Panasonic is one of those rare companies that is only going one way, i.e. towards the top. This is not without reason though, as the company has been consistently delivering quality products over the years. The company has a well established research and engineering team that has helped to fit each of its products with unique features that give them a genuine edge over rivals. The latest to come out from the company’s ranks is the critically acclaimed PV-V4623S, which offers you practically almost everything the format has to offer.

The device, gives you the luxury to take advantage of a novel setting that includes four-head playback and stereo sound. Unfortunately this device does lack the DVD playback of other Panasonic VCRs like the Panasonic DMR-EX98V. There is the commercially advanced one-month/eight-event advance programming feature as well, along with the presence of a host of front-panel audio/video inputs that can used to connect other entertainment equipments to it.

The 4 head VCR has a special role to play in ensuring a smooth display of images, that are crystal clear and with a great deal of detail. Further, the hi-fi reproduces a high-fidelity sound output, while also playing back stereo audio tracks. Meanwhile, the device also dishes out an impressive performance via its four-channel Dolby Pro Logic mixes from TV and Dolby-encoded cassettes.

Users would also love the fact that the device comes equipped with a Ready-to-Play feature which automatically sets its own clock and local TV channels once it is switched on. Other notable features include rapid rewind/fast-forward and tape-position display, among others.

Philips in recent times has come up with two affordable models to accompany the expensive Philips MCM906 Heritage series hi-fi set, which is the company’s flagship model. The Philips MCM772 hi-fi sits pretty between the two extremes. The design of the unit is a bit laid back, with traditional and conservative touches clearly visible. The gadget comes adorned with a two-way drive system that delivers some stimulating audio sound measured at 50W.

The device digresses from its cousins in the sense that the amplifier is all solid-state, with no signs of any valve whatsoever. The sound tends to twitter a bit when heard in very high volume, but that is no cause to discourage you as the sound levels otherwise is quite vibrant and sufficient for a home-setting.

The device is build of brushed aluminium separates and boasts of chunky silver knobs which elegantly complement the speakers. In fact the aesthetics of the Philips MCM 772 may prompt you to use it as a decorative element in your bedroom, a fact that is also supported by its other specifications. One aspect that may leave you dissatisfies is the unimaginative LCD display, which for the major part looks out of sync with device.

The compact build quality of the device is another nice thing, and so are a host of connectivity options that enable you to optimise its output. Meanwhile, the hi-fi device scores a lot of good vibes also because of its user friendly attributes as you can avail most of the services that the model has to offer with the minimum of fuss.

It is somewhat surprising, that despite being a key member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, it has taken JVC a damn long time to come up with its own debut Blu-ray player, the JVC NX-BD3. Fans of the company will definitely be pleased with this new development. JVC has generated enthusiasm and fans for its propensity to risks, as evidenced by the company’s latest presentations at the IFA and CES, for example.

The most alluring aspect of the JVC deck is that it is the first of its kinds to use anisotropic diaphragms in its speakers that unequivocally takes the audio to an entirely different level. This unique feature technically using cross-shaped vertical and horizontal dense areas increases the sound propagation levels by 10% which consequently reduces the resonance levels.

Moreover, each speaker is equipped with a pair of drivers in separate enclosures, with one of them outputting the front channels while the other sends out the surround channels, which delivers a comprehensive 4.1 sound from three speakers. You will however regret not having a proper5.1 speaker system, especially considering the lackluster performance meted out by most of the by most 2.1 systems.

The connectivity of the unit is a versatile mixture of sophisticated and user friendly features that should give you the luxury to almost every thing the system has to offer. It includes an HDMI 1.3 output, which supports Deep Colour and x.v.Colour, apart from having1080/24p Blu-ray output and CEC functionality. Then, the much in demand a SCART and component video output features are available on the Blu-ray DVD player as well. What should impress you is also that optical digital input feature included is compatible with the optical out found on Sky+ and other digital TV receivers. An analogue audio input effectively complements the set up and proves to be a useful foil for other external sources.

Marantz has not used THX technology for the first time with this model. After successfully incorporating THX in its AV amplifiers, Marantz has once again used it for the SR8002 receiver as THX Select2. Good to look at, the receiver features a copper-plated chassis that is brushed in aluminum colour.

You can call it a downscale sibling of the THX Ultra2 and it is mainly aimed at providing better quality surround sound for home cinemas. Along with offering a complete bandwidth of 100 kHz, the SR8002 offers as many as 7 channels in total. The Marantz SR 8002 also provides adequate power supply and 32bit DSPs that are quite helpful in maintaining the performance of all these channels. Moreover, you also benefit from the current feedback amplification and deep colour, xvYcc and SA-CD support by HDMI. You will like the auto lip-sync and M-DAX functions as well. The RC101, which is a multi-room lightweight remote control, is good enough to manage the whole operation.

