All Products

Thursday, February 16, 2012

It may be cold in most parts of the country right now, but that doesn't mean that American homeowners aren't thinking about the spring, summer and fall seasons.

For homeowners thinking of remodeling their homes with the addition of electronics, one of the most enticing options is an outdoor A/V system. SunBrite's new Signature Line of outdoor HDTVs facilitate these homeowner dreams without tapping out their respective bank accounts. The newly announced line features a choice of three screen sizes: the 32-inch SB-3260HD, the 46-inch SB-4660HD and the 55-inch SB-5560HD models.

SunBrite says the TVs are engineered to withstand the environmental conditions of outdoor placement with features that include anti-glare screens and ASA outdoor-rated resin enclosures that are designed to protect the TVs' internal components from moisture, rain, dust, snow, insects and temperatures that range from 10 below zero, all the way up to 122 degrees. Other features built into the products include water-tight cable-entry channels, multi-fan airflow systems and a choice of black or silver finishes.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Most electronics professionals know the name DVDO through its years of manufacturing video processing devices.

The Sunnyvale, California-based company's latest product ventures outside of the video processor category to provide existing homeowners a means to efficiently connect their HD source devices to an HDTV without the need for custom installers to pull long cabling runs. The company's new Air WirelessHD is a wireless transmission system that offers electronics professionals a solution that is capable of sending 1080p video, 7.1 surround sound and HDMI's Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) protocol distances up to 30 meters.

DVDO says the solution is compatible with 3D content and that it is engineered to coexist in environments that already include wireless home networks, cordless telephones and microwave ovens. The Air WirelessHD Video transmission system ships with a transmitter, receiver and mounting hardware that enables electronics professionals to place the receiver on top of a HDTV or hide it behind a TV as a wall mounted device.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Monday, February 13, 2012

Since the mid 1970s the North Carolina-based company GTL Labs has quietly been serving the custom installation market with a variety of architectural speaker products.

GTL Sound Labs' latest product is the AE 82 in-ceiling loudspeaker and the company says this new speaker is designed for whole-house audio applications, as well as other hidden audio installations. GTL says the speaker is engineered to provide homeowners with a dynamic bottom end, clean midrange and natural top end to faithfully reproduce lossy and lossless audio files with clarity.

The company states the 8-ohm speaker is capable of providing a frequency response of 36Hz to 20kHz, and that it is 89dB sensitive which means a variety of traditional Class A/B and newer digital amps can effectively drive the speaker. The two-way speaker incorporates an 8-inch carbon-fiber woofer and two-inch titanium silk dome tweeter.

Friday, February 10, 2012

In the world of equipment racks and accessories no company offers residential and commercial electronics professionals more products and support than Middle Atlantic.

The Fairfield, N.J.-based company's latest product series taps into the growing trend of space-conscious electronics installations by offering installers a choice of products that fit into small locations. Middle Atlantic's new HRF Series Half Rack Systems are engineered to provide electronics professionals with a line of products that comply to the Electronic Components Industry Association's (ECIA) increasingly relevant half rack size standards.

Middle Atlantic says the racks utilize the standard's proposed dimensions, as well as an offset cable tie area that keep the products' overall width under 11 inches. The HRF Series products are constructed with welded frames, and they are manufactured in a choice of eight or 12 rack space options with companion mounting holes and slots.

Thursday, February 09, 2012

With headphones now one of the top selling categories in consumer electronics the market has adapted and the audiophile community has latched onto this trend, which was initially driven by neophyte audio listeners.

HiFiMAN, a manufacturer of headphones, high-performance portable audio devices and other components recently introduced its EF-6 headphone amplifier, which it says enables audiophiles and music fans in general to utilize low-efficiency headphones to listen to their favorite tunes.

The 24 pound, robustly built amplifier is made of brushed aluminum and steel with aluminum heat sinks, and internally it provides users with a 5 watt, Class A circuit and a hand-built step attenuator with matched resistors that contribute to its symmetrical output. The EF-6 is stated to produce a quiet 95dB signal-to-noise (s/n) ratio, and HiFiMAN says that as a result of the engineering behind the EF-6, users can enjoy a warm, relaxing sound with lots of detail no matter what headphone it is driving.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

For decades NAD has been lauded by audiophiles for its high performing and affordable product line. Over the past few years the company has put a considerable amount of effort into updating its product line through new industrial designs, proprietary technologies and other innovations that are ahead of the market's technology curve.

