Sound and Image Reviews

Klipsch SW-450 Subwoofer

2012-01-31T13:10:00.014+02:00

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

Yamaha Aventage Series

2012-01-26T15:59:00.005+02:00

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 Acoustics: Soundware S5.1

2012-01-13T13:37:00.003+02:00

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.

AVR 158 Harman/Kardon's Mini-monster

2011-11-23T10:14:00.004+02:00

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

Classé: CP800 (R)evolutionary

2011-08-17T12:45:00.008+02:00

The Classé CP800 preamp, is nothing “out of the ordinary” at first glance, with three single-ended audio inputs and two balanced audio inputs. That’s where the “ordinary” ends.

From the inside, this unit brings new features to light, in Classé’ typical manner, it has 4 toslink digital inputs, 3 coax digital inputs, 1 AES/EBU digital in, and…2 USB inputs, one on the front and at the back. With this being said it would only be correct to assume that Classé has indeed added an onboard USB-DAC board. However, the real change over occurs with the outputs.

There are five single-ended as well as five balanced audio outputs. What’s so great about this you may be asking yourself, well, these outputs are configurable. For the first time ever, Classé have added a high-end two channel preamp with bass management to the CP800. If you feel, like many people do that a subwoofer adds a lot to a system, one no longer needs to compromise and use a surround sound processor to manage bass, there are thee configurable outputs that give you the control.

Want more? Well, if you have been an audiophile for a while, you may recall back in the 70’s/80’s there was a nifty feature on many Quad preamps, known as the “tilt” feature. Classé has “reintroduced” this very feature onto the CP800 giving you the ability to make a “not so good” recording, be a lot more pleasant to listen to – you now are able to adjust both the frequencies as well as the shelf. What is more is that the CP800 has brought the “return” of the tone control. Again, this allows you, the user, more freedom to listen to music the way you want too – you have full control over the bass and the treble.

“…Classé has come up with a first in the CP800 with a new kind of power supply. Switching power supplies have huge advantages, but one drawback for audio has been the noise they introduced. Classé came up with a unique way to attack this. The result is probably the best audio preamp power supply ever designed. It’s got the lowest measurable noise floor of anything available by several dB!...”

If you would like to find out more about the CP800 unit, don’t hesitate to contact us via email, alternatively why not come in to one of our branches?

-Information sourced from Classé (August 2011)

Boston's TVee model 30 Soundbar

2011-07-18T16:38:00.004+02:00

The TVee Model 30 is a soundbar well above the rest. It is the ideal solution from Boston Acoustics and they seem to be catering to consumers who actually want a bit more out of their discreet speaker answers. What makes this unit so much better, there are a variety of reasons, including the fact that the TVee Model 30 has a centre channel – making it a full 3.1 system.

Boston made a wise decision to enlarge the subwoofer, it now has a 7” driver rather than the original 6”. Although this unit is a “simple” system, the features on the TVee-30 are somewhat remarkable. One needs to bear in mind that the unit is specifically designed to adequately replace the sound from your flat-panel TV, the unit takes a feed from either the TV’s analogue stereo outputs, or from the S/PDIF optical digital output. Moreover, the TVee Model 30 can receive audio from Bluetooth, wireless or iPod inputs.

In an nutshell the soundbar is a three 2-way bass-reflex speakers arranged in a row, with a fibre ceramic 3-1/2" woofer and 3/4" tweeter each. The width is just over 38-inches, so it will look great with a majority of 37-50" displays.

Denon BDP-2012: Heimkino Reference Class

2011-07-15T11:59:00.003+02:00

Denon’s DBP-2012UD player has made it into Heimkino's reference class, regardless of the price. What is it that makes this unit so special? Well, according to Heimkino, the visual quality that the DBP-2012 player produces is on par with some of the leading brands of Universal players on the market to date.

The audio and visual reproductions are well above the standard norm, in fact Heimkino went as far as to say: ...the high point of the test was the Denon's sound quality... is simply superb.

Some of the highlights of the unit include its versatility as a universal disc player, the fact that it is 3D; multimedia and network capable makes it a very competitive unit overall. Finally, Denon went all out in terms of the design aspect, the workmanship is impeccable.

Boston's new toy

2011-06-21T14:48:00.008+02:00

The first thing I noticed when I plugged in the TVeeM25's was the “big” sound coming out of the soundbar. It’s hard to describe other than to say that the sound seems to emanate from the entire wall where the soundbar is located. I found it nearly unbelievable that this much sound could come out of something so small.

It’s also hard to believe that the soundbar has only 2 drivers in it. Normally when you have only a single left and right channel speaker vocals and other center channel audio are muffled. But the TVee Model 25 replicates the center channel perfectly while still rendering excellent left and right channel separation.

Also of note, the relatively small wireless subwoofer, which contains only a single 6" down-firing driver, puts out more than adequate bass response. In fact, when watching iRobot through the system I found the bass to be tight, crisp, and just plain loud! Boston Acoustics doesn’t list full specifications for the unit, but I’m guessing the subwoofer has 100 watts of the stated 150 watt system power, leaving 25 each for the left and right channel drivers in the soundbar.

If you want a soundbar that blends in seamlessly with its surrounding, the TVee 25 system will definitely oblige. The face of the unit is comprised of a single wide speaker grill with only a small BA logo at the bottom center and control buttons on the far right. It is designed to integrate nicely under TVs sized 32" or larger, and can sit right beneath on a counter, or be mounted to the wall.

...Volume control of the TVee 25 is simply awesome. The system will learn whatever remote control you want to point at it, and it’s an extremely easy thing to set up.

Unlike some competing units, the TVee 25 is perfect for bedrooms or other areas where you’d like to keep the room dark. The small operational LEDs near the control buttons only illuminate for a few seconds when buttons are pressed. The rest of the time they’re off, which saves the room from distracting light pollution when watching TV, or trying to sleep.

