Beyerdynamic have long been thought of as one of the top manufacturers of audiophile headphones for the discerning pro and home user, the DT990s have been getting universally positive reviews since their release so I was happy to get my hands on a pair for a short hands on test recently. I got my hands on a nicely pre burnt in set of the 250 Ohm version of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium headphones (32 Ohm & 300 Ohm configurations are also available) from my good friend Tom Atkins who has been using them for the last 6 months or so. He rates them highly and almost thrust them upon me to have a listen, I’m really glad he did. So what can I say about the DT990 Premiums? We lets just say that after a couple of weeks with them I’m very impressed though after seriously considering retiring my Sennheiser HD-280 Pros and getting a pair for my own home studio work I have decided that they are possibly too bass heavy for mix work.

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Having said that this is not because the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premiums are in any way sub par, no not at all for a home hifi user the DT 990s can be considered an unmitigated success. They are to my mind extremely comfortable and easy to wear pair of open back cans. They are in fact very listenable, smooth and comfortable to wear for long periods of time, The classic EQ smile curve is evident in the sonic profile of these cans and as such I would recommend them for those who quite like a slight bump in the bass and top end of their signal. The mid range is smoothe, dynamic and extremely easy to listen to, I never experienced any listening fatigue or sense of “unreality” from the mid range. The 990s are sonically a very pleasurable experience.

The stereo field of these headphones is quite incredible with an amazing level of detail in the stereo positioning of instrumentation. Each instrument gets a very impressive and solid positioning with the listener getting a powerful sense of where they are in the mix. The overall sound is extremely natural and smooth feeling though with a slight amount of over accentuation from time to time in the upper mids.

All in all I would highly recommend the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium Headphones to anyone who wants a very strong contender for best in class home user headphones, with the caveat that they are not quite flat enough in response for pro audio mixing or mix testing. you will be hard pressed to get much better for under $500. In a word I would call the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium Headphones “Immersive”.

Technical Details
The famous DT 990 Premium, 250 ohm version; Stereo Headphone excellent open ear design, true sound reproduction
Made in Germany, innovative “Bass reflex” system for excellent audio performance
Open design, includes carry case, 11 oz light weight
Gold vaporized stereo 3.5 mm mini-jack & 6.35 mm adapter included
2 year warrangty serviced in the U.S.
List Price $349.00 (Check Current Pricing on Amazon)

The Harman Kardon HK 3390 sits in a much overlooked niche, the 2 channel stereo (non AV) receiver. It seems more and more that the needs of the stereo oriented end user are being ignored in favour of the 5.1 and 7.1 av consumer. I guess the manufacturers make more money on speakers that way.

While the name Harman Kardon may not be a household name to your average consumer they have had a good reputation for making solid no nonsense hi fi components to those in the know. The Harman Kardon HK 3390 Stereo Receiver is a very good example of this, the HK 3390 is aimed squarely at the informed home user who needs a no nonsense stereo amplifier/receiver and doesn’t need a “brand name” badge to go with it.

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So after that little screed lets move on to the actual product itself. The HK 3390 has a minimalist black and grey frontage with small and almost too well hidden series of front panel controls for tuning, source selection, station changing etc. I quite look the look of the unit, its not too fussy but by the same token makes all the commonly used functions easy to access with a minimum of fuss. The frontage also sports headphone out, a single video input and a matching stereo input. The back panel is as you would expect a lot busier, as I said earlier this unit is not really oriented towards being an AV hub but is far more suitable as an integrated stereo amplifier/receiver solution for your home. Back panel I/O includes AM and FM Antenna Terminals, 3 sets of 3 Audio/Video Inputs, 1 set of Audio/Video Outputs, a single Video Monitor Output a Remote Infrared (IR) Input and Output, 2 Switched AC Accessory Outlets for control of power to other separates in your system (max 100w power per outlet), 2 sets of standard speaker outputs (banana plug jacks, A/B selectable from the front panel) and a subwoofer output (with associated SW trigger outs) and finally CD, Phono and Tape Inputs.

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Now on to where this receiver shines, sonically its actually a very impressive piece of kit that punches well above its weight. The tuner is extremely good and we found it provided solid reception even without an attached ariel. Setup is easy and didn’t provide us with any surprises or gotchas once we had it connected it performed extremely well though not massively powerful (2 x 80w @8 Ohms) it sounded full, clear and with a mid range  that is smooth and reliable, Stereo Imaging was very good and the bass response was decent and became extremely nice with a couple of different mid range subs we tried the HK 3390 Receiver with.

