Panasonicís Car DVD-Audio/Video Player Will Deliver Well Into The New Millennium

31-Jul-00

Achieving the ultimate in mobile entertainment versatility, Panasonic unveils the industryís first car audio receiver that plays DVD-Video and DVD-Audio discs, as well as CDs, all in a 1-Din size head unit.Model CQ-DVR909 will serve as the center of a mobile electronics system the same way an A/V receiver would in a home theatre environment. Whatís more, this mobile DVD-Audio/Video player is capable of playing the new DVD-Audio format, offering a new era in performance, sound quality and sheer musical enjoyment. Of course, it delivers great movie entertainment for rear seat passengers, too. ""This represents the industryís first in-dash mobile media entertainment center,"" says Gene Kelsey, Vice President and General Manager of Panasonicís Audio Division. ""We believe itís also the first car unit of its kind with its own built-in center speaker.""That five-watt powered speaker turns the concept of car audio on its ear, making it possible for the first time to hear center channel music or movie dialogue directly from the head unit. With the vocal image brought up to dashboard height rather than the lower leg area, the speaker offers optimum listening enjoyment. And because the built-in speaker reproduces the upper-midrange frequencies that are so crucial to total audio realism, drivers and passengers will hear the music or dialogue with greater accuracy and definition.The center speaker is joined by a 45W x 4 amplifier, which will ensure music is delivered with a commanding presence, even amid road and wind noise. MOSFET circuitry provides improved signal-to-noise ratio, while reducing treble noise. The net effect is faithful sound reproduction with expressive musical detail.But ""car theatre"" is the reason this model exists, and the CQ-DVR909 is designed to do it right. Intended for use with the CY-VM1500 7-inch diagonal LCD monitor, which can be installed between the front seats, in an overhead panel, or elsewhere for rear seat passenger enjoyment, the DIN-size head unit is equipped for the finest in ""moving"" pictures and sound. Thereís even a wireless remote control, so passengers can take full advantage of the DVD playerís many features, such as four-speed smooth-motion scanning, still, and repeat play, in addition to major CD, tuner and changer functions.With DTSÆ Digital Surroundô and DolbyÆ Digital decoders built-in, the CQ-DVR909 is primed to deliver the full sonic benefits of 5.1-channel movies (and recordings) in either digital standard. Of course, the car DVD player has a subwoofer output (5-volt, switchable 80Hz /120Hz low-pass filter), so itís a simple matter of adding a dedicated sub and amp to get the forceful bass thatís vital to movie viewing at home.The CQ-DVR909ís functionality as a DVD-Audio player shouldnít be overlooked, however. DVD-Audio represents a new generation of musical clarity and realism, and the head unitís MOSFET circuitry can deliver that clean sound to full effect. Combined with its ability to play regular CDs, the head unit has all the musical bases covered - now and well into the future.The CQ-DVR909 can also operate a Panasonic CD changer, such as the new eight-disc CX-DP88. Command options include disc up/down, track up/down, disc/track scan, track repeat and random play, and disc titles are remembered and displayed whenever the disc is inserted. And, as if that werenít enough, the unit is also an AM/FM receiver with all the tools to deliver exceptional reception even in highly cluttered or otherwise difficult areas. Six AM and 18 FM presets, auto preset and seek tuning are among the receiverís features.The CQ-DVR909 has a design as attention-grabbing as any audio or video it produces. The DVD/CD slot is hidden behind a motorized, flip-down front panel, which boasts three viewing angles and is removable to help prevent theft. The left side of the faceplate opens for the built-in speaker, while the rest is comprised of a dynamic, multi-color CFL display surrounded by ergonomically placed buttons. Besides frequency and CD/DVD information, the display includes a spectrum analyzer that pulses with the music, and there are 10 different patterns to choose from. Most unusual about the front panel, however, is its ""Day & Night"" design, which makes it appear to change when going from daylight to darkness. By day, the trim and buttons appear to be metallic. At night, the face takes on a cool blue appearance.Model CQ-DVR909 is available as of July 2000 with a suggested retail price of $1,999.99.Panasonic mobile DVD players are marketed in the United States by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America (MECA). MECA is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (NYSE: MC) of Japan, one of the worldís largest producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. Price is in U.S. dollars. Consumers seeking more information on the companyís products can call Panasonicís Customer Call Center at 800 211 PANA or access Panasonicís home page at www.panasonic.com.

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