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Gefen's 8x4 CAT-5 HDMI Matrix is probably overkill for you

by Darren Murph posted Mar 20th 2009 at 8:35AM


Be warned -- unless you seriously need eight HDMI sources hooked up to a single matrix switch in order to activate four at a time on an array of panels, you should probably skip right over this one. If we just rung your bell, however, read on. Gefen's latest HDMI distribution box is definitely catering to the high-end / commercial market by being entirely rack-mountable and supporting up to eight HDMI inputs and four outputs. High-def signals can be transmitted over CAT5 cabling, and there's even an RS-232 port for additional control capabilities. As for distances, you can expect 1080i material to travel up to 300 feet without degradation, while 1080p content will flow 150 feet. The only problem? The $4,499 price tag. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Gefen's 8x4 CAT-5 HDMI Matrix is probably overkill for you

DVIGear outs new HDMI / DVI equipment at ISE

by Darren Murph posted Feb 12th 2009 at 3:14AM


New projectors aren't the only things being unveiled at Integrated Systems Europe this week, as DVIGear is using the spotlight to launch a new set of HDMI and DVI accessories. We're talking HDMI Matrix Switchers that support resolutions as high as 1080p (as well as dual-link DVI up to 4,096 x 2,400), HDMI 1.3 distribution wares, and long-range HDMI 1.3 extenders that transmit signals over CAT5e / CAT6 / Coax. The outfit will also be showing off its Super High Resolution HDMI and DVI cables, which rely on heavy 22AWG gauge wire in order to carry your Blu-ray signals along a fatter-than-usual pipe. For more details on the whole lot, head on south to the read link.

The Ultimate Matrix Collection on Blu-ray review roundup

by Darren Murph posted Oct 13th 2008 at 3:59PM


We know you've got 14 alarms set to remind you, but The Ultimate Matrix Collection on Blu-ray will be all over store shelves tomorrow. If you're still unsure if the massive 10-disc set is worth the investment (or re-investment), a few long-winded reviews have already hit the 'net to help you decide. Put simply, the collection was deemed "a visual and aural extravaganza," and according to one reviewer, Blu-ray fanatics shouldn't hesitate to "consider the upgrade to this best-yet high-def edition." Of course, critics at IGN seemed less enthusiastic about just how worthwhile the upgrade was, noting that it's probably not worth it (from SD) unless you just cannot live without the superior audio and video transfers. We'll leave the final decision up to you, but one thing's for sure -- if you've got the cash to spare, you won't be disappointed.

Read - DVD Talk review
Read - Big Picture Big Sound review
Read - IGN review

Buy Samsung's BD-P1500, get The Matrix Collection on Blu-ray for free

by Darren Murph posted Oct 13th 2008 at 12:02PM

Samsung's BD-P1500 didn't stay situated at $200 for long before selling out (or being removed) at RadioShack, but on the eve of one of the most anticipated Blu-ray releases in the history of the format, along comes yet another deal that could be just the one you were waiting for. If you've been holding off on buying a BD deck until The Ultimate Matrix Collection landed, have a look at this. A number of retailers (Amazon, Best Buy and Circuit City, most notably) are now offering the Profile 1.1 Profile 2.0 player with a completely free copy of the 10-disc box set. Of course, the price of the player varies depending on your e-tailer of choice, but considering that the MSRP on the film set alone is $129.95, you can probably see the value here. Dig in below, if you're so inclined.

[Thanks, Jason]

Read - Amazon
Read - Best Buy
Read - Circuit City

NEC's biggest pro LCD yet: 82-inch LCD8205

by Richard Lawler posted Sep 17th 2008 at 9:19AM


Adding to its line of professional displays, NEC is bringing the LCD8205 to 2008 Digital Signage Expo East. We've seen bigger in the consumer space, but when you've just got to have 4x4 tile support for a max 328-inch (diagonal) display, refreshingly realistic 5,000:1 claimed contrast ratio and 1920x1080 resolution, there's not much better. At $54,999 each, it's unlikely we'll find one under the tree when it releases in December but catching a peek (and fogging up a display window or two) is slightly more attainable goal.

