Elite Home Theater Seating Blog

Home Theater Gifts That Won’t Break The Bank

December 13th, 2012

Christmas time can be very expensive and we all know home theater equipment and supplies can have high price points. However there are necessities everyone with a home theater needs that won’t break the bank. On December 5th, last week, we looked at four home theater gift ideas. All the items listed were great but can be over budget for some people. This week, let’s look at items that won’t cost you too much. 

1) HDMI Cables: Home theater and HDMI cables go hand in hand and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. HDMI cables can cost as low as $0.83 (any liquidator or dollar stores and even on Amazon). Of course if you want gold plated, longer wires, and a high end brand name, the cost can increase substantially. However, HDMI cables are a big part of home theaters and is a great gift idea.

2) DVD Movies: If you’re looking to buy holiday movies, TV shows, music concerts, sci-fi, horror, or comedies, movies also make a great gift. With prices as low as $3.00 and up, you have a wide selection to choose from. Click here for some great Christmas movies from Amazon.

3) Netflix Subscription: For only $8.00 a month, Netflix is a great gift idea. As an added bonus, you get the first month for free! Click here to get more information on how to subscribe to Netflix.

4) Surge Protector Power Bars: Something so necessary yet overlooked. Surge Protector Power Bars are needed for almost every household. They are beneficial on so many levels especially when it comes to safety. Here’s a list of many available from Amazon. From as low as $13.39 and up, Surge Protector Power Bars are affordable and important.

5) Universal Remote Controls: A universal remote control makes life more relaxing. You don’t have to fumble through multiple controllers to operate your home theater system. Click here to see what’s available from Amazon

We always appreciate your comments and feedback so contact through FacebookTwitteremail or by phone.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel. 604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Player

September 10th, 2012

Pioneer Electronics unveiled their new Elite BDP-62FD Blu-ray Disc Player which comes equipped with duel HDMI outputs, high-resolution file format playback, & the iControlAV2012 app control. The file format compatibilities are: DivX, MPEG-4, Flash Video , WMV , AVI, JPEG , FLAC , MP3 ,WMA , & LPCM. Retailing at $399, the Elite BDP-62FD Blu-ray Disc Player will be available in September 2012 and a welcomed addition to the home theater experience.

The exciting aspects of this Blu-ray player is its ability to play various file formats, eliminating the use of other devices. Since it can support Flash, you can watch streaming content from numerous websites. FLAC are high quality audio files which can also be played on the Elite BDP-62FD Blu-ray Disc Player. The iControlAV2012 app enables the user to use their smartphone to control their Blu-ray player. The iControlAV2012 app is your remote control via a wireless connection and the duel HDMI outputs allow you to send your content to two different places, (TV, computer monitor, projector, etc.)

 

If you own a smartphone you can push content from your phone directly through a wireless network or an Ethernet connection. Netflix, YouTube, and Pandora can be accessed through your smartphone and pushed through the Elite BDP-62FD Blu-ray Disc Player. Marvell’s Qdeo technology offers high quality video processing that gives you a superior image than standard Blu-ray players. For detailed information on exactly what the Elite BDP-62FD Blu-ray Disc Player is capable of doing, please watch the clip above.

We always appreciate your comments and feedback so contact us at any of the methods below.

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



Xpand’s New 3D for Home Theater

July 30th, 2012

“We saw that the time was right to create a dedicated Home Theater Division” – Maria Costeira, CEO of Xpand 3D (DCinema Today, 2012)

XPand 3D Cinema System has been added to over 5000 movie theaters worldwide. You may have not heard of them before but it is more than likely that you have witnessed their technology while watching a movie at your local theater. 3D technology for the home has increased since 2010 when Samsung released the worlds first 3D LED HDTV. XPand has decided to introduce their 3D glasses for home theaters. 

What makes these 3D glasses different is how they operate. 3D technology depends on stereopsis, (perception of depth produced by the reception in the brain of visual stimuli from both eyes in combination).The XPand technology uses alternating shuttering of the lenses. Since this is done so quickly, the human eye cannot tell. So while the right eye is blocked, the left is visible and when the left is blocked, the right is visible. These glasses are not the plastic disposable kind you receive at a movie theater. These 3D glasses start at $119.00. There are three styles to choose from, YOUniversal Electronic 3D Eyewear, Universal 3D Glasses, & DLP®-Link Edux 3D Glasses. 

For the 3D glasses to work, the AE125 IR emitter is needed.  By placing the emitter at the back of your home theater, the emitter projects to the screen. As this occurs, the signal then bounces off the screen directly to the 3D glasses.

