CEDIA Expo wrapped up this weekend, and as typical the customized set up trade’s annual commerce present was filled with jaw-dropping house theater demos utilizing one of the best 4K projectors and one of the best Dolby Atmos speaker techniques, amongst many different envelope-pushing merchandise and applied sciences.
I’ve frequently attended CEDIA Expo over the previous twenty years, and though I wasn’t there stay this 12 months, I’ve been retaining a eager eye on information rising from the present.
To get within the CEDIA spirit, TechRadar simply ran a House Theater Week sequence of customized set up and residential cinema-related posts protecting all the things from projection screens, AV receivers, and subwoofers to the Kaleidescape media server system that powered lots of the demos carried out at CEDIA.
There’s no substitute for experiencing one of the best AV gear the trade has to supply in-person – in a cushty theater-style seat, after all – however these seven merchandise that made their debut at CEDIA 2023 are ones that captured my consideration, and most definitely the eye of the numerous attendees who filed by the huge halls of the Denver Conference Middle.
Hisense 100-inch U8K mini-LED TV
After we reviewed the Hisense U8K mini-LED TV, we discovered that it delivers each the excessive brightness sports activities followers crave and the deep black shadows film followers love; and does so at an extremely aggressive worth. The brand new 100-inch U8K mannequin that the corporate launched at CEDIA undoubtedly makes the 65-inch model we examined appear miniscule as compared, however its arrival comes as no shock given the current arrival of 98-inch mini-LED TVs from the likes of TCL and Samsung.
What does the brand new 100-incher have that makes it particular, apart from measurement? The specs are much like the U8K mannequin we examined, with 1,500-plus nits peak brightness, 1,600 native dimming zones, Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ and HDR10+ excessive dynamic vary, Google TV, and a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner and a pair of.1.2 Dolby Atmos speaker system. It additionally helps 144Hz VRR, FreeSync Premium, ALLM, and Dolby Imaginative and prescient Gaming.
What actually makes the brand new addition to the U8K sequence stand out is its worth: $9,999, which is extremely low-cost for a 100-inch 4K mini-LED TV. The Hisense 100-inch U8K will likely be obtainable this fall within the US, based on the corporate.
Samsung 98-inch QN990C 8K Neo QLED TV
We’ve already reported on the arrival of the Samsung 98-inch QN990C 8K Neo QLED TV, however an 8K TV at this display measurement deserves point out in any roundup of the highlights of CEDIA Expo 2023, the place the QN990C made its official debut.
Samsung’s largest 8K TV but, the 98-inch QN990C encompasses a mini-LED backlight, an anti-glare display for viewing in vibrant room lighting situations, and Samsung’s Extremely Viewing Angle expertise to take care of picture distinction at off-center seats. It additionally has a built-in 6.4.4 Dolby Atmos speaker system and Samsung Gaming Hub for taking part in cloud-based video games from, Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and others.
Maybe what’s most intriguing in regards to the new 98-inch QN990C is that its display is massive sufficient to allow you to soak within the full element contained in 8K video sources, which is one thing we anticipate there will likely be extra of sooner or later. Samsung’s 98-inch QN990C is out there now for $40,000.
LG Magnit 118-inch 4K MicroLED show
LG made a splash at CEDIA with its 118-inch Magnit MicroLED show, which is designed for house cinema installations. In keeping with LG, the brand new mannequin “hits the candy spot” between its 136-inch Magnit MicroLED and the 97-inch Signature OLED M wi-fi TV. The 4K MicroLED options the corporate’s A9 picture processor and webOS good interface for streaming. It additionally has 4K 120Hz show functionality and can be utilized in stand or wall-mount installations.
Whereas the 118-inch Magnit has built-in 50-watt, 2-channel audio system, it additionally helps WiSA wi-fi speaker connections, and LG demonstrated the brand new TV together with WiSA-enabled Bang & Olufsen Beolab 50 audio system at CEDIA Expo. The child of the Magnit MicroLED household, which is offered in display configurations as much as 393 inches, the brand new 118-inch mannequin is priced at $237,000.
