220 to 110 converter

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Blu-Ray Disc Player: Excellent picture quality on Blu-ray and DVD; DVD upconversion up to 1080p; HDMI output. Right off the bat everyone in the room noticed the image quality from the Blu-Ray Disc Player S300, it’s always comforting when the results right out of the box are at least on par with expectations, surpassing them is of course a nice bonus.

The SONY BDP-S300 Blu-Ray Disc Player is an important product, giving Blu-ray some much needed traction in the affordable player category. Combine that with recent news from rental powerhouse Blockbuster that it is expanding Blu-ray titles in its stores (at the expense of HD DVD in most cases), and the BDP-S300 looks like a no-brainer.

HQV Benchmark Results: The BDP-S300 Blu-Ray Disc Player scored very well with the standard definition HQV benchmark disc, it passed most of the tests with flying colors and was able to lock onto the 3:2 film cadence test faster than many other of the DVD and BD/HD players tested recently.

o Color Bar/Vertical Detail: Pass – Score 10 of 10

o Jaggies Pattern 1: Pass – Score 5 of 5

o Jaggies Pattern 2: Pass – Score 3 of 5

o Flag: Pass – Score 10 of 10

o Picture Detail: Pass – Score 10 of 10

o Noise Reduction: Pass – Score 10 of 10

o Motion Adaptive Noise Reduction: Pass – Score 10 of 10

o 3:2 Detection: Pass – Score 10 of 10

o Film Cadence: Pass – Score (Combined) 40 of 40

o Mixed 3:2 Film, Horizontal Text Crawl: Pass – Score 10 of 10

o Mixed 3:2 Film, Vertical Text Crawl: Pass – Score 10 of 10

o Total Score: 128 out of a possible 130.

And the remote is a good one- it controls both the player and a television.

Unlike Sony’s first-gen BDP-S1 (and Pioneer Elite’s BDP-HD1) the BDP-S300 will play back CDs, either from its analog audio outputs or any of its digital audio outputs, including HDMI.

Once loaded and running, the BDP-S300 performed like a gold medalist. The best Blu-ray Discs looked sensational at either 1080p/60 or 1080p/24. And for those using 720p displays, or displays that will not accept 1080p inputs, the player also performed beautifully when set for either a 720p or 1080i output.

The Sony BDP-S300 Multi-Region Blu-Ray is a sure winner

The Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray player is a good one, with superb playback quality from Blu-ray Discs, and solid upconversion of standard definition DVDs for your legacy collection.

Description: Everyone will marvel at the stunning sound and picture quality of this second-generation Blu-ray Disc player. With remarkable features and versatile performance, the BDP-S300 is an amazing value.

BDP-S300 Strengths: Picture Quality

Strengths: Great picture and excellent sound

Weaknesses: None for me

Summary: I bought this Blu-Ray player last July to watch movies and it has worked flawlessly for me from day 1. I am not a viewer who will use picture in picture (which this does not have) nor do I play any of the games which are on some of the discs. I wanted a Blu-Ray player which gives me full HD video and great sound. The audio sounds great on my surround sound system when I use it. Sometimes I just use the TV speakers and the audio is excellent. If you are interested in a Blu-Ray player with outstanding video and excellent sound this player is for you.

Strengths: Plays Blu-Ray Discs, upconverts standard DVDs. Full 1080p output. Good array of audio outputs.

Strengths: Great picture when playing Blu ray Disk. Connected all audio connections at once except Coax, and all worked automatically…Great sound.

While the Sony BDP-S300 is an entry level Blu-ray player, entry level doesn’t necessarily mean cheap. You’re getting a capable high definition video player. VD’s is lackluster at best and it only decodes Dolby Digital Plus. If you already have a capable upconverting DVD player and don’t care about the decoding of Dolby TrueHD and the myriad of high definition DTS formats, this may be the Blu-ray player for you.

Summary: Sony has finally come out their second generation Blu-ray player at half the original price of the original! The BDP-S300 looks like a bargain compared to their previous BDP-S1 model.

Besides the cost benefit, you get more with this player. Unlike the previous model the S300 can play CDs in addition to DVDs. In addition, it seems to load slightly faster than the previous model.

All in all, the BDP-S300 delivers what it promises.

The new BDP-S300 model can output 1920 x 1080p (progressive) high-definition video, currently the highest resolution high-definition signal available through an HDMI(TM) connection. The player supports various video formats, including MPEG2, MPEG4-AVC and VC1.

For those who own an HDTV set without HDMI, an analog component output for 1080i (interlaced) is available as well.

The new BD player is compatible with most standard DVDs and has the added feature of 1080p upscaling through HDMI to 1080p capable HDTVs, improving the picture performance of existing DVD libraries.

Watching PIRATES I and PIRATES II I found the picture striking and vivid with no artifacts. My receiver is a delivers 5.1 DD so I am unable to take advantage of the uncompressed PCM codec. However, the Dolby digital audio track was quite impressive. All things considered, this an excellent player at a very good price.

This is an excellent BD Player for under $500! The picture quality is awesome!

Excellent upscaler quality for DVD movies

Below is mentioned that it can’t be made region free. Only partially true. A California company already sells this model in a Multiregion (multi-region) version. It can play any Region A and B Blu-Ray Disc movie and display it on any TV that has HDMI input, regardless of video standard (PAL-SECAM-NTSC etc.)

This is a unit that we would buy for ourselves if it weren’t for the fact that we couldn’t make it region free, because we have a huge DVD collection with movies from regions 1 and 4. If you are going to play only region-free (“region 0″) or region 1 discs then this unit is a great pick, especially because its cost/benefit ratio: great price and excellent image quality for DVDs – if the relative slowness of this unit doesn’t bother you.

I haven’t gone through all the bells and whistles yet, but the picture quality just floored me. Even my wife who really doesn’t get the whole ‘high def thing’ was greatly impressed. We watched Pirates/Caribbean 2 and couldn’t believe the quality.

Pros: Excellent picture quality, inexpensive for a Blu-ray player, offers HDMI upscaling to 1080p

Anyone looking to experience the formidable pleasures of watching movies on Blu-ray Disc, and at a reasonable startup cost, is advised to check out Sony’s BDP-S300.