So with all this on offer waht are the units shortcomings? We as previously stated its not really geared up for AV or surround, this unit is pure analog I/O (no digital ins), stereo with no HDMI, S-Video or surround of any kind, the unit also lacks any EQ with only a simple pair of bass trebble knobs fon the front panel, having said that there is room to connect an external graphic eq on the back. With these minor niggles out in the open how do we feel about the HK 3390? Well if you are in the market for a very decent mid range audio reciever with some extra video capabilities the n this unit is a very solid buy, but if you are in the market for a full on AV receiver look elsewhere as this unit doesn’t have what you’re after.

Manufacturers Specifications

Type: Stereo receiver
Power (FTC): 120 x 2
Bandwidth : 20Hz – 20kHz
Impedance: 8 ohms
Dolby Virtual Speaker: Yes
Audio inputs : 7 (1 on front panel)
Video inputs: 4 (1 on front panel)
Video outputs: 2
Subwoofer output : Yes, 2
Preamp outputs/main amp inputs: Yes
Accessory outlets: 2 Switched
Shipping weight: 21 lbs.
Dimensions: 17W x 15D x 6.4H inches
List Price: $399.00 (Check Amazon For Current Pricing)

It has to be said that as time goes on finding a decent pair of stereo bookshelf speakers seems to becoming more and more of a herculean task as everone and their dog seems to be far more interested in manufacturing 5.1 and 7.1 systems. So here then as a hopeful help on your quest to find a pair of serious stereo speakers we present our review of the Kef Q300 Bookshelfs.

The Q300s are on first appearance quite minimal without any discernible curves or nods to modern styling in fact with the fronts on they are positively non descript, take the grills off and the Kef Q300s take on a slightly more classy look but still somewhat retro. Styling wise these may not be to everyone’s taste but I found them quite attractive and “homely” in the walnut versions we were supplied with (They are also available in black and cherry).

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So appearance wise they may not be for everyone but where the Q300s shine is in the sonic arena the Q300s apparently use technology developed in the Kef ‘Muon’ reference level speakers and this pedigree definitely shows in the quality not only of the clarity these little beauties reproduce and their super low thd statistics but also their extremely good stereo imaging. We found the overall sound to be both lush and open but also extremely precisely defined. KEF Speakers have always had a reputation for excellent reproduction of vocals and acoustic instruments and the Q300s were no exception but we also found the were exceptional on modern electronica sounds with albums like Ben Klocks: One and Phils Kierans: Shh getting star treatment. Also the bass definition was especially tight and controlled with never a hint of unwanted rumble of distortion even at well above normal listening volumes. The Q300 uses a 165mm Uni-Q driver array and we were definitely convinced by the claims that KEF have been making about this systems ability to extend the sweet spot for listening from a few places in your room to basically everywhere you would care to listen from. Overall we have zero complaints about the Q300s and if you are in the market for a very soild and decently priced pair of compact Bi-Wireable speakers then you should definitely give these a try.

Manufacturers Specifications

Design: Two-way bass reflex

Drive units: 130mm (6.5in.) aluminium Uni-Q, 25mm (1in.) vented aluminium, dome HF

Frequency response: ±3dB 42Hz – 40kHz

Crossover frequency: 2.5kHz

Amplifier requirements: 15 – 120W

Sensitivity: (2.83V/1m) 87dB

Maximum output: (SPL) 110dB

Impedance: 8Ω

Dimensions (H x W x D): 355 x 210 x 302 mm (14.0 x 8.3 x 11.9 in.)

Finishes: black oak, english cherry, european walnut

RRP: $599.99 (Check Amazon For Current Pricing)

Reposted From: HiFi reviews

Many people when initially buying their home theatre set up go for on of the many manufacturers packages available, now while many of these speaker packages are great value and are to some degree well selected and balaced with each other there is still a lot to be said for upgrading single components of a system to improve overall balance and output quality. A good place to start is with an improved center channel speaker. If you are in the market for a very reasonably priced quality unit the Polk Audio CS10 Center Channel is currently not only a qulaity  component but is also going for a song (an incredible less than half price right now.)

We tested this unit in conjunction with a pair of Polk Tsi-200 bookshelf speakers and polks RM 6751 satellites.

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As one would expect the CS10 Center Channel works very well with the Tsi 200 bookshelfs. The sonic quality of the speaker is very well balanced. It is powerful and produced competent bass with a nice sheen in the mid and top range. Vocal reproduction is certainly given a boost by adding this unit and things in the speech audio area receive a good strong and crisp edge. Power wise the CS10 can handle more than most people are ever going to throw at it without THD ever becoming an issue, even at volume this unit handles extremely well. Build wise the unit is reasonably solid and has a simple workmanlike appearance, its not going to win any aesthetics awards and while it is not a small speaker it is not too obtrusive or ugly. Though you may find it difficult to “hide” the CS10 in smaller rooms.

