CES 2008

Definitive's Mythos SSA50: Is single-speaker the future of home audio?

(Credit: Definitive Technology)

You won't find a more institutionally conservative category in the consumer electronics space than home audio. More than any other industry segment, audio is one where technological advances tend to be lamented rather than celebrated, viewed with suspicion rather than embraced. And that's understandable: Subpar speakers are now passed off as good enough and used to listen to digital music, which is often highly compressed compared with CD or (even better) LP equivalents. And the music itself is coming from a dying recording industry, struggling to stay alive in the digital age, and often relegated to background music--fewer and fewer people are actually listening to the music anymore.

That's not to say that there weren't some home-audio highlights at this year's show. As predicted, single-speaker audio is taking off: Boutique manufacturers such as Polk Audio and Definitive Technology are turning their considerable expertise to single-speaker, as are mainstream names like Philips and Samsung. It's not totally new, of course--plenty of options already exist--but the clear desire for consumers to have a décor-friendly audio component to match their flat-screen TVs is undeniable.

One of the attractions of single-speaker units is the desire to cut down on the speakers, and the resulting speaker wire snaking throughout the room. The other alternative is going wireless altogether. It seemed like wireless speaker technologies were everywhere in 2007, with Neosonik's being the most impressive. The company's been offering peeks at its wireless speaker technology for the past couple of years, but it's now pledging to begin delivering actual product before the end of 2008. The company hopes to license its technology to other manufacturers under the Airpower moniker--but with so many nascent competing standards, it'll be quite a while before we see a Bluetooth-like standard in this arena.

Another carry-over from previous years was the complete dominance of the iPod. It's getting nearly impossible to find a home-audio product without an iPod dock. But unlike the bulky outboard docks of years past, manufacturers are integrating the dock directly into the main chassis of their products: all of Panasonic's 2008 home-theater-in-a-box systems have a nifty fold-down iPod dock built directly into the main head unit (as do JVC's P-Series TVs). Speaking of integration: Panasonic followed Samsung's lead by delivering an HTIB with a built-in Blu-ray player. And given that format's recent tailwind versus the increasingly struggling HD DVD, that's a trend that will only accelerate.

Needless to say, the iPod isn't the only way to listen to digital music. There are online services such as Rhapsody and Pandora, plus thousands of free Internet radio stations--not to mention the gigabytes of songs sitting on your computer's hard drive. And that's why Logitech's new Squeezebox Duet is so appealing. The Wi-Fi-enabled system lets you access all of those musical options from an iPod-like remote that fits in the palm of your hand. But unlike Apple's ubiquitous music box, you hear the resulting music through the big speakers of your home stereo (to which the networked Squeezebox base station is attached). It's not a new concept--see the Sonos Digital Music System or past iterations of Philips Streamium products--but the lower price ($400 versus $1,000 for the two-room Sonos) and consumer-friendly Logitech name gives the Duet the potential to expand the audio-streaming market to a much wider audience. Can't part with your iPod? Check out the Creative Xdock HD, which puts your iPod videos on your TV's big screen in addition to streaming the music to other rooms in the house.

Of course, that's all the mainstream stuff. For the real nitty-gritty of the CES home-audio experience, you need to go beyond the main CES show floor and hit the Venetian. The high-end guys are camped out in the upstairs suites, as well as the Sands Expo Center in the bowels of the hotel (right next to the porn show, in fact). There you'll find some of the more exotic, expensive, elaborate, and downright amazing audio products. It's too bad the audiophiles are exiled to the Sands--because spending just a few minutes with them will inevitably give you an insight into true music appreciation. Inevitably, these are passionate folks who truly love their work, and want to share an experience--not just sell you a product. And that's something that CES could use a lot more of.

The Chagall

(Credit: Loiminchay Audio)

While the mid-fi brands scramble to load on the latest techno gizmos and race to the bottom with ever cheaper prices and quality, high-end audio brands shoot for the moon. Take Loiminchay Audio, manufacturers of limited-edition speakers for well-heeled audiophiles are introducing their wares at CES in Las Vegas today.

