Blog Archive

Monday, October 31, 2011

Roku SoundBridge R1000 Radio Network Music System

SoundBridge Radio is a complete Wi-Fi Music System that brings the world of Internet radio to every room of the house in rich, clear, stereo sound. Combining all of SoundBridge's advanced digital music streaming functionality with incredible-sounding stereo speakers, subwoofer, AM/FM radio and alarm clock, SoundBridge Radio takes today's tabletop radio to the next level in audio power and ease of use. Access all your music using simple and familiar radio controls. A few buttons for presets, scan, and source select make digital music easily accessible.

Color: Black Brand: Roku Model: R1000 Number of discs: 1 Dimensions: 4.19 pounds WiFi music system with advanced digital music streaming functionality, pair of stereo speakers, and subwoofer Native support for Apple iTunes and Rendezvous, Windows Media Player, Windows Media Player 10, and Rhapsody Accesses free Internet radio stations via broadband connection; bright 280 x 32 vacuum fluorescent display Patented Linear Magnetic Drive stereo speakers and subwoofer with acoustic enclosures and built-in digital amps Ultra-fast 400 MHz Blackfin DSP; measures 11 x 6 x 6.5 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

Amazon.com Review Amazon.com Review Like its smaller cousins, the Roku M1000 and M500 network music players, Roku's SoundBridge Radio is designed liberate your digital music from your computer and let you crank up Internet radio stations and your unprotected digital music files in the room of your choice. But unlike those products, the SoundBridge Radio doesn't require a hi-fi system because the SoundBridge Radio is the hi-fi system. And not a bad one at that. A clean design and several easy-access-ports give the SoundBridge added versatility. View larger. Most of the radio's ground-breaking Wi-Fi features can be accessed via the convenient remote. View larger. Featuring two linear magnetic drive full-range speakers and a linear magnetic drive subwoofer -- each powered by built-in amplifiers -- the SoundBridge puts most table-top radios to shame. If you have a lot of space to fill with your music, you'll want to think twice before replacing your stereo system with it. But for a unit this size, the SoundBridge offers excellent sound performance, and its many ground-breaking Wi-Fi features make it worth the price. As a complete Wi-Fi music system that can stream your MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, and AIFF music files in high-performance sound; play AM, FM and Internet radio; automatically update the time via atomic transmission; and wake you up to a variety of ascending alarm sounds or your favorite Internet station or digital music, the SoundBridge has clear aspirations to be your bedside radio of choice. Without needing any special software for your computer (PC or Mac), within a few minutes of breaking this five-pound radio out of its packaging you can be browsing through the music you have stored in your Apple's iTunes, Real Networks' Rhapsody, Windows Media Connect or Windows Media 10 music players. All you need is a wireless network with a broadband connection, and your digital music is yours for the asking. (However, because Apple doesn't license its digital rights management code, SoundBridge -- like most other non-Apple network media players -- can't play protected songs from the iTunes Music Store.) In our test we set up an iMac G5 on our network running Apple's iTunes. The radio, which is configured with Wi-Fi 802.11b but is 802.11g compatible, immediately recognized the network but took several tries before it successfully connected. (If your network is locked, the SoundBridge will ask for a password. And if you have access to more than one wireless network, the SoundBridge will give you the option of choosing which network to connect to.) Once online, the radio automatically updated the Roku software and was officially ready to perform. And for the remainder of our test over several days, we never once had another connection problem. Diving straight into our iTunes folders, it didn't take long for us to recognize the several play features that put the SoundBridge head and shoulders above many of its competitors. For starters, unlike other network players we've tested, the radio recognized our iTunes playlists, and a neat "song queue" feature let us easily create our own playlists with the radio's remote. And as a huge brownie point, the SoundBridge not only categorized our songs by genre, title, artist and album (as most networks players do), it also queued up each song in the same order as they were originally placed their respective albums. Astoundingly, not all Wi-Fi players can make that claim. Large, easy-to-access buttons -- including a huge snooze bar -- on the top of the radio make the SoundBridge an excellent clock radio option. View larger. On the Internet radio front, SoundBridge doesn't come out quite so well. While Roku's marketing material claims "10,000 stations -- No strings attached," that wasn't exactly our experience. The radio is pre-configured with dozens of Internet stations -- all of which can be accessed without the computer powered on -- and the radio has 18 pre-sets that offer quick access to the station of your choice. But to access the rest of the world's Internet radio stations, you have to go through several somewhat tedious steps with Roku's Web interface to configure them. The strongest criticism of SoundBridge concerns its remote capabilities