If you’re looking for a smaller TV for, say, a bedroom or the basement or something similar, you may want to consider part of the new Vizio lineup of televisions, a nineteen inch and a twenty three inch television that both have a profile thickness of just under an inch.

Now here’s the interesting part–these two actually use LEDs as backlight for the front panel.  While only the  twenty three incher is 1080p, both feature 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratios, 5ms response times and 300 nits of brightness.  And both of them also offer two HDMI inputs, a PC input, SRS TruVolume so that when you go from the nature show to the used car ad you’re not blasted out of the room, and SRS TruSurround HD.

The phrase “tiny but mighty” comes to mind here, even if the prices of three hundred fifty and four hundred dollars respectively is a bit salty for such small units from Vizio.

So I got to try out a Samsung UN55B6000 and even I have to admit that I was stunned by this one.  It’s a truly impressive hunk of television.

First, it’s got some plain old awesome specs on it.  it’s a fifty five inch 1080p LED television that includes Infolink feeds off your broadband connection (so in a really, really limited way, this is almost a net capable television, which is by itself a thing of beauty), four HDMI slots, one component slot, two USB ports, one Ethernet jack (for that Infolink setup), one PC input (use it as a monitor OR a netsurfer!) , and one optical digital audio output.

But it’s not just the specs that make this a fantastic system–it also features excellent picture and sound.  There weren’t even any artifacts in the colors or movement from distances as close as a foot, or at least, none that I noticed.  Of course, the normal Samsung control scheme is still in play, which I’m never happy about, but frankly, I’m beginning to even warm to that just a bit.  i still prefer my clear buttons and rocker switches, but I can understand why someone might enjoy the hidden controls.

At any rate, this is an excellent overall setup, but be prepared to pay for the excellence.  This sucker costs a whopping thirty four hundred bucks, depending on where you shop.  But it really is a magnificent set.

A new LCD TV has been announced a day before CEATEC and it’s a work of art coming from Toshiba. The 55-inch LED-backlit 55X1 Cell Regza LCD TV is probably the company’s flagship HDTV and it will be available in Japan this December.

Why is it a work of art? Well here are some its features:

• 55-inch display
• 240Hz refresh rate
• 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio
• Brightness of 1250cd/m2
• LED backlighting
• 7-speaker sound bar
• Eight-windows simultaneous display
• Opera-based browser
• DLNA
• 3TB hard disk drive
• 2TB space dedicated to up to eight channels of simultaneous recording for up to 26 hours
• DVR recording

So what do you say? Ready to pay around $11,140 to get it? Or is it too much to ask for this beauty?

via Engadget

LG Korea today unveiled its new HS200G Ultra compact Projector. The cute thingy is an 800g mini LED projector, just 12.2cm x 18.3cm in dimensions. The HS200G delivers 200 ANSI lumens light and reaches 2000:1 contrast ratio. The LED lamp promises 30,000 hours of HD projection.

The LG HG200G mini projector can project up to 40” image from 1.1m from the screen. Apart from HDMI and USB ports, the innovative projector features an FM transmitter to entertain you with wireless audio.

Give a boost to your viewing experience with the latest Samsung UN55B8500 55" 1080P LED HDTV. Enjoy breakthrough picture quality, multiple connectivity option and smooth motion, all wrapped up in an ultra slim 1.6" design.

The new Samsung UN55B8500 55" 1080P LED HDTV uses LED local dimming backlight technology, supports Auto Motion Plus 240Hz technology and Wide Color Enhancer Pro feature to recreate reality through color and light. The connectivity options of this TV include Internet@TV that will let you to receive content via Yahoo!®, Flickr® and other online TV Widgets on screen and four HDMI.

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This is a question I’ve been asked a few times by folks looking at a projector for their home theatre plans versus those more interested in a TV, be it LCD, LED or plasma.  So for the benefit of those folks who asked–and those who would have asked but didn’t think to–allow me to present a brief primer on LCD and DLP projectors.

LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display, projectors operate much like an older television, but writ large.  An LCD has three separate panels, one in red, one in green, and one in blue.  The three then combine to create a single image with all the various hues involved in the picture.

