The Pioneer VSX-520-K delivers amazing home theater performance at great value. With connectivity options for all your latest high-definition home theater components, the VSX-520-K also includes support for the latest high-definition audio formats, and support for your portable devices via a front panel mini-jack input and compatibility with Bluetooth sources (using the optional AS-BT100 adapter, sold separately).

Pioneer’s latest line of receivers doesn’t just play well with your home theater components like HDTVs and Blu-ray players. For wireless connectivity, add a Pioneer AS-BT100 Bluetooth adapter (sold separately) to release your music from your iPhone^®, Blackberry^®, or Android^® smartphone as well as other Bluetooth-enabled sources like laptops. And the VSX-520-K’s Advanced Sound Retriever technology makes sure that even your compressed MP3s are brought back to near cd-quality sound.

The Pioneer VSX-520-K supports HDMI 1.4a, allowing  for the next generation of 3-D video content. And with 3 HDMI inputs, you’ve got plenty of connectivity options for the growing number of high-definition sources available today.

All the latest Pioneer receivers support high-definition audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Audio to give your Blu-ray Disc^® movies a soundtrack that’s true-to-life. The Pioneer VSX-520-K  also includes support for Dolby Pro Logic IIz which is also inluced in its entire 2010 line of receivers, which adds a “height” channel for an even more immersive experience.

All of these features come together in the VSX-520-K to deliver a powerful home theater experience at an incredible value.

For a more high end sound system why not try the HTCT350 Channel Speaker bar Home Cinema System. The HTCT350 connects to any TV or video source for a submersive surround sound. This surround sound system will give you  an unparalleled hi-def audio experience. Not only that but you also have the option to connect up to three HD devices enabling you to experience this system through your TV,DVD player or existing audio system. 

Very easy to fit and with the added bonus of being wireless means that the problem with messy cables is a thing of the past and with it being wall mountable, it can be tucked away descretly ensuring that valuable space is not invaded. The HTCT350 also allows iPod or or any other MP3 device to be connect to it with the portable audio enhance boosting the quality of compressed music such as MP3 files.

  Technical Details

The Sharp HTSB200 Sound Bar is an entry level system with high end sound quality. For around the £100 mark it really does add oomph to your home cinema at a fraction of the price of many high end systems. It is a simple and elegant peice of kit that sits conveniently at the base of your TV on your TV stand, or can be used wall-mounted. The HTSB200 connects to any make of TV using a 3.5mm audio jack. The compact but powerful 2.1 channel surround sound system with Dolby Surround Sound and SRS WOW technology improves dynamic audio performance by expanding the size of audio images – resulting in a deep, rich bass response.

It is supplied with a remote control however the remote is usually rendered superfluous once it is setup such is the excellent automatic operation . A lot of people have possitvely commented on the quality of the sound which for such a bargain basement price makes it even more appealing. Suitable for any TV size.

Technical Details

A soundbar is a single, slim, extended horizontal speaker system with one or more small speakers built in. Some systems are designed to deliver expanded stereo sound and have a built-in amplifier, meaning there’s no need to connect the soundbar to a receiver. Other systems create a surround sound esque experience. On-board digital processors decode incoming 5:1 tracks, processing the signal for the system to create virtual surround sound by using various delay, pitch and placement algorithms.

The system can also be mounted directly under or over a wall-mounted LCD without having to run wires to a receiver. This provides a much tidier look that works especially well in smaller rooms such as a bedroom.

A soundbar usually comes with a subwoofer allowing base frequencies. On many systems the woofer is wireless, allowing it to be neatly tucked away anywhere in the room. It doesn’t really matter where the woofer is placed, as the ear cannot locate the direction of extremely low frequencies, making them sound as if they are coming from “everywhere” no matter where you choose to hide it. Running audio cables to a woofer, on the other hand, can be very untidy and hazardous. You will, however need to plug the subwoofer into an A/C outlet, there’s no getting around that unfortunately.

It is a great space saving device, providing great sound quality at a fraction of the price of a full surround sound system. Most are also wireless negating the need for untidy wires which appear messy and in a small environment can be clumsy and even dangerous. Soundbars are starting to become more and more feature rich, some incorporating FM radio, wi-fi, DLNA and even ipod connectivity and blu-ray players themselves while still maintaining the slimline look and feel.

So if you are looking for a minimalist approach to the movie experience or lack the space for a full on 7:1 surround sound system with 50″ LCD TV (in other words you don’t live in an aircraft hanger), then a soundbar which is relatively new hardware might be the answer.

