Jan 17 Podcast #618: Best of CES 2014 and Top Tech to Watch this Year
Podcast Tags: CES, OLED, Projectors, Surround Sound 
CES has come and gone so today we talk about what others have deemed “Best”. We rundown winners (home theater related) from the Digital Trends, Engadget, and CES Innovations. Follow the links for the complete list.
| Download this Episode. |
Listen to the show
Today's Show:
News:
- Google makes smart home play in $3.2B Nest Labs deal
- Supreme Court will hear broadcasters' Aereo lawsuit
- Pay-TV subs want remote access to DVR videos, study says
- Home video spending tops $18.2B in 2013, helped by streaming video
- 3DTV still has plenty of life, execs say
Other:
- Top 5 Techs to Watch in 2014
- Sony Demonstrates 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector at CES
- 11 Things We No Longer See in Movie Theaters
Amazon Prime:
Sign up for Amazon Prime and enjoy:
- Free Two Day Shipping!
- Instant Streaming of TV Shows and Movies
- Instant Access to thousands of Kindle Books
- The HT Guys gratitude!
Best of CES 2014
CES has come and gone so today we talk about what others have deemed “Best”. We rundown winners (home theater related) from the Digital Trends, Engadget, and CES Innovations. Follow the links for the complete list.
Digital Trends unveils its “Best of CES 2014” Award Winners
-
Home Theater: Audio: Philips Fidelio E5 Wireless Surround Speaker System
-
Home Theater: Video: LG 77-inch Curved OLED
-
BEST STARTUP: AIRTAME - Wireless HDMI for Everyone. With the AIRTAME HDMI Dongle you can display your computer screen (Mac, Windows or Linux) on your TV, Projector and Monitor - Wirelessly.
-
BEST AUDIO PRODUCT: CLEARVIEW CLIO - Named after one of the nine goddesses of music, song and dance, Clio™ is thin, curved, clear and beautiful. Enjoy room-filling panoramic sound and the freedom of wireless connectivity with the first décor-friendly speaker that uses Edge Motion® technology to disappear into the aesthetic of any room or style.
-
BEST VIDEO PRODUCT: DISH VIRTUAL JOEY - Virtual Joey is a software application that delivers the DISH Hopper® Whole-Home HD DVR experience on 2013 and 2014 LG Smart TVs, and Sony PlayStation® 3 and PlayStation® 4 devices. The app can be used instead of DISH’s hardware-based Joey, increasing installation options where coaxial or Ethernet wiring may be difficult to access.
CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards
-
VIDEO COMPONENTS: Sony FMP-X1 4K Ultra HD Media Player - The world’s first home media player to deliver hit Hollywood movies in 4K Ultra HD, with 4 times more clarity than HD. Pre-loaded with 10 feature films and a library of 4K shorts, the FMP-X1 is also the gateway to Sony’s Video Unlimited 4K service.
-
HIGH PERFORMANCE HOME AUDIO: Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 18 - BeoLab 18 is conceived at an exceptional sound column introducing a refined symbiosis of form, craftsmanship and performance.
-
VIDEO DISPLAYS: LG CURVED ULTRA HD OLED TV (77EC9800) - The 77EC9800 is the world’s first and largest curved 77-inch ULTRA HD OLED TV and features LG’s CINEMA 3D technology and powerful webOS Smart TV platform.
-
VIDEO DISPLAYS: Samsung 65-inch Real 240Hz FHD Smart LED TV with Quad-core Multi-tasking Capability The UN65H7150 is the world’s only Real 240Hz Full HD LED TV with Quad-core Processor to enable more rapid Smart TV execution, a 1.3-second Instant On and Dual Screen for the perfect multi-tasking experience.
-
HOME THEATER SPEAKERS: Philips Fidelio E5 wireless surround cinema speakers Philips Fidelio E5 wireless surround cinema speakers and their wireless active subwoofer, offer a phenomenal stereo music listening experience that can transform instantly into a true 5.1 wireless surround sound system.
