Sinemas takes "try before you buy" into the virtual realm with the Virtual Showroom-- a virtual reality tool allowing potential customers to check out a future cinema or media room via headset before actual installation starts.

As the company puts it, such an initiative is particularly interesting for installers lacking the space to build and maintain a physical showroom. The VR solution makes it easy to let customers experience the kind of projects they would like to do, as well as increase spending by showing what is possible. It also says current customers are not so interested in the technical specifications of a home theatre, and attention is turning towards details such as acoustic room treatments, wall finishes and seating.

Denon announces a pair of hifi separates ahead of CEDIA Expo 2019-- the PMA-600NE amplifier with Bluetooth and the DCD-600NE CD player, a cosmetic match for customers building or upgrading a 2-channel sound system.

The PMA-600NE integrated amplifier features Denon Advanced High Current (AHC) single push-pull circuit power amplification technology, and delivers up to 70W of power-per-channel (4 ohm, 1kHz, THC 0.7%, two-channel). Similar to the Denon 800 and 1600 series components, it also includes a 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converter for improving the sound quality of CDs, records and streaming files.

Marantz presents a pair of 4K Imax Enhanced AV receivers-- the SR5014 and SR6014, both being 9-channel Dolby Atmos models, even if the SR6014 adds 11.2 channel processing through an external stereo amplifier.

The two AVRs feature codec and processing support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X. Also included is Dolby Atmos Height Virtualisation, a means to create an immersive listening experience from a standard flatbed multichannel speaker layout. Customers can configure a up to 7 channels for a 7.1 setting with virtualised height effects.

Onkyo and Pioneer release a firmware update to activate IMAX Enhanced support and Dolby Atmos Height Virtualiser features on select AV receivers, namely the Pioneer VSX-LX504 and VSX-LX304 AVRs, and Onkyo TX-RZ840 and TX-RZ740.

The update allows the AVRs to auto-optimise for IMAX Enhanced content, with the promise to bring wide dynamic range theatrical sound mixes to home cinemas. Capable TVs also get enhanced 4K HDR images. So far very little of such content actually exists, but IMAX Enhanced versions of films are due for 4K HDR streaming and UHD Blu-ray release.

Marantz announces the NR1200, a 75W-per-channel (8ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.08% THD) HDMI stereo receiver with a circuit design featuring separate, symmetrical left and right power amplifier blocks.

The power transformer is wired independently to the circuits of the amplifier, preamplifier, tuner and front display, a setup Marantz says improves channel separation, reduces crosstalk and preserves audio purity.

The NR1200 includes x5 HDMI inputs, each with HDCP 2.3, 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, HLG, High Dynamic Range (HDR10), 21:9 video, 3D and BT.2020 pass-through support. Plus, ARC (Audio Return Channel) supports the transmission of audio from the TV with a single HDMI cable, simplifying overall setup. The HDMI inputs automatically rename themselves based on information from the source.

Stacey Spears and Don Munsil, creators of the Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark, take on the latest in video technology with the release of the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark.

The Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark adds more features and patterns, and promises to bring precision and attention to the calibration and evaluation of UHD displays. As such, it provides a range of test and demonstration materials to let both professionals and amateur determine what displays are displays, identify weak links in hardware and software, and dial in optimal settings for both current and future hardware.