Move Over Full HD! New JVC Projectors First To Display 2D HD Content with 4K Precision
JVC wowed prosumers and experts alike at the 2012 International CES Convention Las Vegas in January by rolling out the very first home theater projectors to manage 2D HD content with complete 4K precision capabilities.
JVC’s Procision Series includes the DLA-X90R, DLA-X70R and DLA-X30. These unbelievable technologies may set a new bar for home theater projectors.
image source: reviews.cnet.com
Here are some of the specs:
- Pixel resolution of an astounding 340/2160 (4 times the typical full HD);
- Higher native contrast (note – this technology only available in the X90R and X70R);
- Incredible lens memory functions, allowing custom focusing, zooming, and lens shifting;
- Capability of displaying movies in the 2:35 scope format;
- Can convert 2D material to 3D using specialized depth and geometry correction feature;
- DLA-X90R and DLA-X70R are THX Certified 3D displays. In order to get this certification, the models had to go through over 400 lab tests for things like color accuracy, uniformity, deinterlacing, convergence, crosstalk, etc. Suffice it to say, these tests are not easy to pass.
Who might love this “bleeding edge” technology?
AV fanatics who want to experience the most complete, realistic, and flexible projector experience that the market has to offer;
Professionals (commercial directors, cinematographers, producers, etc) who need extremely high quality displays to analyze their work or sell their work to advertisers or other professionals.
Bay Area consumers who want the “best of the best.” Let’s face facts: There is a cache to obtaining, setting up, and enjoying all the bells and whistles on extremely high precision projectors like these JVC gems.
Unfortunately, even if you are a total audio-video-phile, you may find the prospect of installing,
setting up, learning about, and troubleshooting your projector – and adapting it to your current
home theater system – intimidating. To say the least!
The Good News
You don’t have to go it alone. The team here at Karbon Home Theater Consulting has been serving Bay Area prosumers like you since 2003. We are one of the Bay Area’s top home entertainment companies. Our clients include both residential and commercial AV users. We can help with all of your home theater projector needs: installing, setting up, trouble shooting, integrating, etc. Connect with us online at www.hellokarbon.com, or call for a free estimate at 925-798-7600.
Samsung’s Voice/Gesture Controlled Televisions Hit Marketplace
The so-called Smart Interaction Technology is similar to Microsoft’s Kinect with the added plus that you can manipulate the television itself (although you don’t get the game control). Using specialized gesture and voice recognition software, which is embedded into the bezel near the top of the screen, the system allows users to control volume, channels, menu controls, and more. The launch-date functionality is somewhat limited. Company officials promise that a voice/gesture control will be available for using search terms. So you could say, “Computer, show me Wednesday’s episode of Community.” Computer: “Community does not air on Wednesdays, you fool!” User: “Well, then show me the latest Curb Your Enthusiasm episode, Computer, and be snappy about it.” Computer: “Roger that, user.”
image source: fashiontech.ru
The Smart Interaction software has some other great pluses:
• There is a built-in Skype app, so you don’t need to purchase your own speaker phone or Skype camera to make video calls from your television.
• The system also will have “face recognition” capabilities so that each user can access a separate “smart hub account” simply by smiling at the camera.
Smart Interaction is only available on certain high-end LED and plasma models, including Super OLED, UE-8000, UE-7500, and PE-8000.
For help understanding more about this awesome technology, or to install a home theater system “upgrade” for your home or condo in the Bay Area, connect with the team here at Karbon Home Theater at www.hellokarbon.com or 925-798-7600.
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Disruptive Innovation 101: Apple Poised to do it Again in 2012 with Apple TV
The legacy of Steve Jobs lives on, big time… at least if the wonks and techies at Forbes are reading the tea leaves correctly.
The Apple Television set is on track to disrupt the consumer TV market in the third or fourth quarter of 2012. The geniuses at Cupertino are revving up their supply chain to roll out the set.
Not Your Daddy’s Apple TV
Do you have a tech wizard in your inner circle? Perhaps a friend or cousin who obsesses over gadgets, a/v equipment, video games, and the like? Picture the kind of TV he (or she) might dream up in his (or her) wildest fantasies. Then multiply that TV by 20 trillion. That fantasy TV will probably be cooler than the new Apple TV, but not by much.
According to inside sources, the Apple TV should measure 32 inches… and a 37-inch version is right on its heels. Forbes believes that Apple’s innovation will be “undeniably good for consumers,” although pundits do warn that “Apple hasn’t been able to distinguish itself in the same way [as it did with the iPad and iPod] with its previous attempts to corner the TV market.”
The question for you is: are you ready to upgrade, renovate, troubleshoot, and beat the crowds to partake in this latest awesome Apple offer?
If you need help understanding how to construct the most epic (yet cost-effective) home theater system, and you live in the Bay Area, the team here at Karbon Home Theater Consulting can help you. Call to get your free estimate at 925-798-7600, or find out more about us at www.hellokarbon.com.
