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Onkyo TX-8522 100 Watt Stereo Receiver Review

2011-12-16T15:45:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I've been an audio/video enthusiast from the days when "transistor" meant cheap and "tubes" meant quality. Indeed, I've worked in motion pictures and as a musician. I share the above because almost every review one reads rates every product as either great or terrible. Few reviewers, it seems, have much background to aid in making useful comparisons.
My own view - developed over the years - is that the best amps have 'a sound,' but most amps remain (and should remain) free of the any sound of their own. This, I thought, was especially true for mid-priced mass audio, and arena where Onkyo is close to the top because of its superior build quality.
The TX-8522 has somewhat changed that long held point of view. Here is why:
I bought the TX-8522 to replace a less powerful, but very high quality, receiver used in a secondary system made up of on-hand componants in a very large, catherdral-ceilinged, room. That older receiver was a Nakamicci and its sound was always, to my experienced ears, quite excellent.
But used in this setting, driving small and inefficient speakers, it didn't have the power output needed, and the temptation was often to turn it up too high and risk clipping.
I chose the TX-8522 for Onkyo's reputation for excellent build quality, its 100 watt RMS output with good momentary peak power, simple, straight-forward faceplate, and reasonale price. Soundwise I expected nothing beyond what I had before with the Nakamicci except with adaquate volume without strain. In this expectation I was mistaken.
The sound of the Onkyo, at similar (unmeasured) volume, was richer and fuller. The sound stage is wider. How can explain this? Simple: I can't.
But the difference is not subtle.
Feature-wise the receiver is basic. Treble and bass tone controls (both kept at the neutral setting as they were on the Nakamicci), balance, input selectors, typical FM receiver tuner controls, speaker selectors, and several 'optional' settings said to insure purity (turning off video and display) and neutrality (bipassing the tone controls). The later two had no noticable sonic effect with my system.
This receiver could be said to be everything I hoped for. Its physical quality is excellent, the controls simple and effective, the appearance unobtrusive but fine. But the sound is much more. It is excellent.
The entire system: Onkyo TX-8522 receiver, Nakamicci OMS 1 Series 2 CD player, Roku Soundbridge M1000 (for accessing my computer's 'mp3' libray), Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble 2 sub-sat system, and a Carver/Sunfire Dominator D10 (1000 watt) subwoofer.
This system - origanlly planned for just background music - is now, with the substitution os the Onkyo TX-8522, worthy of serious listening.
Highly recommended.

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Onkyo 100 Watt Stereo Receiver TX8522

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Onkyo HTS590 5.1 Channel Component Home Theater Audio System Review

2011-12-15T15:34:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this system based on reviews I read at a major retailer's website and here at Amazon. I wanted a home theater system without a DVD player which would offer flexibility. This system certainly offers performance and flexibility for the price. Many features and easy setup.
There are some easy and economical things we did to improve the sound. First, because this system allows you to upgrade the speaker wire, we bought 16 gauge speaker wire from a major discount chain for the center, front and rear channel speakers. We got 14 gauge speaker wire for the subwoofer (thicker wire passes more current to the sub and has improved the performance of the 8-inch woofer). We spent $14 for a coaxial cable at another discount store which carries the digital signal from the DVD player to the Onkyo receiver--this improved EVERYTHING--movies and music. We found speaker stands at a major discount chain for $78--speakers sound much better when they have a strong/rigid support. This may sound like stuff an audiophile would do to a $5000 audio system, but it all is cheap, easy and effective. Sound improved by about 45%.
We were surprised at the tuner in the Onkyo receiver--we're using a small Terk powered FM antenna and getting very good FM stereo reception in our hilly river community. All in all, for the small cost of this system, we're enjoying home theater greatly. We might spend a little to get a new sub at some time, but for now we're really happy.

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Onkyo 6 Channel HTIB HTS590

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Harman Kardon HK3485 High Current Stereo Receiver Review

2011-12-15T12:20:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I bought this unit to replace an aging TEAC AG-D9100 whose output stage had malfunctioned. The TEAC unit was excellent. It included a whole host of features not found on the HK3485 (i.e. Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby 3, plus an array of surround effects). TEAC no longer markets the AG-D9100, or anything closely resembling it (sadly), and so I settled on the HK3485 as an alternative. Comparing the two (a totally subjective, unscientific exercise on my part to be sure), I find the clarity and definition of the HK to be a bit better than the TEAC, but the low-end power not quite as booming as the TEAC (surprising, given some of the reviews I had read). Guess it's time to drag out my old graphic equalizer. Aside from that, the HK is perfect for what I use it for (CD's, FM radio). And as I say in the title, for the price, you can't beat it.

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The HK 3485 is where traditional features such as a high-performance phono preamp, pre-out/main-in jacks, and high-current amplification meet the present and future.The HK 3485 features video switching, a subwoofer output, and a cable for direct audio/video connection to an iPod player or MP3 player.Whether it comes from a turntable, the built-in tuner, or a portable player, your music never sounded better!

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Yamaha HTR-5890 7.1-Channel A/V Surround Receiver (Black) Review

2011-12-15T07:06:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I won't go into all the terrific functions of this receiver, you can read them in the product description. What I will say is that the pure power and sound quality of this unit is exceptional. The included sound analyzer microphone included with the unit calibrates the sound to the dimensions of your room, size and quality of all connected speakers and compensates for the acustical liveliness of the listening environment. The end result in my case was that it sounded like in addition to a new receiver, I had all new speakers as well! My home theater never sounded so good. A good friend of mine who just finished with his 60k+ sound room commented "wow, this really sounds terrific". If you like connections, this units has a gazillion of them and is should be a challenge to try to fill them all up. Most of the added sound fields are so-so but in DTS or Dolby digital the sound is just golden. If you are a home theater buff, do yourself a favor and spend the couple of extra hundred dollors and move up to a great receiver. The price is actually quite resonalble for what you get and you will have no buyers remorse. Enjoy!

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Yamaha Superior Performance, High Powered 7.1-Channel 980W (140W x 7) A/V Receiver. It features Yamaha's unique CINEMA DSP for outstandfing home theater performance, as well as THX, all Dolby formats and all DTS formats. It has YPAO which automatically sets the best sound for any room, with any speaker placement, all in less than three minutes. This receiver also features an RS-232 Interface, Trigger Output and IR Port, Zone 2 Speaker Out and Amplifier Assignment and Zone 3 Volume. It has Ftont Panel Video Aux Inputs with Optical Digital and S-Video. It has 8 Digital Inputs (5 Optical/3 Coaxial) which are both fixed and assignable. It has Quad-Field CINEMA DSP and 16 Surround programs with 2 THX programs. It also features Night Listening Enhancer (Cinema/Music) and Silent Cinema, as well as Audio Delay for Adjusting Lip-Sync (0-24ms). It has Component Video Up Conversion, HDTV (720p/1080i) Compatibility and Wide Range Video Bandwidth (60MHz-3 dB)

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Sony HT7200DH Component Home Theater System - Black Review

2011-12-15T04:06:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)As my first big box Home Theater system, I don't have anything to compare it to, but I feel the price was worth it.
The system looks great. The speakers are a decent size, and when set up, can look very attractive in a modern themed room. The receiver itself is very slick with with a nice design.
The receiver has plenty of hookups that will be suitable for most people. With 3 HDMI inputs, you should be able to hook up all your Hi-Definition components. One great feature is the ability to process the audio through the HDMI. Some receivers can't handle this and you have to deal with complex connections involving analog to digital, digital to analog, etc. This receiver is great for a PS3 owner because it can take advantage of the loss less sound formats. (Dolby TrueHD, DTS MA, etc.)
I haven't hooked up the included 1080p upscaling DVD player and don't know if I will because I have a PS3. Therefore I cannot comment on that component.
The remote is pretty weak. It has a hard time working from further distances and it is in no way universal. I would recommend a fairly high-end universal remote. I was dealing with three remotes and it wasn't pretty.
The included speaker cable is pretty standard and if you're running some cables under the carpet or through the wall or something, you will most likely need some longer cables to reach the surround speakers.
The sound is great. The powered 8 inch subwoofer really packs a punch for movies and games. The different standard-def audio options sound great with your cable box.
There is an auto calibration setup which consists of placing the included microphone at the same height and location you would be sitting. You then start the test and the speakers all spit out some white noise to tell the receiver how far away, how close to the other speakers, etc, everything is. Very useful. If you would rather do things yourself, each speaker can be individually adjusted to your liking.
All in all, I would say this system is a great bang for your buck.
Pros
-Nice design
-Nice sound
-Ample inputs
-Good price
Cons
-Speaker cable
-Included remote

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The Sony HT-7200DH home theater system offers everything you need to set up a great sounding home theater. System includes a Single disc DVD player with HDMI Output, a 5.1 A/V receiver with 1000 watts (RMS) and HDMI Active Intelligence complemented with high quality 2-way front speakers and 8" active subwoofer. Also, rest assured that you are getting the best system for your money. This system is equipped with DIGITAL MEDIA PORT interface offers an access point and provides control for one of Sony’s DIGITAL MEDIA PORT accessories (accessories sold separately). In addition to DMP, Portable Audio Enhancer integrates portable music into a traditional home theater system while providing enhanced audio quality. The included DVD player will also upscale your Movies to a Full 1080p quality when using the HDMI connection. The HT- 7200DH can also control a select number of BRAVIA televisions with BRAVIA Sync via the HDMI interface. With “One Touch Play," operations that took several steps have been reduced to one. Finally, it is XM Connect & Play Ready2 so you can listen to all the exciting stations available through XM satellite Radio.

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Canon CP-10 Card Photo Printer Review

2011-12-15T02:42:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)The CP-10 is a great little printer that prints a outstanding quality wallet photo without a hitch. The difference between bordered and borderless prints is that borderless prints a somewhat zoomed version of what your image display window shows so you may experience "head chopping" unless you learn to frame your shots with a little more border around objects. You must be very careful when loading paper so as not to touch the printing surface or a finger print will show up in the finished product. I was surprised at how much detail can be had on a credit card sized photo and find this to be a nice alternative to printing larger more costly images when this size will produce a compact result that serves many purposes. Portability is the key here and I use this with a powershot S110 so in two pockets you have a complete photo system on the go. With optional 12 volt auto adapter you can have instant mobile prints. It does not interface with a PC so you must print direct from digicam making a larger capacity media card a good addition if shooting away from the printer.

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Canon's CP-10 is a dye-sublimation card printer that connects directly to Canon's supported line of digital cameras: Digital IXUS 300 or PowerShot A10, A20, S110, or S300 digital camera. Weighing only 1.1 pounds, this tiny printer has a footprint of 4.2 by 4.9 inches, fitting easily onto any available surface, and it has a five-sheet input capacity for the proprietary credit-card-size paper. Using three-color (CMY) dye-sublimation technology, the CP-10 produces 24-bit color prints at a resolution of 300 x 300 dpi with print speeds of just under a minute for each photo.
Operation is simple, thanks to an easy DIF-100 (direct interface) cable connection to the camera. You first select your image from the print menu and then simply print onto label or standard paper stock. You can easily adjust most settings through menus displayed on your camera's LCD. Choose between borderless and bordered prints or label sheets.
A scratch and fade-resistant overcoat protects your images, while the printer's transparent case lets you (and your family) watch the prints develop. The CP-10 also comes backed with a one-year limited parts and labor warranty.

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MIDIMAN M-Audio Studiophile SP-5B Bi-Amplified Near Field Studio Monitors ( Pair ) Review

2011-12-14T14:29:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)THese speakers are great. Although they seem to be not selling on the net everywhere. I was lucky enough to find the last pair at Guitar Center. I have never had better speakers than these. I hear sounds ive never heard from songs before. And editing audio via Protools 8 is great. They are both powered so you will get the most out of them! I would reccomend a buy, but hey seem to not be selling anymore.

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Pinnacle 7.875IN Cube 2 6.5IN 350WATT Pwrd Sub Review

2011-12-14T13:43:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This woofer was the perfect complement to my Denom RCD M37 shelf stereo system which needed a boost at the lower frequencies.

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GE 29460GE2 2-Line Business Speakerphone with Caller ID Review

2011-12-14T12:06:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I bought this phone a few days ago. I was VERY impressed with the intelligent layout of its features. Total learning time was less than 20 minutes. Someone put a lot of thought into making it easy to use. Of the many excellent features this phone offers, I did find several disappointed me (but not enough to return it!). These are:
1) On the first and only 2-line conference call I initiated, niether party could hear the other. Conferencing with 'home' quality phones always provides low level sound for the other parties. But this phone produced no sound for these particular parties.
2) The speaker phone's output volume is quite low, even on its maximum setting. With my computer's fans, it's only minimally acceptable. The receiving party said my voice quality wasn't bad, but similar to any other speaker phone, quite echo-e.
3) The headset feature is great, but, get this, the handset is dead while the headset jack is plugged-in. You must remove it to return use of the handset. You can switch to the speaker phone though while removing the jack, but, sheesh.
4) The Flash feature switches to the call waiting line just fine. But, I couldn't find a way to conference the call waiting person with the other party on the same line, as I could with my Sony phone. I kinda miss that ability, though maybe I haven't discovered how to do it yet (no mention of it in the manual).
Overall though, this is a premium phone with wonderful clarity and a solid sounding handset microphone (not 'tinny' like some phones). I really investigated alternative phones and this was in a class for twice its ... cost. Even with these particular disappointments, I'm impressed with the phone.

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GE's 29460 supports two-line operation and has a data port for fax, modem, or external answering device. Dual ringers indicate the line on which a call is coming, and conferencing capabilities let you talk to two parties at the same time. The phone stores up to 50 speed-dial numbers that you can quickly access with a shuttle dial. The 99-name-and-number caller ID tracks your missed calls, displayed on the backlit four-line LCD for easy reading and quick callback.
The speakerphone frees your hands for more important tasks, and the one-touch redial button is convenient when you've just remembered something important to tell a friend after hanging up. Separate volume controls for the handset, speakerphone, and ringer let you customize the proper audio levels, and the phone is wall mountable to help save desk space. GE offers a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the BoxBase unit, tilt stand/wall mount, handset, coiled handset cord, telephone line cord, printed speed-dial reference card, instructions, warranty information

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Bazooka Bta8200 Bt Series 8-Inch 200W Amplified Subwoofer Review

2011-12-14T11:20:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I have been using this 8" inch amplified subwoofer in my car for more than 10 years. It is in the trunk and has weathered freezing winters and oven hot summers year after year. It made all the difference in my car stereo. Sound is tight with no audible distortion. If you want a tighter pumping sound, get the 6-inch.
Pros:
- Great sounding sub
- 10 years and still pumping beautiful sound
Cons:
- Need to tie it up to keep it from rolling

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8-Inch 200 watt amplified subwoofer.

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VR3 Roadmaster/VR3 HD Radio Receiver Review

2011-12-14T10:35:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This is a very poorly designed product, all the way around. It has the cosmetic appearance of a very low-end electronic product. The cable from the remote to the base unit is bulky & short. Lousy design making it hard to install. The base unit is massive and hard to conceal under the dash. Power needs to come from your 12v accessory/cigarette lighter on the dash. Again, making it hard to conceal/install. To sum up.......Save Yourelf Plenty of Frustration, and AVOID this product.

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Dayton Audio SA240 240W Subwoofer Amplifier Review

2011-12-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This amp is excellent and sounds fantastic. I had a JBL D112 and the amp inside went out. JBL didn't warranty or have the parts. I bought a new speaker thinking I had blown the speaker. It was the amp. I got a JL Audio 1 Series in 8 ohm. I took out the old amp and had to cut out the back of the box so it fit and then had to patch the hole where the old amp was. I took the plate and cut it with a hack saw and made it perfectly tight. This is important or it will rattle a lot. I didn't have any hum problems only clean rockin bass. For a sub amp this is a great value. I got mine in about 3 days. It was very fast shipping and the catalog they sent with it had a ton of cool electronics goodies. I got the one with the 6 db bass but there isn't an on off for the bass boost. It is just on. There is an auto on off and the gain isn't even turned all the way up. It cranked. Had plenty of power and it ran rather cool. I haven't turned it off yet since it sounds so awesome. Part Express also sells some sweet subwoofer enclosures as well. I am not sure about their speakers but the price is right for some sweet bass. I think my next project will be to get a box that already has the cut outs from parts express and pair it with a JL Audio W7 in 4 ohm and 1000 watt amp from Part Express (Dayton) They are sweet especially for the money. I am running it from my Onkyo pre-outs into the RCA ins and it is so much better sounding than the original. It hits so low and just plain sounds great. I used some longer screws to install it to keep it sealed tight even though it is ported. You may want to get some extensions for speaker wires, but they are not needed.
You will need to be able to cut holes in your existing box or just buy a box from PE and the holes are cut and you can pick your own speaker. I like JL Audio. For a Subwoofer amp it can't be beat. It is simple, but make a huge difference in the way your system sounds. At least that is what my neighbors are telling me.

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The Dayton Audio SA240 Subwoofer Amplifier generates 240 watts of clean power and behind the less than 10" x 10" faceplate lurks a tiger of a plate amp, ready to unleash its power on your subwoofer driver. This multipurpose subwoofer amplifier can power a variety of subwoofer drivers whether you need it for home theater or pro audio use. The Dayton Audio SA240 includes all the features that you have requested, like a choice of RCA line level or banana jack speaker level inputs and outputs, automatic power-on that is triggered by any audio input signal, and a phase reverse switch to match the subwoofer to your room and your other speakers. A single amp can accept a stereo input signal and combine it into mono, which is optimum for sub bass reproduction. The internal low pass crossover is fully adjustable between 40 and 180 Hz, and of course the amp has built-in protection against internal and external faults. Unleash the beast! Dimensions: 9-13/16" Wx 9-13/16" H x 5" D. Cutout dimensions: 8-1/2" Wx 8-1/2" H.

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Bazooka MBTA10200 10-Inch 200 Watt Marine Review

2011-12-13T10:34:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I have a jbl 35w x 4 head unit and four 6" jl audio speakers. The stereo sounded pretty good with that, but adding this bazooka tube made the system sound great.
Installation was easy, just be certain it's in phase.

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The Bazooka marine bass tubes bring the superior performance of Bazooka product to the water. Some of the features critical to the performance and reliability of the Bazooka marine bass tube subwoofers in the harsh marine environment are plated speaker terminals, stainless steel hardware, waterproof woofer design, UV resistant enclosure and nylon composite mounting system for the tubes

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Sony HT7100DH Component Home Theater System with HDMI Review

2011-12-13T09:55:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)Just purchased this system to go along with my 52" Sharp HDTV. I have been looking for several months to find a suitable system. I even brought a Bose system home only to find out it does not have an HDMI interface. This system has that and more. I am a non-audiophile who just wants good sound when watching TV and movies. This system certainly provides that. The connections are reasonably staight forward and use standard cabling unlike some system that have custom cabling that is often too short for proper installation. The only negative is the fine print on the receiver and DVD player. I need to have a flashlight to read it. Otherwise I am extremely happy.

