HD Living Magazine

Research: 30% of Americans go online for TV, Movies

Rachel Cericola/Electronic House — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:17:34 +0000

Consumers seem to be buying up Apple TV and Roku boxes—and actually using them, too. According to a new study by Parks Associates, these types of streaming set-top boxes have fueled Internet-based entertainment, with 31 percent of U.S. broadband households using the web to deliver movies and TV to TVs at home. Of course, a lot more people have them now. At $99 for the Apple TV and as low as $50 for the Roku, media receivers were a hot holiday gift in 2011. They weren’t quite as hot as HDTVs and tablets, but Parks says that the product category is on track and currently in about 13 percent of U.S. households. The company’s recent survey, “Value of Video: Shifting Consumer Dollars,” predicts another 14 million units to move this year. “In the 2011 holiday season, 4 percent of households bought one of these inexpensive, single-function devices, which enable households to view over-the-top (OTT) video from Internet-based services such as Amazon Prime Instant Video and Netflix,” said Kurt Scherf, VP and principal analyst at Parks Associates. “Nearly 20 percent of these holiday-season buyers are over 45 years of age, so these devices have achieved relatively broad appeal among multiple consumer segments.” Many consumers have used these types of set-tops to completely cut the cord from pay TV services. Scherf says that at the bare minimum, these types of devices could facilitate consumers looking to cut back. Apple was one of the few CE companies to end 2011 on a high note. Some of that success could be attributed to the 2.8 million Apple TV units sold in its fiscal 2011, with another 1.4 million moving in the holiday quarter. Roku also had a nice year, seeing 1.5 million boxes sold.

Report: U.S. Shoppers Prefer LED TVs

Rachel Cericola/Electronic House — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:58:39 +0000

Choosing a new HDTV isn’t an easy thing. Of course, size and price can be the deciding factor, but you also need to pick what type of technology you’ll want. Want to go with the popular choice? That would be LED. Research firm IHS iSuppli says that for the first time, U.S. shoppers are choosing TVs with light-emitting diode (LED) backlighting. According to the report “IHS iSuppli US TV Consumer Preference Analysis,” the number of consumers choosing an LED-backlit LCD TV jumped to 54 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. This is a huge jump, considering that the number was 22 percent in Q3 2011. LED’s rise was at the expense of older Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) technology, which dropped to 25 percent. It had previously held 56 percent of the market. IHS iSuppli says that 54 percent of consumers surveyed actually went on to buy an LED TV, even though 81 percent had set out for a CCFL model. LED is a more energy-efficient TV technology, promising brighter images and a better contrast. It is also said to have a longer lifespan than CCFL. Besides better consumer awareness, IHS iSuppli has said that declining prices have helped push the newer technology. The “IHS iSuppli US TV Consumer Preference Analysis” report includes results from random polls of 45,000 households. The same report said that the average HDTV purchase is now in the 40- to 42-inch-size category, with Sony, Samsung and VIZIO being the top three recommended brands.

