Onkyo TX-SR307 5.1-Channel A/V Surround Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The advantage to this receiver (as well as the 507) is the depth fits most standard cabinets. This was my primary reason for looking at this receiver. I believe Onkyo is a good brand, and this receiver is better than my last, but it suffers in the high end features.
The HDMI passthrough is bunk. It does not look at the audio through the HDMI, which I specifically asked about and was misinformed. NO AUDIO THROUGH HDMI! You must attach a seperate audio in cable, which is not a big deal but for two reasons. 1) this receiver only has two optical inputs and one coaxial audio inputs (so only three surround audio inputs, and no popular product right now using optical, so you really only have two surround inputs) and 2) The inputs are not assignable to the HDMI, so you actually only have one optical input that will work while your HDMI pass through is working. Essentially, if you use HDMI through this unit, you are restricted to one optical audio input and the other is dedicated to "CD" so you can run a separate HDMI cable to your TV, but this defeats the entire purpose of HDMI on the receiver. Not a big deal to me, but may be a deal breaker for you. So, to repeat, and summarize, HDMI INPUTS ON RECEIVER ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL ENOUGH FOR YOU TO EFFECTIVELY USE THEM.
The price is great. $240 for a receiver with two optical audio inputs and an onkyo name? Works for me. This guy will NOT be future proof, and I will have to replace it if I want to have more than two surround sound sources, but that will be years from now, and I am now wise enough to know that IF YOU WANT TO HAVE TRULY GREAT VIDEO/AUDIO, YOU NEED TO BUILD A DEDICATED CLOSET IN YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE NO TELEVISION CABINET FITS MASSIVE HIGH END COMPONENTS, ONLY CONSUMER VERSIONS WITHOUT THE HIGH END FEATURES. I have my television floating on the wall with a tube running in the wall hiding the wires, and I have a beautiful setup, but I can't find components that will fit! I should have had a built-in placed during construction (NEED LOTS OF DEPTH!) or I should have ran the wires to the closet and dedicated it, but then you have the problem of IR-signals...
Also, don't buy this unit for the microphone. It doesn't work at all. Perhaps this is because the instructions ask you to place all the speakers on the floor for calibration, and mine are installed flush in the ceiling and are not coming out. Basically the microphone won't work for high end users. Too bad.
I'd return it, but I can't get anything better for this price, and if I spend more money ALL of the receivers have a larger depth which will NOT fit into any television stand (and believe me... I looked for over a year!)
Great beginning receiver, works well, powers speakers to a reasonably loud volume, high end features are bunk, and you can't use more than two surround sources with this guy. Hope this helps!

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Denon AVR-3808CI 7.1-Channel Multizone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been waiting a while for "the perfect receiver". However, I have come to the conclusion that this is as close to perfect as I am going to find for my needs right now. I am using all 4 HDMI inputs (PS3, Oppo 980H, Directv HR20, and a Sony Vaio computer). The Denon has worked flawlessly with SACD, DVD-A, and lossless audio sources from my BluRay movies.
For sound quality, it is important to get the speakers setup properly. Denon's auto setup with the included mic makes this a very simple setup. I have heard that it helps to take measurements from all over the room, so I setup 5 listening locations. The sound quality is fantastic. I do have an spl meter, but I have not had it out to fine tune the setup just yet. It already sounds fantastic. The Oppo has the ability to send out a DSD multi-channel signal for its SACD and these sound fantastic on the Denon.
I am not really using the video upscaler very much since most of the signals I am inputting are already HD. In other words, the Denon mainly sends out the signals untouched, so it is hard to complain.
The ability to update the firmware over the internet connection is what I believe sets this receiver apart from the competition. For me, this was the deciding factor. With all of the new tech in these receivers, I do not want to have to carry the thing into a service location every time it needs an update.
I should mention that I played some music coming from my computer using the network interface and it worked okay. It did take a few seconds to retrieve license information for Yahoo Music DRM files, but I bet they improve on that in the future.
The downsides are small, but should be mentioned. The remote is okay for setting up the system, but it is going into a drawer with my other remotes now that I have my Harmony 880 universal programmed for all of the general functions that I need. Also, the GUI takes some getting used to. I like the ability to rename the inputs and choose what video inputs go with the audio inputs. However, it was not something that I picked up and setup in a few minutes. It is better than my old Denon AVR-3300, so at least they are going in the right direction!

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Denon AVR-3808CI A/V Multi-Source/Zone with Network Streaming Receiver

