Onkyo TX-NR809 Receiver
Looking on the net over the last few months if there has been one bit of kit I’ve been lusting after its most definitely the Onkyo TX-NR809 (or to give it its somewhat unwieldy full title the Onkyo TX-NR809 7.2 Channel THX Certified Network Receiver). Now I’m glad to say that due to much begging and a well connected friend of mine (Cheers Steevo) I’ve had this thing sitting in the lab (IE: My front living room) for the last month or so. Ive put it through its paces and I really don’t want to give it back 
Now while Onkyo seem to be marketing this unit on its THX Select2 certification this by no means that this is all the Onkyo TX-NR809 receiver has going for it. If anything the TX-NR809 is one of the best specified receivers I’ve had in my grubby little clutches for quite some time now, and that is pretty obvious to anyone who sees it in the flesh at a moments glance. The Onkyo TX-NR809 is solidly built in fact to be honest is a bit of a tank weighing in at a whopping 48 pounds, the array of I/O on the front and back panels of the unit is both wide ranging and solidly built. The knobs and dials universaly ahve a very pleasing feel and wont leave on wondering when they’re going to go kaput. I wont go into details of all the ports available (I’ll list them in the manufacturers specs at the bottom of this review instead) but needless to say the X-NR809 handled the I/O needs of an old AV fiend like me with ease and that is no mean feat.
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Room setup is as one would expect automated and quite simple, plug in the the included calibration mic and the system starts the appropriate gui for you. Th Audissey MultiEQ configuration tool gave excelent results with not much in the way of blood sweat or tears. The new Onkyo receiver range have in general been excellent over the last year or so both in tems of overall sound and ease of use I’m glad to report the Onkyo TX-NR809 is no exception to this rule. Sonically the Onkyo TX-NR809 is incredible value for money match this unit up with a decent set of speakers that can handle the 135 Watts/Channel (8 ohms) that it is capable of pumping out and you will be blown away. We tested the Onkyo TX-NR809 with a set of Onkyo SKS-HT870 7.1 speakers and found the bass end is rock solid even at high volumes, soundstage and individual instrument or FX channel positioning is clear, precise and natural sounding. The Onkyo TX-NR809 managed to feel powerful and rich while at the same time avoiding getting “unrealistic” or sounding digitally effected. The Onkyo TX-NR809 manages to get you to settle into the soundscape with ease and keep you there without being distracting or over the top. Playback of stereo sources was also well handled and the unit had a nice subtlety on quiet and acoustic passages. Audio finesse to this standard at this price is an amazing feat.
I could wax lyrical about the sound quality of the Onkyo TX-NR809 for quite some time, similarly the units visual impact is extremely capable the picture from the HD sources I tested is impeccable, giving solid well rendered blacks and smooth flowing and impressive color images. The upscaling on the TX-NR809 is similarly impressive both Mavell Qdeo and IDT’s HQV Vida upscaling technologies are available and gave me more than acceptable results with my DVD collection. The TX-NR809 is fully 3d ready, though we did not test this. Finally the TX-NR809s on screen GUI is both easy to use and visually excellent.
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Streaming services on the TX-NR809 include all the usual internet radio suspects we have come to know and love on Onkyo receivers (Pandora, Last.fm, SIRIUS, etc) the unit can also stream a multitude of audio formats (MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, and LPCM) via the built in Ethernet port or via usb. If you so wish there is also the option to go wireless with the optional Onkyo UWF-1 Wireless LAN Adapter.
So after playing with the TX-NR809 for about a week or so I’ve been forced to conclude that its a great bit of kit, Onkyo have to my mind hit a home run for the mid range consumer market with the TX-NR809. If you are looking for a up to the minute high quality receiver with a serious specification, excellent future proofing and sound quality to die for I’d highly recommend you check out the TX-NR809 asap.