If you are after a quality addition to a budget surround speaker setup the Polk Audio CS10 Center Channel Speaker is a must buy especially at the incredible Current Pricing.

Manufacturers Details

Unlike the electronics, your speakers won’t go out of date, so bring out the most in your entertainment experience with Polk TSi Series. A great match to the TSi Series, the Polk Audio CS10 center channel speaker–the most important speaker in surround sound–is smaller than its sibling CS20, but still sounds just as good. And it has an angled top allowing you to invert the speaker and place it below your TV–directing sound towards the listening area. The TSi Series and the CS10 were designed to be highly efficient, so they can be driven easily by unpretentious receivers, and they’re voice-matched for lifelike surround sound environments. This speaker in black measures 6-1/2 by 20 x 9-3/4 inches (HxWxD).

Quality built cabinets.

The cabinet is extensively braced from MDF with 3/4-inch thick baffles. Cheaper speakers will use other material such as particle board which is flimsy, robbing you of good sound. With pewter accents, a piano black top accents and removable black grille, the CS10 looks awesome.

High efficiency design.

Compatible with practically all electronics, these are speakers that produce sound that’s open, spacious and clear, even when driven by modestly-powered amplifiers and receivers. No matter if you just bought a new digital surround receiver, or are hooking up this CS10 or TSi Series speakers to vintage electronics, they will still sound great.

Narrow baffle geometry.

Bringing the best of both worlds- narrow baffle geometry is a design that creates a sleek looking speaker with slick sound. First the high quality cabinet is slender (less than one square foot) and tucks away easily in your room. The smaller-diameter speaker components are lighter in mass, translating to clearer sound.

Product Description

Polk Audio has once again raised the standard for great sounding speakers that also offer incomparable value. The new TSi Series takes entry-level component speaker pricing and gives the audio/home theater buff a lot of Polk Audio for the money. The TSi Series was designed to be highly efficient, so they can be driven easily by unpretentious receivers, and they’re voice-matched for lifelike surround sound environments. The new TSi Series’ contemporary look was inspired by our top-of-the-line CS10 Series and designed to work with today’s most stylish televisions and electronic components.

List Price: $199.95 (Check Current Pricing on Amazon)

Reposted from Hi Fi Reviews

Well it does appear that the days of AM/FM radios domination of the airwaves may well be at an end, what with more and more services for online radio cropping up and more and more digital wi-fi tuners getting to market every month. The Grace Digital Wireless Hi-fi Internet Radio Tuner is a pretty solid entry into this market which I feel will do you great service as a replacement for your old school am/fm hi fi tuner.

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Essentially this standard hi fi separates sized unit takes the radio waves out of radio by using your houses wi-fi to tune to internet radio stations in pristine hi fidelity (dependant on the quality of the original stations digital transmissions). As I said the box is more or less identical to a traditional separates hi fi tuner unit in build and appearance but with several advantages. Firstly you can access so many stations with this thing you will never run out of things to listen to apparently there are over 20,000 internet radio stations available including Pandora, ESPN and the BBC Radio stations (You must check out a personal favourite BBC 6 Music).

Initial setup of the unit can take a little while as you will need to enter your wireless details using the jog wheel and buttons but once you have them entered the unit remembers them for good. once you get online the Grace Digital Wireless unit will update itself automatically, getting its latest software patches, the great thing about this is that the unit can add new functionality over time without the owner having to be a techie. This is a great boon to the casual user in my humble opinion. Yu need to register the unit by creating a Grace account, this gets the unit updating its lists of radio streams. Obviosuly to use online music streaming services like Pandora you will need to register the unit with an account for the appropriate channel, this is a pretty simple & hassle free operation and once its done your radio will be able to play your own customised Pandora channels. Looking for whatever style of music you fancy is a breeze with this units search functionality you may well find that your favourite channel ends up being some station you’ve never even heard of being pumped out a basement in Lithuania. Did I mention that the choice of channels on this thing is truly amazing? The unit will allow you to store 10 easy access stations as favourites but also has a folder that can contain up to 99 other “liked” stations, way more than most people will have need for.

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Over and above internet radio streaming, the unit will also stream media from your mac or PC in pretty much all standard formats including MP3, Real Audio, WMA, WAV and AIFF, and just to top it all off if you want to go old school the unit also has a traditional FM radio receiver built in, not that I actually ever used this.

