Magellan RoadMate 1700 7-Inch GPS Receiver Review

There are a few things you can always count on: death, taxes, and improvements in electronics. GPS receivers have also evolved. Bigger tends to be better. While the norm used to be 3.5” displays, we then went to widescreen displays in 4.3”, 5.0”, and even larger. Up for review today is a product that shows the upward trend. It is the Magellan RoadMate 1700 with a 7.0” widescreen display.

When it comes to GPS receivers, there are a few things that I look for. While GPS receivers have received more features, their core feature is still as a GPS to provide direction. This includes case of use and viewablility. After all, you will be using this while you are driving. Getting into an accident would not be on your list of things to do while you are out driving.

The Magellan RoadMate 1700 does have its share of features. They include:

-OneTouch favorites menu
-7 inch wide color touch screen
-A/V input
-Preloaded maps
-AAA Member Roadside Assistance
-AAA Tourbook
-6 million points of interest (POI)
-Highway lane assist
-QuickSpell with Smart City search
-Qwerty keyboard
-Multi-destination routing with route optimization
-Spoken street name guidance
-Highway exit POI
-Branded POI
-Smart Detour

The OneTouch favorites menu is kind of like a computer desktop. It is the main menu, and gives you instant access to your bookmarks of favorite places that you like to go. With a single touch, you can find your way to home, work or to your favorite restaurant, or any other favorite place, and you can find your way. There from any place, in any city.

The 7 inch wide WVGA is a color touch screen display. The ultra-clear touch screen display gives you four times the detail of a standard GPS. This helps to make it easier to see, thereby keeping your focus on the road.
The A/V input lets you watch video from a media player.

Preloaded maps gives you directions and info including POI as you travel. The Road Mate 1700 is preloaded with maps for the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Maps for Mexico are also available through an upgrade.

AAA TourBook – This is a feature that provides ratings for services. Whether it is a restaurant, hotel or just play, you will receive reputable ratings and descriptions.

AAA Member Roadside Assistance- A toll-free number provides assistance in finding help. Now you will be able to locate an AAA approved tow service or repair shop. And thanks to the location of exactly where you are in the menu, you can help them to locate you.

6 million POI- Whether it is a gas station, bank, restaurant, or many other categories. These are all preprogrammed and searchable based on your location.

Highway Lane Assist – ever been on a 3 lane highway with each lane an exit for a different location? The RoadMate 1700 knows where you need to go, as well as what lane you need to be in and will tell you so.

QuickSpell and SmartCity search – as a GPS unit, it knows the cities out there, as well as streets. As you type in the address and city, the street name and city may pop up without having to type it all in. It’s a very convenient time saver, with the QWERTY keyboard.

Multi-destination routing with route optimization – this lets you plan your trip using many stops in the order you want, and also lets you optimize your trip for what route is best for you.

Spoken street name guidance – this feature will actually speak the street names as they come up. Giving street manes of when and where to turn makes finding your destination much simpler.

Highway exit POI – want to make a pit stop for food or gas along the way? This feature will show the POI along the freeway to find what you are looking for.

Branded POI – looking for a Starbucks, or the kids want McDonalds? This feature shows you your favorite places with their logos.

Smart Detour – come across an accident or traffic jam? This will get you around that obstacle with the best route to get you where you want to go.

Customizable route method – want the fastest way to get there, least use of freeways, or maybe shortest distance? This feature will get you there the way you want to get there.

Birds eye 3D view – helps make your navigation easier using 3D objects so you can see the objects around you.

Auto re-route – if you missed an exit, or made a sudden pit stop? Now this will get you back on track.

Auto Night View – adjust the screen automatically when it gets dark for color and contrast that is best for night viewing.

I love electronics. And I guess part of it is because they usually make our life simpler, or easier. And I guess when you get a gadget like a GPS receiver, there can be a bit of excitement to see if it really works the way we expected. I have used GPS receivers before, and while most of the time usually get you where you want to go, there can sometimes be hiccups. I am pleased to announce that with the Magellan RoadMate 1700, I did not have a single wrong direction. And with a GPS receiver, that is one of the best compliments you can get.