and navigation. The features of the SoundBridge are designed to be accessed both through the large, easy-to-access buttons on the radio itself, and via its basic 5.5 x 2-inch remote. Unfortunately, the remote works for some features, but not for others, and less-than-intuitive navigation makes things unnecessarily complicated. The most glaring example of this problem is with the SoundBridge's highly convenient "source" button located behind the radio's conveniently huge snooze button. You hit the source button until you reach -- you guessed it! -- the music source of your choice. If you want AM radio, you tap the button until "AM Radio" appears on the radio's display. Pretty simple, and just how it should be. However, if you are using the remote you must hit the "home" button, which then leads you to a navigation level that's dependent upon the level you're starting at. If you're listening to AM radio, for example, and you want Internet Radio, the remote requires that you click several times through two additional navigation levels to make the switch. And there are other similar problems with the remote configuration and navigation. Call us spoiled, but this can be a drag. Is it a deal breaker? Not by a long shot. The SoundBridge Radio is the first dedicated Wi-Fi radio that has the ability to serve your digital music collection, and it does it with a performance and convenience that should please most listeners. But at this price, and with thousands of examples of well-designed remote appliances to draw from, we would have liked these issues not to have been issues. Pros: Wirelessly delivers digital music and Internet radio from your PC or Mac Linear magnetic speakers and woofers offer excellent sound performance Alarm clock functions feature large, easy-to-access buttons and several alarm options, including Internet radio and digital music wake-up Cons: Poorly integrated remote control and difficult navigation Internet radio stations somewhat difficult to configure Amazon.com Product Description The wireless R1000 SoundBridge radio system combines the convenience of a high-quality tabletop radio with the versatility of a digital music device, giving listeners the best of both worlds. The R1000 doesn't actually store song files itself. Rather, it communicates with your Mac or PC over your home's WiFi network and accesses all your saved WMA, AAC, MP3, WAV, or AIFF files. Once the files are retrieved, the R1000 plays them over its pair of built-in stereo speakers and subwoofer, which deliver unsurpassed audio quality. As a result, you can listen to any of your digital tunes or podcasts on the R1000 regardless of whether your computer is located upstairs, down the hall, or in the basement. The R1000's top panel includes a snooze/sleep button, several radio presets, and scan up/down buttons. Take a closer look. The R1000 is compatible with a variety of Mac and PC digital music players, including iTunes, MusicMatch, Windows Media Connect, Windows Media Player 10, Rhapsody, Windows Media DRM 10, and more. It also stands ready to play free Internet radio stations, and doesn't require a computer to do so. All you need is broadband access and a WiFi home network and the R1000 takes care of the rest, giving you one-touch access to any available jazz, talk, rock, or pop station. And should you want to take the R1000 to a friend's house or elsewhere, you can simply store your favorite music files on an SD/MMC card and plug it into the available slot for offline playback. Other features include a built-in subwoofer, an SD/MMC card slot, and a headphone jack. Take a closer look. Your digital files are easy to navigate thanks to the bright 280 x 32 vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) and the handy remote control, which lets you browse and select music from across the room. The radio also offers Roku's Fast Browse feature, which browses by album, artist, genre, or composer (providing your files are properly encoded with said details). And those who prefer traditional browsing can simply use the top preset, scan, and source select buttons located on top of the radio. The unit's superior audio quality stems from the precision-engineered sound system and the patented Linear Magnetic Drive stereo speakers and subwoofer. Each full-range speaker is outfitted with its own tuned acoustic enclosure and built-in 20-watt 3G digital amplifier, while the sub offers a proprietary Delta Tunnel-tuned acoustic enclosure and a 30-watt 3G amp. Together, the speakers deliver a full-bodied audio performance that far surpasses most tabletop radios, all in a package that's only 11 by 6 by 6.5 inches (W x H x D). In addition, Roku has outfitted the SoundBridge with a super-fast, 400 MHz Blackfin DSP processor and 16 MB of DRAM memory, giving it more than enough headroom to handle future software updates. Other features include a traditional AM/FM tuner; a full-function clock radio (tuned to the U.S. atomic clock) that wakes to digital music, Internet radio, AM/FM stations, iTunes playlists, podcasts, or selectable alarm tones; a gradual volume ramp mode for listeners who like to wake up slowly; a headphone jack for private listening; and a built-in light sensor that automatically dims the display in the evening. The R1000 system weighs 4 pounds and 15 ounces and is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and labor. What's in the Box R1000 SoundBridge radio system, remote control, two AAA batteries, power cable, external AM antenna, external FM antenna, user's manual.

