Posted Wed Sep 5, 2018 at 12:25 PM PDT by Steven Cohen
The first receivers and pre-processor with IMAX Enhanced functionality have been detailed.
At CEDIA 2018, Denon and Marantz have announced several new audio components with IMAX Enhanced support. The collection includes the Denon AVR-X6500H ($2,199) and Denon AVR-X4500H ($1,599), and the Marantz AV7705 ($2,199).
IMAX Enhanced capabilities will be available for all three components as part of a free firmware update in early 2019. The IMAX Enhanced certification & licensing program is designed to offer premium 4K HDR and immersive audio performance across home theater gear and content.
"Denon is a natural leader in the audio space. With more than 100 years of innovation, the industry looks to Denon as a bellwether for the latest and greatest listening and video technologies to help consumers push the boundaries of the home theater experience," said Yoshinori Yamada, technical category director of AVRs at Sound United. "As part of our legacy of firsts, the newest Denon IN-Command X-Series AV receivers – AVR-X6500H and AVR-X4500H – are the first IMAX Enhanced AVRs to be released and are built around our engineering expertise and focus on audio quality. In addition, we’re continuing to offer added benefits for custom installers by integrating Domotz Pro and ihiji Invision compatibility with custom tiles, which we know are critical for today’s business needs."
The AVR-X6500H is an 11.2 channel AV receiver rated for up to 140W per channel (8 Ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.05% THD). The unit can support up to a 7.2.4 speaker configuration. Meanwhile, the AVR-X4500H is a 9.2 channel AV receiver rated for 125W per channel (8 ohms, THD 0.05%, 20Hz~20kHz). The device can support up to a 5.2.4 speaker configuration.
In addition, both models offer Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D capabilities, along with video passthrough support for 4K Ultra HD 60Hz, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG, and BT.2020 content. Likewise, the receivers will support HDMI 2.1 features like Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) via a future firmware update. Built-in Amazon Alexa Voice Control and whole-house HEOS music compatibility are integrated as well.
And beyond the new Denon receivers, sister brand Marantz has detailed its new AV7705 pre-processor. The device features 11.2 channel XLR and RCA pre-outs along with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (up to 7.1.4), Auro-3D, and DTS Virtual:X formats. Under the hood, the unit houses 32-bit AKM D/A converters on all channels, along with the company's Hyper Dynamic Amplification Module (HDAM) circuits to offer analog pre-amplifier support. 24-bit/192-kHz ALAC, FLAC, WAV, DSD 2.8MHz, and 5.6MHz playback support is also provided via the unit's front panel USB port and network sources.
In addition, like the Denon receivers, the pre-processor offers advanced 4K HDR passthrough, Alexa compatibility, and HEOS multi-room support, along with HDMI 2.1 features through a future firmware update.
"Marantz sets the standard for music lovers and critical listeners around the world, so everything we do and build starts with ensuring we’re providing optimum fidelity for beautiful, natural sounding music," said Emmanuel Millot, global brand director at Marantz. "Fans of Marantz technology will see familiar features, like HDAM technology and the ability to decode lossless files with exceptional signal quality. However, the AV7705 does more than recreate music; it provides the ultimate home theater experience. We've integrated brand new IMAX Enhanced technology, support for the latest audio and video formats, multi-room audio functionality—including Apple Airplay2—and several options to make custom integrators lives easier than ever."
The Denon AVR-X6500H ($2,199), Denon AVR-X4500H ($1,599), and Marantz AV7705 ($2,199) are now available from Amazon and other retailers.
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