New Dension at CES

Has anyone seen the new Denison DIN size module ? Its out on 1st March.

Theres 2 models - bothl with built-in tuners and options depending on what model you choose.

DH-101 has a removable hard disk, while DH-201 has a CD player but has no built-in HDD and has to get its music from the standard denison unit.

It also has a fold-down detachable front panel for security and for access to the cd player or HDD.

If I didn't have my Rio, I'd probably consider it, so I'll post it here just in case someone is interested.

http://www.dension.com/index.dw?nyelv_id=2

Apparently it's a revolutionary step in the MP3 world to have over 1000 hours of music in your car. Wish we'd thought of that.

Yeah, you'd have thought someone would have come up with the idea of a hard-disc based mp3 player that fits in a standard DIN slot by now!

Love my Empeg but I gotta say... It looks good, detachable face, removable hard drive... Kinda nice...

Judging from the pics on the site.... still a 3.5" IDE drive.

Well... That kinda sucks

Wait... the model DH-101 has a removable 2.5 inch hard drive with a usb 2.0 interface...

I think it is a 2.5' drive on the 101. If you look closly, it resembles the 2.5' DMP3-C HDD. Its only the standard model DMP3-A that has a 3.5' drive.

I love my Empeg too, but this could be an alternative for the unlucky masses who missed out.

Ok, I was guessing based on the apparent depth of the unit.

It does look promising, and I'm glad there's another company still trying to build the market. One has to wonder what the price point is going to be, and whether Denison will turn a profit at whatever price that is.

I also like how the removable drive acts like an external disc - all enclosed with USB for transfer of mp3s. This, I think, is what makes it stand out from a similar Sony model. Mind you... have you seen the price of the Sony unit? Its HIGH!

Dension are going to have to make this very competive with regards to price, and will need to market it to death - that will cost a fortune. I hope they succeed though.

Probably way too expensive...

Here are the prices as listed through the Dennison store. Looks like you can (pre)order the unit now.

The unit(s) themselves are all the same price and available in silver and black. $ 359.99

Satellite remote display - $89.99

Hard drives:
20GB - $69.99
80GB - $149.00
120GB - $199.00

CD Changer emulator - $69.99

Tuner - $59.00

USB2 adapter - $89.00

Thats for the standard model, not the new din model. The new one has integrated tuner and does not use a remote display.

AFAIK they are not taking orders until Febrary, with delivery for March.

Ah.. okay.. yea, the website is a bit sparse on information about the units. Hopefully pricing will be similar on the new ones. I won't be trading in my Empeg for one by any means but it's nice that something sorta the same continues on the market.

Yeah, I hung around the Dension booth for a while at CES and talked to their guys. The newer model coming out, with the 2.5" drive that pulls out and becomes a portable, looks really really keen. Still not as good as the empeg, but for now, looks like the closest thing to an empeg on the market right now.

I've got pictures, perhaps I'll get around to posting them here when I have a chance.

Oh, and you had to just love that Mini Cooper they had in the booth for the demo...

Na , Rob Revoution for Dension is the Din Format .....

This is a big step to have a Mp3 Player that fits in a Din bay ;-)

Any feel for the user interface on the player? Did you get any idea as to pricing for the new model?

Pricing was sub-1000, perhaps even less. I could have sworn he said "600" but don't quote me on that.

Couldn't see the UI, unit was under glass, unpowered. Looked like it would be similar to the existing Dension units, not sure.

Couldn't see the UI, unit was under glass, unpowered.

Gee, that inspires confidence.

It wasn't finished. Jeez, give them a break.

Love my Empeg but I gotta say... It looks good, detachable face, removable hard drive... Kinda nice...

Yeah, but... It ain't the hardware; it's the software that keeps the empeg way ahead of the others. Sony or Kenwood or any number of other manufacturers have the resources to duplicate or even improve upon the empeg's hardware in a short amount of time. But coming up with workable software, that is enormously more difficult.

tanstaafl.

