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Pioneer Expands Elite SC Series Receivers Lineup

Pioneer Electronicstoday announced five state-of-the-art Elite® SC series receivers, two 7.2-channel models including the SC-61 and SC-63, and three 9.2-channel models including, the SC-65, SC-67 and SC-68, that can become the consumer’s entertainment hub for connectivity, content sources, control and ultra-high audio and video performance. Each receiver is designed to deliver clean and powerful audio output with high efficiency using Pioneer’s renowned Class D3 amplification technology. The new line is also enhanced with advanced network features and custom installation set-up options including Apple’s AirPlay®, DLNA® 1.5, Windows® 7, Internet radio, PC Setup control, Advanced MCACC® auto-calibration, multiple HDMI inputs and Pioneer’s proprietary apps for iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod® touch apps, including iControlAV2012 and Air Jam.


“Both our consumers and custom installers are looking for home theater receivers that are versatile, customizable and incredibly powerful,” said Chris Walker, director of AV marketing and product planning for the Home Electronics Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/pioneer/pioneer-expands-elite-series-receivers-lineup.htm

Pioneer Introduces Elite VSX-42 and VSX-60 AV Receivers

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today introduced two new Elite® branded AV receivers for consumers who demand more control and connectivity from their home entertainment systems in addition to best-in-class audio performance. The Elite VSX-42 (suggested retail price, $450) 7.1-channel and VSX-60 (suggested retail price, $650) 7.2-channel receivers incorporate Pioneer’s renowned audio and video technologies, advanced network and smart streaming features such as Apple’s AirPlay®, DLNA® (1.5) and Internet radio, with performance features including 192kHz/24-Bit FLAC, WAVE file streaming, Hi-Bit DACs and HDMI® conversion and video scaling. The two models also include a variety of audio, video and custom home theater enhancements including MCACC® auto-calibration, multi-HDMI inputs and Pioneer’s proprietary apps for iPhone® and iPad®, including its new ControlAPP and iControlAV2012.


“Our Elite receivers are designed for both conventional installations that can be done by consumers as well as those by professional installers who can take advantage of their advanced features,” said Chris Walker, director of AV marketing and product planning for the Home Electronics Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc…

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Onkyo Presents New Mid-Range AV Receivers TX-NR717 and TX-NR818

Onkyo has introduced two new feature-packed mid-line audio-video receivers. The Onkyo TX-NR717 and TX-NR818 are 7.2 Channel Network A/V Receivers that offer an exciting mix of advanced networking technology, high performance video and THX®-certified sound quality.


For the home theater enthusiast who sees no need to compromise, the TX-NR818 offers the audio calibration capabilities of Audyssey MultEQ® XT32, three surround processing modes including DTS Neo:X, and the unmatched picture quality provided by Onkyo's Dual Core Video Engine.

The Dual Core Video Engine combines the power of an HQV® Vida™ VHD 1900 video processor core to generate smooth, accurate 1080p upscaling and enhancement of lower-quality content, with the performance of the Marvel Qdeo™ processor, which can upscale 1080p content to four times that resolution. Additionally, the TX-NR818's Dual Core Video Engine offers video calibration to ISF standards, so the user can enjoy breathtaking TV color accuracy. On the TX-NR717, the Marvel Qdeo™ provides upscaling of all sources to 1080p and 4K.

This year, Onkyo is the first AVR brand to offer the new InstaPrevue™ and MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) technologies, and both are available on these new receivers…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/onkyo/onkyo-presents-new-midrange-receivers-txnr717.htm

Panasonic Introduces Pricing And Availability For 2012 Lineup Of Home Audio Products

Panasonic today announced pricing and availability for the 2012 lineup of home audio products including Compact Stereo Systems, Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc™ Home Theaters, DVD Home Theaters and Home Theater Systems. The new 2012 lineup of audio and home theater products are developed to offer users design-oriented products that enhance the home entertainment experience and produce superior sound quality.


