Whatever the reason – marketing hysteria, living on technology’s bleeding edge, you need a new TV so why-the-hell-not? or the overwhelming desire to sell everything and move to Pandora – you’ve decided that life can’t go on without owning a 3D TV. Now what?  What do you need? What do you do? Here are 10 things you need to know about making the switch to 3D.

1)    Do I need a new TV?

To view 3D programming from cable, satellite or Blu-ray, you will need a 3D capable TV and, for the vast majority of people, this will mean buying a new TV. Currently, Panasonic currently offers one 3D set in limited markets, but expect models from Sony, Toshiba, Samsung and others by this summer.  Mitsubishi and Samsung have been marketing 3D capable DLP rear projection sets for several years, and at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas, they say that there will be a device that will enable these existing sets to work with the new 3D specifications. This device is expected to sell for around $100.

1A)  You mean the set I just bought when they switched to HD (and then again when everything went to 1080p) won’t work?

Technologically is a cruel mistress, and she lays harsh commands on her followers. Sadly, your old set is a casualty in the move to 3D. But, you can still enjoy it in your bedroom!

2)    Will my existing DVD or Blu-ray work?

They will continue to work as they always have, they just won’t play any of the new 3D movies. To do that, you’ll need to buy a 3D capable Blu-ray player. These are just starting to become available at prices starting under $200 and many offer other cool features like Internet streaming of YouTube and Netflix, etc. If you use a Sony PlayStation3 as your Blu-ray player, you own the only Blu-ray on the market that is capable of being firmware upgraded to 3D. Congratulations! (Now, take that $200 and buy an extra set of glasses! See #5) (There actually is talk about other Blu-ray players being upgraded, however it looks like they will not offer full 1080p resoultion when displaying 3D.

Read more…

By John Sciacca

Quick….name a luxury automobile. Maybe you thought of Bentley, or Rolls Royce, or something sportier like Aston Martin or Ferrari. Now…..name a high-end watch. You probably thought of Rolex or maybe Omega or Patek or Cartier. How about a luxury kitchen appliance? There’s Viking, Sub-Zero, Thermador or Wolf…

Now, name me some high-end audio/video gear. If you thought Sony and Bose, then you are like the vast majority of the population. And while I have absolutely nothing against either of these companies, no one “in the know” would consider either of them to be high-end.

For all its bluster and billions, the consumer electronics industry has really done a poor job of promoting itself, especially on the high-end. In fact, most companies that are really considered to be performance leaders are totally unknown to the vast majority of people, even those that are looking to purchase them. When introduced to a brand that has the equivalent pedigree of a Bentley, Rolex or Viking, most people shrug their shoulders and say, “Never heard of ‘em.” So, I thought I would introduce you to some high-end manufacturers, and explain what they are…and what they are not.

In the electronics world, Wilson is not the volleyball from Castaway, rather the manufacturer of some truly stellar loudspeakers.

There is a Meridian in Santa Barbara, CA that makes affordable – yet drinkable – wines. However, the A/V Meridian is from the UK and a leader in digital audio processing.

Macintosh is an Apple computer; McIntosh has been making highly desirable audio gear that engenders fanatical-like loyalty since 1949.

BO is generally considered offensive and undesirable. B&O (Bang & Olufsen) is a Danish company known for world-class industrial design.

A kaleidoscope offers a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes; a Kaleidescape is a media server capable of storing literally thousands of movies.

Ronco is the late-night huckster trying to sell you things like the Chop-o-Matic and the pocket fisherman. Runco makes some of the world’s finest video projectors.

Crestron and Lutron are not characters in the upcoming Disney Tron reboot. They are actually leaders in home automation and lighting control, respectively.

B&W is not BMW. B&W is Bowers and Wilkins, the British speaker manufacturer, whose speakers are used in places like Skywalker Ranch and Abbey Road. BMW is Bavarian Motor Works, the car company.

Theta is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet and the name of that Fraternity/Sorority you rushed in college. It is also the manufacturer of some terrific processors and amplifiers.

SIM2 is not a sequel to the popular “The Sims” video game, but an Italian projector manufacturer.

Oppo, Sonos and ADA are not merely examples of corporate palindromes. Oppo makes a highly regarded Blu-ray play, Sonos a terrific wireless audio distribution system, and ADA (Audio Design Associates) has been pioneering high-end audio and distribution systems for over 30 years.

Classé might sound like a term from the Urban Dictionary, but it is actually Canada’s leading maker of high-performance music and theater components.

