London, United Kingdom. June, 2010 - LG Electronics (LG) announces its HB45E Home Cinema System. Versatile and uniquely stylish, the 400 watt complete 2.1-channel Blu-ray home cinema brings additional content into the living room via DLNA and LG Netcast.

The HB45E provides access to content such as YouTube, weather forecasts and picasa for online photos using LG Netcast. DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) allows the HB45E to connect to a home music library stored on other compatible storage devices or computer. The home cinema system even includes an Idock to connect an iPod or iPhone for convenient access to your portable music collection and the ability to charge your device at the same time.

The main unit is adaptable, so that it can lie horizontally or stand upright allowing it to fit in perfectly with any setup in your home. The two stylish main speakers have glossy black stands with a silver band running horizontally across the middle of both front speakers and the subwoofer.

“The HB45E is all about versatility in sound, configuration and content.” said Stephen Gater, Head of Marketing, Home Entertainment, LG UK. “People want easy access to an ever growing range of content – bringing films, photographs, online videos and so much more directly into the living room. Stylish design and easy connection between devices in the home, is at the heart of this product, with DLNA, LG Netcast and an iPod dock.”

In addition to its Blu-ray capabilities, the LG HB45E also includes the latest audio processing technology. Part of this is the different sound settings that are available, so that you can enhance the sound being played   For example, night mode reduces the bass when playing movies, so that you do not disturb the neighbours or sleeping children and game mode produces dramatic sound to boost your gaming experience

The versatile LG HB45E is a 400 watt home cinema system with endless possibilities. It is available now.

Specifications:

• 400W Power Output
• Compact Design

o   Dual positioning main unit (vertical/horizontal) with automatic display change

o   Two twistable speakers

• Different sound settings
• BD-Live
• Blu-ray disc playback in 1080p Full HD
• DLNA
• NetCast – YouTube, Accuweather and Picasa
• TV Sound ez Setup (Optical In)
• iPod / iPhone dock for playing and charging
• DivX HD / MKV Playback
• External HDD Playback (FAT32, NTFS)

Yamaha has announced details of two new home cinema receivers with 3D video and a new Yamaha 3D Cinema mode.

Perfection in 3D-entertainment – Yamaha presents the new AV Receivers RX-V667 and RX-V767 with Yamaha Cinema DSP 3D mode & 3D enabled Video.

With the new AV Receivers RX-V667 and RX-V767 Yamaha ensures the perfect home theatre experience – in 3D! The duo comes in a completely new, living room-friendly design and includes a proprietary video processor with exceptional deinterlacing. The completely revamped Cinema DSP section with genuine 3D-sound and virtual presence channels delivers unprecedented home cinema performance.

The new graphical user interface (GUI) – combined with automatic room acoustics optimisation via Yamaha’s YPAO – revolutionises receiver installation: never before have initial setup and operation been so easy. Thanks to the optional wireless Bluetooth and iPod modules, both Receivers integrate seamlessly into today’s digital entertainment world. Music is transmitted wirelessly from a PC/Mac or iPod, whilst the further improved Compressed Music Enhancer with DSP connection ensures the perfect sound setting.

Yamaha RX-V667

The RX-V667 and RX-V767 introduces a cutting-edge class of receivers for a new era of home cinema entertainment in the third dimension. With 3D enabled video & CinemaDSP 3D Sound, this all-inspiring duo demonstrates the power of a next-generation of the cinema experience – including the sound. The underlying principle is extensive support of HDMI 1.4. Apart from impeccable cinema sound, Yamaha also puts greatest emphasis on excellent stereo sound reproduction. This is achieved through fully discreet amplifier construction with a specially designed hybrid AC adapter & highest-quality components.

Audio & video – in High Definition

Throughout the history of its AV Receivers, Yamaha has developed numerous award-winning technologies for the enhancement of audio and video material. With the RX-V667 and RX-V767, both aspects undergo significant improvements: by utilising a high-grade upscaler with integrated image sharpness control, which also allows digital upscaling (HDMI to HDMI); Yamaha engineers have significantly increased the image quality of upscaled video. Furthermore, the AV Receivers’ completely redesigned video processor brings internal video processing to a new level. Even at a price range of under £500, Yamaha is now offering deinterlacing that recalculates image data on a per-pixel basis whilst adaptively eliminating movement and edge artefacts. Analogue isn’t the only media source to tremendously benefit from these improvements: DVD material fed via HDMI also achieves new levels of visual quality.

