Pre-amp

Denon just announced a major upgrade for owners of the AVR-5308CI A/V Receiver and AVP-A1HDCI A/V Preamplifier. The hardware and firmware upgrade will provide full 3D pass-through capability, as well as Audyssey MultEQ XT32, Audyssey DSX and Dolby PLIIz. This is the 4th upgrade that Denon has offered to owners of its high-end products, ensuring their products have the most up-to-date features and capabilities. The upgrade is scheduled for October.

"We are very excited to bring these leading-edge features to owners of our flagship AVR-5308CI A/V receiver and AVP-A1HDCI Preamplifier," noted Jeff Talmadge, Director, Product Development & Systems Integration, Denon Electronics. "Early adopters who purchased these components nearly 4 years ago bought them with the confidence that they would experience the very best home entertainment for years to come. This upgrade opportunity is yet another example of how Denon is committed to ensuring that our customers are 'future ready' and remain at the leading edge of all the latest performance-enhancing technologies."

Visit www.usa.denon.com/upgrades to sign up to receive email updates.

Are you reminiscent of the 80's? This week at CES, Onkyo is unveiling new hi-fi components that bring back the style of the company's classic stereo models of the 1980's. There are three models; the P-3000R pre-amplifier, M-5000R power amplifier, and C-7000R CD player.

The new models feature Onkyo's new Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry (DIDRC) which counteracts unwanted high-frequency interference. The company says that "Frequencies above 100 kHz are susceptible to clock pulses and other forms of distortion from digital devices. Such distortion in the super-high frequency range can generate "beat interference," which in turn affects the character or atmosphere of the original sound. DIDRC works to reduce noise by improving linearity and reducing distortion in the super high frequency range, resulting in audio playback that is more faithful to the original source."Read more

Sixteen years ago, Onkyo introduced the world's first THX Certified A/V receiver, the TX-SV919THX. Fast forward to today, and Onkyo unveils three new THX Certified components – the company's first A/V preamplifier/processor that is both 3D-Ready and THX-Certified, a 150-watt nine-channel amplifier, and a Blu-ray player that is loaded with features.

The PR-SC5508 is Onkyo's top-of-the-line 9.2-channel audio-video preamp/processor. It is THX-Ultra 2 Plus certified, network-capable, has a 3D-Ready HDMI-1.4a interface, HQV Reon-VX video processing, ISF Video Calibration, and more top-of-the line audio/video features. Read more

Vincent Audio just introduced higher performing step-up versions of two of their hybrid vacuum tube/solid-state power amplifiers and preamplifiers. Based on the SA-31 preamplifier and SP-331 Class AB power amplifier, the new Vincent SA-31MK stereo preamplifier and SP-331MK Class A/AB stereo power amplifier offer improved Class A sound, as well as convenience features like a wireless remote control (SA-31MK preamp).

For serious audiophiles comes the new Vincent SP-331MK Class A/AB power amplifier. Not just operating in Class AB mode like many power amps, the SP-331MK operates in pure Class A mode for signals up to 10 watts output, and Class AB up to 150 Watts into 8 ohms and 300 watts into 4 ohms. Read more