Digital
Sony E9000ES
Sony had an amazing, wait wait, i can hear you groaning. Hear me out
here pretty please. They had a new preamplifier which does all the processing in
floating-point 32-bit processing. Like the new Mark Levinson (by Madrigal) DAC, this
unit uses the newest SHARC processor. Using a huge amount of state-of-the-art
computer processing, 24-bit/96kHz S/PDIF input capability, digital volume controlling,
50MHz master clock speed, vast amounts of attention to the grounding and isolation
schemes... this unit is one digital DTS/AC-3/MPEG, analogue input, etc processor that just
make take many by surprise! Besides the SHARC chip, this unit also uses two
specially designed by Sony CDX2712R 32-bit chips which are used for simultaneous
processing of the Cinema and Virtual modes. S count 'em, three 32-bit chips all for
audio processing! In fact even the remote control is a bi-directional programmable
LCD touch panel! The video inputs/outputs signal is managed by high 20MHz pass
bandwidth while video amplification is 12MHz pass bandwidth design. In fact there is
also a microphone input on the rear for analyzation/calibration use. Of course
there are many digital, analogue and video inputs and outputs. When this unit is
available for public consumption in a few months, pricing should be around $2,600
according to a Song representative.