Pioneer VSX-D514 Multi-Channel Digital A/V Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've used this receiver for a year, during which time I've had nothing to complain about. It's a respectable buy in its price range, sounds quite good, and is not overly complex. I've just replaced it as my primary receiver, though, because it doesn't have enough digital inputs to handle a variety of sources. To manage the optical inputs from my TV, DVD recorder, Macintosh computer, cable box, and CD recorder, I was required to buy a switching device from Radio Shack. Now my new receiver has enough inputs to manage the load, as well as vastly more power and features. The 514 has only one optical and two coax inputs.
I expect the 514 to continue to give service for a long time, hooked up the bookshelf speakers in my bedroom.
If you want basic stereo and surround capability, this is a model worth considering, but if you imagine your needs will grow like mine have, then you might want to bump up to a more expensive/expansive unit. (In case you wonder, I now have a Yamaha HRT-5890, and it early on seems an excellent choice.)
Note that I do not dabble in the black arts of the audiophiles. I'm an unpretentious listener with reasonably high expectations. I doubt if I would care about the alleged sound distinctions between, say, a Denon and a Yamaha. I do care a lot about the quality of the user's manual, and the D514 has one that is not hard to understand.
You might have a problem figuring out from the Amazon description that the 514 is 5x100 watts.

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Designed to give consumers full control over their home entertainment experience, the Pioneer VSX-D514-S 5.1-channel digital A/V receiver is a great fit for the discriminating movie and music fan. The receiver, which powers five channels at 100 watts each, is equipped with Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II surround processing, giving DVDs a rich, full-bodied sound through a multichannel speaker system. Dolby Digital and DTS decoding technologies split the audio signals among four left and right surround speakers, a center speaker, and a subwoofer, while Pro Logic II converts two-channel stereo sources into five-channel surround sound. On surround encoded material such as movie soundtracks, the resulting audio is powerful and explosive, while with two-channel encoded material such as music CDs, the effect is a wider and more encompassing sound field with more localized vocals.
Internally, the VSX-D514-S boasts a single compact circuit board for all digital signal processing, thus ensuring exceptional purity, plus a double-precision Motorola 48-bit DSP engine that's similar to the one used in top theaters worldwide. The receiver also offers a discrete configuration along with Pioneer's hybrid amplification system, which directs the correct amount of bias signal to each transistor for extremely low distortion. This means that Pioneer's amps are designed to handle the full bandwidth of Dolby Digital, DTS, SACD, and DVD-Audio encoded software. Add that to the high-end digital-to-analog audio converter and you have a top-shelf receiver.
Installation takes just a few minutes thanks to the Quick Setup feature, which walks the consumer through the setup process. Listeners simply tell the receiver how many speakers are connected and then select the room size. The receiver then delivers an accurate surround sound performance based on the configuration. Additional features include component and S-video switching, which allows both progressive and interlaced NTSC and HDTV signals to travel to the TV or monitor; five digital signal processing modes, including game and movie modes; multiple digital coaxial and optical inputs; and a preset LCD remote control. The VSX-D514-S measures 16.56 by 6.25 by 15.5 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
What's in the Box VSX-D514-S receiver, remote control, two AA batteries, AM and FM antennas, user's manual.

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Zenith HDV420 HDTV Digital Video Tuner / Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just upgraded to this HDTV receiver from a Samsung. Before Samsung I used an RCA receiver. I was going to get another Samsung but I figured for [$] more this one was worth it. This receiver blows both of my old ones away. It was child's play to set up. It scanned for all of the channels and got every channel automatically. The menu is very well laid out. The exterior looks very modern and high tech with the reflective panel and the brushed metal. It also has coaxial and optical digital output so that I can now watch TV in Dolby Digital (when the program is in DD). It has component out for HDTV. It also has 15-pin computer VGA out. I hooked it up to my regular 15-inch computer monitor and the picture was too small. However, it looked even better than my TV! The remote is very simple. I like it that way but that's a matter of choice. The best feature is that you can change the display format just by the push of the button. Next I am going to buy a wireless transmitter to send the HDTV channels to the rest of my TV's in the house through the analog out. I highly recommend this. ...

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Affordable and flexible, Zenith's HDV430 terrestrial high-definition TV/digital TV receiver features a high-performance ATSC tuner for terrestrial HDTV reception--just hook up an aerial antenna and you're in business--as well as a QAM tuner for use with an unscrambled cable HDTV transmission using a direct digital DVI connection. If you don't yet own the HD-ready TV of your dreams, you'll be delighted to learn that the HDV420 supports simultaneous HD and SD (standard-definition) outputs, allowing you to build a high-definition empire from the receiver on up, or--if you already have an HDTV--simply watch standard TV in a second room on a lesser set. The receiver offers selectable output modes for 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i, and native output. There's even a 15-pin RGB connection for use with a computer monitor. Other handy features include auto channel programming, channel labeling, a user-friendly graphical user interface, fast program search, and digital closed-captioning. Hook the Zenith up to a compatible audio/video receiver through a digital-audio interconnect (either optical or coaxial) and you'll be ready to enjoy immersive, 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround sound.
What's in the Box Set-top box, composite-video/stereo analog audio interconnect, a component-video cable, a universal remote control, remote batteries, and a user's manual.