Panasonic’ Consumer Marketing Company of North America’s 2012 line of Compact Stereo Systems, the SC series is comprised of six distinct models, all of which feature outstanding sound quality and offer users a pure, direct sound system with noise reduction capabilities that allow users to enjoy a crystal clear listening experience. The SC-HC57, SC-HC37 and SC-HC27 offer sleek, ultra-slim designs with smart networking technology and can play music from a variety of music sources including iPhone/iPod, CD-R/RW and FM Radio. Additionally, the SC-HC57 Compact Stereo System features AirPlay® which allows users to wirelessly stream music from an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or MAC/PC directly into the device through a home’s wireless LAN network. AirPlay allows lossless transmission for the finest sound quality playback of a personal music library and provides a multi-room listening function…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/panasonic/panasonic-introduces-pricing-availability-2012-lineup.htm

Onkyo Introduces HT-S5500 and HT-S3500 Entry-Level Home Theaters

Home theater specialist, Onkyo, has assembled two class-leading packaged home theater systems for the first round of its 2012 model introductions. Each system combines a high-value audio video receiver with a matched set of home theater speakers to take the guesswork out of purchasing an entry-level surround sound system.


The HT-S3500 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package offers outstanding audio performance, abundant HDMI® connectivity, and unbeatable value for money. Users seeking to power larger rooms might consider investing in the step-up HT-S5500 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver/Speaker Package, which includes an Audyssey room acoustic correction system and an upgraded speaker package.

Four HDMI inputs on both receivers facilitate Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ high-resolution soundtrack decoding. HDMI implementation also supports an Audio Return Channel for TV audio through the home theater system, 3D video, and an overlaid on-screen display.

Both receivers also feature a frontside USB port for direct digital connection of an iPod®, iPhone®, or music-filled flash memory device. Users can control playback using the system remote, and enjoy improved sound quality thanks to Onkyo’s onboard advanced music optimizer system…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/onkyo/onkyo-introduces-hts5500-hts3500-entrylevel-home.htm

Onkyo Introduces New AV Receivers for 2012

Onkyo has announced the first four new AV receivers for its 2012 line, including three with network capability, including one with THX certification. All have USB connections and additional HDMI® inputs. The line also includes the world's first AV receivers to employ Silicon Image's InstaPrevue™ and Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technologies. Furthermore, the three network capable models are the world's first AVRs to include music 'cloud server' access via MP3tunes™.


The four new models are the Onkyo TX-NR616 THX-Certified 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR515 7.2-Channel Network Receiver, TX-NR414 5.1-Channel Network Receiver, and TX-SR313 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver.

Onkyo's powerful WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) is now implemented throughout the line. This low negative-feedback topology reduces signal noise and guarantees superb performance with minimal distortion. Even the entry model TX-SR313, Onkyo now uses this discrete-component output stage rather than lower cost integrated circuit amplifiers.

The TX-NR616 is most powerful model in this release, and it is backed by a THX® Select2 Plus™ guarantee of cinema-quality sound. Achieving this demanding certification standard for audio quality is made possible partly by the use of Onkyo’s three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/onkyo/onkyo-introduces-new-receivers-2012.htm

Technical Audio Devices Launches 2 New Products To Its High-End Speaker And Component Lines

Technical Audio Devices Laboratories, Inc. (TAD) today introduced two new products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, marking the highly anticipated completion of TAD’s Evolution and Reference series systems. The TAD-E1 loudspeaker and TAD-C600 preamplifier are the final components in the two audio collections, thus allowing TAD to take audiophiles on a complete journey from source to sound.


Developed and designed entirely in-house by Director of Engineering Andrew Jones and an international team of audio engineers, artists and craftsmen, the TAD-E1 and TAD-C600 are the next steps in the brand’s unprecedented commitment to developing and manufacturing products of the highest quality sound technology…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/pioneer/technical-audio-devices-launches-new-products.htm

Sony Adds SS-AR2 To The R-Series Loudspeaker Lineup

Building on its heritage as an innovator in home audio entertainment, Sony today debuted its SS-AR2 Loudspeaker, furthering the line established last year with the introduction of its award winning and critically acclaimed predecessor, the SS-AR1.