Yamaha RX-V767

In order to connect too virtually all home cinema devices, both the RX-V667 and the RX-V767 include six HDMI inputs, one of which comes as a front panel terminal. Whereas the RX-V667 has one HDMI output, the RX-V767 offers two, which can be used in parallel.

Unique Yamaha sound technologies

Yamaha’s award-winning Hi-fi and Cinema DSP section delivers gripping 3D surround sound. Some 17 sound field programmes guarantee that concerts and 3D blockbusters alike become extraordinary experiences: even uncompressed (HD) sound formats such as Dolby Digital True HD and dts HD Master Audio are refined. For the first time ever, Cinema DSP provides the Virtual Presence Speaker function in the RX-V667 and RX-V767, which delivers a precise surround rendering of sound effects. It even works without the separate connection of two additional presence speakers, which were required until now. A thrilling surround sound movie experience is guaranteed – even in the late hours – with conventional stereo headphones. By utilising a sophisticated algorithm, Silent Cinema technology creates an individual multichannel world in unforeseen quality. With Adaptive Dynamic Range Control (Adaptive DRC), Yamaha has developed a revolutionary technology that delivers smooth dynamics without big gaps in volume. Adaptive DRC is especially effective for low-volume listening and for movies with particularly dynamic sound, as it ensures dialogue is easily comprehensible without cancelling out the effect of an explosion, for instance – all independent of any user intervention. Even loud, compressed TV commercials are cleverly restrained.

The Yamaha receivers’ Compressed Music Enhancer (CME) is the perfect technology for playing data-reduced audio formats from computers or MP3 players. As this is increasingly important in the digital audio world, Yamaha has revised the algorithm behind the Compressed Music Enhancer. The result is an even more brilliant surround sound very close to audio-CD quality, the possibility to combine the CME directly with DSP programmes and an automatic intensity control.

Easy installation – intuitive operation

Yamaha has devoted special attention to easy initial setup and intuitive operation. The sound setup is particularly simple thanks to the YPAO Sound Optimisation system with its highly responsive measurement microphone. It ensures perfect harmonisation of the receiver electronics and speakers for the room. After installing and wiring the components, setup is a breeze to start and is fully automatic. The RX-V767 even allows measurement at multiple locations. For operation, Yamaha relies on a top-quality graphical user interface (GUI), which uses distinctive icons and logical combinations to make navigation intuitive. The stylish menu interface is presented on the connected TV screen and offers users a choice of six languages. If an Apple iPod is connected via the optional YDS-12 dock, the TV can be used to navigate through the music stored on the device, including album art.

Yamaha RX-V767 Rear Panel

Furthermore, music can be transmitted to the receivers from a PC or Mac using the optional Yamaha Bluetooth Wireless Audio Receiver YBA-10. Next to the cable-connected iPod dock, Yamaha also offers a wireless solution to stream music from the Apple player: the AirWired link transmits sound in the uncompressed PCM format, the same used on music CDs. The optional YID-W10 Wireless Dock is suited for all iPhone models. With all these options and more, the Yamaha AV Receivers RX-V667 and RX-V767 seamlessly integrate into your digital world.

Superior technology – highest-quality components

With regard to the sound set-up of the RX-V667 and RX-V767, Yamaha consciously chose a Hi-fi approach. High-resolution DACs in all channels and the advantages of the fully discreet construction guarantee unmatched audio enjoyment with an unprecedented richness of detail, regardless of playback with or without video, in stereo or surround. The audiophile strength is also a result of the components, which have been carefully and exclusively selected for their acoustic qualities. Even the micro-fuse was chosen according to strict guidelines. Both receivers are real powerhouses when it comes to performance: the RX-V667 offers 7x 90 watts RMS (7x 140 watts max.) the RX-V767 delivers 7x 95 watts RMS (7x 145 watts max.) both are fully capable of driving large sets of speakers.

Since its foundation, Yamaha has relied on sustainable production. High-quality chassis materials mean these devices are even a joy to touch. Yamaha engineers are especially proud of the clever construction of the power adaptor, which not only supports excellent sound but also enables extremely low power consumption in stand-by mode – despite HDMI/CEC stand by-through, it is just 2.7W.

Anthem, the Canadian high-end AV power providing and processor heavyweight, has announced the availability of the Audio/Video Master 50v (AVM 50v), a state-of-the-art music pre-amplifier/home cinema processor. Following in the footsteps of its big brother, the multi-award winning Statement D2v benchmark design, the AVM 50v aims to offer the same state-of-the-art technologies though for significantly less outlay. With the £5999 AVM 50v, the Ontario-headquartered Anthem team has delivered a fully featured 7.1-channel audio and video processor with eight HDMI inputs, broadcast-quality digital video processing, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, XLRs, highest quality 1080p upscaling, Anthem Room Correction, and two stereo zones.

