1/31/2012

Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black) Review

Sekonic L-758DR Light Meter (Black)
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I really like this meter. It does everything I need and a bit more. I find it easy to use as it follows similar interface design as my DSLR's "press-this-and-spin-that" UI. The integrated pocket wizard, ability to meter light ratios and balance ambient light is fantastic. The use of this meter has improved my shots.
A previous reviewer said the interface was poor - I disagree. The interface is extremely simple for the basic functions you'll use all the time. Set the ISO, take a reading, change between reflected spot and incident, set the pocket wizard channel, set the exposure time for ambient, etc.
When using the more advanced features, it gets a little more complicated. For example, metering the highlights, the shadows and mid-tones and display them all at once, or meter the lighting ratio between lights. Perhaps it could be a little easier but I don't find it a hinderance.
In fact I didn't notice the complexity as it's no more complicated than most of the features on my Nikon D700. The Sekonic, happily, follows the same convention of rapid key combinations for instant access to features instead of slow menu driven interfaces. Yes the menus are easier to learn - but you'd pay that speed penalty every time you'd use it. Once you learn how to play the Sekonic's keys, the price is paid and you get the speed benefit every time you use it.
Now it would be slick if, like the pro DSLRs, they provided both a menu and a key. But I still wouldn't use the menu.

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Spot & Incident Light Readings Under Flash and/or Ambient Lighting Conditions Calibrated to match the Sensitivity of Your Camera's Imaging SensorThe Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster is simply the most dynamic light meter you will ever own. It can record incident or 1-degree spot-readings under ambient and/or strobe lighting down to a tenth-stop in accuracy, and it's sealed against the nastiest of weather. With the included Sekonic RT-32 Radio Transmitter Module and you can wirelessly trigger PocketWizard-enabled flash systems within a 100' range. But that's not what makes the Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster different from any other meter you have owned. What moves the L-758DR DigitalMaster to the head of the class is that it is the only meter that can be calibrated to read light the way the sensor in your particular camerareads light.Like film, imaging sensors vary in light sensitivity levels from one batch to the next. Despite manufacturers best efforts, fluctuations of native ISO sensitivities of up to plus/minus half-a-stop can be detected across the uncut wafers as they come off the manufacturing line. Depending on which ‘slice of the pie' is inside your camera, the specs listed in the camera manual may not hold true to the characteristics of the sensor in your particular camera.By running an easy calibration test using Sekonic's L-758DR, a Sekonic Exposure Profile Target (optional) and the included Data Transfer Software (Mac & Windows), you can accurately profile the sensitivity characteristics of your camera's sensor to determine the compensation value for its true native ISO, dynamic range and clipping points.After calculating the test data and establishing new exposure parameters, this data is uploaded from your computer via the included USB cable back to the meter where it is stored as camera profiles. Profiling data from up to 3 cameras can be stored in your meter for instant recall.

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Elite Screens VMAX2 Electric projection Screen, 16:9 Aspect Ratio-120in (Max White) Review

Elite Screens VMAX2 Electric projection Screen, 16:9 Aspect Ratio-120in (Max White)
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These screens are fantastic... the value for the money is incredible. I've had several over the years, and especially glad to have one in white now, to match the ceiling and go "low profile".
Hilights:
**Motorized feature is great for the "wow" factor when friends visit... saves you the hassle of yanking down a screen (and perhaps yanking it out of the ceiling if something catches).
**The image on screen is MUCH better than projected on a wall. I projected on white walls for years and was dumbfounded what I had been missing by not using a screen. If you're projecting on a wall, GET A SCREEN!
**The remotes are line of sight, so be aware of this when mounting. The screen does come with a little IR extender, but it's not the greatest design.
**The price for a screen this size is unheard of in the industry. It's an incredible deal, especially when coupled with a 1080p projector and bluray... you'll be blown away.
**Customer Services is AWESOME. They heard about my troubles out of the box (see below) and sent me a new screen, only asking for a section of the "old" screen to be cut out and sent in with the remotes. They sent the replacement via courrier at their expense. THAT is excellent customer service.
LowPoints:
**The screen brackets were bent out of the box... I had to bend back to get it to line up correctly and the powder-coated paint chipped off where the bends were. Not a huge deal, but lame for a brand-new out of the box experience.
**The screen had some white 'fingerprints' that were, while feint, still surprising to see... Someone in the factory obviously handled it while it was not dry or something... BUT as I mentioned above, the company made good.
**Do NOT order the $18 universal remote control or the $18 projector mount (they are advertised on materials shipped with the screen). The remote couldn't learn ANY of our electronics (Sony, Pioneer, Time Warner cable box, etc.) and the projector mount looks like it's for a barbie kit. No bueno.
Regardless of my (probably rare) bad experience, these screens are an AMAZING value for the money. Just look it over carefully when you unbox it. If it looks good, you can count on years of service and all your friends going "wow"!

