Calibrate your TV to perfection with our free THX Optimizer glasses!
If you're a subscriber to What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, or you buy the November 2009 issue at Tesco, you'll get a free pair of THX Optimizer glasses. Alternatively, head on over to ebay where you can buy them online for just £6.
Once you've got your THX glasses, you can use them with any DVD disc containing the THX Optimizer to fine-tune your TV to get the best possible picture quality. Here's what you have to do:
OK, you’ve got your shiny new TV home, wired it up and set all your video sources to their best level of performance. So, you’ve achieved televisual nirvana, right? Nearly. The thing is, it’s a crowded market, with hundreds of big-brand TVs competing for your attention on the high street.
As a result, more-or-less every set you can buy is factory-preset to levels of brightness, contrast and colour that scream ‘look at me!’ from across the shop floor. Get your purchase home and look at it in the more natural light of your living room, and chances are it’ll appear unnaturally punchy and too bright, with little depth or nuance to its black or white shades, and an unnatural vibrancy to solid blocks of colour. It’ll also be consuming more power than it needs to.
Thankfully, sorting out your TV’s picture is easier and cheaper than you’d think: all it takes is a few minutes’ effort, a suitable THX-certified DVD disc (see below) and a pair of THX Optimizer glasses.
So what is the THX Optimizer? It’s a set of calibration patterns developed to aid consumers intent on achieving better picture quality, and it’s so effective we regularly use it in our testing process. Load it up and you’ll find a simple step-by-step series of picture test patterns.
Dig out your remote control, follow the instructions, and away you go. However, to get the very best results, you’ll also need some THX Optimizer glasses. Then simply follow the five tests below...
1) CONTRAST
The large white box in the centre is sub-divided up into eight small white boxes. Turn the contrast up until the brightest small box bleeds into the next, so you can no longer see the line dividing the two. Then very slowly turn the contrast down until you can just make out the eight distinct boxes.
2) BRIGHTNESS
Turn the brightness up slowly and you’ll see a THX logo in the middle of the screen. Turn it up even more, and you’ll also notice there is a drop shadow behind the logo. Now, very slowly, turn the brightness back down until you can’t see the drop shadow, and can only just make out the logo.
3) COLOUR AND TINT
This is the American NTSC test pattern: the British PAL version does much the same job, but uses six horizontal bars featuring alternating primary and secondary colours. With the glasses on, you should see a single shade of blue running across all the bars, with no variation in intensity.
4) DISPLAY PERFORMANCE
This test pattern is useful to check your TV’s sharpness – which is almost always set too high. See those vertical white lines near the bottom of the screen? Turn the sharpness up until these start to look fuzzy, noisy and indistinct, then slowly turn it back down until they look sharp, but are nonetheless stable.
5) ASPECT RATIO
If your Blu-ray or DVD player is set to the correct
16:9 widescreen mode, and your TV is in a similarly appropriate mode,
you should see the circle
in this pattern as a proper, perfectly
round ring. If it appears at all distorted (as shown here), make sure
that your kit is correctly set before proceeding!
WHAT IS THX?
THX was founded in 1983 by George Lucas’ company, Lucasfilm. THX stands for Tomlinson Holman’s eXperiment – Holman being the chief developer of the standard – and the name is also a reference to Lucas’ 1971 feature film, THX 1138.
The THX system aimed to serve as a technical standard-setter, a watchdog for cinematic performance that set qualitative benchmarks for speakers, amplifiers and acoustics with the aim of ensuring a better cinematic experience for an eager generation of Star Wars-enthused cinema goers.
Over the years, the company’s remit has expanded greatly to incorporate home cinema technology, including AV receivers and speaker packages, cabling, disc players, discs and, most recently, displays.
THX-APPROVED DVDs YOU MAY ALREADY OWN:
There are 335 THX-certified DVDs on the market (for a full list, visit www.thx.com). Selected highlights include the remastered Alien box-set, Finding Nemo, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Lion King, Pearl Harbor, Pirates of the Caribbean, all six Star Wars titles, Titanic and Toy Story (1 and 2).
