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Featured A/V Receiver Reviews
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The AVR-5308CI shares nearly all of the same features found on Denon's $7500 AVP-A1HDCI flagship processor. While it lacks the balanced circuitry design, class A audio drivers and several other…
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Yamaha is looking to expand their top end of their receiver line with the addition of the RX-X7 - a $2700 behemoth that is touting, among many other features, near unlimited connectivity and five…
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Recently Reviewed
A 9.3 channel receiver? Yes, we had to do a double take as well. The Denon AVR-4810CI has three subwoofer outputs paired with nine channels pushing 140 watts each. The receiver boasts a host of features that you didn't even know you needed but will so be hard pressed to live without.
The New HK receivers (AVR 1600, AVR 2600 and AVR 3600, respectively) look to be a marked improvement over their predecessors both in feature set and cosmetics. Though, they still retained the cheesy hollowed out volume knob that just feels cheap and easily breakable. Its great to see Harman Kardon step up to the plate and offer the latest in high definition audio decoding (ie.TrueHD, DTS-HD), while also supporting more multi zone functionality and iPhone, iPod connectivity. If the amps sound as meaty as they look, then we've got some great "audiophile" alternatives to the big brands to recommend to our readers. We will have to acquire a review sample shortly to see if they are competitive both in performance and operation to some of the other large A/V receiver manufacturers.
Yamaha RX-V2065 First Look
Tom Andry
— last modified September 11, 2009 21:28
The Yamaha RX-V2065 is the latest in the '65 series of receivers. At $1399 MSRP, it is currently the most expensive. At that price point you'd expect a lot of performance, and you'd get it. With 130 watts per channel, all the latest HD audio formats decoded internally, dual subwoofer outputs, high end DACs and attention to detail in maintaining audio fidelity, the RX-V2065 doesn't disappoint. On the video side, you have analogue upscaling to 1080p and dual (simultaneous) HDMI outputs.
What do you do when you have a spouse or piece of furniture that won't accept a traditionally sized receiver? You go slim! The Marantz 7.1 NR1501 receiver may be slim in size (4" tall, 13" deep), but with 4 HDMI inputs, 3 component video, not to mention full HD audio decoding and auto calibration it's tall on features.
Starting at only $1599, the double ought series will have 9 channels of amplification with two independent subwoofer outputs all with THXUltra2 Plus and new Audyssey DSX processing. All three of these receivers, the TX-NR5007, TX-NR3007, and TX-NR1007 will be in stores by the end of September. We expect they won't be on the shelves for very long.
In a market that is constantly changing, differentiating yourself is a must. Marantz is attempting to do this with the SR6004 and SR5004 featuring Bluetooth support.
The RX-V1065 is one of the newer receivers out of the AV giant and is retailing for just under a grand. There is no doubt that the Yamaha RX-V1065 is packed full of features. The problem is that the features on the most part aren't all that new. Over the previous Yamaha offerings you are gaining a brand new GUI which may help simplify user interaction (something that is probably a selling point for your family more than for you), some album art/information display, and an HDMI input. The question is, does the RX-V1065 have enough of what you want?
Yamaha has been seemingly trying to reinvent itself recently. While the MusicCAST2 may not have been very innovative (as it took many of its cues from its competitors), the new neoHD Media Controllers are showing us innovation that we wouldn't have expected. While the new Media Controllers share the same styling as the MusicCAST2, they are essentially receivers. Audioholics may recognize them as the beginnings of a Home Theater in a Box package, but their innovative interface may just revolutionize how we interact with our gear.
Integra, the high end arm of Onkyo, has introduced two new AV receivers that are both price conscious and aimed squarely at custom installers. The two new models are the DTR-30.1 and DTR-20.1 and are 7.2 and 5.2 channels respectively. What makes them perfect for custom installers are bi-directional RS-232 and Ethernet ports for third party control systems, three programmable 12-volt triggers, dual IR inputs, and three unique assignable IR code sets.
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