Audio/Video

This year’s TAV has no doubt exhibited to its public a wide variety of offers, also – or better especially – in the multi – channel field. I say especially because both with the HT (DVD-Video), a mature market here now, and with high-res multi-channel we are experiencing an explosion of gears that are always new, always more up-to-date, always better sounding (that is the most important issue), along with the ability to play video images.
This is an event that should make more than one professional in this industry think. For the first time we have witnessed an invasion of families at Quark Hotel, a fact that can by no means be undervalued. This because, if for the pure hi-fi is the man alone who chooses (audiophile ladies please forgive me for talking in such general terms), for audio / video, that often takes the place for entertaining friends and relatives, ladies are more present. Choices are taken by the whole family when today youngsters with their videogames consoles want to express their opinion about the setup that will keep them busy several hours a day. I regard this as a decisive step inside a culture of good reproduction. This having said, I start with criticisms. Yes because even though I’m rather satisfied with the gears on show I’m not also on the matter that has been used as software. I didn’t quite like that in most of audio / video rooms were being reproduced concerts on DVD-Videos (I’m fed up with Diana Krall, please stop!). This because recording quality was not outstanding, and because in my opinion the intention was that of winking to those who hadn’t made up their mind about new formats yet. This action is unfortunately performed letting them get in through the wrong door. As a result, many people skeptical about multi–channel, high-res reproduction often not knowing what they are talking about, are always obstinately speaking against video reproductions that have little to do with passing over the CD format. That’s trivial! Few, too few, have been in my opinion those who risked a pure audio MCL, this sure has got the features to make people understand the qualities of multi – channel reproductions, not a concert starring the beautiful and to some extent talented Diana Krall. In my opinion, if one has to show the quality f the DVD-Video format there’s nothing better than a well-done movie, while if the issue is listening to multi-channel music, there is no other way than deploying an array of SACDs and DVD-Audios. The more, the best means just confusion in this case.
The only warning I give to my reader is to take into account the difficulties of evaluating a multi – channel system: I’ve often happened to visit rooms with no soundtracks plaid back or with hard to interpret ones. I don’t know whether you have ever tried to assess the musicality of a system during the playback of a car chase: “maybe the signs of wheels upon asphalt are physical and accurate, but fish - tailing didn’t flow seamlessly, not to mention the Video by Ms. Krall”. Last, but not least, a suggestion to dealers: please allow some pauses in film reproduction, since for a poor reporter a zero – light room makes it impossible to shoot some decent pictures.
Well I’d say I’ve been talking long enough, so I’ll start describing the most interesting rooms of the show, in thorough disorder, or at least floor by floor.

Ground floor

Autosonik Group srl

Autosonik Group on the ground floor was showing both Akai and Nakamichi, in the stand of the latter they showed a complete system: the charming Soundspace 12. It consist of 5 satellites plus two subs containing also the satellites power amp, a CD-DVD player and two more CD-only players on a vertical stand and a tuner / processor unit, all with a 29” flat screen TV set called LCD29.

Jamo Italia srl

Jamo had brought two complete systems. The most interesting one had a 42” high - res monitor, a receiver capable of playing Video-DVDs and Dvix CDs, progressive scan output, all coordinated with the A355PDDsatellites + sub system.

Italaudio spa

Yamaha showed two very interesting projectors in their two (very dark to portrait) systems: the relatively cheap LPX 500 (LCD) and the less affordable DPX 1000, definitely impressing by versatility and playback quality. I was positively impressed also by other gears and especially by the "S540" (progressive scan) Video-DVD player and by the RX-V2400RDS receiver. I finish my report with the speakers system composed by the NS515F front, NSC515 central, NS1000MM surround, that will be soon replaced by those denominated NSm515, the SWR800 sub closes the row.

Mediamarket spa

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At Media World some Audio Pro catalog news, like the Ego series, and also the RTI series by Polk Audio.

Vismara Design

Very close to our stand we find the outstanding Vismara CD, DVD and VHS racks with their fascinating and modern design.

Nadel Italia srl

Again in the Aquarium hall at ground floor the NAD showroom, it’s been a pity they were not at work.

Music Tools

A product in the path of Pathos tradition, that drew the attention of the sincerely yours, was the Cinema X, a multi - channel hybrid amplifier. It gives the opportunity to couple the power section to double its power when playing in stereo, a unit we sure would like to test soon on Videohifi.com.

RS Elettronica srl

Just in front of our stand it was possible to appreciate a wide show of Thender cables, for any possible home entertainment duty.