Sadly at the moment there are no UK-specification Blu-ray discs that carry the Optimizer but a couple of titles have been released in other regions.
For more help on how to get the best from your TV, watch our 'How To' video.
UPDATED DAILY: Sound & Vision, The Manchester Show 2009
The weekend of the 17th and 18th of October will see the cream of the AV industry making its way to Manchester for the biggest consumer electronics show this year. The Renaissance Hotel, Blackfriars Street, Manchester city centre, will be the place to be...
October 2009 will see the debut of the newly relaunched Manchester Sound & Vision Show. The team that has made the Bristol Show so successful for 22 years will be working its magic in Manchester on the weekend of the 17th and 18th October. The annual Home Entertainment Show is getting a major facelift under the banner of the new expanded Audio T group, and we'll be there to join in the fun.
There's a brand new website – www.manchestershow.co.uk – packed with all the latest information. You'll also be able to buy the Awards issue before anyone else - and see the winners!
Why Manchester?
* The show is on the edge of Manchester's extensive shopping and entertainment district, with Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and many more shops, restaurants and bars within walking distance nearby
* Car parking is easy, with many local spaces, again within easy walking distance
* A great day out for all the family
* See the very first announcement of the What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Award winners for 2009 – and pick-up the magazine
*Visit the What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision stand at the Manchester Show to enjoy our unique AV demonstration and to pick the brains of the magazine's review team (below).
Awards and Advice
What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision magazine is delighted to have teamed up with the Show. As we do at the Bristol Sound & Vision Show, we will add a huge new interactive element to the event.
The What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision team will all be at the Show and will be available for advice on all things hi-fi and home cinema. We will also have a large demonstration room, featuring new and exclusive kit.
We will be announcing the results of the What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Awards 2009 at the Show. That means you can be the first to see our 2009 winners – and you'll be able to buy an early copy of the Awards issue before anyone else. Subscribe on the day and you'll also get a special gift!
The Details
* Saturday 17th October: 9.30am - 5pm
* Saturday 18th October: 10am - 5pm
* Renaissance Hotel, Blackfriars Street, Manchester, M3 2EQ
* The hotel is located in city centre Manchester
* Admissions: Adults £6, students/senior citizens (over 65) £3, accompanied children (under 16) free
* Tickets are only available on the day
PLEASE NOTE: there is no dedicated trade day. Trade and press visitors can pre-register for the show by visiting the show website. We look forward to seeing you there!
Travel details
The Renaissance Hotel (above) can be contacted on 0161 831 6000
BY ROAD From the north: take the M56 motorway to the City Centre. At the first roundabout, take the St Peter's Square exit. Follow the signs for Deansgate. The hotel is located at the end of Deansgate on Blackfriars St.
From the south: take the M6 towards Manchester and exit onto the M56 to A5130 Princess Parkway at the roundabout, straight over onto Medlock Street, left onto Whitworth Street, right onto Deansgate, second left for Blackfriars Street. The hotel is on the right.
PARKING Easy local parking next to the hotel. Further car parking is available nearby.
BY TRAIN There are two stations providing easy access. Victoria Station is only a five-minute walk, while Piccadilly Station is around a five-minute taxi ride, or an easy 10-minute walk.
BY AIR Manchester has its own international airport. It is well served by both the major and budget airlines.
MEET THE TEAM AND SEE 85 BRANDS!
Alphason Designs
Anatek Acoustics
Anthem AV Solutions
Anthem AV Solutions will be showing a range of multi award-winning products from Canadian brands Anthem and Paradigm, including the acclaimed Statement D2v pre-amp/AV processor from Anthem, and a range of stunning products from Paradigm, one of the world's largest manufacturers of high-quality speakers. The full range is now available in the UK for the first time.
Anthem D2v AV preamp/AV processor
Arcam
There's a UK first for Arcam with the unveiling of the firm's new AVR500 multichannel receiver, the more affordable version of its flagship AVR600 model. It's due on sale by the end of this year for around £2500 and will pump out 100W across all seven channels, as well as decode all the latest high-definition audo formats.
