HIFI 98 Coverage: Large Scale A/V Demos
Vidikron, Meridian, Ultimate Entertainment
Winner: Best Picture of the Show
Using the Meridian 861 surround decoder with a DTS decoder, Genelec self-powered speakers (well loved in professional studios and dubbing stages), a Vidikron Vision One and the Snell and Wilcox Interpolator, Ultimate Entertainment, a Phoenix dealer, demonstrated a compelling comparison between HDTV and current high-quality video.
The first part of the demonstration (featuring tracks from Apollo 13) used a DTS encoded DVD allowing the Snell and Wilcox Interpolator to up convert the image to a dazzling 1024p. The Interpolator's ability to adjust the scan rate rather than apply a fixed rate makes a huge difference when setting up a front screen projection system. You are assured that no matter the environment, there will never be too few or too may scan lines, ensuring the best possible picture. The sound was very effective including a visceral element upon the launch of the Apollo rocket.
The second part of the demo was by far the most impressive video of the show, slightly edging out the HDTV portion of the Revel demo (see Revel section below). Using a professional Panasonic HD player they played a High Def trailer of Titanic in the 1080i HDTV format that will soon be coming directly into our homes. Watching sporting events or TV news broadcasts in HDTV may be exciting, but watching actual content like a blockbuster movie in this format will be magnificent. We can't wait.
Christopher Hansen, Martin Logan, VTL, Cardas, Wadia and Z-Systems
Winner: Best Sound of the Show
LA audio icon, Christopher Hansen was responsible for two outstanding demonstrations. Their largest room concentrated on the ultimate two-channel sound system featuring Martin Logan's Statement II loudspeakers, 6 VTL Wotan amplifiers plus a Wadia front end. Christopher Hansen used the new 6 channel Z-Systems EQ configured as an 18 band, 2 channel EQ plus their room was professionally analyzed, treated and EQed by studio designer, Bob Hodas. Their room was highly stylized as was their presentation featuring glossy photos of the equipment being used, lush plants and dim and quite halogen lights. It was clear from the moment you walked in you were going to experience something special.
The $70,000 Statement loudspeakers consist of the two parts: the electrostatic dipole and sub-bass towers. The VTL mono block Wotan M-1250 Signature ($27,500 a pair) amps delivered an awesome 600 watts per channel (triode mode) to the dipole towers and 1250 watts to the sub-bass towers. The Wadia 270 CD transport ($7,950) was coupled with the Wadia 27 Decoding Computer ($8,950) to fed a direct signal to the VTL amps without any preamplifier. The only other electronics came from Z-Systems (RDQ6) for fine tuning, room equalization and volume control.
The imaging was to die for and the bass was amazing. Even with $100,000 speakers next door and $100,000 plus music systems all around, it can safely be said this room took the prize.
Wilson, Runco, Krell, Transparent and LA Audio Video
Los Angeles Koreatown A/V heavy hitters LA Audio Video teamed up with some serious power players to help Wilson launch the MAXX loudspeaker system. Priced around $40,000, MAXXs look and sound like a smaller version of Wilson's high dollar Grand SLAMM system. It shouldn't be shocking that with Cheryl and Dave Wilson being exotic car enthusiasts that they showed speakers ranging in finish from BMW Green to Ferrari Fly Yellow.
You could tell the MAXX loudspeakers are awesome. Unfortunately, the Xcess woofers were subject to boomyness in many parts of the room. The video demo of the system featured a Runco 961 and Faroudja VP-401, Krell electronics and Transparent Cables. Wilson showed an impressive video clip on these speakers, a video clip that they intend to stream on to the internet in coming weeks.
Dolby Digital from your DSS, McIntosh, Faroudja
Winner: Best New Technology
Faroudja and McIntosh teamed up to create a $100,00 home theater experience utilizing a Vidikron Vision One front screen projector with a Stewart screen configured in a 16:9 aspect ratio. McIntosh supplied all of the electronics and Faroudja supplied the VP-401 line quadrupler for a sharp, clear and accurate image.
Dolby Labs in conjunction with RCA and DirectTV, the DSS programming service, provided the first public demonstration of DirectTV's satellite transmission of Dolby Digital 5.1 channel sound. A new RCA DSS receiver ($499) and 18-inch dish antenna were used for the demonstration. On July 1 DirectTV will begin transmitting up to 10 channels of letterbox pay-per-view movies in Dolby Digital 5.1 channel sound. They plan to deliver up to five movies a month in this format. The first movies planned for broadcast in 5.1 audio are Gattica, The Rainmaker, Starship Troopers, Scream 2 and Tomorrow Never Dies. There will be a nominal $2.99 fee, about the same as a VHS rental.
According to RCA only the new DSS receivers pass the Dolby Digital 5.1 channel bitstream to an outboard decoder (such as a digital processor) and there are no upgrades for existing DSS receivers.
Ambrosia A/V, Vidikron, Egglestonworks, Classe', Theta
Ambrosia Audio Video, a Bel Air, California dealer, was responsible for setting up several complete home theater demonstrations. One of the two main theaters they set up used the top-of-the-line Vidikron Vision One along with the VP-401 quadrupler. Dunlavy SC-5's ($12,995) were used for the mains and SC-4A's ($7,995 a pair) were used for the center and surrounds. Classe' amps were used all around: Omegas ($15,000 each) delivered 600 watts to the mains, a CA 400 (400 watts) for the center and two CA200's (200 watts) for the surrounds. The Classe SSP50 ($6,500) digital processor decoded both the Dolby Digital and DTS sources, played from the Theta Voyager ($6,000) high-end combination Laserdisc/DVD player.