The only thing that you are likely to miss the most with this receiver is the lack of friendly GUIs. This reduces its user-friendliness and information advancement, which might be a cause of trouble for a modern user.

All in all, it is a reasonably nice receiver, provided that you are ready for a little compromise.

It won’t take a great deal of effort on your part to differentiate Onkyo’s HT-S770 home cinema system from the towering tallboy speakers and futuristically slender receiver with DVD players that are the fashion recently. The HT-S770, successor to the excellent HT-S760, instead offers a component-size 6.1-channel receiver, a fully powered subwoofer, and rather odd fashioned boxy speakers. The design is peculiar to say the least, especially at a time when the thrust appears more towards more glitzy and stylish looking sets. The unit however, more than makes up for its insipid design by delivering a memorable performance, with the audio output turning out to be the standout performer. It goes without saying that the unit outperforms its stylish counterparts on a number of fronts.

The channels, six of them, are each powered by a hefty 130 watt and deliver quite a stunning performance. The 6.1-channel processing modes include Dolby EX and DTS ES. So the Onkyo HT-S770 home cinema is only overpowered by 7.1 systems like the Onkyo HT-S990THX. The Onkyo HT-S770’s connectivity is another one of the unit’s advantages, as it provides two component-video inputs, four A/V inputs and two outputs, four digital inputs, two stereo ins and one out, in addition to comprehensive front-panel-mounted connections. Remarkably, the 5.1 SACD/DVD-Audio inputs are also there. Moreover, the speaker connectors are all heavy-duty binding posts that accept banana jacks.

The specifications of the unit, on the other hand, suggest that it game for fairly large rooms. It really reaches its peak at high-volume and delivers quite a fearsome performance. The surround sound effects are also immaculate creating a dynamic and dramatic feel.

Onkyo, a renowned company in the electronic market with a global presence, has recently unveiled the CS-715 DAB Hi-Fi System. The launch of the unit bears a great deal of significance, not only for its mentors and makers, but for consumers as well as the unit, apart from having many cool features, also comes adorned with a DAB radio. The inclusion of the DAB radio feature is in no way revolutionary, but the manner in which Onkyo has fitted it is definitely noteworthy.

The dimensions of this stylish looking gadget are 205 x 116 x 335 mm, while the front panel is made of titanium coloured aluminium. The new CS-715 represents an upgrade from older models like the Onkyo CS-525. Made with the most advanced VL Digital Technology, the CS-715 supports Wolfson 192 kHz/24- Bit DAC and has 3 gold plated audio inputs and 2 out puts. Adept at playing CDs and also MP3-Encoded CDs, it has a front panel audio input and an optical digital output, apart from a subwoofer pre-out. The unit, in addition, has also been inscribed with a super bass function that comes into play when you decide to control the bass. A tone control function is there too.

You will also feel good that each channel of the unit is driven by 50W of power, enough to extract the maximum out them. Moreover, it has 25- tracking programming and a 4 timer setting. Using the preset option offered by the FM, you can tune into a mammoth 40 stations. Another feature that deserves special mention is the Aero Acoustic drive feature, as it ensures that the sound reproduction is powerful and natural.

The last time Onkyo came up with a HI-Fi product was the CR-505DAB, which was not well received by the critics. However, despite the heavy criticism, the Onkyo CR 505 managed to do great business all over, particularly in Japan. The surprising outcome has highlighted the point that it has done something right that critics failed to take note of. The brand has now come up with its latest model, the X-N7UWX Wi-Fi Mini HiFi, which this time around, quite surprisingly, has drawn a lot of good vibes from the critics.

It won’t take you long to establish the reasons behind the approval by the critics though, as the deivce impresses you from the word go with its gorgeous looks. The unit is smartly dressed in a silver finish with a large LCD panel, and comes with a USB port and separate Hi-Fi unit. It thus lets you wirelessly connect the stereo up to your PC and listen to MP3s on your hard drive, or stream content from your desktop.

Apart from offering a wide range of listening options, it also has Wi-Fi and PC compatibility. You can easily notice the shrewdness displayed by the manufacturers as it comes stuffed with a number of convergence technology, including an iPod Dock compatibility feature that lets you control your iPod from the unit. Moreover, Onkyo has still persisted with the tried and tested MiniDisc format, including a MD player/recorder as well as a CD player. The unit also has an AM/FM receiver and a DAB radio onboard.