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Asrock Intel Dual Core Atom Wireless LAN Barebone ION 330-HT (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this nettop with the intention of using the open-source XBMC software as the hub of my home theater. With one notable exception, this computer has worked very well for that purpose.
Installing XBMC to the hard drive using the 9.10 Live CD went very well - everything installed without a hitch, and connecting the 330HT to my flatscreen using the HDMI output on the back worked beautifully. All the drivers necessary to use this nettop with XBMC were included on the Live CD, including the VDPAU library that allows the GPU to handle hardware video decoding. Playing 1080p blu-ray rips over the gigabit network is flawless and hiccup free, and uses around 5% of the CPU power. The spdif optical output allows me to pass DTS audio tracks directly to my receiver, and I'm loving life.
The drawback:
The 330HT differs from the 330Pro in the inclusion of an infrared receiver and a Windows MCE compatible remote. The infrared receiver is not on the USB bus, and ASRock has been remiss in providing functional Linux drivers for the receiver. This may not be a problem for you if you intend to run a Windows OS on the nettop, but if you want to use the Ubuntu-based XBMC live CD, as I did, you'll find that the current iteration of drivers (version 1.0.1 as of 01/25/2010) provide functionality, but include a number of bugs. First, the receiver will not acknowledge the first command from the remote - it seems to "wake up" in response to a button press (e.g., play, stop, etc.), but not to accept the command. So you're forced to press the button twice to get the nettop to respond. Subsequent button presses, if done soon enough, are usually acknowledged (although it seems to miss a few here and there sometimes). After a few minutes without remote control input, however, the IR receiver seems to go back to "sleep" again.
Even more problematic is the inability of the system to properly initialize (right term?) the IR driver when resuming from a suspend state. You can successfully put the nettop into a suspended state using the remote, and can even wake it out of sleep using the remote, but once awakened using the remote, the IR receiver will not recognize any further remote control input until you restart the system (by plugging in a keyboard, for example, since your remote is now useless).
Many people that have experienced these problems have broken down and purchased a USB IR receiver (the kind Microsoft sells, for example), since the drivers for those receivers are far more polished and problem-free. Doing so negates the whole advantage of the 330HT over the 330 Pro, however, so bear in mind the incremental cost of the only-partially-functional IR receiver when deciding between the two models. You can get the IR-receiver-free ASRock 330Pro (Black) and a USB recevier / remote control combo like this one for about the same price, and guarantee yourself Linux compatibility.
If you want the cleaner look of an integrated IR receiver and plan to use a Microsoft Windows OS, or if you're optimistic about ASRock's development of Linux drivers (I don't know enough about the company to know if they'll respond to consumer demand for improved drivers or not), then go for the 330HT.

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Asrock ION 330-HT Intel Dual Core Atom 330/ 2DDR2-800/ Nvidia ION/ 320GB/ 802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN Black Barebone

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Harman Kardon AVR-354 7x75W 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)It's unfortunate about the previous poster but I have the same unit and it is incredible! The unit has all the bells and whistles that you would expect on a much higher priced receiver. Do some research on the the chips used in this thing, they are incredible and are found only in a $5000 high end competitors line. The weakness of this receiver is that it can sometimes be too rich of a sound and lacks the crisp high that some look for because, honestly the degraded sound that we have received from companies like Sony and what we listen to in our cars have ruined our idea of what even sounds are. Just a side note, one of my buddies was the one who brought this "weakness" to my attention because he said it didn't have enough high range. I told him well watch the whole movie and lets see how fatigued your ears feel. Afterward, he was amazed how nice and easy it is to listen to this HK. The strength is it's punch and ability in the home theater to make gun fire sound like gun fire and not rocks being thrown against a tin roof. HK doesn't disappoint in my opinion with this receiver and it's too bad one customer, and the only review had a experience that is honestly out of this world. HK customer support is probably one of the best in the world, and are often recognized for that fact. Besides one month old and breaks, why not take it back to Best Buy?

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Harman Kardon AVR-354 7x75 watt 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver is your all-in-one receiver for your home theater system. This 7.1-Channel A/V receiver includes HDMI switching and audio/video processing. With 525 watts (75 watts x 7 channels) at your fingertips, movies will put you into the heart of the action. Picture this! The AVR-354 not only includes a host of powerful features such as DCDi® by Faroudja video processing, Simplay HD™-verified HDMI™ 1.1 connectivity with full audio processing as well as EzSet/EQ™and XM Ready technology – it uses a colorful user interface to make system setup and operation easier than ever. Add full multi-room capability with A-BUS® connectivity and you have pure Harman Kardon sound everywhere in the house.

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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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Onkyo TX-SR507 5.1-Channel A/V Surround Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I did a lot of research (including Consumer Reports) and settled on this Onkyo as the best compromise between performance and price. I've had it 2 weeks now and am very happy.
The auto setup function works better than a much-more expensive Denon unit I set up for a friend. I used the microphone (included) to measure speaker levels at 3 different locations in the room and the Onkyo did everything else. (It's connected to some older Polk speakers-- they sound so much better through this amp!)
I bought this primarily to process audio from our new BluRay player and the Onkyo does an outstanding job. The sound is better than in most movie theaters! Especially BluRay DTS or HD Master. Wish more movies were recorded in these formats.
We also have our DirecTV HD DVR hooked up to the Onkyo. Audio and video travel through the HDMI Cables, so there's no need to hook up audio separately. Very nice and a feature you will find missing from some more expensive amps.
The amp does get very warm. I put a small fan in the back of the cabinet and that seems to help.
BTW although this is a 5.1 channel amp is DOES support 7.1 if you want the 2 extra rear speakers... you just have to hook it up to your old amp (or any cheap 2-channel amp) and process those 2 channels that way. The 7.1 decoding IS built into this box.
I am not using the "Zone 2" feature but it's very unusual to have that in a receiver in this price range. You can watch a movie in one room while someone else listens to an iPod or FM in another room.
I don't think you can find a better receiver in this price range (and keep an eye on the price-- it's falling!)

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If you’re looking for a budget-friendly A/V receiver that offers versatile connectivity and compatibility with the latest processing technology, Onkyo’s TX-SR507 has you covered. With four HDMI 1.3a inputs, it can accept up to four high-definition sources—from Blu-ray Disc to HD broadcasting to high-def games—and output them to your compatible HDTV. HDMI 1.3a also enables you to enjoy the pristine "lossless” audio of Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™, as well as secondary audio on Blu-ray Disc via DTS-HD Express. The TX-SR507 comes with a suite of Audyssey surround-sound technologies to help tailor audio output to the unique dimensions of your entertainment space. Meanwhile, a new universal port makes it easy to incorporate an optional Onkyo Dock for the iPod® or Onkyo HD Radio tuner into your system. With all this, plus four high-impact Game Modes and the ability to send different audio to two rooms simultaneously, the TX-SR507 puts a huge amount of entertainment potential at your fingertips.

