Home Theaters

“Consumer demand for multi-function systems is at an all-time high, and the ability to consolidate wires, boxes and remote controls is welcome in many homes,” said Frank Azor, senior vice president and general manager of Alienware’s worldwide product group.

To solve this problem, AMD and Alienware have teamed up to release the Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center, a multimedia powerhouse with HD DVR capabilities, support for up to four tuners, 5.1 surround sound receiver, integrated 200W per channel D2Audio amplifier, DVD/CD player/burner, HDMI output, and up to 2 TB of storage.

From the looks of things, this hardware looks very promising. Check out the video below for some of the cooler functions and uses.

Finding hardware designed as a comprehensive media solution that is right at home in your living room, does not come cheap. The initial price tag for the Hangar18 is $1999.

For two grand what can you expect? You are able to watch, pause, and record your movies, TV shows, photos, and internet videos on your widescreen TV in high definition, listen to all your favorite songs and artists with Hangar18’s onboard 5.1 surround sound amplifier, wirelessly stream all your media to other PCs, mobile devices, and media extenders throughout your home and download content from all over the internet to one secure location to store and share with your home and others.

All that and more. Check out more of the Hangar18’s features at Krunker.com. Also, check out the full original press release from AMD.

Price withstanding, I can’t wait to try one of these out and I expect to be very impressed.

amd, alienware, hangar18 hd home entertainment center, multimedia

As if today’s dream home theaters weren’t enough to blow most of our collective minds, Microsoft (and a few other companies) is planning to take things to a whole new level.

Similar to Apple’s new iPhone, only “lifesize”, this touch sensitive 30-inch display can recognize physical objects or tagged devices like phones, cameras and even credit cards, and can transmit data to the device by touching the screen.

Check out Microsoft’s demo video below for some live action:

The applications for this technology are only limited by imagination. While it is being developed as a business tool for now, I can’t help but dream of how it can be used in a home theater.

Think of controlling your whole media room from your “coffee table”, including telling your microwave to cook the popcorn and seeing previews of other movies the actors you are currently watching have starred in. Or perhaps recognizing your guests and sending drink and food orders to the kitchen.

Check out this CNET review to see some more possibilities:

With an initial price tag between $5,000 and $10,000, it is expected to arrive in November in T-Mobile USA stores and properties owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. I doubt many of us are going to run out and add it to our own home theaters anytime soon, but one thing’s for sure though, the future is getting closer and closer, and it definitely looks amazing.

Microsoft expects consumer versions in the next three years or so.

Be sure to check out the Microsoft site for more of what they are planning on doing with this exciting technology. The blogosphere is also ablaze with Surface talk. Read some more great posts here, here and here.

Needless to say, this baby gets three green envy buttons from me and almost demands a 4 GEB category all to itself. Congrats to Microsoft on (finally) making a hit!

microsoft surface, tabletop computer, home theater, 3 geb, multimedia

Not everyone, including myself, can afford to buy their way to the ultimate home theater. Oftentimes, it’s far more feasible to build your own and save a bit of cash. Conversely, doing things yourself can look amateurish or otherwise leave something to be desired.

While looking for more home theaters to be jealous of, I came across this great theater built entirely by a man and his father.

I gotta hand it to these guys, they really did a terrific job. Included in their setup is a V2500 Dolby Digital 7.1 Channel Surround Sound receiver, Infinity Satellite Speakers, a 96″ Optoma Silver Screen and DLP Projector, step down theater seating and some great movie posters.

Really goes to show how much you can get done in three weeks if you put your mind to it.

home theater, ultimate envy, do it yourself, 3 geb

Ever wanted to “Pimp Your Home Theater”?

Now may be your perfect chance to use your current setups lackluster to get that blockbuster setup you’ve always dreamed of.

Boston Acoustics and Denon Electronics have teamed up and announced “The Ultimate Home Theater Makeover”. The idea is for entrants to make a video showing how badly their “home theater” needs an upgrade and one lucky winner will be chosen to receive a makeover featuring electronics, furniture and installation worth more than $17,000.

