CEDIA 2009

Complimenting the new 650BD Blu-ray player from Cambridge Audio is the 650R A/V receiver. This 7.1-channel AVR provides 100Wpc in an acoustically damped chassis and supports all current audio formats. It also transcodes analog video to HDMI and offers a pure analog stereo-direct mode. That's a lot of AVR for $1800.

Here's an interesting item—a 3-channel, class-D integrated amp from a French company called Micromega and US distributor Audio Plus Services. The AP180 provides full HDMI audio decoding and 180Wpc for three speakers in a home-theater setup, all for $2500. To complete a 5-channel system, Audio Plus Services recommends pairing the AP180 with the PW400 ($2800), which provides 400Wpc of class-D power for the front right and left speakers while the AP180 powers the center and surrounds.

If 65 inches isn't big enough for you but 103 inches is too big—or too expensive—how about an 85-inch plasma? At CEDIA, the Panasonic Professional division is introducing the TH-85PF12U, which is equivalent in screen size to four 42-inchers, though the total resolution is still 1920x1080. It incorporates the company's new NeoPDP plasma panel that is said to exhibit a native contrast of 40,000:1. How much, you ask? Only $30,000, I reply.

Famous for its use of woven material instead of perforations in acoustically transparent screens, Screen Research will be debuting its new Supreme 2 motorized screen system at CEDIA. The system can be mounted on or in the ceiling with or without a trap door, and it can accommodate screen sizes from 70 to 160 inches and aspect ratios from 4:3 to 2.78:1, complete with horizontal and vertical masking. Pricing ranges from just over $3000 to more than $25,000, depending on screen size and options.

Universal remotes might not seem like the sexiest products, but that impression could change with the CEDIA introduction of the MX-5000 from Universal Remote Control. Why? Because it's the world's first remote to offer haptic technology, which confirms each button push with a small vibration, making it much easier to operate without taking your eyes off the screen. Even better, it can send commands via IR, RF, or WiFi. All this control can be yours for $1200.

In addition to the Seismic 110, Paradigm will be introducing two new flagship subwoofers at CEDIA this year. The Sub 1 ($3500) has three pairs of stacked 8-inch drivers, while the Sub 2 ($7500) sports 10-inch drivers in the same geometrically aligned configuration, which is said to balance the forces generated by the drivers. Powering the Sub 1 is a class D amp that generates 1700W sustained/3400W peak, while the Sub 2's amp puts out an astounding 3000W sustained/7500W peak with a 20-amp, dedicated 120V circuit.