Wireless 5.8GHz Speaker Amplifier for Surround Speakers
Instead of spending hours trying to figure out how to bury or hide those lengthy speaker cables for your surround sound speakers, you can opt to go the easy way out with this awesome plug-and-play wireless 5.8GHz speaker amplifier, which is ideal for your rear speakers. The built-in and self-powered 25-watt x 2 amplifier is ideal for those rear satellite speakers that are oh so annoying to try and wire. The high gigahertz rating on the RF transmitter assures that you will not lose any signal strength or audio clarity by going wireless, and with six channels to choose from, you can virtually eliminate any interference in the signal. The speaker volume and line level inputs are adjustable on the rear, and the unit works up to four hundred feet away.

Priced online from $150.00-$200.00

Features & Specs
• Wireless transmitter/receiver
• Built-in digital amplifier for audio speakers
• Ideal for Dolby 5.1 Digital, Pro Logic II, DTS, SACD, DVD and MP3 audio systems
• 2 built-in diversity transmitter and receiver antennas for optimal audio reception
• Transmits through walls and floors via long-range 5.8GHz radio frequency (RF)
• Noise reduction circuitry
• 6 selectable RF transmission channels eliminate interference
• Built-in 25-watt x 2 stereo amplifier
• Operating range up to 400 feet
• Adjustable speaker volume and line level input control

When the Buck Stops Rolling
For those who have been through the frustrating trials and errors that accompany the wiring of a home theatre surround sound system, this unit spells a certain relief, and an audible joy at being able to simply plug-and-play. While we wish that the wattage was a bit more, hey for the price you cannot complain. When the buck stops rolling, and it eventually does my friends, this unit is a good deal for the money and should prove useful to anybody (ourselves included) that cannot seem to find a way to bury those darn speaker wires on their surround sound system.

Get Rid of the Messiness of Cords When you Go Wi-Fi
This awesome video, courtesy of CNET, will show you how to enjoy a cordless experience with your surround sound system, step-by-step.

Watch the Video

TC Helicon VoiceLive Vocal Floor Processor
This pedal is as sweet as a jar full of honey and is essential to any live performer who seeks perfection. Four programmable stomp buttons allow you to choose and select from 99 factory presets, each that can be live (up to four simultaneously). It comes with a state-of-the-art pitch corrector, you can utilize up to four different live harmony patterns, and of course, compression and a vast array of goodies that come packaged with this sleek and easy-to-use unit. Most vocal pedals costs thousands (for the big stages) but this one will only take you out about $599 when purchased online through select merchants.

Features and Specs/Technical Jargon
• Connectors: RCA Phono (S/PDIF)
• Formats: S/PDIF (24 bit), EIAJ CP-340, IEC 958
• Sample Rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz
• Connectors (balanced): Mic (XLR), Line (1/4 in. phone jack)
• Impedance: Balanced/Unbalanced Mic.: 3.6/1.8 kOhm, Line: 21/13 kOhm
• Line Input Level @ 0 dBFS: 24 dBu to 0 dBu
• Line Sensitivity @ 12 dB headroom: 12 dBu to -12 dBu
• Instrument Input Level @ 0 dBFS: 18 dBu to -6 dBu
• Instrument Sensitivity @ 12 dB headroom: 6 dBu to -18 dBu
• Mic. Input Level @ 0 dBFS, Pad Off/On: -13 dBu/7 dBu to -51 dBu/-31 dBu
• Mic. Sensitivity @ 12 dB headroom, Pad Off/On: -25 dBu/-5 dBu to -63 dBu/-43 dBu
• EIN @ Max Mic Gain Rg = 200 Ohm: 126 dBu
• THD < -100 dB: (0,001 %) @ 1 kHz
• Crosstalk: < -85 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• A to D Conversion: 24 bit, 128 x oversampling bitstream
• D to A Conversion: 24 bit, 128 x oversampling bitstream
• D to A Delay: 0.63/0.68 ms @ S.R.= 48 / 44.1 kHz
• Connectors (balanced): 1/4 in. phone jack
• Output Impedance: 40 Ohm
• Output Range: 20 dBu / 14 dBu / 8 dBu / 2 dBu
• Dynamic Range: > 104 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• THD: < -98 dB (0.0013%) @ 1 kHz
• Frequency Response: +0/-0.3 dB, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Control Interface: MIDI In/Out/Thru, 5 Pin DIN
• Pedal: 1/4 in. phone jack
• Display: 4 character LED, 16 x 2 character LCD
• Dimensions: 11.2 in. x 3.5 in. x 10.5 in. (284 mm x 89 mm x 267 mm)
• Weight: 4.1 lb. (1.85 kg)
• Mains Voltage: 100 to 240 VAC, 50 to 60 Hz (auto-select)
• Power Consumption: < 15 W

