Big Picture Big Sound

Slowly but surely, high-end audio manufacturer, McIntosh Labs has been introducing more and more components (DVD players, speakers, etc.), in order to become a single vendor supplier of a complete home theater system. At CEDIA 2006, with the introduction of new McIntosh-branded audio and video processors and a DLP projector, it looks like they've finally arrived.

The MDLP1 DLP projector (around $26,000, December) features the new TI 1080p "Dark Chip 3" DMD chip. To get the most out of your projector, you'll also want the McIntosh Model VP1000 video processor, a 2-zone video processor and scaler that can upconvert any digital or analog video input to full HD 1080p resolution. The VP1000 will also be available separately later this year for around $9,000 depending on final production costs.


As a companion piece to the VP1000, McIntosh is also releasing the AP-1000 ($9,000-$11,000, Q1, 2007), an audio switcher and surround processor. The AP1000 will feature the new Trinoff room correction system that employs proprietary processing to electronically "move" speakers around the room to correct for compromises in speaker placement. Find it necessary to place your center channel speaker a foot below your screen while your surround speakers are mounted in the ceiling? No problem - a twist of a dial here, a turn of a knob there and all of your speakers will now sound like they're on the same horizontal plane for a more seamless surround sound stage.


All prices and release dates are still a bit fuzzy as the final production schedule and costs are yet to be finalized, but it's likely that those cool blue lights will be illuminating a high-end home theater near you in the near future.