One of the company's latest product releases is the Masters Series M51 Direct Digital DAC. This new digital-to-analog converter (DAC) employs the same digital processing circuitry as its M2 Direct Digital Amplifier and it is engineered to provide electronics professionals with a solution that enables them to bridge their clients' existing A/V systems into the world of digital audio. NAD says the product is designed to perform with low noise levels, low levels of distortion, low levels of digital jitter; overall signal linearity and a wide dynamic range.

NAD says the product accepts PCM data rates up to 24-bit/192kHz, and it includes a choice of inputs such as USB, HDMI and optical, as well as balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) outputs.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

A couple of years ago the Riverside, California A/V manufacturer Proficient introduced its first wireless audio solution it called AirFlex. Recently the company released its latest wireless audio system it calls Zero.

Proficient says the new wireless audio system builds upon the capabilities of the AirFlex and the company says the solution is capable of broadcasting audio signals as far as 90 feet to enable electronics professionals to offer existing home clients whole-house audio solutions that can be tailored to their exact requirements.

Some of the new features Proficient has built into the Zero wireless audio system include the ability to expand up to eight receivers per transmitter, and with the transmitter's three broadcast channels installers can dial in a level of performance that is consistent and reliable. The transmitter also incorporates an optical input that can be transmitted simultaneously with the analog inputs. Proficient says that transmitting all of the inputs allows a transmitter to send "left and right" audio for zone two or rear surrounds, as well as audio for a subwoofer in a home theater. The Zero receiver features a 2x35 watt-per channel amplifier and an LED display that shows system status.

Monday, February 06, 2012

Meridian has earned a reputation within audiophile circles for producing some of the consumer audio industry's finest digital components.

At the recently completed Consumer Electronics Show (CEA) the British A/V company announced its new 818 Reference Audio Core preamplifier that it says will enable its dealers to easily combine its flagship 800 series components with its Sooloos line of digital audio components. The preamplifier incorporates the latest in standard consumer electronics technologies such as XLR (balanced) and RCA (unbalanced) connections, as well as proprietary technologies that include advanced digital signal processing (DSP) and the company's SpeakerLink outputs to facilitate connections to its active DSP line of loudspeakers.

With the 818 Reference Audio Core preamplifier and a choice of Sooloos series components Meridian says that electronics professionals can create a customizable, state-of-the-art audio system for their clients, or they can use the component with standard A/V components to create a system that utilizes the best traditional and digital electronics.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Runco has established its top level, 73d projector as arguably one best performing 3D projectors in the entire residential market. The company's latest projector, the newly announced LS-12d maintains many of the 73d's performance characteristics, but at price levels that are considerably lower than its flagship product.

The LS-12d is an active-shutter, three-chip DLP projector that Runco says can be used situations in which homeowners want a high-performance projector that aesthetically doesn't detract from their home's interior design. To ensure the projector's visual compatibility with today's modern home designs, Runco dresses the projector with its LightStyle industrial design and backs it with its FinishPalette color program that allows consumers a full choice of exterior color choices.

Runco ships the LS-12d projector with is 2U outboard DC-300 controller unit, which provides authorized installers with a convenient means to setup and calibrate the projector, and three pairs of active-shutter 3D glasses.

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Over the past several months the momentum behind the HDBaseT transmission technology has grown with several manufacturers adopting the format and releasing new products into the marketplace.

The latest company to launch a new HDBaseT product into the professional electronics market is Audio Authority. The Lexington, Kentucky-based manufacturer's new HBT200KIT is a HDBaseT solution that electronics professionals can use to address long-range signal transmission issues in commercial and residential system environments.

