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Sony's latest DVDirect camcorder-to-DVD recorder creates AVCHD DVDs with 5.1 sound

by Nilay Patel posted Jul 7th 2009 at 12:57PM


It's some 60 percent smaller in size, but other than that Sony's new VRD-MC6 DVDirect looks and acts an awful lot like the previous VRD-MC10 and VRD-MC5: it can take 1080i video with 5.1 audio off your Handycam's drive or Memory Stick and shoot out an AVCHD DVD that plays back on compatible Blu-ray drives like the PS3. If you're not into the all-Sony seamless end-to-end HD experience, you can also bring in SD video over FireWire, composite, or USB to churn out regular old DVDs with automatic chaptering and custom menu backgrounds, or you can go totally old-school and just drop in an SD card full of photos and MP3s to generate a slideshow. Yeah, it's not nerd heaven and you won't be editing Oscar-winners here, but at $230 it's a pretty painless way for everyone else to archive and share their videos. Ships in September.

Klipsch HD Theater 500 5.1-channel sound system impressions

by Darren Murph posted Mar 29th 2009 at 10:49AM Featured Story


Klipsch won our hearts over years ago with its ProMedia 4.1 setup, and we're happy to say that the winning formula hasn't been significantly altered in the HD Theater 500. Honestly, the satellites presented here look an awful lot like those bundled in with the ProMedia kit, but these do check in with a bit less bulk and a bit more gloss. Upon unboxing the 5.1 system, we were actually pretty astounded by how light each of the speakers were, with even the subwoofer not being painfully heavy. All the small talk aside, we know you're here to see if these suckers are worth your hard-earned dollars -- follow us on past the break for a breakdown of the pros and cons.

Continue reading Klipsch HD Theater 500 5.1-channel sound system impressions

Klipsch HD Theater 500 5.1-channel sound system hands-on

by Darren Murph posted Mar 27th 2009 at 2:49PM Featured Story


Klipsch stunned the boxed surround sound world back in late January with the announcement of three relatively affordable 5.1 sound systems. The middle guy (yeah, the HD Theater 500) just started shipping out to the earliest of adopters, and we just so happened to get our set in today. For $599.99 (MSRP), you get four surrounds, a center channel and a powered (100 watt) 8-inch subwoofer. Each satellite is a sealed enclosure finished in a high-gloss piano black, with a 2.5-inch IMG woofer (center channel has two) and a MicroTractrix horn-loaded aluminum dome tweeter (0.75-inches) packed within. We can say with certainty that these drivers are delightfully small, but if you're looking specifics, here goes: the satellites are 6- x 3.6- x 3.85-inches, while the center channel measures in at 3.6- x 9- x 3.85-inches. As for the subbie? 13.9- x 12.5- x 12.5-inches. We're setting this rig up as we speak to give it a listen and report back, but till then, feel free to peruse the unboxing gallery below.

Gallery: Klipsch HD Theater 500 5.1-channel sound system hands-on

SRS TruMedia brings "5.1" surround sound to your cellphone... again

by Darren Murph posted Jan 20th 2009 at 10:16AM


Ah, nothing like preying on the forgetfulness of the human brain. Nearly a full year after SRS Labs outed its SRS CS Headphone technology -- which supposedly takes 2-channel audio and creates the effect of surround sound -- the company is introducing a solution that sounds mighty similar, just with more channels. TruMedia, as it's so affectionately dubbed, is expected to make mobile phones, PMPs, Bluetooth headphones and "gaming consoles" (saywha?) emit "engaging, theater-like 5.1 surround sound" when multichannel video content is viewed. Kind of sounds like drawing blood from a stone to us, but who knows, maybe six bona fide channels of audio really can flow from a single set of earbuds.

