When I think “Monitor Audio,” the first thing that comes to mind is their infamous C-CAM driver design and, of course, for its gorgeous monolithic towers.  However, thus far even its “tiniest” offerings have stuck to a rather rectilinear form factor.  Kind of like the old Volvo design.  You can choose whatever size you want but you’ll get a boxy design.

The company’s new MASS home cinema system breaks that boxy mold for a more streamlined, decor-friendly silhouette that’s as sexy as it is industrial yet cutting edge at the same time. Everything about the cabinet, from the internal ribbing to the variable wall thickness has been engineered to increase inertness, and — combined with the unique design of the new 1-inch high-frequency and 4-inch bass/mid drivers, to reduce internal resonance, for improved clarity, transparency, and intelligibility… or so they claim  
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Yes, it’s just another pair of headphones.  Why? 
Because I hate headphones in general.  The headphones I like tend to be in the $1K+ range and there is no chance I’ll be caught dead wearing that kind of coin outside my listening room.  Yes there is that PSB M4U2 noise
cancelling headphones for my reference and travel usage, but I still need a pair of general headphone set that is cheap so I won’t cry if I drop or lose it. Also at the same time, I need something that is stylish enough so my daughter can wear it without going into hiding and/or causing her to go to counseling in the future.

So I stumbled upon Urban Ears at CES 2013. and was happy to report...  Continue Reading Review Here...

Thank God that now there are more and more movies designed to be presented in 3D. MIB III, Paranorman, Resident Evil, to name a few. This iteration of Dredd is also one of them. In fact, the 3D version is so good the 2D loses a lot of things in the visual department. 

This version of Dredd is also very faithful to the original comic strip unlike the overblown Stallone's version of Judge Dredd which I also like for its tongue-in-cheek approach of the character. 
 
Not only the visual quality is amazing and in context with the storyline, the audio presentation is also top notch in its three dimensionality matching the visual perfectly. LFE literally kicks butt even after.... Continue Reading Here...

When you go to The Venetian for CES show, it’s easy to be buried neck deep into mega-bucks world of hi-fi system. Some are good, some are bad, some just hocus-pocus. 

Regardless, they word is mega-bucks. How refreshing and ingenious of Lenbrook (PSB and NAD) for showing not only their high-end audio, but also their entry level items AND demo them. In this case, they showcased PSB Alpha B1 powered by NAD 316BEE Integrated amplifier. 

How nice to hear something nice that costs lower than a week’s pay cheque. It’s easy to impress with mega-bucks systems (although some companies still fail to do so) but it’s extremely hard to impress with a solution that costs less than a $1K.


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Nothing much to be said here but the headphone itself is truly amazing.  Not only because it comes in multiple colours but it comes with the "share" feature where to or more headphones can be daisy-chained in series from a single source, cables with 3.5mm on one side and 1/4" on the other (no need for adapter) and the silicone covered headset making them more wear resistant and virtually unbreakable; the headphones brought a very nice balanced tonal quality with no exaggerated bass boost and an X-Curve on the higher end of the frequency spectrum.  Genius!  

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LAS VEGAS (CES 2013) – January 8, 2013 – THX today announced its THX® 4K Certification program, which features newly developed tests and parameters to ensure that the latest 4K HD televisions are able to present content in full Ultra High-Definition (Ultra HD) resolution with image clarity far superior to that of conventional HDTVs. THX 4K Certified televisions not only meet industry 4K performance guidelines but also present content that most accurately reconstructs the original HD master image. The new Sharp LC-60HQ10 is the world’s first THX 4K Certified display, capable of converting...
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Donning the exact same configuration, exact same demo and exact same decor from the last couple of years, Sharp booth looks tired and dated.  The only three things that truly catches my attentions are the stack of boom-boxes in multiple colours that actually sound good although look curiously similar to JVC's boomboxes.  

The second one is Sharp's Moth Eye Glass technology.  Here in the picture you can see that the glass box on its half left side were made of Moth Eye Glass and virtually have no reflection whatsoever and it looks like you're Continue Reading Here...

This year will be a good year from Sony.  Unlike the bad speech given during the unveiling, Sony is actually launches a whole set of exciting, albeit not new, products.

As can be seen in the pictures, Sony is revamping a whole slew of professional quality headphones (the types which many of the cinema industry people use) all the way down to a simplistic but smart Bluetooth companion modules where you can hook up any type of headphones (shown in the pictures with earbuds, but you can actually use the pro-quality headphones too). Continue Reading Here...

In celebration of its relentless 'Pursuit of Perfect Sound,' Sennheiser displays its legendary Orpheus headphones at its booth during CES 2013. Also known as the HE90, the Orpheus debuted in 1991 and was immediately recognized in audiophile circles as the best sounding, most innovative headphone system ever made. Indeed, it is still considered by many to represent the very pinnacle of audio reproduction.