Sim 2 Multimedia spa

Sim2, beside the usual, absolute quality video-projectors series, offered an innovative DLP back-projection 55” TV set, the Grand Cinema, with external projector linked through optic fiber, up-datable both through a software directly delivered to the owner and through a processor upgrade. It is esthetically noticeable and endlessly versatile – including the DVI connection too.

Tecnofuturo srl

TecnoFuturo on the ground floor was showing, among others, the new Myryads and Sherwoods unfortunately with no opportunity to operate them.

Mpi Electronic srl

NEC showed the first projector capable of a 40° operating diagonal just 6 cm off the screen wall, DLP technology and a set of mirrors instead of the usual lenses, this model is named WT600 - quality not yet perfect but a smart idea. In an alley at ground floor some fantastic McIntosh with Tannoy partners were playing, a bit cramped.

Floor -1

At the –1 floor several interesting audio/video multi–channel brands were on show; the offering variety proved very wide here too, so that I span around myself for a quarter of an hour before getting into the right alley to complete my report about the showrooms.

Analogue & Digital tecnology srl

Let’s start from the Analogue & Digital technology room where Beyerdynamic headphones and Genelec powered loudspeakers were playing. Genelec are popular among professionals and now among audio / video enthusiasts too, their main feature being a theatre-all dynamics along with built-in power section.

Audio 4 & co srl

In the large Audio 4 room we had the chance to appreciate the new series of compact multi-channel Kef speakers, besides the very good Meridian electronics.

Audiodelta srl

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Audiodelta offered an overlook of the whole, large Denon audio / video catalog, Especially interesting was the multi – standard player DVD A1 and the DVD2900, winner of the EISA award as European player of the year. There are a lot of positive rumors about it.

Audiogamma spa

Audiogamma were showing some interesting panel-installed products by B&W, that made this magic from its endless repertoire for the happiness of custom audio / video installers. Audioquest (quality cables) showed a wide offer too. Among Infocus projectors I noticed the Screenplay 5700 DLP, winner of the EISA Award, it is capable of an image with a foot of 3.2 meters and reaches a 1024x576 resolution in 16:9 wide-pal standard. Very nice and effective the excellent flat monitors by Metz, too.

Boston Acoustics Italia srl

In the Boston show room I had the chance of seeing a part of the production of this brand, that is strongly present in the A/V as well, with some interesting news for the year 2003.

Chario srl

This Italian manufacturer was showing an interesting A/V system and a parade of audio and video series. Really remarkable the new Premium series (a review of stand - mounted model 1000 can be found in #5 of Videohifi.com), in a classy dark finishing. The sound of this showroom, though not particularly detailed because of room acoustics, was an excellent example of domestic entertaining.

G&BL snc

In the stand we found, besides the wide range of G&BL cables, a quality audio / video system with Harman Kardon electronics very well matched by Infinity loudspeakers.

HiDiamond

HiDiamond showed cables for any Audio / Video purpose from insulated XLPE in amount related to cable quality, to connection and power cables. Especially interesting in my opinion the video RGB component cable, used in pro TV duties, according to the manufacturer. Another “toy” with interesting qualities is the new power cable called Power Plus+reel: it has got a shielding coat, is smoke-proof and fire-proof, in accordance with current domestic safety rules. What else can one demand from a cable?

Linn Italia srl

Linn has focused its efforts on top class home theater and domotics. On show, among other products, its Unidisk 2.1 high – end universal player.

Marantz Italy

It was a pity not to have the new *400 series amps to look at, these must have been not ready for the effort of a Top Audio. Therefore, let’s console ourselves looking at the new multi-standard players like the DV12S2 that can play anything barely resembling a metal disc, plus Pal Progressive, DVI-D output and a RS232 interface for up-grades, noticeable and very nice to look at.

Pixel Engineering

In this room I found the wonderful Dreamvision projectors flaunting, I especially liked the DreamWeaver 2 with the new chip that takes it to a maximum resolution of 1024 x 576.

Teac Italiana spa

Teac offered a large trial of its catalogue; especially interesting in my opinion was the D70 multi-standard converter, ready for any stereo or multi – channel digital signal, thanks to an up-to-date interface.

MPI Electronics srl

In this room I could admire a dream system for audio / video enthusiasts: McIntosh electronics and giant Klipsch speakers.

Tecnofuturo srl

Tecnofuturo showed a series of speakers by Focal-JMLab. A manufacturer able to home – make all the parts of a speaker relying therefore on the widest project choices available. Audio / Video catalog news range from a face lifting of Sib&Cub system, to the brand new Chorus series, with the introduction of a new tweeter and a new look.

