Upper Saddle River, N.J. - Integra shipped its first nine-channel component amplifier, positioned for use in home theaters that incorporate post-processing technologies that deliver up to 9.1 channels of surround sound.

In home theaters, the $1,800-suggested DTA-70.1 amp can be paired with Integra's $2,300-suggested DHC-80.1 9.2-channel A/V processor. The processor incorporates Dolby ProLogic IIz and Audyssey Dynamic Surround Expansion (DSX), two soundstage-expansion technologies. The amp can also be paired with seven-channel processors, with two amp channels dedicated to biamplifying the main left-right speakers or for driving a pair of second-zone speakers.

Integra believes the THX Ultra2-certified amp is the first component nine-channel amp intended for home theater use. It's rated at 9x150 watts into 8 ohms with two channels driven.

In a 9.1-speaker system, DSX uses a second pair of horizontal-plane front speakers to expand the width of the front soundstage and a pair of front-height channels to deepen the soundstage. Dolby ProLogic IIz adds a pair of front-height channels to a traditional 5.1- or 7.1-speaker setup.