Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black)

• 135 Watts per Channel at 8 ohms, 20 Hz?20 kHz, 0.08%, 2 Channels Driven, FTC
• HDMI (Version 1.4a to Support 3D and Audio Return Channel)
• HDMI Video Upscaling to 1080p with Faroudja DCDi Cinema
• Certified with Windows 7 and DLNA Version 1.5
• Front-Panel USB Input for Memory Devices and iPhone/ iPod Models (Enables Display of Album Artwork)

I previously bought a 1120k receiver and returned it for this one. Please see my companion 1120k review and the LSI15 review (right speaker even though I bought both) if you're curious.

I used this amplifier to drive 4 ohms speakers. Most audiophiles will tell you to get external amplification to drive them. I am usually skeptical of these claims.

Myth: You will need external amplifiers to drive 4 ohm speakers. False. I pushed these with an Onkyo 808 135 watts at 8ohms, not sure about the 4 ohms spec as Onkyo doesn't advertise it. There was absolutely no clipping at ear blistering level. No harshness whatsoever from the LSI15 that I heard from the C-5. At high volume, the Energy C-5 gave me a headache. However, the LSI were still extremely smooth. Those speakers (LSI15) are 89db efficiency at 1 watt, so if I push it to 110db, it would require only 128 watts to push. 110db is far louder than comfortable for most living rooms. I guess if you like listen to it louder, then external amplification would be needed. Most normal people wouldn't. Tip: Don't set the receiver to 4 ohm mode. Leave it at 8 ohms. The 4 ohm mode only serve to cut the power output to protect the receiver. My receiver has two fans that I never noticed turning on. Onkyo got smart by inserting fans. Previously, they were hot enough to cook eggs. Would external amplification improve sound quality? I have my doubts. I am a firm believer in amplifiers used for extreme volume only. Normal listening level does not require an amplifier to improve quality (relative to this receiver, lesser receiver may have issues). However, if anyone has an amplifier and wants to prove me wrong, I'm ready to be a believer.

The Onkyo 808 is a huge beast with a very hefty heat sink with dual fans. It has every single high-end adjustable settings you can think of. The only thing I discovered is that the noise correction caused my Netflix stream to ghost. However, that may be due to the noise correction algorithm coupled with the 120hz mode on my TV. Turning off the noise correction fixed the ghosting for me. The quality of the up conversion is good but perhaps a little soft for SD. I do not have an A to B comparison with the Pioneer so I can't be sure which is better. If the Marvell is better, I didn't notice it. However, I would not suggest buying an audio receiver for the video processing chip. Most SD look bad regardless of up conversion, and most high def source look best at native resolution of your TV. I've been reading on the Internet that the Marvell chip is so much better than the Faroudja. There is definitely an improvement on up conversion for either chips, but you can't make SD look HD no matter how hard you try. At least for me, DVD's looked like crap (in comparison to HD) on both the Pioneer and the Onkyo receivers. Therefore, I chalk up conversion as tie for both = equally crappy.

The HDMI is good. My PC picked up the receiver as an output source quickly.

PROS:

135 Watts

Drive 4ohms speakers well

OSD for volume

Excellent Internet radio functionality

Regular cable for IPOD

Dual fans to cool heat sink

Per input level gain

Per speakers cross-over

Dual subwoofer output

Trigger

Firmware upgradeable (make sure you update right away)

CONS:

Warmer than the Pioneer

Update 12/10/10: No dialogue enhancement

No Iphone App

This receiver is actually very good. I returned the Pioneer even though I got an extremely good deal for it. If you don't need the 135 watts, I recommend the 708 instead. However, at the current $70 online price difference between the 708 and 808, I would get the 808 for insurance. Who knows, you may want to buy 4ohm speakers later on =) and you'll save yourself the upgradeitis agony. The Pioneer 1120k is currently about $100 cheaper than the 708 street price. It's an excellent receiver if you only need 110 watts and no trigger. However, if you want Internet radio functionality, volume OSD, and per input volume gain, per speaker cross-over, pick the 708 or 808 instead.

Update (11/15/10): After having used it a few weeks, I have not discovered anything wrong with it since I updated the firmware immediately when I received it. The firmware updated pretty easily over the Internet (make sure its in USB mode first or you'll get an error). The Internet radio is very cool and works flawlessly. You do not need conventional radio with this option since most radios networks have an Internet versions online. I found some online Internet radio with 256k quality as well as radios from around the world.

I had to adjust my input to +6db to my UVerse box and +3 to my HTPC to make it the same level as the PS3 (which is always louder for some reason). I don't suggest anyone purchase any receiver that lack this feature. My old Denon had it and this one has it. I missed it immediately when I bought the Pioneer. The online display shows both volume level as well as the input label as well so I don't have to look at the receiver through the glass door which is a plus. I have not heard the fan come on yet so I believe the dual fans may be installed as a precaution rather than a necessity (then again, it's not Summer right now).

All in all, I'm very happy with this receiver. I originally wanted a Denon 3111 as a replacement but Denon is not budging on MSRP right now which means it would have cost me almost twice as much as this one. There are currently no other receivers on the market that has the comparable features as this one at this price range.

Update 12/10/10: Added the two Cons. I do miss the dialogue enhancement and the Iphone app was very cool on the Pioneer.

Buy Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Now

I bought the ONKYO TX-NR808 to replace my aging 10 year old Lexicon DC-2 pre-amp and Carver Professional amps. The Onkyo powering Miller and Kreisel THX 750 5.1 speaker system.

I figured that after 10 years I could use a audio update even though the Lexicon is still a amazing piece of equipment but I didn't want to spend $6500 this time around.

I wanted a receiver that had all of the newer DTS and Dolby surround formats and could power the 4 ohm M&K speakers (8 vs 4 ohm setting in the setup menus).

It sounds great I love the video switching and the great on screen display of settings.

