The Full Spectrum of DVD
The buzz sang the blues at CES, specifically blue lasers. High-definition DVD
players generated plenty of talk at CES without being present. A blue laser
with its short wavelength will enable a DVD-size disc to store full-length HD
movies. Toshiba showed a mock-up of its blue laser. Panasonic revealed an end-run
around this difficult technology that's frustrating labs around the world (see
David Ranada's report for more details). The company would not commit to a delivery
date, but claims its work is further along than many competitors and that its
blue-laser technology will be low in cost. Many industry commentators remarked
that HDTV won't become a true success until a convenient and affordable HD source
arrives to supplement the rather meager broadcast offerings so far.
 KEF unveiled its new Reference Series at CES. |
CES Grab Bag
KEF, once famed for its Reference Series monitors, aims to reclaim that status
with a completely new four-model Reference Series priced $3,500 to $15,000.
The series uses KEF's hallmark Uni-Q technology. The low end of the line is
the Model 201, a four-way ported design with a 6-1/2-inch woofer and 6-1/2-inch
midrange. The flagship Model 207, a five-way ported design uses a 10-inch woofer,
and 10-inch low-midrange driver. As with KEF's Reference Series of yore, all
-- even the more compact 201 -- stand imposingly.
 Marantz showed its THX Select-certified SR8200 receiver. |
Marantz showed its new SR8200 digital surround receiver with THX Select certification. The 6.1-channel receiver is upgradable to 7.1-channel sound because of its additional preamp inputs and outputs. It's rated to deliver 120 watts into each of its six channels and retails for $1,699.
 SonicBlue's Rio Advanced Digital Audio Center |
SonicBlue demonstrated it Rio Advanced Digital Audio Center that serves a hub for all that's MP3 and WMA. Its 40-GB hard drive stores more than 650 CDs worth of music, plus it can rip and burn regular and MP3 CDs with its built-in disc recorder. A large display screen makes easy work of ripping, burning, and cataloging. It transfers music to Rio portables through USB ports. It even comes with a Rio Receiver, or as SonicBlue calls it, a "client," and a 10-Mbps PNA connection for remote listening, all for $1,500.
At the more affordable end of things, Denon displayed its stylish new D-A03 personal audio system. The D-A03 incorporates a vertical-loading CD player, an AM/FM tuner, and speakers for $299.
 Toshiba displayed a hint of the future of DVD with its blue-laser recording technology. |
Toshiba fights ennui with what it claims are the first "Tri-Mode" TV/DVD/VCR combos, the MW20FM1 with a 20-inch screen, and the MW24FM1 with 24-inch screen. Both incorporate hi-fi VCRs.
A Clearer Picture
Fujitsu seems to think its 61-inch PDS-6101 widescreeen plasma display triumphed
in the plasma screen-size derby, but it was matched by Marantz and trumped by
Samsung, which showed a 63-inch model, the HPL6315. While Fujitsu announced
a $25,000 price for its display, Samsung will announce the price for its plasma
later in the year. Samsung also displayed a 42-inch LCD model, but company representatives
were unclear whether this was conventional LCD, which would make it the largest
conventional LCD screen at CES, or if it was a Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS),
a technology shown by several manufacturers, including Toshiba, in large screen
sizes.
Digital Radio's Forgotten Cousin
In the automotive sound exhibit hall, the two competing satellite systems, XM
and Sirius battled with back-to-back booths. Show-goers mobbed both. Little
noticed across the aisle was the iBiquity display promoting terrestrial digital
radio, the supposed successor to AM and FM. Perhaps this prophesizes the future
of radio. Similarly, most car stereo manufacturers crowed about including either
XM, Sirius, or both in new models. None even mentioned future terrestrial digital
broadcasts.
This was the first CES in recent memory housed under a single roof. Formerly
the show sprawled over multiple convention centers in Las Vegas, as well as
makeshift temporary buildings and even tents. The Las Vegas Convention Center,
and adjacent display space in the Las Vegas Hilton stretch close to three city
blocks, but even so it was the most convenient and compact CES in at least a
decade.