If your electronics don’t stream content directly to your living room, they’re just plain lazy.

TV, Blu-ray player, receiver and media server manufacturers are pairing up with content providers to cut out the middleman — that being the consumer who actually has to go to a store to get movies or music.

Manufacturers at CEDIA Expo 2009 announced partnerships with Netflix and Vudu, showing off the fruits of their collaborations.

Vudu had a huge presence in LG's booth. LG kicked off the show by announcing that it's BD390 Wireless Network Blu-ray Player now has Vudu access.

Vudu, along with Netflix, YouTube and Yahoo Widgets, can also be streamed via LG’s line of Broadband TVs. The following components represent just a sample of the digital streaming products at CEDIA…

Sherwood America has begun shipping its R-904N NetBoxx Internet A/V Receiver, which will be on display here in Atlanta at CEDIA Expo 2009.

The 7.1-channel receiver can play back both physical and Internet/streaming media from a PC or NAS device.

The NetBoxx Receiver supports PlayOn and streams Hulu, Netflix, CBS, CNN, ESPN, Rhapsody, Amazon Video On Demand, CinemaNow, YouTube, and SHOUTcast Internet Radio stations.

NetBoxx can also access personal media, including photos, video (720p/60 resolution), and audio files on a home network. Consumers with broadband access can surf the Web directly with the receiver's remote control through an intuitive TV interface and a built-in search engine.

Other features:

• Dolby Volume, Dolby TruHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats
• DTS 96/24, Neo 6 Cinema and Music, Dolby Digital and Dolby ProLogic IIx audio formats
• Two 32-bit digital signal processors for audio
• TMS320DM6446 digital media processor for video
• Option playback in a second room
• Support for conventional radio broadcast…

While some companies are scaling back their CEDIA Expo 2009 exhibits — or not exhibiting at all — SIM2 is looking to increase its presence and gain some market share.

That’s why the projector manufacturer decided to co-exhibit with Krell in booth 2912, according to SIM2. Bringing Krell’s high-end audio components into the mix, SIM2 says its full in-theater demos will “leave a lasting impression.”

Bill McKiegan, Krell’s VP of USA sales and marketing, goes even further. “We expect to deliver the most exciting home theater experience at the Expo.”

“Each brand represents the pinnacle of performance in its respective category,” says Charlie Boornazian, SIM2’s VP of sales and marketing.

Boornazian adds that the two companies have another connection. “We share the common goal of wanting to bring reference quality back to the forefront," he says. "While many brands are trying to ‘make do’ with low-priced products,…

SpeakerCraft is entering the A/V receiver market with the SCR710 and SCR910 receivers, both of which will be shown at CEDIA Expo 2009 (booth 2418).

The SCR710, designed for dealers "trying to do more with less," is an 80-watt stereo receiver that includes a high-current output stage that can drive low impedance loads.

The SCR910 is a full-featured 7.1 channel receiver that includes:

• 130-watt per channel power rating
• A/V switching and upconverting functions
• Numerous surround-sound modes

"Many of our dealers have expressed a desire to be able to support us in additional categories, and this was a a perfect opportunity to expand our offering and allow them to do just that," says SpeakerCraft president Jeremy Burkhardt. "The closer we come to being a complete solution provider the better we can service our dealer base."

SpeakerCraft, which is going to CEDIA Expo 2009 with the "largest product introduction ever," will ship the SCR710…

Dolby Volume, designed to level out audio settings across programs and channels, is finally being included in two new A/V receivers -- the Harman Kardon AVR 7550HD and the Arcam FMJ AVR600.

The original plan for Dolby Volume, according to Craig Eggers, senior marketing manager, Dolby Laboratories, was for it to be incorporated into TVs.

After CES 2008, however, he says, "we had a number of AVR manufacturers come to us and say they're looking for a solution like that."

The Harman Kardon and Arcam model are just the first of several receivers and receiver manufacturers that will incorporate Dolby Volume, Eggers seems to indicate. "Stay tuned," he says.

The integration into TVs did happen but only to a limited degree. Eggers says Toshiba launched a line of TVs with built-in Dolby Volume to the Japanese market. He says Dolby continues to pursue TV manufacturers.

Additionally, Eggers says Dolby is looking…

AudioControl is unveiling at CEDIA 2008 a new high definition theater platform.