Installing the TVee 25 is quite simple. The soundbar requires a single power outlet, plus one cable to hook to the TV’s audio output jacks. You can use simple RCA cables for left and right channel connectivity, but for true surround sound you’ll need a digital optical output. Even if your TV doesn’t have one, your DVD or Blu-ray player will, and the unit will accept both connections. You can then plug the subwoofer into any power outlet anywhere in the room and the wireless transmitter will take care of the rest.

-Available Early July

-Review with compliments of “geekbeat.tv”

Denon's Killer combo: AVR-A100 and DBP-100

2011-06-20T16:06:00.009+02:00

In celebrating their 100^th anniversary Denon has released two units to mark the occasion. The DBP-100 bluray player and the AVR-A100 9.2 channel surround sound receiver. The DBP-100 is a universal player, which means that you can comfortably play Bluray’s CD’s and DVD’s, not to mention audio CD’S, audio DVD’S and Bluray audio. This unit comes with Denon’s own vibration-resistant design, it comes equipped with an anniversary edition coupling condenser and cast iron footing for extra sound stabilization.

First up: The DBP-100

The exterior of the DBP-100 has a glossy-finger-print resistant black coating with the 100^th anniversary emblem. The inner workings of this unit are just as impressive as Denon’s age, the advanced audio and visual circuit performance comes directly from the SVH (Surpress Vibration Hybrid) mechanism giving the unit more control and stability when discs are being read. Every one of the channels uses AL24 processors for improved sound quality, while the video circuitry uses a high bit-rate video processor for more life-like imagery. The DBP-100 also sports Denon’s Link 4th HDMI clock control - minimising jitter during HDMI transmission and is ideal for best possible audio performance when combined with the AVR-A100.

Second up: The AVR-100

Starting on the outside, the AVR-A100 is in the same black gloss finish and 100th anniversary badging as the DBP-100. The AVR-100 is a 9.2 channel surround sound receiver, which has a variety of features including: high bit ip conversion and upscaling, network radio, music and photo streaming, AM/FM tuner, HDMI 1.4, 3D and ARC support It also has an 11.2 channel pre-amp, as well as direct play for iPod/iPhone via USB and simultaneous playback on two HDMI channels. This unit is feature-full. As with the DBP-100, the in/out connections are on the back panel of the unit, adding to its’ keen design style; The Audyssey MultEQ-XT 32 Room EQ makes speaker setup as simple as making tea – the easy to use setup will guide you through the steps. In terms of power, the AVR-A100 is definitely not lacking, with 140 Watts on each channel, the only thing left wanting is more music!

Pairing up these two units, helps us realise why Denon has been around for 100 years. Thanks Denon, you rock!

-Information sourced from: AudioVideo SA - June 2011

Nautilus...Naturally inspired, technologically perfected

2011-06-10T08:56:00.002+02:00

“…Now recognised as a design classic, the original Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus™is not just our flagship product, but the very pinnacle of technological innovation to which all others must aspire. It is the result of a groundbreaking, five year research and development programme to achieve, as near as possible, the perfect loudspeaker. The Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus is recognised worldwide as an outstanding loudspeaker which continues to shape the direction of the audio industry to this day. Much sought after by cognoscenti, it has been unashamedly designed with the serious audiophile in mind, not only because of its size and shape but also because of its active design – the crossover network is positioned between the pre and power amplifiers.

Bowers & Wilkins' search for the best possible quality in production means that we devote a great deal of time and care to specifying materials and components – and then to finding suitable specialists to make them. For the Nautilus™ body we engaged the services of Raceprep, a specialist company which is expert in the formulation of fibre-reinforced composites. Because of its complex shape, Raceprep engineers make the Nautilus™ shell almost entirely by hand, using a resin which has been identified by computer analysis as perfect for its purpose – ensuring maximum strength and durability. The same attention to detail has been applied to the finish for the Nautilus™ shell. Bowers & Wilkins' paint and lacquer system is imported directly from Germany, where it is supplied only to the leading names in the luxury car industry, such as Porsche and Mercedes Benz...”

-Information sources directly from Bowers and Wilkins:

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Home_Audio/Nautilus/Craftsmanship.html

"...Awesome 3D and 2D picture..." Marantz UD7006

2011-06-06T14:10:00.002+02:00

The Marantz UD7006 is the first Bluray disc player that is 3D enabled. “What-Hifi” has given a five-star rating, and they have done so for a good reason. It is one of the very few that have on-board audio decoding. If you have older home theatre amps, adding the UD7006 does not have the compatibility issues that many systems have, the UD7006 comes with a set of eight-channel analogue inputs. This unit is unique for these reasons, the technology that is used is typical of Marantz but without high cost that is generally involved with Marantz products. Another great feature of the UD7006 is the DLNA certificate. This means that you can stream music and photo’s that are stored on a computer on your home network. The audio and visual results are really good, the pictures are texture-rich and crisp and the sound is clear, moreover the UD7006 uses Marantz’ Anchor Bay 2015 VRS chipset, which effectively minimises most of the background noise that one finds on discs. The UD7006 can play most of the digital formats that are used in electronic information storage – using CD’s or DVD’s is no issue for this machine, it plays mp3’s, mp4’s, 2D and of course 3D. Adding a Marantz UD7006 to your home theatre system is a choice worth making.

http://www.soundimage.co.za/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=596

(Information sourced from: What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision (July 2011) reviews the Marantz UD7006)

LS Series: Old meets new.

2011-05-14T00:40:00.006+02:00

Taking their inspiration for the orginal LS series of loudspeaker, JBL has re-invented the speakers – adding in more power, more quality and more style. The LS series is designed specifically for home theatre enthusiasts who enjoy volume and clarity.

What makes these speakers so good is that they combine compression drivers with dynamic drivers. They are designed with a 176ND high-frequency compression driver which uses a 2” pure-titanium diaphragm with a unique shaped diamond-pattern surround. The ultrahigh-frequency driver is a 3/4-inch ring-radiator design incorporating a low-mass polyimide diaphragm, together the sound and control is excellent.

