Home Theater Gallery
Comex 2012 is currently in full swing at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Center. On till the 2nd of September, the exhibition will span three floors (3, 4, and 6), and its doors will be open from 12pm to 9pm daily. In this segment, we highlight noteworthy items related to the Audio and Visual categories, consisting mainly of HDTVs, AV systems, projectors, media players, as well as headphones and sound docks. We hope you'll find them useful for your shopping sprees.
Buying Guide Index
Comex 2012 Shopping Resources
Remember to check out the HardwareZone Tech Show Portal for the latest consolidated shopping resources and updates.
Buying Tips: Televisions & Home Entertainment Systems
There are many factors to consider before you procure a HDTV. Barely five years ago, picture quality was probably the only concern for buyers apart from the TV's aesthetics. These days, however, consumers have to contend with fancy enhancements like Connected TV, 3D TV, and all that jazz. Our advice? Decide on your requirements first. Fundamentals such as the TV's size should be considered before deliberating on the extra premium required for a 3D-capable or Smart TV model. Think about factors such as viewing distance and placement. Before you grab a Smart TV, ensure your home network is accessible to the TV (wired or wireless), else you might have to install network bridges or use a pair of powerline adapters in order to connect your TV to the router.
If you're planning for a 3D set, do note that there are two dominant technologies in the market - active and passive - each with its own set of pros and cons. Active-shutter proponents like Samsung and Sony have improved tremendously since 3D TVs were first launched three years ago. There's visibly lesser crosstalk with newer models, and stereoscopic depth have improved as well. However, active-shutter glasses are still reliant on a battery (rechargeable or not), and subtle flickering is still evident even with the room lights off. Passive ones like LG's Cinema 3D models are easier on the eyes, and they also provide excellent horizontal viewing angles. Then again, 'interlaced' lines become visible when viewed up close, and they also suffer from tighter vertical viewing angles. On the home theater front, purchasing a HTiB (Home Theater In A Box) is probably the easiest and cheapest way to go. Most of them are also equipped with a Blu-ray player and HD audio decoders. If you dislike the hassle of a 5.1-channel system, you can always opt for a simpler 2.1-channel setup like the one featured on the following page.
For a more exhaustive buying guide on HDTVs, 3D TVs, and Smart TVs, kindly refer to our tech guides here:
Philips - Level 4, Booth 8410 (Audio House)
Philips 40-inch PFL5605 LED TV
This Full-HD model does not belong to this year's HDTV line-up, but fans of direct LED backlighting might still relish this sweet blast from the past. Tagged at only $599, Philips' 40-inch PFL5605 is going for less than half of its usual retail price at Comex. The former 5000 Series display carries a 100Hz panel, plus three HDMI ports for your AV peripherals.
- Comex Price: $599
- Usual Price: $1,299
Philips BDP-3300K Blu-ray Player
Fancy a sleek Blu-ray deck for only $99? The Philips BDP-3300K offers 1080p playback plus it's DivX Plus HD certified as well, meaning this BD player has no qualms when it comes to decoding high-definition DivX files from your video collection. Besides support for Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital DTS 2.0, the BDP-3300K is also equipped with YouTube and Picasa apps for your surfing and viewing pleasure.
- Comex Price: $99
- Usual Price: $159
Samsung - Level 4, Booths 8161 and 8328 (Audio House & Harvey Norman)
Samsung 55-inch ES8000 Smart TV
Samsung has improved from strength to strength with each new wave of Smart TVs. The 55-inch ES8000 is a fifth-generation LED TV model categorized under their Series 8 range. And it's armed with Samsung's Smart Interaction features such as motion control, voice triggers, and face recognition - all packed in a slender frame mounted on a sleek Arc Flow stand. Apart from its decent picture quality and capable 3D performance, the flagship ES8000 also offers Samsung's revamped AllShare Play feature, which enables you to share content from your smartphone or tablet with this Full-HD display powered by edge LEDs. A 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 is yours with each ES8000 purchase.
