With Blu-ray players taking all the limelight at the moment with their sparkling high definition quality, we thought we'd take a moment to look at what is still the most popular format by far - the good old DVD.
With many people ditching their DVD players to buy shiny new Blu-ray players, there are still lots of people who want to get the very best of their DVD collection. Luckily, all the big manufacturers are still making very high quality DVD players, but the brand which seems to be making most effort in this area is Toshiba.
When their HD-DVD format was ditched, Toshiba decided to help everyone by making a DVD player that could provide near high definition quality from a regular standard definition DVD. It was a huge success, and the brand have now released the succesor to this player, the Toshiba XD-E600. Not only does it have very smart looks and all the connection options you could need, but it will do exactly what it promises - make your existing DVD look high definition! With some Blu-ray players providing mediocre (at best) performance when playing DVDs, the XD-E600 at its very reasonable sub £80 price, makes a perfect addition to your Blu-ray player and really helps you get the very best from both formats.
The brand also has a range of slightly less expensive upscaling players, with the Toshiba SD-590 being probably the best of the range, but the absolute bargain Toshiba SD-390 is also a very capable player.
All this goes to show that DVD can still look great, and is still very much alive.
Friday, 20 November 2009
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Enjoy high definition home cinema with the Sony BDV-360FS and Sony HT-SS360
Seeing as Sony were one of the main driving forces behind Blu-ray, it is no surprise that they have just launched a new range of high definition home cinema systems aimed at making the very most from the format.
The Sony BDV-360FS is aimed at people who want to enjoy an improved sound experience but don't want to have to put speakers all around the room and perhaps just want or need to improve the not so great sound from their flatscreen televisions speakers. Being only a 2.1 system will mean that the full surround sound effects will be limited, but it will still be a massive improvement on the built in television speakers with much more bass and better clarity. The Sony BDV-360FS also has a multitude of connection options on the rear meaning you can plug almost everything into it and enjoy surround sound from them all. For example with 3 HDMI sockets you could plug in the included BDP-S360 Blu-ray player, a PS3, and a HD camcorder; with 2 optical inputs you can connect your Wii and Sky/Freeview/Freesat decoder; with a digital coaxial you can connect an addition DVD player, and with stereo phono sockets you can connect your television or older device. Added to that, it also has a media port for your MP3 player!
The Sony HT-SS360 is slightly different and is a full 5.1 system that accompanies an existing Blu-ray player, and has in fact been specifically designed for the Sony BDP-S360. Matching both in terms of performance and looks they make an ideal pairing, and the system is suitable for someone who doesn't want to compromise on the full surround sound effects, but also want a very good looking system in their home. Again there are good connection options at the rear (although not quite as comprehensive as the BDV-360FS) so should suits most peoples needs.
The Sony BDV-360FS is aimed at people who want to enjoy an improved sound experience but don't want to have to put speakers all around the room and perhaps just want or need to improve the not so great sound from their flatscreen televisions speakers. Being only a 2.1 system will mean that the full surround sound effects will be limited, but it will still be a massive improvement on the built in television speakers with much more bass and better clarity. The Sony BDV-360FS also has a multitude of connection options on the rear meaning you can plug almost everything into it and enjoy surround sound from them all. For example with 3 HDMI sockets you could plug in the included BDP-S360 Blu-ray player, a PS3, and a HD camcorder; with 2 optical inputs you can connect your Wii and Sky/Freeview/Freesat decoder; with a digital coaxial you can connect an addition DVD player, and with stereo phono sockets you can connect your television or older device. Added to that, it also has a media port for your MP3 player!
The Sony HT-SS360 is slightly different and is a full 5.1 system that accompanies an existing Blu-ray player, and has in fact been specifically designed for the Sony BDP-S360. Matching both in terms of performance and looks they make an ideal pairing, and the system is suitable for someone who doesn't want to compromise on the full surround sound effects, but also want a very good looking system in their home. Again there are good connection options at the rear (although not quite as comprehensive as the BDV-360FS) so should suits most peoples needs.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Panasonic SC-BT200 and SC-BT205 - is there much difference
There is a whole host of new Blu-ray home cinema systems out at the monent but two of the most popular systems fron Panasonic have left us a little intrigued.
The Panasonic SC-BT200 is a very good Blu-ray based home cinema with its compact speakers meaning they will be easy to position in many different rooms. Whilst the looks may not exactly be cutting egde (they are quite conservatively styled) they will at least blend into your rooms decor with ease. It's quite a decent price too, so all in all things look good. But go to the next model in the range and things look a little different.