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If you are like me, you have lens cloths laying around everywhere. I know I have them in my camera bag, laptop bag, backpacks and in my eye glass case.  I can't seem to have enough of them.   Having them at my disposal meant that I could clean any and all of my electronics (BlackBerry, IPod, IPhone, PlayBook; Laptop and even my T.V.) 

One of my biggest complaints of the regular lens cloths that I had with me  was that they constantly left streaks, smudges and grime.  I would not want to wash them due to the fact that they would lose their luster and basically shrivel.  They would look all wrinkly when I pulled them out (not that very professional looking in my opinion.)  

This is when I found a new lens cloth to clean all of my products. 
Continue Reading Review Here...

SGR Audio are very well known downunder around the audio fanatic circles for consistently bringing high calibre audio equipment to the market. 
They do not have a brick and mortar shop front rather the show room is Harry and Ann's home in a beautiful heavily tree'd outer Melbourne Suburb in Victoria. The SGR Audio team of three, Harry, His Partner Ann and Harry's Son Stuart.

The workmanship of these speakers are amazing. Beautifully crafted, All hand made.

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The world known Graaf Audio from Italy has just publicly released photos of the GM 400 Solid State Transistor powered amplifier. Unlike the GM 200 (which had used 32 PL504 output tubes) this uses transistors and not valves tubes to power your speakers. Let's hope this baby isn't the portable radiator heater much like the aforementioned GM200!

What I must say is I love the inclusion of a transistor schematic symbol on the front of the amplifier. If you haven't noticed the GM 200 has the electronic schematic symbol of a valve tube on it. This shows in essence that they are a true audio company to the bone ...

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Following the successful launch of the X-mini™ KAI Capsule Speaker™ which picked up both the red dot design and iF design awards, Xmi Pte Ltd headed back to the basics to improve on its basic Capsule Speaker™ models. The latest products from Xmi Pte Ltd, the new mono speaker UNO and stereo speakers MAX represent the upgraded standard of portable sound. Featuring an important change that significantly improves sound quality, there have also been improvements
made in several of the other outstanding features of the X-mini™ Capsule Speaker™ series.
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Samsung introduces the new 9000-series reference-level TVs. Each individual TVs will be fully ISF calibrated from the factory to fit into REC-709 specification with Delta-E no more than 3 which is truly amazing for a consumer-level TV. 

Of course you`ll be able to get the same result by buying an 8000-series TV and get it Continue Reading here...

Three reviews of unique portable products from CES 2013.  Urban Planet's virtually unbreakable headphones, X-mini incredibly big-sound-from-a-tiny-enclosure portable speakers and the tangle-resistant yet funky (I can't believe I just used that word) in-ear headphones.  Read more here...

LG claim that they introduced the world's first curved OLED screen... at the same time Samsung claim the exact same thing. So... which is it?  I personally don't care.  
I just want my OLED TV which now have been pushed back even further from the original date of October 2012 to February 2013 to October 2013.  Will we ever see OLED display ever?  
From the engineering perspective and just a simple law of physics, I'm skeptical.
View complete article here...

There is nothing much to say other than the beauty exhudes from all the Ferrari-inspired (and licensed) Logic3 portable music devices (read: earphones, headphones, bluetooth speakers). 

 Just look at the pictures and judge them for yourself.  For sound quality?  I really can't tell.  The exhibition floor was so loud I can't hear anything and they currently have a no-review policy.  Weird!

View all the photos here...

DTS is putting in an appearance at International CES to demonstrate Headphone:X multi-channel
surround sound technology, which promises to deliver up to 11.1 virtual surround channels over any pair
of headphones.

Headphone:X is capable of reproducing soundtracks mixed in 5.1, 7.1, 9.1 and 11.1 channels, making
Continue Reading Here...

You gotta admit, like it or not, Monster always brings unique looking headphones albeit the high price
tag and questionable sound purity. This year, however, the press conference they titled “The Revolution
Begins” as they parted ways with Beats is weirdly underwhelming. Just look at the pictures below,
there is nothing even remotely unique about the design anymore. Not saying that they don’t look nice,
I especially like the pastel coloured headsets and that huge white one, but nothing can be called as
“revolution”. Continue for More photos...

Remember Invoxia AudiOffice telephone system from CES 2012? It was an amazing idea with a very limited execution since it can only work with iPhone. 
The new version of the AudiOffice is now fully adapted for the iOS and Android devices and with a range of brand new features

The AudiOffice is a versatile dock with a sophisticated Cortex A8 processor which optimizes iOS and now Android devices to such a level that it is an essential device for Continue Reading here..

