SITEX 2012 - TVs & AV Products Buying Guide
Be sure to browse through our buying guide before you head down to SITEX 2012! We have a sumptuous spread of recommended audio-visual products for your consideration, including TVs, home theater systems, projectors, headphones, and media players.
Home Theater Gallery
The last tech show of 2012, Sitex, is now on at the Singapore Expo. Till the 25th of November, the expo will span three halls (4B, 5, and 6), and the doors will be opened from 11am to 9pm daily. In this segment, we highlight noteworthy items related to all things mobile, including the best deals from the telcos and internet service providers. And if you are looking to complement that latest smartphone or tablet purchase, there's also a wide range of mobile accessory deals at the Sitex 2012 show.
Buying Guide Index
Sitex 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
Decide on your requirements before splurging on a HDTV set. Ask yourself if it's necessary to pay an extra premium for 3D-capable or Smart TV models. Basic considerations such as screen size and placement should be taken into account as well. For example, a huge 60-inch set isn't ideal if you're limited by a viewing distance of a meter or so. Also ensure the TV set is accessible to your home network if you're planning to purchase a Smart TV. If a wired or wireless connection isn't possible, you might have to install network bridges or utilize a pair of powerline adapters to connect the display to the router.
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 flickering is also an issue with the room lights on. Passive ones like LG's Cinema 3D models are easier on the eyes, and they provide excellent horizontal viewing angles. Then again, 'scan lines' are visible when viewed up close, and passive sets 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 to cater to your home entertainment needs. If you dislike the hassle of a 5.1-channel system, try going with a simpler 2.1-channel setup.
To help you along, we have a HDTV Buying Guide and 3D TV Buying Guide to equip you with the necessary information before you set out to buy one. For Smart TVs, we also have a video which discusses the various Internet-connected platforms. They'll prove to be invaluable especially if you are new to the AV scene. Happy shopping!
Onkyo (Harvey Norman - Hall 5, Booth 5C10)
Onkyo CS-545 CD Mini Hi-Fi System
Onkyo's CS-545 is an ideal audio solution for the bedroom if you take your music seriously. The mini Hi-Fi system not only brandishes stylish good looks in its favor, but it also features a top-loading dock for the iPod/iPhone, as well as a USB slot on its front panel with MP3 and WMA support. The CD receiver is accompanied by a pair of D-045 2-Way Bass Reflex speakers, armed with a 12cm OMF diaphragm woofer and 2.5cm soft-dome tweeter.
- Sitex Price: $499
- Usual Price: $719
Philips (Hall 5, Courts - Booth 5B30, and Gain City - Booth 5B01)
Philips 42-inch PFL4007 Full-HD Smart LED TV
Philips' 4007 series is perfect if you're currently on the prowl for an affordable 42-inch Smart TV without all that 3D jazz. Equipped with a Full-HD panel illuminated by edge-lit LEDs, the PFL4007 is powered by Philips' Pixel Plus HD video engine for improved picture quality and also touts a maximum refresh rate of 200Hz. Comes with Philips' Net TV platform, three USB slots, and four HDMI inlets.
- Sitex Price: $799
- Usual Price: $1,199
- Promotion: Free Wi-Fi adapter
Philips BDP2900 Blu-ray Player
Philips' BDP2900 Blu-ray player packs a number of cool features despite its budget price tag. Its portfolio includes 24p playback, DVD upscaling to 1080p, Dolby True HD decoding, as well as the nifty Subtle Shift feature which enables you to shift the subtitles' positioning to ensure they're in view. The BDP2900 also flaunts a USB 2.0 slot for video and music playback via an external USB drive.
- Sitex Price: $89
- Usual Price: $129
Samsung (Hall 5, Gain City - Booth 5B20, and Courts - Booth 5C30)
Samsung 55-inch ES8000 Smart TV
Samsung's Series 8 ES8000 is a fifth-generation LED TV model, equipped with Smart Interaction features such as motion control, voice triggers, and face recognition - all packed in a slender frame and mounted on a sleek Arc Flow stand. Apart from its decent picture quality, 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 3D display. The ES8000 has 600 so-called local dimming zones (Micro Dimming Ultimate), compared to the ES7500 model with 300 segments (Micro Dimming Pro). A 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 2 is yours with each purchase of the Series 8.
