Volume 9, Issue 1 — January 11, 2012

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3D Being Propped Up Thanks to Gaming Market

Consumer behavior and TV set maker strategies are resulting in widely diverging TV product ranges across the world. While the industry is truly global, regional differences are increasing. For 3D, the most enthusiastic regions are Western Europe and China, while the mix of 3D in North America actually declined in Q3’11, according to the Q4’11 NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly TV Design and Features Report.

Figure 1: 3D Penetration as a Percentage of TVs Shipped

Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly TV Design and Features Report

"We were surprised to find that 3D appears to be a far more popular feature in China than North America, and the penetration rate was two times higher in the last quarter," said Paul Gray, director of TV electronics research, NPD DisplaySearch. “Our report also indicates that North American and Japanese 3D penetration is lower than the Middle East.”

The report finds that North American consumers favor large, inexpensive TV sets with fewer features, unlike other regions. Chinese consumers are enthusiastic about richly-featured sets with 3D, LED backlighting and smart TV capabilities.

The report also examines the growth of smart TV in different regions and reveals that there are several emerging markets where fixed broadband appears to be leapfrogged by consumers. In Saudi Arabia, Poland, the Philippines and Indonesia, there are 10 to 15 times as many 3G subscribers as broadband. These consumers still want to view internet video on their TVs, but the usage is totally different in developed markets where the TV is connected directly to a wired broadband line.

This theme of simultaneous new technology adoption is also clear in digital broadcasting. While developed markets have not only introduced digital terrestrial and largely completed analog switch-off, a second generation of digital broadcast (DVB-T2) is now being adopted in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The report uniquely forecasts the prospects for DVB-T2 reception in TV. It finds that a critical mass of countries have now adopted or committed to DVB-T2. Shipments of DVB-T2-enabled sets are expected to grow from 3.4 million in 2011 to 64.7 million in 2015.

"By 2015 the number of DVB-T and DVB-T2 sets shipped will be equal," added Gray. "The decision by the Russian and Indian governments to move to T2 has given the industry a huge boost in confidence, and it will kick-start a virtuous cycle of rapid adoption and cost reduction."

The report finds the new digital transmission technology is not only being introduced in mature markets like the UK and Sweden, but also in Nigeria and Kenya.

Figure 2: TV Shipment Forecast by Digital Decoding Types

Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly TV Design and Features Report

The NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly TV Design and Features Report is a quarterly update of the issues and rapid shifts in TV feature developments. The 250+ page report examines and forecasts video processor and signal processing IC market development, including 120/100 and 200/240 Hz frame rates as well as market shares for major IC vendors. In addition, the report also features forecasting for MPEG-4 decoding and the digital broadcast environment around the world, including forecasts for the following technologies: DVB-T2; TV connectivity, such as wired and wireless networked TVs; LED backlighting; 3D-capability and implementation; remote controls and chassis design; and power consumption.

This article was republished with permission from DisplaySearch.

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The Next Big Thing in 2012

By Gary Kayye
rAVe Founder

At the end of 2010, while all the industry pundits were predicting a wave of 3D would sweep over the HomeAV market in 2011, I predicted the big trend in HomeAV would NOT be 3D, but would in fact be gaming room AV environments. And, as the year 2011 came to a close last month, you not only saw companies like Runco, Sony and Epson launch systems specifically targeted at gaming for the home, but they can also attribute the rise in 3D sales last year to – you guessed it – 3D gaming, not 3D movie watching in the home. In fact, most reports say that 3D usage for TV and movies in the home is well less than 1 percent of the entire market. 3D gaming was and remains hot.

Call it luck or attribute it to inside information; either way, my prediction for last year's market came to fruition. If you jumped on that trend early, congratulations. Home theaters are, well, so 2005.

So, what do I think will be the big, hot trend in HomeAV for 2012? Well, again, not 3D. So, what do I think it will it be? Living room videoconferencing.

That's right. While all the HomeAV industry pundits are out there predicting the big trend for 2012 will be connected TVs (that already happened in 2010), Wireless HD (again, been there, done that – that's sooo 2010) and the demise of the LCD TV (that's just wrong — watch Apple sell the hell out of them in 2012 using Sharp's own TVs). Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Let's get original. Those three predictions and the few others I've read from industry writers aren't even predictions — they've already happened. Reality check!

Nope, the trend for 2012 will be living room videoconferencing — and you can bet on it.

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A Review of the Knoll DC-6BT

By Lee Distad
rAVe Columnist

Back in olden times, if you wanted to connect an audio source to an amplifier and speakers you had two choices: balanced or unbalanced analog cables.

Wow, that was a long time ago.

Fast forward to today and the lion’s share of your connections are digital, and of those, you could argue that they’re increasingly going wireless.

For that matter, wireless music transmission has even spread to the audiophile realm. One friend’s audiophile Hi-Fi shop uses a central music server feeding Squeezeboxes to their listening rooms for all of their non-vinyl demos.

Consequently, increasingly more audio devices are shipping these days with built-in Ethernet and wireless connectivity. I’d be hard pressed to name a model of AVR that doesn’t include network connectivity and integrated music services like Pandora.

But what about when you want to stream music to a beloved analog amplifier, and you can’t bear to replace it with a networked device?

Enter the DC-6BT Bluetooth docking station, from Vancouver based manufacturer Knoll Systems.

A small box measuring only 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.45”, excluding the 5-volt 500mA power adaptor, the Knoll DC-6BT wireless docking station allows you to connect any Bluetooth-enabled music source such as an iPhone, iPad, Smartphone, laptop and so on to an analog audio device.

In addition to being able to stream music wirelessly, the cardinal advantage is the ability to remotely control playback, including music selection and volume from the digital source, whether it’s your phone, tablet or computer without having to walk over to the stereo.

In case you’re interested, I connected the DC-6BT via unbalanced L/R analog cables to a Speakercraft BB2125 Big Bang Stereo amplifier that powers a beloved pair of PSB Alpha bookshelf speakers.

For a source, I alternated between my iPhone 3G and iPad2, and my primary laptop (a Dell). Both the iPhone and iPad2 use the iPeng app to integrate with the Squeezebox Server software that manages the music collection on the various hard drives that are scattered around the house.

First, and most importantly, the DC-6BT paired easily with my other Bluetooth devices. As anyone who has ever had a crummy Bluetooth ear piece knows, in the world of Bluetooth there are only two kinds of devices, ones that pair and ones that don’t.

Despite the fact that on the DC-6BT you’re dependent on a couple of flashing LEDs to tell you the device’s status, the supplied instructions are clear, and pairing it to the source devices went smoothly.

Knoll lists the transmission range as 80 feet in “ideal conditions” and a conservative 33 feet in what they term “real world” conditions. Moving around the house, with the DC-6BT in the basement I was able to roam upstairs to the main floor and to the other end of the house without disrupting the music stream or control.

