Boston Acoustics Horizon Series MCS130 5.1-Channel Surround Speaker System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great system of speakers. Well-built, good looking, durable, good connections, but MOST importantly - great sound. The subwoofer is a MONSTER of good bass! I am extremely pleased with this surround sound system, better than any I have ever had. The only reason I am giving this product 4 stars, rather than 5 is that the overall depth of sound is not quite as sharp as I expected. The rear channels are too average for a 5 star rating.The center and front speakers are really good. This is an outstanding, overall diverse and powerful set of speakers for anything from watching James Bond to a Pavarotti concert. Highly recommended.

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Small enough to hang on a wall, but powerful enough to bring down the house, the new Boston Acoustics Horizon MCS130 5.1-Channel Speaker System takes all the complexity out of multi-channel audio without sacrificing any of its impact. Matched 3.5" drivers and 1" soft dome tweeters combine with a 10" 200-Watt powered subwoofer to let you take on all the excitement Hollywood can throw at you. Its all in a days work for the Horizon MCS130.

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Onkyo HT-S7100 7.1 Channel Receiver and Speaker Package Review

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(More customer reviews)This is probably one of the best "home theater in a box" setups you'll run across. The receiver is the 606 model which has been very well received by most reviewers. It will accept pretty much any type of input and output it via HDMI so you can cut down on the spaghetti-nest of wires. The speakers are pretty good for this price point. No, it won't put a high-end system to shame, but it will hold its own (and unusually surpass) pretty much anything in this price range.
The sub is better than I expected. Good, solid bass. It's a down-firing setup which is nice if you have pets that like to mess with speakers.
The receiver runs pretty hot, as is typical with Onkyo systems. Make sure there is lots of ventilation (i.e., don't put it into a closed media cabinet).
It also includes stands for the front L/R speakers which is a nice touch, and adds to the overall value. It does not, however, come with a DVD player. But, that's a good thing - you're far better off putting the money into a better quality receiver such as the 606 than getting a system that includes a DVD player with a lesser quality receiver.
The model below this (6100) is very similar. The receiver is virtually the same -- different model number, but the specs are 95% the same. The biggest difference is that the 6100 does not include speaker stands. If there's a big price difference, the 6100 may be a better choice if you don't need stands.
I use this as a home theater/music setup in my basement, and have been very pleased with it. It does not sound as good as the Denon/KEF setup in the LR, but it produces solid quality sound. I have a Wii and a DVD player hooked to it, with the output being a single HDMI cable to a Samsung LCD.
Setup is very straightforward. The most time consuming part is running wires for the back speakers. There are some systems out that have wireless back speakers, but those come with their own set of problems as well (such as interference with wireless routers). Plus, unless you're willing to spend a lot more, wireless speakers in this price range will not perform nearly as well as traditional wired speakers.
Speaking of wires, the only disappointment with this setup was the speaker wires that were included. Very small gauge wire - toss them, and get some decent 16 (or perhaps even 14) gauge wire from monoprice.
If you are looking to keep the cost of a home theater setup to under $800, this system should be on your short list. If you're looking to spend more there are better choices, but this is a great value for the price.
One last thing - the box is heavy!! It comes well-packed, but the total weight is 100+ pounds, so have a hand truck ready!

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Onkyo HT-S7100 7.1 Channel Receiver and Speaker Package