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Sony Component Home Theater System with HDMI

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Grundig M300 World Radio, Black Review

2011-12-13T05:37:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)Grundig's M300 World Radio has been updated with some improvements and may meet your needs for a portable radio with some basic shortwave functionality. There are actually two versions of this radio and I own them both. The original version I bought here from Amazon has a shiny plastic surface and comes in a wider variety of colors. The newer version has a matte surface that seems to have a rubber coating. I saw one on sale at a local retailer and picked it up to see if there were improvements. Well, other than not slipping out of your hand as easily, they seem to have little enhancements. But at least this way you know if you got an old version or a newer one. Even at the *old* product page many people discuss having received a newer model, so be aware of that.
The Grundig M300R Mini300 Handheld Shortwave Radio (Metallic Red) has come along with me on trips for going on two years. It is very good for certain things but do not expect very strong reception on any of the bands. If you need an FM radio for use on the go, and don't plan on tuning too many different SW stations, this is the radio for you. At the prevailing price the SW and AM bands are virtually icing on the cake. The main usefulness of the shortwave radio bands is in picking up some of the major stations like Radio France and BBC News. PROS:
+ Tucks away for compact storage and portability
+ OK short wave reception for larger broadcasters
+ Decent FM reception for most local stations
+ Improved body adds a little durability to the device
+ Takes two AA batteries and has no trouble with rechargeable batteries
+ Has good battery life given the performance
+ Standard 3.5mm connector for headphones
+ Included speaker is another nice extra for tuning, listening or as a backup
+ Max speaker volume is quite loud
+ Included case and buds are nothing to write home about but they are nice extras for back-up
+ Alarm and sleep timers are nice features in this class of device
+ Equipped with 7 short-wave bands (49, 41, 31, 25, 22, 19 and 16 meters)
+ Included 12 hour clock is also a nice extra (Military clock would have been a nice extra)
+ Very good value considering the list and selling prices (good as a spare unit)
CONS:
- Tuner has relatively low accuracy and no auto-scan, making it hard to get stations you tuned before
- Screen doesn't display *which* SW band you are in, meaning you have to *know* what to tune it to
- Long and non-bendable antenna makes it harder to maneuver while in use
- No station pre-sets means you can't *save* the stations you find
- Very easy to lose a station signal with minimal movement
- The tuner dial is too soft and tends to drift; a digital tuner would have been better
- Build quality is somewhat flimsy so handle with care; mainly good for indoor or stationary use
- Once you change your batteries you will have to do the set-up over again
- AM Reception is really lacking, though all bands could use improvement
- Included travel case works, but it's made from a cheap vinyl
- Clock only shows time while radio is off
- Buttons can be difficult to press accurately
- Somewhat dim read-out screenThe instructions will guide you through when and how to get the best signals. Or course that will vary depending on where you are and what stations you are trying to access. In general both AM and shortwave broadcasts seem better later in the evenings and at night. FM is better all around but the AM was not as good for me as they advertise. Using shortwave without a digital tuner, band display and auto-scan takes some basic knowledge at the very least and some patience as well. If you are a shortwave novice, you will need to study up a little to be able to pick up stations consistently. Very few people just want to search for random stations. The irony is that experienced shortwave radio enthusiasts may be disappointed by the relatively weak reception and lack of features. But they will do in a pinch. With 7 included bands, you can definitely pick up some stations. Knowing what stations you are picking up is the real challenge.
Even once you do successfully tune to a station, there is still some drift in the tuner. Stations go out of tune often and it's common to have to make adjustments. Very small turns of the tuner dial seem to equate to differences that are too large. If you plan ahead for travel or only listen to a few higher power broadcasts, you should be able to get enough stations to keep you busy.
The display has a few flaws. It will tell you when you are in FM or AM , but not what shortwave band you're tuned to. It only shows "SW" for shortwave. And it also won't display the time while the radio is turned on. This seems like a minor detail but when you are travelling having an extra clock is useful. It's also a pain when you are waiting for a program to come on the air and you have to choose between listening or seeing the time.
You can still at least see your band and tuned station, which for AM and FM are enough. Once again, you will need basic understanding of the shortwave bands before you can remember what the different ones mean and how to duplicate them.
The alarm does work, but I tend to be a heavy sleeper and it took a while to wake me up the one time I tried it. That's OK as long as you are travelling alone.
One of the things that is a clear plus for this unit is its portability. I have tucked this away in my travel bag with no problems, and I always keep some spare batteries just in case I need to use it. The small speaker on the body is not very clear but can certainly get louder than most people will need. This unit is ideal used with headphones, though the included buds are probably only good as extras.
The unit is less compact while in use because of the antenna, which sticks out a few inches to begin with. Note that AM reception uses an internal antenna but FM and shortwave reception use the antenna. It takes some getting used to the rather long antenna. Unlike many mid-sized models, this antenna extends straight up and cannot be swiveled or bent. It's almost two feet long. Therefore, it's only practical for places where you have plenty of clearance, like on a windowsill or out in the open. Sitting in a bus or train with low clearance will cut it close. If you are in a smaller area you may find it uncomfortable to maneuver the unit with the antenna fully extended. And if you want decent reception you need to fully extend it.
CONCLUSION
Perhaps the main consideration is that shortwave novices will have trouble tuning to the same stations consistently. So if you want to get a particular station while travelling, you will need to read a book on SW or look up some info and write down the frequencies before you go. With this analog and very drifty tuner, it is near impossible to tell what station exactly you are tuning to, much less to repeat that tuning.
It is hard to fault this unit too much considering how small, light and affordable it is. Granted it has its flaws. But they have added a number of small improvements and as long as you know your needs this might very well meet them.
As long as your expectations are reasonable, this is a very good value.
Enjoy.

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When you are crisscrossing the globe, you do not want to haul extra weight or worry about power adapters. That is why this lightweight, battery-powered radio is the ideal choice for the world traveller. Though this radio is small, its sound is mighty. You get AM and FM reception, plus access to seven Shortwave bands, so you can keep up-to-date wherever your travels take you. The LCD display, clock, and built-in alarm mean you will be on time, no matter what time zone you are in.

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HP Pavilion DV6-1230US 15.6-Inch Entertainment Laptop Review

2011-12-13T03:06:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)Recently I purchased a different version of this HP DV6 laptop for my mother-in-law and I looked at this model during that process (all HP DV6 laptop models share a common chassis and only vary on a few components). The first thing about the DV6 line that impressed me was the build quality. It is well constructed with a metallic toned black plastic exterior. Take a good look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone but my mother-in-law definitely appreciated having something a little more individual than the usual dull grey exterior. Despite the glossy exterior we haven't noticed much in the way of finger prints or any scratches despite the helping hands of our kids who love to "help" grandma with her computer.
The specs for this model are aimed at someone focused on web browsing and office type applications who wants superb battery life:
CPU - The Core 2 duo is the best performing notebook CPU on the market and the T6500 included with this computer is a mid-range Core2 Duo (2.1 GHZ w/2MB cache). It can handle two threads which means you can have the virus scanner running while you surf the web with no noticeable slowdown. It's not the highest performing CPU out there today but it's far above what you need for non-gaming tasks and it has a enough performance head-room to keep your computer from becoming outdated anytime soon.
RAM - The 4GB of RAM is combined with a 64bit OS to which should provided more than enough memory for pretty much any application you can think of outside of extremely high end gaming.
HDD - 320GB plenty is far more space than you need now but again, I like the future proofing. Some people may not like that it is 5400 RPM vs. 7200 RPM but the performance difference for home users is nearly zero and the reliability of 5400 RPM drives makes me prefer them in notebooks which are hard on hard disks (because they move around while in use notebook HDDs suffer far more failures than desktop drives)
Graphics - While I am a fan of Intel CPUs their graphics performance has lagged the competition. The good news is that the integrated Intel 4500MHD graphics controller in this model is a step up from previous Intel offerings and all most home users will need. I still wouldn't recommend you try and run graphics hungry 3-D games on it but it's fine for playing videos, surfing the web, doing light gaming, and running office applications.
Display - I like this 15.6" display though I got my mother-in-law the 16" version of the DV6. While a little smaller than what I settled on it is far superior to the 14-15" screens you usually see in this price range.
Sound - Surprisingly good sound for a notebook. The speakers are well positioned and deliver a good range. I've heard better but it was on a $3K notebook.
Battery - For years the retail notebook market has been plagued with cheap six cell and even four cell batteries that could barely deliver 90 minutes of real computing use. To see HP bundle a 12 cell Li-Ion battery in with this notebook is hopefully a sign the industry is recognizing that notebook users want good battery life. With a 12 cell battery you can realistically plan to go all day without plugging in. This does add slightly to the weight but few users will notice. You will be hard pressed to find another laptop in this price range with a batter this good. Most will have a 6 cell.
I don't have any serious "cons" for this computer. The "Touch Media Controls" for things like the volume (as opposed to buttons you push) are a little odd at first but we got used to them quickly and hey, they look cool when they light up.
To wrap it all up: a good computer for home users who don't plan on running high-end games and who looking for something with above average build quality and really good battery life.

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UNSURPASSED STYLE: Expanding on the sophisticated elegance of the current line, the new dv series is defined by fluid, modern lines and metalized finisheswith surprising innovations inside and out. High-gloss HP Imprint finish now encases all surfaces visible during normal use for greater durability. The dv6 series Imprint pattern provides contrast to the liquid appearance of the metallic finish. The streamlined look is enhanced with a color-matched keyboard and touchpad. And touch media controls light up and become visible only when the system is powered on further enhancing the clean appearance and helping illuminate the 16:9 widescreen. HP¿s mobile products have won coveted International Red Dot, iF and CES Innovation design awards and been recognized by other leading design institutions. MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT: Providing more choices than ever, HP MediaSmart enables access to DVDs, videos, photos, music, and Internet TV at the touch of a button. Get access to watch the best video clips from Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and MTV. Built-in demos show you how to add music to your slide shows or videos with drag-and-drop functionality ¿ and much more. An HDMI port enables you to watch films on an HD TV. Muvee Reveal makes creating films complete with effects and transitions a snap! Enjoy full screen viewing with the 16:9 aspect ratio. Extras include dual headphone jacks and an HP Mobile Remote Control.What's in the box: dv6-1230us laptop, 65W AC Adapter, 12-Cell Lithium-Ion battery, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 with 60 days complimentary live update, Microsoft Works, HP MediaSmart. Muvee Reveal,Cyberlink DVD Suite, Adobe Acrobat Reader and HP Games Powered by Wild Tangent

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Pioneer TS-W302R 12-Inch Subwoofer with 800-Watt Maximum Power Review

2011-12-12T16:16:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)ive had this sub since december and it bumps ok and the i got the type you should get the type e instead but paired with a good song and radio this thing hits hard for the price

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The all-new TS-W302R subwoofers have been upgraded with a bold new look, new features for stronger performance, and a big increase in power handling. Get great performance using either a sealed or ported enclosure - download the Installation Manual PDF (click Documents tab above) for full specifications and recommended enclosure designs.The striking new cosmetics are the first thing that is noticed, and should turn heads in any installation. Turn the woofer around, and the new magnet cover and Spring Compression Terminals set the TS-W302R apart from the competition. Lastly, don't forget the available accessory grill (UD-G306) to finish everything off and protect the woofer at the same time.The TS-W302R handles 800 watts max. (150 watts nominal power), and features Pioneers extremely strong and lightweight IMPP Composite Cone Woofer, for improved sensitivity and reduced distortion. The Conex Damper with Damper Ring delivers higher power handling and deeper bass, and the 4-Layer Long Voice Coil adds extra power and control. The new Wide-Roll, Dual-Layer Urethane Surround provides excellent control for the big bass notes, and the Projected Pole Yoke with Vented Pole delivers tight, powerful sound with lower distortion.We also recommend covering up your subwoofer with the UD-G307. This stylish spoke grille is a must add-on when building a system and gives the look of pure professionalism.

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Pyramid 403G 7 Band Power Booster Graphic Equalizer Amplifier Review

2011-12-12T11:42:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This works great for pushing my rear deck speakers. Be aware that you may have to purchase a sound filter to eliminate the alternator whine. I used the same wiring for an amplifier I previously had (zero whine), but the eq/amp has the extra noise. Still a good product for the price.

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Ultra Slim Design7 Band Graphic Equalizer 12dB Boost/Cut per Band Power On/Off Switch Dual Channel Multi-Colored Power Level Indicators 100 Watts x 2 Maximum Output 2/4 Speaker Hook-up Fader Control Floating or Common Ground High Level InputFrequency Resp.: 30Hz - 30kHz Output Impedance: 4-8 OhmsAutomatic Overload Sensing Circuit For 12V DC Negative Ground Systems Dimensions: 4.8-Inch W x 4.75-Inch D x 1-Inch H

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Denon AVR-1709 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver Review

2011-12-12T08:17:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)Think of hookup this way: The HDMI basically carries only video to this receiver. If you want this receiver to send audio directly to the speakers, you must use the audio connections. The cable HDMI connections do send video and sound to the HDTV via the HDMI cables (as if you would ever want to use the TV's speakers). The setup sounds archaic, but once it is set up, it produces great audio and video.
This receiver demands that you read the manual before and during setup. It took two of us a full afternoon to make all the proper connections and adjustments and to get the pre-sets on tuner and the remote they way we wanted them. The Audyssey system was time-consuming but well worth the effort.
If you have an iPod plugged into the VCR/iPod terminals, you cannot also use the VCR terminals -- you have to choose one accessory or switch them. (I did not see a warning in the manual about this, but my connections refused to work.) I decided that the cable box, TV and Denon iPod dock had to stay put, but the DVD player and Internet digital video player could be switched. So I bought an audio switch ($50) and an HDMI switch ($100) because I could not find a combination unit that was under $700. This setup will let me add still another HDMI accessory.
Now that all the components are setup, the system is a delight to use. We get much better sound out of our bookshelf speakers than we knew possible. The sound quality is why we bought the Denon.

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Music around the home is now easier to realize than ever before. The AVR-1709 features a powerful seven channel amplifier section that can be easily configured for a 7.1 channel surround sound loudspeaker system, or to drive a 5.1 channel surround sound system in the main room, while at the same time able to drive a pair of stereo speakers in another room. Featuring tremendous video signal handling flexibility, the AVR-1709 features three latest specification v1.3a HDMI digital video inputs and one HDMI output that handles HD signals up to the highest 1080p resolution. As well, the AVR-1709 features on-board video up-conversion, along with three HD component video inputs for additional video signal handling flexibility. For optimum surround sound quality, the Audyssey MultEQ in-room acoustic measurement and optimization system measures the loudspeaker’s overall response (at up to six different measurement points) and tailors the audio signal for the smoothest, most natural-sounding tonal balance throughout the listening space. And, the AVR-1709 is one of the first to offer Audyssey’s Dynamic Volume leveling system, which eliminates jarring volume jumps between TV shows and commercials, as well as Audyssey Dynamic EQ to ensure rich bass and smooth tonal balance, even at low volume levels. Two remote controls are provided – one for the main room, and a second easy-to-use remote control for second zone audio control.

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Audiophile Products Fubar III - Black USB DAC / Headphone Amplifier Review

2011-12-12T06:17:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)USB DACs are the hottest thing in audio right now. The primary advantage of the Fubar III is that it it's so small--barely larger than three packs of playing cards stacked on top of each other. And because it has a USB connection (the only input it has, BTW!) and contains a volume control, you can route it directly from your computer to powered computer speakers without the need for any other components. Best of all, it's highly portable, so you can pack it with your laptop and take it with you, for enjoying high-quality sound through headphones (mini-jack only) while traveling.
For running between a computer and your home stereo, even a secondary stereo in your office, I highly recommend adding the "Supplier" power supply. For only an extra C-note or so, the improvement is easily audible and well worthwhile.
As a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) the Fubar III is surprisingly good, although I feel deficient in experience with more expensive units, which compromises my ability to rank it comparatively. It's a non-upsampling DAC, so CD quality is the best it does. And while I find the sound as good on my home stereo as a decent- or good-quality mid-range CD player, it could be improved--chiefly I notice a bit of hard glassiness on piano music, and a slightly synthetic smoothness to the sound overall. Detail, clarity and dynamics are very pleasing, however, and I can't imagine anyone would be dissatisfied for the money.
The imperative for most people is to get away from the soundcard bundled into their computers, and in that respect the Fubar III is a real winner--it blows away the sound of the soundcard in my 20" iMac. I'm now looking to replace mine with a standalone DAC in the $700-$1500 range, but I have to say I sometimes pause to wonder if the more expensive DACs I'm considering (Benchmark DAC1 USB, Stello DA100, PS Audio Digital Link III, none of which I've heard) could really sound all *that* much better. You'd think so; but then, the Fubar III is really quite good. For the price the Fubar III is easy to recommend. Do consider adding the Supplier power supply, though, whether now or later, if you're going to use the unit at home.
The other thing you need to know is that it runs right off the drivers in the computer, making it *very* simple to set up. A child could follow the directions. Oh, and it comes with a USB cable and interconnects! Nice touch.

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The Fubar III USB DAC / Headphone Amp lets you connect your computer to your Amplifier and stream your entire music library with remarkable fidelity! Enjoying "High End" sound from your computer has never been easier! With the Fubar III you simply plug and play without having to install additional software or drivers. The Fubar III takes the digital signal from your computer and coverts it to a high quality analog output that connects to any amp or preamp or use the built in headphone amp and listen with your favorite headphones. The full size USB connection is fully compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux.

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Scosche Scxb04 Loaded Subwoofer Enclosure For 2004-2005 Scion Xb Review

2011-12-12T03:42:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)Buyers should consider the purchase of this product for the enclosure and an included free sub. The enclosure is great! Very hard, very heavy, high quality. You can actually get some good thumps with it being a shallow case! The subwoofer is OK. You aren't gonna shake the cars next to you with this thing, but hopefully people realize this considering the size (10"). It is very good for your standard volumes. I still have it in and am very happy with it. You can always replace the subwoofer later with a higher quality if you want (it IS user replaceable).
It says it requires you to cut a hole in the back panel that is on top of it, but I did not as I want to leave the car in as "stock" fashion as possible. This causes some vibrations from the back panel, but I put a small line of foam in between and it is fine now. Cannot even tell the sub is there without the car on. I put it in a 2006 Scion xB and it fits, but I cut a line of foam from the "Spare Tire" side to make it fit better. Only about half an inch which is just extras anyways.

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10-22-2007 - Brand New Item. Description - SCOSCHE SCXB04 Loaded Subwoofer Enclosure for 2004-2005 Scion XB

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Polk Audio SWA500 - Subwoofer amplifier - black Review

2011-12-11T15:07:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This is exactly what I needed to power my subs (2 CSW100's). 2 knobs... a few connections in the back... came with the chip tuned perfectly just for my subs... plenty of power.

