Denon Bows Two Blu-ray 3D Decks With SACD, DVD-Audio Playback

D&M’s Denon introduced Monday two new Blu-ray 3D players, including a $399 entry-level model that also will play Super Audio CDs and DVD-Audio discs. Both models will be able to play Blu-ray 3D discs once they get firmware upgrades in September, said Jeff Talmadge, director product development and systems integration.

The DBP-1611UD, which ships in June, marks a sharp departure for Denon, which previously started its universal Blu-ray players at $1,199. The company said it’s dropping the standalone Blu-ray players it put out last year at $499 and $699. Denon discontinued standalone DVD players last year. Denon thinks there’s enough consumer interest in SACD and DVD-Audio, especially in Europe, to justify going to a universal-only strategy, Talmadge said. It gives Denon the opportunity to “offer more value” in a Blu-ray 3D deck, Talmadge told us. Non-universal Blu-ray 3D players -- those that lack SACD and DVD-Audio playback -- typically start at $399. “That will be an edge for these models,” Talmadge said.

The DBP-1611UD and the step-up DBP-2011UDCI, which at $799 is designed for the custom install market, both have networking capacity, HDMI 1.4a connectors with 3D and Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) and 36-bit deep color. The models contain DLNA 1.5, are Kodak Picture CD-certified and are among the first to be DiVx HD Plus certified. The players also can play back MP3 and WMA files and stream Netflix and YouTube. Both models have Anchor Bay Technologies decoding and scaling chips and Burr-Brown 32-bit DACs and can handle side-by-side and top-and-bottom broadcast 3D video. The players have 1 GB of on-board memory, and they increase loading speeds to 20 seconds. The 2011 also has an RS-232 port for third-party controllers.

The higher-end universal players introduced last year, DBP-4010UDCI ($1,999) and DVD-A1 ($4,500), had SD card slots, dropped from the new models in favor of USB connectors. Both featured IP control, DivX HD and AVCHD playback -- the last eliminated from the new line.

In addition to its Blu-ray players, Denon added HDMI 1.4a repeater inputs to all new Home Theater Series AV receivers to support 3D, CEC and audio return channel. The nine new models, the same number as introduced a year ago, start at $249 for the 2-channel AVR-391, down from $349 a year ago and top out at $999. The AVR-391 has four HDMI 1.4a outputs and a 2.1 output for Dolby Pro Logic IIz. The 991 is one of three new models featuring Audyssey DSX that can be used to expand the width of the front soundstage or a pair of front-height channels. It also adds support for HD Radio and Sirius but not XM. The number of Denon HD Radio-compatible AV receivers increased to six models this year from four in 2009 and the entry-level price for decks with the technology dropped to $599 from $1,499.

While the HD Radio chip module was once priced at $25, it costs much less in volume orders, Denon officials said. “For us it’s more about the subsidy and what models we can put HD Radio in,” Talmadge told us. Denon doubled the number of AV receivers featuring Audyssey DSX post-processing and other technologies to four, with a fourth new model to be introduced at CEDIA in September, Talmadge said. The Audyssey-equipped receivers start at $1,199, down from $1,999 last year. The decks also have Pandora and Flickr built in and Denon will consider adding video services, Talmadge said.

Denon also added the ability to connect an iPod or iPhone directly to an AV receiver via a front USB connector starting with the AVR-1911 ($599). The “iPod Direct” receivers aren’t compatible with the iPad, but Denon hopes soon to add that feature, Talmadge said.

In its custom installation line, Denon is offering three models, starting with the AVR2311 at $899, that features 7.1 channels Audyssey and Dolby Pro Logic IIz, six HDMI 1.4a inputs, 105 watts. The AVR-4311 tops the line at $1,999. All custom-install AV receivers are Control4 and Crestron-certified models. Denon, which was Crestron-certified in 2009, this year manufactured the Creston modules for its receivers, Talmadge said. Denon’s custom-install receivers are sold through a variety of retailers including Best Buy’s Magnolia and many PRO Buying Group members.

As it rolls out new products, Denon is changing the requirements governing online sales and expects to have them complete “in a couple of weeks,” said Phil Cohn, D&M senior vice president for sales and marketing. Denon has 11 retailers selling its products online and expects by summer to authorize dealers under the new rules, Cohn said. Denon is revamping its Web strategy, adding enhancements to product data and links from its Web site to those of its dealers, Cohn said.

While D&M struggled in the aftermath of Circuit City’s collapse, adding distribution through Best Buy helped offset the loss, Cohn said. Denon commanded a 35 percent dollar share of the AV receiver market in 2009 because its receivers sold for an average selling price of $700, or $200 higher than the industry average, Cohn said. Denon had a 42 percent share of receivers priced $1,000-$1,500 and 45 percent share of receivers priced higher than $1,500, Cohn said. - Mark Seavy