The live stream just became available and we wanted to share with you what we saw today! There will be a number of articles available soon from our representative David Susilo who is on the Ground at CES. 
We were introduced the typical array of massive televisions with smart functions, some insanely huge and many very impressive. With the usual cameras, some laptops even a fridge with Evernote.
It's excellent Samsung has offered this live recording of their press release before the big first day. Wish all companies would jump onto the same band wagon and offer this to the greater public!
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Shortly after revealing the foxLv2 aptX Bluetooth (also known as Lossless-Bluetooth) speaker, Soundmatters is adding another member to its foxL range with the Dash 7. This pocket-friendly soundbar doubles up as a speakerphone and carries a $250 suggested price (usually will street at $219 or lower), boasting pristine omnidirectional sound (I
doubt that) and also bundling an angled stand for direct on-axis listening. Tipping thescales at merely 200g, the Dash 7 stands just about 18mm tall and is designed to be Continue Reading Here...

including models with immersive bezel
and stand designs and enhanced onscreen interfaces.

After rumours of 2013 LCD and PDP lineups listed last week, we got confirmation of
what’s going to be offered in 2013 by this South Korean electronics company, including
next-generation Google TVs, a short-throw laser-based DLP home-theater projector, and
Ultra High-Definition and OLED advanced TV technologies.
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at CES Las Vegas 2013, is an entirely new generation of home phone. It is a simple and smart device which is conceived to fulfill the needs of the household. Designed with ultra-high sound quality to give clarity to conversations and make them livelier than any other phone in its price range, the phone knows how to automatically transform itself into a loudspeaker when required and disseminates truly sublime and clear conversations in 360-degree fashion.

This telephone is plug & play in all homes: it is compatible with any pre-installed base station and with all upcoming generation of CAT-iq Internet gateways.
 
UrbanHello is a young French start-up which has already been awarded with the prestigious Innovations Award at the Consumer Electronics Show 2013 for its first product: the UrbanHello home phone.  UrbanHello provides new intelligent devices designed for everyday communications by re-inventing the home phone!
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Well, here we go, CEA bungled big time this year.  Instead of having the Unveiling at The Venetian like the last decade, they moved it to Mandalay Bay Convention Centre.  Literally at the other end of the strip.  That's not too bad if there is any form of transportation.  There was no shuttle bus, monorail stops only up to MGM (and it's still a fair walk from MGM to Mandalay Bay Convention Centre) so the only option is taxi.  At $20 per ride, I'm not a happy camper. The same sentiment was expressed by literally hundreds of other journalists on location.  We were a grumpy bunch!. 

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In the next couple of days we’ll be flying to Las Vegas to cover the highlights of CES2013. 
We’ll provide pictures, commentaries and everything else in between. So followDownUnder Audio for the coverage. 

Special thanks to our main sponsor, Update TV and Stereo Canada for bringing us there and iWalk USA for powering our gadgetries while we’re in Las Vegas.

Follow on our website for up date date press release
www.downunderaudio.com
on our Facebook page
www.facebook.com/downunderaudio
and on twitter
www.twitter.com.au/downunderaudio

I have a love-hate relationship with "Noise Cancelling Headphones".  I love them, conceptually, because they are supposedly can supress engine noise quite dramatically. However, with the noise cancelling signal emanating from the headphone itself, there is always a considerable amount of added hiss which is a bane of my music listening experience.  Furthermore, if the batteries are dead, I can't even use any of them as a passive headphone.  It's a foolish design flaw that can be fixed with a simple signal bypass cable.  A-fraction-of-a-cent solution that manufacturers try to save on their multi-hundred-dollars item.  It's greed bordering on insanity... 
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Sony rolled out the VPL-HW50ES home theater projector at CEDIA in the USA and IFA in Europe as their one new projector being added to the lineup. Every year I get a  detailed sneak peek of their new projectors before their market launch and this year was no different.  This new Sony projector is replacing the already impressive Sony VPL-HW30ES. With a $3999 MSRP, including a spare lamp and two pairs of glasses, the VPL-HW50ES is basically selling for the same price as the older projector.  The VPL-HW30ES have now been discounted by $1,000 but I still think the replacement, the VPL-HW50ES is worth the extra money over the now discounted predecessor. 
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Not too long ago Panasonic released the PT-AE7000U, their first 3D projector ever.  Unlike their usual two-year cycle for a projector, this time they released the PT-AE8000U.  While the PT-AE7000U was revolutionary, it will take quite a leap in order for me to be able to recommend its successor considering how good the PT-AE7000U is. 

