Sunday, February 28, 2010

Tripod Pro Enhances Traditional Projection Screen Design


New concept in a well established product. The Tripod Pro has a redesigned casing that is velour surfaced for the rental and staging market.


CERRITOS, Calif., Feb 20, 2010 - Elite Screens, Inc. an innovative company that specializes in affordable high quality projector screens, today announced the launch of the Tripod Pro enhanced free-standing portable projection screen. It is an enhancement of a traditional design.
"The Tripod is our best selling portable screen. Due to its price performance and dynamic functions, it has become a favorite with educators, commercial trainers and residential consumers." said Dave Rodgers, Marketing Manager for Elite Screens. "The new casing with the velour surfacing adds a touch of elegance for rental and staging presentations which enhances an already tried and true product."

The Tripod Pro has a black tube casing that will protect the screen material and is coated in a velveteen material that absorbs glare from projectors as well as bear the brunt of hard handling in rental and staging applications. It is available in a (1:1) aspect ratio with viewing sizes that range from 85" to 99", 113" and 119" diagonal measurements. The screen material is Elite's MaxWhite 1.1 gain matte white front projection material with black masking borders. They vary in weight from 15lbs to 35 lbs making the tripod a highly portable and versatile product. Lastly, each tripod has a keystone eliminator to accommodate angle distortion or "keystone effect" during forum presentations.

Warranty, Availability, Pricing

The Tripod Pro comes with Elite's two-year manufacturer's limited warranty, which is twice the industry standard. Elite's Tripod Pro Series is available now through the commercial and retail sales channels. MSRP starts at $189.


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Monday, February 22, 2010

SRS MyVolume DCT-8S Advanced Volume Leveling Adaptor



If you look at the features that new TV's have, the list can get long. And many of us can be susceptible to the upgrade bug. TV's are no longer just about picture. They tend to have features to increase the whole viewing experience.



While many of us may be happy with the picture our TV produces, we may still get tempted to upgrade. The features that the new models have may have us wanting to upgrade, even though it is an expensive one. One of the cool new features are SRS TruVolume. This feature also may get us drooling for the new TV.



The SRS MyVolume uses SRS TruVolume to play with the volume of the TV. Have you every watched a TV show and the next thing you know a commercial comes on and the volume is now too loud? Rarely is the volume of a TV show and the commercials in between the same. And the difference is volume also varies between channels. The volume difference between TV show and commercials varies from channel to channel. Some channels are worse than others.



SRS was thinking outside of the box, and does a great thing for us consumers. If you were tempted to upgrade TV's due to the SRS volume feature, now you do not need to. Now you can just purchase the SRS MyVolume DCT-8S. It easily connects between you TV and set-top box. And there are two versions of the product, one analog and one digital with HDMI. So you do not need to have a digital TV to be able to use it.



I was excited when I received the product for review. It was extremely easy to hook up to my TV. All you do is hdmi in and hdmi out (or analog in and analog out), and pug it into the wall. And I am glad to report that it worked well. The difference in volume between commercial and TV show was not noticeable. And that was the objective that was successfully achieved. For more info and complete specs, feel free to check out SRS's website at srslabs.com


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Monday, February 15, 2010

ALPINE ELECTRONICS LAUNCHES NEW PDX DIGITAL AMPLIFIER SERIES

ALPINE ELECTRONICS LAUNCHES NEW PDX DIGITAL AMPLIFIER SERIES

Complete Line Up Offers Consumers Flexible System Building Options
with PDX, V-Power and Power Pack Amplifiers

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 7, 2010 – For car audio enthusiasts who want maximum audio
performance from their sound systems, Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry-leading manufacturer of automotive mobile media solutions, today announced the company’s 2010 amplifier line up. This year’s line up features an all-new PDX amplifier series for consumers who want great sound quality and power output in a compact package.

PDX Series Digital Power Density Amplifiers
Winner of a CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering Award for the In-Vehicle Audio category, Alpine’s next-generation PDX amplifier series (PDX-M12, PDX-M6, PDX-F6 and PDX-F4) is designed and engineered for ultimate sound quality, power performance and reliability. The new cosmetics offer an attractive, compact package that is 20 percent thinner than the first generation. The PDX’s compact chassis is easy to hide and can easily fit in tight spaces, such as under the seat. The PDX amplifiers also are stackable, allowing for a large multi-amplifier system
to be installed in a tight space.

The optional RUX-KNOB remote bass control knob plugs right in to the PDX-M12 and PDX-M6 mono models for quick direct subwoofer control to make bass adjustments on the fly.

