Amplifier Reviews

This is my second Denon receiver, my first was the AVR-2700. Both are awesome receivers but the AVR-5700 has the capability to use up to 7 speakers instead of 5 and puts out 140 watts per channel. This lets you switch from bipolar surrounds for movies to direct radiating rears for AC-3 or 5 channel stereo. The 5 channel stereo mode is simply unbelievable. If you like listening to music as well as movies, this is the receiver for you.

I picked up this receiver as an upgrade to my previous Denon receiver (the AVR-2500) which I had for almost 4 years. The reason I bought my first Denon receiver is the fact that 10 years ago, when I bought my first CD player (which just happened to be a Denon) I have never had a problem with it nor ever needed a tune-up. I did lots and lots of shopping around before purchasing this Denon, and found that it was the top of its class. 140 Watts per channel makes this Denon a real screamer. 5-Channel Stereo, all of us reviewers can rant and rave about this, but you have to hear it to believe it. It simply makes any CD so awesome that 2-Channel Stereo just doesn't cut it afterwards. Dolby Digital and DTS make this Denon so versatile for all movies. And we cannot forget to mention THX-Ultra Certified...simply put: the Best of the Best. It is even set up for upgrading to future formats (6th, 7th and 8th channel) This receiver, even though so complex on its inside, is so easy to set up. It practically walks you through everything with its on screen programming guide in nice, easy steps. One word of advice: after buying this, spend the extra bucks for the higher-end cables and hook-ups, they make a world of difference. The Denon AVR-5700 is for anyone who likes to just sit back and relax and listen to their favorite CD, and for anyone who likes to watch movies the way Hollywood wants us to see them: Big Loud Scary and Fun.

Unlike many units out there, this one stands out as ahead of its time - and even by todays standards, still a major contender. Like the Acura legend, the AVR 5700 remains legendary. Quality build, rock solid performance for the HT enthusiast. Musical performance is also decent, especially due to ALPHA 24 processing. I have never clipped the amps on this unit running full throttle - of course, you must use tone defeat in order to eliminate risk; with good source the sound is very clean and undistorted. I use 5700 to drive 5 full range Paradigm's and often with subwoofer off - low end reached 30hz; ended up purchasing a sunfire sub to reach bottom end of 18hz.
No regrets.

If you look for a hassle free system that doesn't add yet another button to push in your home audio/video system - this is it. Once this system is connected it sits idle behind the scene until a signal is on one of the four inputs. When it awakes you will be impressed by the quality of the sound and the volume of the bass.
ESC333 doesn't feature a DTS decoder, but full fledged Dolby Digital 5.1, and this for a lot less than the bigger brother ESC340.
Just the right system for the casual surround sound user as well as the connoiseurs.

I bought it straight when I got my new apartment and have it installed with stands and wall mounts. IT WAS AWESOME for speakers this size . The ONLY thing I could fault was the lack of DTS and upgradeability, especially with the introduction of surround-ex to consumer electronics.

The suround speakers may be a little short if you intend to lay through walls and cornices .

Altogether, it's a great fuss-free home cinema-in-a-box for home theatre beginners. If you think that those from Sony and Panasonic beat this because of a lack of DVD-player then you're mistaken ........

Since there's not much info on this system out there, I'll try to give some longer review as well as telling you what I think. As for exact technical data here are some specs:

Amplifier: 200 watt total
(YES! The AMP is built in, don't go buying a seperate one unless you want DTS or so)
System output front channels 35 Watts x 3 @ .1% THD
Surround channels 15 Watts x 2 @ .1% THD
Sub-Woofer 65 Watts x 1 @ .1% THD
System Frequency Response: 35 Hz-20 kHz (-6dB)

Signal To Noise Ration: 90 dB
Input Impendance: 20k Ohms
Input Sensitivity: 400mV
Auto turn-on Sensitivity: 2mV/Channel
Subwoofer Dimensions/mm: (HxWxD): 384x330x368
Weight: 15.7 kg
Satellites Dimensions/mm: (same): 111x81x95
Weight: 0.45 kg/each

It's got all the 5.1, Dolby Digital etc except DTS..

The system in incredible. And it is built for the person who wants a very good system, that looks good and don't really want 400 buttons on the remote (but still wants to be able to adjust where sound comes from etc). I hooked this up to my Toshiba SD1200 DVD and my Toshiba Supertube 36" tv. Wow. I put in a 5.1 surround digital movie, Top Gun, and damn! I heard the plane from left to right etc, the base was so heavy from the engines of the planes that I had to run outside to see if it was too loud (was fine). I could feel it push the hairs around on my arms. I tried some other movies for sound variation. Matrix, shells dropping in my right ear and explosions from the front left and the subwoofer roaring out that deep base from the music. I was just all smiles. Shakespeare in love, great deep music from everywhere, Radiohead - The Bends (music cd in stereo) - awesome, I can see why they're releasing 5.1 cd's now. So as for sound, it's absolutely amazing, and I live in an apartment so it's more than enough for that.. The balance between base, treble and everything is good. I didn't need to do much except lower the base so I don't get evicted.

