Below are the winners of the Distributed Audio Award (2004) announced at Electronic House Expo in Long Beach, California. Chosen by a panel of five industry experts, they were selected for their innovation, functionality and practicality.
While none of the products here will blow the socks off regular readers, these give a good indication of the state of play in the home entertainment market, showing the functionality and the price levels. This market is becoming more mass market, and as you would expect, prices have come down substantially from the early days of custom installation.
2004 Distributed Audio Award Winners
All-Inclusive Distributed Audio System: $1,000 or more per room
Xantech, MRC88
All-Inclusive Distributed Audio System: Less than $1,000 per room
Sonance, Sonance DAB1
Amplifiers, Controllers & Receivers
Audio Design Associates, Inc. (ada), HTR-2400 Home & Theater A/V Receiver
Connectivity Products
On-Q Home, Entertainment Connection Center
In-Ceiling Speakers: $1,000 or more per pair
Boston Acoustics, DSi495
Installation Aids and Accessories
Sencore Electronics, SP295C SoundPro Audio Analyzer
In-Wall Speakers: $1,000 or more per pair
Polk Audio, LC265i with ENC265
In-Wall Speakers: Less than $1,000 per pair
Boston Acoustics, DSi460T2
In-Wall/In-Ceiling Subwoofers less than $1,000
Boston Acoustics, VRiSub85
Multiroom Audio Media Servers
Meda Systems, Inc., Bravo(TM) Digital Media Server
Multiroom Audio Source Components
Bose Corporation, Bose(R) Lifestyle(R) BUILT-INvisible(R) AV-18 Media Center
On-Wall Speakers: $1,000 or more per pair
Boston Acoustics, P400
On-Wall Speakers: Less than $1,000 per pair
Klipsch Audio Technologies, Klipsch Reference Series RVX-42
Outdoor Speakers
Niles Audio Corporation, RS8Si Weatherproof Rock Loudspeaker
Racks, Mounts & Enclosures
Middle Atlantic Products, ASR Adjustable Shelving Rack
User Interfaces/Keypads
Remote Technologies Inc (RTI), T2+ Universal System Controller
Wireless/No-New-Wires Transmission Media/Technology
Philips Consumer Electronics, Philips SL400i
Best Overall Distributed Audio Awards Product
Meda Systems, Inc., Bravo(TM) Digital Media Server