Home Theater View

Mobile PC-based Theater Speakers

This is such a good idea I wonder why nobody's done it well before.  Altec Lansing sent over their XT1 Portable Audio System for notebooks. A DVD-ROM equipped notebook is essentially a giant portable DVD player combined with an iPod with a larger color screen, but most notebooks have terrible internal speakers.  Adding external speakers solves the problem at the cost of portability -- even if you did shlep them with you, you'd be dragging along another power brick, too.

The XT1 siphons power off your notebook's USB port which greatly simplifies setup and enables easy portability. Both Windows and Macs are supported. All the cables are included, and most of the time you only need two of them: one to connect the speaker to the PC's USB port, another to connect the other speaker to the first one.  Several nice touches abound: the USB cable is provided twice, once with a self-winding mechanism for travel, the speaker connector cable has self-binding velcro tabs, and all the cables fit neatly into their own spot in the included molded protective case.  The case is exactly the size of two John Grisham paperbacks lying next to each other (I tested and tested until I found a visual analogy that fits).  It's not tiny, but definitely small enough to fit in a backpack along with your notebook.  Setup and use is simple.

The tradeoffs are volume and bass.  Your USB port provides just a trickle of wattage.  The XT1 is plenty loud if you're sitting in front of the speakers (which is where you'll be if you're watching a movie on your notebook), but won't fill a large hotel room with sound.  Audio quality is pretty good.  Highs are crisp, instruments are well defined (my ThinkPad's audio is rather muddy), and there is plenty of mid-bass energy (also somewhat lacking on the ThinkPad).  There is still no deep bass to speak of -- the official rating only goes down to 100hz, and I suspect that the response drops off a bit before that.  In practical terms, this means that music and movies sound dramatically better than a notebook's internal speakers, but not as good as a comparably priced amplified sub/sat system. If you don't need portability, there are better choices out there (including several from Altec Lansing).

The XT1 thoughtfully provides an Aux in port and cable for connecting MP3 players and the like (though it still must be jacked into your notebook's USB port for power).  I plugged in Sandisk's Digital Audio Player and listened to several hours of pop and classic rock encoded as variable bit rate WMA files.  Music sounded rich and full and didn't lack much for low end punch -- drums had a decent thwack, and bass guitar notes were distinguishable.  On movies, the low end was more obviously lacking.  I tested both the THX logo (a test tone and a logo all in one!) and the sonic depth charge scene from the DVD of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Overly High Expectations.  The asteroid chase was fun -- upper frequency sounds were clear -- but suffered greatly in comparison to my Klipsch THX system or the Logitech Z-5500 THX multimedia system I promise I'll finish reviewing one of these days.  When the XT1 is pushed to the top of its volume range, there is audible distortion and some sibilance on dialog.  No provision for using the XT1 with a subwoofer is provided.

The only directly comparable product I have in house is the Virgin boomtube.  The boomtube's sound is a bit more defined, it plays a bit louder, and Virgin offers an EX version that provides actual bass.  However, the boomtube is considerably heavier as it relies on batteries, an optional power converter, or both. The boomtube has multiple wires for setup and no place to store them (or the power adapter) in the case.  The boomtube's aluminum speaker drivers are not covered by a protective grill - a big no-no for a portable device -- my four year old accidentally dented the drivers with his fingers within minutes of my unpacking the unit.  I also question whether the boomtube's design is airport security friendly; the thing looks like a pipe bomb. 

I love the boomtube, but the XT1 is probably the unit I'd take with me when I know I'm going to watch a movie on my notebook once I get to wherever it is I'm going. The XT1 design team clearly thought through the implications of portability, and, as a result, the XT1 also makes for a nice improptu music system on the road.  However, it doesn't play loud enough for road warriors looking to give multimedia presentations in large conference rooms or for throwing a headbanger's party in your hotel room afterwards.

-avi

Is technology moving too fast for consumer acceptance?

Former colleague Joe Wilcox notes that most computer brands are met with cognitive dissonance when they journey into consumer electronics. Joe is definitely on to something (though his observations are backed by admittedly anecdotal evidence -- don't you think that's something you guys over at JupiterResearch should be testing empirically?)

