Theta Digital Exhibits Breakthrough Casablanca II Music And Cinema Controller

Home Theatre-Era Audiophile Preamp/Processor Tops Outstanding Original In Performance, Flexibility And Ease Of Use

17-Jan-01

Theta Digital, long acclaimed as one of the finest high-end digital audio manufacturers in the world, showcased its new Casablanca II Music and Cinema Controller at the Golden Nugget Hotel during the 2001 International Consumer Electronics Show.Itís difficult to imagine how the best can be improved, but thatís what Theta has done. Building on the success of the original top-rated Casablanca, the new model offers significant improvements in flexibility, performance and ease of use, eliminating the need for customers to choose between audiophile music reproduction and video-based surround sound.Casablanca II has been created around the same ""open architecture"" design Theta pioneered in the original Casablanca. Thetaís modular design was the first to offer technology and feature upgrades using self-contained field-replaceable circuit cards. Both hardware and software are upgradable. The Casablanca II strengthens this tradition and, 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. The process is so simple, a technician can perform these transformations in the field. 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. Theta makes these upgrades as easy and cost-effective as possible for all its customers. Of course, all original Casablancas can be updated to full Casablanca II capabilities.Flexible ConfigurationCasablanca II purchasers can choose from two quality levels of DACs for digital to analog conversion. The Superior DACs are three channel (balanced and single ended) - the Standard quality offers yet another configuration choice (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.Theta has originated several unique features and modes that no other company can offer. Central Power Redistribution (patent pending) corrects for theatre sound mixes, which bunch up much of the sound in the center channel - great for a vast theatre, but terrible in a home environment where the center channel is often the weakest. Central Power Redistribution enhances the quality and dynamic range of sound while making much better use of the best speakers. Center Circle Surround, Thetaís proprietary application of Circle Surround, offers superior channel separation to THXÆ Surround EXô on the center rear channel. Party Mode sums all channels to all speakers (while allowing each channel's assigned information to dominate).Sonic ExcellenceThe cumulative effect of numerous refinements contributes to the sonic excellence of the Casablanca II.Thetaís proprietary Jitter Jail technology virtually eliminates 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 resulting rock-stable digital audio suffers none of the problems associated with lesser systems.For those who value analog sound, the Casablanca II serves as an audiophile-quality analog preamp. Itís a simple matter to bypass all the digital processing, sending stereo analog input signals directly to front left and right analog outputs with all the clarity and transparency that made the original Casablanca so highly regarded by audiophiles. Serious music lovers can enjoy top-quality analog and digital sound from the same preamp/processor without compromising either.Completely CustomizableTheta offers a wide 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. 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 setup 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 DolbyÆ Digital, DTSÆ Digital Surroundô and Circle SurroundÆ processing. A ""template copy"" function lets users copy the setup from 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). These boards maintain the same standard of quality for video signals that the audio boards provide for audio signals, and facilitate on-screen display. Any audio or video input can be routed to any input select button for complete set-up freedom Among the Casablanca IIís many customizable features are the ability to set password protection for the unit, and to set a maximum level to protect the system from being accidentally overdriven by experimenting friends or family members. Users can also specify the level at which the unit leaves standby mode, and whether the mute function turns off by pressing ""mute"" or by changing the volume. 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 complete setup and control capabilities. Of course, it also comes with an IR remote and a very legible ""blue vacuum fluorescent"" front panel display. If users wish, 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. For additional information about Theta Digital, visit www.thetadigital.com.

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