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Audioholics Featured Reviews
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Yamaha RX-V863 AV Receiver Overview
The RX-V863 is the top of the new mid line receiver offerings from Yamaha. It sports HDMI 1.3 inputs, internal decoding of all the latest HD audio formats, 1080p analogue video upconversion, and two subwoofer outputs. All the bells and whistles include and HD radio tuner, 7x105 watts, and no less that 17 surround modes. All that and more for just under $1k!
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EMP ECA-4 & ECA-44 Compact Satellite Speaker System Review
This is a must have solution for any application requiring a compact clutter free and inconspicuously mounted installation. For a limited time, EMP is extending 50% off their MSRP which makes this system even more attractive and a very uncommon value. So basically $500 gets you 5 high performance compact satellite speakers. I recommend pairing this system with two small but potent subs and you’ve got a “cubed speaker system” killer for under $1k.
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Recently Reviewed
When we got our first glimpse of Epson's Pro Cinema 1080UB at the 9th Annual Audioholics State of the CE Union Event in Clearwater Beach, Florida, we knew we were in for a treat. We had already reviewed the excellent Pro Cinema 1080, and the UB - short for Ultra Black - only took a good projector and made it even better. This review is more of a comparison and evaluation of the new features than a full descriptive overview of everything about the 1080UB. If you want the full blow-by-blow, take a look at our review of the Pro Cinema 1080 and you'll find everything you need to help you evaluate the full complement of this projector's features.
After all the hype and "best game in a million years" talk, I just couldn't resist. This is the first GTA game I've played mostly because of timing. I was out of gaming for all of the other GTA games so I'm looking at this through "virgin" eyes. First of all "The Best Game Ever?" Um... No. No it isn't. So far it is cool and I'm enjoying it but it is far from the best game. The sheer size of it it staggering and the thought put in to all the characters is great but the best game... sorry.
We were more than skeptical when we first heard of the Focupix electric screens. Their retail price hovered around $799 for a 104-inch screen, however the typical street price was just $329.99. With a retail drop-off that steep we wondered how on earth anyone could pack enough equipment into the box to make this screen actually function. It turns out these electric screens must be easier to make than I thought. The overall quality and performance of the Focupix HDVio screen had us rethinking what an electric screen should truly cost the average consumer.
Could the MB Quart Alexxa B-One speakers be manufactured in Hades? I ask this because, as I am sure you know, the devil is in the details. And detail is what these speakers are all about. They present a very detailed reproduction of music, and there is also great detail in the fit and finish. But fear not, I will not be forced to consider damnation after all, as the Alexxas are not the handiwork of Beelzebub, but rather that of a storied team of engineers in Germany. (But they are one hell of a pair of bookshelf speakers.)
The last Pioneer receiver review I personally did was in 2005 on an entry-level product (the VSX-815) which struck me as a good balance between available features and power. It will seem pretty obvious when I say that this flagship Elite AV receiver product trumps my last experience by quite a bit. It also, however brings a certain amount of expectation. Being a top of the line model, the VSX-94TXH has a lot of competition and is going to need to distance itself in some areas before being crowned the leader in any particular department.
The Planet Waves DIY Home Theater Kit proved to be a versatile product for the end user and custom installer alike. It’s probably the easiest self terminating system I have come across and the fact that you can pretty much utilize any conceivable analog termination on the market with a simple twist on connector and fastening screw is something every home theater aficionado and cable installer should have in their bag of tricks. If you’re looking to customize/shorten your cable lengths while clearing out the cable spaghetti in the back of your rack, this is an excellent solution to consider.
While the EMP EF50 speaker system does sacrifice a bit of performance at the altar of aesthetics, it is very little performance for a whole lot of aesthetic gain. The tiny sub belies its performance and impact and the surround speakers sound too good to be surrounds. The removable faceplates may be a bit gimmicky, but it's a good gimmick. If this is your first foray into home theater and you want to do it right this is the set for you.
With slick and modern aesthetics, conservative power rating and quality digital signal processing, the Harman/Kardon AVR-147 is a full featured A/V receiver. For around $500 you get HDMI switching, one button EzSet/EQ auto calibration and the signature sound that Harman Kardon fans rave about.
At a rock bottom price of only $349.95, the Yamaha RX-V463 is an incredible value for those looking to get into a home theater receiver on the cheap without making a huge sacrifice in quality or features.
The Evolve wireless sound system from Griffin Technology brings yet another iPod speaker system to a crowded market category. But the Evolve stands alone as the first truly wireless speaker system I have reviewed, and it proved to be a great little product that any iPod owner will be interested in checking out.
Pro Reviews
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