Theta Digital Ships Casablanca II Music And Cinema Controller

21-Sep-00

Theta Digital announced the availability of its new Casablanca II Music and Cinema Controller at CEDIA EXPO 2000. Building on the success of the original top-rated Casablanca, the new model is said to offer significant improvements in flexibility, performance, and ease of use.Casablanca II has been created around the same ""open architecture"" design Theta pioneered in the original Casablanca. Thetaís modular design allows for technology and feature upgrades using self-contained field-replaceable circuit cards. Both hardware and software are upgradeable. The Casablanca II, like the original, is custom-configured for each client.The motherboard is devoted to signal routing, while various daughterboards carry function-specific circuitry. This open architecture allows owners to configure and upgrade their Casablancas to meet their personal needs. In addition, future DSP and control software upgrades will be downloadable from Thetaís Web site at www.thetadigital.com to a PC, and then into the Casablanca. All original Casablancas can be updated to full Casablanca II capabilities.Flexible ConfigurationCasablanca II purchasers can choose from two levels of DACs for digital to analog conversion. The ""Superior"" DACs are three-channel (balanced and single-ended), and the ""Standard"" quality are six-channel (single-ended) or three-channel (balanced). These boards can be combined to provide up to 12 channels of audio.Users can also choose 8- or 12-channel digital output boards, which are capable of sending 24-bit/96kHz data to external DACs, such as Thetaís Generation V. A separate tape-out DAC lets users record (or send to a second zone) one digital source while listening to a different one. The Casablanca II base model includes DolbyÆ Digital, Dolby Pro LogicÆ and DTSÆ Digital Surroundô processing. Circle SurroundÆ is an option which makes it possible to produce a convincing multichannel soundfield from any stereo (two-channel) source.The Casablanca II also offers Central Power Redistribution (patent pending), which is said to correct for theatre sound mixes, by enhancing the spaciousness of sound, while redistributing sound from the center channel. Center Circle Surround, Thetaís proprietary application of Circle Surround, is claimed to offer superior channel separation to THXÆ Surround EXô.Sonic DesignsThetaís proprietary Jitter Jail technology is claimed to virtually eliminate jitter. The circuitry stores all digital audio in a buffer and reclocks it to the DACs, using a high-quality crystal oscillator and DSP algorithm.The Casablanca II also serves as an audiophile-quality analog preamp.CustomizableTheta offers a variety of daughterboards for the Casablanca II, including digital input boards, analog input boards, processing boards and DACs for up to 12 outputs (seven or eight full-range, and four or five subwoofers).Casablanca IIís 12-channel capacity includes: front left, right and center, surround left and right, side left and right, front left and right subwoofer(s), surround left and right subwoofer(s), and surround center or front center sub. Each subwoofer channel carries LFE and crossover information. Systems with two subwoofers can be configured as left/right or front/back. Each input select button (there are 12) can be assigned any name, each with its own speaker configuration and other specific settings, which lets users optimize some inputs for music and others for home theatre. Among the over 140 speaker-set-up parameters are three types of crossovers - Phase-Perfect, Butterworth, and Linkwitz-Riley - four slope choices and up to eight crossover frequencies.Each channel provides independent control of level, delay, and high frequency equalization. A master audio delay can be applied to all channels to compensate for video delay inherent with complex video processing. Level and delay can also be optimized separately for Dolby Digital, DTS Digital Surround and Circle Surround processing. A ""template copy"" function lets users copy the set-up for one input to another, and modify it as needed instead of repeatedly entering many of the same settings.In addition to audio boards, users can also opt for broadcast-quality video switching boards, choosing either S-Video only (eight inputs, two main and two tape outs) or six composite/four S-Video inputs (one main, one tape out each).The Casablanca IIís standard RS-232 serial port offers access for Crestron, Phast and other system-control devices, as well as the ability to update software on the reprogrammable flash memory. It also can be connected to a PC running Thetaís optional Windows software, available later this year, which provides set-up and control capabilities. It also comes with an IR remote and a front panel display. The Casablanca II can be housed within an anodized aluminum cover that resists vibration, dissipates heat and esthetically matches the brushed-aluminum front panel. Users can also rack-mount the unit. Four 12-volt trigger jacks are available for controlling power amplifiers, and such auxiliary devices as motorized screens and drapes, and lighting systems.The Casablanca II is priced between $6,000 and $17,000, depending on configuration, and is available now from Theta dealers.  For additional information about Theta Digital, visit www.thetadigital.com.Category: Surround Processors

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