Since 2003, our Bay Area professionals have been helping clients like you discover hidden tech trends, TV and sound system solutions, and installation help.
image source: lostremote.com
Sonos Play 3: Delightfully Balanced Sound, Wireless Streaming Music
The Sonos Play 3 wireless hi-fi system is a powerful speaker designed to incorporate and mesh with the rest of the Sonos family. Macworld recently gave the device a “5.0 out of 5 Mice,” saying the device “can easily fill a room with sound from [a vast and diverse array of sources, including] your iTunes library, internet radio, and services such as Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster, Spotify, Mog, Rdio, Last.fm, SiriusXM, [and many more].”
Add players all over your home with one touch
On the plus side, the Sonos Play 3 is easy to set up, relatively affordable, portable, and nicely balanced. If you are just discovering Sonos products, this is a nice device to help you “get your feet wet.” The Play 3 sound might not be as big as the sound you can extract from larger devices, such as the Sonos Play 5. But you might be shocked and amazed by just how much sound you get out of the Play 3 — as well as how deep and rich and articulated that sound is.
The Play 3 is an ideal stereo for relatively small, “nook-y” spaces, like your kitchen, the kids’ bedroom, your own bedroom or a small library or office. But don’t get the wrong impression. It is powerful enough – it produces big enough sound – to
Control Sonos from your iPad, iPhone, or Android device
saturate a much larger space, such as a living room or even a home theater space.
Do note: there is not much of a stereo field with the speakers – that is, differentiation between right and left channels. However, there is some. And if you need a bigger differentiation, you can just get multiple Play 3’s and position them in the stereo configuration of your choice.
Obviously, you will need to take into account innumerable variables around your home theater or studio, such as acoustics, space, other furniture, etc. Rather than go through the hassle of installing and setting up your Sonos systems yourself, connect today with the team at Karbon Home Theater Consulting at 925- 798-7600 or www.hellokarbon.com.
We offer a variety of powerful and cool home entertainment solutions for residential and commercial clients. Connect with us today. We are a proud member of the Bay Area Green Business program and the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA).
So Many Different Types of HDMI Cables: Which One Should I Choose?
HDMI cables can simplify and streamline your home theater setup. However, the seemingly dazzling and endless variety of specifications and capabilities of HDMI cables can give even seasoned audiophiles pause. How should you choose?
What are the primary types?
Choose cables to serve you not just for the next year or so but for years to come. Ideally, your cables will provide utility as you upgrade to higher video resolutions and potentially go 3D.
HDMI cables are backwards compatible. This means that any newer version should be able to do everything that the older versions do along with additional capabilities. Version 1.3 is the current HDMI specification, and 1.3 cables come in both standard and high speed. High speed is obviously more expensive than standard speed, but it delivers additional functionalities. For instance, if you want to enjoy your Blu-ray discs and HDTV to their fullest extent, the high-speed option may be superior. On the other hand, you can get up to 2.25 gigabytes of bandwidth with a standard HDMI cable.
Technophiles often urge home consumers to “buy up” and opt for high speed over standard speed, because standard cables are more likely to become obsolete, and high-speed cables provide longer-term functionality.
If you really want to jump into the future, consider the HDMI specification 1.4.
These cables include standard and high speed, as well as standard and high speed with Ethernet. The major addition in this new standard is the Ethernet capability. These HDMI cables allow you to enjoy interactive experiences through the internet. For instance, if you want video on-demand or BD-Live features, HDMI cables with Ethernet could be a smart solution.
Irrespective of where you are in the research process, our team at Karbon Home Theater Consulting can help. Connect with us now at (925) 798-7600 for insights into the most cost-effective HDMI cables for your job.
The Yamaha Aventage – Evolution Continues
Whether you are an audiofile obsessed with studio grade sound or a professional who needs extremely sophisticated enhancements to your video, the AV receiver known as the Yamaha Aventage can maximize your performance. In this brief blog post, we are going to look at four competitive advantages that the Aventage possesses.
1. Inspiration
The Aventage has sturdy double bottom construction to provide support for high volume levels, and circuitry that’s designed to be “ultra low jitter” to enhance timing control and reduce jitters. The Aventage also boasts a wedge 5th foot (so called Anti-Resonance Technology, a.k.a. ART) tamp down on transformer vibrations and heat sinks on top of other technology optimized to maximize channel separation and get you a fantastic signal-to-noise ratio.
2. Obsession
Yamaha’s obsessive detail focused construction is very clear here. The Aventage boasts a hybrid power supply to make the transformer more efficient, zip ties to tamp down on magnetic interference, top end DACs, and an H-shaped cross member frame to eliminate chassis vibration.
3. Fabrication and design advantage
Yamaha’s team has battle tested every element of the Aventage, and the receiver includes highest caliber processors, heavy grade terminals to reduce annoying vibration, and an enhanced three-year warranty.
4. Control
An AV controller app gives you dynamic flexibility to modulate power commands, volume, input, and more. You can also adapt third party and web control features.
