$100 Toshiba 32 Inch 720p LED TV - 32L1400U

The Toshiba 32L1400U might not cost exactly $100, but is still a very cheap and yet quality slim LED TV that you can buy as an additional TV for your lounge room or bedroom or a TV of choice for a small living room. It features a sleek design with a high-gloss black finish and curved corners for a smooth touch. The 32L4000 is EnergyStar certified for reduced power consumption. It features the  revolutionary LED-backlight LCD display technology, which produces superior image quality with a rich picture contrast. Along with the Native, Game, Dynamic Picture and ColorMaster video modes, the 32L1400U gives you control to always ensure you have a quality image for every kind of media source.
The 32L1400U can be mounted on the wall or you can mount it on its elegant stand supplied with the TV.

Attractive features of the 32L1400U 32 Inch 720p 60Hz LED TV 

• DynaLight

Like all HDTVs from Toshiba, the 32L1400U features Dynalight backlight control technology, which adds intensity to "blacks" and selectively reduces the intensity of "whites" or brighter areas to give the picture a more balanced, life-like appearance. 

Toshiba's DynaLight dynamic backlight control utilizes an advanced histogram technology to monitor the brightness of each video frame and automatically adjust backlight intensity based on the image being displayed. This precise signal analysis allows for 256 levels of control capable of creating a dynamic contrast seven to ten times more than for an ordinary TV. This results in a superb picture with deep blacks for increased detail and depth.

• Game Mode

If you a gamer, the 32L1400U includes a Game Mode that enhances the gaming responses by allowing the video signal to bypass select internal TV circuitry which shortens the signal-to-screen time. With this Game Mode you are certain to redeem your chart-topping scores.

• Dynamic Picture Mode

When the Dynamic Picture Mode is on, the 32L1400U delivers optimal image contrast, clarity, and color saturation for sharper details and brighter, more realistic movie, TV shows and sports pictures. Dynamic Picture Mode creates the right amount of “pop,” and provides more colors, finer details, less visual noise and brighter, realistic pictures.

• ColorMaster

With the ColorMaster feature on the 32L1400U, you are able to adjust the hue, saturation, and brightness of the screen to your liking. When ColorMaster is turned on, you see a list of the TV's standard colors from which you can select one to adjust.

• Native Mode

Since not all media content you watch on the 32L1400U is 720p, Native Mode prevents overscanning an image that is of a lower resolution. This especially true for majority of TV broadcasts, movies and other content is produced in standard definition 480i, 480p and 576i. By default, the 32L1400U upscales the lower resolution picture to 720p.  The Native mode  instead scales lower resolution video content to display the entire picture within the borders of the screen. (i.e. no overscanning). No part of the picture is hidden.

•   Support for DTS TruSurround

For an immersive experience with all your media, the 32L1400U features DTS TruSurround audio technology, which delivers virtual surround sound and clear dialogue. Post-processing and psychoacoustic techniques are used to enhance the bass and dialogue and provide high-frequency definition for clear sound.

• ENERGY STAR Certified for Reduced Power Use

The 32L1400U is ENERGY STAR certified and meets strict guidelines for power consumption set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Full tech Specs of the Toshiba 32L1400U 32 Inch LED TV

• 32 Inch class 720p Display Screen 

The Toshiba 32L1400U LED TV features a high-gloss black 31.5 Inch display screen with a slim LED back lit LCD panel that is housed in a bezel frame. The LCD panel has a maximum resolution of 720p and a refresh rate of 60Hz. The LED backlight is controled by Toshiba's proprietary technology Dynalight to produce deeper blacks and brighter whites on the LCD screen.

• Video Features

The Toshiba 32L1400U LED TV  has four video modes, namely; Native mode, Game mode, ColorMaster and Dynamic Picture mode. These modes have already been discussed extensively under attractive features of the 32L1400U 32 Inch 720p 60Hz LED TV.

