Friday

 

  USA-based Guitammer Company has joined forces with Eminence Speaker Corporation to further expand the ButtKicker family of products. The Buttkicker Shaker is a unit used in both consumer and professional applications for subwoofer-type applications. It is more a shaking device, rather than a normal acoustic output unit, used under couches and stages to give the feeling of lowermost frequencies. The newer, physically smaller and more efficient units make them more user-friendly while ever smaller units are planned for the home theater and PC gaming marketplace.

 

 

Because CEDIA is more geared towards home theater, normal consumers and some new mainstream technologies, we feel the need to report on Compaq Computer Corporation (now part of Hewlett Packard) is showing their new iPAQ Personal CD Player PCD-1 ($199.99) and the second generation iPAQ PA-2 (249.99 minus a $50 rebate). The new PCD-1 includes an FM tuner and plays CD-R, CD-RW or conventional CDs plus MP3 and WMA files. A built-in infrared remote control, the listening experience can be enjoyed and leisurely managed from across the room. MusicMatch Jukebox 6.0 and Windows Media Player 7 software is also included. The new iPAQ Music Center device ($799.99) will store over 5,000 songs (or 400 CDs) in MP3 format on an internal hard drive to prove ease of accessibility for consumers. The iPAQ PA-2 includes 64 MB or memory (expandable to 128 MB) and plays MP3, WMA or AAC digital audio files.

 

 

High-end audio company Krell is showing many new, and some re-launched, products at CEDIA. Specifically, their new DVD Standard DVD player ($8,000), entire loudspeaker line, affordable pre-amplifier/processor, an affordable multi-channel amplifier and their loudspeaker line (much of which has been previously covered here within our CES 2001 and Frankfurt 2001 show reports). The new DVD Standard employs Faroudja Laboratories' newest high-performance digital video chips including the Digital Video Enhancer and FLI2200 Digital Video De-interlacer/Line Doubler. The transport mechanism handles DVD (both single and dual-layer), video CD, audio CD, and audio CD-R media. It reads both single- and dual-layer DVDs. Due the modular design of the Krell DVD Standard, various plug-in circuit cards makes upgrade ability a snap while core firmware upgrades can be made via the disc drive. For decoding audio data, the 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converters feed Krell's Current Mode discrete Class A amplification stage. On the video side of things, the progressive-scan output uses triple 11-bit DACs for RGB or component interfaces.

Krell's new Showcase surround sound preamp/processor ($3,500) enjoys quality two-channel replay and also internal plug-in circuit boards for surround sound capabilities. Krell's Current Mode, discrete Class A, direct-coupled circuitry with balanced outputs provide pre-amplification level to outboard amplifier(s) while internal processing can include Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, THX Surround EX, and DTS ES 6.1 surround modes, and additionally provides nine Krell Music Surround modes. A Music Mode allows for "Full Range + Sub" for bass managements. The matching Showcase multi-channel amplifier can be configured for five, six, and seven channel operation ($3,000 for the five-channel, $3,250 for the six-channel, and $3,500 for the seven-channel version). Each channel produces 125 watts @ 8 Ohms (250 watts @ 4 Ohms). Within the power supply is a large 1,400VA toroidal transformer with 60,000 microfarads of filter capacitance while power supply filtering and decoupling between stages assures low noise and high stability. 

 

Finally, Krell's Lossless Acoustic Transducer (LAT) loudspeakers include their Current Audio Signal Transmission (CAST) technology to keep the signal within the digital domain until reaching the loudspeaker's drivers. The 250 lbs. LAT-1 is a six driver, three-way design. One 1" tweeter is mated with two 5.25-inch midrange units and three 8" woofers. Frequency response is claimed to be 28-25,000 Hz (+/- 3dB) with a sensitivity of 91dB w/m. For center channel, the three-way LAT-C has a frequency response of 50-25,000 Hz (+/- 3dB and weighs is at a hefty 150 lbs. Lastly, the stand mountable LAT-2 (pictured above) two-way system uses a 1" tweeter and 7" mid-bass driver. Frequency response is 42-25,000 Hz (+/- 3dB) with a lowish 87dB w/m and weighs in at 70 lbs.

 

 

Tired of fumbling with eight different remote control units? Sima's new SUR-20 wireless universal remote control unit ($99) provides a backlit LCD touch screen and can "learn" other remote control's functions. It also comes pre-programmed with over 250 of the manufacturers' codes for TVs, VCRs, cable boxes, satellite dishes and DVD players for ease of programmability. Furthermore, it can initiate a sequence upwards of 25 commands with the touch of a single button. The built-in Flash memory prevents the loss of your data during battery change or when the batteries lose their charge.

 

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