Psyko Audio's 5.1 surround sound headphones actually look psycho

by Darren Murph posted Jan 6th 2009 at 7:04AM


We're still not sold on the merits of "5.1" sets of cans, but Psyko Audio Labs is looking to push doubters over the edge with its incredibly heinous 5.1 Directional Audio Headphones. Supposedly, the company uses a special alignment technology that delivers accurate surround sound to each ear "in a natural 3D sound field." In case you weren't skeptical enough, there's also a "subwoofer" in each ear cup, which sounds like a feat you'd truly have to hear to believe. Yeah, we guess the built-in amplifier -- which lets gamers "customize volume and bass levels" -- is pretty nifty, but for $299.99, they'd have to knock our equilibrium clean out of balance. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Psyko Audio's 5.1 surround sound headphones actually look psycho

Analog Devices' SoundMax chips bring 5.1 to the TV speaker masses

by Richard Lawler posted Sep 18th 2008 at 9:41AM


Claiming that 85% of HDTVs won't be hooked up to external audio equipment, Analog Devices is trying to convince flat panel manufacturers to fit its technology behind the only two speakers many people will ever use. SoundMAX audio processors are built to match plasma and LCD high definition video quality with support for Dolby, SRS and BBE Sound. "Now available", don't be surprised if the ADAV4622, ADAV4601 and ADAV4322 sneak into a flat panel HDTV near you very soon -- if you're the kind of person who needs them, or the kind of person who laughs at folks still listening to audio from their television.

Sony's BDV-IT1000ES and BDV-IS1000 HTIB systems hands-on

by Darren Murph posted Sep 4th 2008 at 10:53PM Featured Story


Sony's CEDIA booth was stocked with the outfit's latest pair of Blu-ray HTIB systems, and for those looking to dive into the Blu and get into surround sound at the same time, neither set is a bad choice. Each BD deck is actually customized specifically for these packages, and while the innards are likely similar to the those found in the BDP-S550, the inclusion of an internal amplifier makes 'em special. See which speaker style suits your fancy in the gallery below.

Sony's BDV-IT1000ES and BDV-IS1000 HTIB systems do Blu-ray

by Darren Murph posted Sep 3rd 2008 at 7:00PM


Sony's BDV-IT1000 HTIB was outed late last month, but that's not stopping the powerhouse from making it official alongside the BDV-IS1000 today at CEDIA. As you likely know, these two are Sony's first offerings in the burgeoning Blu-ray HTIB market, as both packages come bundled with an elusive BD-Live-capable deck (the BDP-S350, we presume?) along with integrated support for the firm's S-AIR technology. Each set packs a pair of HDMI inputs, XMB menu navigation, 5.1-channel surround sound, Digital Media Port (for hooking up your PMP), BRAVIA Sync and even an IR repeater on the IT1000ES. The aforesaid BDV-IT1000ES ($1,999) includes oh-so-slim drivers (pictured after the jump), while the $1,000 BDV-IS1000 includes the same "golf ball-sized" speaks as the HT-IS100. Both sets are shipping next month, or so says the release waiting after the break.

Continue reading Sony's BDV-IT1000ES and BDV-IS1000 HTIB systems do Blu-ray

$50 JVC SXXSW6000 5.1 surround system gets reviewed

by Darren Murph posted Jun 18th 2008 at 8:33PM


Sure, it's easy to get a great sounding system when money ain't a thang, but what if you're on the hunt for a 5.1-channel surround sound system from a company you've heard of in the last decade... and you've only got $50? Enter JVC's SXXSW6000, which is being sold now at Wal-Mart for a staggeringly low $49.88. The critics over at Sound & Vision actually took the plunge and decided to put the incredibly inexpensive system through the paces. Miraculously, reviewers found that the system wasn't nearly as bad as one might expect, even proclaiming that it was "definitely worth $50." Still, the kit had its flaws, particularly when trying to handle loud explosions, throaty voices and any manner of bangs / crashes. All in all, S&V couldn't really knock these guys considering just how cheap they were, but they still recommended that you hold off and save up until you could throw a few Benjamins on a real system.

Poll: Do you have a multi-channel surround sound system?

by Darren Murph posted May 10th 2008 at 12:00PM


With all this focus on HDTV of late, we've been wondering if high-def junkies care nearly as much about their audio as they do their video. Sure, we know video trumps audio in the general public's eye, but we're talking home theater freaks here. Folks who make a point to hang up sheets to eliminate light from a room. Folks who take a vacation day just to calibrate their TV -- you know, people like yourself. Toss your vote in below and feel free to elaborate on your audio setup (or lack thereof) in comments below.

