LATEST ADDITIONS

CEDIA 2009
Speakercraft Makes Us Nirvous
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 09, 2009
A company best known for architectural speakers moves into multizone technology with a vengeance. Nirv is the name the tattooed folks at Speakercraft have given to a system that operates with the 10-button remote pictured here. The remote's got a mic built into it, for home intercom use, and that barely scratches the surface. The concept is to use a single Cat5 cable to send HD video, HD audio, control, data, paging, and voice anywhere in the home. Any zone can be turned into a home theater and grab content from any source in any other zone. The system learns how you use it. Settings follow users from room to room, including parental controls, indicating unseen depths of moral fiber in people with multiple pieces of body art, or maybe it's just Metamucil. An installer can walk the user through setup, and when that's done, an easy repeatable interface takes over. Dealer cost 10 grand. In addition to the Ruckus speakers already reported on, Speakercraft also announced several new in-wall and in-ceiling models, including the AIM 10, a three-way, 10-inch pivoting unit selling for $8250-1125. Oh, and a debut surround receiver was also announced -- the Vital 910 ($1125). This company was always interesting. Now it's fascinating.
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CEDIA 2009
Peter Tribeman of Atlantic Explains H-PAS
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 09, 2009
As we previously reported, the H-PAS speaker technology making its debut at Atlantic Technology's off-site exhibit has been one of the most eagerly awaited events of the show. Simply put, this bass-building speaker technology works -- with tympani, bass clarinet, and of course pipe organ. While the midrange was not perfectly balanced, and we were informed that voicing will be tweaked, it was clear that Atlantic is correct in claiming that deep bass episodes don't starve the mids and highs or collapse the soundstage. What makes it work is what Tribeman calls a cascading of well-known speaker design elements such as bass reflex, inverted horn, acoustic suspension, and transmission line. In other words, "it's all in the plumbing" -- the drivers and crossover are nothing special. Credit is due to the inventor, Phil Clements of Solus/Clements. The prototype shown uses a pair of 4.5-inch woofers and is said to be flat down to 30Hz.
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CEDIA 2009
And Here's the Atlantic H-PAS Cosmetic Mockup
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 09, 2009
This mockup gives an indication of what the production model may look like. However, Atlantic is studying the use of 5.25-inch woofers in lieu of the 4.5-inchers shown here. It may ship in December give or take a month. Atlantic also plans to license the technology to a half-dozen other manufacturers including at least one "super high end" player and various "upper mid-fi" brands, according to Tribeman.
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CEDIA 2009
Phil Clements of Solus/Clements Brings H-PAS to the Bar
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 09, 2009
Phil Clements, father of H-PAS technology, explains its use in a bar speaker. While Atlantic is studying this prospect, the product shown is pre-H-PAS. It is a seven-channel configuration with three tweeters and two 4x6-inch woofers in the front and two on the sides for surrounds. Channels are shared among the drivers with a triple voice coil structure. A "180-degree feel" is promised.The bar is the FS-7.0. With eight-inch sub, it is the SB-8800 system. Shipping in September for $800 (for the bar) and $300 (for the sub).
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CEDIA 2009
Welcome to the Georgia World Congress Center
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 09, 2009
It is large, as many of us discovered when we walked through it to get to the Omni for preshow events. Atlanta itself is large, spread out, surprisingly hilly, and not walkable. However, I am grateful to finally attend a CEDIA Expo on the east coast. Perhaps Atlanta will grow on me during the next two CEDIAs, which will return here.
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Tower Speaker Reviews
Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 Speaker System
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 08, 2009

Performance
Value
Build Quality
Price: $26,000 (excluding stands, updated 3/11/15)
At A Glance: Pristine highs, uncolored mids, tight bass • Great dynamic range • Subwoofer lacks wallop in the deepest, loudest bass

Better Than Golden

Founded in 1972, U.K.-based Monitor Audio has long produced speakers that offer good value. Until recently, it topped out at $4,500 per pair for the Gold Signature model. So when I heard about the new Platinum range, priced at $10,000 per pair for just the front left and right flagship PL300, it came as a surprise.

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Media Server Reviews
Meridian Sooloos Control 10 Media Server
Michael Fremer  |  Sep 08, 2009

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $8,600 At A Glance: Instant touchpanel music access • Housewide and worldwide access • Elegant, intuitive interface • Unlimited storage capacity • Automatic backup and MP3 creation

Sooloos Sticks a Fork in the CD

The custom installer’s eyes lit up almost as brightly as the Sooloos Control 10’s LCD touchpanel screen as he scrolled through the 700 CDs and high-resolution digital files that had so far loaded onto the system’s hard drive.

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Audio Video News
HD Deals: Klipsch Reference Series Speaker
SV Staff  |  Sep 08, 2009
Add some kick to your home theater's sound system with this Klipsch Reference Series RF-82 Single floor-standing speaker Black for $425.00 (normally $549.85). Plus more HD and gadget deals* after the jump. Samsung 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz LED...
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Audio Video News
Epson unveils new 1080p cinema projectors
SV Staff  |  Sep 08, 2009
Epson has announced a quartet of new 1080p projectors for home theaters. All four models features 3-chip DLP imagers and dual HDMI 1.3a inputs. The $1,599 Home Cinema 8100 is the least expensive of the new projectors, and the most modest, pumping...
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The Big Picture
Hotlanta, Here I Come
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 07, 2009

As many of you know, the CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association) Expo is this week, so I'm on my way to Atlanta, Georgia, which, by all accounts, will be hot and muggy the whole time—yuck! Oh well, the show must go on. I'll be blogging throughout the convention, but before I start, I thought I'd preview a few of the trends I expect to see there...

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