From the outside, the PT-AE8000U looks identical to its predecessor down to the dreaded joystick for the lens shift control.  
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I love add-on processors, maybe it has something to do with my background in music production. I remember the days prior to plug-ins where the plug ins are literally just that, additional processors such as Hughes SRS, Roland Sound Space, BBE Sonic Maximizer, Lexicon DSP, Carver Digital Time Lens and a multitude of other processors. I used to own literally every audio processor I wanted to own for my recording studio; but that's for creation of my own work. For playback, I never used anything more than a Carver Digital Time Lens or Musical Fidelity X10... and those are only for listening pleasure. For critical listening, I added nothing.

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From writer, executive producer and series show runner Veena Sud (“Cold Case”) The Killing is a crime drama that ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim's grieving family, and the suspects. 

The Killing is a well written show that relies heavily on the effectiveness of its characters to convey the thematic weight of its subject matter. The plot is simple, a teenage girl disappears and is found murdered.  Although the tagline is “Who Killed Rosie Larson?” the entire season one is concentrated more on the “why” than the “who”.


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The H6500 is an entry level projector that offers a few supposedly cool features. 
Acer's latest entry-level projector brings to the table pretty much everything you'd expect from a sub $1,000 projector. It offers a 1080p resolution, a pair of HDMI inputs, a 24fps video mode for Blu-ray movies and an image projection size of up to 300 inches. Unless you're expecting 3D, accurate colour or deep blacks, of course.
The H6500 boasts 2,100 ANSI Lumens brightness, but can scale down 

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Every now and then we review products that are utterly garbage, craptastic and craptacular. They are an absolute waste of your time and money.
 In the past we never grouped these products together, but we decided to group them together for your reading convenience.  To start, you can read the Real Steel blu-ray review and Soundmatters portable speaker review.    

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Back in February 2011 I received a press release from Soundmatters regarding their FOXLV2 portable speakers which they dubbed as the “ULTIMATE PORTABLE SPEAKER”.  With their claim of having the best sounding pocket-sized stereo speaker in the world, I’m intrigued because from the size of the product, it defies the physics of sonic properties. 

However, at the same time their claim of frequency range is quite an oxymoron.  They claim their use of  “Patented “Twoofer/BassBattery” Technology” results in “Ultra-wide 80 Hz – 20 kHz Audio Range”.  80 Hz to 20 kHz is “Ultra-wide Audio Range”?  When a speaker that can do 35 Hz to 40 kHz is not even considered as “ultra wide audio range”,  
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I am certainly a huge fan and of Puss and his hijinks with pals Donkey and Shrek. Because of that I was truly looking forward to watch this movie in my home theatre.  Overall, this movie is an exciting animated film that takes viewers on a thematically stimulating ride filled with memorable moments. 

It’s a thoroughly entertaining “prequel” to Puss in boots’ adventures in the Shrek films yet, unlike the StarWars Prequels, this prequel works really well. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Puss in boots more than I previously thought I would.  Also the 3D Blu-ray presentation truly adds, uhm... depth,... both visually and to its storyline.  

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Archos released their new generation 9 Turbo Version of the Archos 101 in January 2012. They had this on hand at their booth at CES 2012 in Las Vegas.

Archos are taking the tablet world by storm, extremely popular in Europe, it's still taking time to find ground in North America. They are well known for their high quality PMP personal movie players, now with 8 prior generations on tablets...
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After further internet walkabouts I also found another great article by Reference Fidelity Components.
This doesn't touch upon all aspects of cables but is a good general rule.

I recommend further surfing the internet if you are or become passionate about audio cables but definitely take any and all advice with a grain of salt. Specially if there is no hard scientific evidence just pure speculation and their "opinion".
Likewise you do not have to agree with everything below but for the better.. Continue Viewing here.   

So as my daily troll..I mean stroll around the internet I found an interesting company in the UK selling audio cables. The prices are excellent and the build quality top notch. Surprisingly the prices were not of the esoteric range that I am used to seeing for these released and iterations. 

I stumbled across an article which they posted that really took my eye. Yes it is definitely playing with a Crocodile bringing this subject up but it is something that I found very interesting and compelled to share!
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What should every beginner photographer have in their bag one might ask?  That would be the Nikon Nikkor  AF-S 50mm f/1.8 G.  This is the successor of Nikon's entry level normal prime of the 50mm f/1.8 D lens that has been on the market for quite some time. 
For Nikon, the AF-S 50/1.8 G makes perfect sense. It is a relatively inexpensive lens running around $199.99 in the US to $229.99 in Canada.  The Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is very popular for portraiture on DX cameras, or any other application that benefits from shallow depth of field and....

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Film Synopsis (courtesy of imdb):
Soon after her return from a business trip to Hong Kong, Beth Emhoff dies from what is a flu or some other type of infection. Her young son dies later the same day. Her husband Mitch however seems immune. Thus begins the spread of a deadly infection. For doctors and administrators at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, several days pass before anyone realizes the extent or gravity of this new infection. They must first identify the type of virus in question and then find a means of combating it, a process that will likely take several months. As the contagion spreads to millions of people worldwide, societal order begins to break down as people panic.