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The SWA500 is custom engineered to power Polk Audio's CSW Series of built-in subwoofers to rafter-shaking, distortion-free levels.Class D digital design delivers huge power and runs cool for superb long-term reliability500 Watts into 4 Ohms at Powers up to two CSW subs of the same modelFront panel Low Pass Filter and Level adjustment knobs make `tweaking` a snap.Plug in SPEX circuit cards (supplied) optimize the amplifier to match the specific subwoofer model being usedCustom frequency shaping (programmed into SPEX card) for the deepest, most accurate bass perfromance

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Sony HTD-DW995 Full HD 1080p Component Home Theater System Review

2011-12-11T14:39:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This unit does handle digital audio signals via HDMI. This means you don't have to have a seperate optical or coax cable for audio. But you won't get anything more than the DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 that you would normally get through the optical input. If you have a HD DVD player and are expecting this system to take advantage of Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby TrueHD audio, forget it. The HD DVD players decode these new audio formats and sends them out as multi-channel linear PCM. But this Sony receiver can only handle 2 channel linear PCM. Not the 5.1 channels you need for surround sound. So there's no technical advantage over the optical or coax connections that have been around for years.

You may not care and you may find this to be a great system at a great price. But I wanted to clarify this point since Sony's documentation does not spell it out.

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Sony Full HD 1080 Component Home Theater System

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Bash 500W Digital Subwoofer Amplifier Review

2011-12-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)Recieved the product and started using it in Dec 2010 so far its performing excellent, its power is fantastic and there is no humming or thud when powering off and on. My only compliant is that there is no subline input only an left and right input so i had to purchase a single female to two male RCA cable so i can use it with my sub out to my reciever (onkyo TR 606).
Currently i am using an old subwoofer a 4ohm dvc 500watts rms 100watts peak wired now to 8ohms i had in a 2.0 cuft box with a 4" port with a length of 11.75 ". Dspite the 8ohm wiring setting the volume on the bash amp at 3/4 and at half output on my reciever is making this woofer hit very hard i will blow this speaker.The crossover settings little poor but u can manipulate the frequency and port lengths of your box to get a likeable setting,its alot of work but the power u get for the price is remarkable... I am very satified and pleased with this amp, will purchase another if need arises.

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BASH patented subwoofer amplifier technology was developed to offer extreme amounts of power without the wasted heat and energy of traditional amplifier designs. Add to this an intelligent circuit design, and you get benefits such as extremely low distortion and high signal to noise ratios. The combination of clean output and high power makes the BASH amplifiers some of the best sounding subwoofer amplifiers on the market.Features: 50 to 150 Hz low-pass crossover, 0° or 180° phase, line level inputs, speaker level inputs, line outputs, master on/off switch, auto on. Specifications: • 500 watts RMS @ 0.5% THD into 4 ohm load • Signal to noise ratio: 105 dB (A-weighted) • Dimensions: 12" W x 8" H x 3-1/2" D.

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ASUS Xonar Essence ST Headphone 7.1-Channel Audio Card for Audiophiles Review

2011-12-11T06:44:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I thought I'd try to give a layman's view of this sound-card who has dabbled a bit as Im sure you will get plenty of audiophiles talk about this card and in my past experience that has left me baffled as I didn't relate to it.
let me give you a background: I have used onboard audio and an audigy 2zs.
I can't comment on the gaming part of this card as I have not tried it. I bought this card purely for two channel audio on speakers and headphones.
I was attracted to this card as this is one of the few cards I've seen that were genuinely dedicated towards proper two channel audio. I have a Sennheisser HD600 powered by Xenos H3A and pair of Axiom M80ti's towers powered by a decent power amp and also a regular tv sound. Have also used Cambridge Megaworks 510D for many years (and loved it!) and experienced many different PC speakers like Logitech Z-5500, Klipsch promedias etc.
If you don't have a really good set of speakers or headphones, don't bother buying this card because you won't find much of a significant difference from this and any other regular decent soundcard out there.
So to make this very clear, if you have a good PC speaker system like Logitech Z-5500 or a Cambridge Soundworks Megaworks, the sound quality you will get will be decent but the upgrade over a mid-range PC soundcard like an Audigy 2 that you own will probably not be worth it to you (10%-20 in my estimation).
On the other hand, if you own a good set of headphones like a sennheisser HD600 or similar or a proper set of speakers and amplifier, the sound quality increase you are going to get is exceptional and very worth it!
I thought my audigy 2zs was worlds above the onboard sound card, Live! and Monster sound MX300 cards I owned. I also really enjoyed the sound.
So when I moved on up, here are the things I experienced. Proper soundstage. Very very detailed sound. For the first time I started to criticize not just the recording quality of musicians but also the producer's job of presenting the sound.
Old records like Diana Ross, Remastered Beatles all started sounding way better than most of the rock and rap I was listening to. Also classical music started flooring me! The reason is that despite the age of some of these recordings, they were actually recorded and produced well, but this effort only comes through on a quality card like this!
The quality of this card over an audigy 2 is honestly on a whole new level far above it. it took some time for this new sound to get used to my old ears, mostly as it didn't sound like what I expected. I expected music that had bass that stressed my headphones to have much deeper bass and recordings that sounded harsh to sound worse on this because of its revealing nature.
When I first got it, the bass felt very poor to me. It didn't boom out in my ears and it wasn't loud. The mid-range and the treble seemed way too foward from what I was used to. I turned up the volume to get more bass up and my ears just felt worse for it. But even then I started hearing all these details and even entire melodies that I had not heard before in tracks I had listened to for years.
This was either the card needed some sort of burn in or my ears had never heard good audio. My best explanation was a bit of both.
Well a few days later, my ears adjusted and then OH-WOW!!
First, the bass was exactly what was present in the recording. Also, there was NO distortion. Also every bit of the music just sounded ridiculously detailed and sharp, clear as day. Nothing was excessive, nothing was lacking.
So here we go:
Bass: very very deep extension. Also the bass is defined to a point that I didn't think was possible. For instance in songs that you thought that had synthesized bass (not from an actual instrument) turned out to had a very defined voice rather than just producing a note. It was showing the instrument that produced the note. For instance the electric bass, you could now tell the grittiness or the smoothness and the subtle texture of the effects used on it. You could tell if the guy did a very subtle double tap, picked it slightly softer than usual etc.
The drums sounded really good. You can tell overtones being produced by a deep bass which isn't localizable where you hear the deep bass but then hear the "top-end" of the point when it was plucked and you can localize that. Also, if you are bored, this card has an EQ which is very well implemented and can boost the bass if you want a party beat(however, I don't use it.)Midrange: Here is a caveat, this card did not produce distortion, because of that the sound you get used to when it gets louder and you are feeling that you are rocking out isn't quite what you get. It just gets louder but the quality is preserved in all its detail and this can get fatiguing as it does this for mid-range AND treble. So, I found myself listening to music at lower levels because at higher levels the mids and trebles stayed true without getting mushed up and fatigued me. A better way of saying it was that I listened to music at healthy volumes and enjoyed the heck out of it! This is a strange thing but it is not a fault of the sound card, my ears were just not used to it and initially listened at higher levels than I could take.
So the mid-range is really good. You get depth in the soundstage which I had not experienced before. I don't have the necessary words or the articulation to describe the many ways the soundstage is just amazing but this is honestly the BIGGEST plus of the card hands down. mid-range drums sound REALLY good. Acoustic instruments sound gorgeous. Placement is also very good. Also transient response and attack is much much better than the audigy 2.
Treble: The treble was great, never sounded too much or harsh. It was just exactly what was there on the record. Cymbals sounded fantastic. Never sounded stressed.
Dynamic range of this card is very good. However, I had to get used to the fact that when the dynamics increased this card did not produce distortion at all (even subtle) so you don't realize that the dynamics have gotten really loud until you train your ears to spot it. The distortion on my audigy and pretty much any other system including movie theaters I heard where the system reached its limit made you feel like the sound got louder. So this took some getting used to.
Headphone amplification. I tried this out for a few days. The headphone amplifier had enough juice to power my 300 ohm sennheissers to very loud volumes and retain good quality. This is saying a lot as the sennheissers are notorious for being hard to drive. The bass goes low. The highs are nice. The mid-range feels very smooth. Having said that, its output isn't quite as breathtaking as the RCA line out which maintains a much higher SNR ratio.
I felt that my Xenos 3HA headphone amplifier did a better job of placing instruments solidly in the soundstage around me. Also the dynamic range was significantly better. The difference is I believe in how tight the thing sounds, but the difference is subtle. Now my amplifier cost me about $140.00 by itself so that is saying a lot about this card that retails for $200. If you don't have a headphone amplifier and you are on a budget this card will give you much more benefit by providing both a quite nice amplifier and a terrific sound output. For the price I am not aware of any soundcard/headphone amplifier combo bought together or separately that can sound good by spending only $200. And yes, this is a proper headphone amplifier and not an afterthought. But like I said, my headphone amplifier is simply better (not by worlds, but by about 20%). If I hadn't had this amplifier before, I would have been very satisfied with the HA on the card.
Cons: Despite all the yelling about Dolby digital, this doesn't have onboard DVD or blu-ray dolby digital 5.1, TrueHD or DTS decoding capabilities. The Dolby capabilities I see it having is not very practical for my personal use. However, most of the software players you will use like PowerDVD and WinDVD have a deluxe version that can decode dolby and DTS without needing an onboard decoding.
Also this card cannot output blu-ray audio at 96Khz and instead outputs it at 48 Khz. This is not for lack of capabilities (it goes upto 192Khz) but because the only soundcard PERIOD that has the protected DRM mechanism for blu-ray is the Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3, and that's the only soundcard that can
do 96Khz DT and Dolby on the PC.
Also for recording purposes, this card has an unusually high latency which does not seem to have been fixed. I haven't actually experienced this but I've read about it from other posters. For playback this problem doesn't happen.
This card has a great warranty on paper. However, I read some bad things about Asus's customer support from newegg where people tried to return the card but they were sent it back saying that there was nothing wrong with it. Asus actually replied to them on newegg and apologized and said they would try to take care of them. I don't know how true it is but you might want to read up just to be careful.
The Asus has only stereo outputs but can be expanded to give surround sound using the H6 daughterboard, but as of the writing of this review, I haven't been able to find one.
It also comes with adapters in case your headphones don't fit.
And last and certainly the least, the digital out on the back of the card on the BACK of your PC has a red light on it. This should not bother people but I have read some reviews where this was annoying.
Things to note: another thing cool about this is that (like most soundcards) if you output this card to a...Read more›

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ASUS' Xonar Essence ST audio card with world's first precision audio clock tuning offers a revolutionary listening experience. In its search for the purest essence of sound, ASUS have broken the boundaries with the soundcard on the market, the Xonar Essence ST. This PCI card is the world's first audio card to incorporate precision clock tuning to minimize audio jitter, bringing the user a clearer, crisper listening experience. The Xonar Essence ST is capable of achieving an industry-leading 124dB SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) in signal clarity and offers a built-in headphone amplifier to obtain the best performance out of any available pair of headphones. Thanks to ASUS' exclusive Hyper-grounding and EMI Shield design, even the most demanding audiophile will be satisfied with the unprecedented sound quality.Specifications -Device Type - Sound cardEnclosure Type - Plug-in cardInterface Type - PCISignal Processor - ASUS AV100Sound Output Mode - StereoDAC Data Width - 24-bitSample Rate - 44.1 kHz (min) - 192 kHz (max)Signal-To-Noise Ratio - 124 dBResponse Bandwidth - 10 - 90000 HzFeatures - Karaoke, built-in Dolby Pro Logic II decoder, Dolby Headphone technology, Dolby Virtual Speaker technology, Magic Voice, Smart Volume Normalizer, FlexBass, Xear 3D Virtual Speaker Shifter, VocalFXCompliant Standards - DirectSound, A3D 1.0, OpenAL, Dolby Digital Live, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone, DirectSound3D GX 2.5, Dolby Pro Logic IIAudio Modes - Playback - 24-bit 192 kHz - 124 dB; Record - 24-bit 192 kHz - 118 dBInterfaces - 1 x audio - line-out - RCA x 2, 1 x headphones - output, 1 x audio - line-in/microphone, 1 x audio - line-in - 4 pin MPC, 1 x audio - SPDIF output - RCACompatible Slots - 1 x PCIOperation System - Windows Vista/XP(32/64bit)/MCE2005

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SIIG SoundWave 5.1 PCI - sound card ( IC-510012 ) Review

2011-12-11T05:09:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This review is for the updated model, IC-510012-S2 that has replaced IC-510012. Turned off "on board sound" in bios (this must be done). Installed board. Power up computer. Put in CD. Run Set up. Plug in speakers (non-powered, will switch to powered later). Using just 2 speakers. DONE!! Worked first time. For a $16 board this is more then I expected. The software controls are top notch for a board this price. Multi band equalizer has user configurations or several custom modes. Room environment has 3 settings. A little adjusting and I'm set. 10 times better then my on board sound. This went in a new computer with Windows 7.

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1.Transforms your PC into a home theater system with multi-channel surround sound 2.Experience the latest in digital 5.1-channel surround sound for the latest DVDs, games,music 3.Customize internet audio with the power and surround sound of EAX audio technologies 4.Fully compliant with Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro and DirectSound

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()Premier Acoustic PA-120 Titanium Subwoofer - Cherry Review

2011-12-10T15:18:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have this sub matched up with my Polk TSi main speakers. I really like how the speaker match beautifully with the Polk's. One thing I really like about this sub is the variable phase control. It is something I never really thought about until after I got the speaker. It allows the speaker in be in phase with the main speakers, no matter where they are placed in the room. If it is in the front of the room with the main speakers, then it would be set at zero degrees phase. Along the side, somewhere between 60 and 120, and on the back wall it would be 180. There are a few subs that have a switch that doesn't have any control and most have a switch that goes between 0 and 180. I compared this sub to the BIC F-12, and the Acoustic Audio HD-12. I ended up with this sub because of looks, value and the number of positive reviews in various audio forums. Is this going to blow the doors off a $1300 sub? No, but it is a much better sub than you will find for the same price at your local big box.

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12" Active Subwoofer - 650 Watts Peak Power - 24HZ to 20KHZ - Auto On/Off - Adjustable Crossover - Cherry Or Black Finish.

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Dayton Audio SA240-B 240W Subwoofer Amplifier with Boost Review

2011-12-10T13:41:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this unit to power my bass-shaker transducers in home theater seating.
At first, I tried to connect the bass-shakers to the regular AMP speaker-outs and noticed I wasn't getting a signal.
Silly me, there are LFE subwoofer cables on the back of the AMP which are designed for LFE signals.
I connected my bass-shakers to this LFE Amplifier output, and I am loving the bass-shaker feeling during movies.
The AMP works great, bought it new.

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The Dayton Audio SA240-B Subwoofer Amplifier generates 240 watts of clean power behind a faceplate that measures 9-13/16" by 9-13/16". This multipurpose subwoofer amplifier can power a variety of subwoofer drivers whether you need it for home theater or pro audio use. Includes all the features that you have requested, like bass boost, choice of RCA line level or banana jack speaker level inputs and outputs, automatic turn-on that is triggered by an input signal, and a phase reverse switch to match the subwoofer to your room and your other speakers. A single amp can accept a stereo input signal and combine it into mono, which is optimum for sub bass reproduction. The internal low pass crossover is fully adjustable between 40 and 180 Hz, and of course the amp has built-in protection against internal and external faults. Unleash the beast! Dimensions: 9-13/16" Wx 9-13/16" H x 5" D. Cutout dimensions: 8-1/2" Wx 8-1/2" H.

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Polk Audio CSW155 Passive in-wall subwoofer Review

2011-12-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)Bought this for a 5.1 system I built for a customer. I recommend using the SWA500 500w amp that Polk Audio recommends, you wont be dissappointed. I installed this in a standard wood frame wall with very old and brittle drywall on it, i expected to have to repair or replace alot of after i turned the system on. To my surprise while the bass produced by this sub will wake your neighbors and drive you out of the house, there is very minimal vibration in the wall itself. Was very surprised and am most definately going to keep buying these and installing them every chance i get.

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10" woofer * frequency response 36-120 Hz (-3dB) * rigid MDF (medium-density fiberboard) slot ported enclosure with steel plate reinforcement * requires separate amplifier such as Polk's SWA500 *

10" woofer
frequency response 36-120 Hz (-3dB)
rigid MDF (medium-density fiberboard) slot ported enclosure with steel plate reinforcement
requires separate amplifier such as Polk's SWA500

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Mac PC USB Wireless FM Transmitter 4 Home Stereo Audio Review

2011-12-10T08:22:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I wanted to be able to listen to my favorite radio stations on my office stereo, and my favorite local station often has static, plus I wanted to listen to stations all over the world with high quality sound. I originally wanted one of those systems that would communicate directly with my wireless router, so I wouldn't have to have my PC on. Those systems are fairly expensive, most over $100, and from reviews, seem to have issues. So, I thought, this is an inexpensive solution, and the one review at the time was positive, so I decided to give it a try. I don't really spend much time in my home office without the PC on, so that didn't seem to be a problem.
Anyway, this is a perfect solution if you want to listen to Internet radio on a stereo system. Sound quality depends on the station, presumably the bitrate, so it's not always great but if the stream is of good quality, the sound is wonderful. I've tried comparing the sound quality of stations I can get locally with their online versions, and you do pay a price. The depth of sound just isn't there, but the complete absence of static more than makes up for it. And for me, there's no alternative. Also, the fact that it streams audio from the PC means I can keep a large list of stations I want to access on the PC, which I think is far simpler than trying to do that on a component that communicates directly with the router.
Setup was a breeze, I literally just plugged it into a USB port, set the dip switches to the frequency I had chosen, set my tuner to that frequency, and that was it. Well, also had to adjust the volume on Windows, it thinks this is a pair of USB speakers, and the default volume was low, so increasing it meant that the volume on the stereo matched that of local radio stations. But really, it could not be simpler. Of course now all the audio from my PC goes to the stereo, it would be nice if I could confine the audio I want to go there to the transmitter and the rest of the audio to my PC speakers, but haven't figured out a way to do that. Not a big problem though. And, the audio from this decvice can be picked up on the other stereos in my home.
One quibble: The information I had at the time I ordered did not tell me what FM (tuner)frequencies could be used. I read an online review from some stereo publication on the device, where the author was actually in the UK (I'm in the US). He had said that the allowable frequencies were at the low end, around 89 MHz, so no trouble finding an unused frequency, which is necessary. When I received the transmitter, however, I found I was restricted to 5 frequencies around 107 MHz. I live one hour north of New York City, so finding an empty frequency in that range is a challenge. I had only one choice, 107.3, not used by a local station but there was significant bleed from others. However, when I plugged in the device, the carrier wave instantly overrode that noise, so it's not an issue, but I think it would make much more sense to use the lower end of the band. Someone near a big city might have trouble finding an unused frequency in the upper end. Or, add another dip switch to allow more combinations, and thus more possible frequencies.
Otherwise, I think this is a great product, and probably the best, most cost-effective solution, if you want to listen to Internet radio (or anything else from your PC) on a conventional stereo system.