Manufacturers Specification & Features List
Amplifier
135 Watts/Channel @ 8 ohms (FTC)
180 Watts/Channel @ 6 ohms (IEC)
230 Watts/Channel @ 6 ohms (JEITA)
WRAT-Wide Range Amplifier Technology (5 Hz to 100 kHz bandwidth)
Linear Optimum Gain Volume Circuitry
3-Step Inverted Darlington Circuitry
Processing
THX Select2 Plus*1 Certified
Incorporates Qdeo(tm)*2 technology for HDMI Video
Upscaling (to 4K Compatible)
HQV®*3-Vida Video Processing with 1080p Video
upscaling of All Video Sources via HDMI
HDMI (Audio Return Channel, 3D, DeepColor,
x.v.Color*4, Lip Sync, DTS-HD Master Audio*5,
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby TrueHD*6,
Dolby Digital Plus, DSD and Multi-CH PCM)
Dolby TrueHD*6 and DTS-HD Master Audio*5
Dolby Pro Logic IIz*6 and Audyssey DSX(tm)*7
Non-Scaling Configuration
A-Form Listening Mode Memory
Direct Mode
Pure Audio Mode
Music Optimizer*8 for Compressed Digital Music files
192 kHz/24-bit D/A Converters
Powerful and Highly Accurate 32-bit Processing DSP
Connections
8 HDMI Inputs (1 on front panel) and 2 Outputs
6 Digital Inputs (3 Optical/3 Coaxial)
Component Video Switching (2 Inputs/1 Output)
Universal Port for the Dock for iPod®/iPhone®*10/
HD Radio(tm)*11 tuner module (North American models)
Banana Plug-Compatible Speaker Posts*12
Powered Zone 2
Bi-Amping Capability for FL/FR with SBL/SBR
Analog RGB Video Input (D-sub 15) for PC
Internet Radio Connectivity (SiriusXM Internet
Radio/vTuner/Last.fm/Pandora/Rhapsody/Slacker/
Mediafly/Napster)
Network Capability for Streaming Audio Files
2 USB Inputs for Memory Devices and iPod®/ iPhone®*10 models (Front: 1 (Enables Display of Album Artwork)/Rear: 1)
Miscellaneous
40 AM/FM Presets
Dolby Volume
Audyssey MultEQ® XT*7 to correct room acoustic problems
Audyssey Dynamic EQ®*7 for loudness correction
Audyssey Dynamic Volume®*7 to maintain optimal listening level and dynamic range
A/V Sync Control Function (up to 800 ms)
Auto Standby Function
On-Screen Display via HDMI
Bi-Directional Preprogrammed (with onscreen display setup) RI-Compatible Learning Remote with 4 Activities and Mode-Key LEDs
ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) Video Calibration
TSS-SAT1200
Frequency Range: 120Hz – 30,000Hz (±3dB) Recommended
Amplifier Power Range: 10 – 125 Watts
Sensitivity: 89dB (2.83V @ 1 meter)
Nominal Impedance: 8½
Crossover Frequency: 3.5kHz; 24dB/octave
Midrange Driver(s): Dual 3-1/2″ (64mm) MMD® magnetically shielded
High-Frequency Driver: 3/4″ (19mm) MMD magnetically shielded
Dimensions (H x W x D): 12-15/16″ x 3-15/16″ x 3″ (329mm x 100mm x 76mm)
Weight: 3.9 lb (1.8kg)
RRP: $1,099.00 (Check Amazon For Current Pricing)
August 10, 2011
· 
Aiki · 
No Comments
Tags: 7.2 Channel, Network reciever, Onkyo TX-NR809, Onkyo TX-NR809 Receiver, THX Certified, TX-NR809 · Posted in: Receivers
Panasonic SC-HC55 Compact Stereo System
At hifi reviews we try to cover the latest and greatest hifi and av audio gear around, but some times we tend to spend overly elongated periods of time focusing on popular top end gear. It took an email from one of our visitors to remind us that occasionally we need to review entry level kit too. With that in mind today we’ll be taking a good hard look at the Panasonic SC-HC55 Compact Stereo System.
Removing the Panasonic SC-HC55 from the box it comes in you’ll notice that its quite light and compact, weighing in at just over 5lbs. Its perhaps not as solidly built as the separates units I’m used to reviewing, it is however quite pretty and has a decidedly “designer” and modern look to it. The shimmering slightly backwards sloped frontage is very easy on the eyes and looks good placed on a bookshelf or kitchen surface. The Panasonic SC-HC55 is also designed so it can be easily wall mounted which will be useful far many and will aslo add to the good looks of the unit in some situations. The supplied remote is unfortunately not up to this standard of sheen and while its functional it looks decidedly dull in comparison to the main unit.
Once powered up you can get to grips with the other little interface flourish the Panasonic SC-HC55 has, the no touch sliding frontage. Merely swipe your hand on front of the SC-HC55 and the front sweeps to the side allowing you put in a CD in one direction or an iPod/iPhone in the other. This little addition is kind of pointless when you think about it but by the same token I quite liked it and it does have a (small) bit of a wow factor when others see it for the first time. I’ll post the rather silly Panasonic promotional video of this in operation at the bottom of this review.
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Features wise the unit has very easy to use bluetooth streaming capabilities (fully iPad compatible), the 30-FM/15-AM preset capable radio is more than adequate for day to day listening, the universal iPod/iPhone dock is easy to use and feels solid.
Sonically the SC-HC55 is a pretty reasonable compact stereo affair once you keep it a moderate volume levels. It will serve well in a kitchen, small bedroom or other utillty area and will server well for casual listening. But put it in a larger room, turn up the power and the SC-HC55s shortcomings are easy to see. The 2-1/2″ bass cone is not really capable of handing the units bass end at high volumes and did become quite obviously overdriven and distorted when the unit was given a workout by my “5 years of hyperdub” CD. Neither is the top end handled well at these kinds of volumes becoming raspy and somewhat siblent at about 60% of the units maximum volume setting on acoustic faire like the excellent “The Bad Plus” album Never Stop. Its a thing I’ll never really understand about units like this it seems that the maximum power the manufacturer has allowed the user to drive (only 20watts per channel) cannot be handled by the meagre speakers supplied in the unit. Why not have an amp section and speaker cones that match?
So all in all would I recommend the Panasonic SC-HC55? Well for the price its a stylish unit with a good feature set. If you want a compact stereo system for a kitchen or other small room and don’t tend to “Pump up the volume” then the Panasonic SC-HC55 will do the job and look good doing it. If however you want to use it as your main music system in a large dining or living room I would err on the side of caution and look elsewhere.