In addition to being powered from the AC adaptor, the DC-6BT includes an internal lithium battery that automatically recharges when the power is plugged in. Knoll claims four hours of run time when fully charged. While I personally question the utility of the included battery, Knoll points to applications such as the auxiliary input on 12V car systems or connecting it to a portable boom box.

While I personally deride the level of nitpicking that often takes place in Hi-Fi reviews as being little more than snobbish one-upsmanship, an audio review still needs mention of audio quality. Playback of my music files, all of which have been ripped at a minimum of 256kbps, was as good as a physical analog connection directly from the server, or from any of the Squeezebox devices around the house that stream via Wi-Fi.

I’ve always been a big fan of specialized problem solving devices to an almost unreasonable degree. That’s the things about solutions: you may only need it once, but when you need it, you REALLY need it. The bottom line with the DC-6BT is that it’s a handy device for wirelessly streaming audio to an analog amplifier, it’s easy to install and sound quality will satisfy anyone who doesn’t wear his golden ears as a badge of honor.

To contact Knoll systems visit knollsystems.com or call +1 800.566.5579

Specifications:

Broadcast Distance
80 feet (25m) in ideal conditions; 33 feet (10m) in real world conditions

Size
2.8 x 2.8 x 1.45” (72 x 72 x 37mm)

Weight
3 oz. (85g)

Power
5 VDC 500mA (adaptor included)

Included Connector
Stereo 3.5mm to stereo RCA

Battery
Rechargeable lithium (4 hour use)

Bluetooth transmission system
A2DP

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OLED TV at CES 2012 – Bigger than Ever

By Jennifer Colegrove

After a very quiet CES last year, AMOLED TV is already a hot topic at this year’s CES. On Jan. 9, Samsung delivered the biggest OLED news at its press conference. Samsung surprised everyone by showcasing a 55” AMOLED TV that is supposedly coming to market this year.

Samsung emphasized that it is using RGB color patterning, which means that it has made progress on organic material deposition techniques. The RGB color approach is in contrast to LG’s white OLED that uses a color filter method. LG’s demonstration of its 55” AMOLED TV was not a surprise, since LG had already announced the TV last month along with its plans to commercialize the 55” AMOLED TV in 2012.
 

Figure: Samsung Showcases 55” AMOLED TV at the CES 2012 Press Conference

Progress has been made in many areas of OLED technology, including organic materials, color patterning, electronic driving methods and encapsulation. OLED is now ready to enter large-size TV applications. However, the ability to scale OLED display manufacturing to fabs larger than Gen 5.5 has yet to be demonstrated. Additionally, the cost of larger panels is not yet clear. What is clear is that there will be a lot of completion in 2012 for bragging rights over large-size OLED TVs.

This article was reprinted with permission from DisplaySearch and originally appeared here.

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Sony Unveils New TV Display Technology: Direct-Emission LED

By Paul Ramirez

Almost as an aside toward the end of an extensive press conference at CES, Sony CEO Howard Stringer mentioned that Sony had developed a new TV display technology called “Crystal LED.” We were able to find this new TV technology on the show floor. It turns out that it is a direct-view matrix of LEDs, as opposed to an LED-backlit LCD. Most direct-view LED displays have been made for outdoor billboards or large indoor signs. They are meant to be viewed from tens of meters away and have pixel pitches in the millimeters. This one is a 55” HD display, and thus is a greatly condensed version.

The display contains 6 million LEDs (1920×1080×RGB) which may have required breakthroughs in LED device size, mounting and driving technologies. The performance looked impressive compared to an LCD, and according to Sony’s press release, it has 400 nits brightness, more than 100 percent of NTSC color gamut, and very high contrast. One might expect this technology to be quite power-hungry, but Sony claims it uses only 70 watts.

This development, while surely at an early stage, adds some interest to the technology race for large-size flat panel TVs, especially given the buzz around 55” OLED TVs from LG and Samsung. It is also an ironic development, considering that when Samsung first started promoting LED backlights for LCD TVs back in 2009, they positioned it as “LED TV.” We called this into question, and these days most consumers understand that the LED refers to the backlight, not the display. If Crystal LED comes to market, industry might need to re-educate consumers.

This article is reprinted with permission from DisplaySearch and originally appeared here.

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New Year's Resolutions, Observations and Wishes…

By Aldo Cugnini

Taking a look back at some of the big stories and topics last year, let’s use that information to put a slightly different spin on prognostication. At the risk of portraying a naïve or idealistic 2012, how about we define how we’d like things to develop, i.e., what goals should players set to realize growth in these areas?

Goal #5: Increased Entrepreneurship. New businesses will continue to be developed — and some will even succeed — despite the economy. Microsoft and Apple were both born during a soft economy. Last year, we saw new entrants in social networking and e-payments, and both areas have ample room for innovation. There is still a chasm separating new start up that offer products or services (the former mostly in the Far East and the latter mostly in the West), which bespeaks the difference between lowering manufacturing costs and predicting human behavior. On the product side, there’s still plenty of room for innovation, with Moore’s Law likely to continue providing room for silicon development for quite some time. But as technology continues to add complexity to our lives, new services that simplify and aid daily tasks are sorely needed too.

Goal #4: Ubiquitous 3D. The year has seen 3D technologies mature, content proliferate, and standards emerge. Yet, 3D is still a puzzle to marketers. Content producers, especially serious ones, bemoan a flood of poorly-produced material as being a threat to consumer acceptance. After a flurry of activity and rave reviews surrounding films like Avatar , it all comes down to a basic premise — content rules, and technology is just a vehicle for it. Content must drive the experience, not hardware, and products must be affordable and non-intrusive to be viable. It would be a mistake to believe that 3D will succeed as an evolutionary improvement with a life cycle similar to color TV, stereo sound, or HDTV. In that respect, it could be that 3D has hit a critical phase, perhaps even a plateau. Follow the content and you’ll see where this one goes — but we’re getting ahead of ourselves — more on that later.

Goal #3: Viable Connected TV. TV manufacturers and service providers continue to struggle with the concept of Connected TV. For years we have been hearing of the imminent convergence of PC and TV — but if anything, the landscape has only gotten more treacherous. Smart TV, Internet TV, Connected TV, 2nd-Screen TV — all of these have confused the issue. Essentially, PC and software manufacturers and service providers want to capture a piece of the enormous advertising revenue generated by viewer eyeballs. And TV manufacturers and broadcasters want to ensure that the connectivity and social networking provided by the Internet is not lost to them, either. Different methods of providing this unification have emerged, and have usually failed to meet the goal. Furthering the disorder is a lack of convention as to how to link broadcast and broadband content. Emerging standards in the area of hybrid broadcast are needed to provide solutions in this area.

