Audio Video News

Shortly after Audyssey introduced its new DSX technology, Denon became the world's first manufacturer to announce an A/V receiver with DSX capabilities. The AVR-4310CI was unveiled at Denon's new-product showcase held in New York on Monday along with a bevy of other products, including a total of nine AVRs ranging in price from $350 to $2000 for the flagship 4310CI. Release dates range from May to July.

As expected from Audyssey's announcement, the 7.1-channel AVR-4310CI lets you specify the back-surround channels as left and right Width or Height channels, which provides a greater sense of surround envelopment than back-surround channels. In addition, the 4310CI provides Dolby Pro Logic IIz, which also adds height channels. Among the differences between DSX and PLIIz is that DSX works only with a 5.1 source, whereas PLIIz can derive up to 7.1 channels (5.1 plus left and right height) from any number of channels in the source, which is why Denon has included both in the 4310CI.

Even better, Dolby PLIIz is included in all the new AVRs, though DSX is available only in the 4310CI. All new models also convert all analog-video inputs to HDMI, and the onscreen display is also visible via HDMI, making these AVRs true one-cable solutions. The two top models offer enhanced networking capabilities, and all models from the AVR-1920CI/790 and up provide full 10-bit video processing with 12-bit output thanks to the switch from Faroudja to Anchor Bay Technologies chipsets. In the 4310, a Silicon Optix Realta handles the HDMI processing, while ABT takes care of the component and composite inputs.

In other news, two new Blu-ray players were introduced—the DBP-2010CI ($700) and 1610CI ($500). Finally, Denon has dropped "DVD" from its Blu-ray model designations! Both players are BD-Live, and the 2010 offers multichannel analog audio outputs. Denon claims that these players were developed with concepts from the DVD-A1UDCI, the company's $4500 überplayer that should be shipping by the end of May.