HOME THEATER

     Big TVs are not home theater systems. Over 80% of all big screens sold over the past 5 years were sold without an audio system. The speakers inside $1000 TVs are only two to four inches across & cost under a dollar. The amps inside big screen TVs have very low power, often under 10 watts & very high distortion, 10% or more. Even our smallest & least expensive speakers [under $90 per pair] sound far better than the speakers in big screen TVs.

     The sound system is an essential part of the home theater experience. Much of the enjoyment of action movies comes from hearing the soundtrack. We have new home theater systems with a Yamaha HDMI receiver & DVD player, five speakers & a subwoofer, starting under $1,000.  Our better home theater systems can sound better than systems in movie theaters.   

    HOME THEATER & many other magazines recommend MARANTZ. PLAYBACK magazine top-rated a Marantz above all other AV receivers tested. "What made it a standout design is just how easy it was to install & use. We never had to consult the owner's manual to get the job done. The remote deserves special mention. It's just so darn well laid out & easy to master; it also helps that it's completely backlit, so we could actually see all the buttons in our darkened home theater." It was the only receiver earning the highest grades for user interface, plus movie & music sound quality. 

    MARANTZ AV receivers have seven discrete amplifier channels, plus HDMI 1.3, which is necessary for Blue Ray DVDs. The NR1501 is  only 4" high, the same size as Marantz Blue Ray players. Other Marantz AV receivers include HDMI video upconverting, pre outs for every channel, A/B speaker switching, plus front panel AV inputs. The SR6004 includes a front panel USB input.

     All Marantz CD's, amps, receivers & DVD's have 3 years parts & labor warranties. Reviewers praise MARANTZ for its sound, ease of use & comprehensive, intuitive remote controls. DVD's, plasmas & projectors are a reference standard.      
      YAMAHA AV receivers start at $249 & include two HDMI inputs. The $329 RXV465 receiver has 4 HDMI inputs, 10 band automatic EQ, all double banana speaker jacks, plus XM & Cirius tuners. If purchased with the receiver, the $100 optional iPod dock is reduced to only $49. 
      MARANTZ & YAMAHA AV receivers are renowned for their features & flexibility. Most Marantz & Yamaha receivers feature:

1] HDMI video inputs for HD picture quality & simpler, easier connections. The $549 Marantz SR4003 includes three HDMI inputs. 

2] A/B speaker outputs for two rooms with double banana speaker jacks for better sound with quality cables & connectors. The $149 Parasound speaker switcher lets you connect up to ten speakers throughout your home.

3] Learning remotes that run most any TV, DVD, satellite, cable, etc. Your home theater experience is much more enjoyable with one remote control running everything, rather than fishing between seven different remote controls.

4] Multi-zone; different music can play simultaneously in different rooms.  While you are watching a surround sound DVD in one room, the FM radio, for example, can play in another room. The only things needed are another pair of speakers & the wire to connect them.

5] Preamp outputs for easy upgrades. The receiver can become a tuner-preamp. If you want more power, you can plug a 200 watt or 400 watt / channel amplifier or whatever power you prefer directly into the receiver. Parasound power amps have deeper bass, more power & better quality power than any receiver. The $949 Parasound A23 has 200 watts, into a 4 ohm load. The $2000 A21 has 250 watts, 8 ohms & 400 watts, 4 ohms. This is far greater than any AV receiver.  
   With most other receiver brands, you'd have to replace the receiver to get more power. Preamp outputs are included in every Marantz receiver & Yamaha receivers from the RXV663 on up.  

6] Video up-conversion to improve video quality. While DVD players can use an HDMI connection, VCR's can only use an S video or composite video connection. With most receivers, you would have to use the this sort of cable between the receiver & TV, reducing the video quality. Video upconversion enables you to use the highest type of cable, noticeably improving video quality.

7] On-Screen Display enables you to see any changes you make on the remote control or receiver's front panel on your TV screen. This greatly helps when first setting up your system.

8] A Built-in Equalizer automaticly adjusts all the channels when you first set up the receiver. A microphone is included, which you can place at your favorite listening seat.

 HOME THEATER & STEREOPHILE magazines praise PARASOUND’s  high performance, high value preamps & power amps. The Parasounds have more power, greater flexibilty & better sound quality than any receiver. Parasound's warranty is 5 years labor & 10 years parts, also far better than any receiver.

NAD made the most popular integrated amp in history. Their preamp processors & multi-channel power amps are affordable & provide better sound than comparably priced receivers.