- Sitex Price: $4,888
- Usual Price: $6,099
- Promotion: Receive a free Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1-inch) worth $798
- More Information: HWZ Review
Samsung HT-E4500K Blu-ray Home Entertainment System
If setting up a component Hi-Fi system isn't your cup of tea, then why not consider a simpler and more affordable all-in-one solution instead? Samsung's HT-E4500K is essentially a 5.1-channel home cinema package outfitted with a 3D Smart Blu-ray deck. The player upscales lowly DVD content to 1080p, and also offers a wide selection of surround sound codec support, such as DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD formats commonly found on Blu-ray discs.
- Sitex Price: $369
- Usual Price: $449
- Promotion: Comes with two free Blu-ray titles worth $80
Toshiba (Hall 5, Harvey Norman - Booth 5E20)
Toshiba 40-inch Regza PX200 Smart LED TV
Toshiba's PX200 series is a smart choice if you're shopping around for a Smart TV with LED perks. Priced with a tantalizing $799 tag at SITEX, this 40-inch display features a slim 18mm depth and comes equipped with Toshiba's very own Toshiba Places platform as well. The PX200 is also furnished with generous spread of connectivity options, including 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 Smart TV.
- Sitex Price: $799
- Usual Price: $1,299
- Promotion: Receive a free Wi-Fi adapter and HDMI cable
Toshiba 23-inch PB200 LED TV
Looking for a smaller TV for the bedroom? For only $299, you get to enjoy a Full-HD screen on this 23-inch panel, powered by Toshiba's Regza engine. Connectivity is limited, judging by its two HDMI slots and 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 10-watt speakers, this model is fitted with a bass booster as well to improve audio performances in the lower frequency ranges
- Sitex Price: $299
- Usual Price: $379
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 especially need sufficient light output to counter the ambient lighting, so that the screen doesn't get all washed out. For the latter, there's always this implicit assumption that you're able to control the room lighting. That said, brightness is an essential spec to pay attention to when buying a 3D projector. Since each eye only picks up half the light from the screen, the projector's brightness is effectively halved in 3D mode.
Another spec to look out for is contrast ratio - this basically 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 beamer with a low contrast ratio is to turn down the lights, though many a time this isn’t possible. Also, avoid projecting on a wall or a blackboard; a proper projection screen (it need not be high-end stuff) is recommended.
BenQ (Hall 5, AceCom Booth 5K46)
BenQ MX501
Looking for an affordable projector for the boardroom? The BenQ MX501 is an ideal, low-cost candidate. This PC 3D-ready DLP projector sports a good brightness rating of 2,700 ANSI lumens and a contrast ratio of 4,000:1. Better yet, the lamp can last up to 6,000 hours under Eco mode. The MX501 has a native resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels, two D-sub inputs, and a built-in 2W speaker.
- Sitex Price: $599
- Usual Price: $899
- Promotion: Free carrying case and document bag
Epson (Hall 5, Booth 5D41; Hall 6, Harvey Norman - Booth C30)
Epson EB-W12
What we like about the Epson EB-W12 is that it has a sliding Horizontal Keystone Adjuster that makes screen corrections fast and easy. Coupled with the automatic keystone correction, this is a great portable projector for those (such as traveling salesmen) always on the move. And at 2.3kg, it isn't terribly heavy. A WXGA (1,280 x 800 pixels) projector, it's equipped with PC, composite, S-Video, and HDMI inputs. Brightness is rated at 2,800 lumens.
- Sitex Price: $799
- Usual Price: $1,099
- Promotion: Free headphones and trolley
ViewSonic (Hall 5, Gain City - Booth 5B10)
ViewSonic PLED-W500
The PLED-W500 is an ultra-portable LED projector (4cm thick, 1.18kg) from ViewSonic. The portability advantage aside, this DLP projector features a native WXGA resolution (that's 1,280 x 800 pixels), and offers a dynamic contrast ratio of 6,000:1 and a brightness of 500 ANSI lumens. Through its LED light source, it's able to last up to 20,000 hours. It also comes with a built-in USB port and an SDHC card reader, so you can conduct a presentation without a PC.
