All Products Filed in Receivers

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

For years the British audio/video company Cambridge Audio has been a popular choice for budget-minded A/V enthusiasts that wanted performance from their gear, but didn't have the means or desire to pay for luxury-priced equipment.

The company's upcoming Azur 551R A/V 7.1 receiver will be available shortly through its U.S. distributor Audio Plus Services and it provides custom installers with a compact, powerful and competitively priced product that's designed to please never-satisfied A/V enthusiast crowd.

Highlighting some of the technologies built into the Azur 551R are the inclusion of Cambridge's low-flux torodal transformer and X-Tract cooling system which help the receiver to produce 110 watts per channel when used for stereo applications and 60 watts per channel in 7.1 applications. The receiver also includes processing options for DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD, and video processing options that includes 1080p upconversion technologies that are driven by Faroudja's FLI2310 chipset. Additionally, the receiver offers automatic room correction and setup provisions, and four HDMI 1.4 inputs that are compatible with 3D content.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

For years the audiophile community has respected the audio components that NAD has produced.

With a line that ranges from two channel components like turntables and streaming media players, to Blu-ray disc players and multichannel amplifiers, NAD offers custom installers a choice of products to meet a variety of client needs. The company's new T 757 A/V receiver incorporates NAD's Modular Design Construction (MDC) concept, which provides an upgrade path for consumers without having to swap out receivers to allow them to keep up with the industry's latest technologies.

The 757 also incorporates a choice of surround sound processing options that includes Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio and NAD's proprietary EARs processing mode that converts stereo content to full surround sound. On the video side of the unit's feature set the 757 offers compatibility with 1080p content and 3D video. In addition, NAD also builds in provisions for iPod compatibility and multi-zone configurations to enable installers to integrate multiple zones of entertainment.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Marantz holds a unique place in the world of home A/V in that its been able to maintain its legacy of providing affordable, high-performing products while keeping pace with the market's ever-changing technological landscape.

Recently the company announced two new A/V receivers: the SR5006 and SR6006. Focusing on the SR6006, the receiver offers plenty of power with a rating of 110 watts per channel, but just as important as the ability to drive a multichannel speaker system are the rest of the receiver's options. Highlighting some of the receiver's options are seven HDMI 1.4a inputs and two HDMI 1.4a outputs that allows installers to feed multiple displays with 3D content; DLNA v1.5 certification that enables the unit to pull content from a home network, and Apple AirPlay compatibility to allow users to stream iTunes music from their Macs and PCs.

The SR6006 also offers Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio decoding for lossless surround sound applications, Pandora, Rhapsody, Napster and Flickr streaming capabilities, Bluetooth connectivity, DC triggers and RS-232 control.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

These days audio/video receivers are asked to a variety of things beyond just simply playing music. Onkyo's recently released TX-NR809 A/V receiver provides a good example of all the many functions a receiver is asked to do.

The TX-NR809 is a THX Select2 certified receiver that incorporates features such as Mavell Qdeo and IDT's HQV Vida video upscaling and processing chipsets; the Imaging Science Foundation's (ISF) video calibration menus, Audyssey's MultEQ XT room equalization technologies, Dolby Volume, front and rear USB inputs, and zone two and three capabilities.

Onkyo says the 7.2 channel receiver is rated to deliver 135 watts per channel from its low negative feedback Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) design, and that its use of three Texas Instruments' Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs per channel are designed to ensure that all digital signals are accurately converted to analog. In addition, the receiver includes one front and seven rear HDMI inputs, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio processing, multichannel pre-outs, network connectivity with Pandora, Slacker, Napster, satellite radio options, and its both Windows 7 and DLNA certified.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

During the heyday of the economy a few years ago it seemed like big, feature-laden receivers were very much in style. Today value is the driving force behind the development of new products and through this trend manufacturers are engineering products that are reasonably priced, but still loaded with features.

A good example of this trend is the latest series of Yamaha A/V receivers. The company's four new receivers range in price from $250 to $600 and they incorporate features such as DLNA 1.5 and Windows 7 certification, Internet radio options such as Rhapsody, SiriusXM Radio, Pandora and Napster, and front panel-based USB iPhone/iPod connections.

The line includes the 7.1 RX-V671 and RX-V571 receivers and the 5.1 RX-V471 and RX-V371 products. Some of the standard home theater amenities featured in these receivers include 3D compatible HDMI inputs with Audio Return Channels (ARC), DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD decoding, Yamaha's Parametric Room Acoustics Optimizer (YPAO) equalization technologies and its proprietary DSP processing modes.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

As the home theater market continues to evolve to adopt new technologies, arguably no product bears a greater burden than A/V receivers.