If you want to win, you’re going to need a good video. Judging from the competition, some people are willing to go pretty far to win this contest. This guy actually threw some of his equipment off his roof to the death it deserved.

You don’t have to destroy your current components to win, however. All participants automatically receive a $10 Circuit City gift card just for entering. Not a bad deal! Good luck to any of my readers and be sure to share your video and/or prize info with us.

You can enter your video, take a makeover quiz and see prizes and other videos here.

denon electronics, boston acoustics, home theater, makeover, circuit city

I’m always inspired by people that build their own home theaters. Not only are they gung-ho about it, the elation they have when they finally finish is seldom seen in life.

Take this guy for example. He couldn’t wait to tell the world about his new home cinema and quickly uploaded his film to the internet upon completion. I can’t say I blame him. If I had a room dedicated to housing a Stewart Firehawk 110″ screen, a Tannoy 7.2 surround sound speaker system, an Arcam A/V Reveiver AVR250, an Arcam DVD player DV78, a Panasonic AE1000 HD projector, AppleTV, all controlled by a MX900 remote, I’d be singing in the rain.

Shoot, I’d just be happy with the vintage Pacman/Galaga standup in his waiting room.

home theater, ultimate envy, 3 geb

I’ve always loved remote controls. When I was a child, my step-father used to have me record baseball games and things when he was out. To save tape space, he’d have me pause recording during the commercials. To do so, I’d have to get up and push pause, and then make sure I was back in a couple of minutes to unpause it.

I was ecstatic the day he bought a clicker that plugged into the VCR and allowed the user to sit a few feet away and pause the VCR from wherever they were sitting. It was a dream come true…for the early 80’s.

Fast forward a couple decades and we have remote controls for everything with every type of connection. I posted on a massive universal remote a month or so ago that controlled basically everything in your whole house, but for today’s post, I thought I’d focus on something a bit smaller.

The Logitech Harmony 880 is a great universal remote for those who have most of their multimedia hardware in one room. It’s also a well-reviewed mid-range universal remote that is focused on ease of use.

The best prices I could find or this well-designed and feature-packed remote were here and here.

logitech, universal remote, harmony 880, home theater, 2 geb

I come across some pretty awesome home theaters in my search for uncovering the best products, at the best prices. While I try to restrict my posts to things normal people like us can actually buy, every now and then I feel the need to fantasize about what if…

Since I can’t help my envious nature, I decided to dedicate Friday’s posts to the most magnificent hedonistic home theaters I can find. Maybe if we see the things we don’t have and want them bad enough, some day, err, never mind. Let’s just get started with a look at the first Ultimate Envy home theater.

Some of the absolute best home theaters I have seen are featured at Electronic House, a web magazine that focuses on inspiring technological transformations. They recently released their awards for home of the year, and all I can really say is WOW.

First up is this 12,000 square foot Dallas, Texas home, complete with one of the coolest home theaters I’ve seen to date.

Simple, yet sophisticated, it features a 110-inch viewing screen to capture the Runco 1080p DLP projector’s impeccable picture quality.

One can only imagine watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster under the moon and stars of the beautifully-crafted vaulted ceiling. Polished wood poles give this theater even more cinema authenticity.

Be to sure to check out the slideshow of the rest of this breathtaking house on the Electric House site.

home theaters

With the DVD format war in high swing, buying any high-def player is a risk in itself. Of course, there are certain people that take pride in being ahead of the technological curve that don’t care if the latest gadgets are busts or blockbusters, as long as they were in on it first.

For this crowd, Toshiba’s second generation HD DVD offering is sure to catch quite a bit of attention. The HD-XA2 provides excellent image quality for both HD DVD’s and DVD’s, booms audio in Dolby TrueHD sound, loads brilliant high-def imagery with ease and even makes your standard DVD’s look better.