DLP, or Digital Light Processing, uses just ONE chip to generate the necessary mixing of reds and greens and blues by using the DLP chip’s tiny mirrors and a color wheel of filters to produce the shot.

Now, DLP generally does the job more efficiently than LCD, producing a sharper, clearer image, but some people can actually detect the individual colors used in a DLP image.  This results in eye strain, so if you’re thinking about going with a DLP projector (which is smaller, lighter, and usually a better buy than the LCD) you’ll want to see it in action first to make sure you don’t get the eye strain.

Yes, I know, no one wants to be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes you’ve just got to suck it up and deal with it.  After all, you come here for no holds barred unvarnished commentary, news and advice, so I’m glad to be the one to dish it out.  It’s not always pleasant but it’s usually necessary.

1. The gear you buy today is either already obsolete or will be within days.

That’s the nature of the beast, folks–you’ll find a better deal on better components before you’ve put the hundredth hour on your home theatre setup.  There’s just no two ways about it.

2. Just because the picture looks great in the store doesn’t mean it’ll look good at home.

The TVs that you see in the store–even the projector images–are specifically set up for that store.  You’ve got to consider that, especially if you’re shopping the big box store, you’re in a huge cavernous space.  The light levels, the sound flow, everything will look (and sound!) different between there and there.

3. Something will go wrong.

Sorry perfectionists in the crowd, something’s going to go wrong and it’s going to do so a lot sooner than you expected, too.  That new 1080p you bought has MILLIONS of pixels, and the chances of one of them dying are really REALLY good.  Like almost certain good.  So chances are your magnificent five thousand dollar set will lose a teeny-tiny chunk of the screen within the first few weeks.

And there’s your bad news feed for the day–don’t worry; it can only get better from here.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true…you really can see the difference with an LED TV.  At least you can see the difference with the Sharp Aquos LC40LE700UN.

The Sharp Aquos LC40LE700UN is a forty inch LED TV with 1080p processing, four HDMI ports, a PC input jack, an RS-232C input and the proprietary Sharp Ultra Brilliant LED system.

This is an absolutely beautiful picture, folks.  It’s unbelievably crystalline clear, there’s just not enough good I can say about that picture.  I was tempted to reach my hand through the screen on several occasions.  And the sound is nicely done too, though I don’t believe any TV’s sound quality can match the picture quality this one was putting out.  The tech just isn’t there.

Despite that, however, the Sharp Aquos LC40LE700UN is an excellent quality TV that’s actually completely worth the fourteen hundred bucks they’re charging for one of these monsters.  If you can find one, and you’re cool with dropping four figures on a television, then this is exactly what you need.

Not only are Californians sputtering over the recent push to ban the big screen, but local businesses are also weighing in.  Their own quotes speak for themselves very nicely, but from Los Angeles to San Francisco, home theatre and electronics retailers are firing back and hopping mad.  Check out what they had to say, straight from their own mouths:

LOS ANGELES: “This regulation is a bad idea in a good economy and a horrible idea in a recession. With Los Angeles facing nearly 13 percent unemployment — why is the state pursuing this costly and harmful regulation?” — Steve Caldero, Ken Crane Big Screen Headquarters

MONTEREY: “It’s ironic that the California Energy Commission is targeting one of the few bright spots in the economy. Televisions remain an affordable and convenient entertainment option for cash-strapped families.” — David Hearn, Carvid Systems Inc.

SACRAMENTO: “Why is the California Energy Commission proposing such a harmful regulation, especially when the state is suffering the worst unemployment rates since World War II?” — Charlie Martinez, Elk Grove Home Theater

SAN DIEGO: “What we need during these tough economic times is for the state to remove road blocks for small businesses like mine, not add more.” — Shawn Worst, Evolution Home Theatre, Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO: “With San Francisco facing nearly 10 percent unemployment, why is the California Energy Commission proposing a regulation that will ultimately drive jobs and tax revenues online or into nearby states like Oregon and Nevada?” — Barry O’Brian, Performance Audi

And these are just the tip of the iceberg.  Generally, when unemployment’s down and the economy’s souring, it’s a bad idea to pass restrictions on what people can and can’t buy.  Given that seventy to seventy five percent of the United States economy is consumer driven, the best way to recovery is to give the consumer lots of choices and plenty of cash to shop with.  Cut taxes and ease regulation when it comes to getting products to market.  We can worry about the environment later–we’ve done it this long….

