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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Yamaha RX-V363BL 500 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this Yamaha (RXV363) unit because a lightning storm burned out the Sony, which I was happy with. This unit resides in my bedroom - which consists of an HDTV, FIOS, DVD and Sony 5.1 satellite speaker system - and is not my main HT system, which reside in the basement and consist of the higher end components. I looked at the Yamaha RXC463, Onkyo TX-SR506, 606, Sony STR-DG720 but did not want to spend the extra cash for the satellite ready capability. Nor was I interested in the video switching capabilities since I connect all video source directly to the TV and all audio sources to the receiver. For switching, I use my Harmony 880 - one button operation.
Connectivity:
For my situation, the Yamaha has all the connections I need (DVD and FIOS). Setup is simple and straight forward. Remember, you get HD quality from both HDMI and Component connections.
As far as connecting video components thru the receiver, I can't give an opinion on that because I do not go thru the receiver for video connections, up conversion and all that stuff. I always connect my video source directly to the TV- always. I just believe that you lose picture quality going thru a receiver. Remember, the most direct path between 2 points is a straight line. I only use the receiver for the audio connections because to me that's its main purpose - audio and TV is video. Besides connecting thru the receiver, in my opinion, is mainly for convenience and possibly (emphasis) saving a few bucks on cables.
As stated by other reviewers, the HDMI ports (video pass-thru) do not output sound (manual specifically states this fact as well as other sources on the internet) so you must connect separate audio cables. Having HDMI output audio is good if you are using the speakers in the TV (but why would you do that if you want a HT quality sound) but if you have surround speakers then you should use either the digital or optical audio connections.
Now with that said, I know that there are some that have many components to connect in their system or want the convenience of having the least amount of cables connected to the TV, receiver etc. For those you either have to dig a little deeper in the pockets or get a separate switching device for all of the components. This unit, at $200, is an entry level HT receiver so don't expect it to do what the high end units can.
Remote Control
The remote control is a little tricky. What I found is that it's a little confusing on how to switch between sound stages at first but like anything new you get used to it.
As an alternative to those who want simplicity in switching between video sources do yourself a favor and get the Harmony 880 remote control - one remote, one button control bliss baby. Amazon seems to have the best prices on the remotes. Check it out.
Overall:
Overall this is a good unit. This is a nice entry level unit and it does well for the limited setup I have in the bedroom. This unit actually makes the Sony satellite speaker sound much better than the Sony receiver did. This unit has better sound fields than my older Sony unit - I like the Straight and Enhance and 5 channel speaker modes. My Sony did not have these.
TIP: Before purchasing any HT equipment you must do your research. You can go to the manufacturer's website and download the manual and determine if it contains all the connections etc you need for your system. What I've found in some of the previous reviews is that the unit was purchased without truly knowing its capabilities and then that person bashes it - which is unfair. The only problem is the individual did not do his/her research and/or know the true capabilities of the unit. The World Wide Web has all sorts of reviews on this unit - both professional and end user - so it baffles me that these people did not know the limits of the unit. Uhhh oh yeah they didn't do their research. So when you read these reviews, read between the lines of the comments, which many times will reveal that the person did not do the necessary homework prior to the purchase and/or did or do not understand the functions of a specific AV receiver. So please make sure the equipment has all you need before putting out negative reviews.
Also, remember if you have surround speakers you do not need to send the audio thru the HDMI just use the digital coax or optical audio connections. And don't believe much of the hype about the cables (i.e. the better ones are the most expensive ones). Just don't use the cables that come in the box and don't spend tons of money on cables either.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha RX-V363BL 500 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver

High-value receiver with an impressive array of features and technologies to enhance the audio/video experience, including HDMI switching with 1080p video pass-through, iPod and Bluetooth audio compatibility, CINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, and four SCENE buttons.

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Sherwood RD6513 100 Watt 5.1 Dolby Digital Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was a little leery of purchasing a Sherwood product, since I'd never owned one, and You don't see their product on a lot of store shelves.
This unit is top notch. If I had actually seen this in a store, I wouldn't have flinched at a price double what I paid for it.
It's got features I'll probably never use, but to sum it up, You can probably route every bit of your Entertainment center through it, and at least to some degree control all of it (on off, volume, station selection, Play, ff, rewind, etc. . .) It has automatic and manual Surround speaker balancing, and the mic for balancing is included.
I would buy it again, and if You're warranty minded, Beach offers their own warranty, which you can purchase within 30 days of original purchase for under $25.

