Home Cinema

It's fair to say the original Slingbox transformed the way we could watch TV, turning computers of all sizes into portable TVs playing content beamed from your home. Now there are two new additions to the range...

New from Ixos is an affordable range of HDMI cables, designed to slot in below the company's Overture and XEN ranges. The new Studio XHT288 range comes in lengths from one to five metres, meets the latest HDMI 1.3 1080p specification, and is fully certified by HDMI LLC.

Denon has unveiled its latest additions to its'S' (Smart) Series, the S-102 and S-302. The two new 2.1 virtual surround systems are set for release this October, to be followed by the S-32 table-top audio system.

Remote controls aren't something we often get very excited about, but this futuristic device from Bang & Olufsen certainly grabbed our attention.

The Danish company, well known for its pioneering industrial design, describes the Beo5 as "an entirely new and revolutionary remote control".

Its touch-screen LCD screen can be programmed to operate any product or combination of products. In fact, the Beo5 is delivered without any programming from the factory, and is then professionally customised for each purchaser at their local B&O store.

The Conservative Party will this week call for all electrical goods to be fitted with special devices to switch off standby power as part of its plans to tackle global warning.

According to yesterday's Observer, the 'Quality of Life' report will suggest that a future Tory Government should set a date by which time all electrical goods would have to be able to switch themselves off.

Denon's AVP-A1HDCI processor/controller

Highlight of the Denon stand at CEDIA is the forthcoming AVP-A1HDCI controller/processor and partnering POA-A1HDCI 10-channel power amp, due to go on sale this autumn for $7000 each.

British manufacturer KEF is expanding its range of KHT Instant Theatre systems with the introduction of three versions in the US, including one with wireless rear surround speakers.

The KIT 570w has the wireless surrounds and costs $3400, and there's also a KIT 540 model with conventional, wired rear speakers for $2800.

The base model is the $1500 KIT 120, designed to offer 5.1 surround sound from two front speakers and a sub.

Marantz is backing Blu-ray with the unveiling of its first high-definition player, the $2100 BD8002.

Scheduled for launch in the US during the first quarter of 2008, the BD80002 features the 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta chipset, high-definiton audio decoding and DDSC-HD audio output.

It's 10 o'clock on Friday morning here in sunny Denver, and I'm about to head off for the third day of the show, writes Andy Clough. I've just had a tip-off from the head honcho at KEF that they've got some hot new products they want to show me, so I'd better get on my way.

I'll post an update later this afternoon.

We're used to wi-fi in our laptops, mobiles and occasionally rear speakers in home cinema systems, but now Infinity and sister company JBL have gone one further by launching their first wireless subwoofers.

The Infinity PS212W is described as "a high-performance subwoofer that combines superlative low-frequency performance with wireless connectivity".

This little beastie is Yamaha's new flagship AV receiver, the 11.2 channel RX-Z11, yours for a mere $5500.

So what does that buy you? Well, for starters you get 140 watts across seven channels, and 50 watts across the remaining five.

There's multi-zone operation for high-end home cinema installations, plus full network capabilities and support for all the latest high-definition audio codecs.

Harman Kardon CP 55

We haven't heard much from Harman Kardon in the UK during recent months, but the company has unveiled a raft of new products at CEDIA Expo.

First up is a range of three home cinema systems, built around the brand's AVR 347, 247 and 146 AV receivers.

We couldn't resist bringing you this mean, moody shot of SIM2's latest projector, the £18,000, Grand Cinema C3X 1080, said to be 'the world’s smallest, lightest and most competitively priced full High Definition, 3-chip DLP projector'.

The new model is again styled by Giorgio Revoldini, and when it goes on sale in November will come in high-gloss gunmetal finish as standard, with that gloss red, black or gold available to order.

Lexicon, best-known for its high-end AV products, is targetting what it considers the more 'affordable' end of the market with a new AV receiver, processor and power amp.

Lexicon RV5 receiver

The RV5 is a 7.1 channel receiver with built-in FM/AM tuner, USB connectivity, twin HDMI inputs, the latest version of Lexicon's own Logic 7 decoding and video scaling to 720p and 1080i.