Regardless of how good the player actually is, there are some big drawbacks that will scare away most prospective buyers, namely its hefty cost, potential to its battle with Blu-Ray and be a relic far before its time and its clunky 80’s style remote control.

Those that have taken a chance despite these risks seem to be very satisfied and enthusiastic about its capabilities and have no problem justifying its $600-$800 price tag. I’m not sure about you, but that’s a bit too rich for my blood considering its chances of being top dog in a few years, but I sure do want one. Window shopping for prices turned up a considerably lower price at Amazon than anywhere else on the net.

For improved loading speeds of superior quality (HD and SD) video and being riskier than hunting with the VP, this HD DVD player gets two green envy buttons.

hd dvd, toshiba, dvd player

Since posting about MobMov, a company that specializes in portable drive-ins, I have been extremely curious about the whole subject. Living in California, there are about six prime months of weather where watching movies outside is a fun family idea.

MobMov offers an affordable package you can set up on your own and watch drive-in style flicks wherever you want. Taking a different approach, Harmon Interiors designed this “both sides of the screen” projector theater that is sure to be the envy of video lovers.

Anchored by a SharpVision XV-Z3000 Projector, the screen is viewable from inside the home, and offers a reversed image of the screen to viewers outside on the patio. Imagine a world where all walls were made like this.

Audio is handled through an awesome Bose BuiltInvisible speaker system, completely built into the walls and ceiling of the house. The possibilities with a set up like this are endless (unless you share a wall with your kids and you get stuck watching Jimmy Neutron all day).

Whether you have the room for a double-sided theater or not, the components themselves are surprisingly affordable. The average price around the internet was $2,499 for the projector, but I found it here and here for considerably less.

The Bose AV38 Media Center that controls all the action was available at eBay for under $1,500.

For making it possible to watch your favorite movie and take the garbage out at the same time, this set up gets three green envy buttons.

home theater, projectors, bose, media center, sharp, screen on both sides

If you are looking for a top-notch HDMI-capable DVD player with 1080p for your home theater, Oppo has just the player for you. Created specifically for high-def tv’s and theater projectors, this is not your typical DVD player.

Through the use of advanced upconverting technology (performed directly by the DVD player), the Oppo DV-981HD excels at making standard definition DVDs look like high definition and outperforms most TV’s built-in upconversion capabilities, enabling you to enjoy your current DVD collection, as well as new HD releases for years to come.

Stunning life-like picture quality with vivid color and fine details are made possible through the player’s Emmy award winning DCDi video processing technology. Equally impressive is the player’s audio capability which supports high fidelity digital audio in Super Audio CD and DVD Audio formats and offers crystal clear sound. It also supports MP3 files, CDs, and HDCDs. The one feature this player truly lacks is a video component output, which makes the DV-981HD less versatile, but more attractive to video purists.

All in all, this Oppo release looks to be a winner, garnering an 8.3/10 rating on CNET and 4.5/5 on Amazon, where I also found the best price at $229 including free shipping.

For delivering such high quality that it doesn’t even consider offering a video component output, at an incredible price that any home theater enthusiast would be more than happy to pay, the Oppo DV-981HD earns three green envy buttons.

While this post may not be worth much a few weeks from now, I thought I’d send along this great deal to and Talking Home Theater readers that may be looking for a first time home theater system solution. For those interested, Circuit City has quite a deal for you.

The Nexxtech Home Theater System comes complete with 5.1-channel digital surround sound speakers, a progressive scan DVD player with multi-format playback, AM/FM tuner with antenna and even free shipping.

Similar to high-end systems, the Nexxtech package includes one center, two front and two surround speakers, plus a subwoofer. The DVD player offers sharp, incredibly clear video that will take your movie viewing to a whole new level when coupled with your high-def television, and can play DVDs, CDs, CD-R/RWs, MP3s, and more.

Most surprisingly is the system’s compatibility, which can handle component video, composite video, S-video and coaxial digital audio output connections, similar to systems costing ten times as much. The package also includes a full-function remote control and a composite A/V cable, making it pretty much ready to use right out of the box.

