LATEST ADDITIONS

CEDIA 2010
Whole-Home Wi-Fi
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2010
If you’re having trouble with routers and multiple access points in your home Wi-Fi network (as I am), Luxul Wireless says they have a solution for you with the company’s whole-home Wi-Fi network installation products. Luxul’s Pro-WAV products can increase the coverage area of 802.11b/g Wi-Fi gear by an astounding 400 percent; and Luxul says they can provide coverage for 10,000 square feet of home (or more) with a single access point. That means you’ll have seamless roaming of iPods/iPads, fewer wireless access points, and expanded usage of Wi-Fi throughout the home – all from products that can be mounted in a closet or attic.
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CEDIA 2010
http://cms.blog.hometheatermag.com/
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2010
Jeff Graham, CEO of iSky, shows off a demonstration mockup of an iSky fiber optic star ceiling panel with blue LED lighting around the edges. iSky panels can be mounted directly to the ceiling or used with regular drop ceilings. Each iSky panel contains a built-in illuminator and only requires a low-voltage jumper between panels. The constant-voltage design is said to be simpler to install than a more complex constant-current system. In addition to looking incredibly cool, the iSky panels also be ordered as reflector or diffuser panels for acoustic treatment of your home theater’s ceiling.
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CEDIA 2010
Kordz Bends Over Backwards
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2010
Upstart startup cable manufacturer from Australia, Kordz (evidently those Aussies can’t spell), demonstrated the company’s HDMI cables are not only high speed, they’re designed to be bent up to 90 degrees – something very welcome to installers and others who’ve ever had to deal with HDMI cables hanging off the back of a deep AVR.
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CEDIA 2010
Professionally Emotivational
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2010
Direct-to-consumer Emovita introduced a higher-end line aimed at distribution through CEDIA installers. The PMC-1 (shown here on top) is a 7.1-channel pre/pro with a fully-integrated Control4 HC200 controller built-in. The PMC-1 includes only HDMI switching with no legacy video inputs, so you’ll have to get a component-to-HDMI adapter to connect your Wii to it. The PMA-7350 (on the bottom) is a matching 7 x 350 watts amplifier. Shipping is expected to start in the first quarter of next year.
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CEDIA 2010
Focal Gives CEDIA the Bird
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2010
High-end speaker maker Focal brought the company’s new highly affordable Bird speaker line to spread its wings at CEDIA. The three different Bird-series 2.1-channel packages include a pair of satellites and an amplifier with a built-in subwoofer (yes, that’s an amplifier with a built-in sub, not the other way around). Look for 5.1-channel versions next year.
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CEDIA 2010
Optoma 3D Converter
Tom Norton  |  Sep 26, 2010
Optoma has a new outboard 3D converter, which should be available in November. The projected price of this small, unassuming box is expected to be $399, and it is said to be compatible with any projector that can do 720p and 120Hz. The demo was not encouraging, but perhaps some fine tuning will line things up better.
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CEDIA 2010
Marantz 3D Blu
Tom Norton  |  Sep 26, 2010
Marantz showed a new version of its BD7004 Blu-ray player, the UD7005 ($900). The BD7004 was very highly rated in my Blu-ray player evaluation blogs for ultimateavmag.com, so naturally the company decided to change it! The new player includes a 32-bit audio DAC with high quality multichannel outputs, on-line video streaming, SACD and DVD-Audio playback, and full 3D capability out of the gate.
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CEDIA 2010
Okki Nokki Record Cleaning Machine
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2010
With a name like Okki Nokki, it has to be good! This German company has come up with what it calls "the VIP of record-cleaning machines." You spread the included cleaning fluid on a vinyl record and attach the aluminum vacuum arm, which sucks up the fluid and, presumably, any dirt or dust on the surface. The RCM also comes with a goat-hair brush for $500 ($50 more for the clear dust cover). Michael Fremer should definitely hear about this!
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CEDIA 2010
Wolf DCC-100FD DLP Projector
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2010
One of Wolf Cinema's big introductions at CEDIA is the DCC-100FD single-chip DLP projector that uses a conventional lamp and color wheel. What's the big deal about that? It costs only $10,000 (including the company's outboard processor and Variscope lens memories for 2.35:1 and 16:9 content at constant height), which is a real bargain coming from Wolf.

The demo unit was a prototype; production units should be shipping by early next year. We saw a clip from Avatar on a Screen Innovations Black Diamond II (0.8 gain, 16:9, 96 inches wide), which looked great. I saw no hint of the dreaded rainbow artifact, but we'll have to see what Tom Norton says about that, since he's much more sensitive to it that I am.

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CEDIA 2010
REL G1 Subwoofer
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 26, 2010
New from REL is the G1 subwoofer ($4000), which sports a 12-inch carbon-fiber cone in a sealed, curved cabinet with a 700W class-AB amp.
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