Buying Guide

June 22nd, 2008

The perfect stand for your digital TV, whatever size it happens to be
The Sanus Platinum AV Foundations PFV59 is an extra-wide three-shelf lowboy built to accommodate today`s largest TVs. Its sleek lines and custom-blended finish offer a striking look that complements modern AV gear. High-quality construction and open architecture maximize airflow and provide the enhanced strength needed to handle even the largest televisions. Features include large wire management channels and a sleek, durable tempered-glass shelf.

• Assembly hardware included
• Extra-large shelves are designed to handle even the largest AV systems
• Wire management system helps keep cables concealed and organized
• Non-slip protector pads isolate glass top from shelf frame for a safe, secure TV setting
• Tempered-glass shelves provide durability and elegance

Detailed Specifications:


• Product Width: 59 in / 149.86 cm
• Product Height: 17 in / 43.18 cm
• Product Depth: 18.5 in / 46.99 cm
• Package Width: 68.75 in / 174.63 cm
• Package Height: 3.75 in / 9.53 cm
• Package Depth: 20 in / 50.8 cm
• Package Weight: 115 lbs / 52.16 kg
• TV Size Range 17 - 64 inches / 43.18 - 162.56 cm
• Top Shelf Width 59 in / 149.86 cm
• Top Shelf Depth 18.5 in / 46.99 cm
• Top Shelf Capacity 150 lbs / 68.04 kg
• Middle Shelf Width 47 in / 119.38 cm
• Middle Shelf Depth 17.25 in / 43.82 cm
• Middle Shelf Capacity 60 lbs / 27.22 kg
• Bottom Shelf Width 47 in / 119.38 cm
• Bottom Shelf Depth 17.5 in / 44.45 cm
• Bottom Shelf Capacity 100 lbs / 45.36 kg

PRICE: $399.99 at www.onecall.com

May 4th, 2008

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 Specifications Sheet PDF File Icon
Engineered to deliver full 1080p resolution, the Epson® PowerLite® Home Cinema 1080 combines five revolutionary innovations in one remarkable performer. It begins with C²Fine™ 3LCD technology, the core of this powerful projector, designed to faithfully reproduce every color and scene.
Next, there’s a proprietary lamp that provides consistent light from corner to corner, using the least amount of power, while 1080Perfect™ video processing offers full HD 1080p performance with 24fps and HDMI 1.3 compatibility.
AbsoluteBlack™, technology delivers a 12,000:1 contrast ratio and ensures the richest, deepest blacks. And, the innovative OptiCinema™ lens delivers amazing detail and breathtaking color for spectacular results. Together, these state-of-the-art technologies, all within a single projector, present a total solution that exceeds all expectations.

Features:
    * Razor Sharp detail - true 1080p resolution
    * Incredible blacks, depth and detail 12,000:1 Contrast ratio
    * Cutting Edge Connectivity - HDMI 1.3
    * Outstanding zoom range and lens shift provides convenient ceiling or shelf mount flexibility

Price: $2499.00 at audioholics

May 4th, 2008

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Features

Powerful audio: With this 5.1 channel, 200-watt home theater system, you can experience the ultimate in home entertainment.

Progressive scan DVD player: Along with a powerful audio system, this package offers a progressive-scan DVD player. When the DVD player is connected to an enhanced-def or high-def TV using a component video or S-video cable, it offers sharp, incredibly clear video that takes movie viewing to a whole new level.

USB Media Host: Experience your digital music library or photo album with USB Media Host. Simply plug in your USB-compatible device and you’re ready to go.

Multi-format playback: This unit is compatible with DVD Video, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, and JPEG formats.

Digital AM/FM tuner: Listen to your favorite radio stations through your home theater system.

