home theater

You may still be trying to figure out what products to buy this year, but CES 2012 is less than a month away, and I'm already thinking about what's likely to be new in home theater. In prior years, the big CES trends in home theater were obvious before we even got to the show (3D, rise of Blu-ray, emergence of streaming video), but CES 2012 seems much less predictable.

The slow death of discs It's no longer appropriate to say that streaming video is the future of home theater, because the future is now. Even still, … Read more

The onslaught of marketing this time of year is unsurprising, but no less unpleasant. Advertising of products can be a useful tool, informing the public of the latest and greatest.

Where it becomes offensive is when it includes blatant lies, misleading truths, or perpetrates a myth.

Don't be fooled by these deceptive practices, in this (admittedly first) edition of Myths, Marketing, and Misdirection, the HDTV edition.… Read more

At first glance, the Unity Home Theater is a T-shaped speaker system that looks like a Jenga tower of home theater equipment.

The setup aims to give consumers a Swiss Army Knife of entertainment with the inclusion of a 5.1 surround sound bar, subwoofer, Blu-ray/DVD player, HDMI pass-through, surge protector, and TV stand (up to 60 inches) in a single package. A power cord to Unity and a HDMI connection to the HDTV would be the only wires you would need to get started.

A home theater system without a jungle of cords that uses only one remote is enticing, but is Unity the end-all accessory for someone buying a first HDTV? I recently had a chance to speak with the co-founders of the company behind the product, In2Technologies. … Read more

You found your perfect TV. You've driven/carried/dragged it home. You have this big cardboard box sitting in your living room. Now what?

Well, after you follow the instructions for getting the TV on its stand (if it isn't already), the real setup begins. There are countless settings, options, and potential issues between box and beautiful picture. This how-to guide should help you navigate the waters of TV technology. … Read more

Don't listen to the hype. Ignore the commercials. Leer skeptically at the salesman. There is no such thing as an LED TV, and "LED" doesn't mean it's any better than other TVs.

LED is just a type of LCD, with strengths and weaknesses that make it better in some ways, worse in others, and rarely worth its price premium over other technologies. … Read more

CNET Reader Name Withheld writes:

Hi, I own a Sony 46-inch TV connected to a receiver and cable box with HDMI. I've always thought the picture just didn't look as good as it did in the store...which I chalked this up to lack of bright store lighting/never calibrating the TV. I'm in the process of moving, so I'm running the cable box directly to the TV, and it now it looks WAY better. What's going on? Should I ditch the receiver? I really don't want to go back to switching inputs on the TV.

Thanks for your help.

Well, Mr. Withheld, interesting question.

… Read more

One of my favorite products of the year is Epson's MegaPlex MG-850HD projector. Plunk your iPhone, iPod, or iPad into its pop-out iDevice dock and presto: you've got a complete home theater anywhere there's a chunk of wall space.

The unit has a list price of $799, but P.C. Richard & Son sells the Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD projector for $644.97 shipped.

Still pricey, yes, but I've been reviewing one for the past couple weeks and think it's a great buy.

On its own, the MG-850HD is a 720p projector that pumps out an … Read more

I keep hearing that more and more people are watching movies and TV shows on their iPads or other tablets. That's amazing; every single one of these folks probably owns a large flat-screen display, but the "convenience" of watching a tablet in bed or on the train is a better fit. It's a lifestyle issue, where size really does matter.

Sure, they haven't completely stopped watching their 50-inch displays just yet, but give it another five years and I guarantee some of them won't be replacing their old sets when they break. The people … Read more

Home theater isn't the first place you'll think of when it comes to gift ideas, but that's too bad.

Streaming-media boxes like the Roku LT and Apple TV are inexpensive and fun, plus they'll give you plenty to watch over the holidays. I've personally had lots of success giving universal remotes like the Logitech Harmony 650 as a gift. Not many people want to spend $60 on a remote, but once they have one, they can't imagine going back.

These are my top overall home theater picks, ranging from speaker system to game consoles, but if I had to pick just one it would be the Roku LT. It's a solid choice for almost anyone with at least a Netflix account and it's cheap enough to buy one for a friend.

… Read more