Electronics Gadget Reviews

Yamaha RX V863BL 735 Watt 7 1 Channel Home Theater Receiver

105 watts x 7 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.06% THD * Dolby?True HD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby?Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby?Digital EX, DTS-ES, Pro Logic?IIx, and DTS Neo:6 decoding * improved YPAO sound optimization for more precise automatic speaker setup (microphone included) * SIRIUS satellite radio capable (requires SIRIUS subscription and optional SiriusConnect home tuner kit) * iPod integration (requires optional Yamaha YDS-11) * dual-room/dual-source audio (powered and line-level stereo audio output for 2nd room) *

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great bang for the buck
I bought this along with the Yamaha 3900. I put the 3900 in my family room and the 863 in the bedroom. Personally, I like the 863 better.

Just as some background, I have a Sony 550 Blu Ray and a Directv HD receiver hooked up to it. It has outputs to a 5.1 speaker system in Zone 1 and a simple 2 speaker system in Zone 2 (in our bathroom so we can listen to the radio in the morning). Video is thru a Samsung 7 series 52″ LCD TV.

Great sound. The upscaling of DVDs is tremendous. It can turn a DVD into (almost) a Blu Ray. Easily does 2 zones. It has 3 HDMI inputs and 1 output. Can handle 2 subs. If you don’t do HDMI, has tons of other inputs which can easily be seen on the pictures. It also has all the capabilities of more expensive receivers. HD Radio, Sirius, XM, ipod dock and all the acronyms.

So, why would you pay more (for the 3900 for example)? The 3900 is a network receiver, which the 863 is not. The 3900 has 4 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs (vs 3/1 for the 863). The 3900 is a little more powerful (140W/channel vs 105 for the 863).

However, after buying both, I wish I had just bought 2 863s. In fact for the cost of the 3900, I could have.

Great receiver. Great price. Incredible value.

4 Stars Yamaha RX-V863 Review
I have been using this receiver for the past three weeks, and although it takes some time to properly customise at the end I am very impress with the sound Quality and overall performance of this unit

4 Stars Nice Receiver
This is my 3rd Yamaha receiver I like to up grade. This one has the hd radio and hdmi hook ups that my old one didn’t. I do wish they would have impoved the remote control. I like my old one better with the lcd screen on it.

4 Stars Formerly owned the venerable RXV-659…
Got this receiver when I got the Panasonic Blu-ray player. Easy setup, many soundfields, a few changes from the RXV-659. I really wanted this unit for its analog video upconversion and ability to perform lossless PCM and the upgraded Dolby and DTS audio from Blu-rays.

Only gripe: relatively expensive, although I got mine (new in box!)from a clearance sale.

I’ve always enjoyed listening to music on Yamaha receivers, and with this unit’s ability to play my DVD-Audio discs, I am pretty pleased.

4 Stars Yamaha RX-V863
I’ve been a long time Onkyo listener. I went with Yamaha this time for it’s price and loyal customers. Plus I heard the competing Onkyo unit had a video issue in 1080P. I am very pleased with the Yamaha, it delivers very clean sound, plenty of HDMI hook ups, and an easy to set up interface. Prior Onkyo users will not like the rear hookups for anything other than HDMI. They are split up by type of input unlike the Onkyo where you could define what input the different video modes used. This somewhat constrains you in hooking up VCR’s, Wii’s, Ipod (without the onkyo dock). Overall though this is a great unit and I recommend it to anyone.

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Sony BDVIS1000 5 1Ch Blu ray Disc DVD Home Theater System

Fusing full 1080p high definition with Blu-ray Disc performance and S-AIR wireless technology, the BDV-IS1000 is ultimate choice in home theater systems. In addition to a great picture and BD-Live capability, this home theater system delivers amazing sound from one subwoofer and five golf ball-sized speakers. With Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD sound formats and dual HDMI inputs, you will experience astounding HD video and audio performance. Clear the clutter and enjoy wireless rear surround sound as well as music in multi-rooms. You can also expand your listening options via the digital media port input and enjoy music stored on select Walkman and iPod MP3 players, PCs and Bluetooth devices. This home theater system is equipped with automatic calibration for fast and easy room set-up.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars S-Air works— Tinfoil- Sounds good, small footprint-
I bought one elsewhere and it works great for the price and the included Blu-ray player. Not Top of line but over all a good box for normal people with modern inputs.

