Yamaha Electronics Corporation, just introduced two affordable A/V digital home theater receivers. Yamaha uses the latest advances in LSI, component and circuitry design in the RX-V2400 and RX-V1400. Successors to Yamaha’s previous receiver models, the mid-priced RX-V2400 and RX-V1400 feature 7-channel amplification and utilize Yamaha’s Digital ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology) design concept to maximize digital sound quality, with several operation modes that provide short, direct signal paths for sound clarity. A 32-bit proprietary LSI provides full range realistic music and movie sound. Both units are compatible with the latest sound formats (including Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24), and also provide THX Select processing.

Integra has introduced the DTR-6.4, a 6x100 Watt home theater receiver. It includes THX Select certification, DVD-A and SACD bass management, video conversion and switching capabilities, and an array of multi-room options, including powered Zone 2 and A-Bus. The Integra DTR-6.4 features 32-bit Dual-DSP audio processing for THX Surround EX, Dolby Digital EX and ProLogic II, DTS-ES, Neo:6, and the new DTS-96/24 format. The 192 kHz/24-bit DAC found on each channel is combined with Integra's VLSC (Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry), previously found on the company's DVD players, to smooth the analog output, generating cleaner and more detailed audio reproduction, according to Integra.

Yamaha Electronics, has just introduced four new digital home theater receivers at a variety of reasonable price points, beginning at $299 MRSP. The 6.1 channel RX-V740, RX-V640, RX-V540 and RX-V440 receivers feature Cinema DSP, Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Digital-EX, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 and DTS neo:6. All models have high-current discrete amplification for the quality sound reproduction, plus an easy-to-use set up menu with 5-band center channel EQ with speaker distance adjustment and night listening modes. The RX-V740, with a suggested retail price of $599, is a 6.1 channel A/V receiver that features Dolby ProLogic II, Dolby Digital-EX, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, DTS neo:6, Digital ToP-ART, an on-screen display and a preset remote control with an LCD display. Another feature is video up-conversion from composite to S-video, to provide quality picture from all video components connected to the receiver.

Kenwood recently introduced its 2003 line of home theater audio/video receivers featuring five new models, including two with 6.1-channel THX Select audio certification and 6.1-channel THX Surround EX decoding. The VR-7080 is equipped with Kenwood’s new “Touch Zone” smart remote control, which illuminates only the buttons that are active for the component being operated. All models, finished with a silver design, feature Active EQ by DSP, which optimizes performance with compact speaker systems, and three models – the VR-7080, VR-7070, and VR-7060, offer new SRS Circle Surround II, which produces 5.1-channel surround sound from any 2-channel audio source.

Onkyo has introduced its first home theater receivers to use Dolby's new Pro Logic II processor, which delivers modern 5.1-channel surround sound from older, two-channel analog audio sources such as videotapes, CDs, satellite and cable TV receivers, Laserdiscs, and LPs. These three new receivers, including the company's least expensive model, also allow consumers to enjoy superior video and sound quality from the latest DTS and Dolby Digital DVDs.