Sony's 2011 new A/V receivers are an example of how the market is evolving to meet the growing consumption of digital media by consumers. The company's four new receivers range in price from about $230 to $500 and they include features such as DLNA certification, HDMI 3D pass-through and lossless surround sound Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio processing.

The flagship model is the STR-DN1020 and it incorporates Faroudja video processing, Sony's Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (DCAC) room calibration technologies, dual subwoofer pre-outs, iPhone/iPod Touch control apps and playback through the inclusion of a dock, and secondary audio/video zone capabilities.

Filling out the line are the STR-DH820, the STR-DH720 and the STR-DH520, which all include many of today's latest home theater technology options.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

With prices that are wallet friendly and technologies that are cutting edge, Pioneer's new 2011 A/V receiver line-up should be attractive to anyone considering a receiver purchase.

The company's four new A/V receivers top price is $550 and all of the products incorporate features such as Apple's wireless audio streaming Air Play technology and Air Jam wireless Bluetooth connectivity technology, along with standard home theater functions like HDM1 1.4a inputs and outputs and full surround sound decoding.

Pioneer's new receivers are also Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod certified and feature other networked options such as DLNA 1.5 compatibility, Net Flix streaming entertainment.

Here's a rundown of four new receivers:

• VSX-521: MSRP is $250
• VSX-821: MSRP is $350
• VSX-921: MSRP is $450
• VSX-1021 MSRP is $550

Wednesday, March 02, 2011

For several years custom installers have loyally supported the brand Anthem because of the company's dealer-friendly policies and for its products' collective high levels of performance.

Recently the company entered the home theater receiver category and now several of the receivers are shipping, including the MRX 300. The competitively priced MRX 300 offers dealers an all-in-one A/V component that incorporates 80-watt by seven channels of amplification, video switching and processing with functions that include upscaling to 1080p/60Hz and video component to HDMI transcoding.

Its audio processing functions include Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS-ES and an all-channel stereo playback option. Anthem also incorporates its proprietary Anthem Room Correction (ARC) equalization technology, and a firmware upgrade option to support 3D video playback.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

It seems that almost overnight the worlds of consumer A/V and networking merged to offer users streaming Web services and digital file compatibility, and now networking technologies are almost a standard amenity within traditional home theater products.

With the announcement of Onkyo's TX-NR509 and TX-NR609 A/V receivers, the company is addressing the networked home theater category with two home theater receivers that are affordably priced and fully featured. In addition, the company has also introduced its cost friendly TX-SR309 receiver to further support Onkyo's effort to cover everything from entry level to state-of-the-art components. The 509 and 609 and their network functionality are designated by their TX-NR labels, and the products are compatible with Microsoft's Windows 7 OS and the DNLA protocol.

The 509 and 609 also offer front-port USB inputs, a minimum of four HDMI inputs that support 3D video, surround sound processing options like Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio HD, PLL jitter reducing circuits and secondary zone capabilities. The 609's additional feature set includes THX Select2 Plus certification, 7.2 surround sound capabilities and Audyssey DSX room correction technologies.

Onkyo's $299 TX-SR309 is a basic A/V receiver that omits options such as secondary zones, room correction technologies and network compatibility.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A few weeks ago at the annual CEDIA trade show, the popular custom electronics equipment manufacturer SpeakerCraft surprised attendees when it announced its plans to take its product line to the masses.

During a press conference at the show SpeakerCraft President Jeremy Burkhardt getting specific about the company's future marketing and distribution plans introduced the new FloBox series of products, which will be available to CE Pros and larger retail establishments.

Designed to appeal to mass-market consumers and custom-installation clients, the FloBox series features the FloBox and FloBox Mini, and they both integrate iPod/iPad/iPhone docks, FM tuners and mini-USB inputs to facilitate computer-based connections with software like iTunes.

SpeakerCraft arms the FloBox with two 3.5-inch midrange drivers, two .75-inch dome tweeters and a single 5.125-inch woofer. The smaller FloBox Mini features a driver array of two 3-inch midrange drivers and two .75-inch tweeters.

The larger FloBox also adds a built-in CD player to provide added media playback options, and the Calif.-based company offers the products in a choice of black, white, silver, red or yellow gloss finishes to help the products blend into a variety of home environments.

Friday, August 06, 2010

A couple of years ago when the U.K.-based company Meridian introduced its F80 desktop A/V system it raised the performance bar for manufacturers in the all-in-one system category.