These technological advances filter all the way down to the woofers, each woofer is specifically fitted with PolyPlas™ polymer-coated-cellulose-fiber cone material, ensuring that no depth is lost.

Want to know more? Have a look and come have a listen...

http://www.soundimage.co.za/catalog/index.php?cPath=38&osCsid=35901b56323a291ab9cb86393a477c43

-Information sourced from home theaterreview.com

Denon's World Best: AVR-4311

2011-05-06T11:58:00.003+02:00

Denon's AVR-4311 AVR receiver has been voted at the "World's best" AV-receiver in its’ price range. Although the other competitors for the title were close, the AVR-4311 wow'd the judges more than the rest. Given the audio performance of the Denon, the clear-cut design of the chassis and the variety of features that the receiver offers, winning the contest actually wasn't that difficult. For the price range, the 4311 gives owners all they need for their home-theatre systems, without compromising on style or ability. (http://www.soundimage.co.za/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=537)

(Information sourced from: Denon-SA)

Boston's A26's... Small but explosive

2011-04-18T15:10:00.003+02:00

Many of us have heard the expression “dynamite comes in small packages”. Well Boston Acoustics are the creators behind that dynamite - The A26 bookshelf speakers. Although small, they pack power that is remarkable for their size.

The speakers are 13 inches by 8.25 inches by 10.5 inches, they are light-weight and are nothing like their predecessors from the early 80’s. The Boston boys have learnt a lot of the decades about sound, technology and design. The new remodelled A-series is proof of that. The bass on these little beauties is a good and healthy deep sound, the mid-range is far from tinny and the trebled high-end sounds “real”.

The cross over components – something which is fundamentally important in speaker design, incorporate low-loss film capacitors as well as low-distortion laminated silicon steel cores – for the inductors in all major areas of the speaker system. These cross-overs are a “standard” issue on all of the A-series models, the other standard, with all the A-series’ is the five-way gold plated binding posts.

The A-series, and specifically the A26 bookshelf speakers are definitely a good option for a two-channel system especially when space and money are tight.

(Information sourced from: www.cnet.com: Steve Guttenburg's review on the A-Series)

Denon's AVR 4311... Carries on being awarded.

2011-03-15T10:13:00.002+02:00

Denon’s new flagship AVR may well have all the answers that you are looking for in a home theatre cinema. The 4311 is not merely a repackaged version of its predecessor. It is an all new amplifier totally redesigned internally.

A really impressive feature of this unit is the overall power hike – it gains a massive 455W over the AVR 4310. The AVR 4311 offers an 11.2 channel, completely configurable line-level outputs. The AVR 4311 also has a dedicated “pre-amp” mode which conveniently cuts the signal to all of the onboard power amps, which reduces the current draw and associated distortions – Denon’s AVR 4311 has the ability to act as a heavy-weight processor/ “pre-amp” if the need is there.

Fortunately this unit is more than just power and channels, the features department at Denon has been feverishly working toward implementing HDMi v1.4a – equipped with 3D switching and Audio return channel, Audyssey’s newest Multi EQ-XT 32 room EQ system, Dolby Volume and a huge amount of networking capabilities – both Ethernet and Airplay.

If you are curious about what is happening on the inside, well, the overall design and layout has changed as well, one of the best additions (in comparison to the 4310) is the inclusion of two temperature controlled fans at the bottom of the case. Although this unit has become a “bit of a fatty” – boasting a hefty 17.3kg weight, it still is a unit very much worth considering for a home cinema option.

-Information sourced from Home Cinema Choice, May 2011

Denon's CEOL - T3: It's in the Air...

2011-02-15T02:07:00.005+02:00

So... Denon has officially joined the Airplay party. The Denon’s CEOL network music system effectively consigns the concept of traditional hi-fi to history. Although ‘mini’ in comparison to many of the competitors on the shelves today, the CEOL (pronounced kee-ohl) is ‘transformative’. It is made up of a single-piece RCD-N7 network CD receiver and a set of SC-N7 stand-mount speakers.

The back of the unit happily offers two pairs of substantial binding posts, FM/AM tuner connections, an optical digital audio input and two auxiliary phono stereo inputs and best of all... an Ethernet input too. There is also a nifty little port for a subwoofer, (output). Denon didn’t stop there. The CEOL boasts a centre mounted CD tray and 3-line OLED display. They even opted for a USB reader and on the top is a concealed a docking station for an iPod/iPhone.

The cherry on the top, (even though there are more features than have been mentioned), is the AirPlay capabilities. The CEOL is the first of its hi-fi system kind to support Apple’s wireless replay system. With a simple upgrade you can stream direct from iTunes on your Mac or PC, or via an iPhone 3GS/4, iPad or iPod Touch. AirPlay gives the user the ability to simultaneously stream music to as many as six pairs of speakers.

In a nutshell... Denon’s CEOL Hi-Fi is small, modern looking, great sounding and affordable. It brings together all the great things about single unit systems and throws in technological sophistication without compromising power. (No wonder it scored a Five-star review from T-3: The gadget website).

-Information sourced from T-3: the Gadget website: Posted by Steve May on Thu 3 Feb 2011

Marantz Melody Series: MC-R603

2011-02-11T11:16:00.004+02:00

In the Melody series, Marantz’s MCR603 CD-receiver has out-ranked and outclassed its predecessors. Given a five-star ranking from Stuff magazine if they are so keen on it, it would be crazy not to trust it.

The CD receiver unit on this outside seems pretty standard, in a really sleek silver-gold casing, in usual Marantz class and style. But it is not the outside that makes this machine worth having. The interesting bits and pieces are on the inside.

The M-CR603 functions as an AirPlay client for iPhones, iPods, iPads and the best of all, it does this iTunes library from any computer running iTunes. It is relatively simple to enable this capability, simply download the iOS 4.2 software update from iTunes and you are “wirelessly” set for a music streaming session.