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Alpine CDA-9857 - Radio / CD / MP3 player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

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(More customer reviews)I originally bought the CDA-9856 and exchanged it for this CDA-9857 model. Why? I have a 30 Gig IPod and it's difficult to dial through all of my 100's of albums/artists/playlists, let alone songs, with the slow rotary dial while I'm driving. The 9857's "Percentage Search" skip ahead feature makes selecting/playing music from the IPod a real pleasure. The 9856 doesn't have this feature. Also when searching albums, the 9857 displays 3 albums at a time, whereas the 9856 only displays 1. Both head units, however, only display 13 characters of the album/song title. This makes it very difficult to select the correct album if you have several with the same name for the first 13 characters, or perhaps multiple discs of the same album, but easier with the 9857 because it shows 3 albums at once. The 9857 is also a digital display, rather than analog as with the 9856, and the digital interface really speeds up the menu item selection and seems to make the IPod interface more "stable" (I had a problem with the MIX feature alternately refusing to turn on and then randomly turning on by itself with the 9856). Is it worth the extra $100? Well, I plan on keeping this car and this head unit for 5-8 years, so the ease of use that the 9857 offers makes listening to my IPod a pleasure that I'll enjoy for years to come, and to me that's worth the extra money. This is a darn good unit.

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Yamaha HTR-6160BL 665 Watt 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)Originally purchased the Onkyo 705 and it sounded good for a while and then all of its issues came out. I plugged this Yamaha into the same setup and WOW! The sound that this Yamaha puts out is so clear. The Onkyo at its best is not even close. The onkyo needs 8 inches of space above the receiver in order to not burn up. I have less then 2 inches of space above this receiver and it still runs extremely cool. A Yamaha fan for life now!

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Designed for the true audio/video connoisseur, the Yamaha HTR-6160BL 7.1-channel digital home theater receiver delivers the highest quality sound and image reproduction. This able receiver will work with your iPod and features 1080p compatible HDMI, high-definition video upconversion, de-interlacing, and is ready for XM Satellite Radio. The Yamaha HTR-6160BL also boasts upgraded CINEMA DSP for rich and full surround sound and improved YPAO sound optimization for the best listening experience in any room.

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Yamaha YMC-500SL NeoHD Media Controller/AV Receiver (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)Great concept, poor design. Sound quality was surprisingly good because this receiver only weighs 10 lbs and feels cheap when you pick it up. Video passthrough worked well but the unit does not upconvert the video signal it only passes whatever the signal is being sent. In other words my Nintendo Wii only came through at 480i which was horrible. I ended up returning this item.

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Yamaha YMC-500SL NeoHD Controller

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Yamaha HTR-6230BL 500 Watt 5-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I recommend this unit highly. It would get five stars if it was a bit less complicated. But it does so much so perhaps that is inevitable. The remote has fifty-nine buttons! So far I have used about ten. Maybe when I get around to controlling my CD player from this remote I'll use some of the others, and need one less remote too. Currently I am using it as a stereo receiver with a Yamaha CD player, with two Polk side speakers and a Polk sub-woofer.
I am very pleased with the sound [I do not consider myself an audiophile but I do enjoy my music, classical, opera and rock mostly]. Plenty of volume, more bass available than I need but that part is easy to adjust. The room where I have this unit is 20' by 25' with a 12' celing, and there's no problem filling it with sound. Rock on!
I am impressed and consider it very good value for money too.