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Brand New LINE X USB Wireless Stereo Audio transmitter .The LineX USB connects to any PC and allows the audio from the computer to be broadcast all over your home or office.That means you can listen to all your MP3's, WMA s, or streaming audio on any FM stereo.You have never seen such a simple installation, just one USB cable connected to the PC and your done.The LineX USB installs as a pair of USB speakers and uses drivers already preloaded in Windows 98SE/ME/XP/2000 and MAC OS X 10.0.4+ MAC OS 9.02.Use all your popular software packages to play MP3 s, VCD s, DVD s, and streaming internet audio all over your home..To use, simply connect the USB to the USB port on the transmitter and connect the other end of the USB cable to your computer.Your computer will recognize the transmitter as an USB audio device and it can be operated by the standard driver pre-installed on Windows or Mac OS.Open your favorite audio application software such as Windows Media Player and play your music.The Line X transmitter will automatically power up, with the blue LED lighting up.Adjust the FM signal on the transmitter and then do the same with your home stereo and you are all set!.Features:. Links computer music to any car or home stereo without cables or wiresTransmission of the computer music to audio equipment which has FM reception functionMini hi-fi, CD radio cassette recorder, car stereo, etc. can be used as wireless USB speaker for personal computerTransmission frequency: 88 to 108MHz7 selectable transmission frequencies, 106.9MHz to 107.9Mhz in 0.2Mhz steps, with PLL synthesizerHigh-quality stereo wireless transmissionUSB bus-powered, no battery or AC adapter requiredNo sound card requiredEasy connection by USB portBlue LED play mode indicatorSlim and lightweight designRequires no additional software installation.USB Version 1.1 which is backwards and forwards compatible with all USB versionsSize 3x 4 3/4x 1; Computer not i

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Audiovox XMCK30PXM Xpress-RC Receiver Review

2011-12-10T06:45:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I have been an XM Radio user for years. Got the XpressRC receiver at Best Buy to replace another older receiver, and the backlight failed within 3 months. Judging from blogs and review sites, many users are having this problem. Audiovox has no solution. So I add my one-star review to the fray. Don't buy this piece of junk.

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Now you can enjoy XM Satellite Radio in living color with the XMCK30P XpressRC plug-and-play radio by Audiovox. Its adjustable color screen offers improved clarity and brightness, so it's easier to keep track of XM's great programming.The XpressRC's split-screen display provides a real-time programming guide, allowing you to see what's on the channel that's currently playing, as well as on three other channels. TuneSelect¿ alerts you when your favorite songs or artists are playing on another channel, while GameSelect lets you know when your favorite sports events are on the air.The XpressRC automatically saves the last 60 minutes of programming, so you can pause and replay music, sports, and talk shows without missing a beat. You can even save your 10 favorite songs to listen to later. The XMCK30P includes a car docking station, DC power adapter, roof-mount antenna, and cassette adapter but you'll need an optional FM modulator if your car stereo doesn't have an auxiliary input or cassette deck.Audiovox also offers a universal home kit and a portable powered speaker system that let you enjoy XM in any environment.Note: You must subscribe to XM Satellite Radio to receive the satellite radio signal.

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HP G60-630US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) Review

2011-12-09T16:42:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This laptop worked perfectly right out of the box! I had absolutely no problems setting this machine up or in getting it to connect to my network. It does everything that it was advertised as being able to do. Even the built in webcam works great. If there is even a single negative , it's that it comes with a lot of superfluous HP software. Other than that, I am incredibly pleased with this laptop.

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For those who want to connect and manage everyday computing tasks with an elegantly minimalist notebook, the HP G60 series Notebook PC delivers balanced mainstream performance at a great value. Powered by Intel processor and graphics technologies, the G60 includes essential features to enhance your PC experience and life.

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Dayton Audio VIT-1 Isolation Transformer Review

2011-12-09T13:20:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I've got a coax cable coming into my house for analog cable TV and digital Internet. The cable goes to a splitter, and from there feeds into my a/v system as well as my cable modem. My computer feeds back into the a/v system via a mixer. There was no noise in my system's audio until the cable line was introduced. The cable company's technicians confirmed that both the cable and the house are exceptionally well grounded, but they couldn't figure out how to make the hum go away. Finally, after seeing a mention of the Dayton VIT-1 on a message board, I figured I'd give it a try. I put it on my line where it comes in, before the splitter, and it works just great. The ground hum has been attenuated to near zero, and the unit does not interfere with my Internet service or analog TV reception in any way. It is also quite affordable and arrived within days of my order. I recommend the VIT-1 to anyone who has ground loop noise with an analog cable TV line, assuming all other sources of noise have been ruled out.

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The Dayton VIT-1 virtually eliminates the 60 Hz hum introduced into your home entertainment system through your analog cable or antenna connection, and is usually noticed when connecting a powered subwoofer to your home theater system. A passive design does not affect your analog cable tv signal strength (not recommended for use ondigital cable or cable modem installations). In extreme cases the use of a grounding block may also be necessary.Connect the transformer in-line between your cable line and TV using the female F-connector on the cable side, and the male F-connector on the TV. Operating frequency: 54 MHz to 1 GHz. Note: Interferes with digital cable, cable modem, and satellite TV operation.

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Klipsch Reference Series RPW-10 - Subwoofer - 200 Watt - black ash Review

2011-12-09T08:35:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I bought this Klipsch rpw-10 really unsure of what to expect siince I could not find any reviews on it anywhere. I bought it hoping to have some good bass to match my Klipsch quintet 3 speakers. This sub is very good, I have it set to about 1/3 on the dial and it is almost too much. You can really feel the impact from movies, xbox, and music. SO far I am very happy with it. I used to use a Sony 120watt sub and the Klipsch RPW-10 is way more powerfull. I highly recommend this sub. I have it in a 20x14 room and it easily fills the room with a great,deep bass. Jurassic Park 3 is AWESOME on this sub. Buy it and you will love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Klipsch Reference Series RPW-10 - Subwoofer - 200 Watt - black ash

As the most affordable subwoofer in the Reference Series line, the RPW-10 delivers room-shaking bass courtesy of a 10-inch fiber composite front-firing woofer and a 200-watt RMS amplifier. Featuring traditional volume, crossover and phase controls, the RPW-10's front-firing slot port makes installation into custom cabinetry a breeze. Available in a black matte vinyl finish, this powerhouse brings a new level of performance to the value-priced subwoofer category.

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NXG Technologies NX-PROSUB300 - Pro subwoofer - black Review

2011-12-09T07:28:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Alright guys, I checked the bad boy and this is what I found; First of the the design of this sub is very beautiful with black wood finish that match my Polk Tsi series like a charm (you guys would love the design).
With this sub their is no unnecessary boom (this is not a car sub) but their so much punch that I could feel the gun shot and all the robots in transformers mind you that it goes down to 22hz. I could feel my bed/wall shaking and the explosions are like an earthquake. I never though transformers had other effects that could shake you until this sub oh my.. and this is not even at full volume.
The bass is really excellent, not too tight and not too moody but it all depend on what you want because placing the sub is very important. Placing this bad boy in the corner would give you more bass as it said in the manual.
Guys I can't say much now because I got to enjoy my movies.

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Hear and feel movies and music with the extended low bass impact they were meant to have. For the discriminating client who demands the very best in sound reproduction and accuracy. Created using state of the art materials, hand selected components, and countless hours of testing, you'll see meticulous design and craftsmanship that integrates smoothly in today's home theaters. You'll hear remarkably full, clean sonic performance that surpasses that of far more expensive, well-known brands and delivers superior musical accuracy and serious home theater impact.

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Tivoli Audio MSYTPE Music System Digital AM/FM/CD Hi Fi System with Cherry/Metallic Taupe Finish Review

2011-12-09T06:21:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)[After using this machine for two months, I've got to express some displeasure with the 21 tiny buttons on the face. Unless the unit is in a lighted area and in front of your face, count on some intensive sessions devoted to nothing but memorizing the uses and locations of the buttons--and be sure to rehearse those assignments every week. Even punching the right ones when you first awaken is no more of a picnic. For a company that seduced the public with the elegant simplicity of its first radios (we have 2 of them in the house), Tivoli appears to have had a newly licensed airline pilot run amok with the design for this one. They've succeeded in creating a sleek face panel without telling you it's the consumer's job to solve each of the "pimples" on the instrument's visage to get it to play right! I'd gladly settle for 2-3 big knobs to cover the volume, tuning and time set, along with two conspicuous protruding buttons for eject and on/off. Better yet: knock off a few dollars and make it available without the clock radio.]
Call it the Bosendorfer of clock radios or the Volkswagen of compact, one-piece audio systems, it works either way. And when I see the current cost of a Tivoli iPod radio (good sound providing you keep the volume backed down), the price of this model seems less extravagant. Even though Tivoli keeps throwing in new "performance" gimmicks, the primary appeal is still the audio quality. It's not "miraculous," and it won't cause true audiophiles to forget the days of building a system from the ground up, beginning with a four hundred dollar cartridge, but the sound quality is nonetheless unlikely to leave you wanting. It replaces a Model One, which had a bit too much bass (why anyone would want to add Tivoli's "sub-woofer" eludes my understanding) and too little treble (a ride cymbal has got to sizzle). This machine addresses the problem, since it has a bottom-firing speaker and a tone control, permitting you to tease more treble out of the speakers. Moreover, it solves the problem of getting only a single channel from your input source. Finally, this machine smokes my Tivoli iPal. Fuller, better defined bass, sizzling ride cymbals (I cheated on the tone control a bit), "true" piano tones, some power to spare (thus eliminating distortion problems), and beautifully balanced sound. If you've got a well-recorded CD, you won't find a system of comparable size and weight capable of realizing its potential as fully as this Tivoli.
The clock radio takes some practice--for example, to get the sound source and volume set just right, especially if you choose to nod off with a different sound source or to plug a pillow speaker in the headphone jack. I love the CD player, but it too requires gentle handling. It seems to balk at the slightest bit of moisture, or even fingerprints, on a disc, and it takes its time responding to the listener's commands. At one point I nearly returned the machine when it appeared to eat my CD, refusing to give it back. Going over the instructions, I noticed a single sentence directing the owner to unplug the machine for 60 seconds when such an event occurs. Problem solved, though it will recur, especially if you become impatient. Treat this instrument like you would a Steinway, not a player piano, and it should respond in kind.
It's a quality little unit, but it doesn't butter your toast--or even toast it, for that matter. Or perhaps, like setting the alarms and operating the CD player more efficiently, that's simply a maneuver I haven't mastered yet. (later) I've moved this out of the bedroom, permitting me to crank it up a bit and listen from 12 feet away. The unit sounds sweeter than ever (even if I'm occasionally questioning the how much and why of the clock radio).

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The Tivoli Audio Hi-Fi Music System is a full-featured tabletop system that gives you the ultimate in high-fidelity stereo sound.With its concert quality sound, the Hi-Fi Music System is designed to bring stunning audio to the ears of the most discerning audiophile and music lover.It includes a slot-loading CD player, digital AM/FM radio, and a built-in powered subwoofer with amplifier.The CD player has shuffle and repeat functions, and is compatible with CD, MP3, WMA, CD-R, CD-RW, and CD-Text formats.Both AM and FM antennas are included for optimum radio reception, and six presets are available for AM and FM radio stations.An easy-to-read LCD automatically adjusts to lighting conditions and shows CD/MP3 text or Radio Data System information (where available).The Hi-Fi Music System offers full and expansive high-fidelity stereo sound via its two 3" drivers with SpacePhase equalization.A built-in, down-firing 5" magnetically-shielded powered subwoofer adds rich musical bass and features a separate volume control.The unit also features a bass reflex design for extended bass response, and separate amps for maximum power efficiency.A front panel stereo headphone output, a stereo record output, and auxiliary and mixing inputs give you additional flexibility.The digital clock with battery backup has convenient dual alarms with snooze function.The Hi-Fi Music System also comes with a credit card-sized remote.It is all housed in an attractive furniture grade cherry cabinet.

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Onkyo TX-SR876 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

2011-12-08T16:35:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this receiver for several weeks now. I was a little leary about purchasing this unit as it was being used in a room that does "double-duty" of being a place where I listen to high-end analog and digital music along with occasional use of a home-theatre. The primary purpose is music reproduction and I was tempted to go with tube-style amps and other gear in support of my vinyl record collection. But since there are always compromises in this area (space, money, etc) I decided to take a chance with this Onkyo. All I can say is WOW. I run 5.1 channels with bi-amplification on the front speakers (my one concession to music versus video). The sound reproduction is excellent. I have done a lot of comparison shopping and looked at a lot of different systems and I would have had to spend over $4-5K on hybrid tube amps to get sound better than this.
In terms of home theater, it is even better. It performs as advertised. Set-up was a breeze and the audessy is a pleasure to use and instantly "balanced" my room. For home theater use, it is incredible. Ground-shaking lows, booming sound when appropriate yet the most subtle sounds (such as dialogue at a low level) is outstanding. Some reviewers complain about it running hot. I have mine outside of any cabinet (top shelf of a component stand) and have run it for hours at 75-80% of max volume with no problems.
My two complaints are: The remote as the buttons are a bit hard to read in dim light (even with the back-lighting) and it only has 3 digital optical inputs. Given I use seperate CD and DVD players, along with a Laser Disc and other digital sources, I had to use the alternate digital cable connects. Not a big deal, I just expected more digital optical inputs.
In summary, if you are looking for a leading-edge video processing unit that has outastanding home-theater characterstics at a low price, then this is definitely it. Throw in the fact that it processes music far beyond the expectations one would have for solid-state receiver (especially at this price point) and you really have a great unit.
If you do decide to buy this, please note the dimensions and weight. This is a large, heavy receiver. And given the heat concerns of other posters, I would make sure it has plenty of "breathing room".

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Based on a winning design for high-definition home theater reproduction, the TX-SR876 is a comprehensive A/V processing "hub" with a deep reservoir of amplification power to draw on. Reveling in its new THX Ultra2 Plus certification, the TX-SR876 shows its class with a broad range of capabilities, phenomenal performance, and noticeable finesse.With its advanced HQV Reon-VX video processing-which enables upscaling to high-def 1080p-and supreme high-definition surround sound decoding, this receiver belongs in elite company. It's also one of the first receivers anywhere to employ ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) video calibration. From whatever movie, music, broadcast, or gaming source you choose, the TX-SR876 will impress time and time again.

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Numark PT01 Portable DJ Turntable Review

2011-12-08T15:45:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this turntable to a) replace an older turntable from the 70s and which weighs more than me, for which new needles cost 30-40 bucks, and b) to transfer old 78s into digital files for a podcast. It's one of the few turntables that I found with both a built-in speaker AND audio out ports, in both RCA and headphone cable form. Usually, I found ones with either one or the other. It's lightweight, it has excellent sound quality, much more tone and pitch control than you'd ever expect in a 100 dollar turntable, and the new needles cost only 12 bucks. I could not find where to buy the needles online, so after contacting Numark, I discovered that they would sell them to me directly for only 12 bucks each (even if it involved giving out my CC# via eMail). Being a very new turntable, I don't expect it to be phased out anytime soon, so the needles should remain cheap for a while.
Perhaps the only thing I would change is the fact that the table only starts spinning once you move the arm over it - there is no 'start spinning' button beyond the on/off switch. Also, there have been a few times when I accidentally dropped the stylus onto the metal surface and it's left a visible gouge, and I can't help but think that this kind of thing should have been somehow protected against.
I'm not a hardcore audiophile. I don't know the difference between the sonic clarity of a CD and an mp3, and honestly, if it sounds full, that's good enough for me, but this was incredibly simple to set up and plays excellently, and pretty solid (if mostly plastic).

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Numark has created a portable turntable that enables you to convert your vinyl to WAV or MP3. This rugged, portable turntable can run on either wall or battery power, comes with a cover with integrated carry-handle, and has an internal speaker for total mobility.
Using the included recording software, no special drivers are needed to connect PT-01USB to any Mac or PC via USB and transfer music from vinyl to hard disk. EZ Vinyl Converter 2 (PC) and EZ Audio Converter (Mac) software are included to make recording and importing audio simple. EZ Vinyl Converter 2 imports your songs directly into your iTunes library, automatically separating tracks, and free, downloadable upgrade includes Gracenote® MusicID, which can even automatically name your tracks. PT-01USB also comes with Audacity software for editing your tracks. Audacity also helps reduce clicks, pops, and other noises from your recordings to restore the full quality of your vinyl. PT-01USB has an RCA line input so you can connect other sound sources such as tape decks and convert them to digital files too! RCA line outputs enable connection to your DJ system or home stereo so you can use PT-01USB as a standard record-player. In addition to the internal speaker and RCA outputs, you can also listen with headphones. With 33, 45, and 78 RPM speeds, PT-01USB works with your entire record collection. There's even a ±10% pitch control to help you optimize your tracks for whatever need you have. Advanced vinyl-to-digital conversion that's ready to roll when and where you are: PT-01USB. PT-01USB AVAILABIILITY PT-01USB has a suggested U.S. retail price of $149 and is available immediately from DJ and Pro Audio retailers. PT-01USB FEATURES
Plugand play USB connection Protectivedustcover and integrated carrying handle Fitsinside a standard 12-inch record case Wall-poweredwith included AC adapter or battery-powered (six "D" cells, notincluded) Internalmonitoring speaker Belt-drivemotor with 33, 45 and 78 RPM settings ±10%pitch control Convertsall standard-sized records up to 12-inches RCAline and headphone outputs 45RPM adapter included Cartridgeincluded USBcable included
PT-01USB: WHAT’S IN THE BOX
PT-01USBturntable Protectivecover Poweradapter USBcable SoftwareCD Quickstart guide

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Pyle Home PT910 19-Inch Rack Mount 1200-Watt Stereo Power Amplifier/Mixer with 70V Output Review

2011-12-08T14:43:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pyle is past a "bit" deceptive in advertising this as a 1200 w. 70V line, stereo amp with equalizer and 4 xlr mic inputs. I like to run balanced audio because of the hum reduction you get in a differential connection, so the XLR inputs were immediately appealing to me, but they are mic level only so the s/n advantage of a line level hookup is only there on the RCA connections. Then it gets worse.
The back panel view is omitted so I have uploaded a description of the back panel - click on see other peoples photos to see the back panel.
There's no 48VDC phantom voltage switch either, so you'll be sticking to dynamic mics - and with no line option, that's all you can use the xlr ins for. If you want the manual, email me and I can send you a copy of it. Amazon no longer has an upload the manual option.
Want to use the equalizer? It becomes a mono system - there is a single RCA out and RCA in jack for the EQ. Better buy a mono EQ.
Want to use the 70V line to be able to run long runs of speaker wire without having to use #4 wire? It's a great concept, but once again, if you use this feature the amp becomes a mono amp.
Oh, and the 1200W -- that's peak power. Try 150W per channel constant duty cycle.
They don't show you the back panel on this because you'd realize alot is missing. Sure all 4 mic ins have both 1/4 and XLR jacks (they use separate jacks - they could have used the combo 1/4 and xlr jack and used the extra space for the 1/4 jacks to put a 48V phantom power in. Just like they could have put a second set of eq in/out RCA jacks for a STEREO equalizer. Just like they could have had 2 70V line outs - a left and right - but they DID NOT DO any of those design features. The back panel is a disaster, as are the specs.
I was interested in this unit because I have indoor and outdoor speakers wired on 70V line systems (easy to wire - you can run 18ga pairs, split them, star out - and so long as your speakers have a transformer to get to 8 ohms from the 70V line it all works) I wanted a stereo amp so I could feed 2 channels. This seemed to fit the bill but won't do what I wanted. If your mic needs 48V phantom power - forget using it with this amp.
This could have been a great product, but way too much was left out. The advertising is deceptive - download the manual and read it carefully before you consider purchasing this. I use XLR/70V line amps all the time and they are great - this isn't in the great class though. It tries to be a powered mixer with 2 busses, but invoke any of the advertised features and its a single bus system. That's just plain wrong. I've bought other pyle 70V line amps (the ones with the computer DVD - cd player built in) and they were better than this one. Sorry pyle - a loyal customer has to walk away on this product.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pyle Home PT910 19-Inch Rack Mount 1200-Watt Stereo Power Amplifier/Mixer with 70V Output

5 Channel Mixer4 Mic Inputs XLR and 1/4 Inch, 1 Stereo Line Input 1/4 Inch & RCA, 1 Mono Line Input RCA, 1 Stereo Phono Input RCA with Ground Screw, Effects Loop RCA In/Out, Mix Bus Jack to Connect Another PT910, Stereo/Mono Selector, A/B Speaker Selector, Stereo or idged Power into 4 or 8 Ohms, 70V Output (Mono), Binding Post OutputsL/R Master Volume Controls w/Blue LED's, Feedback Filter with Rotary Control, Thermal Overload Protection with Indicator, Clip LED Indicator, Heavy Duty Fan Cooling, Blue LED Level Display, Headphone Output, Frequency Response: 10-50 kHz ± 3dB, 110/220V Switchable. Dimensions: 5 3/8''H x 19''W x 14 7/16''D, Weight: 27 lbs.