• Audio features

The Toshiba 32L1400U LED TV supports DTS TruSurround as described under the attractive features of the 32L1400U 32 Inch 720p 60Hz LED TV. It has a massive speaker output of 14W.

• Input and Output ports

  • 2 HDMI-CEC Input ports

The Toshiba 32L1400U LED TV has a pair of HDMI input ports both enabled for HDMI-CEC, which allows you to control HDMI-CEC compatible connected media devices using a single remote. You can thus enjoy your favorite Blu-ray Disc, Gaming console by connecting to these two HDMI ports.

• 1 USB Media  input port

On the side of the 32L1400U TV, there is a USB media port to which you can connect a flash drive to view
photo slideshows or play your favorite digital songs. The USB media port is limited to playing only JPEG, PNG, GIF, AAC, MP3, WMA and MP4 file types. It cannot read video files.

• 1 (Shared) Composite input port

At the back of the Toshiba 32L1400U LED TV, there is a Composite video input port which shares a jack with the Yellow (Y) jack for the Component video input port.

• 1 ColorStream Component HD Video input port

The component video port at the back of the 32L1400U LED TV, provides a 3-channel HD video input stream with video quality almost comparable to HDMI inputs. The Yellow (Y) jack is shared with Video jack for the Composite input.

• 1 Digital Audio output port

At the back side still, there is an optical fiber connection port for digital audio output only which you can use for connecting an AV receiver or compatible home theater audio system.

•  32L1400U weight and dimensions

This LED HDTV measures 19.3 by 28.9 by 7.1 (Width x Height x Depth) inches and weighs 13.4 pounds with the stand. Without the Stand, it measures 28.9 x 17.3 x 3.3 inches and weighs a net weight of 12.6 pounds

• Power consumption

The 32L1400U LED TV is EnergyStar certified. Its power consumption is estimated at approximately $8 or 70kWh per year. This estimation is based on a cost of 11 US cents per kWh and an average usage of 5hrs per day. Your actual cost is expected to be different depending on your local unit price per kWh and daily usage.

Buying guide

• The 32L1400U LED TV is a very cheap TV going for $279.99 only on the high side. But you can also get a unit for as low as $209.

• Installation and setup of the 32L1400U can be done by anyone in just a few minutes. It is so easy to setup with very few connections and a simple onscreen menu.
  

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7.2 Ch. Sony Muteki STR-KM77 AV Receiver

From the 2012 STR-KM7 to the 2014 STR-KM77! The STR-KM77 is just an AV receiver for the HT-M77 component music system which in addition includes 9 speaker units. Sony has added attractive enhancements to the STR-KM7. One of my frustrations with the STR-KM7 was the absence of Bluetooth Streaming. Fortunately, it's like Sony heard my silent frustrations and introduced Bluetooth and NFC for Bluetooth pairing on the STR-KM77. This new feature now effortlessly allows you to stream directly from your compatible iPhone/iPod or smartphone to the STR-KM77. With the STR-KM7, I could only stream from my Android phone through a Bluetooth enabled Laptop

that is connected to the AV receiver via an HDMI connection. Thanks to Sony, my laptop is no longer needed!
Additionally, Sony has added more Soundfields on the STR-KM77. You can now enjoy your favorite football games with the Football sound mode active.

Attractive Features on the STR-KM77

• 2450W RMS Total Amp Output Power

Sony has boosted the power output on the STR-KM7 from 2012W to a staggering 2450W. If you like a home theater system with a heavy punch, this is cause for excitement. But wait, not just yet! Here is what I found out.
In stereo mode, it is rated at 120 W + 120 W (measured for 6 ohms, at 1 kHz and THD 1%) - which is the same with the STR-KM7. But when it comes to the surround mode, Sony has allowed the incredible to happen. The Amp channels are allowed to be driven into severe distortions by as much as 30% as indicated as follows; Measured for 6 ohms at 1 kHz and THD 30% to get 264W to FRONT speakers per channel, 266W to CENTER speaker, 264W to SURROUND speakers per channel, 264W to SURROUND BACK speakers per channel, and lastly measured for 4 ohms at 100 Hz and THD 30%, to get 300W to the SUBWOOFERS per channel.

