PinP feature, but no BD-Live compatibility, which only comes with Profi le 2.0. Sharp informed us that a fi rmware update to Profi le 2.0 is not being made available for this player.
One of the nifty features of Blu-ray and the BD-HP21X is the PinP function which pops a second video window up on screen, allowing you to view additional content such as actors or directors commentary and cast/crew interviews – all while the main feature is
playing. Its specifi cations boast full HD 1080p24 HDMI video output as well as x.v.Colour support, and the player’s audio decoding includes Dolby True HD and Dolby Digital Plus. DTS HD-Master Audio needs to be output digitally in bitstream via HDMI to an AV receiver with the appropriate decoders.
Connections include a single HDMI 1.3 output, plus the usual composite, S-Video and component video outs. The player also comes equipped with Sharp’s Aquos Link which allows it to integrate with the company’s Aquos LCD TVs, allowing both to be controlled from one remote handset.
Not quite fi nalSHARP CORPORATION AUSTRALIAPHONE 1300 135 022WEB www.sharp.net.au
DISTRIBUTOR
11
NOTEBOOK BUYERS GUIDE
AUGUST 2007
Mercury F1 Custom speaker–group test winner
“A wonderfully articulate andexpressive performer.”
“These Tannoys are brilliantperformers for the money, and
they’ll work well with a wide rangeof systems.”
For more information please contact:
Syntec International | Free Call 1800 648 628 | www.syntec.com.au
A compact and effi cient bookshelf or stand mount loudspeaker with excellent dynamic performance. Where space is at a premium, the Mercury F1 Custom is the ideal solution for home cinema front and surround or as an exceptionally refi ned compact two channel stereo system.
Tall and impressive, this loudspeaker uses a 25mm (1.00”) soft dome HF, 165mm (6.50”) mid range and a supplementary 165mm (6.50”) bass driver. Huge scale dynamics combine with tight, punchy bass, open mid range and clean high frequency to make it an ideal solution for medium to large home cinema or hi-fi systems, especially in larger rooms.
Perfectly matched to the rest of the range, the Mercury FC Custom centre speaker is voiced to deliver clarity, tonal balance and well focussed imaging and effects across the front soundstage. Compact and solidly constructed, this centre channel speaker has magnetically shielded drive units.
SHIELDED LONG THROW DRIVER WITH COATED MULTI-FIBRE PAPER PULP CONE.
25MM NITRO-URETHANE LAYER DAMPED WOVEN POLYESTER DOME, SHIELDED NEODYMIUM MAGNET ASSEMBLY.
The neat, compact design of the Mercury FR Custom makes it the ideal solution not only for rear effects / surround applications, but also as a front stereo pair where installation space is at an absolute premium. Pre-fi tted to the rear panel is a fi xing device that allows the speaker to be easily fl ush mounted to a wall.
test winner
ully articulate andive performer.”
nnoys are brilliantfor the money, and
well with a wide rangesystems.”
and effi cient bookshelfount loudspeaker with
dynamic performance.ace is at a premium,ry F1 Custom is theion for home cinemasurround or as an
lly refi ned compactel stereo system.
Tall and impressive, this loudspeaker usesa 25mm (1.00”) soft dome HF, 165mm(6.50”) mid range and a supplementary165mm (6.50”) bass driver. Huge scaledynamics combine with tight, punchybass, open mid range and clean highfrequency to make it an ideal solutionfor medium to large home cinema or hi-fi systems, especially in larger rooms.
Perfectly matched to the rest of the range,
The neat, compact design of the Mercury FRCustom makes it the ideal solution not only forrear effects / surround applications, but also asa front stereo pair where installation space isat an absolute premium. Pre-fi tted to the rearpanel is a fi xing device that allows the speakerto be easily fl ush mounted to a wall.
12
RANDOM PLAY
Sony’s PlayStation has changed a lot over the years and 2008/2009 is set to see a number of hardware and software innovations to the popular gaming console. The recently released 80GB Playstation3 doubles previous storage capacity, and with the a wireless keypad that fi ts into the top of the Dual Shock 3 controller, PS3 users can now use a a QWERTY keyboard instead of the system’s onscreen one.
Play TV has also been promised early next year. Equipped with dual tuners, this add-on module will allow you watch and record high defi nition digital TV broadcasts via your PS3 (though 80GB won’t store a
heck of a lot of HD video, so get yourself some outboard storage), record a whole series at the touch of a button or watch a program on the go via Remote Play on the Playstation Portable (PSP). Speaking of which, the PSP-3000 (the latest iteration of Playstation’s little take-anywhere gamer) has received an upgrade in the form of a higher resolution LCD screen and a built-in microphone.
On the software front, EyePet will please many a parent as this title, used in conjunction with the Playstation Eye camera, creates a responsive virtual pet (which looks a bit monkey-like) that follows your every move.
PS3 evolution SONY AUSTRALIAPHONE 1300 720 071WEB www.sony.com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
A new batch of AV receivers from Onkyo is always something to look forward to and the latest models all carry THX certifi cation. At the midpoint in the marketplace are the new $1999 TX-SR706 (pictured) with THX Select2 Plus certifi cation and the $2650 TX-SR806, which is THX Ultra2 Plus certifi ed. Both are 7.1-channel confi gured and power output from the 706 is 100 watts per channel, while the 806 rates at 130 watts per channel. Video upconversion to 1080p via HDMI is handled by Faroudja DCDi processing, and both receivers have onboard decoding for the latest multichannel audio formats, including Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
Heading a rung or two further up Onkyo’s receiver ladder is the $3399 TX-SR876, and topping off Onkyo’s range is the $4999 TX-NR906, both with THX Ultra2 Plus certifi cation. The 876 comes equipped with tasty technology such as HQV Reon-VX video processing, and it’s one of the fi rst to employ ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) video processing, as does the 906. The latter is also a home network-capable receiver, meaning it can make the most of virtually any media be, it internet- or computer-based.
THX tick of approvalAMBER TECHNOLOGYPHONE 1800 251 367WEB ambertech.com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
[PIC FROM XMAS GIFT GUIDE HE 21]
Logitech Australia Computer1800 133 274 www.logitech.com.au
and DTS-HD Master Audio.
13
NOTEBOOK BUYERS GUIDE
64 Burns Bay Road Lane Cove NSW 2066 • Ph (02) 9427 6755 Fx (02) 9427 2490 ABN 40 001 592 383 • [email protected]
www.lenwallisaudio.com.au
THE HI–F I HEADLINESN E W S L E T T E R N o . 1 7 3
Good, Better, and BestThe past year has been a big one in many ways. Len Wallis Audio marked its 30 Year Anniversary in a business which constantly changes and adapts to new technologies and lifestyles. It was a big year for Awards – we won 6 CEDIA Awards (runner up in two more) and also the Sound & Image Custom Installation of the Year. There were a lot of new products released in 2008; it’s impossible to list them all here, but we’ll run through a few highlights:Surround Receivers came to grips with the fact that Blu-ray will deliver higher grade multi-channel audio. By the time this magazine is out we will have the Yamaha RX-V1900, RX-V 3900 and the RX-Z7. All of them offer the better surround modes such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, and optional Bluetooth adaptors can be used with them. HDMI 1.3a and USB connections are on the increase too. Marantz are in the process of releasing their new “003” series of surround receivers, which offer all the new technologies plus very attractive premium styling.
The use of compact and in-ceiling or in-wall speakers has continued to expand. While we know that larger speakers will still provide the best sound, the options for sound quality in a less obtrusive form continue to multiply. The Focal Dome range represents another boost on the quality scale for the satellite brigade. Using superior drivers and very rigid enclosures this new range sets a high standard, guaranteed to win converts to the sat/sub approach.
The development of HD Projectors has reached a new and exciting stage, with full 1080p capabilities now available at extremely competitive prices. In fact the Mitsubishi models we now stock are equipped with a 17-element (14 groups) glass lense and the Silicon Optix Reon-VX chip to project stunningly good HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) images in the $3999 to $4999 price range. Lamp life is also reaching out towards the 5000-hour mark. They’re still made in Japan too!
High-end Audio in the classic stereo form has seen new players and amplifiers in the ranks too. Musical Fidelity’s A1 Amplifier and A1 CD Pro player are new technology but delightfully retro in appearance. Likewise the Yamaha stereo components, starting with the A-S2000 and CD-S2000 but now reaching down to the extremely affordable A-S700 and CD-S700 are reviving the quality music system at whatever level your budget can stretch to.
N o . 1 7 3
The past year has been a big one in many ways. Len Wallis in a business which
The development of HD ProjectorsThe development of HD ProjectorsThe development of has reached a new and
budget can stretch to.budget can stretch to.
14
RANDOM PLAY
Sonos’ multi-room wireless music system has proved remarkably popular for its simplicity of confi guration and use, but it could only be controlled by its own remote. This forced people wishing to integrate control of their house-wide AV system to use two remotes; one for their multi-room system and another for everything else. Until now, that is.
Technology developed by Sydney-based AVD Australia now enables Sonos multi-room systems to interface with the Philips’ Pronto TSU9600 and Marantz RC9001 touchscreen remote controls, allowing whole-house AV systems to be controlled using just a single handset. The usual Sonos menus can be enjoyed on the Pronto or Marantz, including the ability to: see current and next track info (including album cover art); browse music by artist; control volume and play modes’ link; control playback in different areas (up to eight); manage and edit the music queue, as well as
control your home’s entire multi-room AV systems or smart home devices such as lighting or air conditioning.
Pricing starts at $695 for a single remote and Sonos zone, with confi gurations using up to eight Sonos zones and Pronto remotes available.
Meetingplace
system to use two remotes; one for their multi-room system and another for everything else.
Technology developed by Sydney-based AVD Australia now enables Sonos multi-room systems to interface with the Philips’ Pronto TSU9600 and Marantz RC9001 touchscreen
control your home’s entire multi-room AV systems
AVD AUSTRALIA PTY LTDPHONE (02) 9906 2424WEB www.avd.com.au
QUALIFI PTY LTDPHONE (03) 8542 1111WEB www.qualifi .com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
Developed from Sennheiser’s extensive recording studio-based know-how, the new IE range of ear canal headphones puts the listener in control of monitor-style audio quality. There are three models – the IE 6 ($299), IE 7 ($399) and $599 IE 9 – all of which are full-range dynamic transducers by design, and each of which has individual musical tastes in mind.
The IE 6 (pictured) has been developed for those who like a bit of bass with music on the move. Suitable for lovers of rock and pop, the frequency range extends down to 10Hz and reaches a high 18kHz. For a more neutral sound, there’s the IE 7. This is said to give a more natural, lifelike sound quality, with particular attention paid to reproducing a faithful top end (treble). The top of the range IE 8s are for the sound techies among us. You
can decide how much bass response you want from these earphones by using an adjustable screw to regulate the lower frequencies. Noise attenuation is also addressed, with up to 95 percent of ambient noise (up to 26dB) dealt with, according to Sennheiser.
All feature small, medium and large ear-fi t sets for a comfy insertion into your ear canal, and Kevlar-strengthened cables for durability.
From the studio to the streets SYNTEC INTERNATIONAL
PHONE 1800 648 628WEB www.syntec.com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
from these earphones by using an adjustable screw to regulate the lower frequencies. Noise attenuation is also addressed, with up to 95 percent of ambient noise (up to 26dB) dealt with, according to Sennheiser.
All feature small, medium and large ear-fi t sets for a comfy insertion into your ear canal, and Kevlar-strengthened cables for durability.
15
Foxtel has switched on its iQ2’s four-tuner functionality, which means subscribers can now use the PVR to record two programs while watching a third one live, simultaneously. For example, a typical night in might mean watching live Monday Night Football while recording Project Runway and a movie for the kids, all at the same time. The IQ2’s fourth tuner is reserved for Foxtel’s interactive HD and Box Offi ce on-demand services.
This ability to record what you want, when you want and not argue over the remote produces “a more harmonious household for both families and couples”, according to research on PVR use. The research (by Consumer Analysis Limited for electronics fi rm NDS) also revealed that some 75 percent of households fi nd
their PVR an indispensable bit of technology, and 76 percent reported fewer household arguments over what to watch. Furthermore, 78 percent of couples surveyed said that their relationships had been dramatically enhanced thanks to their PVRs, as each person can enjoy their own programs.
Foxtel has also extended its EPG to provide 14 days of advance programming information for IQ and IQ2 subscribers. A fortnight’s worth of advance program information can also be viewed online at www.foxtel.com.au, with the schedule searchable via genre, keyword and classifi cation. Recordings can be automatically scheduled from a PC or 3G phone using the Remote Record function.
First with fourFOXTEL PHONE 1300 785 622WEB foxtel.com.au/hd *
DISTRIBUTORFirst with four
Canadian speaker manufacturer PSB has a new fl agship range of home theatre loudspeakers it has dubbed ‘Synchrony’. There are seven models in all, comprising the Synchrony One ($5999) and Two
($3499) fl oorstanders, One C ($1999) and Two C ($1499) centre channels,
One B ($2499) and Two B ($1999) bookshelf speakers and the tri-mode Synchrony S ($2499) surrounds. The unique design of the Synchrony S surround allows it to be used in three ways – either in dipole, bipole or monopole modes, making it very fl exible for 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 channel confi guration.
Three years in development, the Synchrony line-up is described by designer Paul Barton as “his
most exciting speaker system to date”. Improvements include a new titanium dome tweeter, laminated cone drivers and a re-engineered crossover network. The Synchrony’s cabinets have also been refi ned compared to previous models and use extruded aluminium front and back panels together with seven-layer, hand-veneered sides. The result is a very strong,
resonant free enclosure, according to PSB.
In Sync with PSB
($3499) fl oorstanders, One C ($1999) and Two C ($1499) centre channels,
monopole modes, making it very fl exible for 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 channel confi guration.
Three years in development, the Synchrony line-up is described by designer Paul Barton as “his
most exciting speaker system to date”. Improvements include a new titanium dome tweeter, laminated cone drivers and a re-engineered crossover network. The Synchrony’s cabinets have also been refi ned compared to previous models and use extruded aluminium front and back panels together with seven-layer, hand-veneered sides. The result is a very strong,
resonant free enclosure, according to PSB.
AUDIO PRODUCTSPHONE (02) 9669 3477WEB audioproducts.com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
16
RANDOM PLAY
‘Greatness’ was part of the design brief for JBL’s new LS series loudspeakers, apparently, with the company borrowing the Bi-Radial Horn compression driver used in some its most fanciful speakers – namely its $80,000 Everest DD66000 – to achieve it. The high-spec driver is used throughout the LS range, which starts with the $2299 LS40 bookshelf monitors. Then there are The two fl oorstanding models – the $3799 LS60 and $4999 LS80 – with dialogue handled by the $1499 LS Centre and the low stuff courtesy of the $1999 LS120P 12 inch active subwoofer.
Cabinet construction of the LS series has a dual purpose – to look good and improve sonic performance. Gently curved sides and a wedge shape help reduce unwanted internal resonance, according to JBL, and high-mass MDF is used throughout. Each is fi nished with high gloss, rich mahogany side panels. Partnering the horn compression driver, the lower frequencies are provided by pulp cone woofers using a staggered crossover network. This new series is, according to JBL, a speaker system that “doesn’t favour music over movies, or small rooms over large ones”.
Designed for greatness
CONVOY INTERNATIONALPHONE (02) 9700 0111WEB www.e-hifi .com.au
DISTRIBUTOR
Akai’s ATT10U Professional USB turntable not only plays your collection of vinyl, its USB port enables connection to a computer so that you can import LPs to the hard drive for archiving and/or copying out to portable players. The included Audacity software is compatible with Mac and PC, and allows you to remove clicks, pops and other noises, as well as export the tracks into WAV or MP3 formats.
The ATT10U supports 331/3 , 45 and 78 RPM playback speeds, and provides a static balanced tonearm with detachable headshell, a built-in phono preamp, and anti-skating control for minimising the ‘skating’ force that pulls the tonearm towards the centre of the record as it plays. This, says Akai, helps deliver a clear, balanced sound. A slip pad is also a feature, and allows you to produce ‘scratching’ sounds and other special effects without damaging records. It costs $300.
Spin me roundAUDION INNOVISIONWEB www.audion-mm.com
DISTRIBUTOR
For more information, visit www.crestonline.biz
Save ENERGY Save MONEY
EARTH SMART
With wasteful standby power contributing up to 10%
of households energy consumption, Crest’s Earth Smart
power board will not only protect your equipment,
it eliminates standby power with one switch.
Saving time, energy, money and the environment.
Now that’s Earth Smart. Now that’s Earth Smart.
SUPERIOR PROTECTIONEarth Smart’s unlimited connected equipment warranty and high end surge protection (144,000 Amps and 3672 Joules) will ensure your valuable AV and IT equipment is always protected.
SIMPLY PLUG & SAVEWith a ‘master’ outlet socket to plug in your key AV component or desktop computer, the remaining ‘slave’ sockets power ‘on’ or completely ‘off’ cutting standby power as though each device has been turned off at the wall.
CARBON NEUTRALCrest has teamed with the Carbon Reduction Institute to assess and offset each product, making it 100% Carbon Free
18
GUY TALK
The GadgetGuy™, Peter Blasina, is the technology reporter for Channel Seven’s Sunrise program, appears regularly on other network programs and is broadcast weekly on various national radio stations. At the time of writing, Peter Blasina had a commercial arrangement with Tivo.
When launched into the Australian market in
August 2008, TiVo was categorised by the
market and the Channel Seven Hybrid TV
Services group distributing it as a Digital
Video Recorder (DVR) or Personal Video Recorder (PVR). Hybrid
TV made it clear at this time that, down the track, fi rmware
upgrades would allow Tivo to become more of a media hub
device, but that the product’s time shifting and intelligent
program search would be the focus of all promotion during its
introduction period.
Now journalists hear a lot of hype and hope from companies
spruiking new businesses and products, so were understandably
sceptical about what Tivo promised and, in general, ignored
representations about how functionality would be upgraded
in line with Hybrid TV’s marketing schedule. Instead, many
criticised the product for being too late into the market,
too expensive (even though it was half the price of some
comparable products) and nothing like the American version
of TiVo. Many concluded that Tivo in Australia was doomed to
failure, and still is.
Tivo has also started
packing in more free games
and services with a free Games
Pack, including ‘Skull & Bones’,
‘Wordsmith’, ‘SameGame’,
‘Sudoku’, as well as ‘Classy
Couples’ (matching famous
couples) and ‘Wild Pairs’ – a
children’s game.
On top of the Sunrise Weather application
launched in October 2008, the new ‘Service Pack’ includes
Horoscopes with daily updates, World Clock to set national and
international time zones as well as PixelEyes, a unique service
that allows users to view photos on their TV via Tivo once they
have been uploaded to either Picasa or Photobucket. Tivos in
different locations can even be linked, allowing online photo
albums to be shared between friends and family members.
According to Minicola, TiVo will receive a major memory
expansion with the arrival of a terabyte hard drive in 2009, and
‘Tivo To Go’ will allow video recorded to Tivo to be copied to a
portable player. Regular upgrades will continually add value to
the product, she says, with the addition of pay-per-view movies,
channels of non-mainstream international programming,
and ‘Tivo uncapped’ deals with internet service providers all
possibilities. Along with the new 2009 digital channels from
free-to-air networks, the accelerating adoption of digital high
defi nition TVs, and consumer desire for a variety of different
programming, Tivo is perfectly placed as an enabling technology
in the living room, she says.
Despite these forward steps in functionality and services and
the promise of much more to follow, TiVo’s critics persist. Maybe
Tivo is just too tall a poppy? Or maybe those who trade on
website clicks simply fi nd it useful to post inaccurate, narky and
negative comments to deliver more site traffi c?
In its most basic iteration, Tivo has the potential to provide the
70-something percent of Australians watching only free-to-air
television with an easy-to-use, high defi nition time-shifting alternative
to videotape. I absolutely love that it does that for my household, just
as I love how the IQ2 allows the same for pay TV. What’s more,
I speak to lots of consumers who feel exactly the same way.
Tivo time
The numbers tell a different story. Australians buy around
5000 PVRs a month, according Gfk fi gures, and that fi gure is in
decline. In its fi rst month onsale, Tivo sold 4500 units – making
it the leading PVR brand at debut – and is currently outselling
the leading PVR by a factor of fi ve, according to Tivo CEO,
Robbee Minicola. Gfk fi gures report that 14, 000 units have been
sold into store, and the target, according to Minicola, is
50 000 units in 2009.
So here we are down the track in phase two of the
marketing strategy and Tivo is now a media device, offering
content and services in addition to its staple of free-to-air
high defi nition recording. An alliance with DMG Radio has put
Nova and Vega radio content into the living rooms of TiVo
users, and a partnership with Dominos means that users can
also order pizza via their television sets. This dovetails nicely
with the free weekly movie download from Blockbuster.
Perhaps some members of the media need to wander into their local retail store and get a ‘smell of reality’ when it comes to home entertainment products.
Australian distributor Amber Technology Ltd.AMB4407
Built with the same state-of-the-art technology of the legendary NevoSL, the new NevoQ50 now offers a customisable control solution on a lower budget.
Stylish, elegant and designed to eliminate the need for multiple remotes, theNevoQ50 offers complete control of any audio and video device, giving you the ultimate control experience. With 31 programmable hard buttons and endless personalisation options, the NevoQ50 is the perfect choice for any home.
NevoS70 takes technology a step further with the capability to control AV media via WiFi from supported UPnP media servers along with a larger, higher resolution touch screen.
The optional NevoConnect wirelessly links with both the NevoQ50 & NevoS70 via Z-Wave to allow control of remote devices by way of RS-232 and IR.
The Optional NC-50 NevoConnect, offers complete control of components in another room or hidden away.
For more information or a personal demonstration of the international
award-winning NevoQ50 & NevoS70 remotes, call 1800 251 367, (02) 9452 8600 or visit our website www.ambertech.com.au
004407_Nevo_297x210.indd 1 8/12/08 2:48:59 PM
20
TECH CORNER
One of the ironies of HDMI – the all-in-one AV cable of
the future – is that even though you eliminate the
old-fashioned composite video and RCA cables of older
gear, you’ll then install three or even four HDMI-enabled
devices in your rack.
In other words, HDMI simplifies any given device, but encourages
you to buy more devices, so you end up with just as many cables in
behind the TV!
The other thing about HDMI is that even though you can get five
metre cables, often you’ll find yourself having to position everything close
together, because the cables you can afford are only one metre long.
Even if you do manage to set up the perfect HDMI-enabled AV rack,
you’ll be left with this nagging feeling: aren’t wires just a little bit 20th
Century? After all, your internet is beamed around your house via the
wireless transmitter on your router, so why not your AV entertainment
as well?
Fortunately, Wireless HDMI does exist. It uses the 5GHz band and
has enough bandwidth to carry a full 1080p signal. It’s not a proper
standard like HDMI itself, but more of a marketing term so consumers
can understand what it’s all about. Actual implementations of it can
be non-proprietary, which means it’s potentially cheaper because no
license fees have to be paid to a consortium.
The system does use some common elements, such as the
ZeroWire chipset, which ensures there will be universal compatibility.
Companies such as Belkin and Monster have announced their first
generation of Wireless HDMI boxes, with several smaller manufacturers
promising devices too. You’ll want to count your pennies before splurging
on a pre-order though: the entry price ranges from $700 to $1000!
No strings attachedWhat’s more, the system Wireless HDMI uses – called ultrawideband
or UWB – transmits its data in a fundamentally different way to the
current WiFi standard, with the result that the signal is either on or off.
There’s no fading or interference problems. A mere boast? Time will tell.
I mentioned above that Wireless HDMI isn’t actually a standard, but
there is a wireless high definition standard. To keep things simple, it’s
called WirelessHD and it aims to work above the layer of different plugs
and data formats, and provide a more mechanical standard for all sorts
of wireless high definition applications.
Like most transmission standards, WirelessHD is being developed
by a groups of companies, which includes Intel, Samsung, Sony and
Toshiba. You’ll note a couple of those names are ones you’d normally
associate with IT rather than AV, and that’s because WirelessHD will
probably first see action in PC displays.
Since PC desktop resolutions are in fact higher than 1080p HD,
WirelessHD will have plenty of capacity for Blu-ray and other high-def
content.
Want some numbers? Well, HDMI 1.3 can push 10.2 gigabits of
information down the wire every second. WirelessHD, by contrast, has
a maximum bandwidth of 25 gigabits a second. This means it’s well
future-proofed for greater colour depth and high resolutions. Maybe
even 3-D!
Shrewd readers will realise a potential pitfall of all this wireless
HD streaming, though. And that’s piracy. We already know how
unscrupulous internet users can leech off your wireless router if you
don’t use proper security, and the same risks apply to WirelessHD.
Fortunately though, physics is on the side of the copyright holder.
Because WirelessHD operates in the 60GHz Extreme High Frequency
band, it needs direct line-of-site between transmitter and receiver.
You’ll get around this in your house thanks to a clever radio thing called
beamforming, but as a result people could also theoretically pick up
your wireless signal and record it.
But one of the peculiarities of the 60GHz band is that it is readily
absorbed by oxygen molecules. So the very air itself will serve as a sort
of shield, and pirates will need to be very close to the transmitter to get
any meaningful signal.
One of the more interesting things about this sudden tech-grab
for true wireless interoperability is the sheer number of proposed
standards. Joining Wireless HDMI and WirelessHD is Wireless USB,
which will help IT products communicate at a more modest bandwidth
of 480 megabits per second. There’s also much work being done on
the Wireless High-definition Interface, which like all the other formats
here aims to eliminate wires from the workplace.
Oddly, though, all this technology is taking some time to make it to
the market. Even though several companies have announced devices,
release dates keep getting put back... and back. Belkin was supposed to
have its FlyWire unit ready for Christmas, but you’ll have to wait until the
new year (or even later) to see it. Monster too promised a 2008 release
for the Digital Express HD, but this has also been delayed. The technical
challenges are mighty indeed when you’re dealing with this much data.
Still, there’s little doubt the future will be wireless, and for Australia’s
woeful broadband internet, wireless could be our best hope. Just
imagine: the rats nest of cables behind the AV rack, not tidied up, not
simplified, but banished altogether.
