Digital-Audio Reviews

I could not find the SC-FX8 case anywhere for my new camera (FujiFilm 4800), and the camera is not supplied with one. It turns out that the Case Logic MP3 Player Case is a near-perfect fit and great value too. I have no regrets about buying this case, but it would be nice if other colors where available. I prefer the belt loop because it is less likely that a thief will be able to snatch it and run.

This case works very well with Philips RUSH MP3 player. Plenty of room for extra memory cards and batteries! Great product at an affordable!

I bought this for my Rio 500 and it fits perfectly. When opened, the right side of the case has a pocket of elasticized netting that should hold most MP3 players as long as they aren't bigger than about 4.5" by 2.5" The left side has a large zippered pocket that runs the length of the case (vertically) and a smaller unzippered pocket that is 2.5" deep. The zipper that closes the case is large and seems to be durable. The case itself is soft and should protect the contents fairly well.

My only negative comment about the case is the belt strap. It is nothing more than a nylon strap running the length of the case and sewn at both ends. Caselogic describes the case as being easy to attach to a belt or backpack. However, to wear it on your belt you have to take your belt off, thread it through the strap on the case, then put your belt back on. I wish that they had made the strap so it had velcro, a snap, or a buckle at one end so that you could attach it to a belt more easily. Despite this minor flaw I am very happy with the case and can recommend it.

good but can be alot better. I was hoping for a hole in the side so my headphones could work while my mini disk player was in the case. otherwhise this is the perfect case

I have a Lyra MP3 Player from RCA and this case fits perfectly... There's even room for some spare CompactFlash Memory cards. Great Value!!!

I have a Sony NW-MS9 Network Walkman player (great little thing) and this case works perfectly with it. Since my MP3 player is so small, I can fit plenty of batteries inside with it. I like this case very much because when I take my MP3 player out with me, I know that it is safe and it won't get scuffed or scratched. Some of my friends have this case and they have larger MP3 players than mine and theirs' fit in this case just fine. If you are looking for a quality case, I suggest you buy this one. Hope this was of help to you!

I've had this unit for several months now and I love it. In comparing it with other models having the same features, I believe the slightly higher price is justifiable. There are plenty of audio inputs for the average user, and each channel (all 6) has a line-level output. Compared to other brands which only provide Center and Sub, or just Subwoofer line outs, this is a nice touch. The sound quality is excellent, even through lower-end speakers, and there's power to spare.

The multi-room feature may seem unneeded, but it's nice to have. You can send a line-level signal to another amp, and listent to the same thing in separate rooms. You can also have the HK send a different signal to the second room than you're currently listening to on the main channels. It would be nice to have more video switching inputs, since I have used them all at this point. I think the next model up (AVR500) has at least one more video option.

I've only had one problem with my AVR300, and that's heat. I had mine in a glass-front cabinet along with my other equipment, including a DVD palyer and computer. After enough time with everything running, the amp would cut out on one or more channels. I eventually removed the glass door, and haven't had any problems since.

The AVR 300 Combines Both Dolby Digital And DTS Processing With A Powerful High-Current Capability, Ultrawide Bandwidth Amplifier To Carry The Harman Kardon Heritage Forward Into The Digital Era. With Sophisticated Features Such As S-Video Switching, On-Screen Displays And Multiroom Control, The AVR 300 Provides An Exceptional Combination Of Performance And Convenience In An Affordable Package... Specifications...Amplifier Section...Stereo Mode Continuous Average Power (FTC) per channel: 60 watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz - 20kHz, both channels driven into 8 ohms...Surround Modes Continuous Average Power (FTC) per channel 50 watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz - 20kHz, all channels driven into 8 ohms...High Instantaneous Current Capability (HCC): ± 35 amps...Input Sensitivity/Impedance Linear (High Level): 250mV/47k ohms...Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF-A): 95dB...Surround System Adjacent Channel Separation - Pro Logic® Decoding: 40d,B Dolby Digital (AC-3): 55dB, DTS Mode: 55dB...Frequency Response at 1W (+0dB, -3dB): 10Hz - 100kHz...Transient Intermodulation Distortion (TIM): Not Measurable...Rise Time: 16µsec...Slew Rate: 40V/µsec...FM Tuner Section...Frequency Range: 87.5 - 108MHz...Usable Sensitivity: IHF 1.3µV/13.2dBf...Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Mono (measured at 1mV RF Input Level): 70dB... Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Stereo (measured at 1mV RF Input Level): 68dB...Distortion Mono/Stereo: 0.3%/0.3%...Stereo Separation: 40dB @ 1kHz... Selectivity: ± 400kHz, 65dB...Image Rejection: 80dB...IF Rejection: 90dB...Tuner Output Level: 1kHz, ±75kHz Dev 500mV...AM Tuner Section...Frequency Range: 520 - 1710kHz... Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 45dB...Usable Sensitivity: Loop 500µ...V/M Distortion:1kHz, 50%...Mod 0.8%...Selectivity:± 10kHz,30dB...Video Section...Television Format: NTSC...Input Level/Impedance: 1Vp-p/75ohms...Output Level/Impedance: 1Vp-p/75ohms...Video Frequency Response: 10Hz to 8MHz (-3dB)...General...Power Requirement: 120V AC/60Hz...Power Consumption (2 channels driven): 72W idle, 694W maximum...Dimensions...Width 17-5/16"...Height 6-1/2"...Depth 17-1/8"...Weight 31 lbs...Depth measurement includes knobs, buttons and terminal connections. Height measurement includes feet and chassis... All In All, This Receiver Is Really A Good Choice For The Entry Level Home Theatre Nut, But For Some, The Amp Could Stand To Have More Power (Even With The High Current)...