Goal #2: Better Tablets and E-books. It would be understatement to say that this area has enjoyed phenomenal growth this year, with lead manufacturers doing all they can to meet demand. While some are trying to predict the demise of one sub-category over the other, it appears that each has its enthusiastic following. Full-color displays, while providing exceptional video playback performance, are still challenged in bright sunlight, and while color e-paper displays have been demonstrated, current performance is lackluster as far as color saturation and update speed. Barring a stealth-development breakthrough, each of these drawbacks is likely to persist this year. Nonetheless, both e-readers and tablets should continue to please customers looking for convenient consumption of portable content and utilitarian apps; new products from both established players, as well as low-cost new entrants, are the drivers here.

Goal #1: Better Content Distribution. Perhaps the biggest change in entertainment has been that surrounding content distribution and consumption. Product manufacturers want to provide access to content from any source, and content providers want to get it to anyone who is entitled to it. So much for the idealized goal. In a nutshell, the whole content ecosystem is in turmoil, and this scares the pants off of players that have long enjoyed a comfortable ride, some for nearly a century.

While satellite operators have long ago transitioned to digital distribution, broadcast and cable are still working to get the last customer onto the digital pipe, while at the same time struggling to implement their "TV anywhere" strategies of maintaining viewer eyeballs across multiple devices. Again, multiple incompatible solutions make the situation confusing for customers wanting to evaluate their competing options. Film distribution continues its evolution towards full digital cinema, too, with a 50 percent worldwide penetration expected early this year, and 100 percent expected in perhaps two years.

Without inter-compatible standards (either official or de facto) across devices and services, expect the content universe to remain a confusing one this year, with fiefdoms developing across (and driven by) content providers. More innovation is the key here — which ties us right back to #1 above. Big business and investors, do what you do best — start spending!

All the best to our readers, a very Happy New Year to you, and please keep those cards and letters coming.

Aldo Cugnini is an analyst for Insight Media. Reach him at aldo@insightmedia.info

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Half of All LCD TV Panels Likely to be "Cell" in 2012

By David Hsieh and Deborah Yang

As the downstream LCD TV OEM and branded TV manufacturers are becoming more integrated by establishing backlight and module assembly lines close to their TV set production sites, the integration of the LCD TV panel and LCD TV set assembly has been evolving rapidly in the past years. LCD TV set makers have adopted the so-called backlight-module-system (BMS) assembly model, which has the final assembly of the LCD module along with the set assembly. In the traditional model, set makers purchase LCD modules as finished components that are ready for assembly. In the BMS model, set makers purchase LCD “cells” (the LCD panel without backlight unit or driver IC with PCB) or “open cells,” which are panels with the driver IC and PCB, but without the backlight unit (so called because they look like a panel with open wings).

In our recent LCD TV value chain research, we forecast that cells and open cells combined will increase from 25 percent of all LCD TV panel shipments in 2011 to over 50 percent in 2012. Nearly all LCD TV panel manufacturers are shipping cells or open cells for TV, and their plans call for increases in share in 2012, ranging from 25 percent to 60 percent, depending on their strategy and partnerships.

LCD TV makers like Funai, Samsung, Vestel, Foxconn, BriView, Raken, TPV, Wistron and Chinese TV brands have set up their own module assembly lines to gain the benefits of BMS integration. Some set makers have set up joint ventures with panel makers in order to secure allocation of cells at competitive prices.

For panel manufacturers, the open cell business means less revenue because of lower ASPs. Some panel makers may also lose visibility into end market trends for LCD module specifications, unless their strategic TV customers share sales performance data or they have the access to market intelligence. Some panel makers see LCD TV cell as a foundry business, with limited opportunity for adding value. However, the cell business could have higher profit margins for panel makers by allowing them to focus on efficient production, and because they do not have the backlight and module parts supply chain management responsibility and risk.

For LCD TV makers, the LCD cell business allows them more flexibility in module and TV design, which can enable greater product differentiation. By integrating panel module and set assembly, they can increase efficiency. However, some set makers may not have strong design capability, they may face limited cell availability, and they will have to take care of supply chain management and production of backlight units and modules. This may exaggerate the advantages of stronger TV set makers.

While we expect to see continued growth in the percentage of cell/open cell TV panels, many panel makers are introducing new cost efficient models with thicker “direct” LED backlights; in this case, panel makers seem to have better backlight integration capabilities than TV set makers. This could slow or even the reverse the growth of cell shipments. Either way, the cell business is bringing big changes to the LCD panel and TV industry.

David Hsieh is vice president of Greater China Market and Deborah Yang is research director of monitor and TV for DisplaySearch.

This article was reprinted with permission of DisplaySearch and originally appeared here.

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Three Marketing Tools to Help You Start 2012 Right

The 2011 CEDIA Benchmarking Survey found that “Increasing marketing efforts” was the activity most companies reported they would undertake to increase profitability. The good news is, CEDIA is prepared to help members with that goal. Check out just a few of the marketing tools CEDIA offers to help you get the word out.

ESC Marketing On-Demand — CEDIA’s ESC Marketing On-Demand program features brochures, postcards, and other promotional materials which CEDIA members can customize and print at affordable rates.

These professionally designed pieces feature stunning photography and industry-specific messaging. The promotional pieces have been developed to communicate the importance of partnering with a qualified electronic systems professional for successful home technology projects. The professionally designed materials target audiences such as homeowners, architects, builders, and interior designers.

ESC Marketing On-Demand is part of CEDIA’s effort to support its members’ marketing programs by providing a cost-effective way to reach potential clients and partners. Each piece is customized to feature the CEDIA member’s company name, contact information, and logo. Each item also features the CEDIA member logo.

For additional details and to place orders members can visit  www.cedia.org/membermarketing. Questions? Email marketingondemand@cedia.org or call 800.669.5329/317.328.4336.

Electronic Lifestyles® Magazine — Beginning in 2012, Electronic Lifestyles® magazine will publish three issues. That means you have another great chance to get your best projects featured. Electronic Lifestyles® magazine provides a great opportunity for CEDIA members to gain valuable exposure.  In addition to being distributed to architects, builders, and interior designers, the magazine is also distributed to hundreds of industry tradeshow attendees year-round. An electronic version is also available for convenient online viewing.

A recent survey of CEDIA members revealed that 74 percent of members surveyed found this to be a valuable benefit. Submitting your project to be featured is easy. Contact press@cedia.org for more information or click here to view the submission guidelines.
 
Marketing 101 Archived Webinar — If you’re unsure where to start when it comes to marketing, start with the fundamentals of marketing and branding with CEDIA’s e-Learning course Marketing 101. This archived webinar can be taken from the convenience of your home or office, no travel required. In addition, you can start and stop the webinar as needed to accommodate your busy schedule.

Marketing 101 guides you through what marketing is, what it does, and how to develop a strong brand foundation for your marketing process. Learn what your first steps are, how to develop targeted marketing activities, and much more. Click here to learn more or check out our other archived webinars.

