StormAudio makes IMAX, surround installs simpler
Nantes, France – At 2019 CEDIA Expo luxury home theater hardware brand StormAudio will debut its 2nd generation immersive audio line-up comprised of 16-, 20- and 32-channel analog preamp/processors, a digital AES 32-channel version, and 8- and 16-channel amps. Designated “Mark2” and slated to hit the market in early 2020, the new models boast a fresh industrial design and many performance enhancements.
Adding to the existing line’s built-in compatibility with Dolby Atmos®, DTS :X™, Auro-3D®, and Dirac Live® Room Calibration along with StormAudio’s proprietary web-based remote monitoring tool StormMonitoring™, new is eARC HDMI, DTS:X Pro and IMAX Enhanced, 13.1.10 decoding, rapid codec switching, and improved bass management including the new Dirac Live Bass Management tool.
The processors incorporate StormAudio’s new proprietary 7+2 eARC HDMI card
which makes for faster and more robust switching with full HDMI2.0b/HDCP2.2
support. Designed by StormAudio, the card delivers 4K,18 Gigabytes per second
bandwidth on all input and output ports, solid DolbyVision and HDR10 is also
supported. The integrated eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel), a feature of
HDMI 2.1, provides a big boost in bandwidth and speed, sending the high-quality
audio from the 8K TV to the processor, and on to the amps and speakers.
The brand’s new Mark2 platform can decode up to 24-channels (Dolby Atmos 13.1.10) and features ultra-fast codec switching time and substantially reduced latency (50% reduction). With respect to immersive audio formats, the processors are ready to support both DTS:X Pro and IMAX Enhanced. Also incorporated is Auro-3D Version 2 which enables use of back speakers in a 13.1 layout with a 9.1 or 11.1 Auro-3D stream. Auro-3D V2 also brings improved center channel dialogue when upmixing from stereo.
The processors feature StormAudio’s updated Bass Management system which allows for multiple bass zones (customizable selective redirection). As a major Dirac supporter the processors are ready for Dirac Live Bass Management support which launches at Expo. This premium license supports phase and time alignment of multiple subwoofers within a theater. It is provided at no charge to StormAudio dealers and customers.
StormAudio’s 2020 lineup of immersive sound preamp/processors consists
of the following models:
– ISP.16 Analog Mk2 16-channel
– ISP.20 Analog Mk2 20-channel
– ISP.32 Analog Mk2 32-channel
– ISP.32 Digital AES Mk2 32-channel
The Mark2 line’s modular approach, same as with the current preamp/processor line, will bring options such as Digital In, Audio Video Bridging and RCA out, with even more card options planned for 2020.
StormAudio’s 2020 line-up of power amplifiers consists of the following models:
– PA.8 Ultra Mk2, Class D, 8-channels x 200-watts; 4-channels x 800-watts bridged mode
– PA.16 Mk2, Class D, 16-channel x 200 watts (8 ohms)
2020 Brand Refresh: New Industrial Design and Logo
Mark2 represents an updated new hardware look and also incorporates the brand’s
refreshed logo. “This past 18-months StormAudio has grown from a small
adventure to a technical and commercial success, thanks to the dedication of
its team and partners,” says StormAudio CEO Olivier Thumerel. “To reflect this
change and initiate a new era for our company, we felt it was time to simplify
and modernize our image. We are excited to present ‘the new StormAudio’ to the
industry at 2019 CEDIA Expo.”
Continuation of Advanced Feature Sets and Capabilities
StormAudio’s
philosophy is that luxury immersive hardware doesn’t need to be complex and time-consuming
to setup. Today’s integrators have enough to deal with. The brand’s web-based
user interface still remains the fastest, most intuitive GUI in the channel. Literally in minutes, from a laptop, the installer can
have the system up and running, including engaging advanced control options and
use of StormMonitoring Web-Based Remote Monitoring.
The processors
can be customized and upgraded at time of order, or in the future by way of their
scalable, modular platform. For example stepped-up to fully support 32-channel
outputs (digital) over AES/EBU or Audio over IP, or support a DCI server/player
16-channel AES/EBU interface. 2019 CEDIA Expo Demos
The
new processors can be seen at StormAudio’s booth #4327. The brand’s current,
multiple award-winning processors outfitted with the eARC HDMI card can be
experienced in high-profile theater demos by Seymour-Screen Excellence/Audio
Excellence (SR-10) and Alcons Audio (SR-13).
Numerous Product Awards
This year StormAudio’s ISP 3D.16 Elite
preamp/processor and PA 16 Elite amplifier are the recipients of Japan’s HiVi Magazine
Bronze award. In 2018, AVS Forum awarded the StormAudio / Alcons Audio
immersive home theater demonstration Best of CEDIA Expo Show. In 2017 the I.ISP 3D.16.12 Elite AVR was hailed both a
Top Choice and Best of CEDIA by AVS Forum, and ISE Best of Show by Residential
Systems Magazine. That same year the ISP 3D.32 Elite Reference Edition
preamp/processor earned a CES Innovations Award, and an ISE Best of Show Award.
In 2016 the ISP 3D.32 Elite earned Residential Systems Magazine’s CEDIA
Best of Show Award.
Tim Albright is the founder of AVNation and is the driving force behind the AVNation network. He carries the InfoComm CTS, a B.S. from Greenville College and is pursuing an M.S. in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. When not steering the AVNation ship, Tim has spent his career designing systems for churches both large and small, Fortune 500 companies, and education facilities.
