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Denon Intros Blu-ray Players, 13 Receivers, New GUIs and Networking Devices
Previewing this week's dealer event, Denon announces its first high-def DVD product and replaces its entire receiver line.
Denon Electronics is introducing a slew of new products this year, including two Blu-ray players, 13 A/V receivers, network-enabled A/V clients and new GUIs for its receivers, the company has announced.
The Mahwah, N.J.-based manufacturer, known for its audio/video receivers, gave reporters a sneak-peek of its new lineup, announced installation updates and held demo strategy discussions when it hosted some of its top dealers in Jersey City, N.J. Tuesday.
Denon is releasing its first Blu-ray players this fall, according to Joe Stinziano, Denon's senior vice president for sales and marketing,
Stinziano doesn't beat around the bush. He calls Denon's inaugural Blu-ray players, the DVD-3800BDCI and DVD-2500BTC, "one of the keys for us for this holiday season."
The company calls the 3800, which will have a suggested retail price of $1,999, the "world's first BD-ROM Profile 1 version 1.1 Blu-ray disc player from a Blu-ray Disc Associaiton member featuring the acclaimed 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta chipset."
The DVD-2500BTCI outputs audio and video signals and requires a connected audio/video receiver to do the decoding.
Asked if the decision to go Blu-ray means Denon has chosen that format over HD DVD in the high-definition format war, Stinziano says "no," indicating that anything is possible in terms of what future products the company may develop. "We're not announcing that; we're just announcing this [Blu-ray player]."
Does that answer leave the door open to future Denon products under the SACD or DVD Audio umbrellas? Anything is possible, says Jeff Talmadge, director, product development and system integration. He indicates that consumer demand dictates what products Denon develops.
"SACD is more popular in Europe and as a global company we have to think about that," he says.
The company is releasing a revamped lineup of 13 new A/V receivers, completely turning over its receiver line "for the first time in 10 years," says Stinziano. Five models feature the letters "CI" in their product names indicating the "inclusion of special features and capabilities geared specifically toward professional custom integrators," according to the company.
Featuring HDMI 1.3a capability, the line is led by flagship AVR-5308CI (suggested retail price: $5,199; scheduled for December 2007 shipment). It also includes multizone distribution models AVR-4308CI (suggested retail price: $2,499) and AVR-3808CI (suggested retail price: $1,599). The AVR-2808CI (suggested retail price: $1,199) and the AVR-2308CI (suggested retail price: $849) make up the mid-tier range.
The AVR-2308CI through the AVR-5308CI include support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. The top three models in the line include Ethernet connectivity, while the AVR-5308CI and AVR-4308CI support Wi-Fi.
Both network protocols allow custom integrators to diagnose, correct, update and remotely perform maintenance on the units without the need to travel to their customer's home, according to Talmadge.
In a press release, the company explains that in case of error or lost settings, the custom integrator can remotely restore all of a customer's settings from their office. In addition, all CI models include "Secret CI Modes," a feature set for certified Denon Integrators that allows them to lock out certain settings to a customer.
It was due time for Denon to update its GUIs, joked Stinziano, acknowledging the perception that the old look looked just that … old. He says Denon has come up with a new GUI standard that is far more intuitive and modern-looking, "like they belong in the 21st century."
Starting with the AVR-3808CI and moving up the price ladder, all new Denon receivers feature the newly designed GUI. In addition, many of Denon's new receivers feature the company's new, improved multizone EL programmable remote control.
Models AVR-1708 through AVR-2808CI also include a basic second-zone remote, while models AVR-3808CI and above feature a new enhanced second-zone remote specifically geared toward custom-integration applications. For installers that plan to add a third-party control system, Denon says it makes all of its remote codes available.
The emphasis in Denon's new product line is clearly on whole-house networking. The company wants to remind consumers and installers that its receivers are capable of quarterbacking a whole-house network, according to Stinziano. "We want to establish Denon receivers as the center of the networked home," he says.
Another factor, Talmadge points out, is that the way people access and listen to audio and video is changing with the convergence of the A/V and IT worlds. "Isn't it better to come at it from this side [the A/V side]?" he asks.
In that spirit, Denon introduces two compact networked home entertainment systems. "By combining tried-and-true Denon audio and video performance with a host of innovative networking technologies, we've created a product line that provides powerful yet simple solutions for multiple applications," Stinziano says.
"These new products allow users to enjoy their entertainment content regardless of its source anywhere and everywhere, whether it's packaged media, streamed content from inside or outside the home, or even Internet radio. Most importantly, we've addressed key consumer concerns throughout the line, such as ease-of-use and installation."
Denon's two new network-enabled A/V clients are the ASD-3N (suggested retail price: $179.99) and ASD-3W (suggested retail price: $229.99). Both with iPod command and control, in a press release Denon says they allow consumers to add network connectivity to many A/V components, including A/V receivers, video display products and single speaker solutions.
Once connected to an A/V receiver/stereo, TV or single speaker solution, they provide access to existing home networks, letting users stream audio files, pictures and Internet radio stations from connected devices. The ASD-3N and ASD-3W will be available in August and September, respectively.
In addition to all of the announcements made by Denon, the company plans to release even more product news at CEDIA Expo in September.
The Mahwah, N.J.-based manufacturer, known for its audio/video receivers, gave reporters a sneak-peek of its new lineup, announced installation updates and held demo strategy discussions when it hosted some of its top dealers in Jersey City, N.J. Tuesday.
