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iPods have become a symbol of status among the young and old alike. Who doesn’t have an iPod these days? Heck, I have one and I barely use it. Do you need a high end iPod cable? I suppose that…
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I am a big fan of the Kimber 8PR speaker cables. I fell in love with their banana terminations and the quality of materials used in this product. If you are on the market for high end exotic…
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Recently Reviewed
When I see all those lovely installs of flatscreens on HGTV or DIY Network usually two things come to mind - first, where are the speakers and second, how did they run the power. For those that want to install a flatpanel like a pro, the Sanus PowerBridge might be the product for you.
If you want a flat panel to "float" on a wall, you're going to need to run power to it without risking burning down the house. The MIW-XT is an all-in-one solution that might just fit your needs. With a dedicated power run and a space for a Decora-style insert, adaptor for keystone inserts, or a rubber grommet passthrough, the MIW-XT can accommodate your power and cabling needs.
For some technical or licensing reason, Gefen cannot apparently call this an HDMI 1.4 product, likely due to the fact that it wasn't certified as such when it headed into final production. They do, however call it an HDMI 1.3 product that is "Future-Proof" with support for HDMI 1.4, allowing Ethernet support and the return audio channel functionality. The HDMI v1.3 CAT-5 Extra Long Range (ELR) Extender allows installers, with just one CAT-5e or CAT-6 cable, to carry the 1080p full HD resolutions of HDMI with Ethernet and IR back channel up to 330 feet (100m) in distance.
Listen up control freaks! IOGEAR has your number. As long as that number is no more than four, because that’s the number of ports on IOGEAR’s latest effort to bring unity to your HDMI based A/V system. It’s an interesting product already dropping out of the CEDIA 2009 Expo: IOGEAR HDMI Control Center, and it looks like the complete solution if you find yourself in need of a few HDMI ports. But be warned, it ain’t your father’s 4-port-HDMI switch.
Netgear's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit (XAV1004/XAV101) is a powerline solution much like the Belkin we reviewed last year. Both units cost $179.99, claim a throughput of 200Mbps, multiple inputs, and really easy installation. The difference? The Belkin is prettier but the Netgear Home Theater Internet Connection Kit has more inputs.
Distributed audio may not be the sexiest of AV topics, but when you need it, you really need it. Ram Electronics is now offering Audio Authority Component Video and Digital Audio extenders that can send signals up to 700 feet over Cat5e unpowered, or up to 1000 feet by providing power. When you start pricing preterminated cables, you'll quickly find that the SCP-11 baluns represent quite a value even for much shorter than their maximum distances.
The Atlona Technologies HDAiR is a wireless USB to HDMI or VGA adapter designed to bring your computer content directly to your home theater without the hassle of wires. The HDAiR is capable of transmitting up to 720p resolutions 30 ft via a UWB signal. The downside? No audio.
With changing technology, people often come up with problems that require very specialized solutions. If you need a product like the Monoprice Component & S/PDIF Digital Coax/Optical Toslink Audio to HDMI Converter, you really need it. While the unit isn't without its quirks, it does perform (mostly) as advertised. If you're tired of having to switch inputs on your display but don't want to upgrade your TV/receiver, the Component & S/PDIF Digital Coax/Optical Toslink Audio to HDMI Converter might be just what you're looking for.
GefenTV uses wireless 802.11n to do its thing and operates in the unlicensed 5GHz band to transmit HDTV. For sure the GefenTV isn't for everyone; if your HDTV isn't wall mounted or your A/V components aren't separated away from the display, there's little need to pay this price just to hide the cables. But if you're looking to cut loose without giving up on HD, it sure beats running cables under carpets or along baseboards, or poking holes in walls or ceilings. So while it might be called a "one-trick pony", it's fair to say that the GefenTV does a competent job of delivering high-definition video and multichannel audio through the airwaves.
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