For all this, Circuit City is charging a whopping $69.99 and throwing in free delivery to sweeten the deal even further.

If ever you were looking for an excuse to test drive a new home theater system, this is it. For including all the perks of high-end models and making it affordable enough for even the tightest miser to check out, this system gets one green envy button.

deals, home theater system

Onkyo, the Japanese word for ‘audio’, has just released two high-value 5.1-channel home theater systems that deliver premium surround sound performance in value-priced packages. While easy to set up and operate, these all-in-one systems combine high-quality, two-way satellite speakers, a powerful subwoofer and a multi-channel A/V receiver with surround sound processing that the most seasoned home theater professional can be proud of.

The HT-SR600 package can handle a plethora of connectivity options for just about any use. For starters, the A/V receiver features three component video inputs and one output that are capable of up to 1080i/720p high definition with no degradation of picture quality. In addition, there are also three A/V inputs and two outputs that can handle component and S-Video connections, as well as three optical and one coaxial digital audio input which are compatible with the latest HD-DVD and Blu-Ray sources.

The package comes with five well designed satellite speakers, complimented by the deep bass-reducing subwoofer. The front and horizontal center channel speakers all include a pair of 3-1/4 inch cone woofers and a high-quality 3/4 inch ceramic tweeter, providing exceptionally balanced sound. The pair of surround speakers are identical, but only utilize a single woofer.

For optimal use, a full-function interactive remote control is also included, and is loaded with 8 preset crossover settings and 30 available tuner presets. The system is also iPod (and other mp3 player) compatible in both audio and video.

The system is available from Onkyo and other home theater outlets and comes in your choice of black or silver finishing. Best of all, this great package weighs in at a measly $349, with a slightly upgraded package available for $499.

For its versatility with component integration combined with sound quality at a fantastic price, this home theater system raises my envy meter to one.

home theater system, satellite speakers

Much like the Beta vs. VHS battle back in the late 70’s, there is much at stake in the HD vs. Blu-Ray battle the DVD format finds itself embroiled in today. Back then, Beta had better picture clarity and came in a smaller size. Unfortunately, they only fit 60 minutes of recorded programming, a major factor of why the 3-hour VHS format eventually emerged victorious.

I would like to write my main Wednesday post covering DVD and CD players for your home theater, but I thought it would be best if I detailed the differences between the two DVD formats first, so you can make a more informed decision about which to purchase. For starters, let’s take a look at the history.

HD DVD is Toshiba’s offering in this new melee, which for all intents and purposes, has been going on since 1969 when Philips developed the LaserDisc. Philip’s partnered with Sony soon after, and from this association, the CD was born in 1979. In the early 1990’s, the two teamed together again in an attempt to create a next generation CD that could play video, as well.

Unfortunately for them, the Toshiba offering had all the major backers behind it. The two groups got together and agreed on a common format, later to be known as the DVD. Toshiba was contractually given the majority of royalties in the deal, and so the Philip’s/Sony partnership soon began work on their next generation DVD, which would come to be known as Blu-Ray. Toshiba followed suit, developing their next generation DVD which would become known as HD DVD.

Despite similarities in size and laser-usage, they are basically incompatible and cannot play on each other’s DVD players, thus forcing consumers to choose which format they are going to adopt. Eventually a winner may emerge, but for now, the two are in the midst of a marketing battle for your minds. To help guide you, here are the major differences:

Capacity -

HD DVD - Single layer, 15gb; Double layer, 30gb; Highest Test, 45gb; Theoretical Limit, 60gb

Blu-Ray - Single layer, 25gb; Double layer, 50gb; Highest Test, 100gb; Theoretical Limit, 200gb

Format Founders -

HD DVD - Toshiba Corp., Hitachi Corp.
Blu-Ray - Sony Corp., Royal Philips Electronics

Supporting Member Studios -

HD DVD - Buena Vista Home Entertainment, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, Warner Bros.
Blu-Ray - 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Electronic Arts, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Vivendi Universal Games, Warner Bros.