The Bottom Line (And This is Truly It!)
If you are truly looking for a vocal pedal and effects processor that does it all and for the right price, this pedal cannot be beat. Considering that the mainstream pedals, those that are used on the big arena stages can cost thousands, you will never find a more feature-laden, live vocal effects processor that works as well as the TC Helicon does for the bucks. Period! And that is entirely the Bottom Line!

Check out how live performances fare when using the TC Helicon VoiceLive Vocal Floor Processor: this video will show you everything you ever wanted to know about this processor when used in a live performance setting.

A company that monitors the TV and computer screen industry, Display Search, has even reported that the 4th quarter costs of LCD screens will be being offered to industry manufacturers at below cost prices. For example, and see the table to the right courtesy of Display Search, a 42” panel TV costs about $256 US to make. But manufacturers will be getting their hands on one for about $223 US. Similarly, a 43” full HD panel costs about $435 US to make, but manufacturers will get them for about $425 US. So while the price breaks are not that amazing, there is one thing all of these screens have in common: they are going down in price and they are being sold for a loss to the big computer and TV makers.

In a Featured Yahoo Buzz article published on October 28th, 2008, the columnist even reflected that the prices may be going down due to lowered consumer confidence and spending as we near a frugal fourth quarter in the technologies industry. The columnist also was sure to make apparent that the TVs that we would be seeing with these drastic price reductions, such as the lauded 34” and 42” HD TVs, would be ‘Stripped Bare’ of all features and not able to operate at even 120-MHz.

The Bottom Line
If you want the best deal to be offered in years ever, buy up an LCD screen with a good warranty this X-mas and save a few hundred bucks. Because the major plants that make them will be eating losses all quarter long. They will be making payroll cuts and closing plants, which mean that ultimately the costs will level out again. Buy now and save money. Buy later and pay more. Ah yes, the frightful nature of Capitalism beckons its bargain hunting head once more my friends.

The Total Package:
• Clearaudio Statement Turntable (open-faced): $137,000 (The only thing Clear Audio in the entire setup)
• JBL floor standing loudspeakers: $70,000 for two
• 4 Velodyne subwoofers: $52,000
• 5 Krell power amplifiers: $163,000
• Mark Levinson pre-amplifier: $54,500
• BDP-LX 70 blu ray player by Pioneer: $5,000
• Toshiba’s HD-EXI: $ around $5,000
• HAT-500 projector: $68,000

Price tag around: $554,500, give or take a few thousand smackers.

The Bottom Line
We tried out best to keep an open mind about this expensive and steel contraption that molds Euro-styled wood framing with clear glass panels and has open compartments in some places and closed in others. But in the end, it’s nothing more than a lauded and over hyped, open-faced record player with state-of-the-art components that are made by other name brand, leading companies, like JBL. That and the fact that all of reviews we read stated that the sound quality was only so-so, the bass frequencies were dwarfed by the high-ends and the mid-ranges, and that the price tag was more costly than a fat pad on the beach in LA. In the end, it’s just another conceptual gadget that is really nothing more than an overpriced record player with lofty components. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again, and uh, make it cost more next time around?