My Take:
One look at Contagion, it brought me back to the movie Outbreak released more than a decade..
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Film Synopsis (courtesy of imdb):
In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system.

My Take: 
Let’s start with the fact that I don’t like Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake.  I just find both of them to be creepy.  Her humongous eyes and his cool-in-a-geeky-way persona just irk me to no end.  However, the premise of this movie intrigued me enough to watch the movie.

Story-wise this movie is almost like Bonnie and Clyde in the future or alternate universe 

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Without a doubt, the 2012 CES is officially the worst CES I've ever attended. There was hardly any new technology shown at the store with many CES award being given to iPod/iPad accessories which includes iPhone cases and suede-covered speakers. Don't get me wrong, they are nice and interesting but not worthy of any award.  
First CES 2012 Downunder Audio Innovation Award goes to..

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People tend to think that a company can just pay to get their receiver to be THX certified.  Yes, they have to pay for the certification program and the rights to use the logo afterwards.  

However, in order to obtain that coveted "stamp of approval", the receivers should be able to pass around 14,000 THX standard data points... and that's no easy feat.  Just read these two slides (courtesy of THX) in order to know what some of the data points are. 

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We were promised since CES 2010 that Vizio's 21:9 ultra-widescreen TV would hit the market sooner rather than later, now we know for sure (yeah, right... I believe it when I see it) the price, release date and size of the final product. Similar to the way its first Theater 3D TVs showcased at CES 2011, the XVT 3D CinemaWide product page reveals a 58-inch model with 21:9 aspect ratio and 2560x1080 resolution will be around $3,499 for the 50" version (what?... so what is the price of the 58", Vizio?). 

 It also has an array of ho-hum specs, measuring the 120Hz Edge LED lit screen at 56.7-inches wide by 29-inches high and 1.8-inches deep. Just as we saw when they were first shown at CES 2010 and then announced at CES 2011 (and promised at CES 2012 to be released around March 2012), Vizio upscales Blu-ray and...

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Film Synopsis (courtesy of imdb): 

An action-thriller about a writer who takes an experimental drug that allows him to use 100 percent of his mind. As one man evolves into the perfect version of himself, forces more corrupt than he can imagine mark him for assassination.

My Take

Limitless is a better-than-average entertaining thriller that features a solid storyline, with great execution and a solid performance from its casts. This is a very strong Blu-ray Disc offering from eOne Entertainment that features a very strong high definition video transfer, near-perfect lossless...

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Film Synopsis (courtesy of imdb):
Balancing gritty action and emotional heart, “Real Steel” is an inspiring and visually stunning film that takes audiences on an action-packed journey. Washed-up boxer Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) scrapes by as a small-time robot-fight promoter as he tries to make a comeback. Against all odds he eventually succeeds—at least in the eyes of his son Max (Dakota Goyo). “Real Steel” is spectacular family entertainment that will have everyone cheering again and again.

My Take:
Conceptually speaking Real Steel reminds me of many Sylvester Stallone films involving the underdog mixed with a dash of an estranged father/son storyline who bond while on the road as the father competes in robot boxing thrown together.  Formulaic but effective right?  The entire Rocky franchise is based on that storyline!  The execution, however... bulb-life to be refunded. 
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I grew up in the Super 8 home movie era and it was the Super 8 format and my grandfather that started my enthusiasm in home theatre. So the title alone makes me want to watch the movie, at the very least as a nostalgia of good times between my grandfather and myself.   That aside, this movie is an eclectic genre piece with rich narrative and wonderfully executed to have the look/feel of imaginatively stirring films of yesteryears. The plotline revolves around a circle of middle school aged friends with an interest in making a Super 8 zombie film. It literally reminds me of my childhood. 

 The only difference is when I was a kid, I always wanted to make vampire movies. 
This is a reference quality high definition transfer that looks amazingly spectacular. Images are crisp yet filled with subtle refinement,s resolute sharpness and exquisite dimensional perspectives.  Colours are natural with punchy primaries without...

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The Annual Transition 2 Betterness Gala was held at the Ciociaro Club, Windsor, Ontario in Canada over this past weekend.
Each year over 1000 people mark this night off in their social calendar not only for a wonderful night out but more importantly to support a good cause.

"Transition 2 betterness was founded by two young local women Doris Lapico and Tania Sorge, sharing a similar story. Having their lives and families affected by cancer these two individuals felt the need to help others in their community who would also share a moment in the battle against cancer. From this a grass root organization that you now know as Transition to Betterness began and has touched many local families and patients. The mission of T2B would be to simply create a compassionate and homelike atmosphere within the hospital setting" 

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This year Pathos showed its protoype of Pathos Media Server with a gigantic touch screen with ease of use of an iPad but with highly regarded sound quality of Pathos.  No specification was released during CES because the prototypical stage of the item although the prototype itself is fully functional for the show.

