Aurora V-Tune Pro HD Preview
Summary
- Product Name: V-Tune Pro HD
- Manufacturer: Aurora
- Review Date: January 08, 2009 08:40
- MSRP: $1299
- First Impression: Mildly Interesting
| Video |
|
| RF Input | ATSC / QAM / NTSC signal reception |
| IP Stream Formats | H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 |
| Decoding Specifications |
MPEG-2 "MP@HL" and "MP@ML" decoder H.264/AVC main and high profile to level 4.1 VC-1 advanced profile @ level 3 VC-1 simple and main profile MPEG-4 Part 2 Simple profile @ Level 4 MPEG-4 Part 2 Advanced Simple profile @ Level 5 (SD only) |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 / 4:3 |
| Video Outputs | HDMI 1.3a HDCP, YPbPr, S-Video, Composite Video |
| Display Compatibility | Compatible with HDTV, EDTV and SDTV displays |
| Other Features | Closed captioning, V-Chip support, automatic or manual channel scan, USB port for firmware upgrade |
| Audio |
|
| Connectors | Stereo RCA, S/PDIF Coaxial and Optical |
| Control |
|
| Control Methods | RS-232, LAN Control (RPC calls via HTTP POST) |
| Connectors | TRS (RS-232), RJ-45 Jack (LAN) |
| Physical |
|
| Dimensions (WxDxH) |
10.63 x 7 x 1.75 inches |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs. (V-Tune Pro HD only) |
Aurora Multimedia Corp is now shipping the V-Tune Pro HD, the latest in the company's long history of TV tuners. The new V-Tune Pro HD delivers a total tuning solution for any integrated system, whether it requires legacy NTSC tuning or ATSC/QAM capability. The new tuner is also LAN addressable and IPTV ready, capable of decoding MPEG2, MPEG4, and H.264. As with all Aurora Multimedia products, the V-Tune Pro HD is absolutely integrator-friendly. Intuitive RS-232 command sets provide reliable two-way communication via traditional control systems, in addition to IP-based control for networked arrays. A host of video output ports supports composite video, component video, RGB, and HDMI. Audio is supported with both unbalanced RCA connections and SPDIF coaxial digital audio. The V-Tune Pro HD is compatible with nearly any integrated system typology.
So why do you care? Well, if you have a legacy system and you want more functionality than the "free" boxes you get with the coupon, you might want to take a look here. It pretty much does everything including decoding just about every video codec plus is IP-based, has HDMI and coaxial outputs, and has all the tuners you need. If you have a lot of over the air (which we all know offer better HD than either cable or satellite) channels, you should be interested in a box like this.
Why don't you care? IT COSTS $1300!?! Seriously? Let me explain who this product is for... custom installers. They tell their customers that they need it or their $60,000 display with BOSE speakers won't work. For the rest of us, you can sit back and laugh at all the richy riches that just wasted your mortgage payment on a box that does almost nothing that a component a 10th (or less) of the cost could do. Gooooo Free MARKET!
For more information, please visit auroramultimedia.com.
Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.
As Associate Editor at Audioholics, Tom promises to the best of his ability to give each review the same amount of attention, consideration, and thoughtfulness as possible and keep his writings free from undue bias and preconceptions. Any indication, either internally or from another, that bias has entered into his review will be immediately investigated. Substantiation of mistakes or bias will be immediately corrected regardless of personal stake, feelings, or ego.
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