Koss HB60 Infrared Clip-On Wireless Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)
The best part of the Koss HB60 is that you can plug any standard headphone jack into the infrared receiver. Thus, with the HB60 you can convert any of the headphones that you already own (and love) to wireless usage.
The worst part about the Koss HB60 is the headphone that it comes with. This thing is designed to be clipped onto your ears, and boy, do they hurt after about 5 minutes! These headphones also have a very strong high frequency boost (which seems to be the standard "Koss sound" - headphones for people with high frequency hearing loss). If you have never listened to Koss headphones, you might think that this hissing sound is due to poor infrared transmission. IMHO, Koss should lower the price of the Koss HB60 and just sell it without this bad headphone.
When I plugged my two Sennheiser headphones (HD545 and HD570) into the Koss HB60, they both sounded great! I can't tell that there is much difference between plugging these headphones directly into the computer/player versus plugging into the Koss HB60. There is very little hissing noise with the Sennheiser headphones plugged in as long as the receiving unit is facing the transmitter directly and located less than about 8 feet away or so. Turn the receiver to face another direction and the hissing increases only slightly, as the receiver picks up the reflected signal off the walls of the room. Step out of the room, or go to a part of the room where the transmitter is not sending any infrared beams, and the signal is completely replaced by static.
The Koss HB60 amplifies the input signal quite a bit, about 4-5 times as loud. This is great if your input signal is fairly weak, such as can happen with some cheap CD players or computers. However, because of this high gain, the amplifier of the Koss HB60 will saturate on the louder pieces of music if you set the input signal strength too high. This will sound like bursts of irregular high frequency static coming through. However, if you set the input signal too low, then there is a slight increase in the hissing sound.So you have to adjust the input signal carefully.
The only really annoying thing about the Koss HB60 is that the belt clip is located directly over the cover for the two AAA batteries. However, the clip is detachable, which, as I only discovered recently, is the real trick to changing batteries on this thing - pull the belt clip off first!
So I took off one star, but otherwise the Koss HB60 is a fine product as long as you understand the inherent limitations of this form of wireless transmission.
I got the Koss HB60 because I wanted to listen to headphones while stringing tennis racquets.I do the stringing in our family computer room, so I can't use the computer speakers most of the time when others are working in the room. The racquet stringing requires some moving around, but mostly I am standing facing in one direction. Thus, I can clip the receiver to the collar of my shirt so that it mostly faces the transmitter. Before, I had plugged the Sennheisers into one of the computers in the same room through an extension cord. This long line was always very messy and easy to step on or get entangled. I ruined at least two of the Sennheiser headphone cords in this fashion by stepping on them and jerking them until they developed an internal break in the wires. Now I can listen to the Sennheisers without worrying about the cord.


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With the Koss HB60 Infrared Clip-On Wireless Headphones, you can roam up to 250 feet in any direction from your music source without missing a beat. With an infrared transmitter, receiver and stereophones, these headphones are ideal for home theater and video. What better way to enjoy both the comfort of your home and your favorite music! The Koss HB60 Headphones feature a dynamic element for extended frequency response and can connect to most audio and video systems.

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Directed Electronics SRH1000 Polk Audio Sirius Satellite Tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)I think this receiver is good overall but they fell short on several of the control connections. I was excited to see that this unit had a rear infrared input for use with remote control systems and repeater systems but unfortunately it doesn't work. I have verified this on several different units using Universal Remote controls and others that usually work with anything. I'm glad the manufacturers are finally realizing that people hate to stick ugly IR flashers that are prone to falling off on the front of their electronics but they need to make them work for this connection to be useful. In the end, I have either taken the units apart to install the flashers inside or stuck them on the front when I'm pressed for time. I haven't tried the RS-232 port but I'm sure they meant input or input/output instead of just output in the description. The 12V trigger input on the back could also be useful if it worked. I have tried to use this several times to turn it on and off with the system but again it just doesn't work reliably using a number of triggers and power supplies of various ratings. Also missing are separate power on and power off infrared codes. The remote uses the standard power on/off toggle which is useless for most control systems. All in all it is a great unit but expect to leave it on all the time and run it from the front since it can't be controlled reliably. I gave it three out of five stars because these manufacturers really should have figured out these control issues by now....

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Philips Prestigo SRU8010 Icon Universal Remote Control Review

