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KEF Cutaway
Once Upon a CES
The Blu-ray camp acted as if the format war was over. They may have a point. The only major studio not releasing on Blu-ray is Universal, and that is apparently because of corporate agreements that could end at any time. And announcements of new titles were far more plentiful on the Blu-ray side. HD DVD still has some powerful supporters, however, and their announcement of new players to come this year from sources other than Toshiba is important. One hardware supplier does not a successful format make. But the launch of a player compatible with both HD DVD and Blu-ray was probably the most talked about story of the show. While LG's Super Multi Blue player does have some shortcomings in how it handles the features on HD DVD (shortcomings that may be fixable in firmware), it's the sort of solution that many early adopters have been waiting for. While delivery of this $1199 product has been promised for next month, no one at the press conference bothered to ask if production players were on the boat. They had better at least be on the way to the docks in South Korea if we expect to see them in stores here in a month. I suspect that the February delivery date is at least a month too optimistic. If one solution to the format war is good, why not two? And with the introduction of its Total HD, dual-HD format disc, Warner Brothers delivered. Well, sort of. We won't see such discs, which will carry the HD DVD version of the program on one side and the Blu-ray version on the other, until late 2007, and who can predict the battle lines by that time? The announcement that the discs will be two-sided/two layers per side, with each format provided with its full current bit capability (50GB for Blu-ray, 30GB for HD DVD) was gratifying, but can they deliver on that promise? Any compromise in the available data space for each format would be unacceptable. It also remains to be seen exactly how much the studios will charge for these Total HD discs. I consider the current $40 suggested list price of Warner's current Combo discs (HD DVD on one side, standard DVD on the other) excessive. While flat panels dominated the show, manufacturers like Sony and Samsung still had substantial rear projection offerings, and Panasonic even launched a new line of LCD rear projection sets. New forms of image illumination, from LEDs in rear projection DLPs and LCD flat panels to a new form of lamp in those Panasonic sets, should be available in a wider range of models this year. But more than anything, the efforts being made by many manufacturers, including in particular Samsung, Pioneer, and Sharp, to dramatically improve the black levels in their flat panel plasma and LCD displays, should pay major picture quality dividends in 2007. In that same vein, Sharp showed a 65" version of their 1,000,000:1, mega-contrast LCD display. I don't know how you can measure a contrast ratio that high (at any peak brightness level we can tolerate), or even if it's useful given the limitations of the human eye, but it certainly was impressive. This development is still a laboratory exercise, and since it's likely ruinously expensive to build is being promoted mainly for professional applications where it can command big bucks. But such developments have a way of filtering down to consumer models (in fact, Sharp is already claiming a dynamic contrast ratio of 15,000:1 in its top-of-the-line consumer LCDs).
Sharp also showed a 63", 4K x 2K LCD display—that's four times the resolution of the best consumer sets. Needless to say, this is also headed for professional applications. And unlike the technology used in the high contrast sets, I would be very surprised to see such a high resolution in consumer sets any time soon.
With one-piece video displays dominating the show, video projectors appeared to be in short supply. CEDIA EXPO has, in fact, taken over from CES as the venue for major introductions of new projectors. But a thorough scouring of this years CES did turn up good demos from Meridian, Optoma, Sharp, InFocus, and Panasonic. JVC, SIM2, Epson, DreamVision, and Marantz were in hotels separate from the convention center (Marantz had a static video display). Runco and Vidikron were showing their flat panels but had no active projector demonstrations.
Several display manufacturers have plans for products that can take advantage of Internet TV. Sony was particularly ambitious in this, announcing a working partnership with Yahoo and AOL. They were even talking about more efficient HD downloading over the Internet. Yes, I know, there is already activity in this area, but it involves long download times or short clips such as trailers. The demo Sony gave, however, indicates that their concept needs work. Blu-ray and HD DVD have set a very high bar for HD quality. Any attempt to lower that standard in order to fit HD into a pipeline offering reasonable download times just won't cut it. At least not with us. The standard definition Internet image Sony showed was (for me) unwatchable, and the "HD" image looked no better than standard definition VHS, but in widescreen and with less noise.
With the demise of the big COMDEX computer show a few years ago, CES has assumed the role of the major trade event for both traditional consumer electronics and PCs. And that means big, unwieldy crowds. The exhibit space covered an area equal to roughly 35 football fields encompassing four separate venues (the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Hilton Hotel, the convention facilities of the Sands Hotel, and the Venetian Hotel). There were 65 miles of carpet, jammed with 2700 exhibitors and 150,000 attendees. The press events were so mobbed that people had to be turned away. It's a festival of sore feet, sleep deprivation, and meals missed in a (largely futile) attempt to see it all. And it's a load of fun.
Triad Triumphant
Taking home the trophy is David Nelson, Triad's Director of Product Development and the Platinum's proud papa. And me.
Anthem Scores
Anthem's Jack Shafton accepts the statue along with the author and UAV publisher Angela Speziale.