LED partitions are widespread for business functions like digital signage, however they’re additionally beginning to make their approach into residential installations the place a video wall is most well-liked to a conventional projector and display setup. The XDR3 LED Video Wall from Quantum Media Programs is one such instance of a wall that’s made the leap from sports activities stadiums to high-end house theaters to dazzle viewers with its vibrant and expansive show.
Goal-built by Quantum Media Programs for residential installations, the XDR3 routinely switches between 2.39:1 Cinemascope, 16:9, and different facet ratios, and its built-in processor may show a number of sports activities broadcasts in separate home windows. At CEDIA, the corporate exhibited an 18 foot-wide model of the XDR3 wall and showcased its efficiency with sports activities, films, gaming, and digital artwork. The wall additionally integrates with third-party management techniques, making it straightforward to sync up with media servers, lighting, and different good house gadgets.
McIntosh PS2K Powered Subwoofer
McIntosh is an organization that’s finest identified for its dear and very well-built amplifiers, that are simply identifiable by their illuminated blue energy meters. At CEDIA, the corporate displayed its new PS2K Powered Subwoofer, one other McIntosh part with a blue energy meter and one which, at $50,000, suits in completely with the corporate’s high-end product portfolio.
The tower-style subwoofer makes use of 4 13-inch multi-layer carbon fiber cone woofers and has McIntosh’s Low Distortion Excessive Efficiency Magnetic Circuit design to cut back distortion and enhance effectivity. The 4 woofers are every pushed by a 500-watt Class D amplifier, for a complete of two,000 watts. Each balanced and unbalanced stereo and subwoofer inputs are onboard, and a number of PS2Ks might be daisy-chained for much more and higher bass.
GoldenEar T66 tower loudspeaker with powered bass
GoldenEar is an organization with an extended historical past of creating high-performance audio system at comparatively inexpensive costs. The T66 tower that GoldenEar introduced with it to CEDIA revives that custom, with the brand new speaker priced at $7,200 a pair in a Santa Barbara Purple end, and $6,900 a pair in Gloss Black.
Just like the Triton sequence audio system that preceded it, the T66 makes use of a folded ribbon tweeter paired with mid-bass drivers, planar radiators, and a 500 watt RMS powered subwoofer part. New refinements discovered within the T66 embrace a revamped crossover, high-quality inner wiring, and a forged aluminum base and metallic grille. However essentially the most radical change is the purple end choice, which is one thing we’ve by no means seen earlier than from a model that has stubbornly caught for years with fundamental black.
Definitive Expertise Mythos Sequence on-wall audio system
One other speaker sequence that noticed a revival at CEDIA 2023 was the Definitive Expertise Mythos. The unique Mythos audio system have been one thing of a design flex for the corporate, one which introduced aluminum speaker cupboards and ultra-slim drivers into the Def Tech household. Mythos, the following era continues that slim and modern aesthetic by way of three on-wall LCR audio system and three on-wall passive soundbars designed to match with 65-, 75-, and 85-inch TVs.
The brand new fashions use the corporate’s XTDD (Additional Skinny Dynamic Dome) drivers to realize a wall-hugging beneath 2-inch-deep profile. These are mated with aluminum dome tweeters and packed like their predecessors in an aircraft-grade aluminum cupboard. For even larger set up flexibility, the brand new Mythos sequence has an IP66-rating, making them a stable choice for outside in addition to indoor AV installations.
Sony ES 8K AV receivers
Sony quietly launched its ES AV receiver lineup again in February, however CEDIA is the sort of venue the place the numerous customized installation-centric options of the brand new fashions can get their full due. Not surprisingly, Sony made a splash on the present with its new ES receivers, making them a focus of their show sales space.
The 4 new ES receivers vary from 7.2 to 13.2-channel output and are priced from $1,100 to $1,300. Every totally integrates with Crestron, Savant, and Control4 management techniques, and they’re additionally Works with Sonos licensed. They supply assist for each Dolby Atmos and DTS:X and pass-through for 8K and 4K 120Hz video indicators. Additionally onboard is Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping expertise, which generates phantom audio system between the system’s precise audio system to ship an enhanced sense of immersion.