 

Original Price:$99.99

You save: -$20.03

You pay: $79.96

More info at circuitcity.com

May 4th, 2008

Enjoy the clarity of HD in a stunningly modern design with a unique bezel and frame to suit your decor. True 720p resolution offers amazing LCD image detail, complemented by a 10,000:1 dynamic-contrast ratio for vivid colors and bold blacks. Three HDMI inputs let you connect quickly and easily to your peripherals. Call up a variety of menu options and preferences via a smart user interface. Speaking of smart, the intelligently hidden speakers ensure a sleek, clean look that fits in almost any surroundings. TruSurround delivers a compelling, virtual surround sound experience through any two speakers playback system, including internal television speakers and headphones. It is fully compatible with all multichannel formats up to 5.1 channels Stereo broadcast reception, (MTS & SAP) with 181-channel capacity. Hidden bottom speakers with 10 Watts x 2 audio power SRS TruSurround XT - TruSurround is a patented SRS technology that solves the problem of playing 5.1 multichannel content over two speakers V-Chip system allows blocking of rated TV and movie programs determined by the parent to contain objectionable content Trilingual on-screen displays in English, Spanish or French HDMI-CEC allows peripheral devices such as a DVD player to be controlled by TV remote control Auto wall mount compatible Channel coverage - VHF 2-13, UHF 14-69, and CATV 1-125 (up to 181 pre-selected channels) Antenna - CATV/VHF/UFH 75-ohm, F-type Connections - 3 HDMI High Definition Multimedia Interface (2 rear, 1 side), 2 Rear Component (Y/Pb/Pr), Rear RF Input, Side S-video input, Composite AV (Rear, Side), Side Headphone, Rear PC D-sub, Rear optical sound out, Rear RS232, and Side HDMI-CEC Dimensions - Width 31.5 x Height 20.7 x Depth 3.7 / 31.5 x 22.7 x 9.9 with stand Weight - 24.0 pounds / 28.9 pounds with stand

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April 28th, 2008

 

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1920 x 1080P Resolution

10,000:1 Contrast Ratio

Slim Bezel, Slim Depth Cabinet

3D HD Ready

Game Mode

Fill your room with the riveting 1080p Full HD resolution and brilliant sound of the Samsung HL-T6176S. Its 0.8-inch-thin piano-black bezel and hidden speaker system let you enjoy more screen and less frame; the slim depth lets the 61-inch DLP(R) HDTV fit where others won’t(TM). Enjoy the crisp definition and bright imagery of Samsung’s Cinema Smooth(TM) 1080p Light Engine; a phenomenal 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio delivers the full range of vivid colors, bright whites, deep blacks and nuanced tones.

Learn more from Samsung

Learn more from Samsung

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March 25th, 2008

We all want a TV that is large enough to give home theater quality but is there such a thing as too big when it comes to buying a new television?

The answer is it depends! Factors that determine the optimal size TV include the size of your room and how far you will be sitting from the screen as well as whether your TV is 4:3 or wide screen format.

While your natural impulse is to buy the biggest TV your budget allows, if you are sitting too close to a large screen television, the picture quality is likely to seem grainy and poor, which could make you less than satisfied with your investment.

On the other hand, if your home theater or other room in which you watch TV is large and you buy a unit that is too small, you could find yourself squinting to watch the nightly news or your favorite sports events and movies.

So, we’ve put together some facts and information to help you determine the best size TV for your living room or home theater room.

Normal Television Viewing Distance

Research shows that you will feel most comfortable when viewing “normal” 4:3 television shows from a distance that is from three to six times the width of your television screen. Any closer and you will feel crowded; much further and you will have trouble seeing fine details and enjoying the experience.

Refer to the following charts to determine the optimal size for your new TV based on the layout of your room and how far away from the screen you will typically be seated.

If you are buying a 4:3 “regular” format television:

4:3 Diagonal Screen	Minimum Distance	Maximum Distance
13 inches	2.6 feet	5.2 feet
19 inches	3.8 feet	7.6 feet
20 inches	4 feet	8 feet
24 inches	4.8 feet	9.6 feet
27 inches	5.4 feet	10.8 feet
32 inches	6.4 feet	12.8 feet
36 inches	7.2 feet	14.8 feet
40 inches	8 feet	16 feet

Wide screen, high resolution DVD and HDTV picture quality changes the viewing distances considerably since the picture quality is higher and you want the experience to be more like being in a theater.

In this case, the optimal viewing distance may be as little as 1.5 times the diagonal width of your wide screen TV:

16:9 Diagonal Screen	Minimum Distance	Maximum Distance
26 inches	3.3 feet	6.5 feet
30 inches	3.8 feet	7.6 feet
34 inches	4.3 feet	8.5 feet
42 inches	5.3 feet	10.5 feet
47 inches	5.9 feet	11.8 feet
50 inches	6.3 feet	12.5 feet
55 inches	6.9 feet	12.8 feet
60 inches	7.5 feet	15 feet
65 inches	8.1 feet	16.2 feet

TV and Room Size

The optimal size of a TV is relative to the size of your room. A TV with a screen size under 30 inches is great for the bedroom, but probably won’t be adequate in a larger room intended to seat more than two people comfortably.

