Three New Kenwood Sovereignô DVD Components Include Worldís First 400+3 DVD-Audio/Video Mega-Changer

Two Players Feature Faroudja Progressive Scan Technology And Are First To Display Faroudja Logo

14-Jun-01

Building upon its strong commitment to DVD-Audio and networked home entertainment systems, Kenwood USA Corporation introduced two new DVD-Audio/Video players, including the worldís first 400+3 DVD-Audio/Video mega-changer. The new Kenwood Sovereign DV-5900M is also the first changer to be equipped with progressive scan video technology from Faroudja Laboratories and to display the Faroudja logo on its faceplate. The company also showed the DV-5700, a five-disc carousel, also equipped with Faroudja progressive scan video technology and displaying the Faroudja logo. The company also showed the DV-5050M, a 400+3 disc DVD-Video-only mega-changer. Faroudja Laboratories is part of Sage Inc. (NASDAQ: SAGI).  Designed for audiophiles, videophiles, and custom installation applications, the DV-5900M and DV-5050M players include RS-232 ports for network connectivity, and all three new players feature Kenwoodís acclaimed graphical user interface (GUI), based on its exclusive disc navigation software. Each also has Kenwoodís exclusive 24-bit DRIVEô II distortion reduction circuitry, 192 kHz/24-bit D/A converters for front left and right channels, 96 kHz/24-bit D/A converters for all other channels, Pure Audio Mode, and digital noise reduction. The new models also incorporate DolbyÆ Digital and DTSÆ surround sound decoding, as well as bass management, and plays DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, audio CDs, and MP3-encoded CD-R and CD-RW discs.The third player, the Kenwood DV-5050M, is a DVD-Video-only 400+3 disc mega-changer that plays DVD-Video, audio CDs, and MP3 encoded CD-R and CD-RW discs. Positioned as a mid-level player, the DV-5050M comes with progressive scan video output, Kenwoodís exclusive 24-bit DRIVEô II distortion reduction circuitry, 96 kHz/24-bit D/A converters, digital noise reduction, and one digital output.ìKenwood not only continues its strong commitment to DVD-Audio, but by incorporating Faroudja progressive scan technology, we take a leap forward in video as well,î said Bob Law, Kenwood Vice President of Sales and Marketing. ìOur five-disc carousel and mega-changers become the new ëreferenceí standard by incorporating the latest technologies desired by the consumer and the custom installer.î ìKenwood made its name in audio, and we made ours in video,î said Dr. Nikhil Balram, Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Products, for Sage Inc. ìCombining each otherís strengths makes not only good business sense, but superior products as well. This partnership certainly creates a win-win scenario for our customers.î  Faroudja TechnologyThe two players that will carry the Faroudja logo, are the new Kenwood Sovereign DV-5900M, a 400+3-disc mega-changer and the DV-5700, a five-disc changer. Both units will incorporate Faroudjaís technology by using the FLI2200 world-first 10-bit single-chip motion adaptive deinterlacer and the FLI2220 video enhancer. The FLI2200 includes proprietary Directional Correlational Deinterlacing (DCDiô), technology that produces smooth and natural-looking images by eliminating the jagged edges or staircasing seen on moving angled lines in video images. It also features film mode for proper handling of 3:2 and 2:2 pull-down as well as bad edit detection/correction, technologies invented and patented by Faroudja Laboratories. The FLI2220 video enhancer, unlike conventional video sharpening circuits, enhances both horizontally and vertically to create the clearest possible image. The patented nonlinear algorithms enhance the small details and colors in images, and improve depth perception by sharpening large edges without introducing visual artifacts or distortion.Daisy Chain And Control - GUI And RS-232  The DV-5900M and DV-5050M mega-changers allow users to ìdaisy chainî up to two additional units (three total), providing access to more than 1,200 discs. Using a control port between changers, users can sort, manage, and store using Kenwoodís original disc navigation software management system incorporating a GUI. Connecting an RS-232 cable to a PC or Kenwoodís new Entre entertainment hub allows all the movies (or CDs) stored in the mega changer(s) to be accessed with cover art, title, track, artist and genre information via online databases such as CDDBÆ Music Recognition Serviceô and OpenGlobeô MovieDB.  For those users who rent a large proportion of their DVDs, the DV-5900M and DV-5050M have three specialized slots known as The Rental Zoneô. As most people rent two or more movies at a time, these dedicated slots hold ìtemporaryî DVD-Video, DVD-Audio or even CDs that are not part of the userís permanent collection. Each of the ì+3î slots are wide and easily accessible for inserting a rental DVD (or that friendís new CD), and has its own play and eject button located on the front panel.The important issue of bass management has been addressed with Kenwoodís latest DVD-Audio players. Bass management works with the multichannel analog channel outputs so that proper adjustments can be made for DVD-Audio decoding. Both the DV-5900M and DV-5700 incorporate bass management processing, which allows the user to turn the subwoofer on or off and choose the correct speaker ""size"" in the setup menu for full enjoyment of DVD-Audio.In order to accommodate both single-sided and dual-sided DVD-Video and DVD-Audio discs, Kenwood has incorporated a dual-side play mechanism in both mega-capacity changers that plays both sides of a disc without having to manually turn it over. In addition, the DV-5900M (and DV-5050M) stores over 400 discs, and the Kenwood-designed DVD mechanism and chassis allows the player to fit into most conventional rack systems.The Kenwood Sovereign DV-5900M and Sovereign DV-5700 will be available at selected Kenwood dealers starting in September with suggested retail prices of $1,500 and $1,200, respectively. The Kenwood Sovereign DV-5050M will be shipping in August and will retail for $1,000. For more information about Kenwood USA Corporation, visit www.kenwoodusa.com. For more information about Sage Inc., visit www.sageinc.com.

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