Klipsch Klipschorn Three-Way Speaker System with Klipsch's Legendary Folded Horn Driver (Walnut, Single Speaker) Review

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(More customer reviews)Whenever you move from one well designed speaker to another well designed speaker, you gain something and lose something, IMO.
Klipschorns excel in dynamics, and certain kinds of "presence." In a large room, with a good SACD, Bluray disk, analog open reel tape, or with an especially good CD, DVD, or vinyl Lp, they produce an enormous sound that really does sound like a live orchestra. As J. Gordon Holt (the founder of Stereophile magazine) once said, "they trigger the musical Gestalt" for many listeners who are musicians. That triggering is far more important than the few individual variables we can measure. In terms of the conventional measurements Klipshorns have very low intermodulation distortion and very low harmonic distortion. Some
expensive speakers have flatter frequency response, but flatness of frequency response is less important than other variables we can hear, but haven't developed ways to measure, IMO.
As to "power," with the most conservative ratings, it would take an 800 watt amplifier into a typical speaker (one rated at 90 dB at 2.83 volts at 1 meter) to equal the output from Khorns with an 120 watt amp........ with ratings based on the Khorn pushed all the way back in a room corner or an artificial corner (where they must be) a typical speaker would need over 3,000 watts to produce sound as loud as a Khorn with a 120 watt amp (these are figures I just happened to have -- in practice, you wouldn't want to put a steady signal of either 800 watts or 3,000 watts into a typical speaker, nor would you want to put a steady 120 watts into a Khorn).
What Khorns can't do is cover up (mush over) a bad recording. Some other speakers obscure some details (like a singer's rattling necklace that I heard on Klipschorns but missed on all other speakers I tried), and may contribute some harmonically pleasant distortion that will make a bad recording sound "richer." Khorns (and many other horn loaded speakers) are not very "forgiving," and are quite revealing of both music and defects in a subjectively different way than other revealing speakers (such as electrostatics and ribbons).
I once knew a musician who had one set of speakers (all paper cones) to listen to most recordings and FM radio with because they were "forgiving," and a set of horn loaded speakers to listen to recordings of his own acoustical guitar work, because the forgiving speakers could not reproduce the immediacy and "thereness," as he put it, of his guitar.


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Yamaha R-S300BL Stereo Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This model is for all who are looking for a simple receiver resembling vintage audio equipment while built around modern technology, providing essential functionality with only a few welcome extras. It is not for those who like to play with feature-loaded gadgets offering seemingly infinite range of settings and features. Yamaha R-S300 has been designed to deliver music: set it up and forget about it.
This receiver delivers clean sound, which is not processed or enhanced in any way and may sound a bit empty at first, but don't worry you'll quickly get used to it and learn to appreciate the details and definition. At the same time it also means Yamaha R-S300 is very demanding in terms of input signal quality. Make sure you pair it with other high quality components. The FM radio tuner is sensitive and delivers good sound, although it may be a bit too restrictive, cutting off all radio stations with less then excellent signal strength. Tuner does have RDS capability, which is not indicated on packaging or unit front panel markings. Mechanical construction and finish are very good, black version looks very classy and is completely unobtrusive. Controls are simple and easy to operate, but make sure to read the manual for a few convenient extra features accessible only through the menus.
On Pure Direct feature: It bypasses the tone controls extending frequency range to 10Hz-100KHz, but it also blanks the display (which briefly comes back to life if operating digital controls or using the remote). Some reviewers could not see any reason why Pure Direct should have anything to do with the display, however, Pure Direct aims to minimize or eliminate all possible sources of distortion or interference and since most displays are refreshed at a high frequency which at least in theory could result in signal interference, it makes perfect sense to turn the display off. (I doubt anyone would be able to hear any difference, but it is good to know Yamaha engineers are thinking about details.)
Matching speaker impedance: Yamaha R-S300 has two speaker impedance settings. HIGH to use with speakers rated 8-ohms or higher (16-ohms or up in A+B configuration) and LOW for speakers rated 4-ohms or higher (8-ohms or up in A+B configuration). Following the instructions, I selected LOW for my Wharfedale Diamonds 10.1 which are rated at 6-ohms. Not good! Sound was in a way flat and not too exciting. However, I have always used 6-ohm speakers with 8-ohm amplifiers or receivers with great results and no problems, so I decided to ignore the instructions and set the switch back to HIGH setting. Problem solved! Full, well defined and dynamic sound, while receiver produces barely noticeable heat at medium volume levels. To quote the specifications sheet: "High Dynamic Power/Channel (8/6/4/2 ohms): 70/77/89/100W". I presume this is all at 8-ohm (HIGH) setting, and I was unable to find any warning anywhere related to using 2, 4, or 6-ohms speakers with 8-ohms (HIGH) setting, so I'd say it is perfectly safe. (Plus, there is a thermal and short circuit protection built-in anyway.)
A few minuses, mostly minor annoyances though: Deleting FM preset returns tuner to the first preset. Can be annoying if cleaning up 30 or so presets; Continuous Loudness dial: I'd prefer a simple button; Display dimmer: there is high, medium, low setting. No display off, only with Pure Direct; Display layout: PRESET, STEREO and TP are packed close together so it is hard to see if TP is there or not. A red STEREO or TP indicator would have been better (SLEEP is red colored BTW); Also, selected input display indicator is barely brighter than non selected inputs, should be better contrast to see selected input more easily. (Online pictures show more contrast than there really is!); Volume step of 0.5db is not really necessary making adjusting volume from the remote somewhat slow (I would welcome either no 0.5db steps or faster change); Remote control design is visually symmetrical, I often grab it and point it the wrong way (it is good otherwise); Black finish is a magnet for fingerprints. Fortunately, you'll be rarely touching it since once you set it up almost everything could be accessed from the remote control.


