When SpeakerCraft brought more dancers to CEDIA Expo 2008 than loudspeakers, they had no idea how much hubbub it would cause.

Neither did we, when we asked dealers: Was the Cirque-like show awesome or annoying?

We received 130 comments on the subject – about 80 positive and 50 negative.

You called the performances everything from "unprofessional" and "offensive" to "a creative masterpiece." It was "filth" and it was "genius."

Then there was "Phil" who requested that we post more pictures – presumably ones that included the wardrobe malfunction – so that he could make a more informed decision.

But many of you, like "PE" just wanted to know: "Does their booth help sell anymore speakers?"

We asked SpeakerCraft president Jeremy Burkhardt that very thing. We also asked him how SpeakerCraft customers and prospects responded to the CEDIA exhibit, and other…

Frustrated by existing loudspeaker vendors, a CE Pro Top 100 dealer has launched its own speaker company.

The integration company is Advanced Electronic Solutions (AES), El Cajon, Calif. Its principals Sean McDermott and Rich Apgar have joined two other partners in founding Current Audio, which made its debut at CEDIA Expo 2008.

"Other manufacturers have had to adjust for them to remain profitable," says McDermott, who is president of Current Audio. "As they have adjusted, they have not taken into account how it affects installers. … First they cut their reps, then R&D, and then the quality of their speakers."

McDermott says his company won't fall into that trap.

As integrators themselves, the folks at Current say they really listen to installers. Indeed, "installers" are the key, McDermott asserts. "We're not just asking the presidents of [integration] companies," he says. "We're asking the people who do the…

Atlas apparently doesn't think it's too late for a little outside entertainment, releasing its new Rock loudspeaker at CEDIA Expo 2008.

The weather-resistant ROCKFA62T-BR is made from a rotationally-molded HDPE thermoplastic material and "imitates the appearance of granite stone."

It features the company's FA136 driver and a 32-watt 70.7/100V transformer that terminates at a 24-inch pigtail rated for direct-burial.

The driver can be aimed in any direction. Atlas is recommending a 30-foot space between devices for uniform coverage.

The Rock loudspeaker is now shipping. MSRP was not released.

Click here for more information.

High-performance audio manufacturers were showing off their new products in force at CEDIA Expo.

McIntosh introduced its upcoming 60th Anniversary Mac Executive System, which may be the smallest Mac system ever.

This new compact system features the classic industrial design the company is famous for with source amenities like a CD player and a AM/FM radio in a package that fits nicely in an apartment, condo and home office.

Once the company formally launches its Executive System, budget-challenged enthusiasts and lifestyle consumers that wouldn't necessary have considered the purchase could join the legions of Mac followers.

ADA Intros Thermionic Suite iPod System

Audio Design Associates introduced its new Thermionic Suite iPod system, a two-piece amplification and docking station combination.

The system brings together tubes and solid-state technologies in a hybrid design that can be set up as a standalone system or as part of a complete multiroom system.
…

The half-naked ladies, and creepy male dancers at the SpeakerCraft booth were the talk of the show – certainly moreso than the company's new rock speakers.

With the sluggish economy and the general blahs in the CE community, you'd think the outrageous show at SpeakerCraft would be a welcome respite for weary dealers, especially given the anticipation of another wardrobe malfunction (or was it?).

Was the display "an embarrasment" and "a joke," as AnthonyZ says on RemoteCentral.com?

Or was it "the single most creative booth event of the year," as integrator Lee Distad called it?

I think he meant that in a good way.

In the COMMENTS section below, please share your thoughts.

Throughout CEDIA, Lee Distad will be reporting on vendors and products you may not be hearing too much about.

The show floor at CEDIA Expo 2008 can be a noisy Gong Show. But even among the chaos, great entries manage to stand out.

JVC Professional, in part to avoid the madness, set up a couple of cinema environments next door to the Colorado Convention Center in the Denver Performing Arts Center.

