NAD T585 Universal DVD Player

DVD-Video can be watched in normal interlaced mode, or in progressive scan mode, providing your TV monitor supports this type of signal. If you have a high defi nition (HDTV) monitor equipped with HDMI inputs that support HDCP encryption, you can also take advantage of the Faroudja DCDi chip that will ‘upconvert’ standard DVD (480 lines) to the HD formats of 720p or 1080i.

DVD-Audio and SACD decoding take place on board with comprehensive bass management available for decoded signals. DVD-Audio uses high resolution 24 bit PCM signals and MLP ‘lossless’ compression to advance audio performance to unprecedented levels. SACD (super audio compact disc) is a different approach to high defi nition audio using the DSD (direct stream digital) technique to obtain a very realistic sonic presentation. Both techniques have their adherents, but thankfully, with the T585, you don’t have to take sides in the discussion about which format is better – you have both formats covered!

Advanced Features

The T585 includes the High Defi nition Digital Interface (HDMI) with HDCP encryption, allowing high defi nition audio and video signals to be transferred between source components, processors, and TV Displays in a pure digital format. This eliminates the distortion producing conversions between digital and analog by keeping the signal in the digital domain. Before the advent of HDMI, it was mandated that high defi nition audio and video signals could only be transferred using an analog format.

Naturally, the T585 supports all the popular DVD-Video features, such as fast and slow scan, multi-language, multi-angle, A-B repeat, and last scene bookmarking. The ergonomically designed remote handset puts all these features right under your thumb for easy and convenient operation. Easy integration with advanced control systems, such as AMX and Crestron, is made possible using the rear panel IR input, 12V trigger input, and RS-232 port.

Audio Performance

Unlike many Universal Players that convert SACD's DSD format into CD's PCM format, thus defeating the sonic advantage of DSD, separate signal paths for the DVD and SACD audio maintain the highest possible levels of DVD, CD and SACD sound quality. Digital audio outputs for CD and DVD (unless restricted by copy protection) are available in both coaxial, and optical (TosLink) SPDIF formats, as well as I/2 S digital format via the HDMI output. DVDAudio uses the Dolby licensed MLP lossless compression to produce PCM formatted high resolution signals with 24 bits and up to 192kHz sample rates. MLP perfectly shrinks the very high data rates of DVD-Audio - up to 13.8 Mbps - to the DVD limit of 9.6 Mbps without losing any data. This compares with data rates of approximately 1.5 Mbps for CD, and as little as 0.03 Mbps for MP3 encoded audio.

Dolby Digital and Dolby ProLogic decoding is also included, as is support for MP3 and Windows Media Audio.

The NAD T585 uses audiophile quality 24-bit, 192-kHz audio D/A converters. These devices are well protected from noise caused by even minute fl uctuations in current from the power supply. The level of quantization noise within the frequency range is uniform for all frequencies and very well suppressed. This D/A converter ensures that all the sound you hear is as clear and noisefree as possible. High speed FET output devices keep all the detail present in high resolution SACD and DVD-Audio formats, perfectly intact.

Digital Bass Management is available for all surround sound formats. This prevents bass frequencies from overloading and distorting your speakers by ‘redirecting’ them to your subwoofer which is specially designed to handle the lowest octaves. When playing DVD-Video, DVD-Audio or Super Audio CD sources, it is possible to preset speaker confi gurations. The crossover point is selectable with 12 dB high and 24 dB low pass filter slopes.

Video Performance

The T585 features a Dual Discrete Video Circuit (D.D.V.C.) for the highest possible picture quality via the Component Video output. An extremely high-speed video D/A converter is a very critical component in generating superior quality video playback from DVD.

The NAD T585, therefore, uses the high quality Analog Devices 12-bit, 216-MHz video DAC and a second 10-bit, 27MHz DAC from Cirrus Logic to ensure highly accurate playback of delicate, low-level video signals. This produces a vivid picture that is faithful in every detail. Over sampling of 4x is achieved for Progressive and 8x for interlaced video signals, allowing more detailed D/A conversion. Higher quality picture reproduction is also possible thanks to a fi lter with fl exible ‘shutout characteristics’ that is used for the analog fi lter in the latter stage. Furthermore, the NAD T585 uses two separate video D/A converters to process Progressive and Interlaced signals. This eliminates mutual interference between the Progressive and Interlaced signals and allows both an Standard Defi nition and a High Defi nition picture to be output simultaneously – a great feature for sending video to a second viewing zone.

Progressive Scan features the DCDi processor by Faroudja. Progressive Scan technology represents a vast improvement over the interlaced scanning method used in normal TV broadcasts and other conventional applications, as it can process around twice as much video data to produce a sharper, noise-free picture with fi ner details. Video images are faithfully displayed with optimum naturalness and beauty.

A wealth of picture quality adjustment functions, including Contrast, Brightness, Hue, Sharpness, Black Level and Gamma, can all be adjusted using the intuitive On Screen Display.