Manufacturers Specifications
- CD,CD-R/-RW: CD-DA, MP3
- Speakers: Woofer:2-1/2″ Cone Type (Advanced Bamboo Cone) Tweeter:5/8″ Piezo Type
- Universal Dock for iPod/iPhone
- Analog Audio In
- Wireless Music Streaming via Bluetooth
- Internet Radio Control
- Internet Radio Application for iPhone/iPod
- Station Presets: 30-FM/15-AM
- Touchless Open/Close Sensor Door
- Dimensions: 19 x 3.5 x 7.8 inches
- Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
- RRP: $199.99 (Check Amazon for Current Pricing)
August 8, 2011
· Aiki · No Comments
Tags: Compact Stereo System, Mini Hi-Fi, Panasonic, Panasonic SC-HC55, SC-HC55, Stereo · Posted in: Mini Systems
Sony STR-DN1020 Blu-ray Receiver
The Sony STR-DN1020 7.2 3D Blu-ray Disc A/V Receiver has been getting some serious hype in AV circles and now Ive had a chance to play with it first hand I can certainly understand why. On paper the spec is second to none, but anyone around AV gear for a decent amount of time knows that you often see amazing specs on products that turn out to be less than stellar in the final analysis. So does the Sony STR-DN1020 deserve its hype? Lets find out…
The Sony STR-DN1020 is on first appearance pretty solid and “brick like” in appearance. Its a hefty piece of gear weighing in at just over 24 pounds, the faceplate mounted controls are satisfying to the touch, solid and with satifying clicks on the buttons and smooth movement of the dials just as I’ve come to expect from SONY products at this level.
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The spec sheet for the Sony STR-DN1020 sports pretty much all the same features as the other STR models (STR-DH720, STR-DH520, STR-DH820) but it has a few extra bells and whistles not least of which is its excellent 7.2 discrete amp channels each of which handles 110 watts, and handles that power very well producing less than 1% THD for a very smooth and clear signal even at very high volumes. Some of the other things I should probably point out are the STR-DN1020 video pasthrough feature which works not only for traditional HDMI signals but also for the laterst generation of 3d video, a real boon if 3d is your thing. The unit also has second zone handling not only for audio but for video too, this is really an excellent idea and a cut abouve most receivers at this price point. Audio return channel (ARC) support is also included allowing you to keep the cabling clutter in your AV system to a minimum. The STR-DN1020 also has all the usual back panel features weve come to expect from an AV Receiver of this calibre (Ethernet, 4 HDMI ins, iPod/iPhone compatible USB port, etc) all in all it can handle pretty much any signal format or device type you care to connect it to, with the odd exception of THX.
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Setup for the Sony STR-DN1020 is while not 100% obvious still made fairly simple by a well designed graphical interface and menuing system, there are no real bloopers here and the STR-DN1020 features the now obligatory auto speaker configuration & adjustment menu (Sonys own DCAC) which does a solid job of getting the systems acoustic right for your room size and shape.
In operation I found the STR-DN1020 to be both easy & pleasing to use, the menuing system and remote have a nice design and overall “feel” in use. Sonically the STR-DN1020 is extremely strong, channel separation and power handling on the STR-DN1020 are such that you receive a truly immersive home cinema experience I found the soundstaging on the STR-DN1020 to be particularly good and the overall sound quality on Blu-Ray and other AV media is excellent, maintaining a very solid and controlled bass end with a smooth and natural mid range even at high volumes. Playback from stereo music sources (iPod,CD,etc) is not to my mind as well handled as you would get from a dedicated stereo audio system but to be honest this is a very minor niggle and the stereo reproduction you will receive is likely to be solid enough for most.
Visually the STR-DN1020 is clear and colourful on modern sources, managing to be bright but without ever seeming over the top, blacks are deep and natural colours are lush and well handled. Streaming from PC and the other sources we tried was very well handled and kept the lush quality of locally connected sources (No mean feat). It would appear that the team at sony have also refined their up-scaling algorithms over the last few years as the STR-DN1020 will definitely breathe new life into your DVD collection. Honestly the STR-DN1020 really impressed me in its ability to make older sources seem better than they are. All in all the Sony STR-DN1020 is an excellent product and as long as you don’t absolutely positively have to have THX I have no reservations in suggesting you check it out. Great work from Sony.
Manufacturers Specs & Features
3D video pass-through with analog video upconversion (Faroudja DCDi Edge)
iPhone/iPod video and music playback via USB
Graphical user interface
4 HDMI Inputs
Upconvert/Upscale from analog to 1080p via HDMI (Faroudja DCDi Edge)
HDMI standby pass-through allows access to all HDMI connected devices without having to power on the receiver
BRAVIA Sync Capable
24p True Cinema (pass-through)
DLNA certification + PC and external HDD streaming
Digital Cinema Auto Calibration room correction system
second zone audio and video
RRP:$499.00 (Check Amazon for Current Pricing)
Connections
4 HDMI In
1 USB (Front)
1 HDMI Monitor out
1 Component Video Out
1 HDMI out
1 Ethernet Port
3 analog A/V in
5 Component Video in
2 Pre Out(Subwoofer)
2 Analog Audio In
1 Coax.
2 Optical In/Out/TV
July 29, 2011
· Aiki · No Comments
Tags: Blu-ray, Receiver, Sony STR-DN1020 · Posted in: Receivers
Onkyo SKW204 Subwoofer
Since we’ve got one rigged up at the moment (doing stand in duty in a Onkyo SKS-HT870 speaker set) I thought Id give my quick feelings about the Onkyo SKW204 Bass Reflex Powered Subwoofer. First of all its a nicely compact unit compared to the subs I’m used to seeing. I know I tend to go on about this but does every single sub ever releasd have to be twice as big as my head? Seriously I know “big = loud” to many people not in the know and its probably good for marketing, but to be honest I generally prefer to have a sub that doesn’t block the view of my TV and take 3 days to scale with a bunch of Sherpas carrying my bags.
