September 17 - As TVs and other A/V gear become ever more complicated, many consumers feel justifiably overwhelmed at the thought of adjusting their equipment to produce the best possible result. This is especially troublesome because different sources—cable, satellite, DVD, HD discs, Internet TV, and over-the-air broadcasts, to name a few—all require different settings to look and sound as good as they can.

THX to the rescue with a new technology code-named Blackbird.

The idea is to embed information—technically called “metadata�—in the video and audio stream that specifies what settings will work best with that particular content. Upon receiving the information, a Blackbird-enabled TV and sound system will automatically set their controls accordingly, leaving the consumer with nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the best possible media experience regardless of the source.

We’ll tell you more about Blackbird in coming issues of The Perfect Vision.

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September 17 - Ready for a down-and-dirty, home-theater-in-a-box system that can handle high-def Blu-ray discs?

Enter Samsung’s HT-BD2 package, a 7.1-channel audio system that includes the company’s BD-P1400 Blu-ray player and wireless rear surround speakers (you’ll need the $150 SWA3000 module to go wireless). Just connect the $1500 system to an HDTV and settle in for some high-def action. The HT-BD2 is expected to be available in time for the holidays.

This from Samsung PR below:

“Consumers can now enjoy the full HD 1080p cinematic video quality of a Samsung Blu-ray disc player with an immersive audio experience that takes watching movies to a whole new level.

“The HT-BD2 7.1 channel HD receiver speaker system provides richer and powerful sound with its industry leading Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio format support. With its slick, piano black design and soft blue LED accents, the HT-BD2 augments both the audio presence and visual aesthetics of home theater.

“A fully powered subwoofer, accentuated by four towers, a center channel, and two satellite rear speakers, gives the HT-BD2 a rumbling 1,100 Watts of total output power to keep movie and audio fans satisfied - all from a sleek and single component system that makes operating any function easy.

“For a truly cinematic home theater viewing experience, the HT-BD2’s Blu-ray player offers full compatibility with 24 movie frames per second playback. As most movies are filmed at 24 frames per second, the HT-BD2 will be able to playback movies in their native format, significantly reducing unwanted artifacts.

“Setting the player’s Movie Frame (24Fs) feature to ON allows the consumer to adjust the HDMI 1.3 output to 24 frames per second for a crisp, theater-like experience. The HT-BD2 also supports 60Fs for enhanced compatibility with many of today’s HDTVs.”

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September 14 - Some virtual surround sound systems are more convincing than others, but one of the most believable systems of this type that we’ve run across is the one demonstrated by the Dutch firm Final Sound at CEDIA 2007.

The core of the Final Sound system is an ingenious product bundle consisting of Final’s ingenious 2.1-channel, FVSS 201 DVD-receiver which is packaged with a Final model S95 subwoofer for $1000.

To complete the system all you need to do is add your choice of Final’s model 90i, 150i, 300i, or 400i electrostatic main speakers.

Complete systems start at around $2000, but the version we heard, which was based on the 300i’s, sells for about $3000 (the systems are available now).

Three things impressed us about the Final system. First, it offers levels of crisp, pristine clarity and detail that are the hallmarks of good electrostatic designs.

Second, it produces surprisingly compelling virtual surround sound effects, creating a strong “phantom� center-channel images and unusually effective, wraparound surround soundstages.

Third, it’s simple, affordable, and looks really, really cool. The Final Sound electrostats have rectangular frames made of metal tubes done up in either gloss black or camera-finish silver, while the electrostatic speaker diaphragms are so light and thin that you can literally see through them.

Suffice it to say that the Finals are both sonically and optically “transparent.�

If you’re yearning for clean, richly-detailed surround sound without the fuss and bother of setting up center and surround-channel speakers, the Final Sound virtual surround system represents a credible solution that exudes tons of Euro-chic coolness.

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September 14 - Many people want a killer home theater system with a huge screen but either can’t afford it or don’t want to deal with the hassles of picking out and installing a bunch of A/V gear. Epson is out to change all that with its Ensemble HD Home Cinema System.

The Ensemble is a stealth system with everything you need—including a 1080p Epson PowerLite projector that shines gorgeous images on a 100-inch screen.

What’s stealth about the system? When you first walk in to an Ensemble-equipped room you won’t feel like you’re walking into a “home theater� because everything is neatly tucked away.

Pick up the remote control, hit one button, and the system comes alive: The gloss-black control center on the coffee table lights up, while the screen descends from a long slender structure near the top of the front wall.

Next thing you know, you’re watching a movie.

The left-, center-, and right-channel speakers are hidden in the screen housing behind a long perforated grille.

Equally clever is where Epson put the rear surround speakers: they’re built into the sides of the ceiling cradle that supports the projector—and, yes, they can be detached if you’re inner geek insists that they be spread farther apart.

Apart from the control center, which houses a DVD player, AM/FM tuner, and full complement of A/V connections—including two HDMI inputs—the only other thing you might spot is the subwoofer in the corner of the room.

The 14 x 16 x 18-inch sub houses power for the entire system (340 watts in all) and is loaded with controls so you can get the bass just right.

In case you’re wondering, the audio side of the system was custom-engineered by Atlantic Technology and it shines just as big as the picture.

Now expected to hit stores in January (it had been November), Ensemble HD will be offered in two versions: one with the 1080p projector for $6999 and one with a 720p projector for $4999.

Best of all, Epson says the system can be installed in less than a day, which includes running all necessary cables.

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