New Rotel 12 Series

A new line of Rotel products will come in the next three month or so. The new 12 Series from Rotel will replace its budget line up in the 06-Series.

Rotel thought it necessary to introduce the new lineup to to comply with new technology. The new RT12 for instance. The RT-12 is an FM and DAB+ preset radio tuner and much more besides. By incorporating network capabilities, the RT-12 can bring thousands of internet radio broadcasts into your life and it can play audio files stored on UPnP™ servers such as Windows computers. If your computer is home to a library of music files and you have wondered about playing them over your hi-fi, the RT-12 is your answer. The RT-12 boasts digital to analogue conversion based on the Wolfson WM8740 DAC chip to ensure that each digital source retains every last drop of musical quality, and it can serve as the wireless hub for the Rotel iPhone and iPad control app to control the entire hi-fi system.

The RT 11 will be a straight forward tuner, giving still a high quality radio playback but will lack the network functions, keeping the old ones happy.

The RCD-06SE will be replaced by the new Rotel RCD12. In common with its partners in the 12 Series, digital to analogue conversion is handled by the Wolfson WM8740 DAC chip. The WM8740 is more usually found in CD players at the very top of high-end audio and if you are ever intrigued to know just how your favourite CDs would sound on the world’s finest players, the RCD-12 will get you to within a hair’s-breadth. In common with other 12 Series products, the RCD-12 can be controlled through either its front panel buttons and display, via its remote control handset, or via Rotel Link to an RT-12 and the wireless Rotel iPhone and iPad app.

The new RA 12 will replace the popular Rotel RA-06. The brain of the RA-12 is the Wolfson WM8740

24 bit/192kHz DAC, most often found in high-end audio products, and it ensures that the RA-12 extracts the full potential from its digital and Apple authorised USB inputs. Traditional audio is not forgotten however so the RA-12 also provides four analogue line-level inputs and a phono input. The RA-12 can be controlled from its front panel buttons, via a remote handset, or via an RT-12 and the Rotel iPhone and iPad app. The RA-12 is however not just about versatility, it is a very high performance 60 Watt per channel amplifier that puts music at the top of its priorities. Bluetooth streaming will also be an option.

Rotel will also introduce to smaller Rotel RA unites, namely RA11 and RA10. The RA11 will have all the functionality of the RA12, but will only have a 40watt amplifier. The RA10 will be stripped of any network features and will also have a 40watt amplifier.

The future of TV's

Soon the consumer will be introduced to a new TV technology called 4K2k, or Ultra High Definition. To explain 4K2K in short, it is 4 times High Definition, meaning 3640 x 2160 pixel image.

This technology will to be kept from the consumer till a later stage when 4K2K sources will be more readily available. Spoiling the party for some major TV brands like Samsung, their hand was forced to unveil its own 4K2K TV as seen in the video below.

Panasonic was one of the first embracing such technology with their 103 and 152 inch Plasma panels and was showcased at this year's CES exhibition.

On the next video's, note the deepness it creates:

Most newly filmed movies is already filmed with 4K2K cameras, but we will not expect any 4K2K movies in the market until middle 2013 as rumors are now. 

This in itself is only a step in the direction the bigger companies of the television world want us to go. The aim of the market movers is to introduce Ultra Definition2, called 8K4K, which will have 7680 x 4320 pixel image. It will have 16 times the resolution of the HDTV you own right now.

Funny enough, first 8K4K 30 min film was already created in 2003.  This is rumored to be introduced to the market in 5 years time, yet Japan and China will enjoy such technology as soon as 2013, most likely to test the market and overall performance before introduding it to European and US markets.

20min Video takes up roughly 4TB uncompressed.

 First TV to be introduced with 8K4K was an 85" LED as seen below:

Although these technologies is still on there way, Holographic TV's is already introducing concepts to the market, but so far failing to capture the enthusiasm of the market as color definition is still its biggest challenge.

Most Home Theatre receivers will be 4K2K ready. The new Yamaha RX-Vx73 range will be 4K2K ready, as well as the new Yamaha Aventage range which will be intoduced later this year.

On my way to ISE show in Amsterdam, Netherlands

I am flying tonight to Amsterdam, Netherlands to attend the IS Europe show. Basically the whole show is owned by CEDIA and Infocom. The show give insight into new trends, new products, new ways to integrate technology into everyday living.

So I am excited to join a group of South Africans to attend this show. We will be spoiled by Denon & Marantz Holdings for a whole day which will be one of the many highlights. Most of the big speaker and amplifier companies will attend, like B&W Group, Harman International, D&M Holdings, Monitor Audio, Russound, Velodyne, Paradigm, KEF, Crestron and many more known and for me unknown brands.

I will have my own report on new things coming, new awesome products and hopefully some words from the brands I show on this blog.

Come around from the 7th of February when I will update again with some news and photo's in the world of Home Theatre!

www.iseurope.org

Wikus wishing you a wonderful day!!!

Bowers & Wilkins CT800 system powers luxury South Korean cinema | Bowers & Wilkins | B&W speakers

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Some News

B&W

Bowers and Wilkins in South Africa have ended the run of the PV1 and the M1, limited stock available. There will be a replacement model on both PV1 and M1 speakers with prices also bit more steaper, but rumours have it as a much more powerful system. I should have update around January/February on the new units which I will post on this blog.

Also, B&W PM1 Speakers was launched last month, sound brilliant, basically take a CM1 and a 805 Diamond and you have a lovely looking powerful bookshelf.

 Retails around R25 000.00 with stand around R5000.00. Contact me should you have questions on this product. (South Africa market please)

Marantz

New series was launched last month. New models include SR6006, SR5006, NR1602 and NR1402. Airplay will be available on all but NR1402.

Also read google some reviews on the Marantz UD 7006 Blu Ray player, absolutely brilliant Universal Player.

Yamaha

New Aventage range launched, RA 3010, RA 2010, RA 1010 and RA810. Lots of new network and I-Pod functionality.

Email me should you need more info on this products in South Africa