Posts in Home AV
Denon's US$20K monster A/V pre-pro
Philip Wong | Mar 12, 2008
This is for all you hardcore home theater buffs. If you folks are eyeing a no-holds-barred A/V pre-amplifier and power-amplifier duo, the US$20,000 Denon AVP/POA-A1HD may be exactly what you need. The THX Ultra2-certified Denon AVP-A1HD will happily decode just about every surround sound format, including the latest studio-grade Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. It also packs a lethal punch in video-processing via an onboard HQV Realta chip, endowed with six full-featured HDMI 1.3 terminals, wireless music streaming and Internet radio.
The towering POA-A1HD power-amplifier, on the other hand, delivers a massive 3,000W output distributed among 10 audio channels. The similarly THX-certified deck is capable of supporting up to 20 independent loudspeakers and can be easily reconfigured for bi-amplification, too. If you own a power-hungry Maggie--slang for high-performance Magneplanar loudspeakers--you could downgrade (bridging) this whopper from 10 to 5 channels to gain a 500W/channel instant boost. That’s besides three assignable retro-like meters that dance to the rhythm from live audio feeds.
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Via Crave UK
"Alfa speaker" that's funkiest of all
Philip Wong | Mar 11, 2008
Hmm? What will you get when you mix a Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus (left) with the lovable Scandyna Minipod (center)? The Symbio Alpha (right), of course! This combines the snail-like contours of the former with the signature spike stand of the latter, winning hands down both in form and aesthetics. It even comes in black and yellow, crafted using laminated composite baffle and solid aluminum materials.
Looking beyond its funky design, it has a ported two-way configuration which delivers a pretty good 40-25Khz frequency response. This pretty much covers the extreme ends of the spectrum, though it doesn't harm to throw in a dedicated subwoofer. Speaking of which, you can pair the Alpha with the EggO, an egg-shaped (what else?) passive subwoofer, for that added oomph.
Now, if you are gunning for a 5.1 home theater setup, Symbio has that covered, too. Just add another pair of Alpha and the matching Beta center speakers, and you're all set. We're still a bit skeptical about the entire ensemble's sonic credibility. That said, there's little doubt that it's going to be "love at first sight" for the ladies.
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Via Bornrich.org | Photo credit: Symbio
The handbag TV needs no introduction
Mike Yamamoto | Mar 11, 2008
This is the company, you may recall, that's made a living out of creating TVs in the form of toys, basketballs, giant fruit, and countless other objects. So this handbag LCD doesn't seem especially weird in that context, with a 9.6-inch display, a handle that actually works, and even a genuine leather case. "Sophisticated style that will appeal to any woman that demands tasteful and unique decoration," as Shiny Shiny notes, sneeringly. And for you macho types, remember, in Europe men carry handbags all the time.
Via Crave CNET
Thanko's motorized TV stand for playing Wii
Reuben Lee | Mar 11, 2008
Thanko may be known to many as the company that comes with the weirdest contraptions from time to time, but its latest Electric Up and Down Big TV Stand may just be its most interesting product yet.
As its name suggests, the Electric Up and Down Big TV Stand is basically a TV stand with a built-in motor to raise and lower large-screen panel displays. Seemingly designed with Wii gamers in mind, the electric TV stand can be conveniently raised by as much as 130cm using a remote control, making it possible to play games more comfortably at eye level. It is rated to lift TV screens between 40 and 60 inches and weighing less than 50kg. Most TV stands in the market today are designed for TV viewing when seated on a couch, thus they are often too low for proper gaming that require standing up.
Unfortunately, this rather useful TV stand doesn't come cheap. It retails for 69,800 yen (US$685) and is currently available only in Japan. However, with the growing popularity of the Wii console, we won't be too surprised if OEM makers start coming up with something similar really soon.
Via DigitalWorldTokyo
Picture credit: Rare Mono Shop
Quad-ported Pagani stereo hi-fi
Philip Wong | Mar 10, 2008
It seems super cars are no longer the Pagani Automobili reson de etre for these days. Like Ferrari, the Italian car manufacturer has ventured into consumer electronics with its own line of home audios. What we have here is a flashy self-contained stereo hi-fi. The kit comprises a vinyl turntable, CD player, preamplifier, 150W power amplifier and a pair of floor-standing speakers. For exotic cars enthusiasts, the four-valve port on the loudspeakers adds a unique Zonda styling, while generous applications of carbon fiber and aluminum give the entire setup a very polished appearance.
This product is obvious built ground up for the socialites and elitists, so we will skip on pricing. However, if you need one of these for your million-dollar mansion, just get your secretary to drop the Italians an email here.
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Via Autoblog | Photo credit: Pagani Automobili
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