The AV-R3000 Digital Receiver represents Samsung’s first 7.1 channel A/V Receiver. This stands in contrast to the multitude of 7.1 channel AV receivers offered by companies like Sony and Yamaha with products like the Yamaha DSP-AX 763. The prominent features of the unit include HDMI switching, 7-channel pure digital performance, apart from an analogue up-scaling feature. The last feature is supported by none other than the unique Faroudja DCDi chip set. The unit, in fact, has both the DVI and HDMI switching feature onboard.

Connectivity happens to be one of its best parts and here it features four HDMI inputs, two DVI inputs, one HDMI output and one DVI output. This colourful array of connectivity options will grant you an unprecedented amount of flexibility, as it literally accommodates a wide range of digital components doing the rounds in contemporary times.

The channels are each powered by an impressive 250 watts that allows the receiver’s digital amplifier to deliver an awe-inspiring performance, be it at low to medium volume, or at the optimum volumes.

Some of the unit’s other impressive specifications include comprehensive audio enhancement features that are more than capable of filling up the room with brilliant sound. Moreover, there is a built-in room equaliser that automatically takes into account the listener’s position and subsequently compensates for the frequency response, delay time and gain for all channels. The sound quality is further fine tuned by the Sound Field Effect Processor technology that provides DSP effects, while the Audio Direct Mode ensures that the sound quality is crystal clear and bereft of distractions on every channel.

The unit is also carefully designed to deliver smooth images with full HDTV-compatible inputs, and provides superior image precision at hi-definition resolutions. The A/V receiver, on the other hand, is capable of upgrading any non-copyright-protected analogue video signal to the highest possible analogue video output, with video signal up-scaling and Faroudja DCDi for progressive video.

An important advantage of digital amplifiers over their A/V receivers is that while the former employs an all-digital amplification process, the latter uses the conventional analogue amplifier method. As a result, the amplification process is much more efficient with comparatively smaller chassis sizes. The digital format on the downside, however, is found lacking in sound quality with no comparison to its analogue companion. It is here that the launch of Panasonic SA-XR70S carries a great deal of significance, as it has successfully transcended the barrier and delivers a performance worthy of praise. Moreover, in addition to its impressive digital amplification, it offers the latest craze in connectivity with its HDMI feature. Although, compared to other units, like the Pioneer VSX-818 with 2 HDMI ports, this not too impressive or revolutionary. Nevertheless, the HDMi is quite significant when you consider that you can now route all of your video and audio signals through a solitary cable.

A significant aspect of the unit is that it is comparatively smaller and lighter than standard 100-watt-per-channel receivers, making it pleasingly flexible. It displays a smooth look and should appeal to those who believe in simple designs. Its setup is also rather simplistic and you can have access to most of the features with a minimum amount of difficulty.

The unit includes four A/V inputs, a set of front-panel A/V inputs with S-Video; 5.1 DVD-A/SACD inputs, two stereo inputs; four digital inputs, and one optical output which effectively takes care of its connectivity issues. Another versatile aspect of the unit is that its front-speaker A/B connectors can be reconfigured to biamplify compatible speakers - a rarity even on more sophisticated and expensive receivers.

You will also appreciate the sound reproduction of the unit, especially at higher volume levels, as it remains faithful to the source and sounds impressive.

It is not always necessary that you have to buy an expensive receiver set to support your high-end home cinema setup, especially when you have something like the Panasonic SA-XR57S. As an affordable digital home cinema receiver, the SA-XR57S will leave you dazed with its power packed performance. Emblazoned with an amazing array of contemporary features, it also includes HDMI switching, apart from the company’s indigenous HDAVI Control feature that makes handling of the gadget a real cakewalk. To be more specific, the HDAVI Control is a remote capable of carrying out a variety of commands at the click of a button. Using this intuitive technology you can, for example, watch a DVD in surround sound with a single click if you so wish.

The unit, as is apparent from its name, is a seven-channel receiver that provides an impressive 100 watts of output per channel. Its amplification, on the other hand, can be enhanced by wiring it in a dual-amp configuration that uses the amplifier channels for the rear satellites. The Panasonic SA-XR 57, however, is not immune to the typical problems associated with digital amplification and fails to match the full, rich sound provided by analogue amplifiers, especially at lower listening volumes. The extent of this problem often depends on the source of material used, and it gradually fades away as the volume level increases.

A lovely aspect of the unit is that the display is accompanied with a sufficient amount of information in a relatively easy-to-understand format. Moreover, it comes with built-in processing for Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, DTS Neo:6 and DTS 96/24, apart from the sophisticated Dolby Pro Logic IIx feature. The display is, however, rather plain with very few fireworks.

Another high of the unit is that it provides a digital-to-digital, uncompressed link for audio and video signals to and from a variety of components, including DVD players (Audio and Video), SACD players and digital TVs via the HDMI connection.