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Sony CFD-G500 CD Radio Cassette Recorder Boombox (Black) Review

2011-12-08T12:37:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This (the CFD-G500) is the successor to the Sony CFD-G70. I own both. The sound of the CFD-G500 has better definition (is cleaner), is louder, and even has cleaner bass than the CFD-G70. It easily provides music for a water aerobics class that takes place in a swimming pool that is the size of a tennis court. (In fact, before being a pool, it was a tennis court.)

I had worried that the G500's sound would suffer from lack of separate tweeters, which the G70 does have. Not to worry. I don't know how Sony did it.
The G500 also has some improvement in the user interface (compared to the G70): the volume control have moved from the top to the front and is colored silver rather than the same color as the box itself, and Line-In is on top rather than at the bottom of the front.
Note that as I write this, Amazon's link named "Technical Data" is inaccurate in at least the following. Takes 8 batteries, not 6: Weighs 18 lbs with batteries (15.5 lbs without), not "7.25 with batteries," and its size is substantially larger than 15.25 x 6.5 x 10 inches.
In summary, this is the best-sounding battery-powered boombox that I've ever heard, and I've heard many boomboxes in the last 30 years.

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SONY CFD-G500 -- Enjoy music and talk radio anywhere and everywhere, from bedroom to board room to beach, with this formidable, high fidelity, high design portable stereo!Digital AM/FM stereo tuner Remote control with 10-key Direct Access(TM) buttons for tuner & CD4 preset sound modesPower drive woofer control (Off / 1 / 2) CD-R/RW playback capability20 track RMS programmingCD play modes (Program / Shuffle / Repeat) 30 station memory presets ( 10 AM / 20 FM ) Synchronized CD / Cassette dubbing

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Kinyo Bp301 Usb Audio Bar And Cooling Fan Review

2011-12-08T11:35:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I bought this at my local Fry's and I was fairly shocked at the speaker's sound quality and volume. I have an Acer Aspire One Netbook and while I love that little thing, the speakers are absolutely PATHETIC!!! The fan works as expected, although I see no reason for the LED lighting built into it. I guess it will please the kiddos. The only "issue" that I have with this is that I must first boot the the netbook and THEN plug in the fan and/or the speaker bar. If I attempt to boot when the unit(s) are plugged into a USB port, it starts audibly oscillating and keeps the netbook from booting. I'm not sure if it's just the combo of this product and MY netbook or what. But it's no big deal for me to just let the netbook start to boot and THEN plug these in. BTW - The fan part has a "piggy-back" plug design, so if you are going to use both, you don't take-up two USB ports. Even with the "boot-quirk", I DO recommend this due to the sound quality and the price. Sold under the "ArtDio" name by Kinyo.

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KINYO BP301 USB AUDIO BAR AND COOLING FAN BLUE LCD. Ideal for your laptop or netbook. �,�, USB Speaker Bar clip on top of the LCD monitor for perfect sounding �,�, Cooling fan included to keep your laptop or netbook cool at all times. �,�, Powered by USB source, Plug & Play. COOLING FAN &bull, Power: 5V DC (USB) &bull, Rated Current: 0.3A &bull, Fan Speed : 1500RPM &bull, Noise: 18dBA &bull, LED: Cool Blue LED light &bull, Tolerance: 10% &bull, Life expectancy: 20,000 hrs &bull, Dimensions: &bull, (Open) W10.6&rdquo,x H0.47&rdquo, x D7&rdquo, (Folded)W6.61&rdquo, xH 0.47&rdquo, x D2.56&rdquo, USB AUDIO BAR �,�, Output power: 1.6 (RMS) �,�, Drivers: 10*22mm Full Range NdFeB driver �,�, Magnetically shielded �,�, Driver impendence: 4&Omega, �,�, Frequency response: 200Hz-20kHz �,�, Power source: USB (DC 5V) �,�, Unit dimension: W7.87&rdquo, x 1.06&rdquo, x D1.1&rdquo, (W200mm x H27mm x D28mm)

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Yamaha RX-V361BL 500 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

2011-12-07T15:10:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)Got this as a replacement for my Aiwa receiver, and even with the same speakers and subwoofer this system sounds better.
It gives you a lot of options to optimeze sound according to the media you are using.
Music, video games, action or dramatic movies, 2 channels, 5.1 channels, has DTS decoder. Has component video inputs and outputs, has optical and coaxial sound inputs. You can connect devices effortless into the front A/V, for example your video camara so you can see your newly shot home movies. The only thing it doesn't have is HDMI interface.
Unlike other receivers instead of showing video 1, video 2, etc. It displays the inputs as DVD, CABLE, DVR etc.
For under 200 dollars it will be tough to find a better receiver.

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Yamaha 5.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver is capable of delivering large amounts of reverse power for accurate reproduction of the high energy peaks that are especially prevalent in digital audio sources. The Component Video inputs offer higher picture quality and allows you to enjoy three different sources without having to change connections. The four SCENE buttons make operating the receiver easier than ever. It offers a unique choice of eight Yamaha DSP surround programs to bring out the full audio potential of your entertainment sources.

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Bose 3-2-1 GS Home Entertainment System - DVD surround system - radio / DVD - graphite gray Review

2011-12-07T14:15:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I was a little nervous at first purchasing this system because of some of the negative feedback I heard on other systems from Bose & the high price $1199. ABT electronics did throw in the $120 speaker stands for free which was nice. After I first installed the systems it did not sound as expected; but after some adjustments to the angle of the speakers and raising the bass and treble in the setup menu the sounds is terrific. As Bose states in their manual this system is meant to realisticaly recreate sounds, not overdue certain effects like many systems do. So far I have had great enjoyement listening to CD's and DVD's, Top Gun sounds better than I have ever heard it. The set-up was easy, including the stands it took 25 minutes and then another 30 min to understand all the menus.

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The Bose 3-2-1 DVD home entertainment system offers superb sound, elegance, and simplicity in an advanced home-audio setup. The system comes with a central DVD/CD media center, a pair of shelf speakers, a powered Acoustimass module (subwoofer), and everything you need to hook it all up with ease. Using Bose proprietary signal-processing technology, the 3-2-1 system provides improved spaciousness from stereo recordings and bold movie effects from Dolby Digital surround-encoded materials. Yet its few parts require little labor to set up, so you can enjoy your new system's performance right away.The DVD/CD player plays your DVD-Video movies and CD-based music,including MP3 files written to recordable CD-R or CD-RW. Disc featuresinclude repeat and random play, DVD parental controls, forward andreverse chapter/track skip, and scanning within tracks.The supplied shelf speakers employ Bose's Articulated Array system witha patented driver configuration to provide clear, lifelike sound and aneven sound coverage not always possible with conventional designs. Thistechnology reduces acoustical dead spots and lets you hear the fullfrequency range of music and speech from small and unobtrusive speakers.In the Bose Acoustimass module, 2 downward-firing drivers give youpowerful performance for the lowest audible notes and effects. Andproprietary Bose technology ensures that you hear with clarity theproper balance of deep lows from all channels for music and movies. Hide the module almost anywhere, even behind furniture, and all the sound seems to come from the small cube speaker arrays.Other features include AM/FM tuning with 50 preset stations (25 FM, 25AM), a sleep timer (1 to 90 minutes), and console input jacks forconnecting other source components (such as a VCR, DSS, CD changer, ortape deck).What's in the Box An integrated AM/FM tuner and DVD/CD player in a small console, 2 shelf speakers with rubber feet, floorstanding Acoustimass module (subwoofer) with rubber feet, AM/FM antennas, a module cable, a system speaker cable, a composite-video cable, a stereo analog audio interconnect (red/white RCA), infrared remote control, remote batteries, an AC power cord, a user's manual, a quick-setup guide, and warranty information.Note: Bose recommends that you maintain at least 3 feet (1 meter) ofspace between the 2 speakers with no more than 3 feet (1 meter) betweeneach speaker and the edge of your TV screen.

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

2011-12-07T08:40:00.000-05:00

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(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 :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Onkyo TX-SR805 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)

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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Yamaha RX-V661BL 7.1-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver Review

2011-12-07T04:28:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I was looking at receivers for months trying to make sense of it all. I was set on one of the similarly priced Onkyos when an AV friend of mine came out of nowhere and recommended this Yamaha V661.
I love it. Everything was very easy to use and setup, and there are tons of customization options. I couple this with some Klipsch Quintet IIIs and a custom sub, sound is fantastic. I love the fact that I was able to program my own customized input names. I have each input labeled "Wii" "Xbox" "PS2" "Cable Box" etc accordingly. Furthermore, with the use of the buttons on the bottom of the remote (can't remember the name but they let you preprogram inputs/settings for devices) you can program full names like "Nintendo Wii" or my other longer one "Xbox Media Center."
The auto setup was a dream, and the sound quality is fantastic. I love the amount of inputs, it even includes HDMI. What more could I ask for!?!?!?
Highly recommended.

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Yamaha 7.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver combines the latest and the best technologies, parts and circuit design to maximize sound quality. It features dual HDMI inputs and one output that supports 1080p resolution enabling users to connect two HDMI sources. The four SCENE buttons make operating the receiver easier than ever. The popular CINEMA DSP programs have been upgraded for this receiver which delivers awesome sound with the latest game machines.

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NuForce Icon Mobile headphone amplifier and USB DAC (blue color) Review

2011-12-07T03:24:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I have both the Icon and the Icon Mobile. The Icon Mobile is very nice but if you do not need portable I would get the Icon, the bass is significantly better than the Icon Mobile which lacks the current to drive headphones (if you use in ear you should be ok but I did not test with that), in all other respects they are the same. Sound quality is excellent on both. Their customer service is also excellent.
Highly recommended.

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The Nuforce Icon Mobile, along with its accessories, allows the user to obtain better sound quality from mobile music players, smart phones and personal computers. The Icon Mobile also serves as a rechargeable, high-performance headphone amplifier with adjustable gain or stand-alone USB DAC with support for Skype, Messenger or similar microphones.Desktop Applications: 1. Connected to a computer via USB, the Icon Mobile can drive a pair of active, i.e., powered, speakers. 2. The external 3.5mm stereo input, when inserted, takes precedence over the USB DAC. This function allows the user to listen to music from sources such as an iPod without having to disconnect the Icon Mobile from the computer.Mobile Applications: 1. Due to cost constrains or power consumption considerations, mobile devices such as an iPod or smart phone do not incorporate high-performance headphone amplifiers. The Icon Mobile's optional iPod connector permits the user to bypass the iPod's volume control. The compact, lightweight Icon Mobile, which can drive a variety of headphones, connects to these devices via 3.5mm stereo input.

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Onkyo TX-NR807 7.2-Channel A/V Surround Home Network Receiver (Black) Review

2011-12-06T14:30:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I've had the Onkyo TX-NR807 for about a month now. It replaced a 10 year old 70W Yamaha Dolby Digital surround receiver. I listen mostly to Jazz vocals, some light pop, and the occasional action movie. My priority is two channel (stereo) music, secondary is surround for movies. Other set-up details: Infinity main and center speakers(see below), small Paradigm surround speakers, Rotel CD running analog outs, Denon DVD, Windows Media Player on PC as music server. Overall satisfaction is high.
Before buying, this unit was demo'd in a showroom against a comparable Denon. The sound was similar on Def Tech floor stand speakers and both performed well. The Denon had a slightly warmer sound, which many prefer. The Onkyo had slightly better clarity, albeit a bit on the brighter side. The issue with a brighter sound is that it can be fatiguing for longer listening periods. This was a problem I was having with my current setup. Tough choice, but I decided to try the Onkyo as clarity is important to me. I like to hear the subtle parts of the music. The Onkyo, after discounts, was also about $500 less.
At home with the Onkyo, immediately I could pick up more details in the music and noticed better mid-range and bass. Not unexpected given I was going from 70W in the old receiver to 135W.
However, after listening for a while, I realized the better sound coming from the Onkyo was now actually revealing limitations of the speakers that were less evident with the slightly muddier sound of the old Yamaha. The vocals were a bit tinny and I was still dealing with the issue of the sound being too bright, although this aspect was a bit improved from the Yamaha. At this point I also looked around the room and realized it may be partially to blame for the brightness. High ceilings with bare walls cause a lot of reflections of high frequencies. There were three viable options: 1) Spend a lot more on a surround receiver or separates in an attempt to get clarity and less brightness ($$), 2) try room treatments to tame the brightness (costly and usually unattractive), 3) try new speakers. I opted for 3 as the old Infinities were probably outgunned by the new receiver anyway (and I really wanted new speakers).
One of the high-end stores in the area sells B&W speakers and I'd always wanted a set. They have an overnight demo program so I lugged home a pair of mid-range 3-way B&W's to try out. With the B&W's I could hear even more detail in the music, the mid-range was richer, and the bass fuller and cleaner. They did exactly what I thought I was looking for. They made the music very detailed and they were very fast. For those who don't hang out in speaker review forums, this means they respond to changes in volume very quickly. For instance, each snare drum strike might be individually discernable, a cymbal brush stroke may consist of individual strands of the brush hitting the cymbal instead of a constant "whoosh". However, I discovered that after listening for more than 1/2 an hour at a time, that level of detail resulted in a feeling of having my head inside a drum rather than sitting in the audience. The vocals were also a bit harsh. Detail fatigue. So it turned out what I thought I was looking for wasn't what I really wanted.
The B&W's went back and I ended up with Wharfedale Opus speakers for mains and center. These use fabric dome (rather than metal) tweeters and mid's. With these I gave up some of the speed and a tiny bit of clarity, but gained beautiful vocals. They also tamed the brightness. I can listen to these for hours and just smile. A great fit for me when paired with the Onkyo.
Now that the music criteria was taken care of, it was on to movies. I had not really considered the Audyssey calibration tool that comes with the Onkyo to be very valuable. After all, I had managed to set up the surround on the old Yamaha manually. What a pleasant surprise. After running the Audyssey calibration, the surround timing and levels were vastly improved. Note that minor tweaking may still be appropriate. For instance, I needed to manually adjust the level of one of the main speakers by about 1 decibel because the Audyssey settings resulted in slightly off-center results when listening to two channel sources such as CD's.
One of the other criteria I had for a receiver was its ability to stream music stored on my home computer and preferably also from Pandora. Although I knew the Onkyo would do both, I got lucky here. It turns out the Onkyo is the only receiver in this range that will stream music stored in lossless formats. For those who may be lost at this point, music downloaded or ripped from CD's is usually compressed in a manner that removes some of the information (lossy compression). When listening on an ipod you may not know the difference, but on a nice home system there is a difference. Music can be ripped from CD's in a lossless format. However, only the Onkyo will use all the information. For instance, the Denon says it will play lossless formats, but in a small footnote it tells you the streaming software on the computer has to compress the music in a lossy format (192kbs max) in order for the receiver to accept the stream. Not good. What this all means is that I have now burned CD's on my computer in full resolution (no lost information) and can access and play them on my Onkyo receiver with easy on-screen menus. No more swapping CD's for quality sound. No more messing with ipod docks playing compressed music. In case you are wondering about sound quality of the streaming, I've compared the quality of the full-resolution streaming (which uses the Onkyo's digital to analog conversion) with the analog output of the Rotel CD player noting almost no discernable difference. Very good. Actually, excellent. Pandora streaming also works flawlessly.
In summary:
Advantages
- Great sound quality for this level of receiver
- Technologically ahead of competition. Onkyo tends to throw in lots of bells and whistles.
- Lossless streaming!
- Easy to use considering all the features
- Pandora
- Audyssey works well (most at this price have the same or similar)
- Price, especially if you find discounts
- Ability to bi-amp speakers (unit also seemed to run cooler after I did this)
Could be better
- No surround pre-ins for outboard processing (it does have pre-outs)
- No video or picture streaming from home computer or internet
- Sound character slightly on the bright side
Hope this info helps any prospective buyers.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Onkyo TX-NR807 7.2-Channel A/V Surround Home Network Receiver (Black)

The TX-NR807 brings together the very latest mid-range home-theater functionality and adds one major upgrade: networking capability. An Ethernet port on the TX-NR807 allows it to receive and output audio files playing in real-time on your PC. Alternatively, you can bypass your PC and enjoy a direct connection to streaming internet radio stations such as Pandora and Rhapsody. Naturally, the TXNR807 also handles all of your high-definition audio and video sources—courtesy of six HDMI 1.3a inputs—and upscales any video input to 1080p via Faroudja DCDi Cinema. This powerful THX Select2 Plus Certified receiver also comes with Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz, two new surround-sound formats that expand the spatial dimensionality of games and movies. Meanwhile, Audyssey room-correction and equalization technologies help ensure a convincing and detailed audio performance, regardless of the volume level or the shape of your room. An intelligent customizable remote controller puts the finishing touch to what is another benchmark-setting all-round performer from Onkyo.

