The 2024 CEDIA Expo in Denver concluded on September 7th and there were a number of significant new product introductions and state-of-the-art home theater demonstrations that left a rather lasting impression on attendees, including ourselves. Our conversations with both vendors and custom integrators alike made us rather enthusiastic about the future of the Custom Installation category even as high-end audio as a whole seems to be shrinking.
You can find our continuing CEDIA 2024 coverage here and expect to read a lot more about some of the most innovative products that we experienced in Denver over the coming months.
Note: Check out eCoustics “Best in Show” Awards for our picks for Best Products and Demos at CEDIA Expo 2024.
Ascendo Solves A Problem
A very interesting demo for me at CEDIA 2024 was of the Ascendo DIRECTOR in-ceiling/in-wall speakers. The speaker provides an innovative solution to address the needs of installations that feature LED Video Walls, large flat panel TVs or non-acoustically transparent projection screens.
The solution consists of one section that houses a ceiling-mounted two-way AMT waveguide tweeter and a supporting unit that houses a 10-inch mid-woofer that can be placed next to the tweeter on the ceiling or on the wall just below it.
The result is a speaker system that provides a directional sound that fools the listener into perceiving that the sound is coming directly from the screen even though the speaker itself is above or below the screen. In listening to this system, I found that it was extremely effective in accomplishing this goal.
I walked out of the demo very satisfied that the pre-CEDIA description of the system was spot on. This solution should satisfy those home theater buyers who prefer the brightness and color saturation of a large direct view TV screen but still want the immersive sound and accurate dialog placement usually associated with speakers placed behind a projection screen.
We Have A Theory About Theory Audio Design
Theory Audio Design really knows what they are doing and Paul Hales (the CEO and founder) is just getting started with all of this. Based on our listening experience in their California showroom and EIC Ian White’s review of their 5.2.2 soundbar system — this is a company that offers some of the best state-of-the-art CI loudspeaker options currently available.
At last year’s CEDIA (2023), Theory Audio Design wowed attendees with their amazing speaker demo. For full details, refer to our previous onsite report.
This year, Theory Audio returned with another excellent demo featuring their award-winning ic6 and iws-12 speaker drivers. The twist for this year is that Theory introduced two landscape Bollard speakers using their ic6 and iws-12 drivers. The ic6 was encased in an upright Bollard enclosure while the iws-12 was placed inside a landscape bollard housing.
The result was excellent, as the Bollards sounded just as good as when they were used in their traditional setting as both an in-ceiling or pendant loudspeaker. Theory’s demonstrations and products were so good they earned not one but TWO of our coveted “Best in Show” awards.
Marantz and Bowers & Wilkins – Dynamic Duo
Marantz and Bowers & Wilkins took over the 2nd floor of Le Meridien Hotel in Denver, a short distance from the Convention Center.
The demos that I was able to check out included the first time I heard the legendary Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus, a 2-channel setup featuring the Marantz Model 10 integrated amp paired with two Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4 loudspeakers, and a home theater demo setup showcasing the Bowers & Wilkins 702 Series 3 Signature speakers.
All three demos were impressive. Although the B&W rep stated that the B&W 803 D4 is the best speaker that B&W has to offer currently, having heard both the 803 D4 and Nautilus during my visit, I felt that the Nautilus displayed better imaging where it was easier to pinpoint where sounds were located within the soundstage.
CEDIA 2024 was the first opportunity for the media to experience the Marantz Model 10 and whilst some have bristled at the $15,000 USD retail price, our experience within the context of the Bowers & Wilkins system was incredibly positive.
The integrated amplifier had zero difficulty driving these flagship loudspeakers and the system exhibited a great deal of control in the low end and very high levels of resolution and detail.
The Model 10 is the real deal and less expensive than some comparable separates that would likely be paired with high-end loudspeakers above $10,000. When considering overall sound quality, this Marantz/Bowers & Wilkins pairing easily took our pick for best two-channel sound at CEDIA Expo 2024.
L-Acoustics – From Outdoor Stadiums to Your Living Room
L-Acoustics is a company that specializes in audio solutions for professional and event applications such as the audio systems used in the Hollywood Bowl and Adele’s televised concert in Griffith Park (Los Angeles). The company is now bringing its technical prowess to the residential custom install market.
In their CEDIA demo, they showcased several of their speakers and subwoofers within an 11.1.6 channel setup. The system included their Soka colinear loudspeakers for LCR channels, X8i loudspeakers, and X6i loudspeakers used for the surround and height channels. The subwoofers included the ultra-compact SB10r in-wall subwoofers and the .1 LFE channel handled by their Syva Sub.
The system was powered by two L-Acoustics LA7.16i amplified controllers with support from Storm Audio Evo Processor, Barco Bragi video projector, with video processing supplied by MadVR, and a Kaleidescape Strato V movie player was the source.
Having never been aware of L-Acoustics, I went into the demo without any expectations but came out thinking that this was one of the best home theater audio demos I had heard at CEDIA. It turns out that L-Acoustics has an extensive speaker product line that can fit the needs of just about any setup that is required.
TCL – Go Massive or Go Home
TCL exhibited at CEDIA for the first time and made a pretty good impact in my opinion. They wowed attendees with a massive 115-inch QD-Mini LED TV ($19,999 at Best Buy), which offers a more practical solution over MicroLED TV alternatives of the same size.
TCL also brought examples of their NxtFrame Art TVs which are similar in concept to Samsung’s Frame TVs, but I think Samsung pulls it off better – but their higher-end NxtFrame TVs do incorporate a Bang & Olufsen audio system.
JVC and Grimani Demo Team-Up
JVC was on hand at CEDIA 2024 with two new projectors and a home theater demo that included the Grimani Cinema Five speaker system.
The two new projects DLA-NZ700/RS2200 ($8,999.95) and DLA-NZ500/RS1200 ($5,999.95) – are available beginning in November 2024. JVC touted them as being the smallest Native 4K (no pixel shift for 4K display) projectors available – but that doesn’t mean they are smaller projectors in the consumer sense.
In addition, JVC’s previously released flagship DLA-NZ900/RS4200 was also featured. The DLA-NZ900/RS4200 is also a native 4K projector but is capable of 8K resolution display via JVC 8K eShift technology.
JVC projectors live up to their reputation as providing deep blacks and high brightness, resulting in effective HDR performance which is normally difficult for many projectors to accomplish.
CEDIA 2024 Bottom Line
There was a lot more to see and hear at CEDIA that has been highlighted in this article but we can’t include everything. Other exhibitors we visited included MartinLogan/Paradigm/Anthem who featured CI products which included a unique wall-mounted electrostatic speaker as part of their home theater demo.
Monitor Audio has new Climate 3G outdoor speakers, while Stealth Acoustics has invisible speakers we covered in a pre-CEDIA reports. Skyworth was also back at CEDIA for their second appearance with new outdoor TV models as well as featuring their new Canvas Art TV – making them the latest to enter that TV category.
During the show news broke that Panasonic was re-entering the US TV market but too late for a CEDIA presence.
However, Panasonic would be a great added exhibitor to the forthcoming 2025 CEDIA Expo to give Sony, Samsung, and LG some competition in the high-end TV market
This year’s CEDIA EXPO was busy and it looks like the effects of COVID on exhibitor participation and attendance have finally ended. If this year’s exhibit floor is any indication, next year will be bigger and busier.
