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NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, exhibited the Masters Series M56 Blu-ray Player, the flagship of its Blu-ray offerings and a true High Definition source for digital Home Theater systems, at CEDIA EXPO ’09.

Built for performance, the M56 is the perfect signal source for sophisticated HD Home Theaters. Boasting full support for the latest HD audio and video formats, plus compatibility with existing CD and DVD collections, the M56 always delivers the best possible performance. The M56 is brimming with the latest digital features like BD Live Network connectivity, and exhibits a masterful level of industrial design and build quality.

The M56 features stunning picture quality in the Blu-ray format’s native resolution of 1080p with pure digital transmission via HDMI outputs. NAD’s upscaling engine gives even standard-definition DVDs a boost with resolution to 1080p over HDMI, and Component video output up to 1080i. The M56 also supports 1080p at 24 frames per second to deliver the most fluid motion available from film-based material (suitably supported by the TV display). This avoids the so-called “3:2 Pull Down” motion artifacts commonly seen using DVD players. 

In keeping with Blu-ray’s audio capabilities, the M56 provides a true high definition 7.1 Linear PCM soundtrack, uncompressed, with 24-bit resolution via HDMI, delivering — At last! — studio master quality in a home format. The M56 also supports the new HD formats from Dolby and DTS that offer ‘lossless’ compression.  They can be decoded in the M56 and sent as LPCM via HDMI, or forwarded in compressed form to another component, like NAD’s M15 HD Surround Sound Preamplifier, that supports High Bit Rate decoding. 

The M56 also supports Dolby Digital and DTS legacy formats, which it sends as bit streams via HDMI, or coaxial or optical connections. This includes Dolby Digital Plus, a new, backward-compatible format that significantly increases the bit rate to improve fidelity and support additional channels.  In addition, the M56 supports Audio CDs and CD-Rs and CD-RWs with MP3 or WMA decoding. A 7.1 analog output on the M56 enables current M15 owners to be right up to date with the latest surround formats on Blu-ray, and a USB 2.0 port on the rear panel allows playback of music and image files stored on a memory stick or portable MP3 player.

Build Artistry
The M56 also stands out for its superb Build Artistry, which is characterized by premium parts, extensive shielding, advanced circuitry for precise decoding, and an improved music and movie experience. A thick steel chassis and die-cast aluminum front panels contribute superb isolation for purer sound, as do unique vibration-damping feet comprised of cast aluminum supports with highly absorbent silicon rubber inserts.

A generous ventilation system helps maintain the player’s powerful microprocessors and power regulators within optimal temperature ranges for peak performance and reliability.

Details That Matter

A broad array of additional features further enhance the M56. They include BD Java and BD Live which, when supported by appropriate source materials, offer new levels of interactivity. BD Live, for example, lets a viewer connect in real time over a broadband network to the studio that produced the movie he or she is watching for alternate takes and additional material. 

The M56 has a very fast loading time for Blu-ray discs, typically just a few seconds, and an Instant Open feature to quickly eject a disc.  Many players take over a minute to load picture, sound and navigation. The M56 also supports the Multi-media Home Platform (MHP) for interactive video, can simultaneously play HD and SD video, and includes picture-in-picture capability. An external IR Input allows integration with advanced control and automation systems.  

NAD’s M56 Blu-ray Player is available now from authorized NAD dealers at a suggested price of $1,999 (U.S. MSRP). It can be seen with other outstanding NAD products in Booth 2926 at the Georgia Congress Center during CEDIA.

Tags: - CEDIA 2009 - - NAD Electronics - - M56 Blu-ray Disc Player -