Arcam AVR500 makes its UK debut
Armour Home
Star of the Armour stand will be the Q-TV2 from Q Acoustics – visitors to Manchester will be the first to see it. This slim, 2.1 speaker system for flatscreen TVs boasts 100 watts of amplification and a 38mm-deep subwoofer. You'll also be able to see Q Acoustics new 2000 Series of conventional loudspeakers in exciting new designs and finishes, including 'piano white'.
What's more, there'll be fantastic 'show deals' on QED cables, plus the launch of new speaker cables and the company's new flagship 'Signature' interconnects. And check out the latest models from NAD, Myryad, Goldring and Grado,, plus stylish new iPod docks from danish company Scandyna.
Also on the Armour Home stand will be a 'Fun technology' section with new models from Kicker, Chumby, iDapt, uPlay, mi Football, Chumby and the Outcast Junior.
Q Acoustics Q-TV2
Audio Technica
BDI
Bowers & Wilkins
Star of the B&W stand will be its CM9 loudspeakers, which will be demonstrated in both stereo and surround systems, and will be powered by components from the new Rotel 15 Series. Other products from the brand's large range of hi-fi, home theatre, and new media speakers will also be on show.
Hear the B&W CM9 in stereo and surround set-ups
Canton
Chord Company
Chord's brand-new Solstice cable range will on demonstration at the show, along with the opportunity to hear and compare the full Chord Co range, before discussing your needs with the company's expert staff.
There'll be a special offer on Chord's five-star HDMI Active & HDMI SuperShield, as well as great deals on the full range, including What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision's Product of the Year speaker cable 2008, the Carnival SilverScreen.
The Cable Doctor and team will be available for technical advice to help you get the optimum cable match and the best performance from your system, regardless of size or budget.
Conran
Curvi Hi-Fi
These distinctive looking speakers are the Curvi Model 1 Version 2 (£3995/pr), which is the product of a fresh look at loudspeaker design that aims to marry state of the art sound quality with stunning aesthetics. The speaker has been four years in development and has drawn on the combined skills of Christopher Liauw and Christien Ellis of CE Electroacoustics.
Curvi Model 1, version 2
Cyrus
The Manchester show will be the launch event for a still top-secret new model from Cyrus. More details will be released on the Cyrus website in early October, but we're assured it will be definitely be worth visiting the show to see.
The new model will be playing together with the latest XP amplifier models, and Cyrus is asking visitors to bring a favourite disc with them so they can demonstrate just how advanced the latest models have become. Intriguing stuff!
Dali
Catch a glimpse of the new Dali Fazon surround speakers at Manchester. The curved aluminium cabinets look resplendent in their gloss black lacquer finish, and the figure-hugging magnetic speaker grille peels away to reveal a two-way loudspeaker.
The satellites use 4.5in wood-fibre cone, mid-bass driver and 1.1in soft-dome tweeter. You can read our full review of them in the November issue of What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, on sale now.
Dali Fazon 5.1 speaker package
Denon
Denon will be taking the opportunity to show many new products at this year's event. These will include new hi-fi stereo separates and a new two-piece mini system as well as a full line up of AV models for 2009-10.
Key among the new models this year are the £599.99 DBP-2010 Blu Ray/DVD Player and the £449.99 AVR-1910 AV receiver. Denon also invite you to experience surround sound with a new dimension using a new generation of top-line AV receivers with Audyssey DSX technology. Come and check out this new experience! We also expect other new Denon products to be unveiled at the show.
Denon AVR-1910 multichannel receiver
Dynaudio
Dynaudio's Excite loudspeakers will be on display in a High Gloss Black finish and demonstrated in a 5.1 system to show off the pure musical fun that this range is capable of.
The What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Award-winning Excite X32 floor-standing speakers will be complemented by an X22 centre, X12 rear speakers and Sub300 and all driven by the highly acclaimed Arcam AVR600 receiver.