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The Yamaha R-S300BL Stereo Home Theater Receiver offers affordable stereo enjoyment with advanced features, such as 50 watts per channel of pure, clean power, ToP-ART stability, Continuously Variable Loudness Control, 40 AM/FM station presets, preset remote control, and a built-in port for supported Yamaha iPod docks (sold separately).

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Yamaha RX-A3000 7.1-Channel Audio/Video Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)My interest in Home Media originates from a musical background as a musician and avid listener.
The RX-A3000 is my 6th Yamaha DSP A/V receiver since my first (DSP-E300) in 1990--having owned other A/V amps including the first ever Dolby Digital (AC3) compatible (Pioneer). Yamaha's major feature to me is the natural sound on all their DSP SoundFields. Most every other receiver listened to does Dolby and DTS movie surround sound decoding just fine, but if you are into listening to 2 channel music processed to sound like different venues such as The Roxy, The Bottom Line, various concert halls in Europe etc. nobody does it better than Yamaha. Other receivers have rather phony sounding processing using their proprietary chips.
I think the key to the Yamaha is the original research and recording done back when they designed their first DSP unit the DSP-1 in 1986 or so. As a matter of fact, I liked the processing on my Yamaha DSP E-300 so much that I daisy chained it to later more state of the art A/V amps so that I could use it for music listening. Now with the RX-A3000 it has just about the same amount of concert venues as the E-300, plus a bunch of DSP Cinema Modes as well.
Yamaha makes the optimization of your listening environment quite easy with their YPAO setup. It goes through a checklist of speaker connections and phase of each speaker. Then it sends out tones which are captured by a microphone to analyze the room acoustics and sets a variety of parameters, such as the speaker size, the distance of the speakers and even the sound pressure level. It also allows for what I'd call a "blended" setup whereby measurements can be taken and stored from more than one listening position so that the end result is not tailored to just one sweet spot in the room.
The unit can be expanded to 11.2 channels with external amps, but an out of the box 7.2 setup is more than adequate for me (the RX-A3000 has outputs for 2 subwoofers which can be configured for Front/Rear, Front Mono, or Front Stereo).
Since this is a Video as well as Audio device, it must be noted that there are no fewer than 8 (7 + 1 in front) HDMI 3D compatible inputs and 2 HDMI outs. A new OSD GUI can now overlay on HD sources, and after a little bit of practice becomes very intuitive and useful.
The RX-V3000 has a new HQV Vida high-class video chipset, which has a myriad of adjustments if you want to tweak the picture (potentially more useful for SD DVD and analog video) or just let the signal pass through. I let the Yamaha upscale to 1080p, TiVo OTA/Netflix, SD DVDs, AppleTV, as well as OTA TV with stunning results. The receiver is the first piece of equipment in my eventual upgrade to full 3D, but in the interim, 2D Blu-ray, and HD DVD are an awesome experience due to its sound and state of the art circuitry.
Indeed, the physical chassis has been beefed up in this series featuring a 5th foot for stability and vibration control, and H-shaped cross member frame with double bottom construction. With all its improvements Yamaha has seen fit to extend the OEM warranty from 2 to 3 years.
The Yamaha iPod dock I've been using since the days of the RX-V2700 is compatible and the OSD has been improved greatly making it more of a pleasure to use compared to the old interface. The main improvement for me is the ability to scroll 10 pages at a time to find music, but it's too bad there's still no alpha/numeric search because I have over 13,000 songs.
The unit can be controlled with an iPhone app, in addition to a regular web browser when the Yamaha is part of your LAN. And speaking of control, the remote is not exactly the best around with some of the more used buttons (for me) being buried under a hinged door. But if you happen to prefer a universal remote (my choice is the Logitech Harmony One), that's all moot. Yamaha is very good at disseminating their remote codes both the default and extended which have a lot of discrete ones not on the OEM remote (e.g. accessing a particular Classical Hall directly instead of toggling though the choices etc.).
So if you're looking for an extremely versatile piece of equipment to be the heart and soul of your video experience, which can also bring immense musical enjoyment, I can't recommend this unit more highly.

