JVC’s audio mastering technique K2 HD was first introduced to the general public in 2007. Under the standard, music is encoded in 24 bit and 100 kHz resolution during mastering but can be stored and played using conventional 16bit/44.1kHz CDs. And now, JVC has combined K2 HD with the HQCD (HiQuality CD) storage format to bring us the “K2HD MASTERING + HQCD” [JP] concept.

HQCDs created that way can be used in any CD player, with JVC promising superior sound quality.

The company has announced a total of ten K2HD MASTERING + HQCD music discs for the Japanese market today, at the same time indicating that audio fans in other markets will get the discs at some point in the future, too.

Each title is expected to cost between $37 and $49 (the albums are mostly classic stuff, including Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly or Roger The Engineer from The Yardbirds). JVC Music Japan will release the albums on July 20.

Via AV Watch [JP]

JVC Japan announced [JP] the RD-R2 today, a portable audio recorder designed for “street dancers” and musicians. The device lets you store music on microSD/SDHC cards (4GB to 32GB), records music through a built-in stereo mic and plays MP3/WMA/linear PCM (WAV) and AAC files through its 2.5Wx2 speakers.

To make life for the target group easier, JVC also throws in a number of special functions, for example a “countdown” feature or an automatic “hand clapping” feature to help get you into the rhythm. The RD-R2 also comes with a USB port, an FM tuner, a guitar input, and a KORG/metronome tuner.

JVC plans to roll out the device in Japan next month (price: $460). A trimmed-down version, the RD-R1 (which lacks the guitar input and the KORG tuner), will cost $290.

JVC announced [JP] three new Everio camcorders yesterday, the high-end GZ-HM670/690 and the GZ-HM450. While the first two models boast a back-side illuminated 3.3MP CMOS sensor (for better images in dark areas), the HM450 only has a 1.5MP CMOS sensor.

All three models feature 40x optical zoom, full HD video recording, an SD/SDHC slot, a USB port, an HDMI interface, a 2.7-inch LCD screen and an automatic upload function (for example to YouTube and Facebook).

Sanyo plans to start selling the new Everios in the next few days (in Japan). Prices: $950 for the GZ-HM670 (pictured above in pink) with 32GB of internal memory, $950 for the HM690 (with 64GB) and $540 for the low-end model with just 8GB on board.

Another day, another 3D-related news item. I guess you never heard about Hibino, but the Tokyo-based electronics company has shown two interesting new products [JP, PDF] today. First, there’s the ChromaLED 3D6, a LED-based display system that’s sized at a whopping 280 inches (pictured above) and that can produce 3D images.

The ChromaLED 3D6 that Hibino showed today during a press conference in Tokyo is made of multiple LED 3D units which ares sized at 38 inches each and feature 730cd/m2 brightness. The 280-inch system has 1,024×576 resolution, with Hibino saying they can produce systems double the size, too, if there’s demand.

The company also showcased another model, the ChromaLED 3D4 (pictured below). While the 3D6 comes with 6mm pitch LED screens,the 74-inch 3D4 pitch even stands at just 4mm – a world’s first, according to Hibino. The screens the system is composed of are a little weaker though (for example, they just feature 510cd/m2 brightness).

Viewers can switch between 2D and 3D with the push of a a button, with both systems requiring glasses to view images in 3D.

They can be ordered from Hibino starting today (no word on pricing other than that the systems will be marketed with an “open price model”).

Via AV Watch [JP]

Last month, we’ve blogged about the DLA-HD250/250Pro high-end projectors JVC introduced on the American market. In Japan, home theater freaks will soon [JP] be able to lay their hands on two D-ILA branded projectors that both can produce 3D images and feature full HD resolution, the DLA-X7 (in black) and the DLA-X3 (in black or white).

The main difference between both models is that the X7 boasts 70,000:1 native contrast ratio while that of the X3 stands at 50,000:1. The X7 (pictured again below) also has LAN and a number of analogue PC ports the other model doesn’t have.

Both projectors feature 1,300 lumens brightness, come with two HDMI (CEC) interfaces and a 220W lamp that lasts 3,000 hours, according to JVC. 3D glasses have to be bought separately.

The company plans to start selling the projectors in Japan in December. And quality has its price, namely $10,400 for the X-7 and $6,050 for the X-3.

