Harman Kardon DMC 1000 Digital Media Center

Harman Kardon unveiled it's DMC 1000 digital media center this week at CEDIA in Denver. The hard drive-based media server offers a host of advanced media-storage and playback capabilities, including independent, simultaneous playback of up to four audio streams in four separate zones, and HDMI output with video upscaling to 1080p.The DMC 1000 comes in a gloss-black and darkgraphite front panel, and a base that imparts a distinctive “floating” appearance.

With the DMC 1000 the first time a CD is loaded, its contents are automatically added to it’s 250GB hard-drive library while simultaneously playing the CD. Content from the hard drive may be copied to Compact Flash, Memory Stick, CF, xD, SD, miniSD (adapter required) and MMC memory cards or USB storage devices for playback in portable music players, automobiles, cell phones or other compatible devices.

The DMC 1000 can store more than 60,000 songs (based on average song length and data rate for compression), complete with full track-identification information and album cover art (when available; a broadband network connection is required to download content identification and cover art). The DMC 1000 can also play back audio and still-image files from solid-state memory cards (including CF, SD, MMC or Memory Stick), as well as derivative mini and micro versions of these cards for cell phones, when used with the card adapters supplied with the cards) and USB storage devices. Content stored on the DMC 1000’s hard drive can also be copied to a memory card, a USB storage device or a CD-R/RW disc.

The DMC 1000 can play back up to four audio streams to separate zones, independently and simultaneously, and complete playback control is provided from a user-supplied keypad controller in the remote zone. When used with a compatible keypad such as those available from Crestron, AMX and other manufacturers, track information and cover art is shown on the keypad’s display.

The DMC 1000 can play back music or video/still images from an iPod when a compatible iPod model (not included) is connected to the server via iPod docking station from Harman Kardon (sold separately). When connected in this manner, the iPod can be controlled by the DMC 1000’s included remote control, with menus to operate the iPod shown on both a TV or video display and the server’s frontpanel display. The DMC 1000 can also be operated using its touch-sensitive front-panel controls.

The DMC 1000 is designed to also be used as a full-featured DVD/CD player and includes a fully enabled HDMI 1.1 output that delivers high-definition digital video and multichannel digital audio, with upscaling to 1080p to provide extraordinary picture quality from DVDs, as well as JPEG still images.

For more information go to http://www.harmankardon.com