Shrewd readers will realise a potential pitfall of all this wireless HD streaming, though. And that’s piracy
The kit includes a rather stylish transmitter box, encrusted with
inputs, and a receiver that plugs into your AV receiver or TV’s HDMI
port. The transmitter doesn’t just accept HDMI inputs from Blu-ray
players and the like, it also has ports for humble RCA cables, and optical
too. Standard definition inputs are automatically upsampled to 1080p
and beamed to the receiver.
One of the more important elements that need to work is support
for High-bandwith Digital Content Protection, or HDCP. And it’s the
ZeroWire chipset that has the certification to work with HDCP. This
means movies so protected can be beamed across the room wirelessly.
The benefits to making your HDMI devices wireless should be
obvious. Your gear doesn’t have to sit in a stack underneath or next to
your TV, and for users of projectors – which must of course go at the
back of the room – the system could be a real boon.
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• The latest Sensis mapping data
• Speed and red light camera warnings
• Over speed alert
Discover a new dimension for in-car navigation. Visit Uniden on
www.uniden.com.au for full range details or call 1300 366 895 today.
A B INTO
U n i d e n G P S A d _ F i r s t S i . p d f P a g e 1 8 / 1 2 / 0 8 , 2 : 3 2 P M
22
BLU YULE
23
The ball is now well and truly rolling for Blu-ray as more and more
manufacturers and fi lm studios get behind the effort to make Blu-
ray the de facto format, not just for high defi nition, but for movies
full stop. It’s taken a while, though, with hardware and software
sales remaining sluggish, even after Toshiba pulled out of the rival HD DVD
format almost a year ago.
Extremely cheap upconverting DVD players had a part to play in this, as did
the comparatively high cost of BD players and software, but all that is changing
now. LG, Sharp, Samsung, Panasonic, Pioneer and Sony are targeting the mass
market with aggressive pricing on new models, offering sub-$500 players with
the interactive Bonus View and BD-Live features that take full advantage of the
format’s capabilities.
The $500 ticket price and the festive timing is historically signifi cant. DVD
only really started to kick when hardware reached that price in Christmas 2001,
with households quickly embracing the format and all its advances on videotape.
Naysayers argue that times are different now. That Blu-ray doesn’t offer the
same compelling quality and convenience improvements of DVD over video
tape; that the benefi ts of full HD on a sub-40 inch screen is indiscernible from
DVD; that people don’t want to feel forced into replacing their library of DVDs
with a new format; that pricing needs to be more like $299 to entice ‘working
families’ to open their wallets, or that the global fi nancial crisis will keep wallets
fi rmly shut and all but crush the ambitions of Blu-ray’s backers.
WhY TimE iS RiGhT FOR BLU-RAY
• Latest Profi les now supported• Hardware now less than $500• Great retail bonus incentives on offer before Christmas• Hardware prices will increase in 2009• Plentiful choice of software• Software widely available• Provides a quality match with your full HD TV• Best quality sound and picture that can be enjoyed at home• Inbuilt upconversion makes conventional DVDs look better
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
Dreaming of a Blu Christmas? Nic Tatham explains why there’s never been a better time to make the leap
24
BLU YULE
All systems goThe industry, however, is confi dent that Blu-ray will replicate
the pattern set by DVD. LG’s TV category marketing manager,
Warren Kim, speculates that 100,000 Blu-ray player units will
be sold in 2009, excluding gaming consoles. Figures from
September put Blu-ray player sales at 400 000, with just
40,000 being standalone players. The other 360,000 are
accounted for by the Playstation 3 console.
He also pointed out that the latest Blu-ray pricing trend
indicates that prices are eroding faster than the industry
expected, more so than it did with DVD hardware. For
consumers, that means that Blu-ray is actually cheaper than
DVD was at the same stage in its life cycle.
“Locally,” Kim adds, “there has been a BD push from various
manufacturers. In the case of LG, we are offering bonus BigPond DVD
rentals for four months valued at $79.80. This is an added incentive
for consumers who are considering purchasing a BD player.”
Samsung is adding value too, giving away a Blu-ray player
with select model televisions, while Pioneer is supplying free
Blu-ray movies with its
entry-level player. When it
comes to seeding Aussie
homes with BD players,
though, Sony tops the
honours list. In July 2008
it bundled a Playstation 3
console with select model
Bravia LCD televisions,
with the allotted 35,000
consoles all accounted for
before the month was out.
The company is currently
promoting Blu-ray to a wider
audience, running television
advertising telling viewers
“what a waste” it is to watch
standard defi nition video on a
high defi nition TV.
Lots to seeThe big movies houses have put their backs into supporting
the hardware camp too, strengthening the appeal of Blu-ray to
consumers by expanding their offering of back catalogue and
new-release titles for sale and rental.
Blockbuster and Video Ezy are promoting the format in
more than 200 stores, with active displays demonstrating
both BD software and hardware. Some rental stores will also
be offering Blu-ray discs for sale. Online vendor, BigPond
movies, has some 400-odd BD titles available for hire, with the
web-based Quikfl ix and MovieGuys also offering Blu-ray titles
for rent via the Australian postal service. Typically, it costs the
same to rent a Blu-ray Disc as it does a DVD.
Building up a Blu-ray movie collection is becoming
more affordable as well. When fi rst released, BD software
commanded a substantial premium over DVD, but that
WhY YOU’D WAiT FOR BLU-RAYREviEWED ON PAGE 46
• Internet-based supplementary material still in development, so not terrifi cally compelling
• Region coding rigorously implemented, restricting access to titles available in other markets
• Prefer to download movies
LG BD300, $499Sony BDP-S350, $449 Yamaha BD-S2900, $1499Sony BDP-S5000ES, $2299Panasonic DMP-BD35, $495
Blu-ray is actually cheaper than DVD was at the same stage in its life cycle
Blu-ray discs, such as The Dark Knight are available for hire and purchase from Australia’s major online vendors
Pioneer, Samsung and LG are offering incentives to Blu-ray buyers
25
Download bonus features, out of the blu.
With BD Live on LG’s new BD300 Blu-ray Disc Player, you can download and view bonus features for selected Blu-ray DVDs, via the internet. All you have to do is connect your BD300 to the internet, insert a Blu-ray Movie Disc and follow the link.
Kick-start your Blu-ray viewing with LG’s bonus BigPond DVD Rentals* deal, valued at $79.80 for four months. There are 32,000 DVD titles to choose from, including more than 300 Blu-ray titles. Offer available at participating retail outlets. Ends 31st January 2009.
*Conditions apply.www.lge.com.au/BD300
4 Month DVD Rentals valued at
$79.80with every purchase of
LG Blu-ray Player BD300
S L G 0 0 4 2 _ F P C _ H E . p d f P a g e 1 2 3 / 1 0 / 0 8 , 4 : 3 4 P M
26
BLU YULE
gap is closing. Expect to pay around $5-8 more for the same
movie on BD, but as developers recoup development and
tooling costs and mass market economies of scale kick in,
pricing will only become more affordable. Blu-ray discs can be
bought at all the usual places too: off the shelf in your K-Marts,
Big Ws and JB Hi-Fis, or if you prefer online, Ezy DVD has over
500 titles to buy. Prices range from $29.97 to $44.97 for a
single disc release, with boxsets costing around $80.
OverseasBlu-ray is certainly gaining momentum, and it’s widely
predicted that Blu-ray player and software sales will triple
in 2008. That’s in line with international trends. In Europe,
BD accounts for some 79 percent of all HD movie sales (the
other 21 percent comprise sales of residual HD DVD discs)
with the two million mark reached in BD disc sales. To quote
from the European Blu-ray Disc Association now’s the time “to
move Blu-ray Disc into the mainstream,” a sentiment echoed
throughout the global consumer electronics industry.
In the US, disc sales have topped the 11 million mark and
research by American market watcher, Redhill, also revealed
that more BD titles were bought in the fi rst fi ve months of this
year than during the whole of 2007.
The mating gamePlayers are more affordable and capable than ever before,
movies more plentiful and the outlook positive, but if you need
another reason to buy into Blu ray, consider that nice big full
HD fl at panel TV you’ve got, or is on your end-of-year reward
list. Only BD will really show you what it’s capable of. Similarly,
the latest Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master surround sound
encoding can make Blu-ray sound better than your local
cinema, so with the latest AV surround gear you can enjoy
7.1 channels of uncompressed audio at home.
As Blu-ray evolves, it’s been changing what’s called ‘Profi les’
and the latest, Profi le 2.0, offers the best interactive feature
- BD-Live - and is the most future-proof. BD-Live allows you
to do funky online things like download previews and special
features related to the movie, or access live events and gaming
activities. These are features DVD simply can’t deliver and
although upconverting DVD players squeeze the last drop out
of standard defi nition DVDs, it’s no comparison to the full high
defi nition picture quality of Blu-ray, especially if you’re viewing
on a large screen TV or projector.
Play a DVD in a Blu-ray player and its own digital number
crunching will actually make them look better than in a
conventional player also. Blu-ray also makes home theatre
better than what you’ll see and hear at your local multiplex
cinema – for the fi rst time you can enjoy the latest HD movies
at home without having to worry about someone’s head in the
row in front blocking your view, or those notoriously uncomfy
cinema seats spoiling your movie viewing.
Another encouraging sign for Blu-ray’s mass adoption is that
many other manufacturers are releasing players. Brands such
as Marantz, Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Sherwood and Cambridge
Audio are already onboard. Locally, Panasonic markets a Blu-ray
Specialist nameplates are joining the Blu-ray camp, with Maranz, Onkyo and Denon releasing models in 2009
Blu-ray recorders integrate a HDD for timeshifting from the telly, with the complementary BD recording drive allowing you to archive favourite high defi nition shows to disc
XBOX 360 AND hD DOWNLOADS
Industry speculation is rife that Microsoft has been working on a Blu-ray playing version of its Xbox 360 gaming console. Having initially backed HD DVD, Microsoft and Intel are both now looking at adopting Blu-ray, with Microsoft in the US saying it has already developed a standalone Blu-ray player that can be connected to the Xbox 360. Availability could be as early as May 2009, although the company warns that the HD format war is likely to move online, with consumers choosing to download 1080p video content in the future rather than buying it on a physical disc.
27
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
recorder, with models from Samsung, Sharp and Sony available
in overseas markets. These are designed to make the most of
the format’s ability to record high definition and will even allow
you to playback pre-recorded material while simultaneously
recording high definition video being broadcast on digital TV.
Blu horizonsBlu-ray will probably be the last time we buy movies as a
physical format. Already devices such as Foxtel IQ, Apple TV
and Tivo allow movies to be delivered as digital files direct
from the Web onto our screens over a home network, and the
convenience this offers is undeniable. In two minutes you’ve
selected and received your movie ready for viewing, and
ThE BLU mOviE ScENE
With hardware now hitting family friendly pricing, Disney has been marketing its family friendly Blu-ray catalogue strongly through a three-month-long shopping centre promotional tour on the eastern seaboard. Last year’s heavy hitters – Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Cars, Ratatouille and TV’s Lost – will continue to figure well in stockings this Christmas, with this year’s top-notch HD transfers being No Country for Old Men, Kill Bill and The Nightmare before Christmas. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Paramount and Universal are the other main studios now producing BD software, but even the smaller film companies are dabbling with the HD medium. Hot Christmas BD releases to look out for include Hancock, The Dark Knight and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. From the big players, look for Shine A Light, the Bond boxset, Iron Man and Transformers.
without having to leave the couch to find the car keys or find a
place in the entertainment rack for the hard case.
Online download will, eventually, be the way we consume
all our entertainment, with whatever movies, music or games
we purchase or rent stored on a hard drive server somewhere
in our homes… or on a server farm in Belarus. But before this
occurs, such services need to streamlined, content choice
expanded, broadband infrastructure vastly improved and made
more affordable, and people’s attitudes to purchasing in this
new way changed.
In short, a lot has to happen for the online high definition
alternative to become a mainstream proposition, and until then
Blu-ray is the best show in town. n
Hancock on Blu-ray
Wall-E: Family titles are crucial to Blu-ray’s success
28
OBJECTSOF DESIRE
Arvus PrerenaissanceAll of the speakers we feature here in You Wish punch well above the weight of the average stereo system, and not just in terms of performance. Speakers actually weighing 100-plus kilos are the norm, but none go quite as far as the Arvus Prerenaissance.
Even before we get to performance, the sheer physicality of these speakers will take your breath away. Especially if you try to lift one, because it’s 2.25 metres tall and weighs 348 kg.
Arvus calls the Prerenaissance a quad-chamber, quasi fi ve-way active DSP corrected loudspeaker system. It also uses Arvus’ trademark Hypacoustic technology.
Hypacoustic was originally developed for cinemas, because Arvus founder Matthew Simmons says, psychologically, audio makes its biggest impact in the fi rst 100 milliseconds – and that’s precisely when most speakers distort.
In fact Arvus claims its loudspeaker systems engage people emotionally, and Hypacoustic technology has been so successful in the select New Zealand cinemas in which you’ll fi nd it, it’s managed to drag people away from their DVDs and back into the matinees.
Let’s rockBut back to these amazing speakers. That the Prerenaissance intends to make a design statement should be obvious. Arvus says it took design cues from all the world’s beautiful machines: musical instruments, high-end sports cars (the Prerenaissance is often photographed alongside the Maserati Granturismo) yachts and their scientifi c keels, even the Coca Cola bottle.
And of course, from nature the female torso gets a nod. The plinth is hand-carved from a solid block of Indian granite,
so there’s not much chance of you knocking it over during one of your exclusive cocktail parties.
Though if you did use the Prerenaissance for party music, conversation might be difficult. The system packs 4000 watts RMS power output, with three channels of amplification per speaker.
The curve on the front panel focuses the sound, but you can select from a distance of three metres all the way up to ten.
The active variable frequency response is 87dB to 120dB and the system responds fl at from 0 to 87dB, thanks to that
trademarked Hypacoustic tech. Room-corrected frequency response at the selected focal length is 17Hz up to 43kHz, and crossover frequencies occur at 240Hz and 3570Hz. The system has a maximum continuous output of 120dB.
What’s in a name?What’s the deal with the name? Well Arvus claims – rather coyly – the company has been working on a revolutionary new loudspeaker technology that is radically different from the conical drivers we take for granted.
According to Simmons, Renaissance Loudspeaker Technology (or RLT) has been in development for eight years and still needs another two or three years of work: he’s expecting a launch in 2011.
But it seems fans of Arvus can’t wait another two or three years. Simmons says the company was actually pressured into creating and releasing the speakers you see here. And on a promise of a sale from a close friend, the project went ahead and this is the result.
Arvus says this is the last set of speakers it will produce using traditional drivers. It’s the fi nal release before the Renaissance. Thus: Prerenaissance.
The system will set you back $140,000. But that’s in US dollars so depending on the state of the Aussie at the time you read this, could mean up to $250,000. And don’t forget to take into account customs charges.
Worried you don’t have the fortitude to install a 696 kg speaker system and its custom pre-amp crossover, or concerned you lack the quarter-century of acoustic engineering experience you need to set it up in a way that does it justice?
Don’t worry: as part of the package, Arvus will fl y a technician to your location to install and confi gure the whole thing. Even if you’re one of those Bond-style supervillains who lives in a volcano.
Just so long as your mansion has a minimalist polished concrete forecourt with a Stromboli Grey Maserati Granturismo (or Ferrari 430 Scuderia at a pinch) parked in it, the Arvus Prerenaissance will feel right at home.
Anthony FordhamAnthony Fordham
29
ArvusPrerenaissance loudspeakers
$US140,000 per pairArvus Loudspeakers
New Zealand+64 3355 1950
www.arvusloudspeakers.com
…If you did use the Prerenaissance for party music, conversation might bediffi cult. The system packs 4000 wattsRMS power output, with three channels of amplifi cation per speaker
30
The Power TriP
The Power TriPTVs that save money and the environment are on the way, but what’s taking so long? Ella Smith reports the slow progress of the energy labelling scheme
With Australian households having an average
of 2.4 each, it’s easy to see how our appetite
for televisions is contributing more than ever
to levels of greenhouse gases. But it’s not just
that we’re watching more sets in more rooms of the house more
often, and all at once, it’s because the LCD and plasma panels
that are stampeding out of retailer stores into Australian lounge
rooms demand far more energy than the traditional, smaller-
screen CRT sets we’ve moved into the kids’ room, or placed on
the median strip for the council clean-up.
TV energy use has increased fourfold from 1986 to 2006,
according to an E3 Television Industry meeting report tabled in
July 2008. One industry source we spoke to for this story claims
that if you compare the average size CRT at 68cm and the
average-sized LCD and plasma at 106cm, there would be around
a 2:1 power consumption difference between CRT televisions and
LCD and plasma televisions.
Compounding the issue is our appetite for larger screen
sizes. Every square centimetre of screen draws power (though
the relationship between size and watts is logarithmic rather
than linear), and while 106cm televisions are currently the
most popular size, the 127cm upgrade option (and tomorrow’s
replacement market leader) presents almost 20 percent more
surface area. Ever larger screens are in the works too, with
31
The Power TriPPanasonic offering a 261cm (103 inch) model and Sharp a 274cm
(108 inch) model. There might not ever be a huge domestic
market for these sizes, but as more homes tool up for the 2013
digital TV switchover you can bet the number of large-screen
flat panel TVs being installed into living rooms will explode.
If the environmental imperatives aren’t enough to motivate
you, consider the personal dollar cost to your household.
Your televisions are now costing you more to run that ever
before, and with across the board price hikes forecast by major
electricity suppliers next year, there will be only more to pay.
Labelling to create better products In household appliance terms, flat panel televisions rank behind
fridges, freezers, air conditioners and hot water systems as
major contributors to greenhouse gases. Energy labels were
mandated nationally for these products – and clothes washers,
clothes dryers and dishwashers – nearly two decades ago, so the
time is ripe for a similar scheme to inform consumers about how
to make an energy efficient TV purchase.
The Federal Government has set a timetable for such a
scheme, with a proposed start date of 1 April 2009. From
this time, TVs (plasma, LCD and CRT TVs) released into the
Australian market should feature an energy label, indicating
their energy efficiency and energy consumption.
The theory behind such labelling programs is that energy
consumption, along with features and price, will become another
important point of difference influencing a consumer’s TV
buying decision. As consumers vote with their wallets for TVs
with green cred, manufacturers will focus more research and
development into energy efficiency, with benefits for all.
Judging successIf the experience of energy labels for whitegoods is anything
to go by, it’s unlikely that an energy label alone will be the key
driver to any TV purchase. Whitegoods brands interviewed by
Home Entertainment said the influence of the energy label
usually becomes apparent only once shoppers made a shortlist
of models in a price bracket. It’s here that the energy efficiency
has an influence on the final buying decision.
Overall, though, the results of regulation and labelling for
fridges serves as a positive example for the TV industry, with
one supplier interviewed indicating that the amount of energy
fridges consume has halved in around ten years. This is a
significant reduction in energy consumption in anyone’s terms,
but it certainly hasn’t been achieved quickly.
Today, you can still buy fridges with only a few stars, but
regulation has meant manufacturers with poorer performing
models cannot hide their inferior products.
It’s highly unlikely, however, that an energy label alone will be the key driver behind which model people ultimately buy
fast facts
• TVsaccountfor7.5megatonnes(MT)ofCO2emissionsannually.WiththegrowthofLCDandplasmaTVtakeuprates,thiscouldgrowtoasmuchas20MTin2020—thesameamountgeneratedannuallyby5millioncars.
• Australiansownaround2.4TVsperhousehold.• Therearemorethan17millionTVsinAustraliawitha
furthertwomillionsoldeachyear.Ofthese,55%areLCDTVs,21%areplasmaTVsandconventionalsetsmakeuptheremaining19%,accordingtoGfKdataforthe12monthstoSeptember2008.
32
As for policing the integrity of TV labelling, manufacturers
will be randomly audited by The Department of the
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) to ensure
they meet relevant guidelines displaying the sticker on all TVs,
as well as making accurate energy claims. If discrepancies are
found to exist and a consultation process between DEWHA and
the manufacturer/supplier fails, the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission then steps in to manage the problem
and apply heavy fi nancial penalties if necessary.
What the label will look likeThe proposed energy label will feature a one-to-six star rating
with increments of half a star. Super-effi cient models with seven-
plus stars are also being accommodated in the new label and
these will be rated in full star increments, although it’s unclear
when these super-effi cient varieties will hit stores.
In addition to an energy label, TVs will also need to meet
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). Planned
for late 2009, this aims to do for the TV arena what a similar
scheme did for fridges, and that is to remove from the
Australian market products that consume more than certain
amount of energy. Under a MEPS scheme, the worst performing
TVs (with less than one-star effi ciency) simply will not go on sale
in Australia.
As for how much more effi cient forthcoming televisions
will be, neither government nor industry has put a fi gure
on it. They may be 30 percent more effi cient, or ten, fi ve or
two. Every one involved is staying mum about overall energy
reduction goals.
Slow progressMandatory labelling for TVs was originally proposed in the 1990s
when screen sizes averaged a mere 68cm against today’s metre
or so of diagonal. The scheme faltered, however, due to a lack of
agreement about how a TV’s energy effi ciency should be tested
and rated.
In 2008/09 TV manufacturers have been incredibly busy
behind the scenes working towards the creation of a TV energy
label that contains two types of information: a TV’s star rating
(for comparing like-for-like screen sizes), and a TV’s energy
consumption (measured in kilowatt hours, or KwH/year).
Like the previous attempt, however, similar issues have beset
development of a label. CRT, LCD and plasma technologies, for
example, generate an image in completely different ways, each
one with different power requirements. Finding a measure that
adjusts for this has been a squabbling point, especially between
the LCD and plasma camps.
Power use for LCD and plasma varies, too, according to the
video program material displayed, so a test disc replicating
‘average’ viewing habits (including cartoons, fi reworks, standard
defi nition and high defi nition, bright scenes, nature scenes etc)
had to be developed to aid the testing process.
These points help measure how much power is used by a TV,
but a further challenge is the development by industry players
of an algorithm that determines the spread of stars, or how
power used calculates as a star rating. At the time of going to
press, this important piece of maths had not been fi nalised.
The fi nal algorithm must account for increases in energy
effi ciency that occur when technologies improve. What is agreed
to be called six stars today could be called two stars in 12 months
if the algorithm is not carefully engineered!
Final wordEven though mandatory labelling for TVs has been timetabled
for 1 April, 2009, the current pace of progress makes this seem
unachievable. In the meantime, all suppliers of TVs and their
industry associations have committed to a voluntary, uniform
labelling scheme based on draft standards that are in place. A
handful of brands will market labelled products by Christmas,
and while these may not conform to the fi nal spec, it is certainly
a move in the right direction. ■
WHat tHE tV ENERGY LaBEL LOOKs LIKE
AdvicesuppliedfrommanufacturersandDepartmentoftheEnvironment,Water,HeritageandtheArts(DEWHA)isthattheenergylabelstickersforTVswillincludetwotypesofinformation.1. Astarratingthatenablesshopperstocomparelike-for-like
screensizes.2. Energyconsumption(inKwH/year),givingameasurement
oftheenergyconsumptionofaTVinkilowatthoursperyearforcomparingrunningcostsofalllabelledTVs,irrespectiveofthescreentechnologyorscreensize.TheKwH/yearmeasurementisbasedon10hours’dailyusein‘Home/Normal’picturemode.
ThestickerswillalsoexplainhowTVsonshowinstorewillbedisplayedatfullbrightness,orin‘Shop’or‘Display’mode.Asthetypicalfactorydefaultsettingformosttelevisions,thismakesthepicturestandoutontheshowroomfloorunderfluorescentlightingandconsumesthemaximumamountofpower.TheTV’s‘Normal’or‘HomeMode’settingislessbrightandconsumeslesspower.
As for policing the integrity of TV labelling, manufacturers
In 2008/09 TV manufacturers have been incredibly busy In 2008/09 TV manufacturers have been incredibly busy In 2008/09 TV manufacturers have been incredibly busy
The Power TriP
Premium navigation with all the extras.The Pioneer AVIC-F900BT delivers premium navigation with all the extras. Extra audio, extra visual, extra information
and extra communication combine in a stylish, functional and intuitive system. The intelligent features of the Pioneer AVIC-F900BT are engineered to deliver an exceptional in car experience that is more enjoyable, more exciting
and more precise. A seamless connection that enables you to take all of the extras in your life, on the road.
ALL SYSTEMS GO
NAVIGATIONNavigation accuracy and efficiency is the Pioneer trademark and with multi sensor technology, inbuilt mapping for all of Australia and over half a million POI’s, Pioneer will keep you on track.
iPOD® CONNECTTake your complete iPod® music and video collection on the road without the hassle and clutter of an additional adapter and enjoy all of your favourite music and video whenever and wherever you want.
DVD/MUSICMobile entertainment should be an extension of the driving experience. That is why the AVIC-F900BT range can handle a variety of DVD, MP3, audio and video formats.
BLUETOOTH®
Parrot Bluetooth® technology connects your Bluetooth® enabled mobile phone. Your phone can be anywhere in the vehicle and AVIC-F900BT gives you full communication control and all the phone’s functionalities on the touch panel.
AVIC-F900BT
www.navxtra.com.au FLASH/PIOM309
34
KID-PROOFING YOUR KIT
There are plenty of fi ghts and confrontations that you
can spot coming from a mile away when you decide
to start building your dream home entertainment
system. ‘Negotiating’ with the beloved signifi cant
other on allocating part of your house to be the home theatre area
or, if you’re really fortunate, entire room is the obvious fi rst one.
Persuading the same gorgeous partner that a heap of ‘piano
black’ boxes, as the manufacturers optimistically dubbed the
move from silver or gold to a glossy black fi nish, is probably
your second confl ict. But even then, once you’re through the
spouse-laid minefi eld of unreasonable objections and random
preferences, you might just have one last family hurdle before
you fi nally get into your stride – the kids.
Because as fabulous as your new home theatre system
looks, we’re still a ways away from achieving the invisible but
omnipresent, centrally located voice-controlled system – a home
entertainment ‘Hal’ for your lounge room, if you will – and, as
such, there are still plenty of buttons, trays, knobs, cables and
chunky boxes for your dear children to trip over, fall onto, crash
into or otherwise slowly demolish as you watch helplessly from
the snug nest you’ve just created for yourself on the couch
Heavy liftingAlmost certainly the heaviest and most cumbersome element
of your home theatre system, your fl at panel TV is also the
most prone to being accidentally knocked or otherwise abused,
because it’s so exposed. One of the most common assaults
suffered by your TV – small hands repeatedly bashing up against
the screen itself, whether in simple enthusiasm or plain boredom
– can be remedied in a couple of different ways.
