2005 H.E. Show.

W(h)ither Home Entertainment Our Man in New York Covers The 2005 Home Entertainment Show

This is the sixth Home Entertainment Show that I've covered, and I'm left with a sense of unease about the future of high fidelity sound. Twenty-five of the 46 manufacturers mentioned in my report on last year's show didn't turn up this year, including six of the 14 favorites. Luckily both of my special-honors manufacturers were there, but both were in smaller rooms with a smaller range of models on display.

The show also felt smaller, both in terms of exhibitors and attendance-although I can't be sure of the latter because my coverage was severely limited this year. Usually I spend at least two and a half of the four days, compulsively visiting every room and taking notes. It's exhausting and I feel guilty when I linger in a particularly good-sounding room because I know there are so many rooms and so little time. And it gets harder as the show progresses because the crowds get larger and many rooms develop long lines just to get in.

This year a combination of family and church obligations meant that I only had the morning of the Press day (before the exhibits actually opened) and the morning of the last day available. All I could manage the first day was three press conferences and a raid on the press kits (and Danish). I wasn't sure that it would be worth going back Sunday morning, because the large crowds might make my few hours worthless; but in fact the show was almost empty at opening time and had not gotten much busier by the time I left. This may reflect a drop in attendance, but since I had always finished before Sunday I can't say for sure.

At any rate it did allow me to visit the 10 most interesting rooms, and I discovered a sense of freedom because I could linger without fear of failing to complete the circuit. As Mose Allison said, "I don't worry 'bout a thing, 'cause I know nothing's gonna turn out right."

So this isn't an attempt at complete Show coverage, but rather my first impressions, three press conferences, ten rooms, sixteen press releases, and some conclusions.

First Impressions: Where's Sony? SACD? DVD-Audio? Blu-ray? HD-DVD? The only new technology is XM Radio? Where are the Stonehenge monolith mega-speakers? Where are the crowds?

Press Conferences: The first press conference was billed as Samsung and promised that they would "unveil the latest in DLP, LCD, Plasma and Direct View CRT TVs." But it was really a joint Samsung-Microsoft announcement about Samsung's role as a chip provider for the new Xbox (conveniently failing to mention that the main processor is another Microsoft copy of Apple innovation, a variation on the "G5" cpu that powers most current Macs) and as the display provider for Xbox retail kiosks.

The room was lined with a large number of Samsung TVs, but neither the program nor the press kit mentioned them at all. The Show's program had specially mentioned a new High Definition CRT, the TX-R3079WH SlimFit, so I sought out a Samsung rep to enquire. As luck would have it I stumbled onto Kevin Cahill, who is the marketing manager for the very SlimFit product in question.

Samsung had previously created a new category by using DLP technology in a slim rear projection cabinet that creates reasonably large widescreen TVs that are only 16" deep and weigh far less than a comparable CRT display--ergo the table-top rear-projection display. But even the latest generation DLP sets have artifacts with moving objects, sharp lines, and deep blacks. Nothing equals the picture quality of CRT.

This latest model brings CRT quality to its furthest limits: a 30" widescreen (16:9) display with native resolution of 1080i, also 720p and 480p, 3:2 pull down, 3D comb filter, nano-sized pigments. Other features include Dolby Digital and BBE Sound, and HDMI connection. But the unique thing is a cabinet only 16" deep, compared to 24" for traditional CRTs, so it fits where a DLP rear-projection set would but produces an unequalled CRT-quality picture. It also costs less than the newer technologies, with a $999 list. The only downsides I can see are the lack of PIP (but HD-ready displays often don't include any tuner), the 120 lb. weight (compared to 74 lb. for Samsung's 46" DLP), and the 30" max. screen size.

The SlimFit HDTV will be available this summer, and if it looks as good as these specs indicate, I want one.

