3Dⁱ Pass-Through, Audyssey and Dolby Upgrades Added

"We are very excited to bring these leading-edge features to owners of our flagship products, noted Jeff Talmadge, Director, Product Development & Systems Integration, Denon Electronics. "Early adopters who purchased these components nearly 4 years ago bought them with the confidence that they would experience the very best home entertainment for years to come. This upgrade opportunity is yet another example of how Denon is committed to ensuring that our customers are ‘future ready' and remain at the leading edge of all the latest performance-enhancing technologies."

Users Can Unleash Their iTunes® Music Libraries, Stream Songs from iPhone®, iPad^TM or iPod Touch® Devices to Denon or Marantz Systems

Denon Electronics, the 100 year-old technology innovator and Marantz America, a leader of advanced home entertainment solutions, have announced the availability of AirPlay music streaming capability on nine network-capable audio/video components in their respective lineups, making the A/V receivers the world's first to include AirPlay capability. Given the availability of the newly launched Apple iOS 4.2 update to its mobile operating system, owners of AirPlay-compatible Denon and Marantz components may now stream songs directly from their iTunes music libraries, as well as music stored on their mobile devices, though their Wi-Fi enabled networks from their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch devices.* The AirPlay upgrade is available at both the Denon and Marantz websites for $49.99.

"With the inclusion of HDMI 1.4a with repeater and Audio Return Channel in the introduction of the RG-6506 and RD-606i, we've brought the price point on these advanced functions down to a new level. In addition to providing 3D video capability, we are making it easy for users to seamlessly connect their Blu-ray player to the receiver to ensure they can enjoy lossless high-resolution DTS or Dolby audio," said Gary Graning, Sherwood's Vice President, Sales.

The battle for bragging rights for "most wattage" in an AV receiver has been supplanted by "most connected", as Sherwood's two newest 7.1 receivers demonstrate. Model RD-705i dual-zone, network receiver streams Internet audio, including Internet Radio, with 802.11n Wi-Fi ability. Compliance with UPnP for home networking, allows music sources to be streamed wirelessly from digital devices anywhere in the home. Its HDMI 1.4 capability makes the RD-705i 3D ready. Optional Bluetooth connectivity offers streaming audio from Bluetooth components such as smart phones and PCs. For users with iPod music libraries, Sherwood's optional DS-10 iPod dock provides another audio source. Then, there is the full complement of Dolby and DTS high-resolution audio formats. Model RD-7505 offers identical audio-video performance without networking. Both receivers were recently unveiled at the CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, GA.

Says Jeffrey Hipps, Sherwood's Sr. VP for Marketing and Product Development, "With UPnP and Windows 7 compatibility, this receiver sets a new standard for connectivity and performance in its price class and the inclusion of HDMI repeater capability means they can internally decode the highest-resolution audio formats available to consumers today on Blu-ray disc." Users can access Internet radio from Pandora, Aupeo, Reciva, Shoutcast and other streaming music services that make available thousands of radio stations from around the world. Full bit-rate capability for multiple formats is provided by its192 kHz/24 bit D to A converters.

The RD-7051 has an MSRP of $499.95. The RD-7505 has an MSRP of $399.95. Both receivers offer 100 watts per channel (x 7) and will become available in November.

Denon’s new A/V receiver, the AVR-4311CI, is now available and has been chosen as a finalist in the 2010 CEDIA Manufacturers’ Excellence Awards.

The 9.2-channel Network receiver includes a variety of advanced features. It has the Audessey MultEQ 32 Room Correction, which has 32 times the resolution quality than that of the current MultEQ XT system. Additionally, it has Audessey’s new Sub EQ HT that allows the AVR-4311CI to have access to the highest level of audio playback quality.

The Pass Laboratories INT-30A integrated amplifier doesn't do much, and that's what makes it great!

I've probably reviewed well over a hundred amplifiers, but I can't say I've ever really heard one. I'm always listening to an amplifier driving a speaker, so the sound is really the combination of the two.

I'm pretty sure Nelson Pass has not only listened to more amps and speakers than I have, he's designed more than a few of my favorite high-end amps.

All the bells and whistles

Reading the features list on modern receivers is like some sort of Tolstoy-esque torrent of acronyms and abbreviations.

This is a good thing, believe it or not, at least when it's all implemented correctly. Denon has a strong history at being able to get it all to work together, so we take a look at their AVR-4810CI to run it through its paces.

The best gear of the year, as picked by the editors of Home Entertainment.

Premium Blend

The NaimUniti combines all your stereo favorites in to one unifying package.