The easiest is to ‘enclose’ the screen in the middle of a big
ol’ entertainment centre, pushing the TV itself back into the
cubby hole and up against the wall, thereby ensuring it’s both
protected from the sides and is stable. Some fl at panel TVs
Kid-proofing your Kit
Making your system good is one thing, but how do you make it safe for the ankle-biters of your household? Max Everingham gives some family friendly pointers
Kid-proofing your Kit Kid-proofing your Kit Kid-proofing
35
Making your system good is one thing, but how do you make it safe for the ankle-biters of your household? Max Everingham gives some family friendly pointers
aid this by supplying robust cable ties that attach on one end
to the rear of the panel and screw at the other to the rear of
your cabinet, providing added bracing to ensure the panel can’t
topple forward on its plinth… and onto your toddler (see boxout).
This method is fine if you’ve: 1) already got a big ol’
entertainment centre, and 2) are prepared to sacrifice the
complementary aesthetic appearance of your new home
entertainment system for the sake of protection. If, however,
you’re all about a system that looks as good switched off as it
does when it’s in full flow, you might want to consider the trickier
option of wall mounting your television. Most, if not all, TV
manufacturers now charge a premium for this service, one way
or another, but if you have a good spot picked out with sufficient
wall space and it’s not above the fireplace, a wall-mounted flat
panel TV can be worth every cent.
Quite apart from the ‘show off’ factor of it looking very
professional and ‘lifestyle’, if it’s fixed firmly to a wall, it’s unlikely
to be in reach of the little people. If you don’t want to
real dangerIn October 2008, a two-year-old girl from the NSW Central Coast was hospitalised in a critical condition after suffering serious head injuries from a falling television. There are no statistics on the number of children hurt or killed in Australia by televisions falling on them, but in the US several children are killed each year (11 in 2006) and in 2007 more than 3000 were hurt. Most of the victims were under the age of five.
Young children are especially vulnerable to injury, as they are often tempted to climb up on dressers or cabinets to get closer to their favorite TV or movie character, or to reach toys or other objects of interest. They are not strong enough to protect themselves when the TV over-balances.
The Central Coast toddler was injured by a 15 inch television, not one of the heavier 40-plus inch behemoths starting to populate Australian lounge rooms. As our televisions become larger so does the likelihood of injury, making it more important than ever to ensure that your furniture supports any TV upgrade you make. If it doesn’t, upgrade the furniture as well.
When upgrading your television to a large flat panel LCD or plasma, be sure that your existing furniture can support the additional weight, or purchase furniture that does. Criterion Furniture www.criterion.com.au
36
KID-PROOFING YOUR KIT
pay for someone to do this for you, another option is to go
DIY, as most consumer electronics stores carry at least a
limited range of wall mount brackets, but we’re not sure we’d
actually recommend the minor savings you can make here –
remember kids, safety fi rst! Oh, and the last thing you want to
be woken up to in the middle of the night is the sound of your
new home theatre centrepiece crashing to the fl oor.
For extra security, you can go for a ‘Kensington’ cable
lock, which snaps neatly into the provided hole on the back of
your TV (most have this facility) and either secures to a metal
plate you can attach to a wall or loops back onto itself after
going around a heavy, fi xed object in the living room – your
Grandma, for example, if she’s settled in for the night. This is
probably overkill, though, unless you live in a shared student
house or really, really don’t trust your kids.
Spaghetti spasmsA pet hate of us all here at Home Entertainment has to be
the horrible ‘spaghetti’ mess of audiovisual leads that seems
to organically multiply behind your entertainment centre,
AV rack or inside those cupboards. This insidious build-up of
cables can present a challenge more frustrating than sifting
through tangled fi shing lines if you ever have to move or
alter the components of your system but, more importantly
for the family friendly system, can be a vipers-nest of snaring
opportunities for any kiddies venturing around back there.
The cheapest method of tackling this problem is, of course,
cable ties. Available in black, ‘neutral’ (which is a bit like the
beige colour everyone’s painting their homes these days), or
even coloured versions so you can coordinate with the item it
belongs to, or just mix up for easier identifi cation, cable ties
are simple strips of plastic that allow you to bunch the leads
together and tie them off. It’s easy, but they can still look pretty
ugly.
A smarter solution is ‘cable zippers’, which are long, coiled
plastic covers that allow you to gather several AV cables
together and then feed them into the zipper, effectively
SaFeTY TIPS Always keep a watch on young children when playing around the entertainment system, and back up constant supervision with these precautions: • For maximum safety, have a professional wall-mount your fl at panel TV• Push TVs as far back inside, or to the rear of, an entertainment cabinet
as possible; secure to cabinet with anchors • Make sure your furniture can support a bigger TV when you upgrade, or
upgrade your furniture at the same time• Don’t put toys (or anything that might tempt your child) on top of a TV • Anchor unstable speakers to a fl oor or wall• Never allow children behind the back of your AV system• Tape down any cables that trail across the fl oor
Front surround systems, with multichannel effects created by only two speakers, reduce cable trailsKEF FiveTwo Series, deskstand Model 7 www.ambertech.com.au
37
making one large cable out of all the smaller ones and keeping
them neat and tidy. Cable zippers come with the bonus of being
reusable, and very easily removed and reapplied if you need to
move your system around or add or subtract components from
the stack. Use these, follow the lines of the table or AV unit as
you lay down the cable zippers, and you’ve just removed an
annoying, messy obstacle from the equation.
Some products will help tame the mess of cables in your system,
and protect your equipment from power surges and spikes. Belkin’s
Conceal Surge Protector keeps the power cords of connected
equipment tidy in their sockets, with its hinged cover serving to
conceal the cables and keep them out of reach of kids.
Big shiny buttonsKids like to turn things off. And on. And off again. Buttons on
the front of your DVD player, TV, amp or whatever, can prove
to be just too much temptation for the average killer sprog, so
you might want to consider ways to reduce this kind of wear
and tear — and if you’re a videogamer, you’ll be keen to prevent
any accidental ‘offs’ before you have the chance to save your
progress!
There are widgets you can get to place over buttons and
controlling knobs, but the best option without defacing your
gear is to stick them in a cupboard, or invest in a professional-
looking, hinged AV rack that you can position above (adult) waist
level and swing out when required.
The advent of HDMI and, more accurately, HDMI-CEC, has
also given us all another way to tackle this problem because, if
you have compatible equipment and hook the system up with
HDMI cabling, you’ll find that you can control the whole game
show with a single remote – usually the one that comes with
your flat panel TV - allowing you not only to hide all the boxes in
cupboards away from view but also cutting down the number of
tempting shiny-button-filled remotes visible to the little people
to just one. Guard it with your life!
Speaker cablesThe last great kid-unfriendly element of your home
entertainment system is the speakers. Many floorstanding or
stand-mounted models can be top heavy and prone to tipping
when bumped, so anchor them firmly – as you would your TV –
where possible. And if you like how your speakers look with the
grilles off, bear in mind that your child might too. Keep the grilles
on spares your drivers any potential damage from enquiring
little fingers.
Whether it’s as a garage for Matchbox cars, a tunnel for toy
trains or a place to secret all manner of objects unsuitable for
storage within a speaker, bass reflex ports cannot be plugged
without impacting the performance of your sound system. If you
don’t fancy ruining the appearance of your speakers by taping
fine gauze across the ports, however, the alternative can only be
constant supervision.
Now to the wires running between all your speakers and your
amplifier. If you’ve built your home theatre room from scratch,
chances are you’ve gone the ‘concealed’ route and had the
smarts to hide all these wires inside the walls. If you’re like the
rest of us, though, you’ll be looking for something a little more
practical that doesn’t involve remodelling the whole room. So go
wireless, or go virtual.
Chief among the options available to you here has to be the
wireless speaker system. Most of these are not fully wireless
systems, usually offering just the rear two speakers as a wireless
option, but for most people it’s those back two units that present
the biggest problems and so they’re worth a look.
The other option, the virtual one, comes in many different
flavours, from single speaker boxes (or soundbars) attempting to
stand in for at least four others to full 5.1 systems that allow you
to place all the speakers right in front of you, flanking the telly.
This is known as ‘front surround’ and Sony, KEF and Pioneer
at least offer this solution right now, signalling an end to wires
trailing all across the floor and upsetting the wife, the dog and
your equilibrium-challenged offspring. n
Reduce tripping hazards in the home with surround systems that cut a few cords:1. Home theatre systems with wireless surround speakers
Sony DAVDZ870W (left) www.sony.com.au
2. Single speaker surround solution, such as soundbars; Yamaha YSP-4000BSWI (right) www.yamaha.com.au
38
GIFT RAP
Home Entertainment can be a hard magazine
to read at Christmas time. All these fabulous
products you’d love to give to your nearest and
dearest, but can’t because cumulatively they’d
cost more than your mortgage.
Is it time to accept that being an audio-visual enthusiast means
you can’t afford to buy people gifts? Not at all. There are plenty of
innovative products priced just right for the giving season. Sure,
these aren’t exactly Secret Santa material, but if you’re looking for
something for a husband, wife or favourite child, here are 12 ideas
for each of the 12 days of Christmas, any of which are more than
worthy as the bulk of any serious stocking.
In fact Christmas is a time to remember that home
entertainment is about more than just a giant LCD TV or
high-spec AV receiver. It’s also about some of the greatest
gadgets in the world. It’s about games that push the
boundaries of what videogames are all about. It’s about
new ways to buy and distribute music and movies. And it’s
about taking your entertainment on the road with you, and
escaping the lounge room.
Most importantly, this Christmas is about affordable,
powerful technology that can completely change the way
you think about home entertainment.
Whether giving or receiving this holiday season, check out Anthony Fordham’s presents with presence
GIFT RAP
39
GIFT RAP
TiVoIdeal for: Young families, the working sports fan, people without wristwatches Price: $699 More info: www.tivo.com.auYou know TiVo thanks to endless product placements in US TV shows and movies, but this digital media device is set to go new places in 2009. Most particularly, with functionality that expands on the unit’s core role as a TV receiver and recorder
Already, Tivo owners can download a free movie from blockbuster every week, order a pizza and check the weather up to fi ve days ahead using the Channel 7 Sunrise weather channel. And these are just the start of a range of proposed broadband-based services and content to become available via Tivo next year.
Also in 2009, the unit’s teeny 160GB drive will be expandable to one terabyte with the addition of a Tivo-certifi ed external drive (this uses the superior eSATA interface, which is much faster than USB2.0), and the TiVo To Go system will enable you to export recorded video to portable players (and vice versa). Tivo’s new networking capability will also allow you to stream content from your PC to the big screen and sound system in the lounge room. With all these new capabilities, your TiVo will end up just as versatile and useful as a custom-built home theatre PC… and a lot less expensive and bulky.
Apple TVIdeal for: Movie lovers, TV fans who hate commercials, minimalist lounge roomsPrice: $329 (40GB), $449 ($160GB)More info: www.apple.com.auApple TV has had a slightly troublesome launch in Australia, since on release it wasn’t possible to download movies from iTunes, and the unit has no HDTV receiver. Thankfully for Christmas 2008 it’s now possible to buy TV shows and movies from the iTunes Store, and rent movies in HD.
One thing people often forget about Apple TV is that it links up with iTunes on your Mac and PC, allowing you to play all your music through the main AV system in your lounge-room via stereo RCA, optical or even HDMI. It’s also possible to view home movies and photos using the elegant Apple TV interface.
Thanks to continuous upgrades to both the unit itself and iTunes, Apple TV is just getting more and more capable. What was once a fairly limited system is now nearly as versatile as any media player, except it has the advantage of Apple’s build quality and user interface.
1
Apple TVApple TV2
40
Nintendo Wii(plus Wii Fit plus Shaun White Snowboarding)Ideal for: Couch potatoes, kids, parties that need a bit of spicePrice: $399 + $149 (Wii Fit) + $79 (Shaun White Snowboarding)More info: www.ubi.com/auWhere most videogame consoles see you slumped in front of the TV vaguely twitching your thumbs on a controller, the Nintendo Wii demands rather more of a physical investment. The innovative Wiimote and Wii Sports captured our attentions last Christmas, but this year it’s all about the Wii Fit balance board.
A digital scale, the balance board can detect how your centre of gravity is shifting as you stand upon it. The Wii Fit game uses yoga and basic muscle exercises to improve your health, but the most entertaining part is the downhill skiing balance mode.
Shaun White Snowboarding takes this concept and builds a proper snowboarding game around it. Use the balance board to send your heavily-sponsored snowboarder howling down the mountain, while working out many of the muscles you’d use in the real thing. Except this time, you don’t have to worry about wiping out hapless skiers. Just the family dog.
Fatman Red-iIdeal for: Old-school audiophiles, valve-fans, iPhone ownersPrice: $999More info: www.fat-man.co.ukFatman’s valve amps captured our attention late in 2007 when the company’s fi rst range of products appeared. The unusual thing about Fatman? That each amp came with an optional iPod dock.
The Red-i takes the concept of the valve-powered iPod dock a step further by including a set of matched speakers (the custom red diaphragms give the unit its name). The amp itself is still serious, as it uses high quality banana plug cables to pipe its 25 watts of hi-fi power to each channel.
Three valves provide that warm and detailed sound you crave, though the output stage is integrated. The unit is also GSM shielded, which means when you plug in your iPhone you’ll still be able to take calls without any interference or feedback through the speakers.
And as a conversation piece on the mantle, the Red-i — like all of Fatman’s products — really has no equal.
Digital Download VouchersIdeal for: Teenagers whose music you just don’t understand, music fans without credit cardsPrice: $10–100More info: www.apple.com.au / www.bigpondmusic.comAs an enthusiast, you already know that downloading legal music is a revelation. Just plug in your credit card details and within moments the album or track you want is right there, ready for you to sync with your player.
Alas, some people are still afraid of digital downloads, or at least leery of handing over their credit card details. You can help them see the light with a download voucher. You can get these everywhere, from electronics stores to petrol stations.
The user simply creates an account, enters a unique code, and voila: up to $100 in credit, ready for spending.
What’s especially interesting about these vouchers is that you can even use them yourself to buy music as a gift. Obviously they’re ideal for teenagers who might not see the ironic awesomeness of a Duran Duran album, but will buy two tracks here, and another there, and a TV show, and a music clip. That’s what these vouchers are all about: fl exibility.
3 4
5
GIFT RAP
41
Logitech Squeezebox DuetIdeal for: Digital music enthusiasts, simplifying AV racks, keeping the PC out of the lounge roomPrice: $799.95 More info: www.logitech.comUntil Logitech bought up SlimDevices and massively improved the Squeezebox’s user interface, network music players were always rather technical. The Duet hugely simplifi es the business of streaming digital music off your PC into a proper AV rack, without having to bring the PC into the lounge or rely on its rather lacklustre DACs.
Despite the diminutive box, the Duet has a high quality 24-bit DAC, and most importantly the remote can work with multiple Squeezebox players. This means you can use the little player on a kitchen or family room stereo, while splurging on the hardcore Transporter ($3799) for the lounge room.
The Squeezebox system is designed to be open, so it can accept nearly the full range of possible audio formats, including most importantly uncompressed and lossless codecs.
Quick and easy multi-room audio is the name of the game with Squeezebox, and if you have the technical nouse to get the most out of this system, you’ll be richly rewarded.
Seagate FreeAgent GoIdeal for: Digital music and movie junkies, students, day-to-day PC usersPrice: $169 (250GB), $189 (320GB),$369 (500GB)More info: www.seagate.comEverybody needs an external USB hard drive now, it’s as simple as that. You probably fi gured this out years ago, so now’s your chance to give the gift of freedom to a friend. As 2.5 inch hard drive capacities continue to increase, so too do these ultraportable drives.
Unlike a big 3.5 inch external drive, the FreeAgent Go uses a notebook drive so it only needs a single USB cable to work: no auxiliary power required.
Functionality here is basic (there’s some backup software included) but the style really suits the iPod generation. Those little pinpricks on the case light up when the drive is working.
The FreeAgent Go comes in silver, blue, black and red and you can get a dock for it as well for about $30. This lets the drive stand upright, iPod style.
In a world where everything from your TV to your games console to your AV receiver and car stereo has a USB input now, there’s just no excuse not to carry (or backup) all your most precious fi les on a slim and sexy little drive like this!
Logitech Logitech 6
Seagate Seagate 7
42
Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5Ideal for: Audiophiles on the road,joggers, hikers, hermitsPrice: $329.95More info: www.ultimateears.comUntil late 2008 Ultimate Ears was an exclusive US brand supplying high-end earphones to musicians and performers. Logitech has just bought the company and now this amazing earphone tech is fi ltering down to us.
Instead of using a diaphragm speaker, Ultimate Ears uses armature technology. Rather than vibrate a conical membrane, these speakers tap a tiny metal arm on a metal box. The result is big sound in a tiny package.
The Super.Fi 5 earphones are balanced for a wide range of music, but if you’re serious you can pay twice as much for a set that includes three drivers in each earbud, as well as models designed for specifi c genres such as jazz or rock.
Lanyard design means you can hook these earphones over your ears in such a way that no manner of physical activity will dislodge them. Just watch out for traffi c, because thanks to passive noise cancelling, you sure won’t hear it!
Crest Earth Smart Ideal for: The environmentally conscious, saving money on electricity, protecting expensive AV gearPrice: $249.95More info: www.crestonline.bizThanks to recent focus on big issues like climate change and carbon footprints, 2008 could be the fi rst Christmas ever where giving a surge protector as a gift could make someone happy.
As all AV enthusiasts know and regret, even when your TV is switched off it consumes standby power while connected to the wall.
The Earth Smart board uses clever electronics to detect when a device is in standby mode, and dramatically reduces the amount of electricity consumed. Crest says it can cut a 20–60 watt draw down to as little as 0.4 watts!
Naturally there’s surge protection as well, so your $20,000 rack of AV gear won’t blow all its fuses the next time the transformer in the street explodes.
And the icing on the cake with the Earth Smart board is that it has been built carbon neutral. The product is currently being assessed by the Carbon Reduction Institute, so by the time you get one it will be certifi ed good for the planet.
Sony KDL32V4000RIdeal for: Style-conscious AV enthusiasts in small but very trendy apartments, gamersPrice: $1799 More info: www.sony.com.auMost TVs concentrate on the quality of the LCD panel inside, but clad the whole thing in a rather generic black or dark grey case. If you’re lucky you might get a bit of silver fl air or some shiny piano-black fi nish.
Sony takes things a step further with this red Bravia display. It’s a 32 inch TV with full 1080p support thanks to a 1920 x 1080 panel. And it uses all the tech you’ll fi nd in the bigger more ‘serious’ displays, such as the Advanced Contrast Enhancer and Bravia Engine 2.
Naturally, it also has 24p compatibility, making it an ideal partner for your Blu-ray player or, for the young and funky gamer types, Sony’s own Playstation 3.
Three HDMI inputs give you plenty of options, and you control said inputs and confi guration via the Cross Media Bar or XMB. That’s the same interface as the Playstation 3!
8
Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears 9 10
GIFT RAP
43
Belkin N1 VisionIdeal for: Folks setting up their fi rst home network, sharing your broadband, tech heads and gamersPrice: $349.95 More info: www.belkin.com.auTo many, the whole concept of the router is confusing and arcane. All you know is it’s a box that somehow shares your internet connection among multiple computers, but fi guring out even if the darn thing is working properly is an exercise in deciphering green, amber and red LEDs.
Belkin has injected a bit of plain English into the router experience by giving the N1 Vision an LCD. This provides you with all sorts of information, from basic connection status for each PC or device, to the maximum download rate you can expect.
Routers are an essential part of any home entertainment setup, as they allow you to wirelessly stream media from a PC (or Mac) to your TV. The N1 Vision has 802.11n WiFi, for maximum bandwidth, but if that’s still not fast enough you can run Ethernet cables for data exchange at up to a gigabit!
And unique among routers, the N1 Vision actually looks like something you’d have sitting on a hall table instead of shoved away in a drawer in a tangle of cables. For the fi rst time, the router is more than mere equipment.
Sanyo PLV-Z3000Ideal for: Home cinema enthusiasts on a budget, lovers of huge screens, awkward lounge roomsPrice: $3999 More info: www.sanyo.com.auSanyo’s Z-series LCD projectors have been fi rm favourites of the mid-range home cinema community for some years now. Each model has included a fl exible lens shift system, which makes the projector ideal for rooms where placement might be a bit awkward: you can position the Z3000 more than half a screen width to the left or right of your ideal spot and adjust accordingly.
This latest model boasts technology that prevents leaking of polarised light, so the claimed contrast ratio is an incredible 65,000:1. Brightness is 1200 ANSI lumens, and while colour is often a problem on these lower-cost projectors, but Sanyo banks on its ‘cinema colour fi lter’ which pays special attention to accurate skin tones.
Really though the Z3000, like all its older brothers, is a winner because of its compact size and fl exibility of placement. That it performs beautifully is just an awesome bonus!
Belkin N1 VisionBelkin N1 Vision11
Sanyo PLV-Z3000Sanyo PLV-Z300012
E n p i r e D i g i _ H E _ O c t . p d f P a g e 1 1 8 / 9 / 0 8 , 4 : 2 7 P M
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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 and buying tips will help put you in the know before you venture onto the shop fl oor.
HOW TO BUYHOW TO BUY Blu movie stars 46Blu-ray is here to stay, providing that true-cinema-like quality so many of us have been hankering after for years. Thomas Bartlett grabs a bucket of popcorn and fi ve of the latest models for a great night in.
BOX FRESH Reviewed in this Issue
LG BD300 49Sony BDP-S350 50Yamaha BD-S2900 51Sony BDP-S5000ES 52Panasonic DMP-BD35 53Klipsch CS-700/RoomGroove 54Geneva Model XL 56Pioneer Kuro PDP-LX609A and BDP-LX71 58Grundig Misuro GLCD2206HDV 62Sony XBR KDL46XBR45 66Samsung LA46A950 68Denon AVR-589/SYS-56HT Package 70Denon AVR-789 72
Notebook Buyers Guide 73Notebooks are both workhorse and entertainment centre, capable of play-ing back music and movies, and acting as a conduit to the content riches of the web. Choosing one can be a tricky business, however, so we’ve compiled a checklist of the major features you need to understand.
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HOW TO BUY
47
blu-ray mini test
BLU moVIE STaRS
DVD has served us well for a decade but Blu-ray is an even better format, and the latest generation players prove how it has come of age. Thomas Bartlett reviews fi ve of the best
occasionally I get worried that Blu-ray will end up
becoming just another wannabe format. DVD
was sure to be a success since it offered so many
advantages over VHS. It offered a huge quality
boost, of course, but it also offered convenience (random access,
no need to rewind after watching), additional features (multiple
languages and subtitles, plus special extras) and robustness
(unlike VHS, each viewing episode didn’t add to wear and tear).
By contrast, the chief advantage of Blu-ray over DVD is quality.
With a modern high resolution display panel, and even
more so with a front projector or a very large plasma or LCD,
the quality improvement is marked. Nonetheless, if you stop
someone in the street at random, chances are they will claim
that they would not even be able to notice the difference.
Historically, too, quality alone hasn’t been enough to ignite
mainstream interest. Take DVD-Audio and SACD, for example.
the GooD anD less GooD
GooD• The best picture • The best sound• The best special extras
LESS GooD• Usually slower in operation than DVD• Blu-ray region coding scheme still fairly robust• Got to replace the favourite movies yet again!
The quality improvements they offer over CD are signifi cant,
though not enough, it has proved, to compel consumers to buy
them.
48
But Blu-ray seems to be accelerating. As I write, a major
Australian online DVD retailer has over 550 Blu-ray titles either
available now or coming soon. In the US many more are available.
The range of titles encompasses music concerts, blockbuster
movies of the last decade, dramas, new releases and some high
quality back catalogue items going right back to the 1950s.
At the same time, as you will see over the coming few pages,
a whole bunch of affordable Blu-ray players are becoming
available. With each new generation of player, the prices take a
decided leap downwards, and the feature set an equally decided
leap upwards.
Going cheapSo now sub-$500 is the new norm for Blu-ray players. Oh, there
are more expensive models with a greater emphasis on solid
physical construction and the use of premium components, but
hiGher ProFiles
The fi rst Blu-ray players to go on sale here were classifi ed as
Profi le 1.0, and did not provide many of the advanced features
now available on current generation players. Some did not even
provide 1080p24 output. While some of these fi rst generation
machines may still be available, to enjoy the maximum benefi t
from Blu-ray discs in the future look for players supporting Blu-
ray Profi le 1.1 or 2.0.
BD Bonus View (Profi le 1.1): The new minimum standard for
Blu-ray players, ‘1.1’ players will allow Picture-in-Picture sound
and video, plus 256 MB of local storage for storing bookmarks.
BD-Live (Profi le 2.0): An optional standard, players that
support 2.0 will allow Picture-in-Picture sound and video, and
provide 1GB of local storage plus Internet connection capability
for accessing web content (eg. games, shopping, competitions)
associated with the disc.
there were also plenty of premium DVD-Audio and SACD players.
It is the widespread availability and affordability of both player
and media that makes for success.
In addition to the low prices, the new batch of players has
fi nally bridged the remaining gap with the features offered by
the now defunct HD DVD: internet connectivity. This was called
‘web-enabled content’ for HD DVD, and is called ‘BD Live’ for Blu-
ray. Recent Sony Pictures Entertainment releases have almost
routinely included a BD-Live section, but this has basically been
to allow you to download trailers for other movies, and similar
inane activities.
Paramount Home Entertainment has offered more
interesting downloadable extras, such as an interactive trivia
quiz for Iron Man and a tracking, location and information tool
for Transformers. In fact, with the latter, the new Blu-ray release
of Transformers is effectively identical to last year’s HD DVD
version.
Blu-ray player makers are still in the process of creating
the complete Blu-ray player. For example, decoding to their
maximum quality all the different audio formats permitted on
Blu-ray apparently remains daunting, although at least one of
the players we look at here does it satisfactorily.