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Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver Review

Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver
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My 6 year old Onkyo TX-SR502 was an entry level AV Receiver and it was time to upgrade. It didn't have HDMI connectivity and didn't have an onscreen display. It also did not have an auto speaker setup and I wasn't quite able to configure them myself to produce great sound. We also noticed lip sync problems when watching DVDs on our PS3. So after much research, I decided that my second receiver would be the Denon AVR-2112CI.
First, I'll address the issues listed above. I now have my DirecTV and PS3 wired to the receiver via HDMI and my Wii connected using component cables. From there, we have one HDMI cable running from the receiver to the TV. Using this connection scheme, we seemed to eliminate the lip sync issue when watching DVDs and were also able to eliminate any delay when playing video game systems between the controls and the actual on screen action. The onscreen display is great for a few reasons. It was nice to have something to look at while setting up the receiver, but it is also nice to see the volume level on screen when adjusting the volume. Our coffee table blocks the line of sight to the receiver and we would have to get up and look at the old receiver to see the volume level. Lastly, the included Audyessy MultEQ XT setup configured the speakers so that they sound great. The real test was my wife who said that the sound is much better now with the new receiver.
On top of these benefits, this receiver has some other great features. When hooking up to the internet through your home network, the receiver can stream audio from numerous different internet services. I primarily use Pandora, but Rhapsody and Napster are a few other services available. You can also access your computer music files through DLNA technology. Now if you have Apple portable audio devices with wifi (think iPhone, iPod touch, iPad), then you can listen to music off of these devices wirelessly through the Apple AirPlay feature. I found this feature to be flaky (time to connect and music stuttering), but when it works, it is a nice feature to be able to listen to your iPod library with device still in hand. You can even listen to Pandora this way as well, so it is up to you which method you prefer. AirPlay also works with iTunes on your Mac or PC. Just select the little icon in the bottom corner of iTunes and select "Denon AVR-2112CI." As I mentioned, the AirPlay feature can be a little flaky, but this may be due to a poor connection between my D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Gigabit Wireless Router and my D-Link DAP-1522 Xtreme 4-Port GigaBit Selectable Dual Band Draft 802.11n N Duo Wireless Bridge/Access Point.
Lastly, this receiver features Audio Return Channel and HDMI Standby Passthrough. If you're television also has this feature, then one of the things you can do is run the video and audio signal through the receiver to the television while the receiver is in standby mode. This was important to my wife since she likes to watch TV shows using the television speakers. However since the new receiver produces a much better sound, she's often watching her shows using the surround sound, something she never did with our Onkyo.
My first receiver was a great entry level receiver for a new college grad living on his own for the first time. But this Denon is a great upgrade and is great for watching movies, playing games, and listening to music.

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Take control of your home theater with the AVR-2112CI from Denon. This versatile AV receiver features 6 HDMI inputs and an output as well as component, composite, and USB inputs to accommodate all your entertainment sources. 3D pass-through and Audio Return channel capabilities make this receiver even more attractive. An ethernet port opens up even more options with internet radio and other streaming capabilities.

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1/30/2012

Escient FP-1 Music Manager with Universal Dock for iPod Review

Escient FP-1 Music Manager with Universal Dock for iPod
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This product is a pile of garbage. I have a brand new 80 gig classic Ipod that I have been trying to get to work with this product for over 3 months now. I have structured wiring in my house and I have everything set up to distribute the IR Controls to this unit, and have the video and audio ditributed throughout my house. When the product was actually working, I had to reboot it every three or four days, becuase the software would lock up for no apparent reason. Lately, when I updated my Ipod with new Music, the unit just locks up, claiming it is updating the database. I am on my second unit (the first one was repaired by Escient), and I am now experiencing the same problem. This product should have never been released, it hasn't gone through the proper quality control testing to be released to the general public. Do not buy this unit. This product seemed too good to be true, and it actually is too good to be true, becuase it doesn't work.

