Meridian has raised the bar for elite video playback with their new 810 Reference Video Playback System. This projection system uses a JVC light engine and 4K D-ILA panels to deliver a staggering 10-mega-pixel HD image in the home.
There's something about having to post blogs in reverse order to be able to show more than one photo, and than not doing it...which is why you'll be reading more about Stewart Filmscreen's new Cabaret decorative and functional screen case, shown here with a partially extended screen, and further on in other postings. All very confusing for what is a very simple and interesting product.
Anthem gave the show a sneak peek at their updated Statement D2 processor. Dubbed the D2 v2, it features 8 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs. Guess an outboard switcher is a thing of the past! The new HDMI inputs are all 1.3c compliant for full 7-channel 192kHz support and deep color capabilities.
Paradigm showcased their gorgeous Signature Reference series loudspeakers (review coming soon!) and their newest entry, the Sub 25. This new 15” behemoth of a sub features a 3000 watt RMS digital amp and claims to have 5 db more output than their already spectacular Signature Servo. Custom finishes are available.
Stewart Filmscreen showed a couple of new products at their press event and their booth. The biggest buzz was the Cabaret, which is a designer housing for a retractable screen that can be customized to fit any dcor. The housing sports aluminum end caps and a removable valance that can be outfitted with different finishes, including fabrics, and sport just about any color imaginable. There is even an optional lighting feature that can be used for biasing or just good looks. Pretty snazzy!
Sim2 debuted a new variant of the C3X 1080 dubbed, HOST. This is a two-piece package where the video processing is in a separate box from the projector itself and the two are interlinked via a fiber optic connection. The fiber can be run at distances up to 750ft giving a TON of flexibility in placement.
Entertainment Experience is a new startup that is looking to start a new format war. The service is said to bring a more premium movie experience than the Blu-ray format for people using larger screen sizes. Studio support wasn’t specified but they claim to be in negotiations for 4,500 titles at launch in January.
Epson has long been the leader of LCD technology and they’ve brought another high-end LCD model to the market this year. The TW750UB is their new flagship LCD projector that will be shipping this December at a price just under $5,000.
Stewart launched a new cosmetic and convenience option for its retractable, non-masking screens. It's called Cabaret, and is available in a wide range of standard and custom colors, together with decorative lighting (assumably switchable during actual use!.) The convenience part is that the screen case may be cantilevered out from the wall by several inches--enough to mount a flat panel behind it.
NAD has added an advanced Sigma Designs VXP image processor to its two preamp processors, the M15 HD (at $4499, a major update from the previous M15 Masters' Series), the T175 HD Preamp-Tuner-Processor ($2999), and the T785 flagship AV receiver ($3999f-shown). In addition, these products will now fully decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio from bitstream.
My reference receiver since 2001 has been the Rotel RSX-1065, so you can imagine the genuine excitement I felt at learning Rotel is about to drop its successor on an unsuspecting world. There are two of them, actually. The RSX-1560 has seven channels of Class D amplification for $2599, while the RSX-1550 has five channels of Class AB amplification for $1999. Both out in October. Please be advised that my longtime position on 7.1-channel surround (incidentally, both models process 7.1 channels) is that it's for idiots, clowns, suckers, and people who incorrectly believe that an average home theater needs more surround coverage than two speakers can provide. Other new Rotel models include a surround pre-pro, five- and two-channel amps, and (hmmm) no seven-channel amps.
Custom Theater System is the name Classé is giving a new series of rack-mount amps coming in spring. They include a 10-channel pre-pro, 300-watt Class AB monoblock, 600-watt Class AB monoblock, 300-watt Class AB stereo amp, and surround amp with 200 watts times five.
B&W has extended its CM Series with the floorstanding CM9 ($1500/each), floorstanding CM7 ($1000/each), and CM5 monitor ($750/each), so may I change the subject now? I somehow became fascinated with the chunky CT7.3LCRS (pictured, $1500/each) and its smaller siblings, the CT7.4LCRS ($1000/each) and CT7.5LCRS ($600/each). The big one has two eight-inch fiber woofers, a six-inch Kevlar midrange, and a one-inch soft dome tweeter. These three speakers can muster up to 94, 93, and 92 decibels respectively and are designed for use with front-projection systems or maybe (yuck) cabinetry. The new CMs are coming in November and the CT7s have been shipping for the past couple of months.
Two of three new Marantz receivers have onboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and both flavors of DTS-HD. They include the SR6003, 100 watts times seven, $1200; the SR 5003, 90 watts, $800; and the SR4003, 80 watts, $549; all available September. That third one has high-res PCM input, so it'll have no trouble getting the good stuff from a Blu-ray player's built-in decoder. Marantz has one of those too – the BD7003, due in November for $799, is Profile 1.1/Bonus View, not Profile 2.0/BD Live. Marantz also made an odd decision affecting two new SACD players, the SA1552 ($1999) and SA8003 ($999). They have neither HDMI 1.2 outputs nor analog multichannel-outs. Presumably Marantz is aiming them at a two-channel audience. Pictured: BD7003 Blu atop SR6003 receiver.
CEDIA 2008
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