We don't know exactly how deep you
want to roll on Super Bowl XL, but while they're gearing up overseas for some serious footie,
we're prepping for our annual
wardrobe malfunction and super slow-mo instant-replay seven-second rewind fest. Ain't nothing gonna help you enjoy the
big game like some big gear (and bros and beer, we'd presume), and since this year we can apparently expect what's to
be the most technically advanced Super Bowl coverage to date, you need to come equipped. Here are some of our XL picks
for 2006.
The HDTV
You've got more choices now than ever before for
watching the broadcast in high definition, and many are surprisingly affordable -- besides, if you're plunking down for
a new rig this year, why settle for less than the best? Even though the Bowl will be broadcast in 720p and 1080i, it'll
also be shot in 1080p for archival; but today we're talking 1080p, people. We'll forgo a singular widescreen
recommendation, but our fave on a kinda sorta modest budget may be the
JVC D-ILA 70-inch LCoS set. This 1080p
behemoth can be acquired for a mere six grand, and features dual HDMI, CableCARD, and, um, a 70-inch freaking screen.
But if you want to go a little cheaper still you can hit up
RCA's wobulating Scenium
HD50LPW175 50-incher for less than two and a half grand. And if you love flat,
Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK 50-inch
sets are on top; they come with CableCARD, HDMI in, and an integrated ATSC/QAM tuner.
Of course,
your options don't end there. You can also hook it up with a projector if you're interested at all in blanketing that
wide white wall of yours with a couple hundred inches of screen. Keep an eye out for something like BenQ's $8,000 1080p
behemoth
PE8720, a DLP monster that shoots a 1000
lumen and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio picture that should do you up real nice when spread over 30 or 40 square feet.
The HTPC
If you
can afford the Niveus K2 HTPC we're not sure what you're doing watching the game at home -- if we were you we'd
just take our private jet to Detroit and then swing by Hawaii on the way back for the afterparty. But if you
really want to stay home, it's hard to find a better equipped HTPC than Niveus' succinctly-named K2. For a paltry
$14,999, you get a box stacked with a P4 3.6GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 1TB array, a dual-ayer DVD Recorder, dual TV tuners,
dual HDTV tuners, and 24-bit / 192Khz high def 6-channel studio grade audio, all running on Windows XP MCE 2005.
Or you could, you know, buy a car or something. Point being, may we suggest a Media PC (preferably one with dual
tuners) to get you started on your road to game-dom?
The DVR
If you don't want to go the Media PC route, there are
plenty of standalone DVRs to chose from, although your options become narrowed a bit if you want to capture the game in
high-def.
Sony's DHG-HDD500 should get the job done nicely
though, with built-in NTSC and ATSC tuners along with 500GB of storage for 60 hours of HD programming, or 400 hours of
lowly standard definition content. If the $1,000 list price is too much for you, however, you can scale things
back to a 250GB hard drive and save a couple of hundred bucks.
The Sound
Just because you're to be going staring at a nice big
high def picture for a few hours doesn't mean your ears are going be fine with that pair of built-in speakers on your
display. So if you're a little strapped for time or cash before Sunday and can't manage hand picking a receiver and a
speaker system to go with it, you'd best spring for a home theater in a box (HTIB).
Onkyo's HT-S780 7.1 surround system
can get you going for $400, if you're looking for some meaty sound, or you could cut the bulk -- and the wires -- with
the
Sony
DAV-FX100W, which includes a five-disc DVD changer with 720p / 1080i upscaling for $900. Either way you should
hopefully be able to hear some nice crunching tackles over the din of crunching nachos.
The Seats
Of
course, you need something to sit on while you're watching these guys go at it, and for our dime nothing beats
La-Z-Boy's Matinee series. They can be configured
to fit any room and include such options as powered recliners and the all-important storage modules with built-in
cupholders. Unfortunately, La-Z-Boy appears to have dropped the fridge option that made its Oasis chair such a hit. But
we're still ready to outfit our media room with the full line-up.
The Food
We all know you can't have a Superbowl party
without food. But when are you going to schedule those all-important trips to the kitchen? Certainly not during the
game, and especially not during the commercials. That's why you should rush out right now and get one of
LG's refrigerators with a built-in 13-inch cable-ready LCD TV. No, it's
not HD. But it'll save you from missing a big play (or this year's GoDaddy.com moment) while you're stocking up on
refills. Then again you could also go with something a little smaller and significant-other friendly, like Sharp's
AX-HC1 fat-reducing superheated steam oven. Trust us, it's much more fun (and interesting) getting a beer belly, and
not a nacho one.