There is a built-in battery, but the battery life is short. Having a built in battery does give the device some added functionality. But partially due to the size of the screen, it only lasts for about a half hour. So if you need to go mobile and take it out of the car, just keep that in mind.

The other features worked great as well. The large display had great resolution, was easy to see, and I loved the AutoNight View! One thing to keep in mind is the 7” display. Based on what vehicle you drive, it could be too big. The preloaded maps and POI’s worked extremely well and made searching very easy. The AAA roadside assistance and tourbook are also great features for AAA members.

QuickSpell and SmartCity search did make searching for a location easier. I also really liked the highway lane assist. There were multiple times in traveling doing the review that figuring out which lane to be in when I was not used to the freeway and exits was very difficult. But the RoadMate 1700 had me in the correct lane, with clear voice and visual guides every single time. The route optimization worked well, as with the re-routing feature. The OneTouch menu is also great.

I would have to say that using the RoadMate 1700 was an extremely smooth experience. It did its job as a GPS receiver flawlessly. And the voice directions were also clear to hear and nice and articulated. The included mount also worked well, and the manual is also well written and easy to follow. If you are in the market for a large GPS receiver, I would highly recommend the Magellan RoadMate 1700. It does its job in spades. And at $299 it is a real bargain. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.magellangps.com.

HTC Hero Review

We live in an electronic age. And as a general rule of thumb, each year electronics get more and more sophisticated. They also tend to have more and more features. The same is true with cell phones. As a gadget guy, I used to have multiple portable electronic devices- cell phone, PDA, MP3 player, ect. Now you can do all that and even more. Up for review is the HTC Hero. It uses the DROID operating system. I have been a fan of the Windows Mobile Platform. But the DROID platform is catching on, and as an open platform applications will be plentiful.

Starting with the display, it is a high resolution and when tilted sideways for watching video it appears to be pretty close to widescreen in format. Living in Arizona where we tend to get a lot of sunlight means it can get very bright outside. While I love the high resolution display, I would personally like a brighter display to make it easier to see outdoors. It is sufficiently bright most of the time; it is just not as bright as my blackberry.

Its primary job is a cell phone, and as a cell phone it excels. Volume is good and understandable. The speakerphone functionality also works well. Reception is also quite good. In comparison to my HTC Touch, which I usually have three bars, I was able to get 4-5 bars in the same locations.

The layout is typical, and functional. At the top is the headphone jack. The up and down volume buttons are on the left hand side. The right hand side is clear of buttons, and on the bottom is the mini usb connection for charging the phone. On the back is the speaker for the speakerphone and lens for the 5.0 megapixel auto-focus camera and camcorder. Looking at the front you see a stylish design. At the top is the speaker, and at the bottom are two protruding buttons for connect/call and hang-up/power, and for flush buttons for menu, home, lookup, and back buttons. Inside the battery compartment is the memory card slot.

The functionality was very good. The main screen is easy to read, with time, date, local weather and temperature. There are also most commonly used programs, such as contact, email, voicemail, camera and internet. At the bottom is also a button that brings up all of the applications stored. You can also bring up additional screen by dragging your finger left to right, or right to left. Dragging left to right takes you to a screen with Sprint TV, IM and messages. One more drag in the same direction takes you to the calendar. Dragging right to left takes you to the MP3 player , and one more drag the same direction takes you to the webpage bookmarks.

I love the DROID as an operation system. My previous favorite was Windows Mobile, but the DROID is growing on me. And the HTC Hero implemented it very well. It worked great without any detectable glitches. If you are in the market for a new cell phone, I would highly recommend putting the HTC Hero on your short list. For more info and complete specs, feel free to check out HTC’s Website at www.htc.com.