The Loiminchay Audio speakers are artisan-crafted from sensually shaped layers of solid Birch MultiPly. The interior space of each speaker is machined out, the driver holes opened, and substantial bracing added, resulting in a tremendously non-resonant driver support structure. The speaker is then finished with sixteen coats of lacquer--Loiminchay's three models are named after great painters--Degas and Chagall and Kandinsky. The speakers are designed in New York by Loiminchay's owner Patrick Chu, and built in China.

The Chagall's cabinet mounts an 8-inch woofer in a 1-inch thick concrete board wrapped with high-quality leather to produce a remarkably rigid, non-resonant driver platform. The woofer's bass extends down to 28Hz, and the speaker's treble reaches up to a remarkable 50kHz with its optional diamond tweeter (yes real diamonds, chosen because diamonds are harder and therefore immune to the flexing of more common plastic and metal tweeter dome materials).

The Chagall is available on order in beautiful MultiClear lacquer finish at $35,000/pr, and in a piano lacquer finish for $40,000/pr. The Chagall equipped with the Diamond Tweeter is $48,500 in clear, and $53,500 in piano lacquer finish.

The XStreamHD media server is about the size of a Nintendo Wii and features a quiet, fanless design.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Anytime the format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray is discussed on the Internet, there's always a commenter that chimes in to say that digital downloads are going to beat them both. While we've seen some successful products using the digital distribution model, such as Vudu, we've always been skeptical about true high-def digital distribution taking off in the near future, mostly because high-bandwidth Internet access just isn't cheap enough.

The XStreamHD satellite dish is comparable in size to other satellite providers, like DirecTV and Dish Network.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Instead of waiting for cheap, super-fast internet connections, XStreamHD is looking to an older technology to provide the extra bandwidth--a satellite dish. The XStreamHD system consists of essentially three components: a small satellite dish to receive content, a media receiver that can store content on an internal hard drive, and a media receiver that sits in your home theater to output the high-def movies. And while the phrase "HD" is thrown around haphazardly a lot these days, XStreamHD is promising full 1080p studio-master quality video--essentially the same video files you'd get on the equivalent Blu-ray or HD DVD disc--along with high-resolution soundtracks, such as DTS-HD Master Audio.

Differing from traditional video on-demand services, XStreamHD is designed to have movies downloaded before you even pick up the remote. Users will be able to select their favorite existing titles or genres, and the XStreamHD will then preload content based on your preferences. Similar to TiVo, the XStreamHD is also able to anticipate the kinds of movies you like, so that your media server is never empty. Obviously, we'll have to see how well XStreamHD's prediction skills work in real-life as we've seen varying performance on existing services--in our experience, TiVos tend to miss as often as they hit, while Netflix is almost dead-on accurate. We could see users running into some issues if, for instance, a relative is visiting that likes different movies than you do.

The movies are stored on the media server, then are distributed to the media receivers via gigabit Ethernet. As many as four simultaneous HD streams are supported, and any DLNA-compliant network receiver is supported. That means popular third-party network-connected devices such as the Sony PS3 can be used as additional media receivers in the XStreamHD system.

The media server features three ATSC tuners and two hard drive slots, plus an eSATA port for even more storage.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Clearly, XStreamHD's pride and joy is the digital distribution of movies, but the hardware itself is no slouch. The media server also features three ATSC tuners so you can record free over-the-air HDTV. Adding to its DVR feature set is what XStreamHD calls "Adaptive Recording," which enables the DVR, for example, to properly record an entire football game even though it runs over its scheduled time. TiVo has similar feature, which allows you to add a preset amount of time to programs such as sporting events, but XStreamHD claims its technology is more accurate and eliminates the guesswork on the users' part. The XStreamHD media receiver is also capable of playing lossless FLAC audio files, which is a huge plus for the enthusiast audiophile community, especially considering the media receiver utilizes a quiet, fanless design. And if all that isn't enough, it's capable of handling VoIP phone calls.

The major chink in XStreamHD's armor is that there are currently no announced content partners. No matter how beefed up XStreamHD's hardware is, the service will go absolutely nowhere without getting major movie studios on board. We have to imagine XStreamHD will announce some studio deals as it gets closer to launch (otherwise it's not a very useful product), but there are no guarantees--and only time will tell.

