Press // CEDIA Expo

Note: We will be exhibiting at CEDIA starting in 2010 under our dealer and custom-installer focused company, Seymour-Screen Excellence.

2009

On September 9-13, at the Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center, Seymour AV had a dynamic exhibit in booth #5630, showing:

NEW: Fixed frame Center Stage XD screens

NEW: Center Stage XD material

  • Electrically retractable Center Stage XD screen
    • H070 (80.3" diag), black case, Gen4 motor with accessories (motor control box, IR receiver, wall switch)
  • Two video displays, demonstrating a dual-purpose, TV and movies installation
    • Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 7500UB on the H070 Center Stage XD
    • Samsung 22LN450 LCD flat panel
    • Sony PS3 1080p Blu-Ray
      • Blu-Ray concerts, "Planet Earth"
      • The PS3 game "Pain"
  • New fixed frame Center Stage XD screen for you to pet
  • Ice Block audio amplifiers
    • Three 2001 Ice Block amps (L/C/R) powering mahogany finished Totem Acoustic speakers:
      • Three identical Mite-T L/C/R compact speakers
      • Storm subwoofer
    • 2001, 5001 and 10001 Ice Block amps on static display in both brushed stainless steel and black pearl blue
  • Seymour AV cables
    • Speaker, Analog, and Hi-Flex Interconnects
  • New Center Stage XD fabric samples
  • Booth staff:  Jon Kaisand, Chris Seymour

2008

On September 3-7, at the Colorado Convention Center for CEDIA Expo 2008, Seymour AV had a dynamic exhibit in booth #1063, showing:

  • Two electrically retractable Center Stage screens
    • H072 (83" diag), black case, Somfy motor with accessories (splitter, IR receiver, wall switch)
    • Brushed aluminum case, standard RF motor
  • Two video displays, demonstrating a dual-purpose, TV and movies installation
    • Panasonic PT-AE2000U on the H072 Center Stage
    • Samsung 22LN450 LCD flat panel
    • Sony PS3 1080p Blu-Ray
      • Blu-Ray concerts
      • The PS3 game "Pain"
  • Ice Block audio amplifiers
    • Three 2001 Ice Block amps (L/C/R) powering mahogany finished Totem Acoustic speakers:
      • Three identical Rainmaker L/C/R compact speakers
      • Storm subwoofer
    • 2001, 5001 and 10001 Ice Block amps on static display in both brushed stainless steel and black pearl blue
  • Seymour AV cables
    • Speaker, Analog, and Hi-Flex Interconnects
  • Fabric samples
  • Booth staff: Steve Kropp, Steve Duff, Chris Seymour

Video

download

Click here to download our approximately four minute video where we walk you through the booth, show you some immature demo stuff (we were getting a bit punchy at the end of the show), and step through the product highlights: SeymourAVCEDIA2008.wmv (29.5M)

Pictures

Here is Steve Kropp, belying his enjoyment of the Seymour AV Center Stage retractable AT screen demo.  While one of the most genuine audiophiles you'll ever meet, Steve eventually admitted to enjoying "Pain" on the PS3.  Also shown in the picture is the brushed aluminum mini-Center Stage screen with the standard RF motor attached to the "wall" under the lower right corner.  Under the lower left corner of the screen were two light dimmers, and in the middle the Somfy® wall switch which controlled the main Center Stage screen with the Somfy motor option.  Next to the Seymour AV cables was the Logitech 1000 remote that we programmed the screen macros "Watch TV" and "Watch a Movie" on.  Pressing the former would turn off the projector (shutter, actually), raise the screen, mute the Totem Acoustic Rainmaker/ Storm speaker system, and fire up our LCD screen which was showing various TV material.  Pressing the "Watch a Movie" did the opposite, restoring the system for big-screen material and highlighting the dual-purpose installation issues that Center Stage screens often solve.

Here are our Ice Block amplifiers, shown in brushed stainless steel and five-coat black pearl blue automotive glossy finishes.  We had three Ice Block 2001 amps powering the identical three front Totem Rainmakers, which in spite of the show's ambient noise, we had many compliments on the quality of the sound.  In such an environment, we'd say the majority of the credit goes to Totem's consistently musical designs, and that with the Center Stage screen the audio was literally and obviously coming from right behind the musician's image.  Folks quickly realize the benefits of having identical, vertically-oriented front channels, and not having the lead singer sounding like they're sitting on the floor.  Still, the Ice Blocks showed well, barely getting warm and never hitting their soft clipping indicators.

For our modest 10x10 booth we had great attendance and feedback.  It's hard to get noticed at CEDIA, and barring launching Roman Candles from our booth, we surpassed expectations with our demos.

Here Steve Kropp is pointing out how Center Stage screens are the world's only retractable that uses actual fabric velvet for our borders instead of the common painted solution.  With 2.4 times the hole density of microperf (10x that of standard perf), the attendees could see that the speakers were placed right up next to the screen fabric, no EQ was required, and that they could stand up to 8 feet from the screen and barely see the holes or texture.  We got great feedback regarding how bright the screen was (even with a relatively dim projector - Panny 2000u), and how cramming in a 10x10 proved that the Center Stage screen is more appropriate for home theater environments.

Here is a picture of Steve Duff (right) talking with a customer in the Seymour AV booth.  The screen on the right (and speaker with the plant on top) were in another screen company's booth.  They were great people and some nifty designs such as bottom-up retractables, but there are clear compromises in the imported screens and what they can accomplish at their price points.  There's actually a projected image on the right that you can't see even on this higher-gain silver screen.  It would be helpful if CEDIA completely turned off the main lights.

In this picture you can better see the imported higher-gain screen image on the right versus our white 1.16 gain Center Stage screen in the booth on the left.  The big factor here is ambient light.  Unless you had aggressive light control in your booth, projected images just didn't have a chance.  Plus, we're very proud of the features and upgrades you can get from a Center Stage screen for only a few hundred more.  Clearly worth it...