Yamaha RX-V665 7.1 A/V Receiver

Kieran Coghlan

Part of what I enjoy most about this hobby is helping other people get into it. Given that, I'm a big fan of mid- to entry-level home theater equipment, since most people asking for advice about their first system are not looking to dole out beaucoup bucks, especially in this economy. Yamaha has a great history with their A/V receiver product line, with many excellent products in the mid- to entry-level range.

Receivers

Dynaudio Excite Home Theater Speakers

Larry Hryshko

Long before I ever dreamed of owning a genuine set of Dynaudio speakers, I've lusted after their raw drivers. Dynaudio speaker components have always been highly regarded in the do-it-yourself (DIY) community for their exceptional fidelity and bullet-proof construction. Notably, the DIY crowd isn't exactly known for their extravagance or pretentiousness, so the huge popularity of Dynaudio is quite telling.

Surround Sound Speaker Systems

Guitarist David Russell Chats About Music and Recording Techniques

Jason Victor Serinus

Classical guitarist David Russell was born in Glasgow in 1953, and raised in the town of Minorca. Upon studying the guitar at the Royal Academy of Music, he twice won the Julian Bream Guitar Prize. Wins at the Andrés Segovia Competition, the José Ramírez Competition, and Spain's Francisco Tárrega Competition helped to further propel him to an international career, which continues strong.

Musician and Vocalist Artist Interviews

Onkyo TX-NR906 7.1-Channel Home Network A/V Receiver

Brian Alvarez

Onkyo has broken new ground by introducing two receivers to be the first in the world with isf video calibration. The TX-NR906 is the flagship of the Onkyo receiver line and the step up from the equally ISF-capable TX-SR876. Several features set the 906 apart from the 876. The 906 having more power supplies including a toroidal power transformer for the amplifier section.

Receivers

CD Reviews – May, 2009

Jason Serinus

In 2004, Grammy winning producer/engineer Mark Johnson was strolling down the streets of Santa Monica when he heard musician Roger Ridley singing “Stand by Me” from afar. Six years after he and a small, dedicated team of videographers began traveling the world to find ways to connect the world through music, Johnson heard the voice whose passion and conviction transformed his vision. He soon combined Ridley's rendition with others from around the world, creating the extraordinary YouTube world journey video of “Stand by Me” that has generated over seven million hits.

CD Music Reviews

Canton GLE 490 Floor-standing Speakers, GLE 455 Center Channel, GLE 430 Bookshelf Speakers, and AS 105 SC Subwoofer

Andrew Yang

Amidst the many dividing lines in the world of audio and video is the line between those that believe speakers must be single purpose, and those that believe speakers can be multi-purpose. The purposes in question are often music and home theater (alternatively music or home theater depending on what side of the line you are on.) A more pertinent question for this review might be: "How well Canton goes from Pure Music to surround sound in one package?"

Surround Sound Speaker Systems