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Onkyo HT-S990THX 7.1 THX Home Theater Entertainment System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this product about 3 weeks ago, and have now come to fully experience what it can do. It is a wonderful piece of equipment that is worth the money.
Pros:
The system is cost effective. For the money, you get a very good system. Sure, it's not as good as one that costs several thousand dollars, but it's much better than the standard HTIB you can find at a retail store. Remember, you always get what you pay for. If you want a cheap system that will need to be replaced often, this system is not for you. However, if you are like me and are just looking for a good system that's not going to break the bank, consider this as one of your options.
The system is also easy to set up. It comes with color coded wires and connections. The back of the receiver has all speaker connections color coded, and the colors match the wires and speaker terminals. Also, unlike most HTIB systems, the surround wires are long enough to support the room size this system was designed for. Remember, this is not a THX Select or Ultra system. It's not designed to play in large spaces (Select is for 2000 cubic feet, a 250 square foot room with an 8 foot ceiling; Ultra is for 3000+ cubic feet, about a 375 square foot room with an 8 foot ceiling). This system is designed for a smaller room (such as an apartment or small home). My living room is about 170 square feet (I live in an apartment).
The system is also easy to use. Just a glance at the user's manual will let you navigate through the configuration menu with no problems. Unlike other HTIB systems I have seen, the speaker distance is fully configurable, in standard or metric units. Other systems I have seen do not understand that your front speakers might be closer than your rear speakers. Instead, they would assume that this could not be possible, so if your application called for a front speaker distance of 7 feet, and a rear speaker distance of 10 feet, the receiver could not configure it. Therefore, the system did not sound correct unless you rearranged the room, or knock down walls. This system allows you to input any variation of measurements, but it's always in feet or meters. For once, I would like to see a system that had precise control of the delay, to the inch. 6 inches difference is about 0.5 milliseconds. Even though it's a small number, it seems as if the front soundstage is drastically different with differences as small as an inch between the FL/FR and center channels.
Cons:
Receiver does not support HDMI. This is both a pro and a con. First, I priced a Monster HDMI cable. There was one cable at Best Buy for $80. The good stuff started at $120. I didn't even look for anything THX certified. On the other hand, you can get a THX certified Component Video set for about $40, and a THX certified optical audio cable for about $38. From other reviews I have read, there is no noticeable difference between using HDMI and component connections.
Another con is that THX specifications call for a dipole side surround speaker, where as this system comes with a monopole side surround speaker. The side surrounds appear to be the exact same as the back surrounds. THX calls for monopole back surrounds and dipole side surrounds. This can make a difference in how enveloping the surround information is. Even though this system has monopole side surrounds, the surround effect is enveloping, but I've seen $10,000 setups that sounded much better. And this system doesn't cost $10,000 does it?
Yet another con has to do with the crossover point of the system. Ideally, you want all frequencies to blend together properly. In my setup, when using the THX demo disk, I notice a slight dip in bass output when transitioning from the main speakers to the subwoofer, then the subwoofer picks up the volume to normal as the frequency decreases. Now I'm sure I could compensate for this by spending thousands of dollars treating my room structures, purchasing equalizers, and moving the subwoofer around...but I don't want to do that...and probably neither do you. The system does not give perfectly flat response, but is withing 6 dB all the way through the transition. Also, the subwoofer is not the best suited for music. I cannot tell what class box is used (I don't want to take it apart), but it lacks the impact of a sealed box, and acts more like a vented or bandpass box. It delivers a rumbling impact when watching movies, but lacks accuracy for music reproduction. It seems as if there is a very sharp curve as the frequency gets lower, similar to a bandpass box. Listen for yourself and see what you think. Be sure to use music that has various bass frequencies.
Overall, I say this is a 4 out of 5. For those of you that want a dedicated movie theater in your house, this system is probably too small for you. For the rest of us, this is a great solution. It's an entry level high end home theater system, and the best HTIB on the market today. If you are considering going with something cheaper, consider this: This system comes with everything you need to play every audio format widely used today. It does both Dolby Digital and DTS, and adds THX to both standards (you can also listen in the native format being broadcast, with no THX). You can play this system in 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 configurations, and comes with everything necessary to matrix stereo signals into all configurations, as well as matrix 5.1 signals into 6.1 or 7.1. Basically, it's a one-stop-shop. It's one system, in one box, that plays everything. I think that's why it was designed. Maybe more consumers buy HTIB systems rather than seperate components. As far as value, I'm sure if you shop around, you might find a better seperate component system for the same money, or close to it. But what does the average consumer want? Simplicity. This one word best describes this system. Given proper speaker and seating arangements, the system does exactly what it was designed to do, yet it's simple. And what was it designed to do? Bring the movie theater experience to your living room. It does that, without any problems.

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The HT-S990THX is the first system to meet the parameters set by THX for overall system performance as opposed to separate loudspeaker and amplifier performance. In effect, the HT-S990THX represents a high-performance, powerful multichannel solution that combines the convenience of all-in-one systems with the performance of much higher priced separate components. With full THX processing capabilities-- THX ASA-derived playback modes (THX Cinema2, THX Music Mode, THX Games Mode)--you can be assured that this system brings out the full potential of surround sound for all entertainment options. Equally as important, Onkyo's Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) gives the system a perfect base for stellar amplifier performance. Also, the HT-S990THX's compatibility with XM Satellite Radio and the iPod offers a completeness to this home entertainment system that has rarely been seen before.