Nonetheless, it is now looking like Blu-ray is a format which is
here to stay, providing that true-cinema-like quality so many of
us have been hankering after for years.
HOW TO BUY
What to looK For
• BonusView support• BD-Live support• 24 frames per second output (1080p24)
for smooth, jerk-free playback• Decoding for high defi nition audio• Output connections that fi t with your
existing equipment• Quick operation
49
blu-ray mini test
The demise of HD DVD earlier this
year wrong-footed LG, which had
led the way to hybrid HD DVD/
Blu-ray players. So this is the first
dedicated Blu-ray player that I’ve seen from
LG, and I have to say that it is excellent in just
about every way. At just under $500, you get a
unit that supports all Blu-ray features, including
the Picture-in-Picture modes of BonusView,
and Internet connectivity of BD-Live.
First the criticisms: there are but two and
both have to do with storage. The advanced
features of BD-Live and BonusView require you
to add storage memory to the unit in the form
of a USB memory stick. But the socket for this
is on the front panel, so it sticks out the whole
time. Irritating.
Second, some players allow you to delete
all the information stored on the stick which
relates to a specific movie. This unit only allows
you to zap the entire contents of the stick.
But here’s the good stuff. First, it played
every disc I threw at it, and it happily played
them all. It downloaded trailers from the
internet using recent Sony Pictures titles,
and the Iron Man quiz, with no glitches and at
roughly the same speed as a Playstation 3.
Second, it played all my PIP (picture in
picture) titles properly, muting the main sound
as required to let the PIP audio be heard.
Third, it started up quite quickly, loaded
discs about as quickly as a Playstation 3, and
had a responsive remote control.
Fourth, it had a good range of transport
controls, allowing single frame stepping even
with Blu-ray discs, a high speed scan of up
to 180x, and even an unusual progress bar
arrangement with fast movement using the
remote’s arrow keys.
Finally, and most importantly, it produced
brilliant picture quality, not just with Blu-ray
but also with PAL DVDs. It sailed through my
DVD tests with among the best performance
I’ve seen.
The unit does not decode DTS-HD Master
Audio (it does decode Dolby TrueHD), so for some
movies the best sound will be achieved by piping
the bitstream to a good home theatre receiver.
Finally, and most importantly, it produced brilliant picture quality, not just with Blu-ray but also with PAL DVDs
lG bD300
ratinGs
Price: $499Warranty: 12 monthsContact: LG Electronics Australia 1800 725 375 www.lge.com.auFeatures: Output: HDMI, component video, composite video, stereo audio, coaxial digital audio, optical digital audio; Advanced connections: Ethernet, USB (front panel); Audio decoding: Dolby TrueHD, not DTS-HD; HD Audio bitstream out: Yes; Advanced features: BonusView, BD-LiveDimensions (WHD; Weight): 430 x 58 x 277mm; 3kg
PROS Fast operation First-rate video processing for Blu-ray and DVD
Full support of all Blu-ray features Four months free DVD/Blu-ray rentals
CONS USB memory pokes out of front of
unit Not able to clear BD-storage for
individual movies Power and Eject buttons on unit a
little stiff
Overall
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
LG BD300
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Sony says that DVD player sales
really started happening when
the price of DVD players fell to
$400. The Sony BDP-S350 is just
about there, with the lowest recommended
retail price of any of these players (and is
being advertised, as I write, for $399). It is a
departure by Sony in two different ways. First,
previous Sony Blu-ray players have been based
on Pioneer technology, whereas this one seems
to be all Sony’s own work. Second, it uses the
PS3-like Cross Media Bar (XMB) as its menu
system.
The player has both BonusView and BD-Live
support, but you have to supply the memory.
Specifi cally, you need to insert a USB memory
stick (1GB or more) into a recessed socket at
the rear. If you’re buying a stick especially
for this, check to make sure it will fi t before
purchase.
The unit has a ‘Quick Start’ mode. As with
most such facilities, it works by leaving much of
the unit switched on, even though the various
displays are off. Consequently, it uses about
9 watts during standby, or not that much less
than the 15-ish it uses when the unit is actually
playing a disc, and a lot more than the 0.1 watts
used in standby when this option isn’t selected.
It had a disc ready to play in 23 seconds, versus
32 seconds without it. I wouldn’t bother.
One important setup point: if you are using
a good home theatre sound system, switch
the ‘Dynamic Range Control’ setting under the
Audio menu to ‘Off’ (it defaults to ‘Auto’, which
reduces the dynamic impact of the sound on
some Blu-ray titles, such as Transformers).
As to playing your favourite movies: this
unit worked very nicely. All the BonusView
and BD-Live discs worked precisely as they
should. And it was pretty snappy in operation.
The picture quality of Blu-ray, delivered over
HDMI at 1080p24, was superb, and the video
processing was excellent.
Oddly, Sony has dropped some of the
expected transport control features. There is
fast forward and rewind, but no slow forward
nor slow reverse, nor single frame stepping in
either direction.
SonYBDP-S350
The picture quality of Blu-ray, delivered over HDMI at 1080p24, was superb, and the video processing was excellent
sony bDP-s350
ratinGs
Price: $449Warranty: 12 monthsContact: Sony Australia Limited1300 137 669www.sony.com.auFeatures: Output: HDMI, component video, S-Video, composite video, stereo audio, coaxial digital audio, optical digital audio; Advanced connections: Ethernet, USB (rear panel, recessed); Audio decoding: Dolby TrueHD, not DTS-HD; HD Audio bitstream out: Yes; Advanced features: BonusView, BD-LiveDimensions (WHD; Weight): 430 x 60 x 220mm; 2.9kg
PROS Excellent value for money
Fast operation
High quality picture and sound with Blu-ray
Full support of all Blu-ray features
CONS No frame step or slow playback
modes
Recessed USB can limit types of memory employed
Overall
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
HOW TO BUY
51
blu-ray mini test
The Yamaha BD-S2900 is Yamaha’s
first entry into the Blu-ray field, and
this model appears to be based on
Panasonic Blu-ray technology.
But this is not merely a rebadged Panasonic
player. It looks like a Yamaha, with Yamaha’s
customary amber LED and styling that makes it
a perfect match for any Yamaha home theatre
receiver. In addition, Yamaha has added remote
control in/out ports and an RS-232C interface,
which will be greatly appreciated by system
integrators.
Having said that, this unit is a little behind
the times. For one thing, it will decode none
of the new high definition audio standards,
although it will deliver them all in bitstream
format to a receiver which will decode them.
So, while the unit provides full BonusView
picture-in-picture performance, it has to use
the ‘core’ Dolby Digital or DTS audio embedded
within the high resolution audio tracks in order
to deliver the sound from that extra content.
Likewise, the unit lacks BD-Live capability,
so some of the interesting additional content
available for Paramount titles, and presumably
future releases from other companies, is not
available.
But the unit does support the addition of
extra memory, in the form of Secure Digital
flash memory cards. It can display photos from
those cards up to full high definition resolution,
and play AVCHD video from those camcorders
that capture in the format.
The video quality from Blu-ray was routinely
superb. You can choose from a number of
preset video processing options, or fine tune
things with a ‘User’ setting. The sound was
great with bitstream of HD audio to a home
theatre receiver. In theory, the unit will deliver
high resolution audio as a bitstream unless
there is menu or PIP sound, but in practice it
wouldn’t with most discs. So to get the best of
both worlds (HD sound and PIP), I had to keep
going into the setup menu.
The DVD video performance wasn’t quite as
good because the ‘Auto’ deinterlacing circuit
would, like the Sony players, get confused on
some difficult material. Unlike the Panasonic,
you cannot force this unit into ‘Film’ mode for
the best results.
Yamaha BD-S2900
The video quality from Blu-ray was routinely superb. You can choose from a number of preset video processing options, or fine tune things with a ‘User’ setting
yamaha bD-s2900
ratinGs
Price: $1499Warranty: two yearsContact: Yamaha Music Australia 1300 739 411 www.yamahamusic.com.auFeatures: Output: HDMI, component video, S-Video, composite video, stereo audio, 5.1 channel analog audio, coaxial digital audio, optical digital audio; Advanced connections: Secure Digital (front panel), RS-232C, Remote control In/Out; Audio decoding: not Dolby TrueHD, not DTS-HD; HD Audio bitstream out: Yes; Advanced features: BonusViewDimensions (WHD; Weight): 435 x 96 x 316mm; 5.8kg
PROS Well built Blu-ray player
High quality picture with Blu-ray
Excellent system integration features
Good information display
CONS No BD-Live
No HD audio decoding at all
Not able to clear BD-storage for individual movies
Overall
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
52
no sooner had Sony assaulted the
accessibility problem with Blu-ray
by launching its $449 BDP-S350
budget player (reviewed page
50), and its higher-spec BDP-S550, than it
comes up with this behemoth. At over ten
kilograms, this is a premium player.
In operation it isn’t very much different to
the S350, it’s cheaper cousin, but it has these
little things about it that scream quality. One
such is a little thing that truly marks high quality
equipment: a smooth and silent disc drawer.
System integrators will love the RS-232C
interface. Sony says that you also get a full
DTS-HD Master Audio decoder, complete with
7.1 channel analog audio outputs.
There was no noticeable difference
between this unit and the BDP-S350 in video
performance. It offered essentially the same
features and, seemingly, the same video
processing circuits. On Blu-ray these were
brilliant. On PAL DVDs they were fairly good,
but the deinterlacing circuitry was tricked by
my test clips into thinking fi lm-sourced material
was video sourced, and its quality was thereby
reduced. This was identical to the treatment by
the BDP-S350, but somewhat different to other
players, so I conclude the same processors are
used.
I could not test the claimed ability of the
unit to decode DTS-HD Master Audio, due to
an odd design choice. You can set the Blu-ray
audio output to ‘Direct’ (which feeds the audio
bitstream unaltered to your receiver via HDMI)
or to ‘Mix’. If you choose ‘Mix’, then you also get
secondary audio from BD-Live material, but the
unit uses the standard DTS core from the high
defi nition audio track.
Apparently the DTS-HD Master Audio
decoding only comes into play if you select
‘Direct’. With a modern receiver, this sends
the undecoded bitstream to the receiver for
decoding. But if you have a HDMI receiver
without this capability, then the player will fully
decode this sound.
I have to confess that I don’t see why Sony
would have implemented it this way, especially
as the unit will decode Dolby TrueHD with
the ‘Mix’ setting (albeit, limiting the output
frequency to 48kHz).
The remote control is a little disappointing,
being essentially identical to that of the low
cost model, except with the addition of a
backlight for about half the keys.
SonY BDP-S5000ES
sony bDP-s5000esratinGsPrice: $2299
Warranty: 12 monthsContact: Sony Australia Limited1300 137 669www.sony.com.auFeatures: Output: HDMI, component video, S-Video, composite video, stereo audio, 7.1 channel analog audio, coaxial digital audio, optical digital audio; Advanced connections: Ethernet, USB, Control S/IR In, RS-232C; Audio decoding: Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD; HD Audio bitstream out: Yes; Advanced features: BonusView, BD-Live, 1GB USB memory stick suppliedDimensions (WHD; Weight): 430 x 125 x 365mm; 10.2kg
PROS Fully equipped Blu-ray player
Magnifi cently well built
Fast operation
Super smooth tray
High quality picture and sound with Blu-ray
Full support of all Blu-ray features
CONS DTS-HD Master Audio decoding of
very limited usefulness
No frame step or slow playback modes
Recessed USB can limit types of memory employed
Overall
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
HOW TO BUY
53
blu-ray mini test
In many ways the Panasonic DMP-BD35
is the same as the Yamaha unit included
in this review, except that it is of a much
lighter build, lacks the system integration
features, and is a generation more advanced.
This last point is due to the addition of
two things: a BD-Live implementation, and
decoders for all the audio standards including
the high definition ones.
For BD-Live you use the usual Ethernet port,
and persistent storage is provided not with a USB
memory stick but with a Secure Digital card slot
on the front. This is under a flimsy panel, and so
is not visually intrusive. You can also display JPEG
photos and run AVCHD video from SD cards. You
have to buy the SD card for yourself.
The BD-Live functions worked precisely as
they should, allowing me to download some
trailer clips for Sony titles, and interesting (and
relevant) supplementary material for such
Paramount titles as Iron Man and Transformers.
The BonusView function also worked well
on such titles as Batman Begins. And the unit
was fairly fast, although perhaps not quite so
speedy as the Sony and LG units.
The other area in which it shone was that,
of these players, it was the only one that could
decode DTS-HD Master Audio sound during
BonusView PIP playback of Blu-ray discs.
The decoding on offer is called DTS-HD
Master Audio Essential, which apparently
omits the ability to decode DTS Neo:6 from
Blu-ray. No great loss there. That also makes
this Panasonic unit ideal for those with an
older home theatre receiver with support for
HDMI audio, but lacking high definition audio
decoders.
This player was like the Yamaha with PAL
DVDs, except that it also includes a setting to
force film mode deinterlacing, allowing perfect
high resolution performance with these discs.
The unit also has some stuff that I like: like
a comprehensive information display which
tells you what formats are being used by
the video, plus five slow motion speeds and
single frame stepping (both forwards only).
Less conveniently, it lacks dedicated keys on
the remote control for changing audio and
subtitles, instead requiring you to arrow around
an onscreen display.
SonY BDP-S5000ES
PanaSonIc DmP-BD35
ConClusion
PanasoniC DmP-bD35Price: $495Warranty: 12 monthsContact: Panasonic Australia132 600 www.panasonic.com.auFeatures: Output: HDMI, component video, composite video, stereo audio, optical digital audio; Advanced connections: Ethernet, SD card slot; Audio decoding: Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio Essential; HD Audio bitstream out: Yes; Advanced features: BonusView, BD-Live
Dimensions (WHD; Weight): 430 x 49 x 249mm; 2.6kg
Prices are falling for Blu-ray players, and capabilities are increasing. We are nearing the end of the second of these processes, and the recent fall in the value of the Australian dollar is likely to slow the rate at which prices are falling. So there’s not really that much point in waiting around to get into Blu-ray.
If you aren’t at all interested in the internet-enabled BD-Live capabilities of some discs, then the Yamaha makes a quite decent player. However I like my equipment to have full command over all
the features available to their supported formats.I would be happy with the LG, or with the lower cost Sony. And
I definitely prefer the flexibility of USB external memory rather than SD.Still, for me the Panasonic DMP-BD35 is the best overall package.
It offers full support for BonusView and BD-Live. It allows discs to be single-stepped, and it decodes DTS-HD Master Audio discs to their highest quality in way that can be used with modern HDMI-equipped home theatre receivers.
PROS Excellent value for money
Fast operation
High quality picture and sound with Blu-ray
Full support of all Blu-ray features
Includes usable decoding for DTS-HD Master Audio
CONS
No coaxial digital audio output
Not able to clear BD-storage for individual movies
ratinGs
Overall
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
54
BOX FRESH
Klipsch CS-700/RoomGrooveTo be honest, some so-called ‘wireless’ AV systems
are more trouble than they’re worth. There’s plenty
of AV gear that calls itself ‘wireless’ and is anything
but – especially home theatre systems. Thankfully,
this Klipsch CS-700 system and partnering RoomGroove
iPod dock are some of the fi rst truly ‘wireless’ audio-visual
components I’ve come across since manufacturers supposedly
started ditching the cord spaghetti.
FeaturesThe CS-700 is a 2.1-channel AV system providing Dolby Virtual
Surround. The active subwoofer is wireless, while two satellite
speakers connect to the CD/DVD/tuner component with cables.
Along with a couple of power cords, this is the only cabling. The
system incorporates KlipschCast wireless technology that uses
the 2.4GHz band to transmit and receive (to a certain degree)
between other KlipschCast components – namely the company’s
RoomGroove iPod dock/speaker system.
The central electronics component incorporates a CD/DVD
player plus RDS FM and AM tuner. It outputs up to 1080i
resolution via its HDMI or component video outputs and two
auxiliary inputs for connecting other AV sources. The satellites
are small, feature Klipsch’s customary horn-loaded tweeters and
together with the active 200mm (8 inch) 200 watt subwoofer,
aim to do the job of a conventional 5.1 speaker system, using
Dolby’s Virtual Surround processing.
The RoomGroove sports a retractable iPod cradle
(compatible with iPhone too) or you can plug in other MP3
players; is fully remote controllable and will receive audio from
the CS-700. You can easily add more RoomGrooves around the
house (an unlimited number, according to Klipsch) to create a
wireless network transmitting audio from the CS-700’s FM/AM
tuner or inbuilt CD/DVD player, or a connected PVR or HD set-
top box. The CS-700 is also multi-source, capable of delivering
audio from two different sources – say radio and CD – to two
rooms simultaneously
You can also transmit audio from RoomGroove to
RoomGroove, but not from RoomGroove back to the CS-700.
PROS Effectiveandfriendlywirelessmulti-roomaudio
Wirelessnetworkingadoddletouse
GreatsoundandpicturequalityfromCS-700
CONS VolumelimitationswithRoomGroove
Wirelessrangemaybeanissue
55
SPECIFICATIONS
Klipsch CS-700 Price: $2199Warranty: 12monthsFrequency response:30Hz–20kHz(±3dB)Amplifier power:200watts(subwoofer,continuous)Speakers: 75watts,2channelsdrivenCrossover frequency: 125Hz,24dB/octaveMaximum SPL:112dBHF Horn:MicroTractrix,25mmtweeterMidrange driver:75mmpaperconeSubwoofer driver:200mmpapercone,downward–firingInputs:Audio:digitalcoaxialoptical,linelevelanalogVideo:2xcomposite,2xS-VideoOutputs:Video:1xHDMI,component,S-Video,compositeWeight: 18.14kg
Klipsch RoomGroovePrice:$449Warranty:12monthsFrequency response:65Hz–17kHz(±3dB)Amplifier: ClassDMaximum SPL:98dBHF Horn:MicroTractrix,25mmtweeterMidrange driver:60mmpaperconeInputs:iPoddockingconnector/stereominiauxiliaryinputDimensions:178x400x114mmWeight: 2.7kg
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
Klipsch claims around 30 metres as an average range
for the system when used in wood and/or gyprock (rather
than metal and concrete) constructions. Our test location
is gyprocked/fibro clad, so I would have expected better
transmission/reception. Moving the RoomGroove a couple of
metres closer to the room with the CS-700 improved things, but
the sound was not what you’d call CD quality.
The CS-700 system makes plenty of noise itself and despite
reservations, the Dolby Virtual Surround did a convincing job.
There was a definite centralisation of dialogue and, at times,
even rear effects sounded as if they were coming from the
right surround spots. I wouldn’t say it’ll give you the presence
and spread of a conventional 5.1 system, but it does the trick
nonetheless without the box count and messy wires. Musically,
the Klipsch can hold a tune and as a sub/sat system the trio
delivers a nicely balanced performance, with ample dynamics
from such compactness.
ConclusionThese Klipsch components take the hassle and expense out of
putting together a wireless multi-room audio network. It has
limitations, but essentially Klipsch’s efforts with both these
components have resulted in a surround solution that sounds
and looks good, plus it keeps a wonderfully low visual profile
around the house.
Nic Tatham
Regarding the
former, Klipsch
distributor,
Powermove, says
“If a RoomGroove is
transmitting and a
second RoomGroove
is told to transmit,
the second RoomGroove will
bump the first RoomGroove by occupying its wireless
channel. However, in systems not incorporating a CS-700, two
RoomGrooves can transmit simultaneously. To enable this
feature, all of the RoomGrooves must be assigned to a home
code from 5 to 9. Selecting a home code from 5 to 9 will allow a
second RoomGroove to occupy the wireless channel which was
previously assigned to the CS-700.”
PerformanceUp and running in no time at all, this is one of easiest home
theatre in a box systems to install. What’s more, the wireless
functionality came on song without any hassles also. I was
expecting trouble, but soon had stereo sound – a CD playing
on the CS-700 system – pumping out of the RoomGroove.
I also loved the way you could control the CS-700 from the
RoomGroove’s remote, changing source, volume and tracks.
Despite its compactness, the RoomGroove pumps out a solid
bass, but things start to distort a little if the volume’s cranked
too far. It worked great receiving audio from the CS-700 in the
same room, so I tried it in another part of the house, only to find
that with around 18 metres between the two, the audio began to
break up.
KlIPSCh CS-700/ROOmGROOvE
56
BOX FRESH
Geneva Model XL The Geneva Model XL Sound System is a single box FM
radio, CD player and iPod/iPhone dock. But that sells it
short, for it is as large as a bar fridge, packs 600 watts
of amplifi ers and full three-way stereo loudspeakers.
FeaturesSo, yes, there are a total of six speaker drivers in this box, from
a pair of 25mm soft dome tweeters down to large 203mm bass
drivers. It seems that each driver has a 100 watts of power
available to it, supplied by six D2AUDIO digital amplifi ers. The
drivers are bass refl ex-loaded in this very sturdily constructed
box. The whole thing, standing 613mm tall and 55mm wide,
weighs a full 38kg!
Underneath are connections for the power cord, FM aerial
and a stereo analog cable. The base of the unit is held up by four
screw-on feet, and a fl oor stand ($399) is optionally available.
The sides, top and back of the unit are fi nished in a shiny
white (or red or black) gloss, while the front is fi tted with a
colour-matched perforated metal grille. On the top is a fold-up
panel that reveals four basic controls, a 3.5mm input socket,
and an iPod docking connector. Behind this panel is a slot for
inserting CDs.
The sound stage opened up, both to the left and right, and to the front and back. Excellent depth appeared in a most attractive way
PROS Verygoodaudioperformance
Excellentstereosoundstagewhensittinginsweetspot
Usefulremotecontrolandextrainputs
CONS Large,heavy,expensive
Littlestereoeffectoutsideofsweetspot
57
SPECIFICATIONSPrice: $3999Warranty:12monthsContact:AudioDynamicsPtyLtd(03)98820372www.audiodynamics.com.auPower:digital,6x100wattsDrivers:2x25mmtweeters,2x133mmwoofers,2x203mmsub-woofersCabinet:bassreflexloadedSources:1xslot-loadingCDplayer(built-in),1xFMradio(builtin),1xiPod/iPhonedock,2xanalogstereoaudio(1via3.5mmmini-jack)Features:D2AUDIOdigitalamplifiers,EmbracingSoundstereotechnologySupplied accessories:remotecontrol;manual;‘SoundCheck’samplerCDDimensions (WHD):550x613x370mmWeight:38kg
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
Geneva Model XL You get a remote control and the information is provided by
a 22mm tall five-digit LED, visible through the perforations in
the top right corner of the grille.
PerformanceThe iPod or iPhone charges even when the unit is switched off.
The remote control allows you to skip tracks and to pause, but it
provides no menu navigation. The FM radio tuner was unusually
good, providing clean reception on stations that are usually
pretty noisy in my area.
The system went nicely loud. Not as loud as I was expecting,
given the size of the unit and the power provided, but it still
managed room-filling levels. When really pushed, the sound
became a little harsh, confused and dynamically compressed.
But that was with sound levels peaking well over 100 decibels.
The volume level is displayed as a scale from 0 to 100. If you
switch off the unit with the volume above 50, on the next start-
up it reverts to 50: a nice safety measure.
The sound was well balanced tonally to the extremes of the
treble, and all the way down to below 50 hertz, with usable
output down to about 35 hertz.
A problem with single-box speaker systems is the lack of
stereo separation, and to deal with this Geneva has employed
‘Embracing Sound’ technology. This processes the signal
(apparently by primarily feeding some phase-adjusted sound to
the opposite channels) to produce a wider stereo effect from
closely spaced speakers, and ‘Embracing Sound’ claims this
produces better actual results than normal stereo speakers.
I was about to completely dismiss this concept because to me
the sound stage was confined to the face of the unit. Then
I sat myself carefully facing it, right on its centre axis. The sound
stage opened up, both to the left and right, and to the front and
back. Excellent depth appeared in a most attractive way.
Just don’t expect that behaviour when you’re not in the
unit’s very small sweet spot.
ConclusionThe Geneva Model XL Sound System a large, heavy and very
expensive box, but it’s a beautifully finished box that does
provide very good performance.
Thomas Bartlett
GENEvA MOdEl Xl
MORE SIZES TO CHOOSE FROM
If budget doesn’t stretch to the $3999 for the Geneva Labs XL, the Swiss manufacturer also offers the M for $1749 and the L for $2399. The 7.2kg M provides dual tweeters and dual woofers, and 4 x 25 watts outputs from a cabinet designed to for a tabletop, while the Model L provides the same power output – but using larger drivers – from a larger cabinet. Each comes in red, black or white finishes.
58
BOX FRESH
Pioneer KuroPDP-LX609Aand BDP-LX71 Pioneer has not been one to play the electronics-
as-a-commodity game. Instead it has chosen to
service the end of the market mostly concerned
with quality. Nowhere is this more evident than
with its full high defi nition BDP-LX609A plasma TV, and
premium BDP-LX71 Blu-ray player.
FeaturesWhen you’re developing a premium quality TV, you can go for
a large feature set, or aim for superb performance, or opt for
sheer size. What the Pioneer Kuro PDP-LX609A offers is all
three in the one package.
No, at 152cm (60 inches) it isn’t the very largest fl at screen
TV we’ve ever seen, but it isn’t far off it. It offers a full
1920 by 1080 pixel high defi nition display, supports the essential
1080p24 signal from Blu-ray, and has three HDMI inputs.
Pioneer is a little coy about its performance measures,
refusing to specify for example a contrast ratio. I have quite
a bit of sympathy with this, because when you are talking
about recent claims of one million to one, you are getting into
unmeasurable territory. So see below for my take on this TV’s
performance on such matters (a preview: it’s simply brilliant).
So it’s big, and it has performance. But there are also
features. Such as a high defi nition digital TV tuner, along with an
analog one. Such as a USB socket, from which you can display
photos. Most impressively, such as an Ethernet socket which
is ‘DLNA’ certifi ed. DLNA is a widely based industry standard
designed to allow easy connection of consumer electronics to
computer networks. In this TV’s case, it can play back a very
wide range of multimedia formats covering photos, video and
sound (see the feature list for details).
It’s diffi cult to be quite so unequivocally enthusiastic about
the features of the BDP-LX71 Blu-ray player. After all, it costs
more than twice as much as very respectable Blu-ray players
from some other brands, yet lacks the most advanced feature
of those lower cost players: BD-Live. That is an Internet
connectivity feature that allows additional material to be
downloaded for some Blu-ray discs.
