FEAR & LOATHING IN INDIANAPOLIS by Shane Buettner

Well, I'm fresh off of my first big gig as Technical Editor and "hardware guy" for DVDFILE, covering CEDIA Expo '99. This adventure would take me two-thirds of the way across our great land, deep into the heart of middle America, Indianapolis. Yee-haw, you say? Oh, yeah!

CEDIA (I just love acronyms, in fact I've been trying to think of a cool one for our site, but I've come up short. If you think of one let me know!) stands for Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association. The key to understanding what I was doing at this show, and why DVDFILE chose to cover it, is that this show is primarily focused on consumer electronics, and home theater in particular. This event was described to me as rather smallish, so far as the trade shows are concerned, but growing every year. The first clue to how much it has grown was probably found in the fact that it took place in the Indianapolis Convention Center and RCA Dome(!). The event itself ran from September 22-26, with the Trade Show floor open September 24-26. CEDIA puts on a lot of educational classes (more than 80 this year) for custom installers and retailers, many of which are taught by top professionals in the industry.

Attendance was estimated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 12,000 people, which makes it scary to think about what a "big show' might be like. Exhibitors include manufacturers, their sales reps and distributors, as well as other "Industry Related Associations" which could mean public relations firms and other people related to the business end of selling consumer electronics. Many exhibitors also had their chief designers and engineers on hand as well to ensure their demos were set up correctly and to answer inquiries. Questions were asked by media types like yours truly, as well as the custom installers and designers and retail sales reps that are supposed to sell all of that cool gear.

The show is set up like any trade show, with more simple booths that just hand out information, and all-out mind-boggling demo "rooms" set up by some of the biggies in the industry. I think this is a particularly exciting time for these kind of shows, as we're really at the cusp of several different technologies that are going to have a huge impact on home theater, if not life in general. Of course, HDTV is obviously the big product I have in mind when I make such grandiose statements, and this show offered a terrific opportunity to make some real assessments of what improvements it really offers. DVD-Audio is also out there, but was MIA at the show, and word has it the product is seeing some delays. SACD was also a no-show at CEDIA, but there was plenty of great (if not "Super") audio to be found all over the expo. Beyond these (potentially) big new kids on the technology block, there were other technologies unveiled at this show that would probably be considered enhancements of things we are already enjoying, but have the promise to take these current technologies to the highest level they can take us. THX Surround EX is one of these, as is the other shining star of CEDIA �99, progressive scan DVD.

To get all of this across, I've decided to present my coverage in two parts. Part 1 will focus on the new technologies I mentioned, and on new products coming to the market soon that are of interest to the home theater fanatic. Part 2 will concentrate on the show-stopping (and in some cases heart-stopping) demos presented at CEDIA 99 that will make you want to sell your car and write bad checks to buy the ultra high performance, ultra high priced gear found therein. I will also be presenting a separate article on the latest development in digital surround sound, THX Surround EX, which made its debut at the show. Look for that in the next few days.

To Infinity, er, Indianapolis and Beyond!

Like many home theater nuts, I often stay up pretty late at night watching movies, making it hard to be much of a morning person. I hit the Indy city (Editor: Rhymes with "Windy City," ho ho, ha ha, he he!) pretty late Friday the 24th, with central time putting me two hours ahead of left coast time. So I grabbed a precious few hours of sleep, and it was off to hit the show. As I said, I'm not much of a morning guy, so I spent my first half-hour of the show waiting in line for one of the worst lattes I've ever had, before I began tearing around the CEDIA Expo.

HDTV Everywhere

HDTV is real and it was all over the place. You couldn't walk around without tripping over HDTV and HDTV-ready displays. For those of you who might not know the difference, HDTV indicates that the actual HDTV tuner is built into the device, while HDTV-Ready displays require an outboard set top HDTV tuner. Well, let me tell you there were plenty of each. (Please note that while some manufacturers are unveiling HDTV ready sets with a 4:3 aspect ratio, I'll be commenting only on 16x9 displays. HDTV spec calls for broadcasts to be in the 16x9 aspect ratio, so I really can't understand anyone marketing a set as having anything to do with HDTV that isn't in the proper aspect ratio.)