[Via CE Pro]

RTI busts out V6 / A8 matrix switchers and CP-1680 audio amp

by Darren Murph posted Aug 25th 2008 at 2:22PM


These are primarily for the pros, so we'll keep it short and sheet. RTI is getting set to unveil a trio of new products at CEDIA, the first of which routes eight analog audio and eight composite video sources to eight individual zones. Needless to say, that's the A8 Audio Distribution Matrix Switcher we're referring to. The V6 Video Distribution Matrix Switcher can switch six component and composite video sources between six varying zones, while the CP-1680 Multi-Channel Audio Amplifier provides audio through 16 channels at 80-watts each. Pricing has yet to be divulged, but feel free to venture on past the break for the whole release.

Continue reading RTI busts out V6 / A8 matrix switchers and CP-1680 audio amp

Gefen gears up for CEDIA with Matrixes / distribution amplifiers

by Darren Murph posted Aug 15th 2008 at 5:30AM


It's nearly that time of year again folks -- the hunt for the playoffs begins, school gets back in session and Gefen goes absolutely berserk. It's already gearing up for this year's CEDIA Expo in Denver by revealing details about an 8x4 HDMI Matrix -- which "allows up to eight high-definition video sources to be accessed at any time from any one of four HDMI displays" -- and a self-explanatory 4x4 Component Audio over CAT5 Matrix. Furthermore, the outfit is introducing the 1:2 and 1:4 Component Audio over CAT-5 Distribution Amplifiers, which "enable audio / video systems using the component format to split and deliver two or four identical signals." Pricing remains up in the air, but all that should be cleared up here in just a few weeks.

Read - HDMI Matrixes, etc.
Read - Distribution amplifiers

Details flow about The Ultimate Matrix Collection on Blu-ray

by Darren Murph posted Aug 1st 2008 at 12:02PM


We know you're hungry for every last morsel of information on Warner's hotly-anticipated Ultimate Matrix Collection on Blu-ray, so here goes. Warner Home Video just released information confirming that the data we already had was true, and that a seven-disc BD box set would be landing on (and shortly departing from) store shelves on October 14th. Aside from housing the complete trilogy with lossless 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio, the package will also include an hour of special features on each film. More specifically, you'll see the studio's In-Movie Experience alongside The Animatrix (which is debuting in high-definition here), 35 more hours of undisclosed bonus material and a digital copy of The Matrix. Yeah, $129.95 is still the asking price, but you know it'll be going for a bit less on launch day.

The Ultimate Matrix Collection to make Blu-ray debut on October 14th

by Darren Murph posted Jul 24th 2008 at 7:22PM Breaking News


We've already Windexed our spectacles and hit refresh a time or two, and yes, The Matrix is finally -- finally! -- headed to Blu-ray. We've wondered when we'd see this go down for what seems like eons, but thanks to new data (including box art) over at DVD Active, Warner Home Video will finally loose The Ultimate Matrix Collection on BD on October 14th. The $129.95 (MSRP, we imagine) set will include seven discs, though we're not certain what extras will surround the films themselves just yet. Start saving those pennies, you know you'll want this one.

[Thanks, Alex]

Xantech lets loose slew of HDMI products

by Darren Murph posted Sep 11th 2007 at 4:08PM

Yeah, we saw plenty of HDMI sockets while cruising through Gefen's booth at CEDIA, but now Xantech is apparently looking to hop in the HDMI accessory biz head first. The company has recently announced that it will soon be delivering a full line of HDMI and HDMI-compatible products, which will include "cables, switchers, splitters, extenders and boosters." More specifically, customers can look forward to HDMI 4x4 ($2,500), 4x1 ($500) and 3x1 ($325) Switchers, HDMI 1x4 / 1x2 splitters, a $250 HDMI Signal Booster, a point-to-point HDMI / CAT 5 extender, and a bevy of cables to boot. Hit the read link for the full rundown.

Gefen goes wild: extenders, HD PVRs, and wireless HDMI

by Darren Murph posted Jun 20th 2007 at 10:41PM


That wireless USB hub you peeked this morning was just the calm before the storm, as Gefen has now unveiled a smorgasbord of HD converters, extenders, and other accessories that you just can't do without. Up first is the $249 Component + Digital Audio to HDMI Adapter, which pipes that recently one-upped component and Toslink connection into a single HDMI cable. Next, it looks like Gefen is expanding its PVR lineup with an HD iteration that supports HDMI and is capable of recording HDCP-compliant sources in 1080p. Moving on, you'll find a 4x4 HDMI CAT5 Matrix to string your HDMI signals along up to 200-feet using vanilla CAT5 cabling, and the $399 Component Audio Extender enables nearly any audio source to be transferred 330-feet away over Ethernet. Last (but certainly not least), the $699 Wireless HDMI Extender delivers a plug 'n play method of extending HDMI signals up to 33-feet over the air with no loss in quality. Unsurprisingly, Gefen's latest niche convenience products won't enter your AV system without a premium, so be sure and avoid the gallery below if you're already being negatively tempted to pick something up.

