Joy Of Tech Shows Us Why Monster Cables Are Better

I’ve always felt that when it comes to A/V cables, for the most part, they’re all the same. So when Monster Cable came around stating that ‘not all cables are the same’, I had to call BS.

Obviously I’m not alone.

Does it really mater if you spend an extra $80 + dollars for the more expensive cable? Does it give you the sound and picture quality that the others don’t? Well the comic at ‘Joy of Tech’ puts it all together, and shows us truly why expensive cables are better.

How could I have been so wrong about this entire issue?

[Joy of Tech via Gizmodo]

Xbox 360 HDMI Adapter: Verdict: Expensive

Were you one of the poor bastards like myself who bought an Xbox 360 before they turned around and put HDMI in the consoles?

Pissed you off didn't it?

Well you know you don't want to buy another console just for that, or get hooked into buying an Xbox 360 Elite. So what do you do? Well they've come up with a solution that might interest you. A a plug-in HDMI adapter for the Xbox 360, for $90.

$90? I think that's a little much for an adapter. Now get that baby under $30, and you got my vote.

Xbox 360 HDMI Conversion Kit [GameStop via Crunchgear]

Pioneer's BDP-95FD Blu-Ray Player: Works With Next-Gen Audio

Pioneer introduced their latest high-end Blu-Ray player at the CEDIA trade show, the BDP-95FD. This one is truly built around the audio side of the home theater, as this unit can work with all four audio formats.

The BDP-95FD is compatible with next-gen sound formats such as the Dolby TruHD, Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio. It has a HDMI 1.3 port and comes in at the low price of $1,000, which if your sound is that important, is a small price to pay.

The unit will be available next month.

Pioneer launches “Elite” BDP-95FD Blu-ray player [Pocket-link via Crunchgear]

LG Design Art series: Hot & Sexy!!!

Check out the new look of LG's new line called the LG Design Art series. The LF75 and LB75 LCD TVs are absolutely beautiful and have 3 HDMI outputs, and the champaign glass like speakers are hot!

The new sets are on a balancing ring and come in sizes of 37, 42, 47 and 52-inch, while only the LF75s has 1080p with 10,000:1 contrast ratio. The LB75 only has 720p/1080i and 8,000:1 contrast ratio, but does support 1080p input coming at 32 and 26 inches.
No word on pricing yet.

If I was in the market, I would seriously consider these.
[Gizmodo]

Yamaha's new YSP-4000 Surround Bar

Yamaha introduced today a new audio bar that gives you "sound projector" faux-surround bars. The YSP-4000 comes with pass-through HDMI and analog/720p/1080i that upscales to 1080p, and is also iPod and XM ready.

The guys at Gizmodo got there hands on one, and this is what they had to say:

The "speakers (are) all coordinated by a DSP, and by tweaking delay and volume, convincingly eliciting sweeping surround audio that seems to come from all 360 degrees, and then some. There are "seven Cinema DSP programs (three movie, three music and one sports)" and "Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6," all of which are selectable via the remote and on screen display or LCD."

All at a cost of $1800, which isn't bad considering how much you can spend on a high end system.

To read all of the dirty details, hit the click. [Gizmodo]

Xbox 360 Premium: HDMI Confirmed!

When talking about the Xbox 360 today, I have mixed feelings. I'm excited that Microsoft has made it official that the new Xbox 360 Premium that are hitting the shelves as we speak, will have a HDMI port. Check the quote:

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience," A Microsfot representative told Gamespot. "Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Consoles that already have HDMI are already at the stores, and you will know the HDMI ones by the HDMI logo on the box. I'm a little sad about this only because I've ALREADY BOUGHT MINE!!!

Crap!

Hit the jump below to read more. [Gamespot.com via G4TV]

Pro 360s HDMI'd [Gamespot.com via G4TV]

Better And Cooler Xbox 360's Later This Month?

Well it looks like Microsoft has heard the cries of millions about the Xbox 360 cooling issues. According to Kotaku:

"Opposable Thumbs is reporting that a new batch of Xbox 360s, with built-in HDMI, 65nm processors, quieter DVD drives and resolved heating issues, will be quietly hitting shelves last (of) this month or next month."

Hey, what about the rest of us who bought one already?