2 Blu-ray Players Announced
Denon is releasing its first Blu-ray players this fall, according to Joe Stinziano, Denon's senior vice president for sales and marketing,
Stinziano doesn't beat around the bush. He calls Denon's inaugural Blu-ray players, the DVD-3800BDCI and DVD-2500BTC, "one of the keys for us for this holiday season."
The company calls the 3800, which will have a suggested retail price of $1,999, the "world's first BD-ROM Profile 1 version 1.1 Blu-ray disc player from a Blu-ray Disc Associaiton member featuring the acclaimed 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta chipset."
The DVD-2500BTCI outputs audio and video signals and requires a connected audio/video receiver to do the decoding.
Asked if the decision to go Blu-ray means Denon has chosen that format over HD DVD in the high-definition format war, Stinziano says "no," indicating that anything is possible in terms of what future products the company may develop. "We're not announcing that; we're just announcing this [Blu-ray player]."
Does that answer leave the door open to future Denon products under the SACD or DVD Audio umbrellas? Anything is possible, says Jeff Talmadge, director, product development and system integration. He indicates that consumer demand dictates what products Denon develops.
"SACD is more popular in Europe and as a global company we have to think about that," he says.
13 New Receivers, 5 Stamped "CI" Friendly
The company is releasing a revamped lineup of 13 new A/V receivers, completely turning over its receiver line "for the first time in 10 years," says Stinziano. Five models feature the letters "CI" in their product names indicating the "inclusion of special features and capabilities geared specifically toward professional custom integrators," according to the company.
Featuring HDMI 1.3a capability, the line is led by flagship AVR-5308CI (suggested retail price: $5,199; scheduled for December 2007 shipment). It also includes multizone distribution models AVR-4308CI (suggested retail price: $2,499) and AVR-3808CI (suggested retail price: $1,599). The AVR-2808CI (suggested retail price: $1,199) and the AVR-2308CI (suggested retail price: $849) make up the mid-tier range.
The AVR-2308CI through the AVR-5308CI include support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. The top three models in the line include Ethernet connectivity, while the AVR-5308CI and AVR-4308CI support Wi-Fi.
Both network protocols allow custom integrators to diagnose, correct, update and remotely perform maintenance on the units without the need to travel to their customer's home, according to Talmadge.
In a press release, the company explains that in case of error or lost settings, the custom integrator can remotely restore all of a customer's settings from their office. In addition, all CI models include "Secret CI Modes," a feature set for certified Denon Integrators that allows them to lock out certain settings to a customer.
New GUIs Featured on Receivers
It was due time for Denon to update its GUIs, joked Stinziano, acknowledging the perception that the old look looked just that … old. He says Denon has come up with a new GUI standard that is far more intuitive and modern-looking, "like they belong in the 21st century."
Starting with the AVR-3808CI and moving up the price ladder, all new Denon receivers feature the newly designed GUI. In addition, many of Denon's new receivers feature the company's new, improved multizone EL programmable remote control.
Models AVR-1708 through AVR-2808CI also include a basic second-zone remote, while models AVR-3808CI and above feature a new enhanced second-zone remote specifically geared toward custom-integration applications. For installers that plan to add a third-party control system, Denon says it makes all of its remote codes available.
Whole-House Networking Comes into Focus
The emphasis in Denon's new product line is clearly on whole-house networking. The company wants to remind consumers and installers that its receivers are capable of quarterbacking a whole-house network, according to Stinziano. "We want to establish Denon receivers as the center of the networked home," he says.
Another factor, Talmadge points out, is that the way people access and listen to audio and video is changing with the convergence of the A/V and IT worlds. "Isn't it better to come at it from this side [the A/V side]?" he asks.
In that spirit, Denon introduces two compact networked home entertainment systems. "By combining tried-and-true Denon audio and video performance with a host of innovative networking technologies, we've created a product line that provides powerful yet simple solutions for multiple applications," Stinziano says.
"These new products allow users to enjoy their entertainment content regardless of its source anywhere and everywhere, whether it's packaged media, streamed content from inside or outside the home, or even Internet radio. Most importantly, we've addressed key consumer concerns throughout the line, such as ease-of-use and installation."
Denon's two new network-enabled A/V clients are the ASD-3N (suggested retail price: $179.99) and ASD-3W (suggested retail price: $229.99). Both with iPod command and control, in a press release Denon says they allow consumers to add network connectivity to many A/V components, including A/V receivers, video display products and single speaker solutions.
Once connected to an A/V receiver/stereo, TV or single speaker solution, they provide access to existing home networks, letting users stream audio files, pictures and Internet radio stations from connected devices. The ASD-3N and ASD-3W will be available in August and September, respectively.
Even More to Come
In addition to all of the announcements made by Denon, the company plans to release even more product news at CEDIA Expo in September.
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Article Topics
News · Product News · Audio · Receivers · Video · Blu-ray · Networking · Ces · Blu-ray · Denon · Receivers · Networking ·About the Author
Tom LeBlanc, Senior Writer/Technology Editor, CE Pro
Tom has been covering consumer electronics for six years. Before that, he wrote for the sports department of the Boston Herald. Migrating to magazines, he was a staff editor for a golf publication and an outdoor sports publication. Now, as senior writer/technology editor of CE Pro magazine since 2003, he dabbles in all departments and offers expertise in marketing. Follow him on Twitter @leblanctom.
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