In the audio / video room I could finally enjoy the excellent performance of Waterfall speakers and of Myryad brand electronics, that I’ve been long following, and I have to say this company manages to constantly renew its products without sweeping their catalog away.

Down to -2 floor

Dromos

In the Dromos room I could enjoy a top quality audio / video system Let’s start from Thetis DVD Player with a tube output stage and split digital and analog power supply, to shift to a multipurpose gear. This latter, following user’s choice, can be a solid-state multi-channel pre, with a tube board becomes stereo / multi-channel, plugging power boards becomes a stereo or multi-channel integrated amplifier, a good idea for top-quality long-term upgrades. Speakers system included an uncommonly infinite - baffle Bados subwoofer, the central channel Fonos, Carpos surrounds and Anthos front speakers.

Nu.Arc srl

The Nu.Arc room hosted the Musical Fidelity Trivista SACD player with 24-bit upsampling, a pure high-resolution hi-end unit.

P.F.A. 2 srl

Here we found, to draw the attention of a trained eye, a Denon source, a complex amplifiers set with Conrad Johnson and Mc Cormack gears and a fascinating speakers system: Magnepan MCI2 as front ones, MPMCC3 central and MCI surround. A lovely system to listen to, indeed.

Sonus Faber srl

A little multichannel jewel found in the Sonus Faber room: the Solo Home central channel, part of the Concert series by this Italian manufacturer.

GTO srl

Here you can see the excellent GTO audio / video showroom, unfortunately I can’t reproduce for your ears the outstanding sound.

Pioneer Italia spa

In the large Pioneer showroom we witnessed several projections, all of rather good level
New from this House is, among others, an interesting seven-channel amplifier named VSA-AX10i-S capable of 170 watt for each channel, provided with an external mike for levels calibration, THX Ultra 2, DTS 96/24, ES and Neo 6 decoding systems, and DD EX. Hanging around in the room we discover that the whole A/V line has been renewed, from the top to the lowest models by multi-channel endowment, by power, by usage versatility.

Zingali Loudspeaker srl

In the Zingali showroom I could rest my eyes and my ears thanks to the (in my opinion) beautiful production of this Italian manufacturer, always mindful of his speakers’ look. I must say that, in comparison to the past, Zingali seems willing to use a very narrow front pane layout that gives thrust and lightness to speakers’ outlook. Really beautiful the Colosseum Cinema series, compliant to any room and need.

+1 floor

Audio Reference srl

In the first audio / video Audio Reference room I found one of the best sounding systems of the whole Show: all-Micromega electronics set (Reference SACD, Minium Avp processor, Minium T120 three-channel power amp, stereo Amp power amplifier, all-ProAc speakers). Front channels with Response D15 and a CC2 central, Studio 125 as a (so to speak) surround, a fine 42” Hantarex screen, all this gears with Kimber cables. Final outcome of so much hi-fi was a clean, harmonic and delicate sound, but also tough where needed, of uncommon quality in the usual, “explosive” h/t setups. A system assembled to sound well, not only to amaze. Congratulations!
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In the other Audio Reference (h/t) room on the same floor, I had a close encounter with the 440HZ brand and I’d say that this maiden contact has been excellent. The Largo speakers system is a truly original project: a seven-centimeter deep subwoofer capable of reaching 20 Hz, satellites (!?) with a parade of vertically aligned speakers. They form a quite tall column to be matched with a couple of smaller columns for a possible surround, external crossover, in a word a really noticeable system. This front end was driven by a Lexicon lRT 10 SACD player, a Mc8 digital processor (Lexicon as well) and a set of THX-certified Bryston SST power amplifiers, the monitor was a Hantarex once more.

Audio Gamma spa

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This is surely the showroom that most impressed me by dynamics and realism of the multi – channel system. We are not talking about an easily affordable system, but not all dreams come true.

GTO

GTO was showing, in its audio / video room, Cyrus electronics and a speaker system with the new Contour 1.4S as front units, a central channel named SC, SR surrounds and a direct-emission subwoofer. But the gear that most impressed me is the brand new LinkServer, which a Cyrus spokesperson was illustrating the function of to some distributors, while I was shooting my pictures. We’ll let you know any further detail.

Sony Italia spa

In the large Sony showroom I could appreciate the wide choice of audio / video all-costs products, as usual. In any case, leaving aside any market consideration, the excellent ES series proved to be outstanding – the ES logo has been branding for years the top products by this Jap manufacturer. Impressive were this series’ receivers, a bit cumbersome but extremely versatile.

As a conclusion, a quick shot in the Videohifi.com room, with the sincerely yours attracting attention (so to say). I wish to give my deepest thanks to all those who have come to see us. See ya next time!