Integra, the premier brand of audio/video components specifically engineered for custom installation, has introduced two 3D-video-ready THX Select 2 Plus certified home theater receivers.

The new Integra DTR-30.2 and DTR-20.2 use the latest HDMI 1.4 A?V interface. This allows them to pass 3D video signals from a player to a 3D video display, and to simultaneoulsy extract uncompressed full-definition studio-master-quality soundtracks using Dolby True HD or DTS-HS Master Audio.

These new receivers are also compatible with the mandatory formats for 3D broadcast content of “Side-By-Side (Half)” and “Top-and-Bottom” 3D video formats. Both have five rear HDMI inputs and one output, and the DTR-30.2 also has a convenient front panel HDMI input. Both support Audio Return Channel and offer a new feature called HDMI Through, which allows TV viewing even when the receiver is in standby model.

The Integra DTR-30.2 and DTR-20.2 are now available with MSRP’s of $800 and $600, respectively.

Article taken from Custom Retailer - June 2010

The guy at the store said I had to buy this $199 HDMI cable to get the HD picture for this new DVD player I bought for my kids media area. Is that right?

Sure, and you have to buy a Cadillac Escalade ESV to get the best winter driving ability, safety, ride stability, and quality of vehicle construction to get your 3 kids to school throughout the year….

No! HD signals can be sent via HDMI, DVI, VGA, or component video depending on the type of inputs on your TV. In addressing HDMI; there is a difference between the quality of HDMI Cables. Keep in mind that it is a DIGITAL cable. That means that if another brand of cable is certified to transmit picture information for its rated length and resolution (720p, 1080i, 1080p) then until you see a review that says otherwise, the cables are rated to carry the same information. We sell many grades of cables at many different lengths. In general terms, the longer the distance you try to run an HDMI cable, the better that cable needs to be.

The normal limit for a non-specialty HDMI cables is 50 feet. Anything longer than that usually requires an in-line amplifier/noise cancellation circuit to power the signal back up and strip out any noise picked-up in the house. Anything longer than that will require some specialty medium for signal transfer such as 2-gigabit network cables, or multimode fiber-optic cable. These options can be spendy.

Maybe you can use component video to send the DVD video to the TV considering your audience.

While Blu-Ray Disc Players are getting less expensive every day, make certain you buy a player that will grow with the format of your needs and your AV System.

Look for these features…

1. A network or Ethernet Jack. If it doesn’t have this, you should keep looking. A network jack will allow your player to be updated via your home Internet connection for new software upgrades and decoding technologies as the Blu-Ray format evolves. If your player has a software glitch or the manufacturer decides to unlock new capabilities, a software download through the Internet will make it happen.

2. A network or Ethernet Jack. Yes we already listed this, BUT many player from Samsung, LG, Sony, & other pioneering manufacturers have enabled their players with the ability to download movies from companies like Netflix, Columbia Pictures, and Blockbuster. Now you can download the movie to watch at home without: late fees, trip time, or the responsibility of losing the disc.

3. A Major Manufacturer who made the product. Major manufacturer must stand behind their products to maintain the status they have worked to achieve. These companies will always make service easy, upgrades possible, and have ALL of the features that are needed to work well in your home. The Big Box Store’s “house” brand is NOT and never will be equivalent to or backed-up by the integrity of a major company.

One of my favorite pieces that SLH Home Systems uses in the Integra DTR 5.9 Receiver. It is configured to be a 7.1 Surround Sound Receiver or a 5.1 and Zone 2 Receiver. These two configurations cover the majority of our customers needs when it comes to selecting which receiver to include into the design of the overall system. The feature that is most handy for our customers is upconversion, which means that no matter what types of devices you are using for your system, (i.e., satellite box, Blu-Ray, Wii, VCR) they all get sent to the TV on 1 HDMI cable. The benefits are no more switching inputs on your TV and also the processing looks very good. These are the reasons this piece is good for our clients. From the Installer Technician perspective, the Integra DTR 5.9 Receiver is great because it has a ton of features like the IR control on the back of the unit to keep the face clean or more 2-way control through RS232 or the ethernet port. Far and away the reason I like this piece best is the ease and flexibility for programming this receiver. All the features can be changed quickly and easily and we use it enough that is something does go wrong we can fix it right over the phone.

Please join us at the Mpls Spring & Garden Home Show anytime today through Sunday. We are located in three different spaces this year. We are in the IDEA Home built by McDonald Construction, Inc.; the E-Lounge located at the front entrance by the will-call center and our new booth location which is 3037. Come see the latest in home technology and see how home automation and integration can be applied to your existing or new home. Also, register to win a Definitive Technology 5.1 Speaker System valued at $1,500. (Installation not included)
We look forward to seeing you!

Welcome to the new SLH Home Systems website.