If, however, you like to keep your internet and your home
entertainment in separate domains, then this will be no
loss to you. What you do get is more important: BonusView
support. That is the picture-in-picture, sound-in-sound
function that is starting to be inventively used on a number
of Blu-ray discs.
59
As I write, the unit has full audio decoders for Dolby Digital
Plus and Dolby TrueHD, but not (like just about every other
player) for DTS-HD Master Audio. However Pioneer promises to
have a fi rmware upgrade available for the unit in January 2009
which provides this capability as well.
This will allow the unit to provide the maximum possible
audio quality – delivered via either its 7.1 channel analog audio
outputs, or via HDMI as 7.1 channel PCM – even while the PIP
features are being used. Most players fall back on the standard
DTS ‘core’ when called upon to do this.
Instead of the usual push buttons for eject, stop, play and so
forth, the Blu-ray player has touch sensitive patches on its front
for these controls.
PerformanceSo how well did these premium products work? In short, the Blu-ray
player worked very well, and the TV worked absolutely brilliantly.
To dispose of the minor stuff fi rst, the TV’s DLNA
functionality worked precisely as it was supposed to. The picture
quality from still photos was excellent, with the full resolution
of the TV used. And the TV did indeed play back the thousands
of MP3 tracks on my computer once I had connected it to my
home computer network. It’s best to feed these back to a high
quality sound system using the TV’s optical digital audio output.
After all the TV has, well, TV speakers: fi ne for their purpose but
defi nitely limited when it comes to music.
The TV tuners worked well, but the brilliance of this TV
resides mostly in its plasma panel, and the electronics that drive
it. As mentioned, Pioneer doesn’t specify the TV’s contrast ratio.
In fact, it delivered black levels that result from a true absence
of light, rather than a mere diminution. Even when there were
bright elements on the screen, the parts of the picture that
were supposed to be black remained so. This was particularly
easy to spot, seeing as how the picture was so damned large!
It was almost like having a front projector, but without its
disadvantages.
The picture was plenty bright enough, and the colours were
extraordinarily natural in their appearance.
One of the reasons for the great picture was the superb
processing of video provided by the electronics. This did
brilliantly on deinterlacing both 1080i and 576i video, whether
delivered from a disc player, or by the unit’s own built-in digital
TV tuner. TV has never looked as good as it did with this unit …
even with SDTV!
The BDP-LX71 Blu-ray player also performed fl awlessly. I have
one complaint: while noticeably faster than previous Pioneer
models, it remains one of the slowest of those released over
the past few months. Part of this is just silly design: why should
it take 30 seconds to open the disc draw from switch on? This
ought to happen as soon as power is applied (if you start it up by
touching the ‘open’ spot on the front panel). The machine
PIONEER KURO PDP-LX609A AND BDP-LX71 PIONEER KURO PDP-LX609A AND BDP-LX71
PROS Excellent picture quality on BD
Excellent picture quality on DVD
Full decoding of HD audio (coming soon)
High quality build
CONS Lacks BD-Live
Slower operation than some other playersSPECIFICATIONS • BDP-LX71Price: $1299Warranty: one yearContact: Pioneer Electronics Australia1800 060 852www.pioneer.com.auOutputs: 1 x component video, 1 x S-Video, 1 x composite video, 1 x HDMI, 1 x stereo analog audio, 1 x 7.1 channel analog audio, 1 x optical digital audio, 1 x coaxial digital audioOther: 1 x controlFeatures: 24 frames per second output, Consumer Electronics Control (CEC), on-the-fl y output resolution support, BonusView, Complete audio decoding (coming soon), noise reduction options, controllable deinterlacingSupplied Accessories: remote control, manualDimensions (WHD): 420 x 124 x 380mmWeight: 5.7kg
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
60
BOX FRESH PIONEER KURO PDP-LX609A AND BDP-LX71
PROS Brilliant picture performance
Massive screen size
Good video processing operations
DLNA
CONS Three HDMI inputs a little below the premium TV norm these days
SPECIFICATIONS • PDP-LX609APrice: $10,999Warranty: fi ve yearsContact: Pioneer Electronics Australia1800 060 852www.pioneer.com.auImage: plasma; 152cm diagonal; 16:9 native aspect, 1920 x 1080 pixels; brightness not stated; contrast ratio not statedInputs: 3 x composite video, 1 x S-Video, 1 x component video (supporting progressive scan and HD), 1 x D-SUB15 RGB, 3 x HDMI, 6 x stereo audio, 1 x USB (for photo display), 1 x EthernetOutputs: 1 x optical digital, 1 x headphoneAudio: stereo, 2 x 18 wattsFeatures: HD digital TV tuner, analog TV tuner, ‘Optimum’ display mode, fi eld noise reduction, mosquito noise reduction, block noise reduction, 3D Y/C separation, 1080p24 support, DLNA operation, supporting WMV9, MPEG2, MPEG1, MPEG4, MP3, WMA, LPCM, AAC, JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF and BMP fi lesSupplied accessories: remote control; manual; desktop standDimensions (WHD): 1465 x 876 x 93mm (without stand)Weight: 50.8kg
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
initialisation process should continue while this is happening.
That said, this unit has a number of unique virtues (especially
now that Sony is no longer using Pioneer players as the guts of
its). The main one is the on-the-fl y resolution control function
provided on the remote control. Other BD players we’ve seen
force you to stop play in order to alter the resolution settings, or
to go into the setup menu. Pioneer just does the whole thing with
a couple of remote control keys. This offers no real advantages in
practice, as with the output resolution set to ‘Auto’, the unit does a
fi ne job (1080p24 during Blu-ray movie playback, and 1080p50 or
60 for everything else). Still, I think it’s cool.
The picture quality was immaculate, and not just with Blu-ray
discs; the unit did a respectable job with PAL DVDs. You can
adjust the video display parameters (and apply a number of
various noise reduction processes) using a dedicated key on
the remote control. There are a number of video presets and
three user memory settings that are very convenient. But if you
purchase these two units as a package, you should choose the
‘Pioneer PDP’ setting, which of course optimises the player for
top performance with this Pioneer TV.
One little extra offered by this player that puts it ahead of
most of the others: transport controls. Want to do an A-B loop?
This unit supports it for Blu-ray in addition to DVDs. If you pause
a Blu-ray (or DVD, of course), you can frame step both forwards
and backwards. That makes fi nding the specifi c frame you want
easy. You can even do an A-B repeat loop on a Blu-ray.
ConclusionThe Pioneer Kuro PDP-LX609A TV is, truth be told, about as
good as you can get today. Indeed, it’s hard to see how it could
get any better. The BDP-LX71 is an excellent Blu-ray player in all
respects … except for its failure to support BD-Live functions.
But if that isn’t something you’re dying for, then you will be
pleased with this player. Thomas Bartlett
ENTER THE
COMPETITION FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A DIGITAL HOME PACKAGE
Valued at over $6,500PRIZES INCLUDE
Tannoy HTS200 Canon EOS 1000D YamahaRXV 663
AV Receiver
HPTouchSmart
IQ515(4 x fl oor standing speakers; 1 x ctr
speaker; 1 x active subwoofer) RRP $1,999.00 from Syntec
with 18-55mm IS + FREE DVD RRP $999 from
www.CamerasDirect.com.au from Yamaha RRP $2499 from from HPTerms & Conditions of Entry 1. Information on how to enter forms part of the terms and conditions of entry. To enter the Win a $6,500 Digital Home Set-up competition visit www.gadgetguy.com.au, click on the Win a $6,500 Digital Home Set-up graphic, and answer the 25 words or less question. Eligible participants are required to provide their name, address, postcode, telephone number and a valid email address to complete their entry. 2. There is a limit of one entry per each valid email address 3. Entry is open to all permanent residents of Australia, but to be eligible to win the prize the email address you submit with your entry MUST be actively subscribed to the weekly GadgetGuy Grapevine newsletter at the time of the prize judging. 4. The judges’ decision is fi nal and no correspondence shall be entered into. Prizes cannot be transferred or redeemed for cash. 5. This is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining winners. 6. Judging for the competition will take place on February 25, 2009 at Gadget Group, 120 Cathedral St, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011. 7. The promoter will not be held responsible for any late, lost or misdirected mail. 8. No employees, relatives or associates of Hewlett Packard, Cameras Direct, Yamaha, Syntec or Gadget Group Pty Ltd can enter the competition. 9. The winners shall be notifi ed by email, and upon confi rmation of the winners’ contact details the names will be published in the weekly GadgetGuy.com.au newsletter. 10. Prize value is the recommended retail value as provided by the supplier and is correct at the time of printing. All prize values are in Australian dollars. 11. The promoter shall not be responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever that is suffered (including but not limited to direct or consequential loss) or any personal injury suffered or sustained in connection with any prize/s, except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law. 12. The competition commences November 14, 2008 and concludes on February 16, 2009. All entries become the property of the promoter. 13. Prize win-ners once notifi ed by email of their win have 3 months from the despatch of our email to supply us their contact details. If no reply is received then the prize will be re-drawn on May 16th, 2009, at 12 pm at the offi ces of Gadget Group, 120 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011. 14. There is one prize, comprising four components - the Canon EOS 1000D camera (prize value $999.00 RRP), a Yamaha RXV 663 ($1,099 RRP), a Tannoy HTS200 (4 x fl oor standing speakers; 1 x ctr speaker; 1 x active subwoofer - $1,999.00 RRP) and an HP TouchSmart PC IQ505a ($2,499 RRP) - that together are valued at $6,596 RRP. 15. The promoter of this competition is Gadget Group Pty Ltd, ABN 52050106502.
62
BOX FRESH
Grundig GLCD2206HDV For some AV enthusiasts, style is everything. It’s not
enough to just have high quality components, they
need to be stylish too. And sorting out the lounge
room is no problem these days, with dozens of
sleek devices to choose from. But what about your secondary
AV spot? The kitchen, study or bedroom TV? You need a small,
but quality display and if you can somehow get digital HDTV and
DVD playback in a low-profi le package, all the better.
Fortunately, there are a number of smaller LCD TVs with
integrated tuners and DVD players on the market right now, and
this is Grundig’s offering.
It’s called the GLCD2206HDV but it’s also part of Grundig’s
Misuro family so for the sake of brevity, that’s what we’ll call it.
Other models in the range include a 40cm (15.6 inch) variant
($599) in fi re red, midnight blue, high gloss white or piano black
fi nish; a 48cm/19 inch model (in white or black only) for $749, and
a $1200 (white or black) 81cm/32 inch model, which excludes the
12 volt power adaptor. This top-of-the range model has two HDMI
inputs, 1366 x 768 resolution, a coaxial audio output for sending
multichannel surround from HDTV broadcasts to an outboard AV
receiver and 2 x 8 watts speaker output.
FeaturesWhen it comes to functionality, the Misuro under review here
has you covered. The 56cm LCD has a native resolution of
1680 x 1050, and inputs include component, HDMI and VGA.
That means you can use it as a PC monitor as well.
There’s an integrated HDTV digital tuner which can store up
to 100 channels (overkill for this country!), and a slot-loading
DVD drive.
The unit itself has a piano-fi nish black fascia and a few style
elements such as the round plinth and recessed silver strip. Oddly
though, the construction is actually quite light and plasticky, more
so than we would have expected at this price point.
The included remote favours functionality over ergonomics,
and DVD controls aren’t exactly front-and-centre. All the buttons
you need are there, though, including an aspect ratio button for
all your older 4:3 DVDs. The Misuro also supports teletext – but
does anyone still use it?
Another handy accessory is the 12 volt AC adaptor for your
car or boat.
PerformanceAs with all 56cm displays, this one can’t actually do proper
1080p or even 1080i HD. The 1050 vertical pixels are exactly 30
pixels short, but the system can interpolate a 1080p signal and
give decent results.
These 56cm panels are being churned out at a breakneck
rate, mostly to service consumer PC monitors: 56cm is one of
the most popular sizes now.
PROS Stylishdesign
Built-inDVDplayer
Goodconnectivityoptions
12voltspowersupplyforuseincaravansandboats
CONS Nobespoketechnology
Notrue1080pHD
Highprice
63
SPECIFICATIONSPrice: $849Contact: www.grundig.com.au0297143434Warranty:threeyearsDisplay:56cm(22inch)LCDTV,1680x1050pixels,1000:1contrastratio,300cdm2brightness,16.7millioncolours,5msresponsetime,170degreeshorizontalviewingangleAudio: 2x3wattspeakersConnections:1xcompositevideo,1xS-video,component,1xHDMI,1xSVGAExtras: onboardHDTVtuner,onboardslot-loadingDVDplayer,12VcaradaptorFinish: high-glosswhiteandblack,fireredandmidnightbluePower consumption: 60wattsWeight (with stand): 8.5kg
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
Grundig GLCD2206HDV
What’s surprising about this Grundig-branded display, sold at
a Grundig price, is that there’s no bespoke technology powering
the TV. No “smooth motion” or “colour enhance” or any other
trendy trademarked functionality. This is just a decent-quality
panel in a standard TV chassis with a basic DVD player in the
back.
Image quality is good, but no better than you’d expect from
a Korean or Japanese TV – or indeed from a PC monitor that
might not have a tuner or a DVD player in it, but will cost you
less than half this price.
ConclusionThe styling of this TV is almost identical to a number of
Samsung products. Especially the power button on the fascia.
It’s not a rebranded cheapie by any means, but we expect slab-
faced German minimalism from Grundig.
And that’s the essential problem with the GLCD2206HDV.
When you buy Grundig, you expect something different, special
even. And this is just another TV with some extra functionality.
If it cost the same as any other TV, that would be fine. But
we’re paying a European premium here, so we can be a bit
disappointed at the lack of European style.
Still, the three-year warranty is a welcome bonus, and if
you’re a Grundig loyalist, this TV certainly won’t put you off your
favourite brand.
Anthony Fordham
GRuNdIG GLCd2206HdV
64
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66
BOX FRESH
Sony XBR KDL46XBR45Eventually technology reaches it limits. Take the CD
player – technically, there’s not a lot more that can
be extracted from a CD and players have pretty
much reached technical perfection. But what
about TVs, and more specifi cally, LCD panels? For years the TV
remained fundamentally unchanged (apart from the advent
of colour), but today’s fl at panel HDTV explosion has seen TV
technology virtually start from scratch.
FeaturesSony’s Bravia XBR45 Series (there are 40, 46 and 55 inch/101,
116 and 140cm models) is described as Sony’s ‘most advanced’
Bravia TV. The $6999 KDL46XBR45 under review here employs
RGB Dynamic LED backlighting, the latest Bravia Engine 2 Pro
processing and Motionfl ow Pro 100Hz technology, designed to
sharpen and stabilise horizontal, fast-moving images.
This works by creating a new frame between each of the
existing 50 frames, then entering the ‘inter-frames’ into the
output signal to double the frame rate from 50 to 100. Backlight
blinking then deactivates horizontal fi elds of the backlight for
the inter-frame calculations, meaning the image is sharpened
and is convincingly clear, according to Sony.
(Sony’s Z-Series Btravia’s feature world-fi rst 200Hz processing,
whereby three additional frames are created for every original
frame. This increases the typical 50 frames per second to 200,
which Sony claims assists in presenting smoother, less blurry
fast-action scenes. The company’s 100Hz Pro televisions, such as
the model revewed here, are, however, positioned above these Z
Series Bravias.)
The backlighting uses red, green and blue LEDs to help deliver
deeper blacks, richer colours and a dynamic contrast ratio of
1,000,000:1 (panel contrast is 3000:1). The distinction between
these two measurements is that the much higher dynamic ratio
is measured during darker scenes when the LCD’s backlight
is dimmer. Conversely, the lower panel contrast ratio fi gure
measures the ratio of the light output of an all white image (full
on) and the light output of an all black (full off) image. A neat
trick of this Sony’s backlight is that it turns on and off in sync with
the pixels, so there’s no lingering image glow in darker scenes.
Naturally, this screen’s native resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels.
Connectivity’s well catered for with four HDMI inputs, plus it
has ample media streaming capabilities with an Ethernet socket
and DLNA-certifi cation (Digital Living Network Alliance) for
accessing photos and music from a networked PC. USB 2.0 ports
PROS Sumptuous-looking1080pdisplay
Excellentblacks–onparwiththebestplasmas
Novisiblemotionblurring
Excellentconnectivity
CONS Criticalviewingangle
67
SPECIFICATIONSPrice:$6999Warranty:oneyearContact:SonyAustraliaLimited1300137669www.sony.com.auImage:LCD,116cmdiagonal;16:9nativeaspect,1920x1080pixels;100,000:1dynamiccontrastratio,3000:1panelcontrastratio,8msresponsetimeInputs:3xcompositevideo,2xcomponentvideo(supportingprogressivescanandHD),1xD-SUB15RGB,4xHDMI,9xstereoaudio,1xUSB,1xEthernet,1xDLNAOutputs:1xcompositevideo,2xanalogstereoaudio,2xopticaldigitalaudio,1xheadphoneAudio:stereo,Nicam,A2,2x10watts(speakers),2x12watts(subwoofer)Features:HDdigitaltuner,analogTVtuner,BraviaEngine2PRO,Motionflow100HzPRO,DLNAcertified,24pTrueCinema,DigitalMediaPort,S-ForceFrontSurroundSupplied accessories:remotecontrol;manual;desktopswivelstandWeight:38kg(includingstand)
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
Sony XBR KDL46XBR45
are provided for playing back photos and music stored on USB
devices and flash drives, and wireless Bluetooth connectivity
is also possible with the optional $249 TDM-BT1 Digital Media
Port, so you could wirelessly stream audio and images from your
Sony Walkman or Bluetooth mobile phone.
The XBR features a new XMB (Cross Media Bar) menu
system, which will look familiar to anyone who’s ever used
the company’s Playstation 3. It makes a welcome change and
together with a decent remote handset, finding your way around
this TV is straightforward, unlike some previous Bravia models.
PerformanceBright, strong, bold colours and some of the deepest blacks I’ve
seen on an LCD, this XBR’s image quality is dressed to impress.
The initial set-up needs some picture enhancement adjustment,
mostly dropping the colour level by six or so points, which to my
eyes looked more natural. But, back to those blacks. This is one
screen that definitely looks like it’s achieving very high contrast
ratios, dynamic or otherwise. Figures don’t mean anything – the
proof is in the pudding.
LCDs have long fallen short in producing truly deep and
stable blacks, but it looks as though this is a thing of the
past with this Sony. In a darkened room, equally dark scenes
impressed with their smoothness and depth, which is no doubt
partly down to the good work of the backlight’s LEDs. On Blu-
ray, the ever-excellent Casino Royale shows just how good this
Sony handles things. Fine details are really well resolved in dark
scenes and there’s none of the grayish/black homogenous mass
that lesser LCDs produce.
Detail retrieval is excellent right across the Sony’s particularly
vibrant, but realistic-looking, colour spectrum. I didn’t detect any
motion blur either, thanks in part to the 100Hz Motionflow Pro
and a quick response time of 8 milliseconds. Fast-moving scenes
look realistic too; that can’t be said for all 100Hz TVs, which can
still leave a trail of slow-moving blurriness. The screen’s not
perfect though – there’s still a loss of colour saturation and a
decrease in contrast ratio as you move off viewing axis by a few
degrees, although it’s not as marked as some, especially earlier
LCD models.
ConclusionDecent sound from the slim speakers and that lovely ‘floating’
screen design top off a rather nice LCD TV. All this comes at
a price though, and with an RRP just shy of seven grand, this
Bravia is expensive. It’s got blacks on par with the best plasmas,
bags of detail and a strong, natural colour balance. This latest
Bravia is a sure sign just how far LCD TV technology has come in
a short space of time.
Nic Tatham
SONy XBR KDL46XBR45
LCDs have long fallen short in producing truly deep and stable blacks, but it looks as though this is a thing of the past with this Sony
68
BOX FRESH
Samsung LA46A950The weakness of LCD TVs in comparison to plasma
TVs has been their black levels. Put your feet up
in the evening, turn off the room lights for an
involving movie, and whenever the picture goes
dark, your LCD will glow. Irritatingly.
In recent years, some brands – including Samsung, which
has done as well as or better than its rivals – have included
clever features which reduce the brightness of the backlight
behind the LCD panel when the picture goes dark. This still had
limitations, such as when the picture was bright in one part of
the screen, but dark elsewhere. Turning down the backlight
risked eliminating the impact of the bright part.
Well, the Samsung LA46A950 LCD TV is the fi rst of a new
breed of LCD TVs that have eliminated this problem.
FeaturesThe trick is to use not one but many backlights. That’s what
Samsung has done with this TV. Behind the LCD panel are
hundreds of tiny LED lights, and these can be controlled so that
areas of the screen can be made bright or dark independently of
other areas.
Imagine, a dark room is shown in a movie. In the corner of
the screen, a door is fl ung open, glowing brightly against the
gloom. With this TV, there need be no compromise. In the dark
areas of the screen the brightness can remain low, while where
the door has opened the backlights can burn brightly.
Blu-ray, playing at 1080p24, was the best, of course, but HDTV often looked more like a window into the world of the action, than a mere representation of it on a screen
PROS Fullhighdefinitiondisplay
Brilliantblacklevels
Excellentpicturequality
Excellentvideoprocessing
Plentifulrangeofinputs
CONS Norear-mountedS-Videoinput
69
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: $5499Warranty:threeyearsContact: SamsungElectronicsAustralia1300369600www.samsung.com.auImage:LCD;117cmdiagonal;16:9nativeaspect,1920x1080pixels;brightness500m2;2,000,000:1dynamiccontrastratio;responsetimenotstatedInputs: 2xcompositevideo,1xS-Video,2xcomponentvideo(supportingprogressivescanandHD),1xD-SUB15RGB,4xHDMI,6xstereoaudio(oneas3.5mmstereosocket),1xUSB,1xEthernetOutputs:1xopticaldigitalaudio,1xanalogstereoaudio,1x3.5mmstereoheadphonesAudio: stereo,2x10watts,4speakersFeatures: LEDbacklight,PIP,Teletext,analogandHDdigitaltunersbuiltin,fourHDMIinputs,SamsungDNIePropictureprocessing,MoviePlus100Hzprocessing,USBforphotodisplayandMP3playback,DLNAcertificationforEthernetformultimediaplaybackSupplied accessories: remotecontrol;manual;desktopstandDimensions (WHD):1160x669x108mm(withoutstand)Weight: 26.3kg(withoutstand)
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
ConclusionThe Samsung LA46A950 LCD TV has brought the LCD TV,
finally, into full competition with the very best of plasma TVs.
This truly is a state-of-the-art television.
Thomas Bartlett
This is a premium TV for Samsung (it costs over $1500
more than the next model down in the same size), so it gets
Samsung’s full premium feature-set, including USB card
reader, PIP, built-in HD tuner and four HDMI inputs.
And it adds one rare extra: a Digital Living
Network Alliance (DLNA) network port. Plug it
into your home network and with suitable server
software on your computer (Windows Media Player
11 will do) you can play back photos, videos and
music stored within it using the TV.
The TV can also display news and weather
snippets which it captures from the internet, and
has some built-in art works, kiddie entertainments,
exercise instructions and recipes (we’re keen to see
the kitchen that can accommodate a 117cm/46 inch
screen).
PerformanceBut let’s get back to movie watching. I gave it the
hard test: 10pm, all the lights out, Blu-ray movie
on. A scene in the movie faded out and there was
a brief moment of blackness during the transition
to the next scene. The light from the Samsung TV’s
screen also faded to complete blackness. The screen area
was indistinguishable from the bezel. It was truly dark.
Then there was the real test, easily done with one of the
built-in photographs. This has fireworks shown against a dark
background. In my dark room, the black background really was
black. But that could be a trick of the eyes because of the bright
areas on screen, so I used a light-proof rug to mask off the
bright areas of the screen, and the black parts remained black.
Perfectly black. Brilliant!
The DLNA stuff worked well (that’s the whole point of DLNA
certification), much as it does with high-end home theatre
receivers.
As for all other aspects of the TV’s operation, they worked
just like Samsung’s high-end TVs always do: very well. Blu-ray,
playing at 1080p24, was the best, of course, but HDTV often
looked more like a window into the world of the action, than a
mere representation of it on a screen.
SAmSuNG LA46A950
70
BOX FRESH
Denon AVR-589/SYS-56HT Package
I am not a big fan of home theatre in a box systems. Too
often they don’t end up being good value for money
… once you realise that aspects of them need to be
improved.
But I am a big fan of Denon’s take on the theme. That’s
probably because it isn’t really a home theatre in a box. It merely
encroaches on that genre through its pricing.
FeaturesInstead, this combo system consists of a high quality 5.1 channel
home theatre receiver, the Denon AVR-589, and a compact
satellite/subwoofer speaker system, the SYS-56HT (which does
indeed come in one box).
The receiver is incredible. I remember when component
video inputs were the preserve of prestige home theatre
receivers. This one has two sets of inputs. It also has two HDMI
inputs!
These provide full support for all forms of HDMI video,
faithfully passing it through to the display. But the receiver does
not support audio over HDMI, so you need to parallel the HDMI
cable from your Blu-ray player with an optical or coaxial digital
audio connection.