To clearly understand this, you need to first understand the concept of THD explained here. But what this means is that in principle you will never fully enjoy Maximum volume on the STR-KM77 for a number of media sources as you will experience a lot more discomfort at these volumes than on the STR-KM7. However, realistically, ordinary usage is always at about half the rated maximum volume. And even at this level, it is loud enough for a large room. Unless you are hosting a party, maximum volume is never necessary!

• Bluetooth and NFC for effortless streaming

To me, this is the best addition that was lacking on the STR-KM7. You can stream directly from your compatible smartphone or tablet with a simple touch on the NFC area of the STR-KM77 receiver.

• Football and Digital Music Arena soundfields

Football and Digital Music Arena sound modes are a great addition, which were never present on the STR-KM7. You can now enjoy an enhanced football stadium atmosphere with the Football Sound field set to active while watching your games. In addition, the Digital Music Arena DSP brings Live Music Concerts to life as it mimics arena sound effects.

• 2 x 300 mm Metallic Cone type Subwoofer

Unlike the HT-M7 that is delivered with 2 x 250 mm metallic cone type subwoofers, the HT-M77 features slightly bigger subwoofer drivers of 300mm. This means, with the HT-M77 you enjoy a much heavier low frequency (bass) punch that will certainly rattle your windows and floor.

Full tech specs of the STR-KM77

• 2450W Total Power Output (Measured at 1kHz, 6Ohms, 10%THD)
• 7.2 analog Amplifier channels
• Falcon 2.0 DSP
• Speaker Terminal Color Socket 
• Bass/Treble Control
• Jog Input Selector 
• Bass and Treble Equalizer
• Speaker Level Control (dB) FRT: BAL. L+1 to BAL. L+6, BALANCE, BAL R+1 to BAL. R+6 CNT: +/-6 SL, SR: +/-6 SBRL, SBR: +/-6 SW: +/-6 

Inputs and Outputs

• Bluetooth(NFC) In
• 3 Audio In
• 2 Optical Digital In
• 1 Coaxial In
• 3 HDMI In
• 1 HDMI Out
• 1 USB In

Soundfields 

• Movie
• Music 
• Gaming 
• Football mode 
• Digital Music Arena

Decoding Formats 

• LPCM (2ch / 5.1ch / 7.1ch) through HDMI
• Dolby Digital
• DTS
• DTS 96/24 
• Dolby Prologic II
• 96k/24Bit PCM 
• Dolby Dual Mono 

Tuner

• 30 AM/FM preset channels
• Preset Channel FM/AM Station Name 
• Auto Tuning 
• Direct Tuning
• FM Mode

Video Features 

• A/V SYNC
• LPCM for HD Surround from Blu-ray Disc
• HDMI Quality - 1080p
• HDMI Quality - 1080/24p
• HDMI Quality - Deep Color
• HDMI Quality - x.v.Color (xvYCC)
• HDMI Quality - Audio Return Channel
• HDMI Quality - 3D Pass Through
• HDMI Quality - HDMI Pass Through
• HDMI Quality - 3D over HDMI

General Display 

• Union Jack Sleep Timer
• (up to 2 hours) Auto Standby 
• Pin Jack Nickel 

Speaker System 

• Subwoofer speaker system

• Bass Reflex Unit
• 300 mm cone type  driver.
• 4 ohms rated impedance 

• Front Speaker system

• Bass Reflex system
• 2 way 3 driver
• 25 mm horn type tweeter
• 2 x 200mm cone type Woofer
• 6 ohms rated impedance 

• Surround Speaker System 

• Bass Reflex unit
• 2 way 2 driver
• 25 mm horn type Tweeter
• 160 mm cone type Woofer
• 6 ohms rated impedance 