The Panasonic SC-BT205 is almost the same as the 200 - the same Blu-ray player amplifier unit, the same subwoofer, even the same rear speakers. The main, and somewhat obvious difference though is the tall front speakers as opposed to the compact speakers. However, look a little close and you discover that they are simply full height versions of the smaller speakers. They have the same output, frequency range and everything. What is intriguing though is that the Panasonic SC-BT205 is an additional £100. Of course full height speakers are easier to position than smaller compact speakers, and easier to get good sound from because they are always at ear height, but the cost does seem a little excessive for just a bit more plastic.
But whichever of these systems you choose, you will have made a good choice, so enjoy your Blu-ray home cinema system!
The Panasonic SC-BT200 is a very good Blu-ray based home cinema with its compact speakers meaning they will be easy to position in many different rooms. Whilst the looks may not exactly be cutting egde (they are quite conservatively styled) they will at least blend into your rooms decor with ease. It's quite a decent price too, so all in all things look good. But go to the next model in the range and things look a little different.
The Panasonic SC-BT205 is almost the same as the 200 - the same Blu-ray player amplifier unit, the same subwoofer, even the same rear speakers. The main, and somewhat obvious difference though is the tall front speakers as opposed to the compact speakers. However, look a little close and you discover that they are simply full height versions of the smaller speakers. They have the same output, frequency range and everything. What is intriguing though is that the Panasonic SC-BT205 is an additional £100. Of course full height speakers are easier to position than smaller compact speakers, and easier to get good sound from because they are always at ear height, but the cost does seem a little excessive for just a bit more plastic.
But whichever of these systems you choose, you will have made a good choice, so enjoy your Blu-ray home cinema system!
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Player
Well it seems to have been a log wait, but the Sony BDP-S360 is finally with us, to replace the old BDP-S350.
This Blu-ray player is being marketed as a budget model, and with street prices of around £160 this seems to be about right. Where as the previous player had a few shortcomings - namely the lack of BD-LIVE and not being able to decode DTS-HD Master Audio -the new S360 resolves all these issues to make it a much more capable player. The quality is still there of course and Blu-ray playback is stunning as you would expect, but the disc load time is much improved too. It is also much better looking than its predecessor which will help shift a few of the players off the shelves.
The Sony S360 has a lot going for it, but up against todays competition, it does still seem to be lacking a little. For example, the Sony S360 does not have the networking features of the Panasonic DMP-BD60, which could be a problem for some people, especially as the Panasonic is only £20 more.
Overall though, the Sony BDP-S360 is a very good Blu-ray player, and will certainly keep the brand up with its rivals - even if it can't quite overtake them... yet.
This Blu-ray player is being marketed as a budget model, and with street prices of around £160 this seems to be about right. Where as the previous player had a few shortcomings - namely the lack of BD-LIVE and not being able to decode DTS-HD Master Audio -the new S360 resolves all these issues to make it a much more capable player. The quality is still there of course and Blu-ray playback is stunning as you would expect, but the disc load time is much improved too. It is also much better looking than its predecessor which will help shift a few of the players off the shelves.
The Sony S360 has a lot going for it, but up against todays competition, it does still seem to be lacking a little. For example, the Sony S360 does not have the networking features of the Panasonic DMP-BD60, which could be a problem for some people, especially as the Panasonic is only £20 more.
Overall though, the Sony BDP-S360 is a very good Blu-ray player, and will certainly keep the brand up with its rivals - even if it can't quite overtake them... yet.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Panasonic SC-PT470 v Sony DAV-DZ280 Home Cinema Systems
If you're looking for an all in one home cinema system that can act as a hub for your home audio and well as home cinema, you are currently spoilt for choice. Two systems from the biggest names in home electronics both offer systems with similar specification but with sublte differences.
The Sony DAV-DZ280 is a sleek modern looking system which includes iPod connectivity so it can really act as the hub of your system. The five speakers are all finished in gloss black and the actual DVD/amplfier unit is one of the best looking we've seen from Sony so far. At around £200 it is a very good value system too, and makes a fine purchase.
Although not quite as futurustic in design the Panasonic SC-PT470 Home Cinema System does have a sleeker and slightly more conservative look and a similar specification to the Sony. What the Panasonic does have though is a rather neat slide out drawer that acts as the iPod dock so like the Sony, the SC-PT470 can act as the hub of your home audio system.
Both systems are available for around £200 at online stores, and whichever one you choose will make your home movie watching much more enjoyable.
The Sony DAV-DZ280 is a sleek modern looking system which includes iPod connectivity so it can really act as the hub of your system. The five speakers are all finished in gloss black and the actual DVD/amplfier unit is one of the best looking we've seen from Sony so far. At around £200 it is a very good value system too, and makes a fine purchase.