The unit itself has more attitude than an angry biker, with 60 Watts per channel, the Melody Media is more dynamic and versatile than most of its’ competitors. The AirPlay and CD playback, are strong and controlled, the DAB tuner still throws out performance – even in weak reception areas, and the high-quality net radio (192kbps or higher) is also an impressive feature.

The only real downfall is that there is no Wi-Fi built into the unit, it has to be physically connected to the Wi-Fi router – it does kind of defeat the real purpose behind the concept of AirPlay, but in order to use the internet or stream music from DLNA-equipped NAS drives and computers – a router is still very much needed.

If you aren’t very much into the Apple iTunes fad, it isn’t really too much of an issue, all you need is to plug in an optional Bluetooth receiver (RX101) into the M-XPort – place neatly at the back of the unit and stream music from your other devices.

Overall, the unit is powerful, good-looking and gives you the options that many other CD receivers don't. We like it.

Q300's...Space for Sound

2011-02-07T13:00:00.005+02:00

KEF has bought out the all new Q300’s. These speakers are beautifully proportioned in terms of sound and style. Although larger, in all directions than the B&W 685’s, the sound quality is worth it.

These speakers boast a biwire speaker terminal arrangement which is “...brilliant in its simplicity...” (Whathifi.com review: http://www.whathifi.com/Review/KEF-Q300/). The speakers themselves are far more individual than the iQ30 range of standmounters.

As with many of the KEF speaker ranges, give these speakers a “little space” and the quality of sound is very good, and easily a good addition to your home theatre system.

-Information taken from: http://www.whathifi.com/Review/KEF-Q300/

Denon: AVR 1611: A good Choice

2011-01-17T14:39:00.003+02:00

The Denon AVR 1611 boasts 3D compatibility through its four HDMI v.1.4 inputs, it also throws in a few other nifty bits, including: Dolby Pro-Logic IIz, which comfortably expands the soundstage to include the front height channels – of course you need an amp to run the signal to. The Denon AVR 1611 definitely does not compromise on its style with this unit, it is still as sharp, clean and uncluttered as we have all come to expect.

Although the back panel seems sparse upon first glance, it covers all the basics needed for a good home theatre system and fortunately, the speaker terminals are all binding posts. This unit has the ability, unlike some other systems, to decode Dolby TrueHD as well as DTS-HD MA soundtracks; moreover it offers seven DSP modes to bring even more depth to your music as well as movies it even includes a Virtual Surround Mode. Installation is aided by Audyssey’s auto setup mode, as well as a group of technologies, (Multi EQ, Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume). All of these are designed to monitor the sound as soon as it is optimised.

The overall operation is massively simplified by the use of onscreen menus’ – even though the graphics are a bit dated. The AVR-1611’s power rating is quoted as being: 5x110W which really makes it a monster for an entry level product.

(Information sourced from: Home Cinema Choice: March 2011)

Denon AVR 4311: Electronic House Award Winner

2011-01-11T10:35:00.003+02:00

Denon’s award-winning AVR 4311 Receiver has arrived on our shelves! The AVR 4311 is an audio/video receiver, it offers three-zoned, three-sourced capabilities and provides the user with a high-standard A/V distribution in the home environment. This unit is a 9.2 channel that offers a multitude of features. This unit works with Apple iPhones and iPods, in fact it is “works with iPhone” certified. Some of the most standout features include the latest Audyssey MultEQ Room Correction system and Dolby Volume. It can be configured to a variety of home-theatre systems, it has internet capabilities, and it has Windows and Mac media server products available. This unit includes a built in HD radio tuner and is Sirius Satellite Radio Ready. For users who like the Ethernet capability feature, the ability of IP control and digital media streaming is that much more appealing with the AVR 4311. The AVR 4311 has seven HDMI inputs and two parallel HDMI outputs, and features a single front-panel HDMI.

B&W 805D: Style and Power:

2010-09-16T10:29:00.004+02:00

Bowers and Wilkins are synonymous with elegance, class and sound precision. In January 2010 mention was made that the company had made a decision to extend their world class Diamond range, a few months later B&W released a black stallion, the 805D bookshelf speakers.

A true beauty - powerful, strong and awe-inspiring. The design stuck to the classic 800 series construction, with one addition... The Diamond Tweeter, the fundamental element that changes the whole listening experience completely. Hearing the sound is not, "something that sounds nice", on the contrary the tweeter makes the sounds part of the listener, as though it comes from within.

These remarkable speakers incorporate a Kevlar 6.5" mid/woofer, crossing over to the Diamond tweeter and at 4.000Hz, with a frequency response of 49-28.000Hz (+/- 3dB). What is particularly fantastic about the design of the speakers is the sensitivity, with a rating of 88dB, running in conjunction with a crossover that works with both valve amplification and solid-state amplification; it is hard not to integrate these beauties into your system.

The joy of the speaker design; is that it does not embellish or falsify sounds, it gives shear clarity and plays what it is meant to, how it is meant to, in true Bowers and Wilkins style.

Information sourced from:

- Tone Audio: No.31 August 2010; page 141-153; B&W’s Latest Jewel by Jeff Dorgay

- http://www.audioemporium.com/805D_3-2010.html

- http://blog.stereophile.com/ces2010/bw_805_series_diamond_two-way_monitor/

Epson TW3500 Projector

2010-05-11T12:24:00.000+02:00

Conclusions

The Epson EMP-TW-3500 is good value at this end of the market, which a few short years ago was reserved for the very rich and you're getting a 1080 HD projector from the makers of the LCD engine even the diehard DLP brands now use. It's worth putting on your list.

Don't be afraid of buying a TW3500 it's another success from Epson who make LCD engines for many other brands.