The Pre-Game Game 
Sadly, despite your best
efforts of yelling at the plasma screen or throwing potato chips in the air, the actual football game is out of your
control, so you might want to vent a bit of aggression and test out that new HD setup of yours with an
Xbox 360 in a pre-game game of
Madden NFL '06: Steelers vs. Seahawks, living room style. We
suggest you get a bit of practice in before the big day though, because you don't want to wait for everyone to be over
and watching when you pilot Ben Roethlisberger or Matt Hasselbeck to a crushing Super Bowl defeat.
posted January 31st 2006 4:11PM
Well at least you know you can't trust the author's opinion on sound in any future articles. Heh, to match the caliber of the rest of this setup $400 shouldn't even buy half of a speaker, let alone an entire home theater. But then again Best Buy doesn't sell quality audio! ;)
Holy cow that'd be a sweet setup! :D
i am a spammer: felixekman@technologysweden.com
Don't forget the ultimate half time show: Lingerie Bowl
Hey does anyone think prices will go down more after super bowl?
I'm on the verge of buying a Samsung 50 inch plasma.
What do you guys think?
what about star wars?
too bad the JVC doesn't accept 1080p sources....
The Panasonic plasma TH50PHD8uk is an industrial model - no tuner of any kind, and the HDMI or DVI input has be purchased separately. Trust me, I have one.
engadget, i knew you were spying on me. how else would you know about my home theater setup.
Yeah because the Super Bowl is totally being broadcast in 1080p! So if you find some one who is let me know, this whole doesn't except 1080p arguement is crap bring something that carries more weight. Whats with the exemptions? The VPL-VW100 SXRD projector kicks that DLP Benq makes right in the arse.
Don't forget bullet proof vests for those visiting the asshole known as Detroit.
Go Steelers!
imagine seeing janet's teet in 1080p?!?
man, we really missed out.
Sweet setup. Hey, I thought you weren't allowed to say "Super Bowl" EVER except with written permission and millions of ad dollars. :-)
Quick note: The BenQ PE8720 projector is 720p, NOT 1080p. Here are the specs:
Specifications. 1000 ANSI lumens, 10,000:1 contrast, native 16:9 widescreen format, 1280x720 resolution DLP chip with a 5x eight-segment color wheel.
that speaker setup is a joke
I was shopping for a new Home Theater setup last summer. I was pricing out building my own when I found the Onkyo HT-S780 boxed set. It cost more then twice as to piece together a comparable set-up. I've been throughly pleased with the system and it is really hard to beat for the price.
#12, you're right. My local radio station (I live across the river from Detroit, in Canada) was giving away tickets, and in all the advertisements they kept referring to it as "Detroit's Big Game". Gets super (no pun intended) annoying.
Aww man, a year ago I saw the part one to this:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/01/how-to-totally-blow-out-the-super-bowl/
And was hell bent on getting the Panasonic Onyx (or the commercial alternative: TH-50PHD7UY as per the 1st reader's comment). I kept spending the year going "next month" and now when I'm finally ready for the Panny, I'm supposed to get one of these TVs instead.
Great. Thanks a lot engadget.
Who buys a $6000 TV, theater seating, media center pc.... and then spends
I have to throw the yellow flag on the La-Z-Boy chairs... (I couldn't resist, sorry)
I thought they were the greatest thing out there until I sat in the Berkline theater chairs. I'm 6' 2" and the la-z-boy chairs only came up to my shoulders. The Berkline's have full neck support and recline to an almost flat position. Also, La-Z-Boy wanted between 1200 and 1950 per chair (depending on fabric vs. leather) I got my PAIR of Berkline's for the same price as ONE from La-Z-Boy.
I don't understand the big hubbub about the Niveus K2 HTPC. My commputer has nearly all of those things (definitely no TB RAID) or HDTV tuner, but i have a TV tuner, a faster comp, as much ram... 15 g's? What the hell's the point? Who needs that perfect audio for their home system... JBL's work more than perfectly for any audiophile.
1080p? At ESPN, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in 720p equipment. All of the control rooms, cameras, trucks are 720p. I can't imagine ABC is renting all new trucks and cameras for the hundred thousand folks with 1080p TVs. And don't expect any of the networks to upgrade to 1080p anytime soon. btw- I'm not a spokesman for ESPN, I only work there.
ok, $6k for the TV, $15k for the MediaPC and...$400 for speakers?? c'mon, if we're "blowing it out" here, how about some B&W 800's to really FEEL those QB sacks?
Hey Mike they said 1080p for archival purposes....that means for archives not broadcast.
Stupid move, ESPN, you should have saved your money and waited for 1080P.
13.) It is only referred to advertisement for the game. This is not an advertisement for the Super Bowl. However, you can make an argument that Engadget is advertising certain products for the Super Bowl though... ;-P
I asked around and here is the deal. There is no infrfastructure in place to transmit a 1080p signal at this time. 1080p might be used with future DVD players or other in-home devices. I was told there might be an in-stadium demo of 1080p, but thats about it.
so should i never buy a tv, cause thats how its looking right now, i have a sony wega and i want a panasonic TH-37PX50U 37" Plasma... and i live at high alitiude, iv heard lcd's are better for high alitiude, but who knows now im pulled in so many directions and i just want a tv, but i want to use it to its full capabilites without some new tech comming out the next week and regreting my purchase... any ideas email to bike830@hotmail.com, thank you