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This Month's Featured Equipment Reviews |
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AV Receiver Forum Topics: |
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Classic AV Receiver Reviews |
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AV Receivers
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Wednesday, 01 October 2008
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Written by
Thomas Garcia
Introduction
Founded in 1946, Onkyo has produced many memorable AV components over the last half-century, including several behemoth receivers from the 1970s which are still sought out by vintage equipment collectors. Their reputation for building robust, feature-laden components has been instrumental in creating universal brand recognition and a loyal following. Aggressively incorporating the most recent technological advances in audio and video processing, they continue to develop new components, which offer sophisticated features and functions often found exclusively in higher-priced, high-end equipment.
Onkyo’s continuing efforts are definitely evident in their heavyweight audio/video receiver, the TX-NR905 ($1,999). This THX Ultra2-Ccrtified 7.1 multi-channel receiver offers a plethora of standard and high-definition audio decoding formats, including Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS-ES Discrete, DTS-ES Matrix, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS 96/24 and DTS Neo:6. ...
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Sunday, 01 June 2008
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Written by
Jim Swantko
Introduction
Before I begin, I must admit that prior to this review, when I last spent any significant time with a receiver as the heart of my audio/video system George W. wasn’t yet in office, although his father was. Yes, it’s been quite a while. Back in the day, all a receiver was expected to do was to pick up a few radio stations, switch a handful of analog two-channel inputs, and amplify them. How hard could that be? Apparently, it was pretty hard, because my memories of receivers are not fond ones. I remember treble best described as painful and bass that was weak and bloated. When I was finally able to afford separates, I did so immediately, forever swearing off the compromises in sound quality I had been forced to make for the convenience and affordability of an all-in-one ...
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Thursday, 01 November 2007
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Written by
Ken Taraszka, MD
Introduction
Receivers
are a tough market, given the massive changes in home theatres these
days. What was red hot in receivers a few years ago – DVI comes to mind
– is already dated technology. Receiver makers have fought tooth and
nail to keep up with the ever-changing market and the subject of this
review, the Marantz SR8001 A/V receiver, displays the fruits of these
efforts. For over 50 years, Marantz has been producing some of the
finest audio gear on the planet and this receiver is currently the best
they make. Offering all the power, flexibility and performance you
could want and a new, shallower cabinet size, which enables this
receiver to fit into small places more easily, the Marantz SR 8001 is
designed to be the center of a whole home audio/visual system. This
receiver offers tons of features, all for a retail price of $1999.99.
The Marantz SR8001 offers four-to-two HDMI ...
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Monday, 01 October 2007
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Written by
Andrew Robinson
Introduction
My
grandparents would often attribute greatness to the presence of
“something in the water.” If there is something in the water, then the
designers of today’s modern home theater receivers are a hydrated
bunch. The latest crop of receivers from the likes of Denon, Yamaha,
Integra, Sony and Onkyo has not only been rather exceptional but
measurably better than their costlier rivals, separate home theater
components. They’ve been more up to date with the changing marketplace
(some, like the Onkyo TX-SR805, boast HDMI 1.3 specs), they’re less
expensive than ever and even easier to use. Oh, and they sound freaking
great. Add it all up and it’s no wonder why so many consumers and
enthusiasts hip to the latest trends are snatching up receivers like
candy from a piñata. Receivers make sense, and the latest offering from
Onkyo, the TX-SR805 reviewed here, is no exception.
At $999 retail, the TX-SR805, at the time of ...
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Sunday, 01 July 2007
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Written by
Andrew Robinson
Introduction
With
technology changing so rapidly, especially in the areas of
high-definition content and flat panel displays, the rest of the
consumer electronics industry has been forced to play catch-up. While
many have stepped up, there are those who still seem painfully behind
the curve. Well, the designers and engineers over at Yamaha haven’t
fallen into that latter category with their new RX-V861 receiver. The
RX-V861 represents the current state of the art, not only for Yamaha,
but for receivers everywhere, with its seemingly endless array of
features. The most important of these is its complete support of 1080p
video through its HDMI inputs. When you consider that most receivers
boasting the same claims as the RX-V861 cost upwards of two grand or
more, the rather modest price of $999.95 for the RX-V861 makes it a
relative steal in more ways than one, before even opening the box.
However, like all things HDMI (and perhaps, ...
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