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Anyway just becouse it pretty compact takes nothing away from the SKW204s build quality, not only does it look the part but it feels like it can take a serious amount of kicking from the terrible toddlers some of you may have wandering about near your gear. Its got a good heft to it and I think it would happily do service in a busy “house full of kids” environment for several years.
Sonically the SKW204 is also extremely solid, the bass on our test setup was handled nicely and it integrated very well into the system we already had in place. There was very little in the way of configuration on the receiver with regards to EQ etc, and the SKW204 just sat in the environment it was placed in and did its job. reinforcing the bottom end on pretty much anything I threw at it. The bass handling is very smooth and provides everything from subtle sound reinforcement for you main front of house speakers to proper “hit you in the guts” subs when it needs to, these unit is powerful (up to 230 watts handling) and can handle extremely loud volumes with ease. All in all I felt is was very professional sounding and never once did I feel it was getting overwhelmed or staring to give off the tell tale rattles & hums you can occasionally get with lesser subs.
Manufacturers Details
- Powered subwoofer for your 5.1- or 7.1-channel surround sound system
- Type: Bass Reflex Powered
- Woofer: 10-inch cone
- Frequency response: 25 Hz-200 kHz
- Sensitivity: 140 mV/20 k-ohms
- 230 watts of power; 10-inch cone
- Auto standby/on circuitry
- Dimensions: 10-13/16 x 18-5/8 x 16-7/8 inches
- Weight: 26 pounds
- Crossover control and a phase invert switch let you fine-tune the bass output
- RRP: $179.00 (Check Amazon For Current Pricing)
July 22, 2011
· Aiki · No Comments
Tags: Onkyo SKW204, Onkyo SKW204 Subwoofer, Subwoofer · Posted in: Speakers
Onkyo TX-8255 Stereo Receiver
The Onkyo TX-8255 Stereo Receiver is a bit of an odd little beast, Im not really sure what section of the market its aimed at. At the bottom end are those who dont really see the need for or the reason to have any kind of separates system and they are perfectly happy with radio built into their stereo system. On the other end are the power users who want a well specifed separate tuner for their system. So where then does a mid spec stereo receiver like the Onkyo TX-8255 stand? Who will buy it? What kind of home will it be used in? Well after playing with it for a little while it becomes obvious that it may not have an obvious market amongst those who are interested in “Hi Spec HiFi” but it certainly should find a home amongst those who appreciate quality stereo sound at a very moderate price.
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Removing the Onkyo TX-8255 from its box one could be mistaken for thinking one had just received a simple hifi amplifier rather than a fully speced receiver, the unit has a very “no frills” look with the very solid casing mounting bass, treble and volume controls on the right hand side. The tuner controls are mounted in a very unassuming manner on the right of the units display in a very simple and I have slightly delicate looking way. The keys are not very solid feeling and I thought that after extended use might be come a bit dodgy. Having said that most of the channel hopping is likely to be done via the simple and easy to use remote supplied.
Initial setup and tuning was pretty easy, no convoluted menus or anything obtuse to deal with plug in the unit, connect the antenna, hit the auto tune option button and away it goes finding all available channels. The Onkyo TX-8255 can store up to 40 of your favourite channels in its memory for easy access. The system is also RDS enabled so you can read off any information (station name, song name, etc) the station might be transmitting along with the AM/FM audio signal. As well as the amplifier the TX-8255 also has stereo inputs for CD, Tape (in and Out), Phono turntable, DVD, and a second spare input for any other analog unit you might want to use. The back also has two sets of outputs for connecting 2 sets of stereo speakers with appropriate control buttons for each speaker set on the front left of the unit and on the remote of course. This nice little added extra makes it easy to wire up 2 separate rooms with ease. Finally the back panel includes a Remote Interactive port which allows you to connect your iPod using the optional Onkyo DS-A2 iPod dock.
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Now though the TX-8255 is actually very good in terms of features I have to say that sonically is where the unit really shines. I really was not expecting such quality from such a budget unit. The TX-8255 manages to be both natural sounding and polished at the same time, bass is well handled up to quite loud levels of amplification. The units 50W per channel at 8 Ohms drove the Mission MV-8s we were testing with easily and with excellent results. Clarity was maintained throughout and I never had a sense that bass or treble was getting out of control or rough. Stereo placement was well handled and gave several CDs I tried the system with appropriate breadth. Kaki Kings excellent “Until we saw red” proved the TX-8255 to be a great performer with acoustic music. The only minor niggle was a slight bit of a peak that can be noticed on some more modern heavily compressed recordings at about the 1-1.5 khz range, weather this will be an issue for you depends entirely on the type of music you will be playing and your room acoustics. Overall though a very polished sound with a surprising amount of presence and finesse for such a meagre price. All in all if you are in the market for an integrated receiver/amplifier I’d highly recommend you check out the Onkyo TX-8255.