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Sony DAV-HDX275 BRAVIA 5-Disc DVD/CD Player 5.1 Channel Home Theater System, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I had been in the market for a set of inexpensive bookshelf speakers when I stumbled across this brand new model Sony system at a local retailer. For the price, this unit is pretty hard to beat, with a fairly extensive feature list and only a few drawbacks.
This unit is the brand new "step up" to the popular HDX265 model system. The speakers are the same, but this unit adds digital dolby decoding, additional digital input capability (important for decoding Digital Dolby from satellite or cable boxes) and support for the new "S-AIR" system that allows wireless connectivity to other rooms in the home.
Sound quality from this setup is good, although not impressive if you are used to higher end sound from seperate components. Certainly good enough for use in a bedroom or other application (I put this in a small workout room). Sound quality is better than most shelf systems in the same price range and should give most other all-in-one-box systems a good run for their money.
Setup is extremely simple with color coded wires for all of the different speakers. Unfortunately the wires terminate to special connectors that plug into the back of the main unit. This would make extending/replacing the wires a pain. The unit includes a microphone and a nifty auto-calibration feature that sets all of the speaker levels correctly with a few taps on the remote control.
The remote control itself is handy, but on the cheap side.. it's pretty basic but gets the job done. It will control all of the unit functions and even allow for basic control of an iPod that is connected to the included iPod dock. The remote control can also be programmed to control most model TVs.
DVD output from this unit is very good and the HDMI output is great for quick and easy cabling to an HDMI equipped flat panel HDTV. DVD startup and controls were quite snappy and the unit can hold up to 5 CDs or DVD in the built in cartridge. The unit will up-convert DVD to 1080P resolution over the HDMI output. While not nearly as good looking as my Blu-Ray player, it will still look quite good on most small to medium sized TVs.
The best features of this unit are the HDMI output, extra inputs (one digital and one analog), iPod dock (which works with the remote control) and DVD up-conversion.
There are drawbacks, as there always are with these all-in-one deals. The iPod dock doesn't have any onscreen output or control, which is a bit of a drag since you can't see what's on the iPod screen from across the room. The main unit is physically quite deep (about 15 inches) which means it won't fit on smaller shelves. Also annoying is the lack of any bass or treble control.
The unit has two sound modes, "movie" and "music" and a bass enhancer (which I turned off as it made the bass sound boomy and obnoxious for music listening). There is no stereo 5.1 mode which would allow for output to all 5 speakers from regular stereo sources like an iPod. Instead the unit has a 4 channel matrix mode that uses the main, rear and subwoofer speakers for stereo. This is kind of a shame since the center channel speaker is the clearest sounding one of the bunch. The center channel does sound decent when watching or listening to TV and DVD sources.
Overall I can safely give this system 4 stars. The sound is quite good for a sub $300 system, the DVD player with up-conversion is great, and the unit has just enough flexibility through the extra inputs and wireless add-on options to be useable for quite some time. Certainly it fits the bill as a stereo/DVD-player for my workout room.
//update as of 4/23/2008.
A couple of other little nit picks discovered with this sytem. I've discovered that the sound mode, bass and other settings aren't memorized per input. In other words if you are watching a DVD and have the sound mode in "movie" and have the bass turned up and then switch the input to the one for the iPod it is still in the same sound mode. This is a bit inexcusable considering that even dirt cheap budget AV receivers can remember the settings for each input seperately.

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The Sony DAV-HDX275 BRAVIA Theater System includes an integrated 5 DVD / CD changer, 1000 watts of home theater power, and an included iPod dock. Using exclusive Sony technology, S-AIR brings the promise of multi room audio distribution that most anyone can set-up, it's that easy. DAV-HDX275 comes equipped with Digital Media Port that works with various accessories (sold separately). The DAVHDX275 can control a select number of BRAVIA televisions with BRAVIA Sync via the HDMI interface. With "One Touch Play," operations that took several steps have been reduced to one. Also, HDMI interface upscales DVD media up to 1080p. This BRAVIA System optimizes speaker placement in just 30 seconds with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration.

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Sony DAV-FR1 5-Disc Progressive Scan DVD Dream System Review

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(More customer reviews)I was pretty skeptical about a home-theater-in-a-box until I got this new Sony system home and tried it out. I already had a really good component-based home theater, but this system was a promotional purchase along with my new Sony HDTV, and the price was too good to pass up. Set-up took about 45 minutes, but the resulting sound is awesome! The bass is wonderful - when the Norah Jones CD is playing, my living room sounds like a jazz club!
I had recently purchased the Sony NS-575P single-disc DVD player and was stunned by its video performance and slick operation. It looks as though the changer in the FR1 uses similar software, or atleast, the same user interface and it is great! I like how it displays the disc's artwork as a screen background. The reasons why I'm happy with this Sony changer are similar to why I am also so happy with the stand-alone player I had to move to the den - it decodes virtually EVERYTHING you can throw at it... mp3, SACD (!), and DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD with JPEGS, etc.
And, the all-in-one package means a minimum of wires. Quite frankly, I'm really impressed with this "dream system"... it delivers big sound and convenience for much less money than I expected to have to pay! Thanks, Sony!
Update: Just listened to/watched the Star Wars trilogy on DVD and the sound (and video) is very impressive. In particular, the dialogue was always audible, even when the music and other sound effects were active.
Also: There is one thing that bugs me about this player - this is my first carousel CD or DVD changer (I've had a magazine changer forever), so I don't know if this is par for the course or not, but it takes a fairly long amount of time to load a disc into an empty slot... you can hear lots of stuff going on inside the box, but it's never clear WHEN it's OK to go ahead and load the disc. But maybe this is true of all carousel-style changers.
Just FYI: No color/saturation problems can be detected with my system. I use component video outputs with an HDTV widescreen monitor (see my other reviews) and I stand by the stunning images I see - my DVD collection, as I stated above, is BRAND NEW again!

