Sony DAV-C900 DVD Dream System Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had this machine for a little over six months. The sound is excellent, looks great. Great feature set for the money.
Lately, however, most dvds stop playing part way into the movie (CDs work fine). Only brand new discs play. I cleaned the player using a special dvd cleaner disc and this did not help.
Now I'm back to a $99 combination dvd/vhs player I bought last year which seems to play any dvd no matter how scratched or beat up.

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Sony's DAV-C900 DVD Dream System consists of six speakers and a 5-disc DVD/CD/SACD changer with 10-bit video digital-to-analog converter for a host of entertainment at your fingertips. It comes with a 2-way center speaker with dual 2-3/8-inch woofers, 3-way surround speakers with dual 2-3/8-inch woofers, and a subwoofer with an 8-inch driver. Listen to the difference our Digital Cinema Sound System makes as you immerse yourself in the magic of Sony DVD.
The DAV-C900 has 450 watts total system power, and offers built-in Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic decoding. The Digital Cinema Sound system recreates the acoustics of Hollywood dubbing stages, and you'll be amazed by the Headphone Theater mode. The DAV-C900 also offers an AM/FM receiver with 30 presets (20 FM, 10 AM).
Tech Talk
Dolby Digital: This sound format for movie theaters is more advanced than Dolby Pro Logic Surround. In this format, the rear speakers output stereo sound with an expanded frequency range, and a subwoofer channel for deep bass is independently provided. This format is also called "5.1" because the subwoofer channel is counted as 0.1 channel (since it functions only when a deep bass effect is needed). All six channels in this format are recorded separately to realize superior channel separation. Furthermore, since all the signals are processed digitally, less signal degradation occurs.
Dolby Pro Logic Surround: As one method of decoding Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro Logic Surround produces four channels from two-channel sound. Compared with the former Dolby Surround system, Dolby Pro Logic Surround reproduces left-to-right panning more naturally and localizes sounds more precisely. To take full advantage of Dolby Pro Logic, you should have one pair of rear speakers and a center speaker. The rear speakers' put out monaural sound.
DTS: Digital audio compression technology that Digital Theater Systems developed. This technology conforms to 5.1-channel surround. The rear channel is stereo and there is discrete subwoofer channel in this format. DTS provides the same 5.1 discrete channels on high quality digital audio. The good channel separation is realized because the all-channel data is recorded discrete and processed in digital.
SACD: Super Audio CD (SACD) is a high-resolution digital audio format that promises vast sonic improvements over the current audio CD format. Super Audio CD discs can be played back on dedicated Super Audio CD players or combination SACD/DVD-Video players. Certain SACD discs feature a conventional audio CD layer (hybrid SACDs) which can be played back by any CD player or computer with a CD-ROM drive.
What's in the Box DAV-C900 home theater receiver/DVD player, 5 speakers (2 front, 2 rear, and 1 center), 1 subwoofer, AM loop antenna, FM wire antenna, speaker cords, video cord, remote control (RM-SS900), 2 AA batteries, and printed installation instructions.

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Onkyo HT-SR800S 7.1 Home Theater Entertainment System (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)As you can see from a quick search this is almost always reviewed highly and is also highly rated by Consumer Reports. I recently got my own and I wasn't disappointed. The system was easy to set up and a quick browse through the instructions gave me all the info I needed. I have listed the 3 most common complaints about the system below.
1. The HDMI is just a pass through you have to connect the sound to the unit separately (not really that big a deal).
2. The included wire is too thin: this is true you can replace it cheaply with wire bought on Amazon, so its not devastating. I recommend the METRA Ltd S14-100 MTA 14 Gauge Clear Speaker Wire which you can get here for $21.53 and will really improve things.
3. Onkyo doesn't make speaker stands for this system and the speakers only have keyhole style brackets on the back for mounting which can make buying wall brackets difficult.
I'm not positive how to resolve this, B-tech makes some screw in mounts you can put in if you dont mind putting some wholes in the speakers B-TECH BT1 Universal Speaker Bracket for Small Speakers (Pair per box). They also make a wall mount that clamps the side of the speakers if youd prefer not putting holes in your new speakers B-Tech BT77 Speaker brackets Black.
But both of those solutions are kinda expensive (30 per pair for screw in, 70 per pair for the clamps).
I recently bought some universal mounts (Premier Mounts PSPK-5B Universal Speaker Mount for Walls and Ceilings with 2.5-Inch Extensions (Black)) that supposedly work with keyholes so we'll see.
UPDATE: the speakers are great, make sure to use the microphone to calibrate, this is part of the value of the system and makes a big difference in the sound quality.
About the mounts:
The cheap universal mounts, were ok.
They worked fine on the Satellite speakers but there were some design flaws and they don't have the strength to hold up the big front speakers. One of the pieces broke during assembly but as I had 5 and couldn't hang the front speakers with them anyways that wasn't too big of a problem.
I used the 29.99 B-Tech mounts mentioned above (the ones that have to be screwed in) for the front speakers and they worked perfectly. Enjoy!

