FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5 January 2006
— New Audio/Video Receivers With Enhanced iPod Connectivity, Versatile TC 30 Activity-Based Remote Control, Complete Home Theater Solutions Among Highlights of Company’s CES 2006 Exhibit —
WOODBURY, NY — At CES 2006 in the Las Vegas Hilton, Harman Kardon will showcase a wide variety of audio/video components and systems that position the company at the forefront of advanced-technology home entertainment design and engineering, and that provide significantly expanded performance capabilities and operational versatility, along with unmatched ease of use.
The company will introduce its AVR 640 and AVR 440 audio/video receivers, adding to its lineup of the first-ever multichannel receivers to offer enhanced home entertainment connectivity when used with The Bridge, Harman Kardon’s groundbreaking iPod docking station. Also on exhibit will be the new flagship AVR 740, which advances the state of the art in A/V receiver design with leading-edge technologies such
as Harman Kardon’s latest-generation EzSet/EQ II automatic system calibration feature, built-in DCDi by Faroudja video scaling to 1080i, and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connectivity.
The company is also featuring its HS 100 Integrated Home Theater System, which combines striking design with outstanding video and audio quality; its TC 30 activity-based remote control, which provides easy, complete control of an entire home entertainment system; its versatile DVD 47 universal DVD player; and its DVD 27 progressive-scan DVD player. Rounding out Harman Kardon’s CES 2006 exhibit are its CP 35 System Solutions complete home theater package, and a selection of additional products.
Tom McLoughlin, Harman Kardon president, noted: “Harman Kardon’s 2006 product line is the company’s most innovative ever, incorporating a number of important design and engineering breakthroughs, and offering additional and better ways to experience home entertainment than ever before. Our latest components, systems and accessories set new standards in performance, functionality and ease of operation, and their elegant design and unsurpassed versatility make them ideal for use with the widest range of home entertainment systems, custom installations and multiroom applications.”
Following is an overview of the Harman Kardon audio/video products and systems that will be featured at CES 2006 in the Harman Kardon suite in the North Tower of the Las Vegas Hilton, January 5 — 8, 2006.
Expanded AVR 40 Series Receiver Lineup: Setting New Standards in Performance and Flexibility
Harman Kardon will debut its advanced-technology 7.1-channel AVR 640 and AVR 440 audio/video receivers at CES 2006, and will begin shipping its flagship AVR 740 7.2-channel receiver in February 2006. All three models, as well as the recently introduced 7.1-channel AVR 340 and AVR 240, and the 6.1-channel AVR 140, incorporate extensive upgrades in features, technologies and connectivity options to offer unprecedented performance and operational flexibility in their respective categories.
All the receivers are “The Bridge-ready,” providing a major breakthrough in A/V receiver functionality. When a compatible iPod* is connected to one of the receivers using The Bridge**, Harman Kardon’s iPod docking station, a synergy is created that enables a host of exciting new iPod playback and control capabilities, such as displaying on-screen navigation menus and selection and track information, and enabling operation of an iPod via the receiver’s remote control.
Winner of an Innovations 2006 Design and Engineering Award, the AVR 740, in order to provide the highest level of image quality from all sources, incorporates leading-edge digital-video processing and scaling, utilizing DCDi (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing) by Faroudja technology for upconverted and enhanced high-definition 780p and 1080i video output through its HDMI connection. The AVR 740 and the AVR 640 feature two fully HDMI 1.1-compatible inputs, allowing them to accept and process uncompressed multichannel digital audio from HDMI 1.1 program sources, in addition to enabling high-definition video switching. The AVR 640 also transcodes analog 480i sources to 480p video output via its HDMI connection, while the AVR 440 provides dual-input HDMI switching. In addition, all three receivers incorporate video cross-conversion that converts all S-video and composite video sources to component video output.
All AVR 40 Series receivers (except the AVR 140) include highly sophisticated automated system setup and calibration functionality. The AVR 740 incorporates Harman Kardon’s latest generation EzSet/EQ II, which automatically measures the frequency-response peaks and dips inherent in every listening room, and applies a compensating full-range equalization curve for all the room’s loudspeakers, including dual subwoofers that can be connected to the AVR 740 in a stereo configuration. The AVR 640, AVR 440 and AVR 340 feature 7.1-channel EzSet/EQ automatic system calibration and room equalization. EzSet/EQ II, EzSet/EQ and the AVR 240’s EzSet+ feature also automatically determine if the loudspeakers are connected properly, and set speaker-output levels and delay times.
The AVR 740, AVR 640 and AVR 440 feature extremely comprehensive connectivity options. All three include XM-Ready*** capability, and provide a USB port that allows users to listen to compatible streaming audio from a computer through the receiver (and which serves as a pathway to accommodate future software and firmware upgrades). All offer extensive multizone/multiroom functionality, featuring amplifier sections with assignable back channels to enable 7.1-channel or 5.1-plus-stereo dual-zone operation. All three models also incorporate the A-BUS/READY system, which uses a single, standard Cat. 5 cable to connect the receiver to a Harman Kardon AB 1 amplified in-wall module in a second room, making multizone connectivity easy. In addition, all feature a bi-directional RS-232 control port, enabling two-way communication in custom installations with integrated system control.
