As expected, a plethora of bigger and better A/V receivers were on display at CEDIA from the mainline manufacturers.

But it was a beneath-the-radar brand from Germany—T + A Elektroakustik—that captured my imagination. T + A stands for “Theory and Application� in electroacoustics—or the application of physics to reproduce music as faithfully as possible.

The 30-year-old company designs components with long product life cycles so you won’t find a “product of the month,� but you will find products driven by technology and unique styling—including, most notably the K1 AV DVD-receiver ($4200).

The K1 AV is a three-channel component, a format that’s popular among homeowners who enjoy movies in surround sound but don’t want the hassle of surround sound speakers and the extra wiring involved.

The receiver delivers a modest 60 watts of continuous power to the LCR channels plus 20 watts x 2 for stereo audio in a second zone and includes an FM tuner.

T + A highlights its proprietary analog room sound matrix technology (with multiple listening modes) and bass management circuitry, stressing that they are intended to maintain a natural sound quality, especially for film sources.

While the receiver will decode and downmix digital sources, refined analog technology is where the company’s heart lies. The DVD player’s output is accompanied by a 24-bit 192kHz digital to analog converter.
 
The K1 AV comes in three standard finishes—black, white, and silver—or can be custom ordered in hundreds of other colors for a 15% charge.

The fire-engine red receiver on display would likely appeal to many style-conscious home theater enthusiasts.—Gary Altunian

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