Abbots Adds High-Tech Appeal to Rustic Home

Howard Whitman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:14:26 +0000

A vacation home is, by nature, a place to get away from it all—an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a destination for peace, quiet and most of all, simplicity. So what would happen when a family wanted to add a world-class home theater system to its Utah vacation home while retaining the house’s look and feel? That was the challenge faced by the team at leading Las Vegas-based home theater integrator Abbott’s Technology Design Group of Las Vegas. “They wanted to create a comfortable, technologically advanced system, without going ‘over the top’—seeing as it is a vacation home,” recalls Abbott’s Project Manager Chris Abbott, who reveals his firm wasn’t the first one hired for the project. As the house is located about three hours away from Abbott’s, the family had originally chosen another company. “However, after the pre-wire stage, that relationship broke ties and they bid the remainder of the project to two Las Vegas integrators, one of which was us,” Abbott says. “We worked with them in every detail of the project and ultimately, they thought we were the most trustworthy company.” Besides Abbott’s’ 27 years of experience, the clients were also impressed by the new ideas the firm brought to the table, especially the possibility of controlling the home’s HVAC system. “They loved the idea of being able to adjust the temperature on cold nights without having to get out of bed!,” Abbott says. “Rustic Lodge” was the client family’s theme of choice for the home, and they were intent on retaining that theme with the installation of their new home theater. “The homeowner wanted the focus to be on family, friends and the outdoors,” Abbott states. “They did not want to encourage family or guests to stay ‘cooped up’ in their rooms, but rather to gather in the main areas such as the kitchen, family room, theatre room and outside deck.” Still, even with this focus on simplicity, steps were taken to ensure the home was up to snuff in the tech department, as much for property value as for adaptability to new A/V possibilities. “All the rooms were wired for tv, satellite, phone and Internet for future resale value,” Abbott says, “but they didn’t equip any of the bedrooms (except the master).” As work on the project got underway, the Abbott’s team encountered unexpected challenges.”When we started on the project, we had to determine how the previous company pre-wired the home, and then figure out how to accomplish the homeowner’s requirements,” Abbott says. “After determining the wiring situation, we had to completely change the room where the wire came into (the headend), and cut up their floor and walls to do so.” Naturally, with a company as professional and proficient as Abbott’s, this work was accomplished without altering the home’s rustic beauty. “Of course, no one could tell that we had to (cut up the floor and walls) after we had finished,” Abbott says. With a project of this nature, in which it was vital to integrate the electronics without impacting the home’s look and feel, Abbott’s carefully planned the installation and selected the appropriate products to ensure their work would be as non-disruptive and unobtrusive as possible. “By using Control 4 (products), we could seamlessly integrate their electronics without having to cut up too many walls,” Abbott says. “We primarily used their wireless line of products to complete the look.” Control 4-brand products utilized in the job included multi-channel amplifiers, a variety of controllers, and 7- and 4-inch touch panels. Abbott’s also used an Integra receiver; Middle Atlantic rack; Monster cables; Samsung LCD and Plasma TVs; SpeakerCraft surround sound speakers, subwoofer, whole-house music speakers and outside speakers; a Tantra all-in-one surround sound speaker; and Toshiba DVD players. Amazingly, this spectacular project was executed in only three days, and was brought in at the reasonable cost of approximately $42,000. The clients were so impressed by Abbott’s work that they may re-hire the firm for a future project. “Because they like the Control 4 System so much,” Abbott says, “we are currently working on a proposal to include additional lighting control.” There is no greater proof of how happy the family was with the final result than the words of the homeowner, who says, “We were very happy with the professional job performed by Abbott’s. Being that the location of the job is three hours away from their office, that was not a deterrent and things could not have gone more smoothly.”

New Onkyo Receivers Include Streaming, THX

Electronic House — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:04:46 +0000

Now that we’re well into 2012, it’s time to bring on the new products! Onkyo is teasing a bit with four new receivers, which will start shipping next month. The new offering will include the TX-SR313 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver, the TX-NR414 5.1-Channel Network Receiver, and the TX-NR515 7.2-Channel Network Receiver. The top of the line is the THX-certified Onkyo TX-NR616 7.2-Channel Network Receiver. The three top models have networking features, which includes music “cloud server” access via MP3tunes. All three offer hardwired Ethernet networking, with the option to add wireless via the UWF-1 Wireless USB adapter (sold separtely). These models also have something called InstaPrevue, which uses on-screen video thumbnails to show content that’s currently available through connected components. The TX-NR616 and TX-NR515 also have Marvell’s Qdeo processing, Dolby Pro Logic IIz support, and Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL). The latter is an interface protocol that allows 1080p video and stills with 7.1 channels of surround sound to travel over HDMI from MHL-compatible smartphones and other portable devices. The TX-NR616 model also adds in that THX Select2 Plus certification, Audyssey DSX, and Onkyo’s three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry. All four of the new models feature 3D support, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, Onkyo’s own WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology), Audio Channel Return, and plenty of HDMI and USB ports. Networked models are also compatible with Onkyo’s free Remote App for the iPod touch, iPhone and Android devices. Onkyo will start selling the TX-NR515, TX-NR414 and TX-SR313 next month for $599, $499 and $299, respectively. The TX-NR616 will follow in April, with an MSRP of $699.