By John Sciacca

Today (February 3, 2010), the HDMI Licensing group announced that the 3D portion of the HDMI 1.4 Spec is available for download (www.hdmi.org). Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, commented, ”The HDMI Consortium recognizes the importance of standardized 3D formats for movies, gaming and broadcast content and the need for non-adopter companies and organizations to have access to that portion of the HDMI Specification. As the mainstream adoption of 3D is gaining momentum and content providers define and expand their 3D roadmaps, HDMI is ready to support this major market development.”

The press release went on to say that the HDMI Consortium plans on shortly releasing a 1.4a version of the spec which will include updates to the 3D portion of the spec.

If you’ve been involved with the consumer electronics industry for any amount of time at all, you know that standards and, especially cables, change. We’ve seen composite video, S-Video, Component Video, VGA, RGB, DVI (with –I, -D, and –A varieties), and IEEE 1394. But HDMI – which stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface – has proved to be the moving-est target of them all. Since its inception, the HDMI cable has undergone more changes than Britney Spears.

In case you’re curious, these are the changes that each version has added, and what we can look forward to – at least for now – when the 1.4 spec finally hits the street.

HDMI 1.0 –Released December 2002. Intended to be a single cable replacement to DVI cables, supporting video up to 1080p/60 Hertz with HDCP copy protection, along with 8 channels of LPCM/192 kHz/24-bit audio. The ability to carry audio was the biggest difference from DVI cables, which were video only.

HDMI 1.1 – Released May of 2004. Added support for DVD-Audio soundtracks.

HDMI 1.2 – Released August 2005. Added support for SACD audio.

HDMI 1.2a – Released December 2005. Specified Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) features, commands and compliance tests, allowing (in theory) all devices to communicate and control each other.

HDMI 1.3 – Released June 2006. Increased bandwidth to 340 MHz (10.2 Gigabits per second) and added support for Deep Color with 30/36/48-bit xvYCC. (Previous versions supported up to 24-bit.) Also supports output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and incorporates automatic audio syncing with video capability (lip sync).

HDMI 1.3a – Released November 2006. Mostly “housekeeping” fixes and specifications for manufacturers. It did add support for streaming SACD in bitstream rather than raw DSD format used in previous versions.

HDMI 1.3b, 1.3b1 and 1.3c – Released Mary 2007, November 2007 and August 2008 respectively. Describe testing and products based on the 1.3a spec and the Type C Mini connector and active cables.

HDMI 1.4 – Increases maximum resolution to 4K x 2K, supporting much higher pixel counts than 1080p (up to 4096 x 2160 at 36-bit). Will allow Ethernet over HDMI, for 100 Mbps connection between connected devices. Also adds an audio return channel, allowing your TV to send audio back to your A/V receiver. Of course, it will also support 3D as announced today, with stereoscopic, 1080p images.

The only real bummer is that older gear likely won’t be upgradeable to the new spec, so enjoying 1.4 (and beyond) will require purchasing new hardware – Blu-ray, TV, A/V receiver – instead of just upgrading firmware.

