Latest Reviews
 |  | | Posted: 20/08/04 | | 'FOR THE MONEY, NOTHING TOUCHES THIS' | | Strengths:
Powerful & engaging soundstage in all formats, flexible, really enjoyble, even fun mid-range amplifier.
The 1st AV amp that I actually listen to 2 channel stereo on & not use 6 channel stereo or PLII to hide the misgivens of AV kit & I've owned some "musical" AV amps in the past (Marantz 7200 & 5200)
The iLink connection does make a significant difference to the sound quality as does HI-BIT processing.
The 1st time you see the amp recognise & display the source component, (i.e Pioneer's 868avi)on the facia is a highlight.
The MCACC is very useful, is easy to follow & makes set up easier. | | Weaknesses:
None of any major note although I'm finding the remote somewhat frustrating as I can't seem to switch function of the remote without switching over the function of the machine, quite annoying if you've spent the time programming it!! | | Overall:
Best Amp I've had & I'm still learning all it's functions, can't really think of anything it's missing or that I need that it doesn't have.
For it's overall powerful sound staging + it's flexibility & future proofing (well, for a couple of months at least) it's a great buy, in fact I'm off to have a play now!! |
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| | | | Performance | | 100% | | Build | | 100% | | Value | | 100% |
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| | | Posted: 20/08/04 | | 'GOOD AT EVERYTHING, MASTER OF NONE, PERHAPS..' | | Strengths:
Everthing it does it does well. Both picture & audio are impressive but I would have to say perhaps slightly less than wow!
This machine is extremely flexible though & iLink does make a big difference to the sound in all formats, the timing is spot on & tracks just race along.
Both DVD-A & SACD are both very enjoyable, especially via iLink, very solid & spacial. Pink Floyds the wall is very good & listning to Billy Joel on SACD is fantastic if not a tad false (drums behind you, hmmm). I'm swinging towards DVD-A as my prefered format. I also have to mention that 2 channel stereo, via the ilink is also not too bad for DVD player, I mainly listen to music in PL2 if via a DVD player but not this one. | | Weaknesses:
Picture quality isn't top, top notch & it struggled through the opening scenes in Master & Commander (the fog scene). This could of been my plasma (Pani PWD6)so forgive me but I did make quite a few adjustments (which you have many to chose from). I'm not 100% convinced yet by HDMI as I'm seeing just as good a picture via component in most discs, in some discs component looks better although I'm viewing this all on a Pani plasma with a DVI connection that doesn't accept higher res PAL pictures (something about refresh rates 60 or 50 Hz?) | | Overall:
I would have to rate this machine somewhere between good & great.
The great thing about the player is it's flexibility & ilink, everything else it does is good. |
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| | | | Performance | | 60% | | Build | | 80% | | Value | | 60% |
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