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(Credit: Universal Remote Control)

Don't expect to see Universal Remote Control's MX-6000 on the shelf at Circuit City or Best Buy--it's strictly intended as part of a custom solution that a professional installer would set up. Thankfully, the $1,500 touch-screen unit does offer quite a few bells and whistles that take it beyond mainstream consumer remotes such as the $200 Logitech Harmony One.

An update to URC's previous touch-screen model, the MX-3000, the MX-6000 is the company's first wide-screen (480x272) remote. Beyond standard device control (infrared and RF control), the MX-6000 adds Wi-Fi to the mix for access to networked PC home entertainment--according to the company, cover art, artist name, and other metadata will be aggregated from your combined media libraries and displayed on the remote's wide-screen display. It also includes built-in modules that when connected to the Internet can display personalized weather reports, stocks, and news, which can be customized within the remote's interface. Also of interest to digital media fans is the companion PSX-1, a networked iPod dock that the MX-6000 can control--dial up iPod-based music and videos on the remote, and have the content play back on your receiver or HDTV (the PSX-1 has component video output for optimal video quality).

So what do you think: If you had unlimited funds, would you be interested in a $1,500 touch-screen remote? Or is this sort of product overkill, even for the Rolls Royce crowd?

Standalone Blu-ray players may still be expensive, but you know Blu-ray can't be too far from being a "commodity" feature when it starts getting bundled in with home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems. While we've already seen HTIBs with Blu-ray from Panasonic and Samsung, these are the first systems from Sony, and also the first that we've seen with Blu-ray players that are upgradeable to Blu-ray Profile 2.0. Here's the summary of the information Sony has released so far:

Sony BDV-IS1000

Key features of the Sony BDV-IS1000:

• 5.1-speaker system, with five tiny speakers
• Currently Profile 1.1, will be Profile 2.0 with a firmware update (coming this fall)
• Onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
• Compatible with Sony's S-AIR technology
• Two HDMI inputs
• XMB graphical user interface
• Available in October, with a list price of $1,000

Sony BDV-IT1000ES

Key features of the Sony BDV-IT1000ES:

• 5.1-speaker system, with slim tallboy speakers
• Available in October, with a list price of $2,000

We're impressed that Sony is including full-featured Blu-ray players with these systems. Both systems have onboard decoding for both high resolution soundtracks formats--Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio--and are upgradeable to Blu-ray Profile 2.0 with a firmware update coming later this fall. Two HDMI inputs are also a big step-up over the other HTIB systems from Panasonic and Samsung, as both of those lacked HDMI connectivity and had few options for connecting external gear. And with a Blu-ray player already packed in, two HDMI inputs will be enough to handle most home theater setups.

But even with the generous feature sets, the high prices of these systems will make them a hard sell with consumers. For $2,000, we think most home theater enthusiasts would be better off with an Onkyo TX-SR606 ($400), a PS3 ($400) and the Mirage Nanosat Home Theater System ($600)--a setup that's $600 cheaper than the BDV-IT1000ES. The BDV-IS1000 is somewhat more attractive at $1,000, but we have serious doubts that the speakers will have "no problem delivering the full power of traditional home theater products" like Sony claims. Still, these systems do offer unique styling and the ease of an "all-in-one system", and we're happy to see that they have a decent feature set to go along with their slick looks.

Audiovisual receivers act as the control center of a home theater, and over the past few years they've become increasingly complicated, adding features such as video switching, HDMI upconversion, and even media streaming to the standard task of amplification. Sony's ES line of receivers have been on the cutting edge lately, and the company's two new receivers--the STR-DA5400ES and STR-DA6400ES--both add the capability to stream HD video to a second room over a category 5e (Ethernet) connection. In addition, STR-DA6400ES will also offer up more traditional media capabilities, including streaming media from DLNA-compatible devices as well as access to the Rhapsody streaming music service. Sony hasn't released a full specification sheet on either receiver yet, but let's take a quick look at what we know so far.

