Home Audio Video Advisor

Having a forum addiction I have read uncountable number of posts claiming one piece of equipment is better than another. Only to see the very next post claiming the exact opposite. Then of course it’s post after post wondering about upgrading to the latest model for better performance.

When these discussions evolve around video I often chuckle and tend to be interested only on a entertainment level. Of course different features sets can make one model better suited for your installation and influence the level of performance but let’s take Blu-ray players as an example. I have used at least a dozen different models in my theater from the Sony PS3 to Pioneer’s BDP-09FD. The difference in cost is multiple times the cost of the PS3 but when using HDMI for audio and video any differences would have to be measured in pennies.

With this in mind I consider the fascination with the latest and greatest a hobby in and of itself and most inclined to partake spend more time researching, discussing and tweaking than they ever do enjoying home audio and video. A few years ago I posted a poll asking the following.

Which would provide the biggest improvement over your current image:

• Upgrading to a better projector
• Focusing your current projector
• Calibrating your current projector

I was surprised when the last option drew the largest number of votes as it showed people realize in most cases they are attempting to replace their equipment long before they have come close to taking advantage of what it has to offer. Which to me enforced their hobby was indeed upgrading equipment. Certainly no harm in that but it seems a shame when we don’t get all the performance available to use especially when you consider how much can be gained with very little effort and cost.

When it comes to the video chain the best way to ensure you are getting everything you can is by having a professional calibration performed. Often it will turn out to be the best return you have ever had on for your entertainment dollar. The images will go from looking like TV to real life and open up a whole new world of realism you never knew was available.

Now if I haven’t quite convinced you to book your local ISF calibrator I have a completely free option to get you on the path to becoming a believer. You will begin to see images how they were intended to be seen. You can download and burn a free set of test patterns that will allow you to properly adjust your display. Even if you just correct the brightness and contrast levels you will be able to see more detail in the image and gain many other benefits.

Don’t worry it’s not difficult and if you write down your current settings you can always go back home again! For help in getting started or for future reference when you are ready to dig deeper in the world of calibration bookmark the following link which can also use to download the free test patterns.

Click Here to Download Your Free Test Patterns

Here are a few of our favorite captured images for a variety of reasons. In most cases you can’t learn a lot by viewing them but for some unknown reason people enjoy looking at them. So here you go. We would share with you all the technical details involved in creating and capturing them but that would simply spoil the magic of The Prestige.

OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player with SACD & DVD-Audio

If the above photo looks familiar there is more than likely a very good reason. We have too many OPPO BDP-83s in-house and you probably saw the same image on eBay. Now we could have returned the surplus to OPPO and they will even pay for the return shipping but we know many enthusiasts can’t wait to get their hands on one. Frankly from the time we have spent with the BDP-83 we don’t blame them.

Now before you get too upset with us our price is $100 less than the only other current listing and after we pay the various fees associated with selling the player the price seems rather fair. Certainly the player is worth it but of course if you can wait until the general release and or initial backorders you’ll save some money.

Rumor has it we may be giving one away for next month’s Contest so if yours hasn’t shipped by then be sure to check back and see if it’s true. Now back to the player itself. Instead of giving you endless information we’ll tell you it’s a killer player and simply list a few reasons why.

• Superior build quality
• Fantastic back-lit remote
• Plays DVD-Audio and SACD discs
• Uses Anchor Bay’s Video Reference Series technology which provides the best DVD upscaling and de-interlacing.
• 7.1-channel analog output configurable for size, distance and trim
• It’s PS3 fast!
• HDMI cable
• Spears & Munsil High-Definition Benchmark Blu-ray Edition (calibration disc)

Of course it comes with the other players’ features including Profile 2 and bitstreams or decodes all HD audio formats. The only thing missing is Internet based streaming like Pandora and Netflix. If you can live without streaming and willing to spent a little more you’ll be rewarded with everything we listed. Currently none of the other players offer any of the above so your choice should be pretty easy.

Order Your OPPO BDP-83 from Amazon

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PlayStation 3 80GB

At last count we have used over a dozen different Blu-ray players and with the current trend of adding streaming services instead of addressing outstanding issues it appears the times aren’t changing. Each generation suffers from the same issues of the previous one.

Now we absolutely love Blu-ray and couldn’t enjoy a home theater without one. If you are looking for your first Blu-ray player we have two questions and if you can answer yes to both your choice is pretty easy.

• Can you live without an IR remote (the controller works so well there is no reason to purchase the RF remote)?
• Are you willing to spend $100 more than the least expensive models?

If you said yes to both the Sony PS3 is still the safest choice and best solution. Here are just a few of the reasons.

• It will play virtually every Blu-ray disc
• It’s faster than almost every other player
• Its audio and video quality is equal to exceeds every other player
• Firmware updates address issues before they become issues unlike other players
• It offers way more additional features than the current Blu-ray players are adding
• Retains a much higher resell value
• It’s an extremely powerful HD gaming system

So after using Blu-ray players for several years we are still right where we were in the beginning. Trying to find a good reason not to use the PS3 as our Blu-ray player. You can now buy a less expensive stand alone player which is what we would recommend versus going for the upgraded models that typically offer a few more streaming features that may or may not be relevant going forward.