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(More customer reviews)Philips SRU8010 Prestigo Icon Universal Remote
Overview:
I am writing this review on behalf of my wife. This will be the first universal remote my wife actually will use. She loves it. I have scaled Mount Everest. The unit is long (9" x 2.25"), but the length accommodates the bright, backlit screen at the top, which is the one feature she loves the most. For much more detail on the screen and button layout, you can download the user manual here:
[...]
(Note that the picture on the front of the manual shows black number buttons with white numbers, but our unit shipped as silver buttons with black numbers, which actually stand out more.) After you have programmed all your preferences and macros, memory is maintained while changing the 3 AA batteries--but the manual does not indicate how long memory is maintained without batteries. Here is how the setup goes.
(1) Devices first. After first putting in batteries, a Setup Wizard comes on screen and easily takes you through an initial process of getting your basic devices (TV, cable box, DVD, receiver, etc.) and functions (On, Off, etc.) operational. A multitude of codes are stored in the Philips unit for almost any device and configuration (even TV/VCR combinations). Be sure to know what you want to name a device, because you cannot change the name once you have gone through the setup procedure. (Well, you could, but you would have to start from scratch, completely reinitializing that device, including loosing all manually programmed buttons and all macros particular to that device.)
(2) Favorites second. Then, you set up your channel favorites. Very helpful before you get into your favorites setup would be to draw up a list of your channel numbers, the broadcast name, and the order that you would want them in. I know this takes a little time, but, believe me, the effort will pay off, because changing the order of your favorites once they have been set is most tedious. The Favorites have nice, readable icons (hence the word "Icon" in the remote's model name) in a large database covering not only the major broadcast and cable channels, but also channels of which I was not even aware. The icons show up beautifully on the bright, backlit display at the top of the remote. Once inside a particular Favorites list, pressing the small "Side Keys" next to a channel on each side of the display accesses that channel favorite. Your can have up to ten customized, namable Favorites lists, with each individual list having 36 channels stored. Wow. That's a bunch of channels and flexibility for all family members. You even have two dedicated Favorites list buttons on either side at the very top of the remote, one "His" and the other "Hers." Super! Just what the doctor ordered at our house. This Favorites feature of the remote is probably the most user friendly and nicest part of the remote.
(3) Learning third. Those remote control functions that still do not work once a device has been setup can be learned (and you will always have some function on some button on an old remote that YOU want that nobody else cares about). You simply get the Philips unit ready, specifying which button on the Philips you want to program with that function, point your old remote at the bottom of the Philips unit (not the top), and punch that button on your old remote. The Philips returns a "Successful" if the IR code has been received, or lets you try again if you did not have the two remotes lined up properly. Sometimes all the main buttons you need for that device work straight out of the box using the Philips programmed code number for that device. On occasion, though, one button you need does not work. Say, for example, the Philips code number for your VCR gives you all your transport buttons (Play, Stop, Pause, Advance, Rewind), but, inexplicably, the Record button does not work. No worries. You just program the Record button manually using the learning function on the Philips unit and the Record button on your old VCR remote. Works like a charm every time. For those buttons that represent oddball features on your old remote, you just will have to remember what substitute function you put on that Philips button. When you have multiple devices and remotes, trying to remember too many "customized" buttons that do not correspond with the screen icon on the one surface of the Philips unit when constantly switching from one device to another gets to be difficult. Here I think the KISS principle may apply ("Keep it simple, stupid"), at least for me.
You have two physical places to put the learned functions: (1) the "Main Keys," which is Philips's terminology for most of the buttons on the surface of the unit, including the Power button itself, and (2) the "Side Keys," which are not actually on the side of the unit itself, like the name might suggest, but the ten smaller buttons arranged vertically on the sides of the display screen, five on the left, and five on the right. Any button, Main Key or Side Key, can be one simple IR command or an entire macro.
Special Features:
This remote has many nice features that you can read about in the downloadable, pdf manual. I mention two in particular.
(1) Punchthrough. A nice feature of universal remotes these days is called "punchthrough." This is lingo for being able to operate the volume on you receiver, for example, regardless what mode the remote is in, whether "Receiver," "TV," "Cable," "DVR," etc. So, if you are in TV mode watching a movie, the volume buttons on the Philips remote still control the volume of your receiver, not your TV's volume. The Philips volume buttons (and mute) "punch through" all the other devices to the receiver's volume control. Four control categories on the Philips remote can be set to "punch through" to a particular device in this manner: Volume, Channel, Play (transport functions), and Quit.
(2) KidSafe. Another feature of the Philips remote that parents will appreciate is called "KidSafe." This feature uses a password-protected function to limit access to favorite groups, settings, or any forbidden menu. at least from the remote. When using the remote, the kids watch only the channels you allow, with access only to volume and mute, and cannot mess with any settings of the remote.
Minor Complaints:
(1) Codes: Be aware that inexpensive home-theater-in-a-box units (HTIB), even those from major brands, are not well represented in the device codes of the Philips unit and mostly have to be programmed manually--doable, but inconvenient. I was trying to simplify from a very expensive and complicated setup that my wife never could enjoy on her own, nor could friends visiting for the weekend, without me there to insure every little button and device was set up just right. Could not even watch the news, for goodness sake, without an act of Congress. I finally wearied of all that and capitulated to a HTIB that reduced the number of individual components and a morass of remotes. However, several important functions of my inexpensive HTIB, though a major name brand, I had to program manually on the Philips remote.
(2) Buttons. The buttons on the remote are big and easy to use in the daylight. However, the "Main Keys" buttons, most of the buttons on the surface of the remote, are not backlit. I did not realize how dependent I had become on my backlit remotes. Watching a movie in a dimly lit room makes some specially coded buttons that are not the obvious Play, Stop, Menu, etc. buttons a stab in the dark that can ruin a good movie moment if you happen to hit the wrong button trying to guess. This complaint is NOT true of the beautiful, backlit display screen on the Philips remote and its "Side Keys." Also, the Mute and Last buttons are nowhere near the volume and channel buttons, a poor user-interface decision. These buttons are both small and located all the way down under the number keypad. You can "get used to the position," but why have to? This placement is completely illogical, perhaps a compromise made necessary because the volume and channel keys actually are unnecessarily big in the first place. Room could have been made for a Mute key underneath a smaller volume rocker, and ditto a Last button underneath a smaller channel rocker. This suggested placement would have been a minor change to achieve a major goal of much more user friendly from the git-go. (My wife already has asked numerous times, "Now, remind me, where is my Mute button?")
Major Complaints:
This Philips universal remote is really good, one my wife will actually use for the first time in our married lives, but getting the device up and running not always is a bed of roses. I will feel better about the remote as time distances me from the initial battle to get the unit set up fully with all necessary macros running smoothly and predictably. I would be embarrassed to admit the actual number of hours I put in getting every single glitch worked out, but I hope you will not think me a dufus. I am quite technically and gadget proficient, having owned a ton of electronic, stereo, recording, theater, and studio equipment. Hopefully, you will see more why I had trouble as I work through the following list.
I realize that not every problem I had is purely the fault of the Philips remote. One problem is timing. Timing on macros is a huge consideration of which some consumers may not be fully aware. The reasons are numerous. For example, different TVs have different warm-up times, especially older DLPs and plasmas. You have to wait on the TV to warm up before the TV lets you have control through the remote. You have to estimate this pause in the sequence of working out a macro into which the TV turning on is configured. Even more complicated, in some macros the TV has to come on first...Read more›