The newly announced M80 Compact Entertainment System from the high-performance A/V manufacturer offers ergonomically challenged homeowners the same basic technology platform as the F80, which includes a 2.1 speaker system driven by an 80-watt amplifier, digital signal processing (DSP), a slot-loaded CD/DVD player, an AM/FM tuner and multiple digital and analog inputs, with the addition of several new finishes and the company's i80 iPod dock.

Meridian says each M80 is hand built in its Cambridgeshire, England facilities, and its new leather exteriors---available in black, chestnut and ivory---are hand sewn in Northhampton, England.

The elliptically shaped M80's exterior also includes a organic light emitting diode (OLED) display that features an automatic brightness control that adjusts the display's light level to match the ambient light levels in the room. The companion gloss-black i80 iPod dock enables users to access and their music from the system's front panel or by remote control. In addition, the dock automatically charges an iPod so that a user never leaves home with a depleted iPod.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

With the release of the new TX-NR1008, TX-NR808 and the TX-NR708, the consumer electronics company Onkyo is providing budget-conscious consumers a trio of A/V receivers that provide everything necessary to assemble a modern home theater.

All three receivers offer HDMI 1.4a connections to support 3D video playback, and they also offer video Faroudja's DCDi upscaling and processing technologies. Other features packaged into the receivers include Ethernet connectivity to stream a variety of digital files such as MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC and LPCM. The Windows 7 and DLNA 1.5-certified receivers can also play content from Pandora, Rhapsody, vTuner and Sirius Internet Radio to enable installers to network the receivers for connectivity throughout a home.

Onkyo differentiates the receivers through some higher end performance options such as secondary zone functions. The TX-NR708 requires a powered second zone, while the 808 powers the second zone and comes equipped with pre-outs for zones two and three. The TX-NR1008 takes it a step further by providing amplification for zones two and three, while also providing users with an extra HDMI output.

Additionally, all three receivers offer Audyssey room equalization, and lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio audio processing.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Over the years custom installers have appreciated the move by the electronics manufacturer Denon to differentiate its retail and custom installation product lines.

A few weeks ago the company announced three new additions to its custom installation receiver product line (CI) and slotted in the middle of the three products is the AVR-3311 CI, which is engineered by the company to provide installers with a product that is fully featured without the attachment of a big price tag.

To ensure its compatibility with the many advanced control and automation products that populate the market Denon has Worked with companies like Crestron, Universal Remote Control (URC), AMX, Control4 and RTI, and in addition, to ensure its product line's compatibility in today's digital world, the receiver along with its other products are certified “Compatible with Windows 7
.” Denon says this certification ensures compatibility with the updated ‘Play To’ functionality of Microsoft's latest operating system (OS).

Other features of the receiver include Ethernet connectivity, which facilitates entertainment options such as the inclusion of Rhapsody, Napster, Pandora and Flickr, IP-based control and the ability for CE Pros to remotely monitor, diagnose and correct system problems. Rounding out some its non-traditional features are Apple's "Works with iPhone" certification and DLNA connectivity.

Finally, the receiver incorporates all of the latest custom electronics features such as Dolby True HD and DTS MA decoding, Audyssey MultEQ room correction, Dolby Volume, seven HDMI inputs and two outputs, 12-volt triggers and Anchor Bay video processing.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

These days it seems there are many values in the home theater market for installers to offer to their clients and arguably one of the biggest value categories installers can show to their clients is the A/V receiver category.

Products, like the affordably priced Yamaha RX-V567, which incorporates a full list of features that include high resolution Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio decoding, the company's YPAO automatic calibration system, video upscaling to 1080p, Apple iPod integration options, and 3D support for the side-by-side (half) and top-and-bottom formats that broadcasters are adopting, as well as for current 3D Blu-ray content through upcoming firmware updates.

In addition to the RX-V567, Yamaha also offers several other competitively priced home theater A/V receivers with similar feature sets.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Denon's S-5BD BD/Receiver is a single component that bundles together a 5.1 receiver with a Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player.

The unit's receiver section includes two-source/two-zone capabilities, and Denon says it supports the HDMI 1.4 spec.

Some of the features included in the S-5BD are the inclusion of three HDMI inputs, RS-232 serial port, DC trigger outputs, Audyssey MultEQ Auto Setup and Calibration, and Dynamic Volume, a choice of surround formats such as Dolby True HD, DTS MA, Dolby Pro Logic IIz, and assignable amplification options to create secondary audio zones.