You also want to consider placement of your television; optimally the center of the screen should be aligned to eye level both horizontally and vertically.

Remember also that tube and rear projection units are deeper than flat panel models; this needs to be considered in terms of how the TV will be mounted or sit in your entertainment center or other cabinetry; you don’t want the screen protruding into the room.

Most TV models have matching stands and/or mounting hardware available optionally if you don’t have an existing entertainment center.

March 25th, 2008

If you are in the market for a new TV in 2008, you may be surprised how much you’ll get for your hard earned dollar these days!

With the cost of Plasma and LCD flat panel TVs coming down rapidly, the old CRT tube models are slowly going away, even towards the low end range of the market.

You’ll find literally hundreds of television models reviewed on our web site, all categorized by size, brand, price range and special features to make it easy for you to compare models!

To help you match your TV budget to the typical price range, the tvsreview.com staff has put together this easy to use guide.

The prices listed here reflect the “street prices” not the manufacturers’ suggested retail prices, which are over inflated and should never be paid unless you are buying the latest, top of the line model and just have to be the first kid on your block to own it. Screen sizes listed are measured diagonally.

The guide offers you practical advice on what to look for within seven distinct price brackets:

• Less than $300
• $300 to $500
• $500 to $750
• $750 to $1,000
• $1,000 to $1,500
• $1,500 to $3,000
• Over $3,000

TVs Costing Less Than $300

At the low end of the market, CRT tubes are still common, with 25 to 27 inch units that once cost well over $500 now available in the sub $300 range.

If you are in the market for an LCD flat screen unit, you can now shop around and find a deal on models that feature screen sizes of 21 inches and smaller. Don’t expect a lot of features such as picture-in-picture or tons of inputs in this lowest budget class however.

Best brands to look for under $300 include Toshiba, Samsung and Sharp, among others.

TVs in the $300 to $500 Price Range

If your budget is in this range, you can find both flat panel LCD and CRT tube models with up to a 32 inch screen size.

Televisions costing between $500 and $750

Expect to find CRT tube models up to 36 inches and LCD flat panel models up to 37 inches if your budget is between $500 and $750, with the CRT models generally offering more features such as multiple video and audio inputs.

TVs in the $750 to $1,000 Budget Range

Stepping your budget up towards $1,000 will buy a flat panel unit up to a 42 inch flat panel LCD screen or you can choose from lower end Plasma models up to 42 inches. You will also find DLP, LCD, LCoS rear-projection models up to 62 inches under $1,000 if you shop around a little.

TVs in the Price Range of $1,000 to $1,500

If you have a budget between one-thousand and fifteen-hundred dollars you can find flat panel LCD models up to about 47 inches and Plasma units up to 50 inches. DLP, LCD, LCoS rear-projection models up to 62 inches in this price range will generally have more features than the discounted models under $1,000.

TVs Priced from $1,500 to $3,000

If you are looking for a larger TV and can pay between fifteen-hundred and two-thousand dollars for your new television, then expect to find an LCD flat panel model up to 52 inches, a Plasma unit up to 60 inches or a DLP or LCoS rear-projection model with up to 73 inch screen.

TVs over $3,000

If you budget more than three-thousand dollars, you can find a flat panel LCD TV model up to 70 inches, a Plasma model up to 103 inches, DLP or LCoS rear-projection TVs up to 73 inches.

Features abound in this budget class, with all the latest bells and whistles you want to make your home theater state-of-the-art.

Brands to look for at the high end of the market include Sony, which no longer markets Plasma models, betting instead on its LCD models to take the lead soon, having launched their full HD 1080p W series Bravia models last year.

Panasonic and Samsung continue to bet on Plasma as the long term leading technology in large screen TVs, announcing its new record 150 inch screen at CES.

Also hitting the market soon is the Mitsubishi 65 inch Laser TV, introduced in Japan in early 2008 and scheduled to hit the North American market later in the year.

If budget is not your primary concern and you want to splurge, you certainly have plenty of great options in this $3,000 plus price range!