The team at Karbon Home Theater Consulting – one of the most trusted names in home theater systems for the Bay Area – is an authorized reseller of quality Yamaha products, like the Yamaha Aventage.
Find out more about how we can help you set up the soundscape of your dreams at 925-798-7600, or learn more at www.hellokarbon.com
Turkey Days and TVs – November 2011
Turkey Days and TVs – November 2011
Karbon Home Theater wanted to welcome in falling leaves and turkey days with some great fall deals. Including a summer outdoor speaker inventory close out and an amazing 55″ Samsung Smart TV. We also wanted to share with you some news from Sonos regarding their great apps for your iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
55″ Samsung 7000 Series LED
Samsung UN55D7000
3D Ready, 240 Hz, WiFi Browser
$1999.00 plus tax
Sonos Mobile Control
New Sonos Mobile Apps
Check out the latest Mobile apps for Android, iPhone and iPad from SONOS:
Last Chance to Dance!
Outdoor Speaker Summer Inventory Closeout:
Sonance Outdoor 5″ $175/pair
Sonance Outdoor 6 1/2″ $249/pair
Sonance 8″ $399/pair
925-798-7600
Can a Home Theater Take Your SF Loft to the Next Level?
Own a San Francisco Loft?
If you own or rent a San Francisco loft, and you’re an audiophile or a cinephile, you might be attracted by the idea of designing your own home theater system. Maybe you recently visited a friend’s loft and saw his (or her) amazing system. Now, you want to one-up your buddy with a more vibrant, more state-of-the-art system. Or maybe you’re a film or commercial director who needs home theater for professional reasons. If you’ve been on the fence, consider these arguments for “taking the plunge” and experiencing your movies and other media in a richer, more immersive context:
1) Home theaters will amp up your home design.
Gorgeous looking home theaters will improve the aesthetic of your home or loft and contribute to a positive “Feng Shui” to make your space that much more comfortable and fun.
2) Boost the value of your home.
Installing a home theater system can actually be a long term plus for the value of your property.
3) Better listening and viewing experience – and more versatile, too.
When you wire your room for high-quality sound, install high-quality monitors and etc, you get to experience multimedia on a deeper level. There is a reason why the world’s most prominent directors and cinephiles love the home theater experience: it brings you into the story or into the music on a deeper, subtler, and more colorful level.
4) Good insulation can protect noise from “leaking out” into the rest of the loft.
You may be worried about “leaching” sound into other rooms of your house. Good insulation can prevent that.
5) Enjoy a fully immersive theater experience by including a popcorn machine, snack bar,fridge, you name it.
Do you really need to go out to the movies ever again? Why not avoid the frustration of paying $20 for parking, $30 on concessions, and $150 on a babysitter? Instead, invest in a high-end home theater system, and bring the best parts of the theater experience into your home…and leave the worst parts behind (sticky Goobers gumming up your shoes, annoying patrons talking or chomping on popcorn through the entire movie right in your ear, etc).
For help with your San Francisco home theater system, connect with the experts at Karbon Home Theater Consulting at www.hellokarbon.com.
A Media Server for your House:
-A Media Server for your House: Extravagance or Absolute Necessity?-
Let’s face facts, folks. It’s 2011. We are, by all accounts, in the future. And while we don’t have hovercrafts, robots, and space colonies on Mars, we do have iPads, awesome home media centers, and the unfathomable variety of the worldwide web.
This brings us to a key question: Do you need your own home media server?
With so much digital media pouring into your life – no doubt terabytes at this point, every year – you need some way to systematically store, assemble, and pipe all those bytes through your various electronics without spending a fortune, wasting half your life trying to figure out how to get various devices to “talk” to one another, and so forth.
Condensing and streamlining all this digital media is a priority. But do you really need your own server? The answer depends on your preferences, needs, and the amount of information that’s flowing through your home or business.
Here are some examples of people who might benefit from this solution:
• Family of six. Picture a typical San Francisco Bay family of six. The kids are chatting with their friends, downloading movies and songs, constantly Facebooking and Twittering, and perpetually yearning to buy the biggest, greatest, and most expensive information technology upgrades possible. The parents are equally as guilty. Maybe the dad runs an internet home business, so he needs to access a lot of digital information – client videos, etc.
• Small business owner. Whether you run a competitive technology business or you just have a lot of information from clients, vendors, and suppliers streaming in and out of your business, you may want to opt for a media server solution. There are many reasons to do so: safety, convenience, redundancy, speed, efficiency, etc.
• The “I love tech” customer. Maybe you just love to explore the most cutting-edge technologies. You don’t necessarily need a home media server in the same way that the family of six or the small business owner do. But you are intrigued by bleeding edge tech. Having it puts you ahead of the curve and makes you look more “tech savvy” than your annoying, geeked-out buddies, who are constantly bragging to you about how great their setups are.
Irrespective of why you are searching for a home media server, the friendly and effective team at Karbon Home Theater Consulting can help you master your project, save money, and get results.
Connect with our team at 925-798-7600, or get a free estimate by connecting with us online at www.hellokarbon.com.