- Comex Price: $5,599
- Usual Price: $6,499
- Promotion: Comes with two pairs of 3D glasses (worth $58) + Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (worth $498) + Blu-ray player (worth $249)
- More information: HWZ Review
Samsung 46-inch ES6200 Smart TV
If you prefer a more affordable alternative, why not take a look at Samsung's Series 6? The ES6200 is equipped with a Full-HD panel, digital and analog tuners, and a Clear Motion Rate of 400Hz to reduce motion judder. You don't have to sacrifice on Samsung's Smart TV features though, since the ES6200 features Samsung's Smart Hub facilities ss well. This 46-inch model packs three HDMI and three USB slots which are more than sufficient to cater to your AV needs. The only catch is this display does not proffer any 3D frills.
- Comex Price: $1,999
- Usual Price: $2,799
- Promotion: Comes with four pairs of 3D glasses (worth $58) + Smart wireless keyboard (worth $129) + Skype camera (worth $99) + Blu-ray player (worth $249)
Samsung HW-E551 Soundbar
Samsung's HW-E551 is a versatile 2.1-channel sound system which enables you to position the speakers either vertically or horizontally. Dubbed as "3-way Air Track" speakers, you may position them on the floor as free-standing speakers, or lay it as a single unit horizontally beneath the HDTV. Equipped with Bluetooth capabilities, the E551 also supports wireless streaming from portable media players or mobile phones.
- Comex Price: $599
- Usual Price: $649
- Promotion: Free Samsung DA-E650 audio dock (worth $349)
Toshiba - Level 4, Booth 8143
Toshiba 40-inch Regza PX200E Smart TV
The Toshiba PX200 series is a smart choice if you've always desired a Smart TV with the perks of LED backlighting. With a tantalizing price of only $899 at Comex, this 40-inch display features a narrow bezel and comes equipped with Toshiba's very own Smart TV (Toshiba Places) platform as well. Ports wise, you can expect four HDMI slots and two USB ports. It's worth a thought if you don't wish to blow more than a grand on a 40-inch LED-backlit model with Smart TV perks.
- Comex Price: $899
- Usual Price: $1,299
Toshiba 32-inch PB200 Power TV
Toshiba's Power TV series was launched recently, and it is an ideal choice if you prefer to own a HDTV without the Smart TV and 3D TV frills. Affordably yours at $428, you get to enjoy a HD screen with a zippy response time of 8.5ms. There isn't a plethora of AV ports to mess with, given its limited two HDMI slots and a single USB port. However, the real forte of the PB200 does not lie with its connectivity benefits, but rather, its augmented sound system. Apart from its twin 10W speakers, this model is designed with a bass booster as well to improve audio performances in the lower frequency ranges.
- Comex Price: $428
- Usual Price: $599
Buying Tips: Projectors
Getting a bright projector makes more sense if you’re buying it for presentation purpose than home theater purpose. For the former, you need sufficient light output to counter ambient lighting so that the screen doesn't get all washed out. It's less crucial for the latter, since you are better able to control the lighting in your own home. That said, brightness is an essential spec to pay attention to when buying a 3D projector. Since 3D images are displayed by means of stereoscopic images, this means that each eye only picks up half the light from the screen, meaning that the projector's brightness is halved when watching in 3D.
Apart from brightness, another important specification to look out for is the projector's contrast ratio - this means the number of levels between the blackest black and the whitest white a projector can achieve. But no matter how high your projector’s contrast ratio is, it’d be wasted if you can’t control the room lighting. The quickest and easiest way to improve contrast even if you’ve a projector with a low contrast ratio is to turn down the lights. Another tip to improve contrast is to avoid projecting on a wall or a blackboard; use a proper projection screen instead.