All AVR 40 Series receivers are designed to deliver extraordinary sound quality, and utilize premium 192kHz/24-bit D/A converters and DSP processors, and high-current, ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier sections to deliver superlative fidelity and resolution. All offer a wide array of video and audio connections and a wealth of best-in-class features, such as the industry’s most versatile Quadruple-Crossover Bass-Management System; compatibility with all popular surround sound formats; exclusive Logic 7 technology to deliver heightened sonic realism from two-channel music sources and matrix-encoded recordings, A/V Sync Delay (except the AVR 140), and many additional refinements.
Suggested retail pricing for Harman Kardon’s AVR 40 Series receivers is as follows: AVR 740, $3,499; AVR 640, $TBA; AVR 440, $TBA; AVR 340, $899; AVR 240, $599; AVR 140, $499. The AVR 740 and AVR 640 will be available in February 2006, while the AVR 440 will be available in March and the AVR 340, AVR 240 and AVR 140 are currently shipping.
The Bridge: iPod and Home Entertainment Together as Never Before
The Bridge connects a compatible iPod to a Harman Kardon The-Bridge-ready audio/video receiver, providing listeners with exciting new ways to enjoy their iPod. The Bridge enables consumers to enjoy the massive music storage capacity and versatile digital jukebox functionality of the iPod, combined with the superlative multichannel sound quality of Harman Kardon’s The Bridge-ready receivers.
The Bridge, which is an Innovations 2006 award winner, connects to a Harman Kardon The Bridge-ready audio/video receiver using a single, proprietary cable. No external power adapter is required. Once connected, The Bridge provides a direct audio and control link between the iPod and the receiver.
In addition, the iPod is powered and its battery is charged through the connection.
The Bridge enables remote control operation of a docked iPod via the remote supplied with the compatible AVR. The Bridge and the remote operate in conjunction with Harman Kardon-developed software built into the receivers, providing complete control of iPod audio playback. Selection and track information are visible on both the user’s TV (or video display) and the receiver’s front-panel display, providing ready access to all playback functions. Adding to its appeal, The Bridge’s contemporary design, elegant silver-metallic finish and subtle blue illumination perfectly match Harman Kardon audio/video components and systems.
Harman Kardon’s The Bridge is currently available at a suggested retail price of $69.99.
TC 30 Activity-Based Remote Control: Home Entertainment System Control Is Now Easier Than Ever
The Harman Kardon TC 30 activity-based remote control is an advanced all-in-one universal remote that provides total, effortless control of every component in a home entertainment system. It groups all the needed commands, such as “Watch TV” or “Watch a DVD,” into unified activities. For example, to watch a DVD, the TC 30 can automatically turn on a TV, receiver and DVD player, and configure the settings of all the components — all with a touch of an Activity button.
The TC 30 is simple to program and customize. It connects to a computer, and the included software automatically establishes a link to a registration and setup area on the Harman Kardon Web site. The user is then guided through an easy setup process, which “asks” a series of questions about the components in the system and how they are used, then downloads control codes and operating information directly into the TC 30, automatically organizing the operation of the components into a series of Activities. The TC 30 also offers full IR-learning capability and many additional advanced capabilities.
Once programmed, all a user has to do is press one of the Activity buttons, and the TC 30 automatically sends the necessary commands to configure the home entertainment components as required. Up to 15 Activity control sequences can be programmed, and up to 255 home entertainment components can be controlled by the TC 30. It can also be updated to accommodate changes in the user’s home entertainment components, the introduction of new audio/video components, or possible operating software upgrades.
The Harman Kardon TC 30 Activity-Based Remote Control will be available in January 2006 at a suggested retail price of $299.99. It comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, horizontal docking/charging station, software CD and USB cable. The TC 30 is also supplied with Harman Kardon’s AVR 740 receiver.
HS 100: Striking Design Meets Outstanding Performance
Harman Kardon’s HS 100 Integrated Home Theater System combines high-quality audio and video and intuitive operation with a striking, totally distinctive design, earning it an Innovations 2006 award. The HS 100 includes an ultraslim receiver/progressive-scan DVD-Audio/Video player, a 5.1-channel loudspeaker package with wall-mountable satellites and a unified system remote control. The HS 100 is designed for complete ease of use and requires only minimal setup, and its elegant styling perfectly complement today’s flat-screen video displays and contemporary TV sets.
The HS 100 plays a wide variety of disc types and is compatible with popular surround sound formats. It features a digital-amplifier section with 5 x 35 watts power output (into 6 ohms, 20Hz — 20kHz, <0.5% THD, all channels driven) and a premium-quality 5.1-channel speaker package to deliver clear, richly detailed sound. The HS 100 incorporates advanced digital-video technologies, such as pixel-by-pixel video processing, to deliver sharp and clear image quality, and offers a wealth of convenience features and connection options. The receiver/DVD player is ultraslim, with an understated yet striking appearance, and the speakers are visually appealing as well, finished in a rich metallic silver to match the receiver/DVD player.
The Harman Kardon HS 100 Integrated Home Theater System is currently available at a suggested retail price of $899.
