How many times do you love a speaker package, that certain speaker package on which you want to add just one receiver, not multiple power amps, just one receiver. Some speaker require just that much more power behind it like with brilliant speaker packages like the B&W CM9 package and the Monitor Audio RX8 Package. When ever a receiver was added to these packages the sound was held back, it lacked inspiration, it lacked power.

This is where the Yamaha engineers did more than enough. I added the Yamaha Aventage RX-A3010 to Monitor Audio RX8 package after having few successes with any receiver, receivers well above the R30 000 price bracket. Success was accomplished with this beautiful speaker package with additional power amplification. I hooked up the Yamaha RX-A3010 with ease. The design is clever, BI-AMP channels sits next to each other, making cabling easy, no need to make custom cable to stretch over the length of the output terminals. All input and output sockets are well spaced, easily enabling me to insert cables where my Plasma stand made it difficult.

High Resolution picture, click to enlarge.

All cabled and ready to go, I did the setup quickly, yet thoroughly. The user interface gives you the ability to make informed decisions, setup of network features and bi-amp option was a brief.

My first quest, see if this beautiful amp can entertain stereo wise, no subwoofer, no centre or surrounds, plain stereo in pure direct. I pressed play and Diana Krall started the complex music she is known for. WOW! This is 4ohm Monitor Audio RX8 speaker which some of the biggest and best receivers could not even make bearable to listen, now here flows an array of waves. I lower the volume to test whether the speaker keeps its sound still as pure, sure enough the bass is well heard and felt, the mid range is still impressive, the little finer sounds from the percussion instruments still making their presence known. On higher volume I felt like I am at an concert, the staging is precise, vocals in the middle with the piano, you can envision her sitting behind her piano.

Well impressed I added a David Foster and friend to the Blu Ray drive. The surrounds are perfect, applause behind, the stage with the singing and instruments in front. The experience you get is what the recording intended, you being at the life event, and it sure made me feel that I was right there.

Same could be said when I attached the CM9 Package to the RX-A3010 (which is currently setup at the Menlyn Sound and Image Branch). Normally on the CM9 Package we would add proper high current power, like the Harman Kardon AVR 660/760, or add power amps, which is ideal. I never formed an image in my mind that a Yamaha receiver will drive this absolute stunning speaker this well. The sound was rich, full and musical as a B&W should sound, nothing was held back. Movies was full of atmosphere evident when watching Avatar, Iron Man 2 and the refreshed Jurassic Park remake.

Overall, sited by many magazines, the Yamaha RX-A3010 is impressive, very very impressive...

What Hi-Fi Said:

Impressive scale; fluid, unaggressive delivery; immersive soundfield; fine spec; flexible with partnering equipment. 

Audioholic Said:

This is the sort of receiver that you can grow old with. Just like the RX-Z11, when you buy this, you may be tempted to upgrade in a few years, but you certainly won'tneed to. GOTTA HAVE IT!

One word, BRILLIANT!!!

The Marantz PM6004 and CD6004 forms part of Marantz new 6000 series.

With its impressive array of inputs and outputs, the Marantz PM6004 Amplifier offers an ideal way to consolidate all of your audio devices. The amplifier features exceptional audio engineering, allowing it to amplify sound without loss of fidelity or balance. It also has a phono input, so you can enjoy music from your turntable on traditional stereo speakers. And with Marantz's audio technologies, this device is sure to please even the most discerning listeners.

A thorough upgrade of the amp has achieved even more substantial improvements. It’s that ability to cut right to the heart of a track that’s most impressive.

Even more impressive is the fact that this solidity combines with a lightness of foot that helps the amp dance from beat to beat without a hint of sluggishness. Do make sure you click the ‘source direct’ button to get the very best out of it, though.

Of course, a component that is individually superb can flop when paired with another, but that’s far from the case here. Connect the PM6004 with the Marantz CD6004 CD player and it’s immediately clear that they’ve been tuned to complement each other.

Although the PM6004 is flexible enough to be partnered with other, non-Marantz electronics, as a pair they pull in the same sonic direction, and the resulting presentation is as fast-paced, detailed and dynamic as you could possibly hope for from a hi-fi pairing at this end of the market.

The CD6004’s predecessor is what-hifi's reigning CD player champion so unsurprisingly Marantz has made slightly more cautious, less substantial changes. Mind you, a new CD mechanism, upgraded power supply, brand new DAC, new amplifier module and a new, vibration-eliminating solid metal bottom-plate still sounds like a great deal of work to us.

Oh, and the USB port on the front, which could always digitally access iOS devices, can now charge iPads as well as iPods and iPhones.