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This Week From rAVe NOW's BlogSquad

• Chris Bingham: Fictional Hero
• Jennifer Willard: Why You Need to Say NOPA to SOPA
• Dustin Baerg: Don't Suffer From Data Loss
• Lee Distad: Tablets: The New Benchmark of the Nuclear Family?
• Joel Rollins: The World Turned Upside Down…
• Catherine Jones: Musings – Five Days In
• Molly Buckley: Oh Search Terms, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Google the Ways.
• Chris Bingham: Two Suggestions for a New Year
• Dawn Meade: 2011 Goes Boom – Bring on 2012
• Jennifer Willard: Thank You, 2011
• Joel Rollins: A Clean Slate

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LCD TV Shipment Growth to Improve in 2012, Driven by 40" and Larger Sizes

Consumer demand for TVs has been softer than expected in 2011, but is showing signs of improvement late in the year. However, inventory pressure plagued the industry through much of early 2011 and led to a sharp reduction in shipments to retailers. The result is that global TV unit shipments are expected to rise only 0.1 percent in 2011. According to the latest forecast released in the NPD DisplaySearch Advanced Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report, growth is expected to improve in 2012, rising 2 percent to 254 million units.

“Global economic conditions have improved in 2011, but more slowly than expected, and consumers in mature TV markets like Europe face continuing uncertainty, which is leading to very cautious spending patterns,” noted Paul Gagnon, Director of North America TV Research for NPD DisplaySearch. Gagnon added, “Because price reductions are not as vigorous as a few years ago, partially due to a mature manufacturing base, but also because of transitions to advanced features like LED backlights and 3D, consumers are becoming more willing to wait for peak sale periods to purchase.”

Flat panel TV continues to grow, but at a more gradual pace of 2-4 percent per year as the rapid transition from CRT to LCD and plasma nears an end. LCD TV continues to be the dominant technology on a unit and revenue basis, and in fact seems likely capture even more market share due to a weaker outlook for plasma TV going forward. As LCD narrows the pricing gap with plasma at many sizes, the demand for plasma has fallen; NPD DisplaySearch expects this to continue and has reduced its forecast for plasma TV.

Large TV sizes also continue to show strong growth, with shipments of 40”+ and larger sets expected to grow 12 percent in 2012 while <40” sizes decline 3 percent. A strong contributing factor to the growth of larger sizes, including an 18 percent increase in shipments of 50”+ sets, is pricing. Sizes up to 50” will have average prices below $1000 in 2012 and even 60”+  sizes will fall below $2000 for the first time. During Black Friday holiday sales in the US, many 40-47” sets were below $500, and even 60” sets fell below $1000, prompting robust unit sales as consumers were attracted to the new price points. Many consumers seem to be willing to give up features in favor of larger sizes for a given TV buying budget. Even in China, shipment share of 50”+ and larger sizes is growing strongly and may become the only region outside of North America to reach 10 percent 50”+ mix of unit shipments by 2015.

Figure 1: Worldwide TV Forecast by Technology




LCD TV Will Remain the #1 TV Technology with LED Share Reaching 67 Percent in 2012

LCD TV shipments will rise from 206M units in 2011 to 225M units in 2012, an increase of 9 percent. LCD will account for more than 82 percent of all global TV shipments in 2011, rising to more than 88 percent in 2012, as demand for plasma falls and OLED TVs arrive late in the year in small quantities and at high prices. LCD is now a strong competitive technology at all sizes and should climb to more than 95 percent share by 2014 as CRT fades and OLED is slow to grow.

Premium features continue to grow, like LED backlights and 3D, and are keeping LCD TV average prices very stable, falling just 6 percent Y/Y on a volume weighted basis in 2011, the slowest year of LCD TV price erosion yet. Price erosion will be about the same in 2012 before picking up to 7-8 percent per year through 2015, but much less than the 24 percent decline seen in 2009. However, with the slower ASP erosion, total LCD TV revenue growth should remain positive through 2013 at 1-3 percent per year. The share of LED backlights in LCD TV shipments is expected to be about 46 percent in 2011, rising to nearly 68 percent in 2012. 3D will account for around 3 percent of LCD TV units this year.

Plasma TV units grew 30 percent in 2010 due to a favorable pricing advantage over LCD, but as that advantage has narrowed in 2011, shipments are expected to fall 11 percent, to 16.3 million units. The decline in unit growth and weak profits have led manufacturers to focus on more profitable segments, even at the expense of unit growth. As a result, plasma TV shipments are projected to fall to less than 10 million units by 2015.

The first OLED TV shipments are expected in the second half of 2012, but due to prices that are expected to be well above $4000 initially and remain significantly higher than mainstream high-end LCD TVs, will only grow to about 2.5 percent of the 40”+ segment by 2015.

The worldwide forecast for 3D TVs was slightly increased to more than 23M units in 2011 through better than expected growth in emerging markets and Europe. By contrast, demand in North America has been surprisingly soft for 3D, and may only reach 3.6 million units in 2011 as US consumers remain very price sensitive. Eventually though, North  America will see a rise in 3D adoption due to stronger preference for 40”+ sizes where the 3D feature is common and expected to be less costly. Globally, 3D TV is expected rise to more than 100M units shipped by 2015.

Emerging regions, which includes China, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Middle East / Africa, will account for the majority of flat panel TV growth over the next four years, averaging 11 percent growth each year, while developed regions decline an average of 1 percent each year. In fact, China has become the largest market for flat panel TVs and will continue to be throughout the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is positioned for strongest growth as the late-adopting India market begins to boom.

The NPD DisplaySearch Q4’11 Advanced Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report includes panel and TV shipments by region and by size for nearly 60 brands, and also includes rolling 16-quarter forecasts, TV cost/price forecasts and design wins. This report is delivered in PowerPoint and includes Excel-based data and tables. If you need further information, go here: http://www.displaysearch.com/cps/rde/xchg/displaysearch/hs.xsl/quarterly_global_tv_shipment_and_forecast_report.asp

This article was reprinted with permission from DisplaySearch.

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Gibson Guitar Parners with Onkyo to Form New ProAV Division

As part of its continued diversification into the music and audio lifestyle arena, Gibson Guitar Corp. today announced a strategic partnership with Onkyo Corporation that will essentially form a new Pro Audio Division. Gibson will provide Onkyo with its marketing resources and expertise and Gibson will also acquire a majority of Onkyo USA (Onkyo’s exclusive distributor for North America and a distributor for Central and South America), becoming the second largest shareholder in Onkyo Corporation. Gibson will make a strategic investment in the company, and Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will be given a position on the Onkyo board of directors.

Likewise, Onkyo will invest in Gibson, and CEO and President Munenori Otsuki will take a position on the company’s Board of Directors. Together, the two entities will form a Hong Kong-based joint venture focusing on design and development of unparalleled consumer audio products. Through this alliance, Onkyo USA becomes the latest addition to the Gibson Pro Audio division, which already includes KRK, Cerwin-Vega! and Stanton.