Toshiba was out in front leading the band in this respect with no fewer than five new rear projection models hitting stores this year that are 16x9 HDTV or HDTV-Ready. On the HDTV side, Toshiba's offering the 65-inch DW65X91 (approx. $8500) and the 56-inch DW56X91 (approx. $6500.) Both of these sets have a built in ATSC HDTV tuner compatible with all 18 formats, and very interestingly, both have built in DirecTV receivers that receive standard and high definition DirecTV satellite programming. On the HDTV-Ready side Toshiba has the 65-inch TW65X81, the 56-inch TW56X81, and the 40-inch TW40X81. All of these displays have dual "Colorstream HD" component video inputs that will accept 480P and 480I signals, as well as 1080I from a DTV set top tuner. All of these displays pass 480p and 1080I signals without alteration, 480I is converted to 480p, and anything above 480p (but below 1080I) is upconverted to 1080i. These sets looked very good, even in unflattering brightly-lit conditions. Resolution was terrific, especially on the 1080I material, and the picture was bright and very natural looking. The 65-inch DW65X91 was absolutely spectacular displaying 480p from Toshiba's progressive-scan SD 9100 DVD player, but more on that later! Toshiba promises to have a set top HDTV tuner later this year for around $1000 retail.

Sony was showing some 1080I material in a dark room with their VPH-D50H20 CRT projector with 7 inch guns, that retails for around $15,000 with a built in line-doubler. This projector looked very good with 1080I HDTV material and anamorphic widescreen DVD. Black level was strong giving this CRT projector very good color fidelity and detail was outstanding as well. $15,000 is a lot of money, but in the world of front projectors you can spend a lot more and get less. Sony had their newest LCD projector, the VPL-VW10HT right next door, which looked very good for a LCD projector but really suffered in direct comparison with the VPH-D50H20 showing the same 1080I material. I've never been sold on LCD projectors as a viable display in a high-end home theater, and nothing I saw here changed my opinion. I just can't get around LCDs visible pixel structure and lousy black level. Sony's also had their KWP-65HD1 65-inch rear projection HDTV. This $11, 000 unit was out in the middle of a brightly-lit showroom and still looked outstanding with 1080I program material. This set displays 1080I in its native resolution but up-converts everything else to a "near HDTV" 960I using Sony's Digital Reality Creation (DRC) line processing circuitry. Its onboard digital tuner can receive all 18 ATSC formats. This set looks like a winner, I'd love to see what it can do in a properly lit environment.

Pioneer was showing off its Pro 610HD HDTV-ready 58-inch RPTV. The program material was anamorphic widescreen DVD and the set seemed superior to its predecessor the Pro 700HD, which suffered from an excessively noisy picture due to its line doubling circuitry. This display seemed to have no such problems, and looked good despite being displayed in a brightly-lit area. The Pro 610HD is in stores now and sells for $7300. Not on display but also in stores now is the 53-inch Pro 510HD, which sells for $6300. Both sets have expansion slots for accommodating the optional SH-D07 HDTV tuner, which Pioneer did not have a retail price on.

Phillips was proudly displaying its 64-inch Rear Projection HDTV, the $9990 64PH9905. This set has 9-inch CRTs and it looked spectacular with 1080I material. The 9-inch CRTs give this display the ability to display and resolve true 1080I, which other sets with smaller (7-inch) CRTs simply cannot do. The 64PH9905 offered a bright, punchy picture that seemed back up the potential promised by its 9-inch guns. This was definitely one of the top rear projection HDTVs at the show. The built in digital tuner accepts all 18 ATSC formats and a built in line processor.