Installation was easy, long good cables, and extremely simple manual (didn't really need it). The system automatically senses the signal and sets the modes automatically, and it will power up without pressing the power button when it senses a signal. Auto powers down after 5 minutes when there's no signal (so once it's set up, throw away the remote :) ). You can adjust where sound should come from in a multiple of pre-set modes, or be exact, and adjust each speaker + subwoofer manually. Installing my DVD was one cable (optical) and tv was the other that I got with the package (analog). I had the sound running on my first try after 15 minutes. (I'm used to the 300 buttons and 30 inputs and outputs normally).

Looks: it looks good! the subwoofer is pitch black and pretty to look at with nice green/red diodes at it's top that display sound volume etc etc.. the satellites are black as well with a tiny jbl logo on them, and they're also very nice and small. The function "Late Night" is neat, as it's one click to make the system "cut out" the very loud and very base sounds.. good for 2 am movies.

Cons: Where's the headphone jack? And I'd love to be able to turn off the lights or fade them since I placed it next to my tv and the green lights are a bit too bright in darkness. However, since the remote control receiver is on a _long_ cable, I could've just hidden it completely and just have the sensor show up.. but I like to see things.

I'm giving this 5 stars, cause I love it's simplicity and power and excellent sound. You want more buttons and features just for the fun of it? buy seperate system and not an all-in one.

This really is a top of the line Home Theater Amp from Yamaha. Weighs in around 22 KGs and performs superbly. Has all the features and input/outputs one can think of. Does Dolby Digital as well as DTS decoding. Also has additional two channels for front top left and front top right to give better surround impact.

I have been using the amp for the last 1 year and has no complaints and am proud of it's performance.

I CANT BELIEVE THIS RECIEVER IS HERE FOR THIS PRICE.IWENTEVERYWHERE TO FIND THIS RECIEVER AND EVERY STORE HAD IT FOR 2700.00DOLLARS.SO IWENT AND BOUGHT THE YAMAHA RX-V2095 WICH IS AGOOD RECEIVER ALSO BUT ITS NOT THE DSP-A1.IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WOULD HAVE GOT IT HERE AND GOT THE RECIEVER I REALLY WANTED AND SAVED.

The DSP A1 delivers nothing less than the world's finest home theater audio performance. In every single respect, it is absolutely state- of the art. Never before have you been able to select so many different sound fields to match audio and video genres.Never before have you been able o experience such thrilling audio "presence" in your own homeThrough the wonders of Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround, together with Yamaha's own leading-edge Digital sound Field Processig technology, you will enter a new realm of home entertainment.

Very clean sound, beautiful Vu meters (with backlights), direct input for cd players (preamp is not necessary), and speakers can be bi-wired, bi-amped directly from the back jacks (double jacks left and right). Wow! Sounds more powerful than 80 watts, conservatively rated. Excellent value!

i like this product, but i dont knows it, how many features i can enjoy with it

I bought this along with the Pre-Amp. In one word: mind-blowing. The quality of the sound, matched with the killer speakers from Edge Audio, quickly excelled my old Nakamichi/KEF set-up. Wow. Just the best investment for the money, bar no others.

I have used the H51-M12 Plantronics headset for several years. I am in sales and often wear the headset up to 8 hours a day without any fatigue. It is extremely comfortable, has excellent sound quality and works with 95% of phones. However, you may want to contact Plantronics to make sure it works with the particular brand and model of phone you will be using.

The editorial review incorrectly states that "unlike other headsets, a typical multiline phone will not default to the H51-M12's headset when you press a line button. With this unit, you have to remove the handset from the cradle in order to use the headset. Pressing a line button activates the speakerphone." Actually, the ability to leave the handset on the hook is entirely dependent on the telephone itself and has absolutely nothing to do with the headset. A headset ready telephone will default to the M12 and a non-headset ready telephone will not (the phone may need to be programmed). Check your telephone manual to see if it is headset ready (most manuals are poorly organized and there may not be a section specifically for headsets - check either the speakerphone, handsfree, or "how to answer a call" section of the manual). There are occasional exceptions to this rule - a few phone systems, less than one percent, are built with a certain type of headset in mind (your manual will say if this is true) - but those phones are few and far between.

I have been using it for the past 4 month almost every day, and it is really worth every cent. If you are the type of person who use the phone in front of the pc then this is what you exactly need. the good thing that you can use it with any phone regardless of the brand. it turned my cheap phone into a great phone.