Check it out in Action
While we were unable to find any live videos of this lofty and gaudy stereo system on Youtube or other video file sharing websites, we were able to find a write up and a detailed video on the popular British technological review and gadgets website, Tom’s Hardware. If you are interested in seeing this ridiculously expensive and unrealistic stereo system in action, Check it Out Here. Make sure that you scroll the bottom of the page once it loads and you can play a video, and see, hear for yourself.

The Panasonic 150-inch Plasma Juggernaut
In early January of 2008, Panasonic unveiled what they claim is their biggest creation yet, and the biggest plasma TV set to ever be offered by any company. In technology conventions around the world, the leading company in plasma TVs and high definition technologies introduced their next big, and we mean big, TV to the masses. It’s a 150-inch plasma screen, measured diagonally, that boasts an exceptional 4 x 1080p clarity with pixels so tiny you would need a microscope to differentiate between them. This monster is 11-feet tall and 6-feet wide and weighs in at over five hundred pounds, a beast of all TVs certainly, and one that comes with an equally as large price tag, to the tune of around: $100,000.00 US, give or take a grand. Expect to see this on showroom floors in early 2009, when the company plans to officially place the line into production for the masses. According to company representatives, they are hoping to sell a few thousand of these in next fiscal year; good luck with that.

Specs:
• Dimensions: 11’ x 6’
• Weight: 500+ pounds
• Plasma screen
• Clarity: 4 x 1080p
• Cost: upwards of $100,000.00
• Available Soon, if it can fit in your house

More on the biggest TV in the world

Video of this Monster

Sony 4K SXRD video projector
The ‘4k’ in the SXRD name actually stands for the 4096 x 2160 resolution of pixels that it offers, more than any other projector and even the costliest of HD TVs on the market. The acronym, SXRD, stands for Silicon X-tal Reflective Display, which is the type of display that it uses to create the high pixel density and ratio that you will see on the big screen. Case and point: on a large, 18 x 20 screen, each pixel will be unrecognizable; enough said. The model shown in the pictures is the SRX-S110 (10,000 lumens) which is the most advanced and also is the most expensive of projector lenses currently available. So if you want to enjoy high-definition movies at home, you will have to pay dearly we are afraid. To the tune of about $125,000.00

The Bottom Line
While nobody can argue that the SXRD is not only one of the finest cinematic specimens to ever be visualized and created, one can arguable gander that the price tag on this item far removes it from anybody normal, most theatres included. So while we find this piece of lavishly hot and exorbitantly expensive gear to be, well damned fine, we also know that it is unrealistic for anybody in this town to ever own one. And still, dreams are dreams for all of us dreamers out there; you included.

Check out the 4K SXRD in Action!
This amazing projector by Sony is available only to those who have ample amounts of money to dump into something that merely projects high definition screens. However, that does not mean there are not plenty of wealthy and famous folks out there who do not own one. The video below features the 4X SXRD in action in Jeremy Kipnis’s, famous sound engineer and producer, home theatre, which we recently featured in our blog about the ‘Most Expensive Home Theatre System Ever‘ where Kipnis uses the SXRD as the main premier in his $6-million custom home theatre; boy are we jealous. This video below depicts a candid interview with Kipnis and demonstrates the power of this projector in action. See for yourself what all of the hype is about.

Viewing
Let’s start off with the viewing. Using a Sony SRX-S110 Professional Video Projector which offers amazing 4,096-by-2,160 clarity, ten times that of a standard HD TV, and all blasted upon a very large Stewart 18-by-10-foot Snowmatte 1.0 Gain Laboratory-Grade Motion Picture Screen, movies are as big as they are in the theatre and more realistic than ever before. Of course a Blu-Ray player, PS3 console and other goodies compliment one of the largest in-home screens in the world.