The new PDX amplifiers incorporate a completely new power supply design with sophisticated thermal and voltage protection, low noise and high efficiency. This power supply does its work efficiently too, averaging above 90 percent efficiency at all power levels. The thermal protection circuit constantly monitors internal amplifier temperature, reducing power when necessary to keep the music playing under extreme heat and load conditions. It also can roll back power when battery voltage drops significantly under load, again preventing shutdowns under extreme
conditions.

The new PDX amplifiers integrate parallel globally modulated analog feedback to maximize sonic quality. This new design results in an extremely wide, flat frequency response with ultra-low noise and distortion. The new PDX amplifiers provide superior sound quality, with extremely low distortion levels (less than 0.01 percent), very low noise (greater than 120dB at full rated power), and noticeably wide bandwidth (5Hz – 100kHz for the 4-channel models, 5Hz – 400Hz for the
5-channel model).

PDX amplifiers have an extremely high damping factor, more than 1000 for the mono models (PDX-M12 and PDX-M6) and more than 500 for the 4-channel models (PDX-F6 and PDX-F4 –twice that of the closest competitor and more than four times the class average, giving outstanding speaker control and linearity.

The PDX series is designed for easy flush installation in any custom set up. New quick-release connectors are used for both the speaker outputs and the power leads for fast installation and troubleshooting. The sleek design does not compromise functionality either, with all controls and connections easily accessible and serviceable. The removable trim rings can be custom painted to match unique color schemes.

Continuing on for 2010 is the PDX-5, which provides a 5-channel offering to the PDX line up. “The new PDX amplifiers provide exceptional sound quality and performance for the discerning car audio enthusiast. With their high efficiency packaged in an even smaller size than the previous models, we were able to build on our state-of-the-art PDX technology and make it even better,” said Mike Anderson, assistant vice president, sales and marketing, Alpine Electronics.

V-Power® Series Amplifiers
As the No. 1-selling family of amplifiers in the U.S., the V-Power amplifiers are popular and flexible choices for system building. Alpine’s V-Power series delivers high watt-per-dollar value, so that consumers get top-quality sound performance without breaking their budget. The V-Power line up also offers many model choices, making it easy to design the perfect system for nearly any customer. The line up includes the MRP-M2000, the most powerful amplifier ever made by Alpine.

Rugged heat sinks, combined with a sophisticated power management IC with intelligent
temperature monitoring, ensure non-stop output and stable, reliable performance. Variable crossover and bass EQ functions provide flexible tuning possibilities.

KTP-445 Head Unit Power Pack
Consumers can add higher output and more dynamic response with this simple head unit power upgrade that fits behind the head unit in the dash of most vehicles. The KTP-445 amplifies the head unit power output, resulting in a 150 percent power increase over the original power from the head unit’s built-in amplifier. The KTP-445 uses an advanced digital design that provides an extremely clean power output with very high efficiency, making the bass tighter and highs clearer.

The KTP-445 connects to any 2005 and newer Alpine head unit that has a black power harness (it is not compatible with the CDE-100 CD receiver). It does not require additional wiring or special tuning.

SPECIFICATIONS AND PRICING
Alpine amplifiers are available at authorized Alpine retailers. Visit www.alpine-usa.com to locate a retailer.
ALPINE PDX DIGITAL AMPLIFIERS
PDX-M12 – Digital Mono Power Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
1200W RMS x 1 [4 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: >92 dB @ 1W/4ohm; >122dB @
1200W/4ohm
Availability – March
Suggested retail index – $900
PDX-M6 – Digital Mono Power Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
600W RMS x 1 [4 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: >95 dB @ 1W/4ohm; >122dB @ 600W/
4ohm
Availability – March
Suggested retail index – $550
PDX-F6 – 4-Channel Digital Power Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
150W RMS x 4 [4 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: > 96 dB @ 1W/4ohm; >118dB @
150W/4ohm
Availability – March
Suggested retail index – $850
PDX-F4 – 4-Channel Digital Power Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
100W RMS x 4 [4 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: > 98 dB @ 1W/4ohm; >118dB @ 100W/4
Ohm
Availability – March
Suggested retail index – $550
PDX-5 – 5-Channel Power Digital Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
75W RMS x 4 + 300W RMS x 1 [4 ohm @ 14.4V
≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: > 77dBA full range, > 75dBA mono @1W/4
Ohm
Availability – Now
Suggested retail index – $650
RUX-KNOB – Remote Bass Control Knob
- Compatible with PDX-M12, PDX-M6
Availability – March
Suggested retail index – $40
- more -
Alpine Announces New Amplifiers/Page 4
ALPINE V-POWER AMPLIFIERS
MRP-M1000 – Mono Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
600W RMS x 1 [4 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
1000W RMS x 1 [2 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: 75dBA (ref: 1W into 4 ohm)
Availability – Now
Suggested retail index – $450
MRP-M500 – Mono Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
300W RMS x 1 [4 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
500W RMS x 1 [2 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: 75dBA (ref: 1W into 4 ohm)
Availability – Now
Suggested retail index – $230
MRP-M2000 – Mono Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
1500W RMS x 1 [4 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
2000W RMS x 1 [2 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: 75dBA (ref: 1W into 4 ohm)
Availability – Now
Suggested retail index – $750
MRP-F300 – 4-Channel Amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings:
50W RMS x 4 [4 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
75W RMS x 4 [2 ohm @ 14.4V ≤ 1% THD+N]
S/N: 80dBA (ref: 1W into 4 ohm)
Availability – Now
Suggested retail index – $230
ALPINE KTP-445 HEAD UNIT POWER PACK
- Direct plug-and-play application for any 2005 and
newer Alpine head unit that has a black power
harness (not compatible with CDE-100 receiver)
- 4-channel amplifier
- CEA-2006 Power Ratings: 45W RMS x 4
- Size: 6 inches x 2 inches x 1.125 inches
Availability – Now
Suggested retail index – $140

