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Welcome to the October edition of rAVe Asia e-newsletter

In this edition, we continue to bring you highlights from CEDIA. and of particular interest is the announcement by Panasonic of the launch of a 50-inch 3D Plasma TV in 2010 and of course what will be the impact of Cisco's purchase of Tandberg.

The 6th edition of InfoComm China 2009 will be held from November 9-11 at the Agricultural Exhibition Centre in Beijing. More than 200 companies from 16 countries will be showcasing their solutions at the exhibition, so mark the dates and we will see you at the exhibition.

Enjoy the read.

Thomas Richard Prakasam

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Industry News

Cisco Buys Tandberg in $3 Billion Deal

By Bob Snyder and Gary Kayye, CTS

Cisco showed exactly how serious it is about video conferencing with the $3 billion acquisition of Tandberg in early October that will change the video conferencing industry landscape forever – and maybe the ProAV market in the process…

The all-cash tender is 11 percent over Tandberg's closing price. Tandberg reported $809 million in revenue last year, and has close to $200 million in cash. Cisco's routers and switches produce 65 percent gross profit margins and one of the attractions of the acquisition (says Cisco) is Tandberg's gross margin of 66 percent.

Cisco is one of tech's most aggressive acquirers with almost 40 companies purchased over the last five years, including Scientific Atlanta, WebEx, and Pure Digital (of Flip video fame.)

Cisco already sells expensive, room-sized video conferencing systems (known as TelePresence Video Systems) to companies but has its eye on desktop video for all - consumers and businesses. A new world driven by video conferencing (home and business) would sell more Cisco infrastructure so with $35 billion in its pocket, Cisco can afford to buy Tandberg for its smaller, less expensive conferencing units for the mid-market (and for its know-how that might come in handy given Cisco's plans for bringing video conferencing to home desktops.)

In addition to a portfolio-building exercise, Tandberg adds specialized software for managing video conferencing systems and for creating connections between systems that rely on different underlying technologies. "Will this acquisition aid industry standardization?," is one of the burning questions that observers are raising. Most think it will...

Most experts also think Tandberg will probably be a Cisco preferred supplier for group endpoints while Cisco provides the desktop environment.

As Tandberg CEO Fredrik Halvorsen will lead the new TelePresence Technology Group, (reporting to Marthin DeBeer, Senior VP of Cisco's Emerging Technologies Group), Tandberg will supply Cisco with video conferencing knowledge and Network management systems (TMS). Cisco will certainly position Tandberg's Norway operations as a European center of video excellence alongside their Service Provider video team in Belgium (Diegem). The battle for consumers will come soon as Cisco is about to launch an IP videophone for the desktop (with a softphone product for PC). Rumors say Avaya and Polycom will answer that launch with their own joint product very soon.

This acquisition may become the tipping point where home and business desktop video conferencing will become as common as email, chat, or SMS. But, a by-product of this acquisition could also be the impact it may eventually have in driving the ProAV market towards a quicker adoption of IT standards and protocols for content distribution.  Right now, still nearly 90 percent of all meeting rooms and classrooms are designed and integrated using analog topology.  It’s reliable, it’s familiar (as we’ve been doing it this way since the 1980’s) and it’s cheap.  Network-based signal distribution can be more expensive, certainly less reliable (as so goes the network goes the system) and it means an AV guy has to learn all about networks.

Look, there’s no question that eventually everything will be on the network and that Cisco’s plan is to accelerate that.  But, the truth is, when you’re integrating systems with Extron (the market leader), Kramer, Crestron and even AMX gear you’re doing nearly all the integration via analog signal distribution.  It may be Cat5e, but it’s still mostly analog.  It’s simple and it works. 

Everyone knows that we’re big fans of IT-enabled AV systems – in fact, Gary’s been preaching that for more than five years in his Future of the AV Industry keynotes. But the key to IT-enabled AV right now is leveraging the remote management and control 24/7/365 and charging clients for the service.  The content delivery of signals is coming, but it’ll happen in the HomeAV market before we see it in the ProAV market – so we’re still a couple of years away. 

