Introduction Sharp has been at the forefront of LCD front-projection technology since the dawn of the technology. The company jumped into DLP once the first high-resolution 1280 x 720 pixel chips became available to manufacturers. Sharp’s first DLP projector, the XV-Z9000U, turned quite a few heads with its impressive picture quality back in 2001. The latest top of the line model, the XV-Z20000U, also a one-chip design, boasts the latest 1080p-resolution DLP chip, and promises again to be a head-turner. 1080p resolution came late to DLP display technology, as compared to the LCD category, which has had that vaunted high resolution for some time and consequently carries a fairly steep premium in price. At the moment, the least expensive 1080p one-chip DLP projectors start at around $10,000, whereas 1080p LCD and LCS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) projectors start at about $3,000 and go up from there. The Sharp XV-Z20000U definitely delivers the video goods with excellent ...

Introduction I have always thought of a “home theater” as stereotypically consisting of a front projector like Sony’s Qualia 004 or even their new and affordable “pearl” projector and a large filmscreen. How else would you get an image big enough for a real theater experience? Sony’s new KDS-R70XBR2 with its 70-inch screen is a set that has changed the way I feel about the impact you can get from a relatively affordable rear projection HDTV. The ease of installation starts the romance. Being able to watch a big, bright HDTV with daylight peeking into the room only adds to the love affair. Then there is the price difference, which almost makes you want to get down on one knee and propose. Description It took two people and some care to place this monster HDTV, weighing in at 161 pounds and sized at 74.25 inches wide by 45.5 inches high and 24 inches deep, on ...

Introduction The performance increase of home video products over the past three years, paired with precipitous price drops, is nothing short of unprecedented. 50-inch HDTVs that only a few years ago cost $20,000 today cost less than $2,000. Never before have we seen video technology get so good so fast and for so little money. Companies like Vizio have gone from no-name brands to literally billion-dollar ventures today, providing consumers with access to HDTV video that can be the core of a truly respectable home theater at Costco prices. Not to be outdone, Sony has stepped into the fray of incredibly powerful video with their Pearl projector that at last fall’s CEDIA trade show threw the world of consumer video projectors on its ass. This $4,999 projector drew attention from reviewers, dealers and competitors alike with its bright image, 1080p resolution, slick aesthetic and amazingly low price tag. Before I get into the nitty gritty, I ...

Introduction Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I pull out all the stops by fully decorating the house, buying enough candy to put a normally healthy adult into diabetic shock and generally reveling in the fun of dispensing goodies to those in need. It is possible Bob Carver felt the same emotions when he designed the Sunfire Theater Grand Processor 5. Available in a black or silver finish, the TGP-5 is designed to be the hub of a high-end, high-performance home theater, providing all the flexibility and connections you could need. Offering HDMI switching, video transcoding, an integrated AM/FM tuner, the ability to handle seemingly any surround sound format and direct stereo bypass for two-channel listening, as well as extensive options for controlling an independent second zone, few processors in the world of home theater offer what this one does, especially for its modest retail price of $3,499. The TGP-5 provides both single-ended and balanced outputs ...

Introduction This early in the development of the Blu-ray format, amidst a format war with rival HD DVD, Sony’s first player hits the market as one of the few real-world options for people looking to play back 1080p video on their HDTVs. Priced at $999, the Sony BDP-S1 competes with offerings from Samsung and Panasonic, as well as the hard-to-get Sony Playstation 3 game console. Included with the player is a copy of The Fifth Element (Columbia/TriStar Home Entertainment) on Blu-ray. A free Blu-ray movie, Talledega Nights, also accompanies Sony’s Playstation 3 game console. The Sony BDP-S1 came to my house the same day as Sony’s new 70-inch SXRD rear-projection TV, the KDS-R70XBR2, so all at once I was fully up for 1080p. I quickly unpacked the Sony player from its box and Styrofoam packing, unwrapped it, placed it in my rack and swapped its digital connection with that of another of my DVD ...