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Onkyo TX-SR705 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The reason to get this receiver over the 605 is the step up to 3 hdmi inputs and THX certification.
The power consumption of this unit is more efficient then the 805 and 605. This unit was built after those 2 other models. This isn't the lonely middle child, it shines on its own.
There is also a slew of issues this receiver does not exhibit that the 805 has problems with (check AVS forums for details)
HDMI video looks great, 7.1 sound great! Price is great! :)

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You've spent lots of time researching the purchase of the widescreen HDTV that you've wanted. Did you know that the improved visuals are just part of the total experience? Sound is the other. Surround sound just like that in a movie theater. This receiver helps create a home-theater environment of superior caliber. It's got an AM/FM tuner like most receivers but it's optionally upgradeable to receive XM and Sirius satellite radio. Are you iPod savvy? An optional iPod dock lets you play it through this sound system. With HDMI and other connectors for all your audio and video sound sources, the Onkyo TX-SR705, with Lucasfilm THX Select and Dolby TrueHD, is the central control of your home's entertainment space. And you're #1.1080p-compatible HDMI 1.3a digital video switching (3 in, 1 out); Analog-to-HDMI video upconversion; 480i (interlaced) to 480p (progressive) conversion via component video switching (3 in, 1 out); 3 optical (including 1 front panel), 3 coaxial digital in and 1 optical digital out; 5 audio/video inputs, including 1 front-panel input with composite and S-video, 4 rear-panel inputs with composite and S-video, 3 audio-only inputs (including phono) Dual-room/Dual-source audio (powered and line-level stereo audio output for 2nd room; using powered 2nd-room output allows 5.1 home theater in main room)Up to 40 AM/FM/XM/SIRIUS programmable station memory presetsOnkyo learning/multibrand remote helps replace the assembly of remotes to control your entire home-theater system Unit Size - 17-1/8W x 6-7/8H x 14-13/16DOnkyo USA limited warranty - 2 years

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Yamaha RX-V1800BL 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was forced to upgrade to the Yamaha RXV 1800 earlier than planned as my older Yamaha model gave up the ghost. I was very pleased with the previous model which I had for over 10 years. This past November I had acquired the Samsung 52 LNTF and the Toshiba HD A35 player, with plans to upgrade the amplifier sometime this year. These are all HDMI 1.3a enabled devices, supporting true 1080p
First the amplifier is impressive in size. It is not your father's amp. It is feature rich and is intimidating for those who are technically challenged.
Since most of my components are HDMI enabled, it was good to run less cables from these to the unit. (My wife was very pleased with, this.) This is the beauty of HDMI cables, one cable carries the stereo audio and the three primary colors. This is the first gain to be realized from the system, the reduction of wires needed. The unit has 4 HDMI inputs already pre-programmed. By this, I mean each input has been configured for a particular device. There is one for 1080p DVD players (Blu Ray or Toshiba HD), one for regular DVD players, one for cable box/satellite set top box etc. Meaning you cannot criss cross the inputs with the devices and expect it to work. I discovered this the hard way.
Connecting the wires is less intimidating than originally thought. I used screw in banana plugs that made connection to the speakers a breeze. It does require one to have enough free wire to allow for slack when the unit is positioned.
There is a cool feature "YAPAO" that is used to set the sound levels for the speaker based on the listening position. The test showed me that one of my main left front speaker was out of phase (that is the rec wire from the speaker was connected to the black input port on the unit.) The trick is to be able to locate the supplied microphone in the right location to conduct the test.
The entire wiring with assistance from my wife took about an hour. Plan everything ahead and read the set up instructions. You cannot afford to short circuit such a monster of a unit.
I am still struggling with the multi-room zone controls. They are not simple. All I really want to do is to share the audio from the main zone to my bedroom which is zone 2. My previous model had an A/B switch that was easy enough to use. Just turn in on and the sound was distributed to my bedroom. I am still researching the multi-zone set up.
The remote control is not user-friendly either. It is overloaded and lacks in ease of use or human-tech friendliness. Others have recommended using the Harmony to control all other units. I struggled with the set up and was able to get it to control the TV, the DVD player and the CD player. For the life of me I cannot figure out how to get it to control the Cable set-top box.
The sound settings and offerings are too numerous to mention. Most of this you will only master over time.
Once I had it connected, I listened to some cds, watched a HD sourced movie, and HD sourced TV. I use Comcast and it have some nice HD on Demand features, especially the Gallery Player photos. The sound is awesome. It really makes a huge difference to the entertainment experience. It is hard to imagine how much you miss when you do not know what you are missing. I thought my previous sound experience was very good, the unit moved it up about two more levels.
Setting up the physical connections is not a challenge, less wires to deal with, but the programming and use of the remote will set you back many hours just trying to figure it out.
Am I pleased with my investment, very much so. So if you plan on purchasing this unit, realize it is no walk in the park, you do pay for what you get.

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The Yamaha RX-V1800 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver offers excellent levels of sound and video quality for total home theater enjoyment.It provides 910 Watts of total power, pushing 130 Watts to each of its 7 channels.With features including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders, the latest HDMI 1.3a specification support, video upscaling to 1080p, iPod compatibility, YPAO Auto Setup with Quick Start and multi-zone custom installation support, it will become the cornerstone of your home theater experience.