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GE RM25001 Universal Learning 8-Device Remote Control with EL Backlighting Review

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(More customer reviews)I really like this remote overall.
It looks great and feels good in your hand as well.
I love that it has a stand and thats hard to find.
However the programing instructions are not corrctly written.
I tried over and over following the instructions and could never get it to operate. Finally I just played with it until I got it to program and now I don't even know how I did it. But I do Know it was NOT the way the instructions told you to do it. It was either a step left out or an extra step you did not need that was wrong in the instructions.
Still very pleased but you do need someone good with electronics to help you with the programing of this unit!

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One for All URC 8910 Universal Remote Control Review

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(More customer reviews)After considering the highly respected Unifier URC-100 by Universal Remotes (which sells for nearly $100) I decided, on a whim, to give the OneForAll 8910 a shot. I was replacing an older, simpler Sony universal remote because I'd recently purchased a Samsung Home Theater unit (DVD/Tuner/Receiver/SurroundSound) and I knew I'd need a new universal remote to have any chance of success with this new breed of component.
First lesson - the "learning" function of the 8910 remote really does work, and is very simple to use. The LCD screen at the top makes all the difference - it walks you through the process and lets you know exactly what's happening. No guesswork involved. So, even though there was no code included with the remote for my new Samsung Home Theater Unit, I was easily able to "learn" the most important functions. The catch is that the remote can only hold about 25 commands total in its "learned" memory - so you're not going to "learn" all the buttons from several remotes.
Second lesson - the "upgrade" system really works! I was dubious, but I called the OneForAll customer support number early one morning, and the phone was answered so quickly I thought I'd dialed a wrong number. A very friendly and capable service agent immediately looked up my Samsung unit, had me type in a code and my remote reponsed with an error message. So he said, "Right, I'll have to upgrade you. Please hold the back of the remote to the speaker on your telephone headset." There's a modem microphone hidden behind the plastic, and after playing modem tones for about 10 seconds, the remote's screen blinked "success" and instantly the appropriate code for my Home Theater System was accepted. Worked perfectly. Almost like magic (and this was actually over a cell-phone). I've heard other stories of remotes needing to be mailed in for the upgrade, but this is a 5-minute, over the phone system that really works. The database is constantly updated (my Samsung unit is very new to the market, and they already had it programmed) so you can call and "upgrade" your remote each time you get a new component.
As for my older components (RCA TV, Toshiba VCR, etc) the pre-installed codes worked fine. The macro functions and volume-lock features work as well as any other universal remote I've encountered.
But there's even more...
Third lesson - This remote has a JP-1 connector! If you're so inclined, you can order a special cable for about $15 and download software that will let you completely program and customize this remote using your Windows PC. Program any command to any button. Thanks to the "learning" feature, you can input a command from a component's original remote, then map that command to any button, or download command sets made by other users off the internet specifically for your device. This means that even unusual units such as home security systems or wireless home-network media centers can be controlled fully - not just STOP and POWER ON. (I've just finished setting up my 8910 to work with a Netgear MP101 Media Player.) All this programming is direct to the unit's main memory, not using the "learned" memory space, and thus overcoming the 25-learned-button restriction. Granted, it requires a little work and the software isn't easy, but that's the wonderful thing about this remote: It will work out of the box for most devices, can be easily "upgraded" over the phone by OneForAll, and if you really want, it can be completely customized by programming and downloading command schemes from your PC.
These are features I never imagined would be available in a $35 remote. Not to mention the fact that the buttons are quite well laid out, the backlight is crisp and clear, and while it is large, it's comfortable to hold.
I've gone from being dubious to being astonished at how powerful this unit is.


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10-22-2007 - Brand New Item. Description - ONE FOR ALL URC8910 8-DEVICE A/V PRODUCER 8 ;LEARNING IR HOME THEATER REMOTE

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New-JENSEN JCR-275 AM/FM DUAL ALARM CLOCK RADIO WITH WAVESENSOR - JENJCR275 Review

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(More customer reviews)i buy an alarm clock every year and half. And rather then waste tons of money on what will die out, this was good for the price and gives all that it promises. I love that it tells the temperature and plays my mp3 player. the green light is an added bonus and its small enough if you don't have a large space to put this.