About Alpine Electronics
Alpine Electronics is an automotive electronics manufacturer that supports drivers in over 60 countries and provides the world’s leading auto makers with audio, video, navigation and driver assistance products. The company specializes in system integration solutions with innovative vehicle entertainment and information technologies.

Alpine’s R&D and manufacturing facilities in Japan, China, Europe and North America ensure that all products address the real world requirements of drivers in each market. The company is committed to developing products that are safe, comfortable and eco-friendly for the automotive environment.

For more information about Alpine Electronics, visit www.alpine.com. For more information about Alpine’s aftermarket products, visit www.alpine-usa.com.


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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

JVC Releases Info On New GZ-HM340 HD Camcorder



JVC ADDS A NEW HIGH DEFINITION MEMORY CAMERA TO EVERIO LINE
New GZ-HM340 features 16GB of internal memory. WAYNE, NJ, February 2, 2010 – JVC has added a new high definition camera to its recently-announced 2010 Everio line, giving the series three HD models priced under $500. The new Everio GZ-HM340 features 16GB of internal flash memory plus an SD/SDHC card slot. The GZ-HM340 includes all of the new features and improvements found throughout the 2010 Everio line, including advancements in low light capabilities and image stabilization, while convenience is enhanced with a new auto recording feature and time lapse recording. For a steadier picture, JVC this year introduced Advanced Image Stabilizer (A.I.S) that ensures steady images even while walking, and is especially effective when shooting bright scenes from full wide to 5x zoom. Available on all models, Advanced Image Stabilizer uses a wide-angle image sampling area that is four times larger than that of conventional systems. A.I.S delivers powerful compensation for camera shake. Time-Lapse recording is a sophisticated but easy-to-use feature for time-lapse shooting in one- to 80-second intervals, enabling hours-long segments to be reduced to seconds, such as the continuous recording of changing sky patterns spanning an entire day. Auto record, a new feature, automatically initiates recording when a person or other moving subject enters the picture and the luminance changes, a great convenience for home surveillance, monitoring a baby, recording wildlife, taking group shots (instead of using a self-timer) and more. Digital files created with the new Everio cameras can be easily shared in a variety of popular formats with the enhanced Everio MediaBrowser software for Windows®, which now provides automatic conversion of HD and SD videos for immediate sharing on YouTube™, including both down-conversion and up-conversion. Files can also be directly exported to iTunes® and synced with an iPod® or iPhone®, or burned to DVD, all with just a few mouse clicks using the Everio MediaBrowser application. Like all 2010 HD Everio cameras, the new GZ-HM340 features a KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS, currently one of the world's smallest and slimmest HD lenses. In the GZ-HM340 it offers a 20x optical zoom. Everio high-definition models automatically switch between two internal media for continuous, uninterrupted recordings. Users can shoot seamless, drop-out-free recordings using dual SD cards or flash memory. HD-model enhancements also include Face Flow Thumbnail, which displays thumbnails from a particular section of a video by automatically selecting and zooming into human faces. The 2010 Everio series features an all new, slim design that's fashionable, easy to carry and comfortable to hold. Portability has been further enhanced with a redesigned grip belt that now works in two handy ways, as a conventional handle-style grip when both ends are snapped in place or as a strap when one end of the belt is released. The new Everio GZ-HM340 is available later this month for $499.95. Features:
16GB Internal Flash Memory and SD/SDHC card slot
1/5.8" 1.37 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
20x Optical Zoom (KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS
Advanced Image Stabilizer
Time-Lapse REC & Auto REC
One Touch Upload to YouTube™* (HD Compatible)
Seamless Recording over two media
Face Detection & Face Flow Thumbnail
Laser Touch Operation
2-Way Grip Belt
Everio MediaBrowser
Color: Black About JVC U.S.A. JVC U.S.A., headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, is a division of JVC Americas Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Victor Company of Japan Ltd. JVC distributes a complete line of video and audio equipment for the consumer and professional markets. For further product information, visit JVC's Web site at http://www.jvc.com/ or call 1-800-526-5308.