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Yamaha HTR-5750SL 6.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It took awhile after I got the unit to hook it all up because I was just plain lazy. Little did I know what I had in my possession other than the fact that a friend of mine that works at Sears recommened it to me. This system beats my parents system and they had invested something like 3 grand on their complete system. The speaker set I had was about 2 grand and this just went together with the reciever perfectly. I haven't run into any issues and everything was easy to understand and figure out. The only thing I despise about the system is the usage of another remote, of course that comes with any system.

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Bringing ease of use, broad format compatibility, and high sound quality to forward-looking home theaters, Yamaha's HTR-5750SL audio/video receiver offers the convenience of DVD-Audio/SACD-ready analog inputs alongside the latest 6.1-channel surround processing and premium Yamaha sound technologies. The receiver's stylish silver appearance will augment many decors.When hooked up with the digital-audio output from a DVD-Video player or digital satellite receiver, the 90-watts-per-channel HTR-5750SL handles 5.1-channel surround decoding for both major formats, Dolby Digital and DTS. In addition, the receiver processes Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS Neo:6, DTS-ES Matrix 6.1, and DTS-EX Discrete 6.1. The extended-surround formats create even more expansive soundfields through a center-rear channel, resulting in six discrete, full-range signals in addition to the LFE (low-frequency effects) channel: front left/right, surround left/right, and front/rear center channels.A key benefit from a Yamaha receiver, of course, is Yamaha's proprietary signal processing, including Cinema DSP (digital soundfield processing), which creates aural "imaging" that not only makes your home sound like a theater, but also sounds better than most movie theaters. Based on a wealth of measured data in real studios and halls, Cinema DSP is designed to bring out the full potential of movie sound mixes, reproducing them the way directors and sound engineers intended.Non-Dolby Digital and DTS sources can benefit from surround processing, too. With enhanced directional steering over standard four-channel Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II provides 5.1 channels of surround processing from any stereo source--whether that's a TV broadcast, VHS tapes, or your favorite CDs, cassettes, and LPs.And, when you're listening to multichannel presentations late at night, you'll appreciate Silent Cinema, which simulates 5.1-channel listening through a pair of ordinary 2-channel headphones (not included). Silent Cinema uses unique parameters for each soundfield to ensure accurate headphone representations of each soundfield.Then there's the six-channel DVD-Audio/SACD-ready inputs mentioned above. Due to anti-piracy measures, DVD-Audio and SACD players perform their own digital-to-analog conversion, passing high-resolution analog signals on to your amplifier. (And analog, after all, is what your amp feeds your speakers.)DVD-Audio and SACD can each deliver up to six channels of discrete, full-frequency sound at greater-than-CD resolution (in the case of DVD-A, that means 24 bits, 96 kHz sampling rate versus 16 bits, 44.1 kHz for CD). In stereo or surround, the sound from DVD-Audio and SACD is packed with detail, yet smoother and sweeter from than the sound from even the best standard CD players. The HTR-5750SL accommodates decoded DVD-A/SACD signals and routes them to the appropriate speakers in your surround system.The receiver offers four audio/video input connections (all with composite-/S-video, two with component-video), four fixed and assignable digital-audio inputs (great for DSS, CD, laserdisc, gaming consoles, or minidisc), and front-panel input connections for your camcorder or other spontaneous hookup. The receiver's video circuitry is high-definition ready, too (60 MHz bandwidth), and it will upconvert composite-video to an S-video signal to simplify TV hookup.Last, but certainly not least, the HTR-5750SL benefits from Yamaha's Digital ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology) build philosophy. The culmination of the best digital engineering and design possible, it brings together several key elements to create the best-sounding, easiest-to-use A/V components available.What's in the Box Receiver, remote control, four AAA batteries, an AM loop antenna, an indoor FM antenna, a warranty card, and a user's manual.

