New AV Products Debuted at the International Sound & Sight Exhibition 2012

Catering to an audience with elevated tastes in audio, the International Sound & Sights Exhibition returns for its 2012 iteration. Among the highlights, Yamaha and Pioneer flaunt their new AV receivers, JVC and Sony unveil renewed home theater projectors, while Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser showcase their new headphones.

By Hurrairah bin Sohail,Ng Chong Seng - 6 Nov 2012

Announcing the Yamaha Aventage A20 Series

For those unaware, Yamaha has two main series under their AV receivers (AVR) line-up: V Series and Aventage. The current RX-V73 series was introduced recently, and during the Sound & Sight Exhibition 2012 over the weekend, the Japanese home cinema audio and consumer electronics specialist took the opportunity to unveil its latest Aventage RX-A20 line-up to the local audience.

We first caught a glimpse of the new Aventage A20 series at IFA 2012 in September, but to recap, the existing models in the A10 series - RX-A810, RX-A1010, RX-A2010, and RX-A3010 - are now succeeded by new models, namely the RX-A820, RX-A1020, RX-A2020, and RX-A3020. Similar to the RX-V473, RX-V573, and RX-V673, the new A20 series of AVRs gains support for Apple’s AirPlay wireless streaming protocol. With AirPlay, users can play music that's on their iPod, iPhone, or iPad, as well as music in their iTunes library on their computers straight from the receiver, along with metadata such as song title, artist name, and album artwork. The front of the receivers even sport a USB connection for these iOS devices; when plugged in, the USB port will charge the device at the same time.

All four AVRs in the A20 series also support 4K video content pass-through and up-scaling, a Virtual Presence Speaker function with Dialog Lift for more accurate positioning of dialogs, and Dialog Level Adjustment for fine-tuning the balance of sound for dialogs and vocals. Yamaha’s Parametric Room Acoustic (YPAO) calibration technology that uses Reflected Sound Control (RSC) is also present on all models. However, while all the four AVRs are capable of multi-point measurement, only the RX-A3020 and RX-A2020 come with a new microphone that touts a more precise data capture. The flagship RX-A3020 also performs speaker angle measurements.

The new flagship in the Aventage series is the RX-A3020, a 9.2-channel AV receiver with 11.2-channel expandability. Other features include noise reduction using the HQV Vida processor, AirPlay support, and multi-zone HDMI output.

The RX-A820, RX-A1020 and RX-A2020 also feature dual HDMI outputs with a Zone B HDMI output for simultaneous HDTV viewing (of the same source) in two different rooms. Multi-zone control is further enhanced on the RX-A3020 with a Zone 2 HDMI that enables simultaneous delivery of content from two different HDMI sources to two separate zones (including 5.1-channel audio to the second zone). It can even bitstream video and multi-channel audio to Zone 4.

A bevy of controls and connections reside behind the RX-A3020's front panel. Notice the 5V, 2.1A USB connection for iOS devices at the bottom left.

Physically, the four new AVRs share the same cabinet dimensions as their predecessors. Naturally, the A.R.T. (Anti-Resonance Technology) Wedge - which is a fifth foot in the center of the unit that helps to dampen vibrations - is still present on the new models. With the exception of the RX-A820, they also boast a symmetrical power amplifier layout. Going up the chain, only the RX-A2020 and RX-A3020 have a H-shaped cross member frame; but the latter is the only one to have a 'double-bottom' construction.

The Aventage RX-A20 series is expected to go on sale from end November.

Here's a table highlighting the key differences between the four receivers:


	RX-A820	RX-A1020	RX-A2020	RX-A3020
Audio Channels	7.2	7.2	9.2	9.2
Channel Expandability	NA	NA	NA	11.2-ch
Output Power (20Hz-20kHz)	100W x 7 (8ohms, 0.09% THD, 2-ch driven)	110W x 7 (8ohms, 0.06% THD, 2-ch driven)	140W x 9 (8ohms, 0.06% THD, 2-ch driven)	150W x 9 (8ohms, 0.06% THD ,2-ch driven)
HDMI (In / Out)	8 / 2	8 / 2	8 / 2	8 / 2
HDMI Zone	Simultaneous Zone B output	Simultaneous Zone B output	Simultaneous Zone B output	Assignable for zone
HDMI 4K	Pass-through & up-scale	Pass-through & up-scale	Pass-through & up-scale	Pass-through & up-scale
Cinema DSP	Cinema DSP 3D (17 modes)	Cinema DSP 3D (17 modes)	Cinema DSP 3D (23 modes)	Cinema DSP HD3 (23 modes)
HD Audio Format Decoding	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
YPAO	RSC / Multi-point	RSC / Multi-point	RSC / Multi-point	RSC / Multi-point / Angle
HQV Vida Processor (VHD1900)	NA	NA	Yes, auto adjustment	Yes, variable adjustment
LAN Port	Yes, DLNA 1.5	Yes, DLNA 1.5	Yes, DLNA 1.5	Yes, DLNA 1.5
USB Connection Support	iPod / iPhone / iPad	iPod / iPhone / iPad	iPod / iPhone / iPad	iPod / iPhone / iPad
AirPlay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dimensions	435 x 171 x 369mm	435 x 182 x 432mm	435 x 192 x 467mm	435 x 192 x 467mm
Retail Price	S$1,499	S$1,899	S$2,499	S$3,099

