You may need to have a pro – or at least someone who thinks he is a professional – install the device. The HK device has three main parts that must be wired together [pdf link]. The controller nob needs to be placed within arms reach, the screen installed in a convenient out-of-the-way location, and the iPod controller hooked up to 12v power and interfaced with the car’s stereo. Once installed though, it works like a high-quality HK product should.

I just got an email about Dolby Volume making its way into Harman Kardon’s latest receiver. That fact in of its self is news, but this receiver had yet to be announced and the email included most of the upcoming specs. We know now that the AVR 7550HD is going to be a 7.2, 110-watt receiver, capable of upscaling video sources to 1080p, and then shooting them over HDMI 1.3a. Plus, we also know that the new receiver is going to be the first unit powered by Texas Instruments newest dual-digital signal processor. This beast of a receiver should drop in January ‘09, with a $2,799 MSRP attached.

Oh, yeah, the AVR 7550HD is equipped with Dolby Volume too.

Update: Added press pictures

WOODBURY, NY – At CEDIA 2008, Harman Kardon, Inc., becomes the first company to announce the inclusion of Dolby® Volume technology from Dolby Laboratories in an audio/video receiver. The new Harman Kardon® AVR 7550HD A/V receiver is a state-of-the-art home entertainment component that incorporates a host of industry-leading innovations, including Dolby Volume, which improves the listening experience by leveling the volume from any source and program material, while maintaining optimum sound quality at any listening level.  

The AVR 7550HD is also the first receiver to utilize Texas Instruments Incorporated’s (TI) newest DA710 audio digital signal processor (DSP) in a dual-DSP implementation, which provides unprecedented processing capability and multichannel audio performance.

Making its debut at CEDIA 2008, the 7.2-channel Harman Kardon AVR 7550HD is the brand’s new top-of-the-line A/V receiver. In addition to Dolby Volume, the AVR 7550HD offers a wealth of leading-edge features and technologies, including Dolby TrueHD lossless technology developed for high-definition media, HDMI V1.3a functionality, 1080p upscaling, an exclusive, high-definition full-color graphical on-screen menu system, 7 x 110 watts of power output (into 8 ohms), and many additional enhancements. It offers the ultimate in audio and video quality, home-entertainment system flexibility and ease of use – as well as striking, distinctively elegant styling.

Dolby Volume is an innovative approach to delivering consistent volume levels across a wide variety of content, channel programming or input sources. Using a psychoacoustic model of human hearing, Dolby Volume analyzes, measures and controls perceived volume levels. Dolby Volume complements the Dolby range of audio technologies, including Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD.  
 
Mike Giffin, senior vice president for Global Brands, noted, “In designing our new AVR 7550HD receiver, we considered Dolby Volume to be an essential element of its feature set. It provides an important new benefit to consumers, and perfectly complements our design philosophy of making the most advanced audio and video technologies easy for people to use and enjoy.”

Craig Eggers, senior marketing manager at Dolby Laboratories, said, “Harman Kardon, Inc., and Dolby Laboratories are committed to innovation and excellence in audio reproduction. Thanks to the exceptional fidelity and resolution of the AVR 7550HD and the capabilities of Dolby Volume, listeners will be able to get an amazing experience from their entertainment.”

The Texas Instruments DA710 digital audio processor is the latest in the Aureus family of multichannel-audio encoding and decoding digital signal processors from TI. It is designed to provide exceptional high-quality audio processing and to deliver unsurpassed multichannel sound quality. The 32-bit processing performance of the DA710 enables it to optimally support the AVR 7550HD’s advanced audio software, which includes Dolby Volume, Dolby TrueHD, proprietary Logic 7® surround sound-enhancement technology from Harman International, and other applications. 
   
The Harman Kardon AVR 7550HD 7.2-channel audio/video receiver will be available in January 2009 at a suggested retail price of $2,799.

Indiana Jones or Superman prop; classy or just plain tacky? I can’t decide but I’ve to give the boys over at Harman Kardon for suck a clever name: GLA-55. ‘Cause it’s made out of glass. Get it? 

Anyway, getting down to the details. Only two to three thousand are going to be made and priced at £500. Within the crystal speakers lay a 56 watt per speaker digital amplifier, DSP equalization all traveling out to a 3.5mm output. So yes, sadly, these bookshelves will be found on your desk, tied down to your computer or iPod. H/K announced these speakers at IFA, so naturally, there isn’t any mention of a US launch just yet. What does it matter, you’re not going to get ‘em anyways ’cause they would clash with your drinking bird so badly. 

via ShinyShiny

Hardman/Kardon’s Drive + Play 2 is a mobile media manager that can be installed into your car. It features a 3.5-inch customizable full-color display, five-button wireless controller, a power adapter that connects to the car’s lighter, digital expansion hub and allows you to fully browse through your Apple iPod or Microsoft Zune.

If you don’t have an Apple iPod or a Microsoft Zune, no biggie. Drive + Play 2 will support any music/flash players also as they are USB-based. The bad part is, Drive + Play 2 will not charge anything but an iPod. The other downside to this product is its suggested retail price, which is a whopping $399. Why would you pay $399 for a media manager when you can pay less and get a whole new CD/DVD deck w/ LCD screen that supports the iPod? Sorry HK, it’s a cool idea, but it’s just not worth biting.

Harman Kardon Present Drive + Play 2 [product page]