I have a Netgear 9150 Digital entertainer Elite hooked to it with only one HDMI cable. Being able to use the HDMI really cleans up the cabling since it can also send the audio over the same cable. Same thing goes for my HD cable box, HDMI no seperate audio cable needed.

I haven't had any problems with the Ethernet not connecting, even though I did let it update via the internet. The streaming off connected networked computer is nice also, without any problems. Pandora works flawlessly.

For the price and features it cannot be beat.

Also Amazon has it for the lowest price.

UPDATE: 07-02-11

Still no problems. I now have a HTPC hooked up running WMC and Boxee.

Awesome product for the money.

Read Best Reviews of Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Here

So I purchased the TX-NR808 to replace my Onkyo TX-SR800 mainly just for the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA decoding, but man was I blown away by the overall sound quality improvement with standard DD, DTS, and stereo as well! I am a very expianced home theater installer, and I am ashamed to say that I didn't realize how much of a difference 35 watts per channel would make. I have a 7.1 speaker setup featuring Polk Audio RTi10 tower speakers and a Velodyne 10" powered sub, which have always sounded great, but let me tell you that these speakers have never sounded so amazing as they do now with this receiver! WOW! Any source that i've run through it(CD, DVD, iPod, or Blu-ray) has resulted in a sonic explosion! Highs, mids and lows all are perfectly represented by the 808. So.... the real question most people want to know the answer to is.... "Does Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD sound better then standard DD and DTS?" The answer is ABSOLUTELY YES! I watched Kung Fu Panda to compare the difference and it was immediately obvious that the Dolby TrueHD trumped the DD track in every way. Then I put in "Crank 2" to hear what a DTS-MA HD 7.1 mix could do. Let me say that once the DTS logo started I was left absolutely speechless until the credits ended! Sonic power and clarity is all I can say. With either format you get improved ambiance, harder hitting bass, and amazing dynamic range which creates an unequalled movie watching experiance! No movie theater can even come close the the sound quality I now have in my home theater!

I will now list some of the other improvements that this receiver does that my old one didn't.

1. I now have the volume displayed on my screen via the HDMI out on the receiver. Very handy since my components are in the room behind my theater room!

2. I can connect it to my home network and play all my music from my computer instantly!

3. The receiver programs the remote for you after you tell it what components you have. Awesome!

4. It takes any video input whether it's composite, s-video, or component and sends it to your TV, upconverted to HD through the HDMI out!

To summarize. . . with all the features that this receiver has for the low price that I paid through Amazon I couldn't be happier with the TX-NR808! This is bar none the best receiver that I have ever heard for under $1,500!

Want Onkyo TX-NR808 7.2-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Discount?

I bought this 135W A/V receiver to power a 5.1 set up with JBL speakers including 890's for the fronts and 830's for the surrounds. I needed the 1.4 HDMI capability to connect with a Samsung 46C8000 and I wanted more power than my prior A/V, a 100W Sony, was capable of delivering because, even though the JBL's are great, they need a lot of juice to bring them in to full blossom.

The set up was easy and the sound clarity, accuracy and other performance criteria were met superbly. The receiver's 1.4 HDMI's 3D performance (Monsters and Aliens) was excellent. On 2D, I ran the first 15 minutes of a BD Master & Commander through the initial battle scene. Holy cow, the cannon balls were hitting me in the chest, my deck (floor) was shaking and shrapnel was flying from every corner of the room.

The Onkyo is pretty big and heavy though, measure your expected positioning carefully.

All things considered, it does a great job and you could spend a lot more and get no better performance.

For a $1099 product, Onkyo needs to hire a bunch testers instead of taking advantage of consumers for testing.

1. Network connection issue keep initializing forever

2. Not working with iPhone 3G OS4.0

3. Not working with iTune m4a files

4. Picky USB connection ok with Seagate Freeagent Go 500gb drive, but not working with WD Element Portable 500gb drive

Above is my free bug report. For details, go to avsforum. (This is definitely my last time being a free beta tester for Onkyo. I quit.)

Edit: After 08/13/2010 firmware update, the network "Now Initializing" issue is NOT fixed. I have to unplug and replug my network cable each time to workaround the "Now Initializing... Forever" bug. However, the sound quality is improved after firmware update though. Better image, deeper sound stage and tighter bass in stereo. More detail and alive in movie.

Edit: After 10/27/2010 firmware update, the network "Now Initializing" issue is finally fixed for my old Netgear router. Moreover, the sound quality seems getting even better on network streaming after update. The treble is more detail and alive. Very happy with this product today and will give it 4 stars.

"With a USB drive and bunch high quality flac files (or streaming over network), the sound beats $1000+ CD players in the old days."

Read More >>

Denon AVR4310CI 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HD

• Networking capability opens up your AV system to audio and jpeg photo streaming and Internet radio.
• HDMI 1.3a Repeating (5 input, 2 output, one front panel) provides one cable connection between the receiver and TV
• 1080p HDMI connectivity supports Blu-ray disc surround sound formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DD+, dts-HD and dts-HR
• Audyssey DSX and Dolby Labs Pro Logic IIz Matrix decoding featuring front height effects channels
• Audyssey MultEQ XT, Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ

I got this only 2 weeks ago, so this is a preliminary report:

From my testing so far:

Pros:

1. Great sound; drastic (positive) improvement over previous Denon 1508 I had in this setup.

2. Video: The upconversion from any source to HDMI is good and works without a hassle. (The worst case testing of standard cable to 1080p doesn't look good and is more grainy than I would have liked; but standard DVD looks fantastic on my Panasonic 1080p plasma with this receiver).

3. Audussey setup: was quite easy (just took some 10 minutes) and once done, had done a good job of measuring distances and capacities of speakers I have (Martin Logan Aeons for the front, Vignette for the center, ML Grotto for the sub, but a low end polk audio for surrounds in my 5.1 setup), and correctly set the relative power etc for the speakers. I can see the difference in one of the side chairs in my listening setup.