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AVENTAGE is a dramatic, inspired step forward in audio/video component design. AVENTAGE brings studio grade sound and sophisticated video enhancements to the home as a result of unparalleled attention to detail in design, engineering, and fabrication. Details that, at first glance, would not seem to affect the quality of sight, sound, and control, when brought together within an AVENTAGE component, produce a work of visual and acoustic art.The RX-A3000 A/V Receiver offers 3D and Audio Return Channel over 8 in/2 out HDMI, CINEMA DSP 3D, HQV video quality, new GUI, new YPAO with Reflected Sound Control, network functions, control via web browser, Zone 4 digital output, and Control4 certification.

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Denon AVR5308CI Home Theater Receiver NEWEST VERSION Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a Home Theater enthusiast and have owned this wonderful receiver from Denon for almost three years now. It is feature packed and is the centerpiece of our stunning home theater. You can view an online video on Youtube, entitled The Silver Screen. You may be asking why I am writing a review for a receiver that has been on the market for over three years. Well, In my title of this review i stated that this receiver is future proof, it truly is. Denon will be offering an update/upgrade for this receiver in October 2011. The upgrade will include a combination firmware and hardware upgrade that will be performed at authorized Denon service centers. The upgrade will include a hardware upgrade to the unit and will enable 3D capability. They are also upgrading the Audyssey Multi XT to Audyssey Multi XT32 including Audyssey Pro, which is the latest and greatest room correction software from Audyssey Laboratories. Also included in this upgrade will be Dolby PLZll and Audyssey DSX. So, with the forthcoming upgrade/update in October, the Denon AVR 5308CIA Receiver will be state of the art once again. Denon is supporting customers that purchased their flagship receiver and Pre/Pro by providing this upgrade. That to me, is future proof. You can read about the upcoming upgrade on Denon's website.
I have owned a slew of AV receivers over the last two and a half decades and didn't really get enthused until the newest generation of high definition receivers hit the market. By newest, I mean 1080P video and Lossless audio tracks encoded on Blu Ray Disc. A virtual quantum leap in cinema home entertainment that I had been waiting for for about 25 years. Home theater has always been fun. It started for us in 1985 when we bought our first high end television and hifi VCR. The TV was a Sony 25 inch XBR. This was the Holy Grail of televisions and we picked up a Hifi Stereo VCR from JVC. The first feature we watched on that set up was Pink Floyd's amazing feature film, The Wall. What a feast for the eyes and ears. I wish they would hurry up and release it on Blu Ray already. Around 1989 the first generation of surround sound receivers hit the market and I had to have one. Early surround sound was not that great. I mean there was no center channel and you only got two discreet surround channels but, it was progress. A couple of years later Dolby introduced Pro Logic surround with a dedicated voice center channel. Laserdisc was introduced by Pioneer. These rather large 12 inch silver discs never quite caught on.
It started getting expensive to keep up with the pace of advancements in Home Theater technology. Mid nineties, Dolby Surround and DTS surround along with the introduction of DVD, put home theater on the map for mainstream American consumers. The biggest advancement here was full frequency surround channels. DVD meant no more rewinding tapes and the picture was digital and much smoother. At this time period circa 1997, I didn't have a home theater set up and had become a high end addict. Two channels, separate pre amp and amp, tubes and a snobby vinyl enthusiast was I. Decided to delve into home theater again and placed a call to my dealer and ordered separates from Parasound, Marantz and Snell. Had fun with this for a few months and then lost interest again. It wasn't until flat screen displays and Blu Ray Disc hit the market in 2007 that I got the home theater itch again.
My 5308 arrived from Fedex in April of 2008 and Wow! What a beautiful looking receiver and built like a tank. I really appreciated the way they laid out the speaker lugs on either side in a vertical arrangement. No struggle at all to hook up 7 channels of speaker wire. These are very high quality lugs as well. Denon really had a thoughtful and well designed piece of solid audio gear here and I am not easily impressed. 6 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs. Ehernet hook up for firmware upgrade and networking features. You can connect to your home network and listen to saved music stored in your network, view videos and even listen to internet radio. There are two USB inputs for flash drives. A slew of legacy inputs that could probably accommodate every ancillary AV component I have ever owned. The remote was another story, kind of hard to setup with the GUI but, eventually after a few months navigating the remote and GUI it has become an effortless task and I can operate the remote with my eyes closed. A lot of owners really hate this remote and Denon could have done better. Many owners have opted for Universal remotes, the most popular being from Logitechs amazing line of programmable remotes.