• Surround back speaker system

• Full range
• Closed Box Speaker unit
• 100 mm cone type woofer
• 6 ohms rated impedance

• Center Speaker System

• Bass Reflex
• Full range
• Magnetically shielded
• 6 ohms rated impedance
• 100 mm cone type woofer

Power requirements

• Input power: 110-127V or 220-240V AC, 50/60Hz depending on region.
• Power consumption in operation: 195W
• Power consumption in idle: 0.3W (with Ctrl HDMI set to off) 

Weight and Dimensions

• Main Unit (W x H x D): Approx 430 x 178 x 336mm Main Unit Weight (kg) Approx. 10.3kg 
• Front Speaker Size (W x H x D): Approx. 280 x 925 x 265mm Front Speaker Weight (kg) Approx. 15kg 
• Center Speaker Size (W x H x D): Approx. 430 x 182 x 178mm Center Speaker Weight (kg) Approx. 3.3kg 
• Surround Speaker Size (W x H x D): Approx. 280 x 885 x 265mm Surround Speaker Weight (kg) Approx. 13kg 
• Subwoofer Size (W x H x D): Approx. 410 x 555 x 350mm Subwoofer Weight (kg) Approx. 14kg
• Rear Surround Speaker Size (W x H x D): Approx. 280 x 235 x 162mm Rear Surround Speaker Weight (kg) Approx. 2.4kg 

 

Buying guide

• The HT-M77 currently goes for $1399.99 buying price, which is comparatively lower than other high end home theater systems in its category. I would bet that the HT-M77 is the best home theater you can get given its performance and at that price. 

•  Like its predecessor, the HT-M7, the quality of the media inputs affect performance of the HT-M77. So to enjoy it to the fullest always use high quality media sources, i.e HD movies, High quality audio, etc. 
• If you are to turn up the volume to maximum, set the speaker level controls at about 0dB. At this level sound distortions are less pronounced and the output is really good. Anything above 0dB makes the output sound uncomfortable to listen to.

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Are Non-Stick Pans Safe?

For a long time now, non-stick cookware and bakeware have outsold cast-iron pans year on year making them an integral part of our daily lives. But what is it that makes them seem so indispensable? The idea of eating healthy food is one major reason why non-stick cookware or bakeware will remain apart of our lives for generations to come. All animal fat based cooking oils that we use for baking, frying, etc contain cholesterol responsible for promoting atheroma development - a condition that causes heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular diseases. According to WHO, experts believe many of the chronic diseases we are faced with today, like the aforementioned, result from having saturated fat diets. So they advocate for fat free foods like fruits, whole grain and vegetables; so as to mitigate the risk posed by these chronic diseases.

The advent of the non-stick pan has made our quest for healthier eating even easier. With a non-stick pan it is possible to prepare food without having to add any cooking oil with no risk of burning it, as is the case with cast iron pans. So how is this possible with a non-stick pan?

Most nonstick pans are lined with a nonstick coating based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or silicone polyester compounds according to the Cookware Manufacturers Association (CMA). Nonstick coatings naturally repel water, that is why food is pushed off the pan because food releases water with a rise in temperature. Majority of the nonstick coatings are based on similar formulations what varies are the manufacturing processes involved for the various nonstick pan applications. For instance, materials chosen for making cookware products differ from those for making bakeware products.

Common base materials used for making the best cookware and bakeware

Aluminum

Aluminum is the most commonly used and preferred material for cookware. Having a high thermal conductivity makes aluminum highly energy efficient and suitable for fast, even cooking.  Aluminum is also one of the most abundant and cheapest metals on earth. Although being a lightweight and porous material, it means that aluminum will stain when brought in contact with extreme heat or deep-colored foods.

Stainless Steel 

Stainless steel adds natural beauty to the cookware world. It can virtually take any rough handling, is dishwasher safe, chip and scratch resistant, and has a shiny bright look. It is not as good a conductor of heat than aluminum but can be improved by lining its bottom with an aluminum or copper cladding.