Electrocompaniet
Epson
Fatman
Focal
The revised Electra Be line from Focal will make its debut at
Manchester. The range has been evolved to benefit from the advances
achieved during the development of the new Utopia series. A new
Beryllium dome profile allows the tweeter improved response in the
lower spectrum, and, combined with new crossovers, better blending with
the midrange and greater harmonic richness.
Two new finishes – Champagne and Basalt – join the traditional Slate Grey.
Focal Electra Be has been improved
Goldring
Grado
Henley Designs
Turntable enthusiasts should check out the Henley stand, where the company will launch its Ortofon Cadenza Bronze cartridge.
Ortofon Cadenza Bronze cartridge
Hi End
JVC
JVC will be showcasing the new LT-32WX50 LED slim monitor, perfect for digital imaging enthusiasts using high-end digital SLR cameras. The company will also display its 'True Black' range of projectors, Blu-ray player systems and the new Everio X HD camcorder.
KEF
KEF will occupy both Bernini and El Greco suites at this year's Manchester Sound and Vision Show. The first suite will be dedicated to its iQ Series, with two-channel and multi-channel demonstrations set to impress all visitors throughout the weekend.
The second suite will feature the company's revised KHT speaker packages. And the company is promising " something completely new and exciting," but details remain under wraps for now. KEF's staff will also be on hand to answer any questions regarding KEF products, past and present.
KEF's new KHT2005.3 KI speaker package
Marantz
Marantz will unveil its 'Pearls', for their first UK showing. Designed by legendary audio designer Ken Ishiwata, to celebrate his 30th anniversary with Marantz, the PM-KI amplifier and SA-KI SACD player will accompany a pair of Mordaunt-Short's new Performance 2 loudspeakers.
Also expect exclusive showings of the SR6004 receiver, along with its matching Blu-ray player. The much anticipated slim-line receiver and Blu-ray player pair also debut, while the stunning new budget stars, the CD6003 and PM6003, will be out in force. Further Marantz products on display will include the SA8003 SACD player.
Marantz Pearl SA-KI SACD player
Monitor Audio
Want to see Monitor Audio's brand-new, super-slim Silver RX range of mid-market speakers? Then pop along to the Manchester Show where all models in the range will be on display. They feature new RX drivers, a HiVeII (High Velocity) reflex port and bolt-through driver design. There are two standmounters, two floorstanders, a centre speaker, surround speaker and subwoofer.
NAD
Naim Audio
This year's show will see Naim demonstrating it's one-box NaimUniti. With its impressive feature set including internet radio, UPnP streaming, CD and DAB/FM radio, music fans will be able to experience the latest in all-in-one audio.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience Naim's first ever stand-alone digital to analogue converter. The DAC is the world's first audiophile digital-to-analogue converter to feature Apple Authentication for digital output from iPod and iPhone devices. Moreover the DAC is a significant upgrade for high-end digital sources, such as Naim's CDX2 CD player and HDX hard disk player and Naim will be demonstrating this along with its new loudspeaker, the Ovator S-600.
Naim NaimUniti
Onkyo
Onkyo, the UK's No1 home cinema receiver brand, will be giving pride of place at Manchester to its new line of high-end AV receivers, the TX-NR5007, TX-NR3007 and TX-NR1007. Fully equipped with audio networking capabilities this trio of 9.2-channel THX Ultra2 Plus-certified receivers represent the latest state in high definition home cinema audio.
Joining them will be the exciting new PR-SC5507 9.2-channel Network Controller plus the ND-S1 Digital Media Transport, a dock with a major difference. It lets you tap off the digital audio stream from an iPod/iTouch/iPhone and send it to a better quality standalone/receiver DAC.
Optimum
Ortofon
Panasonic
Panasonic will show off its
flagship 1080p Wireless Z1 series TV at Manchester, as well as displaying its 2009 V10 series, G15 and G10 series flatscreen TVs and the UK's first Blu Ray recorder. This will be Panasonic's debut at the Sound & Vision show, where it will display screens from 19 to 65in, many using next-generation Neo-PDP plasma display panels.