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When it comes to all-in-one home theater, the HT-SR800 has made a clean break from the pack. You're looking at packaged home theater that neatly integrates your high-definition entertainment and your HDTV through an HDMI channel that transports video with a resolution all the way up to 1080p.Ably supported by component video switching; the HT-SR800 will handle most of the A/V components or formats currently available, as well as the spectacular quality of high-definition discs. Also, reinforcing the convenience of matched components, this package is the first to use an Audyssey room-correction technology specifically designed for integrated systems. The options--XM Radio (including 5.1 surround sound radio with Neural Surround decoding), and iPod integration--can really extend your reach, making the HT-SR800 one of the more complete home theater packages available.

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Yamaha YSP-1000 120-Watt Digital Sound Projector, Silver Review

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(More customer reviews)I just set up my YSP-1000 last week. For the record it is wall mounted in an almost square room 22X25 ft. I chose this system as it seemed to give me the surround sound I wanted without running cables across floors or through walls. The set up is very easy with the included microphone and installation by myself took less than an hour.
The sound is clear and definitely gives the impression of coming from different points in the room. This may not be as clear however if the room has openings or different surfaces (mine does not). The YSP gives you the option of multiple listening methods, 5 beam to simulate 5 speakers, 3 beam for 3 etc. I have used 5 beam almost exclusively although the night feature is useful for lower volume levels. It is important to note that the 5 beam is only available if you have a square or rectangular room.
Because the speaker is focused on one point in the room, (the place where you put the microphone in the set up phase) you do get a faint echoing if you move a reasonable distance away from the center point. On a 3 seater couch I didnt notice significant difference unless I walked towards the room corners. Overall however, the appearance of one single speaker strip mounted above my tv and almost true surround sound outweighed the alternative of multiple speaker points and holes in my walls.
Best of all, if I move, it just comes off the wall and comes with me.

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Do away with bulky surround sound speaker systems while still bringing your movies and music to life with the Yamaha YSP-1000 digital sound projector. Housed in a single bar-shaped body but equipped with 42 speaker drivers--each with its own digital amplifier--the YSP-1000 delivers full-bodied, multichannel sound through a single elegant component. The device works by focusing the sound into "beams," and then projecting them at optical angles into the room via the analytical IntelliBeam function. At the same time, the YSP-1000 controls the driver delay times and optimizes the level and frequency response of each beam. The resulting sound waves--both direct and reflected--create a soundscape that seems to be coming from speakers placed throughout the room, but in reality is playing through the digital sound projector.
The YSP-1000 isn't just about sound, though. Its slim, contemporary design is also wildly convenient, as listeners no longer have to find complementary locations for five satellite speakers and a subwoofer, nor do they have to fuss with extra-long speaker cables running all through the house. Rather, listeners can place the YSP-1000 next to or on top of their video display, or they can purchase an optional wall-mount bracket and hang it securely on the wall. The latter option is particularly handy for owners of flat-panel TVs and monitors, as it both saves space and visually complements the display. The projector is even versatile enough to work in corners or other unusual room configurations.
The projector's versatility extends to its variety of sound modes, which include a five-beam mode, a three-beam mode, a stereo mode, a stereo + three-beam mode, and a target mode. Each mode produces a unique effect that varies depending on the shape of the room, the orientation of the projector, and other factors. Meanwhile, a subtle blue LCD on the projector's base keeps listeners informed of the current surround setting and volume level.
Listeners will also dig the YSP-1000's built-in 120-watt digital amplifier, which connects directly to A/V components. The amp offers a host of valuable features, including Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS Neo:6 decoding and seven Cinema Digital Sound Processing (DSP) programs (Concert Hall, Music Video, Jazz Club, Spectacle, Sci-Fi, Adventure, and Sports). Connectivity stems from the two component video outputs, three composite video outputs, three digital audio inputs (one coaxial and two optical), and two analog audio RCA inputs. The device also offers a subwoofer output terminal, IR port, and RS-232C interface.
The YSP-1000, which is outfitted with forty 1.62-inch tweeter/midrange drivers and a pair of 4.38-inch woofers, measures 40.56 by 7.62 by 4.62 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a two-year warranty.
What's in the Box YSP-1000 digital sound projector, remote control, IntelliBeam microphone, user's manual.

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Sony STR-DG810 6.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this for it's HDMI switching capability. It does this well and that's a welcome accomplishment for $300 at this point in time. There is now 1 cable! from the HD DVD player to the recvr and 1 cable! from the satellite recvr and 1 cable to the plasma monitor. That's pretty exciting in my book. The prior reviewer seemed to expect it to do analog to digital conversion of video signals. That's far from realistic at this price point, but it seems like the 910 may do that. For me this receiver replaces an older Sony ES (high end) with better amplication. One knows the 810 is a step down just from its reduced weight. But in my simple home theater context I'm very happy with this recvr's capability. Of course, I've only had it a week. It has a nice blend of features, and even at this level its manual is a bit daunting re the features to be learned. For my wife, it's handy that it allows you to rename inputs. So, instead of SAT appearing on the display I changed it to DIRECTV, and I changed VIDEO2 to EMPTY. Radio stations can be preset and named too. Regardless of which input you switch to, it remembers your last sound settings for it -- that's helpful. When you insert headphones for late night tv watching, it senses that, turns off the speakers and optimizes the sound fields for 2 channel listening. Very nice. I hope it gives me many years of service.