Update:
As reader ohotos points out in the comments, both projectors have been announced by JVC in the US already (sorry about that). Available in late November, the X7 will have a list price of $7,995, while the X3 will be sold for $4,995.

JVC’s PK-AG1 3D glasses ($179) and the PK-EM1 3D signal emitter ($79) that are compatible with the projectors will go on sale at the same time.

The DLA-HD250/250Pro utilizes three .7-inch 1920×1080 LCoS panels paired with a 1,000 lumens lamp to produce the image. The presser also points out that this model has “outstanding native contrast” without a dynamic iris to muck up the specs. Nearly everything else you would expect from a quality projector is included as well: motorized zoom, on-screen controls, advance video processor. All this could be yours for $2,995 later this month.

JVC in Japan has announced [JP] two new Picsio camcorders today, the GC-WP10-A (pictured above) and the GC-FM2 (pictured below). Both models record video in full HD, come with web connectivity (iTunes, Facebook, YouTube) and with video editing software LoiloScope on board. They also feature a 3-inch touchscreen and a 1/3.2 CMOS sensor (5MP).

Both camcorders are also equipped with an HDMI interface, a USB port, an SD/SDHC/SDXC slot, and Eye-Fi support. But there are also a few differences between the camcorders. The GC-WP10-A is waterproof up to 3m (JIS IPX8), records sounds in stereo (GC-FM2: mono only) and has a voice recording function (MP3).

And as you can see on the picture above, it’s also sturdier and thicker than the FM2. The WP10 is sized at 101×60×25mm (weight: 147g), while the FM2 measures 102×53×22mm (113g).

JVC plans to start selling both camcorders in Japan next month (prices: $235 for the FM2, $350 for the WP10).

Via AV Watch [JP]

Did you know that I’ve had the JVC Everio GZ-HM1SU in my possession for about a month now? Kinda hard to know that seeing as though I’ve never written about it. We’re going to fix that right now. And while we’re at it, let’s kill two birds with one stone. A friend of mine invited me to Jamaica last week—he’s some sort of big shot down there, it seems—and I thought to myself, “This looks like an excellent opportunity to really test out the camera, see how it works in a new environment.” It was either that or shoot video of tourists in Times Square. No wants to see that.

Before I get too much into this, the truth is that I’m much more comfortable with a still camera than I am with a video camera. I took a proper photography class in school a few years ago—I got an A, thank you very much—, and I’m much more experienced with composing still shots so they don’t look like complete tosh than I am with making a moving scene come to life.

In a way, I think that makes me particularly suited to look at this through the eye of a civilian (non-techie). I’ll have the same “oh boy, how do I work this thing?” reaction as you.

Build & Construction
Well, it didn’t break, despite spending several days in a small bag that it had no business being stuffed inside of, being tossed about like taffy. About the size of an Xbox 360 controller, the camera never once felt heavy in my hand. If your wife puts you in charge of taking video at the next family get-together (my condolences), you shouldn’t have to worry about your arm falling off after lengthy use.

“How do I turn this thing on? Oh!” Yeah, the camera turns on as soon as you fold out the LCD display. Silly me, looking for a button. There’s a small touch-sensitive strip on the left-hand side of the display that controls up-and-down menu navigation, and a series of small buttons that run underneath the display for confirming and canceling selections. The touch-sensitive strip works, yeah, but I’m not sure it works any better than an old fashion button. Fanciness for fanciness’ sake, I suppose. The strip never feels imprecise, but it did take a minute to figure it out.

Of the buttons on the body, you’ll primarily be using the zoom that’s on the top. The above video, taken somewhere off the Sandals on the coast of Negril, shows the range of the zoom. (You might want to see it on YouTube proper to see the full fidelity version.) The video’s a little bumpy because, well, I was on a boat. Boats tend to rock and sway.

All the standard ports are here. There’s a stereo mic input that, based on some Amazon sleuthing, isn’t exactly a standard feature on other such cameras. You may want to spring for that external mic, too, since the on-board audio isn’t anything special. If you’re shooting hi-res video it would look awfully silly if you couldn’t quite hear what your subjects are saying. (I bought some Audio Technica mic off eBay, if you’re wondering.) Mics screw right into the top-mounted shoe mount. And, of course, on the bottom is a screw base for mounting to a tripod.

Easy to use?