Another part of the problem, though, is that consumers are slow to fully understand the implications of digital technology - never mind convergence.  (OK, I'm working with entirely anecdotal evidence here as well, but bear with me). When I meet new people and invite them to watch a movie in my home theater, the first question I get is how big my TV is.  I usually respond that the TV is besides the point, we watch movies on a projector.  This is invariably met with blank stares, followed by, "a projector?  How do you watch movies?  Don't you have DVDs?" Saying, "yes, it's a digital projector" results in polite affirmative nods but usually the same deer-in-the-headlights look in their eyes.  (One person actually asked whether I have a projectionist.)  Only once you walk people through the steps does the whole concept click into place.

Here are the steps:

1. Start with the familiar, in this case, business projectors: "You know how you have digital projectors for notebooks when you give a PowerPoint presentation?"
2. Tie in well understood entertainment technologies: "The technology in those projectors can also be used to display DVDs."
3. Now you can explain product specifics: "Unlike a business projector, our digital projector is optimized for showing movies and watching HDTV."
4. Talk about DLP vs. LCD, rainbow artifacts, or black levels at your peril.

I expected this situation a few years ago, but despite four generations of DLP since my first projector, little has changed.  This isn't unique to home theater projectors, a category which has little mass market awareness.  How many consumers understand HDTV at even the most basic level - meaning they can differentiate between the format and plasma televisions?  I've been using the Zenith ZHDTV1 antenna in my basement, and, not surprisingly, its distinctive shape generates a lot of questions as to what, exactly, it is.  When I say it's an HDTV antenna I get those blank stares again - "you can get HDTV using an antenna?" 

The implications of the digitization of everything requires a cognitive leap. (For an extreme example, take my mother, please.  When I described Sony Ericsson's s710a megapixel cameraphone to her, she asked "how can they fit such a nice camera into a phone -- where does the film go?")

Companies that have walked consumers through these steps have benefited.  Consumers are just now beginning to wrap their heads around MP3 players because Apple built a simple vertically integrated system from content to consumption.  Similarly, Echostar has had tremendous success -- though much less publicity -- with their integrated HDTV TV/satellite/installation bundle.

HP and Optoma have the right idea with DVD/player/speaker all-in-one units, but they can't assume that consumers will understand what you do with them, never mind why they need one in the first place.  As another example, I think Sonos' distributed audio system is brilliant - it takes advantage of your PC's existing music library and spreads the wealth.  But I hope the company can survive on sales to custom installers and early adopters for a while, because it's going to take the rest of the world a long time before the concept sinks in.

-avi

Upsampling is the new progressive scan

I don't know why this didn't come out at CES, but Samsung is expanding their lineup of upsampling DVD players.  The key product feature is added 768p support, which is the native resolution for many plasma and projectors (the players will also do 480i for regular TVs, 480p for digital EDTVs, and 720p and 1080i for other HDTVs).

This is great news if you have a recent model 768p TV with DVI or HDMI, but this is NOT HD. It's merely moving the process of image manipulation from your TV over to your DVD player. Your HD TV has more lines of resolution than are on a DVD, so the image must be upconverted somewhere; doing it in the player itself can offer a slightly better picture by keeping the signal digital throughout its journey from disc to screen.  Of course, that's only if you

1. have a digital TV
2. with digital video inputs (DVI or HDMI)
3. use those inputs, and
4. set everything up correctly.

I highly doubt most consumers will understand the nuances or set things up to properly take advantage of them.  I remember how many questions I got when progressive scan DVD players came out (progressive scan DVD players make NO difference on analog TVs and often make no difference even on digital TVs that have good internal image processing). Lately it seems that any time you put the word high definition in the product description, consumer confusion ensues.

But can you blame the CE industry for trying?  Margins on regular DVD players (even ones with progressive scan) are in the toilet. My supermarket sells $29.99 DVD players.  So does the local gas station.  Banks give them away instead of toasters when you open a checking account.  Adding progressive scan didn't help things for manufacturers, as that simply became another feature on even the cheapest DVD players.  Consumers rejected Nuon and similar "DVD and" schemes, and consumers are ignoring DVD-Audio and SACD without even discovering that they exist.  Video killed the audio star (receiver and component sales have been dropping for years), and DVD has been a gravy train for Hollywood but not Japan.  HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are the CE industry's last hope for reclaiming profits out of media players, which is why we're getting a HD disc format war nobody wants.  In the meantime, the hope is that upsampling players will convince consumers to buy another deck (and spend actual money on it this time).