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Pioneer VSX-D812-K - AV receiver - 5.1 channel - black Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this receiver used a couple months ago. So far it's done very well. In comparison to today's receivers this one doesn't have half of the 'bells and whistles,' but it does a great job with the basics.
I went with the Pioneer brand because the my 13 year old Pioneer Pro Logic receiver outlasted my 7 year old Kenwood DD/DTS receiver. The receiver sounds great with movies (in both DD and DTS) as well as music (in DD/DTS or just a stereo CD).
The best part about the receiver is the pre-outs for all 5.1 channels for separate amplifiers. I am currently running a powered sub and a separate 2-channel amp for the fronts and it sounds incredible.
The receiver is also expandable to 7.1 channels.
PROS:
Reliable!
5.1 channel pre-outs
Solid performance for movies and music (great DD/DTS processing!)
CONS:
No auto-setup feature (see VSX-d912 for that)
No learning remote

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Yamaha YHT-150 600-Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater in a Box (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)We wanted an HTB (Home Theater in a Box) for less than $300 for our Master Bedroom, to go with the new small HDTV. We already had the other components (DVD, etc.), so we wanted an HTB without the DVD but with plenty of component connections for future expansion. After some shopping we purchased the Yamaha YHT-150.
However after purchasing this product, I struggled for 2 weeks to like it, but in the end I finally did. I debated about taking it back and I looked at several other systems during these 2 weeks, but really couldn't find anything better in this price range.
Both the receiver and the powered subwoofer are excellent, but my 2 week struggle was with the other 5 speakers (NS-AP-1500s).
After setting the system up, I tried the DVD movie "Twister" (always a good HTB test movie), but the sound was "flat", "hollow", somewhat "tinny" and low volume (IOW, had to turn the volume way up). The speaker sound reminded me of being at the drive-in theater (remember what those speakers sounded like). This is when I entered my 2 week struggle with the system.
To start sorting it out, I tested 2 of the speakers on another system, and quickly discovered that they are not very efficient (it takes power to get sound out of them), but I also discovered that the sound they produced was very clear and clean, unlike the YHT-150.
So back to the YHT-150, I realized that the speaker wire that came with the system was only 22 gauge wire (though it looks heavier) which I used to set it up. So I theorized that this wire was too small for the power required to drive these speakers, and that this might be responsible for the unwanted sound effects. So I bought $5 worth of cheap 16 gauge speaker wire at Home Depot for a test, and rewired the front 3 speakers. Then I turned on the local classical FM station, and WOW, what a world of difference the 16 gauge wire made! I could hear richness and detail in the piano solo, and even people quietly moving around in the background of the recording.
However at the new more powerful and cleaner sound levels, I could now hear that the speakers had no low-end bass (which is noted in the manual specs), but the subwoofer was not filling in the bass correctly to compensate for this. There would be a sound from the speakers (like a voice for example) that should have a bass component, but only a rumble from the subwoofer. This problem turned out to be the cheap subwoofer cable that came with the system.
So I ordered a 100ft roll of good quality 16 gauge speaker wire and a good quality subwoofer cable, both for $38 total (I caught both on sale), and both of these have transformed the system. The speakers now deliver good clean clear sound at significantly reduced volume settings. The required volume settings are still higher than I'd like due to the speaker inefficiency, but the receiver has more than enough power to drive them in a bedroom setting, so this is not an issue. The excellent subwoofer is now very clean and tight, and it accurately fills in the bass for sounds that have bass.
In the end, I've come to like this system, and it does a really good job for the reasons we bought it. I'm not sure I'd recommend it for a large living room as I don't think it has the power to fill a large room, but it can fill a bedroom or a smaller living room just fine.
I have a couple of other issues with the sytem. First, the remote looks a little cheap, but it works fine. Second, the system was a little complicated to figure out and setup, and I think this system needs to be setup correctly for it to deliver its excellent sound potential.
All in all this is a nice system, and I recommend it.

