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Robert's Home Theater Blog August 2007 Archive

By Robert Silva, About.com Guide to Home Theater since 1998

Samsung LN-T4665F 46-Inch LCD TV - Product of the Week

Friday August 31, 2007
The Samsung LN-T4665F has some impressive specs, including a large 46-inch screen size, 1080p input and processing capabilities, 15,000 dynamic contrast ratio, and an 8ms response time. However, it is ... Read More

The Annual CEDIA EXPO to be Held From Sept 5-9, 2007

Thursday August 30, 2007
The Annual CEDIA EXPO will be held in Denver, Colorado, from Sept 5th through the 9th. This is the event where Home Theater Installers, Consumer Electronics Manufacturers, and Journalists gather ... Read More

Top DVRs

Thursday August 30, 2007
Do you prefer recording your Television programs on a DVR (hard drive-based video recorder), rather than DVD or Video Tape? If so, check out the latest Top DVRs as selected ... Read More

Home Theater Term of the Week - DVD-RW

Wednesday August 29, 2007
DVD-RW is a recordable and rewritable format (like CD-RW) promoted by Pioneer, Sharp, and Sony. Discs are playable in most DVD players, provided it is recorded in the straight Video ... Read More

Breaking News - An HD-DVD Player for $150 or Less...

Wednesday August 29, 2007
Venturer Electronics has announced that it will bring its HD-DVD player to market in time for the Christmas and Winter Shopping Holidays. The SHD7000 player will include 1080i output resolution, ... Read More

Klipsch Announces New High-End Loudspeakers

Tuesday August 28, 2007
Klipsch, which is well-known for its excellent horn loudspeaker technology, brings both technological experience and modern styling to its new Palladium P-39F Floorstander loudspeakers. Priced at $15,000 a pair, these ... Read More

DVD Record Modes - Recording Times For DVDs

Monday August 27, 2007
A very common question I receive from owners of DVD recorders and persons considering a DVD recorder purchase is: "How much time can I record on a DVD?" This answer ... Read More

Question of the Week - How Much are Blu-ray and HD-DVD players? - Is It Worth Buying a Blu-ray or HD-DVD Player Now?

Sunday August 26, 2007
Although DVD is the most successful home entertainment product in history, ever since it was introduced in 1997, it lacks True High Definition playback and recording capability. Two competing camps ... Read More

Panasonic Announces Availability of LIFI LCD Projection Televisions

Saturday August 25, 2007
One of the drawbacks LCD and DLP rear projection televisions is that, just like standalone LCD and DLP video projectors, the light source ( a type of high-powered light ... Read More

Sony Bravia KDL-26S3000 26-Inch LCD Television

Friday August 24, 2007
Flat panel TVs are in. If you are looking for a compact LCD TV that is HD-compatible, check out the Sony KDL-26S3000 . Along with a very stylish design, other ... Read More

Blu-ray and HD-DVD - Sorting Out Fact from Fiction

Thursday August 23, 2007
The recent controversial announcement by Paramount Pictures regarding its new conversion to support HD-DVD only disc releases (except for Steven Spielberg-directed films), has certainly generated a lot of comment across ... Read More

Home Theater Term of the Week - DVD-R

Wednesday August 22, 2007
DVD-R is the most universal of recordable DVD formats that is used by computer DVD writers as well as most DVD recorders. DVD-R is a write-once format, much like CD-R, ... Read More

Samsung and Panasonic Take Top Spots in Worldwide Flat Panel Television Sales

Wednesday August 22, 2007
Both LCD and Flat Panel Televisions are big business Worldwide (not just the U.S.) for consumer electronics manufacturers, accounting for 75% of all television shipments to retailers. The advance of ... Read More

Sony To Recycle Analog Televisions

Tuesday August 21, 2007
One of the concerns by both Environmentalists and Consumer Electronics Manufacturers is what to do with the increased number of analog televisions that will be disposed by consumers as the ... Read More

Paramount Dumps Blu-ray in Favor of HD-DVD Only!

