Jensen is announcing at CES three Power series amplifier that are designed to work with Hi-Res Audio systems (that deliver better than CD quality audio).
The amplifiers can handle the extra dynamic range produced in Hi-Res Audio. All three amplifiers deliver 10Hz to 100kHz, 3dB audio, allowing the full audio spectrum to be reproduced, said Jensen parent, Dual Electronics.
Pre-amplifier and amplifier signal levels have also been optimized to increase the signal to noise ratio, it said.
Dual was one of the first suppliers to show a Hi-Res Audio deck with WiFi streaming. The deck allows streaming of Hi-Res Audio files in up to 24bit/192 kHz. But after winning a CES Innovation Award last year, the model DWF916L was put on hold until the market is ready for such a player, said Dual’s CEO Jim Braun, who believes the product is still a bit ahead of its time. It was originally expected to ship last spring at $499.
The company says Hi-Res Audio is a great quality audio format and plans to ship the new amplifiers in March, although the DWF916L remains on hold.
The 3 new Hi-Res audio ready amplifiers are the Power250x2 ($89.99 suggested retail price), Power400x4 ($119.99), and Power500x1 ($129.99). The Power250x2 is a 2-channel Class AB amplifier with 500 watt peak power and the Power400x4 is a 4-channel version with 800 watt peak power. A third mono Class AB amp is the Power500x1 with 1,000 watt peak power.
These are joined by new XS653 High-Resolution Series 6.5-inch 3-way speakers rated at 70 watt RMS power handling with a frequency response > 30kHz to support Hi-Res Audio playback. They use a 25mm silk dome tweeter and will ship in the first half at a suggested retail price of $69.99.
