CES 2000 Front Page | Ultimate Home Theater | Loudspeakers | TVs & Rear Projectors | 2-Channel Electronics | Affordable AV | Internet Audio & MP3 | DVD, PTV & DSS | Recordable CDs & DVDs | Accessories & Miscellaneous
Prices continue to plummet in the A/V Receiver category, with several models actually coming in well below the magical thousand-dollar benchmark, which really tells the story about the mainstream acceptance of the home theater concept. Leapfrogging into the mid-fi receiver category, the newest digital format that incorporates a center channel of surround, known otherwise as 6.1 (due to the extra full-range speaker position), is a feature common to many of the new models. This extra channel enables sound mixers to place sound that comes from a center channel position, directly behind the listener’s head, not just to the left and right. Mark Levinson While the No. 40 won’t ship for another 12 months, it is worthy of mention. Mark Levinson’s first foray into an AV preamp is sure to be something special, with five No. 32 preamp sections, 24/96 DACs and an actual LCD screen built right into this two-chassis killer. $20,000 to $24,000 is rumored to be the price. Meridian, well known and respected for their Direct Active Loudspeakers that consist of amplification, preamp and crossover within the speaker chassis, extends performance to a new level with the reference DSP 8000 speakers. Considering all the negative attributes exhibitors must deal with at a trade show of this magnitude, I generally find it unfair to make any critical judgments, but these speakers demonstrated a transparency and resolution even in the worst of circumstances that had me on the edge of my seat. Each speaker has a dual 100MHz DSP processor and four 24-bit/96kHz DACs, along with an exclusive Meridian circuit that ensures low jitter for exceptional resolution. Eight drive units are in two independent enclosures. The top portion contains tweeter and mid-range; the bottom portion is the bass enclosure with a total of six drivers, three in front and three on the side (facing inward). There are five low-feedback amplifiers in each speaker. dynamic Range up to 115dB RS-232 connection port for software upgrades and diagnostic checkups beautiful cosmetics, hand-rubbed black lacquer finish on a metal/wood composite cabinet $45,000 a pair Meridian added a new processor to their prestigious line-up with the THX Ultra Certified 568 Digital Surround Processor. decoding for Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG/Surround, Meridian’s MLP (DVD-A), and matrixed surround, such as Dolby Pro Logic, plus all THX enhancements 24-bit/96kHz DAC in front four channels; Meridian’s proprietary memory buffer and dejitter system eliminates time-base errors five digital and two analog inputs Direct and Stereo mode for two-channel purists to bypass all processing The THX will program specific processing to specific sources: for example, when a DVD is selected, the processor automatically selects Dolby Digital. Other settings include bass management optimization that can be assigned to each individual channel. 562V.2 Multimedia controller is an add-on preamp/switcher that expands the system with an additional 12 digital and eight analog inputs. Controller also performs S-Video to composite conversion on the main monitor output. PC software for more advanced and sophisticated set-up Upgradable with facilities to accept future multi-channel modules that can accommodate systems such as DVD-Audio and Super Audio-CD (SACD) Software updates are available off Meridian’s website and uploaded via the RS-232 port. Meridian 568 Processor $ 6,495 and 562V.2 Multimedia Controller $2,495 Sunfire will soon be shipping the improved and re-engineered Theater Grand II Digital Processor, upgraded with new 24bit/96kHz DACs. All circuitry has been consolidated for shorter signal paths and the power supply features a new, more efficient toroidal transformer. The processor will retail for slightly more than the original model at $3300. Proceed The PMDT is still very back-ordered for a good reason. Madrigal built their first DVD player from the ground up, unlike other manufacturers who repackage and hotrod Japanese models. The PMDT features a proprietary transport mechanism, MPEG decoding and digital section and is built to seamlessly integrate with Proceed, Levinson and other high-end components. The coolest functionality of the Proceed DVD player is its ability to be set to choose the exact preferences you like on each DVD you own. For example: if you always want 5.1 audio outputs, the PMDT will remember that. If you once choose subtitles for a disc, the PMDT will remember that detail too. Pretty cool for $5,995. Balanced Audio Technology The BAT room had a couple of new products of interest. One of these was the soon-to-be-released VK AV-10 preamp, which has an analog pass-through for two-channel purity and fully balanced architecture throughout all eight channels. The AV-10 also incorporates an optional vacuum tube output for the front three channels. Price will be in the $10,000 to $12,000 range, to ship in June of 2000. Also from BAT was their brand-new VK-D5SE CD player. This player is based on the VK-D5, but incorporates the BAT 6H30 super tubes that the VK-50SE reference preamp employs. This player sells for $5,500, $1,000 more than the