4. On screen GUI: Great improvement over my previous Denon/Marantz etc. Again this works flawlessly, and the GUI, while it can be improved, is good enough for most people.

5. The remote: the primary remote, after you get used to it, is great. Now I could dispose of my Panasonic TV remote as well as my DVD player's remotes and just use one remote effortlessly. I also have a Harmony remote that I stopped using long time ago, and this remote is better than the harmony remote in my experience (one simple reason is that harmony remembers the state of the equipment and expects you to use only the remote always; so if you do manual change, for e.g, walk up to the TV and switch it on, harmony gets confused!). Again a great improvement over previous/lower end Denon models.

5. Network access/firmware upgrade: just having these features is a plus (BUT...I had lot of issues with this that I am covering below)

6. Ipod direct connectivity using front USB input: great again. (I was able to connect both iphone first gen and a ipod video 5th gen as well as a ipod nano 3rd gen and use them correctly using the onscreen menu). There is an audio improvement mode that improves the compressed mp3 music ("Restorer" has 4 modes off or no processing, 64, 96bit and HQ high quality?)

7. Several inputs 6 HDMI inputs there is even a set of front inputs hdmi, composite,USB inputs for convenience.

8. Doesn't get too hot! I tried pushing this a higher volume on my sub-4 ohm Martin Logans and no sweat! Receiver does get hot but not too hot that you will burn your fingers! This is one big reason I bought this receiver my experience with other brand rececivers was quite bad at 75-90 watt/channel, these receivers trip my house fuses frequently; Denon (both my old 1508 at 75 watts and 4310 now at 130 watts) does admirably well in this regard and I have no complaints only superlative praises for the efficiency and power handling of Denon.

Now for the CONS and the problems I encountered:

1. Poor, unfinished, mediocre web access while it does allow you to change the source, do the setup of components, control multi zones, volume control etc using (browser) access), it looks very primitive not one that you expect in a 2000$ receiver.

2. NET/USB and other network Modes: Several bugs here let me try a few,, but I am not finished finding them yet!

a. Doesn't recognize any NAS drives in the home network; only sees Windows media servers in the network! So to play music in a NAS drive, I have to first add it to a WMP library and then I can play that from Denon. This is more a feature request than a bug.

b. While navigating through list of songs/albums etc, there is no page up/page down keys and so going down one entry at a time and lack of search is a pain when you have thousands of songs.

c. There is a minor bug in playing media server/USB files: while the display goes to sleep after a minute or so, the album art stays in the screen in the same place this will be bad for plasma TVs!

d. Ipod troubles: I have a first generation iphone and so when I connect that, there is a warning on iphone that says this device is not compatible and so I should put the phone in airplane mode. Say no to this screen and it continues to work normally! Not sure if it is apple's bug or denon's bug! But Denon is recognizing older ipods to current generation.

Quite a few problems I saw with NET/USB/Media server/internet radio have been solved with the firmware updates over the last month..

I want to give 4.5 stars, only because most of the problems I saw can be fixed by software updates (I hope Denon will act fast), and the rest, the most important thing for me audio quality, video quality, power handling are worth 6 stars.

I haven't got to testing Audussey DSX the height and wider channel features presented by this receiver. I will update this review as I test more features...

Update: July 2010: After almost a year and several firmware upgrades later, I still haven't tested the Audissey DSX feature. But the problems I noted with media server/Net are still there in particular, the media server is still sooooo slow, I can't really use it. In fact, my Denon is wired to the wireless router. Sharing music between my systems using wireless on Windows 7 pcs/notebooks is reasonably (much) faster but Denon is quite slow literally takes several seconds for each key press. Internet radio, napster, usb drives etc are quite useable (no issues there).

The http screens for this receiver are still primitive no changes there. You will still need the on-screen menus if you want to make changes. The best you can do with http access is to change the input, change volume/mute (more like a simple remote).

Ultimately, the sound quality is great and audio performance of this receiver rocks the sole reason for my buying this receiver. In spite of all the other small issues I mentioned, the sound quality and power performance (runs quite cool for the power it handles) is one of the best I have seen at this price range.

UPDATE: 11/26/2010: With the latest firmware updates, the network access and Ipod/USB access etc seem to have improved several fold. Now access to media on my NAS box in the home network is quite snappy, and I can play a song in a couple of seconds after selecting the song.

Buy Denon AVR4310CI 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HD Now

I have had my 4310 since November last year. Overall a great unit with many features. However, the network card in this model and the higher 4810 has been very flaky and many have failed. Now, you might think that if you are not going to use the network features then no big deal; but somehow the network card failures cascade into other sections of the unit.

Ensure you select an authorized dealer as Denon will not honor their warranty; the Denon warranty center is outsourced to a third party in New Jersey so shipping to them is at your expense and repairs take 2-3 weeks minimum (with stories from others for months).

Read Best Reviews of Denon AVR4310CI 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HD Here

This is to share my experience with a new 4310CI for a week:

PRICE I just upgraded to this 4310CI from an old Denon AVR3801 which has 7x110W. From all the articles I've read which indicated 4310CI is more likely an upgrade of the 3808CI instead of 4308CI, and price was raised form the 1699 for 3808CI to the 1999 MSRP. However, I had the 4310 for 1248 (.) I paid ~800 for the 3801 in 2001. I think 1248 for the 4310CI is alright as of this time.

AUDIO 1) In stereo mode, I cannot tell of an improvement immediately over the old 3801. However, 4310CI's HD radio locks in more stations (with the 4310CI, signal dropout completely if signal quality is poor) and offers pleasant radio listening experience. I don't have XM and Sirius satellite; therefore, I cannot share any experience for those. 2) In AV mode, 4310CI does differently sensationally and somehow better than 3801; however, 3801 is doing great basic 5.1 decoding, IMO. No need to upgrade to 4310CI just for this if I am not looking for HDMI connections. 3) The internet radio is cool, and sound quality is not bad. However, it froze on me a few times thus far; power cycle brought it right back.

