Tom Norton

Panasonic Sings the Blues
Tom Norton  |  Sep 03, 2008
Hot on the heels of its DMP-BD50 Blu-ray player, which was (it seems, just introduced), Panasonic launches its newer DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55. Even the less expensive DMP-BD35 (no prices or availability dates were announced) is full Profile 2.0 (BD-Live), will decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, and has an SD card slot. The DMP-BD55 adds a number of features, including enhanced audio circuits.
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CES 2009
A TAD Small
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

TAD has a new Compact Monitor under development, and while it's still a year or so away from commercial availability, it was on demo at this year's CES. Driven by prototypes of new TAD class A monoblock amplifiers (150Wpc into 8 ohms, 600WPC into 2 ohms), it sounded sensational, with the apparent ability to convincingly replicate the weight and power of a full symphony orchestra, an ability that escapes most loudspeakers.

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CES 2009
THIELnet
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

Thiel demonstrated a system that is said to produce audiophile quality audio either through a wireless connection or "wired" via Ethernet. As demonstrated, the package consisted of five full range SCS4D speakers plus an SS1D subwoofer (all powered via class D amps—like most "wireless" systems the individual pieces still require a connection to the AC line) and a dB1 THIELnet Audio Distribution Processor.

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CES 2009
The Dawn of THIELnet
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

Thiel's Dawn Cloyd shows off the back panel of one of the powered, wireless Thiel SCS4D speakers that will be the backbone of the THIELnet system.

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CES 2009
Epson Ensemble
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

This wasn't a show for major video projector launches or even major projector demonstrations. That's CEDIA. But JVC, Optoma, Panasonic, Samsung, and a few others took a crack at it.

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CES 2009
Epson Emsemble II
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

The ceiling mount that covers the Epson projector incorporates the Surround speakers.

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CES 2009
Baby Mythos
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

Fred Manteghian recently reviewed the Definitive Technology Mythos ST and had a lot of good things to say about it. Now Definitive has introduced the Mythos STS, a similar but smaller design at $2998 per pair.

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CES 2009
Belly Up to the Sound Bar
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

Sound bars are becoming popular for flat panel displays. While we prefer a typical setup with separate left, right, and center speakers arrayed properly across the front (which will always produce a better soundstage than any single enclosure serving all channels), that type of setup doesn't work for everyone. To that end, Definitive Technology demonstrated two new sound bars, or in their words, Mythos Solo Surround Arrays: the SSA42 ($899 for panels from 30" to 46") and SSA50 ($1099, for panels 50" and up).

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CES 2009
Finding The One
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

The One, a limited edition speaker from Totem Acoustics, has been released to celebrate that Canadian company's 20th anniversary. A 2-channel pair produced a sound that defied their size, and the dynamics of the speaker suggested that five or seven of them would not be out of place in a home theater system, mated to a suitable subwoofer. For music, the bass of the subwoofer-free pair in the demo was also surprisingly solid. $3495/pair.

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CES 2009
Ripping Your Vinyl to Bits
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2008  |  Published: Jan 11, 2008

Music Hall is distributing the Bellari VP530 ($399), a tube phono preamp (moving magnet only) that offers both conventional L/R analog outputs and a USB output for sending the contents of your vinyl to a computer for processing and storage. There's also a rumble filter, and the RIAA phono equalization may be switched off if you are equipped (and wish) to perform the equalization in the digital domain.

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