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 ...

Introduction Onkyo actually produces two separate lines of consumer audio equipment. Like Panasonic and Technics, Onkyo has an eponymous line and a higher-end line sold under the Integra name. But this should not give the impression that the regular Onkyo products are anything less than high quality – in fact, the TX-DS989, the top of the Onkyo receiver line at around $3,500, is an excellent component all round. Since the unit was originally reviewed in AudioRevolution in the fall of 2000, the 989 has lived up to its “future-proof” promise, initially with the addition of DTS-ES, Neo 6 and Dolby Pro Logic II decoding in 2001 and now with version 2 firmware and some hardware updates -- which are available to existing owners as well as being provided as standard on new units -- offering THX Ultra2 and DTS96/24 capability. At the heart of the TX-DS989 is a beefy seven-channel power amp offering up to 130 ...

Introduction A look at Outlaw Audio's website makes it appear that the company's avowed specialty is audiophile quality at mass-market prices. If the ICBM-1 bass management system is anything to go by, they’re good at it. The unit costs a mere $249 and does a very important job very well for those who need bass management, as many readers are. But before we get a look at the unit itself, let’s consider bass management and why you probably don’t have something like this unit already. Modern digital audio distribution systems like DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD offer six channels of audio, all of which are full range – they can go from DC to somewhere like half the sample rate. Even a regular DVD-Video disc can handle full range audio on five out of the six channels: the “.1” in a 5.1 system is the so-called “Low Frequency Effects” or LFE channel. In the ...

Introduction Drawing off the concepts and technology developed in their critically acclaimed Integra Research series of components, Onkyo has produced the TX-DS989 A/V Receiver ($3,199.95). It combines a high performance 130 watts per channel amplifier (x7), a sophisticated AM/FM tuner and a state-of-the-art, infinitely upgradable digital processor. Boasting true 7.1 audio, the TX-DS989 was the first to go to market with THX Surround EX, which delivers an additional channel of surround. Requiring an extra set of speakers in the back of the listening area, the result is a more realistic 360-degree environment. The TX-DS989 provides amplification and speaker terminals for the extra left and right back surround speakers. Capable of attaining a dynamic range of 120dB with a virtually jitter-free output, the advanced 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converters (one for each channel) assure top-end performance on all existing digital sources, as well as the up-and-coming formats DVD-Audio and SACD. Additionally, the Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WART) employed by Onkyo guarantees ...

Introduction The Onkyo DV-C600 is a six-disc CD and DVD changer. Yes, a DVD changer. This multi-featured unit is priced near the middle of its competition: $579.95. Now, if you had a similar reaction to mine, when I was told that I'd be reviewing a DVD changer, you might be thinking: why would I ever want to load six DVDs? I just want to slide a movie in and watch it beginning to end. Well, read on for the pros and cons of this machine. With DTS discs becoming more common, it's important for your player to be DTS compatible. The DV-C600 is DTS ready. (Of course, your receiver must be able to decode DTS. ) The unit also supplies you with advanced ten-bit 27 MHz video D/A conversion (which gives you four times the accuracy of conventional eight-bit, 13. 5 MHz players); gold plated component video output for use with digital TVs; gold ...