High End Video

Faroudja
Always an innovator, Yves Faroudja released the new VP100, a signal Enhanser for SVHS signals. Faroudja did an A - B comparison on what the $799 VP 100 could do for DVD signal and it was awesome. Well worth the investment if you have SVHS signals in your system.

To combat the competition from Snell and Wilcox, Faroudja has released the Presentation Plus, a $30,000 line Quadrupler that can handle video and data at the same time. With Vidikron's Vision One Projector Faroudja easily earns the best picture of the show. Additionally, Faroudja now has a $20,000 line tripler (2.7) that meets a critical price point according to company execs.

Mitsubishi
Both Mitsu Pro and Consumer divisions displayed at CEDIA showing off their Megaview 40 inch, data grade (1080X1024 resolution) video screens. They use a 4:3 aspect ratio and can be hung on the wall because, amazingly, they are only six inches deep. The picture is remarkable and the super slender depth make a 40 inch set possible in systems where depth is a problem.



Martin Logan, Transparent, Krell, Runco, PHAST, Rel and others
Two of the most serious rooms at the show were by this high end conglomerate. The Martin Logan speakers in this prefab room weren't the most dynamic you could find at the show, however I heard nothing as detailed anywhere in Atlanta. Martin Logan showed a killer new center channel that has just started shipping called the Cinema Center priced at $1295.

The Runco projectors were impressive especially on the HDTV demos where the picture was as always awe inspiring. The Clark Synthesis transducers (ass shakers) installed under the seats proved to be a little too over the top - or should I say bottom - for me, however the idea of bringing the sense of feeling to the home theater experience is worth developing.

Snell and Wilcox
Snell and Wilcox is the double, iced latte mocha of the video world because they have the biggest buzz legally available with a host of sweet features. Faroudja has owned the video processing market for years and now the mighty (at least in the professional world) Snell and Wilcox has come along with a competing truly high end video product called the Interpolator. It is like a Quadrupler but it also allows you the ability to view data and video grade pictures at the same time. You can surf the net while at the same time have a DVD playing in the background. They didn't focus on the sound system too much however the new Revel loudspeaker powered by Mark Levinson and Proceed electronics showed huge promise. There was a shroud of controversy at the Snell and Wilcox room in that while they just won an Emmy for technical advancement, they are also being accused of copyright infringement by Faroudja. Nonetheless, the product commands that you check it out. Certainly one of the biggest stories of the show.

Toshiba
Pioneers (no pun intended) of the DVD, Toshiba was showing off what they were calling generation II DVD in the SD 3107. Toshiba reports better video quality plus convenience features like a jog shuttle.

Camelot Technology
The Crystal Vision VPS1 ($599 ) an SVHS video line enhanser directly competes with the Faroudja VP 100 at a lower price. Camelot was also doing A - B comparisons but I personally, had trouble telling which unit was better the Camelot or the Faroudja. Both made very noticeable improvements over the video signal on reasonably priced video systems.

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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