So, back to Cisco.  When content driven systems are here, Cisco will be in a perfect position to leverage that future, but we suspect that companies like Extron, Crestron and AMX – just to name a few – will have a big role to play in guiding that landscape.  Maybe it’ll be through Cisco partnerships or even products of their own, but AV will not lie down and die so that IT can swoop in and take over the landscape of meeting rooms.  In fact, to the contrary, if Cisco is smart, they’ll leverage the AV integration channel to help them understand the importance of AV – not try to jam it down our throats.

By the way, here’s a video Cisco made explaining their buy-out of Tandberg – using Cisco’s TelePresence technology – watch this CAREFULLY as there are some clues here that you should pay attention to (especially if you’re an AV Integrator):  http://www.tandberg.com/media/video/TAA_teaser.wmv

See rAVe Columnist Joel Rollins' take on the Cisco-Tandberg deal on rAVe's blog here: http://ravepubs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1615:another-reality-check&catid=117:garys-blog&Itemid=204

Bob Snyder is the editor of rAVe Europe.

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Panasonic Bows 50-inch S3D Plasma for 2010

By Steve Sechrist
Sr. Editor/Sr. Analyst, Insight Media

You may have read about the recent Panasonic 3D Truck Tour where that company is looking to bring 3D to the public a la its 103-inch behemoth plasma display (H-103PF10UK) and a modified Blu-ray player using active shutter glasses to show off the technology.

Not many expected the company to launch 3D in the consumer market with this elephant-sized TV and with a recently reduced $50K price tag. Rightly so, the king plasma maker (OK, sole PDP survivor in Japan) has just announced a 50-inch 3D plasma TV will begin selling in 2010, along with a modified Blu-ray disc player to feed it. (See the Nikkei.net September-28.) Not many more details are available now, but we expect to see this new set definitely on the show floor at CES in early January 2010.

Plasma technology is particularly suited to the fast shutter speeds required by 3D and we think this gives the company an edge in the consumer market moving forward, but will it really matter? Many in the industry (myself included) have been taken aback by the dominance of LCD flat screens over PDP in consumer market sales, particularly because plasmas emissive cells offer display speeds unparalleled by the light gating LCD approach. Plasma also offers an extended off-axis viewing angle (90 degrees) well beyond the limited cone of even the best-rated LCDs. (For details, see LCD-Plasma Display Technology Shoot-Out.) But past that, here’s an excerpt from Dr. Soneira’s report found on displaymate.com:

"All of the LCD units have a noticeable color shift at less than ±15 degrees, while the Panasonic Plasma is visually indistinguishable from face-on viewing well beyond ±45 degrees. This is true for both the measurements and the viewing tests." So in spite of all the effort and progress LCD has made in the past decade, it looks as if color shift in off-axis viewing is still one big area the industry needs to address. All this makes plasma better suited for sports and action films, yet LCD sales are somewhere north of 10 to one over plasma in the consumer market.

With 3D looming on the horizon and the super fast PDP technology perhaps better suited for this type of display, can Plasma makers (Panasonic, LG and Samsung) seize the high ground once more in CE? We’ll see.

Steve Sechrist, a senior editor and analyst at Insight Media, is a 13-year display veteran with experience in business development strategy, competitive market analysis, and technology writing. He is responsible for the editorial management of Insight Media's Large Display Report and Mobile Display Report. Contact him at steve@insightmedia.info

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InfoComm Forms Green Board

The InfoComm Performance Standards Planning Committee has received authorization from the InfoComm Board of Directors to develop the first green AV standard, Audiovisual Systems Power Management. The goal is to develop a standard (or group of standards) that can be applied universally to audiovisual systems in terms of product selection, design approaches, system management and operations. Such standards would apply to the overall system and not the performance or efficiency of any individual components. A task group has been formed, and is specifically tasked with developing and writing an international ANSI Standard for the control and use of electrical power for audiovisual systems, whereby power is conserved whenever possible through the use of selected components, design principals, operational management and design fundamentals.

