CES 2011

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CES 2011
LG Super Slim
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 07, 2010  | 

LG's super-slim prototype caused a stir at the company's press conference. Even with LED backlighting and local dimming (with 240 dimming zones, over twice as many as most such sets), this panel measures only 6.9mm thick—that's about a quarter of an inch! This thing doesn't even have a model designation yet, so don't expect it in stores any time soon, but it sure is cool.

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CES 2011
LG Thin
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 08, 2011  | 
These ultra-slim 21.5-inch 2D monitors from LG are 1920 x 1080, with a claimed response time of 2ms and contrast ratio of 10M:1, and D-sub (computer RGB), DVI,and HDMI inputs.
CES 2011
LG Touch TV
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 07, 2011  | 
Here's a way to encourage your kids to write on the wall—that is if the wall is an LG Touch TV which functions like a huge, modern-day, multi-colored Etch-A-Sketch. It's also a 2D plasma HDTV. But it's clear that not all of us are Rembrandt.
CES 2011
LG's 3D LCoS Projector
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 07, 2011  |  First Published: Jan 08, 2011  | 
LG demonstrated the 3D LCoS projector we've seen at a couple of previous shows. The CF3D was unfortunately no better than before. This time the issues were a very slight image softness and, more importantly, a badly skewed white balance. Skin tones looked painfully sunburned. Hopefully this can be calibrated out, the if any effort was made to produce a semblance of accurate color here it did not show.I left after about five minutes as the image was uncomfortable to watch.
CES 2011
LG's Big LCD
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 07, 2011  | 
I normally would have enjoyed viewing this 84-inch LG LCD/LED 3D 4K set immensely (though it's not yet an available product). It enables full 2K 3D with passive glasses. But dropping my camera, resulting in serious damage, sent me scrambling to the Canon booth to see if they recommended my having it repaired (not at the show, of course). They did not. I needed a new camera anyway. Fortunately, with three days of the show left, I had brought along a spare.
CES 2011
Lindemann Captures Ears and Hearts
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 07, 2011  | 
This German manufacturer is strictly two-channel but still captured our attention with the Dixie! stand-mount speaker, a smallish member of the Birdland Series. First it was the cool stand, then it was the beautifully layered sound of a blues recording. Some drivers are custom made, while others are off the shelf but modified by Lindemann. Guys: Please, please, please do some surround products. At least sell your speakers in odd-numbered configs. We're not too proud to beg.
CES 2011
Manley Stingray iTube
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 07, 2010  | 

I profiled this tube-based integrated amp with iPod dock <A href="http://blog.ultimateavmag.com/ultimate-gear/the_ultimate_ipod_accessory/..., but I got to hear it at the Venetian. The amp was driving Gershman Acoustics speakers, and the iPod was playing Ella Fitzgerald in uncompressed WAV files, which sounded fantastic.

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CES 2011
Marchon Shows Passive 3DTV Eyewear
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 06, 2011  | 
As I type these words, I am staring through Flexon by Marchon eyeglass frames, so I was predisposed to find the company's 3DTV eyewear aesthetically pleasing. Marchon has a patent on technology for a side-to-side curve that allows the eye to move up to 30 degrees off center without geometric distortion, so these frames may be especially good for watching 3D on a big screen up close. Pricing starts at $40 and ranges up to $179 for the Lacoste version. There will also be Nike frames for $129-139. The pricier frames double as sunglasses that lighten or darken as needed.
CES 2011
Marten Getz
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 11, 2011  | 
Another potential best-of-show system has to include the Heritage Series Getz, a new model from Sweden's Marten loudspeakers. With their all ceramic drivers from Acuton (apart from a passive radiator, one of the large cones visible in the photo) they were very different in balance from the Sony speakers, above. Faster on their feet and even more sparklingly detailed, but less weighty and majestic sounding. And at $20,000, cheaper, though not exactly a blue-light special.
CES 2011
Martin Logan Gets Affordable
Mark Elson  |  Jan 07, 2011  | 
The Martin Logan C2 ($799/each) and FX2 ($649/each) are eyebrow raisingly affordable entries from this longtime champion of the electrostatic speaker. What raised our other eyebrow is that we liked the model playing better than the most costly ones we've heard in the past. Go figure.
CES 2011
MartinLogan
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jan 11, 2011  | 
CES 2011
McIntosh Clock Repurposes Famous Meters
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 08, 2011  | 
The McIntosh MCLK12 clock puts the signature power meters to new use, displaying hours at left and minutes at right. It can mount in an equipment rack but why not give it a more prominent place on your wall?
CES 2011
McIntosh Is App Happy
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jan 08, 2011  | 
Who can resist an app featuring the famous power meters, here displayed on an iPad (shown) sitting atop a McIntosh docking box (not shown). The app already has 30,000 admirers, judging from the number of people who have downloaded it.
CES 2011
Meet Alfred and His Partners
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 08, 2011  |  First Published: Jan 09, 2011  | 
From Alfred and Partners comes the Estelon, a uniquely shaped speaker with all Accuton ceramic drivers. All yours for just $43,000/pair.
CES 2011
Mellow Yellow
Tom Norton  |  Jan 06, 2010  |  First Published: Jan 07, 2010  | 

Sharp's big announcement, apart from listing of their new models, was Quad Pixel Technology. Instead of the usual red, green, and blue sub-pixels that make up each pixel in the LCD image, Sharp adds a fourth, yellow-filtered sub-pixel. This is said to increase the number of colors up to 1 trillion. But who's counting?

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