Marantz Goes Power Lines for Audio Delivery

Developer of home entertainment solutions introduces an A/V receiver and remote clients which use AC power lines in the home to reportedly stream CD-quality audio.

Marantz, a developer of home entertainment solutions, last week announced a new “virtually wireless” multi-zone home audio distribution solution set to be available this month. The new ZR6001SPsystem, which includes the ZR6001 A/V receiver and ZC4001 client, is priced at $1,299.99 asa combined package, with additional ZC4001 units pricing at $329.99 each.   The ZR6001 SP system, said Marantz, uses thecompany’s new DAvED (Digital Audio via Electrical Distribution) technology to tap into a home’s existing AC power lines as a transmission system. The ZR6001 A/V receiver reportedly easily detectseach ZC4001 client plugged in around the home and provides real time streaming of CD-quality audio.   Users may connect up to six ZC4001 clients to the ZR6001 receiver for whole-house musicstreaming.   As for the individual components, the ZR6001 offers seven channels of amplification, HD component video switching, component or S-Video up-conversion, 32-bit DSP processing and192kHz/24-bit digital/audio converters for all channels. It also delivers 90 watts of power into each of its seven main channels. The ZC4001 has a light silver cosmetic with elegant brown trim andincludes two high-performance loudspeakers and a built-in amplifier. It comes with a wireless remote which allows users to control tuners, CD players and other components connected to the main ZR6001system.   “Multi-room home entertainment networking is one of the hottest trends in consumer electronics today, and more and more people are looking for affordable and simple ways to expandtheir home entertainment experience,” said Kevin Zarow, Vice President, Marketing and Product Development, Marantz America, Inc, in a statement. “The Marantz DAvED system makes it easy and moreaffordable for virtually any do-it-yourselfer to add multi-room capabilities to their home music system.”