CEDIA 2013

How much bandwidth is enough for the upcoming HDMI 2.0 standard? Well, if all you want to do is watch what you’re watching today, your current cable will work. Even if you want to watch 4K material, the standard developing HDMI Forum says you don't have to get new cable provided your cable meets the latest HDMI 1.4 spec. Step in Noel Lee of Monster Cable who is worried about future requirements for 8K and beyond. Monster announced their new cable will be capable of 31.5 Gbps, well over the 18 Gbps the HDMI forum says is required for 60 fps, 4K material. Nothing available yet, just the promise, but I’d believe the head Monster. Or else!

Rotel’s RDD-1580 (top unit in picture) uses two Wolfson WM8740 digital-to-analog converters instead of a single converter in a configuration Rotel claims reduces noise and distortion. A front panel USB port accepts output from Apple iOS devices like an iPod. But most people will opt to stream music from their device to the Rotel via an included Bluetooth dongle that would plug into the USB port. A pair of coaxial and a pair of optical connections on the back should handle connections to a CD, DVD or Blu-ray player. The converter comes with a remote control or you can select which source to convert via the front panel buttons. Both single-ended RCA and balanced XLR outputs are available, the latter a very nice touch indeed. No pricing has been announced yet.

The KEF V300, part of a KEF’s new V series, is a nice desktop system for anybody with a tall monitor. The three piece system is comprised of two tall, narrow and relatively thin (about 3”) free-standing speaker panels. Driving them is a control unit that features two 50 watt Class D amplifiers. Each speaker has two 3-1/4” low frequency drivers and between them a 3-1/4” Uni-Q driver that fills in the midrange and high frequencies. The control amplifier has a single HDMI input and an optical digital input. Hooked to your TV’s HDMI audio return channel, you would control the volume by your TV’s remote. This ensemble looked very attractive, and being KEF, I would expect a clean seductive sound, albeit one unable to alter the laws of physics in the bass. For that, KEF has left you with a subwoofer output (RCA) on the rear of the control amplifier.

DVDO debuted three new upcoming products at their press conference today. First up was the Air 3 ($199), their latest wireless HDMI solution that cuts the cord and gives you 10 meters of 60 GHz wireless connectivity between a device and display. The new box is smaller and lighter and now supports high resolution audio as well.

Linn is celebrating nearly 40 years in business, and the original turntable the company produced – the Sondek LP12 – was designed with the philosophy that any information lost at the turntable – the source – was lost. It didn’t matter how good the amp or the speakers, if the information was lost, it was unrecoverable. To celebrate the company’s 40th Anniversary, they partnered with Highland Park to create a very limited edition Sondek LP12 that is crafted from the solid oak casks used to mature Highland Park whisky. There will only be 40 of the turntables made, and each will include a bottle of 40-year Highland Park, also limited to just 40 bottles.