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The FP-1 provides all of the great on-screen music management features you expect from a FireBall for your iPod. It's a complete FireBall Music Manager with all of the custom install features you need to provide seamless integration of iPod music into any home audio system. The FP-1 can also stream music from any FireBall music server or PC/Mac with or without a docked iPod. The FP-1 even allows other FireBalls to access and play music stored on the iPod including music purchased from the iTunes Music Store.

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ONKYO TX-NR900 THX Select 7.1-Channel Digital Surround Receiver Review

ONKYO TX-NR900 THX Select 7.1-Channel Digital Surround Receiver
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I've owned one of these receivers for years. It works well until you try to upgrade the firmware. Obviously Onkyo is not used to this kind of thing. It failed and the only fix it to take it to a dealer. So sure, it looks good but forget about Onkyo having a clue about quality.

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Jensen VM9313 7-inch Touch Screen MultiMedia Receiver Review

Jensen VM9313  7-inch Touch Screen MultiMedia Receiver
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Well, I researched it and got this one. For the price I really have no complaints. It may lack a few features like screen savers and all that, but it is actually a really good sounding unit. I love the music videos off of my ipod. (Yes the parking brake "bypass" from the vm9213 does work with this unit) Overall I would say I am extremely happy with my purchase.

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1/29/2012

MTX Audio FEN10T45 Thdrfm Ld Bk Fd Exp 97-02 Review

MTX Audio FEN10T45 Thdrfm Ld Bk Fd Exp 97-02
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Installed by a pro today this box is hot found the best price on amazon would recomend to anyone fits custom

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PIONEER ELITE VSX-30 7.1-Channel 3-D Ready Elite A/V Receiver Review

PIONEER ELITE VSX-30 7.1-Channel 3-D Ready Elite A/V Receiver
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I spent several months researching receivers in the $500 range. This receiver is essentially the highly rated VSX 1020K with elite badging, advanced mcacc, 12v trigger, and a 2-year warranty instead of 1. Elite models are also rated with all channels driven vs the regular consumer line which is rated with 2 channels driven. For the small price increase this receiver is a better deal because of the extra warranty protection over the 1020K. I got it at Best Buy open box for $380 which is a steal.
This may be the bottom of the Elite series for Pioneer but for most home theaters it will be more than enough and has all the features you'd want at this price point.

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Yamaha RX-V665BL 630 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

Yamaha RX-V665BL 630 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver
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I chose the Yamaha V665 after careful comparison with other units, and was very impressed with ease of setup and features. The sound quality is excellent, and while I had initial concerns with power output, at 90 watts it demonstrates more useable power than my previous NAD unit at 100 watts. I particularly like the four "Scene" buttons which allow linked input sources and sound fields and switch the unit on with one action. Contrary to other reviews on Amazon you can easily assign whatever input you wish together with a preferred sound field and assign it to any of these buttons. On the downside, you cannot assign different tone adjustments to these four "Scenes" which means I have to manually attenuate the bass to listen to spoken radio broadcasts which tend to create disturbing bass reverberations at times.
However the one big disappointment, which because of its nature I only discovered too late to return the unit (and I would not have purchased this unit had I known beforehand) is evident when a TV input from some (possibly all?) cable boxes is connected to the unit and passed through using the receiver as a switching unit (one of the key features of any modern receiver after all). In this mode the signal is subject to frequent dropouts of sound and video. Some days these dropouts are hardly evident and only for a fraction of a second, other days they are frequent and last long enough to leave the screen blank for a second or two or to delete entire words on the audio track. This happens with every possible connection I have tried, whether HDMI or component video (I have also tried monster cables to no avail). I have since seen other reviews reporting this same problem on other Yamaha units. My cable box is Time Warner but there are similar reports with Verizon Fios, so the problem seems endemic. Updating the current Yamaha firmware seems to have no effect.
There are always so many variables that it is difficult to track down the source of the problem, and I would hate to criticize Yamaha unfairly, but as the problem apparently occurs throughout the Yamaha product range, it would seem wise to hesitate on purchasing Yamaha until this problem is resolved.

