HDMI technology keeps getting cheaper. The new TX-SR505 by Onkyo is a 7.1 channel home theater receiver with significant upgrades from its previous budget model the TX-SR501. At 75 Watts through seven discreet channels at 8 ohms Onkyo’s new TX-SR505 avoids diving into the 100 watt per channel rating. It’s significant that most budget receivers by ...

One of the best reasons to completely steer clear of Blu-ray has been the format’s cost, with players reaching into the upper stratosphere of home theater costs.  Previously, Samsung’s entry level player, the BD-P1000, has been priced in accordance with its name, costing consumers $1,000 or more.  More recent Blu-ray players, like ...

High definition home theaters with Blu-ray disc capacity have a slight edge viewing the winners of the 2007 Oscars. The high definition disc format war continues to rage and both sides are looking for any edge possible. If Blu-ray disc association wants some more bragging rights, it’s the only format that can present the big winners at the 2007 ...

In a recent blog, CNET journalist Erica Ogg revealed that CRT televisions, even in the face of mass flat-panel ad campaigns, refused to kick the bucket.  In a world where big box electronics retailers push LCD and plasma with everything they’ve got, it’s actually somewhat remarkable that the CRT exemplifies a sort-of Bruce Willis “Diehard” ...

The disk format war is over according to Sony Computer Entertainment America and Blu-ray has won. January sales statistics look good for the Blu-ray Disk Association but the victory party is clearly on Crank. The snapshot in sales figures that has SECA so happy looks like this. As of January total Blu-ray sales are 439,000 while total HD DVD ...

The most impressive LCD flat panel HDTVs are by Sharp Aquos. It’s not surprising that a company that builds the LCD panels themselves also builds some of the best LCD HDTVs. Most manufacturers outsource the important work of building the actual panels and that company will slap its name on the side and call it a day. Not Sharp! The Aquos line has ...

Although Blu-ray has the edge in the format war it’s far from over. This video will make a case not necessarily for HD DVD but questioning the Blu-ray format's resolve to put forth the interests of the consumer. So, BD+ was a complete failure. But the plan to implement additional DRM is one example of how the Blu-ray Disc Association ...

In a world where no DRM is sacred - HD DVD was first to fall to Muslix64 and the BackupHDDVD utility. Now, only a month later it’s Blu-ray with the new utility BackupBluray - available on Usenet and Torrents everywhere. They said the AACS encryption protecting movies on HD DVD and Blu-ray was “dynamic” making it nearly un-hackable. They also ...

LG BH100 Hybrid Blu-ray / HD DVD player almost didn’t make it to market this week. A flaw was discovered soon after the joyous CES announcement that a high priced combo player was coming. It seems the BH100 isn’t compatible with a certain HD DVD feature called iHD. iHD is the feature that allows an HD DVD player to navigate its special menu ...

Litigation sees the demise of the best laid schemes of mice and men. SED (Surface-conduction Electronics-emitter Display) is supposed to be the next generation TV technology. It’s a flat panel display that promises to be sharper than Plasma and consume less energy than LCD. An alliance between Canon and Toshiba had promised it would be available ...