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Pioneer HTP-GS1

 

pioneer-htp-gs1It’s definitely important to clarify that the HTP-GS1 isn’t just an Xbox 360 sound system; as it uses standard optical audio inputs any compatible bit of gear can be connected for audio output. The HTP-GS1 itself is a 600W 5.1-channel surround sound system with three digital audio inputs. Two of these are optical, with one labelled specifically for the Xbox 360, although again that’s just a labelling convenience — as well as a coaxial optical and standard analogue stereo input.

The HTP-GS1 uses Pioneer’s Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC) system to easily let you calibrate the speakers depending on your room setup; this uses a small provided calibration microphone to adjust the exact position of each speaker for optimal sound. With an eye to the fact that not everybody in your living room may want cables snaking all around the room, the HTP-GS1 also offers a front “virtual” surround sound setting where you stack the rear speakers on top of the front ones. It’s very simple to set this up and/or knock it down when you want to return to full surround sound glory.

The HTPGS1 is a novel system, and there’s nothing else quite like it on the market. Aesthetically, it blends perfectly with the system. Using the same smooth white plastic finish, silver details and curvy edges, the two products sit comfortably side by side. If there’s one complaint we would have, and this is being really picky, it’s that the power light should really have been green, not blue, but aside from that, Pioneer has done a good job of replicating the design. The four small satellite speakers sit unobtrusively in the corners, while the subwoofer, which handles all the connections and inputs, can be tucked out of sight. The small control panel, which contains the screen, can then be placed somewhere near the console. Setting things up is easy, with colour coded wires and simple proprietary plugs.

The next stage of setup is to use the automatic calibration microphone, a feature that is fast becoming ubiquitous in the home theatre market. This small attachment listens to a series of test tones output by the system and adjusts the volume of each speaker accordingly. We actually thought it made the rear speakers a little too quiet, but it’s no problem to manually adjust speaker settings later using the control panel. Finally. you just connect the using its optical audio cable and you’re up and running. An auxiliary digital optical connection is also provided, enabling additional external devices to be connected. The remote control is excellent, as it merges all the buttons from the Xbox remote with others to control surround modes and auxiliary inputs.



pioneer-ev7dvdHigh-power surround package including 3-way bass-reflex floor-standing front speakers. Full-range center/surround speakers Features 3-way bass-reflex floor-standing front speakers with : 20cm cone woofer 8cm cone midrange 4cm dome tweeter Full-range. 8.3cm cone center and surround speakers Magnetically-shielded Maximum power.

The Pioneer EV7DVD lacks the hardware to be upgraded to Blu-ray Profile 1.1, but its LAN connection does at least allow it to go online and download new firmware.

This is a significant boon. While taken for granted with HD DVD, it’s still rare on dedicated Blu-ray machines. It’s also fully-compatible with both Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio, giving cinephiles access to every audio format in use.

Features
  • RMS 100W x 2 (front)
  • 100W x 3 (center, surround)
  • 50W x 2 (subwoofer)
  • 5 functions (DVD/DECK/Tuner/USB/Line)
  • DVD/SVCD/VCD/CD player
  • Progressive Scan (PAL/NTSC)
  • Built-in DTS/Dolby Digital Decoder
  • Dolby Pro Logic II
  • DivX Playback
  • WMA (Windows Media Audio)
  • MP3 Playback
  • MPEG-4 AAC Playback
  • Photo Viewer (JPEG Playback*)
  • PHOTO + MUSIC MIX
  • PLAYLIST for easy song selection
  • GigaByte Music (DVD Data Disc Playback)
  • Full Karaoke Functions
  • TV Preset Remote Control
  • FM/AM 30 Preset Stations
  • Auto Reverse Cassette Deck
  • Music Search
  • 16cm + 5.2cm 2-way Front and Surround Speakers
  • 7.7cm Center Speaker
  • 16cm Twin Subwoofers
    *Fujicolor CDs and Kodak picture CDs can be played back.