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Yamaha RX-V665BL 630 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver

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1/28/2012

New Gray Pair Headrest 9" LCD Car Monitors with Region Free DVD player 2 Wireless Dual Channel Headphones USB SD and 32 Bit & 8 Bit Game disks and 6 game controllers USB SD MP3 RCA Video input & RCA Video OutPut Review

New Gray Pair Headrest 9 LCD Car Monitors with Region Free DVD player 2 Wireless Dual Channel Headphones USB SD and 32 Bit and 8 Bit Game disks and 6 game controllers USB SD MP3 RCA Video input and RCA Video OutPut
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Ordered them in February 2011. Had them installed professionally. Used them a couple times for our 2 year old(I'm talking less than 1/2 an hour each time). They stopped working in April(screens won't turn on). I took my car into the Car stereo shop, they advised that power was getting to the units and it was a mechanical/performance issue. The remote control is a pain in the butt to work. Half of the buttons do not perform the function they are supposed to, and the other half don't seem to work! It seems like it is a combination of half a dozen working parts from various dvd players and put together into one....very poor quality. The manual may as well be in Chinese instead of the half a** translation they did via Google translate...
I've emailed and phoned this company(Elite Auto Sounds)and here's the correspondence that I got....
Elite Auto Sound initial email regarding a voicemail I left them:
"Thank you for contacting us about your items. We are sorry to hear that you are having an issue with the package that you purchased. If you describe in detail the issues we can pass the information on to our techs to try to solve for you. Our manufacture gives us a 30 day replacement period from the purchase date for all our items, this is the time we are able to return or exchange an item. This is the time period we pass on to our buyers and list as the available return time in our warranty/returns link on our homepage. After this period we are no longer able to get any credit for an item and therefore can not accept returns."
My response to their request(detailed account of problem so they can pass onto their "techs"):
"I'm not looking to return them and get my money back, I just want them fixed. I will pay to have them sent back and looked at by your manufacturer. Although we had both installed, we've only used one of the screens for not even an hours worth of DVD viewing.
The issue is that neither of them will turn on anymore. There appears to be a "blip" on the screen when I turn the car on(they're hooked into the main power source that makes them operate when the ignition is turned), but that's it, the screen stays black and neither POWER buttons work. I took our car to the Car Stereo store that installed them and they advised it was a mechanical issue. After checking the connections, they stated that the units themselves were getting power because the little red light in the infrared sensor was on - thus indicating there's power getting to them. Does that make sense to you? The installer asked if there was some kind of way to "reset" them as he thought most devices like these(car stereos, alarms, etc) have this ability.
I should hope that you guys can offer me some assistance and stand behind your product. I have a strange feeling that you will blame the installer, the installer will blame you guys, and I'll be the one left with nothing but a $600 hole in my wallet and 2 non functioning DVD headrests. Please help!"
Their response to my plea:
"As we stated before, Our manufacture gives us a 30 day replacement period from the purchase date for all our items, this is the time we are able to return or exchange an item. This is the time period we pass on to our buyers and* list as the available return time in our warranty/returns link on our homepage.* After this period we are no longer able to get any credit for an item and therefore can not accept returns."
My final email back to them - to which I have yet to get a response.....6 days later. I've also phoned them and left another voicemail:
"I would like to talk to someone about this. This is a terrible business practice to simply post a return policy and state there's nothing you can do. Please provide me with a phone # so I can talk to someone instead of email."
BUYER BEWARE.....I LEARNED THE HARD WAY......THEY'RE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!!!!

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Jensen VM9223 7-inch Touch Screen Double Din MultiMedia Receiver Review

Jensen VM9223  7-inch Touch Screen Double Din MultiMedia Receiver
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Good item if your wanting a touchscreen double din thats for a reasonable price. If your looking for navigational/blue tooth/or IPhone/ITouch capable look else where. You have to add the navigational component which ranges from 180-230. The blue tooth component ranges from 45-75, also its not compatible with the IPhone or ITouch as far as the USB port. So keep this in mind if your really interested in this feature(you can use the auxillary output that comes with the unit into your IPhone/ITouch, but that all. It doesn't not recongize the USB port from the IPhone). Otherwise good product for price.