- Sitex Price: $699
- Usual Price: $999
Buying Tips: Media Players
While enthusiasts who need to dabble with a variety of content and delegate a system to act as a media server still prefer to go the HTPC (home theater PC) route, for average customers with less than extreme needs, a simple do-it-all media player is often more than sufficient. Not content with being just a locally-connected 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 started to base their media players off the Android OS, thus opening up a world of apps to the user.
As many media players now don't support for an internal hard disk drive, when buying one, make sure it has the right connections or services that 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? Can it playback 3D files? 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, bring along some test files to try them on the spot.
AC Ryan (Hall 5, Booth 5F60)
AC Ryan Playon!HD Mini 2
The Playon!HD Mini 2 lets you enjoy radio and TV stations on the Internet. You can connect with your friends on social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, chat with them on MSN, and share photos on Picasa and Flickr. With its gigabit LAN connection, you can easily stream HD files over the network. Tons of formats are supported, including MKV, RM, DVD-ISO, and BD-ISO. It's extremely quiet too, as it doesn't use any fan for cooling.
- Sitex Price: $149
- Usual Price: $199
- Promotion: $10 discount for Citibank card members, sure win lucky draw, and free HDMI cable
- More Information: HWZ Review
ASUS (Hall 5, Booth 5B40)
ASUS O!Play TV Pro
The HDMI 1.4-ready O!Play TV Pro isn't just a media player that's capable of playing back over 50 formats, such as ISO, MKV, RM/RMVB, MP4, and 3D formats such as H.264 MVC. It also comes with a built-in DVB-T digital tuner with EPG and PVR functions so that you can access and record over-the-air digital TV programs onto its internal 3.5-inch HDD. This all-rounded device supports a slew of online entertainment services, such as Acetrax, Dailymotion, Facebook, and YouTube. It also comes with gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and USB 3.0 support.
- Sitex Price: $299
- Usual Price: $309
- Promotion: Buy an ASUS Vulcan ANC gaming headset (usual price: $179) or an ASUS Cine5 5-channel speaker (usual price: $189) for $99 with purchase of any ASUS product
Aztech (Hall 6, Hall 6C40)
Aztech PlayXtreme 2
Powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the PlayXtreme 2 turns your TV into a Internet-enable smart TV. It's also a media player that streams from an external USB drive, microSD card or a NAS device. It supports HDMI 1.3, resolutions up to 1080p, HTML5, and Flash. With Google Play store and 1Mobile Market, there's no lacking of apps to expand its functionality. The PlayXtreme 2 comes with a wireless QWERTY touchpad remote control.
- PC Show Price: $179
- Usual Price: $219
- More Information: HWZ Review
Western Digital (Hall 6, Booth 6A30)
WD TV Live Hub
Looking for a media jukebox? The WD TV Live Hub plays full HD 1080p video, and has an Ethernet port so that you can stream your multimedia content from any computer in your house. To establish a Wi-Fi connection, an optional USB wireless adapter is needed. While it comes with a programmable remote control, you can turn your smart device into a touchscreen remote through a free app. This unit comes with a built-in 1TB HDD.
- Sitex Price: $199
- Usual Price: $299
- Promotion: Buy together with a My Book Live 2TB external storage drive for $299
- More Information: HWZ Review
Buying Tips: Headphones
Deciding on a pair of headphones can be a challenging proposition. 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, generate sound based on air vibrations produced by the moving diaphragm 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 is 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 conduct a sound-check before making a purchase. Bottom line is, let your ears decide!
Audio-Technica (Hall 5, Harvey Norman - Booth 5C10, Song Brothers - Booth 5D20)
Audio Technica ATH-M50 (White Edition)
Audio Technica's M50 is now available in white. This pair of distinguished studio monitoring headphones is equipped with generous 45mm aperture drivers capable of a punchy sonic resolution. The snowy M50 is also fitted with cushioned ear cups and an adjustable headband for added comfort. It's yours for only $198, exclusively at SITEX 2012.