The task group members represent the InfoComm/ANSI requirements of balance across all audiovisual industry sectors:

•    Mr. Matt Kosel, CTS-D, CTS-I, Spinitar (Moderator)
•    Mr. David Barnett, CTS-D, Real Time Services, Inc.
•    Mr. Ken Erdman, The Erdmann Group, Inc.
•    Mr. Steve Greenblatt, CTS, Control Concepts Inc.
•    Dr. Lee Haffely, The Boeing Company
•    Mr. Rahul Karnik, St. John's University
•    Mr. Chris Maione, CTS-D, Independent Consultant
•    Mr. Peter Pekurer, Christie Digital Systems
•    Mr. Jonathan Rutledge, CTS, AMX Corporation
•    Mr. Robert Schluter, Middle Atlantic Products, Inc.
•    Mr. David Silberstein, CTS, Crestron Electronics, Inc.
•    Ms. Jennifer Willard, CTS, Administrative Office of the Courts of California
•    Mr. Scott Woolley, CTS, RCDD, ClearOne Communications

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Projection

Sanyo Sells 3-Millionth Projector

By Sara Abrons, CTS

I recently had the opportunity to go down to the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta for Sanyo's 3-millionth projector event. In celebration of their 3-millionth projector coming off the line, Sanyo donated a PLC-WTC500L to Georgia Tech. The integrator who sold the projector was AVI-SPL.

Sanyo specifically chose Georgia Tech to be the recipient of this projector thanks to their long-standing relationship. We went to a bunch of different classrooms to check out the technology, and not only did every classroom we see have a projector (if not two or three), they were all Sanyo, so their selection wasn't much of a surprise.

More interesting is Georgia Tech's dedication to technology in the classroom, which is impressive. We were given the tour of Georgia Tech by Chris Hamlin, the university's Technical Projector Director. He said that Georgia Tech has a projector in every single classroom on campus, and a significant number of the classrooms we saw had two or three projectors. One classroom used mainly by the executive MBA program had a projector facing a screen in the back so the lecturer can see students who are taking the class from another location. Distance learning is a big facet of their technology program. We stopped by their control room, where a technician was monitoring classes being either recorded or shown live to students all over the world.

One of the most interesting things I saw (well sort of - it's still under construction) is what Georgia Tech is calling a Classroom 2.0, or a "Second Generation" of classrooms. They are building an experimental classroom that will not only try out new technology, but also a different classroom design that will change the way the class is taught. Another purpose of the mockup classroom is to eliminate technology redundancies, so space and money are saved by the university. For example, in some of the previous generation classrooms, there is power and Ethernet hookups at every single seat, but most students now use the wireless network, and not all students need to charge a laptop battery every class. Georgia Tech is building a mock Classroom 2.0 to test new designs for the Clough Undergraduate Learning Center building, which is set to open in Fall 2011. They will then look for professors willing to change the way they teach class to suit the new environment to teach classes for the semester in the mockup classroom, and solicit feedback from students and teachers before the ultimate design is finalized. In any case, Georgia Tech is obviously a place that is heavily investing in technology for the future and betterment of its students, so its no wonder Sanyo thought it'd be a good place to hang their 3 millionth projector.

While there, I also chatted with Mark Holt, vice president and general manager for Sanyo's Presentation Technologies Division, who said the company had some interesting plans for the ProAV market. First, some good news for integrators - Sanyo's new series of XM projectors are meant for the installation market, and will be sold only through the installation market. Sanyo's not sure exactly how the dealer program will be structured yet, but they won't allow any Internet sales of this family of projectors.

Also, although Sanyo already has some "robust" commercial flat panels that are meant for installation where more rugged displays are called for, they are now also building basic commercial flat panels for digital signage use. These will definitely be sold in Asia and Europe, and may make it over to the US, depending on cost structure.

Anyway, congratulations to Sanyo on hitting this milestone, and to Georgia Tech for being on the forefront of technology in education.

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Integrator Solutions

Da-Lite Launches New Holo Screen - 50 Percent Less Than Previous Version

Da-Lite Screen Company recently launched an all-new Holo Screen for large format digital signage (DS) applications. Da-Lite says the new screen is engineered and designed to address the need for custom sizes in digital sign installations and that the Holo Screen is an upgrade from the previous holographic film available from Da-Lite.

