CEDIA EXPO USA 2006 - Part 2

October 03, 2006 — Article

Lots more of the products that caught our eye at the CEDIA 2006.

NAD, their “Masters”

The recent EISA award-winning M55 player is the flagship product in the new “Masters Series” by NAD. It plays DVD, DVD-Audio, SACD, MP3, and WMA. Boasting an HDMI output and a DCDi Faroudja video converter it upscales a normal DVD’s 480 lines to a 720p or 1080i signal.

EISA award winning recently at IFA 2006, the NAD M55

The “Masters Series” also sports the M15 surround sound processor and the 7 x 160 Watt M25 amp, both THX Ultra 2 certified that round things up very nicely.

The NAD M15 processor is THX Ultra 2 certified

Another new addition to the NAD family is the M3, a 2 x 180 amp that’ll be ideal as an extra sound source in another listening area via the M15.

The NAD M3 "under-the-hood !

Thiel, CS3.7 et SCS4

Thiel introduced 2 new products at the CEDIA this year. The first one is a 3-way floor standing speaker equipped with a high output 1-inch tweeter coincidently mounted in the center of a 5-inch midrange that incorporates a new ribbed geometry. The 10-inch woofer’s output is augmented by an auxiliary bass radiator. The CS3.7 utilizes innovative ribbed midrange diaphragm geometry that both eliminates audible resonances and greatly reduces diffraction and reflection of the tweeter’s output.

The Thiel CS3.7 for truly pure sound

Thiel also has answers the ever-increasing demands of Home Theater. The new SCS4 is a versatile, two-way, bookshelf-sized speaker system that provides outstanding front, rear, or center channel performance in multi-channel or two-channel systems.

Thiel SCS4, perfect for Home Cinema

Its coaxial driver design allows great placement flexibility by ensuring that every listener hears the sound from both drivers at exactly the same time, regardless of where and in what orientation the speakers are placed. The front baffle is made of die-cast aluminium for exceptional sound reproduction clarity by reducing unwanted vibrations that often obscure detail.

Stewart, make it big outdoors !

Once again Stewart shows the way in innovations, and this time takes Home Theater out of the home ! Here at CEDIA visitors got to take a look at the new outdoor rear projection screen. Stewart stated it was answering a growing demand from its consumers for screens that can be installed by the pool, in the garden, or for any outdoor event…

This Stewart screen is BIG, and goes outside

The Stewart design, whereby the new screen is sandwiched between two glass panes, renders it insensitive to stains, reflection, or “accidents” like getting broken thanks to its shatter-proof glass ! This was one of the award winners at this year’s CEDIA, and clearly with the crowds on the stand, the clients are there. You’ll see a complete, first-hand explanation from Don Stuart in our video clip.

JMLab, V design

The new Focal-JMLab Chorus 800 V loudspeaker line was on display at the French manufacturer’s stand. Launched in 2000, upgraded in 2003 and renewed again this year, the Chorus philosophy still sticks to its motto: making it possible for the greatest number to enjoy Focal-JMLab technology. The new range consists of no less than 8 models.

The Chorus 816 V

The new design line-up includes the 816 V, 826 V, 836 V floor standing speakers, joined by the compact 806 V and 807 V models and completed by the CC 800 V central speaker and the SR 800V two-way bi-polar sound effect and topped off by the SW 800 V subwoofer. The range guarantees a tailor-made Home Theater system sporting an exceptional design.

The Chorus 836 V

The Chorus 800 V is dressed up for the occasion in the gleaming acrylic finish, which looks like lacquer but was specifically developed by Focal-JMLab to keep the prices reasonable, yet provide more depth and brilliance than any classic finishing of its kind. The V design is clearly modern to integrate into the home easily, catering to all the members of the family!

Pioneer, the “Elite” models

The term Elite clearly has its place here with latest line by Pioneer which simply offers the very best of the brand.

