LATEST ADDITIONS

Talking about the economy is like talking about the weather at this point. It's chit-chat, conversation padding that everyone knows about. It's also the reason Blockbuster is closing almost a thousand stores by the end of next year. According to...

This year marks the 20th anniversary of CEDIA's founding, a fact that was not lost on any attendees thanks to the ubiquitous signage, an example of which is shown here with Sony rep Jon Lin. A momentous occasion, to be sure. I just wish the celebration had been at a different venue&#151;the Georgia World Congress Center was universally panned by everyone I spoke with. It's <I>way</I> too spread out, making it nearly impossible to walk from one end to the other in less than 20 minutes. And forget about getting anywhere offsite! Noel Lee, head monster at Monster Cable, was riding his Segue as usual, and I saw consultant Tony Grimani zipping around on a small razor-type kick scooter&#151;maybe I'll get one of those for next year!

Of the few live audio demos I heard on the show floor, Triad's was among the most impressive. The company introduced its Cinema Plus home-theater package of in-wall speakers, including three modified Platinum LCRs in front, six Gold surrounds, and 12 modified Silver subwoofers powered by a total of 6kW. Also included in the package is a detailed installation plan from home-theater consulting firm PMI, acoustic treatments, and tech support.

It doesn't look nearly as dirigible-esque as the original B&W Zeppelin, but Bower & Wilkins' new Zeppelin Mini still sports an impressive pedigree. Its black and silver frame was designed by the same team that made the first Zeppelin. Underneath...