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Friday, February 5, 2010

NHT Classic Three 7.1 Surround System Review


Up for review is a speaker system from NHT. NHT stands for Now Hear This, and if you are familiar with them, you know they also stand for audiophile quality on a budget. Today we will be reviewing the NHT Classic Three system. The system consists of six Classic Three bookshelf speakers and a Classic Three C center channel.

NHT has claimed that their fourth generation bookshelf speaker Classic Three is the best bookshelf speaker that they have ever made. With the quality of bookshelf speakers they have done over the last 22 years, that is saying a lot. With the look, design, and sound that the Classic Three’s bring out, I am a believer. The Classic series replaced the Super Audio line, and was a complete redesign from the ground up. But one thing that did carry over was the gorgeous classic NHT look, which includes 2 primer coats, 7 coats of polyester paint, and 2 coats of clear acrylic polymer, for that gloss black finish.

Now for the design and construction, we will start with the cabinet which includes some features brought over from the Xd series. ¾” and 1” MDF is used in the cabinet and internal bracing. The baffles are twice as thick as the Super Audio cabinets. This allows for increased stiffness and reduced baffle acoustic radation. The beveled edges help to reduce refraction. All of this also has helped to increase dispersion. The cabinet helps give a very wide soundstage. And if there is any audible distortions, it is not due to the cabinet.

The drivers are also redisigned from the ground up. The Classic Three is a three way acoustic suspension design, hence the name. It includes a ¾” dome tweeter, 2” dome midrange, and 6.5” midbass driver. All three drivers are also made of aluminum, and designed for the best sound possible including wide dispersion. All drivers have shorting rings to reduce flux modulation. Woofer frames are made of BMC, also borrowed from the Xd series, and are 4 times stiffer than the Super Audio series for lower distortion drivers. Aluminum is an excellent sounding material for speaker designs. The problem with aluminum is the audible ringing when not crossed over correctly. Midranges playing too high or tweeters playing too low can result in audible ringing. The crossover network in the Classic Three features audiophile grade components with crossover points of 800hz and 3.2Khz. Not only does this three way design solve the ringing problem, but using a three way design also yields higher dynamics. So not only is the Classic Three designed to be a great sounding speaker for music, it is also designed to have the high level dynamics sought after for home theater sound systems.

So on paper, the Classic Three looks to be a phenomenal sounding speaker. After seeing the speaker, it looks to be a great sounding speaker. But designs and looks can sometimes be deceiving. The real question is how does it perform? Is it better for music? Is it better for home theater? Or does the finished product fall short? Now it is time for the real test. The system comprises of a new classic 5.1 surround sound configuration along with two height channel speakers for the new Dolby PLIIz, for a total of 7.1 speakers using six Classic Threes and one Classic ThreeC for the center channel.

For jazz, I pulled out my Tommy Smith Blue Smith album by Linn records on SACD. Track number three titled Rain Dance proved to be a real aural treat. This gave a real look into the quality of the Classic Threes. Excellent sound quality can be a double edged sword, especially when dealing with a pair of speakers that deliver a great deal of resolution. The sound can be great with a great recording. But as they say, garbage in garbage out. You hear what you get, and when dealing with a bad quality recording…..well, the bad quality comes through. Rain dance features Tommy Smith on a soprano sax. It is pretty much a solo with the sax, accompanied with some drums. The smoothness of the soprano sax kept me pushing the back button to repeat the track. And the level of resolution was great. On passages of the song I could heat the woodiness of the reed as it was tongued. At one point Tommy almost lost tonal control of the sax and it came through with the Classic Threes. The soundstage was big and wide, with you feeling like you were there in the recording studio. Even more so due to the fact that you could hear the reverb from the room. But then again, what may sound like a bad thing showed the level of resolution the Classic Threes bring to the table, and actually increased the listening experience as if I was there with Tommy.