The sheer unparalleled spectacle of breathtaking glory that is the Samsung UN40B6000 will likely make your eyes go wide with awe–that’s exactly what they did to mine.  Seriously, when I first got a look at this monster LED screen, I just about lost it.  It was unbelievable.  It was amazing. And of course, I’m talking about the price tag there, which weighed in at an equally spectacular twenty four hundred bucks.

The Samsung UN40B6000 is a forty inch LED TV that shows images in full 1080p, and includes a detachable swivel stand, Broadband internet capability, four HDMI ports, one component jack, two USB ports, one  Ethernet port, one PC port, and one optical digital audio output.

As possible hubs for a home theatre system go this one could definitely go a long way toward providing exactly what you need.  It’s got more than enough slots and ports to be a real workhorse, plus the picture and sound quality are excellent.  The LED really is as good as advertised, although like most Samsungs it still has that odd and distressing variant of not bothering to include exterior controls.

Aside from that small trouble and a monstrous price tag, the Samsung UN40B6000 is pretty much all the TV you could ever want.

It wasn’t so long ago we were talking about the LG HS102G, a mobile projector with a digital LED light source.  But now we have an update for you–the device that once was merely introduced has been officially launched, and from what we can tell so far, it is a wonder.

It’s one of the smallest projectors on the market, but this tiny little powerhouse puts out a hundred and sixty ANSI lumen, giving it the ability to transmit spectacularly clear images.  Better yet, the bulbs, which contain no mercury and are thus able to be disposed of like any other bulb, are rated for thirty thousand hours of operation.  Warm up time is also eliminated with the LG, allowing it to run at full power or shut off within seconds. It even has built-in speakers!

Downside, of course, is the price for this little monster–it weighs in at a whopping eight hundred bucks, depending on where you shop.  I’ve seen prices on it go all the way up to twelve hundred plus.

Now, you may think that title’s somewhat of a misnomer.  There are lots of home theatre receivers and speaker packages that include iPod docks, but I don’t see too many of them that also work with the iPhone.

It’s called the Aurora Soundorb system from Gear4, and it’s got more features than your standard CAR.  For instance, it comes with a SoundBar speaker and separate subwoofer, thus really upping the quality of the playback.  Even better, it’s got DSP technology included that allows for both Virtual Wide Stereo mode and Virtual Surround Sound.

Yeah, and that’s for your IPOD.

It’ll also provide a visualization effect, as the subwoofer contains an array of LEDs that are user programmable, and even better, you can also hook this sucker up to your TV or DVD player using the SoundOrb Aurora.

Now, I haven’t heard one of these yet, so I can’t tell you how well it actually lives up to its promises, but it definitely means to be versatile.  It’s a jack of all trades system, but is it a master of any of them?  If you’re willing to drop two hundred and fifty pounds sterling on it (about five hundred bucks in the ’states) you can buy direct from Gear4 and find out.

BenQ is back with more LED-backlit displays. This time we’re talking about the 19-inch G920WL and the 18.5-inch G922HDL. They are both LED backlit displays and in case you’ve just started to live more eco-friendly than before you should consider getting one of them. They only consume only 10 and 11 watts, respectively.

In terms of features you can expect 250 nits of brightness, 5ms response time, real, non-dynamic 1,000:1 contrast ratio and SensEye 3 auto-calibration utility. The new models will be available in Euripe and Asia soon but we don’t have pricing details for you just yet.

via benq

If you’re looking for a new LED-backlit LCD TV capable of offering you some cheap local dimming then you should check out Toshiba’s SV670U series. Interested in all the other features? Well this 46-inch widescreen LCD TV will offer you a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, a resolution of up to 1,920 x 1,000, HDMI, S-Video and VGA connectivity and analog and digital TV Tuner support. How much does this LCD TV cost? Well depending on where you choose to get it from you’ll pay anywhere from $1,649 to $2,299. What LCD TV is currently reigning over your living room?

via cnet

If you didn’t think Samsung was a big deal before today, I’m about to change your mind.  At the 2009-2010 European Imaging and Sound Association Awards, Samsung took home a whopping five awards in the categories of European Green TV, European WebMedia TV, European Home Theatre Design, European Camera Phone and European Advanced Compact Camera.

