Dell 15" Laptop Deals
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Product summary
Specifications: Product type: AV receiver; Sound output mode: Surround Sound; Built-in decoders: DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, DTS Neo:6, Dolby Digital, DTS decoder, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx; See full specs
Price range: $5,000.00
CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on AV receivers. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of av receiver.
High-end AV receivers ($600 and up)
Audio/video receivers differ quite a bit from old audio-only stereo receivers you might be familiar with. Almost all models have the baseline home theater capabilities: video switching, 7.1 channels of sound, and basic Dolby and DTS surround decoding. And even many inexpensive receivers now utilize HDMI inputs and outputs, which offer the potential for all-digital audio and high-def video hook-ups on a single cable.
In a perfect world, power ratings would give some indication of the loudness potential of AV receiver. But unfortunately, not every 100-watt-per-channel receiver is created equal. What's inside does make a difference, and beefy power transformers and capacitors are not only heavy but also expensive; that's part of what you're paying for here. And while the THX certification is mostly a marketing gimmick, it's usually a sign of more-honest power ratings--although you shouldn't pay more just for THX.
Some high-end receivers have Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections through which they can stream audio or Internet radio on a home network. Since these features can be added to a home theater system with the purchase of a separate media streamer (such as the Apple TV or Logitech Squeezebox), there's little advantage to paying extra to have them bundled into the receiver itself.
Look for a receiver with as many HDMI inputs as possible, and one that offers analog-to-digital video conversion (sometimes called "HDMI upconversion"), so any non-HDMI AV sources will still appear on the receiver's HDMI output. Also, avoid receivers that offer only "HDMI video passthrough," which means that the audio soundtrack requires a separate cable. For those models with analog-to-digital video conversion, you'll need to make sure the system also has a good video processor (just like a DVD player). Poor processors mean ugly looking video from non-HDMI analog sources (such as the Nintendo Wii or an older DVD player); the better the processing, the better the image conversion from those sources.
For additional information, please see CNET's Surround sound buying guide
User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 7 reviews
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Showing 3 of 7 user reviewsSee all 7 user reviews
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13 out of 13 people found this review helpful
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12 out of 12 people found this review helpful
"Excellent A/V Receiver with 4 HDMI Inputs and Video Up-Conversion"
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Pioneer Elite VSX-84TXSi:
