CES 2019

The press releases are flowing as companies gear up for the biggest trade exhibition of the year — CES 2019 — which opens Tuesday in Las Vegas. Here’s a preview of some of the introductions and demonstrations planned for the show, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2018.

DTS and IMAX are teaming up to showcase the IMAX Enhanced licensing and certification program they launched in early September. Jon Kirchner, CEO of DTS parent company Xperi, said IMAX Enhanced delivers a “home entertainment experience like nothing else available.” Demonstrations will be conducted throughout the show.

Beyerdynamic will introduce the Team TYGR gaming bundle ($399, top left in photo) that pairs TYGR 300 R headphones with its Fox Studio USB microphone. The headphone features fleece ear cushions, adjustable yokes, a spring-steel headband that adapts to any head size, and a gold-plated minijack plug. Compatible with Macs and Windows PCs, the microphone is a large condenser design featuring adjustable sensitivity, a mix control for enhanced recording, and an integrated headphone output for listening in real time without delays.

Samsung will introduce a 49-inch super-wide curved high-resolution gaming monitor featuring quantum dot technology and a first-of-its-kind 32:9 aspect ratio — the equivalent of two 27-inch 16:9 monitors placed side-by-side. Mounted on a small stand, the monitor boasts “dual QHD resolution” (5120 x 1440) with a peek brightness rating of 1,000 nits, support for HDR10 high-dynamic range, and a 120-Hz refresh rate with a 4ms response time to minimize image lag and motion blur. Other highlights include AMD Radeon FreeSync 2 HDR technology to reduce stutter, screen tearing, and input latency for the “best possible frame rate and smoothest gaming experience,” a headphone output, and connections for HDMI, Display Port, and USB 3 connections.

Pioneer is targeting fitness fans with its new E8 wireless in-ear headphones ($150, bottom right in photo) featuring a “direct mount” structure with angled drivers and a selection of small, medium, and large ear fins to ensure a tight fit that keeps each ear bud in place during rigorous workouts. The earbuds are water-resistant and have ear tips with “ambient awareness” slits to so listeners are aware of their surroundings. Safety is further enhanced through a hands-free multi-function button with voice-assist functions for controlling playback and making/answering calls. The Pioneer Notification App for Android takes hands-free control to the next level by reading emails and news while you’re on the go. Available in yellow, gray, or pink, the E8s are rated for up to 3 hours of continuous playback on a single charge and come with a charging case.

Elite Screens will showcase its latest ambient-light rejecting (ALR) and ceiling-light-rejecting (CLR) projection screens along with new CLR2 screen material, designed for use with short-throw (ST) and ultra-short-throw (UST) projectors. CLR2 will be available in a variety of fixed-frame, motorized electric, and portable formats.

Fibbr is looking to stay ahead of the 8K curve will the unveiling of a four-in-one active fiber-optic HDMI cable designed to transport high-bandwidth signals up to 164 feet. At just over a quarter of an inch in diameter, the cable is designed for use with next-generation 8K TVs that have multiple inputs. The company will also showcase its new Ultra8K 48-Gbps/HDR-capable fiber-optic HDMI cable designed for single input/output applications. Made with high-quality glass fibers, both models are built for maximum durability and flexibility with BendRobust technology that allows the cable to be bent up to 180 degrees without interrupting signal transmission. The cables are directional to ensure trouble-free Installation and weigh 60% less than traditional cables, making them easy to work with.

Waves, a leading developer of audio DSP technologies, is leveraging its experience in pro audio to improve the sound quality of mobile and smart-communication devices “no matter how challenging the device design is, the type of content it's dealing with, how the device is positioned, or how noisy the background environment is.” The company will demonstrate its Waves Maxx consumer audio processor that’s designed to deliver maximum volume and clarity without distortion from tiny speakers with virtual subwoofer technology that “not only maintains but extends bass performance.” Maxx Nx technology with motion tracking for AR/VR and gaming applications will also be demonstrated.