Denon AVR590 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver with 1080p HDMI Connectivity Review

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(More customer reviews)After spending weeks of researching A/V receivers, I chose the AVR-590 to replace my old, non-HDMI Sony receiver. I had a 5.1 setup and didn't need anything fancy, but I didn't want something mediocre either. On paper, this model had all the features I needed (HDMI switching and automatic speaker setup) for a very reasonable price.
This is my first Denon receiver, and I have been using for over a month.
Setup - I consider myself technically inclined, so when I read the manual for the first time, it wasn't too complicated. However it's layout is not very intuitive, so I can see where people who are technically challenged may have issues with the Denon manual. I went to the BatPig Web site to download instructions, just in case I had a brain fart reading the manual...I found that both the BatPig instructions and the Denon manual complimented each other well, so setup ended up being pretty easy. You have the option of setting up the receiver with the speakers either manually or automatically. Being naturally lazy, I opted for automatic (Audyssey) setup using the included microphone. When doing automatic setup, be sure to use the on-screen menu and definitely test all 6 sound locations to get an accurate audio "sweet spot".
Sound - Wow. This is where going through the setup pays off. Whether you're watching something with Dolby Digital/DTS encoding or just listening to music, the sound is very full and crisp. You have several sound field settings to chose from, as well as manual volume adjustment to suit your listening tastes. I use HDMI for the HD and Blu-Ray sources and Digital Optical for DVD sources. Although the speaker system I have in place is modest, it handles all audio sources beautifully. Listening to music or sounds from TV/movies is an absolute treat to the ears with this receiver.
Video - Excellent. With the AVR-590, I used its HDMI out for video from DirecTV and Blu-Ray sources. I hooked up Component video for my DVD changer, because it is a pre-HDMI device. The receiver uses the most current HDMI standard (1.3a), and picture on my 120Hz LCD from both outputs is vivid and sharp, with no ghost images or signal loss at all. Watching from any video source is pure (pardon the pun) eye-candy.
Performance - Excellent. One evening, I did my best couch potato imitation and watched a bit of DirecTV HD & a couple of Blu-Ray movies for nearly 8 hours straight. Afterward, I checked the receiver to see if it was getting hot, and surprisingly there was hardly any heat coming from it. Dynamic EQ seems to work, as I have not noticed any of those annoying commercials that scare the bejeezus out of me when watching TV programming. I definitely feel like I'm in a theater when watching anything on this system.
Overall - Excellent. Even with decent speakers and a good LCD, plugging in a new receiver really makes a difference...I now find myself losing track of time while listening to vibrant sound and watching brilliant video! If you have under $400 to spend on a quality 5.1 receiver, this is it. Don't mind what others have said about setup issues, because it really isn't that difficult to set up. For the features that it offers at its price range and the performance you get in return, I do feel you get the best "bang for your buck".


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The Denon AVR-590 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver - The Perfect Balance of Performance, Technology and Affordability. Performance, technology and affordability are the hallmarks of the AVR-590. A powerful 5 channel x 75W amplifier section delivers detail and dynamics to music and movie soundtracks. It's equipped with 1080p compatible HDMI 1.3a Repeating technology, delivering both audio and video to your HDTV with single HDMI cable. This HDMI connectivity supports the latest generation surround sound formats available on Blu-ray disc, including Dolby TrueHD and DD+, dts-HD and dts-HR. Also included is Dolby Laboratories new Pro Logic IIz Matrix decoding featuring front height effects channels that expands front soundstage. The AVR590 boast a number of Audyssey technologies. Advanced Audyssey MultEQ analyzes a speaker systems interaction with room acoustics, and then delivers custom tailored correction processing to optimize clarity and tonal balance throughout the listening space. Audyssey Dynamic Volume is an automatic volume-leveling system that tracks audio dynamics to eliminate the irritating volume swings between TV shows and commercials. Audyssey Dynamic EQ is also on board to ensure rich bass and smooth tonal balance at low volume listening levels. In addition to enhanced HDMI 1.3 repeating (3 in, 1 out), the AVR590 features component video switching (2 in, 1 out), analog to HDMI conversion (480i to 480p) and seven analog inputs. A front-panel audio/video input allows quick and easy connection of camcorders and game systems. System setup is simplified by a new, enhanced icon-based on-screen display that is delivered over HDMI. System expansion is available with optional accessories. For media networking, use the optional ASD-3N and ASD-3W. For iPod connectivity, use the ASD-3N/3W, as well as the ASD-11. When connecting iPod and other MP3 players, the AVR-590 features Denon's exclusive Compressed Audio Restorer to improve sound quality and dynamics.

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Samsung HW-D7000 HW-D7000 Blu-ray/Reciever (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I had to return this item for refund. Not sure if the problem is just with this model or other Samsung recievers. Just a few minutes after turning it on, a message comes up saying "PROTECTION" and turns off. I called Samsung support. They said this is due to an overheating issue. There was several inches of space around the receiver for ventilation. They had me reset the receiver and had the same problem. My options were to send to Samsung for repair or send back to Amazon for replacement or refund. Amazon would not replace it, they only offered a refund. I don't believe they're even selling this model any longer.

