Digital Trends

Back before home theater, before multimedia, before convergence, and yes, before the iPod, there was the specialty audio market. In fact, when it came to consumer electronics, specialty audio was the consumer electronics market. But with competition from video games, computers, the internet, and compressed audio, the specialty market has taken a hit over the years. These days the audio market is being kept afloat by the likes of ITunes and Windows Media, which to audiophiles--who cut their golden ears on the sound of LPs and later, high-resolution CDs--is a little like graduating from a Mercedes CL-Class to a VW Beetle. The latter fits into a lot more spaces but it's not the most satisfying ride.

Still, times change, and what once was known as the Stereophile Show for audiophiles has morphed into the Home Entertainment Show (HES) for techies featuring products, seminars and exhibits related to Stereophile's sister publications and their industries: home theater, custom electronics, multimedia and this year, even digital photography. This year's four-day event returned to Los Angeles for the first time in 8 years, taking over a gaggle of floors in the Sheraton Gateway after stints in New York and San Francisco in recent years. Rumors that next year's show will land in Chicago, the home of the former Summer Consumer Electronics Show, could not be substantiated at press time.

Sony used the HES press-only day to launch a supporting cast of audio/video products for its impending Blu-ray Disc players (VAIO PCs, PlayStation 3 and home deck) which will output 1080p, the highest resolution video signal available yet to consumers. Using the label "Full HD" to promote TVs with 1080p inputs, the company unveiled five new models in its line of LCoS TVs which it markets under the SXRD trademark. Available in 50, 55- and 60-inch screen sizes, the line divides into the standard A2000 line and the step-up XBR series. All models pack dual HDMI inputs. In the basic line, the KDS-60A2000, KDS-55A2000, and KDS-50A2000 models ship this summer at $4,500, $4,000, and $3,500, respectively.

Sony KDS-60A2000

The XBR series adds CableCard and TV Guide on Screen, side-mounted rather than bottom-loaded speakers and higher end video processing. The 70-inch KDS-R70XBR2 and 60-inch KDS-R60XBR2 TVs will be in stores in early fall at suggested retail prices of roughly $7,800 and $5,300.

Sony KDS-R70XBR2