The speaker system consists of fi ve small satellite speakers
(one is slightly larger and sits sideways, so as to operate as a
centre channel) and a subwoofer. The satellites each have two
PROS Good,nofrills5.1channelaudioperformance
Brilliantvalueformoney
ConvenientHDMIpictureswitching
Goodbasisforbuildingoninthefuture
CONS Oddlyorganisedremotecontrol
71
SPECIFICATIONSSystem price:$999Warranty: twoyearsContact: AudioProductsGroup1300134400www.audioproducts.com.au
Denon AVR-589Power: 5x75watts,20Hz-20kHz,8ohms,0.06%THDInputs:4xcompositevideo,3xS-Video,2xcomponentvideo,7xanalogstereoaudio,1x5.1analogaudio,2xopticaldigitalaudio,2xcoaxialdigitalaudio,2xHDMI,1xcalibrationmicrophoneOutputs: 2xcompositevideo,2xS-Video,1xcomponentvideo,2xanalogstereoaudio,1xsubwoofer,1xHDMI,1x6.5mmheadphoneFeatures: Audysseyautomaticcalibrationandaudioprocessing;32bitDSP;FullHDMI1.3athroughvideo;frontpanelAVinput(compositeandstereoaudio);AVsyncadjustment;1080p24videopassthroughSupplied accessories:remotecontrol;calibrationmicrophoneDimensions (WHD):434x171x377mmWeight: 10.8kg
Denon SYS-56HTDrivers:SC-A56 satellites, SC-C56 centre:2x57mmfullrangedriversDSW-56 subwoofer: 1x160mmdriver,downwardsfiringFrequency range: SC-A56 satellites:90-25,000hertzSC-C56 centre: 80-25,000hertzDSW-56 subwoofer: 30-200hertzNominal impedance: All:6ohmsPower: SC-A56 satellites: 30/100watts(IEC/peak)SC-C56 centre: 30/100watts(IEC/peak)DSW-56 subwoofer:50watts(output,6ohms,55Hz,10%THD)Sensitivity: notstatedSupplied accessories:speakercables,subwooferaudiocableDimensions (WHD): SC-A56 satellites:84x189x110mmSC-C56 centre:263x84x110mmDSW-56 subwoofer:210x353x379mmWeight:SC-A56 satellites:1.2kgSC-C56 centre: 1.4kgDSW-56 subwoofer: 9.2kg
For under a grand, this system provides a great (repeat: great) low-cost entry into home theatre sound
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
57mm drivers, while the subwoofer has a 50 watt amplifier
powering its 160mm driver in a bass reflex-loaded enclosure.
The satellite speakers all use spring clips for connections. Thin
speaker cables and an RCA link for the subwoofer are provided.
PerformanceOne of the other things that quite belie the low cost of this
system is the inclusion of Audyssey automatic calibration
(using the supplied microphone). Naturally, it had no problem
detecting that the speakers were ‘Small’, and set the crossover
between the satellites and the subwoofer to 120 hertz. There
is no onscreen display, but the front panel is fairly clear when
adjusting the few setup items you may require.
Lacking HDMI sound, the receiver does not include decoders
for the new audio standards from Blu-ray (these need HDMI to
be delivered). Instead, using an optical or coaxial digital audio
connection you will get the standard Dolby Digital or DTS core
from the Blu-ray disc. Some recent Blu-ray players include a
‘DTS re-encode’ option, allowing you to get full surround sound
even from multichannel PCM soundtracks.
The HDMI video worked well. There appeared to be no
analog-to-HDMI video conversion facility, so if you have analog
video sources you will need to run suitable cables all the way to
your display.
The driver complement in the satellite speakers, and that
of the subwoofer, didn’t really give me much hope for great
sound. I was unduly pessimistic. Denon has clearly spent a bit of
time tuning them up so that they deliver, with the subwoofer, a
balanced and hi-fi-like sound. The stereo and surround imaging
was pretty decent as well, and the subwoofer was extended
enough to deliver satisfyingly with kick drums.
The real limitation on them was volume level. Up loud they
tended to get a bit confused and harsh, but used within their
limits they were – and I can’t believe I’m writing this – lovely!
ConclusionFor under a grand, this system provides a great (repeat: great)
low-cost entry into home theatre sound, and lends itself readily
to step-by-step upgrading in the future. It is far, far better than
the similarly priced home theatre in a box alternatives.
Thomas Bartlett
DENON AVR-589/SYS-56HT PACkAGE
PROS Good solid performance on home theatre basics
Supports new high defi nition audio standards
Good video handling
CONS Oddly organised remote control
72
SPECIFICATIONSPrice: $1,199Warranty: Two yearsContact: Audio Products Group1300 134 400www.audioproducts.com.auPower: 7 x 90 watts, 20Hz-20kHz, 8 ohms, 0.06% THDInputs: 4 x composite video, 3 x S-Video, 3 x component video, 7 x analog stereo audio, 1 x 7.1 analog audio, 2 x optical digital audio, 2 x coaxial digital audio, 3 x HDMI, 1 x calibration microphoneOutputs: 2 x composite video, 2 x S-Video, 1 x component video, 2 x analog stereo audio, 1 x subwoofer, 1 x HDMI, 1 x optical digital audio, 1 x analog stereo audio for Zone 2, 1 x 6.5mm headphoneSurround standards: Dolby Digital EX, Plus and TrueHD; DTS ES and 96/24; DTS-HD Master Audio and High Resolution; Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS Neo:6Features: Audyssey calibration and processing; decodes new Blu-ray audio formats; Zone 2 capability, video conversion (composite, S-Video & component to HDMI); onscreen display; front panel composite and stereo audio inputs; AV sync adjustment; 1080p24 video pass throughSupplied accessories: remote control; calibration microphoneDimensions (WHD): 434 x 171 x 377mmWeight: 11.4kg
RATINGS
Performance
Features
Ease of use
Value for money
BOX FRESH
Denon AVR-789Denon’s AVR-789 is a home theatre receiver for those
who want to get the best out of their Blu-ray discs
(and other source devices), but don’t want to explore
the confusion of networking and internet features
now starting to make an appearance. As such, it comes as a good
price, and with a strong focus on its audio performance.
FeaturesThis receiver offers support for a full 7.1 channels, with 90 high
fi delity watts from each of the seven power amplifi ers. The two
nominally allocated to surround back functions can be redirected to
provide bi-amplifi cation for the front speakers, or to drive speakers
in a second zone. The latter is a particularly useful feature for those
who don’t want 7.1 sound.
The unit has three HDMI inputs and features full decoding for
Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, the two high defi nition
audio standards available from Blu-ray. The HDMI inputs also
support all video standards, and they simply pass it through,
whatever it might be, to your TV. That includes the highest quality
1080p24 from Blu-ray.
The unit also converts the various analog video inputs to
HDMI, making for more convenient operation.
PerformanceNone of the remote control keys would seemed to invoke
the onscreen menu. I couldn’t believe that Denon would
release a receiver in this price category without an onscreen
display.
But there was a menu button on the front panel which
brought it up. Excellent. That still left the mystery of the
remote control. I checked the manual. It talked of pressing the ‘A.
Menu’ key on the ‘Rear’ of the remote control. The penny dropped.
There is indeed a fold out fl ap on the back of remote. This conceals
36 extra keys, more than are on the front.
Once that hurdle was overcome, the rest was easy. A
microphone is supplied for the Audyssey automatic calibration
system, so after wiring up the speakers and sources, it was just a
matter of plugging in the microphone and letting the receiver’s
internal computers do their thing.
The performance of this receiver was both robust and excellent. It
was robust in that it worked nicely with two different Blu-ray players,
a Playstation 3, a DVD player, two different brands of high defi nition
digital TV receiver, all connected via HDMI (not at the same time of
course!) I would not hesitate to use this unit with any and all sources.
It was excellent in that it provided great sound from the two
different sets of loudspeakers I used it with. The volume levels were
quite strong enough for the medium-sized room I was in. If you
have a large room and like your movies really loud, you may want to
consider higher sensitivity loudspeakers.
The analog to HDMI video conversion worked well, delivering
excellent picture quality. So well, I wouldn’t bother running the extra
analogue cables to the display.
ConclusionThe Denon AVR-789 home theatre receiver offers excellent
performance, a good feature set for home theatre operation and
very good value for money. Thomas Bartlett
DENON AVR-789
73
GEARGUIDESFORDIGTALLIVES
NOTEBOOKBUYERS GUIDE
74
It’s a tricky business, buying a new notebook. Sure, it’s
easy enough to decide on a colour you like, and weight
and screen size is something that everybody understands.
But what about all those arcane specs? What is the
difference between a Core 2 Duo T9300 and AMD Turion
RM-80? What effect does adding an extra gigabyte of memory
make? Which version of Vista works for me?
We’ve got you covered.
Categories of notebooksProbably the biggest issue you’ll be facing when buying a
notebook is the trade-off between portability and screen size.
Quite simply, a notebook can’t be petite and have a big screen
at the same time. Some manufacturers such as Apple and Sony
have done some wonderful work lightening up their notebooks
(often by removing things such as the hard disk and optical
drive), but there’s still that fundamental trade-off between
screen size and portability.
The basic decision comes down to whether you’re going to
be carrying around the notebook a lot or whether it’s going to sit
on a desk somewhere most of the time. If the former is the case,
then a lighter, slimmer notebook is your best bet. If the latter, get
something with a big screen.
Notebook manufacturers tend to categorise their notebooks
into different segments to suit these different kinds of users.
There are no hard rules about what a different category means,
but as a guide, here are some examples:
Standard notebook: Not really a category
so much as a balance between elements.
A typical mainstream notebook has a
screen in the 13–15.4 inch range and
weighs between 2kg and 3.5kg.
‘Desktop replacement’: Usually refers to
a notebook with a very large screen size
(usually 17–18.4 inch), a powerful graphics
processor and the fastest processor
going. These have all the top specs for a
notebook, but frequently weigh 4kg or
more, meaning you’re never going to want
to have to carry one around.
Taking Note As powerful as they are portable, notebooks are also as different as they are the same. Nathan Taylor explains the varieties on offer, and how to choose the right model for your needs.
75
Subnotebook: Typically a small screen (13 inch or less) and a
processor designed for power saving rather than performance.
They tend to weigh less than 2kg.
Ultraportable/mobile internet
device/’NetTop’: A new category of
notebook, really created when Asus
introduced the Eee PC. They’re often very
light (1.5kg or less), but have small screens
(as little as 4–5 inches, but more commonly
7–10 inches) and power-efficient processors
such as Intel’s Atom. The original Eee PC
700, for example, was about the size of a
paperback novel.
Tablet: They’re not very common, but if
you search hard enough you can find a
few around. The signature feature of a
tablet PC is a touchscreen that lies flush
with the body of the notebook and is
always visible, kind of like an extra-large
iPod touch. Some tablet PCs don’t have
standard keyboards, though some other
designs have a screen that can pivot or
slide to switch between a regular notebook and tablet PC.
Ruggedised: A rare breed of notebook designed
to stand the rigors of outdoor life. They tend
to be very expensive, but are also likely to
be waterproof, dust proof and capable of
withstanding a certain amount of jarring.
The NEC SheildPro Toughbook is an
example of a ruggedised notebook.
Business and consumer notebooks: Manufacturers also
build different notebooks for different market segments. There
is a difference between a business notebook and a consumer
notebook – although sometimes those differences can be quite
subtle.
Business notebooks tend to focus on security, and often come
with fingerprint scanners, hard drive encryption software and
sometimes smart card readers. They’ll usually have Windows
Vista Business or Enterprise installed. They rarely have powerful
graphics capabilities or consumer features such as web cams.
Consumer notebooks cover the gamut of possibilities,
ranging from ultraportables to desktop replacements. They
usually don’t have the security features of business notebooks,
but often have better graphics capabilities and extra features
such as web cams, TV output sockets and games. They typically
have Windows Vista Home Basic or Home Premium installed.
Understanding The SpecsFor non-techies, understanding the tech specs is the hardest
part of buying a notebook. Sure, we can all make our own
decisions when it comes to design, weight and screen size, but
very few of us can decode what the difference is between a
U7700 and T5800 processor.
To guide you through the different steps, we’ve taken a
typical notebook stat block – in this case from a Dell Inspiron
1525. We’ll talk about each of the specs in turn.
ProcessorThe processor is the main workhorse of the notebook. A faster
processor means that the notebook will be able to work better.
This one is tough to figure out, however, largely thanks to
Intel’s exceedingly confusing naming schema. For example, the
Core 2 U7700 is actually slower than the Core 2 T5850 processor.
We’ll try and unpack the differences for you over the page.
NOTEBOOK BUYERS GUIDE
WhaT TO lOOK fOR
• Fastprocessor• 1GBmemoryminimum;2GBforWindows
Vista• Highresolutionscreen,withgood
brightness• DVDwritingability• Wireless802.11gminimum
ThE GOOD aND lESS GOOD
Good•Light,small,portable•Adesignandfeature-settosuiteveryneeds•Canperformasmobileentertainmentcentres
LeSS Good•All-in-onedesignnotalwaysgoodforfunctionalityor
ergonomics•Canbedifficulttoupgrade•NotascapablewithgamesasdesktopPCs
76
Understanding Intel processors
There are three families of Intel processors that appear in
notebooks today.
Core 2 is the fastest of the three (and the most common),
and will typically appear in standard and desktop replacement
notebooks.
Celeron sits in the middle, and is increasingly rare. It doesn’t
have the performance of Core 2, but often uses less power,
meaning your notebook has a longer battery life. It will appear in
standard and subnotebook designs.
Atom is the slowest of the three, though its high-end models
are competitive with the low-end Celerons. It is easily the most
power effi cient and is often used in NetTop computers like the
Asus Eee PC.
Within each of those families there is a range of processors
available. When it comes to Celeron and Atom, fi guring out
which is the fastest is easy: the higher the model number, the
faster the processor. The Atom Z540 is faster than the Atom
Z520, for example.
When it comes to Core 2, however, things get very confusing
indeed. A Core 2 model name is typically a letter and four digits.
For example: T5850. In some cases there are two letters.
Each of the characters in the name means something, but
the most important thing to remember is that the letter at the
beginning is more important than the digits after it. In order
of performance, from lowest to highest, the models are Uxxxx,
Lxxxx, Pxxxx, Txxxx, Xxxxx and Qxxxx. Thus a ‘T’ model processor
is faster than an ‘L’ model processor (though it uses more power).
Also note: if there’s an extra ‘S’ at the beginning of the name
(eg. The SP9300) – you can pretty much ignore the ‘S’ – it’s a
packaging thing and not something you have to worry about.
Within those families, a higher number generally denotes
a faster processor. It gets a little complicated, but most people
can just bank on the notion that a higher number is better.
For example, a Core 2 Duo T9300 is faster than a Core 2 Duo
T5850. If you want to know how much faster, though, you have
to do some research since from here it gets very technical
(for those geeky enough to understand, the T9300 runs at
2500MHz and has a 6MB cache; the T5850 runs at 2167MHz
and has a 2MB cache.) If you want to do that research, we’d
suggest Wikipedia’s List of Intel’s Core 2 Microprocessors as a
good guide to the different processor specs. (http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors)
Understanding AMD processors
AMD processors are much less common in notebooks than Intel
processors, but there are still a few models fl oating around.
Like Intel, AMD uses an abstract model naming system. Broadly
speaking, there are two families of AMD processors you’ll fi nd in
notebooks:
Turion is roughly equivalent to Intel’s Core 2 processors.
Like Core 2 Duo processors, Turion processors contain two
computing ‘cores’. A core is like an independent processor, so a
dual-core processor is like two processors in one.
Sempron is slower than Turion and roughly equivalent to
Celeron. It only has a single core.
The graphics chip in most notebook is fi ne for 2D graphics, but 3D games need high performance chips
77
The amount of memory in the notebook has a huge effect on performance. The more you have, the better – it’s that simple
Thankfully, AMD uses a relatively linear naming scheme, even
across its different families. Really, you can ignore the entire
processor model name and just look at the last two digits. A
Turion Ultra ZM-86 is faster than a Turion RM-72, for example
– and you don’t have to know anything about the difference
between ‘ZM’ and ‘RM’ to understand that.
operating systemTypically, you’ll get one of four options when it comes to the OS
of the notebook: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Linux and Mac OS.
Windows XP and Linux typically appear only as options
on ultraportable notebooks such as the Asus Eee PC and Dell
Inspiron Mini. These notebooks often don’t have the horsepower
to run Windows Vista and so have to run with one of these
lighter operating systems.
Though you might be familiar with Windows XP, don’t be
too quick to reject Linux – it’s often easier to use, works faster
and is much more secure than Windows XP. It is, however, more
difficult to install new software on (though typically you get an
office suite and a large batch of tools with the Linux notebook).
Mac OS, of course, is available only on Apple laptops. If you
prefer Apple, it’s what you’ll get.
Most retail laptops, however, come with one of the flavours
of Windows Vista: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and
(rarely) Ultimate. Here’s a quick breakdown of the advantages
and disadvantages of each:
Home Basic is just the core – it doesn’t have Windows
Media Center, or some of the applications for creating and
managing multimedia.
Home Premium takes Home Basic and adds Media Center and
a suite of multimedia tools.
Business/Enterprise is designed for work use, it comes with extra
security tools such as a hard drive and data encryption, but it doesn’t
have the multimedia tools of Home Basic or Home Premium.
Ultimate provides everything. Both business security tools and
multimedia tools, as well as a few extras (at the moment, very
few), like a couple of games and the capacity to set a video as
your desktop background. It’s very expensive, however.
MemoryThe amount of memory in the notebook has a huge effect on
performance. The more you have, the better – it’s that simple.
There are some baselines you should be aware of, however.
We wouldn’t recommend getting a Windows Vista notebook with
anything less than 2GB of memory. Less than that, and you can
be sure that Vista will run slow as molasses, no matter how fast
the computer’s processor is.
Windows XP and Linux can run happily in 1GB, however.
Hard driveThis is where your data and multimedia is stored.
Much as with memory, the more hard drive space, the better
– especially if you plan on storing a lot of multimedia on there.
Video chews up hard disk space like nobody’s business, and
even photos can quickly fill a 160GB hard disk if you’re
the snap-happy type. You should look for a hard
disk with at least 160GB capacity, or even 320 or
500GB if you can get them.
It should be noted that a few new notebook
models don’t have hard disks at all – the
MacBook Air and several Eee PC models, for
example. Instead they use a kind of memory
called flash memory to store data. Typically,
this flash memory has nowhere near the
capacity of hard disks, but it does consume
much less power (extending the battery life)
and is often faster to read from or write to than
hard disks.
Also note that if the model of PC you want
doesn’t have enough storage space, you can
always expand it with an external USB hard disk
(pictured). USB hard disks have become
DESIGN
NOTEBOOK BUYERS GUIDE
We’vetalkedherealotaboutthespecificationsofnotebooks,butwhataboutdesign?Aswesawwithmobilephones,designisbecominganincreasinglyimportantfactorinbuyingdecisions,withpeoplewantingsomethingthatlooksgoodinadditiontoworkingwell.
Ofcourse,wecan’treallydictateyourtastes(asmuchaswe’dliketo),sowedon’thavealotofadviceonthatfront,excepttosayit’sagoodideatowanderintoafewcomputerstoreseverynowandthentolookforadesignyoulike.Somethingthatlooksgoodinaninternetpicturemaynotbesocoolinreality.
Inparticular,someofthedesignswe’vebeenimpressedwithinclude:theMacBookAir,withitsultra-thinandlightdesign;thebrightly-colouredDellStudionotebookmodels;Toshiba’sQosmioseries;andSony’sVaionotebooks,especiallyitsultraportablerange.
The Vaio TT series is the smallest and lightest Blu-ray enabled laptop on the market, according to Sony
78
almost ridiculously cheap in recent times, so notebook hard
drive capacity isn’t quite the issue it use to be. You can pick up a
portable 160GB USB hard disk for a little over $100 now.
ScreenThe screen size, as we noted earlier, is one of the fi rst decisions
you have to make when buying a notebook. A bigger screen is
obviously better, but the trade off is portability.
We’d strongly suggest going to a store and seeing a notebook
for yourself before buying. Even if you can’t check out the exact
model you’re considering, look for one with a similar screen size.
Then imagine yourself lugging that notebook around with you, or
sitting at your desk using it day in day out. This kind of impression
is hard to grasp in theory – seeing a notebook in reality helps.
Of course, there’s more to a screen than just size. Screen
quality is an issue as well, and again it’s not something that’s
easy to judge without a fi rsthand look. Forget the specs, the
marketing terms and the fancy technology names. How does the
screen look to you? If you can, you should even try carrying it
around to try it out in different lighting conditions. If you plan on
sitting outside with your notebook, for example, you’re going to
want to know how well it stands up to glare (and you’ll possibly
want to buy a glare shield).
Graphics chipLike processors, the graphics chip is very hard for the layman
to understand. The basic purpose of the graphics chip is to
accelerate 3D graphics, and a good one is essential if you want
to play 3D games on the notebook. Thankfully, if all you want to
do is web surf and work on your notebook, then you probably
don’t have to worry about this spec at all – when it comes to 2D
graphics (as in the Windows desktop), most graphics chips are
pretty much created equal.
If you do care about 3D gaming, however, there’s a dizzying
array of graphics chips available for notebooks and it’s not
always easy to know which is good and which won’t cut it. The
easiest way for us to help you here is to simply break down the
various currently available chips into three categories: basic,
mainstream and high performance.
In this example, you can pretty much forget about running
3D games on a basic graphics chip; on mainstream chips you
can play the occasional game with moderate settings and
high performance chips will be capable of playing the latest
games. They’re not going to match up with desktop PC graphics
performance, but they might come close.
Basic: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 and earlier (including
all models in the 2000’s); Intel Integrated Graphics Media.
Accelerator X3100 and earlier; Nvidia GeForce 9100M, 9200M,
9300M, 8200M, 8M series and GeForce Go 7 Series.
Mainstream: ATI Radeon Mobility Radeon HD 3600 series;
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3500 and X4500;
Nvidia GeForce 9400M and 9500M.
High performance: ATI Radeon Mobility Radeon HD 3800
series, Nvidia GeForce 9600M, 9700M and 9800M.
optical deviceThis is used for disc playback. Assuming the notebook has an
optical device, you’re at least going to want something that
Any battery life listed tends to be best-case-scenario and not indicative of real-world battery performance78
79
aPPlEWeactuallyhaven’thadalottosayaboutApplenotebooksuptonow,andthetruthisthereisn’tmuchtosayanymore.Withtheexceptionoftheoperatingsystem,there’slittledifferenceinthespecificationsbetweenanApplenotebookandothervendors’notebooks–theyusethesameprocessors,graphicschips,memoryandeverythingelseasothernotebookvendorsdo.
Appledoeshavesomeverycooldesigns,includingsomeverylightandslimnotebooks,butothervendorshavealsocomeoutwithneatdesignsaswell.Itboilsdowntothis:ifyoulikeMacOSandApple’sdesigns,getaMac.
NOTEBOOK BUYERS GUIDE
burns discs, so look for a DVD-RW device. Even better (and if you
can afford it, since it commands a massive premium right now),
try to get hold of a Blu-ray device, which will be able to play back
high-definition Blu-ray movies.
Wireless networkingAlso known as Wi-Fi, this allows you to talk to other devices on
your local network (including your internet modem) over the
airwaves. To make use of it, you need a wireless access point in
your home. Many home modem-routers (that’s the device that
connects you to the internet) incorporate a wireless access point.
If your modem doesn’t have wireless capabilities, then you will
need to buy a separate access point, or use wired networking.
The variants of Wi-Fi are called by their rather user-
unfriendly engineering names, such as 802.11g. It’s the last letter
of that code that’s important.
Nearly all notebooks come with wireless networking, but
the best will come with 802.11n networking, which is several
times faster than the more common 802.11g (the easy way to
remember this is that ‘n’ is better than ‘g’, which is better than
‘b’). To get the full benefit of wireless ‘n’ (as it’s known) you will
also need an access point that supports it. A notebook that
has 802.11n networking can still talk to an 802.11g access point,
however, but only at ‘g’ speeds.
Note that wireless networking in this context is not the same
as wireless broadband – it’s for local area wireless only. You can’t
use the wireless networking in your notebook to connect to
Telstra or Unwired’s wireless broadband services, for example.
When you sign up for either of these services, the ISP will
provide you with a modem that you can plug into your notebook.
Service and supportHere’s the simplest piece of advice we have for you in this entire
article: if the notebook seller offers an extended warranty, get
it. Of course, check the specifics before you do – there are often
all sorts of caveats and exceptions and handling fees and rules
where notebooks have to be sent to Kazakhstan for repairs
that might take four or five months, but if everything seems
reasonable, the peace of mind that an extended warranty gives
you is well worth the extra money.
Other things to check out are support line opening hours,
return policies and whether the support staff will handle
software issues or just try and palm you off onto Microsoft
(which will then charge you for support).
WeightAs we mentioned at the top of the article, weight is one of the
big trade-offs you have to think about when buying a notebook.
A bigger screen and more hard disk space usually means more
weight.
Your tolerance for weight will largely depend on how strong
you are and how often you’ll be carrying the notebook around.
As a rule of thumb, if you’re going to be carrying the notebook
everywhere, you’ll not want something much over 3kg – and
you’ll probably want a notebook that’s considerably lighter. One
of the ultraportables, which can weigh less than a kilogram and
can fit in a handbag might suit you best.
other factorsOf course, while these are the major specs, there is much more
to a modern notebook than that. If you look at the specifications
page, you might find a few extra details worth knowing.
Battery life: Once this would have made the front page of
any notebook specs sheet, but now a notebook’s rated battery
life tends to be buried, if it’s even listed at all. It’s not because
battery life has become worse – it hasn’t – but because it’s so
hard to measure with any accuracy. Battery life very much
depends on how a notebook it used: light web browsing may
only require a small amount of power, while watching high def
movies may burn through a charge in less than two hours.
Any battery life listed tends to be best-case-scenario and not
indicative of real-world battery performance.
Some notebooks will come with different battery options, and
which you choose will largely depend on how long you plan to
stay unplugged. Battery life tends to scale in a linear fashion: a
60-cell battery will last about 50 percent longer than
Nearly all notebooks come with wireless networking, but the best offer the latest 802.11n standard
80
a 40-cell battery. Another option is to buy an extra battery that
you can swap out with the original.
Memory card reader: A memory card reader allows you to take
the memory card out of your digital camera or mobile phone
and put it directly into the PC. In Windows, a new drive letter
should appear when you should do so, and you should be able
to access any fi les stored on the memory card as if they were on
the notebook’s own hard disk.
Express and PC card slots: Many notebook PCs, especially
larger models, have these. ExpressCard and PC Cards are
ways of expanding the capabilities of a notebook. PC Cards are
roughly credit card-sized expansion cards, while ExpressCards
are usually about half that size. They’re typically used for
adding things such a TV tuner to the notebook (allowing you
to watch TV on the notebook’s screen), wireless networking (if
you wanted to upgrade to 802.11n, for example) or as a slot into
which you can plug a modem for wireless broadband – you can
get a Telstra 3G broadband ExpressCard, for instance.