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Sonic Impact 5066 15-Watt Portable Class-T Digital Audio Amplifier Review

2011-12-06T09:23:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This is my second attempt at a Sonic Impact review and I hope I get things right this time. :) I bought 4 amps at $20, but even as the prices have gone up, it's still a fantastic buy at $30. The amplifier has fantastic clarity and realism. Given its size, the sound can only be described as astounding. When playing instrumental or electronic music SI can vibrate the whole room at mere half volume. When playing vocals the clarity is also astounding. Considering the price and size of SI, this makes this amplifier even more amazing.
Sonic is best used with relatively sensitive speakers (SPL 90db+) and audiophile quality equipment or portable CD and mp3 players using audio out jack. With Ipod, use the sound output from the Ipod dock. Do not use earphone jacks on portable devices for sound output because that signal has already been distorted by those unit's built-in amplifiers and the sound quality will be anywhere from ordinary to awful.
SI requires burn in of at least 200 hours in order to sound its best. However even after a significant burn time SI tend to be rather bright when used with good quality audio cables. In my experience the best cables for SI are inexpensive 1/8 by 1/8 cables because they tend to muffle the treble. The one I really like is Monster iCable for iPod (A IC IP-7). The trade-off is that the SI's bass is also diminished; however SI becomes very warm sounding with no listening fatigue. In order to minimize distortion SI should be set at 10 o'clock and volume is best adjusted on a pre-amplifier volume control or the sound output volume control of a good quality CD player.
Power is an important consideration. SI works well with 8 AA batteries; in fact I still keep depleted AA batteries in SI to give it some heft. :) SI is so light that it needs some critical mass to hold all the cables in the back without tilting. :) When used with AA batteries SI sounds best only when batteries are fresh; it's also uneconomical so the best option for use at home is a regulated power supply. I like R. Shack (Model# 22-507) and a cigarette lighter power cord (#270-1594). Please note that the center pin on the power plug must be positive (+). *Please also note that incorrect polarity will permanently damage the amplifier.* This power supply is rated at 13.8Vdc (3amp) and produces 13.9Vdc, making SI sound louder and more dynamic than AA batteries or 12V adaptors. Another good 13.8Vdc power supply is made by Pyramid. If you want to save money, another good choice is SI's own 12Vdc adaptor. It produces 12.3Vdc, however it can only supply a peak of 1.5 amps, which does not leave you much in reserve.
Be careful of using many of the cheap 12Vdc adaptors available on the Internet, R. Shack or maybe laying around from other devices. Many are rated at 12Vdc *under load only* and actually produce as much as 18Vdc. However, SI does not have much of a load most of the time, especially when not playing music; 18V is 2 volts over the 16v limit of the SI's Tripath processor and will damage it. Additionally, many of these adaptors are rated at much less than 3A or the minimum 1.5A and are incapable of sufficient current. SI may need as much as 3A during peak demand. Most inexpensive adaptors are a switching type and may produce HF noise that may clash with the SI's own HF switching thereby producing more distortion. However when properly internally filtered, a switching power supply still produces the most dynamic sound. Some people use 12Vdc sealed lead batteries (SLA) with separate chargers from batterymart for a cleaner power source. Both can be had for $20 to $30 and with a simple DPDT switch the usage and recharging can be made automatic. I haven't tried this yet, the amperage of some of those 12 Vdc batteries (12A and up) is very tempting. :) However, the opinion at tnt-audio is that batteries still lack the liveliness of a quality regulated switching power supply. Despite the claims made by the SLA battery camp, the ultra expensive and most other high-end equipment does not use battery power.

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Turn your portable music player or small bookshelf unit into a true quality home system with the Sonic Impact 5066 portable digital audio amplifier. This pint-sized device (it measures just 3 by 7 inches and weighs less than a pound) can be connected to any standard 8 ohm or 4 ohm shelf speakers up to 20 watts in power, and features a simple 3.5 mm mini-jack input that works with most game consoles, MP3 players, CD and DVD players, and computers. It's an ideal choice for listeners who already own traditional speakers and don't want to shell out extra cash to equip their iPod or CD Walkman with a powered speaker system--an often-costly option, unless one opts for a low-end unit. This amp, by contrast, is remarkably affordable, yet still delivers a crisp, vibrant signal that compares to most high-quality linear amplifiers. Plus, it runs on eight AA batteries, so listeners can take it to the stadium for a tailgater or to a park for a picnic. Alternately, listeners can opt to use an AC adapter (sold separately) for indoor purposes.
The amp is also a great fit in dorm rooms, midsized apartments, small offices, and anywhere else a big system would consume valuable space. In addition, the unit doesn't require a heat sink and offers intelligent short circuit protection. Sonic Impact covers the amp with a one-year warranty on parts and service.
What's in the Box 5066 amplifier, user's guide, warranty card.

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Yamaha HTR-6030BL 5.1-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

2011-12-06T06:49:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just received my Yamaha 6030 and had the basic cabling and setup done in 30 minutes and the detailed setup done over the course of a few hours of DVD, DVR, CD, and cable TV watching. Sound quality is excellent. A perfect receiver for a simple to moderate home theater system where DVI/HDMI cables are not going to be used. Since I'm using component video exclusively, and primarily digital audio - it is perfect for me. There are 2 digital optical inputs and 1 digital coaxial input which can be assigned to whatever device you want. Every input volume level can be trimmed up to +/- 6db so you don't get volume spikes when switching input devices. And you can hook up a huge variety of devices. You get AM/FM and can upgrade to XM radio.
In summary, great basic/intermediate home theater receiver for 5.1 speaker systems for those not needing exotic features or DVI/HDMI support - and a great price! But do yourself a favor and go buy a better universal remote like the Sony RM-VL600 8-Device Universal Learning Remote.

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Yamaha's HTR-6030 5.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver is the heart of your new home theater system.It can reliably support the performance of your HDTV with 5.1 channel surround sound and take your audio/video performance to an all-new level.Richer, more detailed audio is finally here with Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS.Multiple component, S-Video, and fiber-optic inputs provide maximum flexibility.New SCENE buttons let you access every piece of your home theater system with the press of a button.It's also XM Ready, so you can get 150 channels of satellite radio through your 5.1 system.Cinema DSP Digital lets you feel every sound effect, while Silent Cinema and Virtual Cinema DSP lets you hear large-scale surround sound through ordinary headphones.

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Garmin iQue M5 Integrated Pocket PC and GPS Review

2011-12-06T04:18:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had about a week to use the M5. My first impression is WOW. This IS my first GPS and also my first PDA, so take my review for what it's worth. I would love to give this product 5 stars, but I will get right to the point of why I can't do it.
CONS :
No 802.11b/g - Not a huge deal if you don't mind plugging a bluetooth USB adapter in your PC, but honestly it is a little annoying that I can't connect right up to my 802.11g network out of the box. There are SD/MMC 802.11b cards available that are a option, but I have not ordered one yet.
GPS non-responsive - (see *Edit* at bottom of this review) As one other reviewer also noted, I also had a GPS problem where it acted like it was looking for the satellites, but couldn't see any of them. This was outside, and not indoors. I pushed the reset button, and GPS fired up just fine. As with the other reviewer, I also haven't had this problem reoccur after about a week of using it. The initial problem was about an hour after I took it out of the box. Since then I have used it a good 20+ times without any problems. I will report back if this problem comes back!
The leather flip case(?) - It is a little lame, and offers no protection except for maybe screen...and even that's a stretch.
PROS -
Wow, I opened the box, and it was very complete. A nice windshield suction mount, cig adapter with speaker and the other 'standard' PDA items (cradle, USB cable, travel A/C adapter, etc).
It's a nice size, not to bulky. The battery seems to perform as expected. I don't have any exact #'s, but from what I could tell it was at least 4 hours with some GPS usage.
One thing I would like to comment on is the 'cost'. A lot of reviews elsewhere talked about how expensive this device is. Yes, it's not cheap, but try buying a comparable PDA and a GPS add-on. You'll be close to, if not higher than what you would pay for this fully integrated PDA/GPS.
I have taken one trip (74 miles each way). It did a pretty good job getting me to the destination. I did notice that it was a little slow to recalculate the route if you miss a turn (5-10 seconds on average). Not a huge deal, but could be a problem in inner-city driving. It also did a random "Make U-Turn" in the intersection I was turning at. I believe the intersection came up later than the GPS/mapping software was expecting. The estimated time of arrival is nice, and right on target!
GPS performance : The GPS picks up the satellites fine in my car. My house (2 story) it's fine on the second floor, but the first floor it does not pick up the satellites unless I move over to a window.
Storage - I don't own a memory card yet, but even with the built-in memory I was able to get most of middle-TN and North Atlanta. I hear a 2GB memory card will hold all of the US, and 1GB will hold over half the US. I would say that is about right.
That's about all I can think of at this time. I will report back in a few weeks with an update. At this point I am very pleased.
Edit 4/28/05 - I did have one additional lockup of the unit that required a 'reset', so I went to the Garmin website and found out that there was a new firmware revision. I loaded the firmware and so far the unit seems to be performing perfectly. So, for those who are having GPS lockup problems, download the firmware revision. Garmin states that the firmware fixes several lockup issues.

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Item #: GINIQUEM5. The all new iQue M5 combines the popular Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 SE operating system with the dependability of Garmin GPS. Go from the boardroom to the hotel room without stopping for directions. Calendar and contact information is seamlessly integrated with the GPS navigation functions, so the iQue M5 will remind you of appointments, show the location on the map and route you there with detailed, turn-by-turn directions and voice prompts. The mobile office applications will give you the ability to read e-mail and view documents when away from the office, then sync to Outlook when you get back. Includes 64MB of RAM, 64MB of ROM (15MB of ROM is for safe storage) along with a Secure Digital memory expansion slot. Includes protective flip cover, metal stylus, USB Active Sync cradle, automotive windshield mount with integrated charger and speaker, AC power/charging adapter, Application CD-ROM, and North America data CD-ROM. Customers also search for: Metal Stylus;Protective Cover;GPS Function;Garmin International/PMC,Global Positioning Electronic Maps,Mapping,IQUE M5 Mobile PC,GPS

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VR3 VRCD400-SDU CD WMA MP3 PLAYER RDS CAR STEREO w/ EQUALIZER Review

2011-12-06T03:10:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros:
Amazing set of features
Price
Customer Support
Cons:
Nothing is done right
Sound is blah-blah
MP3 navigation
Placement of controls
I admit, I thought I could get away with buying a generic eighty dollar stereo. I was wrong. This stereo is great for the guy who doesn't mind using dollar store headphones and can listen to radio stations from the other state. However if you want to ever have a respectable sound system, you do not want to build off of this stereo. I used it for three months. The beginning was awesome, mainly because I was used to listening off an FM transmitter. This wears off quickly however. Most people who rode in my car told me that it seemed like there was something muffling the speakers. I spent hours trying to make it sound nice, soldering, re wiring, and tuning the EQ, but it was ultimately a battle lost. I spent twice this unit's price to buy another stereo, and it was worth every penny (and I'm a poor college kid). My aftermarket speakers come to life now, and I've got nothing but compliments on how crisp everything sounds.
There's also the annoying feature where the music starts over from the beginning of the song every time you change sources or power the radio on and off. I didn't think it would be all that annoying, but it is outright painful.
Don't plan on doing anything other than shuffle for your MP3s, it's way to complicated and slow to navigate through the folders. Somebody also thought it might be a good idea to have the titles slowly roll out, that guy needs to be fired.
I would like to point out, that the customer service on this stereo is outstanding. They replaced it once within three days when it broke.
Sorry to sound like a whiner, I really, really wanted to like this radio, but it's not worth the trouble. If you're on a budget, I'd recommend buying a low end pioneer or sony xplod.

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This all-in-one CD Headunit from Virtual Reality Sound Labs allows you to easily transport your music on USB or SD memory devices and play them in your car. Or simply plug into the audio input and play your tunes through the stereo.

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Sony ICDUX70 Digital Voice Recorder MP3 Stereo Recording and Playback Review

2011-12-05T13:18:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had been using the Sony MZM200 Professional Portable Hi MD Recorder for the past year for digital recording of meetings and lectures. I have had good luck with it but I could never just hand it off to someone else to use. So I began to look at flash based recorders. The model I kept coming back to was the ICD-U70 but I was concerned by the proprietary file format and the difficulty that I had heard about converting it to a more standard format.
Well, with the ICD-UX70 & UX80 this major concern was addressed as the file format used is MP3. Now I can just load it directly to my computer and then to the website for podcasting with no transfer or conversion. I usually do some cleaning or normalizing using Nero but - oh how easy this has become. With the ease of this unit, I can imagine that I might not be using my MD recorder nearly as much.
I have used the unit connected to a sound board, an external microphone (Sony ECM-CS10 Tie-Clip-Style and Sony ECMMS907 Digital Recording Microphone) and by itself, and I have been very impressed with the quality of the recording.
The only thing with which you need to check and be comfortable is the internal mic sensitivity. Do some tests to see how the recording level and background noise comes out. Once you become familiar with the abilities of this unit, I think you will be happy with the recordings.
I think the size is great; if it was any smaller (thumb-drive sized) the buttons would either be too small or too close together for my fingers to operate. Sometimes small is too small - this unit is not too small.
Be careful about your expectations of the internal speaker - you can only get so much sound out of a teeny speaker. It is good to check playback but I would use headphones or play through another powered device if you really need to hear the recording. You can get battery powered speakers for cheap if you really need it.
The only thing that could improve this device is removable memory but for the price, you can buy 2 or 3 UX80s (2gb) for the price of a recorder that uses removable memory. So, this is a minor issue.
Thank you to all of you who complained about the U70 and got Sony to wake-up. I appreciate it.

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MP3 Stereo Recording and Playback --- Allows you to playback MP3 files and record using the MP3 file format. USB Direct Connection --- allows you to plug your voice recorder directly into a USB port on a computer or hub, eliminating the need for cables. 1GB Built-in Flash Memory --- uses a high capacity IC chip, which may be recorded over and used again and again with distortion free clarity. Up to 290 Hours Recording Time --- LP mode gives you plenty of time to record everything you need. Drag & Drop File Transfer --- allows you to easily drag files from your PC right to the voice recorder, no software is required. Supports Hi-Speed USB. Voice Operated Recording (VOR) --- stops the recording during silent pauses, saving valuable recording time, then begins recording again without missing a single syllable because of the digital buffer.

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Yamaha RX-V461BL 500 Watt 5.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

2011-12-05T09:29:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The price range of this Yamaha receiver should make anybody who doesn't live in a tiny apartment or on a really tight budget reconsider cheap all-in-one systems. I got this receiver, and was using average quality speakers, and the sound was still very natural. I've been using Yamaha products for years, and have never been let down.
Here are my Pros:
- Automatic calibration: Using the included mic, I was able to setup my speakers in under a minute, and my surround sound is very natural. It even automatically adjusted the equalization of the center speaker to match with the front speakers. I left the default calibration and watched several movies, and have been thoroughly pleased with the results.
-Natural Sound: The amplifier is very transparent, and even when using signal processing, the resulting sound seems natural, it is not fatiguing to listen to. My speakers sound a little better with acoustic music, but everything from Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Bad Religion, Thievery Corporation, Carl Craig, and Iggy Pop sounded clear and "alive". I used to have a Sony receiver, and it only sounded good with the "right" CD.
-MP3 Playback Enhancement: When using an iPod or the MP3 playback of my Philips HDD/DVD recorder, the sound was greatly improved, but not artificially so by using Yamaha's "Music Enhance" processing. This algorithm is designed to make compressed music sound better, and with high-quality rips (192Kbs or better) you really can't tell the difference from the original CD.
-iPod Dock: Get the Yamaha iPod dock, but check around for the best price. Got mine for around $50 from an Amazon dealer. The iPod dock lets you control the iPod from the Yamaha remote, and if you hit "display" it will load the song list into the receiver and you can browse the menus using your TV and the Yamaha remote. There are caveats with this, see the Cons. I will say, that the speed of managing the iPod with the remote is very fast, and the whole iPod experience is much faster than using Apple's Front Row to control iTunes (OS X only). The current song is displayed, scrolled as needed, on the receiver's display. The iPod menu is displayed your TV and using the remote buttons, it is very quick to move through the menus.
-Bright Orange/Yellow Display: Yamaha has kept with their tradition of using a bright orange/yellow display that is easy to read day or night. I can even see the iPod song titles during the day with little problem.
-Remote Control: The remote control is very well-built, stands up to dropping, and is well organized. I was able to setup my Sony TV and my DirecTV Tivo with no problems.
OK, here are my beefs. I must state that for the money, you get a plethora of features without sacrificing sound quality. But, as expected, there are a few sacrifices to be made:
-No Video Transcode: C'mon guys, analog video processing chips are like 10 cents a piece, would it really hurt to allow users to mix and match video inputs and have the video signals appear on all the video outs simultaneously? What I am saying is that the composite, S-Video and component signal paths are isolated from each other. (Sony receivers will transcode the inputs to all the outputs. But, Sony sound is lackluster)
-FM Sensitivity. They could do a better job with the FM stereo blend, and include a tuning meter. I only listen to a couple of stations and a tuning meter would make it easier to "aim" my antenna. If the signal isn't strong, the highs aren't adequately blended to remove all the static and you have to switch to mono.
-iPod Caveats: Don't get me wrong, I am addicted to my Yamaha iPod dock. But here is my (minor) complaint list:
-You have to hit "Display" to load the iPod menu. This occurs very quickly (I wish my car iPod integration worked this well.) But, there should be a system setting to do this automatically if you wish.
-The menu is displayed on the TV, very readable, but the text is straight out of the 80's. Kind of reminds me of the old monitors at the airport. Seriously, it is Courier fixed font.
-No screen saver available. There is a setting to make the iPod display stay on the TV forever, but there is no screen saving function. The only way to prevent burn-in is to use the default setting of blanking out the menu.
-No album art. This isn't a big deal, the integration of the dock with the receiver is amazing, but I'm just letting you know if album art really matters to you, then think twice.
-Play/Pause are slightly different depending it you are simply remote controlling the iPod or using the receiver to read the menu on the TV. This is probably because on an iPod, play and pause are the same button. So in remote control, you toggle the Play button, but in on-screen-menu, you use the individual Play and Pause buttons.
Other Cons:
-Combination input for V-Aux and iPod Dock. C'mon guys, the iPod dock has a dedicated connection and dedicated controls, would it have really hurt to separate the V-Aux and iPod dock inputs? To use the V-Aux, you have to remove the iPod from the dock. Strangely enough, the XM input is dedicated. (Hmm, maybe XM paid more for integration)
-Lack of Bass. This receiver doesn't produce as much Bass as my previous receiver, because it doesn't have a "loudness" control. But it's not really a lack of bass, rather the lack of added bass. I solved this by tweaking the speakers control to send all bass to the sub and then turned up my sub a little bit. To perform that tweak, go to the audio setup menu, than tell the receiver your front speakers are "small", them go to the "bass" menu, and specify all bass should appear at the sub. Some experimentation here will get you outstanding results.
-Limited Tone Controls. There are only Bass and Treble tone controls, and they don't have a large effect on the sound. I miss the classic Yamaha "loudness" control, which really made a difference in quiet listening environments.
-Front Speakers A and B can't both be active at the same time.
-NO HDMI connections. I don't have an HDMI TV yet, so I don't care. But make sure if you buy this receiver, that your TV has enough HDMI inputs AND your TV has digital sound output. Then just control all your video through your TV, and connect this receiver to your TV's digital audio output.
-Remote Control Con: I can't get the remote to control my Phillips HDD/DVD recorder. This particular Phillips DVR is a strange beast, it's not quite a Tivo, but it's more than a DVD recorder. I love the Phillips DVDR3575H, but I just can't get my Yamaha remote to work with it. The downside is that there is no "learning" capabilities. If I could just manually "teach power", play, pause and the arrow keys, I would be completely satisfied. So, I still have to have two remotes.
My overall opinion. I would want more EQ options, and more power. The next model up (which is selling for $500 or a little less here) would be the perfect receiver. But, I had a budget, and sticking to it gave me very pleasing results. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music, public radio, and watch DVD's. I love the iPod dock, even with the caveats. The iPod dock works way better than any car integration I have ever seen.
EDIT: March 2010. This receiver is still going strong, and if I replace it, I would still look to Yamaha first. I purchased this over two years ago.