Samsung BD-C6900 – Blu-ray disc player – Upscaling – Wi-FiConsumption when running – 14.3W, standby – 0.1W Among the most energy effient but does come with a hefty price tag of over £300

Samsung BD-C5500 Blu-Ray Player WiFi Ready Much more affordable that it’s BD-C6900 cousin, coming in at between £99 and £160 the operating consumption for this model is a very efficient 13W however the standby usage is a pretty poor 1W

  Panasonic DMP-BD45EB-K Blu-Ray Disc PlayerComing in at under £100 makes this player efficient and affordable with and operating usage value of 14W and an impressive 0.1W usage while on standby certainly puts this up there for the energy conscious. Watch out for the Quickstart option though, this takes the standby usage up to a whopping 4W. 

Panasonic DMP-BD60EB-K Blu-Ray Disc PlayerSlightly more expensive than the BD45 at around £120 and slightly less energy efficient. Still, operating at 14.8W and standby usage of 0.3 is still impressive.        

All machines are of good quality and packed to the rafters with features as well as being kind on your electricity metre. Of course if you want to save even more energy then switch them off completely when not in use.

Most new Samsung devices whether it be your LCD or Plasma TV, DVD and Blu-Ray Players/Recorder or Home Cinema System come with Allshare. This allows content stored on a PC to be directly streamed to your device…..sound familiar?

Indeed you can now enjoy movies, music and photos from your PC and other mobile devices, right on your device. With Samsung’s Allshare (powered by DLNA) you can wirelessly (Samsung LAN adaptor required) sync your PC and Samsung mobile phone with your Blu-ray player, streaming content and even keeping tabs on who’s calling and texting you with real-time monitoring on your screen. Samsung’s All Share makes staying connected easy.

Basically if you see any Samsung device that has Allshare included, it means it’s DLNA capable. This means that it can do just about anything you would expect from any DLNA device, you can connect to any device in the house including your mobile for a fully interactive experience.

It’s the ultimate surround sound problem isn’t it. What about the wires? will they reach? will the kids pull them out of the speakers or fall over the speakers themselves? The solution to many is to buy 300 miles of cables them run them all round the living room under the carpet. What if you have a wood floor though?

Samsung have come up with a solution to this problem. Make the rear speakers wireless, of course why didn’t anyone else think of that? The Samsung SWA-5000  removes the need for metres and metres of wiring in your front room and thus removes any dangers that an inquisitive child make come across. The only downside it that this kit is for new 2010 Samsung models and there currently doesn’t appear to be anything else like it on the market yet, certainly not for under £200 anyway.

So for anyone who has recently aquired a new Samsung Home Cinema System, this is a must have and it’s under £100 too. Just remember the Samsung SWA-5000 is for 2010 Samsung models only, it is not backwards compatable. 

Technical Details

Introducing the Samsung BD-C7500 an Ultra Slim Wall-Mountable Blu-ray Player with Built-in Wi-Fi, Internet@TV, BD Profile 2.0, Multi Codec – D(VIX (XVID), WMA, WMV(1/2/3/7) HD-JPEG, MKV, MP4), Ultra Fast Play, 2 x USB 2.0 Ports, Local Storage (1GB), Anynet+.

The new Internet@TV platform provides viewers with a gateway to a wide range of entertainment from Video, Music, News and Social Networking. Internet@TV offers all kinds of online content, simply connect your device to the internet using the built-in wireless capability to access great online services such as Lovefilm movie streaming, BBC iPlayer, Muzu.TV music and many others.

Ultra Fast Play from Samsung is said to eliminate those annoying load times. Therefore allowing you to watch the movie almost instantly. DLNA capability is included via Samsung’s Allshare which is powered by DLNA allowing you to wirelessly (Samsung LAN adaptor required) sync your PC and Samsung mobile phone with your Blu-ray player, and of course stream content from the internet directly to the BD-C7500.

Anynet+ is an AV network system to automatically control Samsung audio-video (AV) devices. There is no need to use different remote controls for different devices. With Anynet+ feature, all you need is one remote control for simple and convenient experience.

Don’t forget of course the usual full HD 1080p images that we’ve all come to expect from Blu-Ray these days, excellent sound quality with Dolby True HD. BD-Live allowing you to access bonus material plus a very sleak design and touch sensitive interface. All in all the features on this machine makes the 205 pounds price tag very enticing indeed.

Technical Details

Back To The Future, the classic trilogy starring Micheal J Fox and Christopher Lloyd is coming to Blu-Ray very soon, with features including BD-Live and of course pocket BLU. These films are fantastic, I’ve seen all 3 many times and although Robert Zemekis’ vision on 2015 might have been a little different in 1991 to what the reality will be in five years time, these films still hold up remarkably. From 80′s nostalgia to a vision of the future and then to the old west, the aventure never stops for the oldest teenager in Holywood and his mad scientist friend.