Yes, quite easy. It’s literally a question of swinging out the LCD to turn it on, then pressing the record button that’s right where your thumb naturally falls when your hand is placed in the strap. When you’re finished recording hit record again. Done and done. You have 64GB of built-in storage to work with, plus an SD card slot for any additional storage. You can change any number of settings right from the onscreen menu, including recording quality (all of the video seen here were shot using the lowest setting, if only because I knew I was going to upload them to YouTube and not author a Blu-ray disc), white balance, gain, shutter mode, etc. But really, outside of maybe adjusting the video quality, you’re probably just fine leaving everything as is.

You can then view your video right there on the display—hope you brought a pair of headphones since the built-in speaker is fairly weak—or output everything to a TV or monitor via HDMI. That could be pretty handy if, during our imaginary family get-together scenario, you have no intention of editing any of the video and just want to show off what you’ve taken right then and there.

Like many cameras these days, it shoots up to 1080p. And as mentioned earlier, unless you plan on authoring a Blu-ray disc for later viewing on your giant plasma TV, 1080p is pretty much overkill; 720p is perfectly sufficient for most uses in 2010. In my opinion. Higher resolutions might be more useful in a few years when more people have access to 100 mbps+ Internet connections and sites like YouTube don’t take a day and a half to compress your perfectly rendered filed for the Web.

That leads us to something I would think many people now find themselves asking: If I can take 720p video with something like a Flip Mino HD, or Sony Bloggie, or, gasp, my iPhone 4, why would I want to carry around a dedicated camera? I mean, the Everio is small but not exactly fit-in-your-pocket small.

It’s the same reason why you’d want to carry around a proper DSLR instead of a point-and-shoot: you value versatility at the expense of convenience. You wouldn’t want your wedding photos taken with a BlackBerry, would you? So, why would you settle for video of your daughter’s recital taken on a device whose sensor is necessarily tiny and whose lens won’t exactly win any medals? Good luck using one of those pocket cameras in low light situations because unless you’re shooting on a bright, sunny day you may find that those small devices don’t work as well as you’d like. (The above video gives a quick look at how the Everio handles light/dark transitions.)

Conclusion

I realize, even given the above caveats, that buying a camcorder in 2010 isn’t exactly a automatic decision. Plenty of people would be fine with the performance of something like the iPhone 4 if all they’re interested in is getting a quick video of their friends posing in front of White House or in at the ballpark. And the performance of these small devices will only improve in the years to come.

It really comes down to whether or not you’re comfortable with the limitations these devices necessarily impose: odds are there’s no jack for an external mic (which is essential if you plan on hearing your subject, particularly on windy days), nor will there be room for an external light source. If you’re just taking video to put on Facebook or whatever—sure, fine, who cares? But for anything even remotely “important” you’d do well to step up to a proper camera. Then there’s the matter of price. At $1,200, the Everio isn’t so much impulse buy as much as it is an investment. But again, if you want a throwaway, ready-for-Facebook camera you’re probably fine with something a little less substantial. There’s no sense in buying more camera than you need.

And for no reason at all, dog pulling a sled! Apparently dog sled racing is big down there.

It’s not the first “women-only” camcorder out there, but JVC’s Everio GZ-HM350 (announced [JP] today) has surely the best specs. It’s not based on an existing model but rather one of three new full HD camcorders JVC announced today (the black and silver models have the same specs as this special version).

Buyers can expect the following features:

• 1/4.1 CMOS sensor
• 36x optical zoom
• 32GB internal flash memory
• SD/SDHC card slot
• AVCHD compatibility
• Windows XP/Vista/7 support
• YouTube connectivity
• mini HDMI, mini USB ports
• 2.7-inch LCD
• weight: 260g (battery included)

The special version and bag (pictured above) is limited to 100 sets only (exclusively available through JVC’s Japanese online shop). Price: $910, including the pouch. The camera will go on sale in Japan this month, together with the black and silver models (which will be available everywhere).

Ask import/export specialists Geek Stuff 4 U if you’re interested but live outside the country.

Using Bluetooth, unspecified smartphones can remotely control playback and recording functions directly from their interfaces. Bluetooth headsets can also be used for monitoring audio levels.

The functions seem limited at best right now, but this is just the first generation. Think about the live video preview and playback that’s possible with this type of connectivity. Soon, you might be able to set your camcorder on a tripod and comfortable control it from afar. Nice, eh?

The JVC GZ-HM550 is now available and carries a $799 MSRP.