VIDEO 1) no HDMI handshake issue so far with my LN52A750, and 1080P really does significantly better job than 1080i via component cables with my old 3801. 2) ABT-2010 does a super job up-scaling my DVD's 480i and 480p output. IMO, it does the best up-scaling job (very SMOOTH, although yet Bluray quality) while PS3 does good job and LN52A750 does poorly. This alone would make 4310CI a good buy if you don't have a higher end DVD or Bluray player.

OTHER 4310CI gets kind of hot. My 3808 is running cool to touch from the top, no heat at all. I was concerned about the heat when I first had the 4310CI all connected and ran for just about 15 minutes in -30db. Don't know if this normal; however, user manual does say it would get hot and it needs room for ventilation.

It is somewhat expensive; however, I'd recommend this 4310CI for the price I paid for.

UPDATE #1:

I think my 4310CI ran hot was due to vedio processing from up-scaling 480p DVD input. I checked again yesterday while I was watching 1080i input from DirecTV, it stayed warm although not cool but not hot.

Audio signal comes right in at power-up and dropout while syncing with video via HDMI. Video wouldn't show on TV at least for the first 3-5 seconds. This only happens at start-up, have not run into a similar situation while watching DirecTV, DVD, or with a PS3.

Update #2 (02/29/2012):

I have not used the NET/USB feature and didn't check for updates for several months, and now just realized my network connection is totally gone. I have tried power on/off several times alone with a complete reset, no go. I was able to get IP address to show up a few times in setup menu but could have never been able to establish a network connection. I did a quick research online and found that a lots, if not all, 3310ci and 4310ci are experiencing this issue. I called Denon and they wouldn't acknowledge this has been widely spread. My unit is 4-5 month out of warranty, sham on Denon.

Want Denon AVR4310CI 7.1-Channel Multi-Zone Home Theater Receiver with Networking Capability and 1080p HD Discount?

I have had the Denon 4310 for 3 weeks. I'm extremely satisfied with its options and sound quality. Beware if you are not really into fooling around with electronic setups. I'm very experienced with home theater equipment and it took me several days to really set it up right after wading through the user manual. The only problem I had with this product is the instructions which are unnecessarily complicated. To actually do the setup is easy, but getting the info from the manual on how to do it is very time consuming.

Took a bit to get it set up with some reading and playing with the options, but it was well worth the research and time needed, the quality of the sound exceeds that of my Sony Receiver and having 7.1 surround makes a lot of difference in my media experience.

Read More >>

iLuv Vibro I Bed Shaker 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Speaker Dock (Pink)

• Shaker alarm accessory vibrates your pillow or bed
• Built in speakers allow you to hear your music with depth and clarity
• Play and charge your iPod on the universal iPod dock
• Large, easy to read display.Programmable presets for 10 FM radio stations
• Compatible with iPod touch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation), iPod classic, iPod nano (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generation) and iPod with video
• Digital dual alarm clock with universal iPod dock with Bed shaker
• Built-in speakers allow you to hear your music with depth and clarity
• Auxiliary line input for any audio device with 3.5mm jack
• Bed shaker vibrates a bed or a pillow to wake up the heaviest sleepers
• Wake to iPod, FM radio, buzzer, or bed shaker

I got this as my alarm clock for my nightstand. I rarely use it to play my iPod touch, but it does it well. I don't think the controls are particularly intuitive. It sounds good. When my place lost power recently during a thunderstorm and it kept the time, but seemed to have lost my radio station. It is very cute and very pink. The clock is also very bright and provides a blue glow in my very dark bedroom. It is nice the light can be dimmed, but the dimmest setting is still pretty bright. I got it in part to be silly. That it is. I am completely enjoying it.

Buy iLuv Vibro I Bed Shaker 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Speaker Dock (Pink) Now

This was a birthday gift for my daughter and it was a HUGE disappointment. This is about the worst quality item I've bought in a very long time. The buttons you push to set the clock and the alarm and the radio station are so poorly made that they don't consistently work. In fact I was never able to set the alarm. I tried and tried but just couldn't get the time to change.

The sound quality is tinny which I could have dealt with since it was only going to be used as an alarm clock but really, for the money, it could have been better. I can't comment on the Ipod charging station or play because we didn't even get that far.

I have a clock that I bought for $6 at a discount store that's quality far surpasses this. Really, there is no reason for an item like this to even make it to market.

This is going back and I will steer clear of this manufacturer.

Read Best Reviews of iLuv Vibro I Bed Shaker 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Speaker Dock (Pink) Here

Alarms are kind of hard to set, but bed shaker works great. My daughter loves it, and it is very effective.

Want iLuv Vibro I Bed Shaker 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Alarm Clock Speaker Dock (Pink) Discount?

The bed shaker was what brought my attention towards this alarm clock. My old one was dying and I needed one that would be reliable. I'm not saying that this alarm clock is bad it's just that I noticed after about two weeks that the sound quality was horrible. I can't play certain songs and I can't turn up the volume past 25 because there's a terrible static in the background. I was disappointed when that happened and I've tried using canned air to get the static sound to go away but it doesn't work. I'm sad to say that I wasted my money and now I can't afford to get a new one yet.

You're better off looking at another product. This one isn't worth the money you pay for it.

Save 25% Off

I got the iLuv today and it was nice looking and well packaged. However, it was a headache to use. The quickstart manual that came with it was lacking in majorly essential information and the full manual download wasn't much better. The functions wouldn't work no matter what buttons I pressed or how long I held them. I Finally got the alarm set and the radio function turned on but then the radio wouldn't turn off and I couldn't get the alarm to turn off either. This was such a waste of time and money and I have happily returned it for a full refund.

Read More >>

Sony WMFS497 Sports Walkman

• Heavy-duty aluminum die-cast design
• Digital synthesized AM/FM stereo tuner
• Rugged water-resistant sports series case
• 22 hours extended battery life (tape playback)
• 20-station preset tuning (15 FM and 5 AM)

Don't be fooled by the word "Sports" in the name. This is an unwieldy item not suitable for use during running or walking. I was particularly disappointed because my last Sony Sports model was small, lightwieght, and survived my less than gentle handling for 5 years. Too bad they broke the mold.

