Yamaha RX-V3900BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this unit a week after it went on sale. I had been investigating the device for some time prior to the actual release. I used this to replace a Yamahe DSP-A1 purchased about 10 years ago. I wanted to simplify my cabling by switching to an HDMI capable receiver. The availability of 4 HDMI inputs was a big selling point for me.
After initial setup I put the unit through it's paces with SACD recordings of Elton John's Madman Across the Water and the Alman Brothers Eat a Peach. The SACD 5.1 sound from my PS/3 over the HMDI was exceptional, wonderful depth to the soundfield. The video upscaling in this unit is far superior to that included in my 50" LG Flat Panel and has made watching non-HD signals much more palatable. Using blu-ray DTS HD and DD Pure HD both sound amazing. I also purchased a Rhapsody subscription account to use with the unit and love the virtual library of hundreds of thousands of CDs at my fingertips through the remote. I have found several albums on Rhapsody that result in a "unable to play" error, I am not sure if they are encoded in a format other than MP3 or if this error also occurs when using Rhapsody on a PC, these were usually extremely obscure recordings.
The onscreen Ipod controls are great and the album cover display is a great addition, now if they could only get the album, flip view from the iPhone or iPod touch working for scanning through and selecting albums/songs that would be truly fabulous.
The lack of inclusion of wireless networking is a big mistake in my view, how many people would have their ISP drop right next to their stereo system? I overcame this easily with the purchase of a "Wireless Gaming Adapter" which attaches to the Ethernet port on the receiver and connects it to my wireless network, this solution has worked well and runs about 50-100 dollars.
My biggest concern with the unit has been the adaptive sound leveling. This is a great feature to make sure you don't get blasted out of the room when commercials come on at twice the volume of your show. Usually this feature mutes the sound and makes the adjustment very quickly but every now and then it has difficulty setting the volume accordingly and drops the audio for as much as 10-20 seconds, very annoying when using DVR functions to skip commercials then having to go back 2-3 times to get the audio enabled again at the end of the commercials. Once the unit could not seem to set the audio at all and it required selecting a different source before sound was enabled again.
Overall I am quite happy with the unit and hope that a software/firmware upgrade may alleviate the audio level drop issues at some point in the future, while sometimes annoying this issue comes nowhere close to outweighing the great benefits of this receiver.
Pros:
Exceptional sound quality
Great video upscaling
Extensive features listing
Amazing array of device connections
Cons:
Not in everyones pricing range
Initial configuration not for the inexperienced
No built-in wireless networking (could have been a design decision to reduce potential degration of the audio signal)
Infrequent extended audio drop outs when relevelling the audio between programing and commercials or when changing stations
Some CDs visible through Rhapdosy cannot be played

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha RX-V3900BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black)

Yamaha's next generation 7.1-channel Network AV receiver offers unsurpassed versatility, access to today's most popular music sources including Internet Radio, Rhapsody online music service, music streaming from PC, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio ready, USB, iPod and Bluetooth compatibility, as well as extensive multi-zone custom installation and convenience features, plus a Web Browser Control.

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Denon AVR-4308CI Multizone Home Theater Receiver with Network Streaming and Wi-Fi Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Denon 4308CI Receiver

