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Runco reveals LS-10d and LS-10i projectors to bring home theaters out of the basement
Unlike most high-end projectors designed strictly to live in nice dark dungeons, Runco's new three chip DLP, 1080p LS-10d and LS-10i projectors are built to perform in a wider range of rooms -- which is good news for penthouse dwellers lacking a basement. Both are packed with the usual proprietary picture-enhancing accoutrements and also support the firm's nifty CineGlide motorized 2.35:1 anamorphic lens solution for users who can't bear to view black bars around their image. The LS-10i sports an internal image processor, while the LS-10d ups the ante with Runco's DHD rack-mounted external video processor. That upgrade enables IR and RS-232 control as well as the ability to install the processor next to your existing HT setup -- a real boon for those not building a fresh home theater out of their old squash court. Either can also be custom painted and printed to match any decor, so there's no need to fear the gear clashing with the drapes. Release-wise, the LS-10i is coming in October for just under $22,000, while the LS-10d ships later in December for a hair below $27,000. That's way more than the sub-$10k range of other LightStyle models, but it's nothing compared to Runco's $90k+ 3D cinema projectors, so we'll quit our plebeian whining. For full details see the PR after the break.
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.
Front rendered surround sound is not a gimmick
Yes, we know what you're thinking because it is what we used to; but after some extensive testings with the latest SRS front rendered surround sound technologies, we can't call it a gimmick anymore than any other surround sound we've tried. Now that we've gotten that off our chest, we would like clarify what technologies like SRS TheaterSound and SRS TruSurround HD are; both are sound processing technologies that enhance two speaker systems, and while we won't call them a gimmick, we won't be throwing our rear speakers away just yet. That doesn't mean they don't have a place in any home theater, but if you're interested in knowing where they do fit in, well, you'll just have to click through and read the rest for that tidbit. %Gallery-97873%
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.
Sony selling 3D bundle deals for a limited time
In a rare move, Sony has deviated from their pricey reputation to offer two special 3D bundle promotions until July 17th -- or while supplies still last -- with the clear intention of enticing wavering adopters to veer whole-hog into 3D. The options boil down to either a 46-inch or 54.6-inch Bravia HX8000 for $270 / $340 off their retail prices, respectively, and as a bonus, buyers will receive a variety of 3D accessories valued at $899 for free. Rolled into that $899 goody basket are two pairs of 3D glasses, a 3D sync transmitter, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and IMAX Deep Sea 3D, as well as four 3D games for the PS3 (two are demos); and finally the BDV-E570 3D home theater in-a-box. Depending on how you define "savings," this deal amounts to around $1,200 greenbacks you won't have to shell out for a complete 3D-ready package. At $2,429 for the 46-inch and $3,059 for the 54.6-inch package though, you'll still be required to dig deep into your wallet to bring either of these promotions couch-side.
Ask Engadget HD: Home theater on a $2,500 budget?
Keeping with our recent theme of more frugal home theater efforts, this week our question is similar to the pie in the sky dreams of a few weeks ago, but with a very down to earth monetary restriction. Our friend Thomas has space for a home theater setup, but not a lot of cash to use to fill it up. We'll let him tell you how it is: We are currently in the process of finishing our basement. We have a nice wall for a flat screen, two small basement windows, dish, Blu-ray, and about $2500 to spend on a "home theater" (albeit a smallish one). If I want a HDTV and surround speakers - how should I go? Or am I not considering something else I should be? This is definitely a theater on a budget. This is your mission if you choose to accept it, spend Thomas' money and get a setup any of us would be proud to do some television watching, gaming or movie night with the family on. Over here we're all BeoVision all the time, so what the proletariat are using to watch Teen Cribs on is a mystery to us. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Bose simplifies surround sound setup with Lifestyle systems, charges dearly for it
So, you've got a few options here. Do a little research and piece together your own surround system, hire a voyeur from Geek Squad to do it for you, or just hire a live-in technician to handle both present and future issues. Whatever you settle on, you can pretty much rest assured that it'll be cheaper than forking out for one of Bose's hilariously overpriced Lifestyle systems. In typical Bose fashion, the company is introducing a new trio of 5.1 rigs (the V35, V25 and T20), each of which utilize a new "Unify" technology that is said to make "connecting speakers and sources, programming remotes, and accessing content easier and faster than ever before." And by that, they mean "we'll show you pictures of the connectors on your television screen." Each setup comes with a handful of tiny, cube-like speakers and a surely unimpressive Acoustimass bass module, and if you're hoping to find detailed specifications -- you know, things like RMS, impedance, frequency response range and other vital audio statistics -- we wish you the best of luck. Oh, but here's a few figures that are being handed down: $3,299, $2,499 and $1,999. Yeah, those are the MSRPs in order of mention, and amazingly, we aren't kidding.