For those who are having S-Air problem. (It is not Broken, its your enviornment)

1. HDMI cable causes interference, route away from S-air card and Wrap in tinfoil.

2. Turn off Wireless, WII, Home,etc due to interference.

3. Sync S-Air plugged in next to reciever. You can unplug the S-Air Rear Receiver after it is synced up when i moved it to the back of the room, plug it in and it still should keep its Wl-Partner.

One i got the S-air to link it has been stable for over a month.

1 Star Buyer Beware
I have been buying Sony products for 40 years and this is my first disappointment, although it may turn out OK. I bought this system because the DVD player seemed to rate very highly (one glitch with Warner Brothers DVDs noted in another review but that is all), when compared to other models and brands, including less expensive ones from Sony, and the extra cost for the speakers seemed to make sense. Most of the setup was easy, but at the end I had the same paring problem for the rear speakers that lots of people have noted. The quality of the sound on the front four speakers seems to be quite good. On my second call to Sony, which lasted about 45 minutes, they finally agreed to send me the part after trying to get me to try the paring routine again, which I was not willing to do. The arrival of this part should take care of things. I am not willing to keep the set without that part no matter what, because the problem seems to recur without the signal booster. I don’t have it yet. We’ll see.

Post script: I got the extra part (signal booster) after way too much follow up time, and it worked like a charm. On another front, in the manual it says you can upgrade to 7.1 system by buying an extra receiver and two remote speakers. I tried to do that by calling Sony parts (I had the part numbers) and customer service and tech support, and no one had any idea what I was trying to do and there was no way to get it done. So, there is a lack of coordination at Sony between what their manuals say and what is communicated to their people. I would rate this product a 5 if they included parts to make it work right and had their act together on responding to what the manual says, but they now get a 3. Also, the price is really coming down – I paid close to $700. If you can get past the one or two glitches it is worth it. For a company like Sony, though, this shouldn’t happen.

5 Stars All in One Theater without wires
Works great – once you set it up – out of the box settings will do the trick. Very full sound for such tiny speakers, with just a touch of directionality from the mid-range in the subwoofer. Most important, use high quality HDMI cable (Version 1.3b Cat 2), if not, the interference will prevent the wireless from acquiring – also helps to wrap the HDMI and calibration mike connector in tinfoil.

The Bravia Sync is a little finicky – you’ll need to play around a bit to get the Sony TV and BDV to react to the remotes the way you want.

Won’t process 5.1 broadcast sound, though I’m putting free cable to the TV and optical from the TV to the BDV. Cable/Sat box might be able to pass full 5.1 sound to the BDV.

Great Overall Value – highly recommended.

4 Stars VERY GOOD SYSTEM!
Before buying this system, I had read all the reviews and still had decided to go for it. I have liked Sony for some time now, and think they put out great products. When I got all the components out of the box it looked quite intimidating to put the system together. The main unit is gigantic – don’t be fooled – it really is the biggest thing I have ever seen. On the other hand it is also the most beautiful piece of equipment I now own. After about 45 minutes of hooking everything up, it was finally time to sync up the wireless rear unit to the main unit. I was getting very nervous as everybody said how much trouble they had with it. First try – nothing. Second try – nothing. I turned off all the wireless devices that I had around and had the units next to each other — still nothing. I restarted the whole thing — still nothing. Beautiful sound from the three front speakers but nothing in the back. I called Sony to tell them that I was clueless as to what to do next and they just reiterated everything I had already done. No help! I hung up. I had bought a cheap HDMI cable from Amazon and thought maybe that was it. I finally switched that cable with the one Microsoft supplies with the Xbox Elite and voila —- works fine. The wireless rear speakers synched in 10 seconds and have never since lost connection. So people — it really is the HDMI cable. You have to have a decent quality shielded cable when using this system.