Strengths: Great quality picture and sound, excellent build quality, nice display, GUI interface, easy to assign/rename imputs, HD radio, 4 HDMI, 140 Watt multizone output, good value for price point.
Weaknesses: Complicated user manual, Useless remote, Faroudja vs. Silicon Optix processor
Price paid: $1,780 (2/08)from a reputable retail store. (Please do not ask which one as I was given an insider price)
Summary: After considerable research I purchased the Denon 4308CI to upgrade a prexisting Sony STRDA555ES receiver. My main desire in upgrading was to obtain HDMI connection capability and take advantage updated sound processing and 1080P upscaling. I ruled out various other comparable recievers for a variety of reasons, including heat generation as my components are enclosed in a audio rack partially recessed into a closed media room.
As a longtime Sony fan and owner of three ES AV recievers, it came down to a choice between the STRDA 5300ES and the Denon 4308CI.
I opted for the Denon over the Sony for a few reasons. The display on the Denon is much larger. It might sound silly but I like to see the information displayed on the receiver from where I'm listing to music. The Sony display was rather small. I also liked the fact that the Denon has internet streaming capability and HD Radio reception. The Sony has more HDMI hookups and a longer warranty (5 years vs. 2 for the Denon) but the Denon has increased power handling and full 1080P upscaling. Pricewise the Denon was a few hundred dollars more then the Sony but I felt that it had a more "modern" feature set.
So far after 4 months of use I have been very pleased with the Denon. Sound is fantastic and the GUI was intuitive. I disagree with some of the other reviews that I have read regarding the ease of setup. It took a little longer then I anticipated to set up but as I previously noted the GUI was fairly intuitive. I really like the fact that you can rename the inputs so when you select them from the function selection dial it will display whatever name you decide on. I prefer optical connections so I had to reassign some of the optical connections. Rear connections seem pretty sturdy. The unit gets warm but not hot after a few hours of use. Still havent taken advantage of the 1080P upscaling as of yet. HD radio signal reception is pretty strong and so far no interference despite living in a New York City Apartment building.
Harmony 880 Universal Remote works better then supplied remotes.
Video processing is excellent. I have however occasionally noted video artifacts. This reciver uses a Faroudja DCDi FLI2310 processor which is simply not as highly regarded by professional reviewers as the Silicon Optix Realta HQV processor used by Denon's flagship 3800BDCI Blu-ray player or the Silicon Optix Reon chipset used by receivers such as the Onkyo TX-NR905 and Integra DTR 8.8. However, overall picture quality on standard 1080i and 720p cable source material is excellent.
3808CI vs.4308CI? The 4308CI appeared to have a slightly more "attractive" build quality and appearance. In comparing the two models side by side before purchasing, the 4308CI simply looked better. However, HD radio, increased power handling and WiFi capability were the primary reasons I opted to spend more to purchase the 4308CI.
4308CI and 3800BDCI blu-ray combo. Have had the 4308CI and the 3800BDCI paired for the last three weeks. The Blu-ray picture is simply amazing. Will never purchase another standard DVD again if available in Blu-ray format.
Conclusion: I've been very happy with the 4308CI. It offers great sound and picture features at an attractive price point. However,if you are interested in better video processing you may want to check out the Onkyo TX-NR905 and Integra DTR 8.8 as well.

Review system components: (used in review)
Panasonic TH-50PZ750U 1080P (limited Ed)
Artcoustic DF-65's
Artcoustic DF-Multi (center)
Denon 3800BDCI (DVD)(used three weeks)
Sony ES 5 Disc changer
Sony SACD player
Monster HPS7000 Signature Series
Monster AVS2000 Signature series
Polk XM Radio Tuner


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Denon AVR-4308CI Next Generation A/V Multi-Source/Zone with Network Streaming Receiver