In terms of connections the unit has you covered for most eventualities with a pair of good quality RCA analog audio connectors a 1/4″ Stereo headphone jack and both TOSLINK & COAX digital audio connectors. The unit also has standard Ethernet RJ45 and USB connectors on the rear panel should you require them. With decently streamed channels such as pandora & BBC you be hard pressed to tell the difference between this unit and a similarly priced FM tuner with the advantage that this unit doesn’t need a properly rigged FM Ariel to operate at its best. The overall audio quality of the unit is quite neutral with a decent level of bass solidity and a quite pleasing top end without much in the way of digital harshness. In fact any sibilance or harshness we encountered could be put down to the less than professional mix outputs from some of the online stations we encountered. Noise and Jitter are pretty much non existent and overall the tone output by the unit is extremely competent for its price point.

The main drawbacks with the Grace Digital Wireless system are all related to its interface, its LCD seems a little laggy in terms of screen refresh and can be a little awkward to read, there are also a few issues with the user interface as regards playing tracks from folders as the OS doesn’t remember where in the folder you where which can be a bit annoying if you have hundreds of tracks in a single folder. We also found that the remote was not capable of controlling all functionality and there are certain things like initial setup that can only be done from the units front panel. Many of these annoyances can be tamed buy using the optional iPhone app if you happen to be an iPhone owner though. Al in all apart from a few minor niggles this unit will add a whole new dimension to your hi fi setup and will give you endless options for streaming music. And at this price point we cant help but give the Grace Digital Wireless Hi-fi Internet Radio Tuner a big thumbs up.

Manufacturers Details
Listen to over 16,000 internet radio stations including Pandora, iHeart radio, NPR, BBC, ESPN, Live 365, Sirius and over 30,000 Podcast and on demand selections
Built in Ethernet and 802.11g card that connects to any Ethernet or 802.11b,g or n wireless router (no computer needed)
Connects to any home stereo via the Digital (Toslink or Coaxial) or RCA analog outputs
Control your internet radio music or media files via Large 2 line display with micro backlight adjustments
Includes a remote control, and batteries, FM antenna. Works with the Free Grace Digital iPhone / iPod Touch remote control app
List Price: $219.99 (Check Amazon For Current Pricing)

Product Description
The Grace Digital Tuner (GDI-IRDT200) is a combination Internet radio and audio media streaming device that brings all the audio content of the Internet from your broadband connection directly to your home Stereo. With it users can listen to 16,000+ radio stations from NPR on-demand, FOX news, CNN, BBC, CBS to KROQ, over 35,000 podcast, 20,000+ On-Demand subscription streams or your personal Pandora radio stations – Free. The Tuner provides not only standard RCA connections to your home stereo but also two digital out connections for the highest audio quality experience as well as both Wi-Fi and an Ethernet connection to your home broadband router. In addition to the ability to play all the Free music in the world, music files from your PC or Mac, a SD or USB drive the Grace Tuner can also access Sirius Premium Internet radio services with a subscription directly from Sirius. The Tuner comes with a full featured remote control and is compatible with the free Grace remote control App for iPhone/iTouch. Connect all your digital music to your home stereo, with Grace.

The latest iteration in the Squeezebox series the Logitech Squeezebox Touch is a bit of a breakthrough, not so much in terms of functionality but in usability and also more importantly for many its price point. This little box manages to make functionality that would previously have cost you a good part of $1000 available for a third as much. If you have been considering retiring your cd player or radio tuner this may well be the product you have been waiting for.

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To look at the Squeezebox Touch is compact and nicely modern looking its menus are driven from a nice looking and responsive 4.3-inch touch-screen. The menuing system is very easy to get to grips with and we found it a breeze to use. One nice feature is the fact that the units menus automatically go to bigger more readable text when you are using the remote (IE: accross the room), we thought this was a clever little touch. The screen will also display album art or even your own photos if you are so inclined.

The Logitech Squeezebox Touch delivers both internet radio and streamed music from any computer (or NAS device) on your local network that is capable of running the supplied squeezebox server software. This can be done either via Wi-Fi or with standard ethernet cabling. The device is also capable of playing back media from standard USB devices or SD cards, both of which have appropriate slots located on the back panel and side of the casing respectively.

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The unit comes with no built in speakers but is instead designed to connect to your hi-fi amplifier via either standard RCA sockets or alternately via coaxial or optical outputs. the sound supplied from these outputs is of a high standard for a model in this price range, we found music played via SD card and streamed via Wi-Fi to be reproduced at a very merchantable quality without any real sonic issues, any limit on the quality was generally down to the original files being older mp3s. To avoid this issue ripping to a lossless format like FLAC is the way to go. The Squeezebox Touch supports up to 24bit/96Khz encoding, so better than CD quality.  We are not quite talking audiophile quality here but the DACs seem very capable and quite natural in sound not digitally harsh as one might expect in some lower end models. So sonically very capable for most purposes and definitely a match for any CD player in a similar price range.