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Yamaha HTR-6230BL 500 Watt 5-Channel Home Theater Receiver

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Yamaha RX-V465BL 525 Watt 5-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had the RX-v465 for over a month now, so i've had plenty of time to get comfortable with the receiver. I purchased this b/c it seemed like the best value. My major goals were to find a receiver that had HDMI vid and audio pass-thru and had good quality cd music output - and the rx-v465 delivered!
PROS:
I used the mic to auto-calibrate the sound quality - very easy (do this before using it). CDs (analog) sound great and digital audio sounds even better. The sound settings are great: it has several sound enhancer settings for a full/modern sound and even a 'direct' mode where the receiver uses the minimum electronics to provide a pure (almost vinyl) sound. These settings are easy to access once you get comfortable with the remote.
It has plenty of inputs for all of your older (rca) and newer (HDMI) devices. For TV, I run my comcast dvr box via an hdmi cable to the receiver, then run an hdmi from the receiver to the tv. For dvd, i run hdmi to the receiver. Only one cable (an hdmi) is needed from the receiver to the TV (sony bravia 52v5100). Video quality and dolby digital audio quality is excellent. It even allows you to view TV without turning on the receiver (downside in this mode is you can't listen to the sound system). Also, my cable remote can control the receiver volume when watching tv when the pass-thru mode is set (control-on).
CONS:
1. There is an annoying time delay (up to 3 seconds) when switching from HD to non-HD channels and when pulling up the dvr menu/list and cable guide. The receiver is thinking /switching digital modes and makes clicking sounds as it switches resulting in sound but no vid. This issue took me some time to get used to and will be a deal-breaker for most people.
2. Longer delay / thinking when the receiver is turned on and the hdmi input is set. Same clicking and no vid as it finds the right mode for the data that is coming in.
3. Remote is annoying, not built well, but whatever, its not a deal breaker.
OVERALL, i'm happy with this receiver at the price i paid when compared to other available receivers with similar features/functions.


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Yamaha HTR-6140BL 525 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)Since the time of my review, there are only two reviews, a 5 star and a 2 star, the 2 star being based on a supposed bad remote and manual. I thought I had to set things straight. I've owned many other brand receivers and both Yamahas I've owned are great. The sound quality is excellent and the only problem I might see with someone not liking the manual is that Yamaha has so many features and options it might scare away the type of person that likes to use it out of the box without barely any set up. As for the remote I see no problem with it... it's attractive, functional, all features on it work so I don't understand what's not to like. Sound quality and construction of the unit are also superior. After having other receivers in the past that burnt due to overheating and had a dry, radio like sound, I think I'll stick with Yamaha from now on. Their "music enhancement" setting makes all sound including voice sound so incredibly warm and rich that I use this setting for everything and prefer it to any other setting. Yamaha receivers are also extremely low distortion. You will be very plesantly surprised with this receiver as long as you can follow instrucions and read a manual, even if you don't like doing this, the pay-off is worth the initial effort.

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The Yamaha HTR-6140BL 5.1-channel digital home theater receiver offers a wealth of entertainment features that will enrich your audio and video experience. This high-performance home theater receiver boasts 1080p-compatible HDMI, and it's ready for XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. The Yamaha HTR-6140BL is also iPod and Bluetooth compatible. Other innovative features include CINEMA DSP for full surround sound, YPAO sound optimization and speaker setup, and 4 SCENE buttons for quick setup of audio sources.

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Yamaha RX-V563BL 630 Watt 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I spent the last 3 months trying to find the right av receiver for me. After much praise, i bought and returned the onkyo txsr605 (setup and video was great, sound was poor, including a buzz i've never had before) and the Harmon Kardon AVR 340 (sound was great, but vidoe quality in non-hd was aweful). I waited a few weeks for the new yamaha a/v receivers to come out in April. It was definifely worth the wait. GUI is not great, but the sound is amazing and no major complaints with the video. My only issues has to do with how quickly it can switch between HD and non-HD souces with my cable box (handshake), although i hear this is a common problem with certain cable boxes.

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The RX-V563BL 7.1-channel digital home theater receiver offers an impressive array of features and technologies to enhance the audio/video experience, including HDMI switching with 1080p video pass-through, iPod and Bluetooth audio compatibility, CINEMA DSP, compressed music enhancer for MP3 and WMA discs, and 4 SCENE buttons make operating the receiver easier than ever. 2 volume-setting functions are included on this receiver for additional convenience. Initial volume setting allows you to set the volume level that will be heard each time the power is turned on. Maximum volume setting prevents unexpected loud sounds. You have a choice of 8 unique CINEMA DSP surround programs to bring out the full audio potential of your entertainment sources. The RX-V563BL receiver is capable of delivering large amounts of reserve power for accurate reproduction of high-energy peaks that are especially prevalent in digital audio sources. Other features include Bluetooth A2DP compatibility with optional YBA-10 wireless audio receiver, on-screen display with iPod song title display, 7-channel 630W powerful surround sound (90W x 7), Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs used in all channels for impressive sound reproduction, 1080p-compatible HDMI switching (2 inputs, 1 output), component video upconversion with TBC HDTV, compatible component video terminals (3 inputs, 1 output), and cinema DSPwith 8 DSP programs for full surround sound.