Reader Comments (4)
Comcast already records about 90% of the prime time tv shows. You don't really need a DVR anymore. I am not sure what their criteria is but it seems they will keep most shows for about a month from 1st airing. It does play back with commercials, not as many and you cannot fast forward through them. They only record series not one time specials, like award shows. I have not found very many shows they don't record across all networks. Only cable will have this kind of bandwidth. This will never be feasible on a satellite network. They just will not have the bandwidth to play any of few hundred shows or movies when a few thousand customers request a show at different start time. Comcast in Atlanta at least has had this capability for a few months now. It is called their XOD service, Xfinity on Demand. No extra charge yet. It does include commercial that you can't skip so I hope they don't ever charge for it.. But it is nice I don't record as many shows anymore.
We are getting notices about caps on our monthly data usage. We have a 320G monthly limit. Beyond that there is a charge. So if you use a lot of HULU, Netflix, AMAZON, VUDO, WALMART or YOUTUBE instead of their service to watch shows will get a charged. This is how they will lock out that market. On top of the recent Net neutrality ruling this will create an extra service charge on top of every movie/TV show you watch outside of your service provider. They are selling movies as well now. This makes perfect since with 4K movies coming. How will that work in future. Do you want manage all that storage yourself?
In the last two shows there has been mention of separate components and weather there is a difference and what those differences are. You had also mentioned that at some point you would like to try some separate components for yourself.
Well its not simply just hooking up any separate components and expecting to hear improvements, its properly matching components to speakers to both assure the speakers are going to be powered correctly but also match the amplifier and preamplifer to complement the sound of the speakers to create a natural balance of sound. Everything in audio, speakers and components have a "sonic signiture" or sound characteristic, so its combing everything to get a musical and detailed sound, as well as involving the rooms acoustics in the scenario. So its a process and for someone with years of experience to get it right. I have been designing, installing, and calibrating high end audio video systems for over 40 years and my goal is to help each client discover the sound that is best to their ears and replicate that sound in the room it will be used in.
The point here, is its not just throwing speakers and components together and expecting huge differences in sound, although there can be. I would be happy to help you in the process in discovering better separate components and making some recommendations to help you understand the process.
I would also like to make a suggestion that there is a high end audio show coming in June (which has been happening for the last 4 years) in Newport Beach area that is open to the public and there will be many high end systems and components to audition there. I would highly recommend it, and would even be happy to meet you both there or anyone interested, and give you a tour and explain things to you. There is allot to see, and can be confusing to someone new to high end audio.
I hope to hear back from you, and look forward to helping you discover higher end sound.
Kevin LaTour
40 years high end audio video specialist
P.S. You actually had me on the show a few years ago on the differences on audio cables, in which I gave my opinion on the sound improvements cables can make. My goal has been to help more people discover high end sound and welcome any questions.
I forgot to post the link to the Newport Audio High End Show. It is both high end two channel audio and some home theater systems and components.
http://theshownewport.com/visitors/index.html
Hope to see you there
Kevin LaTour
I would also like to comment on your opinion why many people don't listen to high quality music. First many have never heard a truly high quality system, one that is designed and setup properly. Most audiophiles who listen to music exclusively are listening to vinyl and not digital. It has been found that people that listen to digital music lose there interest quickly and simply do not find it involving. There are reasons which I could explain but I'm not sure your interested, since this is more of a home theater forum.
Higher end systems are only available at independent high end audio video stores, you will never see or hear a high quality system at the chain stores.
On a separate note: I would like to see a review of the xbox one. I would like to know how well it functions as a home automation system, and how good its video quality is, if it degrades video quality when by-passed.
The only big issue I see is it does not control the DVR to set record times, that now requires yet another remote to set record times.
I feel a good automation system must be controlled from ONE remote, and must be programmed to be so simple anyone could use the system. The xbox one's control looks intriguing and as soon as it can control the dvr and all other sources I would be all over it.
Kevin LaTour