All in all we give this unit a big thumbs up for anyone who wants to go digital with their music collection. The only very minor niggle may be that some of the less tech savvy amongst us could have some minor setup problems with the Squeezebox server software as it is not 100% plug and play yet, and if you are not used to configuring software manually it could give you some minor setup issues. So in conclusion if you have decided to go digital but you are on a budget the Logitech Squeezebox Touch is one of the best buys out there right now.

Manufacturers Details

• Listen to an infinite variety of Internet radio stations, online music services, and your iTunes collection through your existing home stereo with this easy-to-use Wi-Fi music player
• Play free local stations from every corner of the globe
• Access music services like Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker and SIRIUS Internet Radio
• Browse your digital music collection stored on your home PC or Mac
• Plug in your flash drive to instantly play your favorite tracks
• Enjoy easy station and music control from anywhere in the room with a full-color touch screen, intuitive menus and remote
• Experience full, rich sound supported by high-resolution encoding
• Connect seamlessly to your home network through Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and also to connect to other Squeezebox players

Key Features

Brilliant full-color touch-screen and remote for fun, easy music control 
The easy-to-read 4.3-inch touch-screen and intuitive menus put you in total music control. Simply touch “My Music”, “Internet Radio” or one of your favorite online services like Napster or Pandora to browse, select and play whatever suits your mood. Even album art is displayed so you can see what you want to hear. You also have a smart remote that actually knows where you are in the room. Move away from the touch-screen over to the couch, and the menus automatically enlarge for easy viewing from across the room.

High-resolution encoding support for full, rich stereo sound
You like to hear it all, from the haunting high notes in a U2 guitar solo to the deep resonant bass at the bottom of a Miles Davis classic. With support for high-resolution encoding, Squeezebox Touch makes sure the important details in your digital music sources don’t get lost in translation. Even if you’re playing music softly in the background, you’ll enjoy a high quality sound experience—without missing a beat, note or nuance.

Add more Squeezebox players for a multi-room music system
Do you want to bring a world of music to other rooms—without running wires? Easy. Check out Squeezebox Radio and Squeezebox Boom all-in-one Wi-Fi music players with built-in speakers. They’re small enough to fit easily on your bedroom night table or kitchen counter. And they work with your Squeezebox Touch. Simply add a handheld Squeezebox Controller and you can play the same music throughout the house, or mix it up with a different playlist in every room.

Seamless home network support, effortless setup 
Squeezebox Touch keeps things simple from the start. Just plug the music player into your audio system, turn on the power and the player automatically finds your home Wi-Fi network. You also have the option to plug in an Ethernet cable. Either way, in just five minutes you’ll be listening to stations around the globe.

USB port and SD card slot expand your listening and viewing experience
Say you have a ton of favorite tracks stored on an external flash drive. Just plug the drive into the music player’s USB port and your tunes are ready to play through your home stereo. You also have a built-in SD card slot. Just slide in your memory card to watch an instant slide show of your pictures, right on the touch-screen display.

Free SqueezeNetwork connects you to global stations and music services
Your Wi-Fi music player comes complete with the Logitech SqueezeNetwork, an online service that makes it easy to access all the Internet radio stations and music services you could ever want. Sign up for free and get connected right on your Squeezebox touch-screen.

List Price:  $299.99 (Check Current Pricing on Amazon)

Occasionally we go out of our way to get our hands on a unit that everyone else has the hots for just to see what all the fuss is about. I had to ring several people (Thanks David  ) and do some beg/borrow/stealing to get my hands on this little baby. But boy was it worth it. Welcome to my review of the Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver.

First of all let me say that the Onkyo TX-NR808 has so many options, possible configs and usages that we didn’t get to test everything (I had to give the unit back after all) but I think we gave it a good runout with a decent number of audio and video sources. A capsule version of the conclusion we came to was “This thing rocks, Onkyo have done it again”, the boys at Onkyo seem to be doing a good job of dominating the “Best in category” charts for AV receivers right now and the TX-NR808 is no exception.

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The first thing I will say to the fashionistas is that this unit is big, damn big and to be honest a little bit on the “Brick faced” side of things. If you like compact, fashionable bang & olufsen style kit this unit will stick out like a sore tongue. Its face is simple and to the point but ain’t hugely Pretty and it also has a pretty big and unforgiving bootie too. Now for those of us who dont mind a girl with a big behind this amazing unit manages to accommodate just about every input, output, throughput and auxiliary connector that even the most serious of home theatre buffs could want. First of all there are 7 HDMI inputs (including one on the front panel) and a HDMI out. Then we have 5 composite video inputs and 2 component video ins, a Sirius radio input port and a single universal port with iPod dock & HD radio receiver options. In terms of pure audio inputs the Onkyo TX-NR808 also provides 3 digital coaxial and 2 optical inputs plus a phono input for the vinyl enthusiasts.