Questions When Considering Home Automation

Ron Goldberg — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:05:31 +0000

Home control systems have been on the market for decades, but thanks to the growing sophistication of both the technology and consumers themselves, the idea is finally gaining critical mass. The convenience of automated and/or remote control of your home's electronic devices and systems -- entertainment, climate, security, lighting -- is now accessible for any household. But what's the best way to get started? Here are 10 questions worth asking as you explore the possibility of a home control system for your own house: 1. What are you looking to accomplish? Home control can be as elementary as being able to shut off a downstairs light from upstairs, but it can also be a sophisticated command center for virtually anything that runs on electricity in your house. Tasks like multi-room audio and basic lighting control can be practically plug and play these days, while more elaborate schemes that integrate with your thermostats and security systems are best specified and installed by a professional. Qualify your own goals before starting to shop. 2. How much scalability do you need? In part, the answer here relates to the previous question about your overall interests. Some systems are designed for basic tasks and not much else. Other systems are capable of sending not just control commands, but also data-intensive media like video and audio throughout the house. You want the flexibility to be able to build on today's purchases tomorrow. Brands and technical platforms aren't necessarily compatible with each other, so it pays to consider the future when you begin to assemble the system. 3.How remote do you need your remote control to be? Many of today's home control systems are capable of connecting to the Internet, which allows you to monitor and control your connected devices even when you're not at home. This is useful when you're away from home a lot for business or vacation travel, and also for getting the house ready for you when you come home from work or the kids arrive from school. 4. Which control medium is right for you? Home control systems send commands through a transmission medium. Some, like Zigbee and Z-Wave, use radio waves and are wireless. Others use your already-installed home electrical or phone wiring. The most elaborate (and reliable) systems use Ethernet cable installed throughout the house. If you're building a new home, consider structured Ethernet wiring for your home control. If you want the easiest way into the game, think a wireless or power/phone line medium. 5. How much complexity will your family tolerate? Basic control systems use familiar (and proprietary) push-button remote controls that are easy enough for anyone to operate, so long as you don't mind another clicker or two on the coffee table. In many (not all) cases you can program the codes from these yourself into a universal remote, such as the ones that control your A/V system. More elaborate control systems use custom hand-held or in-wall keypads, sometimes substituting iPhones and iPads. It all sounds cool, but even the prettiest interface can't make complex ideas completely simple. Before you pick a system, try to see it through the eyes of the least technically oriented member of the household who will use it. Will they be able to work things when you're not home? 6. Proprietary or open protocol? Some systems work only with their own brand-specific control components. Other systems have their own branded components, but also interface with many other brands and technologies. Still other systems use widely-adopted technologies that work with almost any brand's components. As you consider your system, think about all the different devices you'd want to control in the home, and determine the compatibilities and possible incompatibilities in advance. 7. Installer only or user configurable? There's obviously great attraction to a control system you can simply plug in and work with minutes later. But realistically speaking that's only going to work with a few control tasks and a few brands. Perhaps that's all you need. Some systems work with familiar browser-based interfaces and other user-oriented programming tools. If you're relatively IT savvy and want to take the time, you really can program many of these systems yourself. But for an elaborate whole-house system, you'll want an experienced integrator who can help you plan the system, as well as program it and support it. 8. Wired or wireless? Wireless systems like Zigbee, Z-Wave and conventional Wi-Fi are easy and inexpensive, but they're subject to roadblocks throughout the house that can impede their signals. Older homes with plaster walls are a particular challenge for wireless systems, as are larger homes with serious distances between floors and rooms. A wired system is always going to work more reliably, which is is goal #1 for a control system. If you haven't built your home yet, consider structured wiring, not only for your IT needs but for expandability into home control. If whole-home wiring isn't practical, check into powerline and/or phone line based systems. 9. Cost For most people, cost is a priority consideration. Basic control modules for lights and small devices can start under $100. A simple system for multi-room audio can be had for under $1000. A full-blown whole-home controls system that incorporates entertainment, climate and security will cost four or five figures by the end of the day. Keep in mind that you don't have to buy everything all at once. The better systems will let you build over time, buying only the capabilities that you need, when you need them. 10. Is there any other way? Home control is a wonderful addition to almost any home, but for many, it's overkill. Ask yourself if it wouldn't be just as easy to put another small sound system in an upstairs bedroom, instead of installing new speakers and control panels tied to the sound system downstairs. If all you want to do is control lighting from your easy chair, there are lots of inexpensive ways to do it without going the whole nine yards into home control. And for many home control tasks, service providers like your local cable or phone company, and your home security company will be glad to talk to you about what they offer and what's possible.

Mitsubishi TV Receive Energy Star Notice

HD Living — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:24:59 +0000

Q: How can one of the biggest TVs on the market also be one of the most energy efficient? A: Lasers! Mitsubishi’s 75-inch LaserVue DLP TV was recently given the Most Efficient Energy STAR designation for 2012 for TVs 55-inches or larger—and 75 is a lot larger than 55. In case you hadn’t heard, the LaserVue TVs use a laser-based light source rather an a traditional projection lamp (or LEDs or CCFLs used by LCD TVs). Because of its efficient light engine, it operates as less than 85 watts. Current Energy STAR 5.3 requirement is 108 watts. Beside using only a trickle of power, the model L75-A94 delivers rich, deep colors, offers 120 Hz video process, a full suite of smart TV streaming media features, built-in Wi-Fi, ISF video adjustments and active-shutter glasses 3D TV capability. While it’s not a flat panel TV (it’s 15-inches deep), it’s priced competitively for its size, so if you’ve got the space for it, this rear projection DLP is a good option for family rooms and home theaters. Another thing about the laser lamp—it should essentially last forever.

