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CEDIA Expo 2003

The Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) Expo 2003 in Indianapolis seemed by all accounts to be successful. With a record-setting

CEDIA Expo 2003

Nov 1, 2003 12:00 PM,
Mark Johnson

The Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) Expo 2003 in Indianapolis seemed by all accounts to be successful. With a record-setting attendance of more than 22,000 people spread through the RCA Dome and exhibition center in the downtown area, CEDIA was certainly one of the better-attended shows of the industry this year.

More than 400 exhibitors were in every available nook and cranny of the facility, displaying products as diverse as central vacuum systems to digital pianos to power conditioners to tools (as well as the standard array of control, video, and audio technology that you would expect). From the keynote address by Mark Cuban, cofounder of HDNet and owner of the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise, to more than 200 educational offerings, manufacturer events, and the 2003 Electronics Lifestyles Awards, everyone kept on the move for the two and two-thirds days of the show.

As a sponsor of the Electronics Lifestyle Awards, Sound & Video Contractor presented the Manufacturers’ Excellence awards at a banquet and awards ceremony held on the evening of the second day of the show.

As is the case of other exhibitions this year, networking and control are where it’s at. Extron Electronics, which has an extremely wide range of products and tools, showed its IP Link IPL T SFI244, an Ethernet control interface with two serial ports, four Flex I/O ports and four IR ports, and an IR learner. It also features an integral Web server.

Vantage Controls introduced a number of new products, including its new Touch Point C5 color touch screen and the DIN Rail system designed to install on standard 35 mm DIN rails.

Xantech Corp. launched the Smart-Pad LCD touch-panel line, which consists of four items (three graphic touch panels and one digital video touch panel), with screen sizes ranging from 3.9 inches to 6.4 inches (measured diagonally). Intellinet Controls introduced the ICe AquaPad, a high-resolution 8.4-inch wireless color touch screen.

Niles Audio celebrated its 25th anniversary by rolling out the largest assortment of products in the history of the company. Products included the TS-1 touch-screen keypad, the Ingenious IR extender systems, and new volume controls.

Elan Home Systems announced a number of new things, including the RS232-controlled DTNR dual digital tuner and the D1200 digital power amplifier.

AMX announced its acquisition of Media Access Solutions and the introduction of MAX integrated media and multimedia servers. It also introduced the Modero ViewPoint wireless touch panels.

Key Digital Systems was showing the updated version of its integrated digital video scaler, HD Leeza.

AutoPatch bowed the Precis 6-by-2 to Cat-5 switcher that provides conversion and routing of six S-video and six stereo inputs to 2 Cat-5 outputs. AutoPatch also featured its DVI to RGBHV and RGBHV to DVI conversion boxes.

Crestron’s Total Home Technology Package at CEDIA comprised products for home automation and control (Isys touch panels and 2-Series control systems), video and audio distribution, and processing.

Liberty Wire released a variety of products, as well, including CADBlox software, the CATMaster termination system, and Z-Series interconnects.

A significant number of manufacturers took the opportunity to release multiple products, and along with those already noted, SpeakerCraft unveiled two new in-wall AIM speakers; two new multichannel digital amplifiers, the DBB16100 and 12100; and two multizone receiver controllers.

Other audio products at the show included the HT line of active home-theater loudspeaker systems from Genelec, a company well known in pro-audio circles for its studio monitoring systems.

Another well-known name, Klipsch, was there with its THX Ultra2 home-theater system. In addition, D-2 Audio was showing its new multichannel digital amplifiers.

Sencore was busy introducing the CP5001 Pocket PC ColorPro analyzer and the new VP400 series of Video Pro multimedia video generators.

Middle Atlantic debuted its AX-SXR rotating, slide-out rack system for improved access to equipment. It also had brushed and anodized silver rackmount accessories. Surge-X showed its emPower AC line conditioners with a rather convincing demo.

Mark Johnsonis editor of Sound & Video Contractor.

MANUFACTURER’S EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Best Video Product

Kaleidascape for the Kaleidascape System

Best Audio Product

Crestron for the C2N-DAP8RC digital-audio processor

Best Home Networking Product

Crestron for the e-Control software

Best User Interface Product

AMX for the Modero touch panel

Best Custom Installation product

Sonance for the Symphony eXtreme XT outdoor speakers

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