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Sony STR-DA3400ES 7.1 Channel AV Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)It's nice to be able to switch up to 4 HDMI components and have only one HDMI cable going to your TV carrying the audio and video signals. The auto calibration is pretty accurate and very simple to perform. I purchased a $275 sound pressure meter to check this. I have to say that my audio settings were set wrong for years by my ear with my old receiver and then an auto calibration option saves the day. I now hear the rear speakers and all other speakers at a comfortable listening level that is much more balanced instead of being drowned out by the center speaker or sub woofer. The auto cal sets speaker size, distance, and levels within 1 minute. The GUI interface which shows on-screen menus on your TV screen of all settings and the capablilities is really worth it. You can set your radio presets and many other things here. It's nice not laying in front of the receiver setting the configurations up like I used to. You get 2 remotes. The small one is nice for the wife that has just the basic buttons on it. The bigger one is nice but long. The only con that I've found is that there is HDMI 1 through 4 buttons available on the remote. You have to remember which HDMI input the satellite is on, which one the blu-ray is on and so forth. You can program the "SAT" and "BD" buttons on the remote so you don't have to remember which HDMI input controls which equipment. The hangup is that if you are using only HDMI cabling you will not receive the audio with the selection of the SAT and BD buttons because of an engineering flaw in the setup which was verified by Sony support line. So basically you need to use the HDMI 1-4 buttons to select the audio and video instead of using the SAT and BD buttons that are on the remote. Nice sound produced from this model compared to my old Sony 985 model. So much progress has been made with these receivers. Happy customer.

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The STR-DA3400ES ES 7.1 channel AV Receiver continues our strong history at the $999.99 price point.The STR-DA3400ES utilizes Sony's xross media bar inspired GUI with Faroudja DCDi Cinema(R) Technology, the STR-DA3400ES can upscale all video sources to 1080p in an intuitive environment for even the most novice of AV enthusiast.Plus, the STR-DA3400ES can expand AV to multiple rooms.This model features 2nd Room capabilities which allows for audio** and video* distribution in the home. Now, you can start a movie in the living room and finish it in the bedroom or listen to your favorites songs from your iPod player or Walkman player (accessory sold separately) located in the living room, on the patio in the backyard.Also, it's fully equipped with custom control connections (i.e. RS-232C, 12 volt triggers and IR In/Out) necessary for full home integration.The STR-DA3400ES 7.1 channel ES A/V Receiver will be able to reproduce the latest audio formats from Dolby® Labs (Dolby Digital +/Dolby TrueHD) and dts® (dts HD/dts High Resolution Audio).Connectivity is abundant.This new model features 4 HDMI inputs1 compatible with 1080 60p/24p, Deep Color and x.v.Color video signals.Finally, the STR-DA3400ES will feature BRAVIA® Sync™ for Theatre4 with 'One Touch" control, DIGITAL MEDIA PORT5 input for use with MP3 portable players or personal computers and compatible with XM® and Sirius Satellite Radio® making this unit completely SAT Ready

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Sony KP-51WS520 51-Inch Hi-Scan 1080i HD-Ready Projection TV Review

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(More customer reviews)The television offers a great picture for the price. While I was a little nervous about ordering it on-line, it arrived quickly and in perfect condition. The price on Amazon was several hundred dollars less than the store price, including shipping. The tv offers great picture and sound. It is large, so make sure you have room in your living room to fit it.

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Dim the lights, fire up your DVD player or HDTV receiver, and let Sony's 51-inch Hi-Scan KP-51WS520 turn your living room or board room into a movie theater. The set uses Sony's HD Microfocus CRT and lens system, featuring smaller phosphor particles, thinner phosphor layers, and other improvements that give the set a beam spot 28-percent smaller than Sony's standard CRTs. And that means sharper focus, higher contrast, and brighter images. The screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio that matches the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and the KP-51WS520 is compatible with standard-definition 480i, enhanced-definition 480p, and high-definition 720p and 1080i sources.The set's HD Detailer wideband video amplifier provides high detail from high-res images to give you the best possible image from high-bandwidth sources. Auto 16:9 enhanced mode with auto ID1 detection automatically renders anamorphic DVD content in letterboxed widescreen, using all available display lines for the image and wasting none on the black bars that frame the image when a program's widescreen aspect ratio differs slightly from the set's.Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital Circuitry increases a video signal's signal-to-noise ratio before it reaches the DRC circuit, ensuring rich, natural-looking images from any source. TwinView 2-tuner PIP (picture-in-picture) lets you view any 2 sources simultaneously--even 2 TV stations. Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver) maintains the integrity of a digital signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process.Sony's CineMotion 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal is a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.The set offers 2 different digital video interfaces: a Digital Visual Interface (DVI-HDTV) and an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), each of which permits a direct digital connection with a compatible DTV set-top box. Other connections include 2 component-video inputs, 4 composite-video inputs, 3 S-video inputs (with 1 each composite-/S-video on the front panel for ready connection to a camcorder or gaming console), and 2 RF coaxial inputs and 1 coaxial output for hookup with an older VCR, cable box, or antenna.What's in the Box TV, remote control, remote batteries (2 AA), a user's manual, and warranty information.

