Denon DVD-3800BDCI Blu-ray Reference DVD Player Unveiled

We were invited to the 2007 Denon summer conference held in New Jersey yesterday, where they displayed their new DVD-3800BDCI reference BD/SD DVD player.

According to Denon, the DVD-3800BDCI is the worlds first Blu-ray DVD player with Blu-Ray Profile 1.1 support. In keeping with the guidelines mandated by the Blu-ray Association for BD-ROM Profile 1 version 1.1 players, the DVD-3800BDCI incorporates a secondary audio and video decoder. This allows for simultaneous playback of a secondary audio and video track which may be used for interactive audio, games and commentary and for picture-in-picture capability (respectively). Additional information (subtitles, audio streams, camera angles, trailers, games, etc.) can be downloaded from the Internet via computer and stored on a SD card which interfaces directly on the front panel of the player. This content can be played with the original content of Blu-ray Discs.

The DVD-3800BDCI features the latest in video processing via the 10-bit Silicon Optix Realta chipset with scaling up to 1080p for SD sources, providing consumers with the highest resolution high-definition video available today via HDMI™ connection, as well as the ultimate in audio performance, including high-definition audio decoding and DDSC-HD audio output.

Denon’s new DVD-3800BDCI utilizes a variety of the world’s most advanced audio technologies, including Advanced AL24 processing, to deliver the ultimate in audio performance. The player offers HD Audio and DDSC-HD, with decoding of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and is capable of outputting both 7.1-channel analog signals and PCM audio via HDMI output. Denon claims the audio analog section is borrowed from their venerable DVD-5910 though disappointingly, you won’t find any DVD-A or SACD support on this product. The DVD-3800BDCI also has a bitstream bypass feature that will allow it to transmit native TrueHD and DTS-HD formats without re-encoding it to multichannel PCM as most of the current Blu-ray and HD players do today.

The DVD-3800BDI is scheduled to ship this fall and with a retail price of $1999.