EI’s Lifeware
The biggest presence at CEDIA was Exceptional Innovation’s Lifeware. Lifeware is software written to run on a growing number of media center PCs on the market from the likes of HP, Nivius Media and others. EI also has more advanced hardware solutions including “Crestron-like” brains and sexy touch panel controls that allow for more sophisticated trickery. Installed in a nicely decorated home directly across the street from the convention center, EI was able to show with wireless technology and simple CAT5 connections how everything in a home can be integrated. Media Center PCs can manage your music, your TV, a DVR, your photos and more. But Lifeware also goes further with easy and affordable control of security and lighting, with powerful moves that made my brand new and pretty slick Lutron Grafix Eye systems look, well… wimpy. Xbox 360s were linked and networked. Office PCs were integrated. Ovens and refrigerators were connected to the Internet. Damn near anything you can imagine integrated, networked and most importantly - working. The best little feature that I saw in the 20 minutes I spent at the EI house was how fast the DVR in the Media Center PCs worked considering how good the processors are in these computers versus the TiVos and DVRs that your cable company gives to you. Menus were flying on screen. HD was being controlled and previewed on the same in-wall, large format touch screen along with the weather and other goodies. It was nothing short of impressive. A Media Center PC and a basic setup starts at a few $1,000 dollars depending on the installation and ranges up into the world of $100,000 plus home automation systems.

Sony’s Pearl
You have to be kidding me – only $4,995 for this LCoS (SXRD) Pearl VPL-VW50 projector? Being powered by Sony’s pending Blu-ray player, it is just hard to believe that you can get such vivid colors for such an affordable price in a front projection unit.

Runco’s 1080p Lineup
On the high end of things, Runco have upgraded many of their projectors to support true 1080p performance. Paired with optics that allow for 2.35:1 cine-wide aspect ratios, die-hard movie fans simply can not go wrong with Runco’s new line of three chip DLP projectors which are priced from $44,995 to $99,995. Single chip 1080p projectors are priced from $11,995 to $34,995.

JL Audio
Known as the leader in car audio subwoofers, JL Audio showed one of the most impressive complete 7.1 speaker systems we have seen in a long time. The low impact of this system was impressive beyond belief. Looking at a cross section of the driver of the woofer even the untrained eye can tell this is a serious speaker. Shipping in 2007.

Nivius Media
In the media center PC world, prices are dropping and things are getting way more stable and advanced. With new venture money from Intel Capital (translate that into hitting the lottery for an upstart computer – AV company) the people at Nivius Media showed their 2007 Rainier media center PC. It comes complete with DVR, media storage, computer features and the most stable HD DVD player we have seen to date. Priced at $3,499 the Rainier is ready to ship on 9/30/06.

DVDO
DVDO is not just the price leader in video processing – they are pushing the limits of what is possible on the cutting edge. Their new flagship VP50 processor has a whole new set of features, impressively led by PReP, which allows those of us stuck with poorly upconverted 480p video to have it broken down and re-up-converted to 1080p the right way.

Classé
Classé gave us a sneak peak at their $25,000 reference SSP 900 AV preamp and processor. Not ready for release, this balls-to-the-wall unit is laying in wait for HDMI 1.3 connectivity and is powered with increasingly powerful processors, a new provider for internal boards and beyond. Don’t expect this unit to be on the market anytime before CES 2007 or even later, but when it hits it will be major.

Meridian
Meridian showed a new series of both digital and passive on-wall and in-wall speakers which when paired with their G-series gear makes for one of the most sophisticated yet somewhat affordable high-end home theater, surround sound systems. Just add a plasma and stir.

Also on display is the Meridian-Faroudja $29,995 three chip D-ILA projector. Optimized by video guru William Phelps at the factory in the UK, this projector picks up where the legendary Qualia 004 projector from Sony left off. I have it at home and it is staying there. Having owned three other D-ILA projectors – this machine is something to behold. You simply can not believe how good the picture looks.