Courtesy.Homecinemacentral.co.za

B&W ASW 610 Subwoofer

2010-04-12T10:44:00.000+02:00

As reigning best Buy within its price class, the B&W ASW610 is the target its rivals have to aim for, but as we’ve seen in several tests of late, it’ s a difficult target to hit.

That’s partially because it’s surprisingly small, at just 31cm high – but it’s also because its diminutive form disguises a formidably powerful and terrifically dynamic design, its 200w amplifier controlling the excursions of its 25cm Kevlar/paper drive unit with a martinet’s fervour.

Spin a movie, and depth and drive are never in doubt, the B&W thundering through The Dark Knight with an absolute authority that belies its modest size.

However, most of its rivals can go loud and deep: the ASW610’s edge lies its lethally effective blend of power and poise, muscle and musicality.

It can deliver bass with subtlety and expression, its speed on the attack and its tonal differentiation ensuring Santogold’s L.E.S Artistes fairly zips along.

courtesy: whathifi.com

Click here to go to product page

Lexicon BD 30 Review

2010-04-08T11:23:00.000+02:00

Conclusion
Blu-ray is unquestionably the new standard for video playback. I personally have been wondering when would be the right time to buy a high-end Blu-ray player. Until I spent some time with this Lexicon unit, I was convinced I should wait, but this unit has swayed my belief. Offering every feature available to Blu-ray, a full BD 2.0 spec player, playing any disc you can fit into its drive and making them all sound good, this piece has changed my thinking.

Lexicon worked with the drive makers to customize this unit to their specifications and the quality they added really shows. The exceptional build quality and aesthetics of this piece mean it will look great in a high-end rig, while the sonics speak for themselves. The Lexicon BD-30 is a solid player worthy of a serious home theater, with the build quality and pride of ownership you'd expect for the price. It is the first Blu-ray player I would use as the lone source in a high-end system. Installers will love its RS 232 and IR control options, as well as its speedy load times, while customers will love its silent operation and stunningly good looks. This is a great player, one that anyone sitting on the fence wondering when to dive into a high-end player needs to listen to, or just come over to my place, as I am keeping this one.

Courtesy hometheaterreview.com

Click here to go to product page

Denon AVR 4810 Reviewed

2010-04-07T11:16:00.001+02:00

The Denon AVR-4810CI has the most complete feature set I’ve ever encountered in an A/V receiver, with a learning curve to match—but it’s worth the effort. Its performance is up there with the best. This AVR isn’t just for the com- pletist who wants all of the latest listening modes. It’s for anyone who wants a great-sounding system, whether 5.1, 7.1, or 9.1. That kind of supersizing will never go out of style. For the dedicated surround buff who wants it all, here it is.

Courtesy: bigpicturebigsound.com

Click here to go to product Page

Boston Acoustics XS 5.1 Review

2010-04-06T12:07:00.000+02:00

Final Thoughts

In this economy, it's hard to justify new speakers. However, the SoundWare XS 5.1 system packs a roomful of fun into one small package. There are plenty of other systems out there that are slightly cheaper, but Boston Acoustics' quality is worth the extra money. It still might not be ready to combat the big boys, but good construction and performance make it a nice starter system for any budding movie lover or audiophile.

Courtesy: bigpicturebigsound.com

Denon AVR 2310 Review

2010-03-31T14:03:00.002+02:00

Power output from this seven-channel amp is 105W per channel, which may seem low compared to others, but bigger doesn’t automatically mean better.

The five HDMI inputs and one output are standard fare for this level of machine, as is the 1080p upscaling and built-in decoding of high-definition audio formats.

See all our home cinema amp Best Buys

Inside are two, 32-Bit, 3rd generation SHARC DSP’s (Digital Signal Processors) and picture processing technology provided by Anchor Bay.

The remote control looks a little strange with all the bumps and odd-shaped buttons, but they make it easier to operate, as you quickly remember which bump does which command.

The ‘Source Select’ button allows you to flick between inputs quickly and the amp remembers the most recent sources used.

Immense weight and power
Power up the Denon and you soon realise that this is a real gem. It sounds like a more mature, dynamic and powerful version of its smaller sibling, the £450 AVR-1910.

In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, as Logan tries to evade the helicopter gunship on his motorbike, the chopper’s chain-gun mows through the forest with immense weight and power.

You get a real sense of each tree being torn to shreds. With Pure Direct engaged and all unnecessary processing turned off, the amp sounds rich and smooth without ever suffocating the high frequencies.

The Denon doesn’t provide you with quite the same level of bass weight as the likes of some of its peers, but it’s still ample and the quality is spot on.

But it’s in quieter scenes, where it has to work hard with subtle dynamic shifts, that the Denon earns its stripes.

Once you’ve started a film, the ’2310’s timing and insight make it difficult to stop. It pays as much attention to the emotion of a film’s soundtrack as it does to all the action scenes.

Courtesy: whathifi.com

Yamaha RXV 765 Review

2010-03-24T12:26:00.000+02:00

Conclusion
It's amazing to think that, over a year ago, a receiver packing as much performance as the RX-V765 would've cost you near two grand, if not more. Here we are approaching the fall of 2009, and that same receiver is now $650. That, my friends, is progress. Yamaha has delivered with the RX-V765, for it is a feature-laden receiver that takes full advantage of the latest audio and video trends, sounds amazing and is supremely affordable.

Courtesy: hometheaterreview.com

Click here to go to product page

Yamaha MCR 040

2010-03-01T14:01:00.000+02:00

Great styling designed to seamlessly fit into any room, sound quality that will leave even the most demanding audiophile satisfied!

Click here to go to product page

Boston Acoustics CS26 Bookshelf Speaker

2010-02-15T11:10:00.000+02:00

Conclusion
The CS 26 offers a very appealing combination of sonics, ergonomics, and aesthetics. It can stretch across many types of material, and look good in the process. None of its sonic shortcomings came at the expense of the whole sonic picture, which is critical at any price point. While I didn't find any one aspect of the CS 26 truly extraordinary, I also didn't find anything truly unappealing, either. It sounds good, looks good, and is easy to set up and drive. This is a solid performer.