Most helpful customer reviews 94 of 96 people found the following review helpful. If you love radio, you will find it hard not to love the SoundBridge Radio By dissimulo Update: After two years, my SoundBridge radio began to die with a constant crackling of static, regardless of volume setting. Apparently, I am not the only customer to experience this problem, but the warranty coverage is one year, regardless. That is a disappointment, because this product is not cheap. I know that things break, but when a problem is common, it is a design flaw and I hope for manufacturers to take better care of their customers. So, I am not changing my rating - it was a great product while it lasted - but two years of life from a $300 product is not good enough for me to buy another, even at the low, low RMA price of $200. Original review: I have wished for a radio that could play Internet radio stations ever since stations began to stream on-line. Sure, I can use my computer, but I hate to leave the noisy, power-sucking thing on 24 hours a day. Over the last couple years, a few devices have popped up that could play Internet radio, but that lacked the ability to tune in regular AM and FM radio. At long last, the SoundBridge Radio has arrived with the ability to play both Internet and regular radio. The SoundBridge is great. It is the best thing of any kind that I have purchased in several years. That said, it is not perfect. Internet Radio The SoundBridge delivers Internet radio every bit as well as a computer. Once you have your favorite stations programmed in, it is easy to switch between them - just press the preset button and you're streaming. The downside is that it is a bit laborious to enter those stations. To add new stations to the presets, you need to log in to the web interface of the radio, using your web browser. No big deal if you are computer savvy, but it would be nice if there were a way to program the presets from the radio itself. AM/FM Radio The SoundBridge closed the deal with me just by offering regular AM and FM radio in addition to Internet radio. This was a feature I required and SoundBridge Radio delivers. However, that is as much praise as I will give it for the standard radio features. There are several annoyances. You cannot scan stations manually. To select a station, you must select it from a list. A tuning dial would be much, much more useful. The reception is poor. This is probably due to the internal AC power supply. Don't expect to pick up weak, remote stations with the SoundBridge. The radio does provide AM and FM antenna ports, so you can improve on the poor reception by adding a quality antenna. Radio Controls There are four ways to control the radio - the physical controls, the remote control, the web interface, and the command line interface. This provides a great degree of flexibility if you are willing to learn them all. It could also be confusing. The biggest problem with the SoundBridge Radio is that each of these four control sets works differently and does not allow you to control the full set of features. If I had designed the SoundBridge Radio, I would have made sure you could manipulate every feature from every interface. Sadly, this is not the case. The physical radio controls allow you to do almost everything you will need to do once the wireless network is set up and your presets are programmed. However, you need to use the remote control for setup. The web interface allows only very basic control of the radio, but is necessary for manipulating presets. You can program the presets for Internet radio stations simply by pasting in the URL. The command line interface can be accessed by Telnet. I have only done basic tinkering, but it appears you can control most of the radio functions from the command line. You can also do interesting things, such as rewriting the radio display. Sound The sound is fine. You're listening to the radio - how good do you expect it to be? Voices are clear and well

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Sony BDVE500W 5.1-Channel High-Definition Blu-ray and DVD Disc Home Theater System (Black)

Experience premium high-definition picture quality and sound with the Sony BDV-E500W Blu-ray Disc home theater system. With this all-in-one system you enjoy the benefits of a Blu-ray Disc player - Full HD 1080p and DVDs in near HD picture quality, plus a powerful 5.1 channel surround sound system that decodes DTS-HD, DTS-HD MA, Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD high-definition surround sound formats. Includes wireless rear speakers for convenient positioning and is upgradeable for multi-room listening – up to 10 rooms (AIR-SA10 sold separately).

Amazon Sales Rank: #28009 in Home Theater Color: Black Brand: Sony Model: BDVE500W Released on: 2009-07-24 Dimensions: 3.70" h x 16.90" w x 16.90" l, 11.90 pounds Wireless rear speakers using S-AIR technology Plays your Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD 1080p Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio BD-Live ready Plays DVDs and upscales them to near high definition