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Keyspan TVI-200C TuneView for iPod classic 4G, 5G (Black) Review

Keyspan TVI-200C TuneView for iPod classic 4G, 5G (Black)
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I bought this product for my boat. The idea was to jack into the AUX of my boat's car stereo, have TuneView Dock plug into that, and remotely control the iPod out on the deck via the TuneView remote.
Initially it seemed to work fine. I even updated the firmware without a hitch. However, near the middle of the boating season for me (May-September), I noticed that the batteries housed in the unit (2 AA) started to rattle around, and if I shook it, they'd easily lose their connection, and the remote would go black.
I opened the battery door and looked a little closer. It appears that the actual housing for the AA batteries is physically larger than it should be, and and the battery terminals have the sole purpose of holding the batteries in place - and thus keeping the power source in tact. This is a pretty serious design flaw. What ends up happening is that over time, those slim metal terminals bend (its not like they are spring-loaded), and eventually the two AA batteries just jostle around in there and its up to the alignment of the moon and stars whether you end up getting power. I tried bending the terminals forward. This is a hack, and did not work in the end...as one of them just broke.
Here's my other issue with the unit: about a month after I had it, a black horizontal line showed up on the LCD and would not go away.
Now, here's my big issue with the company: Keyspan was purchased by Tripp Lite recently (2008). I bought the unit summer 2007. I *should* have contacted Keyspan immediately when I started to have issues...but I did not, and this is my fault.
I contacted Tripp Lite support and I was told that I could ship the unit to them at my expense, and if they thought I had dropped it, then they would simply return it to me. I explained that I felt the battery terminal issue was a design flaw, and I failed to see how that could ever be the result of dropping the unit, and they told me that "Past experience has shown us the bent battery terminals is sometimes a tale (sic) tale sign of the unit being dropped."
Given that, and the fact that I was 2 months past the 1 yr warranty, I did not ship it back. They indicated that if it was not in the 1 yr period, they were not liable to do anything anyway. I can understand that, and it is my fault for not taking more timely action, but still...I paid $170 USD for this thing, and now it is pretty much worthless.
One end of the battery terminals is a removable piece that I can probably re-inforce. The other side is soldered to the PCB, so I have fewer options there.
I felt compelled to post my experience here so others would be warned. I really feel the customer service at Tripp Lite could have taken the high-road here, but they chose not to. Your mileage may vary.

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The Keyspan TVI-200C TuneView for iPods provides a new wireless way to manage your music throughout your house or office. The TuneView consists of a universal iPod dock, a 2-way RF remote with an easy-to-view color LCD screen, a USB power adapter, an audio and USB cable, and selected dock adapters for connecting to multiple sizes of iPods.
The TuneView Remote is unlike any iPod remote you've used before. The color LCD screen enables you to remotely view the contents of your iPod, and currently supports four languages including: English, French, German and Spanish. With all its components, this unit allows you to connect your iPod to a stereo or powered speakers using the line out jack, or connect your iPod to a TV using the S-Video jack. You can also use the USB power adapter to charge your iPod from an AC outlet, or use the TuneView dock to sync your iPod with a PC or a Mac, all while browsing and controlling your iPod with the LCD remote via a 2.4 Ghz radio signal that works through walls and floors from around the house.
Designed for use with 4G and 5G iPods with a dock connector--including the iPod 5G/5.5G Video, iPod color, iPod mini, iPod 4G (Click Wheel), iPod nano 1G, iPod nano 2G--this unit comes with a manufacturer's 1-year warranty. Both the TuneView dock and TuneView remote are USB devices that can be updated via a firmware download just like your iPod, and over time Keyspan will release firmware updates that will add new capabilities to your TuneView system.
The remote screen emits a subtle, high-pitched whine whenever illuminated; however, if the remote is put in "sleep" mode, the screen turns off and the noise stops.
What's in the Box TuneView dock for iPod, TuneView remote with 2 AA batteries, 1 USB power adapter, 1 USB and audio cable (3.5mm stereo to dual RCA), dock inserts for; iPod mini, iPod 20GB/U2, and iPod with color display 20GB/30GB/U2, and user's guide.

