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Pioneer Signature Series plasmas feature IP control

I swear, this is not another post about Pioneer’s new line. This is actually a post about me tooting my own horn. I’m allowed to do this because I am great.

They should just send me truckloads of cash. Back in February I wrote about how companies should make their TVs plug directly into Crestron networks. While they’re not using the same technology I wrote about, Pioneer has added exactly this functionality into their new Signature Series plasma line.

This line was aimed at the high-end custom integrator. While part of it seems gimmicky - like the fact that these panels are “hand picked” - but they are the top tier in quality. 1080p Kuro plasmas at 2.5″ deep, plus they have advanced calibration controls to get them just right.

But the reason I’m writing today is because you now plug ethernet directly into these plasmas and they come with a Crestron module for IP control in your automation system. No slow RS-232, no more IR emitters glued to the front bezel.

Better bring me that money now.

Sharp AQUOS shows Blu-ray DVR

A relatively new trend in home entertainment is the complete digital entertainment hub. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s Playstation 3 both portend to fulfill this end with the future inclusion of cable TV tuners, creating a single box where you can play video games, watch movies, download video and audio, and even watch and record live TV. What we’re also beginning to see are devices without video gaming in mind to fulfill this niche.

Enter the Sharp AQUOS BD-HDWXX (from Akihabara). This set top box features a Blu-ray player (presumably BD1.1), digital and analog TV tuners and a hard drive. There are three models with different sized hard drives; BD-HDW22 at 250GB, BD-HDW25 at 500GB and BD-HDW30 at 1TB sizes.

Details are still slim, but it looks to me that this is a Japan-specific device. It doesn’t say if you can copy recorded content to Blu-ray, but in the land of the rising sun that’s an important feature so I’m sure they’re working with content providers on that.

My prediction is that we’ll see more devices like this coming stateside at CEDIA Expo in September but with the inclusion of Tru2Way CableCARD slots and DLNA ethernet support. It’s true the same functionality is available with Media Center products, but a lot of people are still worried about the Windows operating system on those. The Media Centers also feature a lot of functionality most people will never need or use, like home automation. And they’re still worried they’ll have to reboot their house.

Wal-Mart stocks cheap Blu-ray player

No matter what you think about Wal-Mart, they are the largest retailer in the world and have the power to literally change economies. Although this development doesn’t leave a South American country in shambles, it may help spur on the already fast-growing Blu-ray market.

This week a Magnavox Blu-ray Disc player reached shelves in select markets at the price of $298. The Magnavox NB500MG9 (sexy name, isn’t it?) is a BD1.1 player manufactured in China by Funai. It features HDMI 1.3 output and upconverts DVD to 1080p.



This looks like a capable player. It outputs 1080p/24 video with Deep Color. There isn’t a multi-channel analog output on this player and doesn’t decode advanced codecs on board, but it does send bitstream audio out to your capable receiver.

It’s official, we now have generic Blu-ray players on the market.

View the manual

Editor’s note: We first covered this Funai Blu-ray player in our Blu-ray Disc Association Booth CES 2008 article.

Microsoft denies Blu-ray Xbox rumor

Some rumors just won’t die. I’ve stayed away from it for the most part since January, when Microsoft marketing manager Albert Penello said, “It should be a consumer choice.”

This latest rumor came out of a Chinese publication called Economic Daily News in early May that said Pegatron Technology was tapped to manufacture a Blu-ray integrated Xbox 360 which would ship in time for Christmas. There are obviously technological challenges here considering all Xbox games are on DVD, and a game could not be released on Blu-ray without alienating the installed base at nearly 19-million world wide.

The response from Microsoft came quickly and resolutely.

As we have stated, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360. Games are what drive consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available.

While this is a pretty straight forward response, not deflecting the question at all, it does bring up a few questions. If they won’t sell a Blu-ray drive because they’re focused on games, what was the HD DVD add-on? What’s with Xbox Live video downloads? These are just the surface of the issue, clearly, for Microsoft has been leveraging the Xbox 360 to gain entrance into homes as a Media Center Extender for quite some time. They’ve made it clear they intend the 360 to be a central part of the home theater experience.

Add to this the fact that video downloads are now a $1-billion/yr business and growing, and they’re not just competing with Sony anymore now that Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon, Vudu and a growing number of providers are now entering with growing fervor into the market the Xbox 360 helped create, and you have a whole new ball game. (Sorry about the sports analogy, I don’t even like sports.)

So this brings a new level of market competition, and a new debate about optical media versus downloads. If Microsoft is fully committed to digital downloads what need of Blu-ray have they? Which brings us back to the rumors that Microsoft was only supporting HD DVD to kill off both next-gen formats. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Goldmund’s Blu-ray player, real deal or scam?