I’ve had this system for about a month now and I love it. Everything sounds amazing. Blu-Ray works great. 5.1 surround sound is really cool. Get this system. You won’t be sorry!!!

5 Stars Happy with Sony BDVIS1000
Bought the Sony BDVIS1000 for a good price on Amazon. Ordered it along with a new Samsung LCD TV. Everything arrived on-time, undamaged and all works well together in house family room.

Thanks a bunch,

Mehrdad

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Onkyo HT S5200 7 1 Channel Home Entertainment Receiver Speaker Package with Dock for the iPod Black

If you want an idea of where Onkyo’s home theater packages are heading, the HT-S5200 is well worth checking out. Like previous Onkyo 7.1-channel receiver/speaker packages, the HT-S5200 delivers reassuringly hefty amounts of power and all-round performance. And in line with other recent offerings, it’s also perfectly suited for high-definition entertainment in the home: 1080p video takes center stage from sources such as Blu-ray Disc, DVD, HD broadcasting, and gaming. The emphasis is still on Onkyo’s audio prowess, so the HT-S5200 is equipped with three groundbreaking Audyssey technologies that will give you the edge in terms of surround sound. It also features some exciting innovations from Onkyo: a dedicated port that connects the iPod via the Dock for the iPod and DSP modes specifically designed for gaming. Includes dedicated RI iPod dock (UP-A1L) Audyssey 2EQ to Correct Room Acoustic Problems DOLBY Decoder – PLIIx, DD, DD-EX; DTS Decoder – DTS, ES, NEO6, 96/24 AM/FM 30 stations Preset Memory SIRIUS Radio Ready 4 Digital Inputs (2 Optical/ 2 Coaxial) 4 HDMI Inputs and 1 HDMI Output 6 Audio Inputs and 2 Audio Outputs 2 Components Input and 1 Component Output Front-Panel Portable input (stereo mini jack) Front – 2-way, bass reflex speakers (5 cone woofer and 1 balanced-dome tweeter) Center – 2-way, bass reflex speakers (3 1/4 cone woofer and 1 balanced-dome tweeter) Surround/Surround Back – Full-range, acoustic-suspension (3 cone) Woofer – Bass reflex (10 cone) Front Speaker – Dimensions – 6 1/8 W x 14 5/8 H x 7 13/16 D; Weight – 6.4 lbs. Center Speaker – Dimensions – 17 3/16 W x 4 1/8 H x 5 3/16 D; Weight – 5.7 lbs. Surround/ Surround Back – Dimensions – 5 5/16 W x 10 11/16 H x 3 3/4 D; Weight – 2.86 lbs. Subwoofer – Dimensions – 11 1/8 W x 19 5/8 H x 15 11/16 D; Weight – 25.4 lbs.

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Panasonic VIERA G10 Series TC P46G10 46 Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV

If you demand the best from your viewing experience, the new Panasonic TCP46G10 Plasma HDTVs is created just for you. They boast cinema-quality movie reproduction, clear, smooth sports and gaming action – even Web entertainment. All made possible by our Neo PDP technology, which delivers sharp, detailed images, deep blacks and remarkable brightness, and all with lower power consumption. With our VIERA CAST technology, you can enjoy online content like Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube videos, Picasa Web Albums, stock information, weather and more. All through an easy-to-use Web interface that’s built right into the TV. No extra equipment required – just surf with your TVs remote, and let the fun begin! G10 Series Plasma HDTVs meet the high standards set by the Lucasfilm THX Certified Display Program, to faithfully recreate the visual ambience intended by the original movies creators. If you love movies and demand cinema-quality images in your home, this is the HDTV for you. VIERA Image Viewer provides a better way to share your digital photos and home videos recorded on your AVCHD camcorder. Just pop your SD memory card into the handy slot, and instantly display your digital photos and hi-def videos for friends and family. VIERA CAST – Exciting web content. No PC required! THX Certified Display – Movie images as the movie creators’ intended them VIERA Image Viewer with AVCHD Playback – Makes photo sharing easy VIERA Link AR (Anti-Reflective) Filter 24p Playback(2 – 3) Deep Color Game Mode 3 HDMI Inputs PC Input 100,000 Hour Panel Life Dimensions (H x W x D) – 30.2 x 44.6 x 15.8 with stand; 28.5 x 44.6 x 4.2 without stand Weight (lbs.) – 68.4 lbs. with stand; 64.0 lbs. without stand

