The JVC DLA-X30 High Definition 3D Projector
At a ridiculously low $3500 MSRP, JVC’s DLA-X30BU - Full HD D-ILA Front Projector is rocking an image quality that other manufacturers only wish they could achieve at the same price point. While there are lots of projectors at this price and below, none accomplish home theater like this one does – in fact, you could spend 3x more with other projectors and still loose out on quality and features.
The X30 is a 3D capable projector that supports both 16:9 and 2:35:1 viewing. With a cinema-wide projection screen, JVC makes it possible to watch Blu-ray content without the black bars above and below the screen. This makes the Media Room or Home Theater experience a phenomenal one!
Affordable Home Theater Performance - The Onkyo TX-NR709
The Onkyo TX-NR709 is an awesome receiver that I regularly recommend when my clients are looking for a powerhouse receiver that’s loaded with quality, features, and an affordable price. It’s a 7.2 channel AV receiver with an MSRP of just $899.
The 709 has 110 watts per channel, eight HDMI inputs, two HDMI outputs to accommodate two separate displays, Internet Radio, and direct USB iPod / iPhone connectivity. This receiver also performs. It has THX certification, meaning it’s been through rigorous testing ensuring quality - distortion free sound. QDEO by Marvell technology is built into the 709 - for artifact / noise free video processing and 4k Upscaling that is twice the resolution of standard 1080p high definition. This receiver is ready for tomorrow’s high definition technologies, and it’s price is far less than comparable models from higher-end manufacturers.
Read more: Affordable Home Theater Performance - The Onkyo TX-NR709
The AV Tech Group - Audio / Video Receiver Pick
If you haven’t yet noticed, Surround Sound Receivers aren’t what they used to be. Manufacturers are integrating awesome technology with cool online services that we love to use. Receivers are getting high tech, and among all manufacturers - Onkyo is the AV Technologies Group pick.
Instead of featuring only Surround Sound, an AM / FM tuner, and Satellite Radio, receivers are streaming music from the likes of Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker, SiriusXM, and Napster. Plus, many models are incorporating the ability to stream content from computers, media servers, and USB’s or hard drives. Basically, we’re getting a whole lot more features in today’s Receivers - yet prices haven’t increased at all – if anything they’ve gotten better when factoring in what you get. Plus the Surround Sound processing technologies have vastly improved, too. If there’s ever a good time to update your Surround Sound Receiver, now is that time for sure.
The Visio XVT 3D CINEMAWIDE™ TRULED™ SMART TV
Three years ago I suggested it has to happen, and it’s finally been done. Thanks to Visio, the 2:35:1 (or 21:9) cinema wide television hits the market next month. I didn’t see it coming this year, but I’m thrilled to see it in motion. We’re all well adjusted to the 16:9 flat panel standard, but with Visio’s CinemaWide (ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio) screen, you’ll finally be able to watch Blu-ray’s at the same wider width that Hollywood hits are viewed on at the movie theater, and without black bars above and below the image. This is an exciting step in home video!
Multi-Room Audio and the Mac Mini Fix
I was recently contacted by a woman with an existing multi-room audio system that wasn’t functioning properly, and she wanted to have me evaluate what it would take to get it fixed, and how we could go about making her system work at its best. Those of us whom have tinkered in the audiovisual industry as long as I have, know these can be the fun ones – not the fun “hey, I get to put together a really cool system” kind of fun, but rather “oh boy, what am I about to get myself into!?”, type of fun. Lately, the Mac Mini has been an excellent solution for these types of calls.
So, like any good little audio / video guy, I offered her a free consultation and went to check things out. She lived in a gorgeous custom built home with all the great finishes – I thought ‘alright, there’s probably an awesome custom designed system that just needs a little TLC; in and out and a happy client’. Well, this wasn’t the case. Immediately upon entering her home I saw a basic wall installed controller with (4) buttons - Volume Up, Volume Down, Source, and Mute. It was the lyriQ™Multi-room audio system by On-Q. Honestly, they don’t get much more basic than this.