Designed specifically for high ambient light environments and point-of-sale applications (i.e., retail windows), the new Holo Screen is now available in sizes up to 108” x 300”, meeting the increased demand for ever-larger digital signage in the commercial and retail markets.  Featuring a projection angle from 18 to 35 degrees and a 4.0 gain and designed for use with a single lens projector, Da-Lite says the new Holo Screen is designed to allow architects, AV consultants and integrators to design and install custom-sized screens for specialty retail, office lobbies, airports and other high traffic commercial and retail locations.

To learn more about Holo, go to:  http://www.da-lite.com/products/product.php?cID=10&pID=335

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Extron's Fiber Matrix Switchers Available in Sizes up to 72x72

Extron is shipping the FOX 4G Matrix 7200, a high performance, modular fiber optic matrix switcher for complete, end-to-end digital AV signal transmission and routing over fiber optic cable. It is expandable from 8x8 up to 72x72, and supports digital switching at rates up to 4.25 Gbps. With hot-swappable I/O boards, real-time system monitoring, and redundant, hot-swappable power supplies, the FOX 4G Matrix 7200 delivers highly reliable, enterprise-wide switching of fiber optic A/V and control signals for any mission-critical environment.

The FOX 4G Matrix 7200 is compatible with the FOX Series of fiber optic digital transmitters and receivers. It accepts and routes standard definition video, high-resolution computer video, DVI, and multi-rate SDI. The modular board design features nine board slots that can accept FOX 4G Matrix I/O Boards in multi-mode and single-mode versions. Also available for the FOX 4G Matrix 7200 is an 8x8 HD-SDI I/O board with BNC connections, allowing it to directly accept and route multi-rate SDI signals. These signals can also be routed to and from the fiber optic inputs and outputs of the matrix switcher, for long distance transmission to and from FOX HD-SDI Fiber Optic Extenders for Multi-Rate SDI.

Integrator-friendly features include I/O grouping, rooming, and memory presets. For optimum performance and reliability, a real-time monitoring system continuously provides self-diagnostics of the I/O boards, fiber links, power supplies, internal fans, and general functions of the switcher. The FOX 4G Matrix 7200 can be remotely configured and operated through the RS-232 serial control port, IP Link Ethernet control, and the optional FPC 5000 Front Panel Controller and MKP 3000 X-Y Remote Control Panel.

To learn everything about the series, go to: http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=fox4gmatrix7200&s=2

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Chief's New Mini RPA Elite and Mini RPA Series Projector Mounts Are Now Shipping

Chief Manufacturing announced last week that its new line of mini projector mounts are now available including the Mini RPA Elite (RSMA), a miniature version of the popular RPA Elite (RPM) projector mount, meant for today's smaller projectors. The mini mount features a newly designed universal projector interface bracket with convenient lamp and filter access, providing even faster installation and servicing of the projector. At almost half the size of the original Elite mount, the new mini mount includes the same features, including micro-adjustments for precise registration, Centris fingertip positioning, and Q-Lock keyed locking. The Mini RPA Elite maintains registration when disconnected, has integrated cable management and supports up to 25 lbs.

Chief also offers a Mini RPA (RSA) projector mount, which is a miniature version of the industry-standard RPA Series. The Mini RPA includes the new universal interface bracket, and features independent roll, pitch and yaw as well as quick projector connect/disconnect. The mount supports up to 25 lbs.

See the mounts here:  http://www.chiefmfg.com/productdetail.aspx?MountID=279

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Correction: Analog's ORCHESTRA

In our September issue coverage of Analog Way's new remote console, the ORCHESTRA, we had written "Once connected to the Analog Way Switchers, the company says ORCHESTRA automatically sets itself up to control up to 6 independent screen configurations in different locations (single display or multiple projectors in soft-edge blended mode) and store up to 64 presets per screen configuration.”
 
Analog Way has said that the machine does not set itself up automatically. Once connected to the Analog Way Switchers, the product can control up to 6 independent screen configurations in different locations (single display or multiple projectors in soft-edge blended mode) and store up to 64 presets per screen configuration. However, the end-user needs to set up the machines.

We apologize for the mistake.

