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Surround Sound
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Experts Say That as Many as 50% of Home Theater Buyers Don't Set Up Their Rear Surround Speakers
Apparently, home theater systems around the world are falling short of greatness because their owners are failing to hook up their rear speakers (properly at least). Not surprisingly, the main culprits are that many customers who purchase home theater gear and attempt to hook it up themselves either have no idea what they are doing, or aesthetic issues like exposed cords force them into an meaningless existence bereft of sweet surround sound. More »
home entertainment
Sony RHT-G900 TV Stand With Built-In 5.1 Virtual Surround Sound
This May Sony Japan is expected to release the RHT-G900 TV stand designed especially for its Bravia lineup. The rack features a built-in left, right, and center speaker channels along with a subwoofer in the rack which will deliver 5.1 channel virtual surround sound and 470W of power. More »
home entertainment
Often when we encounter these super deluxe home theater rigs, we can't figure out where all that money goes. Not so for the Kipnis Studio Standard, the austere name Jeremy Kipnis gave to his $6 million trial home theater, one he's happy to reproduce for any other way-too-well-off citizen who asks. I mean, yeah, it's totally ridiculous, but with 8.8 channels of surround sound, 16 subwoofers and video resolution four times as tight as 1080p, at least you see where your some rich dude's money is going.
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$6 Million Kipnis Home Theater Seats 3, Might Be Worth the Money
Often when we encounter these super deluxe home theater rigs, we can't figure out where all that money goes. Not so for the Kipnis Studio Standard, the austere name Jeremy Kipnis gave to his $6 million trial home theater, one he's happy to reproduce for any other way-too-well-off citizen who asks. I mean, yeah, it's totally ridiculous, but with 8.8 channels of surround sound, 16 subwoofers and video resolution four times as tight as 1080p, at least you see where More »
peripherals
JVC's SP-A440 Simulates Surround Sound, Looks Weird
JVC's SP-A440 sound system puts two 1.3-inch drivers into each of it's cube speakers, but on different faces. The manufacturer says that this configuration gives broader sound coverage and a "surround sound"-like experience while in Theater Mode. In Music mode, it will use the extra driver to give your tunes just a bit more power. Their small stands also allow you to twist each 2.5-inch cubic speaker into several positions for better sound control. In Japan soon for $45. [AV Watch]
diy
Here's a relatively easy and cheap way to turn ordinary headphones into 5.1 surround sound phones for your PC. Just make sure you have a 5.1 surround sound card, and then you can turn a pair of full-sized headphones into a conduit for mucho surround sound goodness. The full-sized headphones provide the center channel and subwoofer, while a couple of pairs of earbuds you insert inside provide front and rear surround speakers. If what the videomaker says is true, these might not sound too bad. We might actually want to try this. [Viddler]
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Make Surround Sound Earphones for a Song
Here's a relatively easy and cheap way to turn ordinary headphones into 5.1 surround sound phones for your PC. Just make sure you have a 5.1 surround sound card, and then you can turn a pair of full-sized headphones into a conduit for mucho surround sound goodness. The full-sized headphones provide the center channel and subwoofer, while a couple of pairs of earbuds you insert inside provide front and rear surround speakers. If what the videomaker says is true, these might not sound too bad. We might actually want to try this. [Viddler]
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headphones
According to Panasonic, their new RP-WF5500 headphones are "the world's smallest and lightest wireless surround sound headphones." Believe it or not, each unit packs 5.1-channel Dolby Surround support over a 2.4GHz connection, a 20 to 22,000 Hz frequency band, 30-meter (98-foot ) operating range, and six hour battery life into a 250g (.56-pound) frame. They can also automatically determine and adapt to multi-channel digital, DTS and MPEG-2 ACC audio formats via 2 optical digital audio inputs, one analog audio input, and music/movie mode selections. Pricing details have not been announced, but you can expect to see the RP-WF5500's ship November 20th in Japan. [i4u via TFTS]
Panasonic: The RP-WF5500's are the World's Most Compact Wireless Surround Sound Headphones
According to Panasonic, their new RP-WF5500 headphones are "the world's smallest and lightest wireless surround sound headphones." Believe it or not, each unit packs 5.1-channel Dolby Surround support over a 2.4GHz connection, a 20 to 22,000 Hz frequency band, 30-meter (98-foot ) operating range, and six hour battery life into a 250g (.56-pound) frame. They can also automatically determine and adapt to multi-channel digital, DTS and MPEG-2 ACC audio formats via 2 optical digital audio inputs, one analog audio input, and music/movie mode selections. Pricing details have not been announced, but you can expect to see the RP-WF5500's ship November 20th in Japan. [i4u via TFTS]
listen up
Logitech's $200 G51 surround-sound speakers work with hot new 5.1 sound cards thanks to a direct six-channel input, but they were designed to intensify even lame-ass stereo games with a 5.1 matrixing mode and an explosive 56-watt subwoofer. The system has an integrated headphone jack for conveniently talking trash with the other kids combatants. But say your mom suddenly interrupts the melee with your favorite PB&J—Logitech thought of that, too.