-avi

Plasma vs. LCD

Now that CES is over, it's time to hit the mailbag.  If my email inbox is a barometer of market readiness, there's a lot of consumer confusion around LCD and plasma.  Here's a primer:

Both LCD and plasma have advantages and disadvantages. The simple answer is that - due to manufacturing constraints - for smaller sized screens you're limited to LCD and for larger screens you'll only find plasma. If you're in the middle, then keep these guidelines in mind:

LCD

• LCD is currently a lot more expensive on a per inch basis. This doesn't mean it's better, just that it's more expensive to manufacture.
• There are LCDs with 1920x1080p resolution on the market. Plasmas currently top out at lower (but still HDTV) resolutions. It won't stay that way for long - Samsung and LG have shown 1080p plasmas - and on real world material, the added resolution doesn't always make much of a difference. But if you want a 1080p flat panel display, LCD is it for now.
• Both LCD and plasma displays are blazingly bright. But LCD is typically even brighter than plasma and thus is better in a bright, sunlit environment than plasma.
• LCD isn't as subject to burn-in as plasma, so it's better for watching CNBC, playing video games, or watching a lot of 4:3 (square) programming on a 16:9 (wide) screen.
• LCDs can be used in high altitudes where many plasmas have problems. If you live in Denver or the Himalayas, don't buy a plasma over the Internet - make sure you see and hear it locally - plasmas whine at high altitude.
• LCDs are less expensive to operate as they use less electricity.

Plasma

• Today's plasmas are better than LCD in contrast and black level performance. However, in this respect, both plasma and LCD pale in comparison (literally) to CRT TVs and the newest DLP rear projection units.
• Today's plasmas are slightly better than LCD in color fidelity.
• Due to their lower native resolution, the cheaper EDTV plasmas often do a better job displaying regular NTSC cable or satellite TV than HDTV plasmas or LCD.
• Plasmas do not need to be "recharged." New plasmas should last at least as long as your traditional CRT TV, though they may lose some brightness well down the road.

-avi

CES 2005: Trends

I spent most of my time at CES focused on mobile devices, but did note a few overriding trends:

• The story of the show was definitely flat panels, which were everywhere.  LG showed off a particularly interesting integrated plasma/HDTV tuner/DVR, and Samsung showed off a plasma so big you couldn't get it down the stairs and into my basement even if you took out a second mortgage to pay for it.  On the opposite end of the pricing spectrum, there were countless Asian importers with booths at the show displaying large LCD and plasmas at much lower prices.
• The other big deal at the show was that the focus of the computer industry is solidly on the living room - Microsoft, Intel, and HP all had huge booths dedicated to moving audio and video around the home.  The problem with Media Centers for me has always been cost and form factor.  HP's new HD Media Center looks especially sweet because once you're talking about HDTV the price jumps dramatically (the only standalone HD-DVR on the market costs $1,000), and the new horizontal cases look like they belong in your A/V rack, not your desk.
• Conversely, there were barely any new portable media players introduced other than the Olympus m:robe (a strong iPod mini competitor which I have in for review, and which looks gorgeous).  I take this as an indication that other than the video players (which have problems getting content unless you have a Media Center PC), Apple has this market completely locked up.  Now that the iPod shuffle appears to be the Next Big Thing, watch for copycat products (not that copycats will succeed - when pricing is down to $99 to start with, how do you compete with cachet?).
• In projectors, CEDIA was the land of $2,500 - $3,000 720p LCD boxes with automatic iris adjustment and great contrast from Panasonic and Sony.  CES was the TI DLP team's chance to strike back: BenQ showed me a great 720p DLP HD2+ projector for around $3,000 (the 7700).  Several products debuted with TI's new DarkChip such as BenQ's 8720; pricing on those is above $10,000, but the HD2+ products were nearly as good. This looks like it will work out so that custom installers will recommend the higher end products while enthusiasts buying/installing on their own will gravitate towards the $3,000 products.  ...but we're not done.  A slew of sub-$2,000 DLP projectors with 480p or 576p resolution were also introduced.  I didn't see any of them at the show, but Evan Powell over at ProjectorCentral has a good recap.

My final trend is a question: could CES be getting too big to be relevant?  It's always been hard to get around the show, and the weather didn't help (when it snows in Vegas it's fair to say hell has frozen over). Next year CES kicks the Adult Video show out of the Sands and takes over that venue, too.  But at the same time, CEDIA has been getting a lot of the big home theater announcements, the wireless device vendors are saving their news for CTIA, and the mobile media player market is all focused on MacWorld.

