BenQ covers it all with three new lines of LCD TVs

There is no excuse for sidelining BenQ's LCD TV offerings now that there are twice the number of models to savor. Announced yesterday in Singapore are its latest VA, VL and PL series with an eye on aesthetics to address its previous shortfalls in design.

Hailed by BenQ as the perfect replacement for your aging CRT TVs, the entry-level VA line offers clean-cut design matched with up-to-date specifications like a high-definition (1,366 x 768-pixel) panel and HDMI digital connectivity. Four models of 26- to 42-inch sizes are available and all feature 1,000:1 contrast ratios, 8ms response time and up to 1080i compatibility.

Up the performance scale, we have the VL line designed for advocates of high specifications and affordability. Available in identical sizes as its VA counterparts, all models under this series come with BenQ's proprietary Senseye technology, Virtual Dolby Surround Pro Logic 2 and a built-in light sensor for on-the-fly brightness adjustment.

The flagship PL4271 42-incher completes the lineup and is the only entry in the company's premium PL line. Equipped with a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel LCD panel, it is future-proofed with 1080p compatibility and features Senseye technology. BenQ also claims to deliver top analog audio amplifier performance with its new D2Audio digital amplifier--its first venture into digital audio for the company's LCD TVs.

The VA and VL series will be available in the second quarter of 2006, while the PL series is slated to hit retail shelves in the third quarter.

Powerful 5.1 sound for a song

Sony rocks the house by packing a powerful 850W S-Master digital amplifier into an entry-level home-theater-in-a-box system. The DAV-DZ120 also comes with the company's proprietary D.C.A.C automatic audio calibration system designed to simplify setup for an optimized installation.

Other notable features include advanced Karaoke functions, A/V Sync for precise synchronization in sound and picture, and a portable audio enhancer to improve MP3 players' music playback performance.

This affordable 5.1 audio system is now available at a retail price of S$499 (US$366.91).
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Psst! The PS3 launch clock is ticking… finally

PlayStation fans rejoice! The PS3 is now scheduled for worldwide launch in early November. We say it's high time Sony did something about the Xbox juggernaut. It's a good move, too, since this announcement might be enough to halt any wavering PlayStation fans from switching console allegiances. But with Xbox 360 launch dates for Asia Pacific due this month, it might still take a little more convincing to make gamers wait out the additional seven months while their neighbors are feasting their eyeballs on the babes from Dead or Alive 4.

Meanwhile, Sony has stopped short of announcing the expected retail price for the PS3, though market analysts estimate a whopping US$725 to US$905 in manufacturing cost. Half the sky-high bill is being attributed to the Cell processor and the Blu-ray optical drive, though the latter does offer 50GB of storage capacity--useful for beefing up content and image quality. So how much will a PS3 cost the consumer? Hopefully not too much as we await more details of this much-anticipated console
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