Panasonic Debuts HTiB With HDD PVR & DVD-Recorder
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 9/20/2004
INDIANAPOLIS — In audio, Panasonic unveiled what it claimed is the industry's first HTiB with built-in HDD PVR and DVD-recorder, its first receiver with HDMI 2.0 inputs, and its first DVD-audio/video player with HDMI 2.0 output, at CEDIA Expo, here.
HDMI 2.0 carries DVD-audio content in digital form on a single cable, eliminating the need for six analog RCA cables between receiver and DVD-audio player. It also carries all other audio and video content, including HD video streams.
Panasonic's $399-suggested SA-XR70 receiver will vie with a high-end Denon receiver to be the first receiver on the market with HDMI 2.0 input. Both are targeted to ship in November. Panasonic's model features six-channel digital amplifier, Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS 96/24, two component-video inputs and one component output.
Denon's receiver with HDMI 2.0 input is the $6,000-suggested AVR-5805, which adds IEEE-1394 input for receiving SACD and DVD-audio streams in digital form. It features 10x75-watt amp and powered four-source, four-zone capability.
The Panasonic DVD-audio/video player with HDMI 2.0 output is the DVD-S97, due in October in black or silver at a suggested $399. It also plays CDs encoded in WMA, MP3, HDCD, and MPEG-4.
The HTiB with HDD PVR and DVD-recorder is the $1,000-suggested SC-HT1500, which shipped in September. It features DVD-R and DVD-RAM recording, 80GB HDD, TV Guide EPG, DVD-audio, MP3-CD playback and up-conversion of two-channel audio to 5.1 channels.