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Hunting for exciting, dynamic surround sound on a budget? You've landed at the right system. It's no mirage: Yamaha's affordable YHT-150 includes the 5-piece NS-AP1500 speaker ensemble, a YST-SW010 subwoofer, and Yamaha's HTR-5730 home theater receiver, which pumps 100 watts per channel x 6 discrete channels (at 1 kHz) and offers a host of options for rendering the type of surround sound best suited to your taste or programming.The powerful HTR-5730 receiver accepts the DVD player's Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS 5.1-channel surround signals and routes each channel to its designated speaker. Additionally, the receiver's Silent Cinema and Night Listening modes enhance headphone and low-level listening, respectively, while Yamaha's 32-bit Cinema-DSP processing gives you an additional 24 surround effects to enhance your movies and music. With the HTR-5730's 5.1-channel analog inputs, you're ready for high-resolution DVD-Audio/SACD playback, too, whether from your current disc player(s) or from any future devices to which you might upgrade. The receiver offers a total of 4 AV inputs, and its tuner section offers 40-station AM/FM preset tuning.The 6-speaker complement includes the 5-speaker NS-AP1500 for the front, center, and surround speakers and Yamaha's YST-SW010 subwoofer for deep bass, which is important for effective home theater sound. Each speaker in the NS-AP1500 ensemble uses a sealed, acoustic-suspension design with dual 2.5-inch pulp-cone woofers. The center speaker is specially configured for TV placement and--as it handles upwards of 70 percent of a movie's audio, including most voices--it's engineered for slightly more full-bodied sound than the other speakers.The 100-watt, 6.5-inch subwoofer uses a spruce-cone driver and Yamaha's patented Advanced Active Servo Technology (Advanced YST), generating incredible bass from its small enclosure. Advanced YST uses negative-impedance feedback in the amp and a Helmholtz resonator in the speaker to provide strong and accurate bass.QD-Bass (Quatre Dispersion Bass) technology uses a down-firing driver with square, pyramid-shaped reflective plates to radiate sound with equal effectiveness in all directions. The sub's individual volume control permits the perfect matching of the sub's output to the overall volume of the system. The sub has a signal-sensing circuit, too. When it detects an audio signal, it powers right up. When it senses no signal for several minutes, it shuts itself off.All speakers included with the YHT-150 feature magnetic shielding, so they can be placed near a TV or monitor and cause no picture degradation.What's in the Box Surround amplifier, 5 speakers, a powered subwoofer, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, all requisite cabling.

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Yamaha YSP-4000BL Digital Sound Projector (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I now have the new Yamaha YSP 4000 and having tried it out on over twenty different disks, can say without equivocation that it is amazing. So long as you have a room with a good back wall and at least one sidewall, it will deliver incredibly good 5.1 surround sound. Will it be as good as top end systems with five distinct and separate speakers costing $5,000 or more? Of course not. Will it be as good as or better than receiver/speaker systems available today for $3.000? Yes. In other words, this newest Yamaha stands clearly at the point of diminishing returns. After installing it and listening to it, you may decide that you do not need a subwoofer. It did Chicago beautifully. I decided I wanted one for some of the accurate bass on great classical music.
The setup is easy, but when the screen tells you to get out of the room - GO! The sounds emitted during the setup are designed to send cats and dogs into fits of madness. Do not try to audition this unit in a 'big box' store. It relies on nearby walls to help it work. If you have a friend who has taken the plunge, go and listen to it within a real listening area. Anyone who lives in or visits Central FL leave a comment on this thread and I will cheerfully invite you to visit and make up your own mind. If you live in a place where you cannot drill holes in your wall or if you do not want wires and speakers all over the place - this may be the solution for you. It was for me.

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The new YSP-4000 Digital Sound Projector offers versatile new features such as, 1080p-compatible HDMI, analog video to HDMI digital video up-conversion, and component/composite inputs. Other features include: iPod and XM HD surround compatibility, built-in FM tuner, RS-232C for custom installation and a wide variety of beam settings, including My Surround Beam, for a true multi-channel surround sound experience from a single component. The YSP-4000 applies the Digital Sound Projector technology to precisely control the orientation of the sound by focusing it through multiple beams. The center channel sound is heard directly, while sounds from other channels are heard after reflecting off walls. The result is true multi-channel surround sound that sounds just like a multi-speaker system but without the need for extra speakers! As amazing as it seems, the YSP-4000 can actually deliver multi-channel sound that surrounds listeners the same way that sound from front, center and rear speakers does. DVD movies and other digital sources sound just the way they are supposed to. Dolby Pro Logic II is included, so even 2-channel TV's sound can be heard in true multi-channel surround. Its elegant space-saving design avoids the need of numerous speakers and cables. It can be wall mounted or placed on a shelf or rack. The YSP-4000 has a powerful and efficient digital amplifier built in. It powers the 40 beam drivers at 2W each and the two woofers at 20W each, for a total of 120W of power. There is no need for the customer to purchase an additional amplifier or receiver.

