Audio Video News

Fresh after CEDIA, Denon has announced a pair of new home theater devices, the AVR-4810CI A/V receiver and the DBP-4010UDCI Blu-ray Disc player. These two new high-end products pack some impressive features, and equally impressive price tags.

The AVR-4810CI is a 9.3-channel receiver, capable of adding height or expanded width channels to a 5.1 or 7.1 set-up with Dolby Pro Logic IIz or Audyssey DSX. It can pipe video and audio out to a secondary zone, audio to a third zone, and more audio to a fourth zone with its Audyssey DSX pre-outs. It features built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking, and can directly access streaming music services like Napster and Rhapsody. It also includes two AM/FM radio tuners, one of which is HD Radio-compatible and XM/Sirius satellite radio-ready. For custom installers, the receiver offers remote set-up and maintenance; after it's installed, the installer can log into it via Denon's secure web site and change or correct any settings. All of these features come at a price, though; the AVR-4810CI will cost $2,999 when it ships.

Denon's new Blu-ray Disc player is similarly pricey and similarly impressive. The DBP-4010UDCI can decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, display AVCHD and DivxHD video, and even play back SACDs. Besides BD-Live content, the player's Ethernet port can be used for IP-based remote control, either with networked remotes or through a web browser. It also features Denon Link, which lets the player take over master clock controls from a receiver connected through HDMI, to prevent digital video jutter. The DBP-4010UDCI will cost $1,999 when it ships.

- Will Greenwald