For the most part, they are similar products with many of the same backers. The main difference is that Blu-Ray discs cost more and have more storage. This differs from the Beta/VHS battle, as Beta cost more to be manufactured, but had less storage. This time, it is up to the marketplace to decide on a winner, if there ever is one.

hd dvd, bluray dvd, blu-ray, dvd

If you’ve got a home theater junky in your family and the majority of their coffee table is littered with remote controls, I’ve found the perfect gift. Not only will they love you for life for buying them such a fantastic present, they’ll probably name it after you.

This beauty is so incredible, just recommending it to them may get you your own personalized seat in their favorite room of the house. So what is this thing, you ask? It’s the TX-1000 Medius. Sure that may mean absolutely nothing to you, but check this badboy out.

This is the Titanic of remote controls. Not just in size, but in features, as well. Not only does this thing take two hands to hold, it requires a computer to program, can be updated to work with new products for life, can control every room in the house from one location and has color changing screens. It’s the kind of remote your wife will NEVER be able to figure out and there’s a good chance no one will be playing with your media center ever again (especially if you have the foresight to destroy the instruction manual).

In addition to being able to control all your electronic IV’s in up to 15 rooms while lounging in your La-Z-Boy, it has nearly 5000 screen color combinations and you can actually store guest settings on your computer just in case you do want someone else to be able to use it. A USB cable is included with your purchase and like many remotes, it requires four AA batteries that reportedly will last an astounding 10-12 months.

On the negative side, this baby runs around $500 (not to mention an extra $50 per base station to control separate rooms) and requires a Cliffs Notes just to turn the volume down, but it’s definitely an eye grabbing, ice breaker your friends are sure to be envious of. The device also weighs two pounds, though that isn’t all bad. There’s very little chance this remote will ever get lost in your couch cushions.

For sheer audacity alone, this device gets three green envy buttons.

universal remote, Medius, multimedia

My last post dealt with playing the media stored on your PC directly on your television, but if you are like me, your PC is more of a home theater than your television is. Today, I’d like to talk about doing the opposite and turning your PC into your television.

2005 saw the release of the Slingbox, a 14″ x 5″ device that connects to your home audio/video components and then through your broadband connection, remotely streams your live television feed to your Windows XP computer. Six months ago, the second generation variation hit the market and offered Mac and non-XP users the ability to enjoy television on their computer.

With the new version, once the software is installed on your machine, you literally can watch your cable and satellite programs anywhere in the world you have access to a high-speed connection. For those on the go, the newer version is even more valuable as it can be installed on pocket PC’s as well, though I have never seen the quality on one of these devices. Having seen it used on home PC’s and desktops, I can say the quality is much better when run through your home network and assume the lower quality is present on smaller devices, too.

The second generation release came in three varieties, but the Pro version allows the user to stream their television content on more than one device. This feature alone trumps the other versions for me, but if you only want television access on one computer, the Slingbox A/V is equal in quality and about $70 cheaper. At $250 for the Pro, the picture quality, operating system versatility, onscreen remote and ease of setup are worth the money. Being able to watch your computer screen as if it were your home television while travelling is also very comforting and worthy of the cost alone. There’s simply no better (or easier) way to take your home theater viewing on the road with you.

Check out some of the Slingbox’s versatility on the demo page here or find out which version is best for your needs. If you spend a lot of time on your computer and are looking for a way to spend even more, Slingbox has a product for you. If you’d rather keep your television viewing to your living room or home theater, but want your computer media available, then Apple TV is your product. All in all, both are great products and welcome additions to the home theater landscape depending on where and how you prefer to veg out.

For being more versatile than Apple TV and giving computer addicts like myself more reason to stay chained to it, Slingbox Pro gets two green envy buttons

Slingbox, Slingbox Pro, television, computer, PC, video