Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

DVHS On A Budget

By

“Just as TiVo enthusiasts are getting used to having the ability to record all their favorite programs, HD has come along and changed things. A standard TiVo set can’t record HD content; you’ll have to shell out at least $500 for an HD-recording unit. Additionally, not everyone has TiVo, and many that do don’t get their local channels (where a lot of HD content is to be found) except through an antenna.

Amazingly enough, this has caused a renewed interest in VCRs—but VCRs that can record HD content. These HD-VCRs are great, but the tapes are expensive, and they make keeping a lot of HD content—such as an entire season of Stargate SG-1 or Alias—difficult, if not impossible. But a little bit of work and a lot of clever experimentation can get you around this limitation, keep you in HD content, and impress your buddies. “

Read more at eCoustics.com

Editors’ Recommendations

Ian Bell
Ian Bell
Publisher
I work with the best people in the world and get paid to play with gadgets. What's not to like?
HDMI ARC and eARC: the one-cable solution for TV audio, fully explained
Rear of Apple TV 4K.

If you're unboxing a brand new 4K TV, AV receiver, or soundbar, you've likely noticed a little symbol on at least one of the HDMI inputs that says "ARC," "HDMI ARC," or "ARC/eARC." Some of your current components may have these labels, too. If you're not sure what they mean, you aren't alone -- but it could be good news for simpler or higher-quality audio connections. ARC stands for "audio return channel," an HDMI protocol introduced in 2009.

While ARC capabilities are common on at least one HDMI port on devices like TVs and soundbars, not everyone is using this advanced standard to improve their entertainment setup. So we're taking a closer look at what ARC is, how it works, and what the upgraded version, known as "eARC," offers. Let's start with some important HDMI basics.
The HDMI superhighway

Read more
TCL’s 2023 soundbars are affordable, but lack a key feature
2023 TCL soundbars.

TCL has released its 2023 soundbar lineup, which consists of five new models ranging in price from $150 to $280. They offer features like wireless subwoofers and, in some cases, Dolby 5.1 surround sound. But none of the speakers is compatible with Dolby Atmos, the increasingly popular, immersive 3D surround format used by Netflix and other top streaming video services.

LG, Samsung, Sony, and even Roku make soundbars that are designed to work with their TVs -- typically offering some kind of audio sync system that lets the TV's built-in speakers share the audio load with the soundbar. Samsung takes this even further by letting you stream audio from your compatible Samsung TV to your soundbar, wirelessly, with Dolby Atmos support. However, with the exception of being Roku TV Ready (which lets you control the soundbar's settings using a Roku TV on-screen interface), TCL's new models appear to avoid any special features that are optimized for use with the company's 2023 TVs.

Read more
One of Samsung’s best 11.1.4 surround sound systems is $300 off
samsung q series 1114 channel surround sound system deal may 2023 hw q990b 11 1 4ch soundbar with wireless rear speakers and

There are a lot of great surround systems out there, and while it isn’t often you can catch a significant discount on one from a brand like Samsung, today you can save $500 on the Samsung HW-Q990B 11.1.4ch Soundbar with Wireless Rear Speakers and Subwoofer Bundle. This setup would regularly cost $1,900, but this deal brings the price down to $1,400. Samsung is including free shipping and easy returns with a purchase, and easy financing is available as well.

Why you should get the Samsung HW-Q990B 11.1.4ch Soundbar with Wireless Rear Speakers and Subwoofer Bundle
Samsung has long been one of the most well-known names in consumer electronics, and its Q-Series surround sound systems keep it at the top of a lot of people’s list when shopping for home theater equipment. This 11.1.4-channel setup is one of its more premium offerings. This channel designation comes from its 11 front-facing speakers, one subwoofer, and four up-firing channels.

Read more