Buy Sony WMFS497 Sports Walkman Now

If you are a jogger/runner, this is the walkman for you. After ruining several other "regular" walkmans, I broke down and bought the Sony sports walkman. It doesn't eat your cassette tapes, wear out the batteries too quickly, and allows for consistent tape play back while running. It is a little more money than other walkmans, but worth every penny. You will never need to buy another walkman to run with again.

Read Best Reviews of Sony WMFS497 Sports Walkman Here

This unit is awful. It is heavy and the aluminum piece flops out uncontrolably (it doesn't stay latched down). This is not like some of the models you may have seen in the stores. Do not waste your money on this walkman!

Want Sony WMFS497 Sports Walkman Discount?

The sound quality is good. The style is good. The grip is good. The belt latch doesn't stay latched to your belt. In other words if you are going to jog make sure this walkman is securely latched to you otherwise it will become friends with the floor real quick. I wouldn't buy it if you are going to use it for jogging or any kind of heavy activity.

dont listen to any thing else...i went to the store to try out every walkman i could and this one by far is the best ever...its got all the best functions...every one i know who listened to all agree with me...it makes tapes sound like CD's....its the best of the best..its strong ...a bit heavy (the metal makes it stronger though).....its got a clock,stopwatch,20 presets,auto reverse,dolby,noise reduction, digital tuning, meaga bass and groove for the best bass possible...,you can use metal tape...its water resistant...its air tight (it even got a little thing on the bottom to let air out incase the air pressure changes Quickly!)...its the best walkman ever!!!!!! if you are looking for an awesome walkman this is it!!!!!

Read More >>

Onkyo TX-SR804S 7.1 Channel Up-Converting THX Certified A/V Receiver (Silver)

• 105 Watts per channel minimum into 8 ohms, at 20 Hz to 20,000Hz x 7 channels
• Selectable modes for 2 channels stereo and 2.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 channel surround
• Vector Linear Shaping Circuitry (VLSC) for all channels
• Extended frequency response - (5 Hz to 100 kHz)
• Reduced NFB (Negative Feedback)

I am by no means an expert on electronic audio equipment, but I wanted to replace my 5 year old Panasonic 300w THIB 5 disc DVD/CD system with separate components to get a better "bang" for my audio ear. I based my research on owner reviews and of course the capabilities of the units. I decided on the Onkyo TXSR804/B, almost went with the Onkyo TXSR674/B which would have saved me about $150.00 over the TXSR804/B unit, but I went all the way. I also purchased the Polk RM6750 5.1 Surround Speaker System not the best I could have, but more than enough power for my 12 x 18 room size. So, now my system consists of a Sony KDS-60A2000 SXRD 60" rear projection TV, Onkyo TXSR804/B receiver, Polk 5.1 (expandable to 7.1) Speaker System, a Panasonic DVD/VHS Recorder, Onkyo DXC39 6 disc CD Changer, and my digital cable box. Here's what I think after just two days of use:

Pros: Total system looks great, more than I could have asked for. I used the auto set-up micophone that comes with the receiver to adjust the speakers, and that worked well but I did tweak the rear surround speakers slightly to get the sound I wanted. I put in the DVD movie "The Incredibles" as a test for the sound system blew me away! shook the walls! Scared the kids! The Polk RM6750 speakers look and sound great I am glad I didn't spend more to get the Polk RB6880 (from Circuit City)at twice the cost! You will not be disapointed with these speakers. I went from using 5 remotes to using just one the one that came with the receiver. I also have only one HDMI cable from the receiver to my TV. You can also transfer specific remote functions of your choosing from each component remote you don't have to transfer "all" remote functions if you don't need all of them.

Cons: TIME to set this up It took my about a good 10 12 hours to get all components connected to the receiver and to set all the imputs and programs into the remote. You will need to read the instructions over & over until it finally "clicks" in your mind and things start to work the right way. So give yourself time. Call Fire Dog service if you need help getting this set up the right way. I almost did. My last "Con: is you'll have to teach the rest of your family members how to use the new remote, or you may find yourself mystified when something doesn't work the way you programed it to.

Bottom line: I made the right choices for my system components. They look great together and the sound is "WOW".. I may do a little more tweaking, but overall, I am very happy with my new system. I recommend this receiver highly, without any hesitation.

Buy Onkyo TX-SR804S 7.1 Channel Up-Converting THX Certified A/V Receiver (Silver) Now

I shopped and researched for several months for a new HDMI receiver. I was all set to buy the TX-SR674 but I stumbled upon this model in my search. The 804 model has 10 more watts per channel than the 674, THX sound and a cleaner front via a drop down panel. Set-up was quite easy since I was using HDMI connections for the TV, DVD & Cable Box. (Don't waste your $$ on expensive HDMI cables! I had to buy a $70 cable from the big red CC box until my $6.00 HDMI cable arrived in the mail, guess what? No difference in sound!) The instruction manual is decent but does not cover every possible scenario. ie.) To get the XM Radio Info. displayed on the TV screen you have to choose choose VIDEO 2-4, then choose the TUNER (took a little trial and error). The remote is a little big, but is easy to use and does have 3 separate MACROs available to use. I was able to program all my components into this remote. The 804s on-screen display is basic white lettering on a black screen. The new Sony's have a slick on screen GUI like the PS3s but don't get sucked into this 'nice to have'. Once you get your system set up you will rarely go back to your on-screen displays. I'm running a 5.1 speaker system for now until I can afford a new 7.1 setup. However, the 5.1 sound on my old speakers sounds terrific. My speakers actually sound better than they did on my old Yamaha. XM Radio sounds great and is super easy to add on. I did not purchase the DS-A2 iPod dock because DLO is coming out with a new dock in March with on screen album art that the DS-A2 does not have. I'll let you know how this works as soon as I get it! The only feature I wish it had was a 3rd HDMI out, this would have been an even better upgrade over the 674! You can buy better HDMI receivers but you will spend well over $1000.00. Most people will be quite happy with this receiver at this price point.