Audio Authority says the HBT200KIT is capable of sending uncompressed HD video, lossless audio, IR and RS-232 control signals distances as far as 330 feet with a single Cat-5e/Cat-6 cable. The company says the kit includes a transmitter and receiver and the components are compliant with HDCP/EDID protocols to ensure the system's compatibility with a variety of displays and source components.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

In the world of networking it's not too often that a custom installer can say that there's a networking component specifically for the custom electronics industry.

In the case of the newly released Pakedge S8W 8-port gigabit switch however, electronics professionals will find a networking device with home theater, security and traditional networking in its DNA. Pakedge says the switch is equipped with eight auto-sensing 10/100/1000Mbps ports and it can be implemented without any preconfiguration. The Foster City, California-based company also says the high-speed, compact switch is compliant with all of the latest networking protocols to ensure its compatibility with all of the latest networking technologies.

Pakedge ships the 8-port gigabit switch with a wall-mounting bracket and it incorporates custom installation features such as the ability to automatically negotiate network speed and duplex mode with connected devices. The company adds the switch is made with a metal enclosure that can be placed on a table, in a rack or hung on a wall.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Ludacris is one of the sharpest and most successful entertainers in both the world of music and in movies. The entertainment mogul's latest venture is SOUL by Ludacris, which is a line of headphones and other audio accessories, and recently the line was upgraded with a new pair of headphones that are as sharp as the man they are named after.

The newly released SL150CS chrome silver Limited Edition headphones build upon the basic feature set of the company's SL150 products with the addition of a sharp chrome finish. The headphones are trimmed with black padding on the headpiece and gloss black accents along the ear pieces to provide music lovers, DJs and sound engineers with a stylish sound solution that also rocks.

SOUL by Ludacris has engineered the speakers to produce a balanced, full sound and the headphones can be used for a variety of applications. The headphones work with Apple's iPod, iPhone and iPad products, as well as other portable devices, including Android products, and the SL150CS headphones ship with two cables and 1/4-jack accessories to allow music fans to use the headphones with traditional stereo components.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Beyond the obvious attraction of the four major sports leagues (NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA) it's surprising that Americans can get their competition fix through seemingly innocuous activities such as eating or video games.

Oddly enough however, there are competitive eating leagues and video gaming leagues. Unlike the competitive eating events which could be potentially messy and hazardous to the participants' health, competitive gaming doesn't burden those athletes digestive tracks. All gaming participants need are nimble thumbs and state-of-the-art computer displays. BenQ's new XL Series monitors can't help competitive gamers improve their gaming controller clicks-per-minute times, but these new monitors can help them resolve the action better. The company's XL2420T and XL2420TX are designed to provide users the highest levels of performance with features such as 120Hz refresh rates, 2ms GTG response times and dynamic contrast ratios as high as 12M:1.

BenQ worked with famous gamers such as Emil "HeatoN" Christensen, Abdisamad "SpawN" Mohamed and Michael "ahl" Korduner to engineer the products to meet the requirements of the competitive gaming community. The monitors incorporate BenQ's proprietary color engines, unique display modes and customized memory settings to store specific calibrations for specific games. The XL240T is NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 ready for those that want an upgrade path to 3D and the XL2420TX offers an embedded 3D IR emitter and two pairs of active 3D glasses.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Mark Levinson is one of the most famous names in high performance residential audio and recently at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) the respected American manufacturer announced several new products.

Arguably the most interesting of these products is the No.585 integrated amplifier. The No.585 marks a return to the integrated amplifier category, and according to Levinson, the new integrated amp is part of the company's 40th Anniversary Collection of products, which also includes the No.52 Reference Dual-Monaural Preamplifier, the No.519 SACD and the No.560 Digital Audio Processor.

The No.585 integrated amplifier's amplification section is rated to deliver 225 watts into an 8-ohm load, and it offers a choice of three line-level analog inputs, as well as a moving-magnet (MM)/moving-coil (MC) phono input. Levinson also includes a choice of HDMI 1.3, USB, AES/EBU, and coax S/PDIF inputs, along with USB and S/PDIF digital outputs. Internally the integrated amp incorporates 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converters (DACs); on-board bass management with high-pass filtering, low-pass crossover controls for use with a subwoofer and the company's SSP mode that supports the unit's integration into a home theater system.