Of course, the XStreamHD system will have to compete with the wide variety of on-demand and pay-per-view options already available to cable and satellite subscribers. Sure, cable and satellite can't currently deliver the same kind of pristine video and audio quality that XStreamHD is promising, but it's going to be hard to convince the average buyers to install a whole new system just for better quality movies. On the other hand, this is the kind of system that will absolutely appeal to home theater aficionados, and we have to admit we were a bit starstruck by the spec sheet when we first laid our eyes on it. Unfortunately, the XStreamHD system isn't slated to come out until the fourth quarter of 2008, but we love the relatively low start-up cost--$400 for a complete home setup, including a media server and media receiver. Hopefully there's not an additional subscription fee (beyond the per-movie cost) to go along with that, but we'll be sure to get more details as the release date draws nearer.

Polk Audio's SurroundBar 360

(Credit: Polk Audio)

Polk Audio has officially unveiled its first single-speaker all-in-one home theater system, the SurroundBar 360. The system is comprised of just two components--a single elongated speaker (44 inches wide) designed to sit beneath your flat-panel TV, and a DVD player/amplifier head unit that houses the electronics. While the SurroundBar concept isn't new for Polk (the speaker-only 2005 version was designed to be paired with an AV receiver), the latest iteration utilizes a new active (powered) design that's said to maximize the speaker's eight drivers. In addition to the disc player and AM/FM radio, the head unit offers all of the standard DVD player outputs (including HDMI). Input capabilities fall short of HD switching, but the 360's analog composite and S-Video inputs will be upconverted via the HDMI output. A USB input is also available for digital photo playback and music players.

Watch the Polk Audio Surround Bar 360 video on CNET TV.

We had the opportunity to hear an early version of the SurroundBar 360 put through its paces by company founder Matthew Polk himself. ... Read More

One solid way to improve in-car audio quality is to install an amplifier, but many people don't want their cars heavily modified. Blaupunkt's THA 555 is a plug-and-play amplifier that can be installed by anyone who's handy with tools and doesn't mind getting a little dirty. The THA 555 is a digital amplifier putting out 55 watts through each of its four channels, with an extra subwoofer channel pumping 200 watts. But the beauty of this amp is that, with one of Blaupunkt's model-specific wiring harnesses, you can fit it into a car with very little effort.

The Blaupunkt THA 555 delivers easy amplification for car audio.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

We had Blaupunkt show us the installation procedure in our Car Tech Testing Lab. The installer pulled the stereo out of the dashboard, unplugged the wiring harness, and replugged it and the stereo into Blaupunkt's cable. A third end of that cable lead out to the THA 555. After slipping the stereo back into place, we turned it on and were treated to an immediate improvement in our car audio, even though it was playing through our Testing Lab's six basic speakers. The THA 555 features controls on its back plate for fine-tuning the audio quality. It has a lower power draw than most amps, so much so that Tesla chose an amp from this line for its all-electric Tesla Roadster, because it would have less impact on the car's range. The unit itself is fairly light and small, at 1.6 inches thick and 14 inches long. This size makes it possible to install the unit under a seat or behind the glove box.

The Victoria EVO will retail for $5,400.

(Credit: Waterfall Audio)

If you're not supposed to cast stones at glass houses, it's probably not a good idea to throw them at glass speakers--especially when they cost $5,400 a pair. No word on whether these superslick towers are shatterproof, but we're glad to hear that the French company Waterfall Audio is introducing its line of glass loudspeakers to the American market at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show this week.

According to the press release, Waterfall will showcase its two flagship models, the Victoria EVO and Iguascu EVO, which are named for the "famous waterfalls in Africa and South America, respectively."

The release goes on to say that the "Victoria EVO and Iguascu EVO are slim, pure-glass towers standing 40 inches high but just 10 inches wide. The Victoria EVO, a three-way/four-driver design, includes Waterfall's proprietary, downfiring, 8.5-inch passive woofer, the Iguascu (34 inches tall by 10 inches wide) employs identical drivers (including the passive woofer) in a two-way/three-driver arrangement. Both models use a key Waterfall technology: the Acoustic Damping Tube (ADT), which performs near-total damping of mid- and low-frequency 'back-wave' artifacts, and precise damping control of midrange reflections, allowing the speakers to produce superbly accurate, high-end performance within their effectively undamped glass enclosures."