According to Ken Ishiwata, Marantz’s Brand Ambassador, that’s a particularly tough nut to crack, as the amount of power needed to charge an iPad can all too easily have a detrimental effect on the audio signal. Through the use of audiophile-grade components and proprietary circuit topologies, the Marantz CD6004 Compact Disc Player reproduces your CDs with superb quality. When connected to a good set of speakers or headphones, it delivers a satisfying balance of bass, midrange, and treble that is sure to please music lovers.

The Player's USB input makes it easy to connect an iPod or other MP3 player to enjoy your entire digital music library. Upgrades on the CD6004 really have made big improvements to what was already an extremely accomplished performance. Play Little Dragon’s recent electro-pop hit Ritual Union and this is immediately apparent: the delivery is significantly more spacious and open, the vocals are clearer and more focused, and individual instruments have more space around them but are still rhythmically glued together to create a pleasingly complete presentation.

There’s an extra smidge of subtlety to detail and dynamics, too, so you get a little more of the reverb and echo on the voice – in other words, the disc sounds more as it was intended.

Essentially it’s cleaner, clearer and more interesting than its predecessor, and in the best possible way you’re less aware of the player itself, especially when you take advantage of the ‘display off’ and ‘digital off’ options.

-Information sourced directly from:

-Whathifi.com: (http://www.whathifi.com/review/marantz-pm6004; http://www.whathifi.com/review/marantz-cd6004)

-Marantz.com: (us.marantz.com/us/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=HiFiComponents&ProductId=PM6004)

Marantz’ new Universal disc player fell into the hands of the guys at What-HiFi and as they say “…it could be another fruitful year for the Japanese company…”

The UD7006 Universal Disc Player is Marantz’ very first 3D-ready unit. Staying in line with the design of the older generations, the UD7006 is a fully universal deck this means that SACD’s as well as DVD-A discs can be played with no hassle.

The UD7006 universal player also has on-board decoding and a set of eight-channel analogue inputs, allowing those with older generation amplifiers, which do not have HDMI inputs, can also enjoy high-definition surround sound.

The UD7006 universal player is DLNA certified, alleviating possible issues if an amp is not 3D compatible, rather than requiring a second HDMI output, the HDMI picture can be fed straight into the display and use a multi-channel output for the sound. The UD7006’s DLNA certification means that the unit can be used as a “client streamer” for music, videos and photo files stored on a home network.

…The UD7006 is a fine opening gambit from Marantz – it’s going to take something pretty special to top it…”

-Information sourced from: http://www.whathifi.com/review/marantz-ud7006

Overview:

The Klipsch SW-450 may be a large unit, however there is definitely more than meets the eye. The cabinet is deep – 49.5cm but it is relatively narrow – 35.6cm. A different take on the finish breathes in a breath of fresh air, it is covered in a vinyl wrap rather than a glossy black finish, this blends the SW-450 subwoofer into its’ surrounding comfortably. The SW-450 subwoofers’ design means that it works well with many other speakers within the Klipsch range. Moreover, the sleek look of the SW-450 subwoofer llows for the unit to compliment many HD televisions found on the market today.

The Klipsch SW-450 subwoofer offers a downward-firing 10” driver with a fibre-composite cone. On the SW-450’s rear panel is a bass reflex port – as What-HiFi notes the port is “big enough to swallow-up your average rabbit…” Given the placement of the bass reflex port, it is advisable to keep the SW-450 subwoofer a far way away from a wall. The Klipsch SW-450 subwoofer received a four-star rating from What-HiFi.

The Sound Quality:

The SW-450 subwoofer has a notably more substantial sound, unlike some the SW-450 rivals. The bass notes are clearer, with more weight behind them. However with the more complex bass-lines the SW-450 has a tendency to “…lose its’ way…”; there also is a little bit of a rattle from the casing when the SW-450 subwoofer is pushed to its’ limits, but the unit is still a capable choice.

The Benefits of the SW-450:

People who advocate the SW-450 subwoofer feel that aside from the non-gloss look of the subwoofer, the sound quality is superior, especially in terms of the deep bass notes – as the sound weighter, tighter and more crisp.

The Downfalls:

As with many of Klipsch’s units, the SW-450 does not have a lot of downfalls, however the clarity lost on the more complex baselines does leave the SW-450 slightly wanting.

The Specs:

The SW-450 subwoofer has two line inputs, two speaker inputs and is relatively small in comparison to its’ rivals. The power wattage measures in at 200W. The powerful 10” driver means an increased bass response with low distortion and the SW-450 has a built-in Class D amplifier which delivers 450W of dynamic power.