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Yamaha RX-V659BL 7.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am an A/V novice, and this is how/why I bought this receiver:
I originally bought it while looking for a 6.1 receiver in the $400.00 range. Best B** had a Pioneer that was THX certified for about $475. I had them put a rain check on it, then went to another store to listen to what they had (Best B** has a new policy of 'upselling' by sending any customer who is interested in mid-level audio to a 'specialist' who wants to unload Denon etc. - usually in the Home Theatre room. This annoyed me mightily, as I didn't even get a chance to listen to the Pioneer.)
At the other store, I listened to the 6.1 Yamaha HTR-5850 and was happy with that. My wife pointed out that the 7.1 RX-V659 was only about $50.00 more, and wondered what the difference was. We gave it a listen and were pleased. My wife listened to a Luther Vandross CD, and I listened to a classical music CD, then we popped in a copy of The Matrix DVD (you know what scene). My main concerns were HDTV compatability (has 3 component video inputs) and the RX-V659's audio/video auto upgrade feature. As neither me nor my wife have an iPod, we didn't care about the docking station capability of it, but it is a pleasant upgrade for later. We bought it for quite a bit less than what is listed on the Yamaha website, and less than the Pioneer receiver at BB.
I hooked the receiver to a Bic America Venturi bookshelf pair as front ends, then went with the Yamaha NS-SP1600 5.1 HTIB set-up (yes, it's their low end model, but I listened to them and they sounded fine for our 20'x30' room with nine foot ceiling.) I replaced that Yamaha HTIB center speaker with a KLH 525 II Platinum-II 125-Watt center speaker. I bought a roll of 12 gauge speaker wire - avoided the Monster stuff - went with Lowe's. The CD's and movies sounded great already, but there's more to this: the front speakers still have to 'break in' and only recently did I discover what the Neural Surround Sound exhibits when pumping XM satellite radio through them. WOW! Incredible separation! Our little room now has an audio sweet spot that allows me to consider never going out to the movies again. I've spent hours going through the different sound fields, and continue to come back to Neural Surround. Also , listening with headphones is wonderful with the Night Listening Enhancer - listening to TV with headphones never sounded this good for me. Set-up was breeze - the YPA sound optimizing thing takes some getting used to, but I like that the menus are on your TV's screen, not the face on the receiver unit.
Now I 'have' to get a new DVD/CD player that has DTS output. If this receiver lasts for at least a decade, Yamaha has a fan for life...
Unfortunately, this receiver is not HDMI-ready, but that might not be a gripe if/when I get a new HDTV and can run the video line directly into the TV instead of the receiver. Otherwise, this is a 5 star review.

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Harman Kardon AVR 335 7.1 Channel Surround Sound Audio/Video Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)After our old receiver died, we looked around for a replacement in the sub-$500 range. I admit that when buying the old receiver, I was suckered by the more-watts-is-better argument, but after reading about the power management Harman Kardon uses to give cleaner sound, we decided to give the 335 a try. Even before we used the included microphone to calibrate the reciever for our room and speaker layout, the sound was incredibly clear--we heard voices more distinctly, and the surround sound sounded better than it ever had before. The HK has plenty of optical sound inputs for all our devices, and the remote works with all our components from various manufacturers. It even looks cool with the glowing blue LED's (which can be turned off while watching a movie). As an added bonus, HK is an American company. I highly recommend this as a great sound solution to anyone who likes to hear their music and not the hissing and pops of over-driven speakers.