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Yamaha HTR-5860 XM-Ready 7.1-Channel A/V Surround Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have a beef with the remote on this unit. All remotes included with units above entry level must have learning capability. This remote, sadly does not.
The quality of the reciever is pretty good. It seems well built. The front control panel is well placed and the rear jacks are intuitively placed. The volume increases and decreases in TINY increments....which is a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. The e-z setup was pretty easy to do. The on-screen programming is also nicely presented. I can tell no difference in the up-convert function to component. The input switching which is carried out through the receiver is excellent...when you change inputs (DVD, TIVO, CABLE, ETC), it automatically changes inputs on your TV....this is a nice function if you have a spouse who can never remember which input to switch to to watch a movie!!
Overall, I wish this receiver had HDMI jack to upconvert to highest quality signal...you will find this on the top-of-the line units. I'm pretty pleased with this purchase, given the low cost offered by Amazon with free shipping. If you are looking for an upgrade to your home theater, give this unit a shot.

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Yamaha Superior Performance, High Powered 7.1-Channel 770W (110W x 7) A/V Receiver. It features Yamaha's unique CINEMA DSP for outstandfing home theater performance, as well all Dolby formats and all DTS formats. It has YPAO which automatically sets the best sound for any room, with any speaker placement. It has Quad-Field CINEMA DSP and 14 Surround programs. It also features Night Listening Enhancer (Cinema/Music) and Silent Cinema. It has Component Video Up Conversion (Full) It is XM Satellite Radio ready. It also features on-screen display. It has an 8-Channel External Decorder Input.

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Kenwood VR-309 Dolby Digital Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As a previous owner of Kenwood recievers, I knew I would not be disappointed with the VR-309. On top of the great name, I was excited about getting plenty of "home theater" power, AND Dolby Digital/DTS Decoding. 100 watts to all channels has brought Dolby Pro Logic to new life. (Unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to test DVD). As far as versatility, you really couldn't ask for more...multiple video inputs, direct inputs for CD Players, and all of the latest connections (banana plugs, optical/digital hook-ups) make this a "capable" reciever for a long while to come.
My small gripes deal specifically with Kenwood's multi-brand remote and the input selector dial on the receiver. Kenwood certainly goes all out when trying to become compatible with other brands of remotes. Everything from Satellite controls, cable boxes, TV's, CD-players and VCR's seem to be covered. While Kenwood makes a nice attempt at diagraming and explaining usage of their remote, simple tasks like turning on your VCR or TV result in ridiculous three step process (instead of simpler methods). On the receiver itself, things also get "hairy" when attempting to switch from your tuner to your Video or CD units. Instead of assigning specific buttons on the front panel for immediate access, Kenwood jumps on the Sony bandwagon of using spin-dials. This becomes annoying at times when you want to tune into the radio and have to spin the "input selector" ten times to cycle through VCR, CD, DVD, etc just to reach your tuner. If you can overlook these few minor annoyances, I am positive you will be extremely happy with this product.
On a side issue, just last week I misplaced my VR-309 manual and couldn't find it. When I visited Kenwood's website, I was extremely pleased to find that the last four years of manuals are stored in ADOBE Acrobat format that you can download for free! Now that's service!
In conclusion, the only thing keeping this unit from getting 5-stars are the remote and the input selector dial. I love this receiver and am itching to hook my DVD player up...Happy listening!

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Yamaha HTR-5660 6-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm not a hardcore audiophile, but I did a fair amount of research before buying this receiver. I found this unit has all of the features I was looking for, and at an exceptional price.
This receiver is basically the new version of the 5560. It adds 10 watts per channel for 85 watts each. It also now has digital audio inputs and s-video inputs for every video input including the front one. This receiver is also basically identical to the RX-V640 that Yamaha sells through it's retail channels. According the Yamaha website, the only difference is the coloring of the lettering on the front of the receiver.
There was a list of features I was looking for in a receiver and this met all my criteria. Support for both 6.1 channel Dolby Digital and DTS were a must. For my particular application 7.1 channel surround was overkill, and there currently aren't that many sources for it. Discrete circuitry for each speaker is a must. No spring clips for speaker connections. All support banana clips. I use a DVR and a VCR, so I wanted 2 AV in/out hookups. I have an oddly shaped room with less than optimal speaker placement, so I wanted the ability to adjust each speaker volume level independently. I don't have a HDTV compatible TV yet, but I wanted composite video support for when I get one. This receiver has 2 composite inputs and 1 output. Size was also a consideration for me as the receiver would have to fit into an entertainment center. The Onkyo I was looking at had similar features, but was just too massive to fit. The Yamaha was a more reasonable size.
Performance wise, I have been very impressed with the Yamaha. With the ability to adjust each speaker volume level independently, I was able to set it up to create impressive surround effects despite my less than optimal room. The Dolby Digital and DTS effects are impressive. When the receiver detects a DD or DTS source, it switches to those modes automatically. There are 40+ additional surround modes. Yamaha apparently went to a lot of trouble to develop them, but in my opinion they are mostly useless. I've settled on Dolby Surround II for most of my non-Dolby Digital AV viewing which is very impressive so far. 6 channel stereo is great for listening to music and really allows you to take advantage of your surround system. I've tried most of the other surround modes. Some are interesting, but I haven't found that I use them much. The included antennas for AM and FM reception are adequate and I found that my reception was much improved over my last receiver (Sony).
I found the remote and manual to be adequate and simple to use. I was able to adjust most of the settings on the receiver with minimal hassle. I was able to map all of the remote features to my Sony learning remote and it works fine.
If you are looking for a step above entry level receiver with many of the features and quality of the high end models, I highly recommend this model. I did a search on the internet and found many stores offering it at very attractive prices. I called J&R and they matched the lowest internet price and I had the receiver in 2 days. They also have a very reasonable return policy though I haven't had to test it yet.

