News
Denon intros home entertainment systems with iPod connectivity [updated]
By LC Angell
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, July 5, 2005
News Category: iPod Accessories
S-301
S-101
Denon Electronics has introduced two new home entertainment systems that offer direct connectivity and control of the iPod.
The compact 2.1-channel systems—the S-301 ($1,599) and S-101 ($999)—feature integrated DVD/receiver units, a range of audio and video connections, dual satellite speakers, high-performance subwoofers, and wireless remotes. They both sport a “gentle round-form design” with metallic silver finishes and will be available in August.
Most importantly for iPod owners, both systems feature a plug-and-play “Connect iPod” cable located on the front panel that provides 3G and 4G iPod users connectivity with an iPod navigational menu that’s displayed on their home theater screen.
“The onscreen display mimics the iPod’s own menu display, offering easy and familiar control capabilities,” says Denon. “Once connected, all basic iPod features, including volume control, menu navigation, play, stop and skip, can be accessed via the Denon remote control. Users can even recharge their iPods while connected.”
In addition, both the S-301 and S-101 systems offer support for the iPod photo (now iPod with color display), enabling users to show and control their photos with music on their main home theater display.
Denon has yet to update its site with details of these new models, however, a teaser site showing the S-101 was recently posted.
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1
Now, if it has XM capabilities, they’ve got a winner!
Posted by sosha on July 5, 2005 at 7:17 PM (PDT)
2
For $1600, it had better be an upconverting DVD player. I saw these on Engadget about a week ago. I believe the 301 also supports SACD.
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on July 5, 2005 at 10:20 PM (PDT)
3
I’ve always been leery about all-in-one electronics, particularly compact designs. I know they make sense from a space-challenged standpoint, but with many things electronics in audio, having space and bulk and separates never hurts if one can spare the room. And the concept that if one function like the CD or DVD portion goes bad, then the whole things goes bad (since one has to send the entire electronics unit in to get it fixed) has never made sense to a component guy like me, but then again I think a have a fetish for expensive interconnects…;)
Yet I’ve always liked Denon as a brand as well, and I admit at one time I was sorely tempted to buy one of their “executive” mini bookshelf units for my workshop. The included Denon/Mission speakers with that design were decent-enough sounding, and the smallish form-factor was hard to beat (but I ended up recycling older full-sized components I had previously retired instead, and buying a pair of tiny Paradigms for speakers; a cheaper and far better-sounding solution I have to say).
These new designs are even more compact; while I’ll reserve final judgement until I see, play with, and most importantly HEAR them in the flesh down at the local Denon retailer, they SEEM intriguing enough, though I still wonder about the stoutness of the electronics. Denon and really small packages—particularly their car stereos—have had in the past a rep for not being the best in durability. Even though that’s really the mobile car audio market, I’ve also wondered if trying to cram all those goodies into too small a chassis (for the company) wasn’t the real reason for Denon’s downfall in that market in the first place. And the $1600 price for the 301 seems to me to be, um, ‘extravagant’ for a compact 2.1 design, but then again I never thought people would willingly fork over hundreds (and be happy about it, too) for Bose Wave Radios, either.
Posted by flatline response on July 6, 2005 at 4:49 AM (PDT)