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Marantz AV8003 Networking Preamplifier Review

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(More customer reviews)Although presented as an audio/video controller, the AV8003 shines brightest on the audio side. The newest uncompressed codecs from DTS and Dolby are simply phenomenal when played through this unit. I'm using a Marantz DV9600 and an Oppo Digital BD-83 for my front end and they both sound awesome. I'm using an Anthem A5 connected to the AV8003 using balanced cables for amplification. Speakers are Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v2 L/R. Paradigm Servo 15 subwoofer. Paradigm Reference Center and surrounds.
If you are looking to use this unit to do video scaling, look elsewhere. Fortunately for me both the Oppo and Marantz players have excellent video and the Oppo has a plethora of video scaling options so that I just set the AV8003 on pass-thru. The AV8003 uses Anchor Bay's video scaler which is the same one used in DVDO products so its not a bad choice. Its just that the audio is what grabs attention.
Using the Audyssey MultEQ® setup is a breeze and the results are terrific. The Audyssey system creates multiple equalization curves that you can toggle through and select the one that pleases you most. Each channel can be manually calibrated and equalized if you like tweaking things. You can even display the curves on your TV which I found entertaining, especially comparing my settings to those of the Audyssey system. If equalizers leave you queasy, just choose source direct and bypass the tone controls completely. I personally believe that this is the way to go for stereo sources in particular. The DV9600 has some really good DACs so I play my CDs using the analog connections to the AV8003. I'm no expert on analog stages, but the 8003 trumps the SR19 by a small margin and to my ears, equals the sound quality of some expensive 2-channel only controllers I've listened to. Where images wavered from side to side with the SR19, the AV8003 locks each instrument and voice into place and holds them there. The depth and width of the sound stage equals that of the SR19 which also had the ability to make it seem as though the sound is coming from somewhere beyond your speakers.
I replaced my Marantz SR19 receiver with the AV8003 after spending many a night agonizing over the prospect of retiring the SR19. It was absolutely the best sounding receiver I've ever listened to. The opportunity to reduce the cable clutter behind my equipment rack was the straw that tipped the scales in favor of the AV8003.
My only gripe with the AV8003 is the remote controller. If I had been unable to find a suitable replacement for it, I would have sent the whole unit back. It is that bad! There is not enough space on this web site to describe the frustrations I experienced trying to program and use that thing! It is, by far, the worst remote I've ever used. Nothing about it is intuitive. Programming it to control your system is an exercise in futility. If you decide to purchase the AV8003, do yourself a big favor: Buy a Logitech Harmony remote control. I'm using the Harmony 890 and I love it.

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Klipsch CS-500 2.1 Home Theater System with DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)The sound from this system and easy connectivity were a big plus. 2.1 sound was good, solid base and good spoken word sound for movies/TV.
Unfortunately, the DVD player starting conking out and wouldn't play DVD's without skipping or pixelation after about 90 days. Trying to get an exchange through Klipsch or Amazon. The discs that were problematic on this unit played fine on another DVD player.
I've learned a lesson that it might be better to buy big, heavy items like this through a local store that might be easier in terms of exchange, especially when it quickly became defective.
UPDATE 4/12/09 - although amazon was a pain, Klipsch handled the situation very well, offering an exchange and even upgrading to the next model up.