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1/27/2012

Yamaha RX-N600 Digital Network-Ready Home Theater Receiver Review

Yamaha RX-N600 Digital Network-Ready Home Theater Receiver
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I have had this unit for about 2 weeks now. Sound is as good as anything in this price range. I was coming from a Sony 900 series receiver which was failing. This is my first Yamaha. No other manufacturers had networking capability that didn't cost 3 times as much. Plan on spending most of a day setting this up unless you do that kind of thing often.
Most of my comments center around the networking and USB functions because that's why I bought it, to perhaps eliminate my PC as a music source and go direct from this receiver. We'll, it kinda works... The remote is a bit of a sore spot too as with just a bit more functionality it could have been really good, I could have gotten down to one remote but unfortunately it does not control my cable set top box.
Strengths
*Works great with my Sony VCR, remote controls everything nicely.
*Ipod dock (an extra item purchased separately) seems to work very well. Does not play Ipod video though. Remote controls this too
*Nice remote, after you figure it out it is pretty logical. Controls 3 of my 4 components nicely.
*Internet radio is a real winner, seems to have jillions of stations arranged fairly logically by locale. It would be very difficult to duplicate this on your PC unless you enrolled in a pay service. Its like having a short wave radio.
Near misses
*Remote works great with my Sony DVD player, but make sure you have the side switch on "source" to control play, fast forward, etc. Otherwise you won't be able to move the cursor through DVD menus that appear in the movie menu and make choices on how the movie plays.
*If the Remote could just have a little learning it would be great. You won't know if it will control your unit until you try it out. The list of remote codes that Yamaha supplies is vague, does not list models just a bunch of codes for each manufacturer. You just have to try each one for your manufacturer and see if any work. Hit or miss.
*Net/USB did not work with my Creative Zen Nomad jukebox MP3 player, but did work with a Corsair Memory 2gb flash voyager stick. Go figure. I did notice recently that I can set my Zen to act as a mass storgae unit, and to be fair I have not tried that yet.
Weaknesses
*Network music does not work with Microsoft Media Player 11, only 10. I called Yamaha and they said Media Player 11 was not supported. The N600 does not connect reliably to the media library store, sometimes it works fine, sometimes it errors out or just shows an empty list. Very finicky. Media player 11 is in beta so beware, it will become mainsteam shortly and is not supported. I'm not sure if/how Yamaha will remedy this for me.
*Plays wave, WMA and MP3 but not Itunes
*Crude character interface display for the Net/USB functions, like looking at a pong game on an old IBM CGA PC. About as much functionality as a typical MP3 player, you have to scroll through a page at a time in everything. A pain in the neck if you have a large music collection
*Will not control my Motorola DCT700 Comcast cable box, I tried all the Motorola codes and Yamaha says that's all there is, if they don't work you are outta luck. I am.
*Remote has no learning capability.
*Limited inputs for other components, but enough for what I need
*Documentation is OK but the manual is all there is. There is no FAQ or deeper level of detail on their website or anywhere else that I could find. You have to call Yamaha and you will get a live person, but from what I found from 2 calls is they didn't know any more than the manual.
Conclusion: Would I buy this again? Probably not because the networking is so limited, and that was the main reason I selected this model. If you buy a good receiver and go with an attached high quality PC/soundcard you'd be better off.The Yamaha interface does not come anywhere close to the ease of use and nice presentation you get on any PC media player program. That's like comparing a typewriter to using a PC with Word. The USB feature is nice but could be a lot better if it supported more devices.

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The RX-N600 is the first Yamaha receiver to offer network receiver functions. Using network connection and Windows Media Connect ver.2 technology, it lets you play MP3, WMA and WAV music from a remote PC. You can also listen to any of the thousands of stations available on Internet radio.

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NEW 7" Touch Screen 2-Din In-Dash GPS Navigation DVD Bluetooth US&Canada Map TFT LCD Display Review

NEW 7 Touch Screen 2-Din In-Dash GPS Navigation DVD Bluetooth USandCanada Map TFT LCD Display
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I purchased this same item from a different seller. Item comes from china
its larger thae 2 din after I had o cut my dash board to install it discovered
that it did not work properly it had terrible feed back, navigation system did not
work at all, back up camera stopped working, radio stations were not clear. I paid
$200.00 to have this professionaly installed this was a huge waste of my money. take my advise by a name brand you recognize. Again I did not buy from this seller but system is the same.