Sound: Excellent Style: Clean and Slick Power: More than adequate Features: A Initial Setup: Medium

My System:

Samsung LN-S4695D LCD TV

Samsung HD-960 DVD (waiting for the HD-DVD/Blu Ray battle to play out and a price drop!)

Sci.Atl. HD cable box/DVR w/HDMI

Audiovox CNP2000H XM Radio Mini Tuner Home Dock with Antenna

Monster HTS 1000 MKII Powercenter with Clean Power (Needed this due to unstable power in my area.)

I hope this helps you to make a decision!

Read Best Reviews of Onkyo TX-SR804S 7.1 Channel Up-Converting THX Certified A/V Receiver (Silver) Here

I was replacing a 7yr old Denon unit which was rated highly in its time, and served me extremely well. However, I felt the unit was losing some power and showing its age, and I needed a second digital-capable unit for another location. I spent a great deal of time researching this buy, and it came down the Denon 2807 and the Onkyo. I opted for the Onkyo due to excellent price from Amazon, very good reviews, THX rating, and a savings of about $200 over the Denon.

The shipment from Amazon was amazingly fast, appearing in just two days. Packaging of the unit by Onkyo was excellent, and installation/ integration into my setup was very straight-forward. I must say that I am accustomed to home theatre installations with lots of wires, read (and follow) instructions, and expect instructions to be confusing. In this case, the manual is very well written, in legible English, a decided plus. The Audyssey system was in no way difficult to use, and the results (speaker distances read by the system) were extremely accurate. One note here is that reviews of the Denon have stated that same Audyssey system measures sound in three separate areas, to maximize the listener's enjoyment even if they are not in the one "sweet spot." The Onkyo system measures just one location. Since I am the one sitting in the single sweet spot, I was not overly forlorn.

The unit automatically detects the incoming digital sound (DTS, Dolby, etc) so I have not had then need to fiddle with them on the fly. There are a host of settings if you indeed feel the need to modify them, but any incremental gain I might attain by fine-tuning those myriad settings just doesn't seem worth the effort. Perhaps that fact is one of the reasons I opt for a single unit versus buying separate components: Yes, I might be able to tweak the sound better in the latter, but I find it far easier to pop in the disk, let the receiver do its thing, and enjoy the results I get. I was accustomed to high end sound, and the Onkyo does not disappoint. I noticed a heightened clarity in the center speaker versus my older Denon. In some of my reference DVD material, the Onkyo did not provide an appreciably "bigger" sound vs. the old Denon (the Onk is rated 10 watts more per channel), but I notice the surround speakers produce clearer sound and separation. I am as yet focusing on the front speakers to discern a difference. In the overall, it is a testament to Denon that even with a seven year difference, their technology still holds its own vs. the new Onk.

After only a week of auditioning, it is hard to determine whether the Onk investment was better than if I had gone down the Denon path. After all, what will the $200 cost difference mean in a month, or a year? The only way to compare the two units is to play them side by side in your listening room. The fact is, the unit offers lots of great features at an extremely attractive price, and the build quality seems to be there. Some reviewers have noted a few drawbacks (e.g., only stereo in Zone 2), but the manual states that (and manuals are available for download from the manufacturer's website for those details). The remote is a tad big, but after a short while I am already accustomed to it.

Although I might yearn for more oomph, more quality, more bells and whistles from my receiver, I wanted to stay in a certain price range. The Onk offers solid performance and versatility at an excellent price; it rates 5 stars as a great value.

Want Onkyo TX-SR804S 7.1 Channel Up-Converting THX Certified A/V Receiver (Silver) Discount?

I purchased this receiver for two reasons. First HDMI in/out, and second for the ability to 'up-convert' non-hd components such as a TiVo Series 1 or 2 or a VCR. While the receiver works great, I was sadly surprised that it doesn't actually upscale the signal from 480i to 1080i, which is what I really wanted. Up-converting is basically the ability to change the cable output from S-Video or composite video to HDMI. I only just figured out that what I really wanted was an 'Upscaling' receiver (which is more $$$ of course). The quality out via HDMI at 480i is the same as if I had just kept an S-Video cable attached to the TV.

I like this amp but it causes my TV (Sharp Aquos 42" LCD) to lose synch whenever the video has a sudden white flashes (NFL sports transitions, War of the Worlds death-beam blasts, Drawn Together transitions, explosions, stuff like that). The synch loss takes about 5 or so seconds for my particular TV to recover from, which is pretty annoying. When I had the problem I searched the web and found that numerous others had similar problems with this and other Onkyo receiver models, but Onkyo doesn't seem to acknowledge the issue. It's a good receiver, but if you buy it save the packing for a few weeks just in case it causes problems for your TV as well. Given that these problems seem to have been around for a good year or more and Onkyo isn't fixing them, I can only give this 2 stars.

Read More >>

Southwestern Bell GH3062 2.4 GHz Analog Cordless Phone with Clock Radio and Caller ID (Black)

• Cordless phone using 2.4 GHz analog signal
• AM/FM clock radio with dual alarm, sleep control, and auto muting
• Caller ID, 64-name-and-number memory
• 3-line backlit LCD, trilingual display
• Programmable 10-number memory, last number redial

I love this clock/phone!

The controls for the alarm are all on the front of the unit,once you've memorized where they are, you can reset your alarm in some cases without even looking at it! Super easy to set, no more having to hold down buttons while it cycles through 24 hours to get to the time setting you want.

All the phone buttons are reachable even when it's in the cradle.

You can clear out your caller id listings without having to pick up the phone.

It has a new call indicator light so you can tell from a distance if there's any new calls on your id list.