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Pioneer VSX-917V-K Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this receiver a few days ago to upgrade from my basic Pioneer XV-HTD540 receiver/DVD combo.I'm using the same speakers from before but I swear,this receiver has just breathed new life into them.They sound much more dynamic from the same movies I've been watching.
I really wanted the HDMI and Optical audio connections and am really happy to have them here. This reciever has more options than anyone is likely ever going to use but my favorite so far is the included microphone attachment that will automatically set up your equalizer to the specs of your room by audio noises through the speakers then received by the microphone attachment(note:hook up component cables from the reviever out to your T.V. to get on screen interaction to make this and other options easier).I know this isn't the only receiver to have this feature but it sure is nice to have on a relatively inexpensive one like this, especially if you don't feel like fiddling with the EQ to find your sound. I listened to it before doing the auto set up and it was nice but after the auto set up, WOW, what a difference. I also like how this receiver will tune into whatever source you've set to adjust the listening options(like Dolby Digital,DTS,or even the Sports setting during a game)for what your watching. It also supports both XM and Sirius radio.
Only downsides are that when your using HDMI through the receivers ports,you have to turn the receiver on for the signal to get to your TV. Not a big deal and there are ways around this if you get creative enough. The other being that this reciever only passes through audio via HDMI, it doesn't decode it to play through your speakers. That's only a big deal if you have HD DVD or Blu-ray, as HD audio can only be heard through HDMI or........
........you can get a player with 5.1 analog audio outs to hook into the 5.1 analog ins on the receiver. That's what I did. Now I have hi def movies with their hi def audio playing through my receivers speakers. It's the only way to get hi def audio if your reciever doesn't decode from HDMI. Most of those receivers though are alot more expensive, so I found this to be a great alternative.
Overall, I'm just glad to finally have a reciever with options now.I like this one alot,it's going for a really good price right now and is actually much less than the Harmon Kardon reciever I was looking at which offered the same features. Plus this one is much more powerful than the HK. I feel good about keeping this one around for years to come as it's able to pass through 1080p video, some of the best audio from HD DVD/Blu-ray dics and is 7.1 capable.If your looking for a good mid-range receiver for a good price, this is it.

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Pioneer VSX-917V-K Home Theater Receiver, Black

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Yamaha HTR-6060BL 7.1-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)One of the few new A/V receivers that has a truly usable & friendly remote control. On screen GUI makes set up (Auto or Manual) & modificatons a breeze. 9 speaker sound - woosh! A truly musical piece of equipment. Digital & Analogs recordings come alive. You can bring your vinly LP's & tapes new 7.1 channel surround sound. Phono input is a A+ bonus. Replaced Sony's 1997 DAG90ES top of the lne with this new receiver. This one is a much better unit & was 1200.00 cheaper. Movies & music - Fantastic!

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Cambridge Audio Sirocco Ultima SL70 Slimline Premium Floorstanders (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)As far as I know, this is the first review of this Cambridge speaker pair anywhere (even though the box they came in looked like it had been around the world a couple of times, but thankfully with no damage inside). I bought on faith and specs. I did not audition the speakers (no time to find a dealer, then take on one of those creatures called a salesperson). I wanted a small, efficient floorstander, and this pair fills the bill very well.
A one-word description of these speakers could be CLEAN. They look clean, and they sound clean. The build quality is almost flawless. The sound is neutral but very detailed. I have DynAudios and a hybrid tube amplifier in my car and an older stereo setup in another residence (with amp and preamp/tuner and big old Klipsches), so I know clean when I hear it. In their own way, these speakers are as good as or better than my other equipment, even though they cost considerably less. They don't make me miss my other stuff. They have a black, shiny finish that is nicely done and should fit with any flat-screen TV. They look like they came with mine (and whew, my sweetheart actually likes the way they look, once she got used to the idea of 3-foot-tall speakers in the first place). The SL70s have dual connectors for bi-wiring, but they come with a removable metal bridge between the terminals that probably achieves much the same effect without the extra wires. They pair very well with my Marantz AV receiver.
SL70s do need a subwoofer unless you put them in a bathroom. With 3.5s, even three of them, I would have been very surprised if they hadn't. However, they do go down far enough and present so well that the transition between speaker and subwoofer is seamless, especially with classical music. This was not the case with the mediocre-in-every-category bookshelf speakers (that had glowing, mostly 5-star reviews on Amazon, BTW) that they replaced.
Other than the way they were shipped, the only cause for complaint with these speakers is that they came only with carpet spikes. I doubt it would be a good idea to use those on a hardwood floor, so I didn't.
All in all, though, I like these speakers. They look good, they sound good, and that makes them worth whatever I paid. So now, there's a review.