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Enjoy high-quality bang for your home theater buck with Harman Kardon's AVR 335 7.1-channel audio/video surround receiver. The receiver boasts Harman's latest features and technologies as it offers near-universal surround-format compatibility. Internally, it's engineered for impressive sonic performance, featuring a discrete-output amplifier pumping seven channels of high-current (+/-35 amps), ultrawide-bandwidth amplification--7 x 55 watts into 8 ohms, 20 to 20,000 Hz with less than 0.07 percent THD--in addition to state-of-the-art 192 kHz/24-bit audio digital-to-analog converters and a high-power Cirrus 32-bit DSP processor.
The AVR 335's wealth of cutting-edge technologies also includes triple-crossover bass management, automatic digital input polling, and A/V sync delay.
Surround sound features include Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone processing, and Dolby Pro Logic IIx processing (which provides an expansive, full-range 7.1-channel program from any stereo or 5.1-channel source). The receiver handles all other popular formats (including Dolby Digital EX and Dolby Digital 5.1), all standard DTS modes (including 6.1 DTS-ES Discrete, DTS-ES Matrix, DTS Neo:6, Cinema 6.1/5.1, and Music 6.1/5.1), and even the latest DTS 96/24 high-resolution audio technology. You also get Harman's proprietary Logic 7 audio for enhanced multichannel reproduction from both matrix-encoded and 2-channel recordings.
The receiver's many audio and video connections include wide-bandwidth, HDTV-compatible component-video inputs and multiroom/multisource operation with independent, simultaneous playback of two program sources, assignable back surround amplifier channels, and a zone-2 remote control.
Along with its extensive video connectivity, the receiver offers a array of digital and analog audio connections, including multiple coaxial and optical digital audio inputs and outputs. It sports both analog and digital front-panel inputs, 6-/8-channel direct audio inputs, and 7.1-channel preamp outputs to accommodate a DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD, or universal player. The AVR 335 is also among the first receivers to include EzSet/EQ, which provides automated system calibration and room equalization, which greatly simplifies installation while it improves system performance by tailoring the output of the receiver to your speakers, compensating for the effects of room acoustics.
The receiver's triple-crossover bass-management system lets you choose from multiple crossover frequencies for the front L/R, center, surround L/R, and surround back L/R speakers. Most receivers and DVD players have far more limited crossover filtering or none at all. Moreover, you can set different speaker-size configurations for different AVR 335 input sources according to your needs.
You get a high-quality FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets and a Listener Preference System that lets you specify a surround mode according to the program source. You can also set speaker-channel levels for each program source and DSP format (for example, the subwoofer level can be set differently for multichannel movie viewing and 2-channel CD music listening).
What's in the Box Receiver, 2 remote controls, remote batteries, an EzSet/EQ microphone, FM wire/AM loop antennas, warranty information, and user's manual.

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Denon AVR-1709 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)Think of hookup this way: The HDMI basically carries only video to this receiver. If you want this receiver to send audio directly to the speakers, you must use the audio connections. The cable HDMI connections do send video and sound to the HDTV via the HDMI cables (as if you would ever want to use the TV's speakers). The setup sounds archaic, but once it is set up, it produces great audio and video.
This receiver demands that you read the manual before and during setup. It took two of us a full afternoon to make all the proper connections and adjustments and to get the pre-sets on tuner and the remote they way we wanted them. The Audyssey system was time-consuming but well worth the effort.
If you have an iPod plugged into the VCR/iPod terminals, you cannot also use the VCR terminals -- you have to choose one accessory or switch them. (I did not see a warning in the manual about this, but my connections refused to work.) I decided that the cable box, TV and Denon iPod dock had to stay put, but the DVD player and Internet digital video player could be switched. So I bought an audio switch ($50) and an HDMI switch ($100) because I could not find a combination unit that was under $700. This setup will let me add still another HDMI accessory.
Now that all the components are setup, the system is a delight to use. We get much better sound out of our bookshelf speakers than we knew possible. The sound quality is why we bought the Denon.

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Music around the home is now easier to realize than ever before. The AVR-1709 features a powerful seven channel amplifier section that can be easily configured for a 7.1 channel surround sound loudspeaker system, or to drive a 5.1 channel surround sound system in the main room, while at the same time able to drive a pair of stereo speakers in another room. Featuring tremendous video signal handling flexibility, the AVR-1709 features three latest specification v1.3a HDMI digital video inputs and one HDMI output that handles HD signals up to the highest 1080p resolution. As well, the AVR-1709 features on-board video up-conversion, along with three HD component video inputs for additional video signal handling flexibility. For optimum surround sound quality, the Audyssey MultEQ in-room acoustic measurement and optimization system measures the loudspeaker's overall response (at up to six different measurement points) and tailors the audio signal for the smoothest, most natural-sounding tonal balance throughout the listening space. And, the AVR-1709 is one of the first to offer Audyssey's Dynamic Volume leveling system, which eliminates jarring volume jumps between TV shows and commercials, as well as Audyssey Dynamic EQ to ensure rich bass and smooth tonal balance, even at low volume levels. Two remote controls are provided – one for the main room, and a second easy-to-use remote control for second zone audio control.