Panasonic TX-P46Z1 wireless plasma
Pioneer
One of the highlights on the Pioneer stand will be the UK debut of the recently announced iPod speaker system. With a 2.1-channel digital amplifier it provides precise sound reproduction and warm acoustics, while a down-firing subwoofer supplies dynamic and powerful bass, claims Pioneer.
Other exciting Pioneer products that will be shown include the new range of Blu-ray disc players, DVD and Blu-ray home cinema systems, the high-end SC-LX82 AV receiver and the company's new G-Clef line-up of audiophile stereo products.
Pioneer SC-LX82 AV receiver
Pro-Ject
ProAc
ProAc will be demonstrating selected products from its extensive ranges at October's Manchester Show. The firm has recently launched its Response D1 standmount (£1395) and Response D18 floorstander (£1995) loudspeakers, and this autumn will see the launch of a new flagship model, the ProAc Carbon Pro Eight priced at £22,500.
Pure Sound
Q Acoustics
Star of the Q Acoustics stand will be the Q-TV2 clip-on speaker system and the new 2000 Series of hi-fi and home cinema speakers. See entry under Armour Home.
QED
There'll be fantastic 'show deals' on QED cables, plus the launch of
new speaker cables and the company's new flagship 'Signature'
interconnects.
Quad
Roksan
Rotel
Samsung
Sonos
Sony
Soundstyle
Stuff magazine
Sugden
van den Hul
Vita Audio
New from Vita Audio at Manchester will be its R1 MkII DAB/DAB+/FM table radio. Also on show will be the R4 music system along with the company's recently introduced R2i iPod docking system.
Vita Audio R2i iPod docking system
Wharfedale
Check out the new, highly-acclaimed Wharfedale Diamond 10 speaker range at Manchester, with improved drive units, a more rigid enclosure, polymer-finished front baffle and high-gloss finish.
WHAT HI-FI? SOUND AND VISION
The entire editorial team will be on hand throughout the wekend to help with all your hi-fi and home cinema queries. And don't forget we'll have all our 2009 Award winners on display – plus you'll be able to buy the special Awards issue early, before it's even on sale in the shops!
WireFreeHiFi
WireFreeHiFi, part of DIP International in Cambridge, will use the Manchester Sound & Vision Show as the launchpad for Digifi's iPod-compatible version of its Digital Opera wireless earbuds.
The
S5 joins the existing Opera S2 model, and is fitted with an iPod
adaptor, plus volume and track control buttons. Using low power Kleer
wireless audio technology, transmitting on the 2.4Ghz waveband, the S5
in-ear headphones have a range of up to 10m (32 feet) and a listening
time of 10 hours. They cost £85.
Digifi's Digital Opera S5 wireless earphones
Yamaha
The latest Yamaha receivers will be on show, alongside iPod peripherals including the TSX Audio System and the PDX wireless dock. Yamaha's Air-Wired technology sends a lossless signal from the iPod to the speaker system, with no transmission delay.
Soavo1 speakers will be shown in their stunning new Piano Black finish, with the matching CDS2000 CD player and AS2000 amplifier. Component systems, including the MCS1330, will also be displayed.
Yamaha MCS1330 iPod/mini hi-fi system
Micromega makes its UK comeback
Micromega owner Didier Hamdi (right) with Ricardo Franassovici
I spent a fascinating day in Paris yesterday with Didier Hamdi, the new owner of French hi-fi company Micromega.
Hamdi is an intriguing character: he was a world motorcycle champion in 1991, owns a string of successful engineering businesses in France (including the company that lights the Eiffel Tower), sells motorbikes and even has his own travel agency.
He’s also a life-long audiophile with a passion for music, which partially explains his latest acquisition – Micromega – which he bought from the receiver in March 2007 after it ran into financial difficulties.
Those with long memories will remember that Micromega dropped out of the UK market about a decade ago, leaving some customers stranded and with a string of reliability problems.
The company’s new owner does not gloss over the firm’s troubled past.
“During the last year and a half we felt obliged to clean up some of the problems suffered by previous Micromega owners who were abandoned in the UK ten years ago, and in France three years ago,” says Hamdi. “Although most products were out of warranty, we tried to help customers anyway to restore the Micromega name.”