Battle of the Streaming Music Services

Charles Thompson — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:51:52 +0000

Last year Spotify finally debuted in the United States, terrifying iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, and all the rest with its any-song-for-free listening model. However, the free Spotify version is riddled with huge ads, lower bit rates, and extreme time limits, so comparing it to, say, Rhapsody isn't apples-to-apples. To create a proper battle, I pitted the unlimited-music, ad-free Spotify Premium ($9.99/month) against Rhapsody Premier ($9.99/month). Song Selections Both streaming music services offer 13 million-plus songs, so you'll never run out of stuff to play (as long as that stuff doesn't include live-streaming holdouts Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, or Metallica). To compare artist/album/song selection, I began by searching for artists on Spotify that I already had on Rhapsody, starting alphabetically. Disappointment didn't take long. Hip-hop supergroup 213 (Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Nate Dogg): Not on Spotify. Same with downtempo electronica group 60 Channels. Okay, not fair to compare the services with obscure groups? How about Adele's 21, one of the best-selling albums of 2011? Rhapsody, yes. Spotify, no. Spotify offers 2 million more songs than Rhapsody, so what gives? Look up the Rolling Stones on Spotify, and you'll be greeted with scads of albums you've never heard of, usually U.K.-only releases populated with the same old songs. So if you want every obscure version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” available, go with Spotify. If you want this year's number-one album, go with Rhapsody. Music Selection Winner: Rhapsody. Desktop Player Interface Rhapsody was once owned by RealNetworks, which tortured innocent music lovers with the bloated, virus-like RealPlayer music player. Rhapsody, now independent, still emanates a faint RealPlayer stench, with its bright background, stale 2003-erainterface, and blue and gray accents. Unlike RealPlayer, however, Rhapsody is intuitive to navigate, play music, store songs, and create playlists. It works like a typical computer app, so there's no learning curve. Find a song or album you like? One click plays the song or whole album. One click saves the song or album to your library. Creating playlists is much like iTunes. All Rhapsody interface panels (Now Playing Mixer, Play-lists, Artist, Album, etc.) are resizable, and the user controls the metadata panels they see in their library (genre, bit rate, time, composer, beats per minute, and 19 more). Spotify, on the other hand, tries way too hard to be cute and novel, at the expense of usability. The top and left-side panels will be familiar to iTunes users, which is cool. Not so cool: Spotify went for that dark-gray, squint-to-read Adobe Air look that couldn't be more aggravating for anything longer than a few seconds’ viewing. Users have no control over metadata. Spotify gives you only the four basics: artist, album, track, and time—plus it adds one more, popularity, that you'll likely file under Who Gives a Damn. But before you do, there is one great use for popularity. Spotify streams at “up to” 320kbps quality. This highbit rate is reserved for the most popular songs. So, if there's more than one version of “Isn't She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder, go for the most popular version. It's more likely to be streamed at the better-sounding 320k bit rate. Both apps sport microscopic text throughout their interfaces, and you don't get to resize it. You'll (not) read it and you'll like it, dammit! It ain't pretty but, in every conceivable way, Rhapsody provides a far more intuitive user experience. Interface Winner: Rhapsody Building a Music Collection Both services sport a library, a place to hold every song/album you save. Their libraries can also scan your computer for your own music files, and put those in the library as well. Rhapsody has a metadata panel that tells you which is which, including the bit rates of the various music files you've ripped or purchased. While both services are streaming-first, they both allow you to download tracks to your computer's hard drive as well, ideal for travelers. To add a song or a whole album to your computer's personal Rhapsody library, just didc the ADD TO LIBRARY button next to the song/ album. Done. Adding songs/albums isn't so easy with Spotify. You need to “star” the song. Click a yellow star next to the song, and it's added to your library. It's also inexplicably added to a “starred” group directly below the library. You don't get to “star” a whole album with a click. You have to individually click stars for each song, or CTRL-A the album to select all songs, then right-click, then “star” them. As I considered populating Spotify with the 15,996 tracks I had saved in my Rhapsody library, the task loomed before me as a monumental pain in the ass. I quickly gave up on that idea, but managing even the most modest library in Spotify was a maddening, head-scratching exercise. Music Library Winner: Rhapsody Queue/Now Playing With both services, you can add songs you want to play right now to the queue (their name for a Now Playing list) by dragging and dropping songs you've found, or songs from your library. With Rhapsody, you can also click the PLAY NOW button next to each song or album. In Rhapsody's Preferences, you can decide whether the PLAY NOW button immediately plays the song/album, or simply puts it into the queue for you to play at your convenience. Spotify doesn't feature a PLAY NOW button. You have to right-click a song, then click ADD TO QUEUE. For an album, you CTRL-A to select all the songs, then right-click, then click ADD TO QUEUE. What a hassle. Inexplicably, when you find a song during a search, Spotify adds every version of that song to your queue, whether you want it or not. Soon, your queue is cluttered with all kinds of stuff you don't want, and there's no way to get the unwanted songs out. The