Atlanta — Highlighting Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Volume as well as demonstrating a broad array of products enhanced by advanced surround sound technologies like Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Pro Logic IIz, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. demonstrated how exceptional audio can deliver richer, more memorable and enjoyable entertainment experiences.

“Dolby forever changed the way people listen to music, movies and television,” said Craig Eggers, senior manager, Consumer Electronics, Dolby Laboratories. “We’re building on this foundation by demonstrating more ways to expand upon the potential of high-definition entertainment with technologies like Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Volume, Dolby Pro Logic IIz and Dolby TrueHD.”

Richer, More Immersing Audio Experience

Dolby demonstrated how the coding efficiencies of Dolby Digital Plus, which provides up to 7.1 channels of surround sound, make it an ideal solution for delivering high-definition multichannel audio in streamed media and movie download applications. Today, Vudu is using Dolby Digital Plus to deliver the audio experience on its download service to select HDTVs and Blu–ray…

Savant Systems will be showcasing its new Rosie Desktop Docking Station at CEDIA Expo 2009 in booth 327.

The docking station integrates iPods and iPhones with a Savant multiroom A/V system. The Rosie Desktop Docking Station connects to a Rosie Controller via CAT5 cable.

Features include:

• Two-way functionality
• Displays menu info from iPod, including artist, album, track, etc.
• Playback functions available via the Rosie user interface
• Docking station charges iPod when docked

The Rosie Desktop Docking Stations works with all iPod models that have a docking connector.

Savant will ship the docking station in the fourth quarter of 2009.

MSRP: TBA

The audio community needs to prove to custom installers and consumers why audio is as essential to home theater as big-screen video displays.

At CEDIA Expo, compelling audio demos were few and far between. While respected vendors like McIntosh, RBH, Wisdom, ADA, Transparent, Thiel, Meridian and JL Audio were running demos, there's a lot more audio manufacturers can do to sell their products.

There's a large demographic that will spend lots of money for non-essential home entertainment products. Video brands like Runco, Digital Projection, Stewart Filmscreen, Screen Research and SIM2 sell expensive products to consumers on a regular basis.

These video companies know that no consumer is going to buy an expensive item on hype alone.

They spend a lot of time and effort to present efficient, well-designed demos that stir show attendees and motivate them to sell their products.

Instead of putting up, some audio manufacturers claim that shows like CEDIA and…

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.
…

Some attendees at CEDIA Expo 2008 were buzzing about Wadia Digital's 170iTransport iPod player dock, calling it the "coolest thing at the show."

The company says iTransport is the only dock that reproduces CD-quality, full-resolution files stored on iPods. The product, announced a while back, is now shipping.

Other features include:

• Bit-perfect S/PDIF digital audio output
• High-resolution component video output
• Analog audio and S-video outputs for connection with most A/V systems

The iTransport measures 2.7-inches high x 8-inches wide x 8-inches deep and charges the iPod while it's docked.

Wadia president John Schaffer says the product has been getting a strongly positive reaction from dealers on the exhibit floor.

MSRP of $379 includes the iTransport, a digital cable, iPod dock inserts for all compatible models, and a Wadia remote control.

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…

Logitech has unveiled its Squeezebox Boom all-in-one network music player, which features an integrated amplifier and high-performance speakers.

The Squeezebox Boom system offers 256 MB RAM and multiroom audio without additional external speakers or wires.

Logitech, which will be on hand at CEDIA Expo 2008 (booth 1030), uses 802.11g wireless to automatically detect available home networks. That enables access to digital music files on a PC, Internet radio and subscription services such as Rhapsody, Pandora and Sirius Satellite Radio.

SqueezeNetwork — Logitech's free online service — aggregates radio stations and songs for the user.

The Squeezebox Boom also includes:

• Support for Apple Lossless, FLAC and WMA Lossless
• A 30-watt amplifier
• Two .75-inch HD soft-dome tweeters
• Two 3-inch, long-throw woofers
• A bi-amplified design with signal processor, class-D amplifier and digital crossover
• A 3.5mm jack

Logitech's Robin Selden, VP and GM of the streaming media business unit, says the Squeezebox…

DLO is adding HD to the DLO HomeDock Pro with the unveiling of HomeDock HD Pro.

The dock, to be displayed at CEDIA Expo 2008 (booth 516), lets custom installers integrate iPod functionality into home installations, letting clients enjoy iPod content on their HDTV.

The HomeDock HD Pro upconverts iPod video to 1080i or 720p through via HDMI.

With both the industry standard connectivity (RS-232) and IP, the HomeDock HD Pro makes it simple to give your clients exactly what they've been asking for &mdash a seamless integration of their iPod into their custom home entertainment system with an easy-to-use graphical interface.

The HomeDock HD Pro also features:

• HDMI extension to enable connectivity of HDMI devices at shorter distances
• IR output for integration with universal remotes
• Enhanced on-TV interface features album art in an icon-based format

DLO says the HomeDock HD Pro will ship in the fall of 2008. The company did not…

Yamaha's YSP-3050 is the latest in the company's line of Digital Sound Projectors.

The YSP-3050, which will be on display at CEDIA Expo 2008 (booth 450), is designed to fit under flat-panel TVs to provide a space-efficient option to installing multiple speakers in a room for immersive audio.

Digital Sound Projectors focus audio signals into precisely-controlled "beams" that provide multi-channel surround sound from a single component, according to Yamaha.

The YSP-3050 features:

• 21 beam drivers
• Two woofers
• 23 corresponding digital amplifiers
• Three Cinema DSP programs (movie, music and sports)
• Analog-to-HDMI upconversion
• HD video upscaling to 1080i/720p

It also has a 1080p (24Hz and 60Hz) compatible HDMI interface with two inputs and one output to facilitate digital connections with home theater components.

The YSP-3050 is XM Satellite Radio ready with XM HD surround sound powered by Neural Surround.

It offers iPod compatibility with the optional YDS-11 dock. Once docked, the iPod can be operated (song selection, play,…

What's better than a high-quality speaker with great sound? How about a high-quality loudspeaker with great sound that can also fit in your jeans?

Soundmatters (Booth No. SR-8) calls its pocket-sized foxL portable stereo speaker a "miniature audiophile portable music system."

It's wall- or battery-powered, can incorporate iPod, MP3, laptops, mobile gaming and more and it is also available with Bluetooth wireless stereo.

Imagine this scenario: You're throwing the party of the century. Everyone is dancing, drinking, having fun, but you have to duck out to feed the dogs.

Should you punish yourself by leaving the party altogether? Why not flip on your foxL and take the party with you?

That's the scenario that Soundmatters hopes integrators will present to their clients. Chris Byrne of Now Hear This, Benicia, California, thinks they will.

"Outstanding performance aside, the foxL has so many uses and is so convenient it's like an audio…