Camera: A webcam embedded above the screen is a common
feature of many consumer notebooks. It allows you to video
conference over the internet using Windows Messenger or
Skype or other net messaging software. The camera’s resolution
isn’t really that important, since any video conferencing you
do with the notebook is going to be in relatively low resolution
anyway.
Bluetooth: Another common feature in notebooks, Bluetooth
allows the notebook to communicate wirelessly with other
Bluetooth devices, such as mobile phones, multimedia speakers
and wireless headsets. For example, you could potentially use
Bluetooth to wirelessly sync your notebook’s calendar with that
of your smartphone.
Integrated LAN: A near-universal feature of notebooks, This is
for wired networking with an Internet modem and other PCs. You
use a copper Ethernet cable to connect the notebook to a switch or
router, which is the hub into which all the other devices plug as well.
There are really two possibilities: 100 megabit (Fast) and 1000
megabit (Gigabit) Ethernet. Gigabit Ethernet is ten times faster, but
for it to work at those speeds you need a Gigabit Ethernet switch.
A notebook with Gigabit Ethernet can still operate on a regular Fast
Ethernet network, however, but only at Fast Ethernet speeds.
TV output: This allows you to plug your notebook into your
TV set and effectively use it as a very large monitor. S-Video or
composite outputs work with older, non-HD screens. Though
newer HD fl at TVs often also have these types of inputs, it
probably won’t look very good.
An HDMI output on the notebook means you can plug it into
you HD fl at screen for maximum video quality.
Durability: This one is diffi cult to assess, and typically stores
won’t allow you do any durability testing before you buy (they
tend to get a little antsy when you start deliberately dropping
their display notebooks to test how rugged they are).
There’s a small category of ‘ruggedised’ notebooks such as
the Panasonic ToughBook or NEC SheildPro are designed to be
abused, but most notebooks are fairly delicate. The most fragile
parts are the screen and the internal hard disk – and notebooks
that use fl ash memory instead of a hard disk obviously eliminate
one of these potential points of failure. ■
ERGONOMICSOnethingfartoofewpeoplethinkaboutwhenchoosinganotebookoveradesktopcomputeristheissueofergonomics.Inshort,theergonomicsofnotebooksisprettyterrible–thescreenistoosmallandtoolowandthekeyboardistoosmall.Anddon’tgetusstartedontheglidepad.
It’sprimarilyforthisreasonthatwerecommendthatpeoplewhoaregoingtokeeptheircomputersituatedinoneplaceallthetimebuyadesktopPCinstead.Ifyou’regoingtobesittinginfrontofitforhourseveryday,thenit’sagoodideatogetsomethingthatwon’tdoasmuchdamagetoyourpostureorwristtendons.
Ifyou’vegotyourheartsetonanotebook,however,we’dstronglysuggestbuyingadesktopmonitorandUSBmouseandkeyboardforwhenthenotebookisatyourdesk.Thedesktopmonitorshouldberaisedsothatthetopofthescreenisjustbelowyournormaleyelevel.
The global economic crisis has hammered the Australian dollar recently, and as a result we may soon see an uptick in prices for notebooks
Notebooks that accept PC Cards can be upgraded with HDTV tuners and wireless broadband modems
81
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Mail to: The Gadget Group, 120 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011, or fax to (02) 9357 5058.
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82
IN MOTION
TAKING IT WITH YOU
Whoever said you can’t take it with you sure wasn’t taking about movies and music. Whether it’s a long-haul fl ight, daily commute, holiday road trip or just time for chillin’ by the pool or in your bedroom, Nic Tatham’s round-up of gear is sure to keep you personally entertained this summer.
SHE’LL BE APPLES
NON-IPODS
A few years ago, music on the move (forget about movies) meant the original Walkman. Audiocassettes were the only way to compile your own playlists and, with both sides recorded, you’d have around 100 minutes of lo-fi analog listening. Boy, how times have changed. My 4GB Walkman will hold (at average quality) over 900 songs and play up to 15 hours of video, but this is small fry compared to what some portable devices are capable of storing.
Apple’s largest capacity iPod Classic, for example, boasts specs on par with home PCs from not very long ago. Up to 120GB of memory equates to 30,000 songs, 150 hours of video or 25,000 photos in your hip pocket. Joining it – and heading up Apple’s collection as “the funnest iPod ever” – is the iPod Touch. There’s capacity for 7000 MP3 fi les and up to 40 hours of video, a wireless web browser, the ability to send and receive emails or fi nd the nearest coffee shop via GPS. You can even download movies, games and TV shows from Apple’s online iTunes and Apps store, and when paired with the Nike + iPod shoes and sports kit, loads of feedback about your run or workout (eg. distance travelled, time taken, calories burned) is transmitted from your sneakers directly to your Touch… and without interruption to your best motivation music.
APPLE IPOD CLASSIC 120GB $339 APPLE IPOD TOUCH from $329 (8GB) APPLE STORE 133 622
Not long ago the MP3 player was a highly treasured little item, but with prices toppling to just a few dollars for a basic fl ash player, it’s become kinda disposable. If the kids accidentally swap theirs at school for a bag of chips or hop into the pool forgetting that it’s on, the fi nancial damage needn’t be vast.
Players with larger capacities typically offer better sound performance and build quality, with greater functionality and better screen quality. More memory allows you to download MP3s at higher bitrates – say, 256 and 320 kb/s – delivering sound quality that’s barely distinguishable from CD. Our favourites include the iRiver SPINN and Creative Zen X-Fi multimedia players, with the standout being Sony’s new A Series. Its largest is only 16GB, but with Bluetooth, video support and really decent headphones, they sound the business.
SONY NWZ-A829KB $349 SONY AUSTRALIA1300 137 669
IRIVER SPINN (8GB) $279IRIVER AUSTRALASIA (C.R. KENNEDY & CO.)(03) 9823 1555
CREATIVE ZEN X-FI (32GB) $339CREATIVE AUSTRALIA 1300 788 528
TAKING IT WITH YOU
have changed. My 4GB Walkman will hold (at average quality) over
Apple’s largest capacity iPod Classic, for example, boasts specs
wireless web browser, the ability to send and receive emails or fi nd
Not long ago the MP3 player was a highly treasured little item, but with prices toppling to just a few dollars for a basic fl ash player, it’s become
bitrates – say, 256 and 320 kb/s – delivering sound quality that’s barely
new A Series. Its largest is only 16GB, but with Bluetooth, video support
83
MP3 DOCKS
ROCK THE DAILY DRIVE
84
There’s a lot of variety when it comes to speakers that free the tunes from your portable player or iPod, from small tabletop form factors to models as large as you like. Whichever size, the starting point for choosing any dock is the embedded speakers, and it would be easy to say “just buy the one with the best speakers”, but it’s just not that easy. The thing that will actually determine how good the speaker dock sounds is the quality of what you’re putting in to it (choose 256 and 320 kbps encoding rather than the default 128kbps).
There is also a variety of add-on features that you can opt to buy into, from alarm clock systems to streaming and remote controls. Look, too, for equipment that provides good control of iPod menus, a 3.5mm audio input jack for connecting non-iPod players and portable CD players, compatibility with numerous iPod models and optional battery power.
PHILIPS DC910 $249PHILIPS AUSTRALIA 1300 363 391
YAMAHA TSX-120, $TBAYAMAHA AUSTRALIA 1300 739 411
If your daily drive isn’t factory fi tted with a DVD head-unit and fold-down screens for backseat passengers, portable DVD players can be bought for around $100 from chain stores such as Aldi and Big W.
More dollars buys a more robust unit; one likely to withstand the hazards of a nomad life spent in tents, caravans and motel rooms. Better quality models will sport bright, high resolution screens, power saving modes (whereby screen can be dimmed to conserve battery power), long-life rechargeable batteries, higher quality outputs, such as component video and optical audio, for connection to televisions and other equipment, dual headphone sockets and sturdy harnesses for in-cabin mounting.
For music, there is a wide range of affordable accessories that transmit the contents of your portable audio player – songs, audiobooks, podcasts – through your car’s speakers via a specifi ed FM frequency on your car radio. Performance from these devices varies, especially in city areas where the crowded FM band causes interference.
A wired solution is better, and many aftermarket car head-units provide an auxiliary input for connecting portable players and iPods, with transport operations typically provided via the CD controls. A good connection between player and socket is essential here, so don’t be tempted to skimp on cable
Many brands now offer dedicated iPod connections on aftermarket CD/DVD head-units, meaning you can more safely access, view and control the iPod’s menus while driving by using the head-unit rather than the player. DVD head-units with integrated screen will also play video from portable media players.
PIONEER DEH-P7050BT $549PIONEER ELECTRONICS1800 060 852
KENSINGTON LIQUIDAUX (IPOD & IPHONE) $100KENSINGTON COMPUTER PRODUCTS 1300 366 376
IN MOTION
MP3 DOCKS NETBOOKS
GAMES ON THE GOROCK THE DAILY DRIVE
85
TAKING IT WITH YOU
While most mobile phones come preloaded with games, they don’t hold a candle to what can be enjoyed on dedicated portable gamers such as the Playstation Portable (PSP) and Nintendo DS. These offer bright, colour screens with decent dimensions and resolution, superior control interfaces and, between them, several hundred titles covering broad genres, ability levels and age groups. They also offer wireless game play, download play and plenty of add-on accessories to expand play. The latest PSP also includes a microphone for games that utilise headsets and for making cheap phone calls over the internet using Skype.
The DS has typically been the choice of younger gamers, but Brain Training, Crosswords and Soduku are broadening its appeal. The PSP catalogue is skewed towards a more mature gamer.
An unexpected newcomer to this space is the iPhone. Unlike titles for PS3 or DS, many of the games that can be downloaded from the Apps store are free or cost just a couple of dollars. They are made all the more compelling by the iPhone’s large colour screen, accelerometer, real-time 3D graphics, positional audio and multi-touch interface.
SONY PSP 3000 $299SONY AUSTRALIA 1300 137 669
NINTENDO DS LITE $200NINTENDO CUSTOMER SERVICE (03) 9730 982
IPHONE 3G $799APPLE STORE 133 622
Portable DVD players are lighter, more affordable and offer longer battery life than a notebook computer with all its multimedia functionality, but for that middle ground between entertainment and computing the Netbook/Netop is the way to go.
These handle all the most common computing applications and connect to the net for emailing, browsing (‘facebooking’ and ‘myspacing’), web conferencing and downloading, but because they typically employ fl ash memory and a CD/DVD drive they are small and light enough to easily carry around. Screens are often a tad larger than portable DVD players (around 9 inches), making video easy on the eye; headphone sockets – as well as rudimentary speakers – satisfy most audio requirements. To boot, they cost very little compared to conventional notebooks, with most priced below $500.
DELL INSPIRON MINI 9 $599DELL 1800 812 393
HEWLETT PACKARD HP2133 $899HEWLETT PACKARD AUSTRALIA 1300 304 889
ASUS EEE PC 900 $599ASUSTEK COMPUTER(AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD1300 278 788
LOSE THE WIRES
IN YER HEAD
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TAKING IT WITH YOU
Wireless technology seems to be everywhere these days and it’s also a great way distribute music. Studio Acoustics makes a novel ball-shaped speaker (SA92FWS ) that fl oats in the pool, merrily playing music transmitted from a source up to 50 metres away. It’ll also handle 30 minutes on the bottom if the kids can hold their breath that long. The brand also produces a wireless iPod-docking indoor/outdoor speaker that’ll take a bit of water splash in its stride (SA24WS).
Tivoli Audio made the humble radio cool again and it’s also gone on to develop some nifty wireless radio gear. Its new NetWorks Global Radios play the music stored on your computer wirelessly, anywhere in the house. So if you fancy some tunes in the bedroom, kitchen or wherever, the compact Networks radio will receive and play your music fi les or Internet radio, either via Ethernet or WiFi.
STUDIO ACOUSTICS SA92FWS $129; SA24WS $299STUDIO ACOUSTICS (03) 8587 8889
TIVOLI AUDIO NETWORKS INTERNET RADIO $799 AUDIO DYNAMICS (03) 9882 0372
It’s fair to say that most MP3 players (not all) come with fairly standard ’phones and one of the easiest ways to improve sound quality is to upgrade them. Klipsch has a few models that will do just this. Its Custom 2 in-ear headphones seal your ears and make effective noise isolators, letting just the music in. They come with fi ve sets of gel ear ‘plugs’ and an infl ight adaptor so you needn’t use the rubbish headphones they hand out in economy class.
Headphone stalwart, Sennheiser, makes a prolifi c range, including true noise-cancellers. One of its best pairs are the PXC450 which are designed to cancel out up to 90 percent of the ambient noise surrounding you, while providing true ‘audiophile’ sound quality. And if you do want to hear what someone’s saying to you when you’re wearing them, a ‘talk-through’ button lets you do just that.
Another much smaller set of earpieces that claim to block out up to 85 percent of external sounds are Audio-Technica’s ATH-ANC3. The brand has been synonymous with microphone and headphone design over the years and these little cancellers make perfect iPod partners.
KLIPSCH CUSTOM 2 $299POWERMOVE DISTRIBUTION PTY LTD (03) 9464 4999
SENNHEISER PXC450 $800SYNTEC INTERNATIONAL 1800 648 628
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-ANC3 $249TECHNICAL AUDIO GROUP (02) 9519 0900
IN MOTION
ACTMillennium Audio VisualUnit C, 66 Maryborough St.Fyshwick ACT 260902 6162 3330www.mav.com.au
Sound Advice Australia21 Molonglo MallFyshwick ACT 260902 6280 8777www.soundadvice.com.au
NSWAdvanced Entertainment SystemsUnit 14 12 Cecil Road Hornsby, NSW 207702 9477 3377www.aesonline.com.au
Advanced Living2/29 Mitchell RoadBrookvale NSW 201102 9939 0188www.advancedliving.com.au
Andrew Parker Custom AV Installations5 Honeysuckle PlaceKellyville, NSW 215502 8824 7177www.andrewparker.com.au
Audio Connection455 - 40Parramatta RoadLeichhardt, NSW 204002 9518 3000www.audioconnection.com.au
Audio Connection (Caringbah)381 Port Hacking RoadCaringbah NSW 222902 9518 3000www.audioconnection.com.au
Audio Connection (Drummoyne)137 Victoria Road Drummoyne NSW 204702 9561 0788www.audioconnection.com.au
Audio Junction4/74-84 Tudor StreetHamilton, NSW 230302 4962 1490www.audiojunction.com.au
Audio Solutions1133 Botany Road,Mascot, NSW 202002 9317 3330www.audiosolutions.net.au
Audio Visual & Security Unlimited5/686 New South Head RoadRose Bay, NSW 202902 9371 2052www.audiovisualunlimited.com.au
Audio Visual Lifestyle86 Merewether StreetMerewether NSW 229102 49 [email protected]
AVD Australia Pty Ltd55 Atchison Street St Leonards NSW 206502 9906 2424www.avd.com.au
Castle Integrated Media 372 B Military RoadCremorne NSW 209002 9953 8037 www.castleintegrated.com.au
Chase Design43 Junction Road, Summer Hill, NSW 213002 9798 [email protected]
CONNEXIONS (NSW) Pty Ltd 19C Grace AveFrenchs Forest, NSW 208602 9453 [email protected]
Custom Home ElectronicsPO Box 564Hamilton, NSW 230302 4940 [email protected]
David Leisk Electronics25/1 Short StreetChatswood, NSW 206702 9882 3733www.davidleisk.com.au
Domayne AV/IT Castle Hill 16 Victoria AvenueCastle Hill NSW 2154 02 9846 8831 [email protected] www.domayne.com
E.C.S. Services Pty Ltd22 Forestwood CrWest Pennant Hills, NSW 212502 9871 4061www.ecss.com.au
EBM SystemsPO Box 1865Hornsby Westfi eld, NSW 163502 9029 9245www.ebmsystems.com.au
Electronic EnterprisesShop 2, 9 - 11 St Johns AveGordon, NSW 207202 9880 02111www.electronicenterprises.com.au
Electronic Environments1 Lansdowne ParadeOatley, NSW 222302 9585 1233www.electronicenvironments.com.au
Eris McCarthy Home TechnologyPO Box 8099Tumbi Umbi, NSW 226102 4389 1990www.erismccarthy.com.au
Harvey Norman CommercialHome Automation Systems15 - 21 Atkinson RdTaren Point, NSW 222902 9710 4321www.hncommercial.com.au
Infra Red Entertainment & Automated InteriorsSte. 2, 11 Albany StreetSt Leonards, NSW 206502 9439 6444www.infrared.com.au
Insound Pty Ltd108 West StreetCrows Nest, NSW 206502 9954 [email protected]
Instinct ElectricalPO Box 557Dee Why, NSW 209902 9938 3188www.instinctelectrical.com.au
Intelligent Control Systems ‘ICS’13/3 Apollo StreetWarriewood, NSW 210202 9999 0766www.icsonline.net.au
IntelliStreamPO Box 4018Kotara East,NSW 230502 4957 8820www.intellistream.com.au
JFK Audio VisualPO Box 78Seaforth, NSW 20920414 434 535www.jfk.com.au
Jory Home Systems Pty Ltd6 Morrisey WayRouse Hill, NSW 215502 9836 5132www.joryelectric.com
Len Wallis Audio64 Burns Bay RoadLane Cove, NSW 206602 9427 6755www.lenwallisaudio.com
Life Style Store Pty LtdUnit 8 - The Junction, 2 Windsor Road Parramatta, NSW 215002 9683 7222www.lifestylestore.com.au
LovemyTVPO Box 3320Bangor, NSW 22340439 888 113www.lovemytv.com.au
Mac Hi Fi Pty Ltd17 Flinders StreetWollongong, NSW 250002 4227 6767www.machifi .com.au
Matrix Audio Visual Services22 Palm StreetSt Ives, NSW 207502 9440 [email protected]
McLeans Smarter Home EntertainmentCnr Minto & The Entrance RoadsLong Jetty, NSW 226102 4333 3545www.mcleans.info
Neutral Bay Hi Fi89 Spofforth StreetMosman, NSW 208802 9908 1285nbhifi @bigpond.net.au
New Fidelity Pty Ltd392 Darling StreetBalmain, NSW 204102 9818 2333www.newfi delity.com.au
OPOC Solutions Pty Ltd1 Campbell AvenueNormanhurst NSW 207602 9489 0906www.opoc.com.au
Pacifi c Hi Fi62 Macquarie Stree Liverpool NSW 217002 9600 6655www.pacifi chifi .com.au
SKE Communication & Automation Pty LtdUnit 2, 51 Pacifi c HighwayBennetts Green NSW 229002 494 867 60www.ske.com.au
Smart Home SolutionsUnit 21 56 O’Riordan StreetAlexandria, NSW 201502 9304 4700www.smarthomes.com.au
Soundys Electrical and Computers383 Goonoo Goonoo RoadTamworth, NSW 234002 6765 [email protected]
Sturman Electronics Pty Ltd443 Crown StreetWest Wollongong, NSW 250002 4226 6690www.sturmans.com.au
Sydney HiFi ASVPO Box 150Mascot, NSW 202002 9578 0118www.sydneyhifi .com.au
Sydney Home Cinema Pty LtdPO Box 6072 Narraweena NSW 2099 0413 397 256www.sydneyhomecinema.com.au
The Directors Chair Sydney1st Floor, 527 Botany RoadAlexandria NSW 20151300 652 480www.thedirectorschair.com.au
TJA CommunicationsPO Box 300Seven Hills, NSW 214702 9838 4622www.tjacom.com.au
Tomorrows430 New South Head Road Double Bay NSW 20281300 880 840www.tomorrows.com.au
Zeale GroupP.O. Box 1196Albury NSW 264002 6041 1484www.zealegroup.com.au
QLDAudio Dreams Australia17 Lillypilly PlaceMooloolaba, QLD 455707 5444 8122www.audiodreams.com.au
Auztech Industries Pty LtdPO Box 4368Logenholme DC, QLD 412907 3806 3133www.auztech.com.au
AVTEC12 Buckle Court Sinnamon Park QLD 407307 3279 6353www.avtec.com.au
Complete Audio3 Rose StreetMaroochydore, QLD 455807 5443 6721www.completeaudio.com.au
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
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CEDIA
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Custom InstallPO Box 1250, Spring Hill, QLD 400407 3277 9823www.custominstall.com.au
Electronic Interiors Brisbane (Formerly Toombul Music) 2 / 180 Northgate Road Northgate, QLD 401307 3266 2533www.einteriors.com.au
Fi Audio Video3/3 Gibson RoadNoosaville, QLD 456607 5455 6300www.fiaudiovideo.com.au
Harvey Norman Home AutomationPO Box 5935 GCMC Bundall, QLD 421707 5584 [email protected]
HomeTech Systems Pty LtdPO Box 979 Nerang QLD 421107 5502 [email protected]
Home Theatrix - Bundall56 Ashmore Road, Bundall, QLD 412707 5531 7244www.hometheatrix.com.au
Home Theatrix - MurarrieUnit 11 Nautilus Business Park 210 Queensport RdMurarrie, QLD 41721 300 555 270www.hometheatrix.com.au
Hoopers Sound CentreShed 11 Durietz CourtGympie, QLD 457007 5482 3409www.hooperssound.com.au
In Sight & Sound Pty Ltd125 Shamley Heath RoadKureelpa, QLD 456007 5445 7799www.in-sight.com.au
Skehan Antenna’s Pty Ltd14 Goombungee RdKingstaorpe, QLD 440007 4630 [email protected]
Star Home Theatre9 Bonavista AvenueDoonan QLD 456207 5471 1194www.starhometheatre.com.au
Stereo SuppliesGold Coast Mail Centre PO Box 6817, Gold CoastQLD 972607 5531 7955www.stereosupplies.com.au
Stereo World Pty Ltd139 Sheridan StreetCairns, QLD 487007 4051 1725www.stereoworld.com.au
Todds Sound & Vision1 308 New Cleveland RoadTingalpa, QLD 417307 3907 7777www.todds.com.au
The Directors Chair 3 / 49 Jijaws StreetSumner Park QLD 407407 3376 7065www.thedirectorschair.com.au
VideoproLevel 1 1062 Ann StreetFortitude Valley, QLD 400607 3250 0000www.videopro.com.au
VisiontronicsPO Box 11, Landsborough, QLD 45500412 314 466www.visiontronics.com.au
Visual Focus 16 Clifford Street Toowoomba QLD 4350617 4632 0402www.visualfocus.com.au
SAHarvey Norman Mile EndPO Box 288 Torrensville, SA 503108 8150 8000www.harveynorman.com.au
Sound & Vision Studio237 Greenhill RoadDulwich, SA 506508 8364 4000www.sv-studio.com.au
TASSoundtech Integrated Systems262 York StreetLaunceston TAS 725003 6331 9900www.soundsmart.biz
VICAdvanced Lifestyle Solutions Pty LtdPO Box 360, Niddrie, VIC 304203 8307 5618www.advancedlifestylesolutions.com.au
Audio Trends 10 Argent Place Ringwood Vic 313503 9874 8233www.audiotrends.com.au
Cableman Pty LtdLevel 1/1227 Glen Huntly RoadGlen Huntly, VIC 316303 9572 8900www.cableman.com.au
Carlton Audio Visual164 - 172 Lygon St, Carlton, VIC 305303 9639 2737www.carltonaudiovisual.com.au
Custom Home TheatrePO Box 963 Berwick VIC 380603 9796 2617www.customhometheatre.com.au
Encel Stereo - Richmond 84 Bridge Road, Richmond, VIC 312103 9428 3761www.encelstereo com.au
Frankston Hi Fi450 Nepean HighwayFrankston, VIC 319903 9781 1111www.frankstonhifi.com.au
howdoi.com pty ltd6a / 4 Rocklea DrivePort Melbourne, VIC 320703 9646 9116www.howdoi.com.au
IBS Audio Visual Pty Ltd43 Dalgety StreetOakleigh VIC 316603 9568 2800www.ibsav.com.au
Integrated Technologies Australia PO Box 570, Kilsyth, VIC 313703 9761 8700www.integratedtechnologiesaustralia.com.au
Interior Sound and VisionPO Box 1093, Niddrie, VIC 304203 9336 7643www.isvinfo.com.au
Inteverge Pty LtdPO Box 2501, Kew, VIC 31010409 178 076www.inteverge.com
Livingstone Audio Pty Ltd3 Lawrence StreetBlackburn South, VIC 313003 9878 4800www.livingstoneaudio.com.au
Smart Systems Pty Ltd0Church Street, Hawthorn, VIC 312203 9818 8006www.smartsystems.com.au
Steve Bennett Hi Fi174 Ryrie Street, Geelong, VIC 322003 5221 6011www.sbhifi.com.au
Tasman AV Pty Ltd6 Hood St, Collingwood, VIC 306603 9416 2255www.tasmanav.com.au
WAAVARNTI1/ 325 Harborne StOsborne Park, WA 601708 9443 1288www.avarnti.com
Digital Interiors319 Hay StreetSubiaco, WA 60080417 921 223www.digitalinteriors.com.au
Douglas Hi Fi Enterprises Pty Ltd401 Murray StreetPerth, WA 600008 9322 3466www.douglashifi.com.au
Electronic Interiors WA 125 Burswood RoadBurswood, WA 610008 9472 4800www.einteriors.com.au
Frank Prowse Hi-Fi6-14 Glyde StreetMosman Park, WA 601208 9384 1362www.frankprowsehifi.com.au
Hillstone CommunicationsPO Box 599Kalamunda, WA 692608 9293 [email protected]
Home Cinema Systems 2 / 18 Port Kembla Drive Bibra Lake WA 6163 08 9434 5556 www.homecinemasystems.com.au
Innovative Home Systems7/3 King Edwards Rd Osborne Park WA 601708 9242 8983www.innovativehomesystem.com.au
Intelligent Home Automated Solutions25 Wittenoom Street East Perth, WA 600408 9325 7775www.intelligenthome.com.au
Light Application Pty Ltd78 Erindale RoadBalcatta WA 602108 9240 6644www.lightapplication.com.au
Northam Home Cinema 5 Oliver Street Northam, WA 640108 9622 [email protected]
Surround SoundsUnit 3, 83-85 Stirling HighwayNedlands, WA 600908 9389 6900www.surroundsounds.com.au
Starship IndustriesPO Box 30Claremont WA 60100428 912 [email protected]
Ultimation488 Scarborough Beach RdOsborne Park WA 60171 300 880 544www.ultimation.com.au
Vince Ross Audio World162 Stirling HighwayNedlands, WA 600908 9386 8144www.vinceross.com.au
NZALETRO LtdPO Box 9680Newmarket, Auckland+64 9 307 1238www.aletro.com
Automation AssociatesPO Box 109722Newmarket - Auckland+64 9 377 3778www.aa.net.nz
Liquid AutomationP.O. Box 300753Albany Auckland 632+64 9 444 2440 www.liquidautomation.co.nz
Smartline37 Cracroft Street, Waitara, FitzroyNew Plymouth64 6 754 6771www.homenet.net.nz
Sound Advice FirstPO Box 12-145Christchurch 8002+64 3 379 9416www.soundadvicefirst.com
Soundline Audio LtdBox 2650, Christchurch 8002+64 3 379 5695www.soundline.co.nz
Soundline Audio LtdCapital Gateway Centre, 56 Thorndon QuayWellington+64 4 471 0542www.soundline.co.nz
The Listening Post657 Victoria StreetHamilton+64 7 839 0135www.listening.co.nz
Strawberry Sound90 Falsgrove StreetChristchurch +64 3 379 8477www.strawberrysound.co.nz
Strawberry Sound21 Bath StreetDunedin+64 3 477 7742www.strawberrysound.co.nz
The GadgetGuy™
presents great gear and top tech for your digital lifepresents great gear and top presents great gear and top
GEAR LOG
SONY ALPHA900
Great shakesGot the shakes after a bit too much festive indulgence? Fear not, with its world’s fi rst for a D-SLR ‘Steady Shot Inside’ anti-shake system, Sony’s new α900 compensates for the wobbliest of hangover amateur shooters. It’s got what counts in the spec department too, with what Sony claims is the highest resolution in its class – some 24.6 megapixels available on a 35mm full frame size CMOS sensor.