Elite 1080p 50 inch Plasma

Pioneer shows its know-how, as American customers only (maybe some day ! for all of us ?) will feast on a new range that includes the 50" 1080p screen named PRO-FHD1.

Blu-Ray player BDP-HD1

Also showcased was the BDP-HD1 Blu-ray player as well as the audio-video amps the VSX-84Txi, certified THX.

4 HDMI outputs !

For sweets, Pioneer has added little “extras” to Elite Plasma, for example, that enable your screen to display the audio and video files as well as photos off your computer.

JVC, what a contrast 10,000:1

If you wanted to catch a glimpse of the new Full HD projector by JVC you had to venture to the hotel near the CEDIA EXPO. Unlike most of its competitors, JVC has banked on D-ILA (Digital Image Light Amplifier) technology (as oppposed to DLP). It’s packed with 3 0.7" LCOS D-ILA, each one of them boasting a 1920 x 1080 p native resolution.

The 3 D-ILA projector in our private demonstration

This industry-leading technology combined with JVC’s optical savoir-faire gives this projector a 10,000 : 1 contrast ratio at 800 lumens. To be rolled out early 2007, you can expect to see them at about a MSRP of 7,000$ in the stores.

KEF, give me five !

Does one still need to introduce the Uni-Q technology by KEF ? Well, in short (if you have been in hibernation), when using Uni-Q speakers you only need two instead of five for a Home Theater installation. How? Vertical flat panels behind the main speaker drivers act as rear effects speakers, while the front-facing Uni-Q drivers create left, center and right speakers. When you hear the results, you may say, bye-bye to central voice and surround speakers…

KEF Model 7

This year the British manufacturer introduced two new pairs of speakers based on the KEF Model 7 and KEF Model 11 technology. The smaller Model 7 is a 7-driver stand/wall mount and the Model 11, you guessed it with 4 more, is no less than an 11-driver floor standing loudspeaker.

A pair of KEF Model 11

They’re available in either matt silver or high gloss black finishes for a space-saving “WAF” design effect.

Sony, Blu-Ray and introducing Pearl

You couldn’t miss the Sony stand at CEDIA this year for two reasons: first, they were bang in front of you as you stepped through the door and second, and more importantly, the HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray battle being on everybody’s lips, you just had to take a look and see for yourself…

Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray

Sony had a lot to show with an entire area specially dedicated to Blu-ray, where we checked out the 50 titles in the Blu-ray catalogue.

Pearl has arrived !

The new video projector addition Pearl, or VPL-VW50, was on display boasting their 3 SXRD chip 1080p technology and is available at 4,999$. Get the details in our previous article (here) and you’ll soon see “her” up-close in our video clip.

Mitsubishi, color me 6 !

A color fest at Mitsubishi this year…The new 6 color system of the rear projection screens by Mitsubishi teamed up with the DLP 1080p chip delivers crisp images. The top line-up of the 831 series includes three rear projector models: the 73" WD-73831, the 65" WD-65831 and the 57" WD-57831.

73 inches of color beauty

Visitors also got a chance to see on display their 1080p video projector known as HC5000BL equipped with a Silicon Optix LCD panel boasting a 1920 x 1080p resolution and a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. It’ll be available in October at a MSRP of 4,495$.

Crestron, playing it Adagio

Domotics giant Crestron had a lot on show this year at CEDIA. Their whole range was displayed, from the most basic remote to the new Adagio. Introduced last year, the sound distribution system was considered revolutionary, and Adagio has been improved ! It now sports a cutting edge audio video processor giving it the name: AMS (Adagio Media System).

The complete Crestron AMS system

It’ll almost do everything around the house and in one integrated system. A full demo awaits in our video clips. It is obviously compatible with all other products in the Crestron range.

Part 3 of 5 tomorrow.


All about ...

Crestron
Focal-JMlab
JVC
KEF
Mitsubishi
NAD
Pioneer
Sony
Stewart
Thiel