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Yamaha 5.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver is designed to provide pure HiFi sound from 2-channel PCM and analog sources by the ¿Direct Stereo¿ mode which allows sources to bypass the decorders and DSP processors. The Component Video inputs offer higher picture quality and allows you to enjoy three different sources without having to change connections. The four SCENE buttons make operating the receiver easier than ever. It offers a unique choice of eight Yamaha DSP surround programs to bring out the full audio potential of your entertainment sources.

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Cerwin Vega Pro Cva-118X 18-Inch Activeseries High Performance Subwoofer Review

2011-12-05T08:45:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This sub was purchase to replace an 18" JBL unit and what a surprise, this thing is incredible. It is so loud I had to turn it down, where the JBL was running full throttle. Even at low volumes and idle this CV vibrates brick walls. No distortion and no noise. Plenty of power, Buy it, you will not be sorry!It needs corner protectors though.

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CERWIN VEGA PRO CVA-118X ACTIVESERIES HIGH PERFORMANCE 18" SUBWOOFER CUSTOM 18" CERWIN-VEGA!(R) WOOFER ; FREQ. RESP: 39 HZ - 135 HZ ; BUILT-IN AMPLIFICATION WITH 700W CONTINUOUS & 1400W PEAK POWER; 4-POSITION HPF & CONTINUOUSLY SWEEPABLE LPF, POLARITY & LINK OUT CONTROLS; MASTER/SLAVE OUTPUT; CAST ALUMINUM GRILLE & AUXILLARY HEAT SINK FOR INCREASED DRIVER PERFORMANCE; HARDWOOD ENCLOSURE WITH COOLEX PAINT FINISH; 4 DETAILED STATUS LEDS; TOP-MOUNT 35MM POLE SOCKET

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SIMRAN SMF200 - 200 WATTS STEP DOWN CONVERTER 220V Review

2011-12-05T04:29:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just worked for 2 hours for me. I bought to use it with my speaker system which is 80 watt so I though I wouldnt have problem with a 200 watt converter, It was working at first but the next day I realize that it is burned. I guess I should have unpluged it for the time that I am not using the speaker.

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200 Watt Max Step Down Converter» Converts 220/240 V to 110/120 V» Led indicator light» Fuse protected» Ideal for fax machines, computers, typewriters, camera batteries, phone chargers and light portable equipment

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Sony STRDG820 7.1 Audio Video Receiver - Black Review

2011-12-05T03:13:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros:
+ 4 HDMI v1.3a inputs with support for 1080p/24, Deep Color, and xvYCC
+ Up to 7.1 channel output (110Wx7, 8 ohms, 1kHz, 0.7% THD) with A/B speaker zones (7.1/2.0)
+ Lots of inputs: 3 optical audio, 1 coaxial digital audio, 4 HDMI v1.3a video/audio, 3 component video, 2 RCA stereo audio, 3 RCA stereo video/audio, 1 additional RCA stereo video/audio on front panel
+ Easy auto-calibration
+ Re-assignable digital audio inputs
+ Customizable display names for each input
+ Decodes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS High-Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio
+ XM Satellite Radio ready
+ Supports Sony BRAVIA Theater Sync and Sony Digital Media Port
Cons:
- Awkward remote
- Cannot send analog video signals (e.g., component) through HDMI output, or digital inputs through the analog outputs
- Only has LFE subwoofer (RCA jack) output, no speaker-level (spring-loaded terminal) output
- Multi-channel and DSD signals from SA-CDs are not supported
- Standby power mode can only be activated by the remote
If you're looking for a solid receiver with plenty of inputs, including four (yes, 4!) HDMI v1.3a audio/video inputs, the Sony STR-DG820 is a great buy. This is one of Sony's new line of receivers for 2008 along with the STR-DG520, STR-DG720, and STR-DG920. This is a very compelling receiver for its price as it packs in a lot of great features when compared to other popular receivers including the Denon AVR988 and Onkyo TX-SR606.
Both the 820 and the 920 model have on-board decoding of the high-definition audio tracks found on HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs, along with Linear PCM support (up to 8 channels, 192 kHz). A note to fellow PS3 owners: you'll need to use LPCM output to let the PS3 internally decode the audio because it currently lacks the ability to output all of the HD audio formats natively using bitstream through the HDMI connection. SA-CD owners will be disappointed to find out that this receiver doesn't support any of the advanced audio tracks of the discs, so we're stuck with plain stereo CD output.
Any standard speaker arrangements between stereo (2.0) and the full 7.1 surround sound can be attached and configured individually for optimal performance, or let the quick and easy auto-calibration feature work its magic. I was caught off-guard by the fact that the only connection available for a subwoofer is an LFE (RCA) connector, so my previous passive sub from the old receiver couldn't be connected using bare speaker wires and had to be replaced.
A wide variety of electronics can be hooked up through the different named inputs: Video 1 (analog and digital video/audio), Video 2 (analog video/audio, front panel), BD (digital video/audio), DVD (analog and digital video/audio), Satellite (analog and digital video/audio), TV (analog and digital audio), and SA-CD/CD (analog audio). Digital audio sources can be reassigned to other input modes to match your connections (e.g., you can use the optical audio input labeled Video 1 with the component video input labeled DVD). The only catch is that analog inputs must exit through the analog outputs rather than being transcoded and output digitally through HDMI, and digital inputs cannot be sent through analog outputs. For about an extra $200, analog-to-digital transcoding will be available only on the higher-end 920 model due out soon, but I don't really have a problem with having two different cables connecting from my receiver to my LCD TV instead of just a single HDMI cable.
The included remote is a bit difficult to use with lots of functionality trying to be packed into a minimal amount of buttons. Yellow, silver, and purple labels and dots attempt to organize buttons based on which mode the remote currently is operating, and it takes a while to make any sense of it all. Even after some use, some buttons still make no sense, like why there separate buttons labeled Amp Menu, Options, Menu, BD/DVD Top Menu, and BD/DVD Menu when one or more of these could have been consolidated into a single button. Also, there are two buttons labeled TV--one switches the input to TV mode and one activates buttons marked with a yellow dot on the remote. Basically, whoever designed the remote needs fired. Do yourself a favor and get something like a Logitech Harmony One universal remote to replace this kludgy beast.
All in all, the convenience and flexibility of this receiver combined with the great features for a relatively low price made this product an easy decision for me. If it weren't for the clumsy remote and lack of analog-digital transcoding, I'd give this receiver a 5-star rating.

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Give your entertainment the power it deserves. This 7.1 channel A/V receiver is optimized for Blu-ray Disc media, with four HDMI inputs and support for the latest audio formats

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7" Touch Tablet PC MID Internet Media MP3/MP4 Player 2GB Google Android OS Review

2011-12-04T15:54:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Do not waste your time or money on this product. After mine quit working I sent it back in to get a refund.
Mind you I only used this thing for about a week. Well they refused to refund my money and wanted to send it to factory for repair. I told them to keep it. Do not buy from Extreme Gadgets, RIP OFFS

Click Here to see more reviews about: 7" Touch Tablet PC MID Internet Media MP3/MP4 Player 2GB Google Android OS

Unique design and tons of features compliments of the Google Android Operating System. Download thousands of helpful applications. Also has a USB port and Ethernet connetion to plug directly into internet connections. Webcam also featured on this unit. Specifications : CPU: ARM9 -VIA8505 300MHz. Screen: 7 inch touch screen. Screen resolution: 800*480 (16:9). Memory: 256MB. Harddrive: 2GB. Operation system: Google Android. Memory card slot: Mini SD card. Network adapter: built-in IEEE802.11b / g (wireless LAN), RJ45. Built-in speaker, microphone, audio/video output Online video playback Adroid application install/uninstall Skype / Google Talk E-mail client Photo format support: JPG/BMP/GIF/PNG Audio format support: MP3/WMA/APE/FLA/OGG/AC3 Video format support: MP4/FLV/H.263/H.264/RMBV Interface: USB 2.0 host / USB 2.0 device (through interface converter), power socket, microphone socket, MIC input / memory card slot Languages: Arabic(Egype), Arabic (Israel), Blugarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Duth, English, French, Finnish, Spanish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian Bokmal, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Chinese

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Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

2011-12-04T14:26:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This receiver does a great job. It replaced a 7 yr old Denon 1601 that quit working one night. It drives my 5.1 Polk system at least as good as the older Denon, which always sounded great. At this price, good sound quality is probably a given, so this review is more about the features that set this unit apart. Let's talk video first.
The nice thing about the video processing is that you can hook anything up to it, and it will send the video feed to your TV through one cable. Its basically a big switch, letting you easily change between A/V sources. You just leave your TV on the input through which it is connected, and it feeds the TV whatever source you pick, and sends the audio through the speakers. I hooked up my Samsung DLPSamsung HL-S5688W 56" 1080p DLP HDTV to it via the HDMI output. I used the two HDMI inputs to connect my Samsung DVD player and my Comcast Motorola HD-DVR. I also hooked up my Samsung VCR through a composite input and RCA cables for the VCR's audio. The Onkyo basically passes anything its sent through the HDMI inputs out through the HDMI output. You don't get any upconverting if you use the HDMI inputs and are outputting via HDMI. If you feed it 1080i through the HMDI inputs, it will output 1080i. Feed it 1080p, and you get 1080p output. (I've set my DVR and DVD players to send it 1080 input.) This is not true of the component inputs. It will send those inputs out as 720p, even if you feed it 1080. Just use the HDMI inputs for your 1080 sources. If you have more than two 1080 sources, this Onkyo might not be for you, since it only has two HDMI(1080 capable) inputs. I guess you could get an HDMI switch HDMI 3 Ports Switch With Remote (or some other brand) if you needed it in the future, or just watch your third HD input (video game, maybe) at 720p, or maybe your TV has another HDMI input itself. Another oddity is that it won't send digital sound out the HDMI that you associate with the component video inputs. This is only a problem if you need the TV to produce sound. I use the 5.1 speakers for all sound, so I don't care. The video it outputs seems to be a little better looking than video straight from the source, but I'm not sure its noticably different.
(A word on upconverting of video. Its just interpolation. Upconverting tries to add lines were there were not lines in the original source. Its not going to make SDTV look like HDTV. It might make it look a little better, but its in the eye of the beholder, and some sources seem to look better upconverted than others. Too me, it isn't worth much. My DVR can upconvert, as can my DVD player and even my TV. I've tried them all, and don't think any of them can improve an SDTV picture much. If you want to try this receiver's upconverting, there's a hidden menu to turn on upconverting 480 HDMI input to 720p, but it will also make it downgrade 1080 HDMI input to 720p. Holding down the aux and power buttons will activate the hidden menu. I leave it off, which is called auto mode, but have my DVR upconvert 480 to 1080 before it sends it to the Onkyo. Other things in the hidden menu are standard video settings like sharpness, contrast, etc.)
I also like the remote. Its fairly small, yet controls all my equipment very well, even the Comcast/Motorola DVR. My wife has put away all the other remotes, so that's a good sign. She can operate the entire system with the included Onkyo remote. My 65 year old parents even figured out how to use the entire system, so the remote must be pretty good. It helps that the Onkyo's switching simplifies everything so much. Another feature that is nice is the front panel inputs. You can hook up your digital camera very easily that way. It even has an optical audio input on the front.
The setup is pretty straight forward, especially if you have some experience setting up home theaters. If not, the manual explains things well enough, and a little Internet reading will get you all the way there, if you are like me and enjoy tinkering with the settings. The onscreen display is great. You do have to use the menu system on the front panel to tell it to output the setup menu via the HDMI, otherwise the blank screen will frustrate you. The Audessey auto-speaker calibration does a fairly decent job of configuring your system for your room, measuring distance and equalizing the volume, setting timings and equalizing sounds. I think I improved it by using the manual 5 band equalizers, though. I thought my center speaker sounded flat, so I tinkered with the equalizer and am much happier. I tried messing around with Audessey's crossover settings, but couldn't improve them any, though. Audessey also correctly set up the speaker distances.
One main reason I bought this thing was the future proofing features. It has the Dolby TrueHD and the DTS-HD, so if those every come out I can use them. I can also upgrade to a 7.1 speaker system, but my living room really isn't configured to handle that many speakers. It also offers I-pod connectivity and XM and Sirrius satellite radio connectivity, should I ever want those.
Some common complaints I've read are speaker popping noises and that it runs hot, and some people think that overheating causes the popping. I don't have the popping problems, and I don't think it runs too much hotter than my older Denon. I have it in a decently ventilated cabinet, though. I don't think it would do well in a closed up cabinet without any airflow. My ventilation is simply a crack at the bottom front, and at the top back. Hot air rises out the top back, pulling in cool air from the front bottom. I have about 6 inches of space between the receiver and the top of the cabinet. The receiver is a bit tall, so you should measure your space before your buy it. Make sure you can allow for this ventilation space on top of it.
Lastly, I like some of the many different listening "modes". Dolby Prologic IIx is better than the old Prologic on my Denon. It improves the surround effects of non-DD or non-DTS TV shows. It has the 5-channel stereo that I liked so well in the Denon, too. The other modes seem like gimmicks, though. It does do a good job of picking the appropriate mode, but you can also tell it what to use as a default mode for each source. For example, if the TV feed is in DD or DTS, it uses DD or DTS, but if its in Prologic, you can specify to use Prologic II cinema. However, if your TV show is a concert, you can change it to Prologic II music.
In summary, the Onkyo will simplify your system, allows for future expansion, is easy to use, sounds great, and costs less than anything else out there with this feature set. I recommend it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)

Meet the first of Onkyo's new A/V receivers built to embrace high-definition media such as Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. The TX-SR605 7.1-channel A/V receiver embodies this new generation, with its remarkable processing capabilities courtesy of HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface).With the ability to keep everything in the digital domain, the TX-SR605 provides complete control of every video and audio format available today. Bringing high-definition A/V processing to Onkyo's renowned approach to sound gives this A/V receiver a distinct advantage in the home. Delivering the latest in usability and versatility--such as multi-room playback, a full connectivity suite (with switching and upconversion), satellite radio connectivity, room calibration and integrated system control--the TX-SR605 is poised to set new benchmarks in performance-driven home theater.

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Delphi SA10221 XM Portable Satellite Radio Boombox Review

2011-12-04T05:11:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I got this today and I am blown away... great sound and great reception... had an attena inside the box that can be extended to a window or outside... or just left inside the box. Just leaving it inside the unit worked great. It has super sound. I couldn't be more happy with this purchase. I use it with an INNO and the adapter sold separatly. The Bass is great... really fills my loft where I listen to it. Really makes my Inno a home unit as well as a portable. Now I don't need to go in the car to hear XM. Also the unit can be battery powered or plugged into the wall. It has a handle to take anywhere. Horay... this is a real winner. BTW he name on the box is Delphi Premium Sound System... I don't know what the diff is for the table model but this one is all I could want for a home system.

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The Delphi Premium Sound System is a portable satellite radio ""boombox"" which allows you to dock your Roady XT, SKYFi3, MyFi, or Audiovox Xpress receiver (XM receiver not included). With an optional adapter, you can also dock your Pioneer Inno or Samsung Helix. The Premium Sound System has precisely-engineered integrated speakers, state-of-the-art power supply and amplifier technology, and advanced digital signal processing. In order for the system to work, you'll need a subscription to XM Satellite Radio in addition to the satellite radio receiver.

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Philips MCD288 Micro DVD Home Theater System with Subwoofer Review

2011-12-04T03:17:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have 2 of these units and have had issues with both. The first unit had a bad external video box. I called philips to get this fixed and I have made 4 attempts to order this part and every time they have sent me the wrong part.
I purchased a second unit to use as a multimedia player for music. This time all the cables were good, but this particular unit has a buzzing in the background no matter which source you choose.
I have done some research and turns out that most other owners are getting the same background noise. This is not normal. My original unit does not have this noise.
Stay away from this product if you are picky about sound quality.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Philips MCD288 Micro DVD Home Theater System with Subwoofer

Pure power meets slick, modern styling with the Philips MCD288 Micro DVD Home Theatre.With 100 total Watts of power, this small-but-powerful system will fill your room with high quality audio.It is also a flexible media player and will play a multitude of formats.DVD, DVD+RW, DivX, Picture and Video CD are all supported, and it will even play MP3 files on CD-R/RW media.This progressive scan player gives you crisp, high-resolution video.Dynamic Bass Boost and Digital Sound Control let you customize your listening experience.High quality video and audio, multiple features, and a modern, wall-mountable design make the Philips MCD288 a welcome addition to any room.

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Dell Inspiron i570-5189PBK Desktop (Piano Black) Review

2011-12-04T02:46:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This computer is an exceptional buy. It is super fast the monitor is GORGEOUS you can easily watch movies or play video games that is how ginormous it is! I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because honestly I feel that Dell SHOULD have added ADDITIONAL USB ports

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dell Inspiron i570-5189PBK Desktop (Piano Black)

The AMD-powered Inspiron 570 desktop is optimized to provide the entertainment features you need for a price you want. Watch your screen come to life with the integrated ATI Radeon HD4200 graphics. Quickly transfer your digital photos and music from your digital camera with the 19-in-1 media card reader. Immerse yourself into a cinematic experience by connecting to your 23-Inch HD monitor or TV with the HDMI port.