Courtesy: hometheaterreview.com

Click here to go to product page

Mark Levinson No. 502...... The Best!

2010-02-15T10:51:00.000+02:00

Conclusion
Even their most bitter competitors are saying the Mark Levinson No. 502 is the best AV preamp currently on the market at this time. As high-end companies struggle to get a grip on their own relevance in a market that is being driven by consumer-grade retail powerhouses like Costco and Wal-Mart, Mark Levinson has made a true statement with the 502 AV preamp. Do they need a matching Blu-ray player? Without question, if they want to woo the Patek Philippe-wearing, Marquis jet-flying, non-audiophile demographic. At the same time, can you do any better in making your legacy music collection sound its best while pumping in master-quality sound via HDMI? Not without a Mark Levinson No. 502 in your rig. Even with the most feature-rich Japanese AV preamps costing from $3,500 to $7,000, the sound is unfortunately lean. With the Mark Levinson No. 502, you truly pay for your performance but, without question, you get the best of both the worlds of audio and HD video - right now in your theater. The Mark Levinson No. 502 is the cutting edge of AV preamps.

Courtesy: hometheaterreview.com

Click here to go to product page

Classe SSP 800...Simply Superb

2010-02-15T10:41:00.000+02:00

Conclusion
The Classe SSP 800 is an easy to use, intuitive, audiophile-grade AV preamp that, while not "cheap" by any standard, is a great value when considering the short list of audiophile-grade AV preamps on the market today. Sonics is where the SSP-800 shines the most. My system has never sounded better than with the Classe SSP-800 in the loop. The operation is now rock-solid after we upgraded firmware, changed out a few cables and dealt with a number of non-Classe issues during installation. The video pass-through is flawless, without any signs of coloration. The internal DACs are excellent, with an overall sonic performance that is worth every penny. You can get more features for less money in other AV preamps. What you can't get is this level of industrial design, system control and overall sound. The Classe SSP-800 is an audiophile winner, with home theater skills that can keep up with the most sophisticated AV systems anywhere in the world. Consider the Classe SSP-800 AV preamp a true breakthrough high-end AV product. I consider it a keeper, as I am going to write the check and make the Classe SSP-800 my new reference AV preamp.

Courtesy: hometheaterreview.com

Click here to go to product page

Rotel RSP 1570 Review

2010-02-09T13:12:00.000+02:00

Conclusion

The overall design of the RSP-1570 is very refined and sharp, while the bulk and weight of the unit is very compact. The silver buttons laid out on the metal paneling of the component serve as an aesthetically pleasing element of the design, while also serving as a functional way to change from one audio source to another. For the amount of surround sound modes that you get with the RSP-1570, the retail price is a reasonable one for the home theater purist. The integration between the Rotel and the attached B&W CM9’s were flawless for this demonstration, which means that any consumer who wants to experience the full sonic impact his own high-end speakers should consider purchasing the RSP-1570.

Courtesy: avrev.com

Click her to go to product page

Yamaha RXV 1065 Review

2010-02-09T13:05:00.000+02:00

The Yamaha RX-V1065 is notable for its originality, which is something I don’t often say about an A/V receiver. If Yamaha wants its proprietary listening modes to have continued relevance, it will have to extend them to signals with higher sampling rates. But the dynamic range controls (both of them) do wonders for action movies. And the improved GUI makes the receiver a pleasure to use once you’ve gotten to know it. The Yamaha dynasty continues to produce some of the industry’s most thoughtfully designed and intriguing receivers.

Courtesy: avrev.com

Click here to go to page

Bowers and Wilkins 803S Review

2010-02-09T12:40:00.000+02:00

Conclusion

The B&W 803S loudspeakers have a compelling and inviting vibrant sound that certainly accentuates any audio system’s dynamic range with its ability to compress mid-range musical notes and low-end bass sounds with a high degree of precision and clarity. The price tag that comes with buying a pair of these speakers for your own audio system is a fair price for the consumer who wants to upgrade to the big leagues when it comes to audio components, yet still wants to have some money left over to pay the mortgage. So if you are looking for speakers that not only can handle all the power that your mono amplifier or integrated amplifier can output, but can really enhance every CD in your music collection, you should really look into purchasing a pair of these immaculate speakers post haste.

Courtesy: avrev.com

Click here to go to product page

Marantz NR1501

2010-02-08T14:25:00.000+02:00

Full featured, tons of inputs, and slim design all with the quality Marantz is known for? The NR1501 is really a no brainer for the the fledgling Audioholic that is working within the constraints of an existing piece of furniture or a spouse's decor. It is also perfect for the consumer that things small equates to high tech and doesn't mind spending a little extra. But that little extra nets you a receiver that is unlikely to run out of inputs as your system grows and isn't going to hiccup as you upgrade your speakers. In this case, a little extra nets you a lot of gain.

Courtesy: Audioholics.com

Clich here to go to product page

Rotel Hard Hitting HiFi

2010-02-05T12:47:00.000+02:00

Rotel RCD-1520 CD player,
RC-1580 preamplifier and
RB-1582 power amp

Rotel fleshes out its mainstream 15 series with
new stereo components

Summary:

...In most cases it is convincing, even the forward-sounding balance
had a positive effect by helping the system sound punchy and dynamic.
But it's the CD player that impresses us most of all. It still has a trace
of what was sounding suspiciously like the Rotel 'house sound'. It is a
little forward in balance, though only a little, but it is also surprisingly
sweet and open-sounding.

Image depth is impressive and lateral soundstaging is expansive. It
'breathes' in a way that contrasts favourably with other similarly priced
players. We also discovered that the Rotel player copes surprisingly
well with marked and damaged discs. It seems that a slot-loader
doesn't have to compromise usability, which is an obvious danger,
though it is worth practicing handling dics carefully to avoid getting
finger marks over the surface...