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Sharp Aquos LC42D64U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)After researching for 3 weeks, I was set on a Sharp TV. Sony was too expensive for my price range, and while I read a lot of good things about Samsung, this TV's features for the price sold me. After having it for a little while now, this is how I would rate it.
Price - Excellent. 4.5/5 Sharp was the cheapest prices between the top 3-4 brands I looked at that had a familiar name and plenty of reviews. I did examine other brands with lower prices on 1080p TVs, but I couldn't really obtain enough informational reviews or enough good ones to justify purchasing any of them just for the lower price.
Picture - Excellent. 4.25/5. I'll be honest, I was a little worried when purchasing a Sharp TV. First of all, I saw it's previous model (the D62U) at a Best Buy and a Circuit City and was not totally impressed with the picture, but I had heard that sometimes bad feeds or other issues can make a store-display not as attractive. However, my real concern was if my TV would have the infamous "banding" that seemed to plague some of Sharp's earlier models. You can easily find out what banding is by searching something like "Sharp banding issues". I won't go into specifics myself about that. Anyway, I had read this model of TV -can- have banding, but that it is not near as common nor as significant in earlier models. My TV has no noticeable banding issues at all, and I'm not going to go out of my way to nitpick and search for any small issues that may be there as I can't see them now.
As for the picture itself, it is great. Much better than the store displays for the earlier model that had me worry. Obviously, out-of-box settings aren't the best. At first I tried to change picture modes (of which there are several) to a User setting and tweak it using recommendations from some tech forums. This became tedious as people posted different specs and none were really quite looking right for me. So I gave up on that and just tried them on the default settings for what I was doing. I set my HDMI PS3 input to Gaming picture and it looks great. I see no reason to change it beyond that, it looks exactly as I was hoping for. Same with the Movie setting as well for my DVD input. No dead pixels and a crisp clear picture with good contrast black levels and brightness make it a great choice.
Plenty of options available for picture adjustment as well.
Features - Very Good. 4/5 Plenty of inputs. You can read the specs in the item description. My only reason for docking it a point is because the 3rd HDMI and 2nd Component are located on the side and stick out when plugged in. I can understand this could be an eyesore for those wall-mounting it or just not wanting to see them sticking out. I am not using that 3rd HDMI port (yet), but I do have 2 component items hooked up and the cords sticking out the side and noticeable from looking at the TV straight-on plus the location of my TV itself does make it a tad annoying, but I am getting used to it and it's not really bothering me as much as it might others.
Overall - Excellent. 4.75/5 (note, the overall is not meant to be an average of the other scores). Overall, it's definately a great buy. There is more that I could say and some things I have probably forgotten about that I wanted to say, but that's ok. I don't want to make this too awful long a review. So, yeah, basically my experience with this TV is amazingly good and I would easily recommend this TV to anyone who asked me. It's price, features, and picture easily won me over.

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The AQUOS(R) D64U Series raises the bar by fitting large screen sizes into incredibly small footprints. Depth is reduced by 36%, allowing placement in virtually any setting. The D64U Series utilizes Sharp`s proprietary Advanced Super View/Black TFT Panel with multi-pixel technology, providing 10,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio with Enhanced Picture Contrast Technology and 4ms response time. The D64U Series are HDTVs with built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC tuners and include 3 HDMI(TM) inputs, compatible with 1080p signals, a PC input and 2 HD component video inputs. Side terminals are included for convenience as well as RS-232C input for control. The D64U Series features a sleek piano black cabinet with subtle, recessed bottom-mounted speakers.

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SONY DAV-C770 DVD Dream(TM) System Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought and took back this system 3 times. When it worked it was absoulutely incredible. In all three, the subtitles kept coming on in the middle of movies. Drove me nuts. The progressive scan and sound was superb. The first one: on occasion the video would go out while watching a dvd, just turning it off and on again made it work again but it was a pain. The subtitles always came on, after turning them off, over and over again so we exchanged it. The second one: was better with the subtitles. They would only come on once or twice during the movies. The problem with the second one was it would reset itself from component output/progressive scan to interlace. We had to hook it up differently to reset it back to progressive scan. We took it back and tried it one more time. The third one only worked for 4.5 hours before it died alltogether. No power, just went completely dead. It worked great for the 4.5 hours but again the subtitles did come on during the movies. Just too many bugs in this model. It was great when it was working. I'm even tempted to buy it again just to see if I can find one with no flaws! We even bought all the recommended surge protectors and cables but it did no good.

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ItM-^Rs time to chill out on the sofa with SonyM-^Rs DVD Dream System. Featuring a 5-disc DVD/SACD/CD changer with progressive scan output, 5 satellite speakers, and a subwoofer, this system boasts 550 watts of total system power! Enjoy Digital Cinema Sound, Dolby Digital, DTS« and Dolby Pro-Logic II decoding, and get immersed in your movies and music.

