Panasonic today announced the introduction of its new cutting-edge receiver, model SA-BX500, a 7.1-channel AV control receiver that delivers a level of audio quality worthy of today’s beautiful Full-HD images. As an AV selector, the SA-BX500 can send 1080p Full-HD video signals (as well as Deep Color or x.v.Color video signals) from a Blu-ray DiscTM player to a TV without degradation when connected to both units via HDMI cables.
“The HD age demands an A/V receiver that can amplify information-rich digital signals without degradation, output images with minimal degradation, and offer advanced ease of use,” says Paul Sabo, national marketing manager for Panasonic Home Audio. “The SA-BX500 excels in all three areas and is the ideal complement to a high definition, flat panel home theater set-up.”
The SA-BX500 features a decoder for the HD Audio (Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital Plus and DTS-HDTM Master Audio) now adopted in Blu-ray DiscTM, so users can enjoy the deep, lifelike ambience of 7.1-channel surround sound that is a Blu-ray hallmark. Those with only a 5.1-channel speaker system can also enjoy 7.1-channel surround sound thanks to the SA-BX500’s 7.1channel Virtual Surround Sound function. 
The receiver also boasts advanced Bi-Amp/Bi-Wiring* which drives each of the high-frequency and low-frequency speaker units with a separate amp. Panasonic’s exclusive proprietary drive system also has an automatic internal circuit switching function that eliminates the need to reconfigure speaker connections when switching between 7.1-channel and stereo sound.
Ease-of-use is further enhanced thanks to VIERA LinkTM, a technology that allows the consumer to operate VIERA Link equipped home theater components with a single remote. For example, the user can use the VIERA TV’s remote control to operate functions such as Auto Lip Synchronization, which adjusts for any lag between image and sound. This high-performance receiver also automatically optimizes the acoustic field according to the speaker positions.
The SA-BX500 debuts as an AV control receiver that is perfectly suited to the HD age. Combined with Panasonic’s top-of-the-line DMP-BD35 or DMP-BD55 Blu-ray DiscTM Player and the SB-TP1000 Home Theater Speaker system, this new receiver lets users enjoy movies with stunning images and ultra-high-quality surround sound that elevate home entertainment to spectacular heights. The SA-BX500 will be available in October 2008 with a suggested retail price of $799.
*Bi-wiring compatible speakers are required.