DVD 47 AND DVD 27: Expanded Playback Capabilities and Connectivity
Harman Kardon’s DVD 47 DVD Audio/Video player with SACD and HDMI is a high-performance home entertainment source component that delivers extraordinary picture and sound quality. The DVD 47 features a built-in video scaler that provides upscaling to 720p or 1080i, and offers playback compatibility with the widest variety of disc formats, including DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD (SACD) discs. In addition, Harman Kardon has introduced its DVD 27 high-performance progressive-scan DVD-Video player.
The DVD 47 includes an HDMI 1.1 output that delivers high-definition digital video and multichannel digital audio to provide state-of-the-art image and sound quality when connected with a compatible audio/video receiver and an HDMI-capable video display. The DVD 47’s video processor and scaler delivers upconverted and enhanced high-definition output to 720p or 1080i from DVD-Video discs, as well as from JPEG still-image files and Kodak Picture CD discs via its HDMI output, with remarkably sharp and realistic picture quality.
The DVD 47 and DVD 27 utilize leading-edge pixel-by-pixel processing to upconvert images to 480p progressive-scan video playback for superlative image quality. The DVD 47 is designed to deliver state-of-the-art audio performance as well, featuring an audiophile-grade Direct Stream Digital (DSD) decoder to deliver multichannnel SACD playback with unsurpassed musical realism, along with complete audio control and bass-management facilities. Ultraslim in design, both players offer state-of-the-art playback capabilities and an intuitive navigational interface, and include a host of performance and convenience features such as a useful NTSC/PAL disc-auto-detection feature, which detects whether a disc is encoded in either NTSC or PAL format, and converts the video output of PAL discs (that are non-region-specific) for playback with NTSC video display devices.
Suggested retail pricing for the Harman Kardon DVD 47 and DVD 27 is as follows: DVD 47, $399; DVD 27, $299. The DVD 47 will be available in February 2006, and the DVD 27 will be available in January 2006.
CP 35 System Solutions Package: Seamless Operation, Advanced Features and Unified Design
Harman Kardon’s CP 35 System Solutions complete 7.1-channel home theater package makes it easy for consumers to enjoy favorite movies and music with exceptional sound and picture quality. The CP 35 includes an AVR 335 receiver, a DVD 31 progressive-scan DVD audio/video player, a multichannel loudspeaker system and a unified system remote, as well as cables and satellite wall-mount brackets. The system is simple to set up, and combines seamless operation with advanced features and a distinctively elegant design that complements every living space.
The AVR 335 receiver offers best-in-class technologies and features, including EzSet+ functionality, which automatically balances speaker-channel levels and performs additional setup functions; wide-bandwidth, HDTV-compatible component video switching; compatibility with popular surround sound formats; multiroom operation, and many additional performance and convenience functions. It features a high-current, ultrawide-bandwidth multichannel amplifier section to convey movie soundtracks and high-resolution music formats with thrilling dynamic impact and realism.
The DVD 31 progressive-scan DVD audio/video player incorporates advanced digital video and audio technologies to deliver unsurpassed picture and sound quality and versatility. It plays back a wide variety of disc formats, with disc access provided by Harman Kardon’s exclusive navigational interface. The high-performance CP 35 loudspeaker package includes satellite speakers and a center channel speaker, plus a powered subwoofer, and features premium-quality drivers and components for clear, detailed sound quality.
The Harman Kardon CP 35 System Solutions complete home theater package is available at a suggested retail price of $1,899.
The Harman Consumer Group (HCG) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a wide range of high-fidelity loudspeakers, audio and video components, and multimedia systems for use in homes and automobiles, and with computers. The group’s brands include JBL, Infinity, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, Revel, Audioaccess and Lexicon.
HCG is a division of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. Harman International (www.harman.com)
is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, high-fidelity audio products and electronic systems for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. The company’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HAR.”
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For additional information, contact:
Frank Doris
FM Group Public Relations
631-385-1304 ext. 402
frank.doris@fm-group.net
*Compatible with all iPod models equipped with a docking connector (iPod not included).
**The Bridge is compatible with the new Harman Kardon 40 Series receivers (AVR 140, AVR 240, AVR 340, AVR 440, AVR 640 and AVR 740). Not compatible with earlier Harman Kardon products, or with other brands of audio/video equipment.
***Optional XM antenna module and subscription to XM service required. Hardware and service sold separately. XM service is not available in Alaska or Hawaii.
Harman Kardon, Harman International and Logic 7 are registered trademarks, and The Bridge, EzSet/EQ II, EzSet/EQ and EzSet+ are trademarks, of Harman International Industries, Incorporated.
iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
DCDi by Faroudja is a registered trademark of Genesis Microchip Inc.
HDMI is a trademark of HDMI Licensing LLC.
XM-Ready is a registered trademark of XM Satellite Radio.
A-BUS and A-BUS/READY are registered trademarks of LeisureTech Electronics Pty Ltd. Australia.
SACD and Direct Stream Digital are trademarks of Sony Electronics Inc.
Kodak is a registered trademark, and Photo CD is a trademark, of Eastman Kodak Company.
