CES 2012

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CES 2012
Paradigm SHIFTs into Soundbar Mode
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
The Paradigm people unveiled their new Paradigm SHIFT brand at CES 2011. At CES 2012 they showed the Paradigm SHIFT soundbar—not the company's first, but the first under the new moniker. It includes a wireless sub and will sell for $799 starting this summer. Paradigm also showed new in-ceiling speakers with magnetic grilles and noted that the magnets are embedded in the speaker, not merely glued on. That's the kind of thing you can do when you control your manufacturing. Also shown was a $59 Bluetooth dongle to go with active speakers. Having trouble routing your earbud cables? Paradigm is introducing a $12 ear hook to take care of that problem. On the Anthem side, the M1 mono-block amp ($3499) was being demoed to good effect and the brand's two pre-pros, AVM 50v and D2v, are being updated for 3D.
CES 2012
CES 2012: AfterShokz Sport Headphones
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 

The CES show is just inundated with headphones and earbuds.  Seems the only way some people think to break through the clutter is to add celebrity endorsements. One company, tucked away in the back of the convention floor is taking an entirely different approach. 

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CES 2012
NAD Ships Three New AVRs
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
NAD is now shipping three receivers introduced at CEDIA 2011. They include the T 787 ($4000), T 777 ($3000), T 757 ($1600), and T 748 ($900). All but the bottom model have modular construction to allow a variety of updates in the top two models and video updates in the third. The top model has dual transformers which should do a lot to juice dynamics. This receiver would beat up your receiver and take its lunch money if it didn't have such a dreamy, poetic hi-fi personality.
CES 2012
CES 2012 Vizio Google TV
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
CES 2012
CES 2012 Vizio 21x9 Cinema Display
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
CES 2012
CES 2012 Vizio Super LED TV
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
CES 2012
CES 2012 New Entry-Level McIntosh Surround Processor
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
CES 2012
CES 2012 McIntosh Tube Amp
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
CES 2012
CES 2012 Ivee Voice Activated Clock
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
CES 2012
CES 2012 Iogear Wireless 3D
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
CES 2012
CES 2012 Definitive Technology Cinema Bar
Rob Sabin  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
CES 2012
Sharp XV-Z30000 3D DLP Projector
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
Giant flat panels, 4K, and 8K weren't the only stories at the Sharp booth, though they did grab all the attention—and real estate. Sitting on static display was the new XV-Z30000 single-chip DLP projector, which provides 3D capabilities with IR-sync'd active glasses (two pairs and the emitter are included, extras are $100 each) that are compatible with Sharp's 3D flat panels and offer the ability to watch 3D content in 2D for those who don't enjoy the stereoscopic experience. Unlike the XV-Z17000 (reviewed here), the Z30000 has a center-mounted, long-throw lens with horizontal and vertical lens shift and motorized focus and zoom. It should be shipping in February for $4500.
CES 2012
Mitsubishi HC-7800D 3D DLP Projector
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
Although it was first introduced at CEDIA last September, I missed seeing the Mitsubishi HC-7800D DLP projector at that show. This 3D-capable single-chip model uses IR-sync'd active glasses that boast a much shorter inter-eye blackout time (when both lenses are closed) than most active glasses—0.2 milliseconds compared with about 3ms—which means they let more light through for a brighter 3D image. The HC-7800D provides 2D-to-3D conversion and vertical lens shift with manual zoom and focus. It is available now for $3000, including the IR emitter but no glasses (except now through the end of February, when you get one pair in a special promotion—which is a good deal, since the glasses cost $200 each!).

I saw a demo on a 110-inch (diagonal) Vutec Silver Star screen using a clip from Yogi Bear, an awful movie that nonetheless has great 3D, and it looked quite good with no discernable crosstalk. But even with the reduced inter-eye blackout time, the image was still pretty dim.

CES 2012
CES 2012: Headphones
Brent Butterworth  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 

Surely there’s never been such a vast display of headphones in the history of the universe as at CES 2012. From super-high-end models to bottom-feeder stuff, there was something for every budget and every taste.

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CES 2012
Feathers in Their Caps
Tom Norton  |  Jan 12, 2012  | 
Handing out the Daily Rag at a trade show can be a mundane exercise elsewhere, but in Las Vegas it rarely is.
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