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JVC Mobile Regular KWNT3HD Navigation Head Unit with HD Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I finally got off my hump and decide to change my factory radio in my 2008 Chevy Impala LT. I researched so many stereos and finally settled on the JVC NT3HDT. I made a list of all the features I wanted in my new stereo, and the JVC NT3HDT met each one. I was looking for a stereo that included built-in Bluetooth, HD radio, navigation, lifetime traffic updates, iPod/iPhone control, SD card slot, USB port, speed alerts, DVD player, and voice control. I was not interested in XM radio since I do not subscribe to the service. The only place where the unit fell short was that there wasn't any voice control. I went to a local installer and had the stereo installed along with a Boyo VTL420 backup camera. I had already read the online manual on JVC so I put it to the test.
I read previous reviews where there were complaints about the startup time. I see no lag. I guess because as soon as I start up the car I am usually backing out of my garage or a parking space so the backup camera comes on immediately. There are options to adjust the display settings so I could tweak it where I was comfortable. The navigation is awesome. There are 3 map viewing options. I chose the 2D display. There are so many options including avoiding toll roads, ferries, and highways to the shortest and quickest course. You can add your own POIs from Google Maps using Street Assistant that can be downloaded from the JVC website, but the unit comes loaded with so many POIs like gas stations, restaurants, and department stores. You can also set up alerts for the POIs on your route. The traffic alerts come in handy. I love being able to get in the car and look at Traffic Incidents instead of waiting for a traffic update on the radio or trying to check it before I leave the house. It has real time traffic updates as well. The second day I had the stereo I was on the highway when an accident happened about 7 or 8 cars in front of me. About 5 minutes before that I had checked the traffic incidents, and there was were no incidents. I checked the traffic incidents 5minutes later and confirmed the accident was listed and was able to select the option to detour the accident. I currently have the detour traffic incidents feature set to manual, but it can be set to automatically detour accidents. The unit displays the current speed limit for the road you're traveling on. I had the speed sensor that comes with the unit hooked up so I can get a voice alert letting me know if I am exceeding the speed limit by 3, 6, or 10 miles. The voice alert will speak over anything currently playing. It does come in handy for those speed traps.
The HD radio is pretty awesome. I checked online to verify that there were HD stations in my area. I currently have my stereo set up to change the audio to digital automatically. It can be manually set. The system does support multicast stations. I know a lot of systems claim to and don't. The radio station name, song title, and artist info display when a song is playing. There is iTunes tagging available as well when you have an iPod or iPhone connected via USB. Besides providing traffic updates, the stereo also gives the latest sports scores, local,sports, and national news, and weather.
My iPhone 3Gs paired with the stereo quickly, and downloading my phone book to the stereo took less than 3 minutes. I have only had to pair it once, and my iPhone is always connected. Pretty much everyone I have talked to using the Bluetooth tell me it sounds better than my normal phone. I have used the Bluetooth audio a few times. I don't really care for it because none of the album art displays. I did have the original iPod cable connected. Everything sounds so awesome, but video will not display with that cable. I decided to purchase the JVC cable to connect my iPod to the USB port and aux in port to display video and album art. The sound is wonderful. What's so incredible is the way my album art and artist information displays. The album art is sharp and clear. My podcast art displays splendidly as well. My playlists, videos, podcasts, and audio books all play smoothly, and the sound is so strong.
My DVD player is awesome. I did purchase the bypass cable so I could play videos while I am driving. I made a DVD disc containing 3 AVI files, and the videos look better than they dos on my iPod. I purchased a few DVDs as well that play well. I purchased an anti-glare screen protector as well. I wanted to test out how movies that are usually really dark display with the sun shining on the unit. I tested it using the movie Legion. Legion looked pretty incredible. I also made a MP3 DVD disc as well that displayed all the album art and artist info and sounded great. In addition to that, I also purchased a 16 GB SD card that I filled with music. The album art and artist info all displayed as well. The sound was incredible. I have yet to play anything on this stereo that doesn't sound incredible. I currently have the equalizer set to Natural. I set up greeting and goodbye messages. They play when I enter and exit my car. I was able to customizable my display colors to match my current interior display colors. It's no question that this stereo fulfills all my needs and wants. It's funny because one of my friends has the Ford Sync in his Fusion and was looking amazed at all my stereo does for such a good deal.


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Navigation Head Unit with HD Radio