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Denon AVR-889 700-Watt 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)Sound Quality - A
This product sounds very good. The bass is heavy, power is sufficient for its class and the highs are remarkable. It is also very quite. The audio generated is very clear and crisp - you hear new instruments in songs that you are familar with. It's very surprising. Visual clarity is as expected - excellent. Audessey audio enhancement is top notch and actual makes a noticeable difference
Build Quality - A
Sturdy. The unit does not feel cheap in anyway. The knobs and buttons are well designed and built to last.
Presentation - B
The unit is heavy. It is also longish meaning that it may not fit in a generic shelf - mine hangs out by at least 4 inches. I guess this is the new 'standard'.
Ease of use - B
Receivers are implicitly complicated. Gone are the days when you could buy one, plug it in and forget about it. That said, it would serve you well to read the manual first and keep it close. I am not a manual reader, I dive in. I got lost, spent several hours groping before I had to go to the manual. After you run autosetup and get everything sounding perfectly, you can always return to that state by performing a parameter restore if you mess up your settings by poking around. I use it often.
Supporting Documentation - B
The supporting documentation is thick. Everything is in there. I would have liked it categorized a bit better so that common functionality is more prominent. For a complicated product, I thought the manual did a good job but there is room for improvement. In particular, tips and trouble-shooting should receive more focus in the document body. It's in there in note form, but not that much.
Long Term Durability - NA
I had my Sony for 8 years before it started to misbehave. I hope this lasts as long.
Peripherals - C+
The remote is a challenge to operate. The remote contains both sides, one top and one hidden on the back side. Intuitive! but definitely not obvious to joe the plumber. The remote also serves as a universal remote control, you can program your other home theatre components with it. Getting around with the remote requires focus and attention to detail. An inattentive click causes grief.
Connections - A
There are ample connections for any one buying in to this price range. If you need more connections, you need a higher end system and should be at a higher price point. This will handle all your home theater connections and then some.
Overal Experience - B
For the price point, this receiver delivers in a major way. The multi-zone is an added bonus. For instance, in a couple of minutes I was able to configure the unit to play music on 2 speakers while my son played Xbox on 6 speakers. In a large room, this unit complements the notion of 'family time'.
Auto-setup is a huge time-saver. I spent 4 hours tuning the speakers, auto-setup did it in 20 minutes and, admittedly, better than my best efforts.
Bottom line is that this receiver will be current for the next few years at least, which makes it a good investment for that price today. For instance, Autosetup kept telling me my front speakers were out phase which i did not believe. Finally, I checked because it would not let me proceed past that point. It was right. It was late at night, I was tired and I connected +ve for -ve. Priceless!
The unit has a large number of options that make tweaking a dream (or nightmare) for those inclined. However, the large number of options makes it that much more complicated. For instance, it is easy to shoot yourself in the foot with this and spend several hours trying to figure out how to 'fix' it.
If I had the money, I would buy this again. What I would do different is that I would use autosetup to configure my speakers (20 minutes). I would read the manual first (20 minutes) and then start connecting. If you have a weekend to burn, toss the manual and dive right in - it's worth it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Denon AVR-889 700-Watt 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver

Packed with all of the latest high definition surround sound decoders, the AVR-889 is also equipped with sophisticated video signal processing and upconversion functions that breathe new life into standard definition sources. The video section features four HDMI v1.3a inputs that support high resolution audio as well as high definition video up to 1080p. The AVR-889 also includes Faroudja’s renowned DCDi deinterlacing and upscaling that provides near-HD picture quality with standard definition sources such as DVD. The audio section features the latest Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, for the growing number of Blu-ray high definition titles that feature the ultimate in surround sound fidelity, along with Dolby Digital Plus, DTS ES 6.1 Discrete and Matrix modes, as well as Dolby Pro Logic IIx and DTS Neo6 decoding. Audyssey Dynamic Volume automatically eliminates irritating volume level changes between TV shows and commercials, while the Audyssey MultEQ room acoustic correction system automatically provides the smoothest, most natural tonal balance in the listening space. Audyssey Dynamic EQ ensures rich bass and smooth tonal balance, even at low volume levels. Full multimedia connectivity includes optional adapters to handle PC-based multimedia sources as well as iPod connectivity, and Denon’s Compressed Audio Restorer brings near-CD fidelity to portable audio tracks.

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Onkyo TX-SR805 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Guess which company managed to get True HD and DTS HD into their next lineup of high end receivers. Onkyo of course!! Cutting edge technology filling your room with beautiful sound.
I received my Onkyo TX-SR805 in the mail yesterday and I couldn't be any more thrilled! The behemoth weighs in at 61 lbs. and you can tell it means business. Daunting as it may look, the setup is a breeze due to the fact that everything you plug into the receiver's many inputs, can be output to the TV through one simple HDMI cable. It upconverts any analog connection you can throw at it whether it's S-video, Component, or simple RCA. If you still have a Hi-Fi VCR or other Standard Definition electronics, I'd suggest investing in at least an S-Video cable for that, or if it does have an RGB Component Cable use that because even though it upconverts RCA it can only do so much for the picture quality. That being said it does upconvert all of these analog signals into 720p, 1080i. It DOESN'T UPCONVERT Composite connections to 1080p. The difference in the upconversion wouldn't be noticeable.
The integrated Faroudja DCDi technology is wonderful! If you thought that your 480p signal was decent before, wait till you see how well this deinterlacing works! Edges have much less noise and things in SD are cleaned up very well through the receiver.
Setup was easy as far as speaker configuration, the Audyssey MultEQ XT auto calibration system runs a speaker measurement set up for up to 8 listening positions in your room! so if you want it to take into account your entire living room seating arrangement, just move the little wired speaker microphone to each listening position and it does all the work.
Unlike some receivers like my recently sold Sony DG800, the receiver's setup menu can be output onto your TV screen. So instead of squinting at the receivers display from across the room, you can see everything right up on the TV screen. However, if you do like to tweak settings while watching TV you can choose not to have it output onto the TV.
If you're actually considering spending around $1000 on a receiver, THIS is the only thing you should be looking at! At the moment, the higher end Denon AVR4306 does just about everything that this Onkyo can do but the Onkyo Receivers are the FIRST receivers to truly decode DTS HD signals, and Dolby True HD! It's absolutely insane all the details that can come out of High Definition Surround Sound! I Recently acquired a Playstation 3 and although I don't plan on converting my DVD collection (500 dvds) to Blu Ray or HD-DVD I did purchase Speed on Blu Ray and I can tell you from what I heard, the future of High Definition Audio is here in this Onkyo TX-SR805! Every detail that they mixed into the movie's original track is encoded into DTS HD. It's literally translated from the original format without any loss of quality. It's ridiculous how amazing it sounds.
You may not hear a huge difference, but when movies start being encoded with this HD Audio, eventually you'll go back to an old DVD and cringe at the sound difference (or at least notice the lack of detail in the audio). If you don't have a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player don't fret, there's still a vast array of audio settings between Dolby Digital, and DTS there's also THX Ultra2 certified settings that blow you away! I currently have my DVD player setup to THX Cinema and watching the Pod Race in Star Wars Episode One: Phantom Menace is something you should check out A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
All the features can be overwhelming and the remote isn't the most intuitive, but when you spend a little time getting used to the buttons you need to push to make things work in harmony, you'll be happy with what you've got. Not to mention the beefy remote that comes with it can learn button functions which I love. For example when I coded in my HD Dishnetwork Box I couldn't get to the On screen TV Guide or my Recorded TV Menu, so I assigned the buttons manually and now the universal remote does everything my Cable DVR Remote does! If only I could code it to my Windows Media Center Remote oh well.
My one and only tiny complaint about this receiver is that it doesn't have HD Radio. It supports XM and Sirius radio but not HD FM Signals (not sure how to explain it but it's CD quality Free Local Radio Stations). The radio itself sounds fine and I don't listen to the radio very often anyways so it's not a big deal to me, but being as future proof as this receiver is, it should have HD radio. (Since I don't have XM, Sirius, or an Ipod I can't comment on the Docking capabilities or the Satellite Radio quality)
Last but not least make sure you have a big heavy duty surge protector, this thing is a power monster, you'll want a surge protector to make sure the receiver is getting a regulated amount of power, when I was setting it up I had all my components on at once and someone decided to turn on the hair dryer and a few fans, and there went the power. So be forewarned if you like 4 components on at once you might blow a fuse. also for $30 a 3 year protection plan is highly recommended just in case something shorts out in the receiver (knock on wood) you can service it for free, and get a replacement if necessary.
These aren't available in the store(ordered mine online at CC) and the sales people don't have much info on the receiver itself since it came out in May(about a month from prior to today) but it's comparable to the TX-SR804 if you want more similar opinions :)