• Extremely light and compact
• 20x optical zoom and two levels of image stabilization
• 16GB of built-in storage
• Touch-sensitive controls (not touchscreen)
• MSRP: $499

Pros:

• It really is very light and compact
• Image still sharp at 20x zoom, stabilization works great
• Focuses extremely close

Cons:

• 1080i is your only video option (several quality levels)
• Touch controls feel inexact

Full review:

1080i is a technology that is, at this point, several years past its pull date. TVs universally support 720p and 1080p, consumer editing software is designed around working in the format you distribute in, and web video (by far the most popular distribution method) is 100% progressive, usually at 30FPS. So it didn’t even occur to me that this JVC camcorder might shoot interlaced video. It doesn’t say “1080i” anywhere in the product announcement — only “Full HD,” — so they can’t be proud of it. And in fact, I didn’t even notice until I shot some sample video for the review and pulled it up to edit. The following picture should not be viewed as representative of the overall quality of the video from this camera, but rather a simple indictment of interlaced video:

(click for the full version, where the interlacing is very clear)

Believe me, if you care at all about your video quality, that’s all you’ll notice even if you shoot with the best 1080i camcorders out there, of which undoubtedly this JVC is one. But, as the saying goes: that’s like being the thinnest kid at fat camp.

But let’s leave that topic for a minute (I’ll address interlacing in a separate post soon) and look at the camera itself. Now, I’d like to be very clear here that apart from the interlacing and some clumsiness in the menu, I found this camera absolutely delightful.

Here’s an idea of its size:

As you can see, it’s quite a cute little bugger. It’s just big enough that you can grip it normally (like a cold beer, in fact) and it’s just heavy enough that you know it’s there. They say it’s the smallest and lightest traditional-style HD camcorder out there, and I believe it, but the whole class of pocket cams pretty much beats it, though their lenses are garbage one and all. My hand rested on the zoom rocker naturally and the record/stop button is well-placed as well. I tended naturally to support it with the other hand, since the shake of your hands will definitely show on such a lightweight device.

Speaking of shaky hands, let’s take a look at a sample video.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10017569&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1

You may have noticed that this video review is not in 1080i. It’s in progressive HD at 30FPS on Vimeo, and it would be similar (though slightly lower quality, I find) on YouTube, Blip, DailyMotion, or any number of sites out there. Not to mention that H.264 (not AVCHD) is being adopted as part of the HTML5 web standard, and soon you may not need to upload to a web video sharing site at all — that is, after you re-encode your 1080i, a step you could skip if you were shooting H.264 to begin with on one of the many pocket cameras out there.

There are four modes: UXP, XP, SP, and EP. They all record the same quality audio, but recording 15 seconds of video yielded file sizes of 45, 32, 26, and 11 megabytes of data, so you can extrapolate that out however you like. It’s difficult to show the difference between the formats without looking at the raw video files, so I’ll just say that quality was significantly effected in SP and EP, but XP looked almost as good as UXP with a significantly reduced file size and bitrate. So you can cound on about 130MB/minute, or a gig every seven minutes. That’s a bit large, but not unheard-of. The GZ-HM340 has 16 gigs of space inside, and the GZ-HM320 has 8GB. Plenty for most situations, and of course there’s an SD slot.

As for quality, well, it’s interlaced, so it looks nice when things are still and terrible when there’s action or movement. Low light was pretty damn muddy, so like most small camcorders you’ll want to stick to the brights. Skew (the wobbly look of consumer-level video resulting from slow sensor pull-down) is really pronounced when you’re zoomed in, as you can see when I was focusing on the plant in the bottle in the video above. But that’s to be expected.

The zoom and image stabilization worked great. The zooming is pretty loud, though; if you’re in a quiet environment the mic will definitely pick it up. There are two levels of stabilization, one which crops the video a bit and realigns it digitally. I found them to be plenty effective and have no real trade-off unless they drain the battery a bit more.

Here are some 100% center crops of the recording modes; as you can see, there is some difference but mainly in the details, like type and the cartridge illustration. Then there are grabs from a high-light and low-light situation you can inspect for noise. Click for the full-size version.

Not exactly amazing, but it’s decent. You can also record “for upload to YouTube,” which results in a similarly sized file to XP mode. I couldn’t spot any difference, really. The paper and virtual manuals aren’t very enlightening on this point. You can also trim stuff and re-encode for YouTube in-camera, but the interface doesn’t really lend itself to that at all.