Monday August 20, 2007
In a surprise announcement, Paramount Pictures (which includes Dreamworks, Nickelodeon Movies, and MTV Films) has stated that it will now be supporting the HD-DVD format exclusively for all future high-def ... Read More

Power Mad! - How Much Amplifier Power Do You Really Need?

Monday August 20, 2007
POWER! Its seems that power is the name of the game these days, in politics, business, relationships, and in home theater systems. You check out those ADs in the newspaper ... Read More

Question of the Week - What Type of Television Do I Need To Use With a Blu-ray or HD-DVD Player or Recorder?

Sunday August 19, 2007
Although DVD is the most successful home entertainment product in history, ever since it was introduced in 1997, it lacks True High Definition playback and recording capability. Two competing camps ... Read More

Yamaha Announces Trio of New Digital Sound Projectors

Saturday August 18, 2007
If you are looking for a way to experience 5.1 channel surround sound without a room full of loudspeakers and wires, then the latest Yamaha Digital Sound Projectors might be ... Read More

Pioneer PDP-5080HD Plasma Television - Product of the Week

Friday August 17, 2007
If you want a flexibility and performance in an HDTV, the PDP-5080HD may be for you. This Plasma TV is only 4 1/2 inches thick, making it easily wall mountable. ... Read More

August 17th, 1982 - The Compact Disc (CD) is Born

Friday August 17, 2007
Believe it or not, today is the 25th anniversary of the birth of the CD, as the first CD recordings were manufactured in Germany on August 17, 1982. The title ... Read More

Hide Those Wires!

Thursday August 16, 2007
Are you having trouble hiding your those ugly wires when wall mounting your LCD or Plasma Television? If so, check out a report on a practical product that may help, ... Read More

Home Theater Term of the Week - DVD+RW

Wednesday August 15, 2007
DVD+RW is a recordable and rewritable format promoted primarily by Philips, with a host of partners, including Yamaha, HP, Ricoh, Thomson (RCA), Mitsubishi, APEX, and Sony. Claims to offer a ... Read More

Blu-ray and HD-DVD Disc Sales Outpace VHS Tape Sales

Wednesday August 15, 2007
Analysts and Consumers that have been pessimistic about the outlook of Blu-ray and HD-DVD might want to take note: Due to the rapidly shrinking demand for VHS videos and ... Read More

Harman Kardon AVR147 5.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver - Review and Rating

Tuesday August 14, 2007
Despite a modest 40WPC power output, the Harman Kardon AVR147 5.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver provides excellent sound performance in both stereo and surround sound modes. Also, with useful features, ... Read More

Sony Adds ATSC Tuner-equipped DVD Recorders to its Product Line

Monday August 13, 2007
Sony has announced the coming availability of two new DVD recorders to its current lineup. The RDR-GXD455 (DVD Recorder Only) and the RDR-VXD655 (DVD Recorder/VCR Combo), both have ... Read More

Question of the Week - What Can I Record on a Blu-ray or HD-DVD recorder?

Sunday August 12, 2007
Although DVD is the most successful home entertainment product in history, ever since it was introduced in 1997, it lacks True High Definition playback and recording capability. Two competing camps ... Read More

Panasonic Claims 100,000 Hour Viewing Life For New 1080p Plasmas

Sunday August 12, 2007
Ever since Plasma Television came on the market, consumers have had questions about how long a Plasma TV would be viewable. Even at the 30,000 hour half-life rating for acceptable ... Read More

OPPO Digital Adds New DVD Player to High Performance Line-up

Saturday August 11, 2007
OPPO Digital is an independent manufacturer that has garnered a reputation for making high-performance DVD players at an affordable price. Building on their track record, they have released a new ... Read More