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Onkyo TX-NR1007 135 Watts 9.2-Channel AV Surround Home Network Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been an Onkyo fan for years now. This is my 5th Onkyo receiver in about 9 years or so. I've upgraded for feature set rather than anything being 'wrong' with the prior models I've had. This is the highest end model I've purchases thus far. Hopefully I'll be able to keep this one around for quite a while. It's more than I needed but I was tired of upgrading and wanted something with enough HDMI inputs and features that I wouldn't get the itch.
I have a standard 5.1 surround system for speakers so I am not using the Audyssey DSX or ProLogic IIz functionality. Nor am I using the multiple zones at this time so I have no comment on that functionality.
Things I like:
Audyssey MultiXT - I've had versions of Audyssey in all but maybe the first Onkyo receiver I've had. I don't know whether they changed something or I've gotten better at setting my HT system up properly but after running through the Audyssey speaker setup on this receiver everything sounded much more balanced and even than the setup I had gotten with my previous TX-SR705. The 'sweet spot' is wider and I'm not getting the slight tonal shift as audio moves from one speaker to the next across the front speakers like I used to.
Audyssey Dynamic Volume - This is a fantastic feature! All of my audio for everything is piped through this receiver, whether I'm watching TV, Movies, Music or playing games. With my previous receivers I was always fumbling for the volume when I was watching a show and the commercials came on since they were so much louder. I don't have to do that any more. I have the Dynamic Volume feature set to Light. It makes soft passages loud enough to hear and tones down loud passages, and when the commercials come on they aren't any louder than the tv show I was watching. I do have one quibble with it. There doesn't seem to be a feature to turn it off/on based on the source you've selected. Having this feature on when listening to music is a not a good thing. This isn't a problem with Audyssey, rather an oversight on Onkyo's part.
THX Loudness - I've never really used the THX audio modes of my previous receivers much. Primarly because in order to get the sound approaching that in a theater THX recommends listening at reference volume. There are two problems with that. I live in an apartment and I like not to bleed from my ears. The THX Loudness feature works kinda like the Audyssey Dynamic volume. I find that on some movies the THX method sounds better to me than the Audyssey Dynamic Volume.
Internet radio, Pandora and streaming - The interface for this could use some work (it looks like something from the 90's) but I really like the network features. Streaming audio from my PC in the office is more convenient with this than firing up the Xbox or PS3 and it's one less peice of electronics I have to have running. I also like that the Onkyo will wake up my office pc if it is sleeping when I go to stream audio. I don't know if this is something with my pc that allows this or not but it is convenient.
Things I don't like - I thought my TX-SR705 was loud when it did audio or HDMI switching. This is louder. I'm hoping it's due to beefier switching components. Fortunately this is only an issue at the beginning of movies where they show previews and don't steal me warnings. Also on cable when watching non-movie channels and the commercials have been broadcast in different audio then the show.
One time issue with zero audio. I was watching a tv show and changed channels. After changing the channel I had zero audio. I thought it was the channel but changing the channel back or selecting a different source (tuner) didn't fix it. I was able to fix it by unplugging the receiver for about 5 seconds and plugging it back in. This was disturbing but it hasn't happened since then. If it does I'll have to call Onkyo and find out what they can do.
Overall I love this receiver even with the odd audio issue I had.

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MartinLogan Purity Fully-Powered Hybrid Electrostatic Loudspeaker (Single, Cherry) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been a long-time user of Martin-Logan products and knew both partners when they sold stereo equipment in Lawrence, Kansas back in the early 80's. My first product to hear was the Monolith and I owned the original Quest. When buying M & L you must realize that you are buying a piece of scientific equipment. One, you are purchasing an electrostatic panel and two, you are purchasing a speaker that will need to be placed OPTIMALLY in your room to get the best sound possible. Those rules are: Electrostatic elements DO NOT LIKE a smokey environment. If you smoke or you burn incense and/or candles, over time your electrostatic panels will accumulate a film that will affect the sound of the speaker. Since the panel has an electronic charge, it will have the necessary ingredients to form that film from air-borne contaminants.
Location, location, location. All electrostatic panels push sound from the front AND from the rear. If you do not have your speakers placed away from the back wall, you will find that the sound from the rear of the panel will be out-of-phase compared to the sound from the front. The two sounds will cancel each other either partially or fully making a muddy sound. You want the sound to be ideal since the sound pressure from the rear of the panel is what gives that "encompassing" sound that these speakers are known for. Ideally, you will need at least two feel of space behind the panel and the speaker will need to be toed in to eliminate that interference. If you have a room that is not large enough to place these speakers and still contain your large screen TV AND THE REST of your furniture, then don't purchase them, you will not get the enjoyment from them as you might think you will. If you follow the rules, you will have the most enjoyable speaker made by man.
Now the power. You may ask; "why does it have a internal power amplifier?" One of the early requirements with M & L speakers were that they were quite power hungry. Later models addressed that problem, but they still required a power amplifier that moved a lot of Current (amperes) not Power (watts). Consequently, people who bought these speakers also had a lot of money rapped up in an expensive high current power amplifiers. Since these M & L's have the power built in and are matched to the speaker, the extra money to purchase these speakers are well worth it. Remember, you are purchasing TWO mono-power amps when you purchase two speakers. That alone is worth at least $1200 if you were to purchase two high end power mono current amps by themselves. You can also use the speakers to play back any device that has a built in volume control and a line level output source, e.g iPod, Satellite Radio, even your computer. As a surround system, you will need at least four of these units plus a center channel or another one of M & L's speakers that are matched to these units. Remember, if you use self powered speakers you are running line-level signal wires instead of speaker wires that tend to loose efficiency over long runs as do the line-level signals but not as much and which are more stable.
All in all, these are probably the best value out there for a high end speaker that has the sonic wonderment that most people will marvel at. If you ever auditioned a pair of these speakers, you will not want anything else in your home.