only way to clear Spotify's queue is to close and reopen the app. The queue always opens empty. With Rhapsody, the only songs in your queue are songs you want there. And to clear the queue, you simply did< the CLEAR button. You can delete any song from the queue with your keyboard's DELETE key. And songs in the queue stay there if you close and reopen Rhapsody, so all your desired music of the moment is ready until you say otherwise. Queue/Now Playing Winner: Rhapsody Radio Stations Both services feature “artist radio.” If you like an artist, select artist radio to hear more songs by that artist, plus songs by similar artists. Think of it as a poor man's Pandora, somewhere in the neighborhood conceptually, but nowhere near as good. For true commercial-free genre radio stations, Rhapsody is king. If you're in the mood for some rock, blues, soul, Latin, country, jazz, or 13 other genres, click the RADIO tab and go. Each of the 19 genres reveals an average of around a dozen subgenres, giving Rhapsody a total of more than 200 stations. If that's not enough segmentation and personalization for you, you can didc CREATE CUSTOM CHANNEL, enter up to 10 artist names to give Rhapsody an idea of where you're going, and let it play. Regardless of what type of Rhapsody radio station you're listening to, a mini-bio about the current artist scrolls at the top right of your screen, helping you to learn more about your favorite artists—or new artists. In contrast to Rhapsody's 200-plus stations, Spotify Radio sports 27 genre/ subgenre radio stations, including the curiously titled “black metal.” No worries, though—hardcore, death metal, and heavy metal are also represented, leaving a full 23 non-metal radio station types to choose from. Remarkably, Spotify, a far more global brand than Rhapsody, offers no world music station, whereas Rhapsody allows you to choose from 11 different regional stations under their world music banner. Either service's radio feature is a great way to discover new artists in your favorite genres. Best of all, if you don't like the current song, click the FORWARD button to play another. It's radio with choices. Radio Station Winner: Rhapsody Sound Quality First off, don't compare these Internet-based services to Internet radio, which is decidedly lo-fi and usually riddled with commercials and DJ patter. Rhapsody and Spotify both sound great, suitable for at least casual listening on home and car systems. Secondly, higher bit rates mean better sound. But neither service is helpful at identifying bit rates. Rhapsody is all over the map: You'll find claims of 128k (various forums) and 160k (CNET). Some claim it's MP3; others say AAC. Rhapsody's mobile and Sonos apps get 192k streams. Downloads to your computer are also 192k. Spotify's Premium service improves streams “up to 320k” over its lower-priced services. The disclaimer states that “not all tracks will be available in 320k,” but there's no way to tell which are which. We'll just have to listen, won't we? For the sound comparison, I used the potentially more compromised PC players, not the Sonos or mobile apps. I listened through the stellar Asus Xonar DX audiophile sound card, with a 96/24 digital output to a Yamaha receiver feeding JBL nearfield monitors and a Monitor Audio sub. First, I queued up Donald Fagen's “On the Dunes,” from Kamakiriad. The song, while mellow, features some extraordinary drum and cymbal work, and has tremendous top-end air. MP3-type audio compromises are easy to hear with this track. After the Donald Fagen track, I stepped through several musical genres and repeated the listening comparison. Spotify sounded better. But I had to go back and forth a lot to hear it. And true to Spotify's disclaimer, not every song sounded like a 320k stream, and those songs were no better than on Rhapsody. The CD versions sounded predictably better than both services. While even tiny improvements in sound quality hold paramount importance to me, we should also consider how we use the apps. These are computer players. They'll be hooked up to an office system or PC speakers. They'll play in the background while we multitask. Consequently, the (sometimes) slight difference in quality may not be enough to switch to Spotify. For me, it wasn't, especially considering that the playing field is leveled considerably through the more critical Sonos and mobile device apps. Sound Quality Winner: Spotify Mobile Devices Both services offer free Apple iOS and Android apps to play music on the go. You can stream live if your mobile device is Internet-connected. You can also download songs to the device for listening offline. Rhapsody Premier allows only one mobile device for the $9.99/month fee. For $14.99/month, you get up to three mobile devices. Spotify Premium gives you three mobile devices for its $9.99/month fee. Mobile Devices Winner: Spotify Who emerged victorious? The audiophile in me didn't make the choice easy, considering Spotify's certain (on some songs) but barely discernible sound quality advantage over Rhapsody. I attempted to jump on the Spotify bandwagon mere moments after its U.S. release. A day later, I jumped right back off. The reason: I use my PC music player daily; it's the soundtrack to my workday. Rhapsody's relevant music selection, its simple learning curve, its superior control and personalization, its enormous variety of commercial-free radio, its miles-ahead lead in ease-of-use and intuitive-ness —all make collecting and listening to music as I work ajoy and abreeze. The phenomenal Sonos Rhapsody app is icing on the cake. Someday, maybe Rhapsody will add to this a prettier, easier-to-read, more modern PC interface — and one for the Mac, too. Until then, I have all those awesome jams. So I have that going for me.'' Charles Thompson, via his company Sell-Through Solutions, creates retail training programs for several consumer electronics manufacturers, including Sony, Yamaha and DirecTV. He began his career in high-end audio, working in retail and management for 10 years at Home Entertainment Inc. in Houston, Texas.