The second press conference was Polk Audio, introducing their I-Sonic Entertainment System. This is an intriguing desktop all-in-one system that looks like another company's best-selling product but is really the wave of the future because it includes iBiquity's HD radio and XM satellite radio capability along with a DVD/CD player and surround sound. HD radio is a new technology that allows broadcasters to utilize the sidebands of their assigned frequency for multiple digital streams. The existing analog AM or FM signal is still present, and can be received by the I-Sonic; but if there are digital sidebands these can also be received, with higher quality audio and added graphics. Digital AM is claimed to have the quality of analog FM-stereo, and digital FM is said to be "CD-quality"; both are static free and significantly less bothered by multipath.

The I-Sonic also includes XM capability, which is activated by plugging in the new XM Connect & Play Antenna- $49 for the combination antenna and tuner unit. 360-degree surround sound is produced by 4 speakers in the elliptical cabinet and rich powerful bass is possible because of the Polk Patented Power Port (4 Ps, not to be confused with the Army's 6 Ps). Two sets of auxiliary inputs allow connection of both your computer and your iPod, dual alarms will wake up you and your mate (or any two of your multiple personalities, I suppose) and a headphone jack mutes the speakers to promote domestic bliss.

Unfortunately I can't verify these claims because the press conference did not include any demonstrations, but at $599 list I will definitely consider this as a dorm-room music system when my son goes to college this fall. September availability just about makes it in time ...

The third press conference was Zvox Audio, unveiling another contender for dorm room system. Zvox already makes the model 315 single-box home-theater speaker, which includes a mono center channel for image stability, PhaseCue signal processing on the left and right speakers that throws a wide stereo soundstage out of a box that can easily fit under a computer monitor, and a 4x6" ported subwoofer ($200; being replaced by the 315X with improved cosmetics for $250).

This year's announcement was the Zvox Mini, which puts the same technology (and drivers) into a smaller enclosure and mates it with a carry case that includes four pockets for your iPod, portable CD player, etc. as well as a rechargeable battery that provides 4 hours of listening. The Zvox Mini costs $200; the PortaParty CarryBag is $50, and the rechargeable battery with car adapter and AC charger is $50.

Both the 315 and the Mini were demoed at the press conference, but the room was so large that I really couldn't get the soundstage effect (or the "remarkable bass response"). Either of these systems would be worth considering as a dorm room system, and although the fully loaded PortaParty was much heavier than I would want to carry around, it probably wouldn't bother today's school-backpack-toughened youth. Availability is promised for "midsummer."

So not a bad haul for the morning: a promising widescreen CRT HDTV (not seen), a promising dorm room all-in-one system (not heard), and a promising portable computer/iPod boom box (heard but not well). Oh, and three trays of the same Hilton Danish and three cups of Hilton coffee. It must be time for lunch ...

Exhibits: Since I knew I didn't have time for many of the advertised "80 demo rooms" I decided to concentrate on the ones that had provided good sound in previous years or that promised new and interesting products this time. As it turned out I had time to pop my head into most of the rooms, but if the sound wasn't good enough or if the cosmetics were too bizarre I popped right out again and moved on. Here are the ten rooms in which I lingered:

Joseph Audio's owner always puts on a good show, and since he has the great-sounding systems to back it up he usually wins the "best sound" award. This year's system was a 3-channel set-up with $12,500/pr front left and right speakers (Jeff called it "the model below the Pearls in the line" so I didn't bother to write down the model number, but the website hasn't been updated so now I'm stuck--my bad) and the Cinergy 5.1 center-channel. Three manly Manley 250wpc tube amps were driving the three channels, and the source was an RCA Living Stereo SACD orchestral selection in the original 3-channel stereo mix. This set-up produced a very natural soundstage, showing how a really good home theater system can also do well with music. Highs showed a little glare, but I wonder if this was on the recording since Joseph's soft dome tweeters usually sound very smooth.

The Vandersteen Model 5A ($15,500/pr) was being shown in a large room by retailer Audio Connection. They must have had a big day Saturday because they seemed more interested in talking among themselves than showing the speakers (or even letting us hear them). When things finally quieted down a little there was the usual wonderful 5A sound: big solid bass with no boom, despite the lack of room treatment to soak anything up, and lovely highs with no hint of glare. Still my favorite speaker for very large rooms.