Anthem engineers are among the most meticulous in the industry, and the company’s commitment to quality is confirmed by every aspect of the AVM 50v. It features the latest Sigma Designs VXP® broadcast-quality digital video processing to ensure deep colour while offering improved noise reduction through block artifact and mosquito noise reduction. Two new dual-core audio Digital Signal Processing (DSP) engines, designed in-house by Anthem, offer a total of 800 million instructions per second (MIPS) of processing power to allow decoding of the new Dolby, DTS and other HD audio standards.

In seeking to accommodate the most advanced input formats available, Anthem has upgraded its pulse-code modulation (PCM) input to support 7.1 channels at 24bits or 192kHz. Additional HDMI inputs have been added, bringing that total to eight, along with two parallel HDMI outputs, enabling the AVM 50v to be the true high performance hub of any A/V set-up.

In the AVM 50v, all eight HDMI inputs are connected through high-performance TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) timing regenerators and multiplexers. The receiver contains a programmable equalizer and a Clock Data Recovery (CDR) function for each of the three TMDS pairs in an HDMI or DVI signal. The TMDS data outputs are regenerated and perfectly aligned to the regenerated TMDS clock signal, creating an extremely clean low-jitter DVI/HDMI signal that is easily decoded by the HDMI receiver. This is particularly useful for cleaning up a noisy/jittery source, or when a long cable is being used.

Anthem’s heralded Room Correction System (ARC-1) comes standard with the AVM 50v. While equalizing frequency response in a room to achieve some generic (i.e. “flat”) response is a common approach to solving problems with room acoustics, it will result in an unnatural spectral balance, since it does not take into account the
human hearing system. ARC-1 is a true audiophile solution: it differs from other systems in that it uses proprietary processing to compute each speaker’s in-room frequency response, and then computes a target frequency response for each to yield the optimal sound.

BROADCAST-QUALITY DIGITAL VIDEO PROCESSING

• Video Format Conversion—the latest-generation Sigma Designs VXP broadcast-quality digital image processor (supporting deep colour and better-than-ever video algorithms!) converts any SD or HD video standard to other video standard
• Quadruple video output configuration makes it easy to switch from one configuration to another.
• Superior image quality using per-pixel processing and motion-adaptive de-interlacing to ensure optimal image sharpness and picture resolution.
• Dynamic directional interpolation eliminates jaggy artifacts found in traditional de-interlacing algorithms
• Full film-mode detection for all SD and HD inputs
• Video transcoding allows S-Video and Component Video inputs to be digitally processed and enhanced, and then routed through the Component or HDMI outputs

WHAT’S UNDER THE AVM HOOD

• Component parts are carefully chosen for their ability to maintain the lowest possible total harmonic distortion and noise (THD + N)
• Handcrafted circuit board layouts (not done by auto-routers) with extensive use of groundplanes achieve exceptionally low noise, low crosstalk, and protect against electrostatic discharge
• 4-layer hand-designed motherboard includes separate power and groundplanes
• 6- and 8-layer DSP, A/D and D/A boards. A/D and D/A converter boards use separate analogue and digital planes, as well as separate power and groundplanes for remarkably low noise. All critical signal paths are surrounded by groundplanes
• Super-efficient switching power supply:o Low-noise, low-emissions design o Multiple-synchronized dithered-frequency isolation stages ensure exceptionally quiet audio and video operation and excellent electromagnetic compatibility o Fourteen independently regulated output stages ensure optimal operating environment
• Anthem’s proprietary dual-core digital signal processing (DSP) engines offer a total of 800 MIPS to allow decoding of the new HD audio standards: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High-Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio. More than enough processing power to handle even the most complex program material with matchless precision
• Superior Analogue-to-Digital/Digital-to-Analogue conversion:o A/D capable of up to 24-bit x 96-kHz resolution o D/A operates at full 24-bit x 192-kHz resolution
• Audio-grade film capacitors and operational amplifiers
• Superior-quality analogue attenuator (volume control)
• Fully buffered audio and video inputs for minimum crosstalk
• Highest-quality video-switching circuitry on completely independent and isolated circuit boards
• High-precision thru-hole passive components
• Heavy-gauge non-resonant chassis
• Headphone amplifier features a high-current/voltage design with a dedicated fully discrete output