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Denon AVR-2808CI 7.1-Channel Multizone Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned a few receivers in the past (mostly Sony ES models), but none of them compare to this one. Denon specializes in audio, and it shows! Don't get me wrong, I love and own alot of Sony's products (two TVs, PS3, Vaio computer, DVD player, etc.), but after picking up this Denon and pairing it with a Polk speaker/sub setup, I've never been happier, and the upgrade from the Sony ES it replaced is substantial in many ways.
Denon AVR-2808ci Pros:
-Sound quality is absolutely incredible! Even compressed music from iPod is great ("Restorer" feature really helps!). Highs, mids and lows are all accurately reproduced, and there are tons of custom EQ options!
-Audyssey Auto-Calibration is accurate and thorough.
-Includes decoding of all current and future sound-fields (DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD, as well as Uncompressed PCM and everything else you can imagine, all via HDMI version 1.3a)!
-Display is large and includes alot of necessary info-this thing tells you what it's doing.
-Solid build quality and nice looking!
-Connectivity options (HDMI, toslink, digital coax, component video, s-video, etc.)
-Video upconversion via HDMI using built-in Faroudja DCDi processor, or just passthrough and use as a convenient HDMI switcher (assignable inputs).
-Excellent sound processors, both for movies and music, complement a solid, beefy amplifier.
-Customizable as all heck: 4-stage dimmer, "Quick Select" feature for three sources, learning lcd remote, volume level options, mute level options, default settings per-source, massive amount of EQ/channel level/crossover settings, and more!
-Main remote works great, learns and controls just about all of your gear.
This receiver is truly great for anybody who is serious about their Home Audio/Home Theater. The only drawbacks are that it is very complex, which is fine except that Denon doesn't make it any simpler to understand in the manual. It definitely takes some time to set this thing up and learn its interface. The Sony's I've owned in the past were far more user-friendly from the initial set-up/calibration onward. However, they never delivered results that were even close to this unit, and once you learn it, it does make sense and is relatively user-friendly after setup.
Cons:
-Complex manual and interface takes time to learn.
-On Screen Menu lags a little and blacks out picture rather than a nice overlay. Also, it's not the better looking, more user friendly GUI that more expensive models have (as well as all Sony's).
-Smaller secondary remote only works for other Zones (not a big deal really, but still...)
-Main remote takes forever to program/set up for universal usage. complicated.
-Only two HDMI inputs (could've used at least one more at this price range).
-No HD radio or Sirius support (does have XM).
Overall, minor gripes aside (nothing's ever perfect), I'm incredibly pleased and excited to own this unit and have it as the central hub to my Home Theater. I have Blu-ray now (PS3) and the advantages and options both now and in the future are vast. I'm confident that the Denon AVR-2808ci will allow me to take full advantage of that and other things for years to come. Mostly, though, it just cranks out amazingly good audio from any source, and that is ultimately what receivers are for. Highly recommended!

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Onkyo TX-DS989ver2 - AV receiver - 5.1 channel Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the most incredible receiver ever put on the market, it does everything and more. It is heavy but with all the items it has, it has to be. It's a shame that Onkyo stopped making this model.

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RJTECH RJ-8000SB Virtual Surround SoundBar Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this product because it was much cheaper than the yamaha soundbars, but did not have good luck. It had a constant ringing, no matter where I located it, or what input it was on. The build looks good, the unit looks great, but I couldn't get it to work properly. There is no tech support I could see to get help either. No SW out port either.

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Denon DHT-488BA Home Theater System with 5.1 Channel Speaker Review

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(More customer reviews)I originally was going to buy a different Denon system but decided on this one with the Boston Acoustics speakers. It arrived on schedule and took me a couple days to read through the manual (just do it) and play with the various settings before the setup was close to what I wanted. A few minor tweeks after that and this thing rocks. I watched the Super Bowl in HiDef surround and was glad I didn't spend the money for the tickets. It was like being there. When you hear people behind you yelling "Defense" or cheering as Eli threw the winning touchdown pass, it makes watching the game more fun. There are enough settings on the tuner to satisfy anyone. Whether it's watching a DVD, listening to the stero or playing XBox, this system can make the experience more fun. Well worth the money. Read the manual. The set up is not for the faint of heart. I'd recommend this to anyone.