Thanks to Kotaku and Gizmodo for this information

Denon HTB Is Hot

If you're looking for a Home Theater in a Box and you have a little cash to spend, check is new Denon system out.

The Denon S-302 has features that will make you pee your pants!!!

It has a 50 watts for the speakers and 100 for the sub, powerful home networking features which allow you to home network, via either its Ethernet jack or its built-in Wi-Fi capability. So you will be able to stream Internet radio, network-attached storage devices, and from Mac and PCs. You have to install something called TwonkyMedia software ($40) on your PC or Mac, but it supports AAC, FLAC, WMA lossless, MP3, and WAV formats.

It's kinda pricy at $1,699, but hell, you're worth it right? At least you think you are.

Check it out after the jump. [Crave]

110-inch "World's Largest" HDTV Now For Sale

JVC's monster 110-inch hybrid-tech HDTV is now available for sale. Yep, get your credit card ready and sit the kids down, and explain why they're not getting help paying for college anymore.

This $53,000 behemoth is a whopping 8 feet wide and 3 feet deep, featuring a 1080p picture (for that much it'd better be 1080p), and multiple inputs including HDMI, Component, D4, S-Video and a D-sub15 pin socket for your PC.

Sure, $53,000 is an insane amount to spend on a TV, but think of how sick Gears of War would look on this thing.

Product page after the jump. [Gadget Lab]

Optoma Breaks Out Sub $3k 1080p DLP Projector

Optoma tries to bring HD projectors to the masses. Optoma is debuting its most affordable 1080p projector, the $2,999 HD80. The new DLP-based HD80 one-ups the HD70 (720p) delivering 1,300 lumens with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio.

The HD80 also has two 1.3 HDMI ports, DVI with HDCP, and both component and composite connections. It'll be out this July for $2,999.

If you like projectors and are in the market, you might want to take a look after the jump. [Optoma]

Philips new Ambilight LCDs

Has it really been 10 years since the first Ambilight television? Does anyone care? Well Philips does, and they plan on celebrating the 10 year anniversary by releasing 3 Ambilight sets.

The Ambilight LCDs ranging size from 42, 47, and 52 inches, and will have 1080p, 120Hz, LED backlighting. The three sets will have Philips' Perfect Pixel HD processing engine, plenty of HDMI inputs (3x on the 52-incher), and of course Philips' Ambilight glow.

Priced at $2,999 for the Ambilight Full Surround (independent lighting on all four sides) 42-inch 42PFL9832D (pictured) or $2,799 for the 47-inch 47PFL9732D and $3,599 for the big 52-inch 52PFL7432D with Ambilight 2 for that left and right glow.

All are expected to roll Stateside as early as June.

I love this TV!!!

Marantz OPSODIS ES7001: One bar to rule them all

Marantz returns with their 'off the wall' bouncing OPSODIS (OPtimal SOurce DIStribution) Technology packed into the ES7001. Marnatz sound bar is aimed to directly compete with Yamaha's YSP series of sound projectors.

As such, they've put all the drivers, amps, and woofers into one single housing that has the ability to redirect the 'sweet spot'.

It comes with 2 HDMI (Ver.1.1) and 3x digital optical inputs. The space saving kit will set you back a cool $1,020 when it ships in June. An optional $197 50W sub woofer and $411 AV rack are available if you want to round out everything.

Xbox 360 Elite commercial: Yawn

Usually when you introduce a new add about a product that is already on the market, you reference all the new improvements over the old generation product. All that Microsoft could come up with is that it has HDMI, and it has a 120 gig HHD, and that it's black. They even said pointed out that it was black twice, since they really don't have many other features to talk about.

Come on Microsoft.....Work with us here!!!

HP 20-inch Pavilion HDX: Gaming Notebook

HP is about to release a new 20-inch gaming laptop, the Pavilion HDX. Weighing in at a hefty 12 pounds, the computer is large enough to house both a full-sized keyboard and a windows media remote, side by side.

Rumor has it that it will have the new Santa Rosa chipset (Centrino successor), GeForce Go 8000 video card, HDMI out, and HD DVD option.

12 pounds is enough that, even the most inactive World of Warcraft players buff up by lugging it around.

No word on price or the release date as of yet.