You may have heard by now about the Goldmund Eidos BD20 Blu-ray player. It is the very first ultra-high-end high-def player on the market at nearly $17,000. (Meredian promised a high-end HD DVD player last year at CES but failed to deliver.)

From praised Swiss audiophile manufacturer Goldmund, this player is said to have all the features that made their Eidos 20 DVD player famous (you know, in the small world of luxury audiophilia), including the AC-Curator power supply, and a Magnetic Damper as well as the solid, yet subtle chassis.



But what makes it so amazing? They receive OEM parts from Japanese manufacturers (most likely Sony or Pioneer) and then install it in the chassis, test everything, replace parts for higher-quality and durability, and then mark it up 3,000%. While I agree that even digital signals can be improved upon with higher quality materials and craftsmanship, there is a point of diminished returns. If you double the cost of low-end an A/V product, you get maybe 20% improved picture and audio. If you double it again, you might get 10% above that. Again and you might receive 5%. Just follow this pattern.

But even this equation doesn’t always work. Take Oppo for example. Their $399 DVD player may be 20% better than their $169 player, but that $169 player is every bit as good as some $799 DVD players from a high-end company.

We’re also seeing speakers coming out of China, like PSB and Usher, which are matching the quality of speakers from Canada and the U.K. that are 400% more costly.

The beauty of the luxury goods market is they only have to sell one player to make a return on their investment. Sell two and you’re golden. It may be a scam, but if you have the money to invest you may just find yourself with fewer friends (but they’ll all be of the highest quality).

Pioneer’s 2008 lineup announced

Sorry for all the Pioneer updates, but this is something that gives clarity to all the discussion of the new Kuro panels.

There are four models in the Elite line, and they share similar specs. All are 1080p, Kuro plasmas. There is a new line within Elite called “Signature Series;” these will be monitors without on board tuners and will be a thin 2.5″ deep. The $5,000 PRO-111FD and $6,000 PRO-151FD are 50″ and 60″, respectfully. The Signature Series are PRO-101FD and PRO-141FD in the same sizes. The Elite plasmas will ship in June, and the Signature Series will ship in October and August (101FD and 141FD).



The consumer line features a 50″ PDP-5020FD and a 60″ PDP-6020FD, both in 1080p. The new panels are almost a full inch thinner than their predecessors at 3.7″ deep. They’re all receiving the Home Media Gallery allowing connection to networked DLNA devices to view video, photos and audio on the TV. The consumer level plasmas will be $4,000 and $5,000 around June.



Interestingly, Pioneer has added a KRF-9000FD front projector to their lineup. They still don’t have full specs on it, but it is a 1080p LCoS projector based on the popular JVC DLA-RS2. This will retail at around $9,000.



Pioneer is also expanding their Blu-ray lineup with a player in their consumer line and in the Elite line. Both Blu-ray Disc players are BD1.1 “Bonus View,” and I’m a bit disappointed that they don’t have a BD2.0 player. The Elite model is BDP-05FD and the Pioneer brand is BDP-51FD. As far as I can tell they’re both the same unit. They both decode all audio codecs, they both have HDMI 1.3, BD1.1 profile, 1080p/24fps and PureCinema Deinterlacer. The Elite seems to simply add gold-plated connectors, touch-sensitive buttons, and an aluminum face plate. I hope there’s more to it than that.



Finally, Pioneer’s highly-respected Elite A/V receivers have been revamped. They will now all feature three audio zones, two video zones and will have RS-232 control. This is another effort to court the custom integrators. The new SC-07 and SC-05 receivers will follow the flagship SC-09TX with ICEpower class-D amplifiers. The VSX-03TXH and VSX-01TXH will be joined with the existing VSX-94TXH to complete the line.

Panasonic unveils Blu-ray HTIB

New hardware news has been coming in on the Blu-ray tide. Panasonic has revealed specs and pricing on their new SC-BT100 home-theater-in-a-box system, as well as announced a new BD2.0 player.

The SC-BT100 features BD1.1 “Bonus View” compatibility, 24fps output on HDMI 1.3, and codec support for all mandatory and optional formats. It is a 5.1 surround system with all satellites in the famous D’Appolito array. The rear speakers are wireless, meaning they are powered at the rear and wires still need to be attached but they don’t have to run to the front of the room. You can also add another pair of wireless speakers for a 7.1 setup. Out of the box, 7.1 sources are give phantom channels in the rears.

This HTIB also features an embedded iPod dock that plays audio and video from all iPods with the exception of the iPhone. The integrated Blu-ray Disc player upconverts DVD to 1080p over HDMI. This system costs $999 MSRP.

Also announced is the new DMP-BD50 which will be identical to the DMP-BD30 but with added features. Included are all advanced codecs on board, BD2.0 “BD-Live” compatibility (using an SD card slot on the front panel), and 24fps video support. This player will retail at $699. The DMP-BD30 is the BD1.1 player at $499.