Today we’re going to take a look at the Sony HT-CT150 3D sound bar system currently on offer at Amazon for $195. Obviously with such a low price tag you’re not going to get a great soundbar system but judging by online reviews for the HT-CT150 it’s not a bad system either. The main feature that all reviewers seem to mention is the 3 HDMI inputs which of course means you can hook up all sorts of hi def gadgetry to the soundbar. According to the Sony blurb rear sound is not generated by bouncing the sound off walls but rear sound is generated from the front two speakers using sophisticated digital sound processing which we hope means it may be easier to set up that a ‘wall-bouncer’ system. But of course it’s all about the sound quality and here are some snippets from the reviews we found

Other sound bars have caught up in terms of sound quality; we found that the HT-CT150 still sounds very good, but it’s not a standout performer as the HT-CT100 was. - CNet
well tuned for movies - voices are clear and distinct, even at low volume - ProductWiki
surround effect is clearly audible, simulates rear audio well - ProductWiki

Of course, hearing is believing, so it’s probably best you check out the audio quality for yourself, but the reviews do seem to speak well, if not highly, about it. Anyway enough rabbiting from us, here are some hard facts and reviews with a video review as a bonus

Sony HT-CT150 soundbar description

Complete your 3D home entertainment experience with simple, yet powerful surround sound. The HT-CT150 32″ 3D sound bar home theater system features 3D compatibility and can also be turned into your entertainment hub by connecting multiple HD or 3D devices using a single HDMI cable per device (sold separately). In addition to the latest audio decoding technology, this beautifully sleek sound bar can be easily mounted directly to select BRAVIA TVs, hung on your wall, or placed separately on a shelf.

Price: $195.00

* Audio Power Output: RMS: 75W x3 +75W Subwoofer (180-20kHz, 4 Ohm, 1% THD)
* Digital Amplifier: Yes
* S-Master Amplifier: 24bit
* Coaxial Audio Digital Input(s): 1
* DIGITAL MEDIA PORT: 1
* 3 x HDMI Video Inputs
* 1 x HDMI Video Output
* 2 x Optical Audio Inputs
* 2 x RCA Audio Inputs
* Bass/Treble control
* Night mode
* Preset EQ: Standard/ Movie/ Drama/ News/ Sports/ Game/ Music/ 2ch Stereo/ Portable Audio
* Power Consumption (in Operation): 75W
* Power Consumption (in Standby): 0.3 Watts
* Power Requirements: 120V, 60Hz
* Dimensions (Approx.): Subwoofer: 7-3/4″ x 17-3/4″ x 16-1/4″ (196 x 450 x 410 mm); Sound Bar: 31-1/2″ x 2-9/16″ x 2-5/16″ (800 x 66 x 60 mm)
* Weight (Approx.): Subwoofer: 23 lb 3 oz (10.5 kg); Sound Bar: 2 Lb 13 oz (1.3 kg)

Sony HT-CT150 soundbar reviews

CNet - 4 out of 5
ProductWiki - 60 ProScore
Amazon - 4 out of 5

Pros - 3 HDMI inputs, excellent sound quality
Cons - limited placement options, subwoofer isn’t wireless, bar needs to be mounted off floor

Our Picks verdict

There are a number of limitations on the Sony HT-CT150 soundbar, namely the remote control receiver being on the sub-woofer, its unsuitability for larger rooms, but of course with such a low price tag there will always be minuses to any product. However it’s sound quality does seem to get a thumbs up, given a small room, so we like the Sony HT-CT150 and give it our own thumbs up.

Featured Tags Sony, soundbar


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Toshiba Tecra R850 description

Laptops & Notebooks, Toshiba, PT524U-00N002 , PT524U-00N002

Price: $872.56

Toshiba Tecra R850 specs

* 15.6 inch widescreen LED backlight TruBrite TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA )
* Intel® Core™ i3-2310M Processor
* Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
* 3GB DDR3 memory
* 320GB hard drive (7200 RPM)
* DVD SuperMulti drive
* 1366 x 768 native resolution
* Bluetooth
* 802.11a/g/n wireless
* Integrated webcam
* HD Graphics
* HDMI port
* Gigabit Ethernet
* Fingerprint reader
* Graphite black metallic
* 14.9 in x 9.9 in x 1.2 in
* 5.3 lbs
* Stereo speakers
* 6-cell lithium ion - up to 8.7 hours

Featured Tags laptop, toshiba


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The InFocus ScreenPlay 8602 projector joins styling, great imagery and great connectivity into a DLP projector. This WUXGA projector features DLP DarkChip technology with InFocus’ BrilliantColor and sports native 1080p resolution. It pumps out 1300 Lumens of brightness and a 30,000:1 contrast ratio.