Runco LS-1 Projector Review

Electronic House — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:28:53 +0000

Last yearRunco introduced the LightStyle line of projectors which tend to be less expensive than Runco’s other systems (though the three-chip models do get up there). The LS-1 reviewed here carries an MSRP of $3,999. Actually, being round and squat, they look a little like Roombas. That’s not a bad thing. These are stylish little projectors (you can also customize them with a color palette or team logo) that won’t look at all bad snugged up against your ceiling. The LS-1 is a single-chip DLP projector. The company specs rate it as having a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and 780 ANSI lumens brightness. That seems a bit low since other companies offer cheaper models with more than 1,000 lumens, but you’ll see from my testing, that performance wasn’t hindered by that number. Setting up the Runco, I found that while it’s an entry-level product, it certainly didn’t feel like it when I lifted all 18 pounds of it out of the box. With that kind of heft, either the company packed in some extra sand bags, or it’s got a lot of heavy-duty features making it work. The second thing I noticed was that the inputs all seemed to be missing. Actually they’re nicely covered by a removable panel. This is one of those features that make the projector look more like something you’d want in your family hang-out room and less like something hanging from the ceiling in a classroom. Accessing the input panel I found two HDMI ports, 1 component, 1 RGB, s-video and composite plus an RS-232 for control systems. On top there’s a small control panel for access the menu and such, but you’re much better off depending on the remote for all those operations. Speaking of the remote—it’s backlit so you can use it in the dark, and it’s logically organized and easy to use. Runco has being catering to the video enthusiast long enough to know what people expect, so it wasn’t a surprise to find features like ISF day/night settings for calibration, built-in test patterns and Runco’s ViVix processing. All of that shows the projector was designed to be tweaked for a good picture. Of course, in this case, the projector didn’t need to be tweaked very much. I aimed it at a 106-inch Seymour Screen Excellence screen with a .98 gain. Runco includes a manual vertical lens shift to help you hit the bulls eye—in this case you access the lens shift by lifting up the Runco logo and turning a mechanism with an included allen wrench. After that, a little adjusting in the picture menu and I was off to watch some video. First, the projector did an excellent job on test patterns, so I played a few Blu-ray movies. I started with the snow board documentary The Art of Flight. This disc is a beauty, so get it if you don’t already have it. The wide shots of snow-covered peaks against blue skies looked stunning. The picture capture all the depth and variation in the different shades of white to gray you find in snow and ice coupled with the shadows of the mountains. In one scene a helicopter hovers over the mountain, its blade rotating in slow motion. I expected the spinning of the chopper blades to create artifacts, but there were no jagged edges or mosquito noise anywhere to be seen. In another scene where a brightly-clad snow boarder launches across the screen, his board at a diagonal and nothing but a blue sky behind him, every edge was perfect. I moved onto footage with more dark scenes, including Avatar and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II. In both movies, the projector created very rich colors with fine detail, and dark scenes also looked good. Blacks were deep and showed detail in shadows, though I’ve seen somewhat better on LCoS projectors in the same price range. As noted above, this projector is not excessively bright—it’s best great in a dark to moderately dark room. If you want to watch a football game during the day with the lights on, don’t expect the deepest contrast. Some people shy away from single-chip DLP because of the rainbow effect—an artifact caused by the projector’s color wheel. I’m not terribly sensitive to that anomaly, but I can see it and know how to look for it. On this Runco I did not experience it even once. I tried, but nothing. This is only single-chip projector I’ve seen that, at least for me, exhibited no rainbow effect at all. Altogether, this is a great, reasonably-priced projector that gives a significant improvement over the bargain projectors in the $1,000-$3,000 range. If I had to nitpick, I’d have to say the lack of 3D might be a turn-off, considering the fact that there are several 3D projectors for about the same price (JVC’s DLA-X30 comes to mind). This unit also seemed a little loud, but most of the time I used it without any accompanying audio (and I was sitting right next to it). In a normal ceiling installation the projector will be farther from the viewers and have a soundtrack to cover any fan noise. You can check out the complete specs here.