You can use the Yamaha AV Controller app to power up the receiver, control the volume, select inputs, change DSP modes, and more. The app is available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play store.

YSP-3300 & YAS-201 Digital Sound Projectors

The YSP-3300 and YAS-201 digital sound projectors that we've seen at IFA also made an appearance at this year's International Sound & Sight Exhibition (ISSE). In a nutshell, the new YSP-3300 and YSP-4300 (which wasn't in time for display at the show) are advanced sound bars capable of producing multi-channel sound from a single-piece sound bar and a 130W wireless active subwoofer. On the YSP-3300, there are 16 'beam' drivers; on the higher-end YSP-4300, there are 22. By reflecting beams off the walls and reaching the listener from seven directions, Yamaha says these sound bars are able to achieve actual (instead of virtual), 7.1-channel surround sound. We had a go at the YSP-3300 again at the ISSE, and the surround effects really did sound mighty realistic. Some of our forum members had a chance to demo this over the weekend (more details about the special HWZ members-only session later in this page).

The YSP-3300 (the first sound bar at the top) includes 16 beam drivers and two woffers with digital amplifiers. The dynamic 130W subwoofer uses digital PCM wireless signal transmission.

Both the YSP-3300 and YSP-4300 come with a YIT-W12 wireless transmitter so that you can stream music wirelessly from your iOS devices or computers. With Yamaha’s AirWired technology, uncompressed linear PCM transmission is possible. Both sound bars are equipped with four HDMI inputs, as well as an ARC (audio return channel) function. The HDMI inputs are capable of 4K and 3D pass-through.

Here's a closer look at the two new sound bars. The BD-S673 Wi-Fi-capable Blu-ray player (bottom most) is also on show, and it has an estimated retail price of S$439.

Here's a closer look at the connections available. There's no shortage of HDMI ports: you've 4 inputs and 1 output, and they support 4K2K, 3D, CEC, and ARC.

The more entry-level YAS-201 has a total of 160W power output (30W x 2 plus a 100W subwoofer). But instead of IntelliBeam, it uses Yamaha's Air Sound Xtreme technology to produce the 7.1-channel effect. It has two digital optical inputs.

The new sound bars are expected to go on sale from end 2012/early 2013. Local pricing aren't fixed yet, but the YSP-3300 is estimated to go for about S$2,339. The YSP-4300 should be just under S$3,000. On the other hands, the YAS-201 will go for about S$899. The YAS-201 is just a grade lower than the currently available YAS-401 (which we've reviewed) if you would like to have a further point of reference.

Desktop Audio Products

We also managed to get some hands-on and ears-on time with some of the latest desktop audio products from Yamaha. Here are the few that caught our interest in particular.

The PDX-B11 is a Bluetooth speaker system with a rugged design that's available in four colors: blue, black, gray, and orange. It sports a 10cm woofer and can be battery powered for maximum mobility. It's priced at S$229.

The NX-50 is a pair of powered stereo speakers (7W x 2) suitable for PCs, smartphones, tablets and TVs. It has two audio inputs (using mini jacks), and you can even mix and play the two sources simultaneously. It has a price tag of S$199.

Yamaha's latest Pro series headphones - Pro 300, Pro 400, and Pro 500 (pictured) - were also spotted. There's no word on when these headphones will go on sale in Singapore, as Yamaha told us it's still gauging demand for them.