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Sleek, simple, and small, the Klipsch CS-500 2.1 home theater system with DVD player delivers the effect of a large, 5.1 home theater system with just two speakers, a subwoofer and an A/V center. It features a built-in Class D amplifier that distributes 35 watts of power to each satellite and 100 watts of power to the subwoofer.
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Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray Disc Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I felt compelled posting a review of the BMP-BD55 after receiving the unit today. I'd been holding off buying a standalone Blu-Ray player given the dearth of Profile 2.0 machines and along with their crazy prices. For those who aren't familiar with the Blu-Ray format, there are many different versions of Blu-Ray players that have varying functionalities lingering in the market today. They are: Profile 1.0, Profile 1.1 (this seems to have become the standard for the new low-end models), and Profile 2.0 (finalized standard). I will keep this review/opinion piece as free of tech-babble as much as possible.
You ay want to avoid most Profile 1.0 players. The reason why I say this is for the following reasons: 1. A large number of them are very slow at booting up. 2. They often have problems playing new Blu-Ray movies, some early models won't play some recent BD movies at all. Many of these machines do not come with HDMI 1.3, meaning you may not be able to get take advantage of the newer HD audio formats.
Profile 1.1 machines have been released in the last year and can play the vast majority of new discs but cannot take advantage of the new online functionalities and special features many new discs are shipping with. Also, updating the firmware can be cumbersome requiring a PC download, then that download being burned to a CD, and then that CD being inserted into your player, and then installed onto player.
Profile 2.0 machines are known as "Final Profile" or "Full Spec". These players come with a network interface, aka an Ethernet card. The Ethernet card allows you to connect your player directly to your home network. The significance of this is that with an Ethernet connection you will be able to directly download firmware updates to your player eliminating the several steps in the firmware updating process. Also, internet-based special features are available.
This is my first standalone Blu-Ray player. Since 2006, I have been using my Playstation 3 (60GB launch model) in anticipation of a full-featured standalone Blu-Ray player that didn't cost an arm and a leg. The moment I read the press release and technical specs of the BMP-BD55 I knew this was the machine to buy. The features that stood out to me are:
1. This machine has Onboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD/Digital Plus and dts-HD Master Audio audio formats, among others. This means, if you have an older receiver this machine can send the audio via bitstream or PCM, and you'll be able to enjoy the discrete audio mastered on the disc.
2. I have an older 7.1 Yamaha receiver HTR-5960 and it does not decodes the HD audio formats. **Correction** That is where your audio options begin with the BMP-BD55, as it can send decoded 7.1 and 5.1 audio to my receiver via the analog output. In other words you're not tethered, per se, to HDMI to enjoy 7.1 or 5.1 master audio and can put off buying that new receiver. The Optical Out interface supports DTS-ES, Dolby Digital EX, among more but 7.1 is down mixed.
3. Profile 2.0. Simple firmware updates, which are done automatically. Access to the internet-based special features, such as trivia games, extra behind the scenes, downloadables like ringtones etc..
4. This machine has an SD card reader. It can read SD cards up to 32GB (if the card has SDHC on it, then the Panasonic will play it). This means you will be able to view your Photos (from your digital camera: still or video), play MP3 songs, view Divx (aka those movies you downloaded from the internet), etc. I definitely recommend you getting an SD card because you may need it for future special internet- features (which are only going to get larger), as the onboard memory is rather limited. A class 6 8GB card can be bought here on Amazon for $12 and less.
5. Video quality (most important in my opinion). This machine has an excellent 1080p upconverting chipset. This means your regular DVD will look excellent. This machine also has 24p (also known as Original Source Output for those who are interested in knowing). Most movies are actually shot at 24 frames per second and this machine supports 24p for both DVD (via conversion) and Blu-Ray.
6. Price. This machine is an excellent deal for its price. Competing machines with the same or less features still cost well above $700MSRP (Denon and Pioneer ring a bell).
7. Nice Size. This player has a very nice profile and is the size of a typical DVD player. It's not razor thin but it's a substantially slim machine and Panasonic finally got rid of that annoying face plate that you have to manually lower and raise to access the disc tray, which the older Panasonic machines had.
My impressions and personal experience with this machine:
I've been using the Playstation 3 as my Blu-Ray player for almost two years and I believe this machine surpasses the PS3 in terms of Audio (7.1 audio output via analog, and solid bitsream for optical out), Audio/Video settings option (the same picture management flexibilities that exist on my HDTVs settings are available on the machine, allowing for greater picture control and flexibility). PS3 owners will know/appreciate this but I can finally use my standard/universal remote again.
What I like:
I personally found the BMP-BD55 has great colour, contrast, and noise reduction performance as viewed on my Panasonic 46" Plasma HDTV. I did a direct video comparison of several movies between the BMP-BD55 and the PS3 and the Panasonic performed better.
I viewed only areas of the films where the PS3 struggled, such as in sequences with diagonal objects (to test anti-aliasing performance), intense light dark scenes (to test contrast and brightness performance). Movies I viewed:
Blu-Ray: (The Matrix, Iron Man, Resident Evil Extinction, Babel, Disturbia, Unforgiven, Tekkonkinkreet, and The Corpse Bride). I found the BMP-BD55 had great Contrast and Brightness. Colour control is exquisite, hardly any noticeable colour artifacts.
DVD: The Incredibles, the Matrix, Evolution, The Time Machine, Bourne Ultimatum, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Black Dahlia, Moulin Rouge. I found the 1080p upconversion excellent; DVDs I bought 8 years ago look better than ever and the Aspect Ratio and pull-down performance is very good as well.
Audio Processing: The onboard decoding software and chipset are great. I sent the decoded HD audio channelized audio to my 7.1 receiver and it sounded superb. This feature is important, in my opinion, because my receiver has a hard-time converting new HD audio but the BMP-BD55's on-board chipset sends a crisp decoded signal to my receiver. As a result, it doesn't have to struggle with HD audio and only needs to farm out the audio to the assigned speakers.
Load times: I was thoroughly impressed with the boot-up and load times of the machine. From start to play it took me less than two minutes to load Iron Man
What I don't like:
1. Storage Space: Given online content is going to be downloaded, they could have added at 2GB SD card (probably would have cost them only $3)
2. Would be nice if they included a USB port.
3. This is a high definition movie player. Why the heck is the included cable a composite? They could have included a short HDMI or even an S-Video cable.
I highly recommend this machine for anyone looking to enter into the High Definition Movie Disc market or looking to upgrade their 1.0 or 1.1 player. I've seen this unit for $320 (prices will ultimately go down) but if that is too much for you, I highly recommend getting the BMP-BD35 as a more affordable alternative. The only difference between the BMP-BD55 and the BMP-BD35 are the 7.1 analog out (the 35 doesn't have that feature) and Divx support for burned DVD and CD-R/RW. Other than that, the machines are identical in terms of playback functionality and quality, as they have the same video and audio cards. In my opinion, this is a great deal for a full-featured Blu-Ray player; in terms of functionality, features, and Audio/Video quality you're pretty much set.
In conclusion: I feel this is currently the best stand-alone player (especially for the price) currently on the market and a legitimate and compelling alternative to the PS3; perfect for those who are simply interested in watching High Definition movies and want to enjoy the occasional internet-based extras Blu-Ray movies are starting to offer without worrying about a new "Profile". Technology always moves along but I think, with these new players, the manufactures have finally started releasing "finalized" Blu-Ray machines you won't have to worry about being viable for years to come.
I hope you found this useful and I thank you for taking the time to read my review/opinion.

