Fred Manteghian
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KEF Affordable Too with New C Series
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 04, 2008 • 0 comments

The six speakers in the new C series from KEF combine nice style and very reasonable prices. Even the top of the line C7 floor standing speaker tops out at $400/ea. The 200 watt amplifier in the C4 subwoofer should provide plenty of energy goes down to the subs 29 Hz rated limit. My only complaint? A two way center or LCR, instead of a true 3-way which would be easy enough to do in the current style of the C6 LCR, if only it they had used a (admittedly more expensive) uni-Q driver.
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Pre/Pro We Won't Go
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 04, 2008 • 0 comments

Feeding the self-powered ML trio above, an Oppo 983 DVD player ($400 at Amazon) with multi-channel analog outputs. The SACD and DVD-Audio playing, DVD-Video upconverting (to 1080p) Oppo offers discrete level control, so you won't need a pre/pro if movies and music is all you do.
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Martin Logan's Powered Center Channel
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 04, 2008 • 2 comments

The new Feature center channel features 150 watts of power for its midrange stator, dual 5-1/4" woofers and single center tweeter. Price will be about $1,500, but nothing firm yet. Also self powered, are the two Clarity speakers flanking the Feature. These include dual 6-1/2" woofers to supplement the electrostatic panel (about a year old, the Purity go for the very reasonable sum of $2,000 / pr.).
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Martin Logan CLX – No Woofer No Cry
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 04, 2008 • 0 comments

Standing next to the Devin Zell is the CLX. Introduced just a few months ago to great fanfare (and apparently a great meal atLe Bernardin where chef Eric Ripert is also a Martin Logan fan), the CLX features a "triple stator, double diaphragm, low frequency panel" that means the descent-I subwoofer to the right will only be needed for movies. Yeah, that's right, this baby is definitely reviewable! $20,000 to $30,000 a pair, depending on finish. They're showing it at a nearby hotel, so I'll try to check it out on Saturday.
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Firmware Upgrades for Denon's Top Models
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 04, 2008 • 0 comments

Come October 1, 2008, Denon owners will be able to download firmware upgrades for their the AVR-3808CI, AVR-4308CI from Denon's website for a $100. What's that get you? Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Audyssey Dynamic EQ, for two, and Sirius radio ready capability and Rhapsody streaming capability for three and four. Meanwhile, the higher end AVR-5308CI AVR (picture) and AVP-A1HDC1 pre/pro can get a free firmware upgrade of Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Sirius Radio capability.
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THX Guy
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 04, 2008 • 0 comments

Last seen dating the Pixar lamp.
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Panasonic Moves Into AVR Territory
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 03, 2008 • 3 comments

7.1 Channels, 130 wpc, 3 HDMI inputs, available in the Fall for $799. the SA-BX500 is shown here as part of an entire (almost) single supplier system.
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PeterPanasonic
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 03, 2008 • 2 comments

With flat panel LCD sales soaring, Panasonic fights the true fight, opening their fifth plasma manufacturing plant in Amagasaki, Japan
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Pan2
CEDIA 2008
Fred Manteghian • Sep 03, 2008 • 0 comments

I guess you have to say it a few times in a sentence before it starts to click, but damn, I'm excited. (Show floor pics to follow, I promise!)
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Collision Detection: the Fall TV Season
Fred Manteghian Blog
Fred Manteghian • Aug 20, 2008 • 5 comments

DVRs are such wonderful devices – except that they won't record three shows at once very well. Two tuners – two shows. Watch one show, record another, or record two and watch something you've previously recorded (I end up doing that a lot actually). Bottom line, you have to plan your viewing pleasure carefully, especially when the new fall season begins as it will in less than two weeks.
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