HIFI 98 Coverage: Video
Dwin Electronics
Dwin demonstrated their $12,000 7-inch CRT projector. It is very small and light-weight compared to other available projectors and even though it does not include a fan, it stays quite cool. Eliminating the fan keeps the ambient noise level in the viewing environment significantly lower than it would be with other CRT models. The Trans Scanner ($7,500) is a variable line multiplier that can be optimized for the proper line scan depending on the projector and source materials. If purchased together the projector and line multiplier is only $18,750. With a picture this good and no fan noise, consider the DWIN a real value.
Philips
Philips, the first manufacturer to market a flat panel plasma display, announced the introduction of the $2,500 32PDA8000 a SVGA multimedia display that is a perfect match up for their breakthrough DVX-8000 Multimedia Home Theater ($5,000). The high resolution SVGA 800 x 600 progressive scan lines of the 32PDA8000 provides unparalleled performance for DVD movies, playing computer games, surfing the internet or watching TV.
The DVX-8000 is the first A/V product to pave the way for digital convergence, incorporating a preamp with Dolby Digital, a DVD player and a computer with a 233 MHz Pentium II processor and Windows 95.
Marantz
The PD-4280 is one of the largest flat panel plasma displays that will soon be commercially available. Configured for a 16:9 aspect ratio it will retail for $15,000 when it starts shipping in September.
Sony
Sony displayed several FD Trinitron TV's utilizing flat display picture tubes. The proprietary technology promises outstanding clarity and detail, pinpoint corner to corner focusing, minimal glare and accurate image reproduction. Since the tube is flat over the entire screen, reflection is virtually eliminated, both from above the TV and from the sides. The high performance image quality is achieved with the 3D digital comb filter that not only analyzes scanning lines within a field but also across the preceding and followed fields, effectively reducing dot-crawl and cross-color distortion. The units provide component video inputs as a perfect complement to DVD players. Both the KV-32XBR200 ($2,099) and the KV-36XBR200 ($2,499) should be available sometime this fall.
Additionally, Sony has improved their line of big screen TV's with the Videoscope XBR, which includes the exclusive Digital Reality Creation (DRC). Simply explained, DRC is a digital process that upconverts analog signals to a new image with double the number of horizontal pixels and scan lines, resulting in an image with four times more pixel density than a normal NTSC image. Color saturation and image detail are demonstrably improved. An NTSC image with 720 pixels at 480I can be replaced with a higher definition image displaying 1440 pixels at 960i. The Videoscope XBR also incorporates another exclusive technology called Multi-Image Driver (MID), offering uncommon versatility in controlling on screen images, such as multiple P-I-P that can be placed anywhere on the screen. A score of input and output jacks are provided including component inputs for DVD players. The KP-53XBR200 ($4,999) and KP-61XBR200 ($5,999) should also be available this fall.
The real highlight of the Sony exhibit was their press conference in which they displayed a basketball game on a HDTV flat panel prototype. It was absolutely gorgeous, that's the 'real' future.
Sharp
The Sharp XV-S96U LCD Projector ($5,995) provides a picture up to an amazing 40 feet, incorporating a 3D-YC Adaptive Filter, component inputs for DVD Players and variable widescreen formats (4:3, 16:9 and 21:9). LCD projectors have come a long way, offering much more clarity and resolution than earlier models, but image quality is just a step above big screen TV's with 500 TV lines using the internal scan line doubler.
The TU-DTV1000 Set-Top Converter Box is capable of receiving and converting all 18 DTV video formats to the highest possible quality (1080i HDTV). It can also output a variety of formats, from 480i to 1080i. The size of a cable box, the TU-DTV1000 enables consumers to migrate from NTSC to HDTV. It is scheduled for a fall release, but no price has been determined.
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.
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.
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, 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). 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. 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.
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.
Meridian
The Meridian showcased their DSP6000 Reference Loudspeaker system which provides a separate "head unit" for high frequency and midrange drivers. These sharp looking, glossy black towers are powered with four 75-watt internal amps.
Their 800 Reference DVD Transport offers a highly flexible modular set up and can accommodate high speed CD, DVD and CD-Recordable drives. The 861 Reference Surround Processor combines THX processing, Dolby Digital, DTS and MPEG decoding along with an array of unique soundfields. The modular, card based electronics allow custom configurations and upgrades.
The 861 also incorporates MLP, the proprietary Meridian Lossless Packing, an audio coding process, designed to guard against generation loss and transmission errors. Unlike perceptual or lossy data reduction, lossless coding doesn't alter the final decoded signal, but packs the audio data into a smaller data rate for transmission. The original data is delivered bit-for-bit at the playback stage. Meridian believes this will improve the performance of high-rate multi-channel audio on DVD, multi-channel CDs and 2-channel 20/24 bit CD's. Sounds good to us!
Pioneer
Pioneer displayed their THX certified, reference grade DVD Player, the DV-09. It is equipped with a 10-bit video D/A converter, two 96 kHz, 24-bit audio DACs. Like its other high-end DVD players it provides component outputs for more accurate picture reproduction. Bringing back the elegance of the Elite product line, the DV-09 is adorned with rosewood side panels.
Two separate reports from custom installers we met in the hall suggest that the DV-09 is the best DVD picture on the market, cost no object. We'll reserve that opinion for the pending review coming on The Revolution in a month or two.
Large Scale A/V Demos A/V Products Video Speakers
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