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Sony STRDH820 7.2 Channel 3D AV Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me start off by saying that I'm not new to home theater equipment. I've been using receivers for about 10 years now (SONY STR-* receivers) and have been generally happy with them.
When looking for an upgrade from my previous 7.1 receiver to one that supports the new HD audio formats (DTS-HDMA, Dolby TrueHD, LPCM), this one seemed to be the newest, cheapest, full-featured model available (about 300 dollars) without going for last years' model for slightly less. When I mention my "previous receiver", I'm referring to a ~4 or so year old STR-DV10 receiver that cost about 200 bucks at the time (new/retail price).
The first surprise was that this is actually a 7.2 receiver (even stated as such on the box) - it has 2 Subwoofer outputs on the back (Amazon is listing it as a 7.1 channel receiver).
One important thing to me were the speaker outputs on the back - these are all "banana plug" style, making it MUCH more convenient to attach speakers (my previous receivers were the same, but looking at other models it seems like this isn't exactly something that comes standard on all receivers - the others I looked at used the other connection method).
Regarding the speakers, one important thing to note is that the traditional 5 channels are all there (Center, Front left/Right, Surround left/right) but the other 2 channels are split between: SURROUND BACK, FRONT HIGH, BI-AMP, or FRONT B - this means you can only use one of these modes (so if you want to use a 7.1 system, you can't also have a separate "B Speakers" setup). Not important to me, but worth noting in case it's important to you. My previous sony receiver (STR-DV10) had 7 Banana plug inputs (for the 7.1) plus 2 Banana plug inputs for the "B" speakers.
Inputs on the back are:
4 HDMI in, 1 HDMI out
2 Component in, 1 Component out (it actually SAYS 3 component in everywhere, but unless the COMPONENT OUT can be swapped to Component In, there are only 2 inputs).
About 7 Stereo (red/white) inputs and multiple outputs, 4 of them having a video (yellow) input. (1 of these Red/White/Yellow inputs is on the front)
1 Digital Coaxial input
2 Optical Inputs
1 AM input, 1 FM input (plus antennas)
1 USB input (on the front)
I will note that there is no S-Video input - my previous receivers had this and I *DID* use it years ago. I don't have any S-Video devices any longer, but it is worth noting (for those who do) there is no S-Video option here (RCA, Component or HDMI). My previous receiver had 3 S-Video inputs right next to the RCA inputs.
I didn't have a need for the RCA (red/white/yellow) inputs, so I can't go too into detail about them - if you have a specific question, leave a comment and I'll try to check for you.
It is a bit disappointing that there is a lack of Optical inputs - a number of my devices still use optical audio (and have no HDMI output -- the original XBox 360, some tuners and slightly older hardware - having only 2 Optical inputs is a problem for me (my previous SONY receiver had 4 optical and 2 digital coaxial)).
The design is somewhat good, somewhat bad.
I like the black metal - much nicer than my previous (Silver) sony receiver. On the downside, most of the buttons are removed from the receiver. My last one let you do just about EVERYTHING from the receiver, the new one seems to have combined buttons (the Input Select, for example, is no longer a button you press for the input you want (EX: Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, DVD, Game, Aux) but rather a jog-dial you turn to select what you want. The nice blue "Multi Channel Decoding" LED up front is gone, but not a big deal. Lastly, the RCA input on the front doesn't look too great - it would have been nice to have a flip-cover on this, but again that's just nit-picking.
One unexpected surprise is the inclusion of an iPod/iPhone dock - all throughout the materials it says "iPod/iPhone connection cord (sold separately)", but it includes a dock (with USB cable and Video cable) - both of these connect to the front of the receiver. In addition to the iPod/iPhone dock, you can plug in a USB drive or select MP3 players to listen to music. A nice addition.
Another surprise was the inclusion of a microphone for Auto Calibration. I haven't tested this, but the microphone has a nice reach (probably 15 feet?), making it long enough for most rooms. This is supposed to automatically set the levels of the speakers for you.
The remote control, to me, was a nightmare. It looks like the PS3 remote control (nice!) but is about 2" taller.
The problem is that they try to add EVERYTHING to the remote control. Half the buttons have multiple functions (theres a "shift" button), and it's near impossible to find some stuff.
AutoCal, Display, Sound Optimizer, Sound Field+, Sound Field-, Guide, GUI Mode, Tools/Options, Disc Skip, iPhone ctrl, Top Menu, Menu, TV Input, Wide, F1, F2, Auto Vol, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, D. Tuning, Folder+, Folder-, to name a few.
I'm sure these are good to have, but it's just very confusing to deal with when you might rarely use any of these (which was nice previously when they were part of the physical buttons on the unit (or even menu options) on previous models. Having "Next Chapter" and "Shuffle" be the same button, "Stop" and "D. Tuning, " Auto Cal and Display, it's just confusing.
The purpose is so that you can program it to work with your TV, Blu-Ray player, etc.. but for those who just want to use it for the receiver functions (and use your existing remote controls) this is just a hassle.
Some buttons I don't even understand - I get the "Prev. Chapter"/"Next Chapter" button, the "Rewind"/"Fast Forward" button, but then there's another button for "Replay the previous scene or fast forward the current scene".
One thing my previous receiver didn't have was an onscreen GUI - maybe I was expecting too much from this (I was expecting an overlay on top of the screen input), it actually cuts out the video/audio and goes to a very basic GUI (graphical user interface) on screen. Fortunately you can control menu options by pressing GUI MODE on the remote control until it says "GUI OFF", then press the HOME/MENU button on the remote control to navigate the same options on the receivers' display.
The remote control has a "Bravia Sync" mode, which is supposed to let you control connected SONY products using the remote control. Check your products before though, to see if they work (the old, "Fat" PS3 doesn't support this, the new "Slim" PS3 does). This did cause issues with my Panasonic plasma (Panasonic has a feature called VieraLink which is supposed to do the same thing, but when BraviaSync and VieraLink try to interact, it causes the receiver to constantly go into MUTE mode. This can be solved by disabling VieraLink on the TV).
My next problem with this is the manual. So much of it is just downright confusing (even for someone who has always "gotten" this stuff in the past). It refers to different logos ("Select (weird logo) then press (weird logo)". Sometimes these are a physical button on the remote, sometimes it's an odd icon you only see onscreen using GUI mode. It's also just downright confusing to read (not that it's too technical, but that some stuff just doesn't make sense)
So I've complained for almost this entire review, but I still gave it a 4-star rating. Why?
Well, I like it. The sound quality is great, it has a lot of HDMI inputs and can decode all the latest formats (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio), has a lot of power and doesn't cost too much money. My issues are mostly with it being more confusing (they seemed to both simplify it and make it more advanced, and you can't really do both). For someone who has never had issues with receivers, this one was a nightmare to get set up properly, but once that's done it doesn't matter. I would have made some changes to it (7 RCA inputs but only 2 Optical inputs?), but overall it fit my needs. I'd recommend it if you have patience to fight through getting this set up.

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Enjoy 7.1 channels of incredible surround sound, connect up to seven HD sources6 and listen to music from your iPod5 with Sony's STR-DH820 receiver. Improve the quality of connected video sources to near HD quality3 or experience incredible sound quality while you watch 3D sports, movies and games from connected 3D devices1. This great receiver also features an easy-to-use menu for simple operation and convenient audio calibration set-up, so you are assured the best possible listening experience

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Samsung HW-C500 AV Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)Just got this a few days ago to complement my Samsung BD and Plasma. Replaced an older Samsung 5disc DVD HT, so used the Samsung speakers from it. Sound is good, no problems with video, either from the BD with a DVD being upconverted, a HD Tivo hooked up - tried all resolutions from Tivo, PC via HDMI, and video/audio via Iphone all played/looked/sounded great. Took a while to get used to the interface (-1 star), an on-TV screen menu would have been nice (if there is one, have not come across it - and my older DVD HT system had one).
Having the same issue with the remotes looking too similiar, as another reviewer pointed out - although that's not a flaw with the product, more myself. Although all hooked through Anynet makes life easier.
The automatic sound calibration (ASC) was a nice feature during set up - very simple to calibrate the speaker levels, just push a button and wait.
To clarify another reviewer comment (perhaps Amazon changed the photo since then) the HW-C500 has twist style connectors, that also accept a banana connector as well.

