CEDIA 2013

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CEDIA 2013
The Scoop On Sony's 4k Media Player
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 28, 2013  | 
There have been much speculation and misinformation on how Sony's 4K media player works. The FMP-X1 is included in a bundle with Sony's 4K TVs and projectors. Here is the lowdown to dispel much of the speculation and misinformation that has been circulating.
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CEDIA 2013
The Vutec from the Top!
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 25, 2013  | 
Vutec broke the brightness barrier on the eve of CEDIA 2013 by announcing SilverStar2.2, a high gain (2.2:1 gain) screen that is ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) certified. High-gain screens typically lack in picture quality what they make up in brightness and the ability to move to a large screen with the same amount of projector light. Delivering better than double unity gain while still securing ISF certification is a huge deal.
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CEDIA 2013
TiO Unveils StealthStream 1: “World’s Smallest” Audio Zone Player
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 27, 2013  | 
Orlando, FL based Automated Technology Control Partners introduced the TiO StealthStream 1 (AZSS1) digital audio zone player at CEDIA 2013. At 1.9 x 2.73 x 3.9 inches, the company calls the small black box (with a stubby antenna protruding from it) the smallest such player on the market and says it provides a simple, cost-effective multi-room music solution—one that is controlled and configured through the TiO Home Android App.
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CEDIA 2013
Totem Acoustic Kin Subwoofer: Tiny, Powerful, Affordable
Brent Butterworth  |  Sep 28, 2013  | 

One of the biggest surprises (and delights) of the CEDIA Expo for me was Totem Acoustics' new Kin Subwoofer. Totem's known for great-sounding speakers, but not so much for bargain prices or decor-friendly design. The Kin Subwoofer, though, is quite affordable at $699 -- and according to my brief listen, quite powerful for its tiny size.

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CEDIA 2013
Tremor FX Home Makes Soundtrack Effects that Really Affect You
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Sep 27, 2013  | 
RedSeat Entertainment is launching the Tremor FX Home, “a dynamic home theater system that incorporates seat vibrations into movies, games and other entertainment.” Available in both pre-installed versions as well as kits for retrofitting into existing seating, Tremor FX’s technology is designed to dynamically vibrate and pulsate in response to a movie’s soundtrack via a series of actuators integrated into each seat.
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CEDIA 2013
Triad Goes A Little Bigger
Kris Deering  |  Sep 28, 2013  | 
Triad decided to give their renowned Platinum line of speakers a new big brother. Though they weren’t being demonstrated at the show, their new flagship will be available later this year. Pictured here is the top of the line offering with massive drivers and a folded horn tweeter. I plan on taking a trip to their factory down the road in Portland early next year to get a listen when they’ve revamped their demo room with them. At $15,000 each they aren’t for everyone but they should be able to deliver massive sound to even the largest custom home theater room.
CEDIA 2013
Tutti-Frutti All-Rooty
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 27, 2013  | 
Monster now makes headphones for the Skittles crowd, but unlike Skittles, these babies are $170 a pop (MSRP). Although there were none on display at Monster’s press event, Monster also announced their own tablet in matching, candy-licious colors. Little Richard and Teenage girls world-wide rejoice!
CEDIA 2013
Upcoming MartinLogan Wireless Speaker System
Brent Butterworth  |  Sep 28, 2013  | 

This MartinLogan AirPlay/Bluetooth speaker's just a prototype, but it was definitely the prettiest wireless speaker at the CEDIA Expo. Better than the looks, though, is that it uses the same great Folded Motion tweeters found in MartinLogan's Motion Series speakers.

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CEDIA 2013
V is for Vertically
Fred Manteghian  |  Sep 26, 2013  | 
The KEF V300, part of a KEF’s new V series, is a nice desktop system for anybody with a tall monitor. The three piece system is comprised of two tall, narrow and relatively thin (about 3”) free-standing speaker panels. Driving them is a control unit that features two 50 watt Class D amplifiers. Each speaker has two 3-1/4” low frequency drivers and between them a 3-1/4” Uni-Q driver that fills in the midrange and high frequencies. The control amplifier has a single HDMI input and an optical digital input. Hooked to your TV’s HDMI audio return channel, you would control the volume by your TV’s remote. This ensemble looked very attractive, and being KEF, I would expect a clean seductive sound, albeit one unable to alter the laws of physics in the bass. For that, KEF has left you with a subwoofer output (RCA) on the rear of the control amplifier.
CEDIA 2013
Vantage Shows Off Equinox System in Room With a View
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 26, 2013  | 
Vantage demonstrated its Equinox family of home-automation control products in a posh 5,000-square-foot penthouse apartment at the Four Seasons hotel with spectacular views of downtown Denver. The homeowners are avid art collectors who use the residence as a second home when they’re in town and chose Vantage because they wanted an unobtrusive and easy-to-use control system for entertainment (music and TV), climate control, security, cameras, and—most important—lighting to accentuate dozens of prized paintings. Motorized shades and a TV lift are also covered under the Vantage control umbrella.

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CEDIA 2013
Vicoustic Acoustic Treatment
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 27, 2013  | 
Vicoustic USA is a company new to me in the field of acoustic treatment. They offer a wide range of products, including some unique absorbers and diffusers, for that application. Many of them are less expensive, in my experience, than many of the similar devices currently available. They begin as low as $75 each for an approximately 2-foot square panel (but only available in a package of 10), though the prices can escalate rapidly when you get to premium products such as all wood diffusers.
CEDIA 2013
Westone Intros W-Series In-Ear Headphones
Brent Butterworth  |  Sep 26, 2013  | 

Westone, best-known for custom-molded in-ear monitors worn by touring musicians, is revamping its consumer products line -- starting with the new W-Series in-ear headphones announced today at the CEDIA Expo. All of the designs feature balanced armature drivers, and will list for prices ranging from $199 to $499.

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CEDIA 2013
When Two Top Picks Become One
Kris Deering  |  Sep 27, 2013  | 
Blu-ray players seem to have vanished from the face of the CEDIA floor this year but that didn’t stop Oppo Digital from debuting their latest revision to our Top Pick BDP-103 with the BDP-103D. Everything remains the same but Oppo has integrated the Darbee processing we reviewing in the Darblet processor last year. The player will be shipping in October at $599. This is a hardware revision so no upgrade options for existing owners. This fuses two of our top pick models into one exciting product so it should be another home run for Oppo.
CEDIA 2013
Wireless HD and HDMI 2.0 Switching From DVDO
Al Griffin  |  Sep 26, 2013  | 
DVDO showed off its new Air3 WirelessHD adapter ($199), a wireless HDMI solution that sends uncompressed HD video (up to 1080p/60-rez) and 7.1 channel audio over the 60 GHz band. DVDO says that the new unit has a more robust radio its previous version of the Air, which means less possibility for interference. The Air3 also has a much smaller footprint, along with flexible mounting options that let you squeeze the receiver component behind a flat-panel TV mount. The receiver draws power via USB, so you can simply plug it into your TV’s USB port, while the transmitter features an MHL2-capable HDMI input that accepts up to 1080p/60-rez signals from a compatible smartphone or tablet.
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CEDIA 2013
Wisdom Audio Gets My Top Pick
Kris Deering  |  Sep 28, 2013  | 
Wisdom Audio delivered my favorite presentation of the show with their massive screen and even bigger sound. By all accounts a no compromise, price no object system but it delivered in every way. They also picked some of the best clips of the show to really demonstrate their finesse and might. Their planar speakers stood a good 10’ tall and their subwoofers were the size of couches but they did a great job of delivering a sound that was both massive and refined.

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