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LCD Prices Plunge in Q4

According to the latest NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly TV Cost and Price Forecast Model, average U.S. street prices for all LCD TV sizes up to 46” will be below $1,000 for the first time, and all 32”, including high frame-rate LED models, will be below $500. Many other pricing milestones will be reached during the holiday season in 2011 as well, including:

• 40” and 42” CCFL 2D LCD TVs will have average prices below $500 for the first time
• 40” active (shutter glasses) 3D LCD TV will fall below $1,000
• 47” passive (polarizer glasses) 3D LCD TV will fall below $1,000
• 60” LCD TV will fall below $1,500, with some promotions for less than $1,000
• 50” 1080p 3D plasma TV will fall below $1,000

These low prices reflect the difficult year many in the TV industry have faced. With slower than expected demand and excess production capacity, a persistent oversupply of inventory during 1H’11 led to a dramatic reduction in key component costs during Q3. As a result, these cost reductions enabled the bargains seen during Black Friday and beyond. However, the positive reaction by consumers to very low prices is also a challenge for TV makers.

Paul Gagnon, NPD DisplaySearch director of North America TV market research, said, “The flat panel TV industry is now in a very advanced state of maturity, and the rapid cost reductions seen in the mid-2000s due to enormous investments in panel production capacity have slowed considerably. Despite this, consumers still expect rapid continuous retail price reductions… In an effort to offer more value and entice consumers to focus less on price as a motivating factor, a number of new technologies, like LED backlights, higher frame rates and even 3D, were introduced to boost demand without resorting to price-driven tactics.”

Foor the complete report, go here: http://www.displaysearch.com/cps/rde/xchg/displaysearch/hs.xsl/quarterly_tv_cost_and_price_forecast_model.asp

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Pacific Media Associates Forecasts 31 Percent Growth Rate for Worldwide Projector Shipments in 2012

Pacific Media Associates (PMA) has released the results of its latest projector industry forecasts. Although industry growth slowed in 2011, strong pockets of demand are expected to brighten the outlook for 2012. The projected 31 percent increase will bring worldwide projector shipments to 12.4 million units next year.

PMA divides the front projector industry into three brightness ranges, each associated with its own set of buyer types and applications: New Era (sub-500 lumens), Mainstream (500-4999 lumens), and High-End (5000+ lumens).

New Era (pico, personal, toy/gaming) projectors continued to see large unit sales gains in 2011, with embedded models (in phones, cameras, and camcorders) on target to grow over 600 percent this year. These embedded models are also expected to see continued triple-digit growth for the next two years. New Era projectors are the fastest-growing projector category, with sales projected to grow by 115 percent in 2012.

In the Mainstream projector category, economic uncertainty will continue to hinder market recovery in 2012. Double-digit projector growth is expected in BRIC countries and other developing markets, but at a lower rate than in the previous PMA forecast. Education tenders will still play a pivotal role in emerging market growth, but PMA has taken a more conservative approach given the potential for additional fiscal austerity in these countries. PMA forecasts the Mainstream projector category will grow by a modest percent next year.

Michael Abramson, PMA’s VP of projector research, says “We can expect the second half of 2013 to mark the beginning of a more resilient projector demand, as we expect recessionary pressures to continue to plague Europe in 2012 and the recovery in the U.S will also remain tempered for the coming year."

The Mainstream standard-throw resolution mix is expected to move to more Wide XGA in all regions, though there remains a significant gap in widescreen penetration between developed vs. developing countries. PMA also predicts that interactive and short-throw projectors will continue to see favorable growth and outperform the overall market. But, as people are opting for these interactive or short-throw features, they are balancing the incremental costs for these features by choosing XGA models over Wide XGA ones.

The High-End projector category is also expected to outperform the overall projector market this year and next. PMA predicts an 18 percent increase in shipments for this category in 2012. This will be driven by an upward migration in brightness and resolution, as well as an increased need for large-venue projectors in developing countries.

In the Digital Cinema market, the worldwide installed unit base is expected to reach 80,000 by the end of 2012, and shipments of 4K D-Cinema units are expected to account for one-third of the total shipments next year.

Sales of Home Theater projectors are expected to be another bright spot in the market for 2012, with continued positive growth (though slower than the buoyant recovery we’ve seen in 2011). Increased offerings from “Top Tier” brands in the mid-range price segment will drive sales higher next year and beyond, as will more sub-$1,000 1080p units being sold through expanded channels. 3D projectors will play a part in continued Home Theater growth, which will also fueled by sales for major sporting events such as the Olympics and Euro football next year.

Want more details? Go here: http://www.pacificmediaassociates.com/

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BenQ Debuts New Gaming Projector and Monitors at CES

At next week's CES, BenQ will launch the next generation of its popular mini projector, the BenQ Joybee GP2 (in the same black and white housing as the GP1). The GP2 is a 720p-capable projector with an integrated iPhone/iPod dock, a three-hour battery pack, 2GB of on-board memory storage, plus HDMI and VGA ports. It's aimed at gamers in HomeAV with 200 ANSI lumen brightness and it can project up to a 160-inch image.

In addition, BenQ will also launch two new 120 Hz, 3D first-person shooter (FPS) monitors at CES — the XL2420T and XL2420TX. Offering the ultimate FPS gaming experience, the new XL Series monitors were co-developed by prominent Counter-Strike legends Emil "HeatoN" Christensen, Abdisamad "SpawN" Mohamed, Tommy "Potti" Ingemarsson, Christer "fisker" Eriksson, and Michael "ahl" Korduner, as well as UMX_Xanver from ZOWIE GEAR, an innovative manufacturer of high-end professional gaming gear. Through this collaboration, the XL Series models not only hold the fundamental key to FPS gaming success, but also possess exclusive features meticulously thought out to provide FPS gamers with the ultimate sense of ease and control. Some unique features include Black eQualizer color engine technology to allow gamers to brighten the image display without over-exposing white levels and a stylish S Switch controller to allow users to switch swiftly between customized display settings for gaming and entertainment.

For complete specs, go here: http://www.benq.us/

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LG to Debut 55

In what will be the largest OLED flat panel to actually see the market, LG will launch a 55" OLED display next week at the CES show in Las Vegas. In addition to being big, it's expected to be less than 3.5 mm thick. Yes, that's right, that would be less than 2/10ths of an inch! It will apparently weigh in the 18-pound range.

With a contrast ratio of over 100,000:1, OLED is the closest in colorimetry to any CRT-based display — making the blacks the best we've seen in years for displays. However, since OLED is a new technology, it's not proven yet – so no one really knows the likely MTBF or what the life-cycle will be. However, OLED is widely considered a technology of the future in flat panel displays since they can be produced amorphously – meaning of many shapes and sizes.

Pricing? Well with any new technology, it's starting high. This display's expected to be in the $30,000 range, right in line with the first 55" Plasmas and LCDs – and both of those are in the $1,500 range now. So, expect pricing to fall over the next decade

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Vizio Intros 51", 58" and 71" LCDs in 21:9 Aspect Ratio

Today at CES, VIZIO will launch a new line of what the company is calling CinemaWide HDTVs with Theater 3D and VIZIO Internet Apps in an ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio. Obviously aimed at people who use HDTVs primarily for watching movies (big-budget Hollywood blockbusters and the majority of new productions are filmed in the much wider 2.35:1 or 2.39:1 aspect ratios, while today's HDTVs have a standard aspect ratio of 16:9), the resolutions will also allow viewers to view full-HD 16:9 programming side-by-side or multiple Internet Apps at once.

