Fred Manteghian

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).

Sure, I could show you a picture of SpeakerCraft’s new ROX speakers which look more like rocks than ever(though they’re easy to spot nonetheless – they’re the ones making music), or how their two color choices, granite and sandstone, are not just skin deep, making chips unnoticeable, or how drainage has improved so that those 5-inch, 6-inch, or 8-inch full range speakers (or 8-inch sub) will last a lifetime (or until rock is no longer in vogue), but I’d rather express all these sentiments in dance.

Every multi-room receiver I’ve used or reviewed has only been able to send standard definition video to a second zone. The Sony STR-DA6400ES is the first I’ve seen that can send high def audio and video to two zones. That’s because HDMI doesn’t easily support transmission over more than, say 50’, without some sort of inline booster, and once you get up in the walls and through the ceilings and down again, 50’ disappears real fast. But by using CAT5e wiring found in much mid-to-high level new construction, Sony has a found a much longer (at least 300’) path. for high def video and audio. Sony uses two Faroudja DCDi Cinema chipsets to support scaling up to 1080p in both the main and secondary zone.

Once you mastered the art of the motorized up and down, there’s no stopping you, nor should there be. Stewart’s new Black Out Shade system uses whisper quiet motors, a choice of Mermet shade fabrics, and prices that aren’t that far out of line with regular Hunter-esque style shades that leave gaps around the edges of windows. Once I hit the show floor, I’ll try to get some pictures and put them up.