I have to admit to being a little bit sceptical about the need for another Toy Story film when it was first announced a year or so ago. The first two films are, in my opinion, classics, capturing all the imagination of childhood, full of lovingly realised characters and friendships, not to mention some hysterical gags.
But after the beautiful and, dare I say, challenging Up and Wall-E, I couldn't believe that Pixar re-visiting our old plastic friends could lead to anything more than an enjoyable, if unnecessary nostalgia trip. Pixar had grown up, and were confidently covering some quite difficult subject matter in their more recent films. What else could be done with the Toy Story crew, other than milk the cash cow by slapping a 3D suffix to the title?
Well, forgive me Pixar, for I had too little faith; Toy Story 3 is a stunning tale, every bit the equal of both its predecessors and Wall-E and Up.
A long time has passed since the events of Toy Story 2, and Woody Buzz and co are feeling a bit neglected. As their owner Andy has become a teenager, they've been left sitting in the toy box, whilst friends like Bo Peep and Wheezy have either been donated to charity or simply thrown away. Andy's off to college, growing up, and growing out of love with his toys. He decides to take Woody along for the ride, but pack the other toys up in the attic, which they resignedly accept as a sort of retirement period.
However, a mix-up sees the gang left out as trash, a betrayal Andy would never have intended, and a quick-witted Woody thinks fast, sending his pals off to the SunnySide daycare centre instead. While Buzz and co are initially thrilled to be played with again, all is not what it seems at SunnySide, and it's soon down to Woody to help get the gang home again.
It's a rip-roaring adventure, every bit as imaginative as previous entries into the series. Again the Pixar team have mined memories of childhood to great effect, pulling together a hilarious cast of recognisable childhood toys, wonderfully animated, and playfully poking against our expectations of each character.
Mr Potato Head, Hamm the moneybox and Buzz Lightyear still get big laughs, but the funniest scenes are reserved for newcomers the Ken and Barbie dolls. The too-cool-yet-sickly-sweet pair have a fiery, hilarious romance in the film, and Ken's camp and oh-so-misunderstood outlook on fashion and life are superbly written.
But for all the humour on show, Toy Story 3 will be best remembered for its heart. It's truly touching, and downright sad at some points. The toys are coming to terms with the loss of their owner and best friend, moving on from relationships and dealing with the grief of losing their pals. It's never patronising, and some of the finer points may go straight other a younger audiences head, but it goes pretty deep for a children's film. A 15-minute sequence at the end of the film is one of the most suspenseful, intense and heart-wrenching scenes you are ever likely to watch. I defy you not to cry, or to at least scream "nooooooooooooooooo!" out load at one particularly magnificent moment.
This being a tech-blog after all, I'll give a quick review of the 3D tech on show during my screening of the film. We were lucky enough to catch Toy Story 3 in a 3D RealD showing on a Sony 4K screen at the Apollo Cinema on London's Regent Street. RealD screenings on 4K screens have a few significant differences compared to the technology used in other 3D cinemas. Sony's kit projects two images to both eyes simultaneously, rather than high-speed alternating left and right images for each eye used elsewhere. It makes for a far more comfortable viewing experience, and those who have suffered from 3D-induced headaches in the past should seek out a similar screening near them. The 4K display itself is also far sharper than other cinema screens I've seen, though the necessity for 3D glasses throughout still remains an issue, with brightness levels suffering once they are over your eyes.
As for the 3D effects on show in Toy Story 3, apart from a few notable scenes, it's yet another film that hasn't quite managed to capture the sense of depth and movement as well as Avatar did. I wouldn't be too upset if you can't catch a 3D screening of the film, as thankfully the story itself is excellent either way.
A masterfully told adventure, full of belly laughs and some of the most touching scenes you're likely to ever see in a film, I can't recommend Toy Story 3 highly enough. For a kids flick, this will be as emotionally resonant with adults as it will be entertaining for the starry-eyed children its aimed at.
5/5
Toy Story 3 hits cinemas nationwide on 19th July 2010.