Total Viewing Specs:
Sony SRX-S110 Professional Video Projector (4,096-by-2,160)
Stewart 18-by-10-foot Snowmatte 1.0 Gain Laboratory-Grade Motion Picture Screen
Players and Sources:
Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray Player
Sony PlayStation 3 Gaming Console
Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD Player
JVC HMDH-5U D-VHS Recorder
SATA Drive (72 HDTV Hours Total)
Mark Levinson Reference N°33 and N°33H.
Pioneer HLD-X0 Hi-Vision HDTV MUSE Laserdisc Player
Surround Processing and Decoding:
Theta Digital Generation VIII 32-bit 8x Oversampling Dual Processors (13)

Power
Using signature Mark Levinson N° 33h, McIntosh MC-2102 Amplifiers and Crown Macro Reference Gold Amplifiers, the theatre sounds come to live as each woofer, mid and tweeter has its own dialed in amplifier to direct the perfect signal at the right amounts of power. No getting out cheap here, the amplifier setup is worth its weight in gold, actually more!

Amplifiers:
Mark Levinson N° 33h Amplifiers (2)
McIntosh MC-2102 Amplifiers (30)
Crown Macro Reference Gold Amplifiers (3)

Sound
Okay, this is where it gets really crazy. The theater is equipped with count them, 16 Snell 1800 THX Music & Cinema Reference Subwoofers, 8 Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference Towers, 10 MuRata ES103A Super Tweeters and 3 Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference LCR-2800 Center-Channel Speakers. So basically, as you can see in the picture, you are entirely surrounded by some of the highest quality speakers in the world that are being driven by the best amplifiers money can buy.

Speakers:
Snell 1800 THX Music & Cinema Reference Subwoofers (16)
Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference Towers (8)
MuRata ES103A Super Tweeters (10)
Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference LCR-2800 Center-Channel Speakers (3)

The Bottom Line
This home theatre is pricey and very impressive. However for six million dollars, we would much rather own our own real theatre and be earning the big bucks off that venture. But we must say, this is the nicest home theatre system that we will probably ever see, and that it can easily rank amongst the world’s finest. Of course, stomaching the price is quite another story. But when you are uber-rich, who cares, or even thinks about money, right?

Assessing Your Needs
Make sure that you read everything in ‘Part One’ and have properly assessed your needs as far as a home audio system goes.  Do you need that illustrious 1000-watt monster for your apartment living room, or will less powerful and less costly system that delivers as much clarity suffice? Don’t over buy. This generally results in a system that is far too powerful for your living room and one that you will never truly be able to utilize the full power of without getting a noise complaint filed against you. Check out the link below, as supplied in ‘Part One’ to better reassess this process. Remember, buy according to your needs, and the size of the room that you wish to place the audio system in.

How to Determine What you Need

Speaker Placement
In ‘Part Two’ we talked about the importance of speaker placement, and indeed it is the deciding factor of how great your system will sound. Remember, the center speaker should be placed above the TV, or beneath it, depending on what type of a TV you have, and should be in the direct center. Left and right front speakers should be placed at least six feet apart and should have equal distance between each speaker and the center speaker. Your rears should be placed at least 2-3 feet above ear level and towards the back of the room, generally above the couch you sit on. Any extra satellite speakers should be placed on the right and left sides of the room in the middle. Use the chart to the right for a diagram on proper speaker placement, or use the link below that was supplied in the previous entry regarding this.

Free Guide To Practical Home Speaker Placement

Shopping for Bargains & Deciding On A System
You never want to rush into a decision to buy a home theatre or a home audio system. Rather, take your time and shop around. Make sure that you purchase only high quality speakers that are encased in wood and match the finish of your home interior. Assure that the domes are made of high quality silver or aluminum and that the speakers provide the maximum amounts of magnetic shielding. Finally, make sure that your speakers provide at least a 125 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, or better. And lastly, assure that the subwoofer you are purchasing is self-powered and that your speakers match the impedance rating and ohms of the amplifier that you purchase. 

In ‘Part Three’ we also talked about shopping for the best deals on speakers. Do this by taking your time and looking around at the best deals to be had on the internet. Never just buy locally. Generally you will overpay, have to pay sales tax and have to pay for their ridiculous retail markup. Loop for free shipping deals and use shopping comparison search engines to find the deals for you, like this shopping comparison search engine. Finally, our last bit of advice here is to make sure that the system that you buy comes with a solid all-parts and all-labor warranty, so you do not have to worry about it breaking on you in the future.