...Overall, the combination is tonally on the lightweight side of neutral
and there's a hint of untidiness, yet the presentation is also dynamic,
colourful and vivid.
Hi-Fi Choice issue 323, reviewed by Alvin Gold

Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Review

2010-02-05T10:42:00.000+02:00

Conclusion

The Zeppelin raises the bar for sound quality of iPod speaker docks. Its’ powerful enough to fill a large room with rich detailed sound and refined enough to make musical listening pleasurable at any volume level. If you are looking for the portability of an all in one active speaker system for your vast iPod library, combined with high quality sound, you'd be hard pressed to do better than Bowers and Wilkins' Zeppelin iPod amplified speaker dock system.

Courtesy: hometheaterhifi.com

Click here to go to product page

Rotel RA 1520 Intergrated Stereo Amp

2010-02-03T10:17:00.000+02:00

Conclusion
The Rotel RA-1520 is a sonically dynamic integrated amplifier and the sound quality that this amplifier disperses speaks volumes about Rotel's dedication in designing high-quality audio components year after year. This amplifier breathes new life into audio formats that most critics have long ago left for dead, such as the audiocassette and the phonograph. With it's innate ability to process analog audio signals into something resembling the crisper quality of digital signatures, the RA-1520 should be looked at as the wave of the future when it comes to integrated amplifier design technology.

Courtesy: Hometheaterreview.com

Yamaha RXV 2065 Reciever

2010-01-27T09:46:00.000+02:00

The Yamaha RX-V2065 has a lot of bang for the buck. All the receivers currently on the market with network capability have higher price tags. Add to that the years of manufacturing that Yamaha has under their belt and you've got a lot to get excited about. What's really interesting is what Yamaha will offer next. The RX-V2065 may not be the last '65 model out of the AV giant, or they may indeed wait to further beef up the line again with the subsequent '66 series. We just don't know what will be in the next step up from here.

Courtesy: Audioholics.com

Click here to go to product page

Boston Acoustics Review

2010-01-25T13:58:00.000+02:00

Reflection Series unerringly does just about
everything right...

...at this price, you couldn't get better value
for your money...

Home Theatre Magazine
February 2010

Click Here To Go To Product Page

Marantz MM 8003 Reviewed

2010-01-22T11:25:00.000+02:00

Conclusion
Like the recently reviewed AV8003, the MM8003 provides great bang-for the-buck. Like the last Marantz amplifiers I had the pleasure of listening to, the MA500 mono-blocks (discontinued for several years), the MM8003 continues the tradition of musicality and value. This amplifier may not be the end all when if comes to microdynamics (although detail is extremely good) or iron fisted bass at full volume, within its limits it performs extremely well and its limits should be broad enough to encompass most systems.

What draws me most to this amplifier is its sense of involvement, it has a good sense of rhythm and pace while remaining neutral, reproducing vocals and instruments in an organic, non-mechanical way. I never confused it for a tubed amplifier but it didn’t exhibit any of the pitfalls of solid state amplifiers usually found at this price point. The Marantz performed well with stereo sources and was outstanding on multi-channel material. No matter how hectic the soundtrack got, each channel was reproduced without compromise in performance. I have no reservations recommending this amplifier for theater systems in small to moderately sized rooms (or larger rooms with 5.1 systems that have bi-ampable front speakers.

Click here to go direct to review

Denon AVR 4310 Review

2010-01-20T11:00:00.000+02:00

...Powerful though it is, the sound is imbued with the smoothness and refinement that characterises
Denon amps... To anyone thinking that Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz are just gimmicks that add nothing to the home cinema experience, we urge you to give them a try – you’ll never look at (or listen to) home cinema ound in the same way again. Both modes are at their best with hi-res Blu-ray movie tracks, and although clichéd, Pro Logic IIz and DSX Height create an immense wall of sound that increases the sense of scale
and plunges you deeper into the scene. It feels like the towering monsters and struts of the Golden Gate bridge are looming right over you.

DSX’s Width mode has similarly striking effects, bulking out the front soundstage to give movie tracks extra dynamism and expansiveness. The sound is more solid and full-bodied, but at no stage do you lose the crucial sense of separation and placement.

Rounding off this exceptional performance is superbly articulated dialogue and colossal bass output, and music lovers will be delighted with how the Denon handles their beloved tunes. It’s nimble and rhythmic, detailed and warm – a truly intoxicating sound.

The AVR-4310 is unquestionably a great AV receiver, tastefully designed, bursting with features and able to spin movie soundtracks into sonic gold. The brilliance of both Audyssey DSX and Pro Logic IIz takes its performance to the next plateau and musically it’s out of this world....

For the full review, see link below

AVR 4310

Yamaha RXV 3900 Review

2010-01-13T11:40:00.000+02:00

Considering what today’s receivers routinely deliver, or even less, some people may raise an eyebrow at a R29990.00 model like this one. But the Yamaha RX-V3900 A/V receiver makes a superbly strong case, with beefy and musically reliable sound, coupled with a bevy of music-connectivity features that really reflect the way music lovers listen now—via PC, Internet, portable devices, and for the rapidly growing class of young analog listeners, a moving-magnet phono stage. By spanning the generations, this receiver should make a whole house full of disperate people incredibly happy.

*Click here to go to product page*

B&W CM 9 Package

2010-01-12T12:29:00.001+02:00

Some home theater speaker packages strive for maximum output at the expense of naturalness. Others add a biting edge to everything for excitement that’s not in the program material. They produce boom instead of bass, or they sacrifice natural music reproduction on the altar of overhyped, explosive sound effects.
None of these things describe this B&W system. The key word for the CM9 Theatre is balance. It’s not the highest-end system B&W makes—otherwise why would there be the 800 Series? But it does offer a balance of strengths on both music and movies, at a price that isn’t outrageous. And it’s a pleasure to live with over the long haul.