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Awesome, so far!
First of all, if you’re considering buying this monitor, buy it through Amazon. Great price. Free delivery. They set it up for you (White glove delivery included). Secondly, inspect it before you sign the delivery paperwork. No one is perfect. The delivery company that Amazon uses to deliver their HDTV monitors is very good in my limited experience (three HDTV purchases online.) Now, this Panasonic monitor itself delivers amazing picture quality. The THX mode is best for watching movies right out of the box. Yes, it can be calibrated in the custom mode, and believe it or not, the picture can be even better. For the price, this model can’t be beat. If you’re still not sure, go to CNET and read their professional review of this model or visit a forum like AVS. By the way, some people are reporting a loud buzzing sound in some of the units they purchased. I, however, am happy to report that no such problem exists with my unit.

5 Stars Panasonic G10–Excellent Picture Quality and Price Combination
This is based on my experience with the TC-P50G10, which is identical to P46 but with a larger screen. I bought it three weeks ago, and am very happy with it. I did a lot of research and tried out a number of TVs before settling down on this one, so I thought I would share some of the information and my experience with the TV, and hopefully make your decision in choosing the TV a bit easier.

First thing first. According to my research, the Panasonic G10 probably has the best picture quality among all TVs in mass production as of the time of this review (May, 2009). Most importantly it has pitch dark black level, scorching brightness, high color accuracy, and good motion processing.

I chose the Panasonic plasma over Sony and Samsung LCD for a few reasons. (1) Compared to 120Hz LCDs, Panasonic is significantly cheaper than Sony and Samsung. (2) I think the G10 is better in handling motion than the 120HZ LCDs. (3) The colors on the plasma are more appealing to me than those on the LCDs. (4) It has superior viewing angle. It looks perfect from any angle you will actually watch the TV without washing out the color, prserving the quality of the color.

The third point on color appeal is subjective and calls for description of subjective experience. There are lots of technical comparison of the colors on different displays on the internet, but my perceptual experience is that the colors on the panasonic plasma is very vibrant, punchy, tantalizing, and mesmerizing. The colors look like things in real life, but they are more intense than real life. A friend said “it’s prettier than real, but not distorted. It is just like an enhanced colorful world.” If you prefer high fedelity to real life colors, you can use the THX mode to tune it down to be very faithful to studio color measures. LCD in comparison is also very vibrant, but it doesn’t look as realistic. It’s more like computer graphics and less like colors of living things. Technically, this may have to do with the deeper black level on the plasma than the LCD.

Before the G10, I had the Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ80U 46-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV. Both TVs have very appealing colors, but I returned the PZ80U and got the G10 because the G10 has a number of important improvements over the PZ80U: it has a brighter plasma display, has a VGA PC input, lower energy consumption, and more accurate color. Also, its frame is more compact, so I can fit a 50″ G10 into the space that would only hold a 46″ PZ80U. In fact, the G10 is brighter and more contrasty than last year’s top model Panasonic TH-50PZ850U 50-inch Viera 1080p Plasma HDTV.

What else do I like about the TV? It is very bright for a Plasam TV. According to tech specs and online reviews, it is the bightest plasma ever made. In Custom Mode, it is more than bright enough to watch in my room with direct sun light (sun light in the room not on the TV). In Vivid Mode, “you should prepare to put on your ski googles”. In fact, it’s too bright and overly constrasty and saturated for regular viewing. However, it is quite useful in displaying low resolution and low quality online video such as YouTube or Netflix Instant Watch. The extra boost in brightness, contrast, and saturation make the low quality online video look much more appealing and lively.

