LATEST ADDITIONS

CEDIA 2013
Z-Wave Delivers Automation from the Top of the World!
John Sciacca  |  Sep 27, 2013
Proving the you’re never too far away from home to be in control, the Z-Wave Alliance sponsored a Himalayan expedition where climber Mariusz Malkowski went to the top of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world. When Malkowski reached the 29,609 foot summit, he Skype’d in live to the Expo show floor on a satellite phone. Malkowski said it was midnight his time with local temps at minus 40-degrees! Using his satellite phone, he was able to check the status of several Z-Wave devices, and after speaking to the assembled crowd for a moment, he then unlocked a Kwikset Z-Wave enabled door lock, and turned on Fibaro Z-Wave enabled lights and then adjusted his Remotec Z-Wave thermostat. Definite proof that you are never too far away from home for technology to keep you in touch!
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CEDIA 2013
Roaming With TiVo
Al Griffin  |  Sep 27, 2013
TiVo, the savvy couch potato’s alternative to a cable company DVR, just rolled out its 5th-gen Roamio platform. Roamio comes in 3 flavors: Core ($200), Plus ($400), and Pro ($600). The difference between the three comes down to storage (the Pro tops things off at 3 Terabytes) and options (the core Roamio has just cable and off-air tuning, while the Plus/Pro add streaming capability). TiVo service will run you $14.99/month.
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CEDIA 2013
TiO Unveils StealthStream 1: “World’s Smallest” Audio Zone Player
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 27, 2013
Orlando, FL based Automated Technology Control Partners introduced the TiO StealthStream 1 (AZSS1) digital audio zone player at CEDIA 2013. At 1.9 x 2.73 x 3.9 inches, the company calls the small black box (with a stubby antenna protruding from it) the smallest such player on the market and says it provides a simple, cost-effective multi-room music solution—one that is controlled and configured through the TiO Home Android App.
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CEDIA 2013
You’re A Pretty Little Minx, Aren’t You?
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 27, 2013
Two new products from Cambridge Audio caught my eye. It’s got that certain je nais c’est quoi that says I’d like to find a place to put it! First up is the three piece speaker system, the Minx M5. While the tiny 2” speakers in the cubes probably don’t produce bass frequencies as low as my IQ, the 5-1/4” subwoofer, easily placed at the foot of your desk, will certainly fill things out. With 60 watts of amplification built in, 15 for each of the satellites and 30 for the sub, it should have plenty of headroom to play cleanly to its limits. Best of all, the $299 asking price seems well set!
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CEDIA 2013
PowerBridge Makes DIY In-wall Power Extension Easier
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 27, 2013
In addition to launching four new in-wall power-extension kits at CEDIA, PowerBridge announced that a new AV category is now recognized in the National Electric Code 2014 – and that PowerBridge is the only in-wall power manufacturer recognized by the International Association of Electrical Inspectors.
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CEDIA 2013
Tutti-Frutti All-Rooty
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 27, 2013
Monster now makes headphones for the Skittles crowd, but unlike Skittles, these babies are $170 a pop (MSRP). Although there were none on display at Monster’s press event, Monster also announced their own tablet in matching, candy-licious colors. Little Richard and Teenage girls world-wide rejoice!
CEDIA 2013
HDMI 2.0’s Dirty Little Secret
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 27, 2013
How much bandwidth is enough for the upcoming HDMI 2.0 standard? Well, if all you want to do is watch what you’re watching today, your current cable will work. Even if you want to watch 4K material, the standard developing HDMI Forum says you don't have to get new cable provided your cable meets the latest HDMI 1.4 spec. Step in Noel Lee of Monster Cable who is worried about future requirements for 8K and beyond. Monster announced their new cable will be capable of 31.5 Gbps, well over the 18 Gbps the HDMI forum says is required for 60 fps, 4K material. Nothing available yet, just the promise, but I’d believe the head Monster. Or else!
CEDIA 2013
ELK Products Offers Wireless Convenience and Automated Damage Control
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 27, 2013
At ELK Products’ press conference on Thursday, the company introduced several new additions to its Two-Way Wireless security and control product ecosystem. The ELK-6030P Wireless Pet Immune PIR motion detector is designed to be used with ELK Products’ M1 Cross Platform Control along with the ELK-M1XRFTW Two-Way Wireless Transceiver. Some of the notable features of the ELK-6030P are easy installation with a keypad-initiated walk test mode, two selectable sleep mode duration choices to help extend battery life, and a built-in security/convenience bright-white LED.
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CEDIA 2013
DACs All Folks
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 27, 2013
Rotel’s RDD-1580 (top unit in picture) uses two Wolfson WM8740 digital-to-analog converters instead of a single converter in a configuration Rotel claims reduces noise and distortion. A front panel USB port accepts output from Apple iOS devices like an iPod. But most people will opt to stream music from their device to the Rotel via an included Bluetooth dongle that would plug into the USB port. A pair of coaxial and a pair of optical connections on the back should handle connections to a CD, DVD or Blu-ray player. The converter comes with a remote control or you can select which source to convert via the front panel buttons. Both single-ended RCA and balanced XLR outputs are available, the latter a very nice touch indeed. No pricing has been announced yet.
CEDIA 2013
Rotel - No Substitute for Raw Power
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 27, 2013
The RMB-1585 is a new flagship multi-channel amp from Rotel. High current class AB topology delivers 200 watts to each of its five channels via two massive toroidal transformers. Rotel credits the use of a total of 120,000 µF of British-made BHC “Slit Foil capacitance and the use of six output transistors per channel for the RMB-1585’s power delivery capability. This 80 pound behemoth offers both RCA and XLR inputs. From my perspective the $2,999 pricing is in line with separates of this quality and in many ways it’s a bargain!

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