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.
Ask Engadget HD: How do I keep a closet full of home theater equipment from overheating?
Last week we asked how to achieve your wildest home theater desires and this week we have a followup in that same theme. Moving all those home theater components out of the way helps achieve the clean look so many desire, but Edward wants to know how do you do it? "I've seen different instances where people have moved the majority of their home entertainment components away from entertainment centers/tables and put them in closets. I'm interested in doing this with my system, essentially putting everything out of view except for the TV and speakers. I'm lucky in this instance because I have a closet on the opposite side of the wall where the TV is mounted and its an empty coat closet about 30 x 30. What I'm looking for are tips regarding IR blasters and shelving/cooling issues for the components in the closet. I'm looking to put a HK AVR-254 receiver, U-Verse STB (not DVR), Wii, Xbox 360, BDP-3600, and a small Ethernet switch in the closet. I live in Dallas Texas so summers are a concern and I want to know what people have been doing in regards to cooling since closets aren't well ventilated." We're sure you all have suggestions on how to keep the air and control commands flowing even in tight spaces. We put together our own how-to move your boxes away from the HDTV, but we don't have a lot of HVAC advice, so pitch in. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Ask Engadget HD: How do I take my home theater to the next level?
Sure, getting a nice HDTV and slapping together a custom audio system can make a living room into a decent entertainment setup -- but what's the best way to go all-in on a dedicated theater room? That's the question posed by Ken: "I just moved into a new house, and finally have a room with space to set up just as a home theater, and a closet to the side for my AV equipment. I already have a projector, screen and speakers from my past setup, but where can I get the best bang for my buck in other areas? Things I've thought about are high end audiophile speakers, movie theater-style seating, installing a D-BOX motion setup or even a popcorn machine. What do you recommend?" We've perused the Engadget HD Flickr group (what, your pics aren't there already?) enough to know you guys have done all of that and then some, so let us know what custom projects you've found worked best to make your home theater stand out. [Picture belongs to shieldss44] Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Electronic House crowns 2010 Home of the Year award winners
It's that time of the year again, when the folks from Electronic House recognize the most impressive and downright jaw-dropping homes and home theaters they've seen since the last awards were handed out. While the categories cover everything from more modest home theaters to the best kitchens and outdoor spaces, the standout has to be the award for best home theater over $250,000, which this year went to the theater pictured above put together by First Impressions Theme Theaters. While the exact price doesn't appear to have been disclosed, the home theater was apparently four and half months in the making, and centers around a 174-inch screen (which can be adjusted for scope ratio) and a TITAN 1080p-250 Pro Series projector that itself weighs in at 200 pounds. That, of course, is just the beginning -- the room also includes a Crestron automation system that automatically adjusts the lighting and changes the sky on the ceiling when folks enter, sound-proofing that lets you "hear your heartbeat," a completely concealed Genelec surround sound system, a custom dog bed, and Italian leather CineLounger seats complete with LED-lit glowing cup holders, to name just a few standout features. Hit up the source link below for the complete details, and the rest of the award winners.