Finally are also provided with an RGB video input for you PC or laptop video feed. In terms of other computer/networking facilities there is also an Ethernet port which is windows DLNA 1.5 compatible & capable of streaming audio, downlaoding upgrades & of course internet radio. Like I said with all that you’d expect the back panel to be on the big side and that’s just the inputs.

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As you’d expect the unit comes complete with a full set of color coded speaker terminals and also plus an additional set of speaker outputs for the 2nd zone. The TX-NR808 also has you covered for multi channel audio in which are included as along with a full set multi channel pre-outs if you are going to be using to use external amplification. One nice little bonus are the extra pairs of pre-outs for a couple of additional zones should you require them. So as I said earlier one thing this unit could never be said to scrimp on is in/out and connection possibilities.

So how does it perform? Well after what can only be described as a bit of a marathon plugging in session we are happy to report that the Onkyo TX-NR808 does not disappoint. Audio setup was a breeze using the Audyssey MultEQ room set-up and acoustic correction feature. The overall tone of this receivers audio is extremely good, it has the ability to kick out a bootload of power when it is asked but always maintains a refined, controlled and listenable edge. Even in scenes containing a lot of high end sonics you never feel like you are being rasped at or that your hearing is going to get fatigued, and in quieter passages you can hear the “openness” and natural sound of the unit very well. The soundstage is extremely good and gives you a definite feeling of your location in a scene. To sum up powerful, polished & very dynamic.

As regards the visual qualities of the unit Im glad to say that neither does it disappoint here. Both its picture processing & clarity are excellent. Upscaling is also top class with very solid and stable performance with older formats. The Onkyo TX-NR808 also allows for the usual video geek toys of nose reduction, contrast & hue tweaking, but to be honest 99% of users are never going to need these unless they have very particular visual issues as the default configuration with this unit is incredibly clear and watchable.  One final thing to note is the Onkyo TX-NR808s full compatibility with 3D Blu-ray players and TVs, not many of us out there have this functionality right now but if you are thinking about the future its nice to have the knowledge that you are covered for this eventuality.

So there you have it, this unit quite simply doesn’t seem to have a downside. Massive connectivity, great audio and video quality, with a solid eye on future proofing. To quote Ferris Bueller “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”

Manufacturers Details
Meet Onkyo’s midrange powerhouse. The TX-NR808 earns its prestigious THX® Select2 Plus™ certification by blending the latest connectivity and processing technology with Onkyo’s renowned amplification prowess. As a network-capable receiver, the TX-NR808 is your gateway to streaming audio from your PC or Internet radio. Other connection highlights include seven HDMI® 1.4a inputs with 3D and Audio Return Channel capability; 7.1-multichannel analog inputs for legacy components; a Universal port for Onkyo peripherals; a USB port for iPod® models and flash memory devices; and an analog RGB video input for your PC. Employing two advanced 32-bit DSP chips and low-jitter 24-bit Burr-Brown DACs, the TX-NR808 effortlessly handles your audio-processing needs. Whether it’s lossless Dolby and DTs formats on Blu-ray Disc, or new-dimension surround formats from Audyssey and Dolby, your audio signals retain every lifelike nuance. All things considered, the TX-NR808 is a serious challenger for the middleweight crown.

Mid-ranged home entertainment with a pop-open front panel and SIRIUS Satellite and Internet Radio support with the Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver.
View larger.

HDMI® 1.4a Support for 3D Video and Audio Return

The seven HDMI 1.4a inputs on the TX-NR808 let you simultaneously connect high-def sources such as a Blu-ray player, a gaming console, and a cable/satellite tuner. A single output then sends a pristine signal to your connected high-resolution display. As the latest version of this connector, HDMI 1.4a adds the exciting possibilities of 3D video and an Audio Return Channel. 3D video is the next big thing in home entertainment, with movie, game, and broadcast content on the increase and 3D-compatible TVs coming to market. The TX-NR808 also offers the convenience of an Audio Return Channel via HDMI. Audio content received directly by your HDTV’s tuner can be sent “upstream” to your A/V receiver, without the need for a separate S/PDIF audio cable.