If you are determined to avoid the PS3 at all costs and you care about superb Blu-ray and DVD playback go for the Oppo BDP-83. At $499 you’ll be paying a little more but you’ll get a player designed to excel with both Blu-ray and DVD rather than tacking on a few features and hoping you’ll find one interesting enough to purchase the player. Unfortunately none of the players are mature enough that they should be branching out. Let’s complete the Blu-ray player before we try to turn them into any number of other devices.

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Sonos ZP90/CR100 Bundle (SZ90)

For a limited time Sonos is offering savings of $149 to $199 when purchasing one of their bundles. Our guess is this is a direct result of the fantastic free applet Sonos has released for the iPhone and iPod touch that allows them to virtually replace their remote.

We have used Sonos for years and as slick as the new iPhone/touch remote works we still think you’ll find good use for the Sonos remote. It’s water-resistant (great for outdoor usage), a wonderful party passer to let guests select their own music, and much less likely to leave your house with one of your family members leaving you without any remote!

DVDO EDGE High-Definition Video Processor

We have always loved the idea of using a scaler but in most cases the quickly changing technology or entrance fee has keep us from installing one in our racks. Then came along the DVDO Edge with scaling up to 1080p24. DVDO has been making great scalers for years and the Edge uses the same hardware as their other models which are several times more expensive.

The Edge looks sexy and the back-lit remote is one of the best we have ever used. Plus it’s a universal remote so there is a good chance it can control the rest of your equipment too. Although the real reason to acquire one is if you have numerous video sources that need to be scaled to the native resolution of your HD display.

With ten inputs (6 HDMI) you can scale, deinterlace, and apply advanced image processing like fine detail enhancement. You even have two HDMI outputs so you can run one directly to the display and the other to the A/V receiver. An elegant interface and wizards make set up a breeze. They also make it easy to configure each input for their optimal performance. We love the split  screen feature where one side shows the current image and the other reflects the proposed changes.

Once in a while a product redefines a category. In this case the Edge does just that as it brings the power of expensive scalers to an unheard of price and even has features not found on earlier models.

Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote Control – Refurbished

We have been using the Harmony 550 for a long time and it’s one of our favorites. It has all the buttons you’ll need, their placement and ease of use are superior to many of the more expensive Harmony remotes. It also features the same one-touch activity control and wizard programming via your PC or Mac. So when we saw Amazon selling refurbished models for $50 we couldn’t help but declare a Pick of the Day. 

Apple Airport Express

Whether you are a Mac or PC user the odds are overwhelming you’ll love using Apple’s AirPort Express. Sure you can purchase a docking station to play your iPod’s music on your home stereo but if you spend any amount of time in front of the computer listening to music AirPort Express is the way to go.

For less than $100 you get a wireless connection between your network and stereo system. You’ll be able to enjoy your entire digital music collection on your stereo along with podcasts and Internet based radio stations.

Audio output is available for analog and optical (cables and optical adaptor not included). The AirPort Express can be a lot more including a 802.11n 10-user wireless router, printer server, and our personal favorite a network extender. This comes in handy connecting network devices such as DVRs and Blu-ray players to your network when you don’t have wired access next to your equipment.

To connect one device place an ethernet cable between the AirPort Express and the device. If you need to connect more than one device place a hub between the AirPort Express and the devices. This feature alone will often make the purchase worthwhile as it will be the slickest method of getting everything online.

Down the road you can add additional units for playing music in other rooms and use your iPhone or iTouch as a remote control. For now if you use iTunes and have a home stereo we recommend picking one up today.

We have always liked the idea behind VUDU but when push came to shove Apple TV always won. It was less expensive, video quality was close and it offered additional features like support for iTunes. Well it might be voodoo but we have changed our minds for apparently three good reasons.

• $149 new low price
• HDX – The new benchmark for on-demand picture quality
• Pandora our favorite free music streaming service

The new pricing along with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee makes trying VUDU painless and greatly reduces the cost of ownership. When VUDU was much more expensive you felt you were making a real commitment with Apple TV being less expensive and the safer bet since it had Apple and iTunes behind it.

Now if you are willing to make the commitment you will be rewarded with over 1,400 movies encoded up to 1080p at 24 frames per second priced from 99 cents to $5.99. The new HDX format offers roughly twice the resolution of other Internet based HD formats and comes with enhanced audio. Based on your broadband speed you may not be able to stream HDX movies instantly but you will be able to download them for later viewing. Just keep in mind once you start viewing a movie there is a 24-hour window before the movie self-destructs unless you pay an extended viewing period fee of 99 cents for SD and $1.99 for HD titles.

Pandora has been playing on countless number of Internet based devices of late including the current generation of Blu-ray players. If you aren’t familiar with Pandora it’s well worth getting to know and it’s even free. Simply tell Pandora an artist you enjoy and it will create a custom station based on your taste in music.

By rating songs while they play Pandora continues to zero in on exactly what you like and don’t like. Before long you have a station which plays all your favorite music and even finds new releases you are bound to appreciate. You can create multiple stations for different moods or for others in your household.

VUDU offers other Internet based video such as YouTube but what really attracts us is the high-quality HDX audio and video. Not quite Blu-ray quality but it’s as close as we have seen. Add in the facts it’s solidity built, has a sexy and easy to use remote, and a great interface we can’t help but root for the company. The last gadget we loved this much for being simple yet sophisticated was TiVo which we have been using for over eight years. Let’s hope VUDU keeps the tradition alive.

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