Panasonic was showing off its 61-inch PT56WXF95 rear projection HDTV-Ready display, and I'm sorry to say this piece was one of the major disappointments of the show. I was very much looking forward to seeing this reasonably priced (estimated $5500 retail) RPTV as it's the only device of its kind that I'm aware of that will display 720p native, which is the format that ABC has chosen for its high definition broadcast. My ABC affiliate shows Monday Night Football in this format every week. 720P proponents claim its progressive scan 720 lines of horizontal resolution offers a superior, flicker free picture when compared to 1080I, which is an interlaced format. The 720p vs 1080I debate will have to waged elsewhere, because this set simply did not look good enough to bring home. Shown in a properly darkened room with an outstanding anamorphic widescreen DVD (Columbia's Starship Troopers) with Panasonic's progressive-scan DVD player, this set was just not getting the job done. As you'll read later, progressive scan 480p DVD looks absolutely incredible, but it couldn't rescue the poor picture quality of this RPTV. The PT56WXF95 just looked soft and fuzzy at times when it shouldn't have. I'd like to investigate more, but it just seems the resolution capability of this display is not up to the standards of other displays I've mentioned above.

Mitsubishi, on the other hand, looks poised to be a real player in the HDTV arena. Two "Platinum Series" rear projection HDTV-Ready models will be offered, the 46-inch WT-46805 ($3799) and the 55-inch WS-55805 ($4499.) Their top of the line Diamond Series HDTV-Ready will be comprised of three models, with screen sizes of 55, 65, and 73-inches. All are HDTV-Ready rear projection models. The WS-55905 will retail for $5499, the WS-65905 will be $6999, and the WS-73905 will sell $9999. The accompanying HD-1080 set top digital tuner will sell for $3499. The 55-inch WS-55805 was on display and looks like a stone cold bargain at $4500. This set was displaying progressive-scan DVD (Mitsubishi also claims to be jumping on the progressive-scan DVD bandwagon in their own players next year) and looked terrific, especially considering its easy-on-the-wallet price tag.

Front Projection Displays

Of course, front projectors have long been at least "HDTV ÌReady" and there were plenty of these found all over the show as well. More in depth coverage of some of these displays will be offered in part 2 of my CEDIA coverage, which deals specifically with the demos presented. But here's some of what else was shown or talked about in regard to front projection:

Runco is offering perhaps the most extensive line of projectors on the market today, with no fewer than eight HDTV ready models. From the $9995 DLP based Reflection VX-108 to the $45,000 9-inch CRT driven DTV-1100, Runco has just about everything you might be looking for. Unveiled at CEDIA was the DTV-943, which is built with 7-inch CRTs that are said to represent unprecedented performance in their size category. The 943 displays 1080I and 720p native, and has a built in video scaler with full motion adaption that up-converts all standard NTSC signals and eliminates visible scan lines. Testament to Runco's commitment to top quality displays can be found in the fact that several manufacturer demos at the show employed Runco projectors.

Vidikron revealed the new HDTV-ready Kronos One, a 7-inch CRT based projector that is capable of hroizontal scanning frequencies of up to 50khz, making it capable of displaying all 18 ATSC DTV formats. The Kronos One will retail for approx. $11,000, and used only RGB inputs. Also debuted and CEDIA was Vidikron's Sole One DLP projector, that looks like a real winner at $11k. Vidikron's rep at the show said that the Sole One comes with a line processor that up-converts standard interlaced NTSC to progressive-scan video, but their literature doesn't confirm this. The Sole One was displayed using this line processor to display anamorphic widescreen DVD and looked fantastic so you can bet I'll be posting a follow up on this. Unlike LCD technology, DLP appears poised to offer a viable high-quality alternative to CRT projectors.

DVD Players and Other Electronics: The Arrival of Progressive-Scan DVD and Carousels, Carousels!

