CEDIA 2009

Morel has enhanced the Octave Signature Bookshelf speakers with a "building block" modular cabinet design plus new subwoofers. The cabinet design hails from the Fat Lady speakers. It adopts an entirely empty cabinet with strategically placed partitions and no internal damping, to provide pure bass and a massive soundstage. The vertically designed subs fit beneath the monitors and have a 250-watt amp. other features include large aluminum coils, neodymium magnets, and silk dome tweeters. System pricing is $1900 for the SpotSound MT2 and $1300 for the SpotSound MT1.

Three new receivers and one preamp-processor from NAD use a modular construction that allows enhanced performance, features, flexibility, upgradability, and simplified service. The pre-pro is the M15HD. It's "music first" design philosophy will ensure that no audiophile is left behind. Modular construction will allow customizing. Available modules will include Audyssey MultEQ, Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ, Sigma Designs VXP image processing (2048 x 2048 pixels), and onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD, DD+, and both varieties of DTS-HD. Other features include four HDMI repeaters, dynamic headroom scaling for optimium resolution, an S/N program for all program and decoding combinations, digital tone controls with a center "dialog" setting, separate power supplies for digital and analog, and a switch-mode linear power supply with Figure 8 transformer. The new T 785 receiver has the same Sigma video processor. That and the T 775 have the the same desirable Audyssey features. Prices: M15HD, $4499; T 785 (pictured), $3999; T 775, $2999; and T 765, $2499. Shipping end of September.

Speakercraft keeps rocking & rolling with an entirely overhauled rock-speaker line. What better name than the Ruckus? The five models, in granite- or sandstone-like finishes, will have a durable UV and weather-resistant lacquer coating over a reinforced color-matched polyresin enclosure. Chip it and it still looks like a rock. Along with five-, six-, and eight-inch versions there will be a dual-tweeter model that plays stereo out of a single enclosure. Ruckus 5, $225; Ruckus 6, $275; Ruckus 8, $450; Ruckus DT, $350; Ruckus Sub, $999 (prices per single speaker).

The new goods from Jamo are all for custom installation. All have paintable metal grilles. In-ceiling models include the IC 406, $449/pair; IC 608, $699/pair; IC 610 LCR, a three-way LCR ideal for multi-room use ($424/each); and IC 610 SUR, a three-way dipole with two 1.5-inch mids and two 1-inch silk domes ($474/each, shown). For in-wall use Jamo offers the IW 408 ($549/pair), a three-way speaker with pivoting tweeter, ideal for both multi-zone and home theater use.

If you want to extend a/v signals over Cat5 or Cat6 wiring, the Active Balanced Outputs of the AudioControl Maestro M3 pre-pro will do that for you. It has both XLR and RCA outputs and five HDMI inputs. The video scaler is "broadcast quality." Of course you'll get HDMI 1.3 and all the latest lossless and other codecs from Dolby and DTS. Oh, and there's a moving magnet phono input. That's the dealmaker for us! Pictured with the Pantages G3 power amp. Maestro price: approximately $6000 when sold through custom installers.

Remember the Phase Technology PC3.0 Soundbar we reviewed earlier this year? It's a finalist for the CEDIA Best Awards. Just thought we'd mention that.