Sony recently launched 3 new high-end home theaters receivers, the STR-DA4400ES, STR-DA3400ES and STR-DA2400ES. Each receiver includes Faroudja DCDi Cinema technology for upscaling all video sources to 1080p via HDMI, and supports the latest audio codecs; Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, dts High Resolution Audio and dts HD Master Audio.

Sony STR-DA4400ES

Sony STR-DA4400ES 7.1 channel receiver has a 120-watt amplifier (8Ω, 20 Hz – 20 kHz, 0.09 percent THD), six HDMI inputs and DSD decoding through HDMI. It offers high-definition video distribution to a second zone, audio distribution to three zones and picture-in-picture for monitoring of multi-zone output or an external video source. The model will be available in August for about $1,500. Continue Reading…

Onkyo TX-SA706X A/V Receiver

Following on the heels of the release of the Japanese market Onkyo TX-SA606X is the new Onkyo TX-SA706X receiver . The SA706X includes the full HDMI 1.3a capabilities from the SA606X, (CEC support, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD/Master Audio decoding, and xvYCC/Deep Color capable video switching) but boosts the HDMI input count to five.

The SA706X also features THX Select certification and Audyssey Dynamic EQ processing, and a more powerful 200W x 7 amplifier. The Onkyo TX-SA706X will be available in Japan on July 19th, priced at ¥189,000 ($1,781).

Expect an Americanized TX-SR706 to follow. [Via: Engadget HD]

Following an exclusive, and extensive, product briefing from Sony, we can now lavish you with more information on Sony’s 2008 range of receivers and hopefully sort out any model confusion in the process.

There are five models in the new line-up, and in a nutshell the UK will be receiving:

• STR-DG520 -360 USD – available end of July
• STR-DG820 – 600 USD – available end of July

• STR-DA2400ES – 1.000 USD – available August
• STR-DA3400ES – 1400 USD – available August
• STR-DA5400ES – 3.000 USD – available August

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Pioneer has announced the Elite BDP-05FD and Pioneer BDP-51FD Blu-Ray Disc players and Elite SC-07, SC-05, VSX-03TXH and VSX-01TXH A/V receivers designed to give users that true theater experience in their own homes. The Elite BDP-05FD and Pioneer BDP-51FD BonusView Blu-ray Disc players support next generation high resolution audio and video formats, feature picture-in-picture interactivity and a redesigned platform. The new players work in tandem with Pioneer’s KURO displays and new Elite A/V receivers.

The Elite BDP-05FD and Pioneer BDP-51FD of HDMI 1.3 use 12-bit video digital-to-analog converter (DAC) support and 1080p/True 24 frames per second (fps) video output, promising smooth performance of film based Blu-ray Disc movies that greatly image judder. The inclusion of the proprietary PureCinema Deinterlacer, which essentially eliminates lines that can negatively affect the viewing experience, enhances high performance DVD playback in the new players. DVDs can be scaled to a 1080p resolution for improved picture quality and compatibility with HDTVs. The players also feature Pioneer’s Picture Control Suite, which is comprised of an additional 13 video adjustments that allow viewers to fine tune small picture details of a film and deliver an experience that best suits a user’s viewing preferences.

The new players support all advanced audio formats, with the ability to decode Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus, DTS HD and DTS HD Master high resolution audio formats making compatibility a minimal concern. Pioneer selected the professional quality Wolfson Digital Audio Converters (DACs) in the new players and gave the BDP-05FD and BDP-51FD a center loading tray to help reduce vibration, while dedicated audio and video boards are designed to ensure smooth operation and uninterrupted playback of discs. Gold-plated connection ports, capacitance touch key buttons and an aluminum front panel feature in the Elite BDP-05FD and Pioneer also claims to have made significant strides in speed performance, improving disc load, power on, power off and disc eject times that they claim now rival the rapid playback rate consumers have come to experience when using their DVD players.

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Onkyo has upgraded its most popular HDMI-1.3a-capable home theater receiver by adding 1080i video upscaling, two additional HDMI inputs to handle a total of four HDMI sources, Audyssey’s new Dynamic EQ loudness compensation technology, and Onkyo’s new Music Optimizer circuit. The new Onkyo TX-SR606 replaces the company’s best selling TX-SR605.

This receiver also has a powerful 90 watt-per-channel amplifier section, Remote Interactive control over HDMI (RIHD), is Sirius Satellite Radio ready, and offers a full range of advance surround sound codecs, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio to provide lossless bit-by-bit audio identical to the master recordings.

It will be available in black or silver finish in April, for a price below $580.

While most receivers have offered HDMI switching for quite awhile, the new Onkyo TX-SA606X is the first to utilize HDMI’s Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) protocol to allow the receiver to work with Panasonic’s Viera Link, Toshiba’s REGZA Link and Sharp’s AQUOS Link. Additionally, the TX-SA606X’s full HDMI 1.3a capabilities allow for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD/Master Audio decoding, xvYCC “Deep Color” support, and SACD and DVD-A playback. The TX-SA606X also sports a new amplifier that produces a healthy 185 watts x 7 at 6 Ohms. The TX-SA606X will be available in Japan in silver and gold finishes at the end of April, priced at ¥84,000 ($839).

The Yamaha RX-V863 is the top of the new line offering from Yamaha. At a paltry $999, I was surprised that Yamaha didn’t have an offering at a higher price point. Frankly, $1k isn’t that much for a higher end receiver and competitors usually have one or two at higher price points. This made me wonder if the RX-V863 had skimped on features. Fortunately I was mistaken.

The RX-V863 supports native decoding of all the latest audio formats with 3 in/1 out HDMI 1.3 ports. On top of that it also supports Deep Color (up to 36 bit), 120Hz refresh rates, and 1080p/24Hz transmission. Essentially, all the latest goodies. Two of the seven 105 watt amplifiers are assignable for bi-amp or Zone 2 configuration and it has plenty of connections for all your AV gear (including 3 in/1 out component video). 192kHz/24-bit Burr-Brown DACs and ADCs ensure that quality will be top notch when the audio is encoded and/or decoded for final consumption. Continue Reading…

This year, as last, Sony held its annual line show at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas. While it is intended primarily for dealers—which explains the introduction of everything from televisions to digital voice recorders, computers, cameras, cell phones, and alarm clocks (in short, everything you’ll see featured in Sony movies later this year)—the press was brought in to have the first look.

The biggest news for home theater fans is the introduction of two new Sony Blu-ray players, both of them capable of BD-Live (Profile 2.0). The BDP-S350 will be BD-Live-ready (with an optional firmware update). It has an Ethernet port for interactive Internet content and firmware updates and a USB port for local storage. In addition, it supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24. Most importantly, it will not only output Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bitstream form, but will also decode both of them internally to multichannel PCM. It does not, however, have multichannel analog outputs. The projected price will be about $400 when the player ships this summer. Continue Reading…

Yamaha unveiled a new line of digital home theater receivers that further extend high end functionality, flexibility and intuitive operation at moderate price points. Integrated among the line of five models (RX-V863, 105Wx7, MSRP $999.95; RX-V663, 95Wx7, MRSP $549.95; RX-V563, 90Wx7, MSRP $449.95; RX-V463, 105Wx5, MSRP $349.95; and RX-V363, 100Wx5, MSRP $229.95) are features such as 1080p-compatible HDMI switching, wireless Bluetooth audio playback and iPod-compatibility (with optional accessories), XM and Sirius Satellite Radio compatibility, four system-configuring SCENE modes and improved CINEMA DSP Technology.

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