The big news at CEDIA on the DVD player front is the imminent arrival of Progressive-Scan DVD. In spite of the fact that DVD stores video information in a progressive-scan format on the disc, with all 480 visible lines in each frame, current DVD players convert this video to the NTSC interlaced format. The 480 visible lines of horizontal resolution for each frame are scanned in two passes every 1/60th of a second, 240 odd lines, then the 240 even lines interlaced in between. While persistence of vision dictates that we perceive each frame of video as a whole, this nevertheless results in visible scan line structure. The new generation of progressive-scan DVD players will not interlace the visible lines of a frame but will instead display all 480 visible lines of a frame every 1/60th of a second, effectively doubling the horizontal scanning rate. Known as 480P, progressive-scan DVD results in a stable, flicker-free image and greatly reduces the visibility of the scan line structure for a smoother more film-like presentation that is nothing short of spectacular.

Toshiba first announced a progressive-scan DVD player over a year ago, but its introduction has been held up pending Hollywood's concerns over copyright protection. Macrovision, the copy protection of choice in the DVD world, currently cannot work with progressive scan signals. It appears now that Toshiba and Panasonic are going ahead with their plans to release their progressive-scan DVD players in spite of Hollywood's protestations. Neither of Toshiba's two progressive-scan DVD players, nor Panasonic's player incorporate Macrovision copy protection, but both companies claim to be ready to ship their players. Perhaps to demonstrate their resolve at releasing their players Toshiba had a bunch of (empty) boxes for each player stacked up at their booth! In addition to Toshiba and Panasonic demonstrating their Progressive players, virtually every other manufacturer of DVD players say they will be jumping on the progressive bandwagon shortly.

The other big change in direction with DVD players is that just about everyone out there is offering multi-disc carousel models, including Toshiba. The SD4109X six-disc carousel will be available in October for a retail price of $599. Toshiba has started to shift the focus of many of their players toward higher levels of audio performance and the 4109 is no exception. Touted in their literature as an "audiophile-quality CD changer," the 4109 incorporates HDCD decoding to improve the sound quality of standard CDs as well as DTS digital output in addition to a built in Dolby Digital decoder. As mentioned above, Toshiba is big on Progressive DVD, offering two new models that are capable of progressive-scan output. The statement piece will be the flagship SD9100 with its ColorStream PRO progressive-scan component video outputs. Toshiba claims that by using select high quality components the 9100 offers outstanding build quality with a high-mass vibration resistant cabinet including audiophile grade multi-bit delta sigma 24but/96khz D/A converters. Retail price was said to be between $1599-1999. While its performance was outstanding as it related to video, it didn't seem so substantial in terms of looks and feel to warrant such a high price tag. Also offering ColorStream PRO progressive-scan component video outputs at a price that doesn't break the bank will be the Toshiba SD5109, which is distinctive in that it has two DVD trays allowing for "uninterrupted viewing of multi-disc DVD tiles or double-feature movie viewing." The 5109 also offer built in Dolby Digital and HDCD decoding, DD and DTS digital outputs and 24/96 DACs and will retail for approx. $799, a seeming bargain.

Panasonic's entry into the progressive-scan DVD player market is an upscale statement piece. The DVD-H1000 will carry a retail price of approx. $2999 and promises audiophile grade components and solid build construction, weighing in at a hefty 36lbs. The DVD-H1000 offers 480p progressive-scan component outputs as well as standard 480I component video outputs to go along with high quality 24/96 DACs and ahnadsome brushed aluminum front panel. While retail prices weren't available Panasonic will also be offering a DVD Audio player, the DVD A-7, as well as the DVD-A320, which offers built in Dolby Digital and DTS decoding. I also couldn't get any confirmation of retail price on the Panasonic DVD-C220 5disc DVD/CD changer. Like all of the above models it too offers standard 480I component outputs.

