Fred Manteghian
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CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 08, 2008 2 comments

Definitive Technology had some neat new speakers. Above, the new Mythos STS, a slightly smaller and less expensive version of the ST I just reviewed, but with the same 300 watt powered subwoofer. I like the fact that being shorter, their tweeters are at ear level and imaging seemed excellent.

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 06, 2008 0 comments

Sharp's newly announced Ethernet equipped LCD panels, like their top of the line SE94, provide customized Web-based content to their owner. In addition, Sharp technicians would have real time access to your TV for support situations or, well, if you were watching a ball game that was blacked out in their area. Sharp says there will be no subscription fees or ad-support requirements.

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 07, 2008 1 comments

No, not a classical rhapsody, or even a Rhapsody in Blue, but RealNetworks Rhapsody music service. With over 4-1/2 million songs in their burgeoning library, Rhapsody will be integrated to Philips' GoGear line of portable MP3 players and also with Philips' Streamium home audio products. The Streamium™ NP1100 is the first in the Philips' home product line to incorporate the Rhapsody touch. Price was not announced.

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 07, 2008 0 comments

This Lamborghini Spyder Gallardo was spotted in Monster's booth. The engine is in the rear, so the matching orange Monster electronics are up front.

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 07, 2008 0 comments

Dolby was showing us something we'd heard about at Cedia, but which they weren't quite ready to show last fall. This time, using video from three different programs, they did a before and after demo of how Dolby Volume equalizes disparities between sources. It worked well enough in the demo and one thing I did note was that it wasn't heavy handed. For example, the program that was clearly lower in volume in the "before" condition, was still softer than either of the other programs.

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 07, 2008 0 comments

This looks like my coffee table. Except for it standing up. And except for the fact that the remotes are evenly spaced. And hey, where's my table lamp?

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 07, 2008 0 comments

No really, he won't.

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 07, 2008 0 comments

The Sherwood Newcastle R-972 won't be out until April '08, but I sat down for a demo of their new receiver. What sets it apart from other 4 HMDI in (1 out) AVRs is their Trinnov Optimizer. The fuzzy shot above shows green speakers along the peripheral of the coincentric circles that describe the speaker placement positions used during soundtrack mastering. The smaller red speaker positions show where people normally put them. By generating tones, I was told, the Sherwood receiver will figure out where you've placed speakers in your room, and compensate for it. I asked if you'd get that great on-screen display with the R-972's implementation, but alas, no. However, you can interface your laptop to the receiver and work with the setup that way.

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 07, 2008 2 comments

Not to complain too loudly, because in the old days we had typewriters, but whoever is responsible for making sure the 4th estate can do their job should be fired. The press room is full of hardwired Dell laptops (I mean, I'm a Windows guy and even I won't use a Dell, for Lord's sake) and there are precious few empty tables for people who brung their own. On top of that, there's no "supported," a.k.a. working, wireless connections. Granted, wireless introduces problems too, but hardwired Dells and brown shirts walking around making sure you don't unplug the Ethernet cable and put it into your laptop isn't helping anyone get their job done.

CES 2009
Fred Manteghian Jan 07, 2008 0 comments

LCD panel manufacturers are touting the effectiveness of 120 Hz refresh rates for dragging their little darlings out of the drug-induced haze that is LCD smear. I've seen JVC, SyntaxBrillian's Olivia and Sharp LCDs with the technology and it clearly works and works well.

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