CEDIA: Infinity's New Flagship Loudspeaker

What better way to celebrate a 40th anniversary of producing audio components, than to debut a new flagship loudspeaker? Infinity Systems did just that, showing off its new Prelude Forty loudspeaker. This high-end tower features Maximum Radiating Surface (MRS) flat-panel transducer technology (as pictured, they are the silver midrange panels set on the black bezel). Among other things, this allows a narrow front width, and a slim profile. The panels use a ceramic metal matrix diaphragm (CMMD). Raised ribs, as well as gussets (indentations along the edges of the panel) are incorporated into the diaphragm to increase rigidity and are said to reduce diaphragm breakup.

A 1-inch CMMD tweeter is also used. Dual 8-inch, side-firing CMMD woofers with 2-inch-diameter edge-wound ribbon voice coils, high-Gauss neodymium magnets, and cast-aluminum frames handle the low end. The Prelude Forty utilizes a 3-1/2-way crossover network that allows the midrange drivers to operate in different frequency ranges. Also, the panels use two large elliptical voice coils, rather than a single conventional round voice coil, with rectangular neodymium magnets. This provides maximum contact and superior coupling between the voice coils and the diaphragm, resulting in increased efficiency.

Another key engineering feature of the panel driver is its Same-Plane Surround suspension. In a conventional-cone driver, the outer edge of the cone and the surround are located on a different geometric plane than the voice coil – a configuration that can cause the cone to rock back and forth as it moves, creating audible distortion. The driver eliminates this effect by placing the edge of the diaphragm and its surround on the same plane as the driving force from the voice coil.

The cabinet tapers from bottom to top, with a front baffle that curves into the top surface. Cabinets are available in three finishes: high-gloss black, real-wood cherry, and rosewood. All of them use removable black grilles.

If you have to as ask about the price....

CEDIA: Harman Kardon's New Flagship Receiver

Harman Kardon took the wraps off its new flagship receiver, the AVR-7550HD. My photo (at right) is pretty poor, but in fact there's not much to see. This beauty has a completely stealth front panel, with a cool lighted, translucent volume knob. (There are some conventional controls under a flip panel). The minimalist design has soft rounded corners, gloss-black and dark-graphite lower panel, and soft-white illumination.

The flagship is a 7.2-channel model features four HDMI 1.3a inputs with Deep Color support, repeater function allowing longer HDMI cable runs, Faroudja DCDi Cinema video processing with the Torino chipset, upscaled and enhanced 1080p output from all video sources, Logic 7 multichannel audio, XM Radio-ready, automatic room equalization and set-up, dual Texas Instruments Aureus DA710 DSP, 1080p pass-through, and The Bridge II iPod docking station. It's also one of the first receivers with Dolby Volume, to tame volume level disparities between content and commercials. Also onboard is HK's exclusive GUI user interface. Something cool: a USB port, and the receiver's remote can control MP3 and WMA music playback from a memory stick. Power is 7 x 110 watts (8 ohms).

There's more....

CEDIA: Denon's New Line of Receivers

Denon showed off its new line of AV receivers, no fewer than 10 of them, to complement its flagship AVR-5308CI (pictured). All of the new models feature Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey Dynamic Volume, and Audyssey MultEQ, as well as HDMI 1.3a capability supporting Deep Color. Five of the new models feature multi-zone capability: AVR-2809CI ($1,199), AVR-2309CI ($849), AVR-1909 ($649), AVR-1709 ($449) and AVR-1609 ($349).

The ‘CI’ designation stands for ‘Custom Integration,’ which means the receivers have features that are targeted toward professional installers. For example, they have a feature set of special functionality that can be accessed by Denon installers, but not the end user. They also feature RS-232 ports and high-current DC trigger outputs. AVR-2809CI, AVR-2309CI, AVR-1909, AVR-989, AVR-889 and AVR-789 offer upconversion and scaling to 1080p from all analog sources, as well as support for Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding.

AVR-2809CI features three-zone, three-source capability.

There's more....

CEDIA: Monster Power

UPS. And I don't mean the guys in the brown trucks. I'm talking Uninterruptible Power Supply. When your AC goes black or brown, shutting down or sagging, it's just not a good thing. Electronic equipment hates it when that happens. To the rescue, Monster introduces the Monster Home Theater HTUPS 2700.

This an all-in-one solution for backup power, power conditioning, voltage regulation and surge protection. Housed in a trim 1-rack unit module, its internal battery provides 1 hour of back-up at 50 watts, or more with an optional external battery. It can keep a DVR recording for two hours during a blackout. In addition to providing backup power when needed, the HTUPS 2700 also incorporates surge protection, HD Clean Power noise filtration and voltage regulation. Among other things, the back-up power will preserve home theater settings, prevent data corruption on media servers, and prevent projector bulb damage.