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5.1 Channel,(100Watt x 5),Crystal Amp Pro,4 HDMI inputs,2 Component inputs

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Sony STR-DN1020 3D Blu-ray Disc A/V Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Howdy!
It's been a banner fifteen months. I've been able to slowly upgrade to my A/V system from a crappy one to one of extraordinary magnitude. Yes... my days of watching "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" on the Sony Betamax are over. Now I've been out of the A/V game for some time and have been boning up on what the new technology has to offer. There is amazing gear and technology that is available to people at great prices. The journey I've made, and I'm not talking about the band that replaced Steve Perry with a dude they found on YouTube, has allowed me to update my A/V gear to include the following...
1 Sony STRDN1020 Receiver
1 Sony Bravia NX 800 Series 52' LED TV
1 Sony PS3 Slim 160GB
4 Mediabridge HDMI cables
1 Belkin Subwoofer Cable

Sure I'm a loyal Sony customer, but it's because they have treated me well over the years and I have the stash of still working, but outdated, gear to prove it.
Current SONY holdings...
1 Sony Betamax (1982) Make an offer!
1 Sony VHS Player (1985)
1 SONY HIFI VHS Player (1986)
1 Sony Laserdisc Player (1990)
1 Sony 36" Bravia TV (1995?) Estimated weight 2.56 metric tons
1 Sony 5.1 receiver (1999)
Now I don't want to come off as a Sony snob so I do want to mention that I have the following non-Sony items in my electronic stash.
1 Hasbro Litebrite (1981) Crystal clear pixel display but runs a little hot.
1 Hasbro Easy-Bake Oven (1975) A man's got to eat but runs a little cool.
1 Motorola M500 Bag Phone (1978) Looks great in my 1982 TransCamaro with the T-TopsSo here's my review of the Sony STRDN1020 receiver.
DELIVERY:
It took a week for the arrival but that's because I live in the middle of nowhere (Think Rudolph's trek to the land of broken toys) and didn't pay for expedited shipping. At time of delivery the UPS guy was very impressed with the receiver and it's features having read them off the box. He threw in a pair of complimentary fist bumps. That alone has to be worth one star on the review scale. The box was sealed to protect that "New Stuff Smell".
SETUP:
Well it took longer to extract the old receiver and 83 miles of attached RCA and S-Video cables then it did to install the STRDN1020 and the 3 HDMI, 1 Subwoofer, and 1 network cables. God bless you HDMI inventors wherever you are.
Actual setup was about an hour with 70% of the time spent trying to attach five speakers to the receiver's rear terminals. Folks... PLEASE don't be a cheap a-hole like me... get yourself some banana plugs. I have learned my lesson. NEVER again will I risk peersonal injury to hook up some speakers. Can you really put a price on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? I hope I don't miss any work ... my dog needs braces.
The included manual was easy to follow and there is a chart on how to hook up your speakers and other components. I initialized the receiver and set up the speaker pattern, network, and audio calibration in about fifteen minutes. The GUI is easy to use but not as intuitive as the menus used on Sony's PS3 and TV's, whatever the heck they call it.

SOUND: All Connections VIA HDMI
Bluray VIA PS3 - This rig sounds great. I have a 2002 JBL 5.1 set up and they've never sounded better. Do you know that scene from "The Notebook" where the crew is robbing the armored car? Of course you don't it doesn't exist. God I hate that movie and the unrealistic bar it has set for us working men. Jim Rockford should be ashamed of himself. Anyway... you probably know the opening of the movie "Heat" where Deniro, Waynegrow and the boys, extract some goodies from the armored car. Now I have the movie on VHS HIFI, Laserdisc, DVD, and Bluray so I guess you can say I'm familiar with the audio recordings and playback of each format. The sound of the receiver and bluray was absolutely phenomenal. It really made the movie more intense. I almost called 911 to report a robbery in progress. I can't wait until they release Breakin' 2: Electric Boogalooo bluray. It's 'gonna be some insane sound!
TV - The Audio return channel is a great feature since I utilize our Sony TV to watch Netflix and Amazon on Demand, and to stream my computer's music. All three sources sound awesome and bring more bang to what are already incredible TV features.

PS3 - I played Call of Duty/Black OPS on the PS3 and once again phenomenal sound. In multi-player mode I can now hear those Orange County punks sneaking up behind me. Sure, they still kill me but now they have to look me in the eye when they do it. Backstabbers!
Cable Box - Great Sound. You feel like you are actually in the middle of one of the fights between the Real Housewives of New Jersey until you realize that you aren't because you have your "Stuff" together. Warning! Those A.S.P.C.A commercials with Sarah Mclachlan are now 10 times sadder.

Tuner: Don't useVIDEO:
I have had no video issues. All connections VIA HDMI. The Cable HD looks great. No sync issues with audio and no loss with running the cable through the receiver instead of straight to the TV.
BRAVIA SYNC Sure it's proprietary and only works on Sony gear but it works great. Hooray for me! Proprietary functionality is my one gripe with Sony but you Apple folks have zero right to complain.
Conclusion
I'm looking forward to growing old or should I say older with the receiver. I look forward to firmware updates that may extend the usefulness of the receiver. This may not be the best receiver on the market at the best price but it does everything most people will need and is very simple to operate. With this Sony, I won't have to send my wife to a three day course at a distant Ramada Inn to learn how to operate the damn thing.
I will update this with a review of the network functions once I've had time to utilize them. Also, I don't roll with Apple products so I will not be using the included Ipod dock.