Much has been written about the wonderful HQV Realta video processor built into the 5308. Denon has a stand alone version of this processor that the sells for 2k. The Realta will scale all video sources to 1080P. It's a wonderful processor that has received raves in the AV press. Another thoughtful inclusion is a great sounding MM phono stage for vinyl junkies and I happen to be one. Add to that, HD radio, Sirius/XM input, Ipod input, and on and on and on. Honestly, the 5308 has more features packed into it than any other receiver currently on the market.
My original set up with the 5308 consisted of Gallo Nucleus Reference Front, Left and Center speakers. The surrounds were a pair of dipole surrounds from our friends up in Canada, Totem Lynks. Totem is a high end speaker company with a line of very highly regarded speakers. For LFE I added a Sunfire True Signature sub woofer with a whopping 2700 watt built in amplifier. The Sunfire literally shook the foundation of our house. Cabling is a combination of HDMI and speaker cable from Monoprice. Monoprice offers a slew of AV wire and devices and really nifty networking components and rock bottom prices. The best value and selection of HDMI cable and as far as I'm concerned they have the competition beat. My sub woofer cable is from another specialty cable maker called Blue Jeans cable. The best sounding sub woofer cable I have heard and is value priced. Blu Ray playback is from the Denon DVD2500 BTCI Blu Ray Transport. They don't make this player any more but, you can find them slightly used and at a great discount from Audiogon and a few other online sellers. I've seen this piece as low as $250 on Audiogon. I paid a whopping $1000. for mine. It had just been released and was very hard to find one. I bought one from a local retailer at full price. No regrets and I still use it today. The 2500 is a disc transport only and the video and audio processing the raw bitstream signal is sent to the receiver and all processing tasks are performed by the 5308. I've got a Directv HR21 DVR and a Roku internet streaming box for streaming Netflix videos and a few other internet providers such as Vimeo and Amazon to name just a couple. There are many different streaming devices available in the market place. The Roku is very popular and their flagship HD XR can be had for $100, which is a great value. My Turntable is a Linn Basik with a Linn Akito tonearm and a pretty nice sounding Linn MM cartridge and stylus. Display is a Sony KDL52XBR4 52 inch flat panel 1080P.
After connecting the speaker system I peformed the Audessey Multi XT automated room correction with the supplied microphone. I suggest using a camera tripod for this operation. You can get an inexpensive one at camera retailers or a big box store like Best Buy. The Audessey Multi XT Allows for calibration of up to 8 seating positions, you must do a minimum of 3. I recommend doing all 8 as you will have a better sounding result. The room must be silent for this set up or the calibration will fail to have an optimum result. Make sure that there is nothing blocking the path from your speakers to the microphone as this will skew the result. Make sure the microphone as at the exact height to where the seated persons ear would be. Once you complete the calibration you can store and save the information.
Finally on to the review. Turn everything on and lets check out the video. Directv HR21 TBS broadcast of Law and Order. Scaling a 1080i signal and converting it to 1080P, In a word, WOW!. The XBR4 is an amazing display on it's own. With the Realta processor set to full function and this displays already amazing picture quality is even more refined, with deeper blacks and a much smoother picture with an incredible amount of depth. It was as if the performers on the set were in the room with me. Motion is smooth but, not artificial looking, the picture had a stunning film like quality. Blu Ray disc playback is where the 5308 really shines. Picture quality is absolutely beautiful. Lossless audio tracks from Dolby True Hd and DTS HD Master Audio are breathtaking. Twenty five years and finally digital audio is on a par with the finest of analog sound that in my opinion has never before been attainable. I could finally listen to digital playback and get the naturalness that until now, I could only attain from vinyl playback through very expensive tube audio gear. The sound was enveloping, transparent and open. Orchestral music soundtracks were full bodied with front to back depth. I could pick out instruments that had their own space within the sound scape. Events occurring on the screen correlated perfectly and the speakers worked magically in a coherent manner creating an auditory illusion that events on the screen were actually occurring within the boundaries of the theater. My favorite film to perform demos is Master And Commander Far Side of the World. Those cannon shots literally knock people of my couch, they sound so darn real. The result of this is that you the viewer feel as though you are right there and the events that are occurring are really happening in the theater. Finally, I can enjoy at home, what until now, was only possible at the best movie houses.
I have about 15...Read more›