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Panasonic's two new slim, BD-Live compatible, feature-filled Blu-ray players, the DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55, offer cutting edge technologies focused on producing the ultimate movie-viewing experience. The BD35 and BD55 both feature an HD Audio Decoder (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSTM-HD Master Audio Essential), delivering 7.1-channel surround sound through a 7.1-channel receiver equipped with an HDMI terminal. The DMP-BD55 features high-end audio components and can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound. Both models are equipped with an SD Memory Card slot that makes it easy to transfer images from an HD camcorder or digital still camera that uses SD Memory Cards and are compatible with Panasonic's VIERA Link function so they can be operated by the VIERA HDTV remote control. The combination of a Panasonic Blu-ray player, Home Theater audio system and a VIERA HDTV converts the home entertainment experience into a true-to-life cinematic experience. Consumers can now view and enjoy movies the way the film maker intended -- in stunning High Definition video and audio – right from the comfort of their own home.
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True-To-Life Colors The PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus video processor was developed after more than 15 years of collaboration between Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory and professional cinema studios in Hollywood. With PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus, users viewing content on Blu-ray Discs enjoy crisp, vivid colors that are extremely close to the original. A high-precision 4:4:4 function creates video signals in which each pixel of the signal from the Blu-ray Disc is color-compensated, so when the player is connected to a Panasonic VIERA HDTV, the colors are even sharper and more vivid.

UniPhier System UniPhier is a Panasonic-created system LSI developed by applying 45-nanometer processing to a consumer product – a world's first. This single-chip integration technology also contributes greatly to the BD35's world's slimmest height of 49mm.

Blu-ray Video Features More Picture
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BD-Live

Life-Like Surround Sound
The BD35 and BD55 both feature an HD Audio Decoder (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSTM-HD Master Audio Essential), which supports the 7.1-channel surround sound newly adopted in Blu-ray Discs. Users can enjoy 7.1-channel surround even with systems that do not support HD Audio -- as long as the DMP-BD35/55 is connected to a 7.1-channel receiver equipped with an HDMI terminal. The DMP-BD55 can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound by simply connecting to the DMP-BD55.

Dolby TrueHD, Dolby's next-generation lossless technology developed for high-definition disc-based media, delivers tantalizing sound that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio master.

Delivers enthralling studio-master-quality sound that unlocks the true high-definition entertainment experience on next-generation discs.
Offers more discrete channels than ever before for impeccable surround sound.
Compatible with the A/V receivers and home-theaters-in-a-box (HTIBs) of today and tomorrow.
Dialogue normalization maintains the same volume level when you change to other Dolby Digital and Dolby TrueHD programming.
Dynamic range control (Night mode) enables you to customize audio playback to reduce peak volume levels (no loud surprises) while experiencing all the details in the soundtrack, enabling late-night viewing of high-energy surround sound without disturbing others.

The Panasonic BD55 goes a step further with a high-end audio design and components. Thanks to a 192kHz 24bit audio digital-analog converter and high quality insulators, electrolytic capacitors, copper-foil film capacitors and ultra-low-impedance electrolytic capacitors, the DMP-BD55 delivers the same kind of exciting surround effect and lifelike ambience as today's finest cinemas. The DMP-BD55 can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound by simply connecting to the DMP-BD55.


HDMI Features x.v Color
RGB Color Range

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Bose 3-2-1 GS Series II DVD Home Entertainment System - DVD surround system - radio / DVD - graphite gray Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)While out searching for a decent sound system for our home theater. We began to realize our limitations. 1st, there is no clear back wall for us to mount rear surround speakers. 2nd, there is no crawl space or attic to run cabling nor do we have carpet to hide unsightly wires.
These setbacks led us to the Bose 321 media center. I found this product basically by accident and was really impressed with the sound quality. We picked one up and set it up immediately.
The system has been pretty flawless, only thing I would change physically is the cable that connects the Sub unit to the media center could have been a bit longer to better suit the directions. It requires the unit to be 3 feet from the TV, but never took into consideration that someone might want it on the opposite side of the TV from the media center. If this was a standard optical cable or some other form of cable, it would have been no problem. This however is a propriatary cable that I have never seen before :shrugs:
I also have been having trouble programming my Tivo remote to work with this unit. It appears that BOSE has stuck to the same IR schematics throughout it's history in making audio equipment. Very few of their receivers use IR, as they have opted for the more versitile RF models. However, their standard remote code does not work with this unit. I have been unable to track down a working code for my Tivo thus far.
All in all I would definately reccomend this to anyone with space limitations as well as constructual problems that might limit the possibilities for your home theater system.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Bose 3-2-1 GS Series II DVD Home Entertainment System - DVD surround system - radio / DVD - graphite gray