AND FOR THE AUDIO PURIST

• Analogue-Direct available on all inputs
• Tone Bypass disables Bass/Treble adjustment
• Balanced 2-channel XLR digital input for best digital signal
• True-Balanced 2-channel analogue input for best analogue signal
• True-Balanced analogue outputs provide best noise rejection and purest signal transmission

In the UK Anthem products are handled by Anthem AV Solutions, the authorised distributor.
info@anthemavs.co.uk and www.anthemavs.co.uk

Peerless-AV Europe has added to its range of award-winning TV wall-mount systems, with the comprehensive new PerfectMount line of mounts. With a choice of functionality, from flat to wall all the way up to fully articulating, these latest products will satisfy any mounting requirement. Whether it’s a small screen in the bedroom or kitchen, or main viewing TV in a lounge, PerfectMount offers the style, safety and ease of installation that customers need.

The most radical innovation with this new range is on the single (pivot) and twin arm (articulating) products and the ultimate articulating model – and the star of the range – is the PEWS550/BK. This supports displays up to a massive 71 inches, with a full range of motion that includes +15/-5 degrees tilt; +/- 90 degrees swivel and +/-5 degrees roll. Full extension of over 27 inches allows even the largest screen to be swivelled 90 degrees in either direction. Roll adjustment of +/- 5 degrees allows installers to level the display once it is mounted on the arm.


The articulating PEWS450/BK boasts the same functionality, and is compatible for 37–63 inch displays; the PEWS350/BK is for 32–52 inch screens; PEWV250/BK for displays of 22–40 inches; PEWV150/BK for 10–26 inch screens. There are also two pivoting models – PEWV140/BK, PEWV240/BK – that offer a range of screen movement with a single arm and accommodate screen sizes from 10–26 and 22–40 inches respectively.

Across the range, a simple one-touch tilt mechanism provides easy tilt adjustment, and each mount can be easily locked with just the turn of a knob. Large arms have been given 13mm of vertical adjustment for easy fine-tuning of screen placement on the wall – after mounting. Plus, the depth of the retracted position has been reduced to just 113mm, for more discrete installations – particularly useful for super-slim screens.

Integrated cable management allows cables to run through the mount, for a cleaner more professional installation. A new universal adapter plate design reduces the number of screws needed, improving installation ease and time, and has improved design for reduced wall footprint and easy adjustment. Plastic covers and fasteners help to further improve the aesthetics, allowing the mount to complement the screen and to blend more easily with domestic interiors.

The complete PerfectMount series is the only range of TV wall-mounts to offer complete compatibility with all screens from 10–71 inches, and is the only available line to retain a similar look throughout the range, for consistent display presentation. The design also offers increased wall access for extra cable management options. Finally, new consumer-friendly packaging across the whole range makes mount selection much easier.

“This new range of mounts adds a new dimension to our existing Peerless products,” says Gordon Dutch, Managing Director of BBG/Peerless. “And like the rest of our wall-mounts, they are designed to make consumers’ and installers’ lives as easy as possible. With stylish designs and unbeatable quality products at realistic prices the PerfectMount range represents exceptional value for money.”

Suggested retail prices:

PEWV140/BK: £59.99

PEWV150/BK: £79.99PEWV240/BK: £99.99

PEWV250/BK: £129.99

PEWS350/BK: £299.99

PEWS450/BK: £349.99

PEWS550/BK: £399.99

www.bbg.eu.com

Teufel, one Europe’s leading direct seller of loudspeaker systems, has announced the launch of the System 8 THX Ultra 2 5.1 speaker set.  In creating the System 8 THX Ultra 2, Teufel set out to achieve the previously impossible – to engineer a THX Ultra 2-approved 5.1 system that takes up significantly less space than its critically acclaimed Theater 8 system without sacrificing its legendary acoustic performance.

Years of testing

Finally, after years of laboratory trials, countless prototyping cycles, endless measuring and extensive licensing procedures, Teufel unveils the System 8 THX Ultra 2 – the first set of speakers with full, high-end THX credentials which, rather than dominating your living room, blending elegantly into your home. A system that not only meets the goals set by its engineers but far surpasses them, offering not only matched but vastly improved sound quality over the Theater 8.

Take the striking new subwoofer, for example. At only a third the size of its beautiful-yet-behemothic predecessor, the S 8000 SW is the only subwoofer in the world to meet strenuous THX Ultra 2 requirements with a single high-performance bass driver. No other manufacturer has met these stringent standards using a 300mm, 80-litre enclosure.

