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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

Introduction In a market increasingly dominated by receivers competing over the number of flashy features they can squeeze into a black or silver box, Outlaw Audio stands apart by competing on the good old values of high-quality audio and solid video switching at a relatively low price. The Model 1070 A/V Receiver is their newest example of this philosophy, a 7.1 channel, full-featured item that foregoes bleeding edge technological gizmos in favor of an $899 sticker price, which falls well below its class average, and performance that rises way above the norm. Not to suggest that the 1070 is in any way sparse on features or that it feels cheap; on the contrary, the flexibility of its bass management system, for example, puts many cost no object receivers to shame. There’s plenty here to get excited about, but let’s start at the beginning. The 1070 is available for sale direct from Outlaw’s own website (outlawaudio.com) ...

Introduction When Denon revealed the AVR-2807 7.1 channel receiver at last winter’s Consumer Electronics Show, it caused noticeable ripples of excitement by redefining what a mid-level receiver is capable of doing. With a retail price of $1,099.00, the 2807 remains affordable, while borrowing advanced features and options from its more expensive siblings, features such as analog to HDMI video switching and up-conversion, Denon’s own Audyssey Room EQ and AL 24 Processing Plus. Also available are ports for optional devices offering advanced iPod connectivity and XM Satellite Radio. Right there, the Denon 2807 already has more going for it than most. Don’t forget all of these features are encased in Denon’s trademark black housing, which at first glance is rather barren except for two rather large dials on its face, which control function and volume. Measuring in at 17 inches wide by a little over six-and-a-half inches tall and a manageable 17 inches deep, the Denon 2807 ...