Use Control4′s Video Touchscreen to To Stay in Touch

Steven Castle / Electronic House — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:56:05 +0000

Home control company Control4’s new video touchscreen with intercom capabilities is now available. The company is also now shipping its new flagship HC-800 processor. The 7-inch Portable Touch Screen with Camera can be a portable or tabletop solution for use on a countertop, desk, end-table or nightstand. It’s a capacitive touchscreen that supports Wireless-N and Ethernet connectivity, and is powered either by Power over Ethernet (PoE) or AC. The Portable enables video intercom interoperability with other Control4 video intercom-capable products, and audio intercom compatibility with the current 5- and 7-inch In-Wall Touch Screens. An in-wall touchscreen with camera will be released in the second quarter. The integrated camera in the Portable delivers H.264 full-motion video compression, while with built-in speakers and dual microphones utilizing beamforming and wideband audio to deliver a high-fidelity experience. In beamforming, the use of multiple mics can help reduce interference and focus in on who is talking.

In a brief demo at the recent CES show, the Portable worked well communicating with another intercom on Control4’s system as I walked down a hall. The Portable costs $999, with the intercom license being $399, and it is available through Control4 dealers. So in this day of the iPad home control, is a $1,000 touchscreen such as this really worth it? “People love to demo the iPad, but there’s nothing like having a dedicated device,” says Control4 President and CEO Martin Plaehn. Video intercom capability certainly adds some value to a dedicated system touchscreen. In addition, a $799 Door Station with a wide-angle camera, beamforming capability with mics and speakers and Wi-Fi and PoE or AC will be available in the second quarter, though the backbox is available now for installation purposes. The Door Station Station includes two contact sensors and one relay for monitoring as well as opening doors and gates. It comes in satin nickel, satin black and Venetian bronze.

Tips for Your Home Theater Football Party

Steven Castle / Electronic House — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:24:26 +0000