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Reference, Next generationA/V Multi Source/Zone, Network Streaming Receiver. THX Ultra Certified this all new receiver from Denon is the top of the line in terms of best of class technology.Setting the reference standard for sound and video quality, the AVR-5308CI is packed with all of the latest technologies for the ultimate home theater experience. Featuring THX Ultra2 certification, the AVR-5308CI features Denon's legendary D.D.S.C.-HD surround sound decoding, employing no less than 3 high speed DSP processors, along with precision Burr-Brown DACs in differential mode on all output channels (12). Able to decode the latest high definition audio formats, such as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio via the latest HDMI v1.3a specification. Video sources, regardless of resolution or format, are upconverted to high definition via the top-performing Realta HQV video processor, all the way up to 1080p. The versatile multi-zone functions include independent high definition and standard definition outputs. A host of digital media connectivity features includes network audio and photo streaming, via Ethernet and built-in Wi-Fi, along with internet radio stations, built-in HD radio, and XM satellite-ready capability.

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Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I finally received my Pioneer 1019 last night. I ended up staying up way too late last night setting this up. I purchased the Pioneer 1019 after a lengthy decision process between the Denon 1910, Onkyo 607 and Yamaha 765. I needed 4 HDMI so the earlier models wouldn't work and I was also limited in footprint depth so it was these 4. I went with the Pio because I've always been a fan of the sound and quality and each of the others had one or two things wrong (Denon not available, Onkyo quality issues (?), Yammy no assignable inputs). My one concern with the Pio going in was the revamped amps and the decline in weight. Would it impact quality of sound and power? Based on my early tests, NO. This unit has a great, clean sound with lots of detail at low levels and high. I did not hear any hint of strain.
Design
While the unit is smaller and lighter than the 1018 it doesn't look `cheap' and it still has enough bulk to it to make you think it has power. It looks great in the rack. Remote is a bit confusing but I won't use that much after setup and the Harmony database had all the relevant codes, a nice surprise for such a recent release.
The Setup Process
It was pretty easy to get all of the speakers and components hooked up. The manual stinks but I had spent a fair amount of time with the manual online in advance and after a few reads you can fill in the blanks. It took me about an hour to get all of the old equipment out and the new equipment in. Assigning the inputs was relatively straightforward. Renaming inputs was awkward due to the way they handle text input but it was very flexible. I had a little trouble assigning the Optical audio signal from my Macbook along with an HDMI input. I first tried to assign the optical directly to an HDMI input but you can't do that. Instead I had to assign both the HDMI and Optical to an entirely different Input Name (I chose DVR). It worked fine but I suspect that means I really lost a video input since I can't send anything else to the original HDMI input. Not a huge deal as I don't use all the inputs but it was still annoying.
I haven't done MCACC yet but I did use the manual speaker setup and my speaker settings from my old Sony AVR and input those here. That was pretty easy and even with this rudimentary setup the sound was great. Even my wife (who is happy with TV speakers alone) commented on the improvement in quality.
I ran though some of the DSPs and effects but I prefer to set everything to DIRECT, especially on BDs but it was nice to use the Extended Stereo for my iPod and get sound from all of the speakers.
Video
I had lots of questions on the video scaler. I agree with most posters that you should not buy an AVR for this capability. Most TVs will do a better job than any $500 AVR. My TV is a 2006 model though and it has pretty average scaling so I wanted to see how it would look. I hooked up my Comcast DVR with both HDMI and with Component/Optical to gauge the difference. HDMI looks great (and no scaling, of course) but there was no impact on visual signal. I did not have any annoying audio lags either. Component also looks really good for HD signals. I could not tell the difference between the HDMI and Component signals on HD channels.
I then tried it on some SD channels with the scaler set to 1080p. The AVR did fine but it wasn't any better than my TV. No worse either but then I already mentioned my scaler is pretty average. So, as I said earlier, don't buy the unit for the scaler but it's not a negative either. Just try it for your sources and TV and it may or may not generate any improvement in PQ.
The good news is that it does a very good job of upconversion (switching analog signals to digital) which means you can have 6 HD sources (4 HDMI and 2 Component) which is nice.
The one odd thing I found was in the aspect ratio settings for 4:3 signals. The default is `Through' which would make me think it sends the signal untouched but it is actually for stretching the signal (and it does a bad job of that). I switched the signal to `Normal' and it then just passed the 4:3 signal untouched - a definite improvement.
All other sources looked great. Panny BD35 looks and sounds great and I was relieved to see that my Macbook was able to pass a clean signal through the AVR to the TV.
Audio
So the real question is about how this unit sounds. As I mentioned earlier, I am really pleased with the quality and balance. Everything sounds warm and detailed. I expect it to improve even further with the MCACC adjustments. I've listened to quite a few units over time and this has all of the Pioneer sound and quality you expect from them. I don't think anyone will be disappointed with the sound or the power (Of course, if you are willing to spend 3x the $$ then you can get better quality from the Elite series. If you have the cash, definitely buy one of those. If you are looking to spend