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Yamaha HTR-3063BL 5.1 Channel 500 Watt AV Receiver (Each, Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This receiver sounds good, is very reasonably priced, but it's not quite what I was expecting.
Reading the description of this unit, and looking at its back panel pictures, left me with the impression it probably can output video to an HDMI TV, regardless of the input source selected ("upsampling"). It cannot. It does not upsample, and cannot send, say, your component video input source to your HDMI TV. Yamaha support (who got back to me quickly, I must admit), says "it does not do any up converting of video sources, you would have to run the component video out to [a component input] TV as well."
I also found the setup less than intuitive; others have commented on the lack of a printed manual, and I must agree that I found myself missing it as I tried to determine how best to configure my speakers and resolve my upsampling question.
So, bottom line, be aware of its limitations, but if you're fine with what it does and doesn't do, it seems to be a nice value.

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Yamaha HTR-3063BL5.1 Channel 500 Watt AV Receiver is a great value-priced receiver to help take your home theater experience further. It features the latest HDMI specifications (4 inputs/1 output) with 3D-readiness (with firmware upgrade), 1080p HDMI repeating, and renowned Yamaha technologies like SCENE and CINEMA DSP. Expand your options even further with optional docks (sold separately) to add your iPod, iPhone, or Bluetooth sources.

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Yamaha RX-V367BL 5.1 Channel 500 Watt AV Receiver (Each, Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)We had a very old audio only receiver and were looking to replace it (almost 10 year old technics). We picked up the Yamaha RX-V367, even though there were no reviews, since the receiver was just released, and it was in our price range (200 to 300). So far we are happy with the new receiver; it is connected to the satellite box, xbox, and blu ray.
Speaker set up: Set of Polk Rti8 (left right and center), and klipsch Klipsch Synergy Series SS.5 rear surround (left and right). The sound coming from the speakers was MUCH better than from our ancient receiver.
Not a fan of the Sound Field Programs, seems too much like a gimmick, and only adds an echo depending on what setting (one setting might effect the vocals more, or another setting might effect the music), but I imagine some people would enjoy that. Has many audio processing options, works great with Netflix streaming, set it to 5ch stereo and it will work great; can clearly listen to what's playing (netflix only streams in 2ch stereo). Mainly use the "Straight" audio processing setting (for xbox and blu ray), I assume the receiver doesn't add any extra "audio goo", and plays direct from the source.
Good video quality, no noticeable video deterioration. Yamaha says it's compatible with HDMI 1.4 and will support 3D (with a firmware upgrade). Not that interested in 3d TVs anyways.
Clear and easy to use menu system (compared to my old technics receiver), competent directions, fairly user friendly.
Has 4 HDMI inputs which was much better than many of the competitors in the same price range. We didn't test the FM/AM tuner, and only connected HDMI and RCA from computer. We were also swayed by the extra bluetooth adapter so we can listen to music (and hopefully stream Hulu audio) wirelessly from the computer (and get rid of the airport express). Will update review after getting bluetooth.

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The Yamaha RX-V367BL 5.1-Channel AV Receiver is a great value-priced receiver to help take your home theater experience further. It features the latest HDMI specifications (4 inputs/1 output) with 3D-readiness (with firmware upgrade), 1080p HDMI repeating, and renowned Yamaha technologies like SCENE and CINEMA DSP. Expand your options even further with optional docks (sold separately) to add your iPod, iPhone, or Bluetooth sources.