 
MARANTZ AV
RECEIVER REVIEWS

NR1501, $599, "For those looking for a smaller form factor that will fit into your appartment, dorm or home - the NR1501 is quite possibly the best-sounding product you're going to find for your hard-earned money." AUDIOHOLICS
"Smooth, clear & warm sound for both movies & music." NEW YORK TIMES 

SR6004, $1249, rated 110Wx7 "Maximum power 126W, 8 ohm & 188W, 4 ohm. Performance is musically trustworthy. Marantz gets a high rating for ease of use. Songs sounded great - Marantz AV receivers have always been dependable in their musicality. It would be hard to overstate the purity & clarity of this combination of well-recorded source material, high resolution surround & clean amplification. A bass solo highlighted the benefit of Audyssey MultEQ, which sculpted the bass beautifully in my system." HOME THEATER 3/10

"Tremendous value; offers uncompromised sound, incredible connectivity & an intuitive user interface in a very attractive package that is consistent with Marantz's history of high style / high performance products. It is perhaps the best sounding receiver  we've had the pleasure of testing. It pairs cutting-edge technology, top quality components, breath-taking sound, high style & extreme flexibility to culminate in what we'd feel safe calling "the audio-phile's receiver." If you long for the sound of separate components, but crave the convenience of a recevier, the SR6004 is your ticket to audio paradise." DIGITAL TRENDS

AV PRE & POWER AMPS
Some people need more power & better sound than any receiver can deliver. Preamp processors & power amps have more features, greater flexibility, better bass, smoother sound & vastly more power than any receiver. The Parasound A51 has 250W/channel 8 ohm, 400W,  4 ohm with all channels running. Even the most expensive receivers can't do this. Regarding a $5200 Denon AVR5308CI, HOME THEATER stated, "Don't expect the power & punch that only separate, more powerful amplifiers can provide." 

MARANTZ
MM8003, 8 channel power amp, $2399 "Tested power, one channel, 192W, 8 ohm; 289W, 4 ohm." 
AV8003 Preamp processor, $2599, Recommended; the only one recommended is over $7000. HOME THEATER  
BOTH RECOMMENDED, HOME THEATER "Its network player easily shared music, photo & video files with Windows XP, a really worthwhile feature. Marantz had far superior spatial presentation & microdynamics, plus sounded more powerful, dynamic & definitely more supple & nuanced than $5200 Denon & $7000 Lexicon receivers. Marantz easily won in every department, especially treble transient clarity, transparency & resolution, with an airy, open & extended yet sweet top end; far superior to Denon, which was closed in & opaque. Marantz produced complete sonic satisfaction at any volume. It combined delicacy, detail, transparency & a velvety overall sheen. Bass sounded more supple, subtle, better textured & less mechanical than Denon. Marantz high-
frequency air, transparency, delicacy & transient clarity rival high-end stereo amps. I doubt any receiver at any price can match its sonic performance." HOME THEATER
The AV8003 is the only audio-video processor to win a 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show Innovation Award.  

PARASOUND HALO C1 & A51 Surround sound controller / preamp & power amp, EDITOR'S CHOICE  "Powerful & flexible processor / power amp combo with impressive sound. Excellent value; includes onboard screen."  HI-FI CHOICE, 12/05 RECOMMENDED
A52, $1999 "This 5x125 watt amp has warm, natural sound."
ABSOLUTE SOUND EDITOR'S CHOICE, 10/06 
"Those who prize flexibility will appreciate RCA & balanced inputs & individual channel level controls . Warm, natural, never edgy sound." 
PERFECT VISION winter 2005

VIDEO

MARANTZ HD PROJECTOR REVIEWS
VP11S2, now $14999, "One of the first 1080p DLP projectors, may be the best we've ever tested. One of the few that is first class with DVD, standard broadcasts & HD TV. HD movies look uniformly excellent. A superb projector. Difficult to imagine how it could be improved." HOME ENTERTAINMENT l2/06 

 SPEAKERS

      Most speaker companies buy their parts from a few generic manufacturers & put these in a cabinet. Every speaker we carry is from a company that designs, engineers & manufactures
every component in their own factory. The benefits include better sounding, more durable speakers of higher value, since you are not paying for multiple companies' markups. We choose our speakers for superior sound quality & best value, not for the biggest advertising budget. Over the past few years, we've tried over a dozen  U.S. & European speaker brands that didn't pass our high standards. Most of these speakers are now available at local competing stores. 
             
      ABSOLUTE SOUND recommends eight models of QUAD speakers, twice as many as any other brand. The Dynamic 11L, 22L, Lite satellite, Lite center & Lite sub, as well the Electrostatics, are all recommended. They praise Quad speakers for wonderful sound, fantastic bass, imaging & appearance. STEREOPHILE chose a QUAD speaker PRODUCT of the YEAR, above models for 10 times more!  “World-class”. Quad dynamics have high gloss real wood veneer fine furniture finishes. WHAT HI-FI chose Quad 11L, $699/pr, “PRODUCT OF THE YEAR” for three years.
     Our customers love these speakers. People thought the Quad 22L sounded like a $16,000 speaker, not a $1900 speaker. JM exclaimed, "My friends who bought from other high-end stores couldn't believe how much better my Quad & Marantz system sounded." A customer who has been a musician for over 30 years said, "The Quad 22 speakers are amazing; the best that I've ever heard." Another customer said, "After going to every other store, I had to buy the Quads. Their sound is the best by far." 