Onkyo TX-NR1007 THX 9.2 Surround Receiver Review

Surround sound receivers often have a lot expected of them. After all, they have to give us the ability to hook up all of our electronic gear. This gear ranges from tape decks, CD players, Direct TV, Dish Network, Tivo, or cable boxes, DVD players. We also can’t forget our IPods, and other recent innovations like internet radio and networked connectivity. They need to take all of our gadgets and have the audio sound good, video look good, and the receiver itself look good. All this requires a competent amplifier section, high quality DAC’s and high performance video processors. We also require it to even handle other rooms. Dizzy yet? Just imagine being a new surround sound receiver. Gone are the days of just switching from tape deck to CD and listening through your tower speakers. Now we need multiple subwoofer outputs, bass management, and active room calibration. That’s one tall order, one that no ordinary receiver can do all of, but enter the Onkyo-TX-NR1007.

Let’s start with some key features of the Onkyo TX-NR1007:

• 9.2 Channels
• 135W per channel (8ohms 20-20kHz 0.05%)
• Certified 4ohm performance
• All Discrete Circuitry
• Dual PUSH-PULL design
• Independent Block Construction
• Dolby Digital, DD Plus, TrueHD
• DTS HD Master Audio
• DTS Surround Sensation Speaker/Headphone
• THX Processing
• Neural Surround
• Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Volume, DSX
• Direct/Pure Mode
• Music Optimizer
• 192K/24 Bit DAC’s
• VLSC
• ISF Certified Calibration Control
• Video Upconversion to HDMI and Upscaling to 1080p
• Multi-Channel Input
• Analog Pre-Outs
• Powered Zone 2
• HD, Sirius and XM Radio Ready
• Internet Radio Capable & Streaming Audio from PC
• RS-232
• Ethernet
• 12V Trigger

If you can’t tell, this TX-NR1007 is a beast. And at over 50 lbs, it is also built like a tank. But features don’t matter much if it does not all come together and perform. A poor performing receiver doesn’t make anyone happy.

Let’s start off with the remote. It comes with remote model #RC-745M, which is a backlit learning remote control. The layout is well thought out and simple. The layout has sections starting at the top and working down for power, activities, input selector, remote mode, and TV. Below the TV section is the navigation keys and setup area, VCR/DVD controls, listening modes, and at the very bottom are the number keys. It didn’t take much reading to figure out how to use the remote.

With the receiver, we will start with the internal decoding, since audio comes first in AV Receiver. Audio decoders are built-in for Dolby TrueHD, Pro-Logic IIz, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS surround sensation. What I like is the Dolby Pro-Logic IIz. This adds two extra height channels above the front left and right speakers. Additional audio processing comes from Audyssey DSX, which in addition to front height channels, also adds wide left and wide right channels. Yes, you read correct. Wide right would be to the right of the front right speaker, and wide left would be to the left of the front left channel. For those of you who have not already done the math, when starting from a 7.1 system and adding front height and wide channels, that gives you 11.1. Only the TX-NR1007 has dual subwoofer outs, so it would be 11.2 channels. Unfortunately this is also a kryptonite for the receiver. It only has a 9 channel amplifier section, for 9.2 channels. And it does not have the ability to add an external amplifier for the extra two channels. You are stuck with having front height, or front wide, but not both. The 9.2 channels are the highest you can go. You can however break up the channels. You can use 5 channels for your main room, two channels for zone 2, and two channels for zone 3. Additional audio features are Windows 7 compatibility and networking for Rhapsody and Pandora internet radio. And last but not least it is also THX Ultra 2 Plus certified.

THX Ultra 2 Plus certification is a rating that means the amplifier section is not a wimp. To the contrary, the amp on the TX-NR1007 can really put out. It has the circuitry to do so with massive power supply, and discrete amplifier section and impressive heat sink and fan to keep things cool. The dual PUSH-PULL design, independent block construction and discrete circuitry are a winning combo for a potent and clean sounding amplifier section. The built-in fan also helps keep the amp section cool.

On the video side of things there is ISF certification and Faroudja DCDi Cinema processing. That is one other area that I would have liked to have seen things done differently. The Foroudja DCDi Cinema is a good chip, but I would have liked to see the HQV Reon video processor used instead. But then again, I guess there has to be a few reasons for us to want to bite the bullet and upgrade to the TX-NR3007 or TX-NR5007. These models are the other two models that make up Onkyo’s three Flagship receiver line.

