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CEDIA 2014
Monitor Audio Introduces A100 Music Streamer/Amplifier
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 14, 2014
Great Britain’s Monitor Audio introduced the sleek and uniquely styled A100 music streamer/amplifier at CEDIA Expo 2014. The unit packs a 50-watt Class AB amplifier and high-resolution digital-to-analog converter intro a compact, curved chassis that is sure to raise a few eyebrows.

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CEDIA 2014
Atmos Competitor Auro Does Dazzling “Immersive Sound” Demo
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 14, 2014
Wilfried Van Baelan talks about the Auro-3D surround sound format he invented before the demo clips roll.

Belgium-based Auro Technologies dazzled CEDIA Expo showgoers with an 11.1-channel “immersive sound” demo of the Auro-3D surround format it introduced in theaters in 2011 and is now bringing to home theaters.

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CEDIA 2014
Zvox Demos Ultra-Wide Platinum SoundBase Soundbars
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 14, 2014
Soundbar pioneer Zvox demonstrated its new Platinum Series SoundBase systems designed to support TVs as large as 80 inches. The line includes three low-profile models: the 30-inch-wide model 570 ($400), 36-inch model 670 ($500), and 42-inch model 770 ($700).
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CEDIA 2014
The Cheap Seats Have Never Felt Better
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 13, 2014
I have always been impressed by the look and feel of Salamander Designs’ cabinets and furniture. As with most quality furnishings, however, the price tag has always been commensurate with the quality of the furniture. There are a variety of factors for this, most especially the fact that the majority of what Salamander Design makes is highly customizable and built-to-order in Hartford, CT. Sal Carrabba, founder of Salamander Designs, explained that the company’s AV Basics products are “focused on providing simplicity by offering a carefully curated product line that is in stock and ready to ship.” In addition to adding more cabinets to the AV Basics line, Salamander Designs unveiled the new AV Basics theater seat, the Model TC3, at CEDIA.

The TC3 is upholstered in black bonded leather, which Salamander Designs says is...

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CEDIA 2014
Basalte Reinvents the Light Switch
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 13, 2014
Belgin-based Basalte’s Sentido is a unique, square-shaped, intelligent, touch-sensitive light switch with a metal-finish front face that’s divided into two or four equal sections, each with different functions. Basalte says that the entire switch is touch-sensitive and creates “an easy way of control and a unique user experience.” Touching more than one section simultaneously, for example, turns on or off all of the connected lights in the room. The Sentido can be programmed so that a long press of multiple sections will allow the user to sequence through up to four individually programmed light scenes. Multiple Sentidos will be capable of integrating into other companies’ smart home systems in the near future. On display was Basalte’s bridge adapter for integrating Sentido switches into Lutron’s HomeWorks QS systems. Since the Sentido switches do not include internal wireless connectivity, low-voltage wire needs to be run from each Sentido switch to central bridge adapter.

Behind the square metal front is...

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CEDIA 2014
Stealth Acoustics’ Art Speakers Get a New Image
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 13, 2014
Based on the Stealth Acoustics’ LRG invisible speaker technology, the new Image III speakers have no grilles, ports, or other openings and are only 2.5-inches thick. The flat front face of the speaker is made from a solid, fiberglass-like material (Stealth Acoustics calls it, Glass Fidelty); and it can be painted “without concern for blocking sound or damaging the speaker components. Using “advanced vinyl graphic materials and high-resolution, UV protected printing” Stealth Acoustics is able to “wrap” the speaker with any image of their customers’ choosing. The speakers can be installed in pairs or side-by-side with Stealth Acoustics’ CoverArt “retractable art flat screen covering solution” to create “a unique ‘Trilogy’ of images panning across speakers and screen allowing technology when not in use to become an integral part of interior design.”

The Image III speakers have an MSRP of $1, 000/ pair - plus applicable art work fees.

CEDIA 2014
SIM2 Multimedia Nero 20th
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 13, 2014
SIM2 Multimedia celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In its demo, the small, LED-lit Nero 2 projector ($14,000) was putting out more than enough light on a huge, nearly 12-foot wide screen. The picture was gorgeous, if just slightly soft, likely due to to the very large screen. The projector's light output is rated at 1400 lumens, which is generous for an LED projector.
CEDIA 2014
Classy Classe
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 13, 2014
Classe introduced its new Sigma line at the show, consisting of the Sigma SSP surround sound preamp processor and two amps, the 5-channel Amp5 and the 2-channel Amp2. The latter are both compact class D designs offering 200W per channel into 8 ohms and 400W per channel into 4 ohms.

The Sigma SSP, shown in the photo (though it looks far, um, classier in real life than my middling photography might indicate. It is loaded with features, including SPDIF and 24-bit asynchronous USB digital inputs, DSP-produced parametric EQ and tone control on all channels, and all of the other modes and features of any competent pre-pro. But it has only one HDMI output, is only HDMI 1.4, and is not yet Dolby Atmos-ready. But it's modular design should make future Hardware updates possible. The Sigma SSP and Amp5 are $5000 each, and the Amp 2 is $3500. All three should be available by the end of the year.

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CEDIA 2014
Immersive Audio Panel
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 13, 2014
On Friday afternoon a CEDIA panel was convened to discus the subject of immersive audio. And we all thought that immersive sound meant 5.1- or 7.1-multichannel! But with Dolby Atmos there's a new kid in town. And Dolby Atmos isn't alone.

The panel was moderated by industry tech guru Michael Heiss, and consisted of Brett Crockett of Dolby, Andrew Jones of Pioneer and TAD, Dr. Floyd Toole, a consultant with Harman Kardon, and Wilfred Van Baelen, the founder of Auro...

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CEDIA 2014
4K Demos at Sonyhenge
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 13, 2014
Sony's booth at CEDIA EXPO never approaches its presence at CES, but inside the pillars surrounding its exhibit and announcing its presence it demonstrated a stacked pair of its VPL-VW1100ES 4K projectors using material stored on its media server. I didn't think these projectors were performing at their best (and having reviewed both the VPL-VW1000 (the predecessor to the VPL-VW1100ES and essentially identical in performance if not in features) and the VPL-VW600ES I can vouch that they are competitive with the best home theater projectors you can buy). But on music a Sony ES audio system did extremely well, even if the room was far from optimum for sound.

One piece missing, however, was the new VPL-VW300ES projector Sony introduced recently at IFA (IFA is the European CES--more or less). The VPL-VW300ES is a stripped down and less expensive VPL-VW600ES, eliminating such features as the dynamic iris and lens memory. My Sony contact indicated that the company does not intend to market this projector here.

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