Contrast Ratio: 6,000,000 :1
Resolution: Full HD (1920 x 1080p)
Connectivity:4x HDMI, 1x VGA, 1x USB, 1x Scart, Composite adaptor
Speakers: 2x 10 watts speakers
Dimensions: 1127mm H (including base) x 785mm W x 39mm D
Features: Quad-pixel technology, LED backlighting, 100Hz motion processing, DLNA home networking
Price: Circa £1,400
(NB. The LC-46LE820E model we were sent to test was a European model that did not feature the HD Tuner that we have been assured comes as standard on the UK model. Therefore any HD sources described refer to either a Sky+ HD box or PS3 and its built in Blu-ray player)
While the rest of the industry has thrown itself head-first into the 3D TV race, Japanese manufacturers Sharp have taken a different tact. They've been working on what they've dubbed quad-pixel technology, which they've stuffed into their new range of Aquos Quattron HD TVs. It adds a fourth yellow pixel pixel to the standard red, green and blue make up used by other sets, which they claim will redefine colour processing in TVs. But just how revolutionary is the quad-pixel technology? Read on to find out.
The 46 inch LC-46LE820E Aquos Quattron set we tested was quite a sight to behold. Incredibly slim, with a curved black bezel that features a near transparent strip along its bottom edge, it's a very attractive set in terms of design. Either sitting on a metal base with glass support or wall mounted, it features an illuminated Sharp logo (which can be switched off if you prefer) and a few simple, touch-sensitive controls on its right lower edge.
In terms of the actual aforementioned quad-pixel technology, the set's "big sell" if you will, it's not quite as revolutionary as Sharp would have you believe. There's no denying that colours are incredibly vibrant and defined, but you'll be hard pressed to note a remarkable difference between the Quattron's colours and similar top-end models from other manufacturers. Sharp apparently are planning to introduce the same technology in their forthcoming 3D sets, which can suffer from colour and brightness issues, so perhaps its influence will be more noticeable there. For the time being however you're getting solid if not ground-breaking colour response here.
With that said, picture quality on offer here is still very impressive. Sharp by name, sharp by nature, the set delivers 1080p HD images in great detail, providing you've tweaked the (frankly atrocious) out-of-the-box image settings. There are plenty of colour and sharpness options to play about with, and messing with them can lead to some excellent results in picture quality. Blu-ray playback of "The Road" revealed startlingly deep black levels, fine detail in its post-apocalyptic setting, and managed to show excellent definition between the movie's somewhat muted colour palette. Conversely, Blu-ray playback of manga animation "Paprika" showed just how vibrant the colours can be with the Quattron, with the vivid cartoon really shining on the screen.
Sharp's image processing techniques also seem to have been given a bit of a overhaul. The 100Hz motion technology present here leads to perfectly smooth action scenes in movies and games, though we'd suggest avoiding the highest settings as they can make certain scenes move a little unnaturally. Likewise, the TV handles standard definition sources with aplomb, tidying up the image without causing any glaring artefacts to appear.
It's also worth noting however that the glass panel over the screen's display was incredibly reflective, even in relatively low light. It didn't make the TV un-watchable by any means, but it was quite annoying at times, and is definitely worth considering if your living room is a bit of a sun trap.
The Quattron's speakers are worth applauding. As ever with a screen not even an inch thick, they will never compete with a dedicated sound system, but the clarity on offer here is commendable, as is the bass response in comparison to other slim-style TVs.
Sharp make great use of the massive screen real estate on offer here when it comes to displaying menus. As I mentioned earlier, the preset image settings are pretty poor, so initially at least you're going to be fiddling around quite a lot with menu options. This is made far easier thanks to the way the TV intelligently scales the entire image around the menus when tweaking settings like colours, allowing you to see exactly how the changes you are making are affecting the picture. The intuitive menu system also makes navigating the set's basic home-networking capabilities nice and easy (allowing you to play back MKV files, HD video, photos and music from either a USB or LAN connection), though it's no replacement for a dedicated media streamer.
Lastly, the remote control. It's a little long and thin for my personal liking, but it is light, intelligently laid out, and seemed sturdy enough to withstand a few bumps and drops. It's also got a dedicated button for sending the set into ECO mode, which should help save on the electricity bills of anyone too lazy to turn the set off the old fashioned way.
All in then, its a very strong set. It's quite expensive at around £1,400, and the quad-pixel technology doesn't really justify such a high premium. It remains however a top notch goggle-box, with sharp HD pictures, vivid colours and speakers far better than its rivals, and is well worth your cash so long as you aren't expecting the visual revolution that the adverts have touted.
