CES 2020

Big-name TV makers and broadcasters have come together at CES 2020 to promote the new FCC-approved ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV broadcast system that will go live in more than 60 markets across the U.S. this year.

CES over the past few years has become more about vision than sound, with statement TVs in booths lining the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall vying aggressively for the attention of show attendees. CES 2020 was no different, and in some ways was even more TV-centric due to the wide range of new products and prototypes on view from both established brands like LG, Samsung, and Sony, and relative newcomers such as Hisense, Konka, and TCL. Yes, LG once again had motorized rolling OLED TVs at the show — a product promised for 2019 that never materialized here — along with new OLED prototypes that roll down from the ceiling. But what most interested me was the sets that are likely to arrive in 2020, especially the innovative ones that will actually be affordable.

The news releases are starting to trickle in as companies gear up for the biggest technology trade show of the year — CES 2020 — which opens Tuesday in Las Vegas.

When Sound & Vision reviewed DALI’s Callisto wireless speakers, we were impressed by their rich, dynamic sound and robust wireless performance courtesy of BluOS high-res multiroom audio streaming. What impressed us less about the Callisto was its somewhat bland, utilitarian design. Enter the new DALI Rubicon C line.

Last week at CES 2020, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)’s Smart Home Division announced its 2020 Mark of Excellence Awards celebrating outstanding custom-installation AV products.

Soundbars are perfect problem solvers for many as they provide a greatly improved listening experience over the anemic audio offered by nearly every modern flat-panel display. Many opt for a soundbar because they require no additional hardware like an AVR, usually require just a single-wire connection to the display, need no extra controls, and are affordable. But what if there was a way to get all of these soundbar benefits while still enjoying far better sound, with actual front channel separation and true surround sound? That’s the promise Enclave Audio is delivering with its new CineHome wireless audio systems.

Control4 is the preferred automation system by many custom installers (myself included), and while the company offers some Z-Wave integration, it is meager at best, interfacing with only a very small handful (less than 15) of devices. For users that want to tap into the hundreds of widely available and unique Z-Wave components, Flex Automation debuted two new devices to bridge the control gap.