My colleague Robert Archer already summarized the key features of JVC's new D-ILA projectors, but I wanted to drill down the more install-centric features.

The image quality of the 1920x1080, extremely high-contrast ratio DLA-HD350, DLA-HD750, DLA-RS20 and DLA-RS30 is indeed spectacular. But it's their ease of install that makes them most attractive.

The two best things, in no particular order, about the new D-ILA line are:

• The fairly radical horizontal and vertical…

RBH has announced its new SX Series of floorstanding loudspeakers and additions to its Signature Series architectural and Destination Audio lines of products at CEDIA Expo 2008.

Headlining the products is the SX-4T, which RBH says is a departure from the company's traditional loudspeaker designs.

The SX-4T employs a heavily braced MDF "swept-back" cabinet design to eliminate standing waves and diffraction issues, the company says. It also features a driver array that includes five 4-inch aluminum woofer cones and a single 1-inch soft-dome tweeter.

5 New Signature Reference In-Wall Models

RBH is launching five new Signature Reference In-wall models:

• SI-740/R
• SI-760/R
• SI-770/R
• SI-6000/R
• SI-6100/R

RBH says it has developed the Signature in-wall speakers to match its freestanding counterparts.

The company has also updated its Destination Audio line's F300 Series, including the:

• F300R bookshelf speaker
• F300C LCR speaker
• the flagship F300T freestanding speaker

Roger Hassing, president Destination Audio, says that the company wanted to raise the performance level of the speakers to help installers fulfill…

SpeakerCraft is launching two new speaker series for Pro and MDU installs, as well as a new dealer program aimed at helping its installers weather today's trying times.

At CEDIA Expo, SpeakerCraft president Jeremy Burkhardt announced the company's new initiatives.

"We'll be introducing a pro series of electronics," says Burkhardt. "It's called SpeakerCraft Pro and it allows dealers to do commercial jobs such as restaurants and commercial buildings.

"We've also introduced a MDU [multi-dwelling unit] series. It's called the Accufit and the products' depth is so slim it can go into any MDU to allow dealers install products into second homes and other residences. Our main concern is to give dealers tools to help them to survive and grow."

Focusing its dealer support efforts even further, Burkhardt says that SpeakerCraft is adapting its product line to work with products that the public is familiar with.

"In this economy, we need to find…

When a center channel simply cannot be installed in the right place, Destination Audio's new ALW583 in-wall speakers can effectively create a center channel from the left and right speakers.

Sometimes it can be darn near impossible to install a center speaker in the right place, what with wall framing, fireplace mantles, furniture and other obstacles.

In those instances, Destination claims that its ALW583s "can adequately provide a discreet center channel from the left and right front speaker without the use of a separate center channel speaker.”

How does it work? Marketing director Daren Egan explains to CE Pro:

The ALW583 has two sets of inputs. One input is for the upper section which includes the two woofers and upper tweeter. The other input is for the lower woofer and tweeter section. When used in a pair, the left ALW583 is wired to both the left and center channel outputs of the surround receiver or amplifier. The…

BG Radia and THX launched the BGX-4850 in-wall subwoofer here on Day One of CEDIA Expo 2008.

BG Radia says the BGX-4850 is the first in-wall subwoofer to earn THX Ultra2 Certification.

According to the companies, it's also the first product to use THX Balanced Bass-line, which delivers vibration-free bass from a compact speaker design.

The BGX-4850 consists of four self-contained modules that each have 12 micro-precision woofers arranged in balanced pairs.

The four modules have a total radiating area equal to two 18-inch drivers and fit inside a standard 2x4-inch stud wall.

All that is visible is a grill 26.5-inches high and 7-inches wide (per module), according to BG Radia.

The BGX-4850 can be adapted for on-wall or in-room use. It's powered by 2,000 watts of power and is capable of producing "lifelike playback" levels.

The amplification, digital signal processing (DSP) and control…