isf
Latest
JVC puts 4K DLA-RS4000 projector in your home... for just $175,000
By and large, any 4K x 2K projector that we've seen -- be it at CES, CEDIA or any other trade show -- has been solely for looks. Oh sure, they're for sale, but they're only being sold to cinema owners and the select few that find themselves within the same tax bracket as Bill Gates and Lawrence Ellison. But the DLA-RS4000... the DLA-RS4000 is different. Introduced here in Atlanta, the ultra high-definition projector spots a native resolution of 4,096 x 2,400, enabling it to display up to four screens of Full HD content (you listening, college football / NFL fans?) at once. Naturally, it's fully ISF and THX certified, and it packs 3,500 ANSI lumens, a Xenon lamp, 10,000:1 contrast ratio, RSVP4 video processing unit, Ethernet port and an RS-232c control port. Interested in showing 1080p what's really up? Great! Crack open that wallet and yank out $176,000 -- $175,000 for the beamer, and a grand to rent the forklift you'll need to get a 110 pound box into your home.
Onkyo intros high-end 7.1-channel PR-SC886 preamplifier-processor
Only the affluent or those willing to blow some serious pounds on their home theater setup need apply here, as Onkyo's top-notch PR-SC886 isn't for the average amateur. The new flagship device is a THX Ultra2 Plus-certified AV preamplifier-processor which decodes every single HD audio format and includes an ISF video calibration function, HDMI upscaling to 1080p via the HQV Reon-VX processor and Burr-Brown 192kHz / 24-bit audio DACs for all channels. Furthermore, you'll find a trio of TI Aureus 32-bit DSP chips, iPod compatibility, 2-channel balanced XLR inputs, 7.1-channel line-level XLR pre-outs, network support and a pre-programmed learning remote. After digesting all of that, surely you won't be shocked and appalled by the £1,500 ($2,246) price tag. Surely.[Via iGizmo]
Integra rolls ISF calibration into top-end AV receivers, preamp-processor
Here's an idea that makes sense -- since AV receivers do the video switching and format conversion, why not put the image calibration in there, too? Integra is doing exactly that with its DTR-8.9 ($1,900) and DTR-9.9 ($2,600) receivers, as well as the DHC-9.9 ($2,000) preamp-processor. Better yet, this functionality will conform to ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) protocols so all you pixel-peepers can sleep easy. This makes it possible to calibrate your video sources independently, so you're not limited by the number of inputs you have on your display device. The only problem we see with this is that your ISF tech has to shoulder the extra work of setting up more calibrations.
Panasonic VIERACast internet-enabled plasmas due this summer
After slipping past their original spring release date, Panasonic's PZ850 series of plasmas are no longer the only ones with YouTube support, but those desiring internet features, high contrast ratios and easy-access calibration settings can expect them on shelves this summer. The 46-, 50- and 58-inch versions should all be available in mid-June, with the 65-incher rolling out in August. Other than the IP features (Picasa access is also part of the package) the THX-certified PZ850s support h.264 playback from the SD card slot, RS-232C, 24p native playback, and a variety of display modes and settings to get the picture just the way the director intended, the way you like it, or anywhere in between. Check after the break for a list of prices, and our video hands on from CES 2008.
ControlCAL grants 8th-gen Kuro owners access to ISFccc calibration controls
Hey, 8th-generation Kuro owners -- got a hankering to really get behind the scenes and tweak 'til your heart's content? If you, like many, spent a good chunk of your kid's college fund on a brand new plasma and don't have the coinage to pay for professional applications to unlock access to the full array of ISFccc controls, ControlCAL's got your back. The v1.4 RC1 has just been loosed (in Beta), which grants owners of Pioneer's famed PDP with access to more calibration controls than they can shake a stick at. Excited? Confused? Either way, we'd advise you to check out the links below if you're ready to dive in.Read - ControlCAL adds 8G C3 support for Kuro ElitesRead - ControlCAL Kuro discussions at AVSForum
Panasonic revamps its plasma lineup
Despite the fact that consumers and videophiles don't agree on a single preferred HDTV technology, Panasonic continues to cater to those who can't live without true blacks and accurate colors with five new lines of Plasmas. In an attempt to help you find just the right size for your setup, Panasonic has added a 46-inch model to some of its lines including the flagship PZ850. In addition to the 46-inch, the top of the line is available in the; 50, 58 and 65-inch varieties. The 850 line is also the first to include IP enabled features like YouTube and Picasa. Like a few other high-end sets -- the PZ850 includes THX display certification, easy access to ISF calibration settings, 30,000:1 contrast, RS-232C, and four HDMI ports. The PZ800 line (pictured) has just about everything the 850 does with the exception of the IP features and the addition of a 42-inch model. These aren't the only options as Panasonic also has the PZ85, PZ80, and PX80 lines, but other than they aren't as good as the 850 and 800, we're hard press to tell them apart. All the new TVs are expected in the spring of 2008 at a currently undisclosed price.
Runco now shipping its THX certified, 1080p Video Xtreme projector lineup
Runco -- those folks who make the mesmerizing projectors that only A-class celebrities, former Gizmondo execs, and foreign leaders can afford -- are offering yet another bevy of luscious PJs for us to drool over. Touted as the "world's first 1080p HD video display products to achieve THX certification," the Video Xtreme lineup of DLP projectors have survived the rigorous testing necessary for any product to get that oh-so-coveted THX logo slapped on it, and now they're all ready to jazz up your home theater (and drain your wallet). Each model boasts Runco's own CineWide (with or without AutoScope) technology, which reproduces 2.35:1 films with "unparalleled accuracy," eliminating those pesky black bars without taking a hit in the quality department. They also sport the firm's DHD controller, HDMI inputs, and a variety of CinOptx zoom lenses to fit nearly any application. You can grab this highly prized goodness for just $16,995 if you shoot for the low-end VX-2000d, while the more luxurious units will run you $34,995 (VX-6000d), $44,995 (VX-22d), $79,995 (VX-44d), or $99,995 (VX-55d).