For me, this is one of those well spent "Once in a lifetime" Purchases. The unit does everything I ever wanted an A/V system to do, plus much more. EXAMPLE: With it's on-screen display system, I can delay the sound output of any specific speaker to the nano-second so that every speaker delivers sound to my ears at the exact same time. It's spectral range goes below and above what the human ear can detect and is incredibly sharp on both ends, thanks to the reserve amps. From the rumble of a 747 take-off, to the high-pitched chirp of a bird in a surround speaker. Add to this no audible hiss or distortion at all, even at peak volumes. This unit also actually switches all of your Audio AND video feeds together with either coax, s-video, digital, or fiber cable inputs and outputs. This feature truly eliminates multiple remote controls for ALL of your other A/V components. After all of this techno-babble, the instructions were very clear and the unit was fairly easy to set up. It did take me a few hours, but the time spent was well worth it. This unit was built with top notch quality. You will probably never have to (or want to) purchase another reciever.

The HK AVR35 is my first home theater system, which I combined with Yamaha surrounds, custom built front and centre speakers, and a Pioneer DV414 DVD player.

The whole system intergrates nicely and DVD's sound great, although after a couple of months and many DVD's and CD's later I have picked up a couple of short comings of this receiver. The main downfall of the AVR35, is the serious lack of power. Many reviews say that the HK produces more power than one would expect from it's rated power output, put this is not the case. I feel that power is one of the most important factors to consider when chosing an AC-3 receiver or amplifier. With the HK what should be solid bass is actually more like a pat on the back!. Another quibble I have is the harsh tops that this unit produces. This unit is a very poor performer when it comes to musical reproduction. The HK does not produce a clean reproduction of the original source material. This is normally the case with low end equipment, but unlike many other systems the HK seems to take away alot of the musical information in an attempt to some how filter the frequency bands. This results in a loss of low frequency response, and clinical sounding tops. I have found that adding a subwoofer improves the low end some what, but there is still a lack of response above 100Hz. Even the head phone jack lacks sufficient output, and there is not even enough range in the bass and treble controls to compensate for this. Adding bass with the bass control knob only adds boom anyway!.

On the positive side, this unit is very well built, and there are plenty enough adjustments for all speakers, even from the remote. The tuner section is good, and all fuctions are easy to operate once you get the hang of it!. The remote works with all my other components which I have found very useful.

Although this is a negative review, I must admit that the HK does a good job with DVD's. You cannot even compare stereo or dolby pro logic to dolby digital, the AVR35 only comes to life with DVD's, and if the only reason you want this unit is to watch DVD's, then I would give it the thumbs up!.

I had a look at a review from a gentalman from JHB South Sfrica
I have a AVR35 and it has a lot of punch good all round sound and excilent head room. The lows or low and the highs are crisp and clean. The system does need high end speakers though cheep custem home made setup will not work well with this system. I have a set of ecco kefs front center and siround and bileav me it does sound good.

