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New All-in-One Integrated Home Theatre Systems: the HS 500 and HS 300 by Harman Kardon (29/6/2006)

CEDIA UK Expo 2006

With the HS 500 and HS 300, Harman Kardon offers two exceptional systems that are striking in design and easy to operate. Their advanced features include a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMITM), with upscaling to 1080i and USB inputs. The DVD receiver in each system is ultraslim, with gloss-black front-panels that contain no controls other than a centre volume knob illuminated in blue, which is a hallmark of Harman Kardon components. The power indicator and open/close buttons are located almost invisibly along the top surface of the chassis. The systems' 5.1-channel loudspeakers with wall-mountable satellites provide high-quality audio performance, while their rich metallic-silver finish matches the DVD receivers. The HS 500 and HS 300 also include a unified system remote control.

The two systems differ only in terms of their loudspeakers, and in power handling. For example, the satellites of the HS 500 feature 3/4-inch titanium-laminate-dome tweeters and its subwoofer includes a powerful 10-inch woofer and a built-in 200-watt amplifier, while the HS 300 uses a 1/2-inch dome tweeter, a subwoofer of 10-inch and a 100-watt built-in amplifier. Both home theatre systems will be available in June.

The HS 500 and HS 300 DVD Receivers: Exceptional Performance and Intuitive Operation

The DVD receiver in each system is a full-function audio/video-system control center that combines a 5.1-channel receiver section with a progressive-scan DVD-Audio/Video player. Each receiver includes an HDMI output and built-in video processing that upconverts video to 720p or 1080i high-definition video, delivering spectacular image quality. Each system's progressive-scan DVD player utilizes advanced digital-video technologies, such as an integrated digital-signal processor that employs pixel-by-pixel video processing, to provide exceptional image clarity and color accuracy.

The HS 500 and HS 300 offer versatile capabilities for enjoying movies, music and images. Both feature an exclusive, intuitive navigational interface with a high-definition on-screen display that guides users through setup and operation, and provides ready access to favorite DVD titles and chapters, CD tracks, files and folders.

The components can play back a host of disc types and formats, including DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, Windows Media(r) Audio (WMA), MP3 discs and more. They're playback-compatible with DivX(r)-encoded video discs and (HD) JPEG still-image files. They can simultaneously play MP3 tracks and display JPEG images, and automatically change images with each MP3 track played in slide show presentations.

In addition to their versatile disc-playback capabilities, the receiver in both systems features two USB inputs that enable connection to portable mass-storage devices such as ThumbDrives, portable hard disks or other compatible devices. This connectivity enables direct playback of MP3, WMA, MPEG, JPEG and AVI music.

The Harman Kardon DVD receivers are designed to deliver superlative audio and video performance. They include popular surround sound formats such as DTS(r), Dolby(r) Digital and Dolby Pro Logic(r) II, and incorporate a 5 x 65-watt digital-amplifier section (the HS 500) and a 5 x 35-watt digital-amplifier section (the HS 300), enabling them to deliver clear, richly detailed sound. The digital audio signals from the internal DVD players and from digital-audio sources, such as an HDTV set-top box, remain completely in the digital domain from the source to the final amplifier output stage to the loudspeakers, yielding outstanding sonic purity.

The HS 500 and HS 300 Speaker Systems: Powerful, Captivating Surround Sound

Each 5.1-channel speaker system supplied with the HS 500 and the HS 300 includes four two-way magnetically shielded satellite speakers, a two-way shielded center channel speaker, and a subwoofer, all matched for a seamless sonic blend. Wall-mounting brackets for the satellite speakers are supplied, as well as all necessary cables.

Although compact in design, the systems deliver powerful multichannel sound. The satellites employ high-output, premium-quality 3-inch woofers (with dual woofers in the HS 500); the HS 500 satellites feature 3/4-inch titanium-laminate-dome tweeters, while the HS 300 uses a 1/2-inch dome tweeter. Both center channel speakers feature dual 3-inch woofers and a 3/4-inch-dome tweeter to provide articulate reproduction of dialogue, music and effects, and are precisely voice-matched with the satellites to create an expansive surround sound listening environment. The HS 500 subwoofer includes a powerful 10-inch woofer and a built-in 200-watt amplifier to deliver superb low-frequency performance, and to provide optimum sound quality in any room. The subwoofer of the HS 300 is also a 10-inch, but features a 100-watt built-in amplifier.

Both speaker systems offer a host of installation options. The satellites can be wall-mounted or placed near a TV or on a shelf; they can also be used with optional available floor stands. The center channel speakers are designed for easy placement on top of a TV in position for optimum sound coverage.

www.harmankardon.com