Sony STR-DA5400ES

Key features of the Sony STR-DA5400ES:

• 120 watts per channel
• Six HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs
• CAT5e output can transmit HD video to a second zone
• Dual Faroudja DCDi video processing chips; capable of scaling video to a second room
• Onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding
• XM and Sirius ready
• Available in September, with a list price of $2,000

Sony STR-DA6400ES

Key features of the Sony STR-DA6400ES

• DLNA compliant, can stream media from other DNLA compliant sources
• Can access Rhapsody and Shoutcast Internet radio stations
• Upgradeable firmware over Ethernet
• Available in October, with a list price of $2,500

Sony and Denon have been in an arms race with their high-end AV receivers, and these new ES receivers look to move the bar up another notch. The capability to send HD video to a second room over CAT5e is attractive, especially considering that CAT5e cabling is cheaper than running HDMI and easier to work with. You will, however, need to buy an adapter--sold separately for $130--to convert Ethernet to component video. But even if you don't take advantage of the multiroom features, there are more incremental improvements such as overlay of the graphical user interface on 1080p signals and the addition of music services like Rhapsody that are welcome as well.

Our biggest worry is that with all these new features, AV receivers are getting very complex and difficult to configure for the average person. While we were generally been happy with the setup and interface on last year's STR-DA5300ES, we did feel that Denon's AVR-3808CI was difficult to use because of how many features and options it had. That being said, we're eager to get our hands on these receivers and see how they hold up to hands-on testing.

Editors' note: This post has been edited since publication to correctly state that sending video over Ethernet requires an adapter sold sepately, rather than another AV receiver.

Sharp's LC-D85U series of LCDs feature a 120Hz refresh rate and a variable backlight to help save energy.

(Credit: Sharp)

Today at CEDIA, Sharp announced two new lines of flat-panel LCD HDTVs, one with a special energy-saver function and another with the company's first iteration of true 120Hz processing. Full details are available after the jump.... Read more

Earlier this year, Sharp introduced the BD-HP20U, which was the company's first Blu-ray player and at the time offered the fastest load times of any standalone Blu-ray player, loading up discs in as little as six seconds. Sharp is now following up on its initial player with two new models--the BD-HP21U and BD-HP50U--which both offer the quick start feature and relatively low prices tags. Let's take a look at their key features:

Sharp BD-HP21U

Key features of the Sharp BD-HP21U:

• Blu-ray Profile 1.1
• Onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
• Quick start option loads discs in 10 seconds
• Deep Color support
• Available now, with a list price of $350

Sharp BD-HP50U

Key features of the Sharp BD-HP50U:

• RS-232 port
• Bit stream output for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, but only onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus
• Available now, with a list price of $450

Out of the two players, the BD-HP21U looks more attractive to us. We're disappointed that the player doesn't support Profile 2.0, but it does decode both high resolution soundtrack formats and the quick start option is nice--although with last year's BD-HP20U, it caused the player to consume more power. While custom installers might be attracted to the RS-232 port of the BD-HP50U, we were disappointed to see that it actually dropped onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and costs $100 more. Altogether, we think both players will face tough competition as Sony's BDP-S350 offers Profile 2.0 and a super small design for $400, and of course the PS3 is available for the same price.

The new VPL-VW70 boasts a better contrast ratio than its predecessor.

(Credit: Sony)

Sony has stopped producing SXRD-based rear-projection HDTVs, but its lineup of front projectors using the company's proprietary projection technology has just been expanded.

The more-expensive of the two SXRD models introduced today at CEDIA is the newest member of the so-called "Pearl" models, technically called the VPL-VW70 (November, $8,000 street). It improves upon the current Pearl, the VPL-VW60 we reviewed earlier this year with a higher contrast ratio (60,000:1 vs. 35,000:1), and since the two projectors' lumens ratings remain the same at 1,000, we guess that the improved contrast ratio indicates somewhat deeper black level on the new model.