Although not quite as futurustic in design the Panasonic SC-PT470 Home Cinema System does have a sleeker and slightly more conservative look and a similar specification to the Sony. What the Panasonic does have though is a rather neat slide out drawer that acts as the iPod dock so like the Sony, the SC-PT470 can act as the hub of your home audio system.
Both systems are available for around £200 at online stores, and whichever one you choose will make your home movie watching much more enjoyable.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
New Onkyo Home Cinema Receivers
Onkyo is not the best known brand in the High Street general consumer electronics marketplace, but in the home cinema and enthusiasts audio market they are one of the most respected brands out there. Therefore it is always an exciting event when a new range of Onkyo Home Cinema Amplifiers are launched.
The new entry level home cinema receiver from the brand, the Onkyo TX-SR307, is a great value device which is ideally suited to someone who wants a hub to their home cinema and gaming system. With 3 HDMI inputs and digital sound processing modes developed especially for gaming it will suit the gaming enthusiast who wants to enjoy surround sound from their DVD/Blu-ray player, as well as their consoles.
The next in the new range is the Onkyo TX-SR507 which at only £80 more manages to pack in a few extra features. It gains an extra HDMI input on the rear, but most importantly it is fully equipped to decode and process the new high definition sound formats like DTS-HD Master Audio, and Dolby TrueHD to make it a great future-proof buy.
There are two further Onkyo Home Cinema Receivers in the range also, the Onkyo TX-SR577 and TX-SR607 which we'll look at soon.
Visit Home Cinema Buyer for more information on these and other home cinema amplifiers.
The new entry level home cinema receiver from the brand, the Onkyo TX-SR307, is a great value device which is ideally suited to someone who wants a hub to their home cinema and gaming system. With 3 HDMI inputs and digital sound processing modes developed especially for gaming it will suit the gaming enthusiast who wants to enjoy surround sound from their DVD/Blu-ray player, as well as their consoles.
The next in the new range is the Onkyo TX-SR507 which at only £80 more manages to pack in a few extra features. It gains an extra HDMI input on the rear, but most importantly it is fully equipped to decode and process the new high definition sound formats like DTS-HD Master Audio, and Dolby TrueHD to make it a great future-proof buy.
There are two further Onkyo Home Cinema Receivers in the range also, the Onkyo TX-SR577 and TX-SR607 which we'll look at soon.
Visit Home Cinema Buyer for more information on these and other home cinema amplifiers.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
KEF Home Cinema Speaker Packages
The British based company KEF has been making decent speakers for many, many years now and were one of the first manufacturers to get involved in dedicated home cinema speakers and packages. They were also one of the first speaker producers to produce really good looking home cinema speaker packages for the home, with the now famous KEF 'Egg' series.
Now in their third incarnation, the KEF KHT2005.3 home cinema speakers are a masterpiece in good design, and fantastic acoustic engineering. Despite being quite heavy for their size, they are easy to mount with the ingenious built in bracket. The KHT2005 comes with the mid range KEF KUBE-2 subwoofer which perfectly matches the speakers in terms of sound and design. The speakers aren't the cheapest in the KEF range but they are one of the best overall packages in terms of sound quality and value for money.
The next down in the KEF range are the KEF KHT1005.2 which are smaller in design and lower in price, but still pack a very worthwhile punch. These KEF speakers do not have the same mounting brackets as the 2005's but because they are smaller and not as heavy, they are slightly easier to position. The KHT1005.2 comes with the KUBE-1 subwoofer which is a good sized, and very capable subwoofer. Overall, the KHT1005 makes a great starting point for anyone who wants to get into a separates based home cinema system, but want the ease, convenience and value of lower cost speaker package.
Read more about these KEF speakers and other home cinema speaker packages on the Home Cinema Buyer website
Now in their third incarnation, the KEF KHT2005.3 home cinema speakers are a masterpiece in good design, and fantastic acoustic engineering. Despite being quite heavy for their size, they are easy to mount with the ingenious built in bracket. The KHT2005 comes with the mid range KEF KUBE-2 subwoofer which perfectly matches the speakers in terms of sound and design. The speakers aren't the cheapest in the KEF range but they are one of the best overall packages in terms of sound quality and value for money.
The next down in the KEF range are the KEF KHT1005.2 which are smaller in design and lower in price, but still pack a very worthwhile punch. These KEF speakers do not have the same mounting brackets as the 2005's but because they are smaller and not as heavy, they are slightly easier to position. The KHT1005.2 comes with the KUBE-1 subwoofer which is a good sized, and very capable subwoofer. Overall, the KHT1005 makes a great starting point for anyone who wants to get into a separates based home cinema system, but want the ease, convenience and value of lower cost speaker package.
Read more about these KEF speakers and other home cinema speaker packages on the Home Cinema Buyer website
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