BenQ - Level 6, Booth 6636
BenQ MX501
Designed for use at home or in the office, the BenQ MX501 is 3D-ready and has an impressive brightness of 2700 ANSI lumens and a contrast ratio of 4000:1, making it great for watch movies at home. It’s compact size and weight of only 2.5kg makes it ideal for office use too. On top of that, It also has a super long lamp life rated at around 6000 hours and comes with a built-in speaker.
- Comex Price: $499
- Usual Price: $899
- Promotion: Free carrying case and document bag
BenQ MX613ST
Ideal for small spaces, the BenQ MX613ST and its special aspherical lens design can project a 55-inch image with a mere projection distance of 1 meter. On top of that, the MX613ST backs up its performance by being 3D-ready and has a brightness of 2800 ANSI lumens brightness and a contrast ratio of 5000:1.
- Comex Price: $899
- Usual Price: $1,699
- Promotion: Free carrying case, document bag, travel adapter, TravelPac mouse
Casio - Level 4, Booth 8117
Casio XJ-A141
The slim Casio XJ-A141 uses does away with traditional lamps and instead employs laser and LED technology to project images, which gives it a super long life of around 20,000 hours. This model has a brightness of 2500 ANSI lumens, a contrast ratio of 1800:1 and projects up to 300-inch at a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels.
Comex price: $1,299
Usual price: $1,699
Epson - Level 4, Booth 8115
Epson EB-1775W
Touted as the world’s slimmest 3LCD projector, the Epson EB-1775W is super sleek and boasts a brightness of 3000 ANSI lumens, a contrast ratio of 2000:1, and has a native resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels.
Comex price: $1,299
Usual price: $1,699
Buying Tips: Media Players
For average users who find a HTPC (home theater PC) overkill, a simple do-it-all media player is often more than sufficient. Nowadays, media players are no longer just a simple playback device. Many media players now tout the ability to stream from online TV and radio stations. Some can even browse the Web and hook up to social networks, thus becoming a credible alternative to the more expensive Internet-enabled TV. And recently, vendors have using Android as their devices’ OS, thus opening up a world of apps to the user.
As many media players now don't have an internal hard disk, when buying one, make sure it has the right connections or services that will allow you to access your media content. Does it have a USB port; is one enough? Do you need a card reader? Is it DLNA compliant, so that you can get to files residing on other DLNA-enabled devices? What network sharing functions does it have? What online services does it support? Are there any hidden costs such as service subscription fees?
Also, know that support for most popular formats shouldn't be taken to mean support for all formats. If there's a particular video format that you always play, it's wise to scrutinize the specs sheet to ensure that it indeed is supported. Better yet, we highly recommend bringing some test files to try them on the spot.
AC Ryan - Level 6, Booth 6543
AC Ryan Playon! HD 3D
The AC Ryan Playon! HD 3D media player supports full 3D HD playback including BD-ISO and has built-in WiFi and Gigabit LAN connectivity for easy sharing and transferring of media. The unit also comes with a 2TB hard disk and Citibank card members get an additional $10 off.
- Comex price: $399
- Usual price: $349
- Promotion: Citibank card members additional $10 off
ASUS - Level 6, Booth 6261
ASUS O!Play Mini Plus
The ASUS O!Play Mini Plus is one of the best all-rounder media players available today. It supports a good variety of different video formats and plays full HD content smoothly. Also, it is equipped with both WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, making it possible to stream content directly to unit.
- Comex price: $169
- Usual price: $199
- Promotion: Free Trend Micro Internet Security 2012 worth $39
- More information: HWZ Review
Western Digital - Level 6, Booth 6205
Western Digital Live Hub
The Western Digital Live Hub plays a wide variety of full HD video formats and is capable of streaming too with the optional USB wireless adapter. The unit also comes with a 1TB hard drive and can be had for significant discounts at Comex 2012 as it is going for $199 - much lower than its usual price of $329.