The VPL-VW70 also improves its cool "panel adjust" feature, which allows you to align the separate red, green, and blue panels to eliminate fringing, by bringing the same kind of multizone adjustment we liked so much on the higher-end VPL-VW200.

The VPL-HW10 is the least-expensive SXRD projector yet.

(Credit: Sony)

We'll have to wait for the review to determine if the company improved the VW60's inaccurate primary colors.

The less-expensive of the two, model VPL-HW10 (September, $3,500), has the distinction of being the cheapest SXRD-based front projector yet. Its 35,000:1 contrast ratio is nothing to sneeze at, and we were surprised to see that Sony included panel adjustment on this model, too, albeit of the single-zone variety. For big-screen buyers seeking deep blacks on a budget, this littlest SXRD could be quite appealing. We'll try to review it as soon as we can.

Earlier this year, Sony hit a major benchmark by releasing the $400 BDP-S350, which was the company's first standalone Blu-ray with a retail price as low as the PS3. Sony's newly announced Blu-ray player, the BDP-S5000ES, is headed in exactly the opposite direction, aiming for the high end with a $2,000 list price and a bundle of enthusiast extras. Here's what you get for your two grand:

Key features of the Sony BDP-S5000ES:

• Blu-ray Profile 2.0
• Onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as bit stream output
• Quick start mode loads discs in 6 seconds
• Ethernet port for firmware and content
• Deep Color and x.v.Color support
• HD Reality Enhancer and Super Bit Mapping
• XrossMediaBar graphical user interface
• 7.1 analog outputs
• RS-232 and IR inputs
• Available in November, $2,000 list price

Altogether, the BDP-S5000ES hits all the major feature points we look for, plus some nice extras such as the quick start option and 7.1 analog outputs. As Sony explains it, the HD Reality Enhancer, "continually analyzes bit by bit of the original source, sharpening edges and reproducing detail, while reducing the effects of film grain." We haven't seen the technology yet, but it sounds similar to Toshiba's XDE technology, which adds edge enhancement to make images appear sharper, but in reality obscures real detail (we advised users to turn it off in our review of the XD-E500). Super Bit Mapping is supposed to "[deliver] smoother color gradation realizing true 14-bit equivalent color tone from 8-bit sources," but we'll have to do hands-on testing to see whether that's hype or there's actually an appreciable difference.

Of course, even with the extras, Sony is going to have a hard time justifying the $1,600 premium over the company's other excellent Blu-ray player, the multitalented PlayStation 3. It will also have standalone competition from Panasonic's newly released DMP-BD55, which has a similar feature set, including 7.1 analog outputs. There's certainly a niche market for these high-end Blu-ray players, but we're betting most buyers will be vastly better off with the comparatively cheap PS3.

The new KDL-52XBR7 will be the first HDTV with a 240Hz refresh rate.

(Credit: Sony)

Catering to those sensitive souls for whom the smoothness imparted by 120Hz LCD HDTVs is still too rough, Sony will introduce the first HDTV with a 240Hz refresh rate this December. Dubbed the KDL-52XBR7 (price TBD), this 52-inch model is the only one in the XBR7 series to boast the faster refresh rate.

According to Sony's press release, the main advantage of 240Hz compared with 120Hz is the "exceptional motion detail in movies, sports, and video games." Whereas standard 120Hz TVs in Sony's lineup interpolate an extra frame between the real frames, the 240Hz model interpolates three.

... Read more

The KDL-40ZX1M measures just 9.9mm thick.

(Credit: Sony)

At CES last January we told you "thin is in" in reference to flat-panel HDTVs this year, and Sony, despite neglecting to announce its own thin LCD back then, is never one to be left behind an emerging trend. Now the company jumps on board with what appears to be the thinnest flat-panel display yet, excepting the company's own OLED-based XEL-1.

The newly-announced 40-inch KDL-40ZX1M (price TBD, December) will boast a panel that measures just 9.9mm deep, which translates to about 0.39 inches in the good old U-S of A. There's no word on how deep the TV is with the base included.... Read more