Working to make the most of all those pixels, the α900 employs not one, but twin ‘Bionz’ image processing engines which rapidly handle the image data when shooting at speeds of up to fi ve frames a second. Together with the image sensor, colours are said to be natural with rich tones, while there’s excellent image resolution with minimal noise.
Designed to take ‘serious’ pictures rather than simply ‘point and shoot’, budding Ken Duncans will no doubt appreciate the α900’s 100 percent coverage viewfi nder, built-in eyepiece shutter, and 7.6cm extra fi ne LCD for on-the spot viewing.
PRICE $4499 (body only)
Sony Australia PH 1300 720 071 WEB www.sony.com.au
UNIDEN TRAX 436
Making TraxUniden’s Trax 436 includes everything you’d want in a GPS, including the latest 2009 Whereis Maps with preloaded Australia and New Zealand maps, Bluetooth hands-free for making phone calls safely while driving, Text To Speech (TTS) and safety camera information. TTS gives precise spoken directions, describing ‘Turn right in 100 metres’ as ‘Turn right in 100 metres onto Smith Street’, for example, while information on upcoming fi xed speed and red light cameras helps keep you safe on the road and avoid traffi c infringement fi nes. To boot, the Trax 436 also provides information on road elevations, including overhead bridges, while driving, plus the ability to view more than 100 key Australian landmarks in 3-D, such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney QVB and Melbourne MCG. Completing the elite GPS package is built-in lane guidance and TMC (Traffi c Management Control), which allows subscribers to the service to receive live traffi c updates.
PRICE $450
Uniden Australia WEB www.uniden.com.au
calls safely while driving, Text To Speech (TTS) and safety camera
‘Turn right in 100 metres’ as ‘Turn right in 100 metres onto Smith
Great shakesGot the shakes after a bit too much festive indulgence? Fear not, with its world’s fi rst for a D-SLR ‘Steady Shot Inside’ anti-shake system, Sony’s new shooters. It’s got what counts in the spec department too, with what Sony claims is the highest resolution in its class – some 24.6 megapixels available on a 35mm full frame size CMOS sensor.
one, but twin ‘Bionz’ image processing engines which rapidly handle the image data when shooting at speeds of up to fi ve frames a second. Together with the image sensor, colours are said to be natural with rich tones, while there’s excellent image resolution with minimal noise.
shoot’, budding Ken Duncans will no doubt appreciate the percent coverage viewfi nder, built-in eyepiece shutter, and 7.6cm extra fi ne LCD for on-the spot viewing.
PRICE
Sony Australia
NOKIA N96
Neat handfulThe release of Nokia’s much anticipated N96 would make any member of the family a very happy mobile phone user this Chrimbo. It’s the company’s answer to Apple’s massively successful iPhone and in an effort of one-upmanship, does pack a few extra punches compared to the Apple.
Apart from making and receiving phone calls, the N96 is a ‘convergence’ of technologies, including a 5 megapixel camera, GPS receiver with turn-by-turn navigation using Navteq maps, up to 24GB of memory, and Nokia’s N-Gage gaming access preloaded. All of which is viewable via its 7cm screen.
The N96 isn’t so much of a phone, but a total mobile experience that takes video and camera capabilities, music playing, navigation and internet connectivity to a whole new level. You can download video content, shoot it yourself or share it among friends. Just make sure you’re not driving when doing so.
PRICE $1349Nokia Australia PH 1300 366 733WEB www.nokia.com.au
The release of Nokia’s much anticipated N96 would make any member of the family a very happy mobile phone user this Chrimbo. It’s the company’s answer to Apple’s massively successful iPhone and in an effort of one-upmanship, does pack a few extra punches
Apart from making and receiving phone calls, the N96 is a ‘convergence’ of technologies, including a 5 megapixel
friends. Just make sure you’re not driving when doing so.
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PROUDLYSPONSORED BY
90
SAMSUNG HMX20C
SAMSUNG OMNIA
Quick shotApart from a Turkey (if you’re going traditional), plenty of grog and a trip down to the beach, no Christmas should be without a camcorder to record the festivities. Samsung’s palm-sized HMX20C will capture all the fun and frolics in full HD at 1920 x 1080 resolution. That’s as good as it gets.
So that you don’t miss any of the action, the ‘Quick Start’ feature captures video at a rapid 250 frames per second, while 8GB of onboard fl ash memory enables shooting four times faster than your DVD-recording variety camcorder. Happy snappers can use the 10x optical zoom lens to capture 4 megapixel still images, plus there’s all manner of connections, including HDMI, to hook it up to the TV and AV system, allowing you to sit back at the end of Christmas day and do it all again in crisp, lovely full high defi nition.
PRICE $1299Samsung Electronics AustraliaPH 1300 369 600 WEB www.samsung.com.au
Omni-talentedGone are the days when your mobile phone was just that. Samsung’s new Omnia Smartphone puts the world at your fi ngertips with its intuitive high resolution touch-sensitive screen and complete suite of multimedia functions.
This mobile is all about touchy-feely convenience for communications and entertainment on the move, with Samsung’s patented TouchWiz UI interface and
advanced widget technology. It’s a phone; it’s a 5 megapixel camera; there’s Bluetooth and MultiCodec support; plus the Omnia’s 32GB of memory
means there’s room enough to store and play up to 8000 MP3s, 23 DVD-quality movies or view up to 12,000 high resolution
images.If that’s not enough palm-held technology for
you, then how’s about a fast 7.2Mbps HSDPA internet connection with full Windows Professional 6.1 and
Microsoft Offi ce usage? All of this in a device whose platinum-plated case is just 12.5mm thin – perfect to slip
into any Xmas stocking.
PRICE $79 monthly cap plan through Vodaphone/Hutchison
Samsung Electronics Australia PH 1300 369 600WEB www.samsung.com.au
Mobile computingRemember the days when your incar head-unit used to chew your tapes and pick up scratchy-sounding radio stations? Thankfully, those days are long gone and we’ve now got bits of dash-mounted gear like the Gizmosis InFill G4. This is an ‘incar computer’ and one that would have made KIT from Knight Rider jealous, packing a 120GB hard disk drive and 1GB of RAM memory. It also runs a full version of Windows XP, has a 15cm touchscreen, or for driving safety’s sake, can be voice activated.
There isn’t much else it won’t do either: USB broadband connects you to the ‘net and will send/receive emails; it’s a GPS receiver; has Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile phone, and also supports wireless WiFi so you can cruise the streets looking for ‘hotspots’ or transfer fi les from your automobile to your wireless network at home.
Unfortunately, unlike KIT, it won’t drive your car for you. Not yet, anyway.
PRICE $4250 (excluding installation)
Gizmosis PH 1300 449 667WEB www.gizmosis.com.au
SAMSUNG HMX20CSAMSUNG HMX20C
Quick shotApart from a Turkey (if you’re going traditional), plenty of grog and a trip down to the beach, no Christmas should be without a camcorder to record the festivities. Samsung’s palm-sized HMX20C will capture all the fun and frolics in full HD at 1920 x 1080 resolution. That’s as good as it gets.
Start’ feature captures video at a rapid 250 frames per second, while 8GB of onboard fl ash memory enables shooting four times faster than your DVD-recording variety camcorder. Happy snappers can use the 10x optical zoom lens to capture 4 megapixel still images,
to hook it up to the TV and AV system, allowing you to sit back at the end of Christmas day and do it all again in crisp, lovely full high defi nition.
PRICESamsung Electronics AustraliaPH
GIZMOSIS INFILL G4
9090
Omni-talentedGone are the days when your mobile phone was just that. Samsung’s new Omnia Smartphone puts the world at your fi ngertips with its intuitive high resolution touch-sensitive screen and complete suite of multimedia functions.
This mobile is all about touchy-feely convenience for communications and entertainment on the move, with Samsung’s patented TouchWiz UI interface and
advanced widget technology. It’s a phone; it’s a 5 megapixel camera; there’s Bluetooth and MultiCodec support; plus the Omnia’s 32GB of memory
means there’s room enough to store and play up to 8000 MP3s, 23 DVD-quality movies or view up to 12,000 high resolution
images.
you, then how’s about a fast 7.2Mbps HSDPA internet connection with full Windows Professional 6.1 and
Microsoft Offi ce usage? All of this in a device whose platinum-plated case is just 12.5mm thin – perfect to slip
into any Xmas stocking.
PRICE $79
Samsung Electronics Australia WEB www.samsung.com.au
Navigating with Uniden is so easy with Spoken Street Names (Text to Speech) now on all navigation systems.
Experience driving from A to B with Uniden’s 360° 3D Landmarks and 3D Terrain software, to make navigating so much more realistic. Plus enjoy:• The latest Whereis mapping data • Speed and red light camera warnings• Over speed alert
Discover a new dimension for in-car navigation. Visit Uniden on www.uniden.com.au for full range details or call 1300 366 895 today.
NAVIGATE IN 3DU n i d e n G P S A d _ F o r F e a t . p d f P a g e 1 8 / 1 2 / 0 8 , 2 : 3 9 P M
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ULTIMATE AV
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of
luxury vehicles, Lexus knows a little something
about going over the top. As you move further
and further up its car line, the touches of luxury
become a freak show of “because-we-can” excess.
At the top of the Lexus line, as the LS 600hL is, you have a
host of incredible features: refrigerated cooler boxes, illuminated
vanity mirrors, telescopic steering wheels, heated seats,
electronic seat adjustment with memory of different passenger
preferences, per-passenger climate controls, clean air fi lters,
the most advanced GPS navigation systems, glare-resistant
TFT instrumentation, hand-stitched leather, a power-operated
ottoman (we kid you not) and mechanical seat massager in the
rear seats, automatic sunshades and more. And those are just
the elements that make this V8 hybrid more comfortable. The
list of safety and performance features is even longer.
Cabin classWhich brings us to the AV system in the 600hL. Designed by
audio guru Mark Levinson, the sound system in the 600hL
comprises no less that 19 separate speakers driven by an
amplifi er that outputs 450 watts at less than 0.1 percent THD
(total harmonic distortion). Combined with the silent-running
and well-insulated hybrid, these features are designed to provide
the ultimate incar acoustic experience.
LAPS IN LUXURYLexus’ quarter-million dollar statement about the environment is worth listening to, writes Nathan Taylor
the ultimate incar acoustic experience.
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LEXUS L600hL
LAPS IN LUXURYThe speakers are situated around the car to provide a
surround sound experience to everybody in the car, not just the
guys sitting in the front seats. There are eight source points
around the car for sound: the front and rear centre consoles;
the left and right front doors; the left and right rear doors; and
another pair located on the left and right sides of the car, behind
the rear passengers.
Each of the side audio source points comprises two or three
speakers. A 25mm titanium dome tweeter and a 10cm metal
cone midrange speaker is present at all six points, while the
front and rear doors incorporate 15cm, 16.5cm or 23cm metal
cone woofers. The front centre console, meanwhile, contains the
same tweeter and midrange speaker combo as the side doors,
while the rear parcel hosts a massive 25cm subwoofer driven by
a 100 watt bridged amplifi er channel.
Source with thatOf course, it’s not just the number, power and symmetry of the
speakers that make this an impressive piece of technology.
There’s the MLS Audio Software that creates phantom ‘centres’
for each passenger, so that every person in the car feels like
they’re in the audio sweet spot. There’s also the six-disc changer
that supports 5.1-channel DTS and Dolby Digital. There are audio
controls on the steering wheel and in the rear seats. It can play
back MP3- and WMA-encoded CD and DVD discs and also has an
auxiliary input for portable music players.
It can also play DVD movies. Each of the rear seats has a
drop-down 23cm LCD screen for movie viewing, while the main
electronics console in the front seat, which is a GPS and power-
regulation system when the car is running, will also play movies
when the car is stopped. With all these features, you may never
want to leave your car again. ■
EARS & EYES & THUMBS
HIGH DEFINTION MOVIES
Bringing personality and a sense of real enjoyment to the ‘superhero’ genre, Robert Downey Jr plays this role with his trademark charm and style but, better yet for superhero movie fans, makes it look like a whole lot of fun. We’re become used to watching angst-ridden heroes moping around trying to hide their powers but here, building what has to be the coolest mechanical suit in the known universe, Iron Man revels in the power and the
glory, screaming around causing mayhem and battling his (disappointing) nemesis with obvious relish. Good on him! Out simultaneously on Blu-ray and DVD, there are four fl avours available – a single-disc regular DVD version, an ‘ultimate’ edition on both DVD and Blu-ray and a limited ‘collectors’ edition’ on DVD. We’d go for the ultimate edition if you’re looking for a gift to make someone’s Christmas day!
Not as immediately successful as Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk gets off to the same slow start as the last Hulk movie did, agonising in an inexplicably self-indulgent manner over the setup and taking an age to deliver on the action that brought everyone to the movie theatre in the fi rst place. Norton is a suitably troubled white-coated nerd who just wants it all to go away and Liv Tyler is your typical ‘supermodel in dowdy disguise’ love interest but it’s really Tim Roth’s time to shine in this outing. Cast
as ‘The Abomination’ in an eerie revisit of the Iron Man premise where the arch-enemy turns out to be a similarly-equipped but much bigger version of our superhero, Roth plays the Englishman-villain-in-Hollywood in an entertaining and suitably excessive manner. But this is another one of those superhero movies where the protagonist is constantly, and tediously, intent on fi nding a way to ditch what made him super and be left alone “to live a normal life”. How dull.
Christmas just isn’t the same without a touch of Disney, so for fans of the oldies but goodies, grab the special ‘50th anniversary edition’ of Sleeping Beauty and settle down with all your girly friends for a bit of cartoon romance. Just don’t necessarily expect the younger female members of the family to share the joy, because Sleeping Beauty really is a very old-fashioned fairy tale and not immediately
compelling to the really young, taking a very considerable time to get up to speed. To be fair, for a fi lm made in 1959, it holds up fairly well, but the much-vaunted ‘digital restoration’ to the picture really can’t compete with today’s pristine cartoon productions, and the brand new Tinker Bell movie could be a much better choice for any youngsters in your home.
Just like buses, you wait for what seems like ages, then two come along together. Along with Iron Man, Hancock delivers a refreshingly differentiated superhero movie, but this time with the central conceit that the superhero in question is a drunken bum, more interested in dealing with his own personal demons than tackling the problems facing complete strangers. As such, it gets off to a rollicking start
with Will Smith in the titular role causing more problems than he solves as he intervenes in classic Superman-style saviour scenarios, trashing the joint until a friendly PR guy turns up and offers to help. Criticised for an unexpected change of pace and direction half way through, we actually found this both appropriate and exciting, making perfect sense for the denouement of the fi lm as a whole. dull.
Iron Man Rated M Distributor Paramount
Incredible Hulk Rated M Distributor Paramount
Sleeping Beauty 50th anniversary editionRated G Distributor Disney
Hancock Rated M Distributor Sony
GREAT GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
Actor Packs Rated Various (most MA 15+) SonyLiven up the turkey-and-trimmings hangovers and get your Dad dancing on the ceiling with one of Sony’s new ‘Actor Packs’, releasing in time for Christmas. A collection of movies starring the one macho actor, the pleasingly-simply-named ‘Actor Packs’ feature the likes of Charles Bronson and Steven Segal in all their hard-hitting, manly glory. The packs include several discs and movies each – the Segal one has four, the Heath Ledger three, for instance — and represent pretty decent value for money, chiming in at only $24.95 for each collection.
Animation Sensation Gift Pack Rated PG Sony If, like us, you think some of the very best movies these days are animated ones, the new ‘Animation Sensation Gift Pack’ release from Sony is going to make the perfect holiday present to yourself. Bringing the delights of Open Season, Surf’s Up and the excellent Monster House together in a single box, this movie collector’s pack is available now for just under $30.
Bond, James Bond, on Blu-rayRated Various MGM/ FoxSix classic Bond movies make the leap to high-resolution Blu-ray disc this Christmas, their arrival impeccably and not at all cynically timed to coincide with the premiere of the shiny new Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. Seriously, though, Bond collectors are going to be stoked to see fully-restored and re-mastered versions of Dr. No, Die Another Day, Live and Let Die, For Your Eyes Only, From Russia with Love and Thunderball to enjoy now on Blu-ray, whetting their appetites for Daniel Craig’s next adventuresome (new word!) outing on the 22nd Bond mission to save the world.
Heath Ledger three, for instance — and represent pretty decent value for money, chiming in at only $24.95 for each collection.
94
95
GAMESViva Pinata: Trouble in ParadiseMicrosoft Platform Xbox 360
Brothers in Arms: Hell’s HighwayUbisoft Platform Xbox 360
LittleBigPlanet Sony Platform PS3
Pure Disney Interactive Platform Xbox360
It’s a game about gardening, really, and attracting cute little animals to it, but don’t let that put you off. In fact, let it put you on, because Viva Piñata has immediate attraction as well as hidden depth. For Xbox 360 owners looking for a family-friendly game to play over the holidays, you can’t do better than this – there’s a new co-op function that gives really young players a way into the game, as they take turns with older siblings or parents and learn the ropes, plus a ‘Just for Fun’ mode that dispenses with all the management stuff and just lets you get on with enjoying the cutesy visitors. It’s bigger and better than the last game, with 32 new animals available, and a little quicker to get some of the more elusive animals on your roster and into your garden. Charming, sociable, challenging, and a whole lot better than watching It’s a Wonderful Life for the twentieth time.
Trying to introduce deeper story and tactical elements than usually seen in the World War II shooter genre, the new Brothers in Arms game from Ubisoft just ends up being a bit dull. Nowhere near as visceral and dread-inducing as the much older Full Spectrum Warrior and slower than the incredible Gears of War, this title has squeezed out into the shops ahead of the sequel to that last competitor and that might help quite a bit. If you’re looking to treat yourself while you’re out getting gifts for the kids and the more thoughtful, strategy-heavy videogame is your style, it’s probably worth taking a look at this. If you like your shooter action fast and furious, however, steer clear.
It’s been a really long time since Sony had any exclusive games releases to crow about (that is, a game that’s not on any of the other videogame consoles) but LittleBigPlanet has arrived, at last, and it’s brilliant. If you’re a Playstation 3 owner, you need to stop reading this right now and rush out and get this game, because it’ll make your day. An ‘old-school’ game as far as the platforming ‘run and jump’ controls go – and ‘new-school’ in the way it lays itself wide open to manipulation and experimentation by gamers themselves – the power is now in your hands to create levels to entertain yourselves and your friends. Buy this for your kids for Christmas and you might be starting them down the road to becoming artists, designers, builders or engineers! If the PS3 has a game that makes it worth buying the system just to play it, this is it.
This might seem a weird name for a frantic racing game based around quad bikes – or ATVs as they’re more officially known, apparently – but it very accurately describes what’s on offer here. Concentrating purely on making a breakneck racing experience that’ll have you holding your breath to make a really tight turn or as you hurtle over a precipice and fall for what seems like an age, Pure delivers big on excitement. It also ships with an excellent online game mode that is entirely lag free, so this is the perfect pickup if you’re planning to spend a bit of your Christmas holiday challenging your console-owning friends. And anyone sitting on the couch next to you will be equally impressed because this Disney game looks incredible.
It’s no longer news to remark on the burgeoning importance of videogames in the entertainment ‘space’, as seminal titles such as Halo and Grand Theft Auto pull in first-day sales figures that make most Hollywood movie productions look positive anaemic, but less immediately apparent is the acting talent these massive game releases can attract. Colin McRae, John Madden, Clive Barker and Tony Hawk have all lent their name to games that, in some cases, probably made them more widely recognised than what they originally did to become famous. This is certainly true of Madden, who most gamers outside the US probably wouldn’t even know used to be a very successful NFL coach. But a much larger growth area is in ‘voiceover’ work – or VO – where established thespians lend their vocal talents to make a game more appealing. Voicing your own likeness in a game is an obvious thing to do (think Tiger Woods in his eponymous golf games), but many actors have long been making extra dough by bringing characters to life that don’t have anything to do with their movie star personas. And it’s been going on a long time – Mark Hamill, famous for playing Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, of course, has been one of the most successful, ‘playing’ videogame characters for over 15 years, including the Joker in the animated series of Batman and a space-faring game called Wing Commander. This Christmas alone, you’ll be hearing and seeing the likes of Jonathan Pryce, Jamie Pressly, Mark A Sheppard, JK Simmons, and Maggie Q as they appear in blockbuster titles on your videogame console of choice. And now Australia’s own multi-ARIA winning Gabriella Cilmi is the latest star to be drawn to the lucrative videogame trade, re-recording her song ‘Sweet About Me’ in Simlish, the pretend language created for the hugely popular The Sims game. If reports are to be believed, she even says she prefers the Simlish version of the song’s chorus!
Gabriella Cilmi’s ‘Simlish’ recording:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2hQf09VQHg
96
TIME WARP
The MIRACLE of the Age!!! A LION in your lap! A
LOVER in your arms!” shouted the cinema poster
for Bwana Devil. While it wasn’t such a hit with the critics, this
1952 United Artists fi lm raked in the moviegoers. Why? It
marked the beginning of something special – the age of three-
dimensional cinema. As the fi lm was about a pair of rogue lions
that terrorised the construction of the Uganda Railway, the
directors had a chance to use something extra special to make
the lions literally leap from screen and onto the laps of startled
moviegoers. They found this in a technique called ‘Natural Vision
3-D’. Essentially, this consisted of fi lming and superimposing two
slightly offset images that required the use of special glasses
(with a red and a green lens), to trick viewers’ brains into seeing
a single 3-D version. Bwana Devil was a big success and sparked
a boom in 3-D cinema.
Natural Vision 3-D was introduced because, at the time,
box offi ce attendance was in serious trouble – by 1950 it had
plummeted by nearly half of what it was two years before. And
the reason? The introduction of television.
Natural Vision wasn’t the only eye candy being used to
lure audiences away from their living rooms. Other cinema
sweeteners included Cinerama, which was a huge ‘IMAX-style’
widescreen experience consisting of a gigantic 146 degree
curved (and louvered) screen, three synchronised projectors and
seven-channel discrete audio. Although stunning, Cinerama was
doomed because it needed costly equipment and large custom-
built theatres.
Also released in the early-’50s was CinemaScope. Like
Cinerama, this featured a widescreen experience about twice
the width of conventional cinemas. However, CinemaScope
used anamorphic lenses that enabled a widescreen image to be
fi lmed by a single camera and presented by a single projector
(CinemaScope’s anamorphic aspect ratio of 2.35:1 is still used
by the movie industry today.) CinemaScope also used a less
expensive rectangular fl at screen, rather than a curved one.
It seems that we’ve come full circle since the ‘realism’ boom
back in the 1950s. Today’s technologies are poised to bring the
Eye Candy3-D experience back to the living room. This year, Samsung
launched its ‘3D-ready’ PAVV Cannes 42 and 50 inch plasma
TVs. Apart from regular content, viewers are able to watch
movies and play games in 3-D, with the addition of special 3-D
glasses. At the moment, the 3-D content needs to be fed to the
TV by special software running on a computer but Samsung has
partnered with Electronic Arts to produce future 3-D games, and
is in talks with movie studios about 3-D movies.
What’s really exciting about 3-D home entertainment is that
engineers are moving ever closer to the Holy Grail – holographic
TV. Imagine watching a sporting event on your huge wall screen,
and suddenly the action spreads out from the screen and into
your living room where you can watch the action at any angle,
without wearing 3-D glasses.
An incredible amount of detail is needed to depict a moving
hologram, and this had, until recently, prevented the technology
from progressing beyond a static image. Recent breakthroughs
at the University of Arizona’s Optical Sciences Department,
however, have seen the development of a rewritable and
updateable holographic system.
Essentially the system works like this: the hologram of a 3-D
image is recorded in a special high-tech polymer with a sheet of
laser light and a ‘writing device’ called a spatial light modulator.
A weak laser is focused on a TV screen made of the same
polymer. Waves of light refl ected by the screen create a sort of
‘signature’ of the original image. This guides the laser to build up
a hologram, which is projected out from the polymer TV screen,
similar to the way Princess Leia was projected from R2-D2 in
Star Wars. The computer then quickly updates the polymer
screen’s image to create the impression of motion, without the
need for special glasses. Researchers are now working on a
three-colour version that can create a holographic image about
the size of a computer screen.
Çommercial holographic TV is probably ten years away,
though some scientists believe that it may be ready in as early as
fi ve. At the very least, this allows movie studios time to prepare
a new lure for attracting audiences away from the holograms in
their living rooms, and back to the cinema. Valens Quinn
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