Read - Component + Digital Audio to HDMI Adapter
Read - Personal Video Recorders
Read - 4x4 HDMI CAT5 Matrix
Read - Component Audio Extender
Read - Wireless HDMI Extender

The format war: Pirates vs The Matrix

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Jun 1st 2007 at 12:08PM

HD DVD Vs Blu-rayIn this latest chapter of the format war the BDA is once again patting themselves on the back because according to estimates by Home Media Magazine, the two Pirates movies outsold The Matrix box sets by a margin of over 3 to 1. While both of these titles got a lot of people excited and motivated people to buy, we're not impressed. For starters the box set includes 3 feature films, so 3-1 should be expected. The other important factor is cost, while the Pirates movies sold for $25 each, the box set was closer to $70 (depending on the version). Considering the differences here, we'd say they were pretty even, -- with the slightest edge to Pirates -- but when you consider that one of the Pirates titles was a day-and-date release, this really isn't news at all. What will be interesting is when The Matrix finally gets released on Blu-ray and we get compare title for title after all those new HD DVD players hit the market.

Newest AACS circumvented: The Matrix Trilogy set free

by Thomas Ricker posted May 17th 2007 at 2:59AM Breaking News

Just in case you didn't already piece it together, many (if not all) of the new HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles set for release on May 22nd will feature the latest revisions to AACS. Right, the update hinted at by those forced user updates to the WinDVD and PowerDVD software. Yeah, well no worries... it's cracked. That's right, a week before the disks have even hit the shops, the kids over at Slysoft have already released AnyDVD HD 6.1.5.1 (beta) which kicks AACS MKB v3 swiftly to the curb. Thus you can continue to rip all your newly purchased HD DVD and BD flicks for playback any damn way you like. The update has already been demonstrated to work with an early-shipped release of The Matrix Trilogy on HD DVD and will likely work for Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest when it arrives on Blu-ray. Come on AACS LA, you're gonna have to at least try. Better yet, why not just give up this silly charade.

[Thanks, Garth M.]

Gefen's new 4x4 HDMI Matrix switch

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Apr 27th 2007 at 2:44PM

Gefen HDMI Matrix Switch
One of the reasons why we still love component video is because of the availability of component video matrix switches. Matrix switches are like a Ethernet switch for HDTVs, they allow any source to connect to any HDTV throughout your house. That way you can stack up all your equipment in your closet, and enjoy any one of your sources on any one of your HDTVs. Finally regular consumers can get the same matrix action out of their HDMI gear, with Gefen's new 4x4 HDMI Matrix switch, which routes your video and sound, and can be controlled via IR or a RS-232 connection for your home automation system. As cool as this product is, it isn't for everyone. The switch costs $1,999, and who knows how much those long HDMI cables from the closet will cost you, but if you have four HDTVs, a Series3 TiVo, an Xbox360, an HD DVD and a Blu-ray player, you can probably afford it.

Which high-def Matrix collection should you buy?

by Matt Burns posted Mar 28th 2007 at 9:10AM

May 22 is right around the corner folks and frankly, we don't feel everyone is ready. That day you are going to have to decide which high-def Matrix film collection you are going to buy. Are you going to go for the 'The Ultimate Matrix Collection' which includes all the films, the IME HD DVD features, tons of extras, and the Animatrix short? Perhaps you don't want all that extra stuff like the Animatrix short and those extra features so you should be considering the 'The Complete Matrix Trilogy' which trims down the from from $119 to a more modest $99. But what if you only want to buy, lets say, the first film from the trilogy - what then? Well, it looks like you might have to find the discs from some third party sources where they are going to split up the collections as it seems Warner doesn't have any plans to release the films individually. The final option is to wait 6 months for the Blu-ray version to be release but why? You could look at this as an opportunity to jump of that Blu-ray bandwagon and onto the HD DVD's so you can watch the Matrix before any of your former Blu-ray buddies.




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