VieraCast is kinda cool. Not a deal maker but certainly not a drawback. I used third party firmware DD-WRT to set up a Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router as a wireless bridge. So the TV can get online without running a cable to my main router.

I find this TV fits my needs perfectly. But no TV is perfect, at least not for the technically savvy.

So here are the cons:

(1) The sound is mediocre. It is fine to watch a TV show, but lackluster to watch a good movie or music show.

(1.2) True Cinema 24-frame mode flickering is perceptually disturbing because the refresh rate is set to 48 Hz in the mode. It is a pitty because motion does look much more life like and less video like in True-Cinema mode. Wish the TV could run at 72 Hz.

(2) The VGA input for PC does not support 1080 HD. It only supports up to 1280×768. Panny should not cut corner here. Although this problem doesn’t really matter for video contents because most computer video resolution is less than 1280×768. And the pixel interpolation effect on the Plasma is more like a CRT and less like an LCD. So the set is reasonably good at displaying contents with resolution lower than its native res.

(3) VieraCast needs improvement. The content is still limited. The search function of Youtube on VieraCast is not as easy to use as on a computer. The Amazon video on demand price is way too high (but this is not really Panny’s problem). I would kill for a firmware upgrade that enables Netflix streaming.

(4) The remote is not as well laid out as the one on PZ80. The 3 big buttons above the directional keys are occupied by the rarely used VieraLink, VieraCast and VieraTool. The commonly used Menu key is moved to a small key. Totally wrong choice of ergonomics.

(5) VGA PC input is paired with RCA audio input. I wish it is a 3.5mm (1/8 “) mini jack instead, which will allow a single cable cable integrating VGA video and mini jack audio. Now I have to use two cables.

(6) The stand does not swivel.

Regardless of the above drawbacks, overall I find this TV to have the best picture quality and price combination. The pros by far outweigh the cons. The picture quality of this TV is truly amazing, as such some calls it “The New King of Plasma.” Anyone seriously considering an HDTV should take a look at this one, now that the Pioneer Kuro exited the market.

I highly recommend it.

5 Stars Great picture, good sound, great value!
I’ve had the TV for a few weeks to evaluate it before writing a review and I can say that overall I’m very happy. Normally on a purchase like this I would tend to have some kind of buyer’s remorse but so far I haven’t.

The picture is great but as others have said, a bit dim on Standard. I’ve been using a customized Game setting for regular viewing which brightens things up a bit. The THX setting with Blu-Ray is great in a darkened room. I’m still playing with the picture settings, and while the experts seem to think there aren’t enough to ‘perfect’ the picture quality I think there seem to be more than enough to adjust the TV to your preference.

The sound is very good considering it has downward facing speakers. I’ve listened to other TVs with that configuration that sound downright terrible; the Panasonic is way better. For watching regular TV, sports, etc. where you don’t want to turn on the whole surround system, you will be very happy with the sound quality. My wife, who hates turning on more than one gizmo to watch and listen to TV, is very happy she can just use one remote.

A complaint that I have is some of the labels aren’t very intuitive. For instance, if you want full 1920×1080 you have to select Size 2 to get no overscan. Why not just say 1920×1080 or 100%? There should be better explanations for the various choices. Another complaint is that the optical audio out only sends a 5.1 signal for the TV setting (over the air/cable settings); for all other devices it sends a digital stereo signal. I was hoping to eliminate some cables but alas the optical out doesn’t make that happen. Panasonic confirmed that this is the case and there is no plan to change it.

The VieraCast is a very interesting function albeit a little slow. I have my TV connected via an ethernet bridge and it’s been fun toying with YouTube videos on the screen. Amazon on Demand is also available but I haven’t used that function yet. Rumor has it that Netflix on demand will be coming soon and that would be a great option.

Even with the complaints I have this is a great TV. The picture is great, the sound is very good, and the price was right. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new TV.

5 Stars Great deep color
I bought this 46 inch Plasma 4 days ago and it is amazing. The colors are vivid and the blacks are deep. The THX is dim but I use the other settings, custom , standard or vivid. Outstanding deep colors that are hard to believe. I own a rear projection JVC DILA which still has a good picture as long as you replace the bulbs and also a Samsung 32 inch LCD HD for the bedroom which is good. But this plasma picture is better by far.

