Denon set to unveil first universal Blu-ray player

Denon has recently shown off what it claims is the world's first truly high-end and universal Blu-ray player, the DVD-A1UD. Apart from the capability of playing Blu-ray and DVD video discs, the player also supports DVD Audio, SACD and standard DVDs and CDs. A built-in SDHC memory card will let users play files on the reusable media, with support for WMA, MP3 audio, DiVX 6 video and JPEG images. A built-in audio-restorer function improves the quality of compressed music. Denon's 4th-generaiton Link port promises integration with the company's amplifiers, including the AVP-A1HD and AVC-A1HD, as well as any future Denon products.

Remaining connections for other home theater components include a pair of HDMI 1.3 inputs, component video, S-video, composite video, optical and coaxial digital audio, balanced two-channel stereo analog audio and an Ethernet port. When it ships, the player won’t support BD-Live content, but future firmware updates should address that shortcoming. The DVD-AU1D supports Dolby TrueHD decoding and DTS-HD Master Audio, with analog 7.1-channel audio.

The player also has proprietary Denon technology that will enhance standard definition source material. Advanced AL32 Processing uses DACs to deliver 32-bit, 192kHz audio, and there is a vertical stretch function that will eliminate the black bars of anamorphic aspect ratio source material.

Due for a release in late January of 2009 in Japan, the white or black Denon DVD-A1UD is due to cost the equivalent of $5,800. [viaImpress]