Panasonic CES 2009 Blu-ray / HTIB lineup eyes-on

We were able to spot a few of Panasonic's latest innovations in the home theater space back at CES 2009, but we got a much more intimate look at things during a recent New York showcase. The new Blu-ray decks look nice, if not a touch plain. Not that everyone wants an Alienware-esque BD deck or anything, but we digress. The Blu-ray HTIB systems were particularly of interest, as these things are perfect for sneaking BD into homes that are currently DVD-only, and while we longed for more information on the portable DMP-B15, the on-hand reps didn't seem too anxious to gush over technical specifications with us. Their loss, totally.

Panasonic SC-PT1050 DVD Home Theater System

Boasting the only wireless subwoofer in this category, Panasonic's five-disc system removes one more cable from the equation. Setting it all up took some deft button pushing, but the 2.4-GHz RF transmitter connected immediately and without interference, sounding as snappy as the hardwired speakers up front.

WIRED: Midrange and highs are respectable at low and moderate volume. Swank setup: Microphone (included) measures sound levels and adjusts each speaker accordingly.

TIRED: Cheap-looking DVD player/control unit betrays flimsy overall construction. Flabby subwoofer performance. Upping the volume quickly exposes other flaws — were those drums or garbage-can lids?

CES 2009 Home Audio Wrap-UP

With its unique design, built-in BD-Live Blu-ray player, Netflix onboard, and Wi-Fi compatibility, the Samsung HT-BD7200 encapsulated cutting-edge home theater this year.

Wireless speakers.

Panasonic showcased the SC-ZT1, a unique "4.4" speaker system with wireless speakers (except for that pesky power cord, of course). But the bigger trend was wireless subwoofers: Samsung, Philips, and Polk Audio (among others) all showed surround systems with wireless subs, enabling more flexibility when placing them in the room.

Network audio.

Whether it was more affordable tabletop Internet radios from the likes of Sanyo and Acoustic Research or impressive streaming audio systems from Linksys or Philips, network audio was on the rise in 2009. If you don't want a dedicated network audio product, that's OK; products like Samsung's Blu-ray home theater systems have Pandora streaming built-in, obviating the need for other hardware. And the pre-CES announcement that Apple's iTunes Store is going DRM-free means that all major music download purchases are now basically free of copy protection, making streaming between multiple devices easier than ever.

iPod- and iPhone-ready.

Compatibility for Apple's iPod is essentially ubiquitous, but manufacturers are offering some incremental improvements. LG and Panasonic are including slide-out iPod docks (rather than add-on cabled cradles) on many of their home theater systems, while Pioneer's A/V receivers offer improved on-TV screen navigation for attached iPods and iPhones.

Blu-ray compatibility.

Samsung and Panasonic offered the first home theater systems with built-in Blu-ray players in 2008, but they were expensive systems that were full of compromises (namely, the older Blu-ray spec). The picture is much improved for 2009: systems from JVC, Panasonic, LG, and Samsung are all Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) compliant, and many offer additional content from the Internet (Netflix and Pandora on Samsung; Netflix, YouTube, and CinemaNow on LG; Amazon and YouTube on Panasonic). Samsung upped the ante with Wi-Fi options available via an add-on dongle.

Single-speaker audio and virtual surround.

Another trend that's showing no sign of abating in 2009 is single-speaker and virtual surround systems. Polk Audio, Samsung, Philips, Panasonic, LG, and Sharp were among the manufacturers showing either speakerbars, 2.1, or other configurations that aim to deliver a 5.1- or 7.1-channel experience from one, two, or four speakers. A related trend: More audio systems are being touted as wall-mountable, presumably to sit underneath a wall-mounted flat-panel TV.

Panasonic SC-ZT1 Full Wireless Theatre System

Panasonic has unveiled its new Wireless Home Theater System, the SC-ZT1, which is specially designed to do away with the trouble of speaker cables. The system sends uncompressed audio data over a wireless 2.4-GHz frequency band to ensure high-quality sound.

The SC-ZT1 will give you a lifelike virtual Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD 7.1 channel surround sound from its four ultra slim antenna looking speakers, which come with an integrated subwoofer for generating sounds from the low-frequency range. You can purchase the Panasonic SC-ZT1 when it is released in Spring 2009.

