Home Theater: Best Sound of CEDIA 2008: Pioneer In-Walls

I was too woozy after CEDIA 2008 to deliver my final show blog. Anyway, I like to take an annual stand on what was the best thing I heard at the show—after all, people at the show are always asking me. The answer, hands down, was Pioneer's EX Series Reference Class Architectural Speakers.

They were not just the best in-walls demoed at the show. They were the best speakers demoed at the show, at least that I heard. Of course, all the demos suffered from the noise level on the floor, and therefore were often cranked beyond my comfort level, but Pioneer surmounted that challenge, achieving high SPL and low fatigue at the same time. And others did not.

The coolest new-technology demo was the Trinnov room correction incorporated into Sherwood receivers. It sounded delicious. In terms of trends, the proliferation of receivers and pre-pros with HDMI 1.3-borne Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and both flavors of DTS-HD was the hot ticket for me.

And I can't wait to update my Rotel RSX-1065 reference receiver for either the RSX-1550 or the RSX-1560. I know I want five channels, not seven, which would point toward the 1550, but do I want Class AB or Class D? Guess I'll just have to get them both and see.

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Reader Comments

Posted Tue Sep16, 2008, 11:37 AM — By Dan

Thanks for this informative information regarding the sound systems. More information on sound systems is available on my new site at http://www.hometheaterbuzz.info - keep up your great work...I'll keep visiting!

Posted Thu Sep18, 2008, 4:58 PM — By Bruce in CO

So what's up with the Rotels? I just checked the Rotel site and no mention of them. I'm in the market for a new A/V and is on my short list.

Posted Thu Sep18, 2008, 5:01 PM — By Bruce in CO

I meant "...Rotel is on my short list."

Posted Thu Sep18, 2008, 6:03 PM — By Mark Fleischmann

Bruce, Rotel told me I might get a review sample in October. That probably means you'll be able to get your hands on one of the new models by the end of the year.

Posted Thu Sep25, 2008, 12:58 PM — By Bruce in CO

Will Rotel do any video processing/scaling with the new products? My understanding is that the previous versions avoided video (maybe an oversimplification).

Posted Wed Oct 1, 2008, 2:42 PM — By Mark Fleischmann

Previous Rotel receivers (including my beloved 1065) do indeed give short shrift to video processing. I hope to find out more about the new ones when I get them in for review.

Posted Mon Oct 6, 2008, 4:25 PM — By Shane Buettner

Justin- you don't do yourself or your company credit by aligning yourself with spammers and other online miscreants by posting an unsolicited ad for your firm in our Blogs. I'd normally have my web monkey simply remove your post, but instead I'll leave it here with my criticism so potential consumers can take your deplorable methods of promotion into account when considering whether they wish to do business with your firm.

If you take issue with this, I'm Home Theater's Editor and you know where to find me.

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