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Yamaha HTR-6130BL 500 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)First I confess. I am technically challenged--I have trouble working a cell phone. But the manual was VERY detailed, if somewhat overwhelming, and the connections were easy because of labels and diagrams. As mentioned, the HDMI connection only passes the audio through to the TV--will not route it to the surround sound speakers.
So I knew I needed a second audio connection for my dvd and cable inputs, but I still had trouble getting any sound from the speakers from my DVD player and had to call tech support. They explained that this unit was designed before HDMI and that the connections were added later as a pass-through for convenience. I wondered why they would have designed it that way to start with--turns out they didn't! But all is well that ends well.
Tech support was EXCELLENT. Although I had connected everything properly (digital coax audio cable for DVD), they walked me through the set up menu choices to get the sound working properly. They even helped me with the settings on my Sony blue ray player! Saving the setup via scene buttons will allow me to to recover the settings without remembering the details.
The first movie I watched, I thought I was in a theater!


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High-value receiver with an impressive array of features and technologies to enhance the audio/video experience, including HDMI switching with 1080p video pass-through, iPod and Bluetooth audio compatibility, CINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, and four SCENE buttons.

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Kenwood Kdc-Bt945U CD/AM/FM/USB Receiver with Bluetooth Review

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(More customer reviews)Like the previous review (which I didn't read), the bluetooth audio will only play on the front speakers, and the second tech support guy I spoke to gave me the same answer as in the previous review. Oddly enough, at first the unit worked great, with full sound for almost two days, when it switched to front speaker operation only. The first tech support guy I spoke to was unaware of the "front-speaker limit", and provided me with a long list of things to try to correct the issue. After trying them, without success, I called back and I was connected to the second tech guy who told me it shouldn't have worked in the first place. So buyer beware, but I'm hoping to return it.
EDIT: The above is my original review. It DOES work will all speakers, for BT audio and hands-free. It's just that the settings for this are somewhat hidden. After spending some more time with Kenwood tech reps, I was told that there must be a defect, so I was referred to a local repair facility. This was an authorized retailer/repair - Suburban Audio in NJ near Philly - and the repair guy there knew exactly what setting was off and I had it fixed within minutes.
The proper setting can be found only while the radio is in BT hands-free mode (page 48 of the pdf manual). The setting to adjust is "Bluetooth HF/Audio", where you can select "Front" or "All". Even though the manual describes this for voice, is applies to both voice and audio streaming.

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Kenwood Excelon KDC-X494 In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iPod Receiver with USB/Aux Input Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I used to install car stereos for 6 years and this is the best, hands down, bargain for the quality and performance.
Pre-amp outputs are front, rear and sub rated at 4 volts each. This is -perfect-
Has an Auxillary 35mm(1/8 inch) plug for any audio playing device you could think of; it has a USB port on the front and beyond the Crabapple iPod you can use a USB flashdrive. I opt for the flash drive with 8 gigabytes rather than anything else.
CD Play is perfect and skip free and capable of "forcing" the player to read those aweful CDs that are scratched beyond belief.
I have read and heard numerous complaints of the complexity of the owner's manual but I shall report that it pales in complexity to any home stereo reciever manual. You basically use ONE KNOB which lets you keep your eyes on the road as you turn up or turn down the volumne, change the song, change the USB music folder, change the equalizer, change the high/low/subwoofer pass filters and MORE with ONE KNOB! Remote control also included in case you just want to lay back and not move your arm nor lean forward with an abcrunch to adjust anything.
For the money, for the features and for the quality you need to buy this and get your friends to buy one themselves.

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Kenwoods KDC-X494 is a great solution for those who want an iPod-enabled CD receiver with room to grow. With direct control of iPod devices, WMA/MP3 playback from CDs or USB devices, convenient front-panel illuminated USB port/auxiliary input, and a 50W x4 MOSFET amplifier, it's a powerful device. Add three preamp outputsfor system building and the ability to add SAT/HD radio, Bluetooth, or a CD changer, and you have a receiver that'll keep you immersed in sound for years.


Removable Faceplate The faceplate of this model can be removed and taken with you, to help deter theft.