I believe that the Advent AV570 is the same as the Acoustic Research 570 Powered Partners that were made from 1984 until Advent gobbled up AR. I have one of the older 570s. What a great product! AR570s were invented well before every house had a computer sound system. "Bookshelf speaker" wasn't a widely recognized concept either. The AR570 was invented as a compact and tough package to monitor or reinforce sound in recording studios. It has exceptionally clear and linear acoustic performance. The thick cast aluminum housing is both rugged and dissipates heat from the internal amplifier quite well.

That this design hasn't been copied by every speaker manufacturer is a mystery to me. The AV570 is a unique combination of ultra clean sound quality, high output for size, and rugged construction. Buy 'em for your bookshelf, home theater, computer, or ANY application that calls for accurate and powerful sound reproduction in a compact package. I use mine as an acoustic guitar amplifier. I use an adaptor to go from my guitar's 1/4" mono jack to the AV570's RCA input. It sounds better than guitar amps that are twice as expensive and 10 times as large.

Highly recommended (IF the Advent AV570 is the same product as my Acoustic Research 570s)!

I had a pair of these for a couple of years that were recently stolen. These puppies kick ... . I used them with a portable Sony CD/FM player on big exhibit set-ups in So. Cal. These speakers would fill a whole hall in the Anahiem convention center with wonderfully clear music. They are awesome and everyone who heard them would comment and want some. The only draw back I found is the wieght. They are small but they are heavy. The volume, tone and base controls are a must.I bought some Bose roommates to replace them but they do not compare. I just ordered another pair of 570's and I can't wait to hook them up to the 40 gig Nomad Jukebox 3 that I have since picked up. You won't belive the sound that cranks out of these babies.

I have had these speakers since 1988. They are the best sounding speakers on the market. More expensive than your normal computer speakers but well worth it. These are designed for people that really appreciate quality sound and with todays computers having better and better sound capabilities. These go hand in hand.

I have tried a few other brands to see if I could get better sound and have yet to find a better sounding system. You can use these speakers with a portable MP3 player, CD player or a walkman and power an apartment or a room with these puppies. Add an additional subwoofer and have a audio system that sounds great.

Many people come into my computer room and can't believe that my computer is putting out sound like that. ( I run a Mac Computer )

Take your favorite CD's to the store and listen to these speakers. Sit back and enjoy. Advent has a great product on thier hands.

This subwoofer is a great buy. Infinity subwoofers are one of the best. Since Amazon is selling this product for ...% off the regular retail price, I highly recommend that you go for it before it is gone.

only complaint is no on off switch but other than that its awesome, great sound or should i say feel, if you want bass that your neighbors will feel on the next block, well this is it!

I bought this subwoofer to augment a big screen home theater system in a very large room (24' x 14' by 9' tall). I tucked it in the corner and I adjusted the sensitivity control so that it was very subtle (not overbearing and boomy). Then, the most important thing, I kept the crossover point at a low 75 Hz. This subwoofer performs great: subtle but deep and powerful bass for THX DVDs and for all music. If set-up properly, it is very impressive. And the PRICE! Hello, I couldn't find it cheaper at Harman (infinity's parent co) sites. Amazon is the cheapest!

For people who need to use a headset in a small noisey office atmosphere this an excellent headphone set. Good clear, crisp hearing and we're no longer having to nearly hollar to be heard when speaking. We spend 10 to 14 hours a day on the phone - what a great piece of equipment to add to our office. I would rate this 5 star plus!

I bought this headset/adapter set almost a year ago after experiencing Plantronics products in my work enviroment at a call center. Did you know how all those customer service representatives sit there and talk to you on these? They are very comfrtable to wear for extended periods of time, and honestly the reason I got mine is because I have trouble hearing in one ear. Earphones on both sides of a headset like this are a must for me. My callers never know I'm on a headset, all they know is that when I switch to it, they can hear me better. When I tell them I'm on headset, they can't believe it. I have my own business now, and spend a huge amount of time on the phone, which is exactly why I bought it. The only thing I don't like about it that I'm hooked by a cord to the phone all the time. BUT, I'd imagine the sound quality wouldn't even come close, if this headset was cordless. In summary...I'd reccomend it to anyone whose time on the phone is an investment. Mine is...that's why I have this product. Kudos to Plantronics for making call center headsets available to the general public at a decent price.

The Signature 2.0 Dolby /DTS Digital Processor/Tuner provides unsurpassed performance and the flexibility required of a state-of-the-art digital home entertainment system. Processor Features: Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic Onboard; Six-Channel Direct Inputs for Future Enhancement and Expansion; RS-232 serial port interfaces with home automation systems; Now with DTS processing Onboard; Six Composite and Two S-Video Inputs; Link any Output to any Analog or Digital Audio Input; Six Digital Audio Inputs: Four Coax Data and Two Optical Data; Trigger Control for External Amplifiers; Universal Learning Remote; Record Outputs/Bus that Tracks Main Input or Records a Separate Program; Comprehensive On-screen Menu System; FM Stereo/AM Tuner with RBDS Data system and 30 Presets... There are few brands who can rival the performance of this piece...