For a bit of blues, I turn to Junior Wells-Come on In This House. The track Why Are People Like That shows the male vocal of Junior brought through wonderfully thru the center channel. But the real treat is the harmonica that comes in the rear channels that displays the great dynamics of the Classic Three, especially on a full system using Classic Threes in the rear channels. The natural sounding harmonica delivered quite the sonic punch. This track was an excellent example of the reason for going with the Classic Threes throughout. Many have opted for a system comprised of the Classic Threes or Classic Fours up front, Classic Three C for center, and a pair of Classic Two’s or Absolute Zeros for the rear channels. With the increase of use of the rear channel for music, and increased dynamics and resolution of the high resolution formats of Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD, getting Classic Threes for the rear will give sonic dividends with the right content.

In scouring through my music collection, listening to different tracks and deciding which tracks to feature was a difficult task. How difficult it was actually was a pleasant surprise. I got to discover my music collection again with renewed realism. The use of a three-way design makes sense: a tweeter for highs, midrange for the mids, and a woofer for the bass. And the end result was a very natural sounding speaker. The highs were very clean and not too bright, and not fatiguing after extended listening periods. The mids were smooth and not overly warm. And the midbass had good extension for a sealed enclosure. I usually like to listen to my music more on the loud side of things. But in turning the volume down, I was pleasantly surprised at level of harmonics and resolution still intact. I had to remind myself what to listen for, because I kept getting caught in the music.

Now turning to movies, I put on one of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite movies: The Lord of the Rings, The Bridge To Khazad-Dum. Dolby Prologic IIz really added to the degree of realism. When the Orcs where climbing up and down the columns in The Great Hall, it sounded like they were climbing up and down my walls. When it comes to the width and depth of the soundstage, it is usually more appearent in two channel music. That is, one tends to listen for it more in music and not movies. But with the NHT Classic Threes, it was easy to hear just how large of a soundstage they can sonically project. The sound seemed to extend beyond the walls of my theater room. But with that being said, do not take it against the transparency of the speakers. The Classic Threes are actually very transparent. In watching the movie, they seemed to disappear in three dimensional sound. And the high level of dynamics due to the three-way design made action movies that much more enjoyable.

In summary, speakers are purchased to enjoy content. With the NHT Classic Three’s, the speakers can disappear and turn your attention to enjoying the music or movie. And when it comes to speakers, that is one of the best compliments one can give. If you are in the market for some good quality speakers, I highly recommend the NHT Classic Three’s. You can also save some cash and buy them directly from NHT online. At $700 a pair or $2,400 for a 5.1 system with a 12”, they are a real bargain and would compare with other speakers costing much more. For more info and complete specs, please check out NHT’s website at www.nhthifi.com.


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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Atlantic Technology Ships Low-Cost, High-Sound-Quality In-Ceiling Loudspeaker for IP or Conventional Wired Hookup



NORWOOD, MA, Feb 1, 2010 -- Atlantic Technology, one of the industry’s most respected loudspeaker manufacturers, today announced immediate deliveries of a modestly-priced in-ceiling loudspeaker that delivers excellent sound quality for a wide variety of music and home theater applications. Like all of the company's dual-mode Internet Protocol (IP) speakers, the Atlantic Technology ICTS-6.1-IP is fully compatible with IP-based whole-house systems like NetSteams, or it can be connected using conventional speaker wires.

"We have built some really good ceiling speakers over the years," said Steve Feinstein, Atlantic Technology's Director of Marketing and Product Development, "but never one that sounds this good for such a modest price—and it has full IP capabilities. Whether it's used for music in the kitchen or home theater in the bedroom, installers are going to love this speaker. It’s easy to install, it sounds great and it's priced right for today's marketplace."

The Atlantic Technology ICTS-6.1-IP uses a 6-1/2-inch long-excursion Polypropylene woofer and a pivoting 1-inch silk dome tweeter. These are driven through a multi-element crossover built to a level of sophistication usually found only in much more expensive speakers. The speakers include both conventional speaker terminals and an IP connector for NetStreams or other whole-house distribution technologies.

This speaker's grille and frame are white, but they can be painted to match their surroundings. Available accessories include a new construction bracket and a back box to provide a sealed enclosure.

The Atlantic Technology ICTS-6.1-IP is available now with a suggested retail price of $125 each.

From its inception in 1989, Atlantic Technology's mission has been to produce home entertainment products that exemplify the very best in both performance and value. The company specializes in complete high-performance multi-channel speaker systems, state-of-the-art home theater electronics components, and products for custom audio/video installation. For more information on Atlantic Technology and its many fine products for home theater and custom audio/video installation, visit www.atlantictechnology.com or call 781-762-6300.


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