Recent Comments:
Forbes tells the inside story of how the format war was won {Engadget HD}
Jul 29th 2008 10:50AM TBH I didn't think this article told us anything we didn't already know, besides a couple of attributable on the record quotes.
It'll be some time before the whole story emerges IMO.
Right, that's the sensible on-topic stuff dealt with.
Cue the usual PS3/Blu-ray fanclub members wittering on their hardly disguised cheer-leading & barely disguised PR campaign........
Vizio to reportedly release cheap soundbar with wireless subwoofer {Engadget HD}
Jul 29th 2008 8:31AM * quote
eugene
and the inherent inferiority of a soundbar
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.......which is the fundamental stumbling point where anyone with sense stops giving these things the time of day.
A decent 2.1 set up is superior in every way to these things - and enoromously better value too.
Shiny beads for the natives', cash from exploiting ignorance, nothing more.
China's Blu-ray competitor CBHD brings HD DVD back from the dead {Engadget HD}
Jul 28th 2008 12:28PM I think it all depends on what scale of disaster the BDA see themselves in.
If the bottom is falling out of their financial world then expect to see (rather than merely hear reports of) Chinese manufacturers being licenced at rates that will allow true super cheapo Blu-ray exports to the 'west' very soon.
But there's precious little sign of that (yet).
...... despite all the regular BS claims about imminent sub $200....$150.....$100 (?! LMAO) players.
When prices drop to under £100/$200 we may see some action but even there you're really looking for the £50/$100 barrier to be broken for any chance of some serious appeal.
This is of course hugely compounded by the implications of the looming recession.
The truth that none of the Blu-ray game console fans can bear to hear is that at their current prices very very few in the mass-market are in the least bit interested in high def from Blu-ray.
.....and where are this weeks deeply unimpressive Neilsons, hmmmmm?
The Ultimate Matrix Collection to make Blu-ray debut on October 14th {Engadget HD}
Jul 26th 2008 1:50PM * quote
h0mi
It makes no sense to recommend to someone to spend $100 on a player just so they can buy this movie for $40.
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Except it would not be "just so you can buy this movie (set) @ $40.
It would be a small price to pay for a player opening up access to a large catalogue of high def movies at tiny prices and which is itself an excellent upscaling DVD player.
Try being honest about it for a change, eh?
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h0mi
Oh and downloads & DRM?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/25/yahoo-music-store-taking-drm-servers-offline-freezing-out-cust/#comments
More stories like that and people will drop "downloads" in a heart beat.
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Like the general public right now give one.
It'll just go exactly like how it has gone with music.
They'll be iuncredibly stupid about it all to start with and later be forced into relaxing and then dropping it entirely.
Onkyo launches TX-SR806 / TX-SR706 receivers, HT-S7100 / HT-S6100 HTIB systems {Engadget HD}
Jul 25th 2008 11:47AM Roland, I left you with the wrong impression here about the 805 -
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/18/onkyo-reveals-integra-dhc-9-9-av-receiver/
I can't see any of the criticism levelled at the 605, 606 & 705.....and it's not that they are bad performers with music, it's just that they are pretty ordinary & nothing to get very excited about in that regard
(but, as is well known now, for movies they are very impressive).
The bit where I'd say the 805 falls short of the 875 is in video reproduction (accepting the 875's very small Reon flaw which I expect a firmware update to take care of).
But that is obvious from the specs
(it's fairly widely accepted that Faroudja scalers are good but not as good as the Reon)
The 805 is a THX & THX2 certified unit too.
With these new units coming an 805 just might be the fantastic bargain someone is looking for.
Onkyo reveals Integra DHC-9.9 AV receiver {Engadget HD}
Jul 25th 2008 8:46AM * quote
Roland
Thanks for letting me know that anything less than an 875 doesn't do music well.
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Actually Roland please accept my apology and let me correct myself, I should not have included the 805 in that.
The 805 is also a very nice THX & THX2 certified receiver but it does not have the Reon processor for your video.
(it's also true that right now there is a - very small - flaw in the Reopn's operation in the 875 & 905; but owners have been assurred that there is a new firmware on the way to correct this, Onkyo so far have been pretty good with their support so I'd believe them)
The Ultimate Matrix Collection to make Blu-ray debut on October 14th {Engadget HD}
Jul 24th 2008 8:27PM This is why HD DVD has been so great for so many.