Most helpful customer reviews 80 of 81 people found the following review helpful. Great sound, better than Bose, Go for it By S. Misal Great product from Sony, I have had it for about 2 weeks now, I have played it every day made it go through some rigorous tests. Works perfect, I did a compare with Bose 321GSX and found this to be a lot better for half the price!. Excellent surround sound effect, IPOD dock works great, rear wireless speakers are amazing, even though Sony says not to keep the unit under the shelf, it still works great and the rear wireless work perfectly. Easy setup, and looks great, I even hid the subwoofer behind the TV and did the auto calibration..sounds great. I'd recommend a 100% buy. 52 of 53 people found the following review helpful. Plenty of features for a HTIB By HP This system is awesome. I've had it for about a month now and watched a few movies with it. I'm not an audiophile and this is my first surround sound system for my primary living room theater. I picked this system mainly because of the tower speakers and the S-AIR module. It's a all in one system with a blue ray disk player that supports about 5 different digital audio codecs. It's a clean minimalist design. I was surprised by the depth of the receiver. It's bigger than I expected and fills the majority of shelf space in my entertainment stand. One thing that bugged me are the the buttons on the top front edge of the receiver. They are small, the same shape and color which force you to read the label to tell what they are. This makes it even more irritating because the remote doesn't have an eject button and I had to learn which of those tiny buttons would eject my disk. I guess I'm really lazy. Assembly took all but 15 minutes. It took more time to arrange the pieces around the room. There's a quick setup guide that will calibrate your system with an included microphone. One thing to be aware of, as with most HTIB, there are no video inputs. What this means, is that you'll need to connect all your video sources directly to the TV or a HDMI switch. However, there are mutliple audio inputs. So for example, if you wanted to connect your XBOX 360 to this unit, you'll have to connect your HDMI to your tv and then use an optical cable to route the audio to the receiver. Or you could use the optical out from your TV. This is not ideal, in my opinion, but then again that was not a goal for me. The sound is crisp, and clean. The sub-woofer gives strong enough punch that you can feel in your chest. Blue ray disks load quicker than my LG blue ray player. I'm very happy with my purchase. This was the right unit for me and I would recommend this unit to anyone else looking for an all in one system. 26 of 27 people found the following review helpful. Great sound By P. Ford This system has everything we wanted all in one box. We have it hooked up to a Samsung 52" LCD tv. It was a quick setup and we love the effects of the sound. The blueray player is excellent. Movies are clear as a bell. It's great that we don't have cords running to the back of the room. Overall, we couldn't be happier with our purchase. See all 50 customer reviews...

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Yamaha YSP-4100BL Digital Sound Projector (Black)

Yamaha YSP-4100BL Digital Sound Projector in Black

Amazon Sales Rank: #7500 in Home Theater Color: Black Brand: Yamaha Model: YSP-4100BL Dimensions: 8.00" h x 40.50" w x 3.50" l, 22.00 pounds Has HD audio decoding Built-in DSP, speakers and apmplifiers with no need for additional speakers and cables UniVolume keeps volume during TV programs and commericals at the same level iPod/iPhone connectability via included wireless transmitter New slimmer design, matching the latest slim flat screen TVs

The Yamaha YSP-4100 Digital Sound Projector: Thin Is In When it comes to innovation, sometimes less is more: the YSP-4100, for example. It's much thinner than previous YSP models for a slimmer, more elegant appearance appropriate for your HDTV or OLED TV. Yet its room-filling surround sound is spectacular. The YSP-4100 Digital Sound Projector offers great new features like HD Audio decoding, 1080p-compatible HDMI (4 in and 1 out), IntelliBeam calibration, UniVolume, and numerous listening modes. Also included are two yAired wireless accessories for connecting to your iPod/iPhone and wireless subwoofer. How Digital Sound Projector Technology Works Accurate Projection of Sound Waves Creates Realistic Surround Sound from a Single Speaker Cabinet Five surround sound channels are directly projected from the YSP;innovative acoustic technology creates two more "phantom" channels

Most helpful customer reviews 14 of 16 people found the following review helpful. Fantastic Sound Bar By Dennis A. Staysniak The B&W Panorama sound bar was my first choice but pricey at $2300. A friend of mine who manages an high-end audio store and familiar with both the B&W and Yamaha lines suggested I look at the Yamaha 4100 specifically. It had more features and was almost $700 less. I took his suggestion and have been extremely happy with the YSP-4100. After upgrading the 4100's firmware to the latest version 7.0.3, 3D HDMI pass thru from my Samsung 3D Blu-Ray to Samsung 3D TV also worked properly. 9 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Amazing sound from one device. By Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix 01 I got a 42" LG5400 for our room. With three kids the husband wanted to be able to sneak away and watch the game while the kids watch cartoons. Somehow being stuck with the small (black and white) college TV set seemed unfair. When it finally broke we upgraded. Instead of buying speakers I looked at a soundbar. I wanted to have great sound without worring about the wires or the kids moving or grabing speakers placed around the room. My friend is an audiophile and he had the 4100 then upgraded to the 5100. He told me the sound difference was minute I went over and tried out his system. I liked it and my 4100 sounds the same. The difference is the 5100 has two 1" balanced-dome tweeters and the cost (approx 300); perhaps there are audiophiles with ears educated enough to tell the difference ... I'm sure they would love to pay $300.00 for any subtle improvements. My friend who also installs systems also helped me install the TV, DVD, Cable box and soundbar. The soundbar is also a receiver so the TV, DVD and Cable box are connected through the 4100. We (my friend with me as assistant) updated the Bios, installed the bracket, mounted the bar and calibrated the sound. The sound is perfect in the room no matter where you are but you can barely hear it in the hall even with the door open. So we can watch TV in our room when the kids are sleeping. I had an electrical outlet put in the wall behind the TV and the wires were run behind the wall so no tangled wires and no wires visible to tempt the children. Plus my husband can now watch the game (football, basketball or baseball) when the kids take over the TV in the family room. I would buy this unit again in a heartbeat. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. What a deal on Sound By meinster I just received the YSP 4100 from our dealer (had to order it in) it was installed on our new home theater room and the set up was incredibly easy. Upgrade the firmware. Plug it in, put in the YPAO microphone, press set up and walk out of the room. The sound bar did the rest. I have a full 7.1 Yamaha sound system in my game room and honestly, If YOU can tell a difference in sound quality, you are simply too picky. The sound bar is perfect for a home theatre room without all the cables (that was the one thing my wife insisted on, NO CABLES!!. The sound is crystal clear and the 3d pass-through does not degrade the picture on our Panasonic 60 inch ST30. The only recommendation that I would suggest, is to add the optional subwoofer, it really adds to the depth of the sound. See all 3 customer reviews...

