AV Receiver Reviews

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date
AV Receiver Reviews
Marantz SR96000 Receiver
Shane Buettner  |  Jan 18, 2007  |  First Published: Jan 19, 2007  | 
  • $1,999
  • 125-Watts x 7 into 8 ohms
  • Processing Modes: DD, DD-EX, ProLogicIIx, DTS, DTS-ES/Discrete/Matrix/Neo: 6, DTS 24/96, SRS Circle Surround II, HDCD decoding
Features We Like: THX Select2-Certified, Four HDMI 1.2 inputs and two outputs with video upconversion and cross-conversion, four component inputs, Audyssey auto calibration and room EQ, three coaxial and four toslink optical digital audio inputs, one 7.1-channel analog audio input, XM Ready, 7.1-channel preamp outs, AV sync delay, multi-source/multi-zone
Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Pioneer Elite VSX-84TXSi Audio Video Receiver
Fred Manteghian  |  Dec 31, 2006  | 

Pioneer Elite gear gets more attainable and less "elite" with each passing year. In the days of Laserdisc players, though, the Pioneer Elite CLD-97 could run you $2,500. Thank you sir, may I have another!

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver ReviewsTower Speaker ReviewsSubwoofer Reviews
Totem Acoustic Sttaf Loudspeakers, Outlaw Audio LFM-2 Subwoofer, and Outlaw Audio RR2150 Stereo Receiver
Mark Fleischmann  |  Dec 31, 2006  | 
2.1-channel home theater is more than mere reductionism.

Home theater is the union of big-screen television and surround sound. Those are the two bedrock principles on which this magazine was founded. So, it may seem heretical to even consider modifying that second requirement. After all, the whole notion of home theater has matured in tandem with advances in both video and surround technology.

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver ReviewsOther Source Component ReviewsTower Speaker Reviews
Panasonic TH-42PX60U Plasma HDTV, SA-XR57 A/V Receiver, DMR-EH55 DVR/DVD Recorder, and SB-TP100 Speaker System
Adrienne Maxwell  |  Nov 21, 2006  |  First Published: Nov 22, 2006  | 
HDMI: It's not just for video anymore.

HDMI is a wonderful invention filled with promise. When utilized to its fullest, it can offer the best of both worlds: uncompressed audio and video signals and intelligent, two-way communication over a single cable. Manufacturers have long teased us with talk of complete home theater systems that you can set up using just two or three cables, but the reality has fallen far short of the promise. Most designers have used HDMI only as a top-grade video connector, paying little attention to its audio and communication abilities. Armed with the new HDMI 1.2a spec (the products here were designed and released before 1.3 was finalized), Panasonic is aiming for the ultimate in connection and control with their new EZ Sync HDAVI Control products.

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver ReviewsBookshelf Speaker Reviews
Canton Movie CD 201 Speaker System and Onkyo TX-SR504 A/V Receiver
Steve Guttenberg  |  Oct 24, 2006  |  First Published: Oct 25, 2006  | 
The little system that could.

Some guys fantasize about winning the Mega Millions Lottery and driving into the sunset in a $1.25-million Bugatti Veyron 16.4 supercar. Or maybe a giddy winner would fork over heaps of cash for an ultimate home theater. The market for ultrahigh-end exotica is surging, but, while I'm waiting for my big payday, I thought I'd come back down to earth and have some fun with one of Onkyo's most reasonably priced audio/video receivers, the TX-SR504 ($300), partnered with Canton's sleek Movie CD 201 speaker system ($1,999). Budgetary constraints be damned, the little system still had to sound great in my home theater and deliver the goods in a cozy bedroom, office, or den.

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Rotel RSX-1057 AV Receiver
Fred Manteghian  |  Oct 24, 2006  | 

To me, Rotel has always been the Everyman's answer to high-end audio. The company has always followed a "straight wire with gain" philosophy, which has earned it respect throughout the audiophile community. Like NAD, it's believed in holding to conservative power ratings, particularly compared to mass-market American and Japanese offerings. My daughter uses "40-Watt" Rotel integrated amplifier that's a decade old to drive her Magnepan MMG speakers, which are a pretty tough load, and it is more than comfortable with the task.

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver ReviewsOn-Wall Speaker Reviews
PSB VisionSound 300 Speaker System and Marantz SR8500 A/V Receiver
Steve Guttenberg  |  Sep 14, 2006  | 
The sweet sounds of success.

Neil Young was on NPR chatting about his new movie, Heart of Gold, when he uttered a line that stuck with me: "The art of singing is making a sound that comes from your heart." Thanks Neil, I'm co-opting the idea to describe what distinguishes great home theater systems—their sound touches your heart. Yeah, that's it. While components are getting better all the time, many lack that special something. There's nothing obviously out of whack, it's just that their sound doesn't connect on an emotional level. Sometimes the individual components are all top notch, but, if they're not well matched to each other, the sound suffers. When everything clicks, you know it. That was certainly the case when I hooked up Marantz's SR8500 A/V receiver with a set of PSB's VisionSound VS300 speakers and SubSeries 5i subwoofer. They're all charmers.