This is a magnificent Blu-ray DVD player. It enhances regular DVD viewing and presents Blu-ray discs in full 1080p (if you have a 1080p HDTV).

The video and sound quality is amazing!

Very good product for the money. Well worth getting if you want to get the best picture from your large widescreen HDTV.

“I have owned this Blu-ray player about 2 weeks. I purchased my first Blu-ray movie this past weekend and I was blown away by the full 1080p picture that it produces and the full digital sound is awesome. Be sure to purchase an hdmi cable for this player and you will not be disappointed. It will also upconvert standard DVD’s to near HD quality.”

Have this unit for a week and love it. Bought it for my husband from appliance bestbuys the price was great the units great and I would definitely tell everyone to buy this one if they want a good Blu ray without emptying their wallets.

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Do you know if you’re eating the right amount? Are you overweight, underweight, or concerned about your partner or children’s eating habits? With so much different nutrition advice around, it can be hard to know if you’re doing the right thing.

The official calorie guidelines are relatively straightforward, though. Here’s all you need to know:

Calorie guidelines for men

The UK Department of Health estimates that the average man needs 2,550 calories per day in order to maintain his weight. This assumes that the man has a fairly sedentary job, but meets the Government’s guidelines on exercise (at least five thirty-minute sessions of moderate exercise per week.)

Men with active jobs (such as bricklayers, personal trainers, shopworkers on their feet all day) will require more calories. Large, muscular men will also need more calories than small, slender men.

Calorie guidelines for women

The average woman needs 1,940 calories per day in order to maintain her weight. As before, this assumes the woman has an inactive job but gets regular exercise.

Women with active jobs will require more calories, and larger, taller women will require more calories than slightly-build women.

When pregnant and breastfeeding, women do need to eat extra calories as follows:

No extra calories during the first trimester (first three months) of pregnancy
200-300 extra calories per day during the second and third trimesters (three – nine months) of pregnancy
300-500 extra calories per day whilst breastfeeding

It is important not to diet whilst pregnant unless under your doctor’s advice, as this can put your baby’s health at risk.

Calorie guidelines for children and teenagers

Children need a relatively large number of calories compared to their size, as they are growing. These are approximate requirements, though active, tall children will need more calories than shorter, inactive children. Boys generally require more calories than girls. Note that teenagers between 15-18 typically need more calories than adults.

Boys:

Aged 1-3: 1,230
Aged 4-6: 1,715
Aged 7-10: 1,970
Aged 11-14: 2,220
Aged 15-18: 2,755

Girls:

Aged 1-3: 1,165
Aged 4-6: 1,545
Aged 7-10: 1,740
Aged 11-14: 1,845
Aged 15-18: 2,110

In all cases, the calorie guidance is an average, and you should check with a doctor before starting a diet.

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Perhaps you have decided to build an infrared sauna in your own home or office, and you are now wondering about the different electric infrared heaters available to you. Or maybe you are just curious about how infrared heaters work. Whatever your reason for wanting to know more, this article is the perfect source for infrared heating element information.

Infrared heaters are composed of thin, flat sheets or plates. It is imperative with infrared radiation that a large surface area is covered. The widest, tallest infrared heaters will generally be the best at doing their jobs and effectively emitting the infrared radiation the sauna needs. Some infrared heater manufacturers make infrared heaters that come in the form of incoloy rods, but these will not be effective or efficient because of the small surface area that they cover.

The vast majority of infrared heaters are made out of carbon fiber, but there are ceramic and steel heaters as well. There are various claims out there about what material is best for a heater, but one sure way to know how one heater stacks up against another is researching its emissivity. Emissivity is the measure of an object’s ability to emit far infrared radiation. It ranges from 0 to a perfect blackbody 1.0. Ceramic heaters have the highest emissivity value, meaning that they are best able to emit far infrared radiation. Taking a look at the light spectrum will show that there is both infrared radiation and far infrared radiation. Though any of the standard materials will heat the sauna, the health benefits of infrared will be most pronounced with ceramic heaters.

Placement of the heating elements in an infrared sauna is also an influential factor in how well they work. Infrared saunas require multiple heaters so that they are emitting radiation evenly all throughout the sauna. One drawback of infrared radiation is that it doesn’t travel very far, so the heaters need to be placed relatively close to users. At the very least, the sauna room needs to have an appropriate number of heaters for its area. Sauna users should be absorbing the light from all around them, including the back and the front.

One important thing to understand is that infrared heaters work differently than traditional saunas. Traditional saunas are heated by means of a box filled with hot coals or rocks that heat up the sauna room. Heating elements reach surface temperatures of up to 180 to 220 degrees F. They generally require 30 to 90 minutes of warm-up before they are fully hot and working at peak efficiency. Infrared heaters, however, are a revolutionary way to power a sauna. They emit infrared radiation, which is an invisible form of light on the light spectrum. It directly heats objects, not requiring the air to get hot in order to work.

By eliminating the need to heat the air and just directly warming the people in the sauna, infrared heaters are able to work quicker, more efficiently, and at lower surface temperatures than traditional heating elements. Infrared heaters usually measure between 110 and 140 degrees F while operating, and only require an average of 20 minutes of warm-up before they are ready to use. Their low surface temperature makes them more energy efficient (and therefore, cost-effective) to use by 30% to 50%.

There are some major differences between traditional sauna heating elements and electric infrared heaters. Infrared saunas work in an entirely different way, so it stands to reason that the heaters do too. Their construction, surface area, and placement in the sauna all make a difference in their ability to function well.

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Camshaft, in its simplest definition, are the lobes in an engine that operate the valves. It is driven by a crankshaft, either through a belt, gears or chains that run at one half the speed of its own. It also facilitates the opening and closing of these valves in all piston engines.

Getting a wrong camshaft is like wasting all your efforts on a dollar per dollar basis. Don’t just be blinded by other engine management that of the electronic kind. No other single modification can come up with the same quality of function a camshaft can provide when it comes to cost-wise efficiency, power and driveability.

So, you’re in for camshaft hunt? Here are some helpful tips you can take note of in getting a camshaft.