Friday, October 28, 2011

Kenwood KAC-9104D 1800-Watt Max Power 1 ohm Capability Class D Mono Power Amplifier with Variable LPF

mono subwoofer amplifier * 500 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms (900 watts x 1 at 2 ohms) * variable low-pass filter (50-200 Hz at 24 dB per octave) * bass boost (0-18 dB at 40 Hz ) * subsonic filter (15/25 Hz, 18 dB/octave ) *

Amazon Sales Rank: #21681 in Car Audio or Theater Color: Black Brand: Kenwood Model: KAC-9104D Mono subwoofer amplifier 500 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms (900 watts x 1 at 2 ohms) Variable low-pass filter (50-200 Hz at 24 dB per octave) Bass boost (0-18 dB at 40 Hz ) Subsonic filter (15/25 Hz, 18 dB/octave )

Most helpful customer reviews 15 of 16 people found the following review helpful. Power Mono Amp By DJ Chinchilla This amp when bench tested at a 2 ohm configuration puts out about 600 real watts. If you know anything about car stereos, this REAL wattage is the only thing that matters, not what the amp manufacturers claim wattage to be. This amp doesnt get hot, and is a serious performer for the money. Class D means it is extremely efficient, and its a mono subwoofer amplifier. For those of you with small 4 cylinder engines and small alternators, yes your headlights will dim no matter what amp you put in there. Get a capacitor if you have a 4 cylinder motor. I have an S10 with a 4.3L V6, stock alternator rated at 110 Amps, and my headlights do not dim. I dont have a capacitor. This amp slams whatever is connected to it. For the money, you can not beat this amp. 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Powerful Amp A+ By Michael Sellers I have this amp paired with an Alpine R12 (4 ohm), and it is amazing. With the gain over 3/4, it is TOO POWERFUL for any kind of conversation in my 08 Civic. I also bought a 1 Farad capacitor, because my headlights were dimming. This amp has not cut out once, even in near 100 degree heat and bumpin'. I recommend this amp because of it's flawless performance, light price, active cooling, and heavy hitting power. I am very impressed with this amp. 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Super Amazing! By a4455johndeere I have 2 12in. Kicker CVX's with 2 ohm DVCs and I have a KAC-9103D but that amp wasn't enough for the 2 subs, so I got this one so the amps were similar. All I can say is "HOLY CRAP!" This amp is definitly powerful. With both subs, I have talked to my friends after I have sat behind them at a red light and they said that I'm rattlin' their car too. Really I can't really describe the power of the amp unless you experience it but again, all I can say is "HOLY CRAP!" See all 27 customer reviews...

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Sony BDV-E770W Blu-ray Player Home Entertainment System [3D Compatible]

Experience movies in full HD 1080p resolution and powerful 5.1-channel HD surround sound including wireless rear speakers with the BDV-E770W 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system. This great system minimizes movie wait times so you can begin watching faster than ever. You can also wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Slacker, YouTube and more.

Amazon Sales Rank: #17196 in Home Theater Color: Black Brand: Sony Model: BDV-E770W Dimensions: 22.32" h x 18.78" w x 18.78" l, 40.78 pounds 1000 watt, 5.1-channel surround sound system with Blu-ray Disc player Enjoy Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD 1080p, including 3D Blu-ray Discs BRAVIA Internet Video for instant streaming of content from Netflix, YouTube, Slacker, and more Wireless S-AIR rear speakers minimize wire clutter Turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a remote with a free app

