Chillin' at CEDIA 2006

[Wayde]

CEDIA; Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association puts on its anual exhibition that may arguably rival CES in significance to the Home Theater market. Each year many home audio and custom service providers vie for attention putting their wares up for demonstration. For complete coverage of the CEDIA Expo check Audioholics CEDIA page where categories are neatly laid out for quick view. Ill run through my own $ .02 right now but I am not actually chillin' at CEDIA. I wish I could be there!
As well see CEDIA exhibitors are trying to out cool each other. Except at CEDIA cool isnt measure by oversized sunglasses or a shaggy hair-do.
Sunfire TGR-3 Receiver: My own preference is for less expensive stuff but I make an exception with Sunfire. Its the company started by Bob Carver who some call a legend I the audio hi-fi world. Sunfires new TGR-3 Receiver is a high end Home Theater receiver it includes.
Seven discreet channels at 200 Watts RMS
HDMI digital video switching
Dolby Digital and DTS processing including Sunfires own patented Sonic Holography
The thing probably weighs a ton which is usually a good sign in your HT gear. This unit also employs Sunfires own TDC amplification technology. It provides high current power to your speakers but does this trick where it only provides as much current as it needs and only when it needs it. Sunfire claims the amps will run 20-30% more efficient with TDC. The technology has actually been licensed to other companies. Itll keep the amplifier stage of your new Sunfire receiver cool eliminating fan noise alltogether.

But the best thing is just that its a Sunfire and I could never possibly afford it so its just one of those dream devices as far Im concerned. It runs for a princely sum of $4999.
NAD T Series: Back to Earth now with one of my favorite real world affordable companies NAD. The T series receivers have been around for several years and this years CEDIA had the companies T-975 seven channel and 955 five channel power amps.
T - 975
Seven discreet channels at 140 Watts RMS
20 Hz 20 kHz at .08 Total Harmonic Distortion at 8 and 4 ohms
T - 955
Five discreet channels at 100 Watts RMS
20 Hz 20 kHz .08 THD @ 8 & 4 Ohms
Now, I hear you saying. Those are nice specs youve got listed there Wayde. But we expect that from a pair of NADs. Tell us whats really cool about these power amps that we havent seen before?
Glad you asked! These babies have this funky variable speed fan cooling system, its the same system from the M25 Master Series Amps. Weve all heard cooling fans in our amps kick on and off whenever the heat reaches a critical point. But these use a unique forced air system that eliminates thermal cycling itll even measure the input levels so as to prevent the fans from kicking on during a quiet point in the movie. These NADs run for $2199 and $1299 for the 75 and 55 respectively.


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