D+M Group unveiled an upcoming upgrade to support the Auro-3D Immersive Sound format from Auro Technologies, which adds an additional height sound layer creating a true 3D immersive sound experience at home. Expected to be available on January 5, 2017, the upgrade will be available on three recently introduced premium home theater AV receivers and one AV pre-processor. Customers can purchase an Auro-3D firmware upgrade for $200 USD for the Denon AVR-X6300H, Denon AVR-X4300H, Marantz SR7011 AV receivers, and Marantz AV7703 AV pre-processor.
The Denon and Marantz upgrade service can be done by owners at home through the model’s built-in online feature upgrade function. More details will follow soon on the official Denon and Marantz websites.
Once upgraded with the Auro-Codec Decoder, all four models can decode the original Auro-3D mixes from available content. The decoder allows playback on an Auro 9.1 or 10.1 speaker configuration. An extra amplifier is needed for the AVR-X4300H and the SR7011 to drive the top surround channel for 10.1 configurations while the 11.2 channel AVR-X6300H supports a 10.1 channel configuration without extra amplification. The AV7703 pre-processor will need external amplifiers.
The height information, captured in recording or created during the mixing process, is mixed into a standard 5.1 PCM stream that comes with a regular Blu-ray. Moreover, its proprietary AuroMatic algorithm enables playback and up-mixing of legacy mono, stereo, and 5.1 surround formats, and creates a natural 3D immersive sound experience with audio quality on par to native mixed versions, allowing consumers to have an all-encompassing home entertainment system with full compatibility across all formats.
“D+M Group is all about innovation, and we’re always on the lookout for improvements to our hardware to offer a cutting-edge audio experience,” said Yoshinori Yamada, global business team leader for the company’s AV receiver category. “This is our third year of offering the Auro-3D firmware upgrade to our Denon and Marantz AVR lineup. We are having more and more customers asking for the upgrade. We are happy to be able to continue to deliver this technology and share the excitement with our customers.”
“Auro-3D has seen significant momentum in 2016 with rapid growth within the home entertainment, digital cinema, mobile, music, automotive, and gaming fronts,” said Wilfried Van Baelen, CEO of Auro-Technologies and inventor of the Auro-3D format. “This latest collaboration with D+M Group is testament to our vision of providing true-to-life, three-dimensional sound to as many people as possible. With Auro Technologies’ unique format and D+M Group’s premium lineup, we can offer the perfect package for home theater enthusiasts looking for a truly immersive listening experience. This support from D+M Group marks the end of a momentous year for us and heralds an even more exciting 2017”.