Ambrosia's second room, featured the Egglestonworks $100,000 speaker system that doesn't yet bear a name (for further details see Speaker section). The Theta Casablanca digital processor/preamp was used along with another Theta Voyager plus Jeff Rowland amplification, Transparent cables and new 6 channel room EQ from Z-Systems.
The video portion consisted of the Vidikron Vision Two with the new Faroudja VP-310 Line Multiplier which scans at a horizontal rate of 400Hz (600 visible lines). The VP-301 was designed for 7 and 8 inch CRT projectors where performance requires a scan rate greater than line doubling (480 visible lines) but is unable to handle the demands of line quadrupling (960 visible lines). The VP-301 is also ideal for LCD and DLP projectors.
Christopher Hansen, Runco, Madrigal, BagEnd and THIEL
Winner Best Video Value at the show: Runco 852 The second Christopher Hansen installation demonstrated a more modestly priced (approximately $35,000) home theater featuring a Runco projector, THIEL loudspeakers inclusing their new center channel, BagEnd Subwoofers, Aural Symphonic cables and Madrigal (combination of both Mark Levinson and Proceed) electronics.
The Runco 852 sports a built-in line doubler for an unbelievable $14,999. With its picture it is hard not to compare the Runco 852 to the big gun 9 inch CRT projectors used in most of the other rooms and, especially for a screen under 100 inches--this projector is the answer. After its impressive showing here it can easily be said that the Runco 852 may be the best projector value in all of high end video.
For 5.1 delivery of Dolby Digital and DTS sources it doesn't get much better than the new combo from Proceed, the AVP Surround Preamp ($4,495) and the AMP5 5-channel amplifier ($4,995). (Insert Picture 23) For superior two channel playback you can't go wrong with a stack of Mark Levinson gear, from the 300 watt per channel N.333 ($8,995) amplifier, to the N.39 CD Player ($5,995) and N.365 DAC ($6,495) combination. (Insert Picture 22) THIEL CS 2.3 ($3,390 a pair) for the mains and the MCS1's for the center and surrounds is a formidable speaker system for both music and movie soundtracks. BagEnd Infra 18 subwoofers ($1,895 each) with 18-inch drivers can handily deal with the most extreme dynamic range.
Wilson, Runco, Krell, Transparent and LA Audio Video
Los Angeles Koreatown A/V heavy hitters LA Audio Video teamed up with some serious power players to help Wilson launch the MAXX loudspeaker system. Priced around $40,000, MAXXs look and sound like a smaller version of Wilson's high dollar Grand SLAMM system. It shouldn't be shocking that with Cheryl and Dave Wilson being exotic car enthusiasts that they showed speakers ranging in finish from BMW Green to Ferrari Fly Yellow.
You could tell the MAXX loudspeakers are awesome. Unfortunately, the Xcess woofers were subject to boomyness in many parts of the room. The video demo of the system featured a Runco 961 and Faroudja VP-401, Krell electronics and Transparent Cables. Wilson showed an impressive video clip on these speakers, a video clip that they intend to stream on to the internet in coming weeks.
Revel, Snell and Wilcox, Madrigal, and Joe Kane's ISF Harman International's high end speaker line, Revel, put together one of the more impressive home theater demonstrations, exhibiting an exquisite example of a top end home theater.
The Revel speaker line is designed to get great sound in the home, not just the lab. Their theater system consisted of five amazingly finished, small speakers called Gems and a powered subwoofer featuring a separate 1200-watt amplifier that is capable of reproducing frequencies as low as a seismicly active 16 Hz. Mark Levinson 33H amplification was used to deliver 150 watts to the front L/C/R and 300 watts per channel into the rears. Aesthetically, the Revel speakers are striking in their bold and high tech styling. The word is, the same industrial design firm that came up with the Mark Levinson amplifier's look also designed the Revels. With a quick listen, I found the system to perform quite well, producing sharp imaging and amazing dynamics.
Renowned video specialist Joe Kane, conducted the demonstration to show both conventional sources and the future of video with HDTV.
An edited D5 HDTV videotape (original recording) was obtained from ABC and it was positively stunning. It showed the fine detail and life-like color accuracy of HDTV. HDTV is almost hyper-realistic, as it is bigger than life on a large screen format. It's so real you'll want to reach out and touch it.
Using Snell and Wilcox's Interpolator, a DVD signal (Contact) was up converted to 766I, to closely approximate the 720p format of the HDTV signal. The picture was so impressive, exhibiting film-like quality, even though the original source was a mere DVD.
Joe Kane's demo proved if you have the means and the current technology (such as a good projector and a Snell and Wilcox Interpolator) you will be able to get quite close to the obscenely good picture quality of HDTV. Bravo Joe and Revel, a great demo and point well made.
Hales and BAT
Hales Design Group and Balanced Audio Technologies teamed up to create a two channel demo that had a buzz for best sound of the show which is quite an accomplishment considering their total system priced out at $30,000 while their competition down the hall were weighing in at $200,000 plus. A pair of $8,990 Hales Transcendence Eight loudspeakers were actively packing the room for Hales. Showing the latest new addition to their line up, Balanced Audio Technologies released information on the VK-40, their first solid state balanced dual mono preamplifier. Additional flexibility is offered with an optional plug-in phono preamp module for both MM and MC phono cartridges. The VK-40 continues in BAT's purist approach, using zero negative feedback to achieve wide bandwidth and circuit linearity. The VK-40 will retail for $3,995. The optional phono module and remote control are available for an additional $500 each.
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