There are three kits available:

1) The QC Cinema Kit includes: an AE125 Emitter, Mid-Range, Wide Angle-25 degrees, and 10 X103-C3 Infinity glasses.

2) The QC Pro Kit includes: an AE125 Emitter, Mid-Range, Wide Angle-25 degrees, and 10 X103-C1 Infinity Pro glasses.

3) The XPAND VIP Cinema Kit includes: an AE125 Emitter, Mid-Range, Wide Angle-25 degrees and 10 X104 LX1 YOUniversal Glasses.

For more information on XPand, please visit their website. With the popularity of home theaters and the popularity of 3D for the home increasing at such a rapid rate,  XPand 3D could be an essential in 3D home theaters in the near future.



The Crowson TES 100 (Tactile Effects System)

July 25th, 2012

“The Crowson TES 100 is the next generation of tactile effects for home theater systems. The bass shaker era has ended, and the age of the TES 100 has begun.” - Matthew Washam, Sr. Editor of Home Theater Spot

We are proud to offer, as a premium option, the Crowson TES 100 (Tactile Effects System) to each of our models.  Crowson offers the world’s only audiophile low grade frequency motion.

The Crowson Linear Actuator is placed on the floor, underneath the seat. The actuator expands and contracts to move the chair giving you actual motion, not just a bass vibration. We take it a step further and place the actuator within the arm of the seat to keep it out of sight. The weight of the chair compresses the actuator and your entire seat vibrates once the low frequency sound is detected.

This does not replace your sub-woofer, it enhances the sound.  With the Crowson TES 100, there is no need to put your sub-woofer at maximum capacity. If you live in an apartment you will be subjected to other tenants bass or you will have complaints against your own. This occurs when your sub-woofer is at a maximum capacity in order to feel the vibration. The actuators in the TES eliminate that issue because your chair is directly affected by the motion resulting in a lower bass level for those around. Each chair also has its own volume control.

To read articles on the Crowson TES 100 (Tactile Effects System), please click the links below:

About.com Home Theater

Audioholics.com

Equipment Review

Home Entertainment

To view how we install the Crowson TES 100, please click here.

For a brochure or for more information on this or any other questions you may have please contact us from the links below:

Canadian Head Office
Unit 406, 17665 66A Ave.
Surrey, BC V3S 2A7
Tel.  604-575-8310
Fax. 604-575-8329

U.S. Head Office
1927 Boblett Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Tel. 1-800-490-1595

email: sales@elitehts.com



The New Sony 3D VPL-VW1000ES Projector

July 9th, 2012

Sony has introduced their newest projector, the VPL-VW1000ES.  The 4K resolution, 3D home theater projector retails for a hefty $24,999.

The 4K resolution means that the projector is more than four times the resolution of the current highest quality projector which is 1980 x 1080 pixels. The VPL-VW1000ES is 4096 x 2160, vastly superior than any projector currently on the market. The VPL-VW1000ES has excellent 3D and has support of the DCI color space, which is the standard used in the movie theaters. These two features create an impressive image.

Weighing in at 44 lbs, this projector can be mounted on the ceiling like standard projectors. There are also small screw-on feet to level the projector on the ground.  The set-up menus are very easy to use, even though there are plenty of setting to get used to, the system is very user friendly.  Considering how many picture options are available, it may be time consuming at first. Sony  states the viewer can sit closer to the screen as there is no “screen door effect”.  Last but not least, the projector has a whisper quiet fan so you will not be distracted by a loud fan while you use this projector.

ProjectorReviews.com reviews approximately 25 home theater projectors per year and in 2012, Sony was awarded  the Outstanding Product of the Year Award.  This may take a few years to catch on as it seems Sony has gone above and beyond that of their competition.  Blu-Ray players cannot support such high resolution so trying to watch anything of such high quality isn’t available just yet. Other forms of technology that coincide with this projector will be able to accommodate such high resolution in the near future.  The competition will have to catch up.

Engadget.com has pictures of the VPL-VW1000ES, to view please click here.



Apple TV & Google Nexus Q: Will This Revolutionize Home Theater?

July 6th, 2012

In 2007 Apple launched Apple TV. Digital contents via Netflix, iTunes, YouTube, and other various contents stored on your computer can be viewed directly to your HD widescreen TV.  Streamed sporting events such as NHL or NBA games, movies can be rented or purchased directly from iTunes, & all your music and pictures stored in iTunes can also be seen on through Apple TV. With a Wi-Fi connection, Apple TV can be streamed to your TV and your iPhone can also be used as a remote.  Apple TV retails for $109 USD. The following clip will give you great insight as to how Apple TV operates.