Onkyo's range of one-box home cinema kits have always paired good value for money with solid audio performance, often featuring the kind of functionality you'd only expect to find with much pricier gear. The Onkyo HT-S3305 home cinema set is no exception. Bundling in an A/V receiver, 5 satellite speakers and a subwoofer, and priced at just shy of £300, it'd give packages twice the price a run for their money.
First up, the receiver. It's a HT-R380, measuring in at a fairly sizeable 435 x 150 x 330 mm, so make sure you've checked you've room for it in your TV cabinet set-up or similar before you grab it. It's cased in a no-nonsense metal chassis with a black finish and features a clearly defined display for tweaking and calibrating the speakers, with a chunky volume dial on the front as well as a range of buttons for switching between audio sources and listening modes.
Connectivity options go beyond what you'd expect within this price bracket. Three HDMI inputs can be routed to one output, there are two optical-in ports and one coaxial-in, composite and analogue support as well as a headphone socket, Aux line-in, room for an FM antenna and Onkyo's Universal port for connecting a sold-separately iPod dock and daisy-chainable DAB+ module called the UP-DT1.
In terms of audio processing, the HT-R380 can handle bitstream formats that are once again usually the reserve of far more expensive receivers. There's support here for Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio, as well as multi-channel PCM sources and 2 channel expansion using Dolby Pro Logic II. Add to that a 32 bit-processing chip and Burr-Brown 192/24 DACs across all channels and you'll get some seriously impressive, jitter-free audio reproduction from this receiver.
It's also worth noting that the HT-S3305 is compatible with HDMI version 1.4a, the latest HDMI build that is fully compatible with 3D video and audio sources. Unfortunately I was unable to test the kit with a 3D source (3D TVs are just a little bit above my pay-bracket I'm afraid). While I can't speculate on the HT-S3305's performance here, at least Onkyo have made provisions for making it a long-term investment in what seems destined to become the future of home entertainment.
Next up are the 5 satellite speakers and passive subwoofer. The satellites are 8cm cone numbers with a max input power of 120 W, while the sub has a 16cm cone, bass reflex cabinet and a maximum input power of 130 W. They're well balanced (though the rear surround speakers needed a bit of a volume boost when the master volume was down low) and were able to draw out minute detail, especially from the high-definition lossless sources. Blu-ray playback of the Schwarzenegger classic "Total Recall" produced an explosive and resonant response from the subwoofer, while the iconic x-ray glass smashing scene had the sound of crisp tinkles of debris moving convincingly from the front to rear speakers.
The speakers have a black lacquered finish, but felt a little lightweight considering the clarity of sound that they produce. The subwoofer is a little boxy, with the black lacquer finish only on the front side, but has a solid wooden build overall. Keep in mind too that the HT-R380 receiver can be expanded to accommodate a 7.1 set-up too should you later want to boost your system.
Onkyo have also compiled a handful of DSP listening modes for getting the most out of music and game sources. Orchestra, unplugged and studio-mix settings highlight and isolate important frequencies for their respective musical situations, while there are settings optimised for console games in the RPG, action, sports and "Guitar Hero" rhythm genres. The game modes in particular were impressive, especially for picking out dialogue in intense action scenes, while the music game mode, which threw crowd cheers around the room, gave the impression that you were rocking out at Wembley.
Onkyo have done a good job of making the set-up process as painless as possible too. Each 5.1 speaker is discretely colour coded so that there are unlikely to be any mix-ups when connecting to the HT-R380 receiver, while each input is clearly labelled, with specially assigned HDMI slots for TV, Blu-ray/DVD and game console signals that correspond to dedicated buttons on the supplied remote control. It's pretty much fool-proof, and the inclusion of a clean on-screen menu overlay for HDMI sources makes fine-tuning the set-up as simple as it can be. The transparent on-screen menu has clear white fonts that are easy to read and navigate, and while it's a no-frills look, it gets the job done, fitting the myriad options into a simple system that doesn't require multiple levels of menu trawling.
For what you get at this price it's hard to find fault with the Onkyo HT-S3305 package. You could arguably complain that the subwoofer is a passive rather than active unit, but this wont be an issue for anyone other than those looking to upgrade from the bundled speakers in the future. Unless you live in a cavernous mansion the provided speakers and subwoofer will be more than capable of delivering a punchy and impressive sound anyway. I did also occasionally notice some garbled audio very low in the mix when the receiver was processing 5.1 from a 2.0 source, though never anything jarring enough to really dent my enjoyment of the system, and was likely a Dolby processing artefact beyond Onkyo's control..
