HARMAN KARDON - DVD 50

An Award at “CEA Innovations 2001”...

With a view to completing their new audio-video range, the company Harman Kardon propose the DVD 50, a home DVD player including virtually all existing audio formats of the moment.

With a look as sober as it is majestic, the b>DVD 50 disposes of a plateau accepting five discs, indifferently, whether they be DVD audio or video, or “simple” audio CD’s. Note however that this 5 DVD carrousel enters the ring with a long list of competitors, such as Sony, Pioneer and Kenwood.

As is the case with most machines by HK, this carrousel will dazzle more than one person, because it includes, for the sound processing section, a series of decoders allowing it to perfectly manage signals such as HDCD and MP3 (it’s in fashion at the moment...) and of course, Dolby Digital, DTS and Mpeg2 formats. Note however that as well as being compatible with DVD video, the DVD 50 has a series of converters, sampling at 24 bits/192 kHz, which put it at the top of the pack, along with its DVD audio compatibility.

As for the audio treatment, the video section has been subtly elaborated, utilising the latest developments in the area of video processing: progressive scan (only in NTSC...), as well as a Digital/Analogue video converter, calibrated at 10 bits for 27 MHz.

In terms of interfacing, the video section (for the version available in the USA), utilises YUV, S-video and composite. Note in addition that the model to be sold in Europe will dispose, as well as the connectors on the US model, of an RGB scart plug, transporting PAL and NTSC signals.

The digital audio transfer is managed by two outputs – 1 coaxial and 1 optical. The analogue message is transported via a standard down-mixed output, with a headphone jack also available.

The DVD 50 will doubtless please the most demanding among us in terms of audio and video performance levels. It will be available in the USA in February 2001, at a price of US$649 . Arrival in Europe is set down for mid-year.