DMi D&M Europe introduced several new products for its Escient Zone home control system during ISE. Exclusive to D&M Europe, Escient Zone is billed as a “powerful, cost/performance-competitive, integrated CI home control system” which complements the latest Ethernet and WiFi network-enabled AV source and control components from the Denon, Marantz and Escient brands.
Shortly after the conclusion of ISE 2010, Bert Kiggen, brand director of DMi (D&M Installation) Europe, told IE Residential: “It has been a very successful show for us with plenty of new installers signing up for DMi ‘membership’ and training. We also had a good number of project developers and architects on the stand marvelling at the capabilities and power of custom install. Feedback from installers was especially positive to our offering the full integration package, incorporating AV components from world-renowned brands, with expert support every step of the way.”
The new additions to the range include the Zone MP400 media player, which extends the multi-room distribution capabilities of current Zone media players into the video domain. The MP400 enables distribution of video from a central hard drive throughout the home and can handle a wide range of video formats, up to and including HD. Supported video codecs include MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, DivX and WMV. AV connectivity includes HDMI, component and S-video, analogue and SPDIF digital audio, and two USB 2.0 ports.
The Zone IO Extender, meanwhile, provides additional inputs and outputs for simple control and integration of audio-video components in a rack-mountable form-factor. The new range of Zone DIN Rail lighting modules, meanwhile, enables the wired control of leading-edge and trailing-edge dimmers and ballast, in conjunction with relay switching and a multifunctional I/O extender. Twelve modules include a network processor, 4-channel and 8-channel leading-edge dimmers, a 4-channel trailing-edge dimmer, ballast controller, 8-channel I/O extender, 4-channel relay module, power supply and RS-232 interface. Five- and 10-button keypads come with a selection of chrome, brass, white and stainless steel faceplates.
In addition, DMi Europe launched a complement of Escient Zone drivers for leading Denon and Marantz Universal Blu-ray Disc players, Blu-ray/DVD players and AV receivers. The Zone drivers provide IP network integration for the Denon DBP-4010UDCI Universal Blu-ray DDisc player, the Denon AVR-3310, AVR-4310 and AVR-4810 AV receivers, and the Denon TU604CI multi-tuner and POA3012CI multi-amp. Serial network integration is provided for the Denon DBP-4010UDCI, DVD-A1UDCI, Universal Blu-ray Disc players, the DBP-2010CI Blu-ray/DVD player, Marantz BD7004 and BD8002 Blu-ray/DVD players, Marantz UD8004 and UD9004 Universal Blu-ray Disc players, and the Denon AVR-AVR-2310, AVR-3310, AVR-4310 and AVR-4810 AV receivers. Zone drivers are also in development for the Marantz AV8003, SR6004 and SR5004 AV receivers.
