Mark Fleischmann

CEDIA 2010
Cambridge Minx Sat/Sub Set Makes Tiny Debut
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 25, 2010
We can think of a few other manufacturers who have showed impressive-sounding new speakers behind an acoustically porous curtain and then whipped the curtain aside to reveal a compact satellite/subwoofer set. The latest is Cambridge Audio's Minx, with its three-inch cube available in single (Min-10) or dual (Min-20) versions with three tough little subs. The smallest 5.1 configuration would cost a reasonable $550/set with additional cubes at $80/each. If you are considering adding, say, DPLIIz height or DSX width speakers to your system with minimal fuss, this modular easy-mount approach may be just the thing. The full-range drivers had a pleasingly warm sound that did well with male vocals and had no nasty ringing. Bass was strong if a little tubby (but we were sitting against the rear wall). Minx got our attention and we hope to follow up with a review.
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CEDIA 2010
PSB Unveils First Outdoor Speaker
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 25, 2010
It's not every day we get to photograph a new product in the hands of its creator. Paul Barton of PSB was showing off his first outdoor speaker, the CS1000. It's modeled on the Image B6, and sells for the same $499/pair, but comes in a differently shaped polypropylene cabinet. Note the curved mount which allows easy vertical adjustment. A spokesperson told us the speaker is bird-proof, with a steel piece that keeps little critters from getting into the port.
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CEDIA 2010
Earthquake Is Hiding Something Under that Rock
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 25, 2010
Coaxial driver arrays lay beneath the Granite-52 outdoor rock speakers from Earthquake Sound. They go for $450/pair plus another $799 for the Granite-10D subwoofer. A spokesperson said reliability in the tough outdoor environment is one reason to go with Earthquake. The company also showed the SWAT 2.4 wireless transmitter/receiver combo, $349/pair, which can be powered by USB or wall wart. Maybe just the thing to make the leap from your main rack to the sub or surrounds when conventional speaker cabling is inconvenient.
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CEDIA 2010
Sumiko Hates Dirty Records
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 25, 2010
Have you been playing dirty, dirty records? Sumiko hates that. At its booth were the Okki Nokki record cleaning machines. Judging from the bottle and brush sitting on top of each one, this must be a wet-system cleaner. The product is available in black or much hipper white for $499 without dustcover or $549 with dustcover, because it's worth another fifty bucks not to let your record cleaning machine get dirty, right? Also on display were a full panoply of compact and affordable phono preamps including something we hadn't seen before: a tube model.
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CEDIA 2010
Atlantic Technology Demos Smaller H-PAS Speaker
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 24, 2010
Atlantic Technology uses cabinet-related techniques developed in collaboration with designer Phil Clements to achieve truly scary deep bass response from small cabinets and 5.25-inch woofers. This H-PAS technology was a highlight of the last CEDIA. At this year's show the floorstanding Model AT-1 ($2500/pair, shipping now) has been joined by the stand-mount Model AT-2 ($1500/pair, shipping February). The demo seemingly defied the laws of physics, achieving the kind of bass you'd expect from a decent midpriced subwoofer, except without the sub. Without even a floorstanding enclosure. We wouldn't have believed it if we hadn't heard it.
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CEDIA 2010
Arcam Adds Third Receiver to Line
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 24, 2010
The memories of reviewing Arcam's AVR600 and AVR500 receivers are still golden so we were more than pleased to see a third model join the line, the AVR400. It's got HDMI 1.4, Dolby Volume, and seven times 90 watts -- and yeah, we can just hear you saying $2500 for a 90-watt receiver? Based on our experiences with the two previous models, the power spec is honest, and we expect nothing less than stupendous sound when it comes in for review, soon we hope. Ships in December.
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CEDIA 2010
Procella Screening Rooms Are THX-Certified
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 24, 2010
While Procella did not have any new product to show at CEDIA 2010, it did demonstrate a concept it had talked about before: the first THX-certified screening room. Designed and constructed to THX specs by Epic Home Cinema, it featured products from Runco, Integra, QSC, Meridian, and Stewart. More details here. Played at THX reference level, the sound was loud enough to shave ear hairs at a thousand paces, with especially tuneful and delicious bass, something almost unheard of at a trade show. Chuck Back was kind enough to pose for a scale pic of the P18 sub but blinked while our auto-focus was taking its time. Apologies.
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CEDIA 2010
Wisdom Sub Is Big, to State the Obvious
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 24, 2010
Jon Herron was kind enough to pose next to Wisdom Audio's STS sub, with dual 15-inch woofers in a fridge-size cabinet that can vent through front or side. It is up to 101dB sensitive, make that 130dB at 20Hz, and don't try that at home. Price $10,000, shipping end of month. See item by Tom Norton.
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CEDIA 2010
Simaudio Updates Moon Pre-Pro
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 24, 2010
Simaudio's Moon CP-8 pre-pro is one of the few to include Audyssey MultEQ XT auto setup and room correction, because really, purchasers of a $13,000 pre-pro should not have to envy their receiver-owning neighbors. HDMI has been updated to (ahem) 1.3 which at least provides definitive coverage of lossless surround. Regarding 3D, the company says most installers and their customers are going to use outboard video processors anyway. Pair the pre-pro with the MC-8 amp, 250 watts per module, $22,000 in its seven-channel version.
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CEDIA 2010
Artison LCRs Go for the Art Angle
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 24, 2010
These three-channel LCR bars from Artison deliver the center channel from the top, and the left and right channels at the bottom. Without grilles they're only 1.8 inches deep. The Masterpiece is $2500, the Portrait $1800, and the Sketch $1200.
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