- Comex price: $199
- Usual price: $329
- Promotion: Free 1.8m HDMI cable
- More information: HWZ Review
Buying Tips: Headphones
Deciding on a pair of headphones can be a challenging proposition in today's context. Firstly, one has to decide between smaller in-ears and circumarual headphones. Then there are confounding terms like dynamic drivers and balanced armature drivers to contend with. What do they all mean, and which works best for you? Essentially, IEMs (in-ear monitors) are tiny little buds which fit directly into your ear canal. They are light, highly portable, and they provide passive noise isolation as well. We'd recommend using IEMs if you listen to a whole lot of music whilst you're on the go. Circumaural or full-sized headphones, on the other hand, are noticeably heavier but they do provide a fuller and more immersive listening experience. Since they cover the entire ear, their noise isolation capabilities are more superior than IEMs too. Although they are getting increasingly popular, as worn by younger commuters and teens, wearers might suffer from 'head fatigue' after extended use due to the pressure from the cups and headband.
There is a fair amount of contention as to whether dynamic or balanced armature drivers offer better audio quality. In our experience, both driver types have their own unique benefits and drawbacks. Dynamic transducers, sometimes known as moving-coil drivers, generates sound based on air vibrations produced by the moving diaphragm when it is actuated by a voice coil and magnet. A single driver in this case is capable of covering a wide sound spectrum. They are also generally warmer and 'bassier' since bass levels are dictated by air reverberations. Some also argue that dynamic drivers sound more natural too. Balanced armature (BA) types, on the other hand, depend less on air vibrations which also makes them more susceptible to less punchy bass response. In most cases, audio fidelity from BA drivers are typically more clinical although other armature types are often needed to cover the entire audible spectrum effectively. That said, never trust the specifications alone when it comes to IEMs or headphones. Always do a sound-check before you plonk your hard-earned cash for a pair. Let your ears decide!
Audio-Technica - Level 6, Booth 6136
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b
If you are a frequent flier, the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b active noise-canceling headphones is one that you should definitely check out. Long revered for outstanding noise-canceling and audio performance as well as its compact, foldable design, the ANC7b can be had at Comex 2012 for a sizable discount.
- Comex Price: $228
- Usual price: $278
Audio-Technica ATH-BT04NC
The Audio-Technica ATH-BT04NC is a Bluetooth earpiece with active noise-canceling capability, making it great for frequent fliers. The headphones also features 3D Bass effect and has a built-in lithium-ion battery with an operating time of 8 hours (with Bluetooth and noise-canceling both enabled).
- Comex price: $198
- Usual price: $298
Beyerdynamic - Level 6, Booth 6138 (Song Brothers)
Beyerdynamic DTX 300p Portable Stereo Headphones
It's surprising to spot such a lowly-priced portable headset coming from Beyerdynamic, but you better believe it, for it's yours for only $48 at Comex. This pair of closed-back headphones features a stainless steel headband, which is robust yet flexible enough to suit most head sizes. The foldable DTX 300p has a regular impedance of 32 ohms, and a frequency response of 25 to 18,000 Hz, which makes it highly suitable for most media players and smartphones.
- Comex Price: $48
- Usual Price: $69
Beyerdynamic DTX 101 iE In-ear Monitors
This pair of in-ears requires little introduction. Light, durable, and stylish, Beyerdynamic's DTX 101 iE delivers warm bass and full-bodied vocals for a balanced yet vibrant audio delivery. It's also a deserved winner of HWM's gold award. Comes with three pairs of ear-tips and a soft case.
- Comex Price: $98
- Usual Price: $119
Bose - Level 4, Booth 8335
Bose QuietComfort 15
Launched in 2009 as a replacement to the QuietComfort 2, the new QuietComfort 15 has since been one of the best active noise-canceling headphones money can buy. The noise-canceling circuitry has been reworked to be even more effective and the ear cups have been improved to offer even more comfort. Audio performance is also slightly better than its predecessor too. With all these improvements, what more can you ask for?