Panasonic XR55 7.1 Digital Receiver

7.1 Channel Surround Sound or Stereo / 100 Watts per channel in either mode / Dolby Digital EX / DTS ES / Dolby Pro Logic II / BLACK

# Panasonic SA-XR55K Home-theater Receiver for A/V Surround Sound - If you use a DVD player on your TV or plan to Upgrade to HDTV soon, having multichannel surround sound is extremely important to complete the truest home-theater experience. Though HDTV offers a 5.1 channel surround mode, this receiver can deliver76.1 Channels for new DVD output. So you've got the choice of your surround mode. This receiver also has a Stereo mode for your Audio recordings. Let's call this a receiver for all seasons! 100 Watts per channel in surround or stereo modes.

# Port for adding a powered Subwoofer.

# Digitally-tuned AM/FM Tuner with up to 30 User Programmable station Memory presets.

# Convenient terminals for connecting surround sound speakers (speakers not included).

# Jack for listening in privacy with Optional Headphones.

# Rear Audio Inputs - RCA: 4, Coaxial: 1, Optical: 2.

# Rear Video Inputs - Composite: 3, S-Video: 3, Component: 2# Selectable DSP modes.

# Port for adding external FM antenna.

# Slim Design - 2.9" H x 16.9" W x 14.7" D.

# Weighs 8.8 Pounds.

# Includes Remote Control.

Panasonic SC-HT680 5-Disc DVD Home Theater System

Bring amazingly clear surround sound to your home at an affordable price with the Panasonic SC-HT680 Home Theater System, which features 390 watts of total power output (600 watts peak) and a 5-disc progressive scan DVD player/changer with integrated reciever. It includes two tower front speakers with height-adjustable stands, two satellite surround speakers, one center channel speaker, and one passive subwoofer (which lacks a built-in amplifier) with sound level control.The 5-disc DVD player/changer is compatible with a wide range of disc formats, including DVD-Audio, DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, and CD-R/RW, as well as HighMAT, JPEG, MP3 and WMA file formats. You find more info and reviews on this Panasonic DVD Home Theater System here. Big thumbs up

Free Style

Freestyle Audio has made one super tough MP3 player that’s built to handle just about any extreme activities you can dish out. They show examples of using it while surfing, swimming and they have a video below showing it being dropped off of a 3rd story building onto concrete (they drop and iPod nano as well). The results of the video shows the Freestyle MP3 player turn on, but it really doesn’t say if it still plays music. Either way the fact that it didn’t break apart and still powered up is impressive.Features of the Freestyle MP3 player are nothing spectacular - On/Off, Volume and skip ahead songs in the loaded media. It has associated software for managing music and works with a Mac and a PC.

Kenwood KDC-W534UA

Kenwood has released 6 new car radios that allow connections to your USB hard drive or MP3 player. The radio then detects and replays digital audio files that are stored in WMA, ACC, or MP3 formats. Four of these 1-Din models, KDC-W534UA, KDC-W5534U, KDC-W6534U, and KDC-W7534U, connect through the rear while the other two, DPX501U and DPX701U, have their connections in front. There is even a supplied USB cord and an optional iPod adapter. So far there is no word on product availability or price. In the meantime, we’re going to work on getting our PC’s into the passenger seat.

Creative Labs I-Trigue 3330 2.1

Product Dimensions: 12 x 11 x 12.5 inches ; 12 poundsShipping Weight: 11 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.ASIN: B0013WGZQW

Item model number: 51MF0237AA000.

LG Home Theater

All of the models were previewed at the International Consumer Electronics Show."LG's latest home theater and audio systems were designed to meet consumers' desire for advanced technology that doesn't compromise the stylish design of their homes," says LG VP of sales and marketing Allan Jason. "Our new systems offer consumers the best of both worlds and truly complement the entire entertainment experience."The company says the LHT888, which has front and wireless rear speakers, was inspired by the champagne flute. A 700W 5.1-channel DVD receiver and DVD player allow for 1080p upscaling through HDMI, and the USB Media Plus connectivity delivers access to digital photos, music and video stored on a drive.LG SimpLink technology enables multi-device control of other LG products with the HDMI connection.LG's 5-Disc DVD Home Theater System (LHT874) and Single Disc DVD Home Theater System (LHT854) both offer an array of playback options such as iPod and USB Media Plus connectivity for quick and easy access to digital music, photos and video. Both also have 1080p upscaling and SimpLink technology, and the LHT874 features wireless rear speakers and HDMI input. The Tabletop Audio System (LFD850) and Shelf CD Audio System (LFA840) can be used as a main home audio system but are also compact enough for small areas. The LFD850 features made for iPod direct docking, USB Media Plus, Immersive Sound Technology, a parabola design 3-inch speaker and a front-mounted touch panel control.The LFA840 offers CD playback and USB Media Host.