      The QUAD Lite System, [4 satellites, center & subwoofer, $2000 total] is top-rated in American & European reviews.  PERFECT VISION loved their sound, construction & great appearnace. What Hi-Fi top-rated this system. "Real delight; sensational sub, delivers weighty bass, gives punch, precision & taughtness; satellites detailed & dynamic; impressive package." 
         This is the best one box theater system we've heard. You'll be amazed at the quality & quantity of sound from these small, attractive speakers. The exquisite rosewood & cherry real wood veneers, plus the black & silver finishes all have seven layers of lacquer.  You can attach the satelite speakers to your walls or ceiling with optional metal swivel mounts. 

       WHARFEDALE & QUAD speakers both received “PRODUCT OF THE YEAR” AWARDS, for bookshelfs, subs & floor-standing speakers. PERFECT VISION calls Wharfedale “Best of Show” & “costs half of what you’d expect”. Reviewers exclaim, “HI-FI BARGAIN of the YEAR, an absolute steal; sensational; superb”. The 9.6 has two 8” cast frame, Kevlar woofers, & a silk dome mid & tweeter for only $898/pair. 

            MONITOR AUDIO has made well engineered, high-quality speakers in England for over 30 years. Their unique engineering includes woofers & tweeters made of C-CAM, ceramic-coated aluminum / magnesium originally developped by the aerospace industryfor use as blades in jet engines. Sonic benefits include increased efficiency, clarity & reduced distortion. Monitor speakers include mini-monitors less than 4" square, bookshelf speakers, towers, home theater models & subs. All are known for high value & exceptional sound. The exquisite cabinet finishes include walnut, oak, cherry & other real wood veneers.  
     The Radius are an attractive, small lifestyle home theater system. Most include metal wall brackets.  "Stunning; audiophile grade components at a consumer friendly price. Remarkable; precision & detail I'd only expect from much larger speakers." HDTV, etc.
"A serious bang for the buck system; awesome power-to-weight ratio; innovative design." HOME THEATER          
     Hear JBL, NHT, KEF, GOLD SOUND & other in-wall & in ceiling speaker systems here. Installation is available.

INVEST IN THE BEST!
OUR BRANDS WILL BE HERE MANY YEARS

YAMAHA, QUAD & WHARFEDALE
have been in business over 70 years.
CROWN, JBL, MARANTZ & TEAC, over 50 years.
 MONITOR, NAD, PARASOUND, PRO-JECT, PS AUDIO & REGA over 30 years
QUICKSILVER & VPI over 20 years
REL & ROGUE AUDIO over 10 years

HOME THEATER SYSTEMS

Below are a few Gold Sound Home Theater Systems. Many more are available. Systems include receiver; front, center & rear speakers; powered subwoofer & cables.

1] YAMAHA VALUE, list $1200; now $899
YAMAHA RXV367 Receiver with 100 watts per channel, all 5 channels, four HDMI inputs, 5 Top-rated 9.0 Diamond Wharfedale speakers & 150W Yamaha sub. 

2] MARANTZ QUALITY, list $2300; now $1798
MARANTZ NR1501 Receiver with 3 HDMI inputs, 5 Monitor Audio speakers & 270W Yamaha sub [Radius 90 bookshelfs, 180 center & 45 rear speakers, all with swivel metal wall mounting brackets]. MARANTZ BD5004 Blue Ray DVD, $549 additional 

3] MARANTZ & QUAD PERFORMANCE, list $3200; now $2798 MARANTZ SR5004 Receiver, 5 Top-rated Quad lite speakers, 4 bookshelfs, center & sub, all with wood veneer or black lacquer. 

4] TOP RATED MARANTZ, list $5700;now $4378
MARANTZ SR6004 Receiver with four HDMI inputs & two HDMI outputs, Quad 22L towers, center, 11L rear speakers & Wharfedale 250 sub.

WARRANTIES, all parts & labor   

MARANTZ: Receivers, CD & DVD: 3 years  
MONITOR Audio: 5 years
PARASOUND CLASSIC: 3 years
PARASOUND HALO: 5 years 
PARASOUND JC HALO: 10 years
PS AUDIO: 3 years
QUAD Dynamic speakers: 5 years
TEAC: 1 year 
WHARFEDALE: 5 years
YAMAHA: receivers, amps, speakers & subs, 
      2 years; CD & DVD, 1 year.