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Sony XDRF1HD HD Radio Tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First of all, yes, this is a tuner, NOT a radio, and Amazon should correct that! Also, HD radio is NOT High Definition radio. The HD stands for Hybrid Digital. So don't assume you'll have better sound in HD than analog radio! That said,
I have been interested in getting an HD radio to try out the format. Being an audiophile, I checked several audiophile review sites for the Sangean tuners, and they weren't getting too good of reviews. Also, their price is $200-250.
Then I came across a review for this tuner, and how much better it is, saying the FM analog portion alone is worth the price.
I have to agree, the FM tuner is much better than the tuner in my $1000 PrePro! Analog reception picks up more stations and the sound is great! Haven't heard analog FM sound this good since the 60's! Analog AM is also better than my Prepro (though not by much). Great sound, and only $99 ! This is a steal, grab it before they jack up the price! Audiophie FM tuners go for $200 & up. All this performance, and it's about the size of a car stereo!
There are about 20 FM HD stations here in Chicago, and it pulls them all in great, except for one, which keeps switching between analog and HD. There are some AM HD stations in Chicago. It would show which were HD, but none of them had enough strength to switch the tuner from analog to HD, so I couldn't judge AM HD.
Now for some things that need improving: there are 40 presets; 20 for FM and 20 for AM....not enough for FM and too many for AM. If you want to hear a HD station in analog, there's no way to switch it back to analog, you have to listen in HD. The dial glows like a cellphone, which is great while you're using it, but when you turn it off, it still glows, like a night light in a dark room. When powering down, it should dim. You can dim it down in the menu so it doesn't glow in the dark, but then when you turn it on, you can't read it because it's dark. Who wants to set the dimmer everytime you turn it on and off?
Overall, it's more than worth it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony XDRF1HD HD Radio Tuner

Experience more choices, crystal clear sound, and no subscription fees. Enjoy music the way it was meant to be heard with AM stations that can deliver FM sound quality and FM stations that sound like your favorite CDs. With static-free sound and an easy-to-read dot matrix LCD for viewing important information, the XDR-F1HD receiver is the perfect choice for adding HD radio reception to a home audio system. Includes remote control.

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

Average Reviews:

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

Click Here to see more reviews about: Denon DRA-697CIHD Premier AM/FM Stereo Multi-Source/Multi-Zone Stereo Receiver with HD Radio

The DRA-697CIHD receiver will shine as the core to your high end Hi-Fi stereo multi-room audio system.Equipped with many new features including HD Radio, it can handle almost any configuration combination.Its two source three zone capability allows you to run multiple sources to multiple areas at the same time with pure clean sound.With the HD tuner as a second tuner source, regular AM/FM can be listened to in one zone and HD Radio can be listened to in another zone.Being 4 ohms stable, it can handle the most demanding speakers, yet deliver smooth fidelity.Custom integration is no problem either as this enhance receiver has all the connections an installer needs to integrate to third party control systems.

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Zune HD 64 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well, I've own my Zune HD for a year now and I absolutely LOVE IT!!!!
ITS A GREAT AND CHEAP ALTERNATIVE FROM THE IPOD PROS
Great Video, Audio Quality
Great user-friendly design
Attractive exterior design
Smaller than past Zune Generations
CHEAPER THAN iPod Touch and comes in 2ND when compared to iPod Touch
Zune Marketplace is a MILLION TIMES easier to use than iTunes Software
Zune Unlimited Monthly Music Pass (1 month of Unlimited Downloads) 14.99 a month - If you get this I advise to renew your Zune Pass every 2 months because once your Zune Pass Expires the first 30/31 days, it allows you a additional 30/31 days to listen to your "rented" music.
YOU CAN LISTEN TO AUDIO BOOKS ON IT
FM RADIOCONS
If your into apps, then you will be disappointed because Zune HD had less than 30 apps in its market and it DOES NOT allow 3rd Party app developers as of YET
Zune Marketplace itself still lacks tons of music that iTunes has (but YOU CAN BUY MUSIC FROM ITUNES AND PUT ON YOUR ZUNE IF NEEDED).
Zune Marketplace takes its time to update when new songs/movies, tv shows, music videos arrive
You can NOT play videos from iTunes or other sources without removing the DRM
Lacks new features that the new ipod has such as the camera

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Zune is the premium digital experience that gives you access to the latest in entertainment and technology, allowing you to enjoy, connect, and discover content in a whole new way--the way you like it. Browse, stream, buy, and play all you want, including music, HD video, podcasts, games, and much more. Gain the freedom to enjoy your entertainment. Zune brings your content up front, so you're always in control.




