LATEST ADDITIONS

CES 2009
Boomerang
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008

The Davone Rithm, from a Danish speaker maker new to the U.S., utilizes a 5" coaxial driver in one of the oddest shapes ever for a product category (loudspeakers) known for inspiring odd shapes. $5000/pair.

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C-ya, CES: A Parting Shot
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008
That's funny, the damage doesn't look as bad from out here.
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Words of Wisdom
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  First Published: Jan 11, 2008
For my last CES demo of the year, I spent 15 relaxing minutes in Wisdom Audio's suite at the Venetian. The company was showing off its Sage Series of hybrid speakers that use both traditional woofers and thin-film planar magnetic drivers. An outboard system controller handles the electronic crossover between the speaker's different elements, and it performs room correction using Audyssey MultEQ XT technology. The line includes four models ranging from 20 to 75 inches tall, and each speaker is available in a freestanding, in-wall, or on-wall configuration. The demo consisted of various 2- and 5.1-channel music tracks, and the top-of-the-line L75s sounded absolutely fantastic, impressively spacious and dynamic for such thin speakers. After five days of chaos and concepts, this moment served as a tangible reminder of all that we love about home theater.
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This Is Your Speaker Without Wires
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 10, 2008
Radiient Technologies’s first products were HDMI switchers and distribution boxes, but they’re going all out to develop high-performance wireless audio transmitters and receivers that can be built-in to speakers or added on externally. Based on the quality and performance of their current HDMI gear, the wireless components should be excellent, too. Not surprisingly, they mentioned that a lot of the video companies they’ve been dealing with have requested wireless video devices, as well. Expect to see product for sale before the end of this year.
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Sense Trio
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 10, 2008
This is going to be the year of 3D. I know it’s been said before, but this time it’s really going to happen. More studios are producing more 3D films, and there is more 3D hardware than ever. Most importantly, the quality of the 3D experience is the best that it’s ever been. Look for lots of HDTVs with built-in 3D capabilities. 3D leader Sensio announced that they are now part of the HDMI spec, which means that – in the future – when you put a Sensio-encoded disc in your hi-def player, your HDTV and associated hardware will know that it’s a 3D movie and automatically switch into 3D mode. Simple is always better. In this case, it’s 3X simpler.
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Audio Video News
Universal Will Not Renew HD DVD Pact
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 10, 2008
Universal Home Entertainment will not renew its exclusivity pact with HD DVD, Variety has reported.
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Marantz Keeps 'em Separated
Shane Buettner  |  Jan 10, 2008
Marantz has been the industry's #4 hitter in delivering high-end, single-box AVRs that sound great for some time. In Q2 of 2008 Marantz gets outside that single-box with the AV8003 preamp/processor (pictured above) and MM8003 multichannel amplifier.
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Is It A Remote Or A Component?
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Jan 10, 2008
Universal Electronics has added another model to their successful Nevo line of universal remotes. As the flagship controller in the line, the $1199 NevoS70 combines popular features from the company's previous two models (the NevoSL and NevoQ50) and then further sweetens the deal. Like the SL, the S70 can tap into your 802.11g network and provide navigation and control of movies, music, and photos stored on your PC. Like the Q50, it offers both IR and two-way Z-wave control options, with the addition of the $299 NevoConnect NC-50 base station. Best of all, it adds an IP browser, so you can pull up a TV program guide or get sports scores and weather info without ever having to turn on the TV. It can also talk to and control any device that has a compatible web server, such as a web-based camera or media server. And, like all Nevo models, it comes with a fully customizable color touchscreen and lots of convenient programming features for the custom installer.
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Mouse Wash
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 10, 2008
Spit happens. So do spills, sloshes, fizzes, and squirts. Sometimes you simply feel a little dirty after opening that umpteenth spam e-mail about male enhancement meds. Belkin’s new washable optical mouse takes a licking and keeps on clicking. All the important parts are sealed for your protection, so you can wash off any foreign substances that might find their way onto your mouse. Belkin was promoting this a great mouse for kids’ computers, but I think there are plenty of adults who could use one of these, too.
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Great CES Slogans #222
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 10, 2008
It shouldn’t hurt to be an audio/video signal.
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