Outlaw had to delay introduction of their 7 channel receiver until they tame the heat problems, but they were featuring their Model 990 ($1,099) 7.1-channel audiophile grade A/V preamp/processor. They were using it in a large home theater set-up with their Model 770 ($1,799) 7-channel amp. Since Outlaw doesn't make speakers, they were using the Atlantic Technology System 8200 THX Ultra 2 system ($9,000/system). Since they do make subwoofers, they skipped the Atlantic offering and used two Outlaw LFM-1 subs ($579/ea), which drive a 12" woofer with a 225wpc amp; they used two because the room was so large, but one would normally be enough. The demo ended with the crash-landing scene in Flight of the Phoenix, which was so realistic that when I tried to stand up my knees were rubbery with stress-exhaustion. This isn't cheap as home theater systems go, but it equaled the loudness and realism of any system I've heard and costs less than some-value isn't low price, it's high quality for the dollar and this Outlaw/Atlantic system delivers.

Silicon Optix was doing a home theater demo to show off their new Realta chip--which brings 1 trillion ops/sec processing down to the chip level (from the previous $60k Teranex Hollywood Quality Video standalone processor)--in a JVC projector that produces 1080p (not 720p or 1080i--the full 1080p HD spec). The video part of the demo was impressive, but it was hard to say that 1080p gives a visibly better picture than 1080i because there isn't much 1080p content to show it off yet. They were stressing how the Realta processing made a standard definition video clip look similar (but clearly still not as good as) a High Definition clip of the same scene. This would have a real-life benefit of bringing your existing video collection to a better level, so that when you switch back to it from real HD material it doesn't seem too skeezy--just as after I played my first CD I never used my turntable again ... They were also featuring a 7.2-channel speaker system from Cinepro Inc. The big deal with this system is the amplification: 5,000 watts total with 1,000 watt peaks to be able to handle movie sound effects at the levels specified by Hollywood. The idea is to reproduce dialogue and small sounds at natural levels while letting cannons sound as loud as the real thing. The system included a bunch of speakers (which I couldn't get details on) and two dual-15" isobarik subwoofers. On movies the sound was pretty good, but on music the bass was very boomy (despite the 10,000 square foot room which should have been fine for this set-up). No prices were mentioned, but my guess is that the Outlaw/Atlantic system above is a much better value.

Totem Acoustic was showing two very small systems while I was there. The Rainmaker ($950/pr plus $450/pr for stands) is a really small 2-way bookshelf. Male voice and acoustic guitar were very natural, and a drum solo had great imaging and impact (except for the bass drum). Dynamics were great--you can play as loud as you want without breakup--and there's no high-end glare. But unfortunately the speaker was let down by the bass. Although it was making incredibly big bass for the small size of the cabinets, the bass was very boomy. These speakers would benefit greatly from a subwoofer that could take the bass load and let the Rainmakers' mid- and treble virtues shine. The Hawk ($2,450/pr) looks like they simply extended the Rainmaker cabinet down to the floor but the drivers, although the same size, are different. The sound is very similar, but the bass problems are even worse and the tiny cabinet positions the tweeter below ear level. Dynamics, mids and highs were again very impressive, but the bass was so loose and boomy that I couldn't listen to these for very long. They did apologize for a poor setup, caused by their desire to reserve the primary arrangement for a larger speaker--but I didn't get a chance to hear that because the Rainmaker was announced again as the next demo. Based on what I heard this year and my previous experience with Totem speakers I would go with the Rainmaker and a subwoofer, and keep the change.

Gershman Acoustics was introducing the Black Swan ($30,000/pr), their new top of the line speaker with "Separate Sub Alignment System" which prevents driver interference for a cleaner sound, and time-aligned drivers. Last year I thought they were finally getting good sound out of their Opera Sauvage model, but this year they were back to their typical problem of a large speaker in a small hotel room. Solo female vocal was very natural and had great presence, but a jazz cut was ruined by bass that was boomy and poorly defined. The Black Swans are beautifully shaped and finished (unlike the eccentric design of the Opera Sauvage), so I hope that Gershman can get a larger room next time to really show them off.