Like this year’s Super Bowl coaches, you don’t want any last-minute surprises. A video display, surround-sound system or remote control that doesn’t work on game day is the equivalent of a star quarterback showing up with a broken leg. So how do you make sure you score big with your cool audio/video setup on Super Bowl Sunday? Just like a great football team, you’ve got to think ahead and plan ahead. For the surest result, it’s best to huddle with your trusty custom electronics (CE) pro ahead of time so you know that all the pieces and parts of your entertainment system are in good condition. “We recommend you schedule a service call at least two weeks before game day to get ready for your Super Bowl party,” says David Devanna of Electronics Design Group (EDG) in Piscataway, N.J. As Devanna explains, even something as innocuous as a tiny IR (infrared) flasher that has fallen off the face of a piece of equipment can render your entertainment system’s control moot. “A simple little fix [like re-adhering the flasher] can avoid a devastated day, so be a little proactive,” he says. Here are some other tips, ideas and suggestions: GAME PREP An ounce of preparation can save a ton of frustration later on, so schedule a check-up for your system now - before you mail out the party invitations. 1. Two-Minute Drill. Check all of your cables and connections well ahead of time, if you’re comfortable doing that yourself. 2. Protect Your Star. If you have a serious home theater system with a front projector, check the bulb life a couple of weeks before the game. “You should be able to do this with the projector menu,” says Eric Thies of DSI Entertainment Systems in West Hollywood, Calif. “If it tells you that you have used 997 hours so far, change the lamp! You do not want your projector conking out on you before halftime.” 3. Keep other Players off the Injured List. Devanna of EDG says a service check of your entire system will ensure that the remotes are refreshed, the cable or satellite box is working well, the video display is calibrated to provide the best picture possible, and that the projector fires up smoothly. 4. Old Dogs, New Cables. Not running HDMI from a cable or satellite box? “If it’s component video, make sure the digital audio cable from the cable box plugs into the receiver. You’re not going to get the full surround-sound effect with stereo analog cables,” says Devanna. 5. Get a Player With Multiple Roles. Invest in a universal remote control that can operate your entire system. Contact a pro to program it for you if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself. 6. Summon the Big Hitter. Want some extra audio oomph to get the feel of those bone-crushing hits? Consider buying a subwoofer, or add an extra one for the game. 7. What to Do With the Promising Rookie? Should you get a 3D TV for the game? As of press time, it was unclear whether the Super Bowl would be broadcast in 3D. You could always get a set that converts 2D to 3D. But think this through, Belichick: Are you going to get expensive 3D glasses for everyone at the party? And the glasses could detract from the social aspect of a gathering. It’s your call, coach. THE PREGAME Forget all the blather on the endless pregame shows. You can keep your guests entertained and engaged with these high-tech components: 8. Watch Film. Coaches always break down film of their opponent’s previous games, so what should Monday morning quarterbacks do? Dave Boisvert of Home Smart Home in North Attleboro, Mass., recommends recording the AFC and NFC Championship games on DVRs and then replaying the action on televisions in other gathering areas of the house, before the game begins. 9. Ready for Kickoff. Want to create a dramatic effect for the opening kick? “I had a client program his lighting control system to begin slowly dimming the lights at 6 p.m., to start preparing his guests and let them know that kickoff was getting close,” says Boisvert. BASIC RUNNING PLAYS Here are a few running plays that’ll help you score big with your friends and family: 10. Clear Audibles. “Make sure your TV audio can route through your housewide audio system (if you have one), so if you’re out on the patio or elsewhere in the house you can hear what’s happening,” advises Scott Varn of Harmony Interiors in Asheville, N.C. 11. Instant Replay. This seems like an obvious one, but we know some people will forget to do it. “Record the game while you are watching it so you don’t miss something important if someone sits on the remote and changes the channel,” advises DSI’s Thies. “This will also let you rewind to watch the best commercials again.” 12. Run it up the Middle. “Don’t use that silly ‘Stadium’ or ‘Sports’ setting on your surround receiver, adds Thies. “Both the game and the commercials are recorded and mixed in Dolby Digital, so that’s the setting your audio receiver should be on.”

AIRING IT OUT Once your system is up and running well, it’s time to air it out and really wow your guests: 13. Are You Ready for Some Tech Ball? “A few years ago I programmed the Monday Night Football theme [music] into my universal remote control,” says Home Smart Home’s Boisvert. “I found the WAV download on a forum at the Universal Remote website. They have a plethora of downloads available to customize your remote.” 14. Get Stat Happy. Will there be stat hounds and fantasy footballers at your party? Harmony Interiors’ Varn recommends hooking up a laptop or desktop computer to a secondary TV and connecting to ESPN.com or some other online statistics machine. This is great if the TV, like an affordable 40-incher, is in the same room as the game on the big screen. There a few ways to connect, including a Mac mini, or go DVI to HDMI, or straight HDMI from the computer, if the TV is HDMI-compatible. Older sets may have a VGA port. iPads, iPhones and iPod touches can also connect through Apple’s Dock Connector for VGA or component cables. 15. Candid Camera. A front door camera with video integrated into the TV can be a cool gadget to show off - and to show who’s at the door. Latecomers are subject to taunting, which likely won’t be penalized. 16. Entertainment For All. Let’s not forget about those who are present but not necessarily watching the game. “I believe in enhancing a Super Bowl experience with a pool, but a different kind than the old office pool,” says Varn. Set up a pool grid. Have guests pick the squares. And forget about the flimsy piece of paper that gets handed around. Instead, tech it up on a computer spreadsheet and broadcast it to a spare TV (See #14 for how). It’s bound to keep everyone involved. 17. Commercial Democracy. Varn also advocates voting on your favorite commercials. Hulu is expected to have Super Bowl commercials available for immediate replay, if you must. 18. The Flea Flicker. Or the trick play. Boisvert relates a story about a client who had an audio zone on his Russound/HAI system designed strictly for his two large bullmastiffs so they could watch Animal Planet during the day while he’s at work and the Puppy Bowl during the Super Bowl. Dogs … flea flicker … get it? (We couldn’t resist, but the story is true.) 19. The Hail Mary. You know that desperation play at the end of the game when the losing team throws a long bomb into the end zone, hoping for a miracle? Prep your system ahead of time, check all the parts, keep it running well and throw in a few high-tech plays, and you’ll never need to resort to a desperation heave.