“Sony has been committed to high resolution music since its inception,’ noted Charles Speidel, vice president of Sony Electronics Home Audio Video business, “The R-series of loudspeakers are designed to recreate music as faithfully as possible, delivering an unparalleled listening experience for those devotees who truly care about music.”

The key to the R-series’ superb sound reproduction is the precise control of the inevitable vibrations created by sound waves. Created through exhaustive processes testing countless samples and configurations, the AR1 and AR2 loudspeakers feature a final front cabinet baffle laminated to a thickness of 50 mm and 40 mm respectively from hand-selected maple cultivated from Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, whose cold climate produces maple of a tight grain, contributing markedly to the R’s beautiful sound. The front baffle couples with Nordic birch, another cold climate wood with an extremely tight grain, to project the most ideal sound reverberation properties.

Like the SS-AR1, the SS-AR2’s cabinet design was developed as deftly as its base materials…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/sony/sony-adds-ssar2-rseries-loudspeaker-lineup.htm

Panasonic Debuts The 2012 Lineup Of Home Theater Systems

Panasonic today debuted the new 2012 lineup of Home Theater Systems. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology to produce superior sound quality, the SC-HTB550, SC-HTB350 and SC-HTB20 Home Theater System models, have been developed to offer users design-oriented products that enhance their home entertainment experience.


The new SC-HTB series of Home Theater Systems feature slim and stylish designs with multi-positional, detachable speakers for flexible layout options in the home. Users can choose a modern horizontal layout for a wall-mount set-up or TV-sized stand, or detach to create two separate freestanding vertical speakers for a classic tabletop style. The Home Theater Systems are equipped with a wireless subwoofer so users can freely place it anywhere in a room without concern for messy wiring.

With the new SC-HTB series, users can even enjoy high-quality home theater sound when the television is turned off. With the Wireless Music Streaming with Bluetooth® function, users can listen to their favorite music from Bluetooth-compatible devices without having to plug the device into a docking station or hook it into the sound system.

Each system’s high-quality sound employs an Anti-Jitter Digital Amplifier to eliminate distortion and clearly direct sound to produce pure, brilliant audio…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/panasonic/panasonic-debuts-2012-lineup-home-theater.htm

Panasonic Introduces SC-HC57, SC-HC37 and SC-HC27 Compact Stereo Systems

Panasonic today unveiled three new slim, stylish Compact Stereo Systems which are compatible with iPod® and iPhone® devices. Designed to produce superior, high-quality sound, the SC-HC57, SC-HC37 and SC-HC27 combine state-of-the-art sound technology, smart networking capabilities and sleek, modern designs to produce sophisticated compact stereo systems for the home environment.


Featuring outstanding sound quality, all models in the 2012 HC Series offer users a pure, direct sound system with noise reduction capabilities allowing users to enjoy a crystal clear listening experience without the interference of reflected sound. With sleek, ultra slim designs, the new compact stereos can be set up in places where conventional stereo systems would not fit, and the SC-HC57 and SC-HC37 models can also be placed on a wall with the included wall mount bracket. The 2012 HC Series Compact Stereo System models all feature low power consumption and are Energy Star Qualified.

Each model allows users to play music from a variety of sources including iPod/iPhone, CD-R/RW and FM Radio. Music lovers and talk radio enthusiasts can enjoy hundreds of stations offered by Internet Radio using the SC-HC57 or SC-HC37 system to search for stations and program favorites by installing the vTuner* application into their iPhone or iPod…

Continue reading: http://www.homeaudiogeek.com/news/panasonic/panasonic-introduces-schc57-schc37-schc27-compact.htm