Three CinemaWide sets are being introduced: the 50-inch XVT3D500CM, the 58-inch XVT3D580CM and the 71-inch XVT3D710CM. All three are 2560×1080-resolution LCDs and the first two are 120Hz while the 71" is 240Hz.

For more details, go here: http://www.vizio.com/ces/cinemawide/overview

Kaleidescape has announced it's finally shipping the M700 Disc Vault, a server-based system that simplifies the process of adding movies and music to a Kaleidescape system. All you do is load up to to 320 discs into the M700 Disc Vault’s carousel, where their contents are quickly copied onto the Kaleidescape system. This process is fully automated and requires no additional work on the part of the user. Once copied, a Blu-ray Disc must remain in the disc vault to enable playback of the digital copy from the server. DVDs and CDs may either be ejected or left in the M700 Disc Vault for safe storage and easy accessibility. The M700 Disc Vault makes it easier than ever to build and enjoy a personal movie collection.

The system lists for under $7,500 and you can see all the details here: http://www.kaleidescape.com/products/disc-vaults/m700/

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Aaudio Announces Reference-Level, Air-Powered Turntable and Tonearm by Bergmann of Denmark

Aaudio Imports is bringing the Sleipner Airbearing Turntable by Bergmann Audio of Denmark, a leading specialist in airbearing turntables and tonearms. According to Aaudio, the Sleipner is a reference-level turntable powered by airbearing technology. It includes a linear tracking airbearing tonearm, a digital motor-controlled air supply, and a vacuum clamp to stabilize records. In Danish, "Sleipner" means smooth or gliding, and refers to what is sometimes called the best of all horses, the eight-legged flying stallion ridden by Odin, chief among the mythological Nordic gods. In English, Sleipner stands for a supreme achievement in turntable technology. (Yes, this is exactly what was written in their press release.)

The Sleipner's plinth, or base, is a six-layer sandwich of different materials for optimal resonance control. The sandwich consists of three boards of powdered granite/epoxy binding material, two layers of aluminum, and one layer of bitumen, all covered in a 12-mm thick coat of hand-painted and polished polyvinyl. The plinth stabilizes the tonearm, and rests on a set of sturdy, adjustable Ceraball feet, which house vibration-controlling ceramic ball-bearings inside aluminum housings. A 20.2-pound aluminum platter rests atop the plinth, and atop a 21-mm record mat made of two layers of polycarbonate and one layer of acrylic. The Sleipner's air supply both supports and centers the platter and provides a thin, dry film of smoothly flowing air, creating a silent, friction-free movement.

The Sleipner Airbearing Turntable with Airbearing Tonearm lists for $48,100 to $50,200. You can see all the specs here: http://www.aaudioimports.com/

Sleipner (the horse, not the turntable) photo via Wikipedia

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ZVOX Debuts $200 & $300 Sound Bars

ZVOX has expanded its lineup of Z-Base sound bars. The three new models, priced from $199.99 to $299.99, use high quality speakers and amplifiers, wood (MDF) cabinets and ZVOX's proprietary PhaseCue II virtual surround sound system.

The Z-Base 220, about the size of a DVD player (with no external speakers, subwoofers or speaker wires), is designed to be placed on a shelf below the TV (22" to 32"). It's integrated with full-range speakers, a 5.25" powered subwoofer, a 35-watt amplifier and PhaseCue II virtual surround sound – all in a single 17" x 14.5" x 3.4" cabinet. It's priced at $199.99

The Z-Base 320, 24" wide and 11.5" deep, is designed to be placed on a shelf below the TV (27" to 46"). It also has three full-range speakers, a 5.25" powered subwoofer, a 40-watt amplifier and PhaseCue II virtual surround sound all in one cabinet. It's priced at $249.99

Finally, the Z-Base 420 is for TVs of at least 55". It's specified to produce 3D sound from five full range speakers, a 45-watt amplifier and a 5.25" powered subwoofer using PhaseCue II virtual surround sound in a cabinet that's 28" x 14.5" x 3.4". It's priced at $299.99

All the specs can be found here: http://www.zvoxaudio.com/

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SnapAV Ships Episode SoundBars

At only 2.75" deep, the new SnapAV ES-300-SNDBAR-40-BLK and ES-300-SNDBAR-30-BLK single soundbars are actually three independent speakers in one. They consist of left, center and right channels and are designed to be used with all sizes of HDTVs. Features include a built-in IR repeating system, integrated wire management where the IR cable and all speaker connections are made through a single terminal cup and a wall bracket for mounting below the TV, plus a "kickstand" for setting them on a shelf.

Both speakers have four 3" PP injection cones with high temp voice coils, three 3/4" Silk Dome, Neo-Magnet, ferrofluid cooled tweeters, and 8-ohm impedance. The ES-300-SNDBAR-30-BLK offers a power rating of 80-watts RMS and 200-watt peak, while the ES-300-SNDBAR-40-BLK has a power rating of 90-watts RMS and a 225-watt peak.

You can find all the specs here: http://www.snapav.com/c-102-soundbars-amp-on-walls.aspx

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Aaudio Imports to Debut $8,000 Speaker Cables

We don't think we can do these $8,000 speaker cables justice, so we're just going to copy and paste from the press release:

Stage III’s KRAKEN Power Cords are handmade masterpieces of connectivity, representing the culmination of 16 years of research, materials evaluation, testing and listener feedback. The audiophile-grade cable uses silver ribbon conductors with air dielectrics to provide audio systems with remarkable, undeniable improvements in sonic performance. Delivering a breakthrough in AC delivery, KRAKEN power cords impart to musical reproduction a sensation of rock-solid image stability and natural flow. As if powered by limitless energy, sounds breathe with effortless clarity and absolute resolution.

Named after a mythological sea monster of gigantic proportions, KRAKEN cables can be used with all types of audio and video equipment. They enhance the performance of a wide range of audio components, regardless of power requirements, while offering an unprecedented level of precision and control.

Yep, that's what it says. And, there's more:

The KRAKEN’s custom carbon fiber plug housings, also handmade and polymer-filled, help eliminate external vibrations. Exclusive Hyperion Ceramic plugs use a palladium-plated silver/copper alloy for their electrical contacts. The result is definition, clarity and a noise floor never thought possible, even without the use of a dedicated power conditioner.

Stage III’s KRAKEN Power Cords are available now from Aaudio Imports at a suggested price of $8,400 for 1.5 meters with each additional 0.5 meter costing $2,800.

