Home Entertainment Expo 1999
by Neil Sears

  The following show report is for the Home Entertainment Expo held this past weekend (Oct. 30-31,1999) in Newport Beach California. Unlike your typical hi-fi shows the Expo is a retail show with exhibits set up primarily by local audio dealers. For this reason the majority of the rooms feature displays of fairly standard equipment (Bose and the likes --ed). There were however a few stand out products that are detailed below.

First on the list is the Theta Dreadnought ($6,000) 200W X 5 amp. This multi-channel amp seems to do everything just right. Power, finesse and dynamics abound and the case work is exceptional.

Also shown is he Casa Nova ($4,500) and DaVid DVD player ($4,500). The Dreadnought was driving 4 Sonus Faber Concertos ($2,100 pr) and matching Solo ($1,000) center channel. These Italian beauties sounded better than I have ever heard them before. On a twist to your typical home theater demo the picture looked like $#!+ but the sound was as smooth as silk.

Aragon's new Soundstage processor shown only in static display is due out next month. The buzz from those that have heard it is this will be the one to beat.

Keep an eye out for Neosonik this new line of purpose built home theater speakers are designed for the music lover who also wants the cinema experience. The drivers are built in house with a proprietary carbon/Kevlar cone matrix. The Z-3 ($3,500 pr) 3 ways defy there price with sound quality akin to much more expensive designs.

Also being shown are the Z-2 ($2,000 pr) available with matching stand. California Audio Labs has a new processor, video switcher and 5 channel amp. The CL-2500 processor ($5,400) has state of the art connectivity with the CL-2500 switcher ($2,100) and numerous upgrade paths including FireWire.

The CL-2500 amp ($7,500) is a beast with a whooping 500 watts per channel. If your looking for a cool entertainment center your search is over. Designed by Carl Lind "The Pacific Coast's" remote controlled doors open to reveal your home theater.

Flexibility of design and installation is a key feature of California
Audio Technology’s line of speakers. The enclosures are made of dual layers of Avonite and can be configured as in walls, freestanding or as custom site specific designs.

Theta and Sonus Faber were being shown by Audio Video Excellence @ (858) 689-1311

Neosonik, Cal Audio Labs and Carl Lind designs were being shown by Pacific Coast Audio Video @ (949) 640-5093

California Audio Technology was being shown by Hi Q Systems @ (800) 466-1000