The EISA awards, just for the sake of some background are voted on by the editors of the premier European consumer magazines, so you know these represent some of the highest honors the European critical community can bestow.

Even better, Samsung’s own materials indicate that no other company has won two EISA awards in a new TV category–LED tvs–and even better, it’s the sixth year in a row Samsung won an award in the home theatre category.

So congratulations go out to Samsung, who pretty much cleaned up at the equivalent of the Academy Awards for home entertainment materials, and here’s hoping you have an even better year next year.

BenQ is all geared up to lead the way in the LED display revolution, starting with the launch of its new V series 24-inch and 21.5-inch LED widescreen display. Both the V2400 Eco and V2200 Eco supports full HD 1080p and offer an ultra-high dynamic contrast ratio of 5:1 million for intense blacks and extreme whites.

Boasting an Eco mode that uses up to 30% less power consumption, both the display assures power saving. The BenQ’s Senseye 3 Human Vision Technology of the monitors adds detail to image richness, clarity, and depth.

The V2400 Eco and V2200 Eco are certified TCO 5.0, RoHS, EnergySTAR 4.1, EuP Energy, PC3R, and EPEAT Gold, and will be certified advanced EnergySTAR 5.0 in Nov ‘09.

Both the BenQ monitors will be initially available in China by mid-August and then worldwide.

Via: BenQ

Buzz has recently beeen circulating the web that says Sony is prepping to purchase a whole slew of LED backlit HD panels from Samsung.

EngadgetHD suggests that Sony may be looking to use these panels for their BRAVIA line making for more consumer friendly priced TV sets.

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll make note that Samsung also recently inked a deal with Funai Electric Co. to provide them with LCD HD panels. Will this be a reoccuring trend?

AAXA has launched a new pico projector for you guys so now you can choose between AAXA’s older P1 pocket projector and the fresh P2 version. The P2 is a LcoS-based pico projector will offer you SVGA resolution, 33 lumen LED brightness, 1GB of memory, microSD support, a built-in battery capable of 35 minutes of continuous projection, VGA input and a mini USB socket. The P2 is now available for pre-order for $349 but you’d better think twice before getting it. Maybe a better update waiting around the corner.

via picoprojector-info

Recently, at the annual Summer Line Show of LG Electronics, the company unveiled its latest LCD (SL80 series) and LED (SL90 series) HDTVs. Both the HDTVs feature a single edge-to-edge glass panel over an ultra-slim bezel, creating a sophisticated look that turns heads, no matter if the TV is on or off.

To achieve dramatically thin profile and deliver superior picture quality for compelling visual experience, the SL80 series make use of slim CCFL technology with TruMotion 240Hz. The SL80 series is less than 1.8 inches thick and is available in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch class screen sizes. The SL80 will be available in August, 2009 for $1,599.95, $1,899.95 and $2,799.95 respectively.

On the other hand, to provide enhanced picture quality and energy efficiency, the SL90 utilizes LED display technology. The SL90 series will be released by the end of this year and will be available in 42- and 47-inch class screen sizes. The prices will be announced later.

Looking for a LED TV? Well Samsung has launched its first series of LED-backlit LCD with local dimming. You can choose between two models so far, the 46-inch version and the 55-inch version. These LED TVs will be available in September for $3,600 and $4,500 respectively.

The 8500 Series will offer you white LEDs with local dimming, 1080p output, Yahoo widget engine for streaming video, 7,000,000:1 contrast ratio, a 2ms response time, Auto Motion Plus frame interpolation and an Ultra Clear Panel meant to enhance your TV-watching experience.

via Press