Sony magically adds third dimension to new soundbars, 5.1 sound system
The 3.1 channel HT-CT350 and HT-CT150 soundbars a) don't require special glasses to use and b) look fairly flat to us, but -- along with the 1,000 watt HT-SF470 5.1 surround system -- but the magic is in their HDMI repeaters (three inputs, one output) capable of 3D and standby passthrough just like Sony's latest higher end equipment. The 400 watt HT-CT350 steps it up by shipping with a mounting bracket that affixes it to bottom of select 40-inch (and up) 2010 BRAVIA HDTVs, while the 340 watt HT-CT150 attaches to select 32-inch sets. You'll also find LPCM support via HDMI and BRAVIA Sync compatibility, and if you're drinking the Kool-Aid, you can find the 40-inch CT350 on sale next month for $400, the 32-inch CT150 retailing for around $300 and the 5.1 SF470 hitting shops in June for $550. %Gallery-91405%
Bang & Olufsen announces BeoLab 11 subwoofer for mid-May
Not getting enough "sub" with your "woofer"? Tweeters tweeting all over the place, ruining your enjoyment of the low-end? Finding yourself unable to fully appreciate your King Tubby LPs? We hate that! And so does Bang & Olufsen, fine purveyor of home audio equipment we can't afford. The company's newest, the BeoLab 11 subwoofer, is vaguely pornographic looking, albeit in a surreal way (please try and control yourselves in the comments, people). This bad boy promises superlative bass quality in a "strong sculptural presence." At the very least, the designers here are trying -- which is more than we can say for almost every other subwoofer on the market (though we really did like the Rubik's Cube). Composed of two 6.5-inch drivers facing each other in an aluminum shell, this bad boy will handle the low frequencies (below 300Hz) and push 200W of bass in yo' face. Available in North America by mid-May 2010 in silver anodized aluminum or white; black, dark gray, red, blue, and golden anodized aluminum should be available shortly thereafter. Prices begin at $2,000. PR after the break.
Pegatron showing off miniature Tegra 2-powered home theater PC
If all these tablet and smartbook shenanigans haven't won you over, but you still feel the call of Tegra 2, Pegatron might have your number. We spotted this details-scarce nettop-ish home theater PC lurking around the NVIDIA booth today, just looking to be loved. The thin plastic box is topped by what looks to be bamboo, with HDMI, Ethernet, microphone and speaker plugs around back. We're very much in the dark as to supposed capabilities or software, but Tegra 2 gives us a good hint: the chip can decode 1080p and Flash video, runs Android or Windows CE, and is the same thing under the hood of the Boxee Box. We imagine something like this going for $100 (though no price or release date has been mentioned) or so and acting as a great little home theater PC for the right sort of user if and when it hits the market. %Gallery-88960%
Sony intros 3D-capable STR-DN1010 A/V receiver
Sony's already introduced 3D TVs and 3D Blu-ray players, and it's now finally followed those up with a 3D-capable receiver for those who need to pass through 3D video while internally decoding high res audio. That model, the STR-DN1010, is naturally a 7.1 A/V receiver, and boasts 110 watts of power per channel, along with four HDMI ports (including one with Audio Return Channel plus three component), support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, upscaling of any video source to 1080p, support for Sony's S-AIR wireless system, and a Digital Media Port to accommodate iPod docks and other accessories, among other standard fare. Look for this one to land in June for $500, along with three other new non-3D models (the STR-DH810, STR-DH710 and STR-DH510) that will run you $400, $300 and $230.
Congatec BM57 fits mobile Core i7 onto tiny mobo
Should you be lusting after some of that Core i7 oomph but have a distaste for the large thermal and physical footprint of desktops, you'll want to hear more from Congatec. A relative unknown hailing from Germany, the outfit has just announced its BM57 small form factor setup, which looks to be ideal for homebrew HTPC enthusiasts -- primarily because its i7-620M CPU is both powerful (up to 3.33GHz with Turbo Boost) and relatively easy to cool (35W TDP, including chip-integrated graphics). The kit is able to support up to 8GB of dual-channel DDR3, as well as drive two video outputs concurrently. Choices include HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA, leading to some tantalizingly versatile possibilities for the creative self-builder. Prices are not yet available, but the BM57 will be demonstrated at the International Gaming Expo in London at the end of this month.