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The VSX-1019AH-K represents the pinnacle of the Pioneer receiver line.This hub for your home entertainment center allows you to enjoy your favorite movies on Blu-ray disc, DVD or VHS on your flat-panel television like never before. With standard features that include a phenomenal ability to upscale and convert analog video signals to 1080p when transmitted through HDMI to your high definition television, the VSX-1019AH-Ks video scaler presents you with nothing but the best quality possible today regardless of what video source it receives.

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SilverStone Crown Series CW02B-MXR Aluminum ATX Media Center/HTPC Case - Retail (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have built dozens of HTPCs over the years. This is the second time I have had the pleasure of using this case in a build. Out of all the prefab HTPC cases, this is the only one I have run across that would be worthy to be used in my own system. Everything is remarkably thick and is built heavy duty. The case is tall enough for nearly any aftermarket cooler. Be forewarned that extra long video cards and power supplies may not fit so measure accordantly.

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Marantz SR6005 7.2 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased a Marantz receiver 2 1/2 years ago Right after having it for a touch over 2 years it dies.I have owned Denon Nikko Tandberg Old Marantz Sansui Kenwood Yamaya Revox and Nakamechi Never once did i have on die on me Esp after a short period of time I called Marantz and told them Marantz said It was not under warranty but they recomended I bring it to a FACTORY AUTHORIZED repair facility in Willmington De I brought it there and paid a fee to have it looked@
It was $40-45 dollars.After having it 3-4 days they called to say they cant repair it but to send it to this other Marantz repair facility in NY STATE This was mid afternoon on a Thursday Monday late afternoon I showed up to pick up my unit Its an hours drive from Philadelphia each way
The unit was still in pieces They had FRIDAY half a day Saturday and most of Monday to have it ready I had just gone through a very painfull operation I was not feeling well Money was tight and I wanted my stereo fixed so I could have music during the many weeks recoup time The repair facility could have cared less about wasting my time my gas and that I was not well and I just drove 2 hours for no reason The woman basically shrugged her shoulders at me
I called Marantz After all it was their product and they recomended this location to me PLUS IT was a factory authorized repair center Marantz could have cared less The unit was out of warranty and they refused to help me Their attitude was poor They offered me no help or recourse The products Marantz now sells may be higher priced and such but their product is MADE IN CHINA Audiophile prices with MADE IN CHINA lack of quality with near zero customer support Dont buy Marantz look elsewhere Their product is NOT good and their support even worse

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Denon DRA-697CIHD Premier AM/FM Stereo Multi-Source/Multi-Zone Stereo Receiver with HD Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)It works. I have not used all the advanced features such as connecting with speakers in far flung rooms but the ability to get alernative HD stations means I can hear what I want to hear when I want it instead of being limited to the limited programming of the analog mainstream. For example, when my local Public Radio is filled with talk, I can choose its classical music stream and play it on my main speakers. I do not have to stream it on the computer where the speakers are puny.