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Japanese Manufacturer ROHM Debuts Flexible OLED

Eventually, OLED will dominate our market in a big way.  It sort of reminds us of the hype leading up to the debut of DLP technology a few years before anyone saw any projectors using the chips.  And, it turned out to be one of the biggest growth drivers of our market for probably ten years, enabling some of the smallest projectors ever - and now some of the brightest.

OLED is interesting because it's very, very low power -- literally the hope of running displays on batteries is inside the technology.  In addition, it has the potential to be extremely bright (compared to direct-view LCD) -- so bright that many say it will be the outdoor display of the future, too.

But, it's in it's infancy and the only place we see it now is in small desktop PC monitors that are amazingly overpriced and an occasional cell phone or digital camera.

But, like we said, it reminds me of DLP a few years before it made it big-time.

In the recent CEATEC show in Japan Japanese company ROHM showed a flexible OLED display that was, well, super-cool! 

Check out these OLED watches via Japanese news site AKIHABARA:  http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-19059-%5BCEATEC+09-+Live%5D+Rohm+Thin,+light+and+flexible+Organic+LE+Devices.html

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Panasonic Launches Brighter/Thinner 85" Plasma

Panasonic says it has improved their 85” plasma with a “spectacular” contrast ratio of 40,000:1 and a true resolution of 1080 lines for “Full HD.”

The new 85-inch Pro Plasma, dubbed NeoPDP technology, integrates the latest Plasma innovations to deliver what Panasonic categorizes as brighter, more vivid, images with deep, rich blacks in a thin, lightweight display, that is more energy-efficient.  How?  Well, it’s now 260-pounds, less than 4-inches deep, runs on 120-volts and Panasonic says they’ve designed the packaging and mounting so that it’s a 2-man job to install it.

Want to learn more?  Go here.

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SIM2 Shipping Grand Cinema C3X LUMIS Projector

At CEDIA, SIM2 featured the Grand Cinema C3X LUMIS projector, a small 3-chip DLP 1080p projector featuring Texas Instruments' latest 0.95" 1080p DC4 DLP chip and it’s spec’d at 35,000:1 contrast ratio and 3000 ANSI lumens.

The C3X LUMIS has three different lens options and is available in several different finishes. As with all of SIM2’s designs, it's a nice looking projector.

For more information, go to http://www.sim2usa.com/home/us/node/4874

To watch rAVe NOW's Video coverage from CEDIA of the C3X LUMIS, go here.

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JVC Updates Home Theater Projector Line

JVC updated their line of D-ILA home theater projectors at CEDIA by introducing six new models, the DLA-RS35, DLA-RS25 and DLA-RS15 (from JVC's professional products group), and the DLA-HD990, DLA-HD950 and DLA-HD550 (from JVC's consumer electronics group).

New for 2010 is JVC's double-speed 120Hz Clear Motion Drive technology to reduce motion blurring, and a new screen adjustment mode to optimize the projector for different screen types - features available on all six new models. Four of the six new projectors - DLA-RS35, DLA-RS25, DLA-HD990 and DLA-HD950 - offer JVC's new original picture modes, which provides advanced processing that adjusts for the different way that projectors process color compared to the color mixture method used in film. These same four new models are certified by ISF and so include an ISF C3 mode so they can be professionally calibrated.

The new DLA-RS35 and DLA-HD990 both have a native contrast ratio spec of 70,000:1, and come with a three-year warranty. Native contrast ratio specifications for the other new projectors are: DLA-HD550, 30,000:1; DLA-RS15, 32,000:1; DLA-RS25/DLA-HD950, 50,000:1.

The top four models - DLA-RS35, DLA-HD990, DLA-RS25 and DLA-HD950 - are all THX Certified (for all worldwide markets) to ensure accurate and exceptional picture quality in the home theater environment. These same four models also feature color management that interpolates colors individually by R, G, B, C, Y, or M, in three separate axes of color phase, chroma saturation and brightness. Up to three customized color settings can be stored for future use.

All the projectors have a 1.4-2.8:1 zoom lens with motorized focus, motorized lens shift (±80 percent vertical and ±34 percent horizontal), and an external 12-volt trigger (except on the DLA-HD550).