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Yamaha RX-V1600 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel Review

Yamaha RX-V1600 - AV receiver - 7.1 channel
Average Reviews:

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I am happy with this receiver and my Home Theater sounds great coupled with my Axiom Epic Grandmaster Speaker setup. I paid $750 for this receiver through amazon in October 2006. Thought about going up to the $1500 price point but realized I didnt need the added functionality. A few complaints, 2 of them rather minor.
1. Volume readout text is too small. WOuld be nice to have larger text so I could actually see what level I use for different listening situations. As it is I cant actually read the number from where I sit.
2. The remote could really use some backlighting. This complaint shouldnt be lessoned by the fact that many remotes suffer this same design oversight. They are all poorer for not incorporating this idea.
3. When running my Xbox360 via component wires to this receiver and then via HDMI to my Samsung LNS4692D HDTV the picture is darkened. When I run the Xbox360 straight to my Samsung LNS4692D HDTV the picture is less dark (preferred). This makes a huge difference in games like Gears of War and Call of Duty 3 where the scenes are already dark. I decided to just leave the Xbox360 connected straight to the HDTV via component and run the digital audio to the receiver. This issue wouldnt allow me to run "just one cable" (the whole idea of HDMI) to my TV. Yamaha needs to look into this issue and figure out why going from component to HDMI darkens the picture.

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1/26/2012

Yamaha YHT-393BL 5.1 Channel 500 Watt HTiB System (Each, Black) Review

Yamaha YHT-393BL 5.1 Channel 500 Watt HTiB System (Each, Black)
Average Reviews:

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When I saw this receiver in the store, and then looked at the price (when compared to other "comparable" systems), I assumed it was going to sound like a tin-can. I'm so glad I was wrong...!
The receiver itself has a wealth of features, bells, and whistles. If you will be listening to your iPod through the system, go ahead and spend the money on the dock. The sound quality is excellent and you can control the iPod via Yamaha's excellent remote. One of my favorite features (being a classical musician/pianist) is that you can choose a sound mode that makes your music sound as if it's being heard in two of the best concert halls in Europe (Munich/ der Musikverein in Vienna), and some famous/typical American venues (The Roxy Theatre, The Bottom Line, Chamber, Cellar Club, etc...). It's really a neat effect!
I like that I can run all the HDMI signals from my DVD player, TV box, etc... through the receiver, so I never have to switch inputs on my TV, or run 10 different cords up behind the wall! The receiver does all the work of switching inputs-- you can even select a different audio input to pair with your HDMI signal just in case (like with a DVI to HDMI cable from your computer) there is a separate audio source.
If I had to brag on just ONE thing about the system, It would be: The subwoofer. The speakers that come with the system give a clear upper range, but if you were relying on them for the bass frequencies, you'd return the whole system the same day you bought it. Enter: the subwoofer... This speaker can punch out the lowest lows, even at the lowest volumes. Don't let the size fool you, either! It will fill your whole room with great, booming, clear bass!
To conclude this glowing review: If I were adding another TV in my den, I would buy another one of these systems to complete that home theatre as well!If you're looking for a great quality product that works and sounds even better than you'd expect, just hit the "Add to Cart" button now...

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Yamaha's YHT-393BL 5.1-Channel HTiB System is the easy way to enjoy the cinema experience at home. Featuring 500 watts of power (100Wx5), the latest HDMI specifications, and popular Yamaha technologies like SCENE and CINEMA DSP, you'll be sure to get the most out of your high-definition movies and music.

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Kenwood Kna-G610 Hideaway Garmin GPS Navigation System Review

Kenwood Kna-G610 Hideaway Garmin GPS Navigation System
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this thing does it all gas milage how fast your going and the best wayto go to save gas. wow the price is kinda high but shop around and you can get it for about 350 off ebay and thats worth it. so u dont have to use your phone batt up all the time. oh yea i got the kenwood head unit kvt 696dvd.

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