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Maximize your entertainment experience with Sony's STR-DH1020 receiver. Connect seven HD sources,11 listen to your iPod9 and improve the quality of streamed music. Plus, enjoy incredible 7.1 channel sound quality while you watch 3D sports movies and games from connected 3D devices.4 You can even improve video quality to near HD.6 This great receiver also features an easy-to-use control menu for simple control and a convenient audio calibration set-up so you are assured the best possible listening experience

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Denon AVR990 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HDMI Connectivity Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned Denon in the past, and have always found it to be quality Audio gear
Now that I need a Home AVR it was to no surprise after taking a 5 or 6 weeks to decide
I went with Denon AVR990 / 3310IC
I wanted to go with Pioneer SC-25 at it was the Model that I was impressed with, and my needs to have Phono Input - with an input stage (the amplification part for Phono) would sound great! - but I settled for the Denon as I got a better price - not sure what the sound difference is, as I did not have a side by side comparison, but I absolutely love the Denon AVR 990 Phono Input stage, with my JVC QL-Y55F - with GRADO G-2 Cartridge - sounds MUCH better than my CD's that I have the same Copy on both, It is a fun test for when people that come over to see how suspired the Vinyl records sound fuller and richer than CD's - also my speakers are also my speakers are Magnepans (full-range ribbon) - that helps Anyway - the sound is Amazing, and I am very happy with my purchase, as my Previous model for the last 6 years was Harman Kardon - so I wanted to make sure the new model sounded as good or better than my last - as you may have noticed, I felt not go back to Harman Kardon - not because I did not like sound or quality! - The fact is the late models have had Known Issues, I felt better stepping away from that brand for now at least
& Denon & Pioneer certainly fit in that category in my opinion
Key Points for me are as follows:
True HD & DTS-HD Master Audio Decoder
AL24 Processing
7 Channel Discrete Mono Amp Construction
Audyssey Dynamic EQ room acoustic correction system
Onboard HD Radio (even AM)
Network Capability
Compressed Audio Restorer (for when I do stream in lower quality stuff like MP3's)
Now on a negative note: I cannot understand why after using the Very Nice Included Audyssey Dynamic EQ room acoustic correction system I cannot set the Base management for each IE: HD Radio set to -2 or the DVD set to +4 & Phono to Flat?
So yes every time you change the setting in the base management, it goes for all
Please keep in mind I am more about the Music, & given that is the only negative I could think of after owning it now for 4 months, I feel this is a great choice for me.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Denon AVR990 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HDMI Connectivity

The new AVR-990 is a technological tour de force, designed for consumers wanting to network their AV system. Ethernet connectivity opens up your AV system to host of exciting capabilities like audio and jpeg photo streaming and Internet radio. Additionally, subscription music services like Rhapsody and Napster are supported. The AVR990 packs a punch with 7-channels of onboard amplification producing 840-watts of total power (120 per channel). The amplifiers can be assigned for 7.1 channel surround sound, or a 5.1 channel system in the 'main" room and power a pair of speakers in a second 'zone". This only scratches the surface of the AVR990 Multi-zone (2) / multi-source (2) capability. Enhanced power amp assign features, second and third zone programming feature allow the AVR990 to be the hub of a sophisticated whole house system. For video connectivity, the AVR990 is equipped with 1080p compatible HDMI 1.3a Repeating technology, delivering both audio and video to your HDTV with single HDMI cable. This HDMI connectivity supports the latest generation surround sound formats available on Blu-ray disc, including Dolby TrueHD and DD+, dts-HD and dts-HR. Also included is Dolby Laboratories new Pro Logic IIz Matrix decoding featuring front height effects channels that expands front soundstage. The AVR990 boasts a number of Audyssey technologies. Advanced Audyssey MultEQ analyzes a speaker systems interaction with room acoustics, and then delivers custom tailored correction processing to optimize clarity and tonal balance throughout the listening space. Audyssey Dynamic Volume is an automatic volume-leveling system that tracks audio dynamics to eliminate the irritating volume swings between TV shows and commercials.

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Denon AVR-391 5.1 Channel AV Home Theater Receiver with HDMI 1.4a (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Denon AVR 391 does not have a lot of bells and whistles, but if you are looking for a high quality receiver at a reasonable price, you could do a lot worse. This unit has four HDMI ports on the back...and that's about it. It doesn't have any component hookups. It has a few composite connections for audio and video. It also has a few digital audio connections (coaxial and optical). It does not upconvert analog video to 1080p. If you can live without a few of these features you will likely be impressed with what you do get. It decodes pretty much all of the current HD audio codecs. Blu-ray movies look and sound phenomenal through this receiver. I have my PS3 and Xbox360 hooked up to it and my games sound incredible. I even have my Wii's audio passing through this receiver and it sounds good too. I'm not really in to 3D, but this receiver supports HDMI 1.4a, so if you've got a 3D compatible player and TV you're good to go. Generally speaking, it's very simple to hook up and operate. It does not have on screen menus, but configuring the speakers is pretty easy using the units display (it all has to be done manually). The remote isn't great, but it's not bad either. It's fairly intuitive and easy to read. It's not backlit or anything like that. It'll control your iPod via a Denon dock though (which actually does have an on screen menu, but it's not much to look at). If you're just interested in getting the basics (audio and video), then this receiver is a good way to go, especially if all of your components are HDMI.

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Packed with great features that assures a superb 5.1-channel surround sound experience, the Denon AVR-391 supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and it includes the latest HDMI 1.4a technology, which provides for 3D pass-through capabilities to your HDTV (broadcast and Blu-ray). It also features Dolby Pro Logic IIz, a technology that adds a vertical dimension at the front for a more exciting surround sound experience.

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Pioneer VSX-521-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black Review

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(More customer reviews)My choices for an entry level replacement receiver were between this and the Sony STR-DH720. I picked the Pioneer as I was replacing a 10 year old Pioneer that had just recently started acting up and I was quite happy with. This receiver is plenty loud, but I do have two primary complaints. My first (and biggest) is the fact that it doesn't seem to support ARC or Standby Passthrough unless you enable "Control via HDMI" which only works with certain pieces of equipment as is only spelled out in the manual. On the website, they simply have a check-mark next to both features, so I didn't expect either to have caveats. Perhaps I am wrong in thinking that the HDMI signal should pass through the receiver if it is in standby regardless of whether "Control via HDMI" is turned on and regardless of the equipment being Pioneer-compliant, but I feel it was a bit misleading in my mind. Please note that I am no A/V expert, so take what I say with a grain of salt and please research for yourself. In the mean time I am considering leaving the HDMI switching to my display and making use of the dual optical inputs like I did with my old receiver. My other complaint is that the on-screen-display (OSD) is only output through the RCA ports and NOT through HDMI. After purchasing brand new 1.4 HDMI cables and attempting to rid myself of all of the other optical-toslink, etc. cables, I find it a bit retro that you would only allow menu setup to happen through RCA video out. Just my opinions, decide for yourself, but given the info I have now, I believe I would've went with the DH720 and hoped for the best.