The S 8000 SW’s unbelievable performance is primarily down to its bespoke bass driver, developed over many steps and featuring an extra-long throw capable of filling rooms up to 100 square meters. This extremely efficient 500w speaker features magnetic screening and is capable of generating monstrous bass sounds at volumes previously requiring a much higher amplification level. This resulting in entirely distortion-free, room-filling sound and easily achieves THX’s requirements – 114dB at 40Hz with a linearity of +-1 dB. A lower power requirement from the amplifier means less energy use in the long term.

The S 8000 SW’s rear-facing DPU bass reflex system, designed by Teufel, virtually eliminates interference – even at high volumes, while a dedicated remote control enables careful tuning and adjustment to suit your room.

Satellites of love

Of course, the sub isn’t the only speaker Teufel has worked hard to improve. The system’s three S 800 FCR speakers, used for the centre and two front channels, use a new, state of the art flat diaphragm chassis that reduces distortion, minimises diffraction effects and interference – whilst simultaneously slashing 40% off the size of their predecessors. And thanks to a mix of new, computer-aided Klippel optimisation techniques and intensive tuning work by Teufel’s skilled engineers, they offer significantly improved acoustic performance.

This enigmatic front speaker can be made to sing at the extremely high volumes required by THX Ultra 2 certification and nevertheless deliver incredible levels of detail. These three-way loudspeakers feature two 130mm bass-and-mid flat honeycomb membrane woofers and a single 25mm fabric tweeter for very high-pitched sounds.

The System 8 THX Ultra 2 creates a beautifully diffuse surround field akin to the all-enveloping sound experienced in a cinema – and this is mainly due to its astonishingly small S 800 D dipole speakers, used in the default Cinema configuration. These wall-mounted cabinets are the smallest rear dipole speakers with THX Ultra 2 certification, yet happily outperform the standards required.

The S 800 D’s strong sound foundation enables identification of even low-frequency sound effects occurring behind the listener, creating a truly immersive surround experience. The speakers’ 100mm mid-range drivers and 25mm tweeters project both forwards and backwards, using reverse-polarised drivers to create an ‘out of phase’ effect and deliver diffuse, ambient sound. Meanwhile, a single wall-facing woofer diffuses bass frequencies against its mounted wall.

Sound projected directly at the listener is minimised in favour of ambient sound reflected off walls, creating a captivating and cinematic spatial effect unrivalled by conventional direct speakers.

For listeners who are unable to wall-mount dipole speakers, the Concert Set configuration of the System 8 THX Ultra 2 is available. This replaces the two dipoles with a further two S 800 FCR satellites, enabling speakers to be placed more flexibly.

A momentous achievement

“With the System 8 THX Ultra 2, we truly pushed the boundaries of modern speaker technology to achieve something we – and no one else – had ever done before” explains Christoph Winklmeier, lead engineer on the System 8 project. “By not only achieving but surpassing what we hoped to achieve, we’ve set a new precedent for 5.1 technology in terms of size vs performance. This achievement truly demonstrates Teufel’s knowledge and abilities and is a worthy system to mark our 30th anniversary.”

The Teufel System 8 THX Ultra 2 is available now from Teufel’s new international website, www.teufelaudio.com. Three arrangements are available:

Cinema 5.1 - 3x S 800 FCR Satellites, 2x S 800 D dipoles and 1x S 8000 SW Subwoofer – £2899

Concert 5.1 - for spaces in which wall mounting is impossible; 5x S 800 FCR Satellites and 1x S 8000 SW Subwoofer – £3099

Cinema 7.1 - delivering the perfect 360 degree illusion; 5x S 800 FCR Satellites, 2x S 800 D dipoles and 1x S 8000 SW Subwoofer – £3299

Pairs of dipoles can be purchased for £479 at a later date for users wishing to upgrade their 5.1 system to 7.1.

SIM2 has introduced the latest projector from its revered, multi-award winning Grand Cinema C3X series – the C3X LUMIS UNO.

The new design takes all the best elements of its elder siblings, but delivers these with a significant cost saving. The C3X LUMIS UNO is the smallest, Full High Definition, 3-Chip projector on the market, and packs the most performance per pound yet from the C3X series. And this is all within the dramatic industrial design for which SIM2 is justly famous.

SIM2, the Italian manufacturer whose striking, high-performance, High home cinema projectors are known worldwide for their pristine video and dramatic cabinet designs, has introduced the latest projector from its revered, multi-award winning Grand Cinema™ C3X series – the C3X LUMIS UNO.