Note that there are no other modes of recording; it is 1080i at 60FPS or nothing. There are few, precious few ways of viewing interlaced content these days; everything is progressive and nothing uses 60FPS. The camera claims to “upscale” its 1080i to 1080p for HDMI out, which seems specious. If it could create 1080p video, why wouldn’t that be an option to record? I’m guessing it just deinterlaces on the fly.

It does have many outputs: HDMI, component, and plain video out. These outputs are easily accessible on the panel behind the LCD, and for charging and PC connection there is USB and power underneath a little hood above the battery. There are no issues at all with these, all functioned well and are conveniently placed.

The LCD itself uses what they call “laser touch” for navigation, which is… well, it works for the most part, but four buttons on the side would have been just as functional, and rather less prone to mistaken touches and clumsy movement. You can use any part of the touch panel as a button, or slide your finger up and down it. It’s rather small, though, so you might accidentally pull up the zoom menu instead of changing the stabilization level. The little touch buttons on the bottom are responsive, though. It’s not a big issue, but if you have large hands it could be troublesome.

It also includes a time-lapse mode and a auto-record mode that records upon detecting changes in contrast. Handy if you like that, but these things are also available on some point-and-shoots.

Conclusion:

You may think I’m being a little harsh on this camera. Well, yes, I am – and I’ll be just as harsh on any camera as long as they continue using 1080i. JVC, Sony, Canon, and others still recording to interlaced AVCHD are just running down the clock, trying to sell as many of these outdated cameras before people catch on to the idea that interlacing is something we should have left behind a decade ago.

The camera itself is great, and if you truly don’t care that you’ll be recording interlaced video, then you’ll love it. But if I were you, I’d wait for JVC and the rest to get with the program and buy the 1080p version that will probably be coming out next year.

Product page: JVC GZ-HM340

Now, this is a budget HD cam so while it doesn’t have a 3CCD sensor or fancy-pants mics, it does have one touch uploads to YouTube HD, which is actually a somewhat cool feature. It’s also equipped with the ever-popular face detection and thumbnail view modes and the whole thing is controlled through JVC’s Laser Touch Operation bar on the side of the LCD screen.

The GZ-HM340 should hit shelves later this month for $499. Not bad, eh?

Contacts:
Chelsea Vander Groef
JVC U.S.A.
973-317-5000, X5312
cvandergroef@jvc.com

JVC News Hotline
1-877-NEWS-JVC
JVCPR@PlannedTVArts.com

JVC ADDS A NEW HIGH DEFINITION MEMORY CAMERA TO EVERIO LINE

New GZ-HM340 features 16GB of internal memory.

WAYNE, NJ, February 2, 2010 – JVC has added a new high definition camera to its recently-announced 2010 Everio line, giving the series three HD models priced under $500. The new Everio GZ-HM340 features 16GB of internal flash memory plus an SD/SDHC card slot.

The GZ-HM340 includes all of the new features and improvements found throughout the 2010 Everio line, including advancements in low light capabilities and image stabilization, while convenience is enhanced with a new auto recording feature and time lapse recording.

For a steadier picture, JVC this year introduced Advanced Image Stabilizer (A.I.S) that ensures steady images even while walking, and is especially effective when shooting bright scenes from full wide to 5x zoom. Available on all models, Advanced Image Stabilizer uses a wide-angle image sampling area that is four times larger than that of conventional systems. A.I.S delivers powerful compensation for camera shake.

Time-Lapse recording is a sophisticated but easy-to-use feature for time-lapse shooting in one- to 80-second intervals, enabling hours-long segments to be reduced to seconds, such as the continuous recording of changing sky patterns spanning an entire day.

Auto record, a new feature, automatically initiates recording when a person or other moving subject enters the picture and the luminance changes, a great convenience for home surveillance, monitoring a baby, recording wildlife, taking group shots (instead of using a self-timer) and more.

Digital files created with the new Everio cameras can be easily shared in a variety of popular formats with the enhanced Everio MediaBrowser software for Windows®, which now provides automatic conversion of HD and SD videos for immediate sharing on YouTube™, including both down-conversion and up-conversion. Files can also be directly exported to iTunes® and synced with an iPod® or iPhone®, or burned to DVD, all with just a few mouse clicks using the Everio MediaBrowser application.

Like all 2010 HD Everio cameras, the new GZ-HM340 features a KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS, currently one of the world’s smallest and slimmest HD lenses. In the GZ-HM340 it offers a 20x optical zoom.

