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HomePod will soon have Dolby Atmos support for Apple TV 4K
You'll be able to set a HomePod as the streaming device's default speaker.
Epson's ultra bright projector can hide in plain sight
While we're starting to get some crazy mixed reality tech using projectors, it's good to see companies haven't forgotten about good old-fashioned home cinema. Over the past year, manufacturers have been lining up to show off their little light emitters that pack big features. In June, Optoma unveiled its 4K projector, which at $2,000 is considerably cheaper than its rivals. Even Chinese behemoth Xiaomi is muscling in on the turf, promising a laser projector that uses the same system as movie theatres for less than $1,500. Not to be left behind, industry heavyweight Epson just unveiled its own thoroughbred. The company is touting the new Home Cinema LS100 as an "ultra short-throw" laser display. What that essentially means is you can park it just inches away from a wall, and it will still light it up with a 120-inch, full HD picture.
Epson leaves well enough alone with its new Home Cinema projector lineup
Epson has decided not to mess with success, as it's left the new Home Cinema 3020, 3020e, 5020, 5020e and Pro Home Cinema 6020 projectors largely untouched from last year. All the models still carry full 1080p resolution, active shutter 3D, 2D-to-3D conversion, WirelessHD and a pair of RF 3D glasses. There's a slight bump in brightness for the lower-end 3020/3020e models from 2,200 to 2,300 lumens and a 100,000:1 contrast hike for the 5020/5020e and 6020 models. Otherwise, the new projectors remain unchanged, right down to the colors, housings, 3LCD tech, 6,000 hour lamp and Fujinon OptiCinema lenses for the 6020. Prices also carry over from the previous models, at under $4,000, $3,000 and $2,000 for the high- to low-end models, respectively. The projectors will start arriving in October and with little other competition in that price range, Epson can probably rest on its laurels -- at least for a while longer. Update: As commenter jeremymc7 pointed out, the rechargeable RF 3D glasses are an update from last year's IR non-rechargeable units, and only the e-models support WirelessHD tech.
JBL announces Cinema SB 100, 200 and 400 soundbars
JBL has been sprinkling a fair amount of its sonic-spice atop desks of late, now it wants to sneak some of the same under your TV. Enter three new all-in-one soundbars just announced by the firm, which it claims bring surround sound performance. As well as that virtual surround experience, the JBL Cinema SB 100, 200 and 400 also sport an equalization switch that optimizes sound depending on where you put it (i.e., mounted on a wall, or on a furniture unit). The SB 400 has a separate wireless subwoofer, while the 200 has one built-in, leaving the 100 with the connections to bring in your own. Likewise, the 400 and 200 models also come with Bluetooth, for added audio content streaming options. If you've got a soundbar-shaped hole in your media set-up, then prices start are $199, $299 and $549 according to your feature requirements. To hear the specs in more detail, sound out the PR after the break.
Sony launches STR-DA5800ES home cinema AV receiver: true 4K output, 9.2 surround sound
Sony's just launched a high-end home cinema receiver that's finally good enough to pair up with its IFA-fresh Bravia KD-84X9005 TV or existing VPL-VW1000ES 4K projector. On top of native 4K for supported displays, the receiver will upscale standard HD movies, promising greater color, contrast and detail. For audiophiles, the system has 9.2 channels of surround sound for so-called Front High and Surround Back speakers, on top of the standard 5.1 speaker setup. A feature called "Movie Height" enables the sound to be virtually adjusted up or down to better match the screen position, and acoustics can be selected to match famous concert halls like those in Vienna or Berlin. Finally, you can take advantage of all that Hi-Fi and display tech by streaming from your laptop, smartphone or tablet through a LAN hub on the receiver. There's no availability or pricing yet, but if you're not too concerned about that money stuff, check the PR for the rest of the story.
