Custom Installation Equipment Reviews

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date
Kim Wilson  |  Mar 10, 2009  |  0 comments

VIZIO, well known for high value, low-cost LCD and plasma TVs, is now at the forefront of the latest TV technologies with the integration of a 240Hz Refresh Rate and Scanning Backlight in their 42-inch SV421XVT and 47-inch SV471XVT LCD flat panel TVs. Coupled with a Mega Dynamic Contrast Ratio of 50,000:1 these TVs provide a contrast ratio that rivals the performance of plasma displays. The 240Hz refresh rate virtually eliminates motion blur from fast-action movie sequences and video games.

Kim Wilson  |  Sep 19, 2008  |  0 comments

Qsonix, manufacturers of music management and media servers, offers up a delightful way for family and friends to cue up music for parties, special events, or just casual listening. Tap on the screen and cue up some songs to make an instant playlist or choose an existing playlist. It takes just a few minutes to create the perfect atmosphere using Qsonix simple drag-and-drop user interface,

Michelle McCarthy  |  Jan 02, 2013  |  2 comments
Acoustic treatments have long been considered home theater eyesores. While they’re essential to sound quality, their lack of style, to put it nicely, has left a lot to be desired. But many manufacturers have realized you can have it all and are now offering more aesthetically pleasing options. Here are five examples.
Kim Wilson  |  Feb 08, 2011  |  0 comments

Combine a 3D Blu-ray player with a 12TB hard drive and you have the Mozaex Solo 2. With USA retail pricing less than $6,000 for up to 12TBs of media storage, the Solo 2 is more affordable than many other media server systems, providing a highly scalable solution. Up to four additional Blu-ray Players may be added for $2,495 apiece.

Kim Wilson  |  May 21, 2009  |  0 comments

A perfect solution for a secondary AV system or for tight quarters, the Modena Series from Omnimount offers a convenient and inexpensive solution for mounting flat panel TV's and holding AV equipment. The three models (37FP, 47FP and 55FP) range in price from $199.95 to $329.95, depending on the size of your TV. The Modena series offers clean lines, smoky black glass shelves and a striking high gloss finish. OmniMount's Lift n Lock system allows for easy attachment of a flat panel TV and locks it securely in place. The supporting back post doubles as a cable management system, to neatly route and organize cables.

Kim Wilson  |  Jul 30, 2009  |  3 comments

Well known as a leading manufacturer of high-end electronics, Anthem has jumped into the business of high definition projectors with two high-performance three-panel 1920 x 1080p LCOS projectors, the LTX300 and LTX500. According to Jack Shafton, Anthem's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, "<I>The video playback capabilities of the LTX projectors mesh perfectly with the industry-leading A/V processing available on our Anthem Statement D2v and AVM 50v. Our dealers can now offer a high-performance, turnkey video and A/V control solution to their customers</I>.”

Kim Wilson  |  Mar 10, 2009  |  2 comments

Anthem unveils the Audio/Video Master 50v (AVM 50v), a state-of-the-art music preamplifier/home theater processor with a built in tuner and independent source selection for recording. This updated version of the AVM 50 combines the latest performance-enhancing technologies with whole-home entertainment control that makes it possible for users to direct audio and video program materials throughout the house.

Kim Wilson  |  Apr 16, 2009  |  0 comments

In today's economy, everyone is looking for high value equipment, especially do-it-yourselvers. <A HREF="http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Intimus-4B-Harmony-SA,185,70,453.asp... Audio</A> is a direct-to-consumer manufacturer. This business model allows them to cut the mighty costs of distribution and dealer support. So, what you buy is the product and not a huge chunk of the associated costs to market it. The new Intimus 4B Harmony SA system is a complete 5.1 speaker system for only $999. This is the company's most affordable system complete with center channel speaker and subwoofer. The surround speakers can be mounted virtually anywhere - ceiling, on-wall, on stands, or placed on a shelf. They are available in real cherry wood (pictured) or high-gloss piano black.

Kim Wilson  |  Apr 25, 2011  |  0 comments
Buying furniture for your AV components and HDTV can seem like a daunting task with all the choices available and like any type of furniture there are all types of styles, designs and sizes. Here are six of our picks for AV furniture that fit a variety of styles and budgets.
Debbie Stampfli  |  May 03, 2010  |  2 comments

Home theater devotees tend to be homebodies at heart. After all, for the quality of the experience, movies look best in dark, windowless rooms with no sunlight. But, for an alternative theater experience, take your movies outside. There are a number of weatherproof options that will entice even the most devout indoor movie lover, with speakers, flat panels, and enclosures that withstand heat, water, and whatever else you can throw at them. Maybe going outside isn’t as scary as you thought.

Kim Wilson  |  Jun 04, 2009  |  0 comments

Designed to serve primarily as a high performance center channel speaker for home theaters, the compact Encore TF ($499 each) from Martin Logan uses an ATF<sup>TM</sup> (Advanced Thin Film) driver, long-excursion low-mass woofers, and sophisticated crossover engineering to produce sound with lifelike clarity and openness. The Encore TF can be discretely mounted beneath a high definition flat screen or used with the included table top stand. Additionally, the Encore TF is highly adaptable, performing equally well mounted horizontally or vertically. The Encore TF can also be used for all 5-channels in a home theater.

Kim Wilson  |  Sep 22, 2009  |  2 comments

While the title of this entry may sound like an oxymoron, I assure you it's not. Runco has recently announced details about the LS-3 LightStyle projector that will ship in November, just in time for Christmas. Retailing for only $4995, this is the Runco projector many folks have been waiting for.

Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 09, 2007  |  0 comments

High-end speaker maker Burmester, US introduced a trio of slim speakers at CEDIA. All three speakers &ndash; the B30, B25, and B20 &ndash; are three-way, full-range, floorstanding models. Each uses a new air motion transformer (with a frequency range of 2,700 &ndash; 45,000 Hz) that's mounted in a small horn. This high-frequency driver design is said to be highly efficient and highly dynamic. The speakers also share a similarly engineered side-firing oval woofer with a powerful Ferrite magnet system. The oval shape helps maximize the cone's surface area while making it possible to construct a narrow speaker cabinet.

Mark Elson  |  May 10, 2010  |  0 comments
Once when we were watching a DVD in the media room, my wife missed a scene because she was nodding off. But usually it’s me who does the nodding. I search for the remote control, and I can never find it when I need it. Forget about the whole remote, I’ll just settle for the right button. I fish around. There, that must be it. My fingers traverse the button terrain to find the Pause or Rewind button in the dark purely by feel. Because I’m holding the darned thing upside down, I accidentally hit the Open/Close button, which stops the movie cold and slides open the disc tray. Ah, the joys of not missing a minute of a movie!
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Feb 09, 2017  |  0 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $600

AT A GLANCE
Plus
50 context-sensitive programmable buttons on remote
IR, serial, and IP-based control
Amazon Alexa voice-control integration
Minus
Controller generates a lot of heat
Low-resolution screen on remote

THE VERDICT
Control4’s EA-1 bundle sets a new standard for affordability and opportunity when it comes to professionally installed A/V control and home automation.

One of the great inventions of the 20th century, the humble Lego brick, doesn’t inspire much admiration on its own. Take more than 32 million of them and throw in a little imagination, though, and you can create awe-inspiring 1:20scale replicas of famous American landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Capitol Building, and (of course) the Las Vegas Strip. Then set them up together. Call it Miniland USA. Build a theme park around it. Suddenly you’ve got Legoland California. If I were called upon to write a review of a single Lego, there’d be no bricking way I could come up with the concept of Legoland on my own if it didn’t already exist.

Pages

X