The Concert AVR-1, developed on the new generation platform, is a surround sound receiver/controller designed for premium performance.

Don't just admire it for its high gloss front panel, blue LED display, and custom designed bezel. The unit has gold plated, high current 5-way binding posts and 120 individual I/Os for video and audio connections.

The Concert AVR-1 supports the latest surround codecs -- Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master -- along with traditional formats of Dolby Digital and DTS High Resolution.

The receiver accepts signals from up to five discrete full HDMI 1080p inputs. The dual HDMI outputs are assignable by the integrator to allow for priority switching via the display device.

Component, composite and S-Video signals are also automatically upconverted and scaled to their maximum potential resolutions.

The AVR-1 employs AudioControl’s Class H amplifier topology…

Rotel will debut its flagship 15 Series at CEDIA Expo 2008, calling the series "the most important intro in many years."

The 15 Series includes multi-channel home theater receivers, a preamp/processor and power amplifiers. Rotel says it will also add a two-channel series in early 2009.

Two A/V receivers and the preamp/processor feature HDMI v1.3 connectivity and compatibility with Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master.

All three components incorporate onboard Faroudja video processing that delivers 1080p scaling with 24 Hz capability. The receivers and pre/pro feature audio and video pathways and control functions for second, third, and fourth zones or remote rooms, according to Rotel.

The flagship 7.1-channel RSX-1560 has 7 x 100 watts of class D power (with assignable channels for bi-amp or second-zone use), four HDMI v1.3 inputs and 1080p/24Hz Faroudja video processing, with assignable 12-volt triggers and RS-232C serial connectivity for easy integration into a customized system.

The…

Integra has added Imaging Science Foundation's (ISF) Certified Calibration Configuration (ISFccc) to two A/V receivers and one preamplifier.

ISF-trained calibration technicians can now use the Integra DTR-8.9 and DTR-9.9 receivers and DHC-9.9 preamp to calibrate video from several different sources.

The two receivers have built-in video switching to optimize all connected video sources.

Integra will debut the DTR-8.9 and DTR-9.9 receivers at its booth (837) at CEDIA Expo 2008.

"They have made everything simple by putting the calibration controls in the receiver and providing separate calibration memory for each input," says ISF president and founder Joel Silver.

"We have worked with Integra for the past year to make sure all the coarse-grain and fine-grain calibration adjustments correspond to ISF protocols.

"Now, ISF-trained technicians can achieve a perfect match for all the sources and also provide the end user will simple, intuitive control over sources and switching."
…

Integra has introduced its first A/V receiver to carry the new THX Select2 Plus Certification – the DTR-6.9.

The 7x100 DTR-6.9 A/V receiver features HDMI v1.3a switching, 1080p Faroudja DCDi upscaling, onboard decoding for lossless and HD audio formats and multizone/multisource capabilities.

The designation includes the new THX Loudness Plus volume control technology. This new processing algorithm compensates for the tonal and spatial shifts that occur when the volume level is reduced below the reference levels the original soundtrack was mastered for.

For instance, by slightly increasing the relative volume of the ambient sound at lower volumes, the impact of movies, music and games is closer to what the sound engineer originally intended.

The DTR-6.9, which will be displayed at Integra's booth (837) at CEDIA Expo 2008, features four HDMI inputs and is fully compatible with HDMI v. 1.3a, including 1080p and Deep Color 36-bit video signals.

All HDMI inputs are…

Back in August, Denon told CE Pro about its partnership with Audyssey that allows certified installers to use a kit to provide Audyssey MultiEQ Pro setup and calibration.

Now, at CEDIA Expo, Audyssey is talking about it, too.

The installer program, Audyssey explains, enables custom installers to provide room equalization as a value added service to their clients with Audyssey Installer-ready receivers.

At CEDIA Expo, Audyssey president and CEO Michael Solomon unveiled a list of manufacturers making Audyssey Installer-ready receivers that goes beyond Denon. NAD, Integra, Phase Technology, Crestron and Wisdom Audio are all now on board with the program.

The goal, Solomon says, is to help installers remove "the presence" of the room from the listening experience, meaning that effects of walls, floors, objects, carpets and other variables will be minimized.

The kit costs certified installers $325, according to Audyssey. It includes the MultiEQ Pro software, calibrated microphone and preamp, stand,…