The InFocus ScreenPlay 8602 combines rich styling, stunning imagery, full features, and connectivity into an award-winning HD home cinema projector that creates a truly immersive cinema experience. It features DLP DarkChip technology with cutting edge InFocus BrilliantColor implementation and native 1080p resolution. The 8602 offers 30,000:1 contrast ratio, high-performance optics, and the latest in high-definition connectivity to display high-resolution images and video content in vivid colors with outstanding depth and detail. With the InFocus 8602, you will never miss a thing.

Price: $3,043.92

InFocus ScreenPlay 8602 projector specifications

* Brightness (Lumens) : 1300 ANSI
* Contrast: 30000:1
* Variable Iris: Yes
* Audible Noise: 29.0 dB
* Eco-Mode: 28.0 dB
* Weight: 7.6 kg
* Size (cm) (HxWxD) : 18 x 36 x 54
* Throw Dist (m) : 3.8 - 7.3
* Image Size (cm) : 193 - 559
* Handles 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, 1080p/24, 1080p/30, 1035i, 576i, 576p
* Inputs - Component, Video, HDMI, Computers
* Native resolution - 1920×1080 Pixels
* Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (HD)

InFocus ScreenPlay 8602 projector reviews

Amazon - 5 out of 5
TrustedReviews - 9 out of 10
tech radar - 4 out of 5
Projector Central - 4 out of 5

Pros - excellent skin tones, superb brightness
Cons - less than average lamp life, UI not great

Our Picks verdict

Let’s face it, the InFocus 8602 is a great DLP projector, a fact confirmed by the reviews and reflected in its price tag. But as with any device it will always have its drawbacks and it’s up to you whether you can live with these. Obviously with a projector of this quality those negatives are minimal but they are there all the same. However for the majority of consumers the InFocus ScreenPlay 8602 is worth every penny they pay. We say go for it!

Featured Tags infocus, projector


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The Toshiba REGZA 42HL167 full hi-def LCD TV seems to be getting rave reviews around the net, so we thought we’d share its delights with you. The 42 inch LCD sports full HD with 1080p resolution built-in digital (ATSC) and analog (NTSC) tuners and boasts a CineSpeed LCD panel. It also features technologies such as pixelpure3G and dynalight, which will give the user cleaner video images.

Toshiba 42HL167 42″ Regza 1080p LCD HDTV

Price: $745.00

Toshiba REGZA 42HL167 specifications

* 42 inch 1920 x 1080 res LCD TV
* TFT active matrix
* 1080p
* Aspect ratio 16:9
* Supports 720p, 480i, 1080p, 480p, 1080i
* TV Tuner
* HDTV Tuner
* Stereo 20W speakers
* Additional features ColorStream Component Video Input, CE-Link, DynaLight, On-screen menu, Channel labeling, PixelPure3G, CineSpeed, ColorBurst
* Inputs 3 x HDMI, Component, S-Video, Composite, PC interface VGA (HD-15)
* 40.9 in x 4.8 in x 27.9 in - Without stand
* 75.2 lbs

Toshiba REGZA 42HL167 reviews

Amazon - 4 out of 5
PriceGrabber - 4.5 out of 5
NewEgg - 5 out of 5
CNet - 3.5 out of 5

Pros - Excellent colour and contrast, user friendly remote, sleek design
Cons - non-HD looks grainy, ugly base

Our Picks verdict

The range of ratings tends to suggest that the Toshiba REGZA 42HL167 is not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea. So if you’re thinking of buying one, it’s probably best to check it out at a local store before purchasing. And ideally check it out using the video source you’ll be using it with if possible. There were more than a few reviewers that suggested that SD res video didn’t look great on the 42HL167.

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If you’re after a budget Blu-Ray player then Sony’s BDP-S380 could be just what you are after. But be warned it’s a ‘no frills’ Blu-Ray player, as always you get what you pay for. So what do you get? Here’s the specs on Sony’s BDP-S380 Blu-Ray player

Sony BDP-S380 specifications

* Blu-ray 2.0
* Video Outputs - 1 x HDMI (1.3), 1 x Component, 1 x Composite
* Audio Outputs - 1 x Stereo phono outputs, 1 x Coaxial S/PDIF
* Network port
* Optional Wireless connectivity
* 2 x USB ports
* Mass storage support
* Plays nicely with MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC, AVCHD, Xvid, WMV9 video formats and MP3, WMA, WAV, SACD, AAC audio formats
* Handles JPEG images and streams YouTube
* Supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA
* 430 x 210 x 38 mm

Sony BDP-S380 description

Enjoy Full HD1080p Blu-ray Disc movies plus connect to the internet and stream a wide variety of online entertainment including movies, TV episodes, videos, music, and live sports from Netflix , YouTube , HuluPlus , Pandora , and more with the Sony BDP-S380 Blu-ray Disc Player. You can also turn your iPhone , iPad or compatible Android phone into a versatile remote control with search functionality when you download the free “Media remote”app.

