JVC will soon begin shipping two new audio/video receivers that offer the convenience and performance of HDMI up-conversion.
The two receivers, the $500 RX-D401S/D402B and $800 RX-D702B, also feature USB inputs for streaming audio from a PC and JVC's Hybrid Feedback digital amplifier technology.
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio/video
interface that allows a single cable to carry uncompressed audio and video
signals in digital form, offering high quality signal transmission plus
the simplicity of a single connection. With HDMI-equipped source
components, such as a DVD player or cable/satellite box, just one cable
connects the component to the JVC receiver. On the output side, a single
HDMI cable connects the receiver to the display.
To ensure the best possible video signal, regardless of the source, both
the RX-D401S/D402B (S = silver; B = black) and the RX-D702B up-convert
composite, S-Video and component signals to HDMI. Handling the HDMI
up-conversion is a Genesis deinterlacer that incorporates DCDi
(Directional Correlational Deinterlacing) technology from Faroudja. Both
receivers include two HDMI inputs and one output.
Both new JVC receivers also feature a USB connection that allows music to
be sent from a PC to the receiver for playback. The connection is wireless
on the RX-D702B, using the 2.4GHz band to transmit uncompressed signals
over a range of approximately 100 feet. The receiver comes with a
transmitter that plugs into the computer's USB input. Interference from
other devices is automatically detected by the transmitter and an
interference-free band is automatically selected.
To deliver better sound quality when playing compressed audio
files, JVC receivers feature the company's exclusive CC Converter, which
uses advanced digital signal processing to improve the quality of these
files. The CC Converter computes the data that was lost during the
digital-to-analog conversion and recreates the original signal.
JVC's entire receiver line features the company's Hybrid Feedback digital
amplifier that is compact, highly efficient and able to generate high
power output with low distortion levels. This technology uses two digital
feedback loops to generate a precise signal and two analog feedback loops
to ensure that the final signal is identical to the original. It is this
digital amplifier technology that allows JVC's receivers to be
significantly lower in profile than traditional receivers.
Both receivers are 7.1-channel units and deliver a wide soundfield from
various sources. The units include nearly all available audio codecs,
including Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, DTS, DTS-ES, DTS NEO:6, DTS
96/24, and Dolby Pro Logic IIx. Additionally, JVC's digital audio
processor can create a full range of soundfields from multichannel
sources. The receivers also feature JVC's Quick Speaker Setup, a fast,
easy way to set the receiver for the user's specific speaker set-up. The
RX-D702B comes with Smart Surround Setup Version 3.0 with just a
handclap the unit automatically sets up an ideal multi-channel soundfield
by optimizing speaker delay times and levels for the listening position.
Another new JVC feature is Center Channel Alignment DSP (digital signal
processing) technology that compensates for placement of the center
channel speaker either above or below the display, shifting the apparent
source of the dialog to the screen.
The RX-D401S/402B is rated at 110 watts for each of its seven channels.
The RX-D702B is rated at 150 watts per channel.
JVC also offers the RX-D301S/302B, similar to the RX-D401S/402B but
without HDMI interfaces. It does, however, offer video up-conversion from
composite to S-Video and component, and from S-Video to component.
The RX-D401S/402B and RX-D702B will be available next month and sell for
about $500 and $800, respectively. The RX-D301S/302B is available
immediately and sells for about $400.