Design Hara reminds us that our living room computer needn't be an eyesore, nor an ode to testosterone
A home theater PC with a softer side? Design Hara's new "green" computer HTPC houses a mini-ITX board in what can only be described as a beautiful wood case. Coming in cypress wood and rose wood flavors, the computers don't seem to available for sale just yet, but when they do become available they should offer up a nice smattering of specs like Core 2 Duo or Quad processors, 4GB of RAM, 1TB hard drives and Blu-ray drives. We don't know the price either, but we'll assume "much" and leave it at that.
Yamaha YHT-S400 sound system packs ultraslim soundbar, sub-infused receiver
We're always leery of "world's first" claims, but we've definitely never seen an AV receiver with a ginormous port on the front. The unorthodox device you're inevitably peering at above is one part of the two-piece YHT-S400, which looks to provide cinema-like sound in areas where space is hard to come by. The 31.5-inch long soundbar measures just 2-inches high and is designed to fit in front of most 32- to 50-inch HDTVs without blocking the screen, while the accompanying "first-of-its-kind subwoofer-integrated receiver" provides the power, the bass and the connectivity. A trio of HDMI inputs are included, and HD audio signals from Blu-ray Discs are accepted via linear PCM transmission. It's up for grabs now at $599.95, and if you're hoping to add iPod or Bluetooth support, Yamaha's YDS-11 and YBA-10 adapters are fully compatible. %Gallery-80813%
Boxee beta announced for December 7 release
An e-mail sent to Boxee users this morning reveals that the beta version of Boxee will be unveiled at a special event in New York City on December 7 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The beta news comes on the heels of a Boxee box being planned for a 2010 release. The beta release of Boxee includes: A redesigned interface Improved navigation The ability to search for TV shows and movies both on the Internet and on local networks A queuing function, most likely similar to what Hulu has now. Shortcuts for apps, movies, and other programs There will be a 4-week early-access period before the beta version is officially released on January 7 at CES. Those who want a sneak preview do need to sign up. Those in New York City who want to attend the beta unveiling can reserve a spot. A live stream will also be provided through Boxee's blog or directly through the program itself.
A Dozen Daily Deals
'Tis the season to start shopping until your brains melt (or skip it all entirely, depending on your interpretation of the term holiday). In that spirit, for the next few days we'll be rounding up a dozen daily deals courtesy our friends at DealNews.com. Each afternoon tune in to TUAW for this handy summary. Keep in mind that while our posts will live on, the deals won't. Each is lovingly generated by the deal-bot every day, so get 'em while they're hot. Enjoy! iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] App Store Freebies: World Surfer, HandWriting Mail, Sign Here, Writie Talkie, more Home Depot: [Black Friday] Home Depot Black Friday Preview Savings Sale now live + extra 10% off iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] 1Password Pro for iPhone downloads for free MacUpdate Promo: [Office Software Suites] Pages Templates 5 for Mac downloads for $20 iTunes Music Store: [iPhone / iPod Apps] Electronic Arts iPhone / iPod touch Apps: Tetris, SimCity for $3, Madden 10 for $5, more [MP3 Downloads] The 99 Most Essential Tchaikovsky Masterpieces MP3 Album download for $5 ... or $2 InvisibleShield: [Notebook Accessories] 50% off ZAGGskins Protectors at ZAGG.com Sony Style: [46" - 47" LCD TVs] Free PS3 or Blu-ray Player w/ Sony HDTVs: 46" 120Hz 1080p for $1,000 + free shipping, more Staples: [Media Receivers] Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD 500GB Media Player for $100 + free shipping Western Digital Store: [Media Receivers] Refurbished Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player for $70 + free shipping Meritline: [iPod Accessories] USB Data Cable for iPhone / iPod touch for $2 + free shipping Seehere: [Photo Services] FujiFilm SeeHere: 50 free holiday cards + $3 s&h
