Hello from Atlanta (1 Viewer)

Ron and I along with James Segars and Brenden Surpless of High Def Disc News acclaim landed in Atlanta a few hours ago. We made our way over to the Press Room and this year it is really nice. Last year we had to walk about 5 miles to get the convention floor and the Press Room was even further away. This year to our surprise both the press room and convention floor are just a couple hundred yards away. Very convenient. And the other cool thing is that the Press Room is right above the convention floor and the back way is covered with glass windows. We can literally look down on the show room and check things out as they are getting set up.

 

Here are a couple of shots from the press room.

 



 



 



 



 

It looks like they are getting ready for a Broadway play.

 

Stay tuned. More to come..............

Glad to see that everyone got there safely. I'm just sorry that I couldn't join you guys this year. serious health issues have prevented me from traveling at this time. (For those curious - I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but am using the "Plan for the worst but hope for the best" approach to this bump in the road. While it's one of the tougher S.O.B.s to conquer it's not impossible and I'm getting care from some of the best doctors in the country.) But enough about that. This isn't meant as a "pity the old dude" thread capture. I know you wish the best for me. 'Nuff said on that. Back to CEDIA 2010 issues as the show gears up to open in the morning.

 

Speaking of which....

 

I saw many exciting things at CEDIA 2009 and reported on them at the time here. I've not been sitting idle the past year and have actually been personally involved with several of the more exciting things I saw at the time. For one thing, saw a remarkable demonstration in the Microsoft Booth of a full house PC based Video distribution system involving a PC card from CETON and Windows Media Center. Now that Windows 7 has been released, with Windows Media Center being an integral part of it - nicely implemented, I might add - and now that the CETON INfiniTV 4 digital cable quad tuner card is shipping I have installed a unit in a PC and have a very successful FIOS system up and running in my home using XBox 360s for the media extenders at each monitor site. I'm planning to start a thread in the appropriate section (health permitting) where I discuss this in much more detail and field questions based on my first hand experiences. All I can say is that if you currently have cable or FIOS available in your area you have to at least look into this TV solution. In my opinion it's that good.

 

Another item that was introduced at CEDIA 2009 was the H-PAS speaker prototype licensed by Atlantic Technology. The showed a prototype of their Model A-1 H-PAS two speaker system and we discussed it in our CEDIA 2009 review. As far as I'm concerned it has to be heard to be believed. This year Atlantic Technology will be showcasing their Model A-2 Bookshelf System using the same technology and I eagerly await reports from the floor by those in attendance. Ron has already started a thread about this system here. Atlantic Technology has recently started shipping the Model A-1 H-PAS system and within a short time I will be installing a two channel system permanently in my home with a 2-channel amplifier, mostly to listen to vinyl but also to run several other sources (like 2 channel SACD) through it as well. I can't give you a first hand in the home report yet but based on what I heard at Cedia last year I await the equipment's arrival with great anticipation. Note: I purchased this system - I was so impressed with the sound - and I want to make it clear that this is not a review sample. Stay tuned....

 

Finally, I made reference to 3D systems which went from a novelty at last year's show to a full-blown major emphasis. After seeing Mitsubishi's DLP sets at CEDIA 2009 I purchased a "3D ready" Model 65837 65" rear projection unit and it has been providing me with some of the best viewing experiences in my home. A few months ago Mitsubishi released a 3D "Kit" which contains an IR emitter and two pairs of active 3D glasses. At some point I intend to set this all up (my time for such things has been limited the past year or so) and run the Mitsubishi through its 3D paces (it's already proven itself in 2D "regular" mode). I also purchased a Panasonic 3D player and will be adding it to my system as well. I must admit that as impressive as 3D can be I still consider it more of a novelty than an every day viewing experience. Have worn glass for about 50 years before Lasik and C-K eye surgery I'm reluctant to go back to viewing a framed image for any length of time. But I'll report on my experiences with 3D - although I will admit that it's not high on my list of HT priorities.

 

That's enough for now. I'll turn it back over to Parker for further discussion regarding the CEDIA 2010 floor.
 

Take care.  

Thanks RAF. I look forward to your reviews of the H-PAS setup. We are supposed to meet up with Peter on Sunday.

 

I have been really interested in the CETON for a couple of years now and now that it is available I can't afford to get one. Being able to have one

cable card that will allow you to record up to 4 shows at the same time sounds like the best solution out there.

 

Glad to "see" that you are at least feeling good enough to post.

 

Parker

 

Right now the chemo has kicked in as it usually does on Day #3 of a weekly cycle and I can expect some measure of discomfort for the next three days. I did manage to set up the AT-1s with the Outlaw 2 channel. Retro Receiver prior to beginning to feel bad. I'm using both a turntable and my Sony ES9000 reference 2channel SACD player for source material and it sounds fantastic. I'm also highly impressed with the fantastic build quality of the Atlantic Technology AT-1s. I assume that AT has a pair of AT-1s on display at their booth.



What do you think of the AT-2 bookshelf prototypes? Will they bring H-PAS technology to compact systems? To me, H-PAS kicks ass!! Peter's prototype from CEDIA 2009 has become an exciting realized product and when I feel up to it I will be writing about it in a thread in the Speakers Section of the forum.



As to the CETON, all I can say is that it has exceeded my expectations and I've sent all my Dish equipment back to them and am now exclusively Fios driven. A new thread in the appropriate section of the forum will also be forthcoming.



Finally, as Ron probably told you, I've made my reservations at the Omni Severin Hotel for CEDIA 2011 in Indianapolis. Adam and I (and the significant others) were in that hotel for CEDIA 2005 and it's a top-notch hotel. I'm looking forward to returning to Indy next year.