-Information sourced from What-HiFi.com: http://www.whathifi.com/review/klipsch-sw-450

What Yamaha says about the Evolutionary process of the new Aventage series:

“…When AVENTAGE was introduced in 2010, this new top rated AV Receiver series represented a dramatic, inspired leap forward with best in class audio/video component design. AVENTAGE brought studio grade sound and sophisticated video enhancements to your home with unparalleled attention to detail in design, engineering, and fabrication. Every electrical path, every part, every piece, was rethought and redesigned if necessary to achieve total performance excellence throughout the series. Materials were tested thoroughly, and the finest were selected to maximize performance. Details that at first glance would not seem to affect the quality of sight, sound and control, were brought together in AVENTAGE components, and in the end produced a work of visual and acoustic art...”

The RX-A AV receivers:

“…The AVENTAGE line of high-performance AV receivers is based on the audio design concept of providing a massive, full-bodied sound for movie sound effects and the accurate reproduction of music sources. By expertly harmonizing traditional and advanced technologies, every factor that affects sound quality, from materials and parts to construction, layout, vibration damping (unique foot) and “fine-tuning” the sound, is handled with no other thought than to achieve the best possible audio quality. As a result, every AVENTAGE model has the ability to reproduce the most subtle details of high-definition sound, so that listeners can enjoy a truly high-class sound studio experience at home…”

How the Sound & Image guys feel about the range:

The new range of Yamaha AV receivers has definitely changed how AV should be.The Aventage series has many new features, from the building of the shell all the way through to the networking capabilities. The Aventage series allows for better connectivity and an easier to use GUI. The Aventage series can be added to most modern and traditional speaker systems, which means that if you are just starting out in the world of audio-visual, you do not need to spend and arm and a leg on top of the range speakers.

What are the benefits?:

Aside from the value for money – in terms of this entire range being affordable to the average audiophile, the AV receivers have a variety of features like, Pandora Internet Radio, DTS HD, Silent Cinema, Bluetooth and, among many other glorious additions, iPod and iPhone compatibility.

What are the disadvantages?:

Quite honestly, we don’t see many, this unit is compatible with many other units, amps, bluray players and universal disc players.

Aesthetics:

The receivers are sleek in design, allowing for you to place them in almost any home theatre environment. They are finished in a glossy and versatile black shade, (okay, so some of us would like to see maybe a purple or a pink), the back-lighting on the front display is not overly bright – no blinding with the display lights, so you will watch the television rather than trying to read what is on the receiver screen. The text on these units are big enough to read without squinting, a definite bonus if you ask me.

Awards:

As with many of the units, most are given awards from What Hi-fi magazine, it is not too surprising then that the RA-X1010 AV receiver was given the Five-Star Award in November 2011.

Overall?:

In a nutshell? Yay for Yamaha!

Boston's all-new Soundware S5.1 system is the big brother to the well-received, award-winning Soundware XS 5.1 satellite system. There are several modifications of the design including: a larger 10" vented subwoofer, with a 200W amp - which peaks at 300W.

The satellite speakers are slightly larger, giving more room for greater acoustic performance, as they bear ¾" tweeters and 3½" mid-bass drivers.

Among other important features, this system is available in both Gloss Black and Gloss White, making the system that much more versatile in home designs.

Harman/Kardon’s latest trick is the AVR 158 mini-monster – as it has been referred to as. This little unit is ideal for those who like good sound but are conscious about money. It is an affordable and stylish way to bring you home entertainment to a new level.

The AVR 158 A/V receiver has the latest Dolby and DTS audio suites as well as HDMi v. 1.4 with 3-D and Deep-colour included. Importantly, this unit also has Logic 7, allowing you to experience 5.1 channel, 360° soundstage, ideal for movies, television and games.

The “mini-monster” boasts three HDMi inputs, 70 watts of power per channel, ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier and high-current-capability (HCC).

Some of the key specs are:

Powers a 5.1-channel surround-sound system

70 watts of power per channel

High-current-capability (HCC), ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier

HDMI v.1.4 with 3-D and Deep Colour Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding

Logic 7 processing to turn conventional stereo sources into 5.1-channel surround sound

FM/AM radio with 30 station presets stored, plus Radio Data System (RDS)

Surround-sound decoding for all varieties of Dolby and DTS audio formats

BXR enhancer to improve bass performance of MP3 and WMA files

Lip-sync adjustment to delay the audio signal to match the video signal

Screen-saver function to prevent image burn-in on CRT and plasma displays