Introduction As people rush out to electronic stores to get the biggest plasma or projection HDTV they can afford, many are realizing that something is missing when they get their monster set home. The impact and the “wow” factor of a new TV is not quite the same without the killer sound that we experience in the store. It is essential to not skimp on the audio electronics when building an HDTV-based home theater, no matter the scope of the system. This is where Sherwood Newcastle comes in. What better company to trust with your new receiver than the receiver supplier to many of the industry's best-known brands? Newbies to the world of home theater are often surprised to learn that, in addition to making its own brand of high-quality receivers, Sherwood is also responsible for OEM (original equipment manufacturer) receivers for other companies. Because of their internal R&D paired with an outright amazing ability ...

Introduction When it comes to designing and manufacturing components with excellent QRP (quality to price ratio), few companies can match the track record of NAD. For the last three decades, NAD has stayed true to their founding creed, designing and manufacturing components with outstanding performance, excellent value and simplicity of operation. Speaking as a satisfied customer, I’ve owned many NAD products through the years, utilizing them in a broad array of applications with excellent results. NAD has applied this same high-performance, cost-conscious design and manufacturing philosophy to their first seven-channel, surround sound receiver, the T 773. Positioned at the top of NAD’s “Classic” line of audio/video receivers, the T 773 incorporates an extremely full-featured, flexible processor/preamplifier/tuner section with a formidable multi-channel amplifier. Offering the latest surround sound DSP algorithms, with a few proprietary modes as well, the T 773 is also capable of being upgraded via a RS232 port, insuring its ability to stay current with potential ...

Introduction There are few audio/video enthusiasts or even casual consumers that have not heard of the brand Harman Kardon. Founded by Dr. Sidney Harman, Harman Kardon has been contributing innovative hi-fi products to the market for over 50 years. They are responsible for many industry firsts: the first receiver (the festival D1000 in 1953), the first stereo receiver, the first cassette player with Dolby B, and the list goes on. Recently, Harman Kardon released the AVR 630, a cutting-edge A/V receiver that packs seven channels of high-current amplification with all the latest features in home theater technology for a price of $1,299. The first thing you will notice about the AVR 630 is that it is gorgeous. I love how they ditched the traditional all-black steel chassis and went for the silver finish instead. The plastic front panel has a two-tone color scheme of silver and black with ultra-cool blue LEDs accenting the standby switch ...

Introduction Integra is the premium audio/video line from Onkyo Electronics, much the same as Lexus is to Toyota Motors. For a little more money, you get more muscle under the hood, as well as more technological goodies. Offering an impressive number of bells and whistles at an affordable $1,000 price point, this receiver is noteworthy even in a world of multi-thousand-dollar AV preamps and do-it-all AV receivers. The Integra DTR-6.4 is a six-channel THX-certified A/V receiver, sporting more tricks than an Inspector Gadget movie. The DTR-6.4 has a black steel chassis and brushed aluminum faceplate with bright silver accented power and volume controls. The industrial design gives the unit a very stealthy appearance for the power and features that lies beneath. The DTR-6.4 stands six-and-seven-eighths inches tall, 17-1/8 inches wide, and 16-15/16 inches deep. The famous WRAT power supply provides the bulk of the weight to its 28-pound stature. The front panel is well laid out, ...

Introduction Onkyo, a brand that has long been respected as one of the best mainstream Japanese audio manufacturers, offers powerful AV technology at an affordable price. The TX-SR501 is a six-channel receiver equipped for the most popular home theater and stereo formats: Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, and Multi-Channel Audio inputs for SACD or DVD-Audio, all for the svelte price of $299. This is not a typo. The TX-SR501 immediately entices you with its black steel chassis and brushed aluminum faceplate, giving it a look that is easy on the eyes. Modest in size, the TX-SR501 stands five-and-seven-eighths inches tall, 17-and-one-eighth inches wide, and 14-13/16 inches deep. The sizable power supply in this receiver adds some noticeable weight, tipping the scales at just over 18 pounds. The front panel is well laid out, with sturdy buttons and a slightly resistive volume knob (flimsy volume knobs are a pet peeve of mine). The display is a modest ...