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Denon AVR-2807 Receiver: Coming Attraction
Shane Buettner  |  Sep 13, 2006  | 
  • $1,099
  • 110-Watts x 7 into 8 ohms
  • Processing Modes: DD, DD-EX, ProLogicIIx, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone, DTS, DTS-ES/Discrete/Matrix/Neo: 6, DTS 24/96
Features We Like: HDMI 1.1 and component video switching, auto calibration with Audyssey MultEQ room EQ, transcoding of analog video to HDMI, two coaxial and five toslink digital audio inputs, one 7.1-channel analog audio input, 7.1-channel preamp outs, XM Satellite Radio Ready, AV sync delay, multi-source/multi-zone
Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Rotel RSX-1057 Receiver: Coming Attraction
Shane Buettner  |  Sep 13, 2006  | 
  • $1,499
  • 75-Watts x 5 into 8 ohms
  • DD, DD-EX, ProLogicIIx, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone, DTS, DTS-ES/Discrete/Matrix/Neo: 6, MP3, MPEG multichannel, HDCD
Features We Like: HDMI 11 switching, transcoding of composite and S-Video to component video, three coaxial and two toslink digital audio inputs, one 7.1-channel analog audio input, preamp outs, expandable to 7.1-channels, massive overbuilt power supply, multi-source/multi-zone
Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Sony STR-7100ES Receiver: Coming Attraction
Shane Buettner  |  Sep 13, 2006  | 
  • $2,000
  • 170-Watts x 7 into 8 ohms
  • Processing Modes: DD, DD-EX, ProLogicIIx, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone, DTS, DTS-ES/Discrete/Matrix/Neo: 6, DTS 24/96
Features We Like: HDMI, component and i.LINK switching, transcoding of analog video to HDMI, Direct Drive Digital Amps, three coaxial and five toslink digital audio inputs, multichannel analog inputs, preamp outputs, amplifier channels can be relocated to power separate zones, multi-source/multi-zone
Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Pioneer Elite VSX-84TXSi Receiver: On the Bench
Shane Buettner  |  Sep 13, 2006  | 
  • $1,500
  • 140-Watts x 7 into 8 ohms
  • Processing Modes: DD, DD-EX, ProLogicIIx, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone, DTS, DTS-ES/Discrete/Matrix/Neo: 6, DTS 24/96, Windows Media Audio
Features We Like: THX Select2-Certified, HDMI 1.1 and i.LINK switching, MCACC auto calibration and room EQ, component video switching, transcoding of analog video to HDMI with upconversion to 720p or 1080i by Faroudja, two coaxial and five toslink optical digital audio inputs, one 7.1-channel analog audio input, 7.1-channel preamp outs, USB, XM and iPod compatible, AV sync delay, multi-source/multi-zone
Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Adcom GFR-700HD AV Receiver: First Look
 |  Sep 07, 2006  | 

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/adcomGFR700.jpg" WIDTH=450 HEIGHT=189 BORDER=0>

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Pioneer Elite VSX-84TSXi AV Receiver: First Look
 |  Sep 07, 2006  | 

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/pioneerVSX84TXSi.jpg" WIDTH=450 HEIGHT=195 BORDER=0>

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver ReviewsBookshelf Speaker Reviews
Paradigm Cinema 330 Speaker System and Harman/Kardon AVR 340 A/V Receiver
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 17, 2006  | 
Two products, one look.

It wasn't until I uncrated both the Paradigm Cinema 330 speakers and the Harman/Kardon AVR 340 receiver that I realized I'd found something rare in the home theater realm—a visual match between speakers and receiver. Did some invisible hand simultaneously guide Paradigm's whizzes in Toronto and Harman/Kardon's design squad in Northridge, California? These two large companies have no connection that I know of. Yet, this month's Spotlight System is a genuine fusion of Canadian and Californian design sensibilities.

Continue Reading »
AV Receiver Reviews
Pioneer VSX-816 A/V Receiver
Mark Fleischmann  |  Aug 17, 2006  | 
Set me up, and let me fly.

Back when Jimmy Carter was president (or was it Ford?), my first audio system featured a Pioneer SX-434 receiver. Even then, manufacturers had figured out that SX sells. My old receiver was rated at 15 watts per channel and weighed 18 pounds. Today, I'm reviewing a Pioneer VSX-816 A/V receiver (SX still sells) with 110 watts times seven. At 20.3 pounds, it's put on some weight, but what a difference a couple of pounds can make.

Continue Reading »

Pages

X