The HT-R380 receiver bears a striking similarity to the TX-SR308 which is 300 quid on its own, which should give some indication towards the sort of bargain you're getting here. At under £300 the Onkyo HT-S3305 home cinema package is an absolute steal, massively improving on the audio capabilities of pretty much any flatscreen TV on the market without breaking the bank.
Connectivity: HDMI input, component, composite, D-Sub PC input, USB, digital coaxial audio output, mic input
Dimensions: 127mm H x 335mm W x 239mm D
Features: Built-in DVD player, DivX playback and built-in 10W stereo speakers
Price: Circa £550
Epson's latest EH-DM3 LCD projector aims to attract the casual home cinema enthusiast by boasting 300 inch images for an attractive £550. While its portability, in-built 10W speakers and DVD drive make it a fun and simple device to play around with, it is lacking in a few key areas that will bug your inner cinephile.
The EH-DM3 is a bit of a bruiser in the looks department. A boxy, glossy black affair, it's plastered with logos, buttons and air vents on all sides. It's by no means ugly, and its top-mounted buttons are actually rather welcome considering the likelihood of this portable kit regularly becoming separated from its backlit remote, but it certainly won't win any style awards.
It does however offer ample room for connectivity options. Keeping in mind this could easily stand up as a one-stop DVD projection solution thanks to the built-in DVD drive and speakers, Epson generously include a HDMI port, component, composite, D-Sub PC input, USB for Jpegs and MP3s, digital coaxial audio output, and even mic input for any karaoke fiends out there.
However, don't let that HDMI port fool you; this is not a HD projector. While HD compatible, all sources above 540p (960x540 pixels) will be downscaled. As a result HD sources look rather jagged, especially when the image is stretched to upwards of 100 inches, though those using this projector as purely a DVD player or with standard definition sources shouldn't have too many complaints.
There are some other issues with the EH-DM3's picture quality. Though the contrast ratio has been beefed-up from 1,200:1 to 3,000:1 since the EH-DM2 model, black levels remain washed out and lacking in clarity. Watching the opening space battle from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, I was hard pressed to pick up any detail at all on even the largest of craft on screen. Unusually enough, this becomes most apparent when using the projector at night time.
This is because the EH-DM3 performs exceptionally when viewed during the daytime. 2,000 Lumens of brightness paired with an iris that automatically adjusts to ambient lighting make the EH-DM3 very watchable in broad daylight. Colours seem more natural and images, by optical illusion or otherwise, seem sharper. Epson obviously spent a long time optimising this projector for daytime use, which I suppose is ideal if it's aimed towards a casual market who need reasonably good results at all hours of the day.
The 10W stereo speakers are also surprisingly powerful. Though at times harsh, they are loud enough to even negate the jarring distraction of having the audio source come from a different direction than the picture you are viewing. Throw in DivX support and you've got a fairly robust portable player here.
In terms of picture-throw distances, you have a ratio of 1-1.35, which translates roughly to about a 100 inch image from a distance of 3 metres, which isn't too bad at all. Annoyingly though, the EH-DM3 has little in the way of lens shift options, so if you're having trouble lining the picture up with your white-washed walls or projector screen, you're going to have to make do with either adjusting the EH-DM3's retractable feet or have a stack of books handy.
How much you'll get out of the EH-DM3 ultimately comes down to how willing you are to overlook some relatively big problems, considering its pocket-friendly £550 price tag. Daylight viewing is very good, night-time viewing not so. Also, the lack of lens shift options, while likely keeping the cost down a fair bit, would have been a welcome addition. Still, if you're looking for a way to watch the footie on as big a screen as possible on a tight budget without being too fussy, the EH-DM3 is the projector for you.
Speakers: 2x 10 watts SRS TruSurround HD & Dolby Digital Plus
Dimensions: 677mm H (including base) x 998mm W x 29.9mm D
Features: 200Hz Motion Plus processing, LED backlighting, DLNA home networking, web widgets with Internet@ TV
Price: Circa £1,500
Samsung's UE40B8000 is so slim that you half expect it to have just strut off of a catwalk in Milan and into your living room. Despite being only 29.9 mm thick, it manages to house all of its electronics, including a TV tuner, 200Hz Motion Plus processor and all its 4 HDMI and breakout composite/component connections, inside the panel itself, without the need for a separate media box. It's a beautiful set with black bezel edging, finished off with a svelte strip of clear plastic that gently glows thanks to a blue LED indicator light. While the TV is perfect for wall mounting due to its size and relatively low weight, its see-through stand was a real chore to attach, and was never satisfyingly stable.
