CEDIA Expo, Denver, Day 3

It's 10 o'clock on Friday morning here in sunny Denver, and I'm about to head off for the third day of the show, writes Andy Clough. I've just had a tip-off from the head honcho at KEF that they've got some hot new products they want to show me, so I'd better get on my way.

I'll post an update later this afternoon.

It's been a fantastic show so far, and I have to say I prefer it by far to CES in Las Vegas, which is just too big.

Here at CEDIA all the key manufacturers are exhibiting, big and small, and there's an amazing amount of new products on display.

Highlights so far? Well I have to say I was very impressed with Meridian's iRIS iPod dock, and SIM2's Grand Cinema C3X 1080 projector looks gorgeous, both in action and even when it's turned off! Shame I can't afford one at £18,000.

Everyone's going high-definition crazy of course, with the emphasis on Full HD screens and projectors. Pioneer's latest plasmas look awesome, and Sony is pushing LCD technology as hard as it can, with increasingly impressive results.

Interesting to note that most people I talk to are increasingly frustrated by the ongoing Blu-ray, HD DVD debacle, and yesterday Bob Stuart, co-founder of Meridian (who is normally quite vocal on the matter) refused to make any comment on the subject at the company's press conference.

Given that he's one of the few people who really knows what's going on behind the scenes, that was quite telling, although he did say Meridian is still committed to producing a high-def disc player in the future.

Toshiba is still pushing HD-DVD hard, but with the exception of LG's new dual-format BH200 player, there's not a huge amount of new HD DVD hardware about.

The HD DVD group has parked a very large truck alongside its tent at the entrance to the convention centre to attract attention, but I'm not sure that will help win the format war. Still, it looks menacing.

Right, better get back to work and go see the man at KEF.

Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.