Audio Video News

Last week, Yamaha, traditionally known to American consumers as a specialist in audio equipment, announced that it will enter the home entertainment projector market. The first offering in Yamaha's new product line is a high-resolution projector, based on Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology and intended for home theater use. Yamaha says that the projector is due to be released next spring.

The new projector is expected to see its debut at both the Yamaha and Texas Instruments booths at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 2001. Specifications for the new product will be announced at that time.

Yamaha is also planning to develop a new business for setting up "digital mini-theaters" in small public viewing areas, such as private clubs, hotels, universities, and government facilities. The company says that "with the digital mini-theater concept, higher quality sounds and images are possible using Yamaha's Cinema DSP sound system and digital imaging system. Yamaha is aiming to further strengthen the leadership position of its home theater brand."

Yamaha's Kunihiro Maejima explains that "by adding the DLP-based projector to our product line, Yamaha will be able to offer a complete home entertainment solution which, thanks to DLP technology, will offer not only best-in-class sound, but best-in-class images as well. We believe this will further reinforce Yamaha's standing as an innovator and leader in home entertainment systems."