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The Pioneer VSX-521 features a Bluetooth wireless audio option with 550 watts of high powered 5.1 home theater audio playback. Other features include 4 HDMI 1.4a 3-D ready inputs, hi resolution Dolby and dts multi-channel audio playback from Blu-Ray discs, Pioneer's proprietary Auto MCACC room calibration system, and On-Screen display.

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Elite VSX-33 A/V Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I am an experience AV and tech person. I had Sunfire, Sony, NAD, even Macintosh. But as I got older I notice that technology has change and sound hasn't. Speakers sound the same and I am sticking with my Paradigms. My last receiver was an Onkyo great price for what it offered. I like new technology and I am early adopter. It's an expensive taste and now that i am older i will slow down on the latest and greatest. I have friends that spent over $5000 for their receiver and i cant tell the difference. The internet market has changed the way people buy and now i am here writing my first review. I explain a little bit about myself so you can understand where the review and point of view is coming from. I am also a CFO so i understand value.
There is nothing negative about this receiver, I highly recommend getting it. If you are smart you can get this $1000 receiver for $680 on the internet. I have the iPad and downloaded the iphone app from Pioneer and works great. The reason I picked this unit is that I do own a 3D TV - Samsung PN58C7000 and BDP6900 3D Blueray player. So I wanted to run all my cables through a 1.4A HDMI receiver. This receiver is feature rich. Now there are several units out there by Sony, Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, and Pioneer. I picked Pioneer unit because they didn't charge another $100 for a docking station for an iPod and you can do so much with this unit.
I live in an apt and therefore the power is adequate at 120Watts per channel. I feel it should be a little heavier but if I wanted that i would have gotten the next model up the SC model with the "D" rated amplifier. But i didn't need that. This unit sounds very clean no hissing noise. Switching between HDMI input is a little slow. I turned off the automated pass through feature that can cause some issues with Samsung Product. I always turn on my Receiver because the sound from the TV is terrible.
My setup is still 5.1 but then again i live in apt in nyc so i don't need 7.1. onkyo offer 9.2 again overkill. The unit has Ethernet connection and i can stream music but the internet radio choices are terrible, i will just use Pandora on my Blueray player instead. Ethernet connection will be good if Pioneer does an software upgrade on the receiver. I haven't tested the DLNA capabilities but i do have DLNA storage unit one by netgear called Stora.
I wish this unit has a PC input like the onkyo but it does not and i do not like the way HDMI from my mac looks on the Samsung Screen either so it doesn't matter. VGA from MAC to TV is just fine with me 720p.
What i like most about this receiver is the surround settings this is a THX receiver and it has many surround sound options more than onkyo or sunfire or any receiver I have played with. Options are great, remote control is easy to use. I have TIVO thru RCN so it can do 1080p. I programmed the Logitech Harmony remote to follow Pioneer VSX-1120 the non-elite version which works great. The VSX-1120 is not much less in price so why pick the VSX-33 Elite version. Build quality is better especially on the front face of the receiver, i believe it is made of aluminum. It's heavier that means the heat sink for the amp is better for cooling and power control, Amber glow, more power, better remote, more inputs, THX, etc. There are a lot of little details i notice that warrant the extra price, but more importantly the ability to expand. You can assign the This receiver is future proof, it has an additional HDMI out in case i want to add a projector. I figure best street price for the VSX-1020 which is below the VSX-1120 is around $449-$499 so the best difference is $180?? to me that is a amazing deal.
The GUI interface on setting up the system is cleaner and better than most receiver. Another big advantage is the Video upconversion which is better than the VSX-32, VSX-31, VSX-1020, VSX-1120, Onkyo SR608 to 808, Denon new models etc. I checked them all out. But i don't care about this feature because everything is passthrough at 1080p for my system.
I hope this info helps, shop around carefully someone is selling this unit for under $700 including tax and shipping. I am highly impressed with this and recommend it for it's features. It can do bi-amping and other things which i was not able to test. I am probably missing alot here on what else the unit can do but to me this is alot of stuff already plus it is 3-zone capable.


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Yamaha YMC-700BL NeoHD WiFi Media Controller/AV Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This unit was very easy to install although finding the IR receivers on the other components was challenging. I wish the remote had numbers on it. I understand making it simple but it makes for slow channel access. I found myself having to keep the digital cable box remote for speed and convenience. I love the internet radio access and the ipod dock is a definite add-on we were glad we purchased. The unit is small and well laid out. This is a good looking piece. Unfortunately we have the tv in a corner and the surround sound is okay but not great. I think if this was set out properly it would work quite well. I do recommend this to anyone looking for a universal remote and good quality amplifier.

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Yamaha YMC-700BL NeoHD Controller

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Pioneer VSX-821-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black Review

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(More customer reviews)The sound is excellent, slightly better than my old Yamaha receiver. Let's call it "more realistic" but the menu interface is miserable.
Pioneer flat out distorts information on their advertisements. For instance, they claim the VSX-821 is compatible with iPod's Audio AND Video. This is not entirely true. For starters you need to be a geek to figure out the connections and which iPod is compatible with what. It is not a plug and play thing they are selling you here. I finally got it to play video but if I had to explain it here, I wouldn't know where to start. Furthermore, the iPod video and images are presented as analogue video through the RCA connector on the front, both, photos and video look mediocre at such low resolution. Black bars all around. I blame "Apple" for most of these quality issues, but it is Pioneer's fault too for hidding these facts in their ads and manuals.
The most offending advertised "feature" is the so called "on-screen" menu which it is just a pixelated text only retro menu and get this, it does not work via HDMI. Yes, that is right, to see the menu you need to hook up a second cable and even then you get very limited on-screen menu choices.
The remote is a mess but I think all the new receivers have similar issues. The most frustrating thing is that the remote did not accept any of the Sony TV codes included in the instructions, and inputing the code is a complex task, more than it should be. As of now I cannot control any other devices with this remote and I resent the excessive steps compared to other remotes..
On the remote you have to keep pressing certain buttons over and over again to stay on a certain modes that time out after a couple of seconds for no reason. If you don't know what I mean, don't worry, is because no one else has built a remote that times out.
Good news, the "sync-mode" works with some Sony Bravia TVs.
The blue LED display on the front does not tell you much, and some of the icons are too small to be read by human eyes. So, I never know if I am listening to a Dolby source, or DTS.
There is no real HDMI pass-through despite what they advertise. The receiver needs to be turned on to pass the signal.
So, what is the advantage of owning this receiver? Well, if you manage to decipher the remote and the hidden menus, you will get pretty decent realistic sound for a reasonable price. Better than what you would get from a Sony receiver for sure.
My opinion? It is a good deal if you are very familiar with electronics and it works better if you never use the HDMI ports.