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SilverStone TJ10B-WNV TJ10 NVIDIA Edition Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Part of me feared that I was nuts to spend the amount of funds that I spent on this computer case, but after it arrived, and I installed my X58 SLI motherboard into it, I was delighted to discover all of this case's well thought-out features. It was truly a luxury to slide out the motherboard tray from the chassis and install my motherboard onto just the tray itself. Note that you must install the spacer screws into the tray first so that your motherboard does not make contact with the chassis.
The main reason that I purchased this computer case is that I wanted to cool down my nVidia GTX 295 card that was running at 75 degrees celcius in my old, cheap, single-fan computer case. After installing everything into the SilverStone TJ10B-WNV case, my GTX 295 ran at 49 degrees celcius! The five fans that are included with the SilverStone case reduced the operating temp of my video card by 26 degrees celcius!! I WAS going to invest in an expensive water-cooled system to cool down all of the boards, but now I don't have to!
One thing that you should note before purchasing this case is that it is not only tall, but also very deep! At first, I tried placing this case under my computer desk, where my former case resided; but this SilverStone case stuck out five inches in front of the desk even though I had pushed the case all the way to the back of the desk. I wound up placing the case to the side of my computer desk instead of under it. The extra space is well utilized, however, as that is how the case keeps the airflow moving and the hot power supply and disk drives away from the boards.
The bottom line is that I am happy to own the SilverStone TJ10B-WNV, and I love the nVidia theme that is silkscreened on the case. I also don't regret spending the extra money on this case as it is the Rolls-Royce of computer cases! Considering that you can cool down all of your boards with just this case instead of buying an expensive water-cooling system, you actually get a lot of bang for your bucks.
P.S. The up-charge for the nVidia theme is more than made up for by the inclusion of five (5) fans instead of just two (2) fans like the non-nVidia-themed version of this case. (i.e. the SST-TJ10B-W)

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KICKER ZX Series ZX1500.1 - Amplifier - 1-channel Review

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(More customer reviews)this amplifier is very powerful at 1500W RMS at 2 ohms, thats right 1500W RMS not 1500W Peak like some other manufacturers, this amp can easily power 2 - 2 ohm Solo Baric 12" L7s or 1 - 2 ohm Solo Baric 12" or whatever combination you choose.
this amp comes with a remote bass control, a 150A fuse, built in crossover and and is quite small actually but big on power, i believe the picture amazon has is of the ZX2500.1
in my install, i use the built in crossovers, bass boost and decided to store my kicker KX3 crossover in the closet and you would not believe that built in crossovers work this great, i didnt until i heard my system.
this system is in my 2000 4dr civic and is placed on the wall of the trunk on the right hand side. this amp gets very very hot but the heat sinks are very effective as this amp does not shut down on me. this amp has thermal protection, short circuit protection, soft start turn on and over current protection.
the gain, crossover and bassboost controls are mounted on top the amplifers with easy to use and easy to access knobs making those tight installs like mine simple. most gain controls are mounted on the side and you need a flathead screwdriver to adjust the gain, in my install i would have to take my amp off the wall to adjust the gain and other settings, i cant imagine a greater inconvenience.
overall a small amp(in terms of size NOT power), extremely powerful and great value for money.

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Nady RPA-4 Four Channel One Piece Portable Sound System, 100 Watts Review

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(More customer reviews)We bought this to fill in while our auditorium was being built. It really "packs a punch!" It is well built and very easy to move about. We added a cordless mike and it does what we need in a school of 500. A great value for the price!

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Klipsch Sub-12HG Synergy Series 12-Inch 300-Watt Subwoofer with High Gloss Trim (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)About a week ago, I upgraded to the Klipsch Sub-12 from a lower powered 10" sub to complete the 7.1 home theater set up in my 12ft by 19ft basement room. I watch a lot of action movies and concerts on Blu-Ray/DVD. I highly recommend this subwoofer if you like to feel the deep bass and to shake the house. I located the sub at the front left corner of the room (about 10" away from the walls). This Klipsch seems to play noticeably deeper and louder (with power to spare) than the sub that I replaced. The sound from the subwoofer is not directional. Its sound just fills the room.
One small negative (easily fixed) is the small blue LED light on the lower front face of the subwoofer cabinet. The light shows that the sub is ON and operating. In my dark room, the LED is too bright. My solution was to simply put a small piece of black electrical tape over the light to hide it. The tape blends in with the cabinet and is not noticeable.
Again, I highly recommend this subwoofer for a surround sound home theater room with a size comparable to my room. Set up was simple and product quality seems to be excellent.

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Kicker 08ZX15001 1500-Watt Class D Mono Subwoofer Amplifier Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this amp to replace another brand of similar specs and Wow! Huge upgrade. The first time i turned it up it knocked my rearview mirror right off, cd visor and anything that wasn't bolted down did not stay where it started. The remote bass knob is a great touch. I definitely recommend this amp you will not be dissapointed.