Picture quality is really superb on the UE40B8000. High definition sources were uniformly excellent. 1080p playback of the "Moon" Blu-ray over HDMI through a PS3 delivered black levels as deep as you'd hope to get from the far-flung reaches of outer space, while subtlety in colour ranges and superb skin tones shone through. The LED backlighting also meant that there was excellent clarity in the image, though you may want to disable auto-dimming if you're quickly flicking through many different sources.
The 200Hz Motion Plus technology is an obvious draw here, and we flicked over to a Sky Sports HD Premiership broadcast to put it through its paces. Is it really any better than 100Hz processing? Yes it is, but not massively so. Players darting around the field were noticeably sharper, as was the text from scrolling electronic billboards. However, there was still some shimmering and an element of unnatural movement in fast paced scenes, especially when the motion processing was cranked up to the max. Also, while there is a Game Mode available here, response times for consoles could have performed a little better.
Standard definition content proved excellently processed. A screen this size that lacks attention to standard definition signals can really show off the limitations of SD, but the UE40B8000 smoothed out everything well without producing any unsightly noise. Colours too were rich and vibrant, though the benefits of the motion processing tech was less apparent here. All in, the UE40B8000 offers some of the best picture quality money can currently buy, at least in the UK anyway.
The only real let down here are the incredibly weak speakers. Housing everything inside a set this thin had to have its downside somewhere, and speaker performance lacks both clarity and low-end resonance. They'll serve you well enough for a quiet night in with Eastenders, but if you can splash the cash on the screen in the first place, then you should probably invest in some decent audio gear to support it.
Menus and the EPG are clear and nicely presented, giving a quick low-down of what each function does, though some may have some trouble navigating the various options on offer. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, there is quite a lot of depth in terms of image options here, which isn't necessarily a bad thing at all, but can at times make it a little confusing when browsing for something specific. Secondly, the backlit remote control, which again overall is fine, features a quirky iPod-style scrolling wheel. It's overly sensitive, which can make precise menu browsing or image tweaking a little difficult. There's also a second, pebble-shaped controller thrown in. It's pretty, but by only packing a few core buttons in means it's a little pointless. The UE40B8000 also has some pretty comprehensive web widgets and DLNA network streaming features, which are simple to set up once the provided USB Wi-Fi dongle is plugged in. There's also an Ethernet port if a Wi-Fi connection isn't convenient.
If we we're judging this TV on image quality alone the Samsung UE40B8000 would get top marks without question. It's a shame then that the thin frame has caused a real compromise in sound quality, which at around £1,500 really should have been addressed. Still, if you're looking for some of the smoothest, sharpest, most stunningly vivid colours your hard-earned cash can afford, then the UE40B8000 should be top of your shopping list.
Features: BBC iPlayer, Web TV, DLNA home networking, news widgets
Price: £499
Brit based TV manufacturers Cello have made a bold move with their iViewer range. By being one of the earliest web-connected TVs and the first to have BBC's iPlayer as a built-in widget, they are going where none of the big name brands have gone before. But has capitalising upon this brief window of opportunity left them flailing elsewhere with the set? Certainly, but the TV does still hold it's own.
Sensibly, Cello have kept the aesthetics here rather simple. A glossy black frame about two thirds of an inch thick surrounds the screen, while a speaker bar about an inch in height lies just underneath. The screen can be wall mounted, but at 22"H (including base) x 31"W x 4" D it's rather chunky. I'd recommend using the supplied base stand, which is again glossy, black and discrete. Also, while the main manual supplied is perfectly acceptable, the visual guide thrown in is an absolute joke. It verges on Engrish and looks as though it was put together on MS Paint.