I'm so glad I got my copy of this @ £19.99 = $40 on HD DVD.
It's a fantastic transfer and the audio is 2nd to none
(I'd bet the house that it's the same transfer).
I really don't get why some of the Blu-ray 'support' say they can't see this.
By all means go dual if you have to but what sort of nutter is it that claims to be into high def & passes up and slams a media disc type with a catalogue of approx 450 high def English language movies with current prices starting @ around £2.99/$6 (including free P&P), eh!?
It's better to pay $130? How?
If you are so in love with Blu-ray then get yourself an HD DVD drive of some sort (the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on is perfect) and rip the movies to your PC & write them to a BD -R or -RE disc
(if your Blu-ray stand alone will let you easily play blank BD media).
The blank discs will cost several times the price of the HD DVDs.
Sometimes a 'dead' disc format is just what the consumer benefits most from.....but it's only the type of disc that is 'dead', the movie format itself is very much alive and can be transferred to other media very simply.
I now have almost 150 high def (mostly) classics (to go with my 600+ SD movies) and I'm buying a few more foreign unusual ones, but that'll do me for now.
Overall it's cost me pennies compared to any possible Blu-ray alternative.
Onkyo launches TX-SR806 / TX-SR706 receivers, HT-S7100 / HT-S6100 HTIB systems {Engadget HD}
Jul 24th 2008 6:27PM Dammit, comments screw-up strikes again.
This was meant as a reply for Nfinity @ Jul 24th 2008 4:27PM
.
Onkyo launches TX-SR806 / TX-SR706 receivers, HT-S7100 / HT-S6100 HTIB systems {Engadget HD}
Jul 24th 2008 6:25PM It's true the Onkyos seem to run hotter than I think most of us are used to but it's perfectly safe (my temps today were early - mid 40'C).
You just need to be very careful about where you are putting them - especially in respect of closed cabinets. Obviously giving them the necessary airflow is paramount.
As the man said 'RTFM', which is so easy now they are almost always available on-line to download and look over before you buy
(top advice that btw).
Onkyo are very conservative in the spec they advice (they talk about an 8" gap above the unit) but that's where the various owners forums are so handy, in the real world they aren't so demanding.
The early models had a firmware recall (some reckon this was a cover for swapping out the early run units with a few dodgy components) but whatever they sorted it properly and stepped up with some great CS.
I did a lot of research before deciding on the 875, now that the early troubles are behind it and the latest firmwares have been implemented (no more DTS 'bomb' effect) it's a great unit.
If you can get one at the right price I would say don't hesitate, you'll be missing out.
Onkyo launches TX-SR806 / TX-SR706 receivers, HT-S7100 / HT-S6100 HTIB systems {Engadget HD}
Jul 24th 2008 6:15PM The thing is, as E so rightly says, in the cost effective stakes there's little to touch Onkyo atm.
They are also multiple (global) award-winners, across most of their range. That's got to give buyers confidence.
Personally I simply refuse to believe that many (if any) can seriously & honestly tell the difference between receivers that meet (and exceed) the THX & THX 2 audio standards - especially if all of the rest of your audio kit is to an equally high standard.
So, having met those audio standards as a minimum, then in those circumstances I think it is perfectly legitimate to look long & hard at the issue of cost v features.
It's clear that right now Onkyo offer more than the competiton at a price they cannot or will not match.
It's just a shame they look like tanks.......and having just moved around my 875 and installed new racking etc I can believe that they are built like them too. 30KGs....60lb!
Monster.
The performance I might add is incredible, a real pleasure.....and that's with both music and movies
(some are good at only 1 task in that equation).
As I mentioned before, I myself cannot really see any serious 'need' for anything more now, the next receiver I buy will be about offering much the same but at much higher levels of energy efficiency and hopefully smaller & lighter too.
I can only really imagine improving some of my speakers in future.
.....oh yeah, and Roland, re -
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/18/onkyo-reveals-integra-dhc-9-9-av-receiver/#readercomments
the Onkyo remote is a very nice piece of kit.
Not too bloated or big, it has a vast number of functions, it's fully illuminated & it is a learning unit too.....what's not to like?