Manufacturers Specifications
- Stereo RMS Power: 50W per channel x 2, into 8 ohms
- Dynamic Range: 135W per channel x 2, into 2 ohms, 105W per channel x 2, into 4 ohms, 70W per channel x 2, into 8 ohms
- No. of Channels: 2
- Speaker Selector: Yes
- AM/FM Tuner: Yes, with 40 presets
- Input Analog Audio: – x5 Sets (RCA)
- Input Phono: – x1 Set (RCA)
- Input FM Antenna: – x1
- Input AM Antenna: – x1
- Output Analog Audio: – x2 Sets (RCA)
- Output Headphone: – x1 (1/4″ Phone)
- Output Speakers: – x4 Sets (Binding Post)
- IR Input/Output Port x1 (Mini)
- RI Port x1 (Mini)
- RRP: $249.00 (Check Amazon For Current Pricing)
July 12, 2011
· Aiki · No Comments
Tags: Onkyo, Onkyo Receivers, Onkyo TX-8255, Stereo Receiver, TX-8255 · Posted in: Receivers
Energy Take Classic 5.1 Speaker System
I first became aware of the Energy Take Classic 5.1 Speaker System a couple of years ago and have generally heard very favourable reports on this budget 5.1 speaker set its only now after a few years that I’ve managed to wangle a set for a short week long test. First thing to note that the set I tested are not factory fresh and in fact have been doing a burn in at an associates house for the last year and a half when he heard I was irregularly blogging on the subject of hi fi and AV gear he was admant that I had to have a listen to the Energy Take Classic system he been using. I did and here are my impressions.
First impressions are that these speakers look & feel the part, they are universally solidly built and have a real feel of quality about them. The satellites I think do look a lot better with the grilles off than on though as the grilles give them a little bit too much of a “musty retro” feel. Take the grilles off though and they look sleek to my eye. The overall system is compact and easy to mount though the binding posts were a tiny bit fiddly and might be awkward to use with some of the larger gauge wire out there.
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The sound of the Energy Take Classic 5.1 system is actually exceptional for the price. They have a stunningly well rounded and fresh sound, they are actually quite good at rendering aggressive musical passages with a lot of up front oomph and impact. We tested these with several styles of music and various video sources and the sound we got back was universally well above par for speakers in this price range. The soundstage is top notch giving a real feel of “Thereness” (Is that a word?) and movement in action sequences. The power handling of the Energy Take Classic system was decent enough (rated at 8 ohms, 100 watts) though I couldn’t help feeling that at the top end of their range a slight amount of THD started to be evident, so perhaps not suitable for very big rooms or if you consistently have the police around because you “wont turn you damn TV down” 
.
Manufacturers Specs
Frequency Response: Sat: 115Hz-20KHz; Center: 110Hz-20KHz; Subwoofer: 33Hz-150Hz +/- 3dB
Crossover Point: 2.9 kHz
Sensitivity: 89dB
Power Handling: Sat & Center: 100 Watts; Subwoofer: 200 Watts
Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 – 100 Watts RMS (Continuous)
Impedance: 8-ohm compatible
Subwoofer Variable Low Pass Filter: 40Hz-150Hz @ 18dB/octave
Tweeter: ¾-inch (19 mm) Hyperbolic™ aluminum-dome
Woofer: Sat & Center: 3-inch poly-titanium; Sub: 8” IM Cone with Patented Ribbed Elliptical Surround
Dimensions (inches): Sat: 6 7/8 x 4 1/8 x 4 1/8; Center: 4 1/8 x 10 1/4 x 4 1/8; Subwoofer: 12 5/8 x 12 5/8 x 12 5/8 (add 2 1/6″ for feet)
Weight: Sat: 2.9 lbs; Center: 3.2 lbs; Subwoofer: 19.7 lbs
RRP: $599 (Check Current Pricing on Amazon)
June 30, 2011
· Aiki · No Comments
Tags: 5.1 Speaker System, Energy Take Classic, Take Classic · Posted in: Speakers
Sony STR DH810 AV Receiver
Sony have a solid reputation as one of the best companies in the home consumer electronics market for audio visual and computer products, one of their quite well thought of AV receivers of the last few years is the Sony STR DH810. It has been seen as a solid performer in the AV receiver market for a while now and so I thought it was about time I gave on a thorough once over.
Appearance wise its not bad at all, not super modern more simple and understated in the classic Sony style the STR DH810 doesn’t try too hard, keeping the front panel simple and to the point all the buttons and display elements you would expect on a receiver in this class are there. The unit has a decently solid feel with the knobs having a nice glide to them and the buttons being decent enough though perhaps not ideal if you have kids who are likely to give them a bashing. Grubby infant fingers notwithstanding the unit has an overall quality feel to it and doesn’t in any way feel plasticy or frail. The supplied remote is well laid out if a little busy but to be fair they have a lot of features to cram on to a single remote so Sony can be forgiven for that.