Sunfire
I only got to spend a few minutes in the Sunfire booth but their new Ultimate Receiver 3 looks to have a build quality that is radically improved over past Sunfire products. HDMI inputs and beefy Bob Carver amps make this all-in-one solution a favorite with audiophiles and installers alike. Sunfire also had some of Bob Carver’s ribbon speakers that I have heard early versions of at Bob’s lab in Washington. Ribbon tweeters can be very seductive.

Krell
You are not a fan of audio if you don’t – deep down inside – want to own Krell’s Evolution gear. Priced at $45,000, for a pair of monster amps, Krell’s Evolution is one of the most over-the-top statements of audio excellence you will see.

BenQ
For about $7,500 Benq has a 1080p projector that comes complete with a motorized optic system, which provides for 2.35:1 operation that you might expect to see from Runco, Vidikron or Digital Projectors for far more. They were showing a clip from a Victoria’s Secret event in HD that was riveting for all of the right reasons. Video from Windows Media 10 clips in 2.35:1 filled a wide screen nicely.

Paradigm
Practically every speaker in the Paradigm line has been re-released with performance and cosmetic improvements. Their new $249 entry level speakers beg for a review but their in-ceiling speakers were one of the most creative applications of the show. Expect reviews of both in coming issues.

Vantage Point
Speaking of creative applications, Vantage Point has a wall mount system that needs to be seen to be believed. The basic idea is that you can attach a frame to your wall (renter’s and retailers take note) which will allow you to configure very sleek looking panels to make a four inch deep area that extends from the wall. On this you can hang a plasma or LCD. You can put up shelves for equipment. You can put a rear projection DLP on a shelf. You can install a PC or anything. With a huge variety of wood, metal and faux finishes – this is one of the most out-there “why didn’t somebody think of this sooner” products ever. For the renter or the person who is tired of punching holes in the wall – this is the ultimate solution. Each of the many solutions had no visible wires and they all looked really slick.

Hitachi
Up until recently, plasmas have not been able to do 1080p. Hitachi showed a 63-inch and a 42-inch set, which may be released at some point in 2007 that were running true 1080p and were truly stunning. A lot of people say all plasmas look the same. These look better.

DirecTV
DirecTV showed their $299 DVR that oddly was not a TiVo. It was amazingly missing RS232 control, yet they were pitching it to the custom installation world. The DirecTV HD10-250 is one of the most important yet under engineered components on the market today. If you use DirecTV you can’t live without it, but you are forced to duct tape an IR repeater to the front of the component thus marring the look of your $250,000 equipment rack. The new DVR isn’t much of an improvement in terms of control and lacks TiVo.

RBH
One of the speakers we needed to get our hands on was the new reference T-30LSE speaker from RBH. There will be only 100 pairs made in one of their many incredible wood finishes. This pair of speakers sets out to compete with Wilson’s WATT Puppy 8’s, Revel’s new Salon 2 and B&W’s top offerings.

Revel
The Salon2 is out sporting a more traditional look and all new sonics. The speakers are far more diminutive in their footprint as compared to the original Salon and to compete more with Wilson WATT Puppies. Samples will be coming for a review, which will run some time in the spring of 2006.

Bell’O
I was impressed with just how sexy Bell’O’s new line of furniture was. With sleek lines that actually complement the futuristic look of today's HDTV based systems, Bell'O's well thought-out gear was refreshing to see. They also showed some amazingly affordable seating that you could park your fine ass in for hours on end.

There were SO many more great products at the show that I couldn’t really see. The good news is: the best technology is getting more stable and more affordable. The cutting edge is still mind-blowing yet the standard keeps getting more and more lofty. There are truly some incredible products coming down the pike. Stay tuned for reviews.

Want to receive more news like this directly in your email box once a week? Sign up below for the AudioVideoRevolution.com weekly email update list.

First Name
Last Name
E-mail address	Can you receive HTML e-mail? Yes No