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The Pioneer VSX-821 features a Bluetooth wireless audio option with 550 watts of high powered 5.1 home theater audio playback. Other features include 4 HDMI 1.4a 3-D ready inputs, hi-resolution Dolby and dts multi-channel audio playback from Blu-Ray discs, iPad / iPhone AV playback with battery charger.

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Pioneer VSX-520-K 5.1 Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered this for a friend as a replacement for a Panasonic SA-HE70 (which got good reviews a few years ago). He isn't disappointed. He now is set for both 3D and blu-ray HiDef. With his Bose speaker system, he doesn't need much power, but this little receiver seems to have alot of it for the money.
This is Pioneer's bottom of the line, but don't let that fool you. It has 3 HDMI 1.4a inputs, decodes Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Audio, and Dolby Pro Logic IIz, is Blue Tooth ready (need adapter), and 3-D video ready. Quite a bargain for $200.
Cons: Spring Clips for surround sound speakers (binding posts for the mains).
If you don't connect with HDMI, DVD audio is monitored thru the "CD" connection. It took a little while to figure this out -causing much anxiety.
If you want a basic surround reciever that is fully capable of supporting all current forms of video and audio, you could do alot worse than the VSX-520-k, and, for the money, you would be hard-pressed to do better.

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Key Features are 110 watts X 5, Dolby True-HD / DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Pro-Logic IIz Height Channel Decoder,Phase Control. The Auto Level Control is 2 Channel. Sound Retriever – 2 channel. Bluetooth Ready with optional AS-BT100 HDMI 1.4 x 3, 3-D Ready, Deep Color & x.v. color. Component Video Inputs (2 in / 1 out) , Front Mini Portable Input, Audio Inputs (4 in / 1out - includes Tuner), Audio/Video Inputs (3 in / 1 out), Digital Inputs (3 - 1 coax / 2opt), Dolby PLIIz Pre-Out, Glossy Black Cosmetic, System Remote Control

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Denon AVR-791 7.1 Channel A/V Home Theater Multi-Source / Multi-Zone Receiver with HDMI 1.4a supporting 1080p and 3D (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are three $500 receivers to consider, if you're buying one in 2010 - Onkyo TX-SR608, Pioneer VSX-1020-K and this one. All three feature the latest HDMI 1.4, which is necessary for 3D signals. Here's how they compare:
-The Onkyo is the most powerful in terms of real world performance, followed by the Denon and finally the Pioneer. All three perform at par for normal listening volumes, but the Onkyo can handle very high volumes the best, while the Pioneer runs out of breath
-The Denon has Audyssey Multi-Eq, which automatically calibrates the receiver for use in your room (a mic is provided). The Onkyo has a similar but less versatile Audyssey 2EQ. Pioneer has its own system called MCACC which also works well, but Audyssey may be slightly better.
-All three can upconvert analog sources via HDMI - hence you'll only need one HDMI cable to connect to the TV. The 1.4 spec supports an audio return channel, so the TV's sound can be output to the receiver without extra cables. The Pioneer and Denon use the excellent Anchor Bay chipset, while the Onkyo uses the slightly inferior Faroudja DCDi chipset for video processing.
-The Pioneer and the Denon have a front USB input where you can connect your iPod directly. You can browse playlists etc using the receiver's remote via the onscreen display. Since this is a digital connection, the sound quality is excellent - while the iPod can be connected to the Onkyo via an analog cable, it does not sound as good and cannot be navigated using the remote.
-The Denon offers an equal variety of inputs as the other two, but has fewer of them - eg, one optical input vs 2 for Pioneer and Onkyo
- The Pioneer's iPhone app is just a gimmick and of limited utility - I would prefer using the main remote.
Overall, I decided to purchase the Denon since it has Audyssey MultiEQ and adequate power (unlike the Pioneer) as well as excellent video processing and iPod connectivity (unlike the Onkyo). I have been using it for about a week and am very pleased with the level of performance offered.
Update on December 3, 2010: The receiver continues to perform well and I have no new complaints. However, I have noticed that both Pioneer VSX-1120-K and Onkyo TX-NR708 are available for ~$500, while discounts on this and other Denon receivers are marginal (here on Amazon). Hence, both those higher spec'd receivers now represent better value than the AVR-791/1911, if you're looking to spend ~$500 on a receiver. Also, the Onkyo TX-SR608 and Pioneer VSX-1020-K are now available for ~$350 and hence have become more compelling alternatives to this receiver.

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Packed with great features that assures a superb 7.1-channel surround sound experience, the Denon AVR-791 supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and it includes the latest HDMI 1.4a technology, which provides for 3D pass-through capabilities to your HDTV (broadcast and Blu-ray). It also features Dolby Pro Logic IIz, a technology that adds a vertical dimension at the front for a more exciting surround sound experience. Additionally, the AVR-791 features Denon's Audyssey MultEQ and AutoSetup capabilities, and it includes a tower type microphone for more accurate measuring.

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Denon AVR2310CI 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with 1080p HDMI Connectivity Review