Instant Entertainment that You Control
HD Radio Technology: More Stations, better sound, no fees
HD-compatible Video: High-quality video on the go or on your HDTV
Internet Browsing: News, email, traffic? It's all in your pocket.
OLED Touchscreen: Wide view with a special touch
Games: More games, more fun



Zune HD
Portable perfection The new Zune HD wireless media player takes you closer and connects you to a whole new world of entertainment. With a built-in HD Radio receiver, HD-compatible video,1 multi-touch navigation, OLED screen, and games, Zune HD delivers the next level in music and video experiences.

Zune HD 64 GB: holds up to 20 hours of high-definition video; 96 hours of standard definition video; 16,000 songs; or 25,000 pictures.2 Available in black.

4.5 Firmware Release

Your Zune HD can now create custom Smart DJ playlists based on your favorite music. Just choose one artist or song in our collection, and Smart DJ will generate a pool of songs from other artists or albums alike. With Smart DJ, you'll discoverold favorites you might have forgotton about, or if you're a new Zune Pass subscriber, you can connect via Wi-Fi and stream new songs from Zune Marketplace.5
Plus, when you connect your Zune HD to your TV, you'll now be able to navigate the Zune Marketplace remotely and buy or stream3 songs and play directly into your big screen. (Zune HD AV Dock required; sold separately.)

Massive Capacity

The 64 GB Zune HD player can hold your HD movies and TV shows and still leave enough space for an immense music collection to carry in your pocket. Take with you a full season of your favorite TV show and plug into your HDTV.1 Or listen to its integrated HD Radio tuner and tag songs for later purchase. With this much space, you always have room for more!

HD Radio Technology

The new Zune HD gives you access to many local HD Radio stations with crystal-clear digital sound at no extra cost. Receive additional channels from your local stations and get more of the content you love, including sports, news, and music, in various genres and formats.
Like something you hear on HD Radio? Song tagging technology allows you to buy the song if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network or to tag it for later purchase.
Click here for more information about HD Radio.

HD-Compatible Video

Watch HD movies, TV shows, and more on your HDTV directly from your Zune HD. Just connect via the Zune HD & AV Dock to your HDTV (both sold separately)1 to watch 720p HD video. The Zune HD also will play your videos on the go in its sharp, brilliant OLED screen. Videos on the player are downscaled to fit the screen at 480 x 272--not HD resolution.

Quickplay

Get instant access to your stuff with shortcuts to favorites, recently downloaded or played music, videos, and more. Quickplay cuts through the clutter and brings up front the content that you care about most.

Smart DJ

Smart DJ creates custom playlists based on your favorite music. Simply choose an artist or track, and Smart DJ will generate a pool of songs from your own collection or--when connected to a Wi-Fi network--from Zune Marketplace.

Games

Loaded with multi-touch and accelerometer, the Zune HD player makes portable gaming even more exciting--and you can play them to the sound of your favorite music. Download from Zune's catalog of free games, including 3D, classic, and other popular titles like PGR: Ferrari Edition and Autiosurf Tilt.

OLED Touchscreen

Get instant access to your content with multi-touch navigation. With a 3.3-inch size and vivid 16:9 display (480 x 272 resolution), truer and brighter entertainment is at your fingertips.

Wireless

Zune HD allows you to buy, stream, and update your music--and download free games--wirelessly via a Wi-Fi connection. Feeling entangled? Wirelessly sync your Zune HD to your home PC via your home network. You also can stream millions of songs over Wi-Fi directly to your Zune HD and turn it into a portable digital jukebox.3

Internet Browsing

Surf the web anytime, anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection. Enjoy your favorite websites with a well-featured web browser, including tap-to-zoom technology, built-in accelerometer, and touchscreen QWERTY keyboard.

Zune Marketplace

Download free Zune software to access Zune Marketplace from your PC. Download or stream new music, rent the latest movies, buy TV shows, and watch free trailers and previews--plus thousands of audio and video podcasts. You also can download from our catalog of free games including classic and other popular titles.