The phone sound quality is decent enough for a bedroom phone.

We have several other cordless phones in the house and it does not confict with any of them.

I've gone through many digital alarms in the last 20 years and

this is by far the best!

I would recommend this phone to anyone who asked!

Buy Southwestern Bell GH3062 2.4 GHz Analog Cordless Phone with Clock Radio and Caller ID (Black) Now

The first few days I used this phone/clock radio, my initial reaction was to return it. I decided to give it a fair chance, so I used it for a couple more weeks and the longer I used it, the more I was convinced it should be returned. These are my reasons for returning this unit:

~~ As other reviews mentioned, the beeping sound every time you press any of the buttons is quite annoying to you and anyone else in the room. It would be nice to have the option to turn the "beeping" off or even turn it down.

~~ The clock display is not green as pictured on the box, instead it is a bright yellow. The display is too bright even when turned down to the "low" position. It is so bright in fact, that I put 3 layers of colored cling wrap on the display to try and cut down on the glare.

~~ Because of the design of the unit being tilted up, everytime I press any of the buttons while laying down, such as to set my alarm or hit the snooze button, I end up pushing the unit half way across my night stand.

~~ The alarms are not very straight forward or user friendly, beeping at you all the while. The buttons are hard to locate in the late night and early morning when you need them the most. They should be a bit larger.

~~ The phone is basic, although in my bedroom, I use the clock radio more often then the phone. For me, the phone is really only there for the sake of convenience, not as my main house phone so it served its purpose.

I'm sure I would not have returned the unit if there were only one or even two features that I didn't like, but there were just too many to have to live with. Overall, I am quite dissatisfied with this unit and would NOT recommend it.

Read Best Reviews of Southwestern Bell GH3062 2.4 GHz Analog Cordless Phone with Clock Radio and Caller ID (Black) Here

This is one of the very few cordless phone/clock radio combos out there with dual alarms. That said, my wife has had a love/hate relationship with the thing since we got it. Most of the love goes (went?) to the 900 MHz phone, which worked great until the warranty expired. Most of the hate goes to the clock radio, which is not intuitive to set, has an alarm that plays for 10 minutes and then shuts off (heavy sleepers will snooze through this easily), and is generally lacking in features. And as I mentioned, now that the one year warranty has expired, the handset is having frequent problems connecting to the base. So we're in the market for a new unit but this one had so much potential...

Want Southwestern Bell GH3062 2.4 GHz Analog Cordless Phone with Clock Radio and Caller ID (Black) Discount?

I bought the phone as it looked great and I felt it would blend in well with other fixtures . Once I had it, it was missing a few features my old one had that were very comfortable:

-You cannot turn off the sound of the buttons when programming. This is a pain for your partner when you come to bed late and try to set the alarm.

-The radio frequency is not digital. It is on an old fashioned dial and does not tune in as precise as a digital readout.

-The buttons are hard to program in the dark as they are all the same size and they do not light up at all. A backlight on them would have been real nice.

On a positive note, it does look nice and fit into the budget I wanted to spend. I probably would have spent a little more to get some of these other features if I would have known.

Even though it's one of few dual alarm clocks with cordless phone, the design is pretty weak. The snooze button is at a bad location and you could easily shut the alarm off when intending to hit snooze. It's not the easiest to program and the phone feels rather cheap.

Read More >>

Apple iPod nano 16 GB Blue (6th Generation) OLD MODEL

• 16 GB capacity for about 4,000 songs
• Up to 24 hours of audio playback on a single charge
• 1.54-inch (diagonal) color TFT display with 240-by-240-pixel resolution (220 pixels per inch)
• Support for AAC, Protected AAC (iTunes Store), MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV audio formats
• One-year limited warranty

The iPod Nano update on September 1, 2010 is arguably the most dramatic since the iPod Nano moniker was introduced by Apple five years ago.

Several colors are being offered in both 8 GB & 16 GB capacities.

More than an update, this is a new product that simply retains the iPod Nano name. It gains a significant feature, but loses several others.

The big deal is the touch interface on the newest iPod Nano. iPod Nano users will now be "touching," their music as iPod Touch and iPhone users have before them. The click wheel is gone. To find your music, you select a category from the Nano's menu such as "Playlists," or "Artists," and select from there. Less convenient or more convenient than a click wheel? Honestly, about equal. The screen is indeed small, but not unusable.

FM Radio has been retained as well as the Fitness aspects with the ability to use Nike + or simply the built in pedometer. However, the form factor will be a major benefit for those working out with the Nano. The previous Nano required an armband to keep it on you while working out, jogging, or the like. Not always comfortable, an additional expense, etc. However, with this new small, square form factor that need is gone. Now, we can simply "clip," the Nano onto us, with the built in clip, and run to our listening content. A bigger deal than you might think.

The downside? Features have been removed from Nano. The screen is much smaller than the previous generation. Therefore, playback of video content from iTunes is gone. Nano no longer plays video, which was a feature added three years ago. Secondly, last year, Nano added a small video camera to record low quality video, which could be played back on the Nano's screen or synced with iTunes and viewed on your computer. That feature is gone too. The device is too small now for a camera or to watch video. This new generation iPod Nano has many exciting new features, but buyers must be aware that it is no longer a video player. It is something new. Those wishing to play video on an iPod must choose an iPod Touch.

My opinion on this change? Honestly, did I ever watch video on the iPod Nano's screen? No. For me, while they kept trying to make the screen larger, it was simply too small to enjoy more than a once a year video. Likewise, the camera was simply not high enough quality to keep yourself entertained by using on a regular basis. It became a feature unused by many.

The iPod Nano has changed and gone back to being an exceptional music player. There is nothing here you do not need to enjoy music. However, the display and touch interface brings the 21st century "touch," that Apple has made so popular to a more affordable device. The touch function will be limited here to simply selecting songs or bringing up the clock, but nevertheless, touch has made its way to the Nano.