The new design takes all the best elements of its elder siblings, but delivers these with a significant cost saving. The C3X LUMIS UNO is the smallest, Full HD,
3-Chip projector on the market, and packs the most performance per pound yet from the C3X series. And this is all within the dramatic industrial design for which SIM2 is justly famous.

The pinnacle of projection performance still lies with 3-chip DLP® technology and this is at the heart of the C3X LUMIS UNO. This projector utilises technology that is totally unique to SIM2, representing the culmination of 10 years of innovation and research in the field of video projector design. The Grand Cinema™ C3X LUMIS UNO projector achieves extraordinary picture quality through the partnership of the latest 0.95″ 1080p DC4 DLP® chipset from Texas Instruments and the precision optics of SIM2’s new re-designed ALPHAPATH™ light engine. The UNO offers superb colour depth, black level performance, contrast ratio and brightness.

The new ALPHAPATH™ light engine features two key components. First, a new die-cast aluminium body dramatically improves thermal management of the light engine, which means a more powerful lamp can be used to deliver brighter images. Secondly, a new tapered rod-integrator, designed to accept the raw light energy from the lamp and convert it into a pure and refined beam of light. This new design helps further improve brightness uniformity and efficiency of light transmission.

All the connectivity and features demanded by home cinema enthusiasts and custom installers are present in this product: two selectable HDMI inputs (both fully HDCP-compliant), inputs for legacy formats including composite, S-video, component and an RGBHV (VGA) connection. Both RS-232 serial and USB ports are included to ease connectivity for control and software/firmware communications. 12-volt trigger outputs, IR-sensor inputs, various lens options covering a range of throw ratios from 1.31-3.9:1 and anamorphic projection functionality for uncompromised widescreen reproduction of films in 2:35:1 format are all built in for total flexibility of installation.

In the best SIM2 tradition, the Grand Cinema™ C3X LUMIS UNO is housed in a new cabinet by renowned industrial designer Giorgio Revoldini. It is available in a moonlight silver finish at an MSRP of £18,995.

Further information: www.sim2.co.uk and 01825 750850

The Seismic 110 subwoofer from Paradigm may measure no more than 30cm in any direction, but this state-ofthe- art design is powered by a phenomenal 1kW of power.

So while designed to meet today’s demand for a small form factor in a subwoofer, don’t be fooled by the £1250 Seismic 110′s diminutive proportions. It offers truly groundbreaking (and ground shaking!) performance. The soul of this little sonic bulldog is a unique implementation of the ultra-low-distortion split-coil drive woofer coupled with the muscle of an 850-watt RMS Ultra-Class D amplifier, which is capable of delivering 1500W RMS continuous and a 2550W dynamic peak.

“The Seismic 110 captures all of the design and engineering talent we have in-house at Paradigm,” stated Paradigm’s Marketing Manager Mark Aling. “This subwoofer is a true collaboration between our industrial, mechanical, electronic and acoustical design team; unlike many of the other subs this product has no off-the-shelf parts but is custom built to showcase how form follows function.”

The exterior shell is a die-cast monocoque design that forms an integrated compact package with the woofer tucked inside. The woofer itself boasts an FEA optimized motor structure together with integral heatsinking, which when coupled to the die-cast exterior shell ensure a cool running, high output woofer. The 10 inch woofer cone is capable of a phenomenal 2 inches of travel, giving unbelievably deep bass from such a small form factor. The dual spider suspension and FEA-optimized ribbed surround help keep things under control when the going gets loud.

However, even when the world’s finest subwoofers are perfectly positioned, the room itself can still have a dramatic impact on performance. A solution? The optional Paradigm Perfect Bass Kit (PBK-1TM). With PBK, the effects of room boundaries on sound quality are a thing of the past. This state-of-the-art bass perfecting system (sold separately) will analyse the Seismic 110′s response in your room, then set the correct equalisation parameters to obtain optimal sound.

Specifications

• Design: Sleek, curvilinear die-cast monocoque exterior
• 10″ high-excursion driver: mineral filled polypropylene cone with RCR resonance control ribbing
• Comprehensive range of input and control facilities including rear USB port
• Amplifier: Ultra-Class D Amplifier 2550W Dynamic Peak / 1500W RMS Continuous
• Bass Drivers: FEA natural frequency Stress Analysis optimized
• Available in a Satin Black finish

In the UK, Anthem AV Solutions, the authorized distributor, handles Paradigm products.

info@anthemavs.co.uk

www.anthemavs.co.uk

QED, one the UK’s foremost manufacturers of specialist hi-fi and home cinema cables, has announced it has reduced the suggested selling prices of all its leading HDMI cables as of 1st June 2010.