Sony Home Theater

Sony releases two new 5.1-channel Blu-ray HTIB systems, the BDV-E300 and BDV-E500W. Both home theater systems support BD-Live-capable (Profile 2.0) Blu-ray player, BRAVIA Sync technology, and Sony’s Digital Media Port to easily control Apple’s iPod and Sony’s Walkman line. The Sony BDV-E500W features an integrated S-AIR wireless audio capabilities that allows you to place your rear speakers in the room wirelessly. The BDV-E300 Blu-ray HTIB and the BDV-E500W Blu-ray HTIB will be launched in June for around $600 and $800, respectively.

JBL GT5 car audio loudspeakers

Loudspeaker specialist JBL,

Presents the brand new GT5 loudspeaker series at the IFA 2007. The excitingly-styled GT5 loudspeakers are suitable for all price-conscious car audio fans who wish to upgrade their cars with genuine JBL sound, without costly installation. The new loudspeakers are of an easy-to-install design and are comparable even with significantly more expensive models in terms of sound. In addition to the sound quality, particular attention was given to an attractive design. But even in the inexpensive price segment, not only appearance.

JBL GT5 loudspeakers.

The new tweeters are provided with an elaborate titanium coating for crystal-clear, linear treble. Thanks to the angled and rotating UniPivot mounting, the treble reproduction of the coaxial systems remains superb, even for unfavorable installation positions. The component systems are equipped with outboard crossovers and are supplied with comprehensive installation accessories for the edge-driven 25mm tweeters.

JBL car audio - GT5.

Loudspeakers Exceptional in this price category are the intricate ventilation grilles in the loudspeaker housing. They guarantee perfect ventilation and effective heat dissipation from the voice coil. The result is minimized harmonic distortion at high output power. Of course, all GT5 loudspeakers are also equipped with our patented PlusOne diaphragm. By means of complex mounting of the rubber seam, JBL maximizes the effective diaphragm area and thus achieves a higher output level in the bass range.

JBL car audio loudspeakers - Models

JBL GT5 402, 100mm 2-way coaxial system, 4 Ohms, 30/90WJBL

GT5 502, 130mm 2-way coaxial system, 4 Ohms, 35/105WJBL

GT5 652, 165mm 2-way coaxial system, 4 Ohms, 45/135WJBL

GT5 803, 200mm 3-way coaxial system, 4 Ohms, 70/210WJBL

GT5 963, 6"x9" 3-way coaxial system, 4 Ohms, 70/210WJBL

GT5 500c, 130mm 2-way component system, 4 Ohms, 40/120WJBL

GT5 650c, 165mm 2-way component system, 4 Ohms, 50/150W

JBL Ontime (Black)

Specification
DriversOne Ridge and two Phoenix neodymium driversPower Output6 Watts per channel (left, right, tweeter)ConnectionsMain Connection – iPod docking connector Auxiliary – 1/8" (3.5mm) Mini stereo jack Subwoofer OutFrequency Response70Hz – 20kHzInput Impedance>5k OhmsSignal-to-Noise Ratio>80dBVoltage Input120V AC U.S., 100V AC Japanese, 230V AC EuropeDimensionsDiameter – 10" (254mm)Height – 10" (254mm)Weight2.5 lb (1.2kg)Time Machine Dock for iPodJBL On Time™ – Wake Up. Rock Out.JBL On Time is a high-performance sound center that lets you wake up to music stored on your iPod®. Just connect your iPod, MP3 player or other music source to JBL On Time and experience clean, powerful and dynamic sound. The upward-firing tweeter and horizontal low and midrange transducers provide a 360-degree sound field. JBL On Time includes a radio, clock and dual alarm, and is the world’s first time machine to include a menu-driven, intuitive user interface.

Compatibility.
JBL On Time incorporates the Apple® iPod Universal Dock adapter, and is compatible with most docking versions of the iPod, including nano and 5G versions. A stereo mini jack connection allows you to enjoy high-quality audio from a variety of other devices, including the iPod shuffle™, MP3 and CD players, desktop and laptop computers (all platforms), and satellite radio.Easy-to-Use Music and Navigation Controls – Just a touch increases or decreases the volume; another touch allows you to choose iPod, radio or auxiliary as your source. The five FM and five AM radio channel presents are simple to program. And JBL On Time remembers your source and the last volume setting, even after your music source is turned off.Time and Alarm Features – Wake up to a favorite song you’ve stored on your iPod. The intuitive user interface allows for all functions to be programmed easily using navigation buttons that provide instant access to the menus. Change settings such as language, alarms and snooze. The automatic time-set feature provides one-button time setting.