Windows® 7 Compatible PC Audio and Internet Radio
As one of Onkyo’s new breed of receivers that can link directly to the Internet or to your home PC via a local network, the TX-NR808 takes streaming audio and Internet radio to a whole new level. MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, and LPCM audio files—whether on your PC or from the Internet—can now be played back through your main system with unprecedented power and fidelity. The TX-NR808 brings to life a huge array of Internet radio channels from Pandora®, SIRIUS Internet Radio®, vTuner, and more*. As well as being compatible with earlier platforms, the receiver is compatible with Microsoft’s new Windows 7 platform, which includes the DLNA 1.5-specified “Play To” media-streaming feature. Another benefit of having the TX-NR808 connected to the Internet is that you can then easily update its firmware.

Audyssey DSX™ and Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz Surround Sound
The TX-NR808 handles two new surround-sound technologies from Audyssey and Dolby that offer exciting new ways to set up the speakers in your home theater system. Audyssey DSX lets you incorporate “front wide” speakers, in place of the usual surround back speakers, to expand the width of the soundstage. Set up at a recommended 60° off center, these channels help to produce a more realistic soundstage and a more immersive listening experience. Alternatively, Audyssey DSX can reconfigure the TX-NR808’s surround back channels to deliver “front height” channels. These channels carry ambient, non-directional audio that adds a new vertical dimension to your movies and games. Dolby Pro Logic IIz provides a similar front height speaker option that likewise works to create a more enveloping home theater experience.

A RI remote with 4 macro presets.
THX® Select2 Plus™ Certified
THX Select2 Plus certification is specified for rooms where the screen-to-seat viewing distance is 10 to 12 feet and the room volume is around 2000 cubic feet. To achieve THX Select2 Plus certification, the TX-NR808 had to meet the world’s most demanding standards for home theater audio quality and performance, and play at reference volume levels with minimal distortion

HDMI Video Upscaling to 1080p with Faroudja Dcdi Cinema™
When it comes to video processing, Faroudja Dcdi Cinema offers several advantages. This processor can accept any video signal, regardless of the source resolution, and upscale it to 1080p to match the native resolution of your high-definition display. What’s more, Dcdi Cinema effectively removes video artifacts such as jagged edges during the video signal deinterlacing process. You get to enjoy smooth progressive scan video images, even for fast-moving sports and action scenes.

PLL (Phase Locked Loop) Jitter-Cleaning Circuit Technology
Jitter is an unwanted side-effect of the digital-to-analog conversion process. Caused by fluctuations in the time domain of a digital signal, jitter has a detrimental impact on perceived audio quality. PLL jitter-cleaning circuit technology reduces jitter by comparing the input and output phases of the digital signal and creating an accurate clock waveform. This enhances the precision of digital signal processing and noticeably improves audio quality. Jitter-cleaning technology works both for digital signals input via HDMI and for digital signals converted from analog signals inside the receiver itself.

Playback of Different Audio Sources in Up to Three Rooms
With Powered Zone 2, you can enjoy surround sound entertainment in the main room, while playing back a different stereo source in a second zone equipped with a pair of speakers. Alternatively, you can use the Zone 2 and Zone 3 pre-outs to send separate, unamplified audio signals to amplifiers (and speakers) in a second and third room. Naturally, you also have the option of distributing the same audio source to two or three zones simultaneously.

RI Remote with On-Screen Setup and 4 Presets

The TX-NR808’s remote controller offers the convenience of controlling a wide range of other devices connected to the receiver. You can select your connected devices from an on-screen list and preprogram your desired settings for each device. The receiver itself can then send these settings automatically to the remote controller. Furthermore, the TX-NR808 lets you set up macro presets for up to four activity modes, which you can control via mode-key LEDs on the remote controller. A single button-press of “My Movie,” for example, can simultaneously turn on the receiver, display, and Blu-ray player to your preprogrammed settings and start playing a disc automatically.