Keeping in mind this is at the budget end of the market for a full HD set (£499), the iViewer's picture quality is reasonably good. 1080p playback of the "Che: Part One" Blu-ray over HDMI through a PS3 showed an acceptably sharp image with a good range of strong colours in brighter scenes, as you would expect with an LCD as opposed to a Plasma. Night scenes were less impressive: there was a fair amount of noise, black levels were respectable but hardly deep and response times suffered in fast moving shots. As a result of the noise and sluggish response times, it doesn't score highly as a set for gaming, as proven by a quick session with "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2". For the money you're paying the image here holds up well, but don't expect it to go troubling the big guns.
Likewise, the speakers aren't the greatest. Hollow and echoey, it's a muddled sound that has little in the way of bass, and poor definition between the mids and treble. Higher volumes sometimes caused a slight rattling too.
But, if you've been following this set, you're likely already aware that this isn't exactly a technophiles television. No, the iViewer's trump card lies in its internet-connected capabilities, or more specifically its BBC iPlayer widget, where it does honestly shine.
Getting connected to the web is relatively simple, via either an optional USB Wi-Fi dongle or Ethernet cable. The input connections area on the back of the TV is far too cramped (especially as the USB Wi-Fi dongle is a bit of a sizey beast), but once you're plugged in it's just a matter of finding your network and entering your WEP key, text message style, with the remote control.
The iPlayer interface (and the TV's web UI in general) was designed by Oregon Networks. They've done a great job. It's a good looking UI across all of the web menus, with big icons simple and well defined for the casual user. There's even a dedicated button on the remote for the iPlayer for easy-access to the service. Searching through the iPlayer catalogue will be easy for anyone remotely familiar with the web service. While playback controls can be a little clunky, visually the iPlayer footage scrubs up quite well on the larger screen, providing you don't expect HD levels of clarity.
Web TV channels didn't fair so well. There are 12 in all at present, including a fully-searchable YouTube, Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food and the Sesame Street podcast. Quality of content varies across each, both visually and in terms of entertainment value, and thanks to some unexplainable file error, I couldn't access the Sesame Street one at all. Which was obviously heartbreaking. Also, the news widgets could do with a little more interactivity, and more options in terms of feed providers.
However, the DLNA home network access is strong and very accessible. Providing your PC is on and sharing allowed, you can access pictures, MP3s and a wide range of the most popular video files including AVI and WMV stored on your computer, though I couldn't get high-def formats to work. In a nice touch, MP3s continue to play in the background whilst you browse other folders for content. It's also worth noting that playback is possible from USB memory sticks, providing you can squeeze it in next to the dongle.
As is now standard, there is also an integrated TV tuner in the iViewer. Visually, broadcasts are good. There was a little noise and a few artefacts, but on the whole very watchable. The 7 day EPG however looks horrendous; from a technical standpoint it's perfectly functional and easy to navigate, but fonts are jagged and the most lurid mix of sharp blues and yellows are used.
While it's far from perfect, it's nevertheless hard to dislike the iViewer. The picture and sound quality aren't the best we've ever seen by a long shot, but it's not epically bad. Just especially average. And while some aspects of the web service don't work too well, the home networking and iPlayer are great, especially as this represents the first roll of the dice for the BBC service on TVs. As you'd expect from a product that's currently a Marks and Spencer's exclusive, it keeps it head down and gets the job done. And if you aren't happy, that M&S guarantee will have you covered.
Tech Digest's Dan Sung puts the new Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG10 through its paces and comes out thoroughly impressed. Part of Sanyo's Dual Range, the Xacti is designed to take great video and stills while not compromising on portability.
A choice of auto-focuses, face-following, 720p playback, a 12 megapixel sensor and a 1600 ISO, it's certainly a well-specced little blighter, but no audio output? I mean come on. If you're looking for a step up from your Flip HD or Kodak Zi6, this is certainly a good place to start.
While hybrid recorders with the flexibility of recording using discs or an integrated hard drive are the most popular digital recorders, there's still a market for dedicated disc recorders. You can use them to archive copies from an existing PVR and then easily transport them or share them with friends.
Panasonic's DMR-EZ27 is one of the few DVD recorders that features integrated video upscaling all the way up to the highest 1080p HD format. This means that with a compatible display you can enhance the image quality of standard DVDs, recordings and even off-air TV broadcasts to close to high-definition quality.
Despite the hallowed 1080p format still being restricted to next-generation DVD players and games consoles, the number of compatible Full HD (1920x1080) screens is consistently rising while prices fall - an encouraging sign of changing times.