See them here: http://www.stage3concepts.com/

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AudioControl Debuts 120-Watt Home Theater Receiver

Today at CES, AudioControl announced the launch of the Concert AVR-4 HD Home Theater Receiver. According to AudioControl, the Concert AVR-4 HD fills a gap in the market for an audiophile quality receiver at a great price. It's a seven-channel, 120-watts per channel amplifier with 1080p HDMI switching up to five sources, HDMI1.4, 3D video pass through, plus Dolby Volume, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio Lossless HD decoding formats and IP and RS232 control. It can be rack-mounted or shelf-mounted.  

Although promoted as a price-competitive amplifier, no price was given and it's still not posted on the AudioControl website.

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Pass Intros New Xs Amplifier Series

Pass Labs today introduced two new amplifiers ahead of the annual CES show next week in the form of the 300-watt Xs-300 and 100-watt Xs–150.

Part of Pass's forthcoming Xs-Series of power amplifiers, they both use a double-stacked chassis where the power supply and current source are in one chassis and the input and main output stage are in the other. Pass Labs says the separate power supplies enable lower electromagnetic noise, twice as much storage capacitance as earlier Pass Labs amps, banks of high-speed/soft-recovery rectifiers, improved high-frequency noise filters, bigger and better transformers, improved passive decoupling, massive heat sinks and lower standby currents.

The Xs-300 and Xs–150 Amplifiers will be available in the first quarter of 2012 and will be priced at $85,000 and $65,000 per pair, respectively.

All the specs can be found here: https://passlabs.com/products/amplifiers

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BenQ Launches 2000 Lumen 3D Projector

BenQ today introduced the company's first full-HD 3D home cinema projector, the W7000. Powered by DLP Link, the W7000 delivers 1080p 3D images with specified 2000 ANSI lumen brightness and a 50,000:1 contrast ratio. Integrated with HDMI 1.4a using TI's BrilliantColor DLP system, the W7000 features VIDI lighting technology that the company says increases brightness by 15 percent for red and blue.

For flexible placement in the home, the W7000 offers a 1.5:1 zoom range and 1.62 to 2.43 throw ratio. The projector's H+V lens shift technology provides up to 125 percent vertical and 40 percent horizontal lens shift adjustment with zero vertical offset. This allows the focal point of the lens to be adjusted in home theaters where center placement isn't possible. Also, Panamorph lens compatibility allows viewers to show 2.35:1 aspect-format video in its original widescreen format at maximum resolution with no image scaling or letterboxing.

The W7000 will be available later in Q1 2012 with a list price of $3,999. You can see all the details here: http://www.benq.us/product/projector/w700

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Philips Launches Commercial Glasses-Free 3D Displays

MMD, the exclusive marketer and reseller for Philips-branded LCD monitors and commercial signage displays worldwide, announced today a new line of no-glasses 3D displays with auto-stereoscopic technology, the 23” BDL23301VS, 42” BDL4251VS and 55” BDL5571VS. Developed in conjunction with Dimenco, a technology company in the field of no-glasses 3D, the new displays can achieve up to 28 viewing angles via lenticular technology.

The no-glasses 3D display line can play both 2D and 3D (2D+Z) images and videos and are aimed at the digital signage market initially. The integrated Dimenco rendering core that works with the Dimenco interface format (2D +Z), gives both content creators and end users control of the depth-effect characteristics of their 3D images and offers creation of stunning and eye-catching 3D content.

The Philips 23” BDL23301VS and 42” BDL4251VS will be available in January 2012 and the 55” BDL5571VS in February 2012.

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Control4 Launches Video Intercom Solutions with New Touch Screens and Door Station

Control4 showed new video intercom solutions at CES today, which include the Control4 7” Portable Touch Screen with Camera, the Control4 7” In-Wall Touch Screen with Camera and the Control4 Door Station. This new video intercom product family provides an integrated camera (H.264) with integrated speakers and dual microphones utilizing beam forming and wideband audio with message broadcasting, as well as the ability to control auto-answer and “do not disturb” settings.

Central to the video intercom solutions is the new Control4 7” Portable Touch Screen with Camera, a capacitive touch screen that is dealer-configurable as a portable or tabletop solution for use on a countertop, desk, end-table or nightstand. It supports Wireless-N and Ethernet connectivity, and is powered either by Power over Ethernet (PoE) or AC power options. Rounding out the Control4 video intercom solutions is the new Control4 Door Station that enables consumers to see who’s requesting entry from the safety and convenience of their home or office.

The Control4 7” Portable Touch Screen with Camera will list for $999 and can be ordered now for expected availability in February. The Door Station comes in three colors (satin nickel, satin black and bronze), lists for $799 and is expected in Q2 2012. For pre-installations, dealers can order Door Station Back Boxes now for availability in February. The Control4 7” In-Wall Touch Screen with Camera lists for $999 and is also expected in Q2 2012.

Complete specs are here: http://www.control4.com/residential/products/security/door-station/

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Channel Vision Adds 4-Channel Camera Server

Channel Vision has introduced a new W-4001 Web Camera Server to its line of IP surveillance solution products. The product has a built-in web server, allowing up to four cameras to be converted to digital and viewed over the network or Web. Video can be viewed in real-time over the Internet using the included CMS or locally on a PC or Mac.

The W-4001 features H.264/MJPEG/ MPEG4 video compression, supports two-way audio and lists for $665.

For more details, click here: http://www.channelvision.com/index.php/NEW-Products/4-Channel-Web-Camera-Server-W-4001/flypage.tpl.html

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Sanus Ships Pre-Loaded Racks

The second generation of SANUS Component 2100 Series AV Racks are now shipping. These pre-loaded racks come with everything you need for an out-of-the-box solution but also offer the ability to customize for individual applications.

New features include:

• Quick-release back and side panels
• Improved air circulation with added cooling vents on top and bottom
• Two 3U opening panels on top of rack for added flexibility with venting or blanking panels
• Vented shelves with included protective back stops to keep AV gear in place
• Side panel lock feature (with optional accessory)

Existing features include:

• Heavy-gauge welded steel construction
• Integrated wire management with space for tie downs
• Swivel casters and adjustable feet
• Pre-assembled vented shelves and blanking panels
• Lockable tempered-glass door with quarter-turn handle
• 3U opening panels can be placed on top or bottom of rear rack door for greater flexibility
• All racks are gangable
• Space: 15U (CFR2115); 27U (CFR2127); 36U (CFR2136); 44U (CFR2144)
• Weight capacity: 500 lbs. (CFR2115); 750 lbs. (CFR2127); 800 lbs. (CFR2136); 1,000 lbs. (CFR2144)

Want more details? Go here: http://www.sanus.com/us/en/searchkeyword/results/keywords/2100+series+av

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Da-Lite Reformulates Ultra Wide Angle Surface

Da-Lite has reformulated the Ultra Wide Angle fabric to increase the contrast on this innovative screen surface. The viewing specifications of the Ultra Wide Angle surface remain virtually identical to the original, including its viewing half-angle of 78 degrees and a 0.65 gain.