The Bose 3-2-1 GS II system offers simplicity, ease, and superb sound. Just two visible speaker arrays and a hideaway Acoustimass module deliver full sound without the wires and cabinetry inherent in traditional surround sound systems.
The system includes a progressive scan DVD/CD player with AM/FM tuner. A programmable universal remote control lets you manage all your entertainment devices.
The Gemstone speaker array employs the most powerful 3-2-1 speakers to date and provides a spaciousness to audio that enhances movies and music. The 3-2-1 system is equipped with Videostage 5 decoding circuitry to improve audio-classic movies and TV sound almost like surround sound.
As with all Bose equipment, minimal space requirements prevail. The lack of center and rear speakers in the system save space without sacrificing quality. And the new speakers are 50% smaller than previous models-big things from a small package, indeed.

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Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150 PCI TV Tuner with Remote Control (1045) Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted to put a TV in my child's play room, which also had a computer. This device enables me to use the computer as a TV. It works great, my 4 year old has no problem using it.
I installed the device in my only PCI slot, hooked my cable coax into it, started my PC, and the drivers automatically loaded. I have XP SP2. The whole process took about 10 minutes. The software then starts and after about 5 minutes, goes through the cable channels to store the channels. Then, you are ready to go.
The unit is equipped with a remote. The remote points to an "eye". The eye is attached to a medium-sized small cord that is attached to the PCI card (under the coax cable). You are able to position the eye where you want it, although the cord the eye is on is not long. If you have a desktop sitting on the floor, it will barely reach the top of a computer desk. I taped the cord just under my keyboard shelf, so the remote needs to be pointed low.
The functionality of the software is great. You can change the channel with the computer or remote. There is a button to enable "full screen" on the computer, but not on the remote. The picture is excellent. The ability to pause live TV, or record ad-hoc or timed works extremely well.
This is a great product.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150 PCI TV Tuner with Remote Control (1045)

For sale is a used but in excellent condition Hauppauge USA WinTV-PVR-150 PCI TV tuner recorder card. Note that only the bare card is for sale, there's no remote control.

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H-Squared TVTray Mount for Apple TV 2G (TVTRAY-X) Review

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(More customer reviews)Nice idea, but not well executed. When mounting the bracket "on the wall" the Apple TV receiver box tends to slip through the flimsy open end bottom of the bracket, especially when you connect the power and HDMI cables which effectively add weight to the receiver box pulling it down even harder. I used a small piece of double sided tape to hold the Apple TV receiver in the bracket.

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Dish-network Ir Remote Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It did not work. Before I even put the batteries in it, I could hear a loose piece of plastic rattling around. Sure enough, it would select the satellite properly but not the TV. It was packed properly, so it didn't happen in shipping.
Mirriam-Webster puts it like this: an act of deceiving or misrepresenting. That is what happened to me.

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GE 45208 Smart Home Solar Cam Wireless Camera System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this with some hesitation. I've been ripped off so many times on buying home security equipment that I gave up and now rely on my Japanese Imperial Guard Dog as head of security.
However, when I saw this, in concept at least, it solved all of the problems with the prior wireless and video units I had bought and trashed.
First, the power supply, being solar, solves most of the biggest problems with wireless security cams. You don't have to replace a 9v. battery each day on this. I installed it on the top of a vine covered post in the yard. It has excellent field of view, and, the solar power will maintain the unit, and the signal, throughout the entire day.
It is true that you don't have night coverage with this. However, even the best night infra-red cameras available for security have an effective infra-red range of less than 15 feet. It is no great sacrafice that this doesn't work at night.
Second, the receiver has a universal RCA output. You can buy a number of RCA to USB converters for converting the output on this to your hard drive on your computer. Usb 2.0 Audio/video Creator Capture High-quality Analog Video I use an HP media server HP EX487 MediaSmart Home Server to record the motion actuated output from this unit. I have four 1.5Tb drives on the server and the server will record a lifetime of motion actuated signals from the cameras around my house. (You can use Vista Movie Maker to edit the recorded analog stream).
Third, you can expand the system to include up to four cameras.
Fourth, this is in color. The quality isn't the greatest, but, it has an honest range of about 150 feet, even through walls, to the receiver, on a 2Ghz bandwith, and, you can switch the frequencies to avoid interferrance that plagues most other wireless cams.
All in all, it is a relatively economical solution to having to spend thousands on a turnkey security system, and, it economically allows you to use your existing home network to record.
If I have the time, I will upload some photos and a video of the installation.

Click Here to see more reviews about: GE 45208 Smart Home Solar Cam Wireless Camera System

Wireless solar-powered camera features remote control and receiver. Includes AV cables and batteries.