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Looking to the back panel the Sony STR DH810 is extremely well endowed, all the usual bases are covered with a complement of 4 inand 1 out HDMI 1.4 (2d compatible) ports available for use with your various devices as well as a number of component and composite ins and outs for older gear. The HDMI facilitys on this unit also have standby pass thru for easy use of your PlayStation (or whatever) to your TV without need to turn the receiver on, though this is becoming more and more standard on higher end models its nice that Sony have included this feature here. One other stand out feature from Sony on the STR DH810 is the inclusion of their DIGITAL MEDIA PORT (DMP) interface for connceting various devices such as Sonys walkman or Apples iPod mp3 players.
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Physical set up was fairly simple with easy to access bi amplified speaker connectors being solid and easy to use. Room adjustment was very easy using the Sony STR DH810s built in audio configuration system and the initial results were very impressive. After a few minor adjustments to the Sony STR DH810s EQ I had my room just how I like it. I was very impressed with the power the STR DH810 was supplying for such a moderately priced unit, the 7x100w amplifiers configuration came into its own at higher volumes and kept my smaller set of Onkyo SKSHT750 speakers well driven throughout testing.
The overall impression the STR DH810 gave me over the last several weeks is one of class and power. The bass is well handled with a sense that while action sequences are booming out the bass is never going to distort or give you and unwanted rumble, handling of the vocal range is extremely good and the STR DH810 manages to keep speech clear even in very busy or loud scenes. The STR DH810s sound staging is excellent and gives a real sense of positioning and presence to individual tracks and instruments during playback. Though the system is maybe not 100% crystal clear and audiophile neutral on some sources like high quality acoustic music CDs giving perhaps too much emphasis on the low end frequencies, this is a fairly minor failing and it still does a very decent job on most stereo music sources.
In terms of visual reproduction the Sony STR DH810 produced no noticeable glitches or colouration taint I could notice, the colours were crisp and blacks were reproduced nicely. The STR DH810 is a very solid performer when it comes to DVD upscaling and produced very reasonable results even when playing back second rate media (Frasier series 2 DVD Im looking at you here). The STR DH810 handles a large number of formats and outputs them with grace and ease. All in all I wouldn’t hesitate this unit to anyone who is looking for something to be the core of their system and drive a 7.1 100w per channel or so surround setup. Its an incredibly well rounded product and is extremely good value, go to your dealer and have a listen to this one today you really wont regret it.
Manufacturers Specifications
- Display: 10 digit dot matrix
- Panel: Mold, Black
- Power Consumption: 240W
- A/V In/Out (S-Video I/O): Including Front AV: 4/1(0/0)
- Analog Audio In (Inc TV CEC)/Out (excl. tuner)/TV(CEC): 2/1/Yes
- Coaxial: 1/0
- Component Video In/Out (Pass through): 3/1
- DIGITAL MEDIA PORT: 1
- Digital Input Assign: Yes
- Front Input: AV(Gold)
- HDMI In/Out: (Front input): 4/1
- Monitor Out (S-Video Out): 1(0)
- Opt. In/Out/TV(CEC): incl Front input & TV (CEC): 3/0/Yes
- Pre Out: SW x1
- SPDIF UPDATE: Yes
- Receiver Dimensions (WxHxD): 17″ x 6-1/4″ x 12-3/4″
- Receiver Weight: 17 lb 7 oz
- RRP: $359.88 (Check Amazon for Current Pricing)
June 15, 2011
· Aiki · No Comments
Tags: Sony AV Receiver, Sony STR, Sony STR DH810, STR DH810 · Posted in: Receivers
Panasonic SC-HC20P-K
From time to time we like to review lower end kit around here (actually we like to try to review everything we can beg, borrow or steal eventually) but just because something is in a budget price range doesn’t mean it should be given an easy time. So when I got my hands on a Panasonic SC-HC20P-K to review I did my best to get into my “nasty picky reviewer” mindset. Luckily the SC-HC20P-K is such a fine bit of budget kit I didn’t have much call to flex those particular muscles.
The SC-HC20P-K is fairly pedestrian in appearance, going for a demure simple grey and black look with a slight nod to Bang & Olufsen styling, the CD player and iPod dock both being hidden away on initial observation. The SC-HC20P-K is by no means ugly though and the build quality is reasonable for a unit of this price though I wouldn’t recommend dropping it or knocking it off a shelf as it doesnt look built to withstand that level of stress. One odd thin we did notice is that for such a compact unit the SC-HC20P-Ks remote is extremely large and to be honest not exactly easy to use either.
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The main feature a lot of buyers for this unit will be looking at will be the universal iPod/iPhone dock, this pops out form its front hiding place with ease and will accept any current apple iPod or iPhone with ease. I found that the 3rd gen iPhone we used to test slid in the dock easily and felt like it was being held secure and snugly. The CD player is a fairly standard pop out model and was easy to use and felt reliable enough. The radio is a fairly basic autotuning AM/FM model without much in the way of bells or whistles other than the decent amount of preset storage.