The new light grey tint for enhanced contrast means that Ultra Wide Angle now performs better in mild ambient lighting conditions, such as those found in meeting environments with typical task light levels.

The Ultra Wide Angle flexible rear projection fabric is formulated for applications where exceptionally wide viewing angles are desired and ambient light is controlled. With its ability to diffuse light uniformly, the Ultra Wide Angle fabric is ideal for installations using multi-projector edge blending, as well as wide format screens with short focal length projection lenses. With its advanced performance characteristics, Ultra Wide Angle fabric dramatically reduces the likelihood of hot spotting.

Ultra Wide Angle is available in seamless sizes up to 16 feet in height. For more information on the Ultra Wide Angle fabric, go here: http://www.da-lite.com/products/selecting.php?viewMode=rear#anchor-14

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Roku's Streaming Stick Adds Streaming to Any TV with HDMI

Roku has announced a unique way to add streaming movies and TV shows to any HDTV with a spare HDMI port. Called the Roku Start Stick, it's a Flash- or USB-style stick that has built-in Wi-Fi, plus a processor, memory and software that allows you to stream content (such as Netflix) from Roku's partners to the TV.

Best Buy has jumped on the Roku Streaming Stick bandwagon by already bundling it with all new Insignia-brand HDTVs (those are Best Buy's branded TV). But, remember, it's actually compatible with any TV with a HDMI port. The Roku Streaming Stick doesn't require any cables, additional power or even a remote — Roku says it can be totally controlled by the TV's remote.

The Streaming Stick isn't on Roku website as it won't be officially launched until next week's CES show. Find out more about Roku the company at: http://www.roku.com/

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Cineak's Latest Home Theater Chairs Have Articulating Headrests

Cineak says that when seated in the reclined or inclined position while watching movies, the key element to ultimate comfort is the ability to adjust the position of your headrest, which allows for proper neck support while viewing an image on the screen no matter what recline position the back rest is in.

Most of CINEAK's theater seating products have this feature already and now CINEAK offers this feature as a motorized option. At the push of a button, the headrest moves forward or backward and can be adjusted to the desired viewing position. The push button is available in black or silver.

Want to see it in action? Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68C5A04ROZo&feature=youtu.be

Or go here to see all the specs: http://www.cineak.com/?navigatieid=28

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Premier Ships Cable Flat Panel Mount

Premier Mounts is finally shipping the CMF, a fixed cable mount featuring the MagnaGuide installation plate.

The patent-pending MagnaGuide installation plate allows the cable adapter to snap onto the back plate and slide easily into place. This makes it easy for the installer to secure the flat panel in the right position without having to see where the mounting base is located on the wall. The kickstand feature holds the flat-panel up to 4.28 inches away from the wall to allow room to connect any AV components. Basically, it hangs a TV a lot like you'd hang a mirror on the wall.

The V-shaped 6×3-inch back plate mounts easily on a single stud and is designed to hold flat-panel displays up to 65 lbs. with a VESA mounting pattern ranging from 200×200 mm to 600×400 mm. The four flat panel anchors are installed to the back of the display.

To adjust the tension, the cables are pulled until tight and the excess is wrapped around the adapter’s teeth to hold it in place. The self-adjusting cable mount holds the display close to the wall while the teeth ensure that the cables are out of the way.

An in-wall box, such as the GB-INWAVP, can also be added for additional equipment storage and to hide power cables behind the display.

Here are all the specs: http://www.mounts.com

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Peerless-AV Ships Wireless Mounting Solutions

Building on the popular HD Flow wireless HDMI transmission systems, Peerless-AV has debuted a series of creative wirelessly integrated HD mounts for home and pro applications. PeerAir Wireless Mounting Solutions is the world’s first fully integrated line of indoor and outdoor wireless mounts that can stream Full HD 1080p 60Hz content to flat panel screens and projectors up to 131′ away. These mounts introduce new installation possibilities by eliminating time consuming, sometimes prohibitive, and expensive cable runs opening up screen and projector placement opportunities that previously were not possible.

PeerAir products are simple-to-use systems that get wireless content streaming in less than three minutes. Each product comes with everything needed to deliver wireless content from source to screen, including a Peerless-AV mount, HD Flow Wireless Multimedia Kit, power and cabling provisions, plus short-length HDMI cables specified to fit neatly behind the screen. Just add an electrical outlet.

Wireless Indoor Mounts

• PeerAir Wireless Mounting Solutions include models to fit from 37" to 65" screens and projectors weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Peerless-AV has introduced the following models for indoor use:
• PeerAir Wireless Tilt Wall Mount for Flat Panel TVs 37" to 63"″ (WL-ST660-100)
• PeerAir Wireless Articulating Wall Mount for Flat Panel TVs 42" to 60"″ (WL-SA761PU-100)
• PeerAir Wireless Flat Panel Cart for Flat Panel TVs 47" to 65"″ (WL-SR560M-100)
• PeerAir Wireless Projector Mount for projectors up to 50 pounds (WL-PRG-UNV-100)

Outdoor Wireless Mounting Solutions

• PeerAir Outdoor Wireless Mounting Solutions provide a weather-resistant way to mount flat panel screens and stream Full HD 1080p wireless content to backyard patios, outdoor restaurant seating areas, or other outdoor areas where entertainment or digital signage is desired, without the need to run signal cables.
• Peerless-AV has introduced the following models for outdoor use:
• PeerAir Wireless Outdoor Articulating Wall Mount for Flat Panel TVs 42" to 60"″ (WL-ESA763PU-100)
• PeerAir Wireless Outdoor Tilt Wall Mount for Flat Panel TVs 42" to 60" (WL-EPT650-100)

Want more specs? Go here: www.peerless-av.com

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AudioControl Debuts New Surround Processor

AudioControl will launch a new Maestro series surround sound processor in the form of the M4 HD – a preamplifier and surround sound processor with 7.1 sound, five HDMI 1.4 inputs, 3D video pass-through inputs (or 1080p upscaling), Dolby Volume, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio Lossless HD decoding formats and RS 232 and IR control.

This will all be launched at CES, so there are few details on the M4, but when they do officially launch it, it will be posted here: http://www.audiocontrol.com/t35/16462/Theater-Processors-and-Receivers.html

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Channel Vision Adds Southeast Regional Account Executive

Channel Vision has announced the hiring of Adam Levin as its new southeast regional account executive. He will be responsible for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina.

To read the complete press release online, click here.

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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HomeAV Edition out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!

For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100% opinionated.  We not only report the news and new product stories of the high-end HomeAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions.  That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better.  But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories.  Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different:  we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad). 

Don’t like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.

To send me feedback, don't reply to this newsletter – instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas: Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com

A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty).  I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX.  So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue – which is now known as InfoComm IQ.  rAVe Publications has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.

rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA, launched in February, 2004.

To read more about my background, our team, and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com

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Copyright 2012 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – 919/969-7501. Email: sara@ravepubs.com

rAVe HomeAV Edition contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors.