There are not many models that come close the Onkyo TX-SR605, when it comes to providing you with an extensive range of features and advanced specifications at a street price. One special feature that particularly sets it apart is the inclusion of integrated high-definition audio decoding. This is then aptly supported by the latest HDMI 1.3a connections, which is also easily compatible with most of the popular new HD audio formats used by Blu-ray players.

Then, each channel is powered by a reasonable 140W of amplification, which pleasantly enough, can be easily coupled with advanced set ups so that the audio performance can be enhanced by bi-amping the front two speakers. You should also love the fact that setting up the Onkyo TX-SR605 is hassle free and is assisted by advanced features like the advanced automatic calibration system, with further assistance coming in the form of the basic Audyssey 2EQ and clearly presented menu screens.

Meanwhile, the latest HDMI 1.3a connections give you the leverage to switch between compatible high-definition sources, consequently making it convenient for you to operate the unit while at the same time removing unwanted cable clutter. The HDMI feature included with the unit is not the ordinary type, as it made with the latest technologies and with the intention to last a long enough time without becoming outdated. It is compatible with a variety of contemporary formats like Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and also accepts Deep Colour picture enhancements.

On the downside, the automatic calibration system tends to be a bit time consuming, and the Audyssey 2EQ system also has the same problem. The good thing with the latter feature is however that it is pretty accurate.

The latest offer from Panasonic, the Viera TX-32LXD80, seeks to drive home the point that sometimes medium sized TVs, like the aforementioned one, are preferable over those large screen giants. Just think of a smaller front room where a gargantuan TV would look out of place, while the Viera TX-32LXD80 would seamlessly blend in with the size and arrangement of the room.

The Viera TX-32LXD80 you will be surprised to know has an upscaling capability of only 720p, but that is not a problem as it is more than cancelled out by the much acclaimed IPS-Alpha panel technology that gives you the tempting option of a much wider viewing angle. The main selling point of the Panasonic TX-32LXD80 is that despite being a budget player there is no hint of compromises at all. Moreover, skeptics of the set’s 1,366×768-pixel resolution should do well to realize that 1080p resolutions are more or less lost on smaller screens, as unlike in larger screens.

Then the lower resolution notwithstanding, the picture quality looks remarkably sharp, and crisp with a lovely bit of detail. The picture quality is further enhanced by the company’s brilliant home build V-Real 3 picture processing technology that facilitates the smooth flow of images apart from bestowing them with a great deal of vivid looking colours. Movie buffs should particularly love the fact that the deck is provided with the discretion to play 24p movies form your Blu-ray player.

First thing first, the Loewe Connect 32 Media Full-HD+ DR+ is not our average TV from any angle; be it in terms of its price tag or its specifications. This expensive TV is undoubtedly aimed at people who are not afraid to splurge a fortune on buying a television that really says something about who they are. The deck is designed with a great deal of intricate planning and research that clearly leave an excellent impression on all who view it.

The device surprisingly enough is however nowhere near the thinnest TV on the market and may therefore repel customers who are in the lookout for something thin and sleek. Moreover, the somewhat big size will enhance the logistics required to move around the device.

The device fully complements its premium price with a whole hearted display of contemporary and user friendly features. You do get the in-demand feature 1080p compatibility, along with a twin tuner 160GB Freeview PVR, so its completely unnecessary to buy an extra PVR like the Toshiba RDXV48DTKTF. Moreover, features like a network media streamer and a high-definition satellite tuner only adds to its product value.

The freeview feature is particularly well designed, and using it you can record current programmes, record for a particular duration of time, starting from 30 minutes to over several hours.

Another good aspect of the device is that each feature is seamlessly integrated with the other features so that you can enjoy your favourite movies and programmes with the minimum of fuss. The media steaming feature is another selling point of the deck, but you will need a computer connected via Ethernet, so that you can receive its services.

Pioneer has recently revealed not one, but four New LX AV Receivers that it believes will go a long way in revolutionising amplifier technology by bringing studio-sound quality to your home cinema. The models in question are the SC LX81, SC-LX71, VSX-LX51 and VSX-1018AH, and are all fine tuned to deliver a soul-stirring audiovisual experience that is unlike what you normally come across.

Each of the receivers have been provided with the ability to work seamlessly in sync with Pioneer’s 2008 KURO TVs and Blu-ray Disc players so that your dream of enjoying the finest quality picture and sound becomes a reality. All the models, including the Pioneer VSX-1018, continue to incorporate the tried and tested ICEpower direct energy HD amplification technology, along with the company’s renowned sound-tuning, which is the result of its collaboration with AIR Studios in London, to produce the an impeccable sound quality.

Entertainment enthusiasts can take heart from the fact that the device comes equipped with internal decoding features such as DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus that will facilitate to realize their desire of watching movies in a high-definition setting. The sound quality is further improved by the inclusion of the Advanced MCACC tuning feature. The surround-effect in the meantime is delivered via the 7.1 channel surround sound technology assisted by the Neural-THX, which is another unique supplement to this versatile product.

Connectivity of the device is uncomplicated and provides you with most of the features that you will normally need. The picture quality is influenced by the HDMI 1.3a feature with support of 12-Bit Deep Colour and provides the same with a wide variety of shades and natural hues.

The EMP-TW2000 LCD Projector from Epson is in no way an eagerly awaited gadget, all thanks to its predecessor the EMP-TW1000, which failed miserably to live up to its fancy claims. What especially proved to be a point of discord is that the unit produced black levels that are downright pathetic and unacceptable by today’s high standards. It is therefore only practical that the latest edition from the company will be viewed with suspicion and uncertainty.

The EMP-TW2000 however impresses you right way with its superior build quality. Design in an aesthetic manner, the deck is also reasonably solid, and its glossy and sophisticated finish lends it an upscale feel. Easy to install, the Epson EMP-TW2000 also endows you with a great deal of flexibility via two astutely positioned wheels on its top edge so that you can effortlessly shift the image left and right or up and down optically over a wide range.

A spectacular feature of the unit is that it gives you the option of indulging in various image sizes, facilitated by the innovative superb 2.1x optical zoom function from Fujinon lens. What more? You can customize the geometry of the image according to your whims guided by a unique test pattern.

Connectivity of the unit is another value addition, as you basically get all that you may require including two HDMI inputs, which importantly are developed using the latest v1.3 technology, component video input, D-Sub PC port, composite video and S-Video fallback options. The specification connotes that you can now enjoy extra color compatibility via the xvYCC picture format.

Then, the unit is also completely HD, and in addition has a host of complementary features to augment the image quality. Prominent among them are- Epson’s own, well-regarded C2Fine efforts, Cinema Filter and DeepBlack technologies.

A phenomenon that has been observed in the LCD market in recent times is the crazy cost cutting measures adopted by many companies to boost sales. The situation consequently might prove to be an ideal one for you to give yourself a LCD TV, especially when the prices really hit rock bottom. Just ensure that the models on your priority list are up to the mark and compatible with modern accessories and gadgets. One model I would like to suggest from my side is the Toshiba Regza 37XV505DB.

Before starting of I caution you against getting distracted by its unimaginative design, as it has a swarm of features to sweep you off your feet. One remarkable side of the Toshiba 37XV505D is its terrific connectivity which despite being a budget player provides not one, but three v1.3 HDMI inputs. Then, there is a D-Sub PC port, and subwoofer line-out, feature as well, apart from the intuitive audio output feature, which in recent times is gaining in prominence, and can be used to pump out Dolby Digital audio out to an AV receiver. Being a budget player, it understandably lacks high-end features like SD card slots, USB ports.

Moreover, the unit has an impressive dynamic contrast ratio of 18,000:1, which is comparatively higher than what was offered by its predecessor, the 37CV505DB, at 15,000:1. One feature that has contributed immensely in the product’s desirability is the inclusion of the Active Vision LCD picture processing, an indigenous development of the company. Then, there is a Game mode too that comprehensively enhances the performance of the deck via PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles.

According to reports available from Nikkei, Panasonic is all set to give a whole new dimension to visual technology with its latest initiative to develop a Blu-ray standard for 3D imagery that will be equipped with an HDMI standard for carrying 3D signals. The development carries immense significance considering that it will increase the clout enjoyed by Panasonic, already a formidable name in the filed of TVs, AV receivers and Blu-ray players, to unprecedented levels. Meanwhile, the technology in question is widely believed to be the next generation of visual technology after high definition.

To accelerate the process the company has already submitted it proposal to Blu-ray Disc Association for approval. A company source admitted that they are looking forward to an early approval as they don’t want to get entrapped in the vicious tangles of standard wars, patent monopolies, and the like as they have the ability to seriously impact the proliferation of any 3D image standard. The company is especially apprehensive of being caught in a situation like the HD format war, which for the record proved to be a matter of discord among the big wigs.

The BDA on its part is optimistic that a standard would be in place by 2010. Coming back to the proposal submitted by Panasonic, it is a fairly uncomplicated one specially considering that it is basically based on a technology that is already in H.264 standard. The Apple iPod touch 16GB can in fact play H.264, as come numerous other devices. If you are unfamiliar with H.264, it uses two video channels as is required for 3D. The technological specifications of the gadget make it the perfect foil that is required for left-eye right-eye dual-imagery.

There is good news for you in case you are looking for an LCD TV that is integrated with a digital Freeview tuner and HDMI connection. That good news is called the Ferguson F2200LD. The advantage of the digital tuner is that you can now tune into different Freeview channels with a minimum amount of fuss, and enjoy programmes in their full glory on the widescreen.

Important specifications of the unit include an impressive contrast ratio of 1000:1, whereas the pixel resolution stands at 1680×1050 pixels. The high contrast ratio has a positive impact on the picture quality which now looks much sharper and clearer, and with a great deal of detail. The image quality is further fine tuned by a brightness level of 300cd/m2. Moreover, the unit is HDTV compatible, just like most modern LCD TVs including the LG M2294D, signifying that it will accept H signals. Another important feature that has a say in the image quality is the progressive scan feature that augments the job done by the other image refiners and consequently elevates the image quality to new levels.

Then, you will also feel elated to know that the deck can even be used as a PC monitor. The unit delivers Nicam stereo sound effect with an impressive output capacity of 6W. The connectivity of the unit is also a reason to rejoice, especially considering that it has all the customary connections including two SCART sockets, S-Video connection, AV inputs, and one HDMI connection, in addition to a headphone socket. There is a sleep timer as well that should free you of a lot of apprehensions, and also save a good deal of electricity.

Blu-ray players may be dame a dozen these days, but you will hardly find a particular one that doesn’t have its own issues. Even Pioneer or Sony, the premier names in the DVD sector, are also not immune to this accusation. The peculiar problems associated with these two premier brands are that they have extremely slow response time and, in addition, also found wanting when it comes to offering support for cutting-edge Blu-ray features. It is here that Denon has made its mark with its first Blu-ray DV player, the 2500BTCI. The unit is strikingly different from the average players that you normally come across and is all set to fill the persisting void.

It has managed a coup in the sense that it is the first player to support Picture-in-Picture Bonus View interactivity, and in likelihood is also the first entirely digital Blu-ray player to have hit the market. You will also be perplexed to find that there are no analog outputs whatsoever, and instead features only a solitary HDMI output. The emphasis of the player seems quite apparent and is unmistakably designed to be used with the current crop of AVRs and pre/pros that offer full advanced audio decoding. Furthermore, the unit is one of those select few, in addition to high-end players like the Panasonic DVD-2500BTCI, that support bitstream transmission of lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Support for onboard decoding of the lossless codecs is however not there.

The major highlight on the audio section includes PCM (up to 7.1 channels) and Dolby Digital Plus. The player on the lower side is inscribed with Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks, which limits its decoding capability to only the core lossy Dolby Digital and DTS tracks, which are output over HDMI as 5.1-channel PCM.

Humax has recently come up with the FOXSAT-HD digital set-top box that will allow TV viewers in the UK to watch subscription free high-definition content via the new Freesat digital TV service. The unit is different from other similar products that you normally come across, in the sense that it comes adorned with a number of innovative features, apart from enhanced interactive TV services that provide a holistic way to watch Freesat HD TV.

Developed through a joint venture by the BBC and ITV, Freesat offers you access to over 80 digital TV and radio channels for a one-time payment. Now by opting for the Humax FOXSAT-HD digital box connected to an HD Ready TV, viewers can enjoy HD programmes from the BBC and ITV subscription free.

Some of the key features of the unit include an HDMI cable, scart cable, remote control and batteries. Moreover, you will feel relieved that installation is hassle free. A fully-featured, seven day electronic programme guide (EPG) is there as well and has been customised to enable viewers to organize and plan their TV viewing at the touch of a button.

Another one of the unit’s notable features includes advanced digital text and interactive services, one HDMI slot that transmits excellent high definition pictures and surround sound audio to an HD Ready TV. The unit is also one of a kind with its bare minimum power consumption. It consumes a mere 1 watt in standby mode, and comes outfitted with an automatic standby function that automatically shifts the box to standby mode if inactive. There are two SCART sockets too, which may come in handy while connecting other equipment such as a DVD recorder to the unit.