Cinema-11a

About the Cinema-11a

The Cary Audio Cinema 11a is a 7.1-channel home theater surround processor focused on high-performance audio, with no onboard video processing or scaling. It provides two HDMI 1.3 inputs and one HDMI output for audio decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as earlier Dolby and DTS formats and multichannel PCM over HDMI. It uses dual 32-bit DSP engines based on the Cirrus Logic CS49700 series and Burr-Brown DSD1796 DACs, enabling auto setup with microphone, bass management, digital crossover, room EQ, and flexible speaker distance and level calibration. The Cinema 11a offers 7.1-channel balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs, seven TOSLINK optical inputs, and 7.1 analog audio inputs for multichannel sources, with analog bypass to preserve signal integrity. Additional features include an HD Radio/AM/FM tuner, a second audio zone, RS-232 for software updates and custom integration, 12-volt trigger outputs, dual IR inputs, and a microphone jack for auto-setup. The chassis features an anodized aluminum front panel in black or silver, measuring approximately 17 in W x 4.5 in H x 17 in D. Designed as an audio-centric processor, it is widely noted for its smooth, detailed, and musical sound quality in a home theater context.