-avi

CES 2005: Logitech Sweetens the Harmony

Logitech has done really well with their acquisition of Intrigue Technologies, makers of the Harmony remote control line. With the broadened marketing and distribution muscle behind it, Logitech announced that they have overtaken Philips and Sony as market share leaders for programmable remote controls. This doesn’t surprise me, as most remote controls have a serious drawback – you have to program them. The Harmony essentially programs itself once you walk through a questionnaire online. While it took them a year or so before they had enough codes online to work consistently, I now consider the Harmony the reviewer’s best friend: add a new piece of gear in the rack; add a new piece of gear online to the remote. Done. And, because it’s task-oriented (“watch TV,” “watch DVD”), it’s spouse and babysitter friendly.

I’d heard rumors that a color Harmony was on the way, but they didn’t make much sense – the Harmony just uses its small monochrome LCD for simple status and help messages. Logitech unveiled the Harmony 880 at CES in Las Vegas this past week, and it has a color screen along with a strong rationale for the addition. The new screen is about twice the size of the traditional screen, is not terribly high resolution and is not a touch screen. The notion is that a larger color screen allows the Harmony to display more information and provide after-macro customization options (buttons flank the screen on both sides). Task-oriented remotes are great, but they can’t always deal with complex options. For example, if you have a widescreen TV, once you’ve “watched a DVD,” you may need to adjust the aspect ratio. Or not – depending on the movie. In my home theater, we added a “slowly dim the lights” command every time you pressed “play.” Unfortunately, that meant that any time you paused the movie, it was pitch black in the room, and the lighting controls were buried in a separate menu. With the new 880, you’ll be able to place those commands on the color screen after the main activity has launched. Colorful TV station logos for a favorites menu (part of the canned demo on the prototype units shown at the show) are merely a bonus.

The price point on the unit will be an astonishingly low $249, which is less than the original monochrome unit retailed for when it launched three years ago.

-avi

CES 2005: New Remote for Custom Installers

UEI launched the Nevo SL "Pronto killer" touch screen remote control here last night in Las Vegas, and it's got two really interesting features: a better programming interface than Philips offers for the Pronto (not that that's saying much - the Pronto programming environment is terrible), and built in WiFi. WiFi could be used for just about anything - the remote is based on a version of Windows Mobile - but at least initially the idea is to stream media from one PC to another. Now, that may seem a bit ahead of its time, but according to Current Analysis*, 11% of all consumer PCs sold this holiday season were XP Media Centers, so there's beginning to be an installed base for this sort of thing. Store your digital photos on the PC in the bedroom, stream them over to the Media Center in the den - all using the same remote. An adapter will be available to use WiFi to act as an IR blaster; not quite as good as full RF support (coming later in the product life cylce, I'm told) but it should allow installers to hide gear in a cabinet or closet and control it via the Nevo SL.

The Nevo SL isn't as comprehensive as offerings from Crestron, nor does it offer state-sensing add-ons (also coming later in the product life cycle). At $799, it's also nowhere near as expensive as those offerings, and competes directly against the Philips Pronto. UEI's extensive code database is included, but unlike recent versions of the Pronto, no provision for automatic configuration is included. This would be a deadly omission if the product was aimed at consumers, but UEI assures me that the product will be sold through the CEDIA custom install channel. That makes sense, but someone should tell their marketing department: none of their literature, press releases, signage, or press kits breathes a word about custom installers or how this product can benefit them. This isn't just a failure to communicate benefits, it actively works against UEI: if I were a custom installer, I'd be afraid that consumers - enthusiasts, mostly - would think that they could buy this remote themselves, leading to channel conflict. As Home Theater View has advocated in the past, channels need to be considered for their individual needs.

-avi

*Note: Avi Greengart is a Principal Analyst for Current Analysis

CES 2005: You want convergence?

SBC preannounced their big CES news: a set top box that combines satellite TV programming, digital video recording, video on demand, and Internet content.  There have been everything-but-the-kitchen-sink set top boxes before (anybody remember last CES? the year before that?), but I believe that this is significant for one reason: distribution.  Most of the converged set top box dreams of years past are all about consumer technology value propositions: distributing content around the house, moving photos and music off the PC, and providing Internet access from the TV.  That's nice, but other than increased tech support calls, there's little incentive for content owners to sell it. 

But this is different.  From what I can tell, the consumer value proposition for the SBC/Yahoo!/Dish/(did I leave someone out?) gizmo is simply saving money and consolidating billing relationships; any technical goodies are gravy. The convergence factor is just a means to an end: this is all about services bundling, which should reduce churn and protect these customers from being snatched away piecemeal by cable or satellite or Verizon.

-avi