Text Display Options You can select between two lines of regular-size text or one line of large-size text. This helps you make music searching easier and faster, or make reading of the display easier.
CD and WMA/MP3 Playback Enjoy your favorite CDs and CD-Rs, or burn a disc of WMA or MP3 files and enjoy hours of music on a single disc, along with ID-3 tag display for artist and title info.
Front-Panel USB Port Plug in a thumb drive or other USB storage device for playback of your favorite MP3/WMA files, with easy folder navigation. The port will also charge portable devices, and offers control of some music phones via the receiver.
Direct iPod Control The eXcelon series is as iPod-friendly as it gets. Enjoy direct control of your device, along with great features such as:
Advanced Control Wheel and High-speed Search Bar Key The grip control knob is similar to that of an iPod, making operation familiar for iPod owners. What�s more, the high-speed search bar key allows users to scroll up or down through music files. In addition the search function works for iPods, USB mass storage and Data CDs.
My PlaylistMy Playlist allows you to create a playlist of up to ten songs from an iPod connected to an eXcelon receiver. The playlist is created by using the unique ID allocated for each song stored on an iPod.
Search FunctionsSimply press the Direct Search key and enter the Search Mode to enable searching just by entering the first three letters of the playlist, artist, album, song, podcast, genre or composer and using the up/down key to get a list of songs. It is also possible to search using Alphabet Search, Skip Search and Related Search functions.

Front Auxiliary Input Listen to external audio devices like MP3 players using the front auxiliary input. The USB port and Aux input are both illuminated, and kept safe from dust when not in use with a sliding cover.
FM/AM Tuner When you feel like letting someone else control the programming, switch to the radio. Store your favorite stations as presets for instant access--mixed preset tuning allows both FM and AM stations to be preset on the same preset band.
Serious Room To Grow The KDC-X494 is ready for you to add Kenwood components for SAT/HD radio, Bluetooth, or a CD changer.
It's also ready for system building. While the built-in 50W x 4 MOSFET amp is plenty powerful, it also features three 4V preamp outputs (front, rear, subwoofer) for adding external amps and speakers. It includes a rear/subwoofer switch with a subwoofer level and adjustable low pass filter, so you can send just what you need for your system.
System E's+ Crossover System A single IC that allows the user to select from 8 different high-pass filter crossover frequencies plus pass-through, with independent selection for front and rear outputs. This makes it easy to optimize the performance of all amps and speakers in a car audio system without needing an external electronic crossover. System E's+ also incorporates a phase switch and low-pass filter for the non-fading output. The low-pass filter has selectable cutoff frequencies of 50Hz, 80Hz, 120Hz and Through.
Sound Excellence DSP The Sound Excellence audio enhancement feature brings out all of the music masked by road noise and includes a unique iPod EQ function that improves iPod sound quality by deactivating the EQ setting, allowing you to select from twenty-two EQ curves optimized for iPod playback in any vehicle.
System Q EX Sound Control Five factory pre-set equalization curves (Rock, Top40, Pops, Jazz and Easy, plus a flat setting) and three speaker matching curves (OEM, 6x9, 5/4 plus a flat setting) that can be combined to give the user extreme flexibility over the sound's tonal character. The preset curves include midrange contouring, giving music more clarity and presence. System Q EX allows the user to modify the preset curves by changing the amplitude of the bass, midrange and treble compensation, and the Q of the bass and midrange compensation. The new curves can then be saved as presets for future recall
What's in the Box Kenwood KDC-X494, Remote Control, Wiring Harness, Installation Tools and Hardware, Owner's Manual, Warranty Card

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Pyle P1002AI 1000 Watts Hybrid Receiver and Pre-Amplifier with AM-FM Tuner/iPod Docking Station Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just received this on Friday and hooked it up to our new Bose environmental outdoor speakers 251 putting out 200 watts per channel. Hooked up Itouch ipod to it, was working great at first, but then unit started going haywire until it ultimately FROZE and none of the operations worked properly. Called their support office today and was informed that this unit is NOT compatible with Itouch ipod models and it will short out the unit if you try to dock it in the included dock on the top. The dock on the top is made for older generation ipod models. However, you can purchase a universal ipod doc that hooks up to the back of the unit via RCA outputs if you want to use this unit with Itouch ipod. Doing this will charge the Itouch, but then in order to hear your songs you may also have to hook up the Itouch via the Ipod/Mp3 jack on the front of the unit. Once this is hooked up properly, the sounds is AMAZING for the Bose speakers that we have! It's reallly incredible and sounds like an outdoor concert. I only gave it three stars because the manual has no directions in it and no way of knowing that if you try to connect Itouch into the ipod dock that it will short out the unit. Had we known that from the beginning in the item description or the manual it would have saved us a lot of headaches trying to figure out what the problem was! Also, another FYI, the technical support agent suggested purchasing their lower end model P1001AT that DOES NOT have the ipod dock at the top if you are going to strictly use an ITOUCH ipod with it. Again, you would just have to purchase a separate universal ipod doc.