Also showcased was the unique five-channel tube-amp for home theatre application, the Cinema-X.  There is a section of the audiophile community who are gradually turning towards home cinema and five channel sound. However this move often includes several compromises on the stereo sound or even requires two different systems. With their new integrated amplifier, Pathos dares to prove that it is possible to integrate high performance stereo and surround sound in one product. 


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Like most people that own a camera you have a strap with it.  It hangs around your neck (can be a pain after awhile) and it becomes cumbersome and very touristy, while you are walking down the street, or through a busy market, etc...  It wasn't until I found and fell in love with BlackRapid and the R-Strap brand of camera straps.  It is not like other camera straps that you wear around you neck and have to feel pressure from your camera and lens straining and pulling you down.  

BlackRapid has several other types of straps (RS-4, RS-5, RS-7 RS-W1 (for Women) and the double strap DR-1), but today I will be talking about their RS-Sport strap. This strap is made for the "On The Go" photographer in mind.  

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Dynaudio just introduced the new Xeo loudspeakers.
A high end wireless loudspeaker system at the 2012 International CES. Comprised of two models, the compact Xeo 3 bookshelf monitor and the slim Xeo 5 floorstander, the Xeo models are wireless, remote controlled active loudspeakers offering the convenience of wireless operation in a fully active loudspeaker concept. 

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Panasonic announced the introduction of Smart VIERA, a new and expanded application of VIERA Connect, that is more than just a connection to the Internet. The advent of Smart VIERA centers on five main points: Networking, Easy Operation, Picture Quality, Eco and Design elements. The seamless integration of the aforementioned elements makes for a truly smart IPTV, one that allows the user to not only access the web but provides the technology for connecting people with people via social media. 

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Mike Cerveni, hailing from Windsor, Ontario, started playing guitar at the age of 11. Heavily influenced by his extremely musical family, he started writing his own songs at the age of 16. Mike’s sound is soulful, and speaks to the heart. His voice is pure, and you can feel the emotion when he sings every note.

“The World You Know” is Mike’s debut album, released in autumn of 2010 featuring songs such as “On Your Mark,” “Right Now, and “A Moment.” The album “The World You Know” is about coping and getting through loss. We all have tough times, and go through heartache; for Mike, writing was a way to help get out things he couldn’t express.
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The simple answer to this is yes!

There are various types of filters for different situations, but I am going to recommend some of the basics that a person starting out in Photography would need to have in their camera bag.

There are some filters that you just can not replicate in imaging programs like Adobe Photoshop, Aperture, Lightroom, etc... If there is only one filter to have that would be a UV or Ultra-Violet. Most people will use this as a protective filter so as to not damage the glass elements of your lens. 

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I'm currently on a shoot in Kenya, Africa, and I ran into a Japanese man sporting some gear I didn't recognize. While his English was very limited, I was able to confirm that he works for Canon and is doing in-field testing with the new Canon 200-400mm with built-in teleconverter. He also was testing the new Canon 600mm. 

 What I also noticed was a Canon camera body that I hadn't seen before. You can see it in the photos I took...I see the "Q" button located by the big wheel on the right, which on the 7D is currently located on the top left. The battery grip seems to have a joystick. I also noticed a "Rate" button...hrm, any ideas?

Is this the new 5D Mark III, or maybe the 7D Mark II? This info I was not able to determine. 
I'll tell you this, that Canon 200-400mm is on my shopping list as soon as it's available. He told me he thought it would be officially released on March or April. 
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The Zvox IncrediBase 580 weighs 33 pounds and is 36 inches wide by 16.5 inches deep by five inches high and it is not a soundbar, for its size, I’d call it a sound-platform.  You may be wondering why the Zvox is so big. Well, the Zvox IncrediBase 580 is meant to be used as a platform for your television, which makes it quite practical for me to place it under my Sony 55EX720 LCD TV.  

Furthermore, you can not escape the law of physics that size matters.  Housed in this ported sound-platform are two 6.5” down-firing subwoofers and five 3.25” front firing full-range long-throw drivers with, according my Real Time Analyzer positioned in my listening position using frequency sweep, goes all the way down to 32 Hz with a variants of only +/- 2dB, which is very flat even for the mastering-studio community.  
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Las Vegas
CES 2012, 

I never cease to be amazed at the randomness CES brings each year.
Kangaroos, Ice Sculpture, Velodyne Selling out, Random celebrity endorsements, Hello Kitty costumes, Old Cars, Panda iPod Docks and Keyring DJ speakers.

