From mobile gadgets in the Central hall to high-performance audio products in the Venetian Tower suites, CES offers a virtual smorgasbord of new product introductions this month. Here’s a handful of what will appear next month in Las Vegas, with a more an even more complete list to follow next month and in our web coverage at www.residentialsystems.com.
In Venetian Suite 35- 310, Wisdom Audio will be demonstrating two of its new Insight Series high-performance in-wall loudspeakers, which were designed to address the needs of a broader client base without sacrificing performance. The line incorporates both newly developed planar magnetic thin-film drivers and moving coil woofers. Unlike other Wisdom Audio speakers, the Insight Series utilize traditional passive crossovers to allow use with a single amplifier channel per speaker. Four in-wall models, one in-ceiling model, and two subwoofer options will initially be offered in Q1 2012, followed by on-wall variants later in the year. Pricing begins at under $1,500 suggested U.S. retail per speaker.
In Venetian Suite 30-122, distributor Aaudio Imports is introducing B.M.C. Audio’s Arcadia Speaker, which features a bi-polar design that is meant to improve the depth impression of the soundstage at the sides, making it more complete and realistic. The speaker’s ceramic cabinet design is slim with a series of thin raised side panels, enabling it to also fit comfortably in normal living environments. All drivers are designed by B.M.C. Audio and feature honeycomb-Kevlar cones that are light, stiff, free of resonance and coloration. There are two 11-inch side-firing woofers. Rather than the traditional single magnet per woofer, each woofer is driven by six magnets in a ring configuration for a linear excursion range of 2.6 inches. It is a balanced speaker, with the same driver set on the front as is on the rear.
Boston Acoustics’ 100-watt SoundWare XS Digital Cinema Surround Sound Speaker system is an ultra-compact system featuring a the company’s line of SoundWare speakers and TVee soundbars. Key features that the SoundWare XS Digital Cinema system shares with the TVee soundbar speaker systems include optical digital and analog inputs, True Dolby Digital decoding and Boston’s Digitally Optimized (discrete) virtual surround processing, Bluetooth for music streaming, a dedicated movie mode or music mode, remote learning capability, and BassTrac circuitry for clean bass at all listening levels.
ELAN’s new VL10 10-inch hard-wired tabletop and under-cabinet mounted color LCD touchscreen is being added to its line of g! system interfaces. It features a 16:9 wide screen format, backlit hard buttons for commonly used functions, a built-in speaker and microphone for messaging, simple IP connectivity for communication, non-volatile flash memory, quick and easy programming, a screen saver mode that can display photos and it is compatible with all ELAN system controllers. ELAN is also introducing a new 16-channel multi-zone amplifier/controller that combines the functionality of the ELAN D16 amplifier and S128P multi-zone controller into one new component that simplifies and lowers the total cost of a system installation for dealers and their clients.
In Venetian Suites 30-332 and 30-334, GoldenEar Technology is introducing three new speakers to its year-old line. Triton Three is a smaller version of the Two, featuring an 800-watt digital/DSP controlled power amp driving an active front-mounted long-throw 5- x 9-inch quadratic subwoofer driver. The SuperCinema 3D Array is a three-channel front soundstage soundbar that incorporates 3D image optimization technology to achieve lifelike, wide, deep 3D front stage playback realism with virtually no acoustic coloration. The Invisa HTR 7000 in-ceiling speakers feature drivers that are mounted at 28-degree angles facing the normal listening position and pivoting tweeters. The driver complement combines the same basic 7-inch high-definition cast-basket driver used in the Aon 3, with one of GoldenEar’s signature technology High Velocity Folded Ribbon tweeters.
The NAD VISO 1 Wireless Digital Music System is the first product launch of the recently introduced NAD VISO sub brand. This solution brings the performance of a complete NAD component hi-fi system and fits it all on a bookshelf. Designed in conjunction with PSB Speakers, and combining the Direct Digital amplifier technology first introduced in the Masters Series M2, the NAD VISO 1 is the first wireless music systems to utilize aptX Bluetooth, the high fidelity wireless protocol used in smartphones. Across all the NAD Series, wireless solutions include Wi-Fi and/or aptX Bluetooth. Wired options include Asynchronous USB, Ethernet, HDMI, and S/PDIF connections depending on the specific model.
Vutec’s Reverse Roll front-deploy projection screen is intended for multi-purpose applications and to deploy in front of a flat panel TV when a larger projected image is desired. The screen is available in Lectric I-RR (self supported surface) or Lectric III-RR (tab-tensioned surface) models, with both including an EMS mounting system and FRS (fabric relief step) that eliminates horizontal lines in the fabric. It’s also offered in white or black housing finishes and screen sizes ranging from 72 to 180 inches (D) in 4:3, 16:9, 16:10, and 2.35:1 formats.