Price: $109.00

Sony BDP-S380 reviews

Expert Reviews - 4 out of 5
Trusted Reviews - 8 out of 10
Amazon - 4 out of 5

Pros - BRAVIA Internet Video content, Easy to use operating system, Picture Quality
Cons - No DivX support, Not 3D, slow start-up

Our Picks verdict

Without the bells and whistles of it’s more feature-laden big brother Sony players, the BDP-S380 offers basic features for a decent price. Lack of DivX support is surprising but can be over-looked if cheap and cheerful is your thing. In conclusion we would say that the Sony BDP-S380 Blu-Ray player should only be considered if a Blu-Ray player is ‘all’ that you want.

Featured Tags blu-ray-player, Sony


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Today we’re going to take a look at the Onkyo HT-S7300 receiver/speaker home theatre system, which also features an iPod Dock for your tunes, DTS-HD Master Audio for great sound quality and Faroudja DCDi Cinema for high-quality video processing. The system throws out 1200W of sound, with seven 130W speakers and a chunky 290W subwoofer. Here’s the full low-down on the HT-S7300 from the manufacturer Onkyo.

Sitting at the top of our range of home theater packages, the HT-S7300 combines today’s essential A/V technology with proven Onkyo amplification muscle. Four HDMI 1.4a inputs allow you to hook up all your high-def devices and enjoy spectacular widescreen 1080p resolution on a compatible display. Non-HD video sources, meanwhile, can be upscaled to 1080p via HDMI with Faroudja DCDi Cinema. HDMI 1.4a not only provides a handy Audio Return Channel from your TV’s tuner to the receiver, it also gives you compatibility with upcoming 3D video content. Among the other connectivity options on the HT-S7300 is a Universal Port for the included Dock for iPhone/iPod. The Onkyo name is synonymous with quality sound, so it’s no surprise the HT-S7300 packs stellar audio processing: lossless HD codecs from Dolby and DTS; Dolby Pro Logic IIz for overhead ambience; Audyssey room-correction; and specialized audio modes for gaming. Rounding it out is a speaker set highlighted by a mighty pair of floor-standing front speakers that excel every bit as much with music as they do with movies and games.

Price: $649.51

Onkyo HT-S7300 reviews

CNet - 4 out of 5
NewEgg - 4 out of 5
Amazon - 4 out of 5

Featured Tags onkyo, receiver, speaker-system


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As with most hardware, things just get bigger and hopefully better. And to prove the point LG have just released their latest and greatest network-attached storage device (NAS), the 2 terabyte N2A2. The storage can be setup in RAID 1 and sports a SATA II interface, 2 hard drive bays with a 3Gbit/sec transfer speed. Here is the full specification for the LG N2A2 2TB NAS

* SATA II
* 3Gb/s
* 2TB (1TB x 2)
* Supported RAID Levels - 0, 1, JBOD, 1 + JBOD, Individual
* Marvell 88F6281 1.0GHz CPU
* 1024Mbits SDRam
* Embedded Linux (Kernel 2.6) OS
* Data Transfer Rates 10/100/1000 Mbps
* USB Interface - 1 Front, 1 Rear
* USB 2.0 standard
* 480Mbps (High Speed Mode)
* 12Mbps (Full Speed Mode)
* Transport Protocol - TCP/IP
* File Sharing - SMB/CIFS, AFP, FTP, FTPS
* Management - HTTP/HTTPS
* Network Options DHCP or Static IP
* Built-In Backup Server
* Built-In FTP Server
* iTunes Music Server
* One Touch USB Copy and Synchronized Backup
* USB Auto Sync Backup
* Folder-Based HDD Mirroring

An impressive array of features for a NAS, and the online reviews are suitably glowing

Computer Shopper - 7.8
BitBag - extensive review
TechSpot - another lengthy and favourable review
CDRLabs - positive review

Pros - Speedy, good security features and backup options, support for USB Webcams
Cons - Pricey for capacity, convoluted setup, poorly translated manual

We must admit the LG N2A2 NAS certainly looks the part and if you are after a decent storage device then the N2A2 NAS may well be what you’re looking for. We had a bit of a problem tracking down a price tag at Amazon so here’s a link to search results for the LG N2A2 on the site. It’s currently listing a couple of options for the N2A2 which are strangely world’s apart in price.

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