After owning two very average Pioneer receivers, I decided that I wanted to step up to a better brand to best complement the new JVC DVD deck that I had just bought. Wow! I really missed the boat by not going this route a long time ago. The salesman at Circuit City steered me away from more expensive units that had too many bells and whistles, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. This is an awesome unit with plenty of power and versatility. I especially enjoy the incredible fiber optic audio that can be used eith the purchase of an interlink cable. Great sound. I would recommend this unit to all that like ease of use and functionality in a mid priced receiver.

While this player is a great space saver with nice features like E-Turn, like so many DVD VHS combos, component video output is not supported for the LD format as neither is enchanced letterbox detection...forcing you to use 2 inputs on your TV or receiver if you want to use component video for DVD. Also like most AC3 equipped LD players, Dolby Digital/DTS output for LD is only supported through the use of an external modulator which is a substantial sum in and of itself...given that you can even find one. And if you do, like video, you'll be using 2 digital audio inputs on your receiver to handle both DVD's and LD's. Also, this aging player, even at this price is missing features found on much much cheaper DVD only alternatives like Progressive Scan 480P output.

In the dying days of Laserdisc you may was to reevaluate this purchase unless you have a large LD collection not available on DVD (as the price of this player and a modulator would by a lot of replacement DVDs).

In playing DVDs and LD's these problems aside, this player does an excellent job.

I just bought this thing from Amazon and all I can say is WOW!!!!

This is probably the best purchase I have ever made. This thing is everything I ever expected and more!! It's easy to use as well - even my wife can operate it!

I have to say, everyone out there who is thinking of buying this, stop thinking. I bought it and I am extremely happy with it the moment I powered this thing on. YOU ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS PURCHASE! I GUARANTEE IT!!!

I was forced into buying a new Laserdisc player after my previous Pioneer Elite CLD-79 was struck by lightning and subsequently destroyed. Sadly, the Pioneer Elite DVL-91 is no longer available, so I settled for this. As it turns out, however, I was not settling at all. This is a great player! The picture quality is not quite as crisp as my previous Elite, but it is still fantastic on both LD and DVD. Most aspects have been improved. LD side change time is roughly half of my old Elite player, sound is better, and LD spin up is faster. My only real quibble is that the remote control was apparantly designed by someone who hates people. Buttons are arranged seemingly at random. Even after several months of ownership and use, I still have to take a long look at the remote before I venture a push of the buttons. The design of my previous player's remote control was far, far superior.

One other thing: upon receiving delivery of my player, I found that the laser was bad and was in need of replacement. It was taken to an authorized Pioneer service center where the laser was replaced swiftly, free of charge, and with no fuss. Many months later, it still works perfectly! I appreciate Pioneer's service. On my previous Elite LD player, which was hit by the lightning, the Pioneer service center I took it to worked tirelessly for weeks trying to fix it. In the end, they failed, but they also did not charge me for the work they did. Thanks again!

This is my third Pioneer laser video product. Based on my experience so far with my Pioneer LD player (rest in peace), mini DVD player, and new DVD/LD player, I would never purchase a laser video product from any other company.

We bought this camcorder to record our children. We went with it based on reviews we'd read here on Amazon. It has lived up to our expectations. It's easy to use and takes really nice shots. The best part is being able to hook it up to our iMacDV with firewire and edit the footage.

This camcorder is an excellent product, as are all of the Sony range. Basically, it offers easily accessible and professional features in the guise of a consumer Digital 8 camcorder. The Picture and Digital functions are amazing and offer a discernable edge to home movie making. The Digital 8 format is fantastic, as it allows you to utilise existing Hi-8 tapes, and reduces the cost of tape purchases, given that the new Mini DV tapes are significantly more expensive. My only criticism of the product is that aside from not being the current model, it seems that the primary extra feature that this model offers over the lower models is that it has a larger sized LCD screen. Aside from that, this is an excellent product and quite possibly one of the best Digital camcorders on the market.

This is the first camcorder I've ever owned, and I love it! I looked at camcorders in several price ranges, but this one had all the features I could want with a price tag less than $1,000. The LCD is crisp and bright and the picture quality is nearly flawless. I've taped two family weddings with quality that is as good as professional work. Because it is a Sony, I look forward to many years of high-quality performance.

