Sharpís New 1-Bit Amplifier And Super Audio CD Player Deliver Highest Possible Fidelity In Digital Audio
Next Generation Offerings Deliver Worldís First ""Direct Bitstream Coupling"" In Ultra-Compact, Sleek Designs
Sharp Electronics Corporation, a leader in innovative products and core technologies that play a key role in shaping the future of digital home entertainment, today introduced the SM-SX1, 50 Watt per channel 1-Bit Amp, and companion DX-SX1 Super Audio CD Player. The combination offers the industryís first ever ""Direct Bitstream Coupling"" capability, creating the ultimate in high fidelity sound. With 50 Watts per channel, the SM-SX1 is a more compact version of Sharpís ground-breaking 100-Watt per channel SM-SX100 1-Bit Amp. In the SM-SX1 the exceptionally fast 1-Bit Delta Sigma modulator and advanced noise shaping combine to process the analog signal at a rate much higher than that of traditional multi-bit Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) systems. The result is that the sound reproduced by the new digital system is the closest possible to the original source. Because the Sharp 1-Bit Delta-Sigma modulator samples at a rate 64 times that of CD PCM/16-Bit, the digital standard that has emerged in the last decade, it reproduces sound of a caliber well beyond that of traditional amplifiers. The result is a sampling rate of 2.8MHz (2,822,400 times per second), offering a sound reproduction range of 5 Hz to 100 kHz. The 7th-order Delta- Sigma 1-Bit modulator makes possible extremely stable amplification of music signals based on ""Delta-Sigma Dynamic Feedback"" which corrects the 1-Bit control signals in real time. What this means is that Sharpís 1-Bit amplification technology is capable of reproducing the sound sources of the natural world in such a way that it ensures a wide dynamic range in our audible band - making it extremely difficult to tell the 1-Bit signal from the original source. High Fidelity At Just 1/3 The Size The SM-SX1 and DX-SX1 SACD player combination offers high-fidelity playback combined with highly efficient use of energy (using only 50 percent of electrical power compared to conventional analog amplifiers) and space (takes up 1/3 of the size). Users can expect to enjoy audio reproduction with excellent response and a fresh and vivid sound. Direct Bitstream Coupling The combination of these two units yields the worldís first ""Direct Bitstream Coupling"" audio system, enabling the digital signal from Super Audio CD music software to be conveyed directly to the speakers without sound degradation. Through a proprietary pin connection between the units, bitstream signals from Super Audio CDs (SACDs) are conveyed directly to the 1-Bit Amp and amplified in digital form to ensure super-high-fidelity audio playback. ""Direct Bitstream Coupling"" is designed to allow bitstream signals to be output only when Sharpís 1-Bit Amp and SACD Player recognize each other via a dedicated cable connection. Because of the unitís backward compatibility, the amplifier will automatically switch between the 1-Bit signal output from SACDs and the analog output from normal CDs, allowing both SACDs and normal CDs to be played back using the same input connection. This next-generation audio system can reproduce the original sound with limitless fidelity. 1-Bitís precision, combined with the SM-SX1 and DX-SX1, delivers the ability to reproduce seemingly insignificant details of the atmosphere of the recording location, providing a true ""sense of space."" With a frequency response of 5Hz to 100 kHz and a dynamic range of more than 105 dB (when playing back SACDs), there has never been a technology that comes this close to reproducing actual sound. ""The advantages of 1-bit amplification are so overwhelming that it's a natural for almost any consumer audio product,"" said Rob Weitz, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Audio, Home Digital Division, Sharp Electronics Corporation. ""Since 1-Bit amplification is extremely efficient in size, power consumption, heat dissipation and switching technology, it allows for the engineering of mini-systems, home theater, auto sound, mobile electronic devices, professional sound equipment, etc., with never-before-heard sound quality. In a home theatre, it could be used in separate receivers or amplifiers, or it could even be built into the TV itself; this combination is just the beginning. We believe that SACD is the most exciting development in digital music reproduction ever."" Innovative Design And Thin Form-Factor With the SM-SX1 and DX-SX1, Sharp has developed a highly reliable mechanism that features high rigidity in a thin-profile package. This design will keep resonant vibration to a minimum. The DX-SX1 CD tray is made of die-cast aluminum and the main and base chassis are made from galvanized die-cast metal. The use of a super-thin dual-beam optical pickup unit to read the signals from SACD and normal CDs allows the unit to be even more compact. Because these mechanisms are inherently compact, Sharp is able to make them so thin and sleek. As a global technology innovator, Sharp leads in engineering and development, resulting in new product categories, advanced standards and transformation in home entertainment, including LCD, Viewcam, MiniDisc, DVD, and DTV technologies. With the introduction of 1-Bit Audio Amplification, Sharp takes its expertise into the high-end audio realm, establishing new audio technology standards. Sharp plans to apply this technology to a variety of audio products in the next few years. The SM-SX1 and DX-SX1 will both be available in the third quarter of 2000. The prices for both have not been determined. For on-line information on Sharpís audio products and technology, visit Sharpís Web site at http://www.sharp-usa.com or phone 877-388-SHARP. SM-SX1 Specifications Product name: 1-bit amp Model name: SM-SX1-S (Silver) Rate power output: 50 W + 50 W (into an 8 ohm load at 1 kHz) Frequency response: 5 Hz to 100 kHz (+1 dB/-3 dB) Total harmonic distortion: 0.05% (at 1 kHz, 1 W power) Dynamic range: 105 dB A/D noise shaping: 7th-order delta-sigma modulation Input jacks: Dedicated bitstream digital IN jack x 1 RCA coaxial digital IN x 1 Square-type optical digital IN x 1 RCA analog IN x 3 Output jacks: Square-type optical digital OUT x 1 RCA analog OUT x 1 Power source: 120 V AC, 60 Hz Rated power consumption: 75 watts External dimensions: 300 (W) x 66 (H) x 411 (D) mm (11.8-inch x 2.6-inch x 16.2-inch) Weight: Approximately 6.8 kg (15.0 lbs) DX-SX1 Specifications Product name: Super Audio CD player Model name: DX-SX1-S (Silver) Number of channels: Stereo (2 channels) Playback frequency range: 2 Hz to 100 kHz (when playing back Super Audio CDs) Frequency response: 2 Hz to 50 kHz (when playing back Super Audio CDs) 2 Hz to 20 kHz (when playing back normal CDs) Total harmonic distortion: 0.0012% (at 1 kHz, 1 V output) Dynamic range: Greater than 105 dB (when playing back Super Audio CDs) Wow & flutter: Below measurable limits (less than +-0.001% W peak) Output jacks: Dedicated bitstream digital OUT x 1 RCA coaxial digital OUT x 1 Square-type optical digital OUT x 1 RCA analog OUT (fixed) x 1 RCA analog OUT (variable) x 1 Headphone jack (3.5 mm) x 1 Power source: 120 V AC, 60 Hz Rated power consumption: 14 watts External dimensions: 300 (W) x 66 (H) x 382 (D) mm (11.8-inch x 2.6-inch x 15.0-inch) Weight: Approximately 5.8 kg (12.8 lbs) Accessories: Remote control x 1 Dedicated bitstream cable x 1 Power cable x 1