Zune Marketplace enables powerful music discovery:

Create custom playlists based on the artist, album, or song you choose with Smart DJ. You'll rediscover old favorites in your collection, and if you're a Zune Pass subscriber, you'll find new ones from Zune Marketplace.5
Pick an artist or band, or a song you like, then launch Mixview to find related artists and albums--even like-minded listeners in the Zune community.
Zune Channels are custom programmed playlists that deliver music from a variety of expert sources. As a Zune Pass subscriber, Channels automatically updates whenever you're connected to the Internet.5

Rent or purchase from a great selection of video in both high and standard definition. Watch on demand right on your PC, or take them to go on your Zune HD player.

And starting now, the moviews and TV shows that you buy from Zune, you can watch on all of your screens--your monitor, TV, or Zune player.6 Your purchase history goes with you, so you can download to you Xbox 360, PC, or Zune HD and enjoy everywhere you want at no extra cost.

Zune Pass

Enjoy unlimited music for one low monthly fee. a $14.99 monthly Zune Pass gives you unlimited access to millions of songs in Zune Marketplace. Download or stream your favorites and experiment with as much new music as you like. Listen whenever you want on up to three PCs and three Zune players while you keep your Zune Pass active. In addition, each month you'll receive 10 free song credits to redeem for MP3s that are yours to keep forever.5

Expand Your Entertainment with Xbox 360

Zune features movies, TV shows, and more in both high and standard definition. Browse and watch from thousands of titles for rent, or purchase available instantly through Microsoft's Smooth Streaming technology. Buy videos once and watch on multiple screens: on your Xbox 360, Zune player, and PC. See www.xbox.com/live for system requirements. The convenience of on-demand, only on Xbox 360.



Accessories (Sold Separately)
Zune HD AV Dock This all-in-one package enables Zune HD players to charge, sync, and play supported 720p HD videos on HDTVs. Send music to your home audio systems and control it all via a wireless remote.

Zune Premium Car Pack Charge and play music, podcasts, and HD Radio stations from your Zune HD while you drive. The FM transmitter/car charger auto-seeks the best available frequency on your car stereo. A USB port located on the transmitter/car charger allows you to charge a second Zune player simultaneously.

Zune Sync Cable Charge your Zune player and sync with your collection on your PC.

Zune Charge Pack The Zune AC Adapter fast-charges your Zune player up to 70% within an hour. Folding blades make it easy to travel with. Use the included USB cable to sync with a PC.

Zune Power Pack Connect your AV cable to your docked Zune HD to play music, HD Radio broadcasts, and audio podcasts through your home audio system. The HDMI cable connects your docked Zune HD to HDTVs to view movies and videos. Also includes Zune AC Adapter; Zune HD player and Zune HD AV Dock sold separately.

Zune Sync Dock Connect to your PC and sync your collection while you charge your Zune in style. Control from a distance with the included wireless remote, which gives you full access to your Zune player from anywhere in the room.

1. Zune HD player screen shows supported 720p HD videos at 480x272 – not HD. HDTV and Zune HD AV Dock (both sold separately) are required to view video at 720p HD resolution.
2. Music estimates based on 128 Kbps WMA files with length of 4 minutes each. Pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size; video estimates based on 500 Kbps WMV files with 128 Kbps WMA audio tracks.
3. Wireless sync feature requires access to a home wireless network. Full song streaming feature requires a Zune Pass subscription.
4. Zune player sold separately. An HDTV (sold separately) required to view video at 720p HD resolution. See zune.net.
5. Zune Pass is a monthly music subscription service; some Marketplace songs are not available via Zune Pass. Available content may vary over time.
6. Content available for download on multiple devices may vary over time. Availability of content and video resolution will vary by device.