Display
The larg backlit LCD is easy to read, making menu navigation a snap. Automatic dimming provides the correct brightness level in any environment. A dome light provides a glow for your iPod; lighted buttons are easy to find in the dark.Additional Features – Halo acoustics – The horizontal level optimization, or Halo acoustics, design provides a full, rich sound field from any direction. The upward-firing tweeter and horizontal low and midrange transducers provide a 360-degree sound field.OnePoint design – The OnePoint iPod connectors provide the connection to your computer. Connect the standard iPod cable to the rear of JBL On Time and, every time your dock your iPod, you’ll have a connection for synchronizing.Evercharge topology – JBL On Time provides power to charge your iPod, even when it’s not connected to the computer, or the system is off.

Backup Battery
JBL On Time’s memory is kept by a backup battery option. Even with the power out, JBL On Time will provide the alarm function.
TimeCrawler
JBL On Time is capable of setting the clock automatically from any local radio station that transmits the time in its signal.

Advanced Technology
The JBL On Time combines many proprietary technologies to provide the highest quality sound, and reproduces astonishing bass and clear, accurate sound from any direction.
JBL Phoenix and JBL Ridge transducers
The two Phoenix aluminum-domed full-range transducers are driven by powerful neodymium magnets. The Ridge tweeter provides accurate high frequencies. This two-way design provides a full, rich frequency response from the lowest bass to the highest highs.

COE (Computer-Optimized Equalization)
The JBL On Time system equalization has been computer-optimized to provide a rich, complete soundstage.

JBL Radial (Black)

Specification
Drivers 30 wattsConnectionsMain connection – iPod® docking connector Auxiliary – 1/8" (3.5mm) Mini stereo jack Video OutFrequency Response40Hz – 20kHzInput Impedance>1

One low-frequency neodymium and four Odyssey® full-range driversPower Output2 x 15 Watts, 1 x0k OhmsSignal-to-Noise Ratio>85dBVoltage Input120V AC U.S., 100V AC Japanese, 230V AC EuropeDimensionsWidth – 12" (305mm)Height – 10.5" (267mm)Weight2.5 lb (1.2kg)

JBL Radial Blk™

Surround your iPod® with legendary JBL® sound. JBL Radial delivers clean, powerful high- and mid-frequency sound — and plenty of deep, distortion-free bass — from a compact device with almost unlimited versatility. As a music system, JBL Radial stands alone. As a computer peripheral, it replaces (and seriously upgrades) your external speakers and subwoofer. And as a multimedia entertainment center, it even sends your iPod photos and video to a TV monitor. But however and wherever you use it, it's the sound that sets JBL Radial apart.

Compatibility
JBL Radial incorporates the Apple® iPod Universal Dock adapter, and is compatible with most docking versions of the iPod, including nano and 5G versions. A stereo mini jack connection allows you to enjoy high-quality audio from a variety of other devices, including the iPod shuffle™, MP3 and CD players, desktop and laptop computers (all platforms), and satellite radio.
Full-Navigation Remote
The wireless RF remote control provides the freedom to enjoy your music from across the room or in another room, or outside, from up to 20 feet. With full access to your iPod you can easily change tracks, browse libraries, adjust settings, and scroll through extras.

Additional Features
OnePoint design – Connect JBL Radial to your computer with the included USB 2.0 cable to sync directly and charge your iPod.

Evercharge topology
JBL Radial will charge your iPod without a computer connection, even when the system is off.Touch controls – For convenient desktop use, JBL Radial features one-touch volume and muting controls.

Advanced Technology
JBL Radial combines proprietary technologies to provide high-quality sound in the JBL tradition.JBL Odyssey® transducers – Four aluminum-domed Odyssey full-range drivers are driven by powerful neodymium magnets for superior dynamic range. The low-frequency driver is capable of peak-to-peak travel of nearly one inch for astonishing accurate bass reproduction.

COE (Computer-Optimized Equalization)
System equalization is computer-optimized for a rich, complete soundstage.OCT (Optimized Compression Topology) – JBL Radial utilizes a proprietary compression technology to ensure clean, accurate sound at high output levels.