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Onkyo HTS590 5.1 Channel Component Home Theater Audio System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this system based on reviews I read at a major retailer's website and here at Amazon. I wanted a home theater system without a DVD player which would offer flexibility. This system certainly offers performance and flexibility for the price. Many features and easy setup.
There are some easy and economical things we did to improve the sound. First, because this system allows you to upgrade the speaker wire, we bought 16 gauge speaker wire from a major discount chain for the center, front and rear channel speakers. We got 14 gauge speaker wire for the subwoofer (thicker wire passes more current to the sub and has improved the performance of the 8-inch woofer). We spent $14 for a coaxial cable at another discount store which carries the digital signal from the DVD player to the Onkyo receiver--this improved EVERYTHING--movies and music. We found speaker stands at a major discount chain for $78--speakers sound much better when they have a strong/rigid support. This may sound like stuff an audiophile would do to a $5000 audio system, but it all is cheap, easy and effective. Sound improved by about 45%.
We were surprised at the tuner in the Onkyo receiver--we're using a small Terk powered FM antenna and getting very good FM stereo reception in our hilly river community. All in all, for the small cost of this system, we're enjoying home theater greatly. We might spend a little to get a new sub at some time, but for now we're really happy.

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Rockford Fosgate Punch P3 P3D212 12-Inch 500-Watt Subwoofer - 2 Ohm Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned 2 P3d412 subwoofers for a year now and they are great! This system is really loud! with the volume turned all the way up, its almost difficult to breathe in the car. I have a rockford punch p1000-1bd amplifier powering the two(1259 watt). they are in a dual-ported enclosure. not only do they rattle your car apart, but the sound quality is great! hits the highs just as well as the lows. The dual voice coils really make it easy to wire however you wish. great, great, great! rockford really makes some high quality stuff! Next system=Rockford POWER series subs.
Ps: if you are running more than one of these subs, i would recommend buying a capacitor to keep your lights from dimming.

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An awesome choice whether you want to add one or multiple subwoofers to your vehicle. The P3 12-inch subwoofers can be used in either sealed or ported enclosures, plus you'll get the wiring flexibility of dual voice coils.

P3D212 Features
Speaker Construction
Custom 10-AWG nickel plated push terminals
Dual linear spider with embedded 16 AWG tinsel leads
Extended pole piece and bumped backplate
High excursion Poly-Ether-Ester surround
High-temp voice coil with spun-laced Nomex reinforcement collar
Kevlar Fiber reinforced semi-pressed paper cone and ABS/Acrylic dustcap
Protective PVC textured magnet cover
Reversible diamond cut cast aluminum trim ring
Vented spider cavity

Aluminum V/C Former Rockford Fosgate subwoofers use anodized aluminum voice coil formers that provide excellent heat dissipation. Unlike traditional plastic substitutions, aluminum acts like a heat-sink to quickly dissipate thermal build-up on the voice coil. This keeps subwoofers cool during high SPL conditions.
CEA-2031 Power handling on Rockford Fosgate speakers conform to CEA-2031 industry standards. This means your speaker has the capacity to handle power under continuous damand, not instantaneous power handling, that over time, can damage voice coils.
Reversible Mounting Rockford Fosgate subwoofers can be mounted in either direction. A removable trim ring can be installed on the back or front side of the subwoofer frame. This gives the subwoofer a finished look regardless of mounting configuration.
Stitched Tinsel Leads Multipoint "periodic" stitched lead wire technique reduces the mass of each tinsel lead and spreads stress and strain over a greater area, significantly improving the reliability and performance of the subwoofer.
These stitched tinsel leads withstand extreme duty cycles, fatigue and high current that is critical to robust design.
Venturi-Effect Cooling The "Venturi-Effect" is created by gradually reducing the air-flow exhaust path area, which increases the air speed across the key thermal masses ofthe speaker motor parts maximizing cooling effectiveness.
P3D212 Specifications


Thirty Years of Rockford Fosgate Rockford Fosgate products have been designed and engineered in Tempe, Arizona since the beginning. Rockford's 30 year reputation is grounded in engineering and manufacturing some of the finest audio products in the world. The company's no-compromise approach has yielded patented iconic products such as the Punch EQ, Punch 45 amplifier and the 3Sixty integrated signal processor. Today, Rockford's new products push the performance envelope even further. Each new product is a step forward--they sound bigger, they play louder, and run longer. Rockford never settles for "good enough."
The 2010 product line represents the company's core philosophy. Rockfords new amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers have raised the bar on the competition.
What's in the Box Rockford Fosgate Punch P3 P3D212 12-Inch 500-Watt Subwoofer - 2 Ohm, Trim Ring, Installation Hardware, User's Manual
Additional 12-Inch Sub Options From Rockford Fosgate If you need more speaker, step up to the Power Series T1D212.
On a tighter budget? Consider the Prime Series R1S412.
Rockford Fosgate Punch Series P3 Subwoofers

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Grace Digital GDI-IRD4400m Wireless Internet Radio Featuring Pandora, NPR On-Demand and SIRIUS Review

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(More customer reviews)This radio is an excellent product. It set up in a couple of minutes and has proven to be reliable and very easy to use. My single complaint is the headset and stereo jacks on the device. There is an AM-like static present when I plug in headphones or connect in my stereo. The noise on the headphones is 'tolerable', but the stereo connection was terrible. I e-mailed Grace Digital Radio Technical support with my problem. They replied and stated that I shouldn't be having static on the audio output (I figured that out all by myself). They then suggested that I try alternative radio stations (AM and FM) and advise if I had a similar issue. I explained that the radio was not an AM/FM radio but internet and that all types of stations on the internet exhibited the same problem. They never replied back to me. I've attempted a couple of times to get a response from them to no avail. In one attempt, I suggested that, perhaps I should return the radio and obtain one from another manufacturer. Still no reply. In a word, customer support for this product - stinks.