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Packed with connections and proprietary audio-enhancing technologies, Yamaha's HTR-5660 is your gateway to home-theater bliss. The receiver can power two rooms at once (one in surround sound, the other in stereo), and it offers the convenience of DVD-Audio/multichannel SACD-ready six-channel analog inputs alongside the latest 6.1-channel surround processing and premium Yamaha features.When hooked up with the digital-audio output from a DVD-Video player or digital satellite receiver, the 85 watts-per-channel HTR-5660 (105 wpc peak) handles 5.1-channel surround decoding for both major formats, Dolby Digital and DTS. In addition, the HTR-5660 also processes Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES, which create an even more expansive soundfield through the use of a center-rear surround channel, totaling six discrete full-range channels in addition to the LFE (low-frequency effects) channel: left, center, right, and left, center, and right surround. Want even higher power? The receiver offers 6.1-channel preamp outputs for direct hookup with a six-channel power amplifier.Exclusive Yamaha technologies include Quad-Field Cinema DSP (based on a wealth of measured data in real studios and halls, this processing is designed to highlight the full potential of movie sound mixes), Silent Cinema (which simulates 5.1-channel listening through a pair of ordinary stereo headphones, not included), and the company's YSS-938 32-bit DSP chip providing 25 unique surround algorithms with 44 variations to help you perfectly match your simulated acoustic space to your video program.Non-Dolby Digital and DTS sources can benefit from surround processing, too--with enhanced directional steering over standard four-channel Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II provides five channels of surround processing from any stereo source--whether that's a TV broadcast, VHS tapes, or your favorite CDs, cassettes, and LPs. Pro Logic II delivers full-bandwidth stereo surround channels with 40 dB of left-right separation.And, when you're listening to multichannel presentations late at night, you'll appreciate Silent Cinema, which simulates 5.1-channel listening through a pair of ordinary stereo headphones (not included). Silent Cinema uses unique parameters for each soundfield to ensure accurate headphone representations of each soundfield.Then there's the six-channel DVD-Audio/SACD-ready inputs mentioned above. If these formats are so high-tech, you might wonder, why do you need analog inputs to appreciate them? Because, for reasons of content protection, DVD-Audio and SACD players perform their own digital-to-analog conversion, passing high-resolution analog, rather than digital, signals on to your amplifier. (And analog, after all, is what your amp feeds your speakers.)The versatile unit offers 12 video input connections (with five S-video inputs and two high-resolution component-video inputs), five fixed and assignable digital-audio inputs (great for DVD, DSS, CD, laserdisc, gaming consoles, or minidisc), and front-panel input connections for your camcorder or other spontaneous hookup (including S-video and an optical digital-audio in). The HTR-5660 comes with a preset remote control.Last, but certainly not least, the HTR-5660 benefits from Yamaha's Digital ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology) build philosophy. ToP-ART's goal is to maximize digital quality while minimizing analog circuitry. The culmination of the best digital engineering and design possible, it brings together several key elements to create the best-sounding, easiest-to-use A/V components available.What's in the Box Receiver, remote control, remote batteries, FM wire antenna, AM loop antenna, a user's manual, warranty information, and registration information.

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ONKYO TX-8511 Stereo Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The TX-8511 Onkyo Stereo Receiver is an affordable, efficient way to upgrade the quality of your sound system. This receiver even made my old set of speakers sound great. I recommend this receiver for people who just want the basics for their sound system. For me, it was important to have a phono input, because I listen to records. The TX-8511 has the phono input as well as inputs for anything else you might want to hook up (e.g., CD players, multiple tape decks, etc.). It is also really quiet, with no buzz or hum whatsoever. It is clean, lean, and mean. The 100 watts per channel is more than sufficient to raise the roof, if you feel the need.
Besides its excellent performance, I also appreciated how easy it was to set up. The instructions were clear and written with simplicity, and everything is labeled clearly on the receiver itself. It only took a few minutes to get everything working. This is such a great unit that I hope that Onkyo doesn't do something ill-advised like discontinue it.

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