Courtsey Home Theatre Mag .com

D-Box..... You'll be moved!

2010-01-07T12:00:00.000+02:00

Home Theatre was always about seeing and feeling, add the sense of motion and you're taken to a whole new level of sensory experience. Feel the ebb of the ocean, the speed of a car chase and every blow by blow.

The all new D-Box Motion Simulator, exclusively available to Sound and Image Menlyn for you to experience.

Over 7000 Blu Ray and Dvd's are already D-Box Ready!

Home Theatre will never be the same once youve experienced D-Box Motion Coding.

Take my word for it, this is a treat for the senses!

Marantz BD 5004 Blu Ray Player

2010-01-07T10:33:00.001+02:00

Marantz's 2009 Blu-ray line up includes four new models: two lower-priced players (the BD5004 and BD7004) and two high-end, reference models (the BD8004 and UD9004 universal disc player). The BD5004 is Marantz's least expensive Blu-ray model to date. We have not performed a hands-on review of the BD5004, but here is an overview of the player's features. This Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player supports Bonus View/picture-in-picture playback and BD-Live Web functionality, and it offers both onboard decoding and bit stream output of Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio. The BD5004 does not support any type of video-on-demand streaming or download service, such as those offered by Netflix, Amazon, and CinemaNow.

In terms of video connections, the BD5004 offers HDMI, component video and composite video outputs (no S-video). This player supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions via HDMI, and it has a Source Direct mode that allows it to output all discs at their native resolution. The menu includes a solid assortment of picture adjustments: contrast, brightness, sharpness, gamma correction, colour, black level, and noise reduction.

Audio outputs include HDMI, coaxial digital (no optical), and stereo analog. As I mentioned, the BD5004 has onboard Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. The player lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so the only way to pass decoded high-resolution audio formats is via HDMI. The setup menu allows you to adjust speaker size, level, and delay for LPCM output over HDMI. For those who also plan to use this device as a music player, the BD5004 features a Pure Direct mode that shuts down unneeded video circuitry to achieve higher-quality audio performance.

The BD5004's disc drive supports the following formats: BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, JPEG, MP3, WMA, and Divx. The back panel features an Ethernet port for BD-Live Web features, as well as quick firmware updates. The player doesn't include a wireless network connection option. The BD5004 lacks internal memory, so the addition of an external storage device is required to download BD-Live features; an SD card slot is provided for this purpose. The front-panel SD card slot also supports playback of AVCHD, JPEG, MP3, and WMA files. Finally, the BD5004 sports IR in/out ports for integration with an advanced control system.

The step-up BD7004 adds Anchor Bay's VRS video processing chip, with a more comprehensive set of picture adjustments, as well as a higher-quality 12-bit/297-MHz video DAC, multichannel analog audio outputs, and an RS-232 port.

High Points
• The BD5004 supports 1080p/24 playback of Blu-ray discs.
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI.
• It supports BD-Live Web content and can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
• This player offers a Source Direct mode to output all discs at their native resolution via HDMI.
• The SD card slot allows for easy playback of digital movies, music, and photos.
• IR in/out ports are provided.

Low Points
• The BD5004 lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so it's not the best choice for someone who owns an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver.
• This player does not support any type of video-on-demand or music streaming, nor does it feature a wireless option for connection to your home network.
• The player lacks internal memory, and Marantz does not supply an SD card for storage of downloadable BD-Live content.

Conclusion
The BD5004 has the Blu-ray essentials--like BD-Live support, 1080p/24 output, and onboard high-resolution audio decoding--but you can find less-expensive models that add multichannel analog audio outputs, video-on-demand, and wireless network connectivity. This Marantz product has better build quality than you'll find in many budget models, and the company puts a greater emphasis on analog audio quality, for those who also wish to use their Blu-ray player for music playback.

Boston VS336

2009-10-22T02:21:00.000+02:00

In the early days of his home theatre experience, this reviewer had owned and enjoyed one of Boston Acoustics’ monster speakers, the Lynnfield VR10. And a stunningly good speaker that hefty four-way driver of Herculean proportions turned out to be.

Boston’s flagship speaker is the VS 336, a generously proportioned and attractive three-way design employing no fewer than five drivers. Recommended for use with amplifiers as powerful as 400wpc, the 8-Ohm VS 336 has a sensitivity of 87dB. A good 100-watt high-current integrated amplifier would make a great partner for them; fewer watts would be okay but the high power rating of the VS 336 suggests more is better.

Three 165mm bass drivers, a 114mm midrange and an unusual 25mm ‘dimpled’ tweeter adorn the mirror-finish black piano gloss front baffle, while the five-way binding posts on the rear panel of each curved enclosure are heavy-duty items. Each heavily braced cabinet is constructed using layers of different wood material, reducing the chance of cabinet resonance. To further enhance sound quality and increase the stability of the slender VS 336s, a spiked outrigger bar is connected to the rear, which broadens the footprint and couples the speaker to the floor.

Powered by Bryston electronics, the VS 336s proved to be worth more than the sum of their well-constructed parts. The title track from Antonio Forcione’s Touch Wood album is chock full of plucked acoustic guitar, and the VS 336s gave a pacy rendition with nimble bass and nice soundstaging.
Complex musical passages were unravelled by the 336s — it was easy to follow individual musicians when concentrating, but this didn’t detract from a nicely integrated and cohesive sound when listening to the band.

‘Inertia Creeps’ and ‘Dissolved Girl’ from Massive Attack’s Mezzanine CD were excellent via the VS 336s, a nicely extended yet articulate bass underpinning an involving and detailed yet suitably moody sound. It was excellent stuff, and I had the feeling I was listening to speakers worth more than the asking price of the big Bostons.

The VS 336s were most impressive, and they would be quite capable in a big-ticket hi-fi with their superior music making and pacy sound, let alone their striking appearance. (GARY PEARCE)