Cramming Bluetooth, iPod capabilities, or even entirely too many speakers into a boombox are all fair game, but Yamada’s latest rendition manages to include a seven-inch LCD for an all-in-one home threatre for the studio apartment set. Sure, we’ve seen LCDs big and small within sound systems before, but this media-centric conglomerate actually takes the video side of its duties quite seriously; you’ll find support for DVB-T, DivX, DVDs, and MPEG4 movie files, while it even provides for a 5.1 output to cap off the “theater going experience.” Additionally, the system purportedly hooks up to your TV if the built-in screen begins to hurt your retinas, rips your CDs, and also plays nice with MP3s, JPEGs, and FM radio when your video collection runs dry. The system itself reportedly packs 30-watts of RMS power, connects to your PC via USB, and will set you back around €220 ($300).

[Via CNET]
more info
from engadget

Yamaha has announced an upscaling 1080p receiver for just shy of $1000, with many of the features normally reserved for more expensive models, like microphone-based speaker optimization, HDMI output, and XM and iPod compatibility. The RX-V861 will upconvert HDMI, S-Video, or component, and output via HDMI to your display, while accepting audio formats such as DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD digitally for output over its 7.1 channels. Four preset buttons on the front of the unit allow for quick switching between audio modes, including the seventeen flavors of DSP processing. The optional iPod dock allows for playback of audio and video through the receiver’s remote, which also controls XM satellite radio subscriptions. The RX-V861 will be available in May for a suggested retail of $999.95.

More info
from engadget

If you like your music done up digital, but would rather leave a computer out of the equation, Sony‘s new GIGA JUKE HDD-based system and deck should fit the bill nicely. The NAS-50HDE bookshelf system (pictured) features an 80GB drive, with room for tracks transferred from your computer, ripped from CDs, or recorded from radio and analog sources. Ripping takes place at a commendable 16x pace, and the system can handle tagging duties as well. There’s a 4.3-inch color display to browse through your tracks, and if you’d rather listen to your musics on the go, you can sync with your Sony Walkman, Walkman phone, PSP or other compatible MP3 player. The NAC-HD1E deck handles all those same duties, but loses the speakers, beefs up the audio componentry, and offers 250GB of storage. We wouldn’t mind a bit of internet radio or PC audio streaming thrown into the mix, but it looks like Sony isn’t interested. These two will be hitting Europe in May and June, respectively.

Gallery: Sony’s GIGA JUKE units store, rip and sync your music

  

More info
from engadget

Japan’s TransTechnology is back and ready to loose their latest all-media streamer, the DVX-700. The box will ship in two flavors — the tethered M10, or wireless 802.11b/g M20 — and comes packing a DVD player and removable 3.5-inch HDD (optional) for sneakernetting your data back-and-forth to an optional USB or IDE enclosure for your PC. Otherwise, you can push your media around via DLNA support with like-spec’d devices on the home network. The unit touts a Sigma Designs’ EM8620L media processor like the newer AVeL LinkPlayers we’ve already seen from I-O Data. As such, you can expect support for WMV HD, MPEG-1/2/4, XviD, WMV9 video; DVD-ripped ISO image files; and MP3, AAC, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, and WAV (PCM) audio. It even supports direct Google Video browsing and playback with the help of a USB keyboard and/or remote control. Video outs include DVI and Japan’s digital D4 both supporting up to 1080i. Yours in Japan starting tomorrow for Â¥27,800 ($237) with wires or Â¥30,800 ($264) without.

[Via Impress]
more info
from engadget

Linksys has a new wireless media adapter today, the KiSS 1600, which fairly synonymous with fellow router-pusher Netgear‘s Digital Entertainer HD. As expected, KiSS 1600 streams high def digital video, audio, and photos (sorry, we’re light on info about codecs) from the internet or any locally networked device straight to your TV set. And thanks to its HDMI connection, DVDs get upscaled 720p. Unfortunately the nitty-gritty specs are incog for now, but you’ll be able to purchase (not steal) a KiSS sometime soon for a hefty £259.99 (about $503).

[Via Wired]
more info
from engadget

AOpen’s miniPC has come a long way since their first-gen crack at a miniature PC. The new MP945-VDR miniPC Duo builds upon the MP945-VXR platform by slamming the Vista OS, dual-channel DDR2 memory (4GB max), 6x USB 2.0 ports, and a beefier power supply into an all black chassis. Otherwise, nothing else has changed — choice of Core 2 Duo procs, DVI and S/PDIF digital out, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g WiFi(optional), Bluetooth (optional), integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics, a mini PCI slot, DVD±RW optical drive, and choice of 2.5-inch SATA disk — which isn’t a bad thing.

[Via Impress]
more info
from engadget

In Japan, the hand can be used as a knife (HiiiiYa!) and bookshelf audio systems feature big LCDs for surfing on-line music. The NR-NX10 from Onkyo packs an 80GB disk drive to store all your downloaded tracks or any PCM/ATRAC/MP3 files you’ve ripped direct from its CD player. No, we’re not talking BitTorrent or Usenet downloads, devices like these grab tracks off Sony’s AnyMusic on-line service over their built-in Ethernet ports. But wait, there’s more. Own a USB mass-storage compliant audio player? Great, plug it in cause the BR-NX10 can grab those files too. Sure, it probably rocks DLNA streaming from your PC like other Onkyo systems… but can it cut a tomato? You might expect to pay Â¥150,000 or even Â¥200,000… but if you act now (ok, March when they ship) it can be yours for the low, low price of just Â¥94,500 (about $778). They’ll even throw in a pair of matching speakers for as little as Â¥18,900 (about $156).

[Via Impress]
more info
from engadget