After seeing the debut of the new Sony Blu-ray player lineup at CES this year, I was excited to get a chance to try one out. Taking its place at the top of the non-ES single-disc Blu-ray player lineup, the BDP-S570, boasts WiFi, Netflix, Pandora, and can even be controlled with an iPhone app!
There has been a huge boom, over the last few years, in the number of devices for your A/V system that stream or play music. These devices include many things, from gaming consoles like the Xbox 360 to standalone boxes such as Yamaha's own MCX-2000. In the past year, we have been seeing these types of features creep into traditional consumer electronics components, such as Blu-Ray players and A/V Receivers. The Yamaha RX-V3900 is one such component.
The Denon AVR-2309CI is the entry level product in Denon's Custom Integration line, which includes receivers specifically designed with custom installers in mind. It offers extras like an RS-232C port for integration with automation and advanced control systems such as Crestron, and a 12 volt trigger to automate things such as a front projection screen lowering when the system is powered on.
It amazes me that what passed for a premium feature in A/V receivers two or three years ago can now be found on entry level models. That is the beauty of progress! Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the Denon AVR-689. At an MSRP of $399 it is hard to believe that this unit is so jam packed with bells and whistles. Now this is what I call an affordable - and good - receiver. Read our review to see more.
Denon's new AVR-4308CI is one heck of a receiver, with 7 x 140 watts and HDMI 1.3 connections, along with Wi-Fi and Ethernet capability. See our review to find out the details.
Atlantic Technology has been making THX certified speakers and subwoofers for awhile now, and have been lauded for their efforts. A good old American built speaker system would make a perfect match for my newly installed THX Ultra2 receiver, and I was quite excited to get going.
Gabe Lowe is a Data Storage Professional residing in Durham, NC. Upon first getting a taste of surround sound in the late 1980's, Gabriel was hooked. He pieced together his first system shortly thereafter with hand-me-down speakers, a 20" CRT TV, and a HiFi VCR, and has had a passion for gear ever since. Using various internet and print resources, along with the help of a friend, he built his first dedicated custom home theater in 2003. Apart from home theater, Gabriel also loves spending time with his wife and 2 children, watching and playing sports, and staying up to date on the latest trends in technology.
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