Pioneer DEH-P8850MP

 

21.jpgFor easy maintenance and CD tuner surprises, this thing is a good choice. It surely goes beyond just giving music. Pioneer has come up with a great product once again.It’s such a unique Cd turner that can easily be endeared to you. It has full color OEL (Organic Electro-Luminescent) display with 65,000 colors. It’s customizable, versatile, and it can really surprise you.Much more than a CD player, the DEH-P8850MP can bring your music to life – and in life-like color, too! The new Full-Color OEL display is the first thing that will catch your eye. But the beauty of this model goes deep, with outstanding sound quality features such as built-in DSP (Digital Signal Processor, enhances EEQ) and 16-Band Graphic EQ, and much more.Featuring a full-color dot-matrix OEL (Organic EL) display, this slick Pioneer head-unit is the latest in its line, offering built-in DSP, Multi-language display(English/Spanish/Portuguese) and a Burr Brown D/A Converter.



Pioneer DVR-645H-S

 

11.jpgSoft launched recently, the new-generation DVR-645H-S and 745H-S represent the pinnacle of Pioneer’s DVR range. Besides sporting high-capacity hard drives, both recorders are also ahead of the pack with onboard HD-ready HDMI and USB connectivity. Read on as we test drive the 250GB 645H-S to bring you an indepth analysis of this promising recorder.Bright blue and red LEDs on the front signify whether you are in hard disk drive (HDD) or DVD mode, and will play back or record to the selected device. The 56-button remote is silver on the front and black on the back with large finger grooves.

Nothing in particular really stands out as striking in terms of the 645H’s design, which isn’t to say it’s an unattractive DVD recorder, just that Pioneer has focused more on its functionality than appearance. Weighing in at around 4.4kg and measuring 420 x 318 x 69mm, the 645H has been given a standard silver finish with a black horizontal stripe across the front. Underneath the stripe is a flip-down panel which gives access to two USB ports–type A and B–as well as DV, S-video, composite-video and stereo analog inputs. Pioneer strangely hides the playback controls behind this panel, too, but as the remote control gets used the majority of the time, we can understand their rationale to keep it out of sight.

At the back of the unit are the rest of the connections, which include HDMI, component-video and two sets of composite/S-video and stereo analog outputs. There are also a further two inputs at the back for recording from sources such as settop boxes. Unfortunately though, the 645H has no control over external devices so you’re stuck having to tediously program separate timers. A coaxial digital output is also here, but no optical audio.



Pioneer PDP-506HDG

 

7.jpgPioneer’s latest reiteration of its popular 1,090mm (43-inch) and 1,270mm (50-inch) plasma TVs have not changed all that much in looks; they’re still framed in black glass, a slick design that looks smart in most home theater environmentsBut inside, Pioneer’s 6th-generation plasma screens boast new technologies that improve picture-quality and reduce energy consumption. The Pioneer-dubbed “Pure Black” panels have been designed to improve the stability of color discharge from the plasma cells, which produces purer colors, particularly at the ends of the color spectrum with “blacker” blacks and “whiter” whites. The screens also include a Direct Color Filter that reduces light reflections from the outside of the panel (as well as from the panel itself) to improve contrast levels in bright environments.

Pioneer has also enhanced the PDP-506HDG’s video processing and digital noise reduction technologies. It is high definition-ready (HD) and handles both industry standard HD video formats (1080i and 720p) plus it now includes HDMI connectivity. On the audio side, Pioneer has added a subwoofer pre-out to TV sound for more bass.Nice as this panel is, you’re still going to have to fork out for a digital tuner–the Pioneer roadmap for an integrated console is still 18 months away.There’s always something bigger and better coming down the line in the flat screen TV world, and in Pioneer’s case, it’s a “true HD” 1,920 x 1,080 resolution screen. Pioneer’s first demonstration of this panel is set to be on show at the CES show in Las Vegas in January 2006.Pioneer concedes that smaller, lighter-weight LCDs may be the way to go for a secondary TV in bedrooms and kitchens, but maintains that the picture quality limitations of LCDs are exposed at larger screen sizes. Therefore, the company is sticking to its big-screen plasma guns, pouring all its research and development efforts into its large size plasmas, which they argue should be the centerpiece for a home’s main TV viewing area. The 6th-generation PDP-506HDG does produce a beautiful picture, so we tend to agree.