To see a video from JVC about these new projectors, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bkLuR1bud8&feature=channel_page

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Optoma Announces New HD8600 Home Theater Projector

At CEDIA, Optoma showed their new 3-chip DLP 1080p home theater projector, the HD8600. Designed specifically for custom installation, the HD8600 has ISFccc Day and Night modes, three options for lenses, accented lens placement and full lens-shift. It also has an Auto235 mode that automatically positions Optoma's optional anamorphic lens/sled kit to move the lens into place without user intervention for enhanced 2.35:1 content viewing. The projector features a 50,000:1 contrast ratio, and a brightness of 1600 ANSI lumens.

For more information, please go to http://www.optomausa.com/

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Runco Introduces Affordable LightStyle Series

Last issue, we covered Runco's new QuantumColor Series LED projectors  but that wasn't the only thing Runco introduced at CEDIA. Responding to the recent economic climate, Runco introduced a new line of affordable (well, for Runco) projectors - the new LightStyle Series.

The LightStyle series is a set of three 1080p DLP projectors - the LS-3, LS-5, and LS-7 designed for the home theater market. All include ISF calibration tools and have a contrast ratio spec above 10,000:1. The LS-3 and LS-5 are single chip DLP projectors with two different lens options, while the LS-7 is a 3-chip DLP projector that has six lensing options. Since Runco expects these projectors to be out in the open (rather than hidden away in higher end theaters where other Runco projectors might be used), they say they redesigned the chassis to be smaller, and more attractive, with a deep-black finish.

The LS-3 and LS-5 will ship in November and have list prices of $4,995 and $6,995 respectively. The LS-7 is $15,495 and is expected to ship in early December.

To see all the specs on the LightStyle Series, go here: http://www.runco.com/projectors.html

To watch rAVe NOW's Video coverage from CEDIA of the LightStyle series, go here.

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Stewart Adds LED Accent Lighting System to Product Line

At CEDIA, Stewart introduced a new LED accent lighting system that they say is designed to enhance viewing environments and create mood lighting for any room in the house.  Stewart's system features what they are calling an Intelligent Lighting Controller (ILC-100) -- sort of a hub -- with a built-in Intelligent Selector Technology (IST) that enables users to control the color temperature and brightness of the LEDs. As an option, the BSKP-2110-L Intelligent "Chroma" Keypad offers a low-cost lighting solution that can adjust, elect, and store any lighting value on one or more lighting controllers. Any number of controllers can be linked together and controlled from a single keypad that has six lighting presets.

External interface adapters are available for use with third party automation and control systems (i.e., Crestron, Extron, AMX, Control4). One interesting CEDIA-oriented feature is that the LED lighting system does not require a high voltage electrical license (Class 1) to install or program the unit.

For more information, go to http://www.stewartfilmscreen.com/residential/main/residential_main.html

To watch rAVe NOW's Video coverage from CEDIA of the LED Lighting System, go here.

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Anchor Bay Announces New DVDO Duo Video Processor

Anchor Bay announced last month the introduction of a high-performance video processor, the DVDO iScan Duo. The processor delivers 8 HDMI 1.3 inputs, 2 HDMI 1.3 video/audio outputs, and an HDMI 1.3 audio only output, plus an array of image and system controls designed for custom integrators.

The Duo’s 8 HDMI 1.3 inputs process signals up to 1080p resolution at 24, 50, or 60 Hz and are compatible with Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD, and DTS-HD Master audio formats. Dual HDMI 1.3 outputs enable the simultaneous use of two Deep Color displays, with up to 12-bit output at 1080p-60. An additional   HDMI 1.3 audio-only output makes for a convenient and efficient connection to an A/V receiver or audio processor.

The iScan Duo is supposed to automatically detect the display’s preferred format and outputs it to the display to simplify setup. Formats can also be customized, up to 1080p60, and 1080p24.

One unique feature of the iScan Duo is that thirty-five built-in test patterns are available to optimize display settings – but, we wonder how this is possible as each input would be different so setting up the projector per-input seems more important.