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In terms of the evolution of home entertainment, recent years have seen a quantum leap. It's a formidable progression when you think of 1080p high-definition video and broadcasts; studio-quality, lossless surround sound; spectacular gaming with stunning motion and graphics; and the emergence of portable satellite radio programming. Bundling all this potential, the TX-SR805 A/V surround receiver has been built to provide comprehensive control over all movies, music, broadcasts and gaming. But that barely begins to describe the TX-SR805's potential. Augmented by its THX Ultra2 certification, this receiver goes even further by bringing you sophisticated room correction technology, multi-zone capabilities, powerful bi-amping and dual push-pull amplification. The TX-SR805 provides a reference point for a new generation of high-definition A/V receivers.

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Sharp LC 42SB45U - 42" LCD TV - widescreen - 1080p (FullHD) - HDTV - black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before I start, let me point out that this Sharp 1080p HDTV, LC-42SB45U, is *not* a model from their state-of-the-art Aquos line, which costs much more. I bought mine from Dell at a great price, and then realized this was not an Aquos. This is from what Sharp marketing geniuses call their "traditional LCD" line. (The Japanese are really great at marketing, aren't they?) This TV is made in China, underlining its value branding.
I struggled between giving this a 4-star vs. a 5-star rating. I'll explain. Picture quality-wise, it's excellent at 1080p -- I use it with my 60GB PS3 (which upconverts DVDs) -- with great contrast, smooth graphics and vibrant color (Sharp is best at color reproduction on LCD panels). The response time is 6 ms, and the viewing angle is an astonishing 176 degrees, both horizontally and vertidcally. (A flat surface has 180 degrees.) The maximum brightness is sufficient to allow you to use this set outdoors, on a patio, for example. (My old LCD TVs could not do this.)
I'm a movie buff so I watch a lot of Blu-rays and DVDs and have been very happy. (Tip: when using PS3's upscaling, set it to Normal, not Double Scale.) The built-in speakers (non-detachable) are passable for a small living room; you might want to use a home theater for hi-fi sound anyway.
When playing non-HDMI input materials -- e.g., from a traditional non-upconverting DVD player, an old VCR or non-HD cable content -- the picture quality is only average, hence my originally hesitation at giving this set a full 5-star endorsement. My guess is for this "traditional" (i.e., value) line, Sharp does not have a good non-HD upscaling engine that can improve the quality of non-HD images, or maybe it doesn't have one such engine at all. You'll notice aliasing artifacts that are absent from upconverted and native 1080 materials. (The Aquos models, on the other hand, excel at non-HD images as well.)
In the end, given the price I paid and given the solid build of the set, I feel I got a really good value, and when used with a PS3, this inexpensive 42" (actually 42 1/64" diagonally) 1080p LCD HDTV is terrific. Since I use it pretty much exclusively with my PS3, I'm very happy. Of course, you should be aware of its middling performance with non-HD content.

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The 42" Class (42-1/64" Diagonal) LC-42SB45UT, with full HD Spec 1080p resolution and an elegant new glossy black design, produces superb picture quality. The LC-42SB45UT features high contrast, fast response time and wide viewing angles. The LC-42SB45UT includes built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, three HDMITM inputs, is compatible with 1080p signals and has 2 HD component video inputs. The LC-42SB45UT features a sleek piano black cabinet with subtle, recessed bottom-mounted speakers, and the included table stand easily removes for wall mounting applications.