1. Camshaft for a resto or resto mod project

If you’re going to get a cam for a resto or resto mod project, try to focus on its factory specs and do restoration by figures. Most camshaft company dealers will provide you with catalogs and amazing tech lines to help you pick the best camshaft.

Information regarding recommendations for the changes that will fit the camshaft like high stall torque converter, larger carburetor or exhaust headers, peak torque and a usable power hand and other related concerns should be answered and provided for by the company.

2. Camshaft for Vintage Engines

Take pride in upscaling the power and efficiency of your vintage engine, while camshafts let you take advantage of more modern grinds that creates more torque and horsepower by repetitive open and close motion of the values faster within the same specified duration.

Ideally, not all 280 degree camshafts behave and perform in the same manner. The camshaft’s driveabililty and torque quality is directly related to the rate of opening and closing speed of the valve as well as its durability.

3. Limits and modification of camshafts

It is important to know the restored engines’ practical limit and its special modification which a camshaft can accommodate. Engines with advertised duration are usually at 260 to 270 degrees.

So, how is a camshaft’s duration measured? The method of measurement they use is at .050 inches of value lift. However, restored engines with 215 to 220 degrees camshaft duration don’t really work well, and often times evaluated to have sluggish or laid back performance.

4. The camshaft centerline

While tip #3 teaches you so much about limits, modification and camshaft duration, do not forget and try to overlook its centerline, or what other people refer to as lobe separation angle.

Performance wise, it is one vital part that adds plus points to the camshaft’s totality, to shape up a balanced combination of power and fuel efficiency. Standardized resto cams aim for 110 to 112 degree centerlines.

As for drag race cams, theirs is set on a 104 to 106 degree centerline, designed to produce a bit more on the mid-range torque, but would often times require a lot more other mods to begin with.

5. Camshaft Value Lift

As I’ve mentioned in tip #3, value lifts are the primary contributing factors to a camshaft’s duration.

But although value lifts is one camshaft spec to go look after, it sets physical limit in things like value-to-piston clearance and value spring retainer-to-value guide clearance and value spring coil bind issues.

In this field, camshaft experts says it is always a go for the gold to target .450 to .475 inches of maximum value lift, especially for a modern v8s. For best results, ask assistance from your cam manufacturers to know details regarding physical measures of these things with critical dimension.

6.Camshaft Grind

Who says only singers could sing? Hey, camshafts can do it too!

When you’re just about to come up with a cam grind, prepare to hear it sing. So how do you create a cam grind? By coating the cam from its bearing lobes and surfaces with quality assembly lube, you’re bringing it a successful break in period!

To hail with all the electronic devices that are designed for engine management – because camshaft is and will still make most of the shots. The camshaft’s timing specification is determined by the ideal parameters of peak horsepower, fuel mileage, peak torque, a usable power, magnifold vacuum.

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On a recent trip out to Michigan to visit my aunt, I had the opportunity too visit one of Roto Spas showroom that’s located in the next city over from my aunts home town. She suffers from arthritis and asked if I would go along and help her decide on what type of spa to buy and possible help her set it up. I’m a union electrician.

Well we walked into the showroom and I was shocked to see the limited choice in spas that they had available. In fact for all intents & purposes they really have only one round model that’s available in three choices of colors. We almost walked out but then the factory rep began to explain things to us that in the end convinced my aunt to buy one.

You see, rather than focusing on offering as large a selection in sizes and models as possible, the makers of Roto Spas have implemented a different marketing strategy. A new way of marketing spas that in the end delivers for more spa for far less money. A one size fits all “bargain rate” strategy that’s packed with features.

At 78” wide and 33” deep, its a large spa that easily seats up to 6 people comfortably. It also comes with a total of 20 water jets, including 2 ozone ready jets. Easy touch controls feature digital water temp, jets high &low (two speed pump), automatic filtration and light control. Also it’s fully insulated with solid foam filling.

My aunt has a three year old son who has a way of getting into everything, so we both really liked the included solid polyethylene folding cover, complete with safety locks. She also had a choice of 110 volt 1KW and 220 volt heater 4 KW heater. She chose the 220 option. Also I was amazed to find that with it being such a big a hot tub with so many features, Roto Spas weigh only 275 pounds when empty.

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The transformer is an electrical device, which transforms voltage through magnetic coupling with no moving parts. It consists of a magnetic core, with two or more coupled windings, which either steps up or steps down the incoming voltage. This is done by the transfer of energy from one circuit to the other, through the magnetic core. These windings are generally termed as Primary and Secondary windings. The electromagnetic field thus created under goes a process of expanding and collapsing around the conductor and this changes the induced current, with the formation of an out put from the secondary coil, either stepping up or stepping down the input voltage.

In order to understand the function of a transformer, only two sets of windings are considered. When the main AC voltage is applied to the input of such an electrical device, the alternating current in the Primary winding creates a time varying magnetic flux in the core. This induces an AC voltage in the secondary coil, which is either the step up or step down voltage of the device. The terms, step up and step down are used with respect to the input voltage of the device. Therefore, if your equipment has been specified as input voltage 110 Volts AC, and if you are in one of those countries where the mains power supply is 220 Volts AC, you will need a step down transformer to run your equipment.

In high tension power transmission, where huge towers carry the cables which brings the power to cities, towns and villages, step up transformers are used as the power leaves the power stations and as they approach the destinations, the voltage is stepped down to the required mains supply, before it is distributed amongst the consumers. The reason for stepping up the power as they leave the power station is for the fact that,as it travels down the long power cables, there are power losses in the way, and the supply can reach the destinations in a proper specified power level to be stepped down as required by the consumers. In this application there are good many use of transformers are made.

The transformer is the most simplest of all electrical devices and its basic principle has not changed over the last 100 years, though the material used in such transformers and its design continue to improve. It has a very important application in transforming electrical energy, both for consumer use and power transmission. In a similar way, audio frequency transformers have been used in earlier experiments in development of telephones. These are still found in many electronic devices. The transformers come in various sizes, depending upon the application it is required for. It comes in the size of a thumb nail to huge units for the power transmission applications of national power grids. They all operate with the same basic principles.