Klipsch refreshes Quintet home theater system
We don't have too many bad words to say about Klipsch, so when we heard it was refreshing its Quintet home theater system, we listened up. The eponymous-ish five speaker system has been a mainstay of the Klipsch line since 1998, and this is the fifth (too many 5s?) iteration. The new goodies? This time 'round each speaker has a 90 degree by 90 degree "Tractrix" horn for expanded listening area and a new Linear Travel Suspension aimed at reducing distortion and improving dynamics -- new woofers have also been added. If the refresh sounds good, but you're wondering if it'll match your front room, you've only got a choice of a satin, brushed black finish. Already boxed your old system up? Then get ready to lay down $550 when it reaches your local store next month. Update: As pointed out by some people, despite mentioning in the PR, this is not strictly a 5.1 system
This is what native 4K home cinema looks like on Sony's VPL-VW1000ES projector
Why are folks so keyed up about 4K? At first glance, that's the type of question that answers itself: by definition, a 4096-pixel wide image delivers around four times the resolution of 1920 x 1080, and that's a healthy multiple. It's actually of a broadly similar magnitude to the difference between 1080p and old-fashioned analog NTSC video, and nobody these days questions the value of that upgrade. On the other hand, there must come a point where pixels cease to be visible in a home theater environment, such that buying more of them at inflated prices stops being worth it. Sure, 4K can be a big help with 3D footage, because it boosts the resolution to each eye -- something we experienced with the REDray projector. But what about regular 2D material, which is still very much the default viewing option? That question's been nagging at us, so when Sony invited us back for a second look at its 4K projector, the VPL-VW1000ES, this time with full-throttle native 4K source material rather than just upscaled 1080p, we turned up with a tape measure. Read on for what came next.
Christie offers 4K upgrade kit for 2K projector that you couldn't afford to begin with
For the eight millionaires who've been watching the pre-release of Killer Elite on their in-home Christie CP2230, we've got exemplary news for you: your already-amazing image quality is about to get even better. The same projector that was chosen to reside in the Academy Theater at Lighthouse International in New York City -- and the same one that remains mysteriously devoid of an MSRP across the world wide web -- now has a similarly sticker-less upgrade kit to consider. The Christie 4K upgrade package includes an entire 4K light engine assembly (replete with a trio of 1.38-inch TI 4K DMDs), an integrator rod assembly and an upgrade label. Yeah, a label. It's like that. Hit the source links for the requisite phone numbers, or better yet, just forward the whole thing to your butler.
Epson launches five 3D, 1080p home theater projectors for serious cinephiles
New projectors quietly slip on to shelves almost every day, but Epson's new PowerLite Pro Cinema 6010, and updated Home Cinema series certainly caught our attention. They combine 1080p images with active 3D tech for a price that home theater builders shouldn't immediately dismiss. The flagship Pro Cinema 6010 and Home Cinema 5010 lines can output 2,400 lumens while maintaining a contrast ratio of 200,000:1. Both also include the ability to convert 2D content to 3D on the fly. The primary difference between the $4,000 6010 and $3,000 5010 (the wirelessHD-equipped 5010e will run about $3,500) is the included accessories and options: like ceiling mounts, 3D glasses and additional lens modes. The budget 3010 ($1,600) and 3010e ($1,800) models sport a more modest 40,000:1 contrast ratio and 2,200 lumen rating, but do have a pair of built-in 10W speakers. Oddly, only the 3010 package will include 3D glasses. The Pro Cinema 6010 and Home Cinema 5010 line will start shipping in November, while the 3010 series will land in October. Check out the PR after the break.
Samsung goes cubic with HT-D7100 Blu-ray home theater system, HW-D550 soundbar
Digging the cube-like stature of Samsung's new BD-D7000 3D Blu-ray player, but on the hunt for a more complete package? Have a gander at the GT-D7100, an all-in-one Blu-ray home theater system that's shaped more like a box and less like... well, conventional home cinema systems. There's 2D-to-3D upconversion, a 2.1 channel sound system (with 110 watts of power), inbuilt WiFi, support for Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio and support for Samsung Apps / Hub. If you're looking for something more traditional, the HT-D6730W is a 7.1 channel surround system, complete with a WiFi-enabled 3D Blu-ray deck, wireless rear speakers, a pair of tower speakers, 1330 total watts of power and a wideband amplifier, two HDMI inputs and an iPod / iPhone dock cradle. In related news, the HW-D7000 Blu-ray AV receiver is being introduced, and it's being described as the world's first 7.1 channel AVR with an integrated 3D Blu-ray player. You'll get four HDMI sockets, HDMI-CEC (Anynet), inbuilt WiFi, a Smart Hub (including internet radio) and a 120 watt x 7 channel amplifier. Finally, the HW-D550 soundbar measures 46-inches in length and offers 2.1 channel audio, 310 watts of power, a wireless subwoofer and a pair of HDMI connectors. Pricing information remains to be seen, but as with Samsung's other CES introductions, these too will be on sale in 1H 2011. %Gallery-112485%