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Yamaha RX-A700 7.1-Channel Audio/Video Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've owned a Yamaha RX-V2095 for the past 12 years. Weighing in at 45 lbs it's an understatement that it has some power. The only thing it lacked was HDMI capability, which is why I upgraded to the RX-A700. The sound fields are more precise with having the 7.1 surround. Memo to those of you upgrading, this unit has a built in secondary amp for zone 2 (too cool). But be aware you can only play analog signals through zone 2, so be sure to hook up the analog cables along with all the HDMI ones. That was fun figuring out! The YPAO feature is awesome. It's a tiny microphone that plugs into the front of the amp and it automatically sets the level of your speakers based on where they are placed. The process takes about 3 minutes and is very high tech. Adjusting the levels yourself is fun with the cool interactive menu's in this new model. The remote seems too simple when you first start using it, but when you figure out the ease and user friendly menu system built in, it makes you even more satisfied with the product. The models above this one are the A800, 1000 and 3000. The only difference is a little more power and more [outdated] hookups like s-video and analogs.
Another great feature is the 12 pin hookup for the optional Ipod cradle specifically made for this model. The cradle is about 90 bucks (yds-12) and has great on screen capability with up to date ipods (3rd gen I-touch). You can even watch the digital movies on your you TV with this thing.
All in all, this is a great buy. I will miss my old receiver, but this one is a no brainer, especially for Yamaha enthusiasts. Hope this helps.
Danny

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AVENTAGE is a dramatic, inspired step forward in audio/video component design. AVENTAGE brings studio-grade sound and sophisticated video enhancements to the home as a result of unparalleled attention to detail in design, engineering and fabrication. Details that, at first glance, would not seem to affect the quality of sight, sound and control, when brought together within an AVENTAGE component, produce a work of visual and acoustic art.The RX-A700 A/V Receiver supports 3D and Audio Return channel over 6 in/1 out HDMI, CINEMA DSP 3D, with or without Front Presence Speakers, and RS-232C interface for custom installation.

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Yamaha RX-A800 7.1-Channel Audio/Video Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So I've had my RX-A800 for a few months now, and I can say that I am fully satisfied with it!
I've got it wired to my 5.1 system, main LR speakers are bi-amped, too. I've got it hooked up to my TV, PS3, cable-box DVR, Nintendo, and my computer on occasion. Handles everything like a champ.
Everything sounds great, but more than that, I love how it handles the video, as well. Makes everything so simple to wire, especially with HDMI. I can't say that the video-upscaling has really "wow"ed me, but I have no complaints about it, either (the Nintendo is the only non-HD device I have!).
Likes:
-HD Radio! Cool!
-"Scene" buttons... instead of powering on, switching through all the inputs, just press "TV" or "BD/DVD" or "Radio" and it'll take you directly to that input, and set it to your preferred sound program (7.1, 2.1, etc).
-On-screen display ... makes adjusting and fine-tuning the sound super easy, plus displays all the RDS radio tags for songs, etc.
-Really good price compared to other units (including other Yamaha's!)
-Works well with Harmony One remote
"Dislikes":
-I know this is reaching, but I think there are too many different sound-modes. "Concert Hall Vienna" or "Concert Hall Munich" or "Cellar Club" or "Roxy Theater" ... they all just sound extra reverby to me, and I prefer a clean, straight-from-the-recording sound, so I don't use them.
-Bluetooth, iPod, and Sirius Radio adapters all cost extra.
-The FM antenna needs an upgrade (it's just a loose wire).I highly recommend the RX-A800. Sure, the A1000 (or +) is probably even better, but that small step up would have been a large step up in price for me, so I'm happy with my purchase!

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AVENTAGE is a dramatic, inspired step forward in audio/video component design. AVENTAGE brings studio-grade sound and sophisticated video enhancements to the home as a result of unparalleled attention to detail in design, engineering and fabrication. Details that, at first glance, would not seem to affect the quality of sight, sound, and control, when brought together within an AVENTAGE component produce a work of visual and acoustic art.The RX-A800 A/V Receiver supports 3D and Audio Return channel over 6 in/2out HDMI, CINEMA DSP 3D surround sound, with or without Front Presence Speakers, RS-232C interface for custom installation, and HDMI for Zone B.

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