News

Audio Design Associates Shows HTR-2400 Home And Theater A/V Receiver (3/9/2004)

Audio Design Associates, Inc. (ADA) announced that it will be showing for the first time at a CEDIA Expo the incredible HTR-2400 Home & Theater A/V Receiver. The HTR-2400, which officially begins shipping this August, combines an eight-zone ADA multi-room system with a ninth zone ADA home theater system. Amazingly, the HTR-2400 also includes twenty-four channels of power amplification. And as if that were not enough, the HTR-2400 also features dual internal tuners, an AM/FM/WX (Weather Band) tuner and XM Satellite Radio tuner also making it the first A/V receiver to include XM on-board.

The HTR-2400 stretches the imagination by combining the two most critical A/V features of today's custom installed system into a single 5 rack-space chassis. For the home, the HTR-2400 features a complete eight-source, eight zone audio-video system. For the theater, there are additional digital/multi-channel audio and multi-band video inputs that output through a state-of-the-art 7.1 digital home theater preamp/amp combo. It is truly the first all-in-one custom installation system. Just add wire, a few sources, video and speakers.

For eight independent house-wide zones, there are eight analog audio inputs, each with a dedicated composite video input. On the output side, each zone features a removable four-pin clamp-down-to-lock connector for speaker termination. For the multi-zone distributed audio system, the HTR-2400 features an ADA designed sixteen-channel digital audio power amplifier that delivers 100 Watts per channel. This custom class-D amplifier design provides truly remarkable sound and is stable below 4 Ohms, a problem for most class-D type amplifiers. The HTR-2400 also incorporates an eight source IR learner/controller, source AC controller (four assignable AC power outlets for source components), eight RJ-45 keypad termination jacks (works with all ADA keypads), an RS-232 port for system integration, an ADA Bus data port (typically used to connect to music servers for text feedback to keypads), and ADA's CMB-1 System Clock (24/7/365/99 year clock/calendar which permits keypads to display date and time when the room is off and have the zone work like a radio alarm clock).

The multi-zone system also benefits from two internal radio tuner modules of which there are two types; a standard FM, AM and WX (Weather Band) module as well as an XM Radio module. While standard HTR-2400s feature one of each (which act as two of the eight analog sources), units can be custom configured with either two FM/AM/WX or two XM Radio modules. The AM/FM/WX tuners feature 30 presets with extensive filtering control. In keeping with ADA's tradition of superior sound quality, the FM/AM/WX tuner sounds brilliant. Control of the standard radio is incredibly easy as users can skip through presets, directly access presets by number, or directly tune in stations numerically. The standard tuner module actually differentiates from a numeric preset request and a numeric station request. One can also seek up and down the radio dial, a feature that can be customized through an adjustable seek level sensitivity setting. The standard tuner provides feedback of the station number and for each of the 30 presets, a four-character label (i.e. ROCK, JAZZ, WABC, NEWS, etc.)

In keeping up with the most advanced technologies and consumer trends, the HTR-2400 also features an XM Satellite Radio(r) module. XM Radio(r) offers unique programming, conveniently grouped in categories to make finding one's favorite music easier than ever before. With over 100 channels there are more choices available and all are completely commercial free. XM Radio does require both a one-time activation fee and a monthly subscription. "Last year, we were excited to be the first custom installation manufacturer to offer XM Radio in our ground-breaking Tune Suite product. With this year's introduction of the HTR-2400, we are proud to be the first electronics manufacturer to include XM in an A/V receiver." states Richard D. Stoerger, ADA's Vice President and C.O.O. "The digital sound quality is spectacular, in keeping with ADA's focus on superior sounding electronics." Dan Murphy, XM Sr. Vice President of OEM and Retail Distribution notes, "No high-end system is complete without XM Radio. We're thrilled that a renowned industry leader such as ADA is providing XM for the custom installation market." Users can surf XM Radio by skipping through channels or preset favorites and directly entering a numeric channel number. The HTR-2400 also offers the ability to advance through XM Radio categories and once on a category, skip through just the stations that are in that category. It provides full feedback of channel number, channel name, category name, artist name and song name. These display on the front panel of the HTR-2400 as well as ADA keypads or touch screens. Stoerger notes, "As far as I can tell, while you can rig up one of those entry-level XM Radios to play through a multi-room system, you really can't control an XM Radio if you can't see what you are selecting. When using our MC-6011, MC-4500, MC-5500, and MC-6011 OD, MC-3000 OD or MC-3800 OD Outdoor keypads, you have full control over XM without complex menus or button layers. For those who have systems controlled with only touch screens, ADA provides a software version for the XM Radio module where all five levels of feedback can be displayed at once."

But wait, there's more. The home theater zone is a completely independent ninth zone that while accessing the eight house-wide analog audio and composite video inputs, also can select from eight additional digital audio inputs (6 coax, 2 TOS-Link), a multi-channel SACD/DVD Audio input, four S-Video and three component video inputs. These input jacks can be custom assigned to track components which provides maximum flexibility during system setup. The home theater zone features two types of audio outputs; a 7.1 preamplified audio output as well as a 7.1 amplified audio output. There is also a digital audio and an analog audio (R/L) record output that tracks the selection in the theater zone. The theater zone can be controlled via IR or through the HTR-2400's RS-232 port. The HTR-2400 also features a low-voltage trigger (12VDC) that activates when the theater zone is on. This can be used to power up external amplifiers should someone desire more power.

Which leads us to the most impressive acoustical elements of the HTR-2400, the home theater receiver stage. Using one of the most advanced and fastest DSP's available, the HTR-2400 has sound characteristics and features similar to ADA's separates including the Suite 7.1, Cinema Rhapsody Mach II, and Cinema Reference Mach II. While one can use the front panel controls and display to setup and run the HTR-2400's theater, one is best served by using ADA's PC based program that makes setup of the HTR-2400's extensive features easy and swift (this includes the theater zone, house-wide zones, and dual tuners). And while the HTR-2400 features a 7.1 analog audio output for connection of an external power amplifier such as ADA's extremely popular PTM-8150, this feature in itself may not be needed. "While we initially planned on using an eight-channel digital audio amplifier for the home theater zone, I have to admit that I was looking for more current than a class-D amplifier design can produce." states Albert G. Langella, ADA's President, CEO, and Chief Design Engineer. "Even with the limited space available, we were able to come up with a radically new current-based amplifier design that makes the HTR-2400's home theater zone complete. The last thing I wanted to introduce was just another box that had everything but compromised on sound. I am certain that when the reviews are in, the HTR-2400 will quickly prove itself among the best of the best, not just against other best-in-class home theater receivers, but against high-end separates as well."

The HTR-2400 is available in several versions; from a blank-plated front panel design starting at $9999 to the pictured version that features a 1Ú2 inch thick aluminum front panel, 16 x 9 color LCD preview monitor, control knobs and transport buttons ($11,999). The control knobs make operation of the HTR-2400 extremely easy. To select a room including the theater zone, turn the room knob. To engage an input to that room, turn the input knob and then press it. To adjust volume, turn the volume knob. For the theater zone, turn the mode knob to change surround sound modes. To turn off a room, press the centered "off" button and to turn off the entire home, press and hold the "off" button. The HTR-2400's display will preview video sources playing to the theater zone and will also popup an on-screen GUI that indicates everything from zone status, party groups, and setup options. There is even a page that displays the activity of the entire home.

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