The core of the transformer, as we have seen above, may be made with various materials. These include:

Air – This is ideal for high frequency transformer, with application in Radio Frequencies and provides least coupling.

Iron – All so called iron core transformers are steel. Various additives are made to improve the magnetic properties, as for example the magnetic permeability. The degree of magnetisation of a material required for a linear response to an applied magnetic field is termed as Permeability.

Ferrite – This is used to get a very high degree of permeability and excellent high frequency performance.

Etc.

The converter and the transformer are both electric conversion products, that enables you to run electric devices in foreign lands. As discussed earlier, if your electric device requires 110 Volts AC to run, you will need a transformer to step up the 220 volts AC supply voltage to 110 Volts AC before you can switch on that device that you have.

What is the difference between a converter and a transformer? If the device you are going to operate is a high power heating element or mechanical motor such as a hair dryer or iron, you will need a converter to run those appliances. But if your device is a computer, a printer or a VCR, you will need a transformer. Both of these category of appliances and devices can be run by a transformer, but only the electric appliance can be run with a converter. A word of caution in here is that, while transformers are designed for long term continuous operation, converters on the other hand can operate for an hour or two at a time.

In order to understand this better, we must understand the formation of a AC voltage. The alternating current voltage appears as a sine-wave, and depending upon the country you are in, the frequency of this sine-wave is either 50Hz or 60Hz. Now, if you look at a converter output, you would see that the upper half of the sine-wave has been chopped off, where-as, in a transformer the sine-wave remains in-tact. The electrical devices, like, iron, heater, a hair dryer, etc, would run with such a converter, but a computer, a printer or a VCR can be damaged if you attempt to operate those with a converter.

The frequency is the number of times the alternating voltage alternates each second. One such alternating cycle is termed as Hertz, having Hz as the short form. This cycling wave is termed as a Sinusoidal Wave. In the U.S. and the rest of North and Central America, with some parts of South America, the alternating current suppy is 60Hz. In Europe and rest of the world it is 50Hz.

There is a similar electrical device called Inverter. The purpose of this equipment is to convert Direct Current (DC) voltage to Alternating Current voltage. This device has many applications, for example, to provide appropriate limited AC power supply to devices like, electric fans, lights, etc. This inverter takes the DC voltage from a battery, like a heavy duty car battery and converts that into an appropriate AC voltage. Such supplies are limited because of the capacity of the battery capability and depending upon the battery the ampere-hour of the output can be increased, resulting in longer period of operation. The battery will need charging once it discharges.

There are variable transformers, which are known as Variacs. The principle is that the output voltage of this transformer can be manually varied with a fixed voltage as its input. For example, with a 110 Volt AC supply at the input, you can vary the output voltage from 0 to 110 Volts AC. The typical applications of these transformers are in testing devices for its lower and higher input voltage operation levels, quality control in testing equipment in burn-in condition, temperature and lighting control, etc.

Transformers are essential devices to operate any electrical or electronic equipment. As far as main supply voltage is concerned, if you are visiting Europe or any other country in Asia, the devices that you are taking with you will not operate in the mains supply voltage available in those countries. It is therefore necessary that you take with you the right device which can provide you with the right operating voltage for your equipment.

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The Multi-Region version is available from Planet Omni.

This player is amazing. It’s clearly better than the first gen players, bdps1, even the bd91. there are a few little things to consider about blu ray. It SHOULDN’T play cds. if you have 1000 to spend on an Elite blu ray, then you should have good money, like 600 for a Cambridge azure or a like 24 bit cd player. blu ray lasers are very narrow, and will not read cds correctly, and to make them do so would be way more work than is considered worthwhile by the major manufacturers.

That being said, DROOL! best upscaling I have seen on any player to date, full streaming features, and the Pioneer Elite look. It’s a really good player and I for one think that it’s the best to date.

It plays CDs, as well as internally decodes advanced audio (minus DTS-HD Master) into PCM for transmission over HDMI or analog, for all the legacy receivers out there.

Very nice Blu Ray player though with many nice features. Loads like a computer not as fast as a regular player but no big deal. This model is much better than the last from this line. Picture and sound is so wonderful on a Pioneer Plasma TV.I also have the Elite VSX-91TXH amp to go with my system Great Work Pioneer but work on the prices ok.

WOW That is awesome player!

I am starting to flavor Pioneer the most.

According to the manual for the BDP-94FD, the connector diagram on page 11 shows 8 RCA connectors to support 7.1.

I doubt there will be any major physical changes between the BDP-94FD and the to-be-released BDP-95FD.

I don’t claim any special expertise but my experience with Pioneer Elite has been my barometer. I bought a second DVD a couple of years back to support both DVD and SACD which my Denon did not. The Pioneer bested the Denon in both Picture Quality and musicality in my setup AND the Pioneer is still working, the Denon’s motor went about 6 months ago. Sounds real simple to me………..

Pioneer’s new Elite Blu-ray player, the BDP-95FD, is geared to audiophiles as much as it is aimed at videophiles: In addition to HDMI 1.3a and x.v.ycc color, it has bitstream output of even the highest audio codecs, including DTS HD Master Audio. In other words, if you just bought one of the latest, most kick-ass A/V receivers, you might actually be able to use its audio decoders.

The receiver does a few other things too, most notably acting as a media streamer for PC content from Pioneer’s Home Media Gallery system.

Pioneer® Elite® BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc Player

The new Pioneer Elite BDP-95FD offers unprecedented high definition picture and sound as a result of HDMI 1.3 connectivity. In addition to superb picture performance, the increased bandwidth capacity means the player has internal decoding of high resolution audio formats: Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital+, and DTS-HD(TM) as well as bit-stream output for all advanced audio formats including DTS-HD Master for 7.1 surround sound performance. The BDP-95FD can faithfully reproduce the 1080p 24 frames per second (fps) rate needed to preserve feature film sequences as the director intended. The Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player incorporates HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) to ensure streamline integration with other HDMI-CEC enabled high definition theater components. This feature allows users to control a whole home theater setup with a single remote for maximum convenience capability.

