Classé Audio unveiled another beauty here at CES : the most elegant SSP-900.
The SSP-900 promises user-friendly touchscreen operation with a second front-panel screen dedicated to previewing video information independent of other display devices in a home theater system. It combines full differential audio circuits, broadcast grade 1080p Video Processing/Scaling and Multi-zone operation.
Analog audio inputs include four single-ended and one balanced as well as accommodations for a discrete 7.1 source. Digital audio sources enjoy six coaxial, one AES/EBU, and six EIAJ (TOSlink optical) inputs. The processor accommodates up to four HDMI audio/video sources and features four component, four composite, and five S-Video inputs as well.
The dual power supplies, one toroid-based linear design for analog circuits and a high-speed switching supply for video and digital processing, combine for optimally efficient use of AC power.
All analog audio circuitry is full-differential for maximum noise rejection and dynamic range. Digital components include advanced Cirrus Logic analog-to-digital (A/D) converters featuring 24-bit/192 kHz conversion. An advanced Texas Instruments microprocessor handles all internal decoding while complimentary Burr Brown digital-to-analog (D/A) converters bring the full-resolution signals back to the analog domain for output as needed.
A sophisticated Gennum video processor/scaler, noted for its use in HDTV broadcast-level applications, provides patented Visual Excellence Processing that includes dynamic edge detection, film mode processing, and detail enhancement.
The SSP-900 will be available in March, 2007 at a retail price of $25,000 US.