I got this receiver with the yht-440 home theater in a box system. This receiver is excellent for the money (especially if you buy it as part of the yht system already mentioned). It has plenty of inputs and plus, the most important part, DOLBY EX AND DTS ES CAPABILITY (6.1 channels)! This means an extra surround channel that adds tremendous depth to listening to music, movies or any other input source. The display is clear and well set up, and the speaker inputs are ALL BANANA (something competitors, like Onkyo, lack in receivers of comparable prices, at least with "b" speakers, which are spring clips). Overall, this is an excellent receiver if you don't have a ton of equipment that requires digital inputs (which, if you do, you are probably looking at more expensive receivers to begin with). My only complaint, and it is definitley serious, is that this receiver lacks s video inputs, which has become a standard with most video equipment. Why yamaha has chosen to forgo such inputs is beyond me (though DVD players and video game consoles benefit from the comonent video inputs on the back of this receiver).

I recently bought the Yamaha HTR-5640 and couldnt be happier about my switch. I have owned a Bose Lifestyles 8 Series II for about 2 years prior to the Yamaha. It will now be in my bed room as a secondary system. The problem with my Bose is not sound producton, it just is'nt prepared for the present or the future. I currently have my Yamaha strapped with a 6.1 Yamaha speaker package and notice a lot of different ranges of sound I wasnt hearing with my Bose. This reciever comes with 3 component outputs and 2 digital and also has dvd audio inputs. For $299.00 thats a steal.

I have had this unit for two weeks now and have to say it is the finest home theater receiver I have ever owned! Unlike some, this is my third receiver in 12 years and have gone thru all of the growing pains in surround sound from 4.0 to 5.1 ready to 6.1 now.
Having purchased two Sony receivers previously, the first lasting 8 years and the most recent only 4, this is where I looked at first. Unfortunately, I see the same problems I found in my last unit are still present today(small, pathetic, cheaply made buttons on the front of the reciever that fail quickly, clip type speaker wire connectors, and the inability to fine tune every aspect of the sound, not to mention their claims of 100 watts per channel(this is input power folks, not output!)). So, where does one start to find a better replacement? Consumer Reports, Amazon, and e-pinions are great places to research this info.
I looked at some theater-in-a-box deals,which are tempting, but ultimatley have an achilles heel. Either the amp and sub are great and the speakers are trash or the speakers are great and the amp is trash and the sub is not powered. Anyway, you get the idea. Companies are out to make money, so they are not going to give you anything for "free". Best bet, build your own!Yeah, it will cost more, but you will get a quality system you will be more than happy with and your friends will be envious of. The place to start is with the "brain"-the reciever.
This one offers everything from hi-power per channel(75watts@8ohms,120watts@6ohms!), dedicated sub-out, screw down binding posts that assure complete connection of your speaker wires and keep them from ever touching(no shorting out!), an unbelievable DSP system combined with dts-es/dolby digital ex/pro-logic2, a built in graphic eq just for the center channel speaker(for perfect dialogue timbre), the ability to control the sound level of each speaker individually, a rotary selector(no cheap buttons) for picking your source, optical in for dvd player, a coaxial in for cd player, 6.1 surround, and more sound modes than you'll ever need(each one can be fine tuned to your tastes/sound environment). It also comes with a programmable remote that can control all of your other components with the codes already in the manual. It also sounds amazing! Music and movies sound imaging is the best I have ever heard at this price(and higher).
For those of you grumbling over no s-video inputs in the back, I say: so what? I plug my dvd s-video directly into my tv anyway. If i were to plug it into my amp, I would at least have to buy another s-video cable(Monster ain't cheap baby!) and possbily downgrade my signal thu the bridging process. Non-issue unless you have multiple dvd players and only 1 s-video on the back of your tv.
A word of warning: proper set-up requires the ability to read! Yes, as with all home theater systems, one must read the manual! Sure, hook up everything according to all the diagrams and then stop! Read the set-up section and don't stop til you reach the end of the manual. Now, go back and follow along with the directions as you set up all of your parameters into the amp. Trust me, this sounds basic, but people just don't do it! And it is imperative if you want your system to sound as good as it possibly can. Engineers did not spend time and effort designing a beautiful sound system based on your room dimensions to have you pick the inappropriate room size or speaker size into the system:ie: picking large room and large speakers when you have a meduium sized room based on the measurements in the manual and small satellite speakers. Remember to choose carefully when you are setting up and if you don't understand what to do, read it again or look in another more detailed section of the manual. I guarantee it will make a difference.
OK, off the soap box and onto the remote. The remote will control all of your other components once the proper codes are put in. Yes, its tricky and time consuming but in the long run worth it. Unfortunately, this is the systems only weakness. It requires you to press the amp button anytime you want to adjust parameters other than sound. Otherwise it follows with the source selected(tv,dvd,cd). This takes a little getting used to but no big deal. Another thing is, as with all systems i have had, the manual. Informational detail should be all in the same place, not spread out thru the book. Again, no big deal.
Overall, I am completely satisfied with this reciever! I have mine matched up with the yamaha nsp-436 6.1 speaker package and it sounds awesome!!!! Get yourself monster cables for all connections(speakers and all of your sources) as well as your sub out. You don't have to get the most expensive cables the middle price ones will work out great and use optical in for the best movie sound from your dvd player. This system will make you happy! Good listenening!