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(More customer reviews)I looked at all the brands and settled on Denon because they offer a very complete set of features for the money. This model is basically identical to the Denon AVR-890 model sold in big box stores except it has some extra features that are useful for custom installations (if you have your HT installer do it for you) and has two remotes instead of one on the 890
What I liked about this model over many of the competitors:
- Audyssey MultEQ is an advanced auto setup system which adjusts all the settings for your speakers. You plug in the included microphone, it outputs test tones and calculates the optimum settings for you. It takes measurements over 6 positions to ensure that the calibration settings work well over the whole listening area. Audyssey (in my opinion) is a more sophisticated system than what you would find in the competitors like Pioneer and Yamaha. Denon implements the complete set of Audyssey MultEQ features, shows you the resulting settings, and permits you to tweak the settings afterwards even.
- Audyssey Dynamic EQ - This is a GREAT feature. It's not unlike the Dolby Volume feature offered on other brands. What it does is it makes the sound more natural when you have the volume control lower than the reference standard (the volume the studio used for their reference). When you listen at low volumes, the human ear becomes less sensitive to certain tonal ranges, so this circuit helps restore the tonal balance of the sound. It also balances the level of the channels based on your volume level to make sure you can hear the rear channels better at lower volumes. I think this feature works GREAT and it's something anybody can notice. I think this is a must-have feature. Again Denon is to be commended for offering this feature on all their receivers in 2009
- Dynamic Volume is a useful feature to keep the sound level from blasting you when commercials come on. It's nice for watching TV.
- Denon has better control over video and audio settings. You can adjust the crossover frequency individually for each set of speakers. So if you have large speakers in the front and small satellites in the back, you can customize the bass management individually for each pair of speakers, taking advantage of each speakers' full bandwidth. For some reason many other receivers, Pioneer, Marantz, Yamaha often don't have this per-speaker adjustment. If you use Audyssey to set up your system, the Denon will use this capability to optimize your speakers' bass capabilities.
Also, Denon remembers the VIDEO settings for each input so you can have custom brightness, contrast, color for each input.
- Denon 890/2310 uses the Anchor Bay ABT2010 video processor which is a top grade processor. It does a superb job of scaling and deinterlacing video (Anchor Bay's video processor is well reviewed) probably as good or better than most TVs. It works for both analog sources AND HDMI, converting all your video to the maximum resolution of your TV up to 1080P or any other resolution that is optimal for your set. You do have the option to turn it off and passthrough the signals if you don't see a benefit. For most people, unless you have a top of the line TV, this processor can benefit all your sources
- Many receivers take a long time to resync the HDMI signal when you change inputs. On my previous Onkyo, the screen would blank out for 7-12 seconds when I switched from Cable to DVD. The Denon does it as quick as any I've seen, only 2-3 seconds
- Denon has Graphical User Interface over analog and HDMI connections. So you can adjust the settings while a video signal is being played and you will see the menus overlaid on top (especially useful when you are adjusting video settings). Many other receivers only do GUI overlay for analog connections, but not HDMI. With the Denon 890, you can see Volume Level indicator overlaid over the picture while you are playing back HDMI sources.
- It runs very cool. Many receivers run very hot but this one is good if your ventilation is more limited in your AV cabinet.
- It offers Dolby PLIIz, which allows you to run 7.1 speakers and give you height channels (five speakers in the front). I don't use this feature but it's an improvement over a normal 7.1 setup.
The BAD:
- This model does not have Preamp outputs so you can't add an external amp later if you need more power.
- The manual is hard to understand. Fortunately, there are some great FAQ web pages put up by one guy (search for Denon FAQ)which takes all the mystery out of the settings and adjustments
So, the Denon 890 is a superb product that is leading the pack in this price range. They didn't cripple the product in any way except the lack of preamp outputs.
As far as sound quality, it's debatable whether brand X is better than brand Y, but I can say Denon doesn't make poor performing products in general. Their amps are solid performers that are average to above average in meeting their rated power specifications. Even thought this unit isn't the heaviest chassis, it still packs a punch for its price range.

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The new AVR-2310CI was designed for consumers wanting exceptional audio and video performance. Its 7-channel amplifier produces 735-watts of total power (105 per channel), delivering detail and dynamics to music and movie soundtracks. The amplifiers can be configured for 7.1 channel surround sound, or a 5.1 channel system in the 'main" room and power a pair of speakers in a second 'zone". It's equipped with 1080p compatible HDMI 1.3a Repeating technology, delivering both audio and video to your HDTV with single HDMI cable. This HDMI connectivity supports the latest generation surround sound formats available on Blu-ray disc, including Dolby TrueHD and DD+, dts-HD and dts-HR. Also included is Dolby Laboratories new Pro Logic IIz Matrix decoding featuring front height effects channels that expands front soundstage. The AVR2310CI boasts a number of Audyssey technologies. Advanced Audyssey MultEQ analyzes a speaker systems interaction with room acoustics, and then delivers custom tailored correction processing to optimize clarity and tonal balance throughout the listening space. Audyssey Dynamic Volume is an automatic volume-leveling system that tracks audio dynamics to eliminate the irritating volume swings between TV shows and commercials. Audyssey Dynamic EQ is also on board to ensure rich bass and smooth tonal balance at low volume listening levels. In addition to enhanced HDMI 1.3a repeating (5 in, 1 out), the AVR2310CI features 1080p i/p conversion, analog to HDMI upscaling and HDMI to HDMI scaling. Video conversion is accomplished using a premium Anchor Bay Technologies 2010 chip set featuring 10-bit multi-cadence processing. This chip set also provides video noise reduction, picture enhancement, and adjustment capabilities not available on lower priced models. The AVR2310CI also features component video switching (2 in, 1 out), seven analog inputs, and multi-zone (2) / multi-source (2) capability.