Aperion's Zona wireless bookshelf surround system frees up your sound studio
Aperion Audio's Home Audio Link is already enabling content speaker owners to enjoy the spoils of wireless, but if you're in the market for a set of bookshelf speakers, the outfit's Zona system might just fit the bill. Essentially, these monitors combine high-end audio fidelity with the aforementioned 2.4GHz wireless technology, allowing owners to plug a transceiver into a USB source up to 150 feet away and shoot all sorts of sine waves over to their two speakers. Of course, we wouldn't recommend these to casual listeners given the $499 asking price, but at least that gets you a pair of 20-watt Class D amplifiers, 4.5-inch woven fiberglass woofers, 1-inch soft dome silk tweeters and a feeling of pride that simply cannot be described in mere words. Or so we're told.%Gallery-106199%
Epson rolls out new 3LCD projectors for budgets big and medium
Since it's CEDIA time, Epson has seen fit to unveil several new 1080p projectors, ranging from price brackets in the (reasonable for this crowd) sub-$7,000 category with the new Pro Cinema 6100 to the Home Cinema 8350 which comes in at less than $1,300. The Pro Cinema 6100 (above) debuts the company's new 3LCD Reflective and UltraBlack tech courtesy of a dual-layered auto iris that is its first to reach dynamic contrast ratios of up to 1,000,000:1, while the Pro Cinema 31000 and Home Cinema 21000 beamers feature similar lens technology with appropriately lower-end chipsets, stats and prices when all of them ship in December. The next jump down is the Home Cinema 8350 and 8700UB models that eschew the new HDMI 1.4 ports and more exotic lens technology of the higher end models while still bringing improved specs over last year's lineup to retailer shelves when they ship later this month. Detailed specs follow after the break if you're wondering just how far an extra dollar or two will go.
Philips' Cinema 21:9 Platinum HDTV finally takes the leap into 3D
It's kind of hard to outdo yourself with only two dimensions when they read 21 and 9, respectively, so Philips has decided to do the only thing left for a trendy display maker: go 3D. Though we saw (and loved) a 3D prototype of the 56-inch variant at last year's IFA, this new, 58-inch Cinema 21:9 Platinum HDTV looks set to bring the third dimension to actual retail. It's got the Ambilight wall illumination that some people will like, LED backlighting with local dimming that most should love, and a slimmer, brushed matte bezel that will be appreciated by all. The 400Hz panel is capable of pumping out Full HD 3D and is expected to cost around €4,000 ($5,112) in Europe or £3,500 in the UK with a launch set for later this month. And if you want one in the US, well... things aren't looking very Ambibright for you. %Gallery-101115%
Runco intros 3D-ready Signature Cinema projectors: $90k+, still require glasses
"Runco" and "cheap" have never, ever been used correctly in the same sentence before, but being elite apparently doesn't mean that you can just turn a blind eye to rambling bandwagons. With just about every other projection company flipping out 3D-ready alternatives, Runco has decided it best to follow suit. The company has just added a fanciful pair of PJs to its Signature Cinema line, with the SC-50d and SC-60d both offering 3D playback with support for Active3D (active shutter) or passive glassed-based solutions. The duo also packs a 3-chip system that outputs 1080p natively, and these are also the company's first projectors to include its Smart Lens system -- which offers a controllable motorized lens and iris that can be preset in memory. Hit the source links if you're interested in learning more about the Fall-bound pair, but be sure you're willing to pay upwards of $88,995 before wasting the bandwidth.
Onkyo's HT-S7300 and HT-S6300 HTIB bundles are totally ready for 3D, man
Shocker of shockers -- Onkyo has outed a pair of home-theater-in-box bundles, and both of 'em are 3D ready. Crazy, ain't it? The HT-S6300 and HT-S7300 both have 3D-ready HDMI-1.4a inputs, 1080p video upscaling, lossless Dolby and DTS high definition audio, Dolby height processing, Audyssey automatic room equalization and seven total loudspeakers (plus a subwoofer). The primary difference between the two is the pair of 41-inch tall floorstanders that come with the S7300, as both systems ship with a 7 x 130W amplifier and a 290W subbie. As expected, there's also an outboard dock for iPod and iPhone, and the Faroudja DCDi Cinema processor should keep upscaled content looking its very best. The duo is available now for $749 and $899, respectively, and the full presser awaits just past the break should you find yourself interested.