by: John Sciacca

I am imminently facing a BIG birthday. As in a number that no longer starts with a 3. This has got me looking back on my life. And as I peer down that long, dusty trail, what I see is a lifetime that has been closely intertwined with technology changes and advances. I invite you on my journey, and perhaps share your own memories in the comments section.
My first electronics’ related memory goes back to when I was 7. The Atari 2600 came out. Life as I knew it would never be the same.
At age 9, I did a day’s worth of chores for my grandmother – raking leaves, cleaning the pool, vacuuming, etc. – to earn enough money to walk down to a local record store to purchase my first record: a 45 of Gary Numan’s “Cars.” I think the pay rate equated to about $.25 an hour.
My parents bought me a GE clock radio for 5th grade graduation. The kind with the glowing, blood red numbers straight from the deepest levels of Dante’s Inferno and the oh-so-sweet faux wood grain cabinet. That radio served me well for over 20 years.
The following year my grandmother got me a color TV, a sweet 13-inch Sharp model. Many, and I do mean MANY hours were spent playing Atari 2600 on this baby.
In 7th grade, after MUCH pestering, my parents finally relented and bought me a Sony Walkman. I also purchased my first cassette, Styx’s Paradise Theater.
Around the same time, I worked an entire summer washing dishes in my aunt’s Italian restaurant in Coos Bay, Oregon. (I think the pay rate had skyrocketed to $1 an hour.) I saved all my money and bought a Sony Betamax. Then I bought my first Beta movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Sophomore year in high school I bought a Magnavox portable CD player. I also bought a pair of Sony Studio Monitor headphones and my first CD, Wing’s “Greatest Hits.” Years later, I sent this player and a bunch of my favorite CDs to the woman who would become my wife.
Around this time, my interest turned to car audio. I took at job at a now defunct big-box retailer called The Goodguys! and I purchased a truly sick car stereo system. I believe I had the first 10-disc CD changer at my high school. (A high school where the class president drove a Maserati I might add.)
In my early 20s I discovered Laser Disc and Home Theater at a friend’s house. We watched Speed and I was hooked. Sounds coming from behind me? What kind of Black Magic is this and how do I get it? My first “real” HiFi purchase was a giant Definitive Technology subwoofer. Then I obtained a Carver LD player from someone who was upgrading. Pure A/V bliss! I purchased a surround system and then had the LD player “modded” to output the AC-3 (Dolby Digital) RF stream. Then I pitched Dolby Digital Laser Disc reviews to a magazine, my first break into journalism!
In 1997 DVD came out and I was there. I hedged my bet by buying a Pioneer combo LD-DVD player. First DVD purchase: Jerry Maguire.
Since then, I’ve kept steady with technology, though it seems to get harder and more expensive to do so. I replaced a 35-inch Mits tube with a 61-inch DLP. Got an 80 Gig Video iPod. (First iTunes purchase: Talking Heads double-album “The Name of this Band is Talking Heads.”) Bought a house and installed a housewide audio system. Got a PS3 which serves as my Blu-ray player. (First Blu-ray disc: Pixar’s Cars.) And last year I replaced my entire HT system with some state of the art stuff including a Pioneer Elite Plasma and an anamorphic lens equipped video projector.
For now, I’m about as up-to-date as I can be. But, after reading all the news coming out of CES this year, looks like I need to start preparing for the next 40 years and the move to 3D…

by John Sciacca

Without a doubt, the latest technologies are amazingly cool. With an iPhone, you can carry around more computing power in your pocket than what fueled the moon launches. With Blu-ray, you have access to studio-master quality audio and video in your very home. And every time I walk past one of the new LED backlit LCD TVs, I marvel at their razor-thin side profile. It’s an inch thick. An inch! You could practically shave with it. I mean, how do they possible cram all the magical techno-guts inside that thing? (If you really want to know what is inside, check this video I shot at CES last year. You’ll need Quick Time to watch. http://bitstream.soundandvisionmag.com/blog/2009/01/ces-2009-day-three-inside-hitachi-ultra-thin-lcd.html)
So, with all this great tech at our disposal, it is easy to overlook things that are low tech by nature. Like vacuum cleaners. Not very sexy, right? I mean, this is strictly a must have item, not something that people get excited about. I have a Dyson, probably one of the coolest vacuum cleaners around. And yet, it’s never one of the things I pull out to show people when they come to my house. In fact, it is sequestered away in a closet, where we hope no one will see it. (Which is kind of odd, right? Like, the people coming over know we have a vacuum. It isn’t a secret.)
Well, I recently saw a vacuum system that did excite me. In fact, of all the cool tech in this person’s home – and we’re talking about automation, full lighting and HVAC control, Kaleidescape movie servers, etc. – this was the thing that most excited them as well. A central vac system with an in-wall, retractable hose.
Now, I’m not saying that these things haven’t been around for a while, but this was the first working example I saw, and it seems like one of those things that no one knows about or that have been forgotten. But this completely addressed the giant negative that everyone hates about central vac: dragging that damned hose around all over the house. We used to have a central vac system. Never used it. First time I had to fight that 25-foot house up and down the stairs and back into the closet, was the time I decided to use the regular vac from then on.
But the Hide-A-Hose and Vroom systems from Vacuflo (www.vacuflo.com) were so cool and so easy to use and put away that you would truly give your old vac – even a Dyson – the heave-ho. The Hide-A-Hose stores up to 50 feet of hose in the wall, meaning you never have to see it or fight with it. And, because it is 50-feet long, you can get away with fewer ports around the home. When you’re finished, simply put your hand over the nozzle and it sucks itself back into the wall. The Vroom is great for spot cleaning, like quick spills in the kitchen.
Check out my video for a demonstration.

