Backseat TV - The Latest from Sirius Radio

Most folks in the A/V industry have been paying more time and attention speculating a potential merger between Satellite Radio giants XM and Sirius for the past two years than the content and features that each company offers. 

Sirius has stepped up by offering a new option for drivers with kids. Backseat TV is specifically marketed toward providing TV-G programming content to any existing headrest or flip-down monitor located behind the driver. Kids can watch one of three kids' channels on headphones while the grown-ups listen to any Sirius Radio channel in the front of the car.

What is OLED Technology?

OLED is the latest flat display technology and it stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode. This technology uses a series of thin organic films between 2 conductors to produce light. They operate on the attraction between negatively and positively charged particles. When electricity is applied, one layer becomes negatively charged relative to another layer. When energy passes from one layer to another, it excites the organic material between the layers and produces light.

To produce color, the OLED primary color matrix is arranged in red, green, and blue pixels, which are mounted directly to a printed circuit board. A color filter is also added to purify the colors without the use of a polarizer that can reduce overall brightness.

Ultra-Thin Flat Screen TVs – The Next Generation

Over the past few years we have gone from bulky CRT based televisions, to current day Plasma and LCD televisions measuring just five inches deep. This has been a real revolution and has allowed us to enjoy larger televisions in places never before possible.

Imagine a large, ultra-thin flat screen television that measures less than an inch deep! It is not science fiction; Plasma and LCD manufacturers are being challenged by the new arrival of Organic Light Emitting Diode technology (OLED).

Can I mount a TV over the fireplace?

The fireplace is the focal point of the family room.  That means that the family TV is stuck in the corner.  Why not go with a television that compliments your décor and works with the space you have?  The area right above the mantle is a great spot for a new flat-panel television. 

Just keep in mind there are few things to consider before going this route... 

February 17 - Analog to Digital TV

On February 17, 2009 American television stations will stop broadcasting traditional analog signals over the air, and begin broadcasting only digital signals. The question many people are asking is, "What will happen when I turn on my TV on Feb 17?"

Good bye Fujitsu

Fujitsu has announced an end to their plasma TV division and decided to focus more on the heating and ventilation market (?) . In my view, this leaves the Pioneer Kuro plasma displays as the best in the industry. Having seen both company’s offerings, I've always felt that Pioneer had the edge in the color accuracy department.

Back in Black - Project KURO

Pioneer is revolutionizing the plasma television business. They have completely redesigned their plasma technology to produce the sharpest and most vivid picture you’ll find; the code name for this effort is Project Kuro. Kuro is Japanese for “black”, and the ability of these TV’s to produce jet-black blacks sets them apart from the rest of the industry.

What’s the Difference: Cables

Did you know that for any one kind of connecting cable in your entertainment system (audio, video, digital signal cable, etc.) there are only three big differences between any two designs?

They are:

• The Conductor
• The Covering (insulator and shield)
• The Connector

Smart Remote Control

Take a look at the coffee table in your living room.  Chances are you’ve got a remote for your television, one for the cable box, another one for your DVD player.

You probably have one or two for your sound system as well…and there isn’t a one you can actually read the buttons on.  Worse yet, pressing the wrong button can really put your evening’s entertainment in jeopardy. You shouldn’t dread family movie night.

Blu-ray version of Cars has arrived.

Disney has hit one out of the park with the Blu-ray version of Cars.

The quality of the animation made my jaw drop. Having just raved last week about the quality of "Meet the Robinsons" Blu-ray release, I've gotta say that I think this title actually trumps it in both sound and picture quality. The depth of colors on the individual cars was amazing as was the level of detail. The standard DVD of Cars is my two year old's favorite, so I'm famililar with the movie. But this hi def version is like a whole new experience. It's my new reference standard for picture quality.

Games in HD

A big HDTV and a surround sound system are the way to go for watching big games like the World Series or the Super Bowl, but they’re also the ultimate vehicle for video games.

Remember that games are now available in high-definition too! Many games now feature digital surround sound as well, and when you set those loose on a quality home theater, the effects can be staggering.

Black Friday

Are you heading out to shop for a TV on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving)? If so, your experience will likely be a little different than for those who bought TV’s a year ago at this time. Last year there was a wave of discounting of historic proportions that was centered on flat panel TV’s, and it was so pronounced that CE companies are still talking about it!

This year, price drops on flat panel sets have slowed considerably as the market has matured, so we’re less likely to see a discounting frenzy. But there will still be excellent deals. Tweeter will again be featuring some incredible values on select higher end Video and Audio products.

Here are a few other thoughts on how to get more value from your TV purchase this holiday...

Progressive Stretch or Why is Everyone so Fat?

Some widescreen TV’s can make Skeletor look overweight.

Here’s why… there are lots of TV shows and movies on DVD that were shot to fit on older square-ish TV’s. Those traditional TV’s have what’s called a 4:3 "aspect ratio", or ratio of picture width to height.

3D Video... at Home?

