• 50W/ch x 2ch
• Discrete circuit for High-current drive
• iPod compatible
• 6 Audio inputs, including Phono input
• Speaker A/B

• 2GB DDR3 RAM (8GB max)
• Box Contents - Toshiba T215D-S1140 Notebook PC, 6-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery, 45W AC Adapter, Software Bundle - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit, Microsoft Works 9.0, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Edition - 60-Day Trial, Norton Internet