High End Music and Custom Audio Part 1

Proceed
 Madrigal's lower priced line, Proceed showed their newly released DTS, Dolby Digital, THX surround preamp, named the AVP (for Audio-Video-Preamp). With RS232 communication, ports, all of the right 5.1 formats and Madrigal's high end sound, the AVP (priced under $5000) is going to be hard to beat. Proceed also showed an accompanying five channel - 150 watt amp named the AMP 5. Also, priced just under $5000, the AMP 5 is a perfect match for the AVP.

NHT
 Now Hear This released two new loudspeaker products with huge promise. first is a revision to some of The Audio Revolution's favorite small loudspeakers, The NHT SuperZeros and SuperOnes. The new versions have the added badge of "XU" for extended use. They feature more smooth edges than their predecessors along with hardware that allows you to properly angle the speakers in cabinets and other difficult installations for improved imaging. NHT also released a serious full range 3 way read loudspeaker entitled the HDP-2. Aware of the boom in 5.1 theater and music systems NHT now has a product to bring full band width sound to your surrounds.

Revel
 Madrigal's new line of speakers, entitled Revel, were on display at CEDIA with crowds of people gazing at the revolutionary design. Curved grills, Ferrari red, birds eye maple or other exotic wood finishes with distinctive stands and a very small footprint, all make Revel a product worthy of looking into. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to hear the Revels for more than a minute in the Snell and Wilcox room.

Boston Acoustic
 Designed to look great and fit into tiny areas with full bandwidth performance, the Boston Micro Reference ($1199) features the 90T front speakers with a VRS center, a small sub and Bi-polar rear speakers. The tiny speakers are certainly great looking and well suited for places where big speakers just can't go. This, plus the legendary Boston sound makes these speakers a winner.

Celestion
 At this year's show Celestion featured new the A Series speaker designs. Of special note were the A5R's ($995) vented, Bi-polar rear speakers. Also the A3s at $3500 a pair were stunning in the cherry finish.

High End and Custom Audio Part I
High End and Custom Audio Part II
High End Video
Home Automation and Touch Screen Remotes.
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