Yesterday was the third day of CEDIA EXPO 2009, and the last that we (and many others) would be in town to cover it. While as a whole, the show didn't really follow one central theme, there were standout items in various segments of custom.

On the audio side was Dolby Pro Logic IIz (that's "zee" for our American friends, "zed" for us Canucks) technology that claims to add height to the listening experience. Mount speakers above the left and right channels, and you'll hear rain as if it's actually falling above your head. A few manufacturers have already introduced receiver's featuring the technology, including Onkyo, which debuted the world's first model, the TX-SR607, and Denon. I took in a demo at the Integra booth with high hopes, but found myself slightly disappointed. We watched a clip of the animated film Ratatouille: first with standard surround sound, then with Dolby Pro Logic IIz enabled. The scene featured a family of rats invading a home as the ceiling cracks and falls from above, followed by a runaway scene into the water in the rain. During critical scenes like when the wood panels crashed onto the floor and the rain came pouring down, I didn't detect much difference in the height or depth of sound. A slight change was only detected during a scene where the family of rats find themselves floating directly underneath a waterfall. Then, the sound was more enveloping, indeed making me feel as though I was passing through that waterfall myself and the droplets were about to hit my head. Perhaps other demonstrations may prove more convincing.

Aesthetics play an increasingly bigger role in home entertainment. The "WAF" (Wife Acceptance Factor) or the more politically-correct "SAF" (Spouse Acceptance Factor") in a term that has long related to the partner's distate in things like big, boxy speakers or TVs that take up too much space in the living room. New innovations like flat-panel TV, artsy mounts, and gorgeous speaker designs have helped to alleviate much of these design-related issues. On the custom side, home automation gear has also developed things like customizable coloured faceplates and attractive designs. After all, if a client's interior designer or architect doesn't like the look of you're A/V gear, you might as well pack up and move on!

A new concept called Trufig is aiming to take the design and aesthetics in home automation one step further. As a Sonance product, Trufig, which stands for truly flush integration, takes touch-panels, switches, and faceplates, then transforms all so that they match one another and are positioned flush into the wall, just like an in-wall speaker. The market for Trufig is clearly the high-end residential dealer, but even architects and interior designers will be able to sell the concept as part of their offerings. Installation, however, requires some handy work that includes sheet rock, tape seams, topping compound, and sanding into drywall. But the result is the ability to pop that same piece in, whether it's a unit by Crestron, AMX, or Lutron, place a sub-plate over top of it, and supply a 100% seamless look. Cost varies, but will range from US$300 all the way up to $3,000.

Also playing on aesthetics as well as convenience and iPod integration is A/V accessory manufacturer Middle Atlantic. The company, which has a Canadian office up in Ottawa, ON, debuted a prototype rack that it calls the residential designer model. Available in three configurations (one with 16 rack spaces and three shelves, one with 24 rack spaces and four shelves, and another with 35 rack spaces and six shelves), the units boasts trim strips to cover up screws and integrated cable management. From a home installation perspective, however, the neatest feature is the removable side panels which allow you to switch out and manipulate gear without having to move the rack and squeeze in behind to get to the connected cables. Alternatively, the rack is also on rolling casters, which permits easy movement if needed. Note, however, that the rack at the show was just a prototype, so specs could change by launch time.

Most clever from Middle Atlantic was its iPod dock, which comes integrated into a standard-sized 19" rack shelf. The shelf sits in any Middle Atlantic rack (or other racks that follow the standard size), and can house an iPod or iPhone while simultaneously charging the device. A second model is available that houses up to three iPods. Integrated cable management keeps all of the required connectors in check, and several finishes are available, including brushed aluminum, textured, and anodized. It's an attractive and neat (literally) system for connecting an iPod to the home theatre for parties, for example, or to view iTunes videoson a big-screen TV.

"Themes" from the show covered what we had anticipated: 3D TV, LED backlit LCDs, wireless, networking, aesthetics, and architectural design. There wasn't really one product or technology that blew the industry away. But there was plenty to help dealers add value to their sales, expand their channels, and make the systems that sound so good, look great as well.

Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage from the show in the September 2009 issue of Marketnews.

To the right beside Ari Supran, CEO of Sonance, are the standard switches and faceplates that one would be familiar with. Situated beside Rob Roland, G.M. at Trufig, on the left are those same switches with Trufig kits and installation. While the concept is simple, the visual benefits in the home can be huge. And complementing an existing home automation system with the Trufig kit means added revenue for the dealer.

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