 Sony
The future of recordable HDTV was shown with Sony’s DVR-Blue, which uses a multi-layer DVD disc and a blue laser to store over two-and-a-half hours of HDTV content. Move over, TiVo. This technology looked nearly identical to the HDTV signal (A/B test shown at right.) However, it is a few years away from being ready for consumers.
 CES is always good for some real futuristic products and Sony’s AV-IT Wireless Gateway is no exception. This RF-controlled, super-thin two-hand remote control can do far more than your standard learning remote. With RF control, you can watch DVD and DSS. You can connect to the web at 56k. You can get your email on screen. By inserting your memory stick cards in the side of the gateway, you can access your video, photos or MP3 files from storage.
 Sony has shipped the DVP-CX 870 to revolutionize the mega DVD changer market. For $799, this player is 33 percent smaller than standard mega players because of a newly designed internal (non-arm) mechanism. Most exciting is the on-screen archiving of your entire collection. Most DVDs have logos and titles. For those that don’t, a keyboard can be added to title the wayward DVDs. The new mechanism also reads both sides of the disc, which is handy for those DVD titles that come with both 4x3 and 16x9 aspect ratios. A simple click of the remote gets you what you want when you want it.
 The Sony DVP NS 700 is going to sell like hotcakes. For $399, this DVD-V player also comes with progressive (line doubled) outputs. Six months ago, this was a $4,000 pricepoint. Now it costs only one-tenth of that amount.
Sony also showed a 40-inch WEGA 4x3 set for those looking to make a big statement with a tube set before they move to HDTV. There is no price yet for the 40-inch WEGA, but it is expected this year. This TV is HUGE!
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 Meridian
Meridian showed the version 2.7 software modifications for their cutting edge $16,000 861 AV preamp. The new mods allow for a host of new features including all sorts of new matrix surround modes. What Bob Stuart and Meridian are getting at is adding surround channels beyond the standard 5.1 or 7.1 channels and going into uncharted and exciting territory by adding surround channels that increase the element of height to the front and rear soundstage. The mods go further to allow you to configure a whole group of discrete subs. A popular audio myth says that matrix surround feilds sound lousy and in the old days they did. Meridian played a 24 bit upconverted MP3 file burnt onto CD in tri-field surround for the front and center speakers. We were impressed by the quality of the sound. |
 Mark Levinson
Mark Levinson showed their No. 40 all out and long awaited AV preamp in a working version. Rumors have the No. 40 coming out in Spring to Summer 2001.
Mark Levinson also brought a brand new Lexus SC430 to CES complete with their exclusive Mark Levinson sound system. |
 Sunfire
Sunfire showed their newest power amp and AV preamp versions, which are narrower than the previous model and rack-mountable at 17 inches wide. This will be a welcome sight to those with Middle Atlantic equipment racks and custom installers. Feature sets are similar to the 19-inch models.
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  Proceed
PMDT showed the Proceed Video Procesor which is a card upgrade which is a $1,500 card based upgrade to the PMDT DVD-Video player that uses DVDO line doulbling to fill in the scan lines on tradional video sources with 480p. Better yet is the face that the PVP acuatully takes video inputs from other sources unlike other high end Progressive DVD-V players. Spring availibility. |
 Rotel
Rotel has a whole new look, with heat sinks on the front of their new audio and home theater products. With a 5.1 processor for DTS and Dolby Digital, the units also come equipped with more outputs for 6.1 and 7.1, if desired. The RSX 1065 prices at $2,000 and will be available in February 2001.
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 Krell
Krell introduced their new line of home theater products at CES 2001. Sporting a new look, the Theater Amplifier Standard is a 200 watts x five, a fully balanced modular amplifier expandable between two and five channels. Also new is the amp’s 17.25 width for rack mount compatibility.
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 Tact
Tact displayed their new TCS ($9,990), a modular surround processor featuring 10 channels of digital 24-bit/96 khz-compatible room correction. The TCS utilizes 10 Motorola 56309 processors to power its surround processing and room correction capabilities.
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Parasound
Parasound showed a whole new line of "Halo" components. The line includes a new 7.3 pre-pro and a progressive-scan DVD player, each with 5-inch front-panel video displays. The entire Parasound line is being revamped with new cosmetics. |
 Balanced Audio Technologies
Unfortunately, BAT’s new AV10 surround processor was damaged while being shipped to CES. Fortunately, BAT’s VK-75SE and VK-60/200 made it to CES intact. The VK-75SE ($8,500) monoblock (pictured) features the 6H30 supertube from Russia. The VK-60/200 is a modular solid state design featuring zero negative feedback. It is available in two-, three-,four- and five-channel configurations, starting at $4,995 for two channels and $1,250 for each additional channel.
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 Burmeister
Burmeister introduced several new products at CES including the 007 surround processor, the 001 Belt Diven CD Player ($7,550), the 006 CD Player ($6,520), and the B99 reference speaker ($47,780). Burmeister also introduced their lower-priced Rondo line to the United States. The Rondo line currently consists of an integrated amplifier, CD player and tuner, all under $5,000 each.
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Loewe
Loewe displayed their new Anaconda 30-inch 16:9 HDTV monitor ($3,600). The built-in scaler features 3:2 pulldown and defeatable scan velocity modulation. The model on display had a high gloss black finish, in keeping with Loewe’s tradition of aesthetically pleasing designs.
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Kenwood
Kenwood showed a new line of products called Kenwood Sovereign which are higher end versions of Kenwood's better technologies like DVD-A and Dolby Pro Logic II. Kenwood showed a digital audio server which has a 20 GB hard drive, CDR/RW, v.90 modem and RS232 control which you can store, record, archive and distribute your music from. Kenwood also showed the first 400 DVD-Audio/DVD-Video changer which should be out soon. |
 NAD
NAD showed the T761 and T751 Surround Sound A/V receivers which use integral Dolby Digital/DTS decoders and Crystal Sigma-Delta DSP processors with 96-kHz/24-bit resolution. Equipped with discrete power-output stages, the T761 is rated to deliver 80 watts continuously into all five channels simultaneously at no more than 0.08 percent Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). The T751 delivers 60 watts continuously into all five channels simultaneously at the same level of THD.
Both recievers have separate 5.1-channel inputs for an external decoder, pre-outs for all 5.1 channels, five video inputs and two video outputs (equipped with S-Video and composite connectors), and two audio inputs. The T761 has five digital inputs—two TosLink optical and three coaxial RCA—and one coaxial digital output as well. The T751 has three digital inputs: two coaxial RCA and one optical TosLink. The T761 retails for $999 while the T751 Surround Sound Receiver will cost $ 749.
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Acurus – Aragon
In case you missed it, Klipsch was the white knight that saved Mondial. They seem to have both lines still intact.
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