Yamaha YSP-3050 Sound Projector Upscales HD Video

Yamaha's YSP-3050 is the latest in the company's line of Digital Sound Projectors.

The YSP-3050, which will be on display at CEDIA Expo 2008 (booth 450), is designed to fit under flat-panel TVs to provide a space-efficient option to installing multiple speakers in a room for immersive audio.

Digital Sound Projectors focus audio signals into precisely-controlled "beams" that provide multi-channel surround sound from a single component, according to Yamaha.

The YSP-3050 features:

• 21 beam drivers
• Two woofers
• 23 corresponding digital amplifiers
• Three Cinema DSP programs (movie, music and sports)
• Analog-to-HDMI upconversion
• HD video upscaling to 1080i/720p

It also has a 1080p (24Hz and 60Hz) compatible HDMI interface with two inputs and one output to facilitate digital connections with home theater components.

The YSP-3050 is XM Satellite Radio ready with XM HD surround sound powered by Neural Surround.

It offers iPod compatibility with the optional YDS-11 dock. Once docked, the iPod can be operated (song selection, play, etc.) via the YSP's remote control and on-screen display.

Yamaha says its proprietary Compressed Music Enhancer technology compensates for the lost detail of audio that is compressed during the "ripping" process.

MSRP for the YSP-3050 is $1,399.