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Sony FDL-PT22 2.2" LCD Portable TV Review

2011-12-03T15:14:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)This amazing 2" TV from Sony boasts the typical high quality acurate color picture Sony Watchman owners are used to in a free standing design that is a relief to those of us who usually have to hold a miniature TV in order to watch it. Sony's Straptenna is a unique neck strap and antenna combination that eliminates the need for a rod type aerial. On this particular set, the strap is too long and stiff to fold out of the way when using the set on a desk or table. A rod antenna would have been a better choice. The power switch and band selector is located on the bottom front of the set which means it must be picked up to change from VHF to UHF. The switch would be better moved to the side or top of the case. The up and down channel selector buttons are conveniently located although feel a bit flimsy. This is not characteristic of Sony.
The picture is bright and clear with very acurate color. The sound is a bit lacking in volume through the built in speaker which is true of most Watchman sets although through headphones it is almost high fidelity. The unique shape makes this an excelent bedside table or desktop television. This cabinet shape however makes it dificult to carry in a pocket unlike many of the flatter case styles offered by RCA and Casio.
With a rethinking of the controls and a rod antenna and wrist strap in place of the neck strap-antenna combination, this would be the perfect little portable.

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Shaped like a small horseshoe but with an innovative 2.2-inch color LCD screen in the middle, the Sony FDL-PT22 is an ideal companion for road trips or business meetings. The portable TV receives both VHF and UHF reception through its clever neck strap antenna, dubbed the Straptenna by Sony. The Straptenna's length lets the user carry the TV as a necklace, and to fix spotty reception, the user merely moves the TV to a different orientation. The TV ensures that sporting events or favorite programs are always accessible.
The FDL-PT22 includes both volume and brightness controls, and the unitincludes a built-in speaker for sound and a mini headphone jack for private listening. In addition, the device measures only 3.6 x 4.4 x 2.6 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 9.9 ounces, making it a compact handheld unit as well. The FDL-PT22 runs on three AA batteries--with an approximate runtime of three hours--or connects to a separately sold AC adapter.
What's in the Box Watchman portable TV, neck strap antenna, user's manual

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Eton FR250 Emergency Crank Radio Metallic Silver Review

2011-12-03T12:44:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I have a previous model of this wonderful radio & just received THIS model for father's day. It is by far the coolest, neatest, most useful item around. Radio (fm, am, shortwave) flashlight, cell phone charger (with lots of adapters), siren and red blinking lights. Best of all - the hand crank works great. Needs about 1-2 minutes of cranking for 45 minutes or more of use (roughly). I keep it in the car for camputs and for storm situations and the like. Has a slot for headphone and an optional power adapter and takes regular AA batteries but I never bother. Just crank it up a mintue or so and its works great.
If you are stuck on a present idea for ANYONE, ths is THE gift to get. Fun and very useful. I also get a kick explaining to the kids how the hand crank dynamo works.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Eton FR250 Emergency Crank Radio Metallic Silver

For the most part, you'll be operating this radio using batteries or optional AC adapter. Let's say, however, you're out camping or find yourself in some other desperate situation where power is unavailable. Well, this radio will work! You can crank it to operate and, while cranking, you can charge its internal batteries - but it can also work without batteries. Survival aside, you've got AM/FM and 7 Shortwave radio bands so you can listen to most of the world. There is also a built-in triple white LED light source that is surprisingly bright to shed light after the sun sets. Listen from the built-in speaker or with an earphone from the built-in miniplug. Overall, The Eton FR250 is a radio everyone should have for both everyday use and for emergencies. In a sense, this is a radio for all seasons and all times. In an emergency, this may be the most valuable thing to have. We suggest getting this today.

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Pioneer GM-5400T 760-Watt, 2-Channel Power Amplifier Review

2011-12-03T11:20:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I've had this amp pusing a 10" kicker CVT bridged and it's pushing my sub to it's limits with no distortion, clipping, or overheating. It's a great amp for a basic system like I have and in this price range, I doubt you can find better. It's extremely clear all the way up to maximum volume and so far, I couldn't be happier with it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer GM-5400T 760-Watt, 2-Channel Power Amplifier

A beefy power increase. An all-new design featuring an extruded heatsink with a brushed metallic surface. Speaker level inputs for easy connection to OEM headunits. Oversized power terminals. Bottom line? The 2-channel GM-5400T is a huge value in a small package.

GM-5400T Specs

Pioneer Car Audio SystemsPioneer's Mobile Business Group is known for offering the kind of in-car products that make driving more enjoyable by offering high quality audio and video, seamless connectivity and ease-of-use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio enthusiasts and sound competitors.
What's in the Box Pioneer GM-5400T Amplifier, Input Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

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Mirage OMNI S10 - Subwoofer - 200 Watt Review

2011-12-03T07:26:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)The theatre is on a raised foundation and the floor really rumbles with this bad boy. I set the 3dB frequency to 85Hz and am driving this with a Denon 3310ci AV receiver. Visitors are astounded by the sound (also using OmniSat OS3 Floor-standing frontL/R and OmniSat OS3 center, with NanoSat surroundL/R). Excellent price/performance ratio in my opinion

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mirage OMNI S10 - Subwoofer - 200 Watt

The OMNI S10 is probably the most versatile subwoofer in the OMNI Subwoofer line-up. It features a 10-inch woofer with Mirage's patented ribbed Elliptical Surround. This revolutionary technology was developed to increase excursion, eliminate surround distortion and raise efficiency. Coupled with the proprietary surround ribs that eliminate any surround dimpling, it enables the OMNI S10 to play lower with greater output and fidelity than the competition. The 10 inch woofer performs like a much larger driver; it plays down to a stunning 21 Hz without compromising any of its amazing musicality.The heart of the OMNI S10 is a developed amplifier that can produce an instantaneous peak of 800 watt and 200 watt of continuous power. The power output has received true FTC rating.Features common to the OMNI series include: level, frequency and phase controls, all of which are found on the front panel of the subwoofer making any adjustments simple. Rear inputs include high and low level connections, as well as power mode selection, thereby increasing the installation and connection flexibility of the OMNI Subwoofer.

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Yamaha RX-V659BL 7.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

2011-12-03T06:53:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)I am an A/V novice, and this is how/why I bought this receiver:
I originally bought it while looking for a 6.1 receiver in the $400.00 range. Best B** had a Pioneer that was THX certified for about $475. I had them put a rain check on it, then went to another store to listen to what they had (Best B** has a new policy of 'upselling' by sending any customer who is interested in mid-level audio to a 'specialist' who wants to unload Denon etc. - usually in the Home Theatre room. This annoyed me mightily, as I didn't even get a chance to listen to the Pioneer.)
At the other store, I listened to the 6.1 Yamaha HTR-5850 and was happy with that. My wife pointed out that the 7.1 RX-V659 was only about $50.00 more, and wondered what the difference was. We gave it a listen and were pleased. My wife listened to a Luther Vandross CD, and I listened to a classical music CD, then we popped in a copy of The Matrix DVD (you know what scene). My main concerns were HDTV compatability (has 3 component video inputs) and the RX-V659's audio/video auto upgrade feature. As neither me nor my wife have an iPod, we didn't care about the docking station capability of it, but it is a pleasant upgrade for later. We bought it for quite a bit less than what is listed on the Yamaha website, and less than the Pioneer receiver at BB.
I hooked the receiver to a Bic America Venturi bookshelf pair as front ends, then went with the Yamaha NS-SP1600 5.1 HTIB set-up (yes, it's their low end model, but I listened to them and they sounded fine for our 20'x30' room with nine foot ceiling.) I replaced that Yamaha HTIB center speaker with a KLH 525 II Platinum-II 125-Watt center speaker. I bought a roll of 12 gauge speaker wire - avoided the Monster stuff - went with Lowe's. The CD's and movies sounded great already, but there's more to this: the front speakers still have to 'break in' and only recently did I discover what the Neural Surround Sound exhibits when pumping XM satellite radio through them. WOW! Incredible separation! Our little room now has an audio sweet spot that allows me to consider never going out to the movies again. I've spent hours going through the different sound fields, and continue to come back to Neural Surround. Also , listening with headphones is wonderful with the Night Listening Enhancer - listening to TV with headphones never sounded this good for me. Set-up was breeze - the YPA sound optimizing thing takes some getting used to, but I like that the menus are on your TV's screen, not the face on the receiver unit.
Now I 'have' to get a new DVD/CD player that has DTS output. If this receiver lasts for at least a decade, Yamaha has a fan for life...
Unfortunately, this receiver is not HDMI-ready, but that might not be a gripe if/when I get a new HDTV and can run the video line directly into the TV instead of the receiver. Otherwise, this is a 5 star review.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha RX-V659BL 7.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Black)

Yamaha 7.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver combines the latest and the best technologies, parts and circuit design to maximize sound quality. The component video up-conversion as well as down video conversion is automatically applied to incoming signals. This receiver is XM Satellite Radio ¿Ready¿, which allows you to hear over 160 digital channels of music, news, sports, talk and entertainment from America¿s number one Satellite Radio Services. It uses recently developed LSI with 64-bit floating point quantization processing, for high speed, high density digital sound field processing.

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VELODYNE SC-IW In-Wall Passive Subwoofer Review

2011-12-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have this for almost a year now and I am very satisfied. The bass is rich and clean and deep. Hook up was straight forward because the basement was being built. Should not be much more difficult for retro job. I bought these because I didn't want to see any speakers. I also did not want to compromise on sound. The sub delivers nicely based on my requirements. I get a bit concerned about the energy being delivered into the walls. If I put my hand on the wall on any corner of the room, I can feel the walls under intense pressure more so when a blu-ray movie is on as these seem to have wicked lows. For instance there are certain scenes in Avatar that go really low and the sub has absolutely no trouble authentically reproducing these lows. It is a very immersive experience. It isn't a stretch for this thing to pop the drywall clean off if the drywall isn't done properly. It is hooked up to the SMS-1 even though Audessey is processing the sound as well. To power this, I am using the Buttkicker 4000 which seems to be sufficient. There is some distortion in the amp which makes it thru to the speaker but you would need to be a bass head to notice it. The problem with this speaker is that it is built into the wall cavity behind the drywall. That cavity is cold because the walls are cold. The walls are cold because the basement is below grade. Cold air then leaks into the room via the open port in the subwoofer. Easy fix, stuff the port with some insulation to keep the cold air out. I have had friends over who absolutely refused to believe that there is a sub in the wall. They feel the bass but because it is non directional and well tuned it takes a while to actually find the source. Nice! Bottom line. This sub delivers even for the discerning listener. The sub performs best with the recommended amplifier although you can get by with a suitable alternative with suitable RMS. I am also very pleased with the designer grill because it Is minimalistic. I took one star away for installation because the speaker grill definitely is very difficult to adjust.

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The SC-IW (In-Wall) is the first in-wall to fit flush in a 2x4 studded wall and deliver reference quality performance. The patent-pending SC-IW driver fires vertically in the wall for maximum throw and minimal vibration to reproduce the most demanding home theater and music with authority, accuracy and low distortion. The SC-IW, with a unique 2-piece cabinet design, is easy to install whether it's for new construction or retrofit.Requires Velodyne SC-IWBB Enclosure for installation - sold separately

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Brand New Pioneer Tsw253r 10" 1000 Watt Top of the Line Subwoofer with Great Sound Quality and Lots of Power Review

2011-12-02T14:13:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was kind of sceptic at first because they were so inexpensive. Once installed, with a Kenwood 1000W amp all scepticism went away. They thump pretty good for an uported box I have them in. Would definitely recommend this product to anyone not wanting to spend a fortune on a Quality set of woofers..

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BRAND NEW PIONEER TSW253R 10" 1000 WATT TOP OF THE LINE SUBWOOFER WITH GREAT SOUND QUALITY AND LOTS OF POWERFeatures:10" high powered subchampion series!1,000 Watts Maximum Power 200 RMS Rating Frequency Response: 20-180 Hz 93 dB Sensitivity IMPP Composite Cone for strong bass response32 Oz Strontium Magnet Wide-Roll Dual-Layer Urethane Surrounds eliminates distortion6-Layer Single Copper Voice Coil Projected Pole Yoke with Vented Pole for even and strong soundStamped BasketMagnet Cover Push Terminals Nomex Spider4 Ohms Impedance Mounting Depth: 5 1/4"Sealed box volume: 0.55 - 0.69 cubic feetPorted box volume: 1.0 - 1.25 feet

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Digital Coaxial/Subwoofer Audio Cable 50 ft. CL2 Review

2011-12-02T09:29:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this to replace a unshielded cable that was picking up a 60hz hum. This cable goes through the walls and attic and doesn't hum. Problem solved! The rca connectors are of high quality, and make a solid connection to the reciever and subwoofer. Also the price was reasonable.

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Verbatim Portable USB Speakers Review

2011-12-02T07:46:00.000-05:00

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(More customer reviews)The audio went out on my son's laptop (Dell Inspiron 5100) and since audio circuit is integrated with the motherboard, the only solution at first seemed a complete motherboard replacement. Fortunately, I found these USB speakers that provide a workable solution. Beware - many *other* "USB" speakers are only USB-powered and you still have to plug an audio cable into the analog audio output jack of your computer. That was not a solution in our case because the audio output was fried. However, *these* speakers are purely USB connected, incorporating a USB-interfaced digital to analog audio circuit right in the speaker housing. The speakers were automatically recognized as an external USB audio device by Windows XP as soon as we plugged them in, and he once again has sound output from his laptop!

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Portable USB speakers offer a simple and sleek audio enhancing solution. Amplify your favorite MP3s, CDs and DVDs. Use the easy touch volume buttons to increase, decrease and mute your music or sound. Powered by a USB retractable cable. No batteries or power cords are required. The LED status light indicator will alert you if the speakers are properly connected to your notebook. If the LED is blue, the speakers are activated. If the LED is red, the speakers mute button has been activated. Just plug and play.

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Xbrand Lap Lounge Notebook Stand w/ USB Cooling Fan Laptop Cooling Station Review

2011-12-02T04:40:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The design is just what I had been looking for: a cooler pad that could fit my 17" laptop and be used comfortably as a lap desk. I own two of them.
The plastic "bump" that angles the back of the laptop upward is a fair design, though one of the cooler pads I own has an unfortunate tendency to suddenly collapse back to being perfectly flat after it's been shifted a few times. The other cooler pad doesn't do this, so it may be a manufacturing flaw.
Both pads developed noisy fans within a couple months of purchase. The fans grind like a lawnmower engine upon starting up and must be tapped until they settle down. They still rumble after that, but not as badly. It sounds as though they are poorly balanced (vibrating) or dying. They deterioriated very rapidly. It's not like these cooler pads were being dropped or subjected to large shocks. They were just being used normally -- picked up, put down, shifted around, sometimes tilted side-side or back-front depending on how the user was sitting. It seems reasonable to expect that the fans don't suddenly start grinding (loudly, I might add) one day after such tame treatment.

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Energy ESW-V8 Subwoofer (Single, Black) Review

2011-12-01T12:54:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm using this sub as part of a 7.1 system that includes two Energy Take TWR speakers for the front channels, a Take FPS for the center channel, and four Take SAT speakers for the surrounds. It produces deep bass down to about 31Hz, which should be plenty for all but the deepest of bass aficionados. This results in a sub that handles all but the most challenging home theater tasks with ease. For example, at the beginning of the movie "Transformers", you hear and feel lots of deep bass for the helicopter in flight, but you just hear (rather than feel) the shock wave that the evil transformer sends out in it's first attack. (In all fairness, you'd need at least a 12-15" sub with considerably more power to feel that in your living room.)
The flip side of this lack of hyper-deep bass response is that the ESW-V8 is an extremely musical sub. I've thrown a large quantity of material at it, anything from classical to pop to dance to live jazz, and it handled them all with equal aplomb.
Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase and would recommend this sub to anyone looking for a solid upgrade to their home theater system.

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Capturing all the sonic excitement of low-frequency performances, the high-style Energy ESW-V8 subwoofer perfectly rounds out a home theater or two-channel stereo music system. This masterpiece of sound and design works well with our flagship Veritas Series, RC Series and Take Series. A bass-reflex design with a single rear-firing port, the ESW-V8 shakes things up by employing an 8" Woven Composite Fiberglas(TM) Cone with patented Ribbed Elliptical Surround(TM). This proprietary design eliminates surround distortion, enabling the subwoofer to play lower with greater output and fidelity. An efficient BASH amplifier allows this hard-hitter to deliver 200 watts of RMS power and 800 watts of dynamic power for the accurate reproduction of music and movie soundtracks. The ESW-V8 features line and speaker level inputs and has an 18dB per octave variable low-pass filter that is continuously adjustable from 40Hz to 120Hz. A fully variable phase control from -180 to +180 facilitates the ideal acoustical integration of the subwoofer with other speakers in an Energy system. An "auto power" feature enables the subwoofer to turn on and off automatically, based on the presence or absence of an audio signal.

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DODGE RAM QUAD CAB Q-Logic Custom Subwoofer Enclosure UNLOADED for 1-10" Sub Q-Customs DQC110 (Passenger Side) Review

2011-12-01T09:17:00.000-05:00

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab, and this Q-Logic box fits like a glove! It only takes a few minutes to install, and looks awesome. With the seat down, you don't even notice it's there. I loaded it with a JL Audio 10WX-4 and powered it with a JL Audio J2 250.1.
Just to give some perspective of how it blends with the rest of my system here is what I have. There are Infinity Reference 5032cf (5-1/4" 2-ways) in the rear doors, and Infinity Reference 5030cs (5-1/4" components) in the front doors. I'm driving those purely from my head unit which is a Dual XHD7714 (17 watts RMS). Thanks to Infinity's 2-ohm design, there is plenty of power for them to keep up with the sub.
I have the gain on the amp at 50%, and the crossover at 80hz. This system kicks ass (literally) and is VERY clean. Granted I'll never win any sound level competitions with this setup, but I'm not trying to blow the doors off...I'm simply trying to get a full body sound. With this Q-Logic box I have accomplished my goal and gained the bottom end I never had before.
I ordered this box online on a Saturday from Sounds Great!, and it was delivered to me the following Saturday with free shipping.

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Single 10 inch enclosure specifically designed for the Dodge Ram QuadCab to give you that tight bass your factory system forgot. Includes Flush-mount grills and integrated fascia panel. Fits under passenger side rear seat. Add a QL-C1DQC110D to Driver side to complete the under-seat system.INCLUDED IN THE BOX:5-way nickel-plated terminal cup.All mounting fasteners, hardware and trim pieces.Complete installation instructions.Speaker wire.Woofer mounting screws.Note: Any drivers pictured are for illustration purposes only, and are not included.

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