Toshiba's 42X3030D is an entry-level model that offers a future-proof high-definition specification for an affordable price - an attraction to first-time buyers who want to explore the full potential of Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs or PS3 games that output 1080p signals.
Although the Blu-ray enabled PS3 may be stealing the headlines at the moment, lets not forget that Sony isn't the only company in the Blu-ray player market; Samsung has its own player, the BD-P1000, which provided early adopters with their first taste of the capabilities of the HD format. However, for some reason Samsung had neglected to bring a TV set to take advantage of Blu-ray's Full HD capabilities. The LE-40F71B addresses that issue by offering 1080p resolution along with the many other impressive technical features that hold Samsung flat panel TVs in good stead in the HDTV market.
The LE-40F71B does come packed with goodies too; imaging is handed by Samsung's Digital Natural Image engine (DNIe), which is designed to improve black levels - a key issue at the 40" mark where competing plasmas tend to have the edge - sharpness, colour saturations and motion. It also offers a impressive array of connectivity options including twin HDMI slots, component video input, two Scarts and a PC input.
Then there's a couple of multiformat memory card readers and a USB port to let you view JPEG photos. Interestingly, the USB is PictBridge-enabled, so you can send your photos on to a printer sans computer. There is one thing lacking though; namely an integrated digital tuner, which seems a pretty curious shortcoming.
Although the price of LCD’s, specifically around the 32” mark, is plummeting rapidly there is still a hard pitched battle going on between the big brands for dominance of the premium price bracket. Sony’s strong brand image and excellent image processing system has already set the bar with the Bravia KDL-32V2000 so it’s up Philips’ latest iteration of its image processing system, Pixel Plus 3 HD, along with the unique Ambilight technology to provide an answering shot. However, the 32PF9731D also has one further ace up its sleeve – Clear LCD – and it is now the smallest Philips HDTV to boast the technology.
And where the Sony KDL-32V2000 let itself down badly with a meagre selection connectivity options, the Philips 32PF9731D fights back hard by offering two HDMI slots, a component video input, two Scarts, S- video in, a D-Sub PC input, digital audio input/output, a CI slot, two USB ports, an Ethernet port, and a multi-format card reader. Phew.
The Ethernet port is of particular interest as it allows the TV to network with your PC and stream digital video/audio files directly. Its format compatibility is pretty good too and includes MP3, JPEG, MP3 Pro, LPCM, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, DivX and XviD file types.
Never before have the words 'hotly' and 'anticipated' gone so well together in home cinema. Long have A/V enthusiasts awaited the JVC DLA-HD1, and why? Because it's the first projector deigned for the ordinary consumer to sport the revolutionary D-ILA technology. D-ILA is JVC's proprietary variant of Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) technology, pretty much akin to Sony's SXRD used in the Ruby and Pearl projectors. Its greatest strengths lie in cutting out video noise and screen-door effects, reducing rainbowing and motion dithering.
Other features of the HD1 are the set of two HDMI slots, RS-232C control terminal (suited to custom installers), S-Video and Composite video inputs and component jacks. The design is, as you can see, erring on the side of ungainly but it has made some effort to become a little more living room friendly with a black glossy body and grey trimmings.
Spearheading Hitachi's assault on the 32" LCD market, the 32LD9700 comes with a premium price tag but an equally weighty set of features. One key difference between this and previous Hitachi LCDs is that it uses a new type of LCD panel called IPS-Alpha. This is designed to tackle some of LCDs traditional weaknesses: motion response, contrast and viewing angle. On top of that, Hitachi's Picture Master video processing system has been re-engineered to work better with these same IPS-Alpha panels.
Connectivity is suitable for a top end HDTV: you get two HDMI slots, three SCARTS and a PC-input, plus a USB socket for digital cameras and the like, and an SD card slot. Nice. You also get a strobe mode for frame by frame playback, picture in picture viewing and, best of all, remote controlled screen swivelling. />
The Fujitsu P42XHA58EB weighs in at a hefty £2,700 and has clearly been designed to satisfy the needs of serious home cinema enthusiasts and custom A/V installers. It might not suit the needs (or budget) of the ordinary consumer, but Fujitsu hopes it will take pride of place at the heart of complete home cinema array.
Before we start, there are three obvious features that are lacking; you won’t find either a digital or analogue tuner, nor are there any old school SCART inputs. There aren’t even any inbuilt speakers – this screen is purely about the picture quality. Clearly though, these are things you can work around pretty easily if you already have an existing home cinema system.