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ZX dominance means severe stereo or mono amplifier power surging into corresponding KICKER subwoofers and speakers. ZX dominance also means the utmost reliability from the biggest name in trouble-free amplification and loud, clear sound.
ZX-Series Amplifiers return for 2008 as reliable as ever--21 no-fault options to run a complete car audio system. Two-channel, four-channel, three- and five-channel hybrids, and absurd single-channel subwoofer amps round out a hard-working, noise-free lineup known for supplying the force until the listener shuts the music down. And now all ZX Amps are outfitted with differential RCA inputs, completely eliminating unwanted whines and audio trash and making for the most enjoyable listening experience possible. Differential inputs and new automatic turn-on modes make ZX Amps some of the most complete power producers on the market.
ZX Mono-Channel Amplifiers ZX.1 Mono Subwoofer Amplifiers add one new option to its existing stable of six--the 500-watt ZX500.1 with all the same great benefits. From 300 watts up to a ridiculous 2,500-plus watts, KICKER makes selections available for what it does best... bass. Hiding under an efficient heat sink, ZX sub amps offer a 24dB/octave low-pass electronic crossover and a 24dB/octave subsonic filter fixed at 25 hertz. All have up to 18 decibels of boost centered at 40 hertz, and all come with remote bass control. Optional endcaps are available for all ZX amplifier models.
ZX1500.1 Features
3 automatic turn-on modes
Balanced differential inputs for noise elimination
RCA inputs have direct speaker level input capability
Easily removable top allows for custom painting
Optional end caps
2 ohm stability on all amps
Angled power connections

What's in the Box ZX1500.1 amplifier, Remote bass control, Mounting hardware, User's manual

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Definitive Technology SuperCube II 120v Subwoofer (Single, Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had this sub for a few weeks now and I couldn't be happier with it. We have a very large great room with 18' ceilings and it fills the room with thunderous bass effortlessly. It has no problem putting out low rumbling bass found on movie soundtracks but what is most impressive is how much 'punch' it has when playing music...it is very tight. And like another reviewer noted, your wife will love how small it is. (I was forced to displace my old towers to the basement a few years ago...)
UPDATE:
Months after this purchase I am still very satisfied. It is simply a great sub. I got a laugh the other day when I was going through the manual. The Definitive engineers actually suggest TWO of these things for your system- one for each side. It was then clear to me that Definitive Technology engineers do not have wives or neighbors, nor do they live near any fault lines. I cannot imagine two of these subs in your living room...

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Definitive's SuperCubes are a new breed of powered subwoofers which utilize unique technology and components in order to achieve state-of-the-art performance from remarkably small boxes. The SuperCube II is a testimony to Definitive's engineering excellence.

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SilverStone GD02B-MT Aluminum/Steel Micro ATX Media Center/HTPC Case - Retail (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have not finished building my system yet, but here is my intial impression. This case is way too expensive for all that there is to it. I guess that the touch screen contributes to that price, but that would be it. For this kind of money it should come with a power supply (at least).
Anyway, the only real physical gripe so far is that some genius at the factory routed a cable with zip ties right across the plate that covers the opening for the slim drive. So, I've had to cut that loose and reroute it around the DVD slim drive. I also feel that there is too much gap around the slim drive when installed - doesn't look very professional. This drive is also Silverstone, so I don't want to hear any excuses that it works best with theirs, it is theirs.
Anyway, the rest of the cabinet looks to be constructed well, with no sharp edges.

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DIGITAL 60DB SMALL BLDG REPEATER WIRELESS (MULTI ROOM) Review

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(More customer reviews)Good Performance, from no signal (-256 dB), amplifier increased signal strength to -70dB.

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Waterfall Audio "Victoria" EVO Floor Standing Loudspeakers - Pair Review

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(More customer reviews)awesome speakers. they blend into any type of room. really get to wow any friends that see them! sound quality is impecable. I use them in stereo configuration. have heard them in 5.1 config and they sound incredible

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The Victoria EVO is made entirely of High Density Krysta-Line Glass which gives it an entirely transparent look. Prestigious and Elegant, delivering a breathtakingly dynamic and pure sound. Let the magic of pure sound surround you: your favorite CD's and films will bring you new emotions. The Victoria EVO can perfectly reproduce the entire frequency range without the help of a stand alone subwoofer. Exceptional Hi-Fi Speakers, they can be teamed with our Hurricane Satellite Range, to create 5.1 and 7.1 Home Cinema Packs, giving formidable performances with unequalled elegance and discretion. Innovative design and technology eliminate any vibrations allowing for true Audiophile Sound.

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