non-SE version. Yamaha delivers a new flagship A/V Receiver, the RX-V1. features Yamaha’s Dolby Digital/Matrix 6.1, which is able to provide the rear center surround from DVDs encoded with Dolby Digital Extended Surround or DTS-ES6.1 soundtracks Burr-Brown 1705 24bit/96kHz DACs used for eight channels, as Yamaha maintains their proprietary front channel effects configuration delivers 110 watts x 6 to the full-range channels and only 35 watts x 2 to the front effects channels, since they are not full-range and do not require equal power as recommended in the Dolby Digital specification six-channel analog inputs supplied for future formats incorporates new LSI and DSP chips dedicated to Yamaha’s Digital Field Processing, a long-time feature of Yamaha processors since 1986, when the DSP-1 was introduced; a total of 54 surround options are available. Silent Cinema allows users to play multi-channel sources on headphones using Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) technology; they have also incorporated their own two-channel surround circuit, the Virtual Cinema DSP wide-band power transformers are used (measured frequency range characteristics 20Hz to100kHz –3dB) for better handling of DVD-Audio or SACD comes with newly-designed remote capable of learning commands, yet is also equipped with remote codes from most major manufacturers for controlling a wide variety of components RS-232 port is supplied for use with custom installation control systems such as Panja, AMX and Crestron A whopping 13 analog and seven digital audio (four coax and five optical) inputs are provided. All A/V inputs provide S-Video terminals. Two independent video monitor outputs allow the hook-up of both a TV and a projection system for sophisticated custom installations.available in black finish for $3,199 or amber/champagne for $3,299 Sherwood Newcastle expanded its line of respected receivers by two with the addition of the R-956 and R-756. Both receivers process both Dolby Digital and DTS source material with 24bit/96kHz DACs. The R-956 supports the Dolby Digital 6.1 Extended Surround and DTS-ES6.1 by decoding all six channels from an encoded DVD and provides seven-channel preamplifier outputs. R-956 supplies direct inputs to support DVD-Audio, plus six digital, five analog and five A/V inputs. All A/V inputs have an S-Video connection and two have component video. There is also a second room A/V output. A digital video output exists for CD or MD recorders. The R-756 offers fewer inputs and outputs, though it still has a respectable amount. Dolby Virtual Surround is available for two-channel systems and Circle Surround improves matrixed decoding, such as Pro-Logic. R-956 provides 120 watts x 6 and the R-756 delivers 100 watts x 5. Both units begin shipping in March, the R-956 for $1,499 and the R-756 for $899.95.

Outlaw Audio, manufacturers who only sell their products via the Internet, will soon deliver their second product, the Model 1050 6.1 A/V Receiver. Using the Zoran ZR38650 mulit-format processor, all current digital and analog surround formats are available, including Dolby Digital and DTS decoding on the single chip. extracts the center surround information available in newer soundtracks encoded with Dolby Digital Extended Surround or DTS-ES6.1, which are being released on the latest DVDs \ The low cost of the Model 1050 can be attributed to a single board design that incorporates all digital and analog processing. 65 watts x 5 amplifier utilizing discrete bipolar output devices If used as a preamp/processor, the internal amp can drive a center channel at 90 watts RMS. provides inputs for four A/V sources (three with S-Video) and three additional audio sources; there are three digital inputs: two optical and one coaxial, with a 5.1 channel input provided for future audio sources, such as DVD-Audio stereo AM/FM tuner with 32 presets adjustable crossover frequency with five settings to tailor receiver to different subwoofer/speaker systems This retails for an astonishing $599, along with an unprecedented 30-day money back guarantee. If purchasing the Model 1050 with the Model 750 amplifier (which we reviewed earlier this year), the receiver is discounted by another $50. Anthem by Sonic Frontiers showed off the AVM-1 digital processor that will complement their highly acclaimed line of amplifiers. Dolby Digital and DTS decoding seven audio inputs; each provides analog and SPDIF digital connectors, with one Toslink connection and one pro audio AES/EBU-type connector balanced outputs for all six channels seven video inputs with composite and S-Video inputs; two of these are component video. bi-directional RS-232 communication link ensures an easy and convenient software upgrade path and allows the use of home automation controllers available in winter 2000 for $2,499 The new center rear surround in Dolby Digital Extended Surround and DTS-ES6.1 is a wonderful addition to the surround environment, but what if you’ve already invested a fortune in an existing 5.1 processor? What is your recourse? You can try out either Audio Design Associates ADA 6.1 Surround Processor or the McIntosh MSE1 Surround Expander These add-on components send all mono-rear channel information to the actual speaker(s) derived by a matrix algorithm when a Dolby Digital Extended Surround or DTS-ES6.1 source is detected. This matrixed