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Las Vegas
CES 2012, Welcome to the tour of booths by ExpanD as well as Swan HiVi.  Photographs of equipment on show and presented to the public.  

Welcome to ExpanD
The first 3D glasses that is 100% compatible with all brands and all protocols (IR, RF and Bluetooth).
The offerings by Swan HiVi look to be Copies of Genelec, Infinity, Usher among others. 

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Las Vegas
CES 2012, Welcome to the tour of Sharp's Booth.  Photographs of equipment on show and presented to the public.  

Pretty Lights, Sharp XV-Z30000 3D projector, 80" Plasma Tv's, and a swag full of new equipment. 


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Las Vegas
CES 2012, Tour of Panasonic's Booth. We watched the unveiling, Presentation with Justin Timberlake (and they definitely are taking sexy back with their booth this year!) Photographs of equipment on show and presented to the public.  

Speakers, Ipod Docks, a trippy headphone wall installation, Sunburst guitar Ipod docks and hamburger speakers?? hmm burgers. 

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Las Vegas
CES 2012, Tour of the booths by Changhong, TCL Monster, Dolby, DTS and a random Lamborghini. Photographs of equipment on show and presented to the public.  

David was invited to a private show by Monster to photograph and demo this years lineup. 

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Introducing re-invented 70's console systems, pac-man poke'ball contraptions, gargantuan iPod docks, and some unique Jamo Tower speakers.

Jamo and Klipsch have tried to break the mold meanwhile creating some very interesting yet familial designs that you will either love or want to beat with a stick. 

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Electro-Voice launched the ZXA1-Sub at NAMM 2012  – the matching subwoofer for its best-selling ZXA1 compact self-powered loudspeaker.

The ZXA1-Sub is designed to provide the ultimate combination of portability, performance, and power in a lightweight, stylish, small-format package.

Though equipped with a heavy-duty EV-engineered 12” woofer, a state-of-the-art 700-W amplifier, a durable 15-mm wood enclosure, and a maximum SPL rating of 126 dB, the ZXA1-Sub weighs-in at just 46 lbs and sports a trim 15.75” x 17.5” x 18” profile.

With easy-to-use controls and connectivity the ZXA1-Sub makes enhancing a compact sound system with professional-quality low-end easier than ever.  

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Sharp announced the XV-Z30000 3D capable high-definition DLP home theater projector, featuring 50000:1 contrast ratio and 1600 ANSI lumens to deliver superior brightness, astounding clarity, and color accuracy. 

Part of the XV-Z30000's superior picture quality is due to the DLP advantage. All Sharp front projectors incorporate mirror-based components that use light more efficiently by bringing more light from lamp to screen. In addition, with Sharp's proprietary digital image ICs, the XV-Z30000 reproduces high quality 3D picture with low cross talk and flicker.  

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Burmester, the king of sound and aesthetics.  This year Burmester is releasing a media control centre that is not only a CD transport but also a FLAC/MP3/AAC/WAV player with built in DAC and pre-amp.  

See the front panel display on the media control centre?  It's the same panel used in various aircraft.  You read it correctly, it's aircraft-grade display panel.  High in resolution, superior viewing angle and can be viewed easily from 16 feet away!

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Las Vegas
CES 2012, Tour of the LG's Booth. Photographs of equipment on show and presented to the public.  

Featuring 126 3D Screens making the worlds Largest 3D screen! 4K, OLED, LG Surround Sound Cinema Speakers and much more! 

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The KanexPro CubeUp - 2D to 3D Converter and Scaler is designed to take content from your 2D video sources and instantaneously convert it into 3D for viewing on 3D enabled TVs and 3D based DLP projectors and monitors. Comprised of one HDMI input and one HDMI output for connecting it to the 3DTV, this compact box features real-time hardware conversion of 2D content to 3D during playback. Engineered to transform sources such as PCs, Blu-ray players, STB’s and cable boxes to 3D format. In addition, 3D depth and scaling parameters can be fully adjusted simply at the touch of a button.  


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Las Vegas
CES 2012, Tour of the Samsung Booth. Photographs of equipment on show and presented to the public.  

Featuring OLED TV's, Tube Amplifier Components, Ipod Docks, and Tiny Blu-ray Players! 


Their booth was amazing, Never have I seen so many displays arranged like they were balloons floating through the sky!

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Las Vegas
Sony Booth - CES 2012, T our of the Sony Booth. Photographs of equipment on show and presented to the public.  

Featuring 4k Video Camera, 4k Projector, Head mounted Displays, Kelly Clarkson, MIB3 Will Smith and Barry Sonnenfeld, Crystal Technology and much more. Be sure to check it out! 