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Yamaha RX-V995 Surround Receiver with Dolby Digital and DTS Decoding Review

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(More customer reviews)This is such a feature-ladened high quality Dolby Digital Receiver that is blows the others away! My last receiver was a Denon, but I will tell you that this is heads and tales above the Denon. This Yamaha receiver is able to accurately reproduce the Dolby 5.1 format in all of its glory fully enabling the expressive power of Dolby Digital!

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Onkyo TX-SR806 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This receiver is amazing. Setting it up was a breeze. For the nontechnicaly advanced and new comers everything is color coded.
When it came to setting up the speakers I came into a small problem. A slight error on my part. So I hope this advice helps others when setting up the speakers. This receiver comes with a mic that is used to electronicaly test the distance from each speaker to 1 of 6 seating positions one at a time to ensure best sound in all 6 seating positions. When using the set up mic to automatically adjust your speaker setting without having to do it manually make sure the surround speakers from your previous 5.1 plug into the "surround" speaker outputs NOT the "Back surround" speakers. The Back surround is for a 7.1 connection which I still need to upgrade to. If you plug them in the wrong outputs of the receiver you will get an error message while performing the auto speaker set up. This will also cause a problem if you try to manually set up the speakers too.
Aside from that small mishap- sounds great easy set up- self explanatory remote- and the reason I bought it, the THX certification.
The THX certification basically means Onkyo paid Lucas to certify that the equipment meets the THX standards. There are several units on the market that might meet the THX lever of quality but unless products pay for the certification we wont know. To me this shows Onkyo cares about letting you know what you are getting. Some people don't need or want this. If this is you Id suggest looking for a model or 2 down the line. This certification is why this unit has the sticker price it does.This unit also has 5 HDMI inputs to plug all sorts of HDMI items in like Xbox 360, PS3, a Blu Player ETC... and one HDMI out to connect to the TV. I also like the blue backlite volume knob and the green display on the face of the unit. If you connect the HDMI out there is a on screen option that allows you the visibility of reading off your TV set vs. the small display screen on the unit. This is good when setting up the speakers. This unit also reads several of upgrade audio options found on the Blu DVDs.
UPDATE 4/27/09
A few things to add...
when connecting electronics in through the HDMI you can choose how it will be displayed when it leaves the receiver and shown on the screen.
In the options I selected to have all images displayed as 1080i since that is the native resolution picture my current TV supports. So my 360 and blu ray all have their images altered via the receiver to the native resolution my screen can handle over all offering a better image. (only through HDMI)
I can also set each sound format (DTS-HD, DOLBY DIGITAL, Dolby TRU HD, ETC.) to be automatically switched to the sound preset of my choosing offered by the receiver. For example NOT THAT I WOULD EVRE DO THIS but if my Blu Disk had a Dolby TRU HD soundtrack I could set my receiver to send the signal out in mono. Doing so will automatically adjust every Dolby TRU HD soundtrack to mono. This is good if you have a specific sound option avail on the receiver you tent to enjoy most. The amp will make a slight click noise to let you know it switched over and boom you get the sound option you want vs reaching for the remote and searching for the sound option you desire.
Also each input, Game, DVD, Tape, CD etc. has its own memory. So whatever you set for the DVD option will not be automatically applied to the game option. This allows me to pick my favorite sound options for each input.
You can also set the default volume setting when you turn the receiver on. So if you shut it off without turning it down it will not turn on at the last volume but rather the preset desired volume. You can also select the volume of how you "mute". Either 50% of the current volume or completely off. You can also pick any volume level between the lowest and the highest available. If you dont want it plaied too loud you can also select the loudest volume level you desire. This wont allow the volume to raise over that selected volume level.Another feature I liked is the ability to rename inputs. I changed the name of my DVD input to read Blu Ray and my Game input to read XBOX360. Now when I uses the remote to select DVD or game the new names I relabeled show up on the onkyo display.
Over all I am happier and happier with my purchase each day. There are still so many features I have only begun to breech the icecap!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Onkyo TX-SR806 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)

The TX-SR806 occupies a unique position in the Onkyo line-up.We class it as a mid-range A/V receiver. But with its advanced capabilities and THX Ultra2 Plus certification, it`s a worthy challenger for high-end status. Built with high-definition entertainment in mind, the TX-SR806 accommodates up to five HDMITM sources that can handle both 1080p video and studio master-quality surround sound.That`s more high-def sources than you`ll find on any other Onkyo A/V receiver. If that weren`t enough, onboard Faroudja DCDi CinemaTM scales all standard definition sources to 1080p for HDMI output, or to 1080i for component video output. Endowed with the amplification power and dependability expected from an Onkyo A/V receiver, the TX-SR806 stands out as a natural choice for high performance home theater.

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