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Yamaha RX-V467BL 5.1 Channel 525 Watt AV Receiver (Each, Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this receiver based on other reviews of Yamaha receivers. I chose this over Samsung's current 5.1 and 7.1 receiver, because the Samsung units had lackluster reviews. I was curious about the Samsung receiver line because our television is a Samsung LED.
I'm thrilled with the RX-V467. First, the quality is topnotch, which is something you can always expect from Yamaha gear. It's solidly built and feels that way. There's a huge heatsink inside, visible through the top vent. Second, it's feature-rich and surprisingly easy to operate given all the options at hand.
I bought Polk Audio's SurroundBar and Polk Audio's PSW10 Subwoofer for this unit: What fantastic sound when you merge these items! For Blu-ray--also based on user ratings--I purchased the Sony BDP-360, and it works great with the Yamaha RX-V467 via HDMI-CEC.
My Samsung UN55C6500 LED LCD television works great with this receiver. I'm even able to get some HDMI-CEC functionality between the receiver, TV, and Sony Blu-ray.
The remote control looks scary at first, but once I stared into it for a few seconds, I realized the forethought that went into it. I was able to set most functions in the receiver without cracking the manual. If you've used a receiver before, you'll likely find this unit and remote easy to operate. The remote can be programmed to operate other components in your HES.
The auto calibration microphone starts the process when you plug it in. A few remote clicks and you're done. Had to set the speaker size back to Large for the SurroundBar, however, as this is what Polk Audio recommends.
I love that you can name the inputs of the unit based on what you plug in; this makes it easy to see what AV input you've selected.
I've only scratched the surface. This unit has plenty of features to keep you busy if you like that kind of stuff.
This receiver is $329 on Amazon and other places; great deal!!!!
Downsides:
My Pace HD cable box (Time Warner) did not work well via HDMI cable, but I'm not sure if this was the fault of the Pace, the receiver, or the television (or some combination). Sound and picture would blink or stutter on-and-off for about 30 seconds with each channel change (changed via the cable box). That was just unacceptable, so I went to Component and TOSLINK cables for the Pace without issue. HD cable sounds and looks great now, without "blinking," using these cable selections connected to the receiver. This unfortunately means I have both Component and HDMI cables connected to the TV.
Does not include an iPhone or iPod dock like the Samsung. The new iPhone/iPod dock should be available within the next month or so, but you'll have to buy that as an option. Starting retail price to be $99. The receiver does have a mini-plug on the front to connect your mp3 device right away, however. There is currently an iPod-only dock available for the unit ($40-$70 online); I understand it has some iPhone compatibility, but I'm waiting for the new dock.
This unit offers ZERO conversion options. In other words, it will not up-convert or down-convert one format to another (e.g., Composite to Component, Component to HDMI, etc.). Most of the reviews I've read on units from other manufacturers that do offer conversion options have been poor, which leads me to believe that it's the conversion process itself that sucks--not the receivers. No idea if the unit will do the conversion for the iPhone dock...hope it does.
Conclusion:
I recommend this receiver. As with all things, better units are available for MORE money; this unit delivers for the amount paid. If you're like me (moderate audio junkie) and need a unit for a medium-sized room (5.1 surround), I think you'll like this receiver. If you fancy yourself an audiophile and like to buy expensive audio and video cables because you think it helps, buy something more expensive.

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The Yamaha RX-V467BL 5.1-Channel AV Receiver is a versatile and capable receiver to help take your home theater experience further. It features the latest HDMI specifications (4 inputs/1 output) with Audio Return Channel and 3D-readiness (with firmware upgrade). 1080p HDMI compatibility, and renowned Yamaha technologies like SCENE and CINEMA DSP. Expand your options even further with optional docks (sold separately) to add your iPod, iPhone, or Bluetooth sources.

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