Awaken your senses and experience your movies in high-definition with this 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system, which features 5.1-channel surround sound and wireless rear speakers. Experience movies in Full HD 1080p resolution and powerful 5.1-channel HD surround sound including wireless rear speakers with the BDV-E770W 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system. This great system minimizes movie wait times so you can begin watching faster than ever. You can also wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Slacker, YouTube and more. BRAVIA Internet Video Instantly stream a wide variety of movies, TV episodes, videos and music from a large selection of entertainment apps including: Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Slacker--the list goes on and on. Gracenote Metadata Service instantly gives you access to detailed information about the movies you are watching. And when you're watching your favorite movies, Cross Search functionality easily allows you to search select BRAVIA Internet Video partners for entertainment or information related to the disc that you are enjoying. Achieve a cinematic experience at home with the Sony BDV-E770W theater system 3D Blu-ray Disc Full HD 1080p playback Enjoy 3D Blu-ray Disc movies in full HD 1080p and experience the next generation of home theater entertainment. The BDV-E770W Also supports standard Blu-ray Disc movies in high definition and upscales DVDs to near HD quality. Blu-ray Disc audio decoding lets you experience sound closer to the way it was captured with LPCM, Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD master audio codecs. Share Personal Entertainment via DLNA and Wi-Fi Stream music, videos and photos from compatible DLNA devices (like a PC) using your home network. The BDV-E770W is a certified DLNA client and easily connects to your existing wireless broadband network to turn your whole home into a digital entertainment storehouse. Share content like music and photos from your network-connected PC, Mac, laptop, external storage device, or any other digital source all over your HDTV and home theater surround system. A USB port on the front allows your to share your home videos or photos on the big screen USB Input Listen to your favorite music or share your home videos or photos on the big screen. Simply connect your iPod, digital camera, USB-enabled MP3 player, or USB storage device. DIGITAL MEDIA PORT The demand for digital audio and video content continues to be strong. Sony's DIGITAL MEDIA PORT (DMP) interface is a proprietary interface that adds networking and connectivity options to your home theater system. Just connect optional accessories (sold separately) which provide the ability to control and power devices while making set up easy and operation simple to use. The DMP will be compatible with various accessories which will include a PC Client ready device, Bluetooth adapter and Audio Docking stations compatible with select Network Walkman and iPod products. Regardless of where you store your music. BRAVIA Sync Compatible Conveniently operate and control other BRAVIA Sync compatible devices--including BRAVIA HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc Players, surround sound systems, Handycam camcorders and Cyber-shot digital still cameras, all with one remote control. Digital Cinema Auto Calibration Ensure you get the best sound experience from your surround sound system with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration. Simply place the included microphone where you will be seated and settings are automatically optimized based on the distance, delays and placement of your speakers. Technical Specifications Power Output: 1000W Total (RMS): Center 167W; Surround 167W; Woofer 165W, Front 60W Sound Modes: Auto/Movie/Music/Sports/News/Game Rock S-AIR Included: TA-SA200WR Analog Audio Input(s): 2 (AUDIO TV) Coaxial Audio Input(s): 1 (Sat/Cable) Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output(s): 1 Composite Video Output(s): 1 D.C.A.C. (Auto Calibration): Yes (Mono Mic.) DIGITAL MEDIA PORT: Yes (1) HDMI™ Connection Output(s): 1 (Upscale to (1080p) for DVD) Optical Audio Input(s): 1(TV) Speaker Terminal: 2 (Front); 1 (Center); 2 (Surround); 1 (Subwoofer) Amplifier Dimensions (Approx.): 17 in × 3-3/8 in × 13-1/4 in (430 mm × 85 mm × 335mm) Amplifier Weight (Approx.): 10 lb 10 oz (4.8 kg) Subwoofer Dimensions (Approx.): 275 x 405 x 275mm Subwoofer Weight (Approx.): 7.5 kg Surround Speaker Dimensions (Approx.): 80 x 225 x 80mm Surround Speaker Weight (Approx.): 0.5 kg Center Speaker Dimensions (Approx.): 295 x 50 x 55mm Center Speaker Weight (Approx.): 0.4 kg Front Speaker Dimensions (Approx.): 80 x 225 x 80mm Front Speaker Weight (Approx.): 0.5 kg

