Audio Video News

Snohomish, WA –based Sunfire Corporation has introduced the third generation in its Theater Grand line of home theater processors. The new Theater Grand III offers all current surround processing schemes, including full 7.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX. It also offers "the world’s easiest upgrade path," according to a June press release.

The heart of the "TGIII" is Motorola's DSP 56367, the most full featured and intelligent processor currently on the market. Operating at 150Mhz, the "Symphony DSP" chip handles Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro-Logic II, dts-ES and dts Neo: 6. It also offers a new, all-digital implementation of Bob Carver’s "holographic imaging," a crosstalk-canceling technique that "recreates the perfect stereo image that no microphone placement or recording technique can capture . . . a perfect representation of a live musical event."

Connections: The TGIII’s 3 offers three buffered, high-definition component video inputs (2-out) and an 8-channel direct-path, analog input for DVD-Audio and SACD. It also offers balanced outputs for all 8 channels. Second-zone operation is possible in stereo playback, down-mixed from a multi-channel source. The second zone's independent volume control can be controlled with infrared commands. The TGIII monitors all input activity, switches to new sources and automatically selects the right surround mode for each input. The preprogrammed/learning LCD remote features illuminated “soft keys” that change with each source selection, thereby eliminating the clutter of too many buttons and making the remote a compact, easy to manage size.

Firmware upgrades, including as-yet-undeveloped copy protections schemes and surround sound processes, will be made available to TGIII owners via a watermarked CD. All you have to do to install the upgrade is "play the CD," according to Sunfire. The data will be extracted and installed by the time the music has finished. Sunfire calls this "the world's easiest upgrade path."

Available from Sunfire dealers now, the Theater Grand III is priced at $3495.