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CES 2012 is the place where LG Electronics introduces their latest LG Cinema Screen Design that will see action in a range of new Cinema 3D Smart TVs that are headed your way this year. The bezel of this Cinema Screen has been reduced to a mere 1mm, resulting in a more optimal and comfortable environment especially for immersive 3D viewing. According to Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company, “The 3D experience is still evolving and we at LG intend to push the limits of what 3D can deliver. With our 2012 CINEMA 3D Smart TVs, we have been able to take a significant step forward, thanks to a series of new and upgraded 3D features led by the CINEMA SCREEN Design.” 

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Until today, setting up a business telephony solution was complicated. You needed to get in touch with a phone operator, to imagine your needs over the next 2 years, audit your past usage, negotiate the quotes you got, then talk to someone else to price the devices, shop around, pick a model, negotiate a new price... And then, make an appointment with an installation business. And when you needed a new line, or had to move, you had to call in a specialist. And get in touch with another salesman, and then …


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At CES 2012, Panasonic announced four 3D blu-ray players (known as the palm-sized DMP-BBT01, "audiophile-grade" DMP-BDT500, DMP-BDT320, DMP-BDT220) and a couple of 2D Blu-ray Disc players were also released – DMP-BD87 and the DMP-BD77. 

We will concentrate on the four 3D capable models, as they will include Panasonic’s proprietary IPTV platform, VIERA Connect, whereas the 2D-only models will feature IP VOD (Video On Demand), a service that delivers a limited albeit targeted selection of sites including Netflix, Vudu, CinemaNow and YouTube. 


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As a fan of plasma, thus far there is nothing out there than can match the performance of plasma.  Not even the 70" 336-zone local dimming LED backlight LCD panels that costs $9,000
 
Sony decided to travel differently with their “Crystal LED Display” that is still in the prototype phase 


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Las Vegas, NV, January 9, 2012 -- 

Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA), a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, launched an 80-inch class (80" diagonal) interactive display system, AQUOS® Board, a complete solution to facilitate global collaboration in a way that's never been seen before. 

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Unveiling the AOC Aire Monitor with Docking Station. Touted to be the ultimate monitor for iPod and iPhone owners, it will offer a 23” Full High Definition monitor that boasts an integrated universal docking station for the iPhone and iPod which will pave the way for immediate video, audio and photo playback. Using AOC’s patented plug-and-play technology, the integrated dock coupled with the base of the monitor will also boast built-in speakers with high quality SRS Premium Sound. Also known as the e2343Fi if you are a sucker for model numbers, the AOC Aire Monitor with Docking Station can be yours for $279.99 a pop from March onwards. 

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In the last five years, more and more people are using front projection system and I’ve been asked one too many times on which projection screen to buy.  Just like you can not maximize your $2,000 dSLR camera body with a mere $500 lens, and just like you have to match the wine you’re drinking with the type of food you’re eating; the truth is that you cannot use a projector without a suitably matched projection screen.  More....

Written By David Susilo

Low and behold another iPod dock has come onto the already packed stage of available audio mates for your personal media player. 
Monitor Audio have brought forward their personal take on semi portable audio and compact speaker dock system. How does the i-deck 200 set itself ahead of the pack?

Through amazing design and wonderful features. But will this be enough to take their piece of the pie? Read this article to find out!

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I have just completed testing and writing a review on the PA2V2 Portable headphone amp from Gary Ali at Electronic Avenues.

Portable audio is an extremely large requirement in my life. Currently travelling through Canada and America leads me on many long flights. Everyday while I work I am sure to be plugged in to help concentration and disconnect from the bustle around me.

The review is currently located on my blog. http://downunderaudio.blogspot.com/2011/06/portable-headphone-amplifier.html
I hope you enjoy reading! Cheers Joe

Mike Cerveni, hailing from Windsor, Ontario, started playing guitar at the age of 11. Heavily influenced by his extremely musical family, he started writing his own songs at the age of 16. Mike’s sound is soulful, and speaks to the heart. His voice is pure, and you can feel the emotion when he sings every note.

“The World You Know” is Mike’s debut album, released in autumn of 2010 featuring songs such as “On Your Mark,” “Right Now, and “A Moment.” The album “The World You Know” is about coping and getting through loss. We all have tough times, and go through heartache; for Mike, writing was a way to help get out things he couldn’t express.
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January 17 2012
Here at DUA we are just about to release a new category on our site. It'll be called the music den.

From time to time articles on up coming musicians, Bands, groups and genres will be featured here. We are hoping to keep this updated weekly with feature articles.


Most of the feature articles will be about un-signed musicians and bands that you would never have heard of. I hope with time we will be able to widen your musical repertoire.

We will be attending many many concerts and gigs to give you an on the ground report and photographs of our experiences. We will be focusing on Australian groups but also sharing from USA, Canada, India to name a few.