Electronic House sifts through, selects 25 greatest DIY home theaters
Electronic House recently published their 2010 Home of the Year award winners, but one thing those medal swingers were lacking was a tried-and-true DIY touch. Sure, there's no doubt that cold, hard cheddar can buy a fairly swank home cinema, but it's another chore entirely to piece one together with your own two hands, using your own vacation time and fending off screams from spouses, children and fellow constituents. Now, the aforementioned site has crawled through AVS Forum in search of the top 25 DIY home theaters, and after what can only be described as a Herculean search, the proverbial cream has risen. From a Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired lair to one of the tightest attic-squeezed setups we've ever seen, it's (just about) all there in the source link. Have a gander to get your own creative juices flowing, and feel free to drop images of your own layout in comments below if you somehow got slighted here.
ASUS Cine5 is 'world's most compact' five-channel speaker, doesn't forget the blue LEDs
Seriously, who told manufacturers that we're in love with garish LED status lights?ASUS has strapped a glowing orb of unnecessariness around the volume knob of the Cine5 -- an otherwise perfectly acceptable and appreciably diminutive PC soundbar. With an array of speaker drivers integrated into that curvy body, ASUS claims the Cine5 produces realistic multidirectional surround sound, but does admit it's mostly intended for smaller spaces such as study rooms. The announcement also includes a nod to FPS gamers, with claims that the improved positional audio on offer will benefit both gameplay immersion and accuracy when identifying a sound source, though we reckon the biggest boon will still be the elimination of the extra cables and speakers one usually needs to get one's surround sound on. Price and availability have not yet been made public, but knowing ASUS both should be in the reasonable range of the market.
Epson blows the roof off of your house party with two new projectors
Epson's just announced two new additions to its home theatre lineup which should make your bi-weekly showing of House Party even more of a success than usual. First up, the PowerLite Home Cinema 705HD boasts a 720p resolution, a brightness of up to 2,500 lumens, and 1.2x optical zoom. The 705HD is an entry-level HD projector, so its pricing -- $750 -- is a bit less than some other models. The other model the company's outing is the MovieMate 60, a combo affair housing a 16:9 native resolution-having projector, plus a built-in dvd player and two 10 watt speakers. The projector has a brightness of up to 2,000 lumens. The MovieMate 60 retails for $650 -- and both are available now.
Epson's 2010 PowerLite Home and Pro Cinema projector lineup given US pricing, dates
We already snuck a peak at the European version of Epson's Home Cinema 8500 UB (the EH-TW4400) and Pro Cinema 9500 UB (EH-TW5500) at the big IFA show in Berlin. Now they're US official, and joined by newly anointed PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 and Pro Cinema 9100 models. The new 8100 doubles the reported contrast of the old 6100 (on paper anyway) which should equate to a visible black level improvement for an asking price of just $1,500 after $100 rebate -- very reasonable for a Full HD home theater projector of Epson quality. The 9100 adds support for an anamorphic lens, ISF certification for professional setups, a bundled ceiling mount and spare E-TORL lamp, and a 3-year replacement warranty for a beefier $2,600. Expect the 8100 to hit US retail in October along side the "sub-$4,000" Pro Cinema 9500 UB while the 9100 lands in November with the "sub-$3,000" Home Cinema 8500 UB. Your holiday slide-shows will never be the same. [Via The Art of Home Theater Projectors]Read -- PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 and 8500 UB Read -- PowerLite Pro Cinema 9100 and 9500 UB
Epson's WUXGA HTPS-TFT Panel hints at ultra-bright, high-contrast PowerLite projectors in September
As a leader in home cinema systems, it's always a good idea to keep tabs on Epson's core technologies as a preview of what's coming up in next generation home theater projectors. Today Seiko-Epson announced the start of volume production for its 0.94-inch HTPS-TFT LCD capable of a WUXGA (1920 x 1200 pixel) resolution for 3LCD projectors pushing 1080p. The panel supports a brightness of 5000 lumens (or more!) using Epson's D7 process technology while achieving "higher than ever contrast" through its C2 Fine inorganic alignment layer tech. What this means is simple: expect to see a new brightness and contrast champion PowerLite Home Cinema projector announced at the end of Summer, as CEDIA tradition dictates, with product shipping by end of the year.