RAF:

 

The AT-2 bookshelves kick ass just like the floor standing. Peter (being the perfectionist that he is) is not satisfied with the AT-2 yet so even though what

we heard was fantastic he tells us that the speaker isn't ready for prime time yet.

 

The speakers are kick-ass.

 

You know, there is a lot of expensive speakers at the show.

Many of them in fancy redwood cabinets.

 

However, for the average consumer that can't afford a
Steinway, the Atlantic Technology H-PAS speakers are

the most impressive that I have heard.

 

The bookshelf speakers, though still in prototype, produce

unbelievable bass. In the demo room it was positioned next

to the floorstanding H-PAS speaker and I'll be damned if I could

tell which one was being used in the demo.

 



 

I'm listening to my brand new AT-1s here at home in my "music room" and am amazed at the quality of two channel sound that is being created here. I'm using a variety of source materials including vinyl, SACDs, and iPod sources among others and all of them are crystal clear. Peter Tribeman sent me a copy of the H-PAS demo disc (probably what he was using at the show) and it is tremendous. I finally have a place where I can sit back, check my e-mail on my iPad or read with great music as a background. At other times I find myself just closing my eyes and taking in the wonderful sound. At a time when we are all concentrating on Home Theater sight and sound it's nice to go back in time to the two channel era and relive some of the sounds like never before.


In my opinion, the H-PAS concept now allows people to create a two channel listening experience at fairly low cost with high quality sound. While I'm sure that some might think of using H-PAS in a 5.1 or 7.1 configuration for HT I feel that H-PAS is really best suited for 2 channel sound. Like they say, the right tool for the right job.

Over the next couple of months the H-PAS concept will be unveiled in a number other products (remember, Atlantic Technology is licensing the technology to assorted vendors). Outlaw, the on-line folks, will be producing their version of the AT-1 (and I assume the AT-2) at a lower price point for budget conscious consumers. And that's only the beginning. I really urge people who are able to audition H-PAS in person to do so. You will be amazed at what you hear, considering the maximum size of the transducers (5.25")


When I saw the prototype demos at CEDIA 2009 almost every "performance" elicited an "O.K. Where did you hide the sub-woofer?!?" response from at least one member of the audience. Hard to believe, but extremely ear-opening.

Originally Posted by RAF . I've not been sitting idle the past year and have actually been personally involved with several of the more exciting things I saw at the time. For one thing, saw a remarkable demonstration in the Microsoft Booth of a full house PC based Video distribution system involving a PC card from CETON and Windows Media Center. Now that Windows 7 has been released, with Windows Media Center being an integral part of it - nicely implemented, I might add - and now that the CETON INfiniTV 4 digital cable quad tuner card is shipping I have installed a unit in a PC and have a very successful FIOS system up and running in my home using XBox 360s for the media extenders at each monitor site. I'm planning to start a thread in the appropriate section (health permitting) where I discuss this in much more detail and field questions based on my first hand experiences. All I can say is that if you currently have cable or FIOS available in your area you have to at least look into this TV solution. In my opinion it's that good.



Take care.

Click to expand...

Please make it known when you do this write up! I'm beginning to think about what comes next in my household after TivoHD. I've read enough about the latest Win Media Center to be both intrigued and confused by its capabilities as a DVR with whole-house streaming capability.

Dave:


What are you confused about with MCE?


I have used it for years. It makes for a really nice DVR solution. With the CETON that RAF is talking about you have one PCIe card that you put into your computer. You

get a cable card from your cable company and it is like having four desk top units through one device that allows you to record four shows at once. In other words it gives

you four tuners. I have two Hauppauge cards in my HPTC that allows me to record 4 shows at once. I also have a XBOX 360 upstairs that I can stream the shows I have

recorded on my HTPC in the living room to my bedroom TV with the XBOX. The only thing you can't stream is a Blu-ray DVD that you have on the HTPC. Maybe one

day you will be able to.


A cool thing that Greg Loewen showed me while were in Atlanta is using his Sling Player you can stream videos you have on your HTPC to your cellphone. Greg has

an Android phone where he can connect to his system and home and watch what he has recorded, use MCE to go through the EPG and record a show he forget to set up to

record, etc.


MCE in my opinion is the best DVR on the market. The EPG is free and if you have HD channels coming in you can record those too. If you have multiple extenders

like an XBox you can stream video to those XBox units from your HTPC with no problems.


It is well worth having.

Engadget had a nice comparo between MCE and TiVo Premiere recently, but it left me a bit puzzled on a few points.

1) Does MCE have live buffering for pause, rewind, forward of one or more channels of live TV? (Engadget implied no: only for actively recording shows is there a buffer)
2) can you transfer or stream recorded programs between devices around the house? Or only to xboxes? (Engadget was unclear on whether you could transfer from MCE to MCE or only MCE to xbox.)
3) Can they play iTunes music, particularly from a Mac?

I have two TivoHDs and love them. The biggest annoyance is having to program two machines separately and manually deconflict busy TV schedules. I'd rather have a single recording and scheduling "brain". An four tuner MCE device that could stream to a single-tuner MCE device (for live pause & rewind) could be a better solution to me and my wife.


What I've read makes me think MCE is a better recording system than Tivo. But Tivo is still better at handling live TV than MCE is. And MCE is still very expensive compared to Tivo. And Microsoft's MCE website was useless last time I looked.


(edited: for clarity and mobile-HTF weirdness)

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