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Griffin Technology Amplifi 2.1 Sound System for iPod Review

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(More customer reviews)Ok so here is the deal. I bought this because someone I know also had one, and I fell in love with it. The reason why? well it sounds really, really good. I work at Best Buy and around the holiday season, I tried my iPod touch in every device I could find in the store. There are a lot of choices for docking stations but really I was not impressed with overall performance on most of the devices we had in the store. This one was different. I had tried only one item in the store that sounded great. It was a polk audio dock station and it had hefty price tag on it. Try $400. In polks defense it did include HD radio but still! Needless to say any accessory that cost more than the main product is a hard sell. Anyhow it sounded good but not enough to take my cold hard cash. I listened to this Griffin Amplifi on Christmas Morning when my sister got one for a present. It was music to my ears, Literally. (sorry about that pun) Anyhow the sound was impressive and clear. It didn't sound muddy or muffled and it had plenty of bang. The bass response is very respectable and I figured it would be as I noticed it has a hefty driver on the bottom side. Anyhow the performance is great withg plenty of clarity.
Now for the downside. I am not sure what it is but this device like many out there didn't support charging on the new ipods. My second gen. touch for example was no exception. That asside I new it would still do playback and that is more important to me in the end. So charging asside it's a great device. Also one other minor thing was I noticed that the volume control had a bit of a steps feel as each click upward in volume seemed noticeable. In other words it was not linear, with a smooth increase of volume yet not horrible either. yet it definitely had plenty of volume. Another thing about this step type volume it doesn't have a smooth roll off, so when you turn it way down, it doesn't gently roll off it goes to sort of quiet and then silent with just one more click of the volume control. So hey this isn't a great ambient noise machine, it's minimum volume isn't quite as soft as I hoped. But whatever! I bought this item because it cranks and still sounds great. So that is why I give it a 4 out of 5 Stars. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants quality sound and excellent bass response. :)

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Clark Synthesis TST429 Platinum Transducer Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of those products that you are either crazy about or just couldn't care less about. I recommend this product for Any kind of audio or A/V application. With the correct amp this product adds a dimension to the enjoyment of music you don't even know is missing until you turn it off.
No denying it is expensive especially when you consider you still have to buy an amplifier. However, I have tried other tactile transducers, notably the Buttkick LFE, that cost much less, and there really is no comparison. Please note, this is a review of the Clark Synthesis Platinum, their most powerful tactile transducer. The effect produced by the Clark Platinum unit is immense. It's akin to pulling the switch on a low RPM power drill only to find that you have more torque than you need, Lots more! The Buttkicker unit never approached the output of the Clark Platinum and under the same levels of amplification tended to bottom out. Furthermore, I have had 4 Clark Platinum units in use for over 3 years now, (one of them over 5 years), without a single problem. The Buttkicker eventually gave up the ghost; after two years of use there was finally no dicernable output from the unit, at amplification levels that had the Clark Platinum units practically bouncing the couch off the floor, (which I suppose should happen if a T-Rex walked into your multi-media room/theater). In defense of the Buttkicker company, they make what might be the best tactile tranducer amplifier around. The amp is comparitively inexpensive, has Lots of power, and the added versatility of user controllable frequency response filters. I have two Buttkicker amps powering two Clark Platinums (wired in parallel) each with the gain control set at a notch below half power. This gives the amp plenty of head room for those particullary troublesome passages.
I suggest you try it. If you don't like the effect, try it at differnt levels. If you still don't like the effect, well...you won't have any trouble getting rid of it somewhere but I can pretty much guarantee that someone in the family is going to like it so mount it into the frame of their favorite chair, (see Clark Synthesis website for mounting suggestions). They'll thank you.

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Sony BDV-T11 Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted to write a review as I could not find one when evaluating systems on-line. I bought this one blindly and have been extremely pleased with the purchase.
Items to note:
1. Huge sound on BlueRay's and DVD's.
2. Picture quality is top draw on my 1080 screen. The up-converter does an excellent job on DVD's to an almost Blue-Ray quality.
3. The small speakers kick out a lot of sound. The radio portion is still weaker then I would like. But this is a home theater. I have a sound system for my tunes!
4. It was easy to set up. Following the cables colors it was put together in 10-15 minutes.
5. The book is lengthy so do your self a favor and download the PDF. You can search for keywords to your specific question and tackle any question in seconds.
6. The optic cable offers great sound reproduction from my Plasma TV. I thought I wouldn't use it because of the great sound I had from my TV. But now I find I use it all the time.
7. You can't beat the price!
I think that these were promotional items for selling with Big Screens during Christmas with bundled packages. My guess is that it is the exact same electronics portion as the BVD-300 and the T10 as they share the same manual. That is what I used for my initial analysis.

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