Receiver and Processor Reviews

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.

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.

Onkyo has recently added a new line of receivers to its already long list of stellar audio/video equipment. The new TX-SR606 is the latest upgrade to the well reviewed TX-SR605.In one-upmanship, it has the added features of 4 HDMI (1.3) inputs and Audyssey 2EQ. SIRIUS and IPod docking are available, too. This is my first foray in using Audyssey and I was anxious to take it for a test drive in my upstairs, dedicated media room. MSRP is $599, which puts this receiver in the entry to mid range in price (though I have seen a street price as low as $399), and for the money, the 606 comes very well equipped!

At $899, the Onkyo TX-SR706 is Onkyo's least expensive THX certified model and an interesting product within Onkyo's range of receivers. It is the lowest priced receiver in Onkyo's line-up that offers all the features I want in a receiver including HDMI 1.3 inputs, HD audio processing, Audyssey room equalization and pre-amp outputs. With its solid feature set and reasonable price, I was excited to see how the TX-SR706 would perform.

When Denon finally made good on their promise to deliver to market a separate processor/amplifier, (the AVP-A1HDCI and POA-A1HDCI) I wondered where the receivers at the top would fit in.  The last flagship receiver I'd reviewed was the AVR-5805 in May of 2005 and I wished it was in two components. But there are those that still want one box, saving space, wires and some money too.Now that the pre/pro/amp is out, the receivers can be downsized, thankfully. The new AVR-5308CI weighs 35 pounds less and stands 3 inches shorter than its predecessor 5805.  But feature-wise, the 5308 is substantially ahead of the 5805, which is why it's here for me to review.

Marantz enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the finer consumer electronics companies in the audio/video industry, with products ranging from affordable home theater receivers to the “audiophile” 2-channel components of their highly regarded Reference Line. They also produce some of the best front projection units in the business. While not being sold at many “big box” retailers, Marantz has continued to thrive by producing quality products and selling them primarily through specialty retailers and custom installers. As I unboxed the SR6003 receiver, I was immediately struck by the desire to like this unit. The elegant curves of the front face panel combined with a readily apparent solid build quality captured my attention.  Did the Marantz SR6003 have the audio/video prowess to match its beauty? Let's find out.

Last year Onkyo introduced a truly stunning product, the TX-SR605, which offered HDMI 1.3 inputs, HD audio processing and a host of other advanced features at the amazing price point of $599. As 2007 has moved to 2008, Onkyo has now introduced their TX-SRxx6 series receivers and a new model, the Onkyo TX-SR576, that looks to move some of the TX-SR605's novel features to an even lower $479 price point.

With the TX-SR806 Onkyo further pushes the bar of what can be done within a $1100 Reciever:  THX Ultra2 Plus certification, 1080 line video processor, and the full suite of audio processing.  Did they give anything up?  Our Brian Florian investigates.