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Denon DCM-390 5 Disc CD Carousel w/ Built in HDCD Decoding Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had 3 of these machines over the past couple of years. The first one, bought brand new, sounded great. After a few months, it started acting up - would not read discs at all or would skip, etc. Then I began to clean it regularly using a lens cleaner. That helped, but about a week after the each cleaning the machine would once again begin to function defectively.
After about 6 months, the tray (which is all plastic and not very substantial) would simply not open at times for no apparent reason. Turning the player off and back on helped alleviate this situation for a while. But eventually the tray just would not open at all. The machine was history.
I phoned Denon at the number on its website, but the phone went unanswered. It was a regular weekday so I was pretty amazed. The phone rang and rang - no voicemail, no machine...? This is supposed to be a high tech audio company, after all.Of course I tried a few more calls over the following couple of weeks, but always got the same result - A phone that rang and rang with no answer whatsoever. Since no one answered the phone, I assumed that if I sent the unit to Denon for repair no one would open the box.
Well, because the DCM-390 sounded so good - big, three dimensional soundstage; excellent detail and timbral balance - I bought another. This one was refurbished. It too sounded great, and worked flawlessly for about 8 months or so. Then it began to skip. I cleaned the lens and the machine worked fine - for about a week. Then it began skipping again.
I found myself cleaning the lens once a week - and also spraying the back of the tray (into the machine) with compressed air. This really helped, but was too much maintenance as far as I was concerned.
One day, after about a year or so, I was listening and suddenly the sound became distorted. Cleaned the lens; it helped somewhat but the distortion remained. Long story short - the machine had given up the ghost. Distorted sound regardless of the CD. Soon the machine ceased to read any CD at all. Denon DCM-390 (number two) was history.
Denon DCM-390 (number three) - also refurbished - was defective right out of the box. It emitted a horrendous grinding noise while playing any CD. I took the machine apart in an attempt to fix it, but the grinding noise appeared to be coming from the play motor itself. I lubed the motor and did some other work on it, but it soon became clear that this machine was history as well. Number three went into the trash.
When and if any Denon DCM-390 will operate properly is apparently a very dicey proposition, based on my experience. I won't be buying another.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Denon DCM-390 5 Disc CD Carousel w/ Built in HDCD Decoding

Enjoy continuous play from your CD collection as well as CD-R/RWs burned with MP3 and WMA files with the Denon DCM-390 5-disc CD changer. It also provides encoding for HDCDs, the newest audio playback format that provides pristine sound reproduction. The carousel changer's play exchange feature lets you swap up to 4 discs while a fifth is playing, and you'll only hear the music, thanks to Denon's quiet changer mechanism.
The DCM-390 features a Multilevel Noise Shaping DAC, which removes the adverse effects of jitter and, because it is built into the output amp, provides a clean analog output with suppressed high-frequency interference can be directly obtained. The 8x oversampling digital filter makes possible an extraordinary degree of attenuation and reduces frequency irregularities in the audio range to an absolute minimum.
Ensuring top-flight sound regardless of the source disc, the DCM-390 features a multilevel noise-shaping digital-to-analog converter. Multilevel modulation removes the adverse effects of jitter. And because the feature is built into the player's output amp, the player directly obtains a clean analog output with suppressed high-frequency interference.
You can customize a song sequence with 32-track programming, which lets you create a a custom music mix from the remote control. Program any combination of tracks from the 5 discs. Three-mode random playback includes full random, program random, and disc sequential random modes. The display shows total remaining time on the disc, elapsed track time, and remaining track time. Four-mode repeat play loops 1 track, 1 disc, all 5 discs, or a programmed sequence.
When this changer is connected to an amplifier or receiver that supports the Remote Control IN/OUT feature, you can operate the DCM-390 via the remote sensor on the amplifier or receiver, which is handy for controlling the player from another room. It offers the both coaxial and optical digital audio outputs, a headphone jack on the front of the unit, and RS-232C terminal.
Tech Talk The HDCD (High Density Compatible Digital) audio CD format is encoded with 20 bits of information instead of the 16 bits found on standard CDs. A player or receiver with an HDCD decoder chip is required to achieve the true sound of an HDCD disc, but it can be played on a standard CD or DVD player (minus the enhancement). Additionally, because an HDCD decoder chip includes a high-precision digital filter, HDCD-equipped players help to improve audio quality for even traditionally recorded CDs and DVDs.
What's in the Box 5-disc CD changer, remote control (with batteries), printed operating instructions

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Gateway DX4320-09 Desktop (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this computer not once, but twice. I return the first computer as it failed to boot up right out of the box. I returned it for an identical model thinking the first one I purchased was the exception. The second had a bad CMOS battery right out of the box and within two days it became impossible to even turn the computer on. Probably worse than my experience with the two computers was my experience with Gateway's customer service. The customer service agents (I use that term loosely) have no knowledge of their product and unwilling to help. Gateway refuses the standby its product and offer even the most minimal level of customer support. Please save yourself the time and buy some other comparable product on the market. I'm convinced there are better options.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Gateway DX4320-09 Desktop (Black)


Gateway DX4320: High Definition Entertainment Play the hot games, fuel your multitasking and whip through content with the Gateway DX4320-09 desktop PC, which offers affordable quad-core power thanks to the AMD Athlon II X4 processor, discrete ATI Radeon HD 5570 graphics, and a Blu-ray Disc drive. In addition to watching Blu-ray Disc movies in crystal-clear resolution, you can also create your own DVDs and CDs with the separate Super-Multi drive. Enjoy the next generation of video playback with the HDMI output, which allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video and audio to your digital TV or capable external monitor.
The Gateway DX4300 desktop PC.

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RCA Remote Control Signal Sender Extension Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These work great. I have 3 of them and have used the first two for about 8 years. Beats paying direct TV for additional boxes.

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