New Pioneer LX03 comprises a DVD player system, allows SACD/DVD-audio playback and comes with compact satellite speakers.

The LX03 allow flexible speaker set-up, with the Front Stage Surround function enabling the most neat and elegant integration by placing all speakers directly alongside the TV to free up space and eliminate the visual clutter of cables. System feature our propriety Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System(MCACC) that analyses your room’s sound characteristics and calibrates the system accordingly, tailoring it to your living environment. Potential standing waves are effectively minimised using Standing Wave control. The LX03 system boast a compact, yet powerful A4 size down firing subwoofer with acrylic glossy black top.

Sony today introduced three new audio/video receivers in its “Elevated Standard” (ES) product line that deliver high-quality sound and video performance.

Engineered for high-end home theaters, the new STR-DA4400ES, STR-DA3400ES and STR-DA2400ES receivers feature sophisticated A/V technology supporting 1080/24p video signals, the latest audio codecs (Dolby® Digital Plus, Dolby® TrueHD, dts® High Resolution Audio and dts® HD Master Audio) and Faroudja DCDi Cinema® technology for upscaling all video sources to 1080p when connected via HDMI™ to a compatible high-definition television.

Tacet releases two discs of the "Real Surround Sound" series: TACET's Four Seasons SACD & The Koroliov Series - Claude Debussy DVD-Audio.

Minnetonka Audio Software Inc (MASI) is now shipping an all-new version of discWelder STEEL with the release of version 3. The new release is infused with a subset of features from MASI's authoring application, discWelder CHROME II, which was recently used to author the latest DVD-A release by former Beatle Ringo Starr, titled "Ringo 5.1".

New to discWelder STEEL v3.0:

• AutoMirror™
• DSD import and convert to PCM for authoring
• DSD to PCM conversion to a folder for offline editing
• Red-Book CD burning

Panasonic releases new HD 7.1-channel A/V receiver SA-BX500.

The SA-BX500 boasts 7 x 130W power output and can decode all of Blu-ray’s multi-channel signals including Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA. And with three HDMI inputs, six AV inputs and Full HD 1080p video switching, the SA-BX500 can be used as the heart of your home entertainment system. Its version 1.3 HDMI socketry is compatible with the latest Deep Colour and x.v.Colour technology, assuming you have a compatible player, like Panasonic’s DMP-BD50.

Although they offer many improvements, new digital music formats often face an uphill battle replacing tried and true legacy formats such as MP3.

This month the Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) will meet in Germany to deliberate whether to make MT9, a new digital audio format commercially known as Music 2.0, an international standard.

MT9 was developed by South Korea-based Audizen, and works by splitting an audio file into six separate channels, such as vocals, bass, guitar and others. Music players can then raise or lower the volume on specific channels similar to the way a producer uses a mixing board. MT9’s inventors say the new format will replace MP3 as the standard for all digital music, according to reports in the Korea Times.

Offering a stylish solution for the modern high-definition home theater, Sony today introduced the HT-IS100 BRAVIA(R) Theatre Micro System.

Designed with five incredibly small speakers roughly the size of a golf ball, the new audio/video system delivers a rich surround sound experience that can be easily integrated into a home theater.

New acoustic music label, Blue Coast Records, challenges the current trend and declares value is in the ears of the Discerning Listener.

Blue Coast Records and Burnside Distribution announced the debut of the critically acclaimed music disc, Blue Coast Collection, making it now available via brick and mortar and online music outlets for the price of $40 USD. While some have balked at the cost of the disc, the audiophile community has embraced it as some of the most realistic acoustic music recorded to date. Using a proprietary recording technique, Extended Sound Environment (E.S.E.), the newly founded San Francisco label creates audio that is holographic. The release is an SACD hybrid disc that has the stereo CD layer, a surround sound SACD layer and an SACD two-track layer on one disc.

Harman Kardon, Inc., announced today the introduction of its 7.1-channel AVR 354 and AVR 254 and its 5.1-channel AVR 154 audio/video receivers. The company is also introducing its HK 3490 and HK 3390 stereo receivers.

The new 7.1-channel A/V receivers offer expanded features, flexibility and connectivity options, including HDMI™ 1.3a capability, Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ decoding, a groundbreaking graphical on-screen menu system, an improved interface for iPod® using The Bridge II* docking station for iPod** from Harman Kardon (AVR 354 only), and many additional enhancements. All five receivers have a distinctively elegant, refined appearance.

The multichannel receivers all offer HDMI 1.3a functionality, and pass video signals to 1080p. In addition, the AVR 354 and AVR 254 incorporate an exclusive high-definition full-color on-screen menu system that guides users in setting up their home entertainment system. Other features (depending on the model) include, 1080p video upscaling; Deep Color compatibility; EzSet/EQ™ automated system calibration; multiroom operation; and more.