CEDIA

September 3, 2008 - Polk Audio just announced its new Atrium outdoor speaker system, which combines legendary Polk Audio sound with an appealing visual design that adapts seamlessly into any exterior landscape.

The Atrium Sat 30 satellite speaker and Atrium Sub 10 subwoofer combine to bring true high performance audio to outdoor settings, with a near-limitless palette of placement options.

The Atrium Sat 30 is perhaps the most versatile outdoor speaker system on the market, resembling an outdoor light fixture in shape and style. The satellite can be mounted in the ground, on a deck or gazebo, or even suspended from a porch or cabana ceiling. Elegant and unobtrusive cosmetics allow them blend into virtually any outdoor landscape design, while included mounting accessories such as a security ground spike and pendant hanger provide maximum placement options. Read more

September 3rd, 2008 — US loudspeaker company THIEL Audio (www.thielaudio.com) has announced the introduction of zöet, the first truly plug and play, multi-room, premium quality distributed audio and home theater system that anyone can set up and use in under an hour. Rather than making technology intimidating, THIEL has harnessed thirty-plus years of experience combined with powerful innovations in order to make zöet wonderfully easy to setup and use.

A dream come true for the non-technical but discerning consumer, zöet self-powered IP-addressable speakers can be located throughout the home and connected to the zöet dB1 distribution processor using existing in-home Ethernet, its own lossless proprietary wireless network, or both. "zöet is so smart, absolutely no specialized knowledge is required to set it up perfectly in under an hour," explained THIEL president Kathy Gornik. "zöet will work with any music or movie player you already own, making it an ideal product for anyone who desires the simplest path to true high fidelity throughout their home," continued Gornik. Read more

September 3, 2008--Avoca Semiconductor Inc. (Avoca), a leading designer of voice-enabled user interface solutions, launches its new VIP Music Edition at the CEDIA Expo in Denver, Colorado. Avoca’s system is an extraordinary residential music control system designed for living rooms and fast, convenient, transparent use. It turns a CD collection into an immediately accessible digital library through a unique touch-and-talk interface that delivers the best system for easily operating and enjoying home music collections.

The VIP Music Edition consists of a VIP Music Player, a wireless VIP Music Companion (MC), and the Say it-Play it control interface. The Music Player plays CDs on a slot-loading CD Player, stores a copy in lossless digital format on its hard drive, and plugs into any audio system. Once a CD is in the Music Player, building a digital library becomes as easy as listening to the music. Read more

September 3, 2008 - At CEDIA 2008, Harman Kardon, Inc., becomes the first company to announce the inclusion of Dolby Volume technology from Dolby Laboratories in an audio/video receiver. The new Harman Kardon AVR 7550HD A/V receiver is a state-of-the-art home entertainment component that incorporates a host of industry-leading innovations, including Dolby Volume, which improves the listening experience by leveling the volume from any source and program material, while maintaining optimum sound quality at any listening level.

The AVR 7550HD is also the first receiver to utilize Texas Instruments Incorporated's (TI) newest DA710 audio digital signal processor (DSP) in a dual-DSP implementation, which provides unprecedented processing capability and multichannel audio performance. Read more

September 3, 2008 - Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Presentation Products Division, known for award-winning, high-quality, high-definition presentation and display products, is announcing its Diamond Series of projectors designed for the finest high-definition home theater environments.

Mitsubishi’s new channel strategy for its 1080p HC7000U and HC6500U premium projectors signifies the quality and value of its products for end-users and profitability for its loyal channel partners. These new projectors are available exclusively through custom home theater systems integration and high-end retail channels. Read more

September 3, 2008 - Connectivity solutions provider Gefen launches its Wireless for HDMI Extender using Tzero Technologies' ultra wideband (UWB) at CEDIA. This no-cable extender delivers wired-quality audio and video from Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, digital video recorders and gaming systems to high definition televisions at ranges greater than typical cabled HDMI solutions. With built-in interference cancellation technology, the Gefen Wireless for HDMI Extender is immune to noise from nearby wireless technologies such as cordless phones, Wi-Fi networks and cellular phones.

“The explosion of high definition content and devices highlights the need for convenient connectivity and transport options,” said Hagai Gefen, president and CEO. Gefen Inc. “Our TZero-based solution allows complete freedom of installation with no tradeoff in performance compared to a wired connection.” Read more

September 3, 2008--Savant Systems LLC, having lead the convergence of an open architecture platform to integrate automation and control, A/V switching, and general purpose computers, has announced that it will show its in-wall iPod and iPhone docking station at CEDIA 2008. The ROSIE Media Dock allows a compatible iPod or iPhone to interface with a SAVANT multiroom A/V system.

The ROSIE Media Dock enables the homeowner to enjoy music stored on their iPod throughout the home while providing two-way operation of the iPod from its entire line of ROSIE user interfaces, including touch panels, keypads, Touch TV, ROSIE Surface and On-Screen Displays in either a remote zone or via a web-enabled device. ROSIE web-enabled mobile devices that provide this functionality include the revolutionary iPhone and iPod touch, and the Nokia N810 and Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC. “We are excited to have added the ROSIE Media Dock to our family of whole-house multimedia or AV sources,” reported Savant president Jim Carroll. “The development and introduction of the ROSIE Media Dock was clearly driven by the demand from the marketplace and feedback from our dealer network,” Carroll added. Read more

September 2, 2008 – CasaTools, a leader in whole house audio systems, today announced two new whole house audio solutions for controlling and listening to audio throughout the house at the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) Expo. Both solutions support Microsoft Windows Media Center and share an advanced DVD-audio quality PCI-e sound card.

“As the Microsoft Media Center continues to grow in popularity, more households are asking for an integrated whole house audio distribution solution,” said David Krinker, CEO of CasaTools. “CasaTunes was developed to plug n’ play with Microsoft Windows Media Center and PC environments easily for a multi-source, multi-room music system with a single click from a PC, a TV remote or touchpad.” Read more

September 2, 2008 - CEDIA 2008 - Meridian Audio Limited recognized as a world leader in digital audio and video technologies for music and home-theater systems is pleased to showcase the award-winning DSP7200 Digital Active Loudspeakers including the new horizontal center channel during the upcoming 2008 CEDIA Expo. Like all Meridian's DSP Loudspeakers, the DSP7200 combines state-of-the-art driver and enclosure engineering with multiple, on-board amplifiers for the dynamics and freedom from distortion that only active-speaker design can deliver.

The DSP7200HC is designed for use as a center-channel loudspeaker, where the horizontal design avoids obscuring a display or screen, or in studio/mastering monitor applications where stand-mounting allows the loudspeaker to be positioned at ear level without any of the drivers being masked by studio equipment or a mixing console. It uses essentially the same components as the vertical model for truly compatible sound and performance, and has the same effective cabinet volume. Read more

August 2008 –Universal Remote Control introduces the Complete Control MX-450, an attractive new home theater remote with a vivid color LCD screen that custom installers can program and set up in minutes without a PC or internet connection. URC’s exclusive, revolutionary MacroEdit firmware enables full macro editing on the MX-450’s screen.

“Many installers do not have laptops with them on the job site,” said Jon Sienkiewicz, director of marketing for URC. “In order to expedite some smaller projects, they often utilize remotes that program ‘standalone,’ meaning they don’t require a PC—but installers often get frustrated trying to program macros on them. The MX-450 enables installers to program and, more importantly, edit macros right on its beautiful screen. It’s the best of all worlds for an entry-level or secondary-room home theater installation.” Read more