The iScan Duo is rack-mountable, using the supplied rack mount kit

For more information on the iScan Duo, visit http://www.anchorbaytech.com/products/systems/iscanduo.php

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Kanex Mini DisplayPort Adapter Makes a MacMini a More Viable Media Server Alternative

If you have clients that love Apple and want to use a MacMini (and not an AppleTV, which already has HDMI out) as a media server, it will serve you well to know about this little adapter. The MacMini outputs video in Mini-DisplayPort and audio in Mini-Toslink. This adapter cable takes the mini DisplayPort video and Mini-Toslink audio and outputs it over HDMI with 1080p video playback and 5.1 audio support. It also uses USB from the MacMini for power instead of an external power supply.

The mini Displayport adapter is available from Kanex here: http://kanexlive.com/products/item.aspx?id=3495

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OmniMount Debuts Morello Series Furniture

OmniMount has introduced a new AV furniture series, the Morello Series, which includes two audio/video media stands and one combination flat panel floor stand with a blend of wood veneer and glass.

The Morello 40 furniture table’s three-shelf design accommodates multiple components and flat panels up to 42 inches. The second product in the series, the Morello 50 accommodates larger television sets, including flat panels up to 55 inches and DLP sets up to 50 inches. A television can be placed on top of each table, or it can be paired with a selection of OmniMount’s fixed, tilt or cantilever mounting solutions.

Built from the same footprint as the Morello 50, the Morello 50FP, is uniquely designed for use as a flat panel floor stand or a separate video table for components. The floor stand is the perfect solution for scenarios in which wall space is a challenge, as users can easily attach flat panels from 32 to 50 inches to the stand. Built-in pan allows viewers to pan up to 30 degrees left and right to provide greater viewing angles throughout the room.

The Morello Series additionally benefits from OmniMount’s integrated cable management solutions. The Morello 40 and 50 feature clips, while the Morello 50FP routes wires through its mounting post. The result is a clean, unobstructed showcase of the room’s A/V equipment.

For more information, go to http://www.omnimount.com

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NAD Introduces M15HD Surround Sound Preamplifier

NAD had introduced at CEDIA the Masters Series M15HD Surround Sound Preamplifier, which features NAD’s Modular Design Construction (MDC) – removable and upgradeable modules.

The modules for the M15HD come with advanced features that include dual 32-bit Aureus 7.1 high-speed DSPs by Texas Instruments; Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume, and MultEQ Pro room correction technologies by Audyssey; decoding for advanced audio formats, including Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master Audio; and Sigma Designs’ VXP broadcast-quality image processor.

Dynamic EQ preserves the impact of movie soundtracks at all listening levels, while Dynamic Volume prevents large loudness jumps when commercials come on, and TV channels or video sources are changed.

The image processor supports all SD and HD formats up to 2048 x 2048 pixels. It includes motion adaptive de-interlacing with edge interpolation, film mode detection with output cadence generation, a programmable scaling engine with aspect ratio conversion, frame conversion to and from any refresh rate (in NTSC and PAL), and advanced noise reduction and detail enhancement.

The M15HD can convert Component, and Composite and S-Video inputs from analog to digital HDMI using high-performance video decoders. It sends eight-channel linear PCM from the video signal to the DSP board for processing, and a programmable scaling engine ensures images are properly enlarged and reduced.

The M15HD also comes with installer-friendly options, including an RS-232 interface for advanced custom installations, 12-Volt Triggers  (1 in and 3 out) for advanced control options, 3.5-mm IR Control jacks (1 in and 3 out), an A/V output for a second zone, a second zone OSD and remote control, and a switched AC Outlet.

An array of additional features further enhances the M15HD. They include four HDMI 1.3 repeaters, a tape monitor, lip sync compensation (option to 100mS), flexible bass management, and individual crossover frequencies for front, center, and surround speakers. Also aboard are four dual differential 24-bit, 192-kHz digital-to-analog converters, Dynamic Headroom Scaling for optimum resolution, an S/N ratio for all program and decoding combinations, digital tone controls with a center channel "dialog" setting, and an extensive package of connections. Also provided are separate power supplies for digital and analog sections of the M15 HD, a custom designed Switch Mode, and a Linear Power Supply with a custom ‘Figure 8’ transformer.  