The new Blu-ray Disc player offers Pioneer’s exclusive Home Media Gallery that allows users to directly access and playback music, movies and photos stored on a home PC. The user-friendly home networking feature also provides IP networking for immediate downloading and of new digital media files straight from the computer through the BDP-95FD to a connected flat screen television. The Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player is compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), Window and Apple computers video, Windows Vista or Windows Media Connect as well as Microsoft playsforsure(TM) DRM technology.

How very happy am I that I was a Pioneer Elite “Target”…The VSX-94 is beyond comprehension, when matched with the Bdp-95, life becomes absolutly, hilariously in harmony..that, and after it took two weeks complete a very effective hook up, I WAS AT ONE WITH ELITEZEN MANUALS….

I just picked up a Pioneer Elite BDP-95HD from the Pioneer Store in Costa Mesa.

I will keep this first post for answers to common questions so that new owners get answers quickly.

Does the Pioneer Elite BDP-95HD generate the DTS-HD Master Audio Bitstream that can be decoded by the receiver / processor?

– Yes. My Integra DTC-9.8 displays ‘DTS-HD MSTR’ when I select DTS-HD Master Audio sound track from disk. Audio is un-frig’in-believable!

Are the load times improved over the 94HD?

– Using POTC: COTBP as a benchmark, it took 22 seconds from pressing START on the remote to the POTC “loading…” message to appear and a total of 38 seconds for the Disney screen to appear

How does the PQ of the 95FD compare to the 94HD?

– Very similar – 95FD just slightly sharper

How well does the 1080p24fps work:

– Flawlessly

How is good is the DVD SD upconversion on the BDP-95FD?

– Excellent (better than the BDP-94HD and the HD1)

REPORTED ISSUES or PROBLEMS: None.

I have been watching Kingdom of Heaven Blu Ray while listening to the DTS-HD MA sound track (Integra displays DTS-HD MSTR Sounds un-frig’in-believable.

Player seems to be operating flawlessly. Boot up time very acceptable. Responds to remote immediately. It is difficult to tell if there are any PQ differences from the PS3 that I had but the DTS-HD MA is mind blowing…

It just took 35 seconds from pushing the close button on the remote to Kingdom of Heaven to begin playing…

With Disk in DVD player and player on stop, using POTC: COTBP it took 22 seconds for the POTC loading message to appear and a total of 38 seconds for the Disney screen to appear…

After setting it up I can’t help feeling déjà vu all over again. As you can see in the pic it does look nearly identical to the 94HD and HD1. I do like the class look it has though. I really like that high gloss piano finish look. As Tony said it takes about 35 seconds for titles to start playing. Which actually is a pretty BIG improvement over the two older models. Just like the others initial set up is a breeze. I do like the Pioneer start up screen better on the 95FD. It just looks cooler. I am not only comparing this unit to its brothers (or cousins) but also to the Samsung 1400. This ELITE unit costs more but you feel like it is money well spent.

Once again I love having the resolution button on the remote. Being able to change it on the fly is so much nicer then having to stop the movie and go into the set up menu (like the 1400 and HD DVD players). If there is one feature other manufacturers could learn from Pioneer that would be a good one to start with. Also, having 1080p/23.98 (24) done without issues is a breath of fresh air. Toshiba has been struggling as many of us know so it is nice to get a unit out of the box (just like the 1400, 94HD and HD1) that can do 1080p/23.98 without any EDID issues. I have not spent a great amount of time with this unit but from what I have I can say it is THE best Blu ray player on the market.

The picture Q is very colorful and very sharp. It bests the very impressive (especially for its price) Samsung 1400. Not by a lot in terms of pic Q but when you add the entire package together you know why the Pioneer is more. Picture settings, menu options, great remote (which is light years ahead of the competition) and of course a great picture with great sound. Speaking of sound I have only done a couple of comparisons so far but it is too easy to select bitstream passing in the menu. No confusion here. You are either sending D.D. or DTS via HDMI or PCM… Your call. That easy. I will do more on audio soon but sending the audio to my receiver (Onkyo 905) sounded great just as I expected. It also sounded good the few minutes I had the 95FD doing it. I am not going to say which is better because I do not want to open that can of worms again. So do not ask here. PM me.

I am using the new Sony VPL- VW60 “Black Pearl” (which is the 3rd pic) for all of my comparison so far. It handles 1080p/23.98 like a champ. I can also send it straight into my crystalio II and then tweak the image before sending it to the VW60 in 1080p/23.98. The Pioneer 95FD gets along with all of my other components which I do not take for granted these days.

And yes I am making reference to the XA2 and A35 which are stubborn when it comes to sending 1080p/24 to some displays. In direct comparison to the 94HD the 95FD is obviously a more flexible unit with a little quicker load times. Being able to pass HBR audio directly to the receiver for decoding is a really cool feature. Especially if you purchased one of the newer ones that can decode it. The picture Q is very close. I keep going back and forth. Going straight to my pj it does look like the 95FD is just a little more sharper but their brilliant colors are nearly identical. I will say the home media gallery looks more refined on the 95FD. I have never really got into that feature before but now I am intrigued so I may just jump in!

Bottom line is if you have the 94HD and do not care about the bitstream audio feature then there is absolutely no reason to dump it for the 95FD. However, if you do not and are interested in getting the best Blu ray unit in terms of features and pic/sound Q then look no further than the 95FD! I hate to keep picking the new Pioneer units as my favorite Blu ray unit but honestly the other companies are still two steps behind. The 95FD is the starter in my set up. More to come (SD DVD versus the A35 and XA2 and even 1400) as well as a few more thoughts on audio…BTW, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (BR) is looking and sounding awesome on this unit! Pick up a copy!

Well, I am pleasantly surprised to post that the 95FD has excellent upconversion. Much better than the 94HD and HD1. I even put it through the HQV Blu ray benchmark tests and it handled them very good. Especially my favorite stadium torture test! And as tradition lately it even made my adult videos look great! It is right on par with the A35 and XA2. I will work harder tomorrow and do real side by side comparisons (1400 included) but my first initial impressions are very good to excellent… More to come..

Great report Joe. Thanks. Looks like a winner. I too LOVE the “classic” look and finish of “Elite” equipment. This is definitely the machine I will purchase when my Onkyo 885 Pre/pro arrives.

