LATEST ADDITIONS

Aerial 20T version 2
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 06, 2008

Michael Kelly stands next to his updated 20T speaker. German manufactured speaker material includes carbon fiber. The cast ribbon guide is a custom piece as well.

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Panasonic's AVR - Caught in the Wild
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 06, 2008

It's for real! More details further down (way way way further down) in the show report.

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Chi Lin LED-Illuminated DLP Projector
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 06, 2008

Hidden in a hotel suite near the convention center, Taiwanese company Chi Lin Technology showed an early prototype of what the company claims to be the world's first LED-illuminated DLP front projector (though I doubt it will be the first to market; Optoma and Digital Projection are working on similar products). Based on the 0.95" DarkChip3 DMD, the illumination source is the PhlatLite LED module from Luminus. This puppy draws up to 3 amps of current to achieve a final peak light output of 600 lumens, requiring liquid cooling to prevent meltdown. It's worth it if the claimed contrast ratio of 100,000:1 can actually be reached. The unit I saw was an early prototype; the product is slated for sale in the third quarter of 2009.

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Halcro SSP220 Surround Processor
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 06, 2008

The front panel LCD screen is an integral part of the new SSP220. It looks great, as does the rear panel connection which feature both single-ended and balanced outputs. Video processing includes converting component to HDMI up to 1080p. It's good to see some high end companies like Halcro getting into the home theater game, even if the SSP220 is $12,000!

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Halcro SSP220 back panel
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 06, 2008

You can see the 4-in 1-out HDMI connections to the right of the component video connectors.

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YBA YA701? Y Not?
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 06, 2008

French audio manufacturer, heretofore excelling in two channel audio has put their toe into the home theater waters with their YA701 multichannel receiver. Okay, first off, there's no video switching built in, but YBA offers a video box with two HDMI inputs (one output) and two component and two composite inputs (and outputs). There is no accommodation for HD audio formats, but YBA plans an upgrade in the future for Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD MA. Pretty cool and we're looking forward to the next generation.

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Music and Poetry by Vienna Acoustics
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 06, 2008

Center channel in the new Klimt series from Vienna Acoustics is called the Poetry. Note the coaxially mounted tweeter and midrange. Quite lovely, and expensive, but I didn't get the price.

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Paradigm Re-Does Reference--Mark's Reference--Again
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 06, 2008
Oops, Paradigm has done it again. The original Reference Series Studio 20 was a simple rectangular solid. In version 4 it acquired a curved tweeter-on-top portion. And at CEDIA, Paradigm showed yet another new version with side curves. The former vinyl wrap has also given way to wood veneers. As a user of two generations of Studio 20s, including the now-outgoing one, I'm more than interested in this. How amazing that it should happen in the same show where Rotel updated my reference receiver. The new Studio 20 ships in January, pricing to be determined.
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Paradigm In-Walls Are Updated and Monster Sub Has USB
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 06, 2008
Also new from Paradigm are the in-wall PCS80SQ and in-ceiling PCS ADR, $299/each. I didn't get a chance to hear them but it's encouraging that Paradigm designed rack-mount amps especially for them, including the 300-watt X300 and 850-watt X850. My colleagues have already covered the 3000-watt Signature Sub 25, with its three-inch woofer excursion, but I thought I'd throw in a rear shot. Note the USB input which facilitates mic measurement, because if there's one component in your system you really need to dial in right away, it's the sub!
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Totem Brings High Performance to Your Wall
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 06, 2008
In-wall models have always been thick on the ground at CEDIA and in recent years good ones have proliferated. Among the best I heard at this show were Totem Acoustic's Tribe In-wall LCR. Even amid the noise of the show floor, it immediately began communicating musically with a sonic signature that should be very familiar to Totem fans. Bass was strong, dynamics good. Price is $995/each. Totem also showed and demoed the Tribe In-Ceiling, with its dual angled baffles, and considering the acoustic challenges facing any in-ceiling model, it sounded almost equally good. Both have multiple woofers, passive radiators, magnetic grille, back box, anodized aluminum front frame, and biwire terminals.
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