Key Features

Advanced Features
THX® Select2 Plus™ certified
HDMI® (Version 1.4a to support 3D and Audio Return channel) with Deep Color™, x.v.Color™, LipSync, Dolby® TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio™, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD, multichannel PCM, and CEC
7 HDMI inputs (1 front/6 rear) and 1 output
Audyssey DSX™ and Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz for new surround channels
PLL Jitter-Cleaning circuit technology
Audyssey MultEQ® for room acoustic correction
Network capability for streaming audio files (MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, and LPCM)
Internet radio connectivity (Pandora®, Rhapsody®, SIRIUS Internet Radio®, Napster, Mediafly™, Slacker, and vTuner)*
Certified with Windows® 7 and DLNA version 1.5
Firmware updates via Ethernet and USB
Pop open front-panel USB input for memory devices and iPhone®:/iPod® models (enables display of album artwork)
Powered Zone 2 and Zone 2/3 pre-outs for distributed audio playback in multiple rooms
Amplifier Features
135 Watts per Channel at 8 Ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 Channels Driven, FTC
WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology)
Three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry
H.C.P.S. (High Current Power Supply) Massive High Power Transformer
Linear optimum gain volume circuitry
Processing Features
Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-Bit DACs (PCM1690) for all channels
Two 32-Bit processing DSP chips (DA830 and CS49834)
Dolby® TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio™, Dolby® Digital Plus, DTS-HD High-Resolution Audio™ decoding
HDMI video upscaling to 1080p with Faroudja Dcdi Cinema™
4 DSP modes for gaming: rock, sports, action, and RPG
Music Optimizer™ for compressed digital music files
Direct mode and pure audio mode
A-Form listening mode memory
Connection Features
Universal port for single-cable connection of optional Onkyo dock for iPhone®/iPod® or HD Radio™ tuner
Component video switching (2 inputs and 1 output)
4 S-Video inputs and 2 outputs
Analog RGB video input (D-sub, 15 pin) and audio input for PC
6 digital inputs (3 optical and 3 coaxial)
5 A/V Inputs (1 front/4 rear) and 1 output
Color-coded, 7.1 multichannel inputs
Video output (monitor)
1 audio input
Phono input
Color-coded, 7.2 multichannel pre outs
RS232 port, IR (In/Out), and 12 V trigger outs (zone 2/3)
Bi-amping capability
Color-coded, Banana Plug-compatible speaker posts
RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) for system control
SIRIUS Satellite Radio® ready** and HD Radio ready
Other Features
Overlaid graphical on-screen display (OSD) via all video outputs
Audyssey Dynamic Volume™
Audyssey Dynamic EQ® for loudness correction
Crossover adjustment (40/50/60/70/80/90/100/120/150/200 Hz)
A/V sync control function (up to 250 ms in 5 ms steps)
40 FM/AM/SIRIUS random presets
Compatible with RI (Remote Interactive) dock for iPod
Bi-Directional, preprogrammed, and customizable RI remote control with on-screen setup, Mode-Key LEDs, and macro presets for four activities
What’s in the Box
Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver, indoor FM antenna, AM loop antenna, speaker cable labels, speaker setup microphone, instruction manual, quick start guide, remote controller, AA (R6) batteries (2).

Technical Specifications
Amplifier Section
Power Output
Front L/R – 135 W/Ch (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
Center – 135 W (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
Surround L/R – 135 W/Ch (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
Surround Back L/R, Front High L/R, Front Wide L/R, or Zone 2 L/R – 135 W/Ch (8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 channels driven, FTC)
Dynamic power – 300 W (3 ohms, front), 250 W (4 ohms, front), 150 W (8 ohms, front)
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) – 0.08% (rated power)
Damping factor – 60 (front, 1 kHz, 8 ohms)
Input sensitivity and impedance – 200 mV/47 k-ohms (line), 2.5 mV/47 k-ohms (phono MM)
Rated RCA output level and impedance – 200 mV/470 ohms (pre out)
Maximum RCA output level and impedance – 4.6 V/470 ohms (pre out)
Phono overload – 70 mV (MM, 1 kHz, 0.5%)
Frequency response – 5 Hz-100 kHz/+1 dB, -3 dB (DSP bypass)
Tone control – ±10 dB, 50 Hz (bass), ±10 dB, 20 kHz (treble)
Signal-to-noise ratio – 110 dB (Line, IHF-A), 80 dB (phono, IHF-A)
Speaker impedance – 4 ohms-16 ohms or 6 ohms-16 ohms
Video Section
Input sensitivity/output level and impedance video
1.0 Vp-p/75 ohms (component and s-video Y)
0.7 Vp-p/75 ohms (component PB/CB, PR/CR)
0.25 Vp-p/75 ohms (s-video C)
1.0 Vp-p/75 ohms (composite)
Component video frequency response – 5 Hz-100 MHz/0 dB, -3 dB
Tuner Section
Tuning frequency range
FM: 87.5 MHz-107.9 MHz
AM: 530 kHz-1,710 kHz
FM/AM/SIRIUS preset memory – 40 stations
General
Power supply – AC 120 V~, 60 Hz
Power consumption – 7.5 A
Dimensions (W x H x D) – 17 1/8″ x 7 13/16″ x 17 1/8″ (435 x 198.5 x 435.5 mm)
Weight – 40.3 lbs. (18.3 kg)
Carton dimensions (W x H x D) – 23 1/8″ x 13 1/4″ x 21 3/4″ (587 x 337 x 553 mm)
Shipping weight – 49.6 lbs. (22.5 kg)
List Price: $1,099.00 (Check Current Pricing on Amazon)