Yamaha Meets the HardwareZone Members

With more home/room AV discussions sprouting in our Home Theatre & Audiophiles forum, Yamaha has been partnering with HardwareZone to keep our audience informed of their latest developments and new products, and to offer our members valuable assistance. To bring this relation up the next level, during last year's edition of the Singapore International Sound & Sight Exhibition, Yamaha held get-together sessions with our forum members to showcase their latest AV products and lend a helping hand in some of the most frequently asked questions, such as what to consider in setting up a home theater system.

The closed door get-together sessions were held once again this year to enable our members to get a hands-on of Yamaha's newest gadgets for desktop audio, sound bars and the upcoming AV receivers we showcased on the earlier page. Keen members were also able to obtain valuable setup information and even nab member-only deals. Here are some photo highlights:-

A full house listening attentively to Yamaha's presentations on their latest desktop audio products.

Here's Mr. Alex Low from Yamaha walking through the features of the new Aventage series of AVRs with the audience.

Of course, this was a great opportunity for our members to have their queries answered - often on a one-to-one basis from Yamaha's AV specialists.

For further follow-ups and more candid photos of the event, you can check out this discussion thread in our forum. Or, you can check out this thread to find out more about Yamaha's latest products.

Pioneer's Booth

While Yamaha might have been out in full force, other companies were not far behind. There was a wide array of audio and visual products on show for the discerning customers, ranging from amplifier units, micro hi-fi systems, docking stations, wireless speakers, projectors, headphones and much more.

Pioneer had a range of devices which should grab the attention of any home theater enthusiast looking to add a prudent buy to their already existing setup. But besides offering great deals on their catalog, they were also showcasing some of the newer additions they have made to the lineup.

Pioneer was present at the event with a mix of the old and new products, made available at attractive prices.

The LX Series AV Receivers

The main attraction was the new LX series of AV receivers which were launched in August 2012. Providing Class D amplification, the top of the line flagship SC-LX86 provides a total of 810W while the entry-level SC-2022K has a power output of 630W.

The new LX series of AV receivers, launched in August of this year, brings a host of options to users.

Taking into account the various devices that consumers employ as music sources, all the devices included in the LX series can offer playback through a variety of formats. Wireless playback is possible through AirPlay technology, while Android devices can also access wireless playback thanks to DLNA. At the same time, you can connect your portable music device to the amplifiers by using Bluetooth technology. A MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) USB port, which was first seen on monitors (such as here and here), is also provided. This allows for wired playback from any device which you can hook up to the LX series amplifier.

The MHL port is essentially a USB port which allows playback of media, which is sure to come in handy if your portable music player does not support wireless transmission.

Pioneer has also launched their own dedicated application for both iOS and Android platforms which can allow for control of the LX amplifiers via your smartphone or smart device. At the same time, all the LX series models are equipped with an iPod, iPhone and iPad Direct Control button. This allows you to use your TV and AV remote to browse and access content stored on your Apple device.

A simple click of the Direct Control button will enable you to use your AV remote to browse content on your smartphone via your TV.

The LX series amplifiers are quite Android friendly. They provide wireless playback for the Google OS via DLNA and the iControlAV2012 application is available on Google Play online store.

Following is a complete rundown of the pertinent specifications for the Pioneer LX series.

	SC-LX86	SC-LX76	SC-LX56	SC-LX2022K
Dimensions	435mm X 185mm X 441mm	435mm X 185mm X 441mm	435mm X 185mm X 441mm	435mm X 185mm X 441mm
Front	250W + 250W , 140W + 140W	230W +230W , 140W + 140W	210W + 210W, 130W + 130W	210W + 210W, 130W + 130W
Center	250W, 140W	250W, 140W	210W, 130W	210W, 130W
Surround	250W + 250W , 140W + 140W	230W +230W , 140W + 140W	210W + 210W, 130W + 130W	210W + 210W, 130W + 130W
Surround Back	250W + 250W , 140W + 140W	230W +230W , 140W + 140W	210W + 210W, 130W + 130W	210W + 210W, 130W + 130W
Total Power	810W	770W	720W	630
Audio Signal Processing	Hi-bit32	Hi-bit32	Hi-bit32	Hi-bit24
Digital Filter	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
4K Passthrough	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Speaker Settings	10 patterns	10 patterns	7 patterns	5 patterns
Multi-Zone	4 Zone	4 Zone	3 Zone	3 Zone
AirPlay / DLNA	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Wireless Portable Speaker

Wireless speakers have become all the rage recently. While products such as the Bose SoundLink and Beolit 12 use Bluetooth to provide wireless playback, the XW-SMA3-K goes up a notch. Capable of setting up its own wireless network hotspot, the speaker can provide wireless playback through protocols like AirPlay for Apple devices and DLNA for Android products without the need to be plugged in to an Ethernet port. Both have the benefit of being lossless transmission formats, as opposed to Bluetooth which is lossy, and hence users can enjoy a higher quality of audio playback.

