However one serious gripe has occured. I have an external audio/video switching unit (Pioneer receiver) and as the Samsung sound (and in deed most TV’s) do not have good speakers in them I wanted to use an external receiver and speakers. To keep quality high I choose to use the optical audio output from the Samsung. Immediately I noticed dropouts on the audio. I called Samsung and they said “it must be my receiver or optical cable”. They recommended I by a good quality cable. So £45 later I have a new optical cable and still audio dropouts. Being a bit of an engineer I decided to measure the optical audio stream with a meter on another bit of audio kit. Sure enough the audio was dropping from the TV (not the cable or reciever). I then browsed the AV forums and found that this is a common fault with Samsung Q/C 96/97 series TV’s! Called Samsung again and they ordered an engineer to contact me. To cut a long story short he said Samsung were aware of the issue but do not consider it very important! A Firmware revision “may follow at some point in the future”……not very impressive!

The new SHD7001 standalone High Definition DVD player from Venturer offers 1080video output via a direct HDMI connection to your HD ready TV. It also comes with Dolby TrueHD (5.1channel) sound completes the SHD7001 HD experience.
The new SHD7001 is not only a High Definition DVD player, but it is also backward compatible with the older DVD format and boasts the ability to upscale. The manufacturer claims that the player gives old DVD films “bright and vivid detail” that “looks crisp and forceful and boosts performance to near HD sharpness giving standard DVDs a complete make over to make them look better than ever.”

The SHD7001 also features a 10/100 Ethernet connection and by connecting it to your broadband, bonus features can be accessed as well as fan communities and special recorded content put in place by movie studios on HD DVDs can be unlocked.

“We are very excited about this product launch. QVC will be able to demonstrate the features and benefits of HD-DVD and make it available to consumers at a knockout price!” says David Rouse, Venturer Sales Director. “At last an affordable solution for the many thousands of HDTV owners.”

The SHD7001 will initially be available to buy in the UK exclusively from QVC TV Home Shopping Channel from the 29^th December, when it will be the featured product of the day (Today’s Special Value).

More information regarding the SHD7001 can be found at www.venturer.eu.com. At the moment there is no word on the price of the player.

LG Electronics, a global leader in consumer electronics, recently announces the UK launch of the world’s first widescreen monitor equipped with an industry leading Digital Fine Contrast ratio (DFC) of 5000:1. The L226WTQ is set to provide the latest in home computing, offering image clarity rarely found outside of the living room.

With its 5000:1 DFC and a response time of just 2m/s, the combination of advanced screen technologies offers the most life-like images experienced on a PC monitor. The L226WTQ is also equipped with the essential connection requirements including DVI-D and DSUB for high definition next generation content, such as HD DVD or Blu-ray, alongside the latest PC gaming technology.

Additionally, the L226WTQ incorporates LG’s new ‘ez Zooming’ feature giving users the ability to switch resolution modes with just a touch of a button.
Dennis Yeo, Group Product Manager, LG Electronics, says, “We are committed to offering our customers the very best in both technological innovation and style. Equipping home monitors with a 5000:1 DFC as standard means that LG is meeting the growing expectations from consumers for a heightened viewing experience.”

Key specifications of the L226WTQ monitor:

DFC: 5000:1
2ms response time (grey to grey)
High resolution: 1680 x 1050
Brightness: 300 nits
170 degree viewing angle and 16.7cd/m

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