Pioneer has two new entries in their line of 4th generation DVD players, the DV-C302D the "feature driven" DV-626D. The three disc capacity DV-C302D features standard 480I component video outputs to go along with a built in Dolby Digital decoder and 24/96 DACs. Unlike most brands out there Pioneer players output a true 24/96 signal through their digital outputs, as opposed to down-sampling to 16bit/48khz for digital output. Most players only offer true 24/96 performance via their onboard DACs that therefore result in 24/96 being available via the analog outputs only. The single disc "step-up" DV-626D has the previously noted features of the DV-302, and adds built-in DTS decoding as well as some interesting new processing features. Advanced Digital Video Noise Reduction is a dubious addition as DVD is virtually devoid of video noise as a rule, but the 626 also offer a "TrickPlay Processor" and a "Quick Start Drive" mechanism that should both offer tangible improvements over previous Pioneer players. The TrickPlay Processor provides "crystal clear scanning of DVDs in forward or reverse at multiple speeds." The Quick Start drive mechanism is said to improve searching and spin-up speeds by more than 30%.

These are significant areas of improvement as Pioneer's previous models, even their high-end high priced Elite products, have seriously been outperformed in these areas, especially in comparison to the Sony players that absolutely excel in disc access and smooth scanning capability. The DV-C302D is available now at a suggested retail price of $545, while the DV-626D will be available in November for $645. Pioneer's PDV-LC10 ($1545) answers the age old question of "what happens when you want to enjoy the same (hone theater) experience on a plane, in the car or just in another room of your house?" Like the bathroom I guess? Anyway, if you've got money to burn this portable DVD player with a built in active-matrix 7-inch LCD screen is yours to burn it on. It comes with an application to "Gadget Freaks Anonymous."

Onkyo's new line of high-end product will fly under the Integra Research banner. The first wave of product will include the RDC-7 THX surround processor, RDA-7 power amplifier, and the RDV-1 progressive-scan DVD player. All three are THX Ultra Certified and come in attractive brushed silver aluminum designs, and are IEEE 1394 (Firewire) upgradable. Notably the RDC-7 offers THX Surround EX decoding in addition to the usual suspects, Dolby Digital and DTS, meaning it is capable of running in a 7.1 channel configuration (see THX Surround EX for more info.) Broadcast quality video switching circuitry includes component video switching capability to the tune of accepting 3 incoming component video signals. On the audio side the RDC-7 offers 8 assignable digital inputs (5 coax 3 optical) as well as balanced audio outputs. The RDA-7 multi-channel amplifier, designed by Balanced Audio Technologies, has balanced audio inputs and is rated at 150 watts per channel for all seven channels. The progressive-scan output RDV-1 DVD player also offers up 24bit/192khz DACs co-designed by Apogee. No approximate retail prices were offered for these components. Also offered under the standard Onkyo brand name will be the DV-C600 six-disc DVD changer at a retail price of $579.95. Noteworthy features include component video outputs and 24/96 DACs.

Denon had two new DVD players that look very promising. The five-disc carousel DVM-3700 was described by Denon's Marketing Manager David Birch-Jones as a "five-disc version of the DVD 5000" Denon's highly acclaimed top of the line stand-alone DVD player. Like the 5000 the DVM-3700 has true 24/96 capability from its digital outputs as well as the analog outputs, and includes Denon's exclusive 24 bit Alpha DSP processing. The onboard DACs are high quality Burr-Brown PCM-1704 24/96 models, and HDCD decoding is also included. On the video side standard 480I component video outputs are included as well as an interesting feature called the Cinema Position Selector which optimizes the video image to match your display device- direct-view TV, rear projection, front projection, CRT or LCD projector. Further evidence of Denon's pride and confidence in this product can be found in the fact that it was the DVM-3700 in their demo room with the Runco DTV-991 projector, not the DVD 5000! This player is the real deal and at $999 is priced to sell for certain. Denon also unveiled the DVD 1500 which its touting as "The New Standard in DVD Video Player Value" at $499. Component video outputs, and 24/96 DACs, are included as are the Cinema Position Selector and Picture Mode functions of their more expensive players.