At the same time, Hamdi and his engineers have completely redesigned and re-engineered the Micromega product range to develop the 11 products that are now being sold as part of the 2009 line-up.
“Our aim is to provide reliable, functional products that offer value for money and excellent musical performance,” he says.
There is one remaining link with the company’s past, however. Micromega’s founder, Daniel Schar, is now head of R&D and will work closely with Hamdi on all product development.
Sound and Color's Paris showroom
As we’ve already reported in our news channel, Micromega is bringing its products to the UK through distributor Absolute Sounds, run by managing director Ricardo Franassovici.
Absolute Sounds is an interesting choice of partner for the French firm. Best known in the UK for its range of high-end brands, Franassovici admits that adding a more affordable range of hi-fi components to its portfolio is something of a departure for him.
However, he has known Didier Hamdi personally for some time and is convinced he’s a man he can do business with.
“Micromega has been responsible for many audio innovations in the past, particularly in the field of CD replay,” he explains. “With new ownership reinvigorating the brand, there are exciting times ahead.”
The initial product range coming to the UK comprises 11 products, ranging from £698 to £1998. There are three CD players, three integrated stereo amps, a stereo preamp, two power amps, an FM tuner and a surround preamp/processor.
Each component is designed and manufactured in France, and the full range is as follows:
CD-10 CD player £799 (below)
CD-20 CD player £1222
CD-30 CD player £1599 (above)
FM-10 radio tuner £698 (above)
IA-60 integrated amp £888 (above)
IA-100 integrated amp £1199
IA-180 integrated amp £1698
PA-20 stereo preamp £1290
PW-250 stereo power amp £1500
PW-400 stereo power amp £1998
AVP-180 AV preamp/processor £1680
Yesterday I got to hear some of the new hi-fi range in action. We visited Sound and Colors, a specialist hi-fi dealer in the centre of Paris, who are one of the top Micromega retailers in the French capital.
They’d set up two of their demo rooms for us. The first was running a Micromega IA-180 integrated amp and CD-30 CD player, coupled to a pair of Kharma 3.2 speakers (see below). The electronics cost £3297, and the speakers will set you back about £10,000.
Micromega IA-180 amp, CD-30 CD player and Kharma 3.2 speakers
System 2 was even more upmarket, with a CD-30, plus a PA-20 stereo preamp and a pair of 400W PW-400 power amps driving the huge Magiko M5 speakers you can see in the picture. They’re made in California, and cost a cool 100,000 Euros a pair!
Micromega CD-30, PA-20 preamp, 2 x PW-400 and Magiko M5
After a short listening session to a mix of classical and jazz, we were given a sneak preview of the next Micromega product to be launched in November.
The rather unassuming silver box you can see in the picture below (sitting on top of the CD player) is a prototype of the forthcoming WM-10 AirStream WHiFI.
Didier Hamdi takes up the story: “I was sick of my kids listening to poor quality compressed music on their iPods through my home hi-fi system, so I decided four months ago to develop a unit that would connect wirelessly to iTunes on my computer and stream to the hi-fi.”
The result is AirStream, designed specifically to work with iTunes and licensed by Apple. You simply plug the unit into your hi-fi in the conventional way, and it will receive music streamed via wi-fi 802.11 from any PC or Mac computer. It’s expected to cost under 1,000 Euros when it goes on sale in November. You can read more about the AirStream in Richard Melville's blog.
Of course, such wireless transmission of music is not new, but Micromega says the AirStream acts as a wireless DAC and claims that lossless music files ripped on to a computer and played back through the AirStream will sound as a good as a CD.
We’ll have to wait until we test the finished item to make a judgement on that. But more intriguingly, Micromega plans to build AirStream into all its source components in the future. The first of those is likely to be the Micromega AirStream CD100, a CD player with wi-fi streaming capability built in.
In the meantime, we hope to get some of the 2009 hi-fi range in for review. We’ll let you know as soon as we do.