"The Waterfall designs also feature drivers designed and manufactured by French partner Atohm--the 6-inch bass/midrange unit in both the woofer and midrange (Victoria) positions. This custom-alloy-diaphragm driver achieves superbly low-distortion output with impressive dynamic range. The Atohm tweeter is a 3/4-inch silk-coated dome design capable of smooth, unobtrusive, yet remarkably extended treble. Ultra-linear crossover topologies grace both models, with best-grade components such as polypropylene capacitors employed throughout. The use of 'doubled' low-frequency drivers delivers enhanced power-handling, while the exclusive downfiring passive woofer, an exceptionally low-profile design effectively disguised within each speaker's base, extends useful low-bass output to well below 38 Hz (Victoria) and 48 Hz (Iguasçu)."

Waterfall says the speakers will be available by March 2008, with the Victoria Evo retailing for $5,400/pair and the Iguascu Evo $3,900/pair. Unfortunately, there's no mention of a center-channel speaker or I'd be all over this for my new surround sound setup.

Pity the audiophile. Home audio was once the centerpiece of the consumer electronics experience, but it's been completely subsumed in recent years, with HDTV squeezing in on one side and the ubiquitous iPod on the other. Even what's left is generally referred to as "home theater," stressing that video is just as important--if not more so--than the audio experience. If they even want surround sound--most seem perfectly happy with their tinny TV speakers--the majority of consumers will opt for a cheap home-theater-in-a-box, grumbling at the $300 price tag even as they gladly shell out five times as much for a flat-screen TV.

Best of CES 2007: Philips HTS8100 SoundBar

(Credit: CNET Networks)

That leaves the mainstream manufacturers on the CES floor to carry the home audio torch for the masses. Look for these companies--the Sonys, Samsungs, and the Panasonics, as well as hundreds of smaller companies--to continue emphasizing the convenience and aesthetic improvements in the audio realm. In practice that will mean cheaper, more widespread, and more convenient iterations of trends from previous years:

• Wireless audio: In 2007, two big trends that began to show fruit were Bluetooth wireless transmission and wireless speakers. Look for Bluetooth streaming to become much more mainstream as more Bluetooth-enabled audio sources (music phones, portable audio players) continue to appear. And with the exception of the power cord, more and more speakers will be marketed as "wireless" (be it semiwireless, or something closer to truly wireless).
• Virtual surround: Even better than losing the speaker wires criss-crossing your living room is getting rid of those extra speakers altogether. Manufacturers are finally figuring out that consumers want fewer speakers, not more. Whether you call it "virtual surround," "2.1 home theater," or "single-speaker surround sound," look for more brands to offer audio systems composed of just two or one front speakers, and--maybe--a subwoofer.
• Streaming network audio: Whether pulling from your PC, networked hard drive, Internet radio, or a premium online service such as Rhapsody, more consumers are discovering that the long-promised "celestial jukebox" is now a reality--at least in the home. Look for more mainstream products such as AV receivers and home-theater-in-a-box systems to incorporate streaming audio functionality (via Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections) that was previously limited to dedicated, higher-end products such as the Sonos Digital Music System.
• High-end features at low-end prices: Once upon a time--as little as eight months ago, in some cases--features like HDMI 1.3, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, HD Radio, iPod compatibility, and Neural Surround were ultrapremium bullet points only found on audio products costing north of $1,000. Look for these features--plus many of the upgrades listed above--to be standard features in all but the low-end entry-level home theater products this year.

Where are they now?
Virtual surround isn't new for 2008. Not only was the Philips HTS8100 SoundBar, the first 1.1 (single speaker plus subwoofer) audio system to include a built-in CD/DVD player, it also boasted a minimalist design that was downright striking. When we got a chance to put the SoundBar through its paces later in the year (away from the noise and crushing crowds of the CES show floor), it performed ably, scoring a 7.8 from CNET editors (and an 8.2 from users). The fact that the list price was dropped from $1,000 to $800 was a nice bonus, too. But similar products are now offering wireless subwoofers--exactly the sort of must-have upgrades we'll be seeing in this category in 2008 and beyond.