By John Sciacca

It’s not often that you get the chance to listen to a true luminary and industry pioneer speak. Even less often when you get the opportunity to do it for free. But that’s exactly what’s being offered by Audyssey in their next Webinar, where you can hear the true Jedi Master of surround sound discuss “The History and Future of Surround Sound.”

For those unfamiliar with Tomlinson (Tom) Holman, his biography reads like the history of modern surround sound. He is credited for naming 5.1, the most commonly used surround speaker set-up today. He was also Chief Engineer at Lucasfilm where he developed a set of standards in 1982 for “Return of the Jedi.” The standards insured that theatrical playback matched what was heard in the mixing room and were called THX. In fact, he is often referred to as being the “T” and “H,” as in the “Tom Holman eXperiment.”

Holman also developed the world’s first 10.2 channel surround system – front left, top front left, front right, top front right, surround left, top surround left, surround right, top surround right, center, top center above the screen, and front and back subwoofers – which completely envelopes listeners.

In 2001, he won an Academy Award for Scientific and Technical Achievement. And recently, he co-founded Audyssey, where he continues as Chief Scientist. Audyssey’s MultEQ technology is widely used for sophisticated room correction and equalization in many home theater receivers and processors. Most recently, Audyssey has introduced Dynamic Volume to tame wild swings between loud and soft passages, Dynamic EQ to deliver consistent bass response, tonal balance and surround levels regardless of volume level, and DSX which adds height and/or width channels. (See Brent Butterworth’s impression of DSX by clicking here: http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/newproducts/3250/first-listen-audyssey-dsx.html)

Holman is currently a professor of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California (USC), and his book Sound for Film and Television is considered required reading for any film majors. I’ve had the opportunity to hear Holman speak, and it is always incredibly entertaining and enlightening.

The Webinar is being held on Friday, December 18th, from 11 AM to 1 PM PST. To reserve your spot, sign up now by clicking this link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/424560306?utm_source=Audyssey+Master+List&utm_campaign=b30e8ec3df-emailblast20091119&utm_medium=email

Author Sciacca with Han

by John Sciacca

Like every male born around 1970, Star Wars was a cultural, life-shaping event for me. I can remember seeing the original, Episode IV, in a small theater in Carmel, California. Since Return of the Jedi came out in 1983, I have seen every Wars film in the theater on opening day. I’ve purchased the movies on every format possible: Beta, VHS, Laser Disc and DVD. I’ve even visited Lucas Ranch, THX and ILM a few times. I believe this all qualifies me as a fan.

This past weekend, I enjoyed an entirely different Star Wars experience in the form of Star Wars in Concert. This was such a terrific blending of music, film, lasers and spectacle that I thought I would share my experience in hopes of convincing readers to seek out a show near them.

The Concert brings together the 86-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir and a giant high-def LED screen, measuring some 60-feet wide by 30-feet tall, for a 2-hour performance of music spanning all six films. Far from detracting from the orchestra, the video is a perfect accompaniment, like watching a giant live, orchestral music video. The pacing and timing of the images to the score was even approved by John Williams.

The show opens with the THX “Deep Note,” a sound so familiar to home theater fans, and then goes into the 20th Century Fox fanfare. After a pregnant pause, the huge, opening notes of the Star Wars main theme burst from the orchestra, along with the title scrawl on the giant HD screen. Hearing and watching the music played live by such a huge, talented orchestra was phenomenal, giving me chills multiple times throughout the evening. Seeing the dozens of violinists and cellists sawing away in perfect sync to produce music that is so thoroughly entrenched in our zeitgeist was absolutely thrilling.

C3PO, Anthony Daniels

The performance is interspersed with live narration by Anthony “C3PO” Daniels who sets up each movement. His delivery is slightly over-the-top, but Daniels is one of only two cast members that were in all 6 films (the other was R2-D2, Kenny Baker), so it was a treat to see and hear him in person.

While every piece was terrific, and every favorite number was included, one of my favorites was “The Duel of the Fates” from Episode I. This featured the full choir backing the intense musical arrangement, along with well-timed pyrotechnics. Other high points included “The Imperial March” and “The Victory Song,” which concluded the evening.

Also on hand are quite a few original costumes and props from the films including Yoda, Vader, Han in carbonite, and Chewbacca.

The crowd was packed with fans of all ages, from very young – many kids under 5 – to quite old. And, if you feel the urge to go dressed as your favorite Jedi, Sith, Bounty Hunter or other, you will be in good company. Highly recommended! Performance dates and venues can be found here: starwarsinconcert.com

by John Sciacca

Being green is all the rage right now. In fact, you can barely attend any event or read about any product without hearing about some benefit that’s designed to keep the globe spinning a bit longer. The problem is, there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to what Green is and many companies seem to be just jumping on the hype wagon to make some green…or whatever color Chinese money is.