Have you compared a 5.1 PCM track coming out of the PS3 vs. 95? I know there should not be a noticeable difference, but if you would not mind doing a comparison I would be curious to know for sure.

It is not surprising that DTS-MA sounds better from the 95 as we are getting the full signal vs. only the 1.5 core of the PS3. Can’t wait to hear this!

The DTS-HD hi res is from the King Of New York’s DTS HD soundtrack (I am reviewing) and the DTS-HD MASTER is from the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer soundtrack which states it is DTS-HD MASTER…

As I posted earlier in this thread the 1400 is very close but the 95FD produces a sharper image. I also prefer it for SD DVD upconversion. I also prefer all the other cool features like the resolution button on the remote. It is much nicer being able to change resolutions on the fly then having to hit stop and go into a set up menu. Especially when you are trying to compare them! I have spent awhile this afternoon playing different blu ray discs but tomorrow I will do my comparisons between the XA2 for SD DVD upconversion. I predict the 95FD will be on par with the XA2. We need to find out which chip it is using because it is by far much better than the 94HD and HD1… More to come tomorrow…

If the 95 can match the XA2 on SD upscaling this is a tremendous plus. The XA2 makes new DVDs almost look like HD and the only players so far that can do the same job are the very Hi-end Denon’s or players costing 5 times more. The Samsung 1200 has the same Reon chip and should also be great but lacks the new audio features. Depending on your tests I will be a new 95 owner soon.

I have the bdp-95fd and the pdp-6010fd display. Extremely happy with it. Firmware support has been excellent. I am using it with a TacT 2.2x digital preamp, TacT digital Boz amp, Escalante Pinyons and a pair of Escalante subs. My connection is through the coax digital output. I have had an signature upgraded Denon 3930 in my system using the same set-up and I must say the sound quality and bass impact blows me away on the bpd-95fd In stock form, the Pioneer bpd-95fd is an excellent performer in terms of audio and video.

Given my system can only process two channel audio through the digital output, am I getting the two channel version decoded Dolby Digital Plus?

Me too, I have the 95 and a 94 receiver and it is quite impressive in the sound department. It is a definite benefit to have the ma tracks. If you have good equipment.

High resolution picture and sound performance come together in the new Pioneer® Elite® BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc® player introduced at the CEDIA Expo today. Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is showcasing its highly anticipated player, the industry’s first to offer bitstream output of all advanced audio formats including: Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital+, DTS-HD(TM) High Resolution and DTS-HD(TM) Master Audio.

The BDP-95FD ensures a near cinematic experience with its ability to handle 1080p 24 frames per second (fps) reproduction rate preserving a feature film’s original sequence. Taking advantage of HDMI® 1.3 connectivity, the new player provides smooth, pristine imagery and dynamic 7.1 surround sound to deliver the full emotional impact of Blu-ray Disc feature films as the director intended.

The Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player leads the industry with sophisticated home theater offerings including HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) to ensure seamless integration with other high definition theater components. In addition, movies, music and photos can be easily streamed from a home PC to connected 1080p television via the player’s enhanced home networking functionality for unrivaled entertainment.

“Our newest Elite BDP-95FD player is like having a movie theater projector delivering best-in-class picture and sound at home. Its high performance is a testament to our optical disc heritage and commitment to delivering the ultimate home theater by introducing lossless high resolution audio that entertainment junkies will truly appreciate,” said Chris Walker, senior manager of marketing and product planning at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “When combined with a KURO television and Elite A/V receiver, the BDP-95FD immerses home audiences in a seeing and hearing experience like never before.”

Next Generation High Definition Performance

Leading high definition home theater, the BDP-95FD delivers unprecedented picture and sound as a result of HDMI 1.3 capability. The new generation HDMI version is designed for smoother connectivity to emerging 1080p flat panel televisions and other high resolution devices. With increased bandwidth capacity, the Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player can transfer larger amounts of uncompressed high definition video and audio resolutions as well as standard DVD that will immerse viewers in an unforgettable viewing experience.

Stunning colors and enhanced picture reproduction are complimented by the player’s additional support of lossless digital audio formats Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital+, DTS-HD(TM) High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD(TM) Master Audio. As a result of HDMI 1.3, the BDP-95FD brings the highest quality sound performance of Blu-ray Disc film titles to the living room giving audiophiles up to 7-channels of pristine audio that defines ultimate home theater.

High Definition Integration Made Simple

Streamlining the integration of multiple home theater components, the BDP-95FD offers HDMI-CEC technology. This new convenience feature synchronizes the Blu-ray Disc player with other CEC-enabled products and controls an entire setup with a single remote. With an easy to navigate graphical user interface, HDMI-CEC requires minimal user effort while ensuring premium performance and maximum entertainment.

Cinematic Picture At Home

Mastered at 1080p 24fps, Blu-ray Disc movie titles preserve a feature film’s original sequence to faithfully deliver stellar image quality. Pioneer engineers designed the Elite BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc to handle and output high performance 1080p 24fps signal for natural, pristine film reproduction as the director intended.

Home Media Gallery

Digital media fans can playback their favorite downloaded video and music files as well as personal photos straight from a home PC hard drive to their high definition television through Pioneer’s exclusive Home Media Gallery.

This home networking feature provides users a rich, high definition graphical interface with fast navigation to search, select and play desired content. Home Media Gallery offers IP networking for quick access and downloading of new digital media files straight from the computer for immediate viewing through the BDP-95FD on a connected flat screen television. The Pioneer Elite Blu-ray Disc player is compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) sources, as well as Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, and Media Center editions, as well as 3rd party DLNA server software available for both Mac and Linux based computers.

Some Blu-ray players have Dolby TrueHD, some even have Dolby Digital+, DTS-HD High Resolution or DTS-HD Master Audio, but Pioneer’s BDP-95FD is the first to pack all four – guess that’s why they call it the Elite.

Pair it up with one of the latest high-end A/V receivers and you’ll be able to hear a pin dropped in the background as Bruce Willis takes out a helicopter with a flying cop car (again) in Die Hard 4.0.

As well as its audio treats it ticks the usual high-end 24p, HDMI 1.3 and HDMI-CEC boxes – the latter for taking control of all your HDMI equipped gear from one über remote.