For more information, go to http://nadelectronics.com/products/masters-series/M15-HD-AV-Surround-Sound-Preamplifier

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MartinLogan Introduces Two New Wireless Subs

Dubbed the Dynamo 700 and 1000 they are what MartinLogan calls “high-resolution, low-distortion woofer pairs with a high-power magnet structure with the diaphragm (12-inch for the 1000, 10-inch for the 700) to deliver huge excursion and sound output while preserving minute bass details, all without a hint of distortion.”
 
One unique feature is that when placed in a cabinet or hidden somewhere in the room, each Dynamo Series subwoofer can convert from standard down-firing to front-firing orientation, with no tools or special skills required. A grill cover and 90-degree RCA adaptors are provided for use in front-firing applications.

The Dynamo Series’ ultra-efficient high-power amplifier uses variable audio tracking power supplies to drive its class AB output stage – MartinLogan claims that this is with lower distortion and less noise than typical Class D switching amplifiers as this advanced design allows the amplifier to operate at much higher efficiencies than a typical class AB amplifier. The Dynamo 1000 delivers (spec) 500 watts of continuous power; the Dynamo 700 provides a spec of 300 watts of continuous power. An energy-conscious design, the Dynamo Series amps consume less than a single watt in standby mode – a new ENERGY STAR compliance regulation for 2010.


For more information, go to http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/dynamo_700.html and http://www.us.martinlogan.com/speaker_intro/dynamo_1000.html

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Krell Introduces New Slim Line Power Amps

Krell has introduced two new S series amplifiers, the S-275 and the S-150, that are -- you guessed it -- slimmer. The point is to permit installation of multiple amplifiers in a space that only a single conventional amplifier would normally fit.

The S-275 and S-150M feature high performance linear power supplies, 135,000 and 5,000 microfarads respectively. The gain stages use Krell’s so-called Differential Current Mode, discrete Class A and fully complimentary circuitry. The S-275 is a flexible design boasting 275 watts/channel in stereo mode. A switch on the rear panel converts the S-275 to a 550-watt mono amplifier. The S-275 is a half wide design allowing two amplifiers to fit in the same space as a normal sized amplifier.

Even more streamline at only 3.4” wide, the S-150m monaural power amplifier boasts has Krell's latest circuit topology and a substantial power output of 150 watts into 8 ohms and 300 watts into 4 ohms. Technology developed in the Krell Evolution amplifiers can be found within the exterior including Krell Differential Current Mode circuitry and balanced operation. Perfect for stereo, distributed audio, and home theater applications, the S-150m is meant for high performance systems in space-limited loca­tions.
 
Both amplifiers include 12-volt trigger input/outputs, balanced connectors and superior WBT signal connectors and speaker binding posts.  The brushed-aluminum faceplate is available in silver or black finish.
 
The amps aren't on Krell's website yet, but more information and specifications will theoretically be available on the S-275 and the S-150m at Krell's website here: http://www.krellonline.com

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PSB Shows New Affordable Speaker Line at CEDIA

There are three new LCR speakers:  the Imagine T, a three-driver, two-and-a-half-way tower full-range floor-standing design, the Imagine B, a two-way stand/bookshelf-mount and the new Imagine C, a dual- woofer, horizontal two-way center-channel speaker.  For rear and side speakers, they launched the new   Imagine S, a dual-two-way, selectable dipole/bipole/dual channel monopole surround loudspeaker which PSB says may be connected as two discrete (side/rear) two-way pairs in compatible systems. All four new Imagine models share a common driver family, with an all-new, very high-output 5.25-inch woofer, and a wide-band and ultra-accurate, titanium-dome 1-inch tweeter inspired by the unexcelled performance of the Synchrony high-frequency unit.

Like nearly every PSB design, the Imagine networks employ fourth-order acoustic Linkwitz-Reilly topology, which they claim are best able to combine discrete drivers into cohesive acoustic entities with minimal impact in either amplitude domain (frequency-response) or that of time (phase-response).

To read more and see all the specs, go to http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Imagine

To watch rAVe NOW's Video coverage from CEDIA of PSB founder Paul Barton talking about this new speaker line, go here.

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Final Words

Well, that's it for this edition of rAVe Asia. Thank you for spending time with us as we muse the industry's happenings. To continue getting the newsletter, or to sign up a friend, visit the website: www.raveproasia.com

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