Many companies profess to being Green, but what does this mean? Are they Green because their products are packed in a smaller carton with less material? Are they more Green if that carton is recycled from other cartons? Are they Green if their device draws less “Vampire power” when it’s turned off? (The Department of Energy claims that stand-by power can account for up to 20% of a home’s electrical use, and a 1998 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study estimated that this totals more than $3 billion in annual costs. Yikes!)

While all of these issues are sorted out and a real definition of what makes a product Green is defined, I think most people are really looking to make a smart buying decision that fulfills their needs while being as environmentally friendly as possible.

As I write this, I am staying in an absolutely amazing home on St. John in the US Virgin Islands, helping the homeowner install some audio and a couple of surround sound systems. As much as I’d love to center this blog on how amazing this place is, something the homeowner asked about was too perfect a topic to pass up.

She mentioned that electricity costs on the island were staggeringly expensive, and that some of her friends had monthly bills exceeding $7000! Because of this she asked if I would be sure to turn off my room’s thermostat whenever leaving.

This immediately gave me an idea. Why not tie occupancy/motion sensors into the HVAC system? If the person leaving the room presses a handy off button it can automatically turn the A/C off. But if they forgot to press the button, the system can turn it off after a set number of minutes of non-movement. Easy-breezy!

“But what about at night, when people are sleeping and not moving?” she asked. Since nearly all automation controllers feature an astronomic time clock, that’s easily overcome by programming the system to leave the cooling system running from say 9 PM to 8 AM whether there is movement or not.

This is the perfect example of real-world automation coming to the rescue. Helping the client to be Green by using less energy and actually save some real green (US dollars on St. John) at the same time. It also offered the perfect opportunity for me to secure a second visit to the home. But I only thought of that later, promise.

By John Sciacca

Television manufacturers are a busy bunch, continually pushing the envelope with nary a moment’s rest on their technological laurels. In the past two years, everything we thought we knew about a good TV has been completely turned inside out. What was once the state of contemporary cool at 4-inches thick is now morbidly obese as sets are being measured in millimeters. Just as we’ve adjusted to 720p and then 1080p resolutions, we must prepare our eyes for the hyper-realism of 4K resolution. While our ancestors lived for years in the Stone Ages of 60-Hertz refresh rates, we have been shown the benefits of 120, 240 and now 480-Hertz. And where contrast ratios used to be boast numbers like 10,000 to 1, they have now reached infinity, exceeding staring into a black hole and the sun with the Hubble telescope. And, remarkably, while all of these advancements have occurred, prices have steadily plummeted. It won’t be long before you’ll pull a 42-inch Plasma from a box of Cracker Jacks, only to trade it for the rubber bouncy ball that you really wanted.

This means that it’s time to talk about the next trend that will capture your video dollars: 3D. Several manufacturers are fervently pursuing the third dimension (depth, in case you were curious) in hopes of continuing to capture that almighty fourth D, Dollars. Both Samsung and LG see 3D as the major catalyst to jumpstarting TV and Blu-ray sales. Mitsubishi has been showing 3D demos w ith its DLP and Laser TV for some time. JVC and Digital Projection had 3D demos at this past CEDIA, and even Dolby Laboratories is getting involved.

But the most aggressive 3D-ers seem to be Panasonic and Sony. (For the record, having watched demos from all of the manufacturers, I find Panasonic’s version of 3D to be the best. To my eyes, it was the sharpest, with the best focus, detail and depth of image.) Both companies plan on launching 3D sets next year and are already laying on the trash-talk pretty thick. Additionally, Sony is releasing an update that will provide a 3D mode for all PS3 games. Sony says, “The 3D train is on the track, and we’re the ones to drive it home.”

Panasonic countered, “A lot of people think Blu-ray is Sony. We believe 3D is Panasonic.”

I believe the next quote will start out, “Yo’ mama so fat…” but I’ve been unable to confirm.

According to the research firm, GigaOM, sales of 3D sets will reach up to 46 million by 2013 and, as 3D becomes a standard feature, it will have just a slight price premium over non-3D models. With support coming from Hollywood in the form of major 3D releases (including James Cameron’s highly anticipated Avatar), it seems like the transition to the home market is inevitable.