Breaking News - Onkyo Announces HD-DVD Player

Friday August 10, 2007
Except for an HD-DVD unit marketed by RCA, and a Blu-ray/HD-DVD combo unit being made by LG, Toshiba has been the only major manufacturer of HD-DVD players for over a ... Read More

Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 1080p Plasma TV - Product of the Week

Friday August 10, 2007
If you are considering the purchase of a Plasma Television, put this one on the top of your list. The Panasonic TH-42PZ700U is a breakthrough 42-inch Plasma Television that features ... Read More

Hitachi Announces Two Blu-ray Disc Camcorders

Thursday August 9, 2007
Late last year, it was reported that Hitachi was developing a Blu-ray Disc camcorder. It appears that Hitachi is now ready to make two Blu-ray camcorders (DZ-BD70A, DZ-BD7HA) available ... Read More

Yamaha Announces 11.2 Channel Flagship Home Theater Receiver

Thursday August 9, 2007
If you think 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 channels is enough for surround sound, think again. Yamaha has just announced its new $5,500 THX Certified flagship home theater receiver, the RX-Z11. ... Read More

Home Theater Term of the Week - DVD+R

Wednesday August 8, 2007
DVD+R is a record-once format introduced and backed by Philips and adopted by the other DVD+RW proponents, that is said to be easier to use than DVD-R, while still playable ... Read More

Toshiba Confirms Release of 3rd Gen HD-DVD players

Wednesday August 8, 2007
Despite lukewarm response by most consumers so far, things are moving fast in the Blu-ray and HD-DVD player manufacturing world. Just a couple of weeks ago Samsung confirmed the impending ... Read More

Yamaha RX-V861 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver with HDMI - Review and Rating

Tuesday August 7, 2007
Yamaha's RX-V861 brings many high-end home theater receiver features down to a reasonable price. HDMI switching and upscaling provides extended video quality, as well as providing more efficient connection options. ... Read More

Home Theater - Top Picks For Back-To-School Entertainment

Monday August 6, 2007
Going back to school doesn't mean you have to leave your entertainment behind. Check out some great product picks for students that are perfect for a small apartment, dorm, or ... Read More

Question of the Week - Are There Blu-ray and HD-DVD Recorders?

Sunday August 5, 2007
Although DVD is the most successful home entertainment product in history, ever since it was introduced in 1997, it lacks True High Definition playback and recording capability. Two competing camps ... Read More

LCD Takes The Lead

Saturday August 4, 2007
It seems like just a few years ago that everyone marveled at the Plasma television as the state-of-art in television technology. However, with rapid advancements, the LCD television has now ... Read More

Sony VRD-MC3 Hybrid DVD Recorder - Product of the Week

Friday August 3, 2007
If you would like the benefits of a DVD recorder, with the ability to interface with a PC, then you might consider the Sony VRD-MC3. This unique device can ... Read More

Blu-ray and HD-DVD Show Off at San Diego Comic-Con

Friday August 3, 2007
In an effort to reach die-hard movie fans, the Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD Camps showed off both formats at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, held last week. Sony went all ... Read More

Quick Tip - The Difference Between Commercial DVDs and DVDs You Make With a DVD Recorder

Thursday August 2, 2007
DVD Recording formats, such as DVD-R, etc... are similar to, but not the same as, the commercial DVD movie discs you buy at your local Best Buy, or other retail ... Read More

Home Theater Term of the Week- DVD-Audio

Wednesday August 1, 2007
DVD-Audio Disc is high-resolution audio format that utilizes the same type of bit signal process (PCM) as that of the current CD standard (with extended Dynamic range and several sampling ... Read More

Target Plans Blu-ray Holiday Promotion

Wednesday August 1, 2007
HD-DVD may take a big hit this upcoming Christmas and Winter Holiday Season as Target Stores, not normally associated with high-end consumer electronics, plans to spotlight Sony's BDP-S300 Blu-ray disc ... Read More

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