Another stunning development at the Denon was the unveiling of the AVR-3330 receiver, which is an amazing $999. This receiver appears to be virtually identical to the flagship AVR-5700 in terms of features. Component video switching (two inputs,) 24/96 DACs, and SHARC 32 bit DSP processing are included, as are the 7.1 channel inputs found on the AVR 5700. This last feature is especially important as the introduction of THX Surround EX has ushered in the need for more channels to ensure future compatibility from multi-channel inputs. Another feature previously exclusive to the vaunted AVR 5700 is the ability to connect two sets of surround speakers, bipole/dipole for movie soundtracks and direct radiators for multi-channel music sources, and choose between them according to the playback source. The AVR-3300 is rated to deliver 105 watts into each of its six channels. Having some experience with previous Denon receivers, and the AVR 5700, I think its safe to say this receiver is going to be a serious contender for anyone considering a receiver within $500 in either direction of this receiver. Denon is also the North American distributor for the UK-based speaker manufacturer Mission Electronics. Their 77 series of of loudspeakers range from $400-$2000 per pair, and if their performance in Denon's demo room is any indication, represent high performance and high value (I'll be showcasing the Denon demo room in pt 2 as well.)

Parting Shots

Although the above is certainly not the whole of what was offered and shown at CEDIA '99, I did try to concentrate on newly introduced products that were actually shown in operational form at the show. Many speaker manufacturers, cable companies, and surround processor and amplifier manufacturers did not have their equipment in real demonstrations choosing instead to merely display them. Given that I was one man with a lot of ground to cover, I had to be choosy with my time and coverage. I further tried to narrow my focus by concentrating on new technologies that represent immediate impact in the home theater realm, like progressive-scan DVD and HDTV. That being said, here a few miscellaneous items of note:

NHT had their new speaker system on display, the five speaker VT-3 Home Theater Reference System. This is the kind of thing that will scare the hell out of your neighbors just by taking it out of the car (truck, maybe big moving truck.) The VT-3 towers (L and R) are 4-way 8(!) driver speakers with twin side-loaded 10-inch subwoofers powered by a 500-watt Sunfire amplifier. Just to make sure you're not confused, you read this right, there are two subwoofers in each main speaker! These beasts weigh 120 lbs each and a frequency response of 21hz-26khz. The VC-3 center channel and VR-3 surrounds are 3-way designs whose 4 drivers are identical to those found in the VT-3 towers for seamless surround performance. Frequency response for the VC-3 and VR-3 speakers is listed as 45hz-26khz, meaning they are capable of being run full range. The remote controlled VT-3 System Controller is an outboard box that acts as the "connection point and communication center" for the system. The Controller acts as master subwoofer volume, music mode/video mode selector, and allows the user to adjust the bass contour level. The system price is a cool $9000, but is really not outrageous considering that you get four powered subwoofers in the system. The VT-2 speaker system, formerly the top of the home theater line, has been redesigned and the five matched speakers sell for $3350. All of the above speakers are available in gloss black laminate. Of interest to many is the CI (Custom Installation) line of in-wall speakers that include ceiling mounted models as well as an in-wall powered subwoofer capable of bass response to 35hz. Prices were not given for this line.

A little company called Camelot Technology had a couple of interesting products. One was tiny composite to S-Video converter that is barely bigger than a cigarette and costs only $30. Of greater interest to home theater fans is the Dragon 5.1 Digital Surround Enhancer. This product is said to de-jitter 32, 44, 48, and 96khz digital signals including DVD Audio, Dolby Digital, and DTS signals. This product will retail for around $499 and I'm anxious to hear if it offers any improvement in 5.1 channel sound quality. Camelot will also be offering the Round Table progressive-scan DVD player next year for a hefty $3,995.

In case you haven't heard by now, DVDO of Campbell California has turned the line doubler business on its ear offering the $699 I Scan Plus. Not only is this product the most absurdly affordable doubler on the market, its performance looks to be fantastic. I'd like to get this one in for a closer look soon.

