Price: $2299.99
Website: www.cambridgeaudio.com
Sathyan said: The Azur 651R would be a fine choice for someone who wants to use a single box for listening to music and watching movies but who is more focused on the music -- especially multichannel music.
Read the SoundStage! Access review.
The gist: Music-centric AVR with just enough features for a fine HT.
Price: $2999
Website: www.cambridgeaudio.com
Vince said: This receiver is best suited to those whose hearts belong to two-channel music; and those who want to watch movies but are willing to give up some of the home-theater extras that can degrade sound quality. If that describes you, this is your receiver!
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Great choice for the music lover dabbling in home theater.
Price: $349.99
Website: www.darbeevision.com
Rad said: Although my overall impressions of DarbeeVision’s Darblet DVP 5000 are positive, I have some serious doubts as to whether it’s good value for the dollar. Still, for that one Hi Def setting, the good outweighs the obvious bad to my eyes, and in the long run I found it an excellent addition to a well-calibrated video system, and one of the best video tweaks I’ve seen in four or five years.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Serious limitations, but could be useful for some.
Price: $7999.95
Website: www.jvc.com
Wes said: The DLA-X70R is another in a very long line of winners from JVC. Highly recommended.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Not cheap, but for the best home theaters.
Price: $1999
Website: www.marantz.com
Wes said: The Marantz SR7008 is a frontrunner in every way. The double nature of its front panel is a perfect metaphor for what lies inside: You can keep it simple, like the two-dial front, or you can flip down the panel and go as deeply into setup as you want. It’s also very good looking, not like the industrial boxes of most of its competition.
Read the SoundStage! Xperience review.
The gist: Strong contender in the AVR wars with cut-above looks.