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Pioneer VSX-819H-K 5-Channel A/V Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Went to Best Buy to compare the Yamaha RX-V465 and the Pioneer VSX-819H-k. I had read reviews on the Yamaha on several different websites and most were very positive. I could find no reviews for the Pioneer since it just started reaching retailers during the past 2 weeks. I noticed the Yamaha on display and didn't really like the appearance-seemed less substantial in appearance than the Pioneer. They both looked impressive with the online pics. I know you don't buy according to appearances, although aesthetics can weigh in on a tie/deal breaker. I asked to see the Pioneer and the sales rep had to check his stock. They had not displayed a model since they just arrive the day before. He brought a new box out and opened it so I could compare it to the yamaha and we talked about the different features that were important/meaningful on both receivers. The advanced digital sound fields mean nothing to me. On most receivers they are either a variation of Dolby Prologic II or provide sound stage fields with irritating echoes. Every receiver I have owned (currently we have Panasonic and Sony Models)have these digital sound fields and we never use them.
The Yamaha sounded pretty good hooked up to a blu-ray movie at the store. The True HD was unbelievable! The specs on the Yamaha were the same as the Pioneer as far as supporting True HD and DTS-HD through the HDMI inputs-all switchable to the one HDMI output. The Yamaha has 4 HDMI inputs/1 ouput and the Pioneer has 3 HDMI inputs/ 1 output. I did a mind calculation on the spot and decided 3 outputs were sufficient for my set-up (Dish sat/Sylvania blu-ray/Panasonic DVD Recorder.) The THD was .9 for the Yamaha and .05 for the Pioneer. I don't know how significant that is but the Pioneer seems that it would have clearer sound at low volume with less distortion. The Quick set-up using a microphone placed at your normal listening position are also similar. The Yamamha calls it YPAO while Pioneer calls it MCACC. Most receivers have some variation of this at the mid-price range. The back of the receivers were similar as far as inputs/outputs but the Pioneer had the banana plugs for wiring (which I prefer) while the Yamaha had spring clips for some of the speakers. I won't go into any further specs/features-just go to the company websites or here at Amazon.
Well, I chose the Pioneer. It looked more solid and had some additional features that seemed important to me. I could always return it if I was less than satisfied. I did mention (I am no slouch) that since it was an open box-could I get an "open box" discount? The sales rep laughed (he had opened it for me) and said "why not". So off I went with my 10% discount on a brand new Pioneer VSX-819H-K receiver.
Well, I am tired today! I spent about 2 hours setting it up in the den and removing a Sony which is going to the master BR. But I am VERY HAPPY. This thing sounds fantastic. The set-up was easy. I played the Blu-ray disc "Hitman" and it was like you were inside the screen with the DTS-HD giving you that feeling! Here's the weird thing- I have ordered a set of Yamaha surround speakers from another website (at that time I was somewhat sure that I was going to Purchase the Yamaha model) not that it matters-I'm sure that they'll sound fine with the Pioneer. Back to the weird- The speakers that I am currently using have not been placed on the walls or configured for surround sound-since I had taken them down and re-wired with 16 gauge wire. Since I should receive the Yamaha speakers in a few days I didn't replace the speakers back on the walls etc. I decided to do the QUICK SETUP with the right front on the floor tilted up toward my seating position-the left front 3 ft. off the floor on my AV rack- the center speaker on top of the TV- the 2 rear surrounds are on the floor behind me in the corners also tilted towards my seating position and my Sony subwoofer disconnected. (wired so I couldn't connect it to the Pioneer.) I guess the MCACC SETUP is really precise/accurate because the Blu-ray DVD was phenominal in it's surround direction. Just think when I get the new speakers appropriately set up in the surround configuration!? I think anyone will be happy with this AV receiver. I am a happy camper in my den surrounded by HD SOUND!! P.S. Try to find a store that just received them and ask them to open the box and then ask for a discount!! LOL

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As the VSX-819H-K was designed specifically as a high definition control center with HDMI connectivity for sources such as Blu-ray Disc players and HD-Audio decoding capabilities, youre assured ultimate performance. Even with portable entertainment demands increasing every day and devices such as the iPhone becoming the de facto choice for many with respect to enjoying their photos, videos and music, the VSX-819H-K still delivers. Connecting to your iPhone, iPod and iTouch devices, the VSX819H has never been easier with a front USB port and included cable. And because its Works with iPhone certified, the VSX-819H-K delivers a multitude of features designed to bring the entertainment stored on your iPhone into your home theater.

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Sony STR-DH710 7.1-channel A/V Receiver with 6 HD Inputs Review

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(More customer reviews)I read the two negative reviews with apprehension when I bought this product. However, I took the advice of an amazon supervisor and gave it a shot. HDMI pass through works great on audio and video, even though the instructions in the manual are confusing by showing other configurations. I recommend hooking up all hdmi cables from the quick set-up sheet and ignore other configurations in the manual. Also, I did not perform the speaker callibration.
Set up was more difficult because I use an A/B configuration. My indoor speakers run on A, then I switch off the front indoor and switch on my outdoor speakers using front B. Support from Sony was not the best and I had to call back several times. Tech support associates assumed everything was ready, repeating the company line about automatic detection but that's not entirely accurate. Here's the scoop, Sony sets these receivers up for basic home theater use and specialized options, like A/B, will likely require amp menu changes. Also, older equipment like tv's etc may require changes and/or loss of function like the theater button (which is not a big deal for me because I like to manually choose my sound using sound field on the remote). I just don't understand why A/B isn't turned on automatically at the factory, or why they didn't make A/B turn on automatically if speakers were attached to the B channel, now that would be auto detection!
Here's the deal if you are running A/B configuration you need to use the amp menu button on your remote, select speaker pattern, using up and down in the center controls of remote and choose 3/2.1 plus the middle bullseye for enter. Now SB assign is no longer grayed out and you can turn on B, also under the amp menu speaker option. I read a review on a different Sony receiver that said basically Sony turns off a lot of options, so the user has to manually turn these on and I completely agree with that assessment, plus I would add that Sony does not do a good job of outlining this in the instructions. That's why you shouldn't get frustrated, just call support early and multiple times if you don't feel like you are getting the right answer. Sometimes I had to reference the page of the directions, state clearly the function I wanted to perform and not accept their pat answer which is use the sound field button, or automatic detection. Neither of those things work if you have to turn on/adjust speaker options and/or adjust other devices like tv and dvd player.
Overall, the instructions were very confusing and tech support associates were at times impatient and/or condescending. It has great sound, although sound effects sometimes drown out the center channel speaker. You must use at least the front and center speakers to hear words in movies, plus it automatically turns off your tv volume. It sort of takes control over your tv which is convenient but doesn't allow for any manual overrides. So if you want to use your tv for the center channel, or to boost the sound of the spoken words in a movie, no dice. Before I was using a yamaha and it was manual enough to use the tv for the center channel speaker. Also, the yamaha has just a little better sound quality but I am splitting hairs.
What makes this a better product is that it works/plays better with other devices, no quirks or freezing up, plus remote codes are a snap. There are a lot more bells and whistles but you will probably need to ask support for help with any configuration beyond home theater. Overall, a pretty good product for the price. The positives more than outweigh the negatives.
Hint1: MULTI ST works great for music (basically plays left & right stereo out of all speakers.)
Hint2: Purchase a special cord with a left and right rca output on one end and an mp3 jack on the other, usually sells for $5-10. Hook up the rca cord ends to the front of the receiver and the other goes into where the headphones plug into the mp3 player. Choose video2 on your receiver remote and turn up your mp3 player to full volume, just change the volume from your receiver, not mp3. Now enjoy all your mp3 player's music throughout the house!

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Ignite your home entertainment experience with the STR-DH710 7.1-channel A/V receiver. With six HD inputs (3 HDMI and 3 component), you can take full advantage of all your high-definition components including a Blu-ray Disc player or PS3 system. Everything you hear will sound as close to the master recording as possible with Dolby TrueHD and dts HD decoding technologies. This receiver also features wireless 2nd zone audio capabilities, which allows you transmit wireless audio in up to 10 additional rooms via optional S-AIR accessories. Plus, access all of your HDMI connected devices without having to power on the receiver thanks to standby pass-through.

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