CEDIA 2005
Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association

 Part 2

 

  Being more a custom home installation show rather than dedicated to audiophiles/videophiles, M&S Systems' Xtreme Digital Music system model XDM4600KIT provides integrated digitally distributed music and communications throughout a home. This expandable integrated 4-zone 6-source digital audio distribution system provides music as well as home communication functions from each zone and the front door. The XDM also offers a privacy feature from the keypad, which gives homeowners the option of choosing to prevent monitoring of any room possessing a room station. Each station has a built-in 30 watt per channel 'Class D' amplifier to drive a pair of 8-ohm loudspeakers. The system is optimized at the factory to work with M&S' award winning WaveGuide loudspeakers. An infrared repeater built into the system allows the audio source equipment to be controlled from the zones with a universal remote. The router box has six analog audio inputs for sourcing music to the system, and communication between the router box and the zones is digital. Each zone also has a microphone for paging and listening, allowing the system to incorporate intercom communications along with the distribution of the audio.

 

Oxmoor Corporation is making a cool new small desktop music and control interface for Apple's iPod called the ZON SmartDock that allows the user to place one or more iPods around the home. This provides an iPod to serve as a whole house audio source for digital music. In addition, the ZON SmartDock allows users of the ZON Audio system to freely move the product between locations whenever and wherever desired rather than relying on a permanent in-wall approach. As a whole home audio system, all components including iPods are connected to the ZON Audio system are accessible from any controller anywhere in the home. Other system featuers include convenient desktop SmartDock that eliminates wall clutter, high quality digital processing of iPod audio at the ZON SmartDock, display of song and artist information on the high resolution illuminated ZON controller LCD screen, control of iPods from any ZON audio controller screen in the home, and the ability to charge the iPod battery while connected to the ZON system.

 

Classé Audio had many new products at CEDIA! Classé's CDP-300 ($6,500) digital disc player handles DVD-Video discs, DVD-Audio, CDs, DualDisc, MP3, WMA, AAC, Video-CD, S-VCD and JPEG picture discs. An front panel control screen aid in feature operation. From its specially designed vibration-absorbing feet to its strong and rigid chassis and DVD-ROM drive, the CDP-300 is a "from the ground-up" design to serve as a high-quality and reliable disc-playing platform. Inside the unit, audio and video signal paths are fully optimized to deliver excellent performance. Digital audio signals of all types (CD, DVD, DVD-Audio, etc.) are routed through a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) and sample rate converter to de-correlate them from the MPEG decoder (video) clock. The result is that all digital sources are recreated as 24-bit/192kHz signals and re-clocked before being output to the D-to-A converters. Outputs include 6 channel analog and concurrent SPDIF, AES/EBU and TOSLINK. Digital Video output on HDMI can be de-interlaced and scaled to the following resolutions: 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p. Classé Audio also unveiled their CDP-102 ($4,000) with touch screen functioning for control and also as a "preview display." Based on the same platform as the company's CDP-300, the two-channel CDP-102 utilizes the same ultra-stable and noise-free power-supply design and Classé's proprietary differential-converter implementation with jitter-canceling re-clocking topology. These deliver fully balanced audio that is derived in complementary format (XLR) directly from the digital-to-analog processor using 24-bit/192kHz signals. Unbalanced (RCA) outputs are provided too. Also at CEDIA 2005 is the company's CA-5100 ($5,000) 5-channel amplifier with 100 watts each and substantial low-impedance drive capability.

 

B&W proudly had their latest innovation with three new models comprising the XT4  tower/floorstanders, XTC center channel, and XT2 bookshelf/surround loudspeakers ( $2,500 per pair, $800, and $1,000 per pair respectively). Floor stands for the XT2 will also be available ($300 per pair). The XT series arose from the company's design team's desire for a slim, compact, and visually elegant product. The XT series employs a totally new extruded aluminum vented enclosures with foam vent-plugs that permit a useful degree of cabinet performance-tuning to placement, room acoustics, and individual preference. The drivers are Nautilus-derived 1-inch aluminum-dome tube-loaded tweeter developed specifically for the XTs and produce frequencies upwards of 50kHz. Woven Kevlar diaphragm drivers in a five-inch format were also purpose-designed. The XT4 towers add a pair of paper/Kevlar-composite low frequency drivers for bass down to 34Hz.

 

Tired of fiddling with an array of remote controls, Logitech's new Harmony 890 Pro and 895 remotes offer control of a multitude of electronics. Due to using special transmission frequency waves, no 'line of sight' is needed. The remotes can control sophisticated home entertainment systems with equipment in multiple rooms or hidden behind closed doors. Both units include support for the Z-Wave wireless technology standard, used by manufacturers of advanced lighting, climate control, and security systems. Ease of setup is insured as Logitech's comprehensive online database features discrete codes and characteristics of more than 80,000 different devices/models from more than 2,500 different manufacturers. The Harmony 890 Pro and 895 remotes plug into a PC so that these codes can be easily downloaded to the remote. Pricing insures only those who truly desire such functions will but is as the Harmony 890 Pro advanced universal remote has a retail price of $450.

 

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