Everio high-definition models automatically switch between two internal media for continuous, uninterrupted recordings. Users can shoot seamless, drop-out-free recordings using dual SD cards or flash memory. HD-model enhancements also include Face Flow Thumbnail, which displays thumbnails from a particular section of a video by automatically selecting and zooming into human faces.

The 2010 Everio series features an all new, slim design that’s fashionable, easy to carry and comfortable to hold. Portability has been further enhanced with a redesigned grip belt that now works in two handy ways, as a conventional handle-style grip when both ends are snapped in place or as a strap when one end of the belt is released.

The new Everio GZ-HM340 is available later this month for $499.95.

Features:
16GB Internal Flash Memory and SD/SDHC card slot
1/5.8″ 1.37 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
20x Optical Zoom (KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS
Advanced Image Stabilizer
Time-Lapse REC & Auto REC
One Touch Upload to YouTube™* (HD Compatible)
Seamless Recording over two media
Face Detection & Face Flow Thumbnail
Laser Touch Operation
2-Way Grip Belt
Everio MediaBrowser
Color: Black

About JVC U.S.A.
JVC U.S.A., headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, is a division of JVC Americas Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Victor Company of Japan Ltd. JVC distributes a complete line of video and audio equipment for the consumer and professional markets. For further product information, visit JVC’s Web site at http://www.jvc.com or call 1-800-526-5308.

Follow JVC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JVC_USA.

# # #

Microsoft® and Windows® are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
iTunes, iPod, and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the United States and other countries.
YouTube and the YouTube logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of YouTube LLC.
The SD and SDHC logos are trademarks of the SD Card Association.
All brand names are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders.

Add to that a native contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and a 330W lamp that produces 5,000 lumens and you have a pretty powerful projector to play with. JVC says its D-ILA (Digital Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier) technology makes it possible to display two or four screens in WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) and full HD resolution at the same time.

Buyers get a USB port, four DVI-D interfaces and LAN, but the projection lens isn’t included in the final price (which, in Japan, will be around $15,000).

JVC plans to start selling the DLA-SH7NL in Japan at the beginning of next month, mainly targeting places like museums or medical institutions. The company hasn’t said yet whether the device will ever be available outside Japan as well.

Here’s a new device that can help those who still sit on precious VHS cassettes that never made it onto discs. JVC announced [JP] the SR-HV250 for the Japanese market today, a Blu-ray/DVD recorder, VHS recorder and 250GB hard disc drive all rolled into one.

The device supports MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and AVREC. You also get a USB port, an SD/SDHC slot, LAN connectivity, an HDMI interface, and an S-Video. The device lets you record video on BD-R/RE and DVD-R/RE discs.

It’s not the first of this kind (at least in Japan), as Sharp, Panasonic and JVC itself have rolled out VHS-compatible Blu-ray recorders last year. But combining three recording formats has its price: Be ready to pay around $3,000 if the SR-HV250 should make its way outside Japan one day (JVC hasn’t made an official announcement yet). In Japan, the device went on sale today.

About a year ago, JVC started selling headphones with wooden housing in Japan, claiming the superior sound quality they bring justify the high price ($730). And today the company announced the HA-FX700 [JP], earphones partly made of wood. And we have the same things coming with it again: JVC promising high sound quality and a relatively high price.

The earphones operate in a 6Hz to 26kHz frequency at 16Ω, feature an overpressure value of 104dB/mW and support a maximum input of 200mW (IEC). They weigh 9.6g and come with ear pieces sized at S/M/L. Technically, the HA-FX700 is based on the HP-FX500 JVC introduced back in 2007.

The updated version will hit Japanese stores in February next year, costing a whopping $330. Ask Geek Stuff 4 U or the Japan Trend Shop in case you live outside Japan and are interested in these earphones.

NEW UNIQUELY-DESIGNED JVC iPOD DOCK FEATURES DOLBY VIRTUAL SURROUND

New JVC XS-SR3 personal theater holds iPods vertically or horizontally.

WAYNE, NJ, December 16, 2009 – A new JVC iPod speaker system features a unique wraparound design, Dolby Virtual Surround, and a dock that like most docks holds an iPod vertically for music listening, but also can cradle it horizontally – ideal for widescreen viewing of video.

