Countdown to Onkyo's premium HD-DVD begins

Heads up people! We have just received insider news that the Onkyo DV-HD805 will be launched at the upcoming International Sound & Sight Exhibition in Singapore on November 16. For those uninitiated, this is probably the first HD-DVD player in Asia capable of outputting Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD bitstream audio output. It will be an ideal tool to unlock the HD soundtracks recorded on HD-DVD titles, paired with a next-gen A/V receiver. A fine example is the award-winning yet affordable S$1,019 (US$670.39) Onkyo TX-SR605.

The DV-HD805 is also a competent video-upscaling DVD and CD player. The video playback performance for the former is reinforced with an enthusiast-grade HQV video processor, while high-resolution 192kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converters are on hand to beef up stereo music reproduction. There's no official word on HDi interactive feature support, though there is short mention of "future Web-based content access" for its Ethernet port functions.

Take note that the above-mentioned features are still based on preliminary specifications and the set will be priced at a whopping S$2,899 (US$1,907.24) tentatively. On a separate note, the Onkyo DV-HD805 bears a cunningly similar resemblance to the Toshiba HD-XE1, right down to the buttons and A/V socket placements and LCD information display. Hmm… so who's the original equipment manufacturer for both players here?

10mm waffle-thin Samsung 40-incher

Just when we thought the Philips.LG 19.8mm LCD panel groundbreaking, Samsung has pulled a quick one on its rivals by unveiling a TV-equivalent with an even thinner 10mm thickness. Introduced at the recent FPD International 2007 in Japan, the 1080p 40-incher uses the latest LED backlighting and consumes less than 90W power. Even better, its waffle-thin chassis sports an ultra-narrow 14.6mm frame, almost half of what's usual and similar to the width found on current high-end LCD monitors.

Via Akihabara News

Slimmer 1080p LCD panels on the horizon

The ongoing trend for slim products in home audio-visual products continues with LG-Philips' recent announcement of its ultra-thin LCD panel at the FPD International 2007 event held in Japan. Measuring just 19.8mm thick, the 42-inch screen packs over two million pixels with a native 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and picture motion enhanced by a 120Hz video scanning technology. In addition, both companies also claim that the new panel is 40 percent thinner and 10 percent lighter than conventional designs from their competitors.

Well, it does seem like affordability is still high on their priority list as these new-gen panels feature standard cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) instead of Light Emitting Diodes which generally bring up the cost. Expect to see LCD TVs with the new ultra-thin panels to hit retail shelves as early as Q1 2008, but we doubt it will be heading our way here in Asia anytime soon.

Via Digitimes

Gentlemen, start your engines

Have you ever pulled off a perfect drift? One that hugs the corner as tight as a baby monkey gripping its mama while the world spins past.

No? We don't blame you. After all, not everyone has the cash to pump into a real racing car, nor the skill to execute such a driving technique. But if you do feel the need for speed, then it's time to take a seat--in the D-Box GP-200.

However, this is not a car. It's a bucket seat that's been mod with five speakers and three hydraulic jacks. It simulates racing action onscreen, but the term is a misnomer. Pair it with a PC game like rFactor and you can almost feel the wind in your hair when you go full throttle.

Yet, for all the promised heart-pounding action, its price tag isn't for the faint-hearted. The S$24,000 sticker price means deep pockets are required. And don't even think of buying it as an expensive accessory for your game console. However, according to the Singapore distributor, there are cheaper options available (S$8,000 and S$12,000).

As of press time, there are only a few games that support the GP-200, such as the aforementioned rFactor and Microsoft's Flight Simulator X. However, as the chair is relatively new, it could be a matter of time before more games support motion output to the GP-200.

     

Denon preps a pair of premium Blu-ray kits

Are you craving to sample studio-grade Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD surround sound through your spanking new A/V receiver? Now you have another choice other than the recently launched Pioneer BDP-LX70A. Japanese Hi-Fi maker Denon has announced not one but two premium Blu-ray products. The DVD-3800BD is a CD/DVD/Blu-ray player, while the DVD-2500BT is a transport (without digital-to-analog converters) with similar disc compatibilities.

Both are capable of outputting the two lossless high-resolution audios (as mentioned above) in raw (bitstream) format. Though there is no proven advantage in external Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding, it enables your compatible receiver to process the signals instead of relying on just the HD player. This, according to some online reports, helps produce better sound. Another cool feature for the DVD-3800BD is its onboard HQV Realta processor, one of the highest-end video chipsets highly sought-after by enthusiasts and videophiles. Both kits also sport a HDMI 1.3 terminal which is capable of supporting judder-free film-centric 1080p24 signal.

The Denon pair will be available in Japan from Jan 2008 at an equally impressive US$1,981 (DVD-2500BT) and US$2,885 (DVD-3800BD), respectively. Other Asia launch details were not available at press time.

Via Akihabara News

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