sixth channel can be derived from even 5.1 source material, such as 5.1 encoded movie, 5.1 DSS broadcast, or 5.1 music software. Cost: ADA is $499. There was no disclosed price for the McIntosh. For systems using a 5.1 A/V receiver, ADA also offers the AMP x 4 Four Channel Power Amplifier ($399) that can operate as either a strict surround channel power amplifier or as both an amplifier and speaker to a line-level audio converter. NAD displayed additions to the Silver Series, the S150 Processor and the S250 5-Channel Amp. Dolby Digital and DTS decoding are standard on the S150, with Motorola 24bit/96kHz DACs on all channels. The digital processor is on a separate plug-in circuit board for simple upgrades. Using the proprietary Enhanced Ambience Recovery System (EARS), the S150 routes encrypted ambient content to the appropriate speaker positions without resorting to artificially generated reflections or regeneration. According to NAD, the effect is a more subtle and effective surround than many other processes. The low-noise switch mode power supply enables stable and pure supply voltages that don’t interfere with the varying demands of six channels. There are six digital inputs (three coax, two optical and one BNC). All inputs are buffered and transformer-coupled for precise impedance matching to minimize digital jitter. The 5.1 channel analog inputs accept an outboard processor required for DVD-Audio or SACD. A single RS-232 serial port and three 12-volt trigger outputs provide the option for more sophisticated systems control The S250 uses a monoblock design and delivers 125 watts x 5. Every element of each channel’s circuitry (except the power transformer) is fully independent, thus eliminating inter-channel interference. cost: S150 -$2,499 and S250 -$2,449. Sharp proudly demonstrated their new 1-bit amplifier technology with the SMX100 a 100 watt x2 amp that consumes less than 50% power than ordinary amplifiers of equivalent wattage and 80% less heat consumption. The 1-bit Delta Sigma modulator samples 2.8MHz per second to produce a frequency range of 5Hz to 100kHz. While this extends far beyond the range of human hearing, it is known that transients and instantaneous audio are perceptible. The Sharp 1-bit technology therefore ensures that every nuance of an audio performance can be produced. The technology delivers extremely stable amplification, which corrects 1-bit control signals in real time. This new technology comes at a price: $15,000. The next product using this technology is the 50-watt x 2 SM-SX1 which will be coupled with the DX-SX1 SACD Player for a miniature state-of-the-art system that is actually portable. This configuration enables the digital signal from a SACD source to be conveyed directly to the speakers without any prior analog-to-digital conversion. Both units will be available sometime in third quarter 2000, but no firm price has yet been established. Faroudja Laboratories is the undisputed leader in video processing devices. Prior to Faroudja’s entry into the home theater market, two-piece projection systems were marred by poor performance. Faroudja’s continued developments have advanced the quality of video images on all display devices, not just CRT projectors (except direct view). Does the extraordinary quality of HDTV mean Faroudja has nothing left to perfect? Hardly. They demonstrated the DVP 5000 Digital Video Processor/Scaler, the first such video processor specifically for HDTV. The DVP5000 automatically upconverts 1080i interlaced to 1080p progressive signals, optimizing the display of CRT projectors and fixed-panel displays with resolutions of 1280x1024 and above. This provides the best possible picture available for the HDTV format by removing the interlace stairstepping and motion artifacts found in the 1080i signal. The unit automatically upconverts 480p signals to 960p, while 720p signals pass through the device unaltered. Standard 480i sources can be upconverted to 1080p, though this is far less dramatic than a true HDTV program. The unit upconverts 480i signals to any computer rate up to SXGA, and HDTV rates of 1080i, 1080p and 720p. Aspect ratio control and 480p inputs for progressive DVD players are also offered. The DVP5000 ushers in two new technologies, one called Directional Correlation Deinterlacing (DCDi), which eliminates motion artifacts from video-originated material, and Scan-Lock Bandwidth Expansion, which optimizes each output scan rate for superb edge detail without harsh ringing artifacts. Among the extensive complement of rear-panel connections are a special HDTV input and 480p component inputs to accommodate the new progressive DVD players. Priced slightly under $30,000, it will be available late in First Quarter 2000. One of the more impressive displays at CES was at Faroudja where they showed the DVP3000 Scaler on a plasma display. Edge to edge sharpness was demonstrably superior, with color saturation and resolution resembling CRT performance. So if you’re thinking about getting a plasma display, factor in the cost of a Scaler. It’s like night and day.

CES 2000 Front Page | Ultimate Home Theater | Loudspeakers | TVs & Rear Projectors | 2-Channel Electronics | Affordable AV | Internet Audio & MP3 | DVD, PTV & DSS | Recordable CDs & DVDs | Accessories & Miscellaneous

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