I stopped by Odyssey Audio to see if there had been any production changes in the wonderful Lorelei speakers that I had just reviewed, but instead I found something completely different: they had walled off the window end of their room with a 1" MDF partition, with some art reproductions hanging above a fake fireplace. I thought this was an acoustic treatment for the Loreleis that were standing in front of the wall, but no! The music was coming from the Canvas High End ($1,950/pr) model in their Art On-Wall Loudspeaker System, which I had mistaken for paintings. The "paintings" were the grilles covering a large (26" wide x 22" high) but thin (3 1/2" deep) cabinet with a small woofer and tweeter. The sound was very natural and they cranked it up to show that it can play very loud. Violins were gorgeous, with extended highs and no sign of glare. But those thin cabinets don't enclose much air, and even with a bass port on the bottom designed to couple with the wall there wasn't much bass extension. Lower mids were muddy, and there was no sense of live presence. Hanging them on a real wall (particularly plaster) and adding a subwoofer might help, and you could get a good-sounding speaker system that would pass the decor-acceptance test. They were also showing (but not playing) a center-channel version of the on-wall speakers, but I can't figure out how you would use this because it was located where the plasma display would go. If you put it below the screen you would have to angle the bottom away from the wall--and then you'd lose the bass coupling. But to end on a positive note, the Lorelei in dark wood with black MDF trim looked even nicer than the blonde pair I reviewed.

Hyperion Sound had a pair of HPS-938 speakers ($4,500/pr) well out in the room. Female vocal with piano sounded very natural, with precise vocal imaging. Billie Holiday and Bach's Goldberg Variations (two different recordings--I don't think Billie played classical piano ...) both sounded a little forward and brittle in the treble. A Brazilian jazz cut had the piano sound tipped toward the upper register; the bass fiddle lacked bass extension and was boomy. I hadn't liked the sound last year either, when these speakers only cost $4,000, so I can't even hope that next year they'll get the set-up right.

Aural Acoustics had their Model B ($4,500/pr), a 7" three-way supposedly tuned for deep bass in a "patent pending" cabinet that absorbs the rear wave over five octaves. Paul Simon and the African backing group sounded very natural. Diana Krall's close-mic'd voice and piano were also very natural. But a classical selection lacked bass extension and was boomy; they said this was a very dynamic recording, but it sounded compressed. Most of the cuts they played were vocals with minimal accompaniment and these speakers sounded great on that type of music, but the bass below the voice range isn't good.

Aperion Audio was showing the Intimus 633 Tower Speaker ($1,000/pr) with their new HD-X3 crossover technology. Bass was well contained but these speakers lacked the imaging and sense of presence of the better speakers heard earlier. They also showed the 5.1-10 6-series System ($2,375 includes a pair of 633s for front L/R, a 533 center, a pair of 632 bookshelf/monitors for rear L/R and an S-10 Subwoofer), which had an even sound and good tight bass but again lacked presence. Construction is very solid (1" MDF), and real cherry veneers are very handsome at this price point. The 5.1 system is good value for home theater, with pretty good sound and great impact for movie effects, but is hard to recommend for music.

Press Kits: Full disclosure: I didn't actually see or hear the products or even talk to the hucksters. But here's my take on the rosy press releases:

April Music introduced the Stello SP200 ($3,995), a new multi-channel preamp/processor with integrated upsampling converter. This is a follow up to last year's DP200 DAC-Preamp, but they still haven't convinced me that later upsampling can restore the detail that has already been lost in CD mastering.

Audio Turntable is marketing the ELP Laser Turntable which uses 5 lasers to play LPs without touching the grooves. Since it costs $15,000 (and up, depending on configuration), they are aiming this at institutions like the Library of Congress that have collections of rare 33s, 45s and 78s. This product has been kicking around for decades since it was invented at MIT, and it has been introduced as "finally perfected" several times before. Even if they have really got it working now, the vinyl train has left the station.

AVAD provides complete home technology solutions to designers and home builders. Your next house will offer built-in audio and video stuff along with the kitchen cabinets and bathroom whirlpools. Anybody else remember the TV and Hi-Fi built-ins in the 1950s, and how they became major liabilities as the size of components shrank while the holes in your wall stayed the same?