LG Electronics has revealed further details of its new high-definition, dual-format disc player, the $999 Super Blu BH200.

The BH200 can output up to 1080p video resolution at 24-, 30- and 60-frames-per-second, and supports various AV formats, including MPEG-2, VC-1, H.264 video, MPEG1/2 audio, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, DTS and DTS-HD audio.

OK, I've finally touched down in a rainy and wind-swept Denver, writes Andy Clough, and made a quick dash for the press centre at the Colorado Convention Centre, home of this year's CEDIA Expo.

As it's now late evening here in the US of A, I haven't had the chance to see any of the new products yet, but here are a few highlights of what's being unveiled on Thursday:

The Chord Company has upgraded its HDMI Silver Plus cable to Silver Plus 1.3: the new version is now HDMI v1.3 compliant even over runs as long as 40m.

Using heavier-gauge conductors, silver plated to improve high-frequency transmission, and improved insulation, the cable is now even better for long runs with minimal signal loss.

Monster Cable is now offering its HDMI cables in a range of five speed-ratings, reflecting the levels of performance available, and their compatibility with current and future technologies.

At the top of the range sits the Ultimate High Speed Cable, the M1000HD (left), offering top performance and designed to give superb results even when used for long runs.

We're winging our way across the Atlantic today to the 'mile high' city of Colorado, where the CEDIA Expo opens tomorrow morning. Never heard of CEDIA? It stands for the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association, and we've

New from SIM2 is the compact HT380 projector, the latest model in the company's latest addition to its Grand Cinema range. And despite measuring just 35cm wide, the £6500 newcomer manages to pack in a huge amount of technology from the company's much larger models.

For those buyers who don't want a complete 5.1-, 6.1- or even 7.1-channel system in their living room, NAD has launched its latest DVD receiver, the L54. With two 50W channels of amplification and a subwoofer output, the £450 unit can be used as a straight stereo system, or recreate the effect of a multi-speaker layout using SRS 3D processing. It also comes in what NAD describes as its 'new black finish'!

Thinking of buying a new flatscreen TV? Or trying to make sense of the Blu-ray vs HD DVD format war? Then you need the new Ultimate Guide to Home Cinema, on sale from this Thursday, Sept 6.

It's packed with more than 250 expert verdicts on all the latest home cinema technology, including plasma and LCD TVs, DVD players and recorders, high-definition Blu-ray and HD DVD players, projectors, AV amps and receivers and some of the cutest home-cinema-in-a-box systems we've ever seen.

After a brilliant bargain projector? Then you're in luck. Thanks to some tempting price-cutting from InFocus, the company's excellent IN76 and IN78 units are now even more appealing.

If you’d swallowed everything that the Blu-ray Group had to say in its IFA press conference, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the format war was almost over.

Well, when the HD DVD group took to the stage the very next day, it showed no signs of surrender.

The feeling from the HD DVD gang is that price and availability are going to win this war, and to that end it’s announced that 400 HD DVDs will be available by the end of the year, and that new players will be coming out at half the price of the Blu-ray equivalents.

It seems to be Blu-ray barmy in Berlin, as Sharp takes its turn to join the party with the official announcement of its long-awaited BD-HP20S player, set for release later this year.

The Blu-ray Disc Association press conference at this year’s show saw a predictably bullish appraisal of the current state of play for the format from all its major supporters in the industry - including two new members.

‘Aggressive’ seemed to be the keyword, as figures were announced showing growth in market share for Blu-ray hardware and software across the globe, even if figures remain relatively minute.

Q Acoustics is displaying prototypes of a new ‘style’ speaker package at this year’s IFA show in Berlin.

The system comprises of a front ‘bar’ unit, two rears, and a subwoofer.

Philips today announced its first Blu-ray player for the UK, the BDP7100, set for release this November. Hot on the heels of the BDP9000 - released solely in the US - the first Philips BD deck looks to tick all the right boxes in terms of specification.