The receiver has plenty of inputs for switching source units. On the front of the receiver you can switch from DVD/BD to VCR/DVR, CBL/SAT, GAME, AUX, TV/TAPE, TUNER CD, PHONE, PORT, NET, and DISPLAY. Under the door on the front panel are the auxiliary input, mic, headphone jack, and the manual buttons instead of using the remote. The front has an elegant black aluminum finish, with the traditional green Onkyo LED display. The back of the receiver as you can see from the photo has 6 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs, as well as a plethora of other connections for analog stereo, composite, S-video, component, coaxial and optical. Speaker connections are done with good quality binding posts.

One other feature not yet discussed is the GUI (Graphic User Interface). This is the set-up menus where one would typically set-up your receiver with your remote. This is where you would go in and if you had say an Onkyo Blu-ray player, reprogram it so when you hit the DVD-BD button, the display would read Onkyo Blu-ray. You would also go here to run your speaker calibration using Audyssy MultEQ XT and the supplied microphone connected to the receivers front panel. You can do this for several positions, and it worked well, even for the subwoofer. The GUI however, could use some work. While it worked sufficiently well and got the work done, it looked dated. It could definitely use a major refresh to the look of the GUI.

Now on the performance of the TX-NR1007, this is where it really shines. Starting with the amplifier section, it really puts out. My reference NHT Classic Three surround system are a 3-way sealed design, so they are not extremely efficient, and an SVS PC-Plus 16-46 powered subwoofer. The TX-NR1007 plays them very well without any sign of strain, or sounding at all thin. Sound is crisp and clear without being overly bright. The midbass is nice and tight with a nice punch. Both imaging and dynamics are amazing. The Faroudja DCDi Cinema actually performed good as well. The image is nice and detailed without any artifacts that jump out at you. Colors were good and resolution was very good. The image could have been just a tad cleaner, but that is being extremely nit picky. The picture was very good.

Purchasing an AV Receiver can be difficult. There are always new features coming out. The external question is… buy now, or wait for the new model. Waiting for the new model has pros and cons. Sometimes the new model has a host of major improvements and or features. But then again, sometimes there are just a couple of minor improvements and added features. The TX-NR1007 is one of those receivers where if you are waiting for the new model, you jump on it. The upgrades from the model below it as well as the model it replaces are significant. If it was a stock I would rate it a buy. For those of you in the market for a new AV receiver, the TX-NR1007 is a bargain and I highly recommend checking it out. For more info and complete specs, checkout their website at www.Onkyo.com.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

D-Link DAP-1522 Wireless Bridge Review

We live in an internet age. We can connect to the internet in a multitude of ways. No longer is it used to just retrieve you email or looking up information. The internet is a great source for music. Internet Radio has a pluthera of channels that let you get exactly the type of music you are looking for.

To get this music, you no longer need to be in front of your computer. Many surround sound receivers are starting to come out that are internet ready, with a built-in Ethernet connection. Now you can listen to internet radio through your surround sound receiver. The potential problem is how do you connect your receiver to your router. Unless your router is close to your receiver, you will need a little help.

Enter D-Link and their DAP-1522 wireless bridge. Their wireless bridge is a bridge between your router and receiver. The bridge will connect wirelessly to your router to access internet radio. The back of the bridge has four access points. Just set the bridge next to your home theater equipment.

Set up was not difficult by following the provided instructions, with my D-Link wireless router. And if you do have any questions, or need help a 800 number is provided. They can assist you getting your new bridge set up.

The DAP-1522 wireless N Bridge provided plenty of band width. The front LED's showed which parts were connected. After connecting my receiver and blu-ray player to the bridge I was able to quickly confirm the connection had been established. I turned on my receiver and blu-ray player, and saw immediately that a firmware update was available Oppo for my player. After downloading the firmware update I then turned to the receiver. After just a few minutes I was sorting through internet radio stations. Going through my Oppo player I was able to access my home media server and watch my ripped dvd collection. Picture and sound came through glitch free.

If you are looking for a wireless bridge, I highly recommend the D-Link DAP-1522. It is a quality product form a name you can trust. I would recommend adding it to your short list. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.dlink.com.