What it does have, however, is a healthy array of HD inputs (2 x HDMI and 2 x Component) as well as interesting features such as the ‘ambient sensor’, which adjusts the picture settings in response to ambient light levels, and separate contrast adjustments for the signal and screen drive picture elements. Picture processing is handled by Fujitsu’s AVM II engine, which boasts four times the power of its predecessor and produces improved image scaling and de-interlacing, advanced motion correction, improved noise reduction and enhanced detail to Standard Definition sources.
With media centre PC’s and games consoles blurring the lines between home cinema and home computer, it is little surprise that PC manufacturers are straying into big screen LCD territory. So far, however, most have been unable to keep up with the level of quality offered by traditional TV manufacturers. There is one compelling reason to consider a PC-brand LCD though – the price. Acer’s AT3720 is an HD-Ready, 37” LCD that can be picked up for less than £700.
Its other features are also impressive: there are two HDMI inputs, component video inputs, a noise reduction system and an 8ms response time. Of course, there are few drawbacks – you won’t find an integrated digital tuner here, nor is there an S-Video input – but on the whole, from the spec sheet alone it looks like quite a bargain. Find out how it performs on the turn.
The best way to see the advantage of ‘full’ 1080p HD is on a really really big screen. LCDs are getting there, plasmas can be pretty huge, but for a truly massive screen size, projection is the only way to go. Small wonder then that Panasonic's 1920x1080p PT-AE1000 projector has been one of 2007’s most hotly anticipated home cinema products.
The PT-AE1000 has a no nonsense design and the specs certainly don’t threaten to let the side down. Two HDMI inputs, a component video, D-Sub PC input, and even a SCART socket make for a really decent array of connections. The claimed contrast ratio of 11,000:1 and brightness of 1,100 lumens are well into the right ballpark too.
Unique features include the AE1000’s aspherical glass lens system, which is designed to reduce light dispersion and should yield a more vivid picture. Then there’s a new Pure Colour Filter – that claims to produce richer reds, greens and blues, deeper blacks and a wider colour gamut – and the inorganic, vertically aligned LCD panels for enhanced black level performance. Oh, and it can run at a whisper-quiet 22dB for undisturbed viewing pleasure.
Last year, InFocus revealed its new range of home cinema projectors - the first in quite a long time. InFocus had always enjoyed a great reputation in the video projection market, but suffered slightly in the style department. Until now.
As you can see from the pic, the IN76 replaces the old clunky design and bland colours with a high-gloss, black finish and enough smooth, flowing curves to make a sports car jealous.
The specifications are of an equally high standard too: despite being one of the most reasonably priced HD Ready DLP projectors, it offers a contrast ratio of 3000:1, 1000 ANSI lumens, native 1280 x 720 resolution and a wealth of connectivity options via the unique 'M1-DA' port, as well as HDMI and component inputs.
Despite being one of the smallest members of Panny’s HD Ready TV range, the TX-26LXD600 has quite a high price tag at over £700. To justify this, Panasonic has ensured that it is rich with features and offers performance to make most other LCDs green with envy. It claims a contrast ratio of 1200:1, V-Real Advanced LCD AI processing, integrated digital tuner and EPG.
Its looks too are a bit special - the black bezel is offset by a silver trim on the top and bottom. There’s also an SD Card slot concealed in the front that allows you to view JPEG photos on the screen or record TV shows directly for playback on portable media devices. Even the desktop stand has a handy rotating action.
With only one or two exceptions, most decent LCDs look the part of a premium centrepiece for your home cinema setup. They tend to lean towards a minimalist design that keeps your attention on the picture quality rather than making too big a deal out of the unit itself. Which is all well and good when the TV is switched on, but when powered down, even some of the best look a little uninspiring. Here’s where Loewe has stepped in, offering a unique design that allows you to customise several key aspects of its appearance to suit your taste.
The Individual Selection only comes in three sizes, (26”, 32” and 40”) but with pick-and-mix features, there are around 400 possible configurations that you can choose from. The Loewe website has a configuration tool that offers five different colours for the front panel and nine different coloured insets. Then, for a more practical aspect, you can choose from loads of different types of stands, as well as optional upgrades including digital tuners, DVD players and recorders, and speaker packages.
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