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Pioneer VSX-519V-K 5-Channel A/V Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Pioneer VSX-519V is an entry level 5.1 receiver made by Pioneer. Yet, don't let the fact that it is the cheapest 5.1 receiver they carry turn you away. This product has plenty bang for its buck. The receiver has an excellent build and a sleek look to it, but that is not all. The receiver has a plethura of connections ranging from hdmi, optical, digital coaxial, component, analog video, and of course and antenna hookup. The only hookup missing is s-video. The receiver handles video signals well. I cannot discern any degredation of video quality when compared to a direct video hookup to the television. Now moving onto the real reason someone would buy this, surround sound. This receiever can power my Bose Acoustimass Series I speaker system very well. It gets very loud and there are no signs of the speakers being underpowered. For volume control there is a knob on the right front side you can turn. The sound level ranges from 1 to 80. Which does strike me as a bit odd why only to eighty, why not a hundred instead? You can also adjust the volume with the included remote. The remote is very substantial and lets you control any and every setting the receiver has. The remote takes 2 AAA batteries to work; a pair is of course included. Functions, there are many effects and settings you can change on the receiver but most are uneeded and will most likely be overlooked. An example of these includes the settings for different types of music such as rock and classical. You are better off just leaving these options alone. However is you are interested the manual is very thorough and describes this receivers features in much greater detail. All you need to know is this receiver supports Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, and Dolby Prologic II for your stereo encoded sources. When you play a DVD that supports say DTS the receiver will automatically detect this and switch to that setting. So for movies, television shows, videogames, and music this projector has it covered. However there are a few downsides. The receiver does not support HDMI passthrough for audio sources. This means you can't hook all your audio souces up and then run them through one HDMI and have it transfer all your audio signals through that one hdmi cable. Only more expensive receivers support this feature. It also has no upscaling feature, which is no surprise for a sub [...]receiver. And finally the reason I give it 4/5 stars instead of 5/5. The receiver is advertised as having 5x110 watts for a total of 550 watts and 110 watts per channel at an excellent .05% distortion level. This is not entirely true. While it may be true in some respects it is a bit deceiving. In the manual it states "continuous average power output of 80 watts* per channel, min., at 8 ohms, from 20Hz to 20 000hz with no more than 0.2%** total harmonic distortion. So it makes you wonder if you one can really trust wattage and distortion levels. It may be able to push a 110 watts a channel, but at continuous average power at 20hz-20,000hz with .05% distortion, it seems not. Anyway if you are looking for an entry-level home theatre receiver for your 5.1 system and are on a budget look no further.

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Designed specifically as a high definition A/V control center, the VSX-519V-K features HDMI connectivity for sources such as Blu-ray disc players and HD gaming. And with an output of 550 watts (110 watts per channel at 0.05% THD), the VSX-519V-K provides more than enough power for a high impact experience.With portable audio devices now becoming a primary source of music, convenient connections like a front mini input allow you to expand the capabilities of your iPod or other portable music player. And with innovations like Advanced Sound Retriever improving the quality of compressed audio files and auto level control providing consistent sound output from all two-channel sources - the VSX-519V-K will ensure your compressed music files are played at maximum fidelity.

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Westinghouse 26" LCD 720p HDTV - SK-26H730S Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros: Great picture, easy setup, full-featured remote
Cons: Background noise at low volume
Initially, we were very pleased with this television, just as we have been with our two-year-old 32" Westinghouse. Picture quality was superb. Setup was a breeze; for instance, unlike some others, the auto-channel-scan kept only those digital cable channels with programming and discarded the hundreds of blank ones, saving us the tedious chore of deleting them later. The user menus were intuitive. The remote had features others don't, such as one-touch buttons for your three favorite channels (no more pressing 1-1-4-dot-1-enter for cable HD channel 7).
This TV would have been a keeper, except for one flaw we couldn't live with. When the volume is turned down low, the background noise (hiss) is quite loud. Exchanging it for another didn't help; the second unit had the same problem and even worse, although the model number was identical, the firmware was apparently different and the menus were less user-friendly.
In summary, if we didn't need to listen to this television at low volume, we would have been very happy with it. But, for a quiet environment, it simply wasn't up to the task.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Westinghouse 26" LCD 720p HDTV - SK-26H730S

Perfect for any place where space is at a premium!This stylish Westinghouse SK-26H730S 26-inch Widescreen LCD HDTV features a 26-inch widescreen LCD with a 1366 x 768 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio so you can expect brilliant images. With 160 degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles you can get a great view no matter where you sit or stand!With two HDMI ports you can connect a game console and get your game on or connect a Blu-ray player and enjoy movies the way they were meant to be seen and heard! Its two built-in 10-watt speakers deliver crisp and clear audio. Thanks to the fast 8 ms response time, the SK-26H730S is ideal for gaming and fast action movies and TV shows.Order your Westinghouse SK-26H730S 26-inch Widescreen LCD HDTV today!By law, California shipments of this product are subject to an $16.00Electronic Waste Recycling Fee

