NAD Adds Powerful New VXP Powered HDMI Video Board To Top Preamp/Processors And A/V Receiver

Sigma Designs' VXP Technology with 10-Bit Image Processing Significantly Improves Image Quality in Flagship Components [The following is a release from NAD Electronics]

September 15, 2008

NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, announces the addition of Sigma Designs VXP broadcast studio quality image processing technology to new versions of three ultra-high performance audio components, at CEDIA EXPO '08, beginning here today. The new custom-designed HDMI Video Board with VXP 10-bit image processing technology will be available in three of NAD's flagship components: the M15 HD Surround Sound Preamplifier, T 175 HD Preamp-Tuner-Processor and seven-channel T 785 HD A/V Receiver. The components are new High Definition editions of NAD's M15 Surround Sound Preamplifier, T 175 Preamp-Tuner-Processor and T 785 A/V Receiver, which can be upgraded with the VXP Video Board by NAD dealers. Sigma Designs (Nasdaq: SIGM) headquartered in Milpitas, California, is the leader in digital media processing system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for consumer electronics and home of VXP technology. "VXP technology offers a professional level of processing that makes an obvious visual improvement on almost every HD video display," said Greg Stidsen, NAD Director of Product Development. "In the past, we had rejected adding further video processing to our audio/video receivers," Stidsen continued, citing the inadequate performance of many scaling engines and the performance issues raised by adding another processor to the signal chain. "But VXP processing gives every source the highest level of 1080p HD performance." Developed from its broadcast heritage, VXP technology contains robust algorithms that ensure outstanding image quality. The high precision color processing means more than one billion colors are used for eye-catching, natural images and uncompromised video quality. At the heart of the technology is motion adaptive de-interlacing with dynamic directional interpolation, which removes jagged edges that can result from motion in HD and SD interlaced formats. Enabling the up or down scale of SD and HD formats, the programmable scaling engine ensures the proper enlargement and reduction of the images without any loss of quality. Coupled with advanced image enhancement algorithms in a low-power, low-latency architecture, Sigma's solutions comprise the most advanced single-chip image processors on the market today. NAD's VXP based video board supports four HDMI inputs, one HDMI output, and caters to the latest HD digital video sources. It can convert a selection of three Component and seven Composite and S-Video inputs from analog to digital HDMI using ultra high-performance video decoders. It also extracts eight-channel linear PCM from the video signal and sends it to the NAD DSP board for processing and D/A conversion. Components equipped with the VXP video board will be available late in the Fourth Quarter from authorized NAD dealers. Suggested retail prices are $4,499 for the M15 HD Preamplifier, $2,999 for the T 175 HD Preamp-Tuner-Processor, and $3,999 for the T 785 HD AV Receiver. Owners of the T 175 Preamp-Tuner-Processor and T 785 AV Receiver can have the VXP Video Board dealer-installed as an upgrade for $950 plus installation. The components can be seen with other outstanding NAD products at Booth 900, Colorado Convention Center, during CEDIA.

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