QED is a brand of Armour Home. Alastair Worlidge, QED’s product manager stated: “QED’s brand ethos has remained resolutely unchanged for more than three decades. We constantly strive to offer high performance products at value for money prices. Our leading market position and many product awards clearly attests to the success of this policy. It should therefore not surprise anyone familiar with QED’s stance, that we are repositioning our HDMI cables to reflect changing market conditions. To put it succinctly, prices of hardware have reduced significantly over recent years and we feel the time is right for cables to follow suit.“

Mr Worlidge continued: “This decision follows the tremendous early success of our recently introduced Profile range. The Profile HDMI cable starts at £25 for a 1 metre length, which makes it a perfect match in both price and value terms, for the latest crop of sub £500 HD TV’s; particularly when paired with Blu-ray players, HD Satellite and HD Freeview receivers.”

The table below shows the previous and new suggested retail prices (inc VAT) of 1m QED HDMI cables. The prices of longer cables have also been reduced.

Previous Price New Price

Performance HDMI: £50.00 £35.00

Reference HDMI: £90.00 £50.00

Signature HDMI: £150.00 £75.00

These new suggested selling prices are effective today, 1st June 2010 and the cables are available from QED dealers throughout the UK and Internationally.

Onkyo, the UK’s No1 home cinema receiver maker, announces the release of three new mid- and upper mid-range network-enabled models for 2010: the TX-NR1008, TX-NR808, and TX-NR708. Each is THX Select2 Plus-certified and offers the latest processing and user-friendly features to support network audio streaming (with playback of FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) music, iPhone/iPod-compatible USB input, multi-room set-ups and fully immersive 3D-capable home cinema with multi-dimensional surround sound to match.

Each of these models comes with seven of the latest HDMI 1.4a connections, guaranteeing compatibility with the new 3D video formats that are promising to bring an exciting new dimension to movies and games in the home.

HDMI is also the conduit for full 1080p video upscaling of all video inputs, regardless of native resolution, via Faroudja’s acclaimed DCDi Cinema technology, included on all three of the new Onkyo receiver models. DCDi Cinema works to remove ‘jaggies’ during the video signal deinterlacing process, resulting in smooth progressive scan video images.

Each of these network receivers includes a rear-panel Ethernet port that links it directly to the internet or to a home PC. Users can then enjoy superior fidelity from a wide range of audio file types including, for the first time, FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) files, the open-source codec of choice for discerning audiophiles. Other supported formats include MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, and LPCM. They can also access a range of different streaming Internet radio services provided by LastFM, vTuner, and Napster, the latter’s music-on-demand subscription service offering UK owners a choice of more than 10 million tracks from 790,000 artists.

The Ethernet connection brings the added convenience of easy firmware upgrades, which enhance the unit’s functionality going forward. Each receiver is also Windows 7 compatible and DLNA 1.5 certified to ensure optimal compatibility with other network-enabled equipment throughout the home.

Audio processing on all three models includes the studio master-quality of the industry’s two leading lossless High Definition codecs, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Complementing these are the expanded surround dimensions of Dolby Pro Logic IIz and Audyssey DSX. The former provides the option of adding extra height channels for improved ambience, while the latter adds either height or width channels. With the 7.2-channel TX-NR808 and TX-NR708, these extra channels replace the surround rear channels. With the 9.2-channel TX-NR1008, meanwhile, users have a host of different speaker configurations to choose from.

Along with the two extra amplifier channels and one extra HDMI output, the TX-NR1008 offers further advantages over its two siblings. It is equipped with advanced ISF video calibration for independent optimization and individual fine-tuned adjustment of every video source. And it sports an extra 192 kHz/24-bit Burr Brown DAC to handle the heavy demands of multi-channel audio processing.

Each of the three Onkyo models includes a full suite of Audyssey equalization and room-correction technologies to ensure optimal audio performance in any environment and at any volume level. Chief among these is Audyssey MultEQ, which corrects for time and frequency-response problems caused by room acoustics, and which calibrates speakers for optimal audio balance throughout the listening space.

Other noteworthy features shared by all three receivers include:-

1) An iPhone/iPod-compatible front-side USB port that allows direct digital playback as well as on-screen display of album art. All three receivers carry the latest ‘Made For iPod and iPhone’ certification.

2) An analog RGB input (D-sub 15) for video content from a connected PC.

3) PLL audio jitter-cleaning circuit technology, for cleaner sounding audio.

4) Onkyo’s new overlaid graphical OSD (onscreen display) for fuss-free adjustment of settings during a viewing session.