The main draw of the Pioneer wireless speaker is the fact that it can set up its own wireless network with your smart device, supporting playback via DLNA and AirPlay without the need of a wired Ethernet connection.

JVC's Booth

At the event, JVC gave consumers a taste of their upcoming, unreleased range of 4K e-shift 2 projectors. The updated e-shift 2 upscaling technology basically shifts each pixel of a 2D 1080p footage diagonally by 0.5 pixel to quadruple the resolution and achieve a 4K image. Four new products, namely the DLA-RS66, DLA-RS56, DLA-RS48 and the DLA-RS46 were unveiled, and we had the opportunity to view both the regular video and 3D capabilities of the DSA-RS66 first hand.

The new line of projectors from JVC, namely the 4K e-shift 2 series, has not made it on to the market as of yet but consumers were given a sneak preview at the performance of the products at the event.

The near S$15,000 DSA-RS66 boasts a relatively high contrast ratio of 130000:1 along with a brightness of 1300 lumens. Both attributes were evident in the picture quality for 4K content which was sharp, vibrant and dynamic. Overall the display had a warm tone, with the reds being emphasized. Additionally, the projector was also able to handle 3D content. The 3D effects had an extremely impressive depth of field which made sequences deliver great impact. Unfortunately we also witnessed a significant amount of crosstalk during high motion sequences. We're not sure if this is due to calibration issues and this is something we'll have to try for ourselves in our own lab in a more controlled environment.

Getting up close and personal with the JVC DSA-RS66.

	DLA-RS66	DLA-RS56	DLA-RS48	DLA-RS46
Dimensions	455mm x 179mm x 472mm	455mm x 179mm x 472mm	455mm x 179mm x 472mm	455mm x 179mm x 472mm
Weight	15.4kg	15.4kg	15.1kg	14.8kg
4K e-shift 2 Technology	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Resolution	3840 x 2160	3840 x 2160	3840 x 2160	1920 x 1080
Lens	x2 Zoom & Focus Motorized F3.2 - 4 / 21.4mm - 42.8mm	x2 Zoom & Focus Motorized F3.2 - 4 / 21.4mm - 42.8mm	x2 Zoom & Focus Motorized F3.2 - 4 / 21.4mm - 42.8mm	x2 Zoom & Focus Motorized F3.2 - 4 / 21.4mm - 42.8mm
Light Source Lamp	NSH 230W	NSH 230W	NSH 230W	NSH 230W
Brightness	1200 lumens	1200 lumens	1200 lumens	1300 lumens
Contrast Ratio	130000:1	90000:1	50000:1	50000:1
Power Consumption	360W	360W	360W	330W
Connectors	1 x Component, 2 x HDMI, 2 x D-Sub, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x Mini Jack	1 x Component, 2 x HDMI, 2 x D-Sub, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x Mini Jack	1 x Component, 2 x HDMI, 2 x D-Sub, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x Mini Jack	1 x Component, 2 x HDMI, 1 x D-Sub, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x Mini Jack
Fan Noise	23dB	23dB	23dB	23dB

Sony's Booth

The VPL-HW50ES projector was the new product showcased by Sony. Improving on the older VPL-HW30ES, the new device comes with a higher brightness of 1700 lumens and provides a contrast ratio of 100000:1. The projector can handle all 2K content and can also up-convert lower quality video to the higher standard if so preferred.

Sony has replaced the older VPL-HW30ES with the new fangled VPL-HW50ES which comes with better specs and hardware.

Viewing the display qualities of the projector, we were pleasantly surprised by the natural picture quality. With the content available, the projector seemed to project a nice, balanced image which attempted to achieve a life-like quality to display. Similarly, the 3D effect placed an emphasis on realism. While the depth of field for the 3D was not as impressive as the JVC DLA-RS66, it did have more 'roundness' or balance, which made the 3D effect look more like real-life vision.

Having seen the new Sony projector in action, at first glance, the product impresses with its natural and balanced display.

Headphones

Amplifiers and projectors were not the only products available. Personal audio was also represented at the event in the shape of headphones. Some notable brands present were Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic. The former were selling a wide range of headphones which included their new HD700 model. Beyerdynamic, not to be outdone, was also carrying their excellent T90 open back headphones.