While devices like the PSP and the iPhone feature adequately sized screens for watching movies, the pitiful built-in speakers or stereo headphones option means you won’t be enjoying the same surround sound experience you’d get at the theater, or even at home. Or does it? The Sizen iM10 looks to be about the size of 2 stacked iPod Shuffles and claims to upscale regular stereo sound to a 5.1 surround experience. It apparently relies on a “bass and treble reinforcement technology” known as AST coupled with another technology called DBEX to properly ‘balance’ the sound. To be honest I’m not 100% sure how it actually works, and this whiteboard illustration designed to clear things up doesn’t help. But I am curious how the fake 5.1 surround effect actually sounds.

The iM10 uses a built-in lithium polymer rechargeable battery, and on a single 2.5 hour charge you can expect to get about 7.5 hours of use. And it features a mini-USB jack allowing it to be charged from a laptop if needed. It also has 3 different operating modes for regular stereo sound or 2 x 5.1 modes customized for music or movie playback. It will be available in Japan in 6 different colors for about $90.

[ AV Watch - Sizen iM10 ] VIA [ Newlaunches ]

By Ian Chiu

When room space is in scarcity, not everyone can afford a 5.1 surround system for their computer entertainment system. That however doesn’t mean one has to miss the theatrical experience. SRS earlier has come up with TruSurround HD which in essence allows for virtualization of up to 6.1 channels on a 2.1 speaker set. Their processing techniques create phantom speakers that trick you into thinking that sound is coming from a certain direction when it is in reality coming from the front. While the technology is specifically for mid-range and high-end TV market, the SRS TruSurround HD has made its way into Logitech’s Z Cinema.

The Logitech 2.1 speaker set also benefits from this proprietary audio enhancement, but since the TruSurround HD requires multi-channel input (for virtualization), USB is employed to replace the analog audio cables. Each satellite puts out 35W RMS, with right speaker doubling as a receiver for the bundled Vista MCE remote as well as LCD screen for status display. In Everything USB’s review, the Z Cinema was praised for doing its job right; the reviewer felt a more submersive experience with the surround sound emulation enabled. He tested it with Transformers (the movie), 300, Half-Life 2 and Call of Duty 4. The only disappointment came from the lack of volume produced and the price which, as of this writing, is $220.

For full review, hit the link below.

[ Logitech Z Cinema Review @ Everything USB ]