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Audio Video News
Toshiba Makes Peace with Blu-ray
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 04, 2009
Toshiba, which worked so hard to establish the HD DVD format as the high-def disc format of choice, has launched its first Blu-ray player just in time for CEDIA.
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CEDIA 2009
JBL Performance LS Series
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 03, 2009  |  First Published: Sep 04, 2009

JBL is bringing its A game to CEDIA with a plethora of products, such as the new Performance LS series of speakers, which includes the LS40 bookshelf ($700 each), LS60 and LS80 floorstanders ($1100 and $1500 each, respectively), LS Center ($800), and LS120 subwoofer ($1100 each). All the main speakers feature a 3/4-inch ring-radiator ultrahigh-frequency driver, a horn-loaded titanium compression driver for the highs, and polymer-coated cellulose-fiber, 6.5-inch cone woofers. The 12-inch sub reaches down to 25Hz backed by 400W RMS (700W peak).

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Heroes: Season 3 (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Sep 03, 2009  |  First Published: Sep 04, 2009

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/heroes3.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Due to the WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike in 2007, season two of <i>Heroes</i> included only 11 episodes, and its tepid start and hasty finale left fans with a glimmer of hope that the series would rediscover the mojo it had during its first season. One complaint was its season-long story arc frustrated viewers, so executive producer/creator Tim Kring decided to split the season into two parts, "Villains" and "Fugitives."

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Audio Video News
Samsung Blu-ray players getting Youtube
SV Staff  |  Sep 03, 2009
Samsung has been pretty good with streaming Internet video on his Blu-ray Disc players. Its newer models have been able to stream Netflix video, Blockbuster On-Demand, and other services. Until now, though, the players haven't been able to access...
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Klipsch HD Theater 300
Michael Trei  |  Sep 03, 2009
The Short Form
$400 / KLIPSCH.com
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CEDIA 2009
Mark Levinson No.500H Series
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 03, 2009

New at CEDIA from Mark Levinson is the No.500H series of power amps, including the No.531H (mono, 300W, $6500), No.532H (two channels, 300Wpc, $8000), and No. 533H (three channels, 300Wpc, $10,000), and No.535H (five channels, 200Wpc, $12,000), all with a frequency response from 10Hz to 20kHz and THD less than 0.5%. A new circuit design emphasizes current-mode operation, which is said to be much faster than conventional voltage-mode operation. Independent power-supply components for each channel maximize isolation and improve imaging, and all models provide both single-ended and balanced inputs.

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CEDIA 2009
Lexicon BD-30
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 03, 2009

Lexicon has entered the growing field of truly universal Blu-ray players with the BD-30, which can read SACD and DVD-Audio in addition to Blu-ray, DVD, and CD as well as all recordable disc formats. It conforms to Profile 2.0, which means it can access BD-Live content online, and it provides a USB port that lets users access A/V material on a USB storage device. Video processing is performed by Anchor Bay's well-regarded VRS chipset, and the player can decode all current audio formats to PCM via HDMI, though the press release seems to imply that it has no multichannel analog output, which is odd considering the $3500 price tag.

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CEDIA 2009
JBL Synthesis Power Amps
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 03, 2009

JBL's Synthesis is among the finest integrated audio systems available, and it's about to expand with the addition of three new power amps&#151;the S7165 (seven channels, pictured), S5160 (five channels), and S280 (two channels). The S7165 and S5160 each produce 160Wpc into 8 ohms, while the S820 delivers 200Wpc into 8 ohms or 400W in bridged-mono mode, all with a frequency response of 20-20,000Hz with less than 0.03% THD.

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CEDIA 2009
Revel Ultima Rhythm2
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 03, 2009

When I profiled the <A href="http:// blog.ultimateavmag.com/ultimate-gear/revel_in_luxury/">Revel Ultima2</A> speaker line in my Ultimate Gear blog, there was no matching subwoofer. No longer&#151;CEDIA will witness the introduction of the Ultima Rythm2 powered sub. With 2400W RMS (5400W peak) to power its 18-inch, dual-voice-coil driver, this thing should shake the foundation with vanishing low distortion ad no dynamic compression. I don't know the price yet, but if you have to ask, you can't afford it.

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CEDIA 2009
JBL K2 S9900
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 03, 2009

In its continuing quest for perfection, JBL is introducing the K2 S9900 speaker ($22,000 each) for the discerning&#151;and well-heeled&#151;audiophile. This full-range floorstander is an update of the K2 S9800 with greater bass extension down to 33Hz (topping out at 50kHz) and 35 percent more power-handling capacity. The driver compliment includes a 15-inch fiber-pulp cone woofer; 4-inch, horn-loaded, mid/high compression driver; and 1-inch supertweeter.

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