The SC-09TX from Pioneer is the flagship A/V receiver in the Pioneer Elite line.   It sports a unique look and is the only Pioneer receiver that currently features a front LCD display.  Pioneer’s SC-09TX “Susano” receiver offers a robust feature set for both video and audio enthusiasts.Pushed as the top of the Pioneer Elite receivers, the SC-09TX includes Qdeo video processing for all six of its HDMI inputs.  The receiver also has five component inputs, four for S-video, and eight for composite.  Video processing features include HDMI x.v. Color, a component video converter, and support for videos straight from an iPod.  Curiously, HDMI signals receive no video processing, and pass through unaltered.The Pioneer SC-09TX is a 10 channel receiver and is able to be set in a variety of configurations, including standard 5.1 and 7.1 setups.  Each channel boasts a ...

A cornerstone of any high-end audio manufacturer has to be the ability to continually research and look for ways of improving their design technology to stay one step ahead of their competition. Rotel, formed more than forty-six years ago, employs engineers that spend countless hours listening to various audio components to discern which companies to purchase their new circuitry from for installation in Rotel’s A/V receivers, DVD players and power amplifiers. This kind of authoritative dedication allowed Rotel to gain serious credibility with home theater stores worldwide and found their products being sought after. The Rotel RSX-1550 5-channel receiver is an excellent example of Rotel’s attention to advancing audio design with their patented Symmetrical Signal Trace design. This new technology keeps each audio channel’s signal path identical to the other audio channels, which increases the imaging of the audio to ...

My home theater hobby started when buying my first independent receiver, the Sony STR-DG 810. This was a simple starter receiver for me because it would pass audio and video through HDMI. As I played around with the settings more and more, I realized I was not happy with the way everything sounded; bass was somewhat lacking and the frequency response was flat.  I really required a receiver which could bit-stream all the new High Definition Audio codecs, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio, and give me greater control over the sound field.  I eventually settled on the Yamaha RX-V663 receiver. I have always been impressed with the products Yamaha has created, specifically their musical instruments, pianos in particular.  Without intimate knowledge about their Home Theater products, I researched a few models and did from price comparisons.  I ...

The Marantz SR5003 AV Receiver is a mid-range AV Receiver that sports many high-end features. While a newly designed, aluminum and glass-reinforced body is immediately eye-catching, the SR5003 brings a welcome assortment of technology inside. This model has 90 watt per channel and 7 channel surround sound that will satisfy even longtime home theater enthusiasts with its combination of power and performance all for a low MSRP of around $800.The SR5003’s linear power supply is engineered using a high-capacity EI core transformer. In addition, well-thought-out capacitors add to this model’s solid design. Much like previous models manufactured by Marantz, the SR5003 mounts all audio circuits on a separate board. As a result, video and control signals will not interfere with the system by providing optimum isolation.The SR5003 also accommodates all of the latest high-resolution audio formats like DTS-HD in High ...

The BasicsThe Onkyo TX-SR706 THX Certified Seven Channel AV Receiver is a 7.1 channel AV receiver that builds on what was best about the previous TX-SR606 model. The TX-SR706 strengthens its value with vast improvements in video upscaling of up to 1080p, breathing new life into just about any DVD collection. It also has an Audyssey automatic speaker setup and room-equalization program that delivers more accurate sound.However, its top selling point (as detailed in its product name) is that the Onkyo TX-SR706 is THX Select2 Plus certified. To many home theater enthusiasts, this is a deal maker. This model was evaluated by THX (of George Lucas/Star Wars fame) against some very strict benchmarks. THX has indeed found the 100-watt-per-channel receiver more than capable of delivering accurate as recorded sound at volume levels typical of most home theaters. All in all, ...