Special Features:

* Denotes new footage debuting on the 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray

* Tales from the Future: New six-part retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Director Robert Zemeckis, Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton, plus Executive Producer Steven Spielberg.*
o In the Beginning . . .: Delve into the genesis of the project, casting, re-casting, the DeLorean, sets and overall pre-production.
o Time to Go: Production stories through the release of the first film.
o Keeping Time: The score and the songs of the Back to the Future Trilogy.
o Time Flies: Learn more about how the sequel came about, the futuristic look, the special and visual effects, recreating 1955 and more.
o Third Time’s the Charm: Learn about building a western town, Doc Brown’s love story, the casting of Mary Steenburgen, the train sequence and completing the Trilogy.
o The Test of Time: Back to the Future becomes a phenomenon! President Reagan quotes the film, the Back to the Future ride opens at Universal Studios theme park and fans rebuild the iconic DeLorean. The film’s cast and crew take a look back and discuss why these beloved movies live on.
* The Physics of Back To The Future: A discussion with celebrity best-selling author and physicist Dr. Michio Kaku about the overall appreciation of the science in the Back to the Future Trilogy*
* Nuclear Test Site Ending Storyboard Sequence: Storyboard sequence of the original proposed ending of the film.*
* 16 Deleted Scenes
* Michael J. Fox Q&A
* Q&A Commentaries with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
* Feature Commentaries with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
* Archival Featurettes o Making the Trilogy: Chapters One, Two & Three: Original 2002 DVD documentary that takes a look back in time.
o The Making Of Back to the Future Part I, II & III: Provides a vintage and historic look at the making of all three films.
o The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy: a televised special hosted by Kirk Cameron addressing fans unanswered Back to the Future questions.
o Back to the Future Night: Hosted by Leslie Nielson, this original 30-minute special aired on NBC prior to the first television screening of the Back to the Future.
* Behind-the-Scenes o Outtakes o Original Makeup Tests o Production Design
o Storyboarding
o Designing the DeLorean
o Designing Time Travel
o Hoverboard Test
o Designing Hill Valley
o Designing the Campaign
* Back to the Future: The Ride
* Music Videos:
o Huey Lewis and the News “Power of Love”
o ZZ Top “DoubleBack”
* Photo Galleries, Including Production Art, Additional Storyboards, Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits
* Theatrical Trailers

INTERACTIVE BLU-RAY BONUS FEATURES *

* U-CONTROL: Universal’s exclusive feature allows viewers to learn more about their favorite film without ever leaving the movie.
o Setups & Payoffs: As you watch each of the three films, each “set up” showcases items in the scene that prepare you for a future plot point. When you get to that moment in the film, the “payoff” is shown.
o Storyboard Comparison: Compare key scenes in the movie with the original storyboards.
o Trivia Track: Get inside trivia and facts while you watch the movies.
* BD-LIVETM: Access the BD-LiveTM Centre through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more!
o My Scenes: Bookmark your favourite scenes from the movies.
* pocket BLU™: Universal’s groundbreaking pocket BLU app uses iPhone®, iPod® touch, iPad®, Blackberry®, Android™, Windows and Macintosh computers and more to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-rayTM player and offers advanced features such as: o Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
o Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in their favorite episode.
o Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
o Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
o Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray™ player with your device’s easy and intuitive keyboard.

Release Date: 25th October 2010

LG 5.1 Blu-ray & DVD home cinema system
Play Blu-ray and DVDs with improved picture quality and 400W of audio output from the LG HB405SU compacthome cinema system.

Blu-ray
Enjoy superior home entertainment with Blu-ray discs that have more than twice the resolution of standard DVDs, not to mention superior sound.

BD-Live
Stream or download bonus content from Blu-ray movies featuring the BD Live logo. Extra content can include deleted scenes, games, trivia, photos and much more.

YouTube from LG Netcast
Access videos from around the world which are uploaded to YouTube. With an easy search facility and the ability to sign in with a YouTube account, finding your favourite videos is easy and simple.

AccuWeather from LG Netcast
Get the latest 7 day weather reports for any town or city in the UK and around the world.

1080P upscaling
DVD or Blu-ray players featuring 1080P up scaling can improve the picture quality of a Standard Definition (SD) DVD to that of Full High Definition (FHD) 1080P picture by using the HDMI connection and filling in the missing details. For the ultimate picture a Blu-ray disc will provide all the detailed picture quality without the need for picture to be up scaled.

DLNA
The HB405SU is DLNA enabled allowing you to access music, photos & videos from a PC, laptop, mobile phone & other DLNA devices.

Picasa from LG Netcast
Access libraries of photos that have been uploaded by friends and family from around the world.

LG Sound Gallery
LG Sound Gallery provides 7 sound options to maximise the audio experience. MP3 UP – Improves MP3 music by up scaling it to CD quality sound. Natural Plus – balances the tones to give a natural sound. Game Equalizer – Delivers dramatic effects when using a game console. Night Mode – reduces the heavy bass notes so that it does not waken those sleeping in the other room. Clear Voice – Emphasises the vocal parts of the sound track. VSM – Adds a virtual 10.1 surround sound effect to 5.1 home cinema systems or a virtual 5.1 surround sound effect to 2.1 and soundbar home cinema systems.