5 Stars king kong super tv
this tv is awesome!we shopped around and researched for 6 months at least and this one has it all.it’s got a really beautiful picture,a great price too.we got way more tv for our money shopping amazon then our local big box electronic store. we ordered on a wednesday it was delivered on monday no problems.we opened it up,plugged it in and haven’t moved since.awesome picture,i used to read at nights, not any more.

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Onkyo HT S3200 5 1 Channel Home Entertainment Receiver Speaker Package

Progress is constant with Onkyo packaged home theater. That’s just what you’ll find with the HT-S3200 5.1-channel receiver/speaker package, which offers more breakthrough technology than ever before at the entry level. With HDMI pass-thru for high-definition video, this is a convenient solution that allows you to enjoy Blu-ray Disc, DVD, broadcast, and gaming sources. You can partner this package with whichever display suits your budget and achieve truly performance-driven home theater. Enjoy the benefits of tailored audio performance via a full suite of Audyssey technologies, including Audyssey EQ, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, and Audyssey Dynamic Volume. You can even integrate an iPod or MP3 player via a front-panel input, or take advantage of Onkyo’s new DSP modes for gaming: Rock, Sports, Action, or Role Playing Game (RPG). DOLBY Decoder – PLIIx, DD; DTS Decoder – DTS, NEO6, 96/24 iPod Ready 3 Digital Inputs (2 Optical/ 1 Coaxial) 3 HDMI Inputs and 1 HDMI Output 6 Audio Inputs and 2 Audio Outputs 2 Components Input and 1 Component Output Front-Panel Portable input (stereo mini jack) Front/Center – 2-way, bass reflex speakers (3 1/4 cone woofer and 3/4 ceramic tweeter) Surround – Full-range, bass reflex (3 1/4 cone) Subwoofer – Bass reflex, passive (8 cone) Front/Center Speaker – Dimensions – 4 W x 10 3/4 H x 4 3/4 D; Weight – 2.2 lbs. Surround Speaker – Dimensions – 10 3/4 W x 4 H x 4 3/16 D; Weight – 1.5 lbs. Subwoofer – Dimensions – 9 5/8 W x 16 1/8 H x 14 5/8 D; Weight – 14.6 lbs.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Great for the Price, but some limitations
Great price, fast delivery and rather easy set-up. I still have to run an optical because I cannot get sound to pass-through. Overall sounds great with using default settings, remote is easy to use, though not anything to be in “wow” of.

Overall, sounds good, it works and great price.

4 Stars Excellent Systems and great sound quality
I purchased this system about a month ago. It is a great system for the price. The sound is clean, crisp unlike the sony and panasonic systems that I also have. The subwoofer level is deep and vibrates the entire living room. I love the Audessey feature, it modulates the sound so that there is no super highs. It maintins sound level when watching both a movie or even playing a video game.

The biggest con is the HDMI pass through. I was under the impression that HDMI passes through both Audio and Video, but this system has a video only pass through. You have to run a seperate optical cable from the source into the receiver seperately. Oh well, you can’t get everything for such a cheap price.

Overall an excellent sound system. Recommended this system to all my friends who are on a budget.

4 Stars Great for the Price
Bought this system because I needed a reciever with more than one HDMI in and an HDMI out. Good for what the price is. I am able to plug my PS3 into it and then run out into my t.v. Can also connect my T.V. to it so I get T.V. sound out of my speakers. The HDMI doesn’t prodce sound though, only video, and for sound you have to buy an optical cable for it, but it’s easy to hook up.

4 Stars Great sound quality. HDMI didn’t work.
I’ve had this sound system for a little over 3 weeks now. The sound quality is very impressive for the price. It is very crisp and clear. The subwoofer will shake your house down if you set it to the maximum level. My biggest disappointment with this product was that the HDMI passthrough did not work. I did some research online and found others have had an issue with the HDMI feature. However, it wasn’t a big deal for me since I was looking more into sound quality.

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