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Panasonic Introduces New Digital Home Theater Receiver With HDMI For Easy Connection Of Home Theater Components (20/9/2004)

Recognizing the need for high quality performance with easy set-up, Panasonic unveils a new receiver that will let consumers derive the full benefits of home theater entertainment in a slim and sleek unit. The new model, SA-XR70 is a fully digital receiver that features HDMI* (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), which helps simplify the connection to other audio/video sources and provides high quality audio and video playback. This innovative model is the perfect complement to the Panasonic DVD-S97 DVD player, which is also highlighted by HDMI technology.

"One of this year's top priorities is to make home theater a more enjoyable experience," said Jim Kiczek, national marketing manager, Panasonic Home Audio Division. "The SA-XR70 includes HDMI and digital amplification plus other high-end performance features to optimize the consumer's home theater experience." HDMI transmits digital and audio signals without compressing them. It supports high-definition images up to 1080p, and high quality, multi-channel audio formats such as DVD-Audio all through single wire digital connections. This produces extremely pure sounds free from noise and signal degradation and allows for high quality audio and video with fewer cables. The small, user-friendly connector is suitable for a wide range of components, including DVD player, A/V receiver and digital television. Result: the consumer can derive all of the benefits of home theater without sound and picture degradation or complicated wiring.

The SA-XR70 reproduces sounds up to 88 kHz and drives them with a wide power bandwidth that extends to 88 kHz. This provides rich reproduction of the ultrahigh frequency range that affects the musical ambience and mood. Some additional innovative technologies that can be found on the SA-XR70 are:

* Digital Amplifier: provides full digital amplification and audio signal processing.

* Built-In Decoders: the DTS** 96/24, DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX*** surround formats, as well as Dolby Pro Logic IIx.
* Multi-Channel Multi-Drive with Digital Linear Phase: harnesses the amplifier's full capabilities when reproducing two-channel sound and applies an electronic delay to the surround channel amplifier so both high-frequency and low-frequency sounds reach the ear at the same time for incredible acoustic imaging.
* Multi-Source Re-Master: gives added dimension by adding home-theater-like sound quality to compressed music files such as AC-3 which is used for DVDs.
* Bass Synthesizer: delivers superior bass sound by helping to reinforce the low frequencies.

The ideal video counterpart, the Panasonic DVD-S97 Progressive Scan DVD player features a new slim design and strengthened picture and sound quality. It features multiple format playback of DVD Video, DVD-RAM, CD, CD-R/RW, JPEG, MP3****, WMA*****, HDCD*****, MPEG4 and six-channel DVD-Audio. HighMAT*****( a new technology co-developed by Panasonic and Microsoft for sharing digital media between PCs and consumer electronic products - is also included on its list of attributes.

MODEL FEATURES AVAILABILITY MSRP

SA-XR70

DVD-Audio Ready; Built-in Decoders for DTS 96/24, DTS-ES, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx; Digital Amplifier; 100W x 6; 88kHz Reproduction; Bass Synthesizer, Multi-Source Re Master; Multi-Channel Multi Drive w/ Digital Line Phaser; A/B Speaker Selector

Terminals: 6 Ch. Input; Analog Audio (5 In, 2 Out); Digital Audio Input - 4 (2 Optical, 2 Coaxial); Digital Audio Output (1 Optical); Video (4 In, 2 Out); S-Video (4 In, 1 Out); Component Video (2 In, 1 Out); Front Video Input (S-Video); 2 Large Front Speaker Terminals; Front VCR Output Terminal November, 2004

$399.95

Notes

* HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC. ** DTS, DTS-ES Extended Surround and Neo:6 are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems Inc. *** Dolby, the double D symbol and Pro Logic are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. **** MPEG Layer-3 audio decoding technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson multimedia. ***** HDCD logo, Windows Media, the Window logo, HighMAT and the HighMAT logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

www.panasonic.com