The new JVC XS-SR3 surround dock is a sleek, glossy black speaker tube with a curved design that allows the iPod to nestle between the speakers. The iPod holder rotates for viewing video in widescreen mode and comes with four clips to hold selected iPod models. The speakers’ powerful neodymium magnets ensure clean, crisp sound, while Dolby Virtual Surround creates the illusion of a wider sound field when viewing video content. Power output is five watts and the system features two audio inputs, one analog and one digital optical. A remote control is included.

In addition to its function as an iPod speaker dock, the XS-SR3 can also be used as computer speaker system.

The JVC XS-SR3 is available this month for $149.95.

Didn’t Nickelodeon used to give away JVC boomboxes and whatnot on its game shows back in the day? (I’m primarily talking to twenty-somethings here, yes.) Imagine you were a contestant on Double Dare, and you manage to find the flag inside the big nose filled with goo, and you win this, the TH-BA3. It’s a sound bar, which are a heck of a lot easier to incorporate into a small space than a complete surround sound system.

The TH-BA3 ($550) is the world’s first dual wireless sound bar. That means both the speakers and the subwoofer are totally wireless—handy if you or yours hate to see wires strewn about. It’s a 5.1 sound system, one that works with Dolby Digital, DTS, and Pro Logic II.

There’s more! JVC has one more sound bar, the TH-BS7 ($600). Whereas the TH-BA3′s big deal is that it’s dual wireless, the TH-BS7 is quite tiny at 1.4 inches. This one is only 4.1-channels, but works with all the aforementioned codes.

Both are available now.

Anyone else remember What Would You Do and Wild & Crazy Kids?

JVC Japan announced three new interesting camcorders just last week, but the fresh Everio model the company unveiled today in Tokyo is actually even cooler. JVC says their Everio GZ-HD620 [JP] is the lightest and smallest HD camcorder with a built-in HDD around. And as the device weighs just 270g and is sized at 53mm×63mm×115mm, this isn’t hard to believe.

As you can see on the picture above, the camcorder is really tiny. JVC made sure the device is worth considering spec-wise, too: 1,920×1,080 resolution, AVCHD, Dolby Digital 2ch audio, 120GB HDD,  1/4.1”, 3.32MP CMOS sensor, 30x optical zoom, 200x digital zoom, microSD/SDHC slot, USB port, HDMI port, 2.7-inch LCD screen, and easy YouTube uploading function.

The camcorder will hit Japanese stores starting next week with a price tag of $1,240 (in silver, black and red). As JVC sells their Everios outside this country, too, you can expect the GZ-HD620 to be available in the US and Europe pretty soon as well.

It’s been a long time we heard about JVC updating their Everio brand of camcorders (back in July to be more exact). But the company today announced a total of three new models for the Japanese market. Expect all of these to go on sale outside this country sooner or later.

The GZ-MG980 [JP, pictured above] is the most powerful of the three new Everio devices. It features 10.7MP with 1.6″ CCD sensor, produces 720×480 resolution, and comes with an 80GB HDD, an SD/SDHC slot, 39x optical zoom (F1.8〜4.3), a USB port and a 2.7 LCD screen. Japanese street price: $690.

The GZ-MS230 [JP] basically has the same specs, but it features just 8GB of internal memory (price: $515).

And the GZ-MS210 [JP] just has two SD/SDHC slots but no internal memory. But sized at just 52×110×62mm and weighing only 230g (battery included), it’s the smallest version (price: $460).

Victor JVC started selling the new Everios today. The company hasn’t said anything yet about its international sales plans.

It seems VHS will never die, and this is generally welcome, as a lot of good movies aren’t still available on optical discs. In summer 2008, Panasonic released a VHS/Blu-ray combo, followed by Sharp’s Aquos BD-HDV22 that was pretty much the same thing. And today, over one year later, JVC anounced the DR-BH250 [JP], which is a VHS recorder, Blu-Ray Recorder and 250GB HDD rolled into one.

JVC also threw in 1080/60p/24p support, BD-Live and BONUSVIEW support, AVCHD support, a USB port, an HDMI CEC interface, and an SD/SDHC card slot. It’s possible to transfer material between DVD, VHS and Blu-ray, including copying video from a VHS cassette to a Blu-ray disc.

JVC plans to roll out the DR-BH250 at the beginning of next month in Japan for $1,400. The company hasn’t said yet whether VHS fans not living in Japan will ever get to lay their hands on the device, too.