Now its time to get down to the nitty gritty how does the Panasonic SC-HC20P-K sound? Well to be honest I was fairly pleasantly surprised, ok so it is only specified to 10 watts @ 6 ohms so you wont be banging out sounds at a loud volume on this unit but if you intend to use the SC-HC20P-K in a kitchen, small office or similar it shoudl give plent of bang for the buck. The bass end is quite smoothe and gives a decent reproduction of older recordings (Thelonious Monks Underground) at lower volume levels but some more modern compressed and bass heavy tracks (EG: James Blakes – Limit To Your Love) were evidently over stressing the SC-HC20P-Ks speakers at anything near top volume. The top end also became raspy in the top 1/4 of the volume dial, the 4 preset EQ didn’t really help mitigate this in any way which is a shame, though EQing off the top end helped a little. Being honest the Panasonic SC-HC20P-K performed as well as I’d expect for a unit of this price and with the stated THD of 10% which is quite high to my mind I’m not really surprised about the high volume sonic results.
So should you buy this unit? Well if what you are after is a way to amplify your iPod/iPhone in smaller rooms and perhaps listen to some FM radio then it gives decent enough results for the non audiophile home user. If you are used to higher end equipment in other rooms you may well find the shortcomings of the Panasonic SC-HC20P-K start to annoy you a little after a while. But at the end of the day the unit is decent value for money and is a cheap and cheerful way to get those iPod sounds sounding out in your kitchen.
Manufacturers Specification
- Total output power: 10 watts (1kHz, 6ohms, 10% THD)
- iPod dock: Yes, Universal Dock for iPod/iPhone; playback and recharge
- Radio: AM/FM (15 AM presets, 30 FM presets) with auto tuning
- Disc playback formats: CD audio, CD-R/RW, MP3
- Programmable time: Yes (sleep, play
- Surround sound: Yes
- Preset EQ: 4 (Heavy, Clear, Soft, Vocal) + Flat
- Bass and treble controls: Yes
- Bluetooth: No
- Remote control: Yes (IR wireless)
- Wall mountable: No
- Speakers: Full range, bass-reflex; 3-1/8-inch (bamboo paper cone speaker)
- Dimensions: 8-7/16 x 15-1/8 x 4-13/32 inches (HxWxD)
- Weight: 4.6 pounds
- RRP: $99.95 (Check Amazon for Current Pricing)
June 7, 2011
· Aiki · No Comments
Posted in: Mini Systems
Yamaha rxv667
Occasionally Im hit by the fact I’ve never gotten around to trying out certain units that have been receiving universally positive reviews and no end of plaudits from the hifi community, the Yamaha RX-V667 Receiver is one of those pieces. Its been hovering in the back of my mind since its release but Ive never managed to get my hands on it until now. So with no further ado let me proceed to my feelings on the Yamaha RX-V667.
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On pulling the Yamaha rxv667 from its box one is not greeted with anything too amazing in terms of styling or visual flair, the build quality of the Yamaha rxv667 is decent but not exactly anything to write home about, stylistically the front panel design is pretty standard with a fairly simple and modern layout including zone control, scene tuning and program buttons and a single HDMI in, along with a largish and pretty solid volume knob. The front panel display is done in the quite common pseudo digital style which is one of the fairly standard choices a lot of manufacturers are making these days. The supplied remote is as you would expect on a unit with this specification quite cluttered and probably the least appealing part of the package, if I were to keep the rxv667 for a long time I’d probably replace this.
The back panel is very well appointed sporting amongst other things 5 HDMI 1.4 ins and a single out, a large number of component av outputs (See image below for full details) an antenna in section, iPod dock connector and adequate speaker outputs for both available zones. The back panel is well laid out and I found it easy to attach my devices and speakers without it becoming too spaghetti like. Initial setup is easy enough using the built in mic assisted system and streight out of the box didnt need much in the way of manual adjustment, the menuing system is easy to use and well thought out with a nicely modern and sharp look.
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So how does the Yamaha rxv667 actually sound? In a word “excellent”, the rxv667 manages to provide power (90W x 7) and subtlety at the same time while always keeping a very good soundstage. The imaging produced by the Yamaha rxv667 is extremely good, with instrument and sound effects placement being handled with finesse. The bass is well controlled and rounded without any sense of boominess you can sometime hear in more budget receivers. In fact during testing it became apparent that the louder we played back heavy and action packed passages the more in control the Yamaha rxv667 seemed to be of the low ends if you like a defined sound that keeps subtleties very evident even at high volumes you will find the Yamaha rxv667 to be extremely satisfying to listen to. Overall the characteristics I would use to describe the Yamaha rxv667s sound are crisp, controlled and subtle.
The nice thing about the rxv667 is that it is one of those units that seems to keep on giving, it sports some great extra features that not everyone will use but are still nice to have. For example the phono input may not be on everyones “must have” list these days but it is quite nice that Yamaha have not only thought of it but it actually sounds very decent. In fact stereo music in general on the Yamaha rxv667 has not been given short shrift, Yamahas engineers have obviously worked long and hard to assure very solid stereo performance. Another nice aspect is the fact that the video upscaling is amongst the best I’ve seen on a unit in this price range, DVDs look sharper than they have any right to, this unit definitely keeps things crisp and bright when it comes to making your legacy media look good.
So overall I have to say Im glad I (eventually) got around to testing the Yamaha rx-v667 out, I have been extremely happy with it the results I’ve experienced it is an extremely well specified machine with an amazing sonic profile for a unit at this kind of price. If you are in the market for a sub $500 7.2-Channel Home Theater Receiver you should definitely put the Yamaha rx-v667 on your “Must listen” list. You will not be disappointed.