I bought a Sig 2.0/2.1 combo because my speakers are 25 years old, the size of small coffins, and have low impeadances. They love current. Even with 45 amps of current, the protection circuits in my old HK AVR500 would kick in under heavy (i.e., cranked to the max) loads, and shut the unit off.

SO, I decided to purchase a Sig 2.0 preamp and 2.1 amplifier. The total price was about the same as as HK's equivalent receiver. That makes it a very good deal.

IMPRESSIONS:

Sound: The 2.1 amp is beautiful. It blows away the amps in my Harman Kardon AVR500, which itself sounds really good. The 2.0 preamp also sounds better, but not to the same degree. It is clean, articulate and uncolored. This is truly a high end audiophile piece of equipment, built in the US by Madrigal, the division of Harman Kardon which makes Mark Levinson and other high priced, high end audio equipment. It appears to use many of the same components.

I did an a/b comparison between the 6 channel out my JVC DVD-Audio player and the HK. The HK's processors are noticably better sounding on PCM, DTS and Dolby Digital sources.

The Good: The tuner has very good reception and sound with lots of presets and RDS, which displays text information sent by some radio stations. The unit has lots of inputs (6 pair stereo RCA, 4 dig. coax, 2 optical, 6 channel direct, 6 component video, 2 s-video) and outputs, and has exceptionally good configurability. Analog inputs can be balanced so that when going from one source to the next, the volume stays the same. It also has lots of processing modes: Pro Logic, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Late Nite, Dolby Digital Mono, Mono Plus, four music modes and four movie modes. (However, lack of ability to control delay time between front and surround channels). (It is several years out of date, so it does not have ProLogic II.) Oh! It also has plain stereo. And, it looks good with an uncluttered industrial black aluminum appearance. It is solid and weighs 22 lbs, as much as many AV receivers.

On the downside: It has poor bass management, a cheap universal remote control which is not backlit and which learns from other remotes, but has no built in programmable codes. There is no phono section. The unit makes a little squeeking noise every time my cd changes a track letting me know it figured out the format of the digital source material. The internal DACs do not feed to tape out. Finally, HK went for looks rather than putting enough functional buttons on front.

Wish list - A sleep timer.

Overall, a really good product.

Strengths:
Very good sound quality, excelent value, lots of inputs and outputs and surround modes

Weaknesses:
Cheap remote which is not backlit, no phono section.

If you are like me and find yourself with a surround system cobbled together from a collection of amplifiers and speakers, but don't have a good way to bring it all together...look no further! Don't replace all those amps with an "all in one box" surround system just because it's a hassle balancing all those descrete channels...

The Signature 2.0 processor/tuner/preamp is just what you need. It has an analog 6 channel input for your DVD Audio player, digital inputs, optical inputs, S-video outputs, it's all here... And talk about quiet? This preamp is absolutely silent. Maximum flexibility in assigning inputs, no changing cables, just reroute them via menu (onscreen or front panel) control!

The onboard processors are as smooth as silk, and the built-in effects (to add surround depth to stereo CDs) are subtle and never gimmicy. HK spent alot of time on this one! It is super.

There is only one thing about this unit that I have to work around...the remote sensor in the front panel is rather narrow sighted and I find myself almost out of range a fair part of the time;whos living room is a perfect listening room? I will have to add an IR remote sensor to compensate.

Please note that this is a deep cabnet, and it is heavy. Over-engineered it seems, since the power supply is clearly big enough to handle the consumption of this unit.

The perfect solution for those of you who want to use a couple of stereo systems in combination for a surround sound system! You will love it!

How can a low-priced amp possibly sound this good. This is the best kept audio secret of all time. I have mine connected to a SACD player through a ASL passive (tube)pre-amp. I turn the volume control on the SI all the way up and adjust volume with the pre. The sound that comes out of my high-efficency Horn Shoppe Horns is nothing short of amazing. Wide soundstage, incredible imaging and totally no audible noise. I own two and I'm looking for a third to hot-rod. Caution: If you are going to use in a home stereo rig, the speakers should have an efficiency of 90 or better to get the sound levels you'll want. Amazing!

I had some nice Polk speakers gathering dust, and had read good things about this little amp. It's all true - 8 AA batteries never sounded so good! I'm looking to add a AC/DC 12 volt power supply; I've read about people using a 13.8v controlled PSU for the extra power, but those appear to cost more than the amp did!

This cheap-o hunk of plastic sounds better than my $900 single-ended tube amp. No joke.