Mad Love For NAD
Accepting the crystalline statue for Top Amplifier of the year is NAD's Mark Stone. PSB's Paul Barton offers moral support, and I'm there because I can't stand to miss a photo op!
Sony Goes Double-Fisted With UAV Awards!
Both are SXRD-based, three-chip 1080p designs, and both are Ultimate Choice recommendations. That the Pearl achieved this at just $5K is remarkable.
Accepting the award for Sony is Phil Abram, who is seen here crunched in between UAV Editor Tom Norton and yours truly.
I Want a Dream Vision (So I Don't Have To Dream Alone)
The DreamBee was the less expensive of the two, coming in at $7,800 with two HDMI inputs and Gennum's VXP processing. A Pro Version adds an outboard scaler with ABT processing (Anchor Bay Technologies is the video company formerly known as Silicon Image, which is the company formerly known as DVDO).
The CinemaTEN80 is a big step up at $25,995. It includes an outboard scaler, high precision optics, electropnic zoom and focus, and is calibrated to the D65 standard. Its literature also invents a word I hadn't heard before claiming the to use the ultimate "optronical" technology available.
Denon And Marantz Tops in AVR and Projector Categories
Denon's Stephen Baker holds one of the awards and is flanked by Denon's Jeff Talmadge and UAV's new publisher, Angela Speziale.
The Look And Sound Of Perfect
We've all been waiting for years for HD on a silver disc and the Toshiba HD-A1 made that a reality for just $500. At the time it was released it cost only $100 more than a 60GB video iPod!
Toshiba's Maria Repole is pictured here with the author accepting the statuette.
Sunfire's Amazing In-Wall SubRosa And Ribbon Speakers
The SubRosa is actually thinner than many plasmas at a depth of just 3.5." There are two active 10" drive units with inverted surrounds and the power is rated at a dainty 2,700-watts from an outboard amplifier. It also includes StillBass technology to eliminate vibrations so that when these woofers start woofing they don't tear your walls apart. The in-wall SubRosa is $3K and the glossy black finished on-wall will be $3,500. Available in March.
Pictured to the right of the SubRosa are two new XT-Series speakers. The larger model is the Cinema Ribbon CRS-3 from the Cinema Ribbon Trio series. At $1K each the CRS-3 uses three 4.5" woffers with a 6" ribbon tweeter that's said to be descended from the line that produced the ribbbon used in Carver's Amazing Loudspeaker back in the day. A matching CRS-3C center will cost $1,250 and will use matching drivers.
Harman Kardon's '07 AVRs
This lineup starts with two 5.1-channel models, the AVR 146 at just $349 and the AVR 147 at $449. The line ramps up to 7.1-channels with the AVR 247 for $549 and the AVR 347 at $999.
The entire line includes HDMI switching with the capacity to pass through 1080p video from Blu-ray and HD DVD players. All models include enhanced iPod audio and video playback when used with HK's iPod Bridge dock. All models except the AVR 146 are XM Satellite Radio compatible, and feature EZSet/EQ automated calibration and room EQ, A/V Sync Delay and the legendary Logic 7 surround enhancement that used to be exclusive to Lexicon's high-end separates.
The step-up AVR 247 and AVR 347 also feature A-BUS conectivity for multizone.
The enitre line will be available at retail by April of 2007.
The AVR 347 and the AVR 247 offer Faroudja video processing and 720p upconversion.
A Closer Look At Toshiba's Step-Up HD-XA2 HD DVD Player
While still substantial, the XA2 is noticeably slimmer and sleeker than the first-generation Toshiba players. In addition to Silicon Optix' REON video processing chip, the player is based on an integrated circuit solution that requires less external processing. It should be much faster and slicker than the first-gen player.
Toshiba's reps said I should see a review unit next week so look for a UAV Sneak Peak soon.
Pioneer Is #1
The PRO-FHD1 took the honors by virtue of offering a tremendous leap in performance in the industry's leading product category.
Pioneer's Tracy Christall-Murphy is pictured here with an award in each hand in between UAV's dynamic duo of yours truly, Shane Buettner and Editor Tom Norton.
Another Sub In The Wall
The four 12-driver modules are driven by a separate outboard processor and amps, with 600W driving each module. The system requires that the processor provide considerable low frequency boost, since the unequalized response of each enclosed driver rolls off rapidly in the bass. As a system, however, the BX-4850 can produce prodigious amounts of powerful bass down to a claimed 20Hz, if the brief demo I heard is any indication.
The full 4-module package, including amps and processor, is expected to sell for $5000 (in-wall version) and should be available in the spring. It carries a THX Ultra2 rating, and was designed under the direction of Laurie Fincham, the Chief Scientist of THX. The buyer may purchase just two of the 12-driver modules, with amp and processor, for $2995. This smaller version will be rated THX Select.
Atlantic Upgrades
Panasonic Light
New Woofer for Baby Maggies
Magnepan Shows Ribbon Center Speaker
JBL Launches Project Everest
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