Details on the Australian version of the newly released Denon AVR-5700 in the US are here. The Australian model is the AVC-A1D and will at last hearing have a very very expensive price of $5499.

However, according to the product manager (Roger Drinkwater) of Audio Products (Denon's Australian Distributor), we will have to wait until June for the AVCA1D.

Reports from the US say that the unit is great but that the DSP Sound fields like Rock Concert, Jazz (Using examples here) are totally awful and no where as good as the Yamaha DSP-A1's. So Yamaha DSP-A1 owners may wish to take this into consideration if you are planning on up grading but have gotten use to Yamaha's excellent Surround fields.   Essentially, it has all the features of the AVR-5700 and it has received some very good reviews as compared to the AVR-5600 which many claim was a pretty poor unit.

The only difference between the Aussie model and US model is the exclsuion of a tuner. But I am glad that at least we haven't been left out down here and we will at least be getting a model that is 99% that of the US. Also this model features THX Ultra certification which is the creme de le creme of THX stamping.

For more info ont the AVC-A1D check out the below URL:

http://elec.denon.co.jp/ASIA/PRODUCTS/homepro/AVCA1D.html

(This article was compiled from two different sources....so thanks guys)

Denon may have just taken the lead in the US HT market with there release of the AVR-5700. It has a lot of features like THX 5.1 (THX Ultra- certified), Dolby Digital, and DTS, with 8 (yes 8 - for future 7.1 support. Did someone say Dolby EX which will be used with the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace) inputs and outputs, and DENON's usual incredible audio specs - 24-bit, 96-kHz, DENON 24-bit ALPHA, etc. Scroll half way down the page to check out this awesome product at the link below.

Denon Home Audio Products

Unfortunetly this model won't be coming to Australia. But fear not I have it on good word that in May we will be getting here in Australia a similar model with pretty much the exact specs the AVR-5700 got except our unit will be an amp only unit and will not have a reciver onboard. Pretty much like the Yamaha DSP-A1.

Possibly the best news is that that comes form what Toshiba is doing to stay as the industry leaders in DVD Players and Rear Projection sets here down under. /as we have heard the Americans always get the newest and best technology first and we usually have to wait few years before those products head down here. Well Toshiba has heard our call and will introduce some products with that cutting edge technology that has only been availble in big markets. In December if things go well there will be 2 products that should catch your interest. The first is a 44" Rear Projection LCD Set that features PROGRESSIVE SCAN technology aswell as Component inputs to give you a more film like appearance. This set will also feature a few more nice features so here is a look at the specs:

Toshiba GEM 44G9UXE

-44" LCD projection Set
-PC Input Terminal (RGB-VGA)
-Progressive Scan System
-DVD Component Video Input Terminals
-Digital Window
-Fastext
-Picture In Picture
-Subwoofer Terminal
-Large Viewing Angle
-Lightwieght
-Slim Body
-High Contrast Screen
-Flicker Free
-Multi 28 System

Specs

Lamp- 200W/SHD
LCD- 0.8M dot
Cable Tuner- Hyper
No. of Positions- 100
Dimentions (W*H*D)mm - 1061*1127*476
Weight- 38.0Kg

Price- $8500-$9000 (The best always costs more)

But what is a progressive Set without a Progressive Scan DVD Player. Well Toshiba are planning to introduce in December (Depending if all goes well with the copy protection issue delaying this product in America) the Toshiba SD-7108 Progressive Scan DVD player for an approximate price of $2500. If they can get this product into the country I will order it in a heart beat and Toshiba will gain Australian dominace in the DVD industry.

For more details on this unit I suggest checking out the Toshiba American home page as the only differences I forsee are the Aussie model will have dual PAL and NTSC playback.

Toshiba also have on tentative slate for release in March next year 2 new Rear Projection models.
A new 60" model replacing the current one and a new 56" Widescreen model. These units will be similar to the ones released in Europe/UK and will have a brighter picture and RGB Input. (It seems Australian companies are going with RGB for the Eurpean market instead of Component) A tentatice in the air price for the Widescreen model is $11,000 depending on what the aussie dollars does between now and March. To be competitive I think Toshiba will have to offer it for under $10000. Just look at how well Pioneer are doing with there 50" model for $6500. you will have to decide wether $5000 justifies the 6" bigger picture and brighter picture.

Besides RPTV's and DVD Players there are some interesting and affordable Surround Sound products on the way from Yamaha. Yamaha caused a storm when they released there best selling DSP-A1 DTS/DD Amplifier into the market. Besides getting many Great reviews and awards in the market the $4000 price tag deterred people whom couldn't afford it. Well no more Yamaha in January plan to release 2 new DTS/DD products. The RX-V2095 in Gold which is like the DSP-A1 with a reciver and the DSP-A2 in black which is like the RX-V2095 though without a Tuner for around $2700. These models will of course not feature everything that the DSP-A1 had but will certainly have a lot of features. For the exact specifications please check out the below URL which has translated the Yamaha Japanese pages for these products into English.

Yamaha Surround News

Lastly RCA whom manufacture some nice RPTV sets are going to introduce in April 2 new models based on there Eurpoean models. There will be a 46" and a 52" 4:3 sets that will have 100hertz scanning, RGB inputs, 5 speaker output, 16:9 switching for all those Anamophic DVD's and a few more features and will be approximately priced at $5299 and $6299 respectively.

Please remember all the above is subject to change.