LATEST ADDITIONS

Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008

Sound bars are becoming popular for flat panel displays. While we prefer a typical setup with separate left, right, and center speakers arrayed properly across the front (which will always produce a better soundstage than any single enclosure serving all channels), that type of setup doesn't work for everyone. To that end, Definitive Technology demonstrated two new sound bars, or in their words, Mythos Solo Surround Arrays: the SSA42 ($899 for panels from 30" to 46") and SSA50 ($1099, for panels 50" and up).

Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008

The One, a limited edition speaker from Totem Acoustics, has been released to celebrate that Canadian company's 20th anniversary. A 2-channel pair produced a sound that defied their size, and the dynamics of the speaker suggested that five or seven of them would not be out of place in a home theater system, mated to a suitable subwoofer. For music, the bass of the subwoofer-free pair in the demo was also surprisingly solid. $3495/pair.

Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008

Music Hall is distributing the Bellari VP530 ($399), a tube phono preamp (moving magnet only) that offers both conventional L/R analog outputs and a USB output for sending the contents of your vinyl to a computer for processing and storage. There's also a rumble filter, and the RIAA phono equalization may be switched off if you are equipped (and wish) to perform the equalization in the digital domain.

Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008

The Davone Rithm, from a Danish speaker maker new to the U.S., utilizes a 5" coaxial driver in one of the oddest shapes ever for a product category (loudspeakers) known for inspiring odd shapes. $5000/pair.

Adrienne Maxwell  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008
That's funny, the damage doesn't look as bad from out here.
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008
For my last CES demo of the year, I spent 15 relaxing minutes in Wisdom Audio's suite at the Venetian. The company was showing off its Sage Series of hybrid speakers that use both traditional woofers and thin-film planar magnetic drivers. An outboard system controller handles the electronic crossover between the speaker's different elements, and it performs room correction using Audyssey MultEQ XT technology. The line includes four models ranging from 20 to 75 inches tall, and each speaker is available in a freestanding, in-wall, or on-wall configuration. The demo consisted of various 2- and 5.1-channel music tracks, and the top-of-the-line L75s sounded absolutely fantastic, impressively spacious and dynamic for such thin speakers. After five days of chaos and concepts, this moment served as a tangible reminder of all that we love about home theater.
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 10, 2008
Radiient Technologies’s first products were HDMI switchers and distribution boxes, but they’re going all out to develop high-performance wireless audio transmitters and receivers that can be built-in to speakers or added on externally. Based on the quality and performance of their current HDMI gear, the wireless components should be excellent, too. Not surprisingly, they mentioned that a lot of the video companies they’ve been dealing with have requested wireless video devices, as well. Expect to see product for sale before the end of this year.
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 10, 2008
This is going to be the year of 3D. I know it’s been said before, but this time it’s really going to happen. More studios are producing more 3D films, and there is more 3D hardware than ever. Most importantly, the quality of the 3D experience is the best that it’s ever been. Look for lots of HDTVs with built-in 3D capabilities. 3D leader Sensio announced that they are now part of the HDMI spec, which means that – in the future – when you put a Sensio-encoded disc in your hi-def player, your HDTV and associated hardware will know that it’s a 3D movie and automatically switch into 3D mode. Simple is always better. In this case, it’s 3X simpler.
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 10, 2008
Universal Home Entertainment will not renew its exclusivity pact with HD DVD, Variety has reported.
Shane Buettner  |  Jan 10, 2008
Marantz has been the industry's #4 hitter in delivering high-end, single-box AVRs that sound great for some time. In Q2 of 2008 Marantz gets outside that single-box with the AV8003 preamp/processor (pictured above) and MM8003 multichannel amplifier.

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