Most helpful customer reviews 139 of 144 people found the following review helpful. Awsome composite system By Common sense This is a really a great Home Theater/BluRay combo unit. I hate clutter and went for it as this would be a single unit for Music, DVD/BluRay and Internet streaming (Netflix etc). Blu-Ray discs with 3-D surround sound are really amazing as I expected, DVD up conversion is great and sound quality of wireless S-AIR rear speaker is as good as wired (beware, they are wireless just with respect to main base/amp unit. The rear speakers have their own receiver unit that requires power plug and is wired to rear speakers. However, it serves my purpose as I don't need to run wires across my living room.). I was apprehensive that I am paying $100 extra and probably compromising on the sound quality just for little compromise of running wires across room. I did not find any compromise on sound quality (and I am quite picky). I did separate my WiFi router away from S-AIR, after reading about the possible cross-interference. That created another logistics problem: I sometimes watch movies on Netflix streamed through Internet and for best quality like to hook up the wire. Keeping router away meant that I ended up running cable across. Netflix streaming quality was awesome with wire and as good I had observed with PS3 (It's just a shade worse than DVD but way better than connecting via computer). The surprise was that WiFi connection worked almost as well as wired. So I ended up getting rid of this wire too. I have Sharp Aquos 52' LED TV and it seamlessly detects sound from this Sony unit whenever I switch to TV or switch on TV. One more tip that I discovered by chance. I have cheap $2, 6 ft generic HDMI cable and ~$10 mediabridge 6 ft and 15 ft (to connect my laptop to use TV as external monitor). While DVD and Blu-Ray disc quality was same on all 3 cables, Netflix streaming quality was way better with 6 ft mediabridge cable than other two. Probably one needs to buy decent quality shortest cable for limited signal/information relay via streaming. And don't believe in the crap that is floating on Internet. I know digital is 0 and 1. However, those morons forget that it's not just one 0 and 1; there is a stream of millions of 0s and 1s getting across. So it matters how many of those are faithfully transmitted. If input is great it does not matter, even crappiest of cable would do. However, if input is limiting, it does seem to make a difference. I did blind test with monstrously overpriced Monster cables and did not find any improvement over Mediabridge; so just the shortest and decent ones would do. I read one user complaining about lack of headphone jack on the system in reviews somewhere. IT EXISTS. Sony actually did one better. It put it on one of the rear speakers so that it's close to your couch. They just did a poor job of highlighting it. Not so detail oriented people might start crying it does not exist after not finding it on the main unit. Finally, I played tons of music from my iPhone using 3.5 mm to RCA connection (this unit can also play iPod/Phone via USB cable; I just had a very good quality 3.5 mm to RCA with me) and quality was good. It also has Pandora and other links that are suppose to become functional in next update. I tried Pandora via iPhone and it was great. I really can't see any problems with the system. Bottom-line: It may not be the system for extreme music lovers who want to push sound quality to ultimate purity and can hear notes that pass through 99% of the people. It is indeed a very good composite unit to hook up with your TV (for improved sound) and watch movies on BluRay/DVD/Netflix and avoid clutter of equipments without compromising on the quality of either of the individual functions. I am not into gaming but Sony should come up with PS3-BluRay-home theater combo too. If I have to find fault, my only disappointment is the unfriendly user manual, hard to navigate Sony website

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Kenwood KAC-6104D 600 Watt Max Power Class D Mono Power Amplifier with Variable LPF

Class D Mono Power Amplifier with Variable LPF, 600W Max Power

Amazon Sales Rank: #11429 in Car Audio or Theater Brand: Kenwood Model: KAC-6104D Dimensions: 4.60" h x 11.50" w x 11.80" l, 4.60 pounds Mono subwoofer amplifier 200 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms (300 watts x 1 at 2 ohms) Variable low-pass filter (50-200 Hz, 12 dB per octave) Preamp- and speaker-level inputs

Most helpful customer reviews 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good little amp for 1 12 By James M. I had blown an older amp and needed something for my 400RMS audiobahn. I just wanted a little bump, nothing wild. This thing is nice and compact, and gets the job done. On one 12" sub it has plenty of power to make the music sound good, and if you need it to be louder, it can be. I'd recommend this if you are looking for better sounding music, and not just to make the people down the street hear you. My only complaint is the power/ground wire terminals. I had 4 gauge wire from my old amp, but these are standard speaker wire terminals set up hold smaller 6 (or 8, I'm not sure) wire. I had to do some jerry rigging to get the 4 gauge to work. I would have liked terminals that were just large holes with a set screw to tighten in to the wire. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Very good for it's size!!! By RC I bought this amp and have it hooked up to a 2010 Kicker CompVR 12" 2ohm DVC sub, in a 2002 Z71 extended cab. Speaker is wired to 4 ohm load. I know this doesn't get all of the power out of the amp and from the way it sounds I don't need any more power. I'm not a young buck running around town with the windows down trying to blow anybody out, but I do like to turn it up from time to time and feel like a kid again! This amp is a great amp for someone looking for a low price on a good amp. You won't regret it! 0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Just what I wanted By youngdre23 I bought this amp back in November of 2010. I haven't had a problem with it yet. This thing is great. I'm powering this amp to a Alpine Type E. It sounds amazing. See all 5 customer reviews...

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Lorex QLR464 4-Channel PCI DVR Card with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Security Camera (Black)

Turn your PC into a video security system! The Lorex QLR464 4-Channel PCI DVR bundle allows you to utilize your computer as a cost effective video security system for home or business. The system includes a QLR460 PCIDVR card, four indoor/outdoor color security cameras with IR Night Vision, four 60ft BNC/Power video extension cables and power supply. Watch and/or record four locations simultaneously as the easy-to-use graphical interface enables control of all system features and functions. The QLR464 features Triplex technology allowing you to view or playback video while recording continues. Advanced H.264 video compression technology maximizes recording time while minimizing HDD consumption, and advanced storage management configuration allows you to allocate the desires storage space on your computer's hard drive. Remote view options: included client software or Web Browser, and the free Lorex DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) service keeps you connected at all times.