Natch, it’s also compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (or DLNA for short) for accessing content on other compatible kit and it’ll stream content stashed away on your PC using Pioneer’s Home Media Gallery system.

General

Product Type

Blu-Ray disc player

Form Factor

Tabletop

Width

16.5 in

Depth

13.9 in

Height

4.1 in

Weight

14.6 lbs

Sound Output Mode

Surround Sound

Analog Video Signal

S-Video, Component video, Composite video

DVD

Media Type

CD, DVD, BD-R, BD-RE, DVD-R, BD-ROM, DVD-RW

Built-in Audio Decoders

Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD decoder

Media Load Type

Tray

DVD Repeat Modes

All, Title, Random, Chapter

Supported Digital Video Standards

WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2

Supported Digital Audio Standards

MP3, PCM, WAV, WMA

Output Resolution

1080p

Audio System

Digital Audio Format

DTS digital output, Dolby Digital output

Response Bandwidth

4 – 22000 Hz

Dynamic Range

108 dB

Signal-To-Noise Ratio

115 dB

Total Harmonic Distortion

0.0015 %

Additional Features

Gold plated connectors

DVD Features

Picture Zoom

Yes

Picture Zoom Power

2x, 4x

MP3 Compatible

Yes

Additional Features

Parental lock, DLNA compatible, On-screen display, JPEG photo playback

Remote Control

Type

Remote control

Technology

Infrared

Connections

Connector Type

1 x HDMI output ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ), 1 x Ethernet ( RJ-45 ), 1 x Component video output ( RCA phono x 3 ), 1 x Composite video output ( RCA phono ), 1 x S-Video output ( 4 pin mini-DIN ), 1 x 5.1 channel audio line-out ( RCA phono x 6 ), 1 x Audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ), 1 x Digital audio output (coaxial) ( RCA phono ), 1 x Digital audio output (optical) ( TOSLINK ), 2 x Remote control ( Mini-phone 3.5 mm )

Miscellaneous

Cables Included

1 x Audio cable, 1, 1 x Video cable

Power

Power Consumption Operational

35 Watt

Power Consumption Standby / Sleep

0.5 Watt

Power Device

Power supply

Type

Power supply

Power

AC 120 V

Image : http://www.flickr.com

The following information is an idea on the amount of compensation you may receive for a personal injury claim which i have found and put together. I have always been interested in this so here it is:

Head Injury Compensation:

Very Severe Brain Damage : £155,000 – £220,000

Moderately Severe Brain Damage : £120,000 – £155,000

Moderate Brain Damage : £23,500 – £120,000

Minor Brain Damage : £8,500 – £ 23,500

Minor Head Injury : £1,250 – £ 7,500

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Compensation:

Severe PTSD : £34,000 – £55,000

Moderately Severe PTSD : £12,500 – £31,750

Moderate PTSD : £4,500 – £12,500

Minor PTSD : £2,150 – £4,500

Dental Injury Compensation:

Loss/Serious Damage To Several Front Teeth : £4,750 – £6,250

Loss/Serious Damage To two Front Teeth: £2,250 -£4,000

Loss/Serious Damage To one Front Tooth: £1,250 -£2,150

Loss/Serious Damage To back Tooth: £600 -£1,000 per tooth

Eye Injury Compensation:

Total Blindness and deafness: £ 220,000

Total Blindness: £147,500

Total loss of sight in one eye: £27,500 – £30,000

Minor Eye Injuries: £2,150 – £4,750

Short-lived eye injuries: £1,250 – £2,150

Hearing Loss Injury Compensation:

Total Deafness: £50,000 – £60,000

Total Hearing Loss In One Ear: £17,500 – £25,000

Severe tinnitus/hearing loss: £16,000 – £25,000

Moderate tinnitus/hearing loss: £8,000 – £16,000

Mild Tinnitus with some hearing loss: £6,750 – £8,000

Slight Tinnitus with slight hearing loss: £4,000 – £6,750

Psychiatric Injury Compensation:

Chronic Pain Syndrome: £6,000 – £35,000

Fibromyalgia: £19,000 – £35,000

Severe psychiatric injury: £30,000 – £60,000

Moderately severe psychiatric injury : £10,500 – £30,000

Moderate psychiatric injury: £3,250 – £10,500

Minor psychiatric injury: £800 – £3,250

Neck Injury Compensation:

Quadriplegia: £175,000 – £220,000

Severe neck injury: £30,000 – £82,000

Neck fracture/dislocation: £13,500 – £18,000

Moderate Neck injury : £4,250 – £13,750

Minor neck injury: £750 – £4,250

Whiplash Injury Compensation:

Severe Whiplash injury: £7,500 – £13,750

Moderate whiplash injury: £4,250 – £7,750

Minor whiplash injury: £750 – £4,250

Shoulder Injury Compensation:

Severe Shoulder Injury: £10,500 – £26,500

Serious shoulder injury: £6,750 – £10,500

Moderate shoulder injury: £4,250 – £7,000

Fractured clavicle: £2,750 – £6,500

Minor Shoulder Injury: up to £4,500

Upper Arm Injury Compensation:

Total loss of both arms: £132,500 – £165,000

Amputation of one arm above elbow: £60,000 – £75,000

Severe arm injury: £52,500 – £71,500

Permanent disabling arm injury: £21,500 – £33,000

Less severe arm injury: £10,500 – £21,500

Forearm Injury Compensation:

Severe arm injury: £52,500 – £71,500

Below-elbow amputation: £52,500 – £60,000

Permanent disabling arm injury: £21,500 – £33,000

Less severe arm injury: £10,500 – £21,500

Simple forearm fracture: £3,650 – £10,500

Chest Injury Compensation:

Removal of a lung/heart damage: £55,000 – £82,000

Severe chest injury: £36,000 – £55,000

Serious Chest Injury: £17,500 – £30,000

Moderate Chest Injury: £6,750 – £10,000

Collapsed lungs with full recovery: £1,250 – £3,000

Fractured ribs: up to £2,150

Asbestos-related disease Compensation:

Mesothelioma: £45,000 – £70,000

Lung Cancer: £42,500 – £55,000

Asbestosis: £26,500 – £58,000

Pleural thickening: £21,000 – £42,500

Symptomatic pleural plaques: £15,000 – £20,000

Asymptomatic pleural plaques: £5,000 – £6,000

Thigh Injury Compensation:

Total loss of both legs: £132,500 – £155,000

Above-knee amputation one leg: £52,500 – £77,000

Severe leg injury: £52,000 – £74,000

Very Serious Leg Injury: £30,000 -£46,000

Serious Leg injury: £ 21,500 – £30,000

Moderate Leg injury: £ 15,250 – £21,500

Fractured Femur: £ 5,000 – £15,250

Knee Injury Compensation:

Very severe knee injury: £38,000 – £52,500

Severe knee injury: £28,500 – £38,000

Serious Knee injury: £14,750 – £23,500

Moderate Knee injury: £8,000 – £14,750

Modest knee injury: up to £7,500

Shin Injury Compensation:

Below-knee amputation both legs: £110,000 – £147,000

Below-knee amputation one leg: £50,000 – £71,500

Severe leg injury: £52,000 – £74,000

Very serious leg injury: £30,000 – £46,000

Serious Leg injury: £21,500 – £30,000

Moderate Leg injury: £15,250 – £21,500

Leg Fracture: up to £15,250

Dog Bite Injury Compensation:

Severe facial scarring: £16,500 – £53,000

Noticeable scarring on body: £4,250 – £7,500

Trivial facial scarring: £1,000 – £1,900

Ankle Injury Compensation:

Very severe ankle injury: £27,500 – £38,000

Severe ankle injury: £17,500 – £27,500

Moderate ankle injury: £7,250 – £14,750

Modest Ankle injury: up to £7,250

Foot Injury Compensation:

Achilles tendon injury: £4,000 – £20,000

Amputation of both feet: £93,000 – £110,000

Amputation of one foot: £46,000 – £60,000

Severe foot injury: £25,000 – £37,000

Serious foot injury: £12,750 – £21,500

Moderate foot injury: £7,500 – £13,750

Modest foot injury: up to £7,500

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Solar power electricity installations are gaining moment all over the world. Stock of fossil fuels is fast depleting and alternate natural energy solutions, like solar power electricity is becoming popular.

Natural energy solutions are environment friendly with little or no air pollution and no emissions or greenhouse effects. Solar power electricity production is also free of noise pollution.

How is solar power electricity produced?

It is produced by converting light from the sun into electrical energy using a silicon wafer / semiconductor called a photovoltaic cell. This technology is simple and easy to maintain.

What are the main parts of a typical residential solar power electricity system?

A typical residential system would have 4 key Parts:

1) Solar panel array

2) Charging controller

3) Batteries

4) Inverter

Solar panel array: Solar panel array is made up of several solar panels. A series of photovoltaic cells working in unison in a module form the solar panel. The solar panel array needs to be exposed to sunlight, and the array is normally installed on rooftops where sunlight exposure is more. The solar array converts light energy into solar power electricity. Electrical energy in the form of 12 volts (DC) is produced by the solar panel array.

Charging controller: The charging controller is the device that controls the amount of charging for the batteries. Batteries should not be overcharged, neither should they be undercharged. This device, which sits between the solar panel array and the battery bank, controls the charging.

Batteries: These are deep cycle batteries used for storage of solar power electricity produced by the solar array panel. The 12 volts (DC) produced by the solar panel array is stored in the batteries. The charging controller regulates charging, thus extending the life of these batteries.

Inverter: The output from batteries is 12 volts (DC) and can run only devices that work on 12 volts (DC). Most home appliances work on 110 / 220 volts (AC). Hence 12 volts (DC) needs to be converted into 100 / 200 volts (AC). The inverter does the job of converting 12 volts (DC) into 110 / 200 volts (AC).

Along with these four main components several other hardware accessories, wires and connectors would be required to have the complete solar power electricity system functional.

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Tree frogs, just like any other pet out there, need the right environment in order to thrive and survive just as they would in their natural habitat; and in order to do this, enthusiasts must make sure that they have the proper tools necessary to keep their pets healthy and happy.

There are many different types of tree frogs, and depending on the kind that you have, habitats may vary a little or a lot, which is why it is important not just to know what kind you own but also to understand its needs, its similarities and differences with other types of frogs and its requirements for healthy living, so that you can make sure that your pet tree frog is always well cared for.

A Place to Live

The first thing you need to know about pet tree frog care is their habitat. Tree frogs naturally exist in the forest, and are thus subject to great amounts of moisture trapped by the leafy canopies of these tropical jungles. As such, when constructing a habitat for your pet, you must mimic these conditions and supply the tree frogs in your care with substitutes that would provide them with the things they need from such an environment as they are used to.

Moisture, for example, can be best provided by acquiring a mister that would work to maintain the proper humidity in the artificial habitat’s air that would match the one that they are used to in their natural forest environment. In order to do this, a mister is necessary – an automatic tree frog mister that would provide your tree frog with correct amounts of “mists” or “sprays” in a day to keep them well and thriving – that’s 2 mists a day over a lifespan of 5,110 days. That’s a grand total of 10,220 mists in a lifetime, people. No wonder an automatic mister is necessary.

Food

Though not technically considered a tool, food is, of course, vital to the survival of any kind of tree frog. Like most frogs, they usually eat the insects that it finds in its natural environment. This includes the likes of flies and crickets.

Tree frog owners may buy these insects from pet supply stores like most pet owners do to provide their pets with nutrition. However, this is quite expensive, especially if you’ve already shelled out some big bucks to set up a habitat as well as the added expense of a mister.

A more practical approach would be to breed your own supply of insects, like crickets. This is a better approach as it will ensure that you will never run out of tree frog food and it’ll be cheaper than getting the crickets from a local supplier.

There are many more tips available for taking care of your pet tree frog and much more can be said about how wonderful these creatures are and how fun it is to take care of them, so if you are interested in learning more about caring for your pet or if you are interested in buying and taking care of your first one, there is an eBook available which can be download from a tree frog website. It is packed with details and tips on how to care for your pet tree frog, and after reading it, I’m sure there’s no tree frog question you wouldn’t be able to answer.