HDTV Podcast - hdtvpodcast@mac.com

April 28 , 2005 - Podcast #5

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This weeks show

On tap today we will cover the news. We'll talk about some low cost HDTVs, and we discuss the NIRO 1.1 PRO II. We'll talk about our up coming contest. And we both will give you our top five list of our favorite HDTV programming.

Low(er) Cost HDTV Solutions

We get email telling us that many of you are interested in HDTV but can't afford it. Today we will be talking about two systems with a reasonable cost of entry. Don't think that these TVs are no good either. They can hold there own against higher priced sets. You can buy them anywhere but if you buy them through the our link you will be helping the show!

Olevia LT27HV 27" HDTV-Ready Flat-Panel LCD TV

If you want a thin screen this may be the TV for you. Its only $899 at Amazon.com, which is one the lowest prices I have seen online.

It has all the inputs you would imagine DVI, VGA, Component, and S-Video
Its light it only weighs 40 pounds (18Kgs)
Its only 4 and a quarter inches (10 .7 cm) thick
The viewing angle is 170 deg
The video response time is 16ms which makes this LCD great for watching sports and playing video games.

Toshiba 26HF84A 26" Widescreen HD-Ready TV

If you don't mind a more traditional TV this is one of the lowest cost HDTVs on the market. Amazon has it for $599.99

It has a HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connection to your DTV receiver or set-top box.
It's dimensions are 27.5 x 19.8 x 19.5 inches (W x H x D) which is good for a tube TV and it only weighs 80 pounds (36 Kgs)

NIRO 1.1 PRO II
Cool Technology for apartment dwellers. The NIRO 1.1 PRO II offers surround sound in a simple solution. In the size of most center channels this device provides a surround sound experience. The makers of the NIRO Pro II say that for the optimal listening experience up to 5 people should be seated side by side 9 to 12 feet from the screen. You can see this won't work in every setting but in a small apartment it might be a good solution.

NIRO has is the Movie Mouse.
It's a device about the size of a mouse pad and has 5 small speakers. It connects to the Pro II by a cable that can extend up to 23 feet. You place this thing directly in front of and it creates a surround sound experience. You can turn up the sound without rocking your neighbors out of bed.

The Niro Pro II $900 US and the movie mouse will add an additional $230.

Filtered power / Line conditioners

What are they

Devices that eliminate "dirty" AC power, to provide an improved AC signal. Dirty AC power can cause loss of audio and video quality represented by video snow, loss of clarity or lines in the picture, or audio humm or extra noise. These disturbances are typically caused by electromagnetic RF interference from any electronic device in the home. Almost any device with a motor can cause interference, even home theater components themselves.

What's the difference between surge protectors, line conditioners and regulators

Surge protectors - Devices that protect electronic equipment from damage due to over voltages (too much power).
Line conditioners - A device that eliminates noise or interference in AC power, thus improving the quality of the AC signal.
Regulators - Devices that provide steady voltage outputs regardless of fluctuations in actual AC line voltage.

Why use them