Belkin has a new line of high-end cables. I guess they saw how much money Monster was raking in on their voodoo products and decided to cash in.

Chesky Records gave the press a sampler CD of new recordings. Not SACD or DVD-A--regular CD; no surround sound--regular stereo. I sense that the "next generation" is going the way of Philips' DCC. The music is very interesting, with a wide range of jazz, blues and even light classical.

NetStreams has taken the Apple naming convention of internal capitalization to a new level with the DigiLinX IP-based multi-room streaming audio system, but it only runs on Windows. So in the Mac-fanatic spirit of Windoze, I will call it DigiStinX.

Electronics Expo is a New Jersey home theater retailer with a wide variety of TVs and TV electronics, but very little on the audio front.

GINI Systems warns of "An inevitable trend--China to invade the US market in unusual places ... such as the high-end audio components industry." Specifically JAS Audio high-end speakers and tube amps, and Zion cables and vibration isolation devices. The first JAS speaker I saw was the Batista (wasn't he the pre-Castro dictator of Cuba? What kind of name is that for a Chinese product!!!), a medium-size tower with a 9" woofer and a weird-looking stainless steel horn tweeter. So the inevitable trend seems to be that mainland China is copying the weirdness of Taiwan audio manufacturers.

HTmarket.com takes home theater merchandising to its full complement: not just projectors and speakers, but also theater seating (with "Pop out Cupholders"!), concession stands (recoup your HT cost by charging your friends for popcorn!) and movie posters (let the whole neighborhood know what's playing at your house!). But I didn't see a ticket-printer ...

Ray Kimber is still spending his cable earnings on IsoMike, the spaced-omni recording system he introduced last year. This time he gave the press an SACD demo disc. But since SACD seems to be dead in the water, I don't see how IsoMike is going to make it either.

Kaleidescape is a whole-house entertainment server that stores your DVD collection on an array of hard disk drives and streams any desired movie to any location in your house for playback. So now we don't even have to get up to pull a DVD out of the closet and stick it in the player--that was the only exercise I had left!

Mizzico Furniture introduced the Corner Friendly line to fit your big plasma display, along with a big center-channel speaker and small L/R speakers, in a corner where it (a) blends in a "warm family room setting" and (b) makes it impossible to get good sound.

Moscode.com introduced the 401HR 200wpc "advanced hybrid tube technology" Stereo Amplifier. Two pairs of tubes add a layer of distortion to make sure the solid-state circuit isn't too clean, and you can mix and match among 8 tube types to get exactly the distortion you prefer!

musicdirect eschews the Apple naming convention in favor of e.e. cummings, and sells a full range of hifi hardware (from turntables and tubes to SACD players) and software (likewise from vinyl to SACD and DVD-A). There are 18 pages of SACDs and only 6 pages of DVD-A, so if both formats aren't losing I guess SACD is winning ...

Runco gets an award for the coolest press-kit folio, and I'm sure they continue to represent the best video quality. If I had bought their Signature Cinema SC-1 projector, for a cool $250,000, I sure would hope so!!! But they don't only make stuff for the superrich: the Video Extreme projectors sell for $40,000$100,000 so the plain rich can also be served ... (And the Reflection projectors go from $33,000 down to a bargain-basement $3,500.)

Finally, last but not least, Sennheiser introduced several new lines of headphones, including one aimed at "Professional Computer Gamers." So my son has a post-college career path after all ...

Conclusions: The only healthy area seems to be home theater, and the health is more on the video side than audio. Multi-channel audio is failing in the marketplace once again.

Coming out of a very realistic home theater demo, I was drawn to a sound across the wide East hallway that was immediately recognizable as live music. Nothing anybody has done at any price can reproduce that effect.

Putting these trends together, the most Sensible plan is to create a home theater with two high-end "bookshelf" front L/R speakers and a high-end subwoofer, filled out with compatible but not necessarily equal-quality center and surround channels. You'll get great surround-sound for movies, and also great 2.1 sound for music--and you won't break the bank.