CES 2012
CES 2012 Optoma HD Projectors
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 16, 2012
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CES 2012
CES 2012 HDMI Ongoing Development
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 16, 2012
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CES 2012
CES 2012 Xpand 3D Standardized Active 3D Glasses
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 16, 2012
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CES 2012
CES 2012 Sonic Emotion 3D Audio
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 16, 2012
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CES 2012
CES 2012 SIM2 Single Lens LED 3D Projector
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 16, 2012
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CES 2012
CES 2012 Sisvel 3D Transmission Technology
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 16, 2012
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CES 2012
Wolf SDC-10 3D D-ILA Projector
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 13, 2012
New at CES from Wolf Cinema is the SDC-10 3D D-ILA projector ($10,000), affectionately known as the Pup. The spec'd contrast ratio is 70,000:1, and that's without a dynamic iris! It offers three lens memories that let you preset the zoom and focus for different aspect ratios, and it can accommodate an anamorphic lens as well. The demo was BBC's Life in 2D and Legend of the Guardians in 3D shown on a 120-inch-wide Stewart Reflection 170 screen, and it looked spectacular.
CES 2012
"Ultimate Home Theater" from DPI, Kaleidescape, D-Box, Stewart, Totem, ADA
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 13, 2012
Billed as the "ultimate home-theater experience at CES," a ballroom in the Sands Convention Center was equipped with a Digital Projection Titan projector, Kaleidescape Blu-ray server, Stewart CineCurve screen with masking (Studiotek 130, 14 feet wide), Totem Acoustic speakers, ADA power amps, and D-Box motion actuators in luxurious recliners. Because I'm sensitive to motion sickness, I can't tolerate motion-actuator systems, but the rest of the audience seemed to really enjoy it with clips from Avatar, Monster House, Top Gun, and Fast Five. The picture quality was outstanding, as was the sound.
CES 2012
Intersil/D2Audio Mighty Cat Audio Enhancement
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 13, 2012
In collaboration with Mark Levinson (the man, not the company), chip maker Intersil and its subsidiary D2Audio are developing a suite audio-enhancement algorithms called Mighty Cat. The idea is to use mastering tools to optimize the performance of audio hardware, such as soundbars, computer speakers, and TVs; manufacturers would "tune" the algorithms specifically for each individual product and then embed the code in the firmware of that product.

The demo I heard was played on a pair of inexpensive Logitech computer speakers. The ultimate goal is to make the Logitech speaker sound like the $25,000/pair Daniel Hertz M7 on which it is sitting in this photo—an impossible dream, to be sure, but the processing did improve the Logitech's sound dramatically, making it much richer and fuller. Intersil is in negotiations with various manufacturers to incorporate this technology into their products.

CES 2012
GenAudio AstoundSound for CE
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 13, 2012
GenAudio astounded me at last year's CES with its AstoundSound 3D audio system, which creates a convincing spherical soundfield from two speakers. This year, the company announced that its launching AstoundSound for CE, an application that manufacturers can include in their products, such as iPod speakers, soundbars, and TVs—in fact, GenAudio is partnering with Analog Devices and other DSP makers to include the algorithm in their chips.

I heard a clip from Kitaro's Earth in Bloom that was downmixed from 5.1 to 2 channels and then expanded by AstoundSound in real time played first on a $12,000 pair of Gheithain pro studio monitors and then on a $300 2.1 Panasonic soundbar, and the result was remarkable, with various sounds flying all around the room, including overhead. Of course, the studio monitors had better sound quality, but the effect was quite pronounced—and enjoyable—from both.

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