Three High-Speed HDMI Ports For Latest Denon And Marantz 8K AVRs
This year more than any year before, the world of AV receivers and processors has had more than just sound quality and sound formats to worry about. Connectivity has become a huge deal too, thanks to the sudden importance the latest generation of consoles and PC cards have placed on new HDMI 2.1 ports.
With this in mind, Sound United, the company responsible for the Denon and Marantz brands, has just unveiled new HDMI 2.1 adaptors for all of its current '8K-ready' AVRs and processors. The adaptors add two extra high-speed connections to the single one they were fitted with at launch.
The Denon AVS-3 and Marantz VS3003 adaptors mean you no longer have to swap out your 4K at 120Hz capable components should you wish to plug in your PS5, Xbox Series X, or gaming PC sporting the latest high-end Nvidia or AMD graphics cards. Instead, you can simply enjoy the best performance from all three devices without cable swapping.
The adaptors also triple the number of HDMIs available for passing 8K through to your screen. Unfortunately, sources that can deliver 8K are in seriously short supply right now, but it's possible more 8K sources will gradually appear in the years to come. In fact, before their launch, both the PS5 and Xbox Series X hinted that 8K gaming was technically possible - though nothing has materialised yet to back those hints up.
Perhaps more helpful in the short term is the new adaptors' support of HDMI's CEC feature. This means they can automatically turn on or off whenever connected CEC-capable sources do or switch inputs when a source connected to one of the HDMIs not currently selected is switched on.
Given that no external HDMI solution will ever be as elegant as a built-in one, it's good to see that Sound United has managed to keep the new adaptors small. Also, while they look a bit industrial, they do at least sport brushed aluminium front panels.
Both adaptors ship with small remote controls so you can switch between their inputs without having to leave your sofa - though apparently, they can also be controlled via the remotes you got with your main Denon or Marantz receiver.
The Denon models able to take advantage of the new adaptors are the AVC-A110, AVC-X8500HA, AVC-X6700H, AVC-X4700H, AVC-X3700H, AVR-X2700H / DAB, and the AVR-S960H, while the Marantz models are the AV8805A, AV7706, SR8015, SR7015, SR6015, SR5015 / DAB, and the NR1711.
The Denon AVS-3 and Marantz VS3003 HDMI adaptors will cost £179/ €199 from Denon and Marantz websites and authorised dealers, shipping in October.
Visit Denon or Marantz for more information
John Archer
I’ve spent the past 25 years writing about the world of home entertainment technology. In that time I’m fairly confident that I’ve reviewed more TVs and projectors than any other individual on the planet, as well as experiencing first-hand the rise and fall of all manner of great and not so great home entertainment technologies.
Posted in: Home Theatre | Technology
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