The TX-NR1008 and TX-NR808 include Onkyo’s bi-directional and customizable preprogrammed remote control to simplify the process of programming all the components in the system. With these latest releases, Onkyo looks to consolidate its position as a provider of the most up-to-date home entertainment features backed by rock-solid performance and intelligent design.

Prices and availability

TX-NR708 – £800 (available mid to end of June)

TX-NR808 – £1000 (available mid to end of June)

TX-NR1008 – £1300 (available mid to end of July)

Options

UP-DT1 DAB+ radio tuner module – £130 (available now)

UP-A1 iPhone/iPod dock – £60 (available now)

The BBC has announced that it will launch its second HD channel in the autumn. Although the simulcast channel will not be 100% HD content, most of the highly rated shows will be made in HD as the move to HD production within the BBC continues.

Speaking about the new channel, Jana Bennett, Director of BBC Vision said:

“BBC HD has established itself as the most popular HD service, and these changes are important next steps in improving that service still further, providing an opportunity to showcase the wide variety of BBC programmes in the highest possible quality.

“We recognise that audiences have already been enjoying many of their favourite programmes in HD, and I’m delighted that we can now broaden their choice.”
The service will be available on Freeview HD, Freesat HD, Sky HD and Virgin.

We can look forward to some of the most popular shows going HD once the channel is launched, such as, EastEnders, Holby City, The One Show, The Apprentice, The Weakest Link. Match of the Day, a Question of Sport and QI. Plus some long standing shows are already made in HD and seen on the current BBC HD channel such as the ever popular ‘Top Gear’.

The content not made in HD will be upscaled.

Plus the BBC HD channel is also going to see its current broadcasting hours increased.

LG has announced the release of their slim HB965TZ Blu-ray home cinema system in the UK, here are the full details…

LG Electronics (LG), a major player in the global flat panel display and audio-video market, unveils the HB965TZ Home Cinema System. This elegant Blu-ray home cinema system delivers rich sound from slim, wall-mountable speakers and wirelessly connects to limitless content.

The HB965TZ is a complete Blu-ray home cinema system and more. Four slim front and rear speakers and a subwoofer have a total power output of 1100 watts. At just 29 mm front-to-back, the elegant speakers blend seamlessly into any room, whether on their matching stands or mounted on the wall and the size of speaker complements a 47 inch TV. Though slender, the speakers can create an immersive listening experience even in larger rooms, thanks to LG’s advanced sound technology. In addition, being specially tuned by Mr. Mark Levinson, the world renowned audio expert, the HB965TZ’s sound retains every detail of even the richest soundscapes

“LG’s HB965TZ home cinema looks are designed to blend in and its features are designed to stand out,” said Stephen Gater, Head of Marketing, Home Entertainment, LG UK. “Its possibilities are limitless with the ability to wirelessly connect to content on the internet or on a home network. It also has an integrated iDock for playing and charging your iPod or iPhone for even easier access to your complete digital library.”

No ordinary Blu-ray player, the HB965TZ brings a full world of entertainment and information into the living room. It is ready to connect with wireless internet access. Users can enjoy an endless stream of web content including YouTube, web photo albums and weather information. The HB965TZ can also unlock additional movie-related features from Blu-ray discs through BD-Live.

The HB965TZ can also connect wirelessly to DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compatible storage device or computer, providing convenient access to your home’s entire digital media library. It can also directly connect to an external hard drive with a USB cable and play back HD quality DivX or MKV movie files.

LG has incorporated its advanced audio processing into the HB965TZ to make sure everything sounds its best. The LG Sound Gallery makes it easy to fine-tune audio with seven equalizer presets including Natural Plus, Game Equalizer, Night Mode, Clear Voice, Bass Blast, MP3 Up-Scaling and VSM Plus to ensure that you can choose the best sound for you. The LG HB965TZ also offers two HDMI inputs for other devices such as game consoles, DVD recorders and satellite boxes..

The HB965TZ home cinema brings rich sound and equally rich content into the living room. The sleekly designed system is available in the UK from April .

Specifications:

• 5.1 Ch
• 1100W of power
• BD-Live & Bonus View
• Blu-ray disc playback in 1080p Full HD
• NetCast (YouTube, Picasa, AccuWeather)
• TV Sound ez Set-up with Optical In
• LG Sound Gallery
• 2 HDMI Inputs
• Wireless LAN & DLNA
• Direct iPod / iPhone Dock for play and recharge
• DivX HD / MKV Playback
• External HDD Playback (FAT32, NTFS)