Harman's Crown DCi Network Display Amplifiers: The World's First AVnu Alliance Certified AVB EndpointHarman's Crown Audio last week announced its DCi Network Display Amplifiers are the first professional audio endpoints to receive AVnu certification for Audio Video Bridging (AVB) interoperability from the AVnu Alliance, the professional audio industry's only organization dedicated to driving open, standards-based AV networking through the certification of AVB products for interoperability. "This certification underscores our long term commitment to AVB and Harman Professional's support for the AVnu Alliance and its mission to promote interoperability amongst audio manufacturers," said Dan Saenz, business segment manager, Crown Audio. "Crown's history of leadership in professional amplifier technology is well documented and today's announcement is the latest in a long list of industry-first achievements." The company says Crown's flagship DCi Network Series amplifiers set a new standard for power and flexibility in large-scale installed sound applications. The eight-channel DCi 8|600ND delivers 600W into eight ohms (300W, 600W, and 300W into 16-, four-, and two-ohms) and the four-channel DCi 4|1250ND provides 1,250W into eight-, four-, or two-ohms (625W into 16-ohms). Both amplifiers offer direct drive "constant voltage" capabilities for 70Vrms and 100Vrms amplification without the need for a step-up transformer, yielding higher audio quality in distributed audio applications with power outputs of 1,250W and 600W respectively. Like all Crown DCi Series amplifiers, the DCi 8|600ND and DCi 4|1250ND take advantage of Harman's proprietary DriveCore amplifier IC chip for powerful, highly efficient operation from a compact form factor measuring just two RU high. The DriveCore chip combines the amplifier driver stage into the power output stage along with additional audio-signal functions, yet is about the size of a postage stamp. The DriveCore-based Class D, next-generation PWM design dramatically reduces size and power consumption and yields a much more energy-efficient operation. Crown DCi Network Display Amplifiers passed the testing procedures at an AVnu-appointed test house. AVnu Alliance funds the development of certification testing and its members are responsible for ensuring AVNu Alliance's IEEE AVB compliance program meets demanding performance benchmarks. This is the first and only independent AV networking certification test program. Certification, which is available to any member, is based on testing that takes place at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Lab (UNH-IOL), which serves as AVnu's independent testing facility. "AVnu Certification provides in-depth validation of member products against established standards enabling a healthy multi-source ecosystem," said UNH-IOL's Bob Noseworthy. 
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