- Sitex Price: $198
- Usual Price: $268
Audio Technica CKM-55
Looking for a pair of all-purpose earphones? Audio Technica's CKM-55 has been widely compared to the Klipsch Image S4, and it's not hard to see why. Both models are known for their comfortable build and fairly accurate acoustic delivery. Best of all, you get another pair free when you purchase the CKM-55 at SITEX.
- Sitex Price: $78
- Promotion: Buy One Get One Free
Beyerdynamic (Song Brothers, Hall 5, Booth 5D20)
Beyerdynamic T50p
The major selling point of the Beyerdynamic T50p is its Tesla technology to achieve a very powerful magnetic drive and clean audio reproduction with a low degree of total harmonic distortion. The efficiency over a low-resistance 32 ohm coils makes the T50p ideal for mobile devices too. The T50p ships in a nylon case, complete with mini pouches to hold the 6.35mm jack and in-flight adapters.
- Sitex Price: $330
- Usual Price: $369
- Promotion: Free MMX41 headphones
- More Information: HWM Review
Bose (Hall 5, Orange Comms - Booth 5C42)
Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker
The Bose SoundLink is worth a look if you're scouting for a decent portable speaker. Besides its ability for music playback from your Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, the SoundLink also offers a powerful sonic performance, credit to Bose's dual opposing passive radiators. Comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack touted to last up to 8 hours.
- Sitex Price: $399
- Usual Price: $549
- Promotion: Free nylon cover
- More information: HWZ Review
Creative (Hall 5, Booth 5F21)
Creative MA930
The Creative MA930 in-ear headphones uses 6mm micro drivers, and has a one-button inline microphone for you to answer calls or pause music playback on your Android devices. An adapter is included so that you can use it on your computer for online voice communication apps like Skype and Google Talk. Three soft silicone eartips of different sizes are supplied.
- Sitex Price: $99
- Usual Price: $129
Jays (Hall 6, Nubox - Booth 6E20)
Jays a-JAYS 4 Earphones
The a-JAYS 4 by Jays is probably one of the sexiest in-ear monitors in the market. Clean lines, a durable build, and tangle-resistant cables are just some of the benefits it brings. In addition, the three-button iPhone inline remote coupled with Jays' soft-touch feature is a definite plus when it comes to managing incoming calls and your favorite music clips. Available in black at an affordable price of $98.
- Sitex Price: $98
- Usual Price: $118
Klipsch (Hall 6, Tat Chuan Acoustic - Booth 6D50)
Klipsch Image S4i Flat Cables (Black/White)
If listening to music via your iPhone is your preferred choice, then this pair of in-ear monitors is something you might want to consider. Equipped with a three-button inline control and integrated microphone, the Klipsch Image S4i not only enables you to manipulate the volume levels on the fly, but accept an incoming call with a simple push of a button. The flat cables also ensure a tangle-free experience.
- Sitex Price: $143
- Usual Price: $169
Nakamichi (Hall 5, Sprint Cass - Booth 5G40)
Nakamichi NAH-950 Noise-canceling Headphones
Fancy a pair of active noise-cancelling headphones for less than a hundred dollars? Nakamichi's NAH-950NC ensures pesky ambient noises are kept out and only the good stuff are kept in, such as your preferred choice of music. With its lightweight and foldable design, the NAH-950NC will make an ideal traveling companion during your daily commutes.
- Sitex Price: $99
- Usual Price: $129
Parrot (Hall 6, Booth 6B50)
Parrot Zik
Designed by Phillipe Starck, the Zik incorporates a button-less, capacitive touch panel on the right earcup. For example, use your finger to swipe on it vertically to control the volume, and horizontally to jump to the next or previous track. With the free Parrot Audio Suite app, you can monitor the battery life and further adjust your audio settings. The Zik is compatible with mobile phones (as well as PCs) that accept Bluetooth audio transmission.
- Sitex Price: $499
- Usual Price: $580
- More Information: HWZ Hands-on
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