Audio Video News

Kaleidescape
Keeping track of all your DVDs is a tough feat. Kaleidescape makes the task much easier with their new K2500 Digital Movie Player. To make things even better, the K2500 can deliver DVD and HD movies in digital form from source to display without analog conversion. The unit connects via a switched Ethernet network to a Kaleidescape server ($27,000) and provides an HDMI output to connect A/V processors and displays. It can output HD video in 720p or 1080i, as well as the 480i and 480p NTSC formats. With its onscreen user interface, you can browse your entire DVD collection, create collections, and mark or play your favorite scenes with Kaleidescape's bookmark technology. The K2500 is $4,000.
Kaleidescape
(650) 625-6101
www.kaleidescape.com

Integra
Nothing beats a solid universal player, and Integra offers just that, with the added plus of a design that's custom-installation--friendly. The company's new DPC-8.5 is a six-disc DVD changer with both BNC and RCA component video connections, plus IR input and output jacks so that you can integrate the unit with existing equipment. The DPC-8.5 offers Wolfson 24-bit/192-kilohertz audio digital-to-analog converters and a 12-bit/108-megahertz video DAC. With Integra's Direct Progressive capability, the DPC-8.5 can extract 480p native encoded DVD material and pass it to the component output. Also included are two composite and two S-video connections. The unit is currently available for $700.
Integra
(800) 225-1946
www.integrahometheater.com