I'm most thankful that the Nano has indeed retained the DOCK CONNECTOR. The dock connector is key to use with iPod accessories such as docks, speaker docks, and built in car iPod connectors. The nano is so diminutive that if you plug it into the factory iPod kit of an automobile, the cable's dock connector will look nearly bigger than the Nano itself. Not a negative, just amusing. Nevertheless, the dock connector is there, and you will be able to use the device in such applications, and that was a significant decision by Apple. Users want and need the dock connector. It is there on this iPod Nano, but still missing from the Shuffle due to its even more diminutive size.

This 16 GB version is the largest size Apple offers in the Nano. It offers no additional functionality over the 8GB, but features twice the storage. Choose the one best for you. 16 GB is great if you have a large music collection. We should all remember though that with Nano no longer doing Video or Storing Pictures, the storage is exclusively for music. This makes 8 GB and 16 GB more appropriate size offerings as music takes up much less storage than video.

Overall, Apple has removed video (both playback and recording) from this iPod Nano. However, it's an equalling good music player. Navigation of music is now completed via touch, which works effectively despite the small screen. It's really hard to believe so much can fit into such a small device and I believe everyone will be a bit shocked when they open up the Nano the first time and see it's size yet primary function as an effective music player retained. The newest Nano brings a nearly Shuffle like size, but yet retains the functionality (touch, clip, dock connector) that serious music lovers and those who use the Nano while working out, demand.

Buy Apple iPod nano 16 GB Blue (6th Generation) OLD MODEL Now

I mainly got this to replace the 2nd generation 4GB nano that I leave connected to my car stereo because the 4GB is completely full. Unfortunately for me, the charging scheme has changed since that generation so my car interface doesn't completely work the same way as it did for the 2nd generation nano. I have to open the glove compartment where it lives and press the wake button if the car has been off for a while, but more annoying than that is the fact that my car interface won't charge this while it's in the car. Since my primary use is to keep in my car, I decided to give it to a friend and just keep my list of available songs in the car to 4GB.

I did, however, use it a few times at work when I was spending all day doing some repetitive tasks that didn't require a lot of brainpower, and I noticed that the battery would be nearly completely discharged after the end of 8 hours. My 2nd generation nano had significantly longer battery life than that. (Of course, it also didn't have a fancy touchscreen and was twice as big.)

Read Best Reviews of Apple iPod nano 16 GB Blue (6th Generation) OLD MODEL Here

I bought this knowing it was significantly worse than the older model (no video recording, no video playing, smaller screen, annoying touch screen, etc...) what I didn't realize was how low quality the manufacturing on these is. Immediately upon receiving the headphone jack didn't work correctly and the headphones would have to be moved around in order for both ears to receive signal. Then within a week the ipod started to cut out unexpectedly and repeatedly. All this on top of the fact that you can't lock the screen so it will randomly change on you in the middle of songs when things brush it. Really a complete waste, I loved my old ipod nano (5th generation) this is useless and I'm returning it.

Want Apple iPod nano 16 GB Blue (6th Generation) OLD MODEL Discount?

Returned after less than 12 hours using it. Device kept stopping after 30 seconds of each song, could not find a setting to correct this. Additionally, with the Apple provided headphones attached to the device, I attempted to use the radio and the device said I needed to attach headphones to use the radio? Really? With the headphones Apple provided I can't use the radio? Nice.

Apple really laid an egg with this product line.

I read lots of reviews here on Amazon before buying. Overall, I like it. The most critical reviews said this was a fancied up Shuffle, and I agree that's just what I've been wanting. I've had both 2G and 3G Nanos. As far as the loss of video no big deal. With the 3G, I put a movie on for the novelty, but as others here have noted, that screen is really too small to sit and watch a movie. So for me, the loss was really no loss. The gain (reduced size, but still being able to browse and select music) is totally what this Nano is all about.

What I like:

1. Size & weight: It's tiny! I take it jogging, or carry it in my pocket around the house, or anywhere. I love, love, love how small it is. The Shuffle was never any good for me, since I always like to see and select my music as I'm going.

2. Built-in clip. I usually carry it in my pocket, but the clip does come in handy once in a while. Hey, it's cool.

3. Volume buttons. Along the top, easily accessible. Nice.

4. 16GB. Yay! I have a ton of audiobooks, plus an insanely huge music collection, so the more space, the better.

5. Radio. That was a surprise to me. I wouldn't have thought of having a radio in my iPod, and I don't know how much I'll use it, but hey, it's a nice idea.

What I don't like:

1. Loss of how I used to browse for music. On the click-wheel iPods, there is a tiered or tree-type menu for browsing through the music on it. I have a "gi-normous" music collection, so being able to narrow things down by genre, then artist, then album was a great way for me to navigate through my collection. I only use playlists once in a great while. For the most part, I listen to albums, and the new Nano's "album" view shows all of them at once not handy at all, when looking for one album out of 16 GB worth of them. This isn't a deal-breaker, but it is a pain in the back-side.

2. Okay, this is may seem really silly, but the wallpaper selection is extremely limited. I can put my own photos on this (which I love), but I can't set any of those as the background/wallpaper. I really don't get that. If I can put my own photos on, why on earth can't I select one as the background? Instead, there is a very small selection of backgrounds to pick from, all of which are pretty generic and boring. I was really hoping to be able to jazz up the screen a little. What the heck? Would it really consume very much computing power to be able to do that? I'm hoping for an OS update that will allow for personalized backgrounds. Still waiting... I may end up waiting a long time. Oh well.

3. Loss of quick pause by feel when it's in my pocket. I purchased a separate accessory to do this (an in-line remote), but I'd rather have it on the unit next to the volume buttons, maybe? IMO, quickly pausing by feel is 100% necessary, so maybe on the next generation there will be a play/pause button next to the volume buttons? Please? Hey, I can dream.

Overall, I give this a solid 4 stars. It could be better, but I've been wishing for a shuffle-sized iPod with a screen, and here it is!

Read More >>