Amazon Sales Rank: #6847 in Camera & Photo Color: Black Brand: Lorex Model: QLR464 Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 4.76" h x 4.50" w x 2.44" l, 8.00 pounds 4 High Resolution security cameras with 450 TV lines and 3.6mm lens, rated IP66 for indoor or outdoor weatherproof placement 18 IR LED's provide up to 50ft Night Vision (black and white picture illumination under zero light conditions) Real-time recording at 120 frames per second with motion detection, scheduled or continuous recording options Video search modes: Date, time, channel, or event Requires Intel Pentium 4, 3.0Ghz & above, 1GB of RAM, 250GB SATA hard drive, 64MB video card, Windows 7/Vista (32-bit), XP

Turn your PC into a video security system! The Lorex QLR464 PCI DVR card system allows you to utilize your computer as a cost effective video security system for home or business. The system includes a the 4 channel QLR464 PCI DVR card, four indoor/outdoor security cameras with IR night vision, and four 60ft BNC/Power video cables. Record security video directly to your computer's internal hard drive or external drive. View, record, and playback simultaneously. The easy-to-use software enables control of all system features and functions. Advanced h.264 video compression technology maximizes recording time while minimizing HDD consumption, and advanced storage management configuration allows you to allocate the desires storage space on your computer's hard drive. The system also features remote viewing over the Internet from anywhere in the world at any time. Connect using the included client software, your web browser (Internet Explorer), and Lorex's FREE DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) service to keep you connected at all times.

Most helpful customer reviews 24 of 24 people found the following review helpful. THIS does the job; software a bit rough but it works By Mary C. Clark I first bought the LW2702 wireless system. It would not carry a signal 50 feet through my vinyl sided 1/2 inch sheathed split level. I called Lorex and they wanted to send me a new system right away. In the mean time, I looked over their website snd found this. I decided to try this system since Lorex was so suportive. It is even less expensive than the LW2702. Four cameras, a 32 bit card and software that sends email alerts and a snapshot; plus you can access the system on the internet via a ddns net run by Lorex. THIS seemed to solve every concern I had; I did not just want to discourage and record, I wanted a system that would email us while we were on vacation and that we could use to call the police. I decided to put 3 cameras in the house in logical traffic areas. These will be set to alert us. The fourth will go outside to capture vehicle traffic in the drive. The software allows each camera to be programmed seperately; alert types, when to record, etc. You can also set up schedules for each camera alert and monitor function; for example, basement shop every night between midnight and 5 AM; bedroom hallway every workday from 8AM to 3PM; and all inside cameras for the two week vacation while leaving the driveway camera always set to record activity without sending alerts. Pretty powerful stuff. You neeed to precisely follow the instructions for setting up internet access which allows you full control of your monitoring system. It took a day for the internet to register my system domain; but it works. OK, the mediocre. Although Server 2000 is supported, it will not run on windows home server. Or, it must be installed on any 32 bit winXP or higher system. IT CANNOT run on 64 bit; needs a new card plus new software. There are is one irksome quirk, which is worked around by using internet access. The program window has NO minimize/size/maximize/close icons in the upper right corner. Also not present with a right click. It settles in the upper left corner of your monitor and CANNOT be dragged someplace else (like your second monitor with extended desktop). SInce you access your system via IE (have not yet tired Firefox), you CAN relocate the display and controls since you simply drag the IE window where you want. We live in a rural area with a lot of ground floor windows. I have always been skeptical of alarm company monitoring services. THIS system allows me to verify for myself what is happening and to call the police; or, since I have a computer based phone answering machine (left very loud so we can hear it thoughout the house) I can call the house and deliver a pretty creepy warning to whover is in the house. Each camera is provided with a 60 foot video and power cable. This works well for my interior cameras, but I will need an extension for my driveway camera. I only installed this last week; but I have tested it pretty hard and it works so far. Turns out I am glad the LW2702 did not work as expected; while it would have captured events the LW2702 cannot send out alerts nor provide the control of this system. The "downside" is that you have to run wires to your computer and you must have a computer that is always on and configured to reboot after a power failure. Plus, you can check the house from ANY computer anywhere in the world either with IE or the provided client software. AS far as I concerned, this beats paying a monitoring service $10 a month. I hope it continues to work. 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Lorex QLR464 4 channel DVR card and cameras By D. Block I ordered a desktop specifically to install this card and run the surveillance software. Installation of the PCI card was a snap, and the software loaded smoothly - allowing me immediate viewing and recording ability. Getting everything set to remotely connect to the system is another