Coming Soon... 3D HD

3D movies are a blast to watch, and pretty soon you’ll be able to watch in 3D at home. In fact, Texas Instruments has just introduced its first DLP (Digital Light Processing) system to incorporate 3D capability- so you’ll be seeing 3D capable DLP TV’s shortly. Mitsubishi, one of our favorite DLP TV manufacturers, will be among the first to offer them.

A Tip... Tip It!

Q:   Muddy Sound...
I have a home theater system with 5.1 channel sound, a good quality surround sound receiver, and a 50” projection TV on a stand. The problem is that dialogue sounds unclear; kind of muddy. Any ideas?

A: My first question would be, "Is your center speaker on a shelf in the stand beneath your TV?"

If so, check to see where it’s aimed. Most speakers in that situation are aimed at the listener’s knees. Since mid and high notes are fairy directional (they travel more like a spotlight than a floodlight), chances are good that those notes aren’t making it to your ears directly. Instead they’re either bouncing off the floor, or being absorbed by the rug if there is one, and neither of those is a good thing. Try tipping the center speaker back so that it’s aimed more directly at your ears. There are several good center speaker stands on the market, but you can test the idea with a spare remote slid beneath the front edge of the speaker. Chances are you’ll get a big performance boost for free.

720p and 1080i - A look at the numbers

There are two different high definition broadcast standards: 720p and 1080i.

The broadcasters can choose which standard they want to use. The number is how many horizontal lines are used to “paint” the picture, either 720 or 1080 lines. Since more lines means greater detail and resolution, you would think that 1080i is way better than 720p. But not so fast, cowboy.  The letters "i" and "p" mean something too.

Choosing a Hi-Def TV

Looking for a Hi-Def TV? Well, get ready to be barraged with a slew of new terms. There’s Plasma, LCD, DLP, SXRD...the list seems endless. That’s because TVs today are VERY different from what was available only a few short years ago.

So before you give up and apply the eeny-meeny-miny-moe technique to selecting a new TV, take a minute and learn about the differences and advantages of each type. Even if you already own a Hi-Def TV, catch up on all the latest, so when your in-laws ask you what they should buy, you’ll sound just like a Tweeter expert!

Other than audio enhancements what does HDMI 1.3 do for High Def Video?

High-definition Multimedia Interface 1.3  adds support for the xvYCC color space. Also referred to as x.v.Color. The color space will greatly improve the quality of High Definition video material.

xvYCC stands for Extended-gamut Luminance Chrominance. It is a new color space used in video electronics that is made to vastly outperform its any of its NTSC predecessors. The xvYCC color space was ratified by the International Electrotechnical Commission in October 2005 and released to the CE world for adoption January 2006. This standard expands the current color data range by approximately 1.8 times.

Blockbuster picks Blu-ray

In this century’s version of VHS vs. Beta, Blu-ray and HD-DVD have been going head to head for the HD disc movies business.  It seems that the two have been trading blows and everyone has their own opinions on who will win. 

The biggest blow thus far may have been dealt this week when Blockbuster video, one of the nation’s largest video rental chains, announced that it will be carrying HD disc movies exclusively in Blu-ray Disc format for 1700 of its stores.  Blockbuster reached this decision after a test in 250 of its locations featuring both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc showed Blu-ray significantly outpacing HD-DVD in HD disc movie rentals.  Blockbuster announced that each location will begin carrying more than 170 titles.  So has the victor been decided?  Hardly not but it’s definitely Toshiba’s turn to punch back.

The Big Picture - Hi-Def Video Projectors

When we try to recreate the movie theater experience at home, what often falls short is the size and scale of the screen.

For that really big picture you need a video projector. The video projector is positioned very much like a traditional movie film projector—that is, in front of a separate reflective screen. And the screen can be as big, or small, as you want. In fact, using the right video projector, screens as big as 200” diagonal are not uncommon when we install large home theater systems.

Get more out of your Panasonic Blu-ray Player

If you purchased the Panasonic DMPBD10K Blu-ray Player, I have some great news!

Panasonic just let me know that their HD and Dolby true HD firmware upgrade is finally available.  With it you’ll be able to play back the latest true uncompressed surround sound tracks for the ultimate in home theater sound. Also included is an upgrade to the new HD color standard. If you think the Hi-Def picture is good now, just wait till you see the upgrade.

Our experts answer a few questions about LCD TVs

Why should I consider buying an LCD TV?

Not long ago, an LCD TV was considered fine for the bedroom or as a computer monitor, but not as the main TV in a living room or home theater. Not anymore!

Today, LCD technology is all grown-up, ready to take on the best the world has to offer. These TVs provide brilliant Hi-Def images, ultra-thin cabinets and are available in screen sizes to fit any room or application.

Let’s clear up the confusion about projection TVs.

There are so many new projection TVs. Can you explain the differences?

If you’re just starting to look at High Definition projection TVs, you probably have been barraged with weird-sounding acronyms. LCD? LCOS? DLP? Can someone help me figure all this stuff out? No problem. That’s our job. The purpose of this piece is to acquaint you specifically with LCD and LCOS projection TV technologies. If you want, there’s a separate link to click on for a complete DLP projection TV article to find out more about that technology.