Details.....

CEDIA: Invisible Sound

Has this happened to you? You proudly demo your sound system to your friends, and they yawn? I mean, sound from speakers - how boring. Well, with speakers from Madison Fielding and StereoStone, you can impress those friends, and turn yawns into wows!

Check out the lovely flowers on the CEDIA show floor (pictured). They look lovely, but you're wondering - where's the music coming from? Actually, since it's a photo, you can't hear anything, but bear with me. Those aren't planters and flower pots! They are outdoor speakers!!! The Terra Cotta series (the round ones, complete with Italian planter pots and wrought iron stands) provide 360-degree soundfields, and the Lattice Wood Series (the square ones) can provide 90-, 180-, 270- or 360-degree soundfields. Either way, your friends will be impressed.

Wait! There's more....

CEDIA: JBL's Wireless Subs

Sure, you want a subwoofer. But, of course, the best acoustical location for it is waaay across the room from your receiver. So, you'll have to run a long wire under the carpet.  Bummer. Or, you could buy a wireless subwoofer.

For example, JBL showed two new ES series wireless powered subwoofers: ES250PW (pictured) and ES150PW. Both include a wireless transmitter module that connects to your AV receiver (or other audio source) and operates in the 2.4 GHz range. The wireless receiver is built into the subwoofer. Both models have a complement of controls and connection options. Details....

CEDIA: Panasonic's Super Screen

If anyone thought that Panasonic was lagging in the hotly-contested display market, the company moved to dispel the misconception. The 65VX100U plasma display was unveiled, and it is wonderful indeed.

The VX100 is a 65-inch custom-install only plasma monitor. At least according to Panasonic, it outperforms Pioneer's extremely impressive Kuro display. (Note that Pioneer is shutting down panel production and will begin buying panels from Panasonic). The VX100 boasts a 60,000:1 contrast ratio, and 7,160 shades of gradation in dark shadows, and also handles 120% of HDTV color gamut.

I viewed the Panasonic demo as they fearlessly compared the VX100 side by side with the 65DF model in a very dark room. Any photo I post here could not accurately convey the visual differences, so I will simply say that the VX100 was clearly superior with extremely black blacks, excellent shadow detail, and extremely good color. Hands-down, it was just a clearly superior picture....

CEDIA: Snell's New Speakers

Snell introduced two new members of its Signature Series speakers, the in-cabinet "hidden" model IC-B7 (pictured here) and the in-wall "invisible" model IW-B7 (pictured next page). Both models are derived from the respected (and "elegant") Snell B7 tower speakers; they employ the same full-range driver configuration and are engineered to perform the same as the towers (except for bass response). They are custom installation-friendly models, for installation in millwork, or in walls and ceilings.

The design is courtesy of Snell's chief engineer, Dr. Joseph D'Appolito. Specifically, they feature dual 8-inch woofers, a D'Appolito array with dual 4-1/2 inch midrange drivers, and 1-inch silk dome tweeter. In addition, there are discrete crossover boards for bass, midrange and treble that allow tri-amping, bi-ampling and single-amping. An acoustic suspension cabinet is used.

More specifics on the two models....

CEDIA: McIntosh's 3-Channel Power Amp

The MC303 is McIntosh's first-ever multi-channel amplifier with Autoformer coupled output stage technology. The MC303 is a 300-watt, three-channel power amplifier and Autoformer allows each channel to deliver maximum power into 2-, 4- or 8-ohm loads. Also onboard is Power Guard to deliver high fidelity at high power levels, and Sentry Monitor to provide short-circuit protection.

The unit sports a premium 1/2-inch thick glass face plate and mirror-polished stainless steel chassis and of course, the triple bank of power reading wattmeters provide the classic McIntosh look.

More.....

CEDIA: McIntosh's SACD/CD Player

What? You thought SACD was dead? How wrong you would be. At least at the CEDIA Expo, SACD was making a strong comeback showing. Maybe higher-end installer types are presenting more demand than lowly big-box store customers. In any case, the high-end audio format is certainly alive and well on the Expo floor in Denver.

Case in point, the McIntosh MCD500 SACD/CD player is their flagship model, joining the MCD201 and MCD301 players. It features two selectable digital inputs, coaxial and optical digital inputs, fixed and variable balanced outputs (up to 6 volts), dedicated headphone amplifier with level control, and die-cast disc tray.

Also inside, you'll find four 24-bit/192-kHz D/A converters per channel arranged in a differential balanced configuration. Of course, all clocks are phase-locked looped. Data is read from the disc at twice the normal rate. The glass front panel is illuminated by a combination of custom-designed fiber optic light diffusors and LEDs. An illuminated remote control is included

Price? Take a guess....