Here's the pics I promised.

The display is a mono LCD, but its backlight slowly cycles through a rainbow of colors. Interesting gimmick.

And of course, they get points for a cool demo car...

Please post a picture of the cool demo car...

:-) (don't know how to make the cool smileys)

The removable hdd is a neat idea. Way better than ripping the cd's in the car like sony / pioneer. I would still rather have the whole unit pull out though.

The removable hdd is a neat idea.

Dunno if you caught it, but not only is it a removable hard drive, it becomes a portable MP3 player when removed. Quite the nice trick, that. Curious to see how it does in the marketplace in a few months.

And, of course, it's nice to know that the empeg has been with us for a few years now and this is the first thing to even come "close" to the coolness of the empeg.

The display is a mono LCD, but its backlight slowly cycles through a rainbow of colors. Interesting gimmick.

When i disconnected my car battery on Saturday, I was reminded that my Kenwood HU does this --cycles through the rainbow and lets you pick from 1 of 20-30 colors. I like it. Seems like Kenwood has stopped making them like that, though.

I downloaded the Dension software (Doug is correct, it is all about the software), but couldn't get it to display in anything but Hungarian. The unit looks promising though -- of course now do I have to remove the faceplate *and* hard drive when I go into the house?

Yes, this may be the first thing that approaches the Empeg, but how long until the Empeg II comes out? Looks like Dension may have a monopoly for a while, assuming, of course, that they don't have a 3-4 year timeframe as well....

but how long until the Empeg II comes out?

You mean the Empeg III, don't you? We already have the II. Anyway, as we all know, the Mark III is pretty much in Visteon's hands right now.

it says on their website it will be out march 2003.

It may well be $600, as Dension like to sell the parts individually. The standard Dension doesn't even come with a HDD and you have to purchase seperatley. They claim this is due to copyright laws etc in different countries. The 2.5' disc for this thing could be easily $200-$300 considering its a player and an external USB2 disc. That makes final retail about $900.

Don't get me wrong, I'd never give up my empeg, it's just good to see people still creating mp3 hard disc devices for mobile applications. I wish more companies would start.

removable hard drive, it becomes a portable MP3 player when removed

wow. THAT is killer. if the interface and hardware is anywhere near the quality of the empeg... hmm. I hate the way it looks though. I'm so stuck on the stark simplicity of the empeg, all other head units look like cluttered crap piles to me.

Yes, and it's the one feature I'd require if I were going to buy another, non-Empeg player. Not so much that it has to have a pull out hard drive, but at least the ability to carry your tunes with you whever you go like you can with the Empeg. I listen to it way more while I work than while in the car.

True, its not fantastic looking, but the Empeg grew on me so I suppose this would too. I would only get it if my empeg totally dies. On the other hand, if the price is right, and with good software...

Just checked the Dension forums where the employees hang about. Apparently the unit will retail close to the price of an existing 80GB dension (about 450Euros) with satellite display (80). Could be that this comes in at 600Euros after all. One to keep an eye on I think.

Just noted on the pictures Tony posted that it has an amplifier built in as well as line out. 4x25 watt.

The appearance is OK with me and some buttons on the faceplate for direct access to some software features would be nice for use in the car. I think the charcoal would look better than the silver.

It appears the original version takes between 3-4 seconds to "boot" from a power on state and then another 3-4 seconds to resume play.

Now if we could get SB to do something like that with their new products....

Will it have visuals thou?

One would hope. Though I've found that the visuals are only for stoplights and passengers.

The main reason I killed the 'default info' display when in car is Tonys mention that his VFD experienced some burn in after several months. I actually really like that display, I just don't want it to become 'permanent'.

I honestly have to say I'd gladly give up visuals for a random button on the face and maybe a few other buttons.

ya.. but the visuals impress people, like me

I have hijacked the knob-press to be a random on/off button. Actually my most-used hijack feature.

Marius (Escort Cab + Mark II)