Norwegian manufacturer projectiondesign has announced a new line of projectors under the avielo moniker. Based on Philips' VIDI lamp technology, which increases brightness and contrast by producing alternating bright and dark pulses in the lamp, the avielo line launches with five models ranging in price from $7500 for the 720p Prisma to $65,000 or $70,000 for the dual-lamp 1080p Helios pictured here. All are shipping now except the Helios, which should appear by the end of the year.
I was surprised to learn that Sherwood is introducing three new Blu-ray players at CEDIA. The BDP-6003, shown here atop the new RD-7503 AVR, is the only one that conforms to Profile 2.0 and provides a 5.1-channel analog output for $500. The other two are Profile 1.1—the BDP-5003 has a 2-channel output for $350 and the BDP-7003 has a 7.1-channel output for $450.
At the Planar press conference, we learned that its Runco brand will now command most of the company's home-theater focus, and Vidikron products will no longer be developed. One of several new Runco products is the DLP-based VW-100HD in-wall rear-pro, which is said to be installable in under an hour once the hole in the wall is complete, requiring only 33" of clearance. The 100" screen displays 1080p images enhanced with an internal ViViX II processor, all for $40,000.
Integra follows up the winner of our processor of the year award with the new DHC-9.9 surround sound processor. This new version offers a few new features including an Ethernet connection and the first ever ISFccc feature.
Blu-ray players are popping up everywhere at the show this year now that the format war is over. Integra is dipping their toes into the water as well with their new DBS-6.9 Blu-ray players. It will make its debut this September as a Bonus View capable player but BD-Live does not look to be supported.
Active monitors are a rarity in the market today but JL Audio makes their break into the loudspeaker market with a great new active LCR, the Primacy. This new design is an active three-way system that has an integrated 3-channel 1,000 watt amplifier. The speaker utilizes DSP crossovers and is corrected for frequency, time and phase response.
A new line of speakers from well respected PSB has just hit with some of the most beautiful finishes I've ever seen in an affordable speaker. Unfortunately, my pictures don't do them any justice, so you'll just have to use your, well, you know.
If you bought the $3,000 T 785 AVR from NAD and are bent out of shape because it doesn't do Dolby TrueHD or dts-HD MA in-processor decoding, or have Audyssey Volume Ausyssey EQ, cast your bitter stones aside. For $400, you can buy the upgradable card that was promised you when you tied the bond with this modular card based system. Ditto those seeking Sigma video processing ($965 for that upgrade).
Okay, you're probably not going to build a home theater around these "starting at $4,000 a piece" Italian designed ceramic, two-way hanging plants speakers, but be honest, they're cool!
A new, easy on the eyes system with classic bookshelf pedigree that will be affordable for almost anyone, from the $149/ea CS 26 bookshelf (top shelf, left or right end), to the floorstanding CS 226 ($249/ea). All speakers use one or more of the same 6-1/2" woofer and a single 1" Kortec softdome tweeter.
Marantz has announced a new, cheaper anamorphic lens for its VP-11S2 and VP-15S1 DLP projectors. It's also said to be compatible with some other projectors.
The new Vista line by Boston Acoustics may be hard to photograph, but they are stunning and come with end caps in variety of finishes (a striped "ebony" wood was beautiful). In common with all the speakers in the line is a new Super Wide Bandwidth tweeter which is capable of being crossed down as low as 2 kHz while retaining good horizontal dispersion, according to reps in the BA's booth. Pictured are the $3,398 a pair VS 336 floor standers (3-way, with three 6-1/2" drivers) and the $1,699 VPS 210 subwoofer (500 class D watts into a 10" driver / 10" passive). There's a 3 way center and an LCR as well that could be used as a center as well some smaller bookshelves in the line. Special red and Arctic white finishes are available for a 20% premium as well. Unfortunately, the demo material used was worthless for giving any impression on how they might sound.
At somewhere north of $100,000 a pair (if you have to ask...), the striking looks of the KEF Muon speakers likely caught the eye of more than a few custom installers. But even the best sounding speakers are overmatched in the open confines of a big convention center, and the Muons were no exception
CEDIA 2008
Site Map / Direct Links