Google has now released the Google Nexus Q.  Through Google Play, you can play music or movies through your Android phone or from your media tablet via Google Play Music. You can watch YouTube however Netflix is not available. Nexus Q is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, an amp, & analog speaker outputs, Apple TV has neither of these options. The Nexus Q retails for $299.00 USD. The following video will give you a better understanding of the Nexus Q.

With devices like these there is no need to purchase physical DVD’s and CD’s.  All the contents are either streamed or stored on your computer.  For those of you who enjoy owning the physical DVD or CD, this may deter you from purchasing it. Those of you that don’t care to own any physical format, this can be a new way to enjoy movies, concerts, and sporting events.  Your home theater can have an unlimited catalogue, dependent if iTunes has what you want to watch (if you choose Apple TV).

Home theater can benefit from devices like these and it’s up to the consumer if they would like to move away from traditional media platforms.  Now your home theater can feature family vacations, weddings, & birthdays.  Just how popular this will become is unknown however, do your research. If you believe this form of technology will enhance your home theater experience, please leave us a comment regarding your choice.



Home Theater, A Great Movie, & the Kids = A Good Combination

June 22nd, 2012

Do you remember the days when your weekends consisted of running home from work and getting ready for a night out with your friends just thinking how much fun you’re going to have at the night club of your choice?  You couldn’t wait to wear your favourite dress shirt (or dress for you ladies), have a few drinks and dance your night away.   The night consisted of a lot of laughs, a lot of transactions from the clubs ATM (those crazy service charges!!), a lot of bad one liners from the bar stars, and more than likely you all ended up at a Denny’s or a McDonalds drive thru.  Back then a cheeseburger and a milkshake at 4:00 a.m. was pure heaven. There were the not so good nights as well. How many of you had those nights where you got back home without any idea what you just did? You try to figure out where all your money went and some times you even wondered where all your friends went. Then you wonder, “how did I end up sharing a cab with some random person who looked like they just walked out of one of those Saw movies?  

Now fast forward to present day where all of your friends and yourself included, have kids and all you look forward to on the weekends is coming home and having a nice relaxing night with your family (and friends if you call them over).  What a difference a few years can make.  Your dress shirt and dress from your club days is now a t-shirt that has a print of your kids dance class on it and that dress is now a pair of comfy track pants, (or yoga pants for you trendy moms).  From screaming loud conversations at a night club to screaming kids running around, sometimes you need something to get them to relax and not be so loud.  We have a guaranteed way for you to get your kids to relax and what’s better than a movie?  A great movie can calm down any child or group of children and this option does not consist of hiring a babysitter for the night.  It’s a win win situation.

You call your friends over with their children for a fun night together.  The parents can have “grown up” conversations while all the kids can play together and watch a movie in your home theater.  What movies can help a group of, lets say, fifteen kids who are in the same age range?  Here are five of our picks and in no particular order:  

1. Toy Story has always been popular with kids, we think it’s the piggy bank that steals the show
2. Finding Nemo is a great  movie, even though the opening scene is a downer, the movie is funny
3. Babe captivates kids all the time.  Personally, we thought Gordy was great too
4. Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers even the title is funny
5. Home Alone, even if it’s not Christmas time, this movie is a sure hit 

There are some essentials to having a home theater, not only for yourself but also for your kids. One of the most important aspects of child-friendly home theater seating would be leather seats. You know they’re going to spill every little drop of every thing you give them, from juice to popcorn, it’s best not to have cloth seats so the clean-up stage is always easy. Don’t forget, kids love to draw and they’ll draw on anything. From your seating to themselves and the adventurous kids will draw on other kids so try to keep all drawing tools away. If you do give them crayons or markers, leather seating comes in practical once again (and some handy wipes would be great too).

We also recommend to keep all the electronics out of reach. Put your flat screen TV up high enough so they don’t damage it. You know one of the little girls will go running to try and hug one of the characters like Babe so keep those TV’s at least four feet off the ground. You don’t want to have a sippy cup inside your subwoofer, (well we hope you don’t want it in there). If you don’t keep your speakers at a level they cannot reach. Yes the subwoofer has to be on the ground so keep it out of reach, if it’s in an enclosed area, even better. All the chords and wires are hidden so that isn’t a concern and as long as you have patience to handle a large group of kids, you are all set. A home theater can be a great way to have your friends over and reminisce about those crazy single days while keeping your kids entertained at the same time. A great home theater, along with great movies, will give you even better stories to share, stories that will surpass those stories of nights out in your single days.

Just one more important factor to consider. Please keep away from zombie movies as the little guy in the picture above seems to be adapting to the genre with pure delight. The cat though, not so much!