March 23rd, 2008

Sharp’s 19″ LC19DV22U LCD-TV provides a convenient built-in DVD television solution with a distinctive design. The LC19DV22U features a side-loading progressive scan DVD player, a high-performance LCD panel for high brightness, a high contrast ratio, low-reflection glare protection and wide viewing angles, as well as Sharp’s Emmy® Award-winning LCD technology. The LC19DV22U Features true 16:10 Aspect Ratio (1440 x 900) LCD Panel displays 16:9 widescreen programs in their native aspect ratio, and has built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC Tuners for DTV and analog TV viewing. Viewing Angles are so wide you can view Sharp Liquid Crystal Televisions from anywhere in the room! The set even comes with a PC Input that easily turns your TV into a PC monitor.

 

Features

• 19″ LCD-TV with Built-in DVD
• 800:1 Native Contrast Ratio
• 16:10 Aspect Ratio
• PC Input
• Component Input

Technical Details

• Model: LC19DV22U
• Display Size: 19 inches
• Display Technology: TFT active matrix
• is_hdtv_compatible: Y Unknown modifier
• Image Aspect Ratio: 16:10
• speakers_included_description: 2 speakers Unknown modifier
• Height: 13.9 inches
• Width: 3.9 inches
• Weight: 14.5 pounds

  Price : $429.99 at amazon

February 23rd, 2008

Bring the power and superior viewing of HP’s Visual Fidelity Engine to your living room with our 42″ 1080p High-Definition LCD TV. With adaptive color and contrast enhancement and advanced edge and photorealistic sharpness enhancement, this TV supplies exceptional image clarity and brightness, natural color, and deep blacks.

 

Clear, colorful picture, superior image response

• Enjoy a superior picture with HP’s Visual Fidelity engine: six technologies provide a sharper, cleaner image and natural colors on a frame-by-frame basis
• Bring out deeper, richer colors with the adaptive contrast enhancement, which analyzes every scene and automatically adjusts
• Delight your eyes with the 176-degree viewing angle and razor sharpness
• Eliminate motion blur with response times as fast as 8 ms
• Enjoy DVDs and standard-definition TV on a big screen with the advanced scaling and film-processing technology
• Enjoy a beautiful picture that lasts up to 60,000 hours

 

Perfect for a home theater

• Position perfectly with the tabletop stand, which is also detachable for wall mounting²
• Project immersive, home-theater-quality sound via the two powerful, integrated speakers and HP’s Virtual Surround audio processing, which enhances both vocal clarity and bass
• Use the array of digital and analog inputs, including an integrated HDTV tuner, three HDMI and two component audio/video ports, and PC VGA port
• Complement your home décor with the classic, piano-black finish
• Use right out of the box, thanks to the integrated high-definition and analog tuners

Designed with the environment in mind

This HP television is designed to be energy-efficient, with aggressive default power settings to help cut power consumption. HP complies with several voluntary government initiatives for energy efficiency, including ENERGY STAR®. In addition, our packaging is designed to reduce environmental impact.

Award-winning support

• Get peace of mind with the one-year limited warranty with in-home repair service
• Rely on HP’s Total Care advice and support; get product questions answered toll-free, 24 x 7, or via e-mail in as little time as an hour, at www.HP.com/go/totalcare

Price $1,499.99 shopping.hp.com

February 12th, 2008

The PT-AX200U projector produces bright, eye-catching images, buoyed by its 220-W UHM™ lamp and optical unit that combine to generate 2, 000-lumen brightness. It also incorporates Panasonic’s improved Light Harmonizer 2 image technology, which measures ambient light and adjusts the image brightness by controlling not only the gamma curve, but also the iris setting, lamp power, and picture sharpness to maintain bright, crisp and vivid pictures under any lighting condition.

The PT-AX200U ships with a new gaming mode so consumers can enjoy playing their favorite video games. According to the Entertainment Software Association, game software sales reached approximately 240 million units during 2006 and Panasonic is poised to begin capturing this market. Compared with Panasonic’s prior model, the new projector’s gaming mode improves signal processing for 1/3 response time, using the controller buttons. Gamers can also program and save up to eight settings for games or movies, making it easy to view the content as they wish. In addition, picture quality characteristics have been specifically tuned to reveal more image details that were previously not as visible in very dark or over-saturated areas that are prevalent in many games.

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