Home Theater Week in Review, September 19-23, 2011: Lutron Motorized Shades; Panasonic TH-65VX300 3D Plasma

by Oliver Amnuayphol

 

Looking for a simple way to add some wow to your home theater? Check out these new cordless, motorized shades from Lutron. That's right, cordless! Dubbed Sivoia QS Wireless, the battery-powered system works on a proprietary wireless RF technology called Clear Connect which is also utilized in Lutron's next-gen systems, including Maestro Wireless, Radio Powr Savr sensors, GRAFIK Eye QS, and Radio RA 2. What's more, Sivoia QS Wireless lets you choose between cellular shades and venetian blinds, is scalable from one to multiple rooms, and is available in a variety of color and finish options. Like nearly all Lutron products, the QS Wireless system also integrates seamlessly with other Lutron home automation products. Sivoia Wireless products are available now.

Panasonic recently took the wraps off of their new pro line 65" 3D plasma, the TH-65VX300. Word on the street is this one's a show stopper, possessing excellent picture quality and brightness for such a large 3D display. Designed for broadcast monitoring and high-end custom installations, the VX300 features over 12,000 steps of gradation, can reproduce the DCI color gamut, and is also Rec.709, SMPTE-C, and EBU compliant. What's more, its open-architecture design features circuit-board slots to tailor the number and types of inputs to your liking, and its internal scaler can be bypassed in favor of an outboard model as well. At $6250 MSRP, this panel ain't cheap; but if Panny's history of producing quality-focused plasmas is anything to go by, this model should prove to be a stunner as well. Ships mid-October.

Movie Releases for This Week.

DVD: Transformers: Dark of the Moon; Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary; Trigun: Badlands Rumble; Nirvana: Live at the Paramount; Treasure Island; The Ledge; Carlos; The Phantom Carriage.    

Blu-ray: Transformers: Dark of the Moon; Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary; Trigun: Badlands Rumble; Treasure Island; The Ledge; Carlos; The Phantom Carriage.    

Movie Releases for Last Week.

DVD: Thor; The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fourth Season; Blue Wild Angel: Live at the Isle of Wight; The Dog Who Saved Halloween; Wishful Drinking.

Blu-ray: Star Wars: The Complete Saga; Star Wars: The Original Trilogy; Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy; O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Trainspotting; The Count of Monte Cristo; Incendies.