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Logitech G51 Speakers Bestow Serious Surround Sound Upon the Lamest of Games
Logitech's $200 G51 surround-sound speakers work with hot new 5.1 sound cards thanks to a direct six-channel input, but they were designed to intensify even lame-ass stereo games with a 5.1 matrixing mode and an explosive 56-watt subwoofer. The system has an integrated headphone jack for conveniently talking trash with the other
field guide
OK, we're calling it: this is the year of the sound bar, those long, slender speaker boxes that you see freakin' everywhere. (Today alone we mentioned three companies introducing a total of six new models!) When our very own Brian Lam was at CES this past January, he heard the editor-in-chief of a top home Audiophile/Videophile magazine tell one of his lead sound gear writers "audio is just dead." That kind of talk is not unexpected—it's about as shocking as a French wine critic calling Australian shiraz "the end of civilization." We all know sound bars have a place, but what have they done to 5.1? As you may have noticed, not all sound bars are surround bars. Here's the breakdown of most currently available models:
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The Field Guide to Faux-Surround Soundbars
OK, we're calling it: this is the year of the sound bar, those long, slender speaker boxes that you see freakin' everywhere. (Today alone we mentioned three companies introducing a total of six new models!) When our very own Brian Lam was at CES this past January, he heard the editor-in-chief of a top home Audiophile/Videophile magazine tell one of his lead sound gear writers "audio is just dead." That kind of talk is not unexpected—it's about as shocking as a French wine critic calling Australian shiraz "the end of civilization." We all know sound bars have a place, but what have they done to 5.1? As you may have noticed, not all sound bars are surround bars. Here's the breakdown of most currently available models:More »
whole lotta speaker
The iLive Flat Panel Docking System is a virtual surround sound bar that uses magnetically shielded 2 full mid/high range drivers and twin internal woofers. You can pretty much hook up whatever you want—DVD players, TVs, computers via USB, other audio players—but considering it has a specially built motorized tray that fits an iPod, we're guessing that's what iLive had in mind. The unit also has a headphone jack. Weird.
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iLive's Extra-Wide iPod Surround Speakerbar
The iLive Flat Panel Docking System is a virtual surround sound bar that uses magnetically shielded 2 full mid/high range drivers and twin internal woofers. You can pretty much hook up whatever you want—DVD players, TVs, computers via USB, other audio players—but considering it has a specially built motorized tray that fits an iPod, we're guessing that's what iLive had in mind. The unit also has a headphone jack. Weird.More »
rock the house
JVC rolled out the TH-L1 entertainment surround system designed to plug into gaming consoles, and it's iPod friendly, too. But gaming is not all it does. Even though it costs $299.95, this 5.1 setup still has two HDMI inputs and rocks out 40 watts per channel for the two front speakers, 100 watts for the center channel and subwoofer and 40 more watts for each of its two rear speakers.
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JVC TH-L1 5.1 Surround System For Gamers and Home Theater, Too
JVC rolled out the TH-L1 entertainment surround system designed to plug into gaming consoles, and it's iPod friendly, too. But gaming is not all it does. Even though it costs $299.95, this 5.1 setup still has two HDMI inputs and rocks out 40 watts per channel for the two front speakers, 100 watts for the center channel and subwoofer and 40 more watts for each of its two rear speakers.
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home theatre in a box
Dealzmodo: Sony Flat-Panel Speaker HTiB, $180
Circuit City has a decent Sony SA-FT3H 5.1-channel surround sound system for $180, which is at least $70 cheaper than most other places. The speakers are less than 1.3 inches deep and include a 150-watt subwoofer. Not a bad solution for the person with a minimalist style or not a lot of room. More »
home theater in your chair
Bose Wants to Bring Surround Sound to Your Office Chair
The folks at Bose have filed a new patent designed to mount a surround sound system onto the headrest of a seat. We've seen cars with surround sound set ups before (Bose even has their Psychoacoustics technology used in car speakers), but this time around they're relying on an electroacoustical transducer to deliver the 5.1 bang. The system will also have potential for hooking up to a cellphone and can be embedded in anything from a car seat to an office chair, making it that much easier to ignore your office coworkers (or backseat drivers). More »
home entertainment
Paradigm Soundbar Covers All of Your Front Channels
I'm all for surround sound, but for the sake of saving space I gravitate to speakers like Paradigm's Millenia 20 Trio, which combines all of your front channels (left, center, and right) into one skinny soundbar. Paradigm doesn't claim it delivers virtual surround surround sound (for that check out these or my personal favorites) so you'll need to pair it with a sub or rear satellites for the full experience. The soundbar will set you back $1,000, which is pricey, but not a bad way to complement your flat-panel. More »
home entertainment
Yamaha YSP-900 Delivers 5.1 Sound From a Single Speaker
I'm always on the hunt for the ultimate virtual surround sound system and I gotta admit, Yamaha's new YSP-900 looks pretty enticing. Like the previous version, it's intended to deliver 2.1 or 5.1 virtual surround sound in a package that only consists of a soundbar. This one in particular is meant to be paired with 32-inch flat-screens. It's just making it's debut in Japan, so hopefully it won't be long before it makes its way to the States. More »
home entertainment
Evesham Sound Stage X1 is a TV Stand, Surround Sound System
I love it when two products get together and mate to form a completely new and awesome product—kind of like when a squirrel mated with a parrot to create the duck-billed platypus. The Sound Stage X1 is a fairly snazzy (and cheap) TV stand that comes with a 50W subwoofer, two 20W center speakers, four 30W front speakers and two 30W rear speakers all integrated into the TV stand. Out of the box it is ready to be plugged into a TV. The Sound Stage X1 has a £300 price tag, or approximately $585, which is a pretty good deal for a nice TV stand and surround sound system. More »
home entertainment
Auvi Speakers: Poor Man's Surround System
Auvi brings the price of a 5.1 surround speaker bar down to earth with these two models, one with 7 speakers and 150 watts of power for $199, and its bigger brother with 11 speakers driven by 250 watts for $299. Each includes that hefty subwoofer you see on the right. They also include an iPod dock connector and let you see the player's user interface on a TV screen. More »
home entertainment