Audio Design Associates introduced the Cinema Rhapsody surround processor, that priced under $4000 represents a "less full-featured and less expensive version of the company's critically acclaimed Cinema Reference." The literature announcing the Cinema Rhapsody was a little less than mature, making reference only to the fact that it will not have the built in RF demodulator (for DD laserdisc,) or the RGB switcher (I think they mean component video,) nor the Vectorscope display that shows how much sound energy is going to each channel. All of these features are on the $8000 Cinema Reference. The Cinema Rhapsody will, of course, offer DD and DTS decoding and will be THX certified. Although its not mentioned in the literature which level of THX certification will be achieved, I can only assume that it would be THX Ultra Certified at a price point of nearly $4000. What will be interesting is seeing if their product line incorporates THX Surround EX given that ADA is also selling its own Surround EX matrix decoder that essentially serves the same purpose.

Lexicon will be the first company to bring a THX Surround EX (See full report here) upgrade to the market for its MC-1, DC-1 and DC-2 processors. The $300 will be offered at an introductory price with an MSRP of $100, later going to $300 as an option for any of the above processors. Also, from September 15th through December 15, 1999 Lexicon will be offering up to $2000 trade-in credit for their used A/V gear toward the purchase of their flagship MC-1 processor.

Atlantic Technology's System 270 THX is a six piece (five speakers and subwoofer) speaker system that has achieved THX Select certification and costs only $2596 for the entire package. Atlantic Technology has the distinction of being known as one of the few THX speaker system manufacturers whose gear sounds equally good reproducing music as well as film. While I did not hear this system demonstrated at the show, it has been drawing raves from those who have heard it, indicating it could be a new force in the inexpensive home theater system market.

Mirage will be introducing three new "Omnipolar" powered subwoofers. If these are anywhere near as good as their previous efforts with bipolar powered subs, these babies should be a contender. The CI 250, CI 500, and CI 100 incorporate respectively, two 8-inch woofers with a 250 watt amplifier, two 10-inch drivers with a 500 watt amplifier, and two 12-inch drivers with a 1000 watt amplifier. Prices are not set yet, but a Mirage rep indicated they'd probably fall around $1000, $1500 and $2000 respectively.

Canadian speaker manufacturer PSB announced some new products that look very promising. PSB has long been admired for offering high performance speakers at very down to earth prices. The new Image series offers tower models as well as bookshelf/surrounds, center channel designs and a powered subwoofer. This line is priced from $269 per pair to a tentative $1299 per pair and are expected to ship in late 1999. PSB is also bringing two new powered subwoofers and a new center channel to their acclaimed Alpha series of compact performance speakers. These speakers should have been shipping by show time.

Following on the heels of their AVC-2500 surround processor, Parasound introduced the AVC-1800 surround processor. The AVC-1800 will retail for $1195 and offers DD and DTS decoding and S-Video switching as well as Burr Brown DACs and a 5.1 channel input for future compatibility (as I mentioned earlier the only problem with this is that there is already at least one format using more than 6 channels, so how future proof can it be when its not even today-proof?) Accompanying the AVC-1800 is the Parasound HCA-855A 5 channel power amplifier. Rated at 85 watts per channel, the HCA 855A costs only $995 MSRP and together with the AVC-1800 represents a very affordable way for home theater enthusiasts to enter the world of separates. It's exciting that the price of separate components is getting so affordable!

See Ya In Part Two!

Well, that wraps up Part One of DVDFILE's CEDIA '99 coverage. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope I gave you some cool gear to be thinking of when this holiday season comes around. Up next in Part Two will be many of the breath-taking HDTV demos at the show, including a look at the 720P format as well as 1080i. Progressive Scan DVD will get some serious attention and there will even be some things covered that mere mortals can actually afford! Lastly, in Part Three, is an overview of the highlights of the show and my final thoughts. Also, check out our special in-depth report on THX Surround EX which was also demoed at the show.

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