Everything you wanted to know about DVD.

What’s the difference between a CD and a DVD?

They are in fact the same size. And like a CD, the data on a DVD is in the form of small pits running in a spiral across the disc. The difference is that a DVD can hold MUCH more data than a CD. A single-sided, single-layer DVD can store about seven times more than a CD. There are several reasons why, but the main one is because the microscopic pits and bumps on the disc are even smaller on a DVD. And to add even more storage, DVDs can be two-sided (CDs are always one-sided) and can also be configured in a multi-layer format. In a multi-layer DVD, data is layered on top of each other.

DID YOU KNOW?
If you could lift the data track off a single layer of a DVD, and stretch it out into a straight line, it would be almost 7.5 miles long!

The answers to all your questions about DVRs.

I’ve heard a lot about DVRs. Just what are they?

A DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is basically a 21st century VCR. They let you record your favorite programs and then watch them when it’s convenient for you. But that's about the only similarity. DVRs are tapeless. They record to a hard drive, like the hard drive found on your computer. The more storage capacity on the hard drive, the more hours of programming you can record.

Our experts field a few questions about the transition to Digital TV.

When can we expect the final switchover to Digital TV?

To make the transition to DTV, a Digital Transition Timeline was established. Congress' original date to stop the over-the-air broadcasting of analog channels was to be the end of 2006 but as with most projects, the deadline got pushed back. It is now February 17th, 2009.

We bust the myths about Blu-ray and HD DVD

Do we need another video disc format?

Yes, and here’s a very good reason. As successful as DVD has become, it has one major drawback. In its current state, DVD is simply not a high definition format. As good as DVD images look, they are limited to 852 x 480 pixels, either interlaced or progressive scan. That’s good, but HDTV is much better. The HDTV format is capable of a maximum of 1,920 x 1080 interlaced or progressive pixels, a number considerably higher than the limit for DVD.

Answering your questions about portable DVD players.

I travel a lot. What about a portable DVD?

By now you probably have a DVD player in your home. You may even have a DVD player in your car. But did you know that you could take a portable DVD player with you wherever you go.

Everything you wanted to know about Hi-Def DLP® TVs

What makes Texas Instruments DLP® big screen TVs different?

In the not so distant past, big screen TVs were enormous and only looked good when you viewed them directly from the front. The reason is simple: the images were still being produced by old-fashioned CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes). Three very bright CRTs (one for red, blue and green, which when combined create all colors) projected the television image on the screen.

Plasma TVs. The down and dirty facts.

What is a plasma TV?

From its humble beginnings as a lab experiment in 1964 in upstate New York, plasma television has risen to take center stage in the Digital TV revolution. All it takes is a casual look at one to understand why. They’re slim, sexy and create exceptionally clear video images. In fact, they’re so slim that it’s no big deal to hang one up on your living room wall to take up zero floor space. If your old space-consuming tube or big screen TV has you wishing for something better, it’s a dream come true.

How to clean a plasma TV screen

We get this question all the time!

Dust, finger marks, and all kinds of residue can end up on your beautiful plasma TV screen. What’s the best clean them off? To get the answer, we went straight to one of the top plasma manufacturers to find out what their recommendation is.

Which of the new TV types has the widest viewing angle?

Many experts would rate Plasma TVs as having the most uniform brightness and widest viewing angle.

Both DLP and LCD sets would rate below Plasma, though the gap is starting to narrow.  Don't go by the listed manufacturer's specifications here!  There's no industry standardized measurement method, so the best way to judge viewing angle is with your eyes in the store.  Walk from side to side and judge the different sets on your list of contenders to find the one that looks best to you. 

On HDTV sets, what does HD-Ready mean vs. HD-Integrated?

High Definition TVs that are HD-Ready do not have built-in HD tuners inside them. That means you need an "outboard" HD tuner in order to tune in and watch your favorite shows in Hi Definition. 

This outboard box could be from a Satellite TV system (like DirecTV), or a High Definition box from your Cable company, or a stand-alone High Definition tuner connected to an outside TV antenna for over-the-air broadcasts.

HD-Integrated means that the set has a High Definition tuner built in.  These TVs can receive over-the-air HD broadcasts when connected to an outside TV antenna.  If the set is labeled "DCR" or Digital Cable Ready, you can rent a CableCard from your local Cable Company to receive HD shows.  This CableCard goes into a special slot on the TV and eliminates the need for an outboard cable box, a nice convenience.  You may give up getting Pay-Per-View/Video on Demand and an on-screen Cable channel guide when you use a Cable Card because you may need the cable box to get those features. 

What TV screen size is best for my room?

Here's a good rule of thumb. If you're looking at an HDTV, then take the seating distance to the screen in inches and divide that by 2.5. Let's say your distance is 12 feet, which is 144 inches. Using this formula, your optimum screen size would be 144 ÷ 2.5 = 57 inches. So a 56-inch size screen would fit your needs best. By the way, this works for any type of TV you're considering.