 

Hard Anodized aluminum

If you want to make an investment that will last you a lifetime, hard anodized aluminum is the ultimate choice you can make. It is the most durable and hardest material used in cookware today - even harder than steel. But the durability and extra strength does not come cheap!

 

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is commonly used as a bakeware material because it is heavy and affordable. But being prone to rusting, it requires an insulation coating normally a non-stick coating both on the interior and exterior.

When and how is the nonstick coating applied to the pan?

First of all, a nonstick coat is The are two ways of applying the nonstick coat; either by hand spraying a nonstick coat directly onto an already molded pan or by applying one to three continuous layers of nonstick material to a sheet of base material (such as aluminum or stainless steel) before being molded into a pan.
A nonstick coating comprises of a number of ingredients, namely;

• A adhesive resin to make the non-stick coat bind well to the pan surface
• A release(nonstick) agent which is either a variant of PTFE or silicone compound.
• A carrier which is an organic solvent or water that carries the ingredients for deposition during the manufacture process but is evaporated off when the pan is cured or dried.
• A coloring pigment that gives the nonstick coat its characteristic color
• Optional reinforcing agents to give the nonstick coat extra resistance to wear and tear. For instance Swiss Diamond reinforce their nonstick coat with diamond crystals to give the pans a long life, resistant to chipping and scratches.

Are nonstick pans safe to use in your kitchen?

There have been several concerns raised by health experts and authorities alike about the health risks associated with PTFE or Teflon - a trademark name under which PTFE is marketed. Teflon itself is chemically inert - does not react with anything. However, this fluoropolymer starts to degrade above 260°C (500°F), releasing fluorocarbon gases and other fumes into the air. These fumes are not toxic to humans, but can cause temporary flu-like symptoms in humans and could be fatal to birds, which have sensitive respiratory systems. It should be noted though that 500°F is well above the required temperature for boiling, baking and frying. Teflon should remain safe for normal cooking conditions.

Additionally, all nonstick coatings are bound to degrade with time depending on handling, care and quality of nonstick pan. Longer lasting nonstick pans are coated with more layers with a reinforcing agent, and can last several years if handled according to the manufacturers guidelines. Some nonstick pans maybe labelled metal and dishwasher safe in which case you are free to use your metallic spatulas with this type of pan.
Even when nonstick coating begins to chip off due to scratches, the pan can still be used with no health risk because partly; it is not likely that you will ingest an appreciable amount of the nonstick coating, and secondly, PTFE has been labelled generally safe from extensive use of over a period more than 50years. It has in effect been included on the list of substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). Today, DuPont Teflon is used in many applications including but not limited to paint, cable insulation, carpets, fabrics, clothing, home furnishings etc.

Care for your nonstick cookware and bakeware

• Nonstick pans are fragile and yet expensive. You might need a new one when the coating becomes 'significantly' scratched or starts to chip.  Even if the nonstick interior is labelled metal utensil safe by the manufacturer, in order to prolong the life of your cookware use wooden, silicone, or plastic utensils.
• Never heat your nonstick cookware above 500°F, because above this temperature, the behavior of the nonstick coating is unpredictable.
• Never use abrasive cleaners with your nonstick. Instead hand wash with warm soapy water and sponge.
  
• Avoid using cooking sprays because they contain lecithin, which gives off a gummy residue that interferes with the nonstick properties of coat.
• Always allow your pan to cool off before washing it. Avoid sudden changes in temperature.

Common and trusted cookeware and bakeware brands

• Teflon from DuPont
• T-Fal
• Calphalon
• Swiss Diamond
• Scanpan
• Anolon
• KitchenAid
• All-Clad Cookware
• Prestige
• Nordic ware
• Meyer Cookware
• Staub Cookware
• Chasseur Cookware

The nonstick material PTFE having been first serendipitously discovered in 1938 by Roy Plunkett, started a revolution in cookware and bakeware manufacture which will continue to affect our lives for many years to come.

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