Yamaha also showed an add-on box that incorporates an extremely cool new technology called Smyth Virtual Surround (SVS) that provides a multichannel loudspeaker listening experience through stereo headphones. First shown as an engineering concept two years ago, the technology replicates the sound of your multichannel loudspeaker system, your room, and your ears through conventional headphones. You can even turn your head and the in-room, multichannel imaging is perfectly maintained, thanks to a head-tracking device attached to the headphones. The illusion of hearing speakers—your speakers—in free space is absolutely convincing.

The small box fits between your DVD player and AVR, and has a headphone output. Expect to see the unit sometime next year at a retail price of “about $500.� This technology might eventually be incorporated into AVRs and controllers.

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