The Bottom Line
You can easily find and buy the best home audio or home theater system for your needs. But you want to make sure that you know what you are doing and what you are looking for by first educating yourself on the best systems, the best deals and what to look for in speaker quality. By doing this, and by taking your time to shop around for the right system at the right price, you will be able to net yourself an awesome deal on a home audio system that you can enjoy for years to come.

These systems, found at this great online store in the link below, will deliver the audio power that your ears crave, without draining your wallet in the process. Remember shop smart, save money and get the same thing for less!
High Quality Home Theatre Systems For Less Money

Speaker Quality is a Must
You always want to look for speakers that have the best quality for the money that you are going to spend. First and foremost, look for quality, handcrafted speakers that come in wood finished cabinets, typically white, silver or black, and choose the color that will best compliments your home interior. As far as speaker quality goes, look for speakers that offer maximum magnetic shielding, and use high-efficiency domes in their tweeters for the best delivery of those trebles. For subwoofers and mid-ranges speakers, assure that they are least several inches, 3.5” for mids and 6.0” or larger for subs, and that they are made from aluminum or higher quality metals.

As far as kilohertz is considered, optimal ear ranges span from 125 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range, so make sure your speakers meet that bare minimum before shelling out any hard earned cash. Finally, make sure that the speakers that you buy come with a decent all-parts, all-labor warranty, just in case they malfunction. And last, but not least, assure that you match the wattage, ohms and impedance levels with the power amplifier that you are buying, for the best results. One last tip to offer, make sure you buy a self-powered subwoofer so that it does not drain any extra power from your amplifier, this will greatly increase the power of your other speakers.

Get the real run-down from a large speaker manufacturer

How to Shop For, Buy & Setup a Home Theatre System
We dug around on the video file sharing website, Youtube.com, and guess what, we were able to find this candid video, created by an expert, that details exactly what to look for and how to find those best bargains on a home theatre system. It also will tell you what tools you will need for setup and what cables. Then it gives detailed instructions on how to setup and install your new home theatre system that you just got a smoking deal on because you followed expert advice. So shop right the first time, and take a few minutes to check out this awesome advisory video.

More Information on Buying Speakers and Home Audio Gear

The Placement of Speakers
The placement of your speakers is essential to your home audio needs for the best delivery of sound. Most 5.1 surround systems will come with 5-6 speakers that can really make your movie experience shine, if you know where to place them properly. There are some simple tricks that you can use to place your speakers effectively around your living room to maximize the audio signals that are being driven to your ears. Here is how.

Free Guide To Practical Home Speaker Placement

Center speaker:
You want to always place this speaker either on the top of your television set, some TVs have a flat screen and this is not possible, in this case place it below, in the center of your TV, so that the sound will emit towards you from the center. The center channel will direct all center signals to the room, and therefore needs to be centered.

Front Left & Right Speakers:
You want to make sure that these front speakers are always placed left and right corresponding to the signal that is being delivered to them, don’t put the left speaker on the right side of your TV. You want the speakers to be at least 6-8 feet apart from each other and you want the facing directly towards your couch. Make sure that there is even space between your left, right and center speaker for optimal sound delivery.

Surround Speaker Placement:
You want to place your surround speakers at least 2-3 feet above the ear level of where you are seated. You ideal want them positioned along side and towards the rear of where the back of your listening area envelops to create the optimal soundstage for your ears. Surround systems with to extra surround speakers can also have those extra satellite speakers wall-mounted for optimal audio clarity.

How to Place Speakers and Setup a Home Theatre
The good guys at ‘Best Buy’ demonstrate, in this instructional video that we found on the popular video file sharing website, Youtube.com, how to place speakers and how to effectively setup and connect your new home theatre system. While we always recommend shopping around online for your home theatre needs, as the internet doth bring us the best deals to be found ever, this video can serve as a great reference point for what professionals deem the best way to install and setup any home theatre system with multiple speakers for optimal sound. Use the advice in this video to properly setup your home theatre system and effectively place your speakers.