- Comex Price: $499
- Usual Price: $599
Klipsch - Level 4 & 6, Booths 8335 & 6101 (Nubox & Harvey Norman)
Klipsch Image S4 II
Hunting for an affordable pair of in-ear monitors? Then you might want to consider the iPhone-friendly Klipsch Image S4 II, priced at only $116 during the show. The S4 series was built as an all-purpose earphones which offers ample noise isolation, neutral frequency response, and relatively low distortion.
- Comex Price: $116
- Usual Price: $129
- Promotion: Comex Promotion:10% discount, 15% discount for any 2 earphones purchase, one free Image S3 when you purchase a mode X10i or Mode.
Klipsch Image X7i
The Image X7i not only offers great noise isolation, thanks to its carefully designed oval ear-tips, but it is also Klipsch's first ceramic headphones, which makes this sexy pair of in-ears a lightweight and fairly durable music companion. Equipped with tangle-free cables, the X7i's inline controls also makes it easy to toggle between your funky music and incoming calls.
- Comex Price: $296
- Usual Price: $329
- Promotion: Comex Promotion:10% discount, 15% discount for any 2 earphones purchase, one free Image S3 when you purchase a mode X10i or Mode.
Nakamichi - Level 6, Booths 6288 & 6331 (Sprint-Cass)
Nakamichi NW-501 Wireless Headphones
Light, comfy, attractive, and best of all - it's wireless. Nakamichi's NW-501 makes use of the 2.4GHz band to connect to your iPod or iPhone with a sweet wireless range of up to 5 meters. The foldable NW-501 is equipped with a rechargeable battery, although the bundled 3.5mm plug and cable makes it possible to switch to a wired configuration.
- Comex Price: $149
- Usual Price: $168
Sennheiser - Level 6, Booth 6361
Sennheiser Amperior
The Sennheiser Amperior has finally reached our sunny shores. Making its official debut in Singapore at Comex 2012, the new Amperior is a refreshed take on the older HD-25-1 II. Overall, the new headphones have been thoroughly improved, offering better audio performance and also wearing comfort.
- Comex Price: $499
- Promotion: Free VTech Duo Digital Cordless Phone worth $99
SonicGear - Level 6, Booth 6146
SonicGear iP12 Time Machine
Despite being launched over a year ago, the SonicGear iP12 Time Machine is still one of the most recognizable Apple docking stations thanks to its unique and clever clock design. Apart from being a bedside alarm clock, the Time Machine is also equipped with an FM receiver and two full-range drivers for playing music.
- Comex Price: $49 (Usual Price: $89)
- Comex Promotion: Free Earpump earset
SonicGear Earpump Pure
The Earpump Pure is SonicGear’s flagship in-ear headphones and it uses balanced armature drivers to deliver a more rounded sound. The Earpump Pure is also an Apple-ready headset with a microphone and wired remote control that’s compatible with iPhones, iPods and iPads.
Comex price: $99.90
Usual price: $129
Promotion: Free silicon tips
Soul by Ludacris (Level 6, Booth 6331)
Soul by Ludacris SL100
Need a pair of headphones that are backed up by a bona fide hip-hop star? Beats by Dr Dre aren’t the only ones around. Be sure to check out the Soul by Ludacris SL100. These headphones are iPhone and iPod ready and are designed for style, comfort and performance. Available in blue, red, white and pink, the deal even includes a free portable headphone amplifier.
- Comex price: $299
- Usual price: $349
- Promotion: Free portable headphone amplifier worth $69
Altec Lansing - Level 6, Booth 6211
Altec Lansing inMotion IMT702
iPod and iPhone certified, the Altec Lansing inMotion IMT702 is an attractive portable docking system that has an in-built lithium-ion battery that's rated for around 3.5 hours. It also includes an FM receiver and is resistant to GSM interference. The amazing thing is that it is going for only $69, which represents a huge saving off its usual price of $299.
- Comex price: $69
- Usual price: $299
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