Denon Unveils World’s First Combo Blu-ray/Universal Player

According to a company press release, Denon is introducing the DVD-A1UDCI, the world’s first universal player capable of playing Blu-ray discs in addition to DVDs, CDs, Super Audio CDs, and DVD-Audio discs.

The release continues by saying that the DVD-A1UDCI is also Denon’s first Blu-ray profile 2.0 (BD Live) Ready player, and incorporates both an Ethernet port and an SD card slot to support downloads of BD Live activation firmware and other planned “21st century networking facilities.” The player features the 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta chipset and dual HD video output scalers, allowing images to be output in HD quality via HDMI and component output ports.

The release goes on to say that the player incorporates new Advanced AL32 Processing, which upsamples 16- and 24-bit digital signal to 32-bits. The player also supports all the latest digital audio codecs. In keeping with its audiophile mission, the player sports 7.1-channel single-ended analog audio outputs and 2-channel balanced analog audio outputs in addition to the usual digital audio outputs.

According to the release, the DVD-A1UDCI incorporates the DENON LINK 4th Edition interface, which is HDMI-based. The interface enables the player to transmit “native digital audio data” to compatible Denon A/V receivers and controllers, with support for “all digital audio … specifications, including SACD as well as CD and DVD-Audio.” But DENON LINK 4 also enhances audio quality by transmitting a master clock signal from the A/V receiver (or controller) to the player, so that both components can share the same clock, resulting in “digital audio transmission with virtually no jitter.” DENON LINK 4 upgrades will be available for owners of Denon’s current AVP-A1HDCI controller and the AVR-5308CI receiver.

The DVD-A1UDCI will be available in February for $3,800.

For more information, visit usa.denon.com.