OK - the MP3 module is nice, though it does not hold a lot of music. Typically 12-14 songs however, the ease of downloading into the visor and module is very nice. Now, about the clip...What a peice of garbage. For anyone who works out or does anything active and wants music to tag along, this IS NOT the equipment for the job. The clip does not secure to anything and if the energy hits the ground, forget it, you will be using super glue and rubber bands to hold it together. You would think that with all the technology out there, Soundsgood would come out with something a little more impressive and durable for those with an active life style- I know I would be willing to pay a little more for something more durable applicable for working out. Please, invent something, quickly!!!!

I think this is a great product. I have used other MP3s and this has a very fast method to load music onto it. With 64 mb, the music load speed is important. I used the energy clip during my workouts. I can get about 1.5 hours of music on this and the MP3 inside the clip is very small (3"X4") so I do not even notice it on me as I move about. Great product with bad marketing. There are very good used values out there. Enjoy.

Like I said great gadget but I wish that the mp3 player itself is just as good. I hope that Good Technology has improved on the little player because it is the worst so far in eminating noise.
The sony stick is the least that eminates noise.
This review isn't about mp3 players it is about this battery pack
and it does well for what it is intended for.

I bought the HK7000 in March of 2000, for the onboard digital freatures such as the decoding of DTS for DVDs. This allowed me to purchase a cheap DVD player for under $150. I should have done that for my CD player as well. I found the the HK produced better sound when I bypassed my more expensive Marantz OSE CD player by using digital out, and once again letting the HK decode the signal. In short this is a great reciever, with lots of programable digital/video inputs (the coaxal digital input goes to the cd, the fiber optical cable goes to the DVD player, etc...). The high output of the amplifier is clear and distortion free at high volumes. The sound that this unit produces is truely appreciable. Drawbacks include the large size and heavy weight. The unit also produces a good amount of heat, and shouldn't be put in an enclosed cabinet. I also found that the included HK universal remote has developed a minor glitch.

I've owned this receiver now for over 2 years, and I have had no problems. As a matter of fact I keep it enclosed in the storage area beneath my television. The only draw back is the size of this monster. It is the only component in my TV cabinet that was built for atleast 2. It's so easy to use, my four year old knows how to work the basics when daddy can't find the remote.

It's survived 4 shipments to and from Japan, and still no electrical problems (shell was dinged up from UPS...the bozos!). I'm not an audiophile or a stereophile, just a guy who loves watching movies in style. Hi ampage = clean sound. I've tried maxing out the amp several times. Still, no distortion at high volumes. Read the specs and look at the important 75 amps versus some of the other 500 watt receivers. You'll find no contest other than the AVR 8000 which costs considerably more (but is THX Cert).

I have had top of the line sony, yamaha, and denon receivers and non of them stood up to harmon's flagship receivers.
bottom line:
If you are married there is no way your wife is going to let you put more than 5 speakers in your living room so why spend $2000-$3000 dollars for a receiver that will run 7 speakers.
I listened to monsters, inc. with it and when my infinity IL-60's subs went off It nearly scared the @#$& out of my wife. All I have to say is thank god for giving me the insight to avoid the crap they sell at ultimate electronics.
see ya.

Bought myself the blue model, and liked it so much I bought one for my boyfriend. We both love 'em! Easy to use, light, small, and cute... who could ask for more?!

Have had my Yepp for nearly two weeks, and really like it. Great sound, lightweight, cute as a button. Easy to transfer files off my Mac into its built-in memory. Recommend it highly.

really great player, easy to use, good remote, light, plenty of memory, and easy to transfer if you know what your doing