[Image courtesy of Infendo]

Do you have a multi-channel surround sound system?

LTB Audio Systems launches 5.1-channel Q-Home-FX headphones

by Darren Murph posted Mar 17th 2008 at 12:25AM


LTB Audio Systems has been conjuring up wireless cans for some time now, but unfortunately, its latest offering is barely more exciting than ones past. The Q-Home-FX headphones reportedly crank out "true 5.1 surround sound" by utilizing the firm's "patented technologies for true 5.1 separation and chambering of spatial audio channels." Granted, that sounds more like marketing fluff than anything else, but at least they're wireless, right? More specifically, the 2.4GHz technology allows a range of 99 feet, and there's even a built-in microphone in case you get the urge to Skype in multichannel. Those somehow interested can grab these now (but only from RadioShack's website, go figure) for $269.99.

Hi-Def disc audio demystified

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Oct 15th 2007 at 8:34AM

HD Audio formatsWe gave this a go some time ago, but compared to the job Hi-Def Digest did, ours is pathetic. Not only do they go into detail about what every audio format available for both HD disc formats is all about, but they go on to give examples of discs that include them, and to top it all off, how to enjoy them. It's more complicated than you think because not every player or connection method supports every audio format. To be honest it's far more complicated than it should be and we wonder how anyone could make heads or tails of this mess without being very dedicated. Lucky for us, Joshua Zyber is up to the challenge and his article should help clear things up for just about everyone.

Keian intros KDVD850HDMI upscaling DVD player with DivX support

by Darren Murph posted Dec 28th 2006 at 10:45AM

While we've seen quite a few luxurious upscaling DVD players come through for those still quietly sitting the fence as the Blu-ray / HD DVD war wages on, Keian's KDVD850HDMI offers up another reasonable substitute to full-fledged high definition discs, and throws in DivX support to boot. Aside from kicking plain ole DVDs up to 1080i via HDMI, playing back DivX files, and touting the admittedly strange dual microphone inputs for that karaoke flair, this unit also touts the ability to render picture-based slideshows and play back MP3 / WMA from USB thumb drives or flash memory cards (SD, MMC, MS, xD). Of course, you'll find the typical coaxial / optical digital audio outputs as well, and while this unit isn't apt to win any awards in the quality department, it should help your (presumably depleted) post-Christmas bank account out by demanding just ¥10,800 ($91).

[Via Akihabara News]

High definition DVD audio breakdown

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 11th 2006 at 9:13AM

Erik mentioned this during the podcast earlier, and I thought some of you might find it interesting. TWICE has an article up listing the various audio options that will be available on both HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs and players. All HD-DVD players must include support for two-channel Dolby True HD, 5.1 DTS HD, and 5.1/6.1 Dolby Digital Plus. Blu-ray players are required to support Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 and 5.1 PCM.

More information on the HD-DVD audio codecs is available from the DVD Forum, and info on Blu-ray codecs at Blu-ray.com. They also mention what sort of feature upgrades we can expect, at least in respect to audio second-generation HD-DVD players will add features like 7.1 analog connectors and HDMI 1.3 outputs. As much as we talk about MPEG-2 and h.264, are you taking audio options into account with your next purchase?

ESPN-HD adds 5.1 to SportsCenter

by Kevin C. Tofel posted Jan 24th 2006 at 8:05PM

ESPN SportsCenterFolks all over the country got their daily fix of ESPN's SportsCenter in Digital Dolby 5.1 sound tonight via ESPN-HD; well, almost all over the country. It appears that the DIRECTV folks were caught napping because Dish Network as well as Comcast cable subscribers got the 5.1, while DIRECTV customers still have the oh-so-1980 dual channel stereo feed. Was this Dish's way of flipping the HD bird to DIRECTV for the MPEG-4 rollout that DIRECTV is leading in? Anywho, there's an NCAA basketball game between Indiana and Iowa on ESPN HD at 9 p.m., so if you tune in and hear stupendous surround sound from five channels, drop us note will ya?

Thanks for the tip, Ben!




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