Manufacturers Specifications
Output Power: 630W (90W x 7)
Dynamic Power/Channel (Front L/R, 8/6/4/2 ohms): 125/160/190/230 W
Frequency Response (AV5, Front L/R, Sp Out): 10Hz – 100kHz +0,-3dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (AV5, Pure Direct, Front Sp Out): 0.06% (20Hz – 20kHz, 5W/ 8 ohms)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (AV5, Pure Direct, Input Shorted, Sp Out): 100dB (250mV)
HDMI (Audio Input Assignable/ Output): 6/ 1
SIRIUS: 1
Analog Audio (Input/ Output): 5/ 2
Component Video (Audio Input Assignable): 2
Zone 2 Audio Out: 1
+12V/0.1A Trigger Out: 1
Dimensions (WxHxD): 17-1/8″ x 6″ x 14-3/8″
Weight: 23.1 lbs
RRP: $599.95 (Check Amazon for Current Pricing)
May 11, 2011
· Aiki · One Comment
Tags: AV Recievers, rx-v667, Yamaha rx-v667, Yamaha rxv667 · Posted in: Receivers
Sony HT-CT150 Sound Bar System
HDTV manufacturers seem to have realised over the last few years that not everyone has the space or inclination to set up a full 7.1 surround system in their small suburban living room and so to address this issue many companies have started to produce alternatives one of the currently popular systems is the Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System. Now I will say that I’m used to a full surround system and that a sound bar is never going to be able to repicate that kind of feel in terms of sound stage or immersion so I didnt review the Sony HT-CT150 as such. Instead I’m looking at it in terms of overall sound quality compared to the loaner Sony Bravia KDL32BX300 I used it with. Be aware that the Sony HT-CT150 works best with tvs that have sonys proprietary BRAVIA® Sync, so your results with another manufacturers TV may not be as good.
So out of the box the Sony HT-CT150 sound bar itself is actually quite compact if a little long (31-1/2″) it will however clip to the top of a lot of larger Bravia models without much trouble (it looked a little large on our 32″ model though). The sub woofer unit is a bit more substantial in size but nothing monstrous and it will sit happily next to most tv stands without looking like a huge toolbox somebody left lying around. Appearance and build wise the HT-CT150 is nothing amazing, it has a simple and functional design that will not have people asking “What the frak is that?” like some subwoofers I could name. The HT-CT150 system is built to match the current batch of Bravia TVs in terms of appearance and so if you have a sony setup it will fit in nicely. Build quality seemed quite good during our testing but I would probably avoid dropping the sound bar if possible as its thin build could make it a little fragile.
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I found setup was very simple, pretty much plug and play with the BRAVIA® Sync system. Though I have read others saying it was not so simple with non Sony products hence my earlier warning. Get the Right tool for the right job and all that. Unusually, the Subwoofer unit is where all the connections & I/O for the HT-CT150 system are this means that the subwoofer unit must remain out in the open unlike most soundbar systems which have the connections mounted on the bar itself. In terms of connections the system has a very decent array of HDMI I/O. 3 switchable 1.4 (3D compatible) inputs, a single HDMI 1.4 output and a number of analog and optical inputs to connect older gear. To some degree this unit acts as a receiver that isn’t a receiver, for this price I wasn’t really expecting this level of control or I/O options.
Once the sound bar was mounted atop the tv and both units were plugged in and powered I found the sound to actually be extremely good. Its decently loud and manages to produces a very reasonable soundstage for a system that is pretty much set up “Front and centre”. ok so you’re not getting full surround and you wont be looking behind yourself to hear where that noise is coming from, but for this price and with setup this compact and simple I was more impressed than I thought I would be. So In summary if you want more than the stereo speakers of your TV currently offer but you dont want to splash out on a $1,000+ reciever & speker package setup then the Sony HT-CT150 system is likely to be a great match for you, especially if you have a BRAVIA® Sync compatible TV.
Manufacturers Specifications
Audio Power Output: RMS: 75W x3 +75W Subwoofer (180-20kHz, 4 Ohm, 1% THD)
Coaxial Audio Digital Input(s): 1
DIGITAL MEDIA PORT: 1
HDMI Video Input(s): 3
HDMI Video Output(s): 1
Optical Audio Input(s): 2
RCA Audio Input(s): 2
Bass/Treble control: Bass/Treble
Night mode: Yes
Preset EQ: Standard/ Movie/ Drama/ News/ Sports/ Game/ Music/ 2ch Stereo/ Portable Audio
Dimensions (Approx.): Subwoofer: 7-3/4″ x 17-3/4″ x 16-1/4″ (196 x 450 x 410 mm); Sound Bar: 31-1/2″ x 2-9/16″ x 2-5/16″ (800 x 66 x 60 mm)
Weight (Approx.): Subwoofer: 23 lb 3 oz (10.5 kg); Sound Bar: 2 Lb 13 oz (1.3 kg)
RRP: $265 (Check Amazon for Current Pricing)
April 13, 2011
· Aiki · No Comments
Tags: HT-CT150, Sony HT-CT150, sound bar, soundbar · Posted in: Speakers