LATEST ADDITIONS

CEDIA 2009
CEDIA @ 20
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 15, 2009

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!

Continue Reading »
CEDIA 2009
Optoma HD8600
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 15, 2009

Long known for exceptional value in DLP projectors, Optoma introduced another winner in this regard at CEDIA. The HD8600 is one of the only&#151;if not <I>the</I> only&#151;single-chip DLP projector with multiple lens options for less than $10,000. To be more specific, the projector with standard lens lists for $7500, while the long-throw lens option is $8600, and the short-throw version is $9500. It is said to output 1600 lumens with dynamic contrast of 50,000:1 thanks to Texas Instruments' Dynamic Black. To my delight, it also provides lens shift, which has been missing in the company's previous models, something I've complained about for years. The HD8600 will be available only through custom installers, not at retail.

Continue Reading »
CEDIA 2009
Triad Cinema Plus
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 15, 2009

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.

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Bose debuts $599 SoundDock 10 iPod sound system
SV Staff  |  Sep 15, 2009
The original SoundDock was a big seller for Bose and they're hoping that will carry over for their newest iPod sound system. It clocks in at a relatively hefty $599, but Bose is swearing up and down that it sounds great. It has two...
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
B&W floats out the Zeppelin Mini iPod dock
SV Staff  |  Sep 15, 2009
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...
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
HD Deals: $400-off HDTV coupon
SV Staff  |  Sep 14, 2009
If you're looking to add an HDTV to your home theater, why not take $400 off it with this deal. More HD and gadget deals* after the jump. Polk Audio DSW PRO 400 8-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black) for $449.99 (normally $524.95).TomTom XL...
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Office: Season 5 (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Sep 14, 2009

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/office5.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>In the fifth season of this workplace comedy, the employees of Dunder Mifflin are enmeshed in surprise office hook-ups, break-ups, romantic triangles, and new business ventures. Insensitive regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell) still thinks he's the best boss ever&#151;despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. As he leaves the security of Dunder Mifflin, Andy (Ed Helms) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) do battle for the affections of Angela (Angela Kinsey), and Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) finally plan their long-awaited nuptials.

Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Fringe: Season One (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Sep 14, 2009

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/fringe.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>A young, beautiful, and determined FBI agent (Anna Torv) forms an unlikely alliance with a brilliant scientist (John Noble), who's spent the last 17 years in a mental institution, and his sarcastic son (Joshua Jackson) to investigate a series of bizarre deaths and disasters known as "the Pattern." They suspect someone is using the world as a laboratory, and all clues lead back to a powerful corporation called Massive Dynamic.

Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Disneynature: Earth (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Sep 14, 2009

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/earth.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>This is the story of three animal families on a journey across our planet&#151;polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales. Follow a mother bear and her two cubs as they search for food, a herd of elephants as they trek to water-rich lands, and a whale and her calf as they journey to the Antarctic.

Continue Reading »
CEDIA 2009
Martin Logan
Tom Norton  |  Sep 14, 2009
Martin Logan was featuring its flagship electrostatic speakers, but also in attendance was this small, stand/bookshelf design that incorporates An AMT (Air Motion Transformer) tweeter--a technology developed by Oscar Heil in the 1970s and made popular, briefly, in a series of speakers from ESS. The demo was brief, but the sound very promising. The speakers will be available in February 2010, with models at $400 and $600 and a pair of floorstanders also are in the works. Here they were used with a pair of the currently available Dynamo 700 subwoofers (wireless, $695 each--there's also a larger $995 Dynamo 1000))
Continue Reading »

Pages

X