Essential Install | Products
Products
A Cornucopia Of Install Innovation
A 3D Codec Hatrick From McIntosh
Audyssey’s
MultEQ XT32
room-correction
technology is also
included on this
muscular unit from
McIntosh
McIntosh Laboratory has announced that its MX122 processor will soon support DTS:X and Auro-3D via a free firmware
update to join existing support for Dolby Atmos. To perform the update, the MX122 must be connected to a router
that has Internet access, which can either be via a wired Ethernet connection or a wireless connection using the MX122
Wi-Fi capabilities.
The MX122 has been optimised to act as the brains of an advanced home theatre system in that it can be paired
with a variety of McIntosh amplifiers and speakers and is fully compatible with 4K Ultra HD video sources whilst also
upscaling lower resolutions to 4K Ultra HD.
In addition to 3D audio, existing formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are supported, while the
MX122 offers a choice of inputs and outputs, including seven HDMI, four digital, one balanced and eight unbalanced
analogue stereo, an unbalanced 7.1 multi-channel audio, three component and four composite video, along with
USB. For multi-room, users can create two additional zones in the home and send select audio and/or video to them
from the MX122. All HDMI inputs and outputs are HDCP 2.2 and support High Dynamic Range (HDR), 4K Ultra HD at
50/60Hz, 4:4:4 colour, Rec. 2020 and 3D video pass-through. The MX122’s processor is compatible with a variety of
high-resolution digital music formats up to 24-bit/192kHz and can up-convert two-channel audio to multi-channel.
Users can also connect to cloud-based and online digital music services using both wired and wireless network
connections. Bluetooth and AirPlay connectivity is also included. Where available, interfaces to popular streaming
services including Pandora, SiriusXM and Spotify are included, while vTuner lets users connect to thousands of Internet
radio stations – including McIntosh Music. The unit is available from UK distributor Jordan Acoustics.
More information: Jordan Acoustics +44 (0)1202 911 886, www.jordanacoustics.co.uk
Virgin Media Releases V6
Virgin Media is
looking to match
the Sky Q platforms
with the V6
Taking aim directly at the Sky Q platform, Virgin Media has released its first 4K Ultra HD set-top box. The V6 replaces
the company’s existing TiVo box, but still relies on TiVo software, however this version packs in loads more than its
predecessor. Despite the addition of 4K Ultra HD streaming and 10 times better performance, the V6 measures 230mm x
153mm x 55mm – a significant reduction compared to the box it replaces which was 370mm x 240mm x 70mm.
The V6 is tuned for the streaming age, offering access to Netflix and YouTube and users can also take their content
with them on other hand-held screens. The box itself only comes in a single variant, meaning multi-room installs need
several boxes. In addition to support for 4K (including HDR) Virgin Media has also included support for Dolby Atmos,
which can be done both through HDMI and optical audio. Audio decoding is also supported with sampling rates of
32, 44.1 or 48kHz. Connections-wise, the box has an IEC connector, a single USB 2.0 port, an HDMI v2.0a output with
HDCP 2.2 copy protection, an optical S/PIDF for digital audio, a 3.5mm jack for analogue audio and a gigabit ethernet
RJ45 port. In terms of wireless communication, Virgin Media has equipped the V6 with switchable 2.4GHz and 5GHz
IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac 3×3 MIMO Wi-Fi, as well as IR and RF4CE remote control.
Alongside the V6, customers can also order the ‘TellyTablet’ a 14in Android tablet designed for watching TV shows and
movies on while roaming around the house for an extra £299 upfront. Virgin Media has also included the ability to use its
mobile App as a remote for the box, while users can also send content to their TV from within the App and can also use the
collective storage power of all of the boxes if they have a multi-room install. A single V6 can
record six shows at the same time while watching a seventh.
There is also a new enhanced search function within the
EPG to enable viewers to find content they like regardless
of where it’s stored.
More Information: Virgin Media +44 (0)345 4541111,
www.virginmedia.com
December 2016 | 67
Products.indd 67
14/12/2016 17:13