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Brite-View BV-2500 Wireless HD Video Transmitter and Receiver Kits Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)WOW...
My purchase before this item was a logitech universal remote. I spent 10 hours and 2 calls to India to set up and I ended up not using the RF remote because it didn't work.
REASON FOR PURCHASE (APPLICATION):
I wanted to gift my mom the ability to watch her DirecTV in the kitchen on the new 23" Samsung I got her. We didn't want to go through the hassle of having another big DirecTV HD DVR box and more coaxial line run around the house, so I bought the Briteview.INSTALL:
1. Plugged HDMI cable from Family room DTV receiver to back up base unit (kept the component video and audio plugged into cinema receiver for the main TV).
2. Plugged BV-2500 base unit into wall.
3. Placed Infared receiver over the DTV receiving IR port
4. 40ft away and through 1 wall I plugged receiving unit into back of Samsung 23" TV via HDMI
5. Plugged receiving unit into wall
6. Turned on both TV's and whaa-la
PRO's
* Not sure for all applications, but the DirecTV receiver was capable of sending component audio/video and HDMI aud/vid at the same time, so we could watch and adjust volume on both TV's at same time with ZERO LAG (both audio and video).
* SUPER EASY INSTALL WITH INFARED WORKING ON FIRST ATTEMPT
* HD picture quality is 1080P
* No extra running of cables for my application
* Small receiving unit makes for a clean looking install. Unit is smaller than most computer home routers.
CON's
* No HDMI out on the base unit (would make nice for lots of us who want to pass through the HDMI and don't have an AV receiver or want to change AV receiver input). Instead I have to use both HDMI and component out so.
UNKNOWN AND OTHER SUGGESTIONS
To complete the install I think I will probably need to buy an additional DireTV remote and program the 2nd TV's volume control to that.
Keep in mind your are going to be watching the SAME channel on the 2nd display if you are watching the primary display at the same time. That being said this isn't for most family's. My mom lives with just my dad and they enjoy watching the same thing.
Now my mom can cook family dinner and watch TV at the same time!!!
Keep in mind this was a gift from someone (me) who doesn't even own or watch TV.
FIRST REVIEW OF A PRODUCT ON AMAZON... WHATCHA THINK?

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A new flat-panel may look lovely mounted on your wall, but not if it's surrounded by a mess of boxy home theater equipment. That's where the Air HD (BV-2500) comes in. The Air HD can transmit all of your High-Definition content from a Blu-ray player in a separate room to the HDTV positioned in your living room, or even to another display in the kitchen. Eliminates messy AV cable connections to your flat-screen TV, and keep things clean and minimal.
Eliminate messy AV cable connections to your flat-screen TV, and keep things clean and minimal.

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Westinghouse TX-42F430S 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Summary:
I am extremely pleased with this LCD. The picture is bright and clear and the colors are excellent. I am completely satisfied with the purchase and recommend this device to anyone.
Expanded Review:
First, I defined my goals: From about 8 feet away I want to watch High Definition DVD's at 1080p, watch High Definition television including local channels, connect some gaming consoles, connect a PC, and connect my surround sound receiver.
I looked at different products for a year. I would compare the appearance between the different sets in the store, read online reviews, talked to friends, and read product specifications.
I decided on the following and intended to act before the end of summer: I would obtain a decent 42" LCD with all of the necessary connectors for under $1600, I would purchase a PS3 for Blu-ray as well as HD gaming with the bonus that it will upconvert my current DVD's, and upgrade my current cable service to HD for HD television viewing. I figured to spend about $2000-$2200.
When the PS3 price dropped to $500 it figured it was time to move. The contenders after my research included the Samsung, Sony, LG, and the Westinghouse LVM-42W2. Most were over the limit to what I was comfortable spending so it came down to the LVM-42w2. When I went to find it I discovered the TX-42F430S that had been recently introduced. Additionally it was available at a local yellow tagged electronics superstore for the best price advertised. I was able to view this unit side by side with the other available LCD's and it looked just as good, to me, as much more expensive models. I realized however that the signal being pumped into those devices on the wall was not a 1080p signal and that the picture at home might look different. At that point I figured it was bright, the colors were coming through, the menu system was functional, and it was the lowest priced 42" 1080p LCD available ($1299). I bought it with a matching of the online deal that threw in a Sony HT-DDW790 home theater system and a 60 day in house price match. The following Sunday 7/29 it went on sale for $1099. I got the price match ($200 back) and sold the HT system for $120. So, total for this system with PS3 was right about $1500 plus cables, controllers, Blu-ray Planet Earth, and a couple of games for the PS3. I feel good.
Results:
1. I have the PS3 connected to one of the four(!) HDMI connectors and it looks awesome. Motorstorm at 720p is excellent and Planet Earth at 1080p is unbelievable. I had to get the blue tooth remote for playing movies, you can do it with the controller but it's a pain. Most of the upconverted DVD's look incredible, much better than on standard def TV, this was much better than I expected and for someone not hypersensitive it would be hard to differentiate it from some native HD or Blu-ray DVD's.
2. HD Digital Cable content through the component connection looks very good. Standard Definition looks like garbage, but this is expected of all HD LCD's, the pixels on the LCD display the picture in all it's ugly glory. In all my research, I have not come across a way to watch standard def TV and it not look bad. It's functional, and viewable if you don't expand the screen and let it display in 4:3, but a step down when viewing most of the normal TV content. One can only hope that more and more channels come to HD format.
3. I have my PC, Wii, and PS2 (only for guitar hero) hooked up though the home theater receiver via S-video at the moment and it serves. I want to move the PC to the VGA connector (I need a new dual head video card), the Wii to the component connection, and the PS2 directly to the S-video in the future.
4. I have a digital optical cable running from the output on the LCD to the HT receiver and it sounds good. The interal LCD speakers can be turned off so that only the HT system is used.
So, I am very happy. I hope this helps some of you still looking. I relied heavily on comments about the products here and I wanted to return the favor.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Westinghouse TX-42F430S 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Turn your home theater into the embodiment of cinema expression with the new TX series from Westinghouse Digital. Meet the TX-42F430S, a 42?1080p LCD HDTV - truly the perfect TV for all your entertainment needs. This LCD HDTV offers 1080Pure - 1080p resolution out of all HD inputs (including component), an astounding four (4) HDMI inputs, and an integrated ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM tuner. This display is not only an engineering marvel but designed with class and sophistication; featuring subtle curves and a thin 5.5?housing this display has a deep onyx bezel with brushed titanium accents. Enjoy the latest Blu-ray or HD DVD?movie, gaming on a PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii, or watching your favorite HD TV show.

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