The future of Blu-ray is intrinsically linked to the convenient playback of internet content. So believes LG, which has previewed two new web-centric Blu-ray players at the 2009 CES which it says will expand the interest in the HD format.

The US iterations of both its new BD players will their utilise network connectivity to stream Netflix movies, plus pay-per-view content from CinemaNow and popular internet material such as YouTube direct to the TV.  read more »

Any movie can now be a 3D movie. That's the promise of Mitsubishi America, as it took the wraps off an astonishing new 3D TV system at the 2009 CES. The company has partnered with graphics experts Nvidia to offer US consumers a 3D experience that requires no more than a transmitter and single pair of shutter 3D glasses.

The bolt-on package to Mitsubishi's TV range will retail for just $199 when launched later in 2009.  read more »

There are few places as glitzy as Las Vegas, and few trade shows bigger than CES. So it's no surprise that British AV specialist Cambridge Audio opted for to use the expo to officially launch its debut Blu-ray player.

First previewed at CEDIA 2008, the Azur 640BD is scheduled to hit retail in the coming months and will be priced at around $1,000 when it launches in America (excluding sales tax - UK prices are currently unconfirmed). The Profile 2.0 compatible deck features  read more »

On the eve of the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, organisers CEA say they expect the show to be hit by the economic downturn. While last year's event attracted over 150,000 visitors, this year's expo is expected to max out at around 125,000. The tone of the show will be different too.

Sharp is just one of the big brands taking a different approach. 'This year our booth won't be as lavish as  read more »

Marantz's affordable pre- and power amplifier combo are among the highlights of today's pdf library update. The HCC top tech test of the AV8003 and MM8003 double act is available here.

Now also available here are the mag's thorough road tests of the Sony VPL-VW40 - the company's mid-market SXRD projector, the Freesat HD receiver from Grundig, the GUFSAT01HD, A single-box Loudspeaker system from ZVox, Panasonic's DMR-EX98V DVD/HDD recorder, and Toshiba's cheap-as-chips 37CV505D LCD TV.

With decades of experience in home entertainment technology, Toshiba continues to claim a spot in the AV limelight. Even after withdrawing from the hi-def player battle last year, it recently added a whole new level of energy to the perennial debate about picture quality with the introduction of XDE (eXtended Detail Enhancement) picture processing to standard definition DVD.  read more »

When Sony announced its BDV-IT1000 5.1 Blu-ray system at 2008’s European IFA tech expo, it predictably made headlines. Elegant and striking, the kit seemed a perfect mash-up of cutting-edge video tech and contemporary aesthetics.

But while much of the coverage focused on the fact it was a pretty-credible looking Blu-ray entertainment centre, the real story lies in the speaker technology behind the system. To make the BDV-IT1000 possible Sony had to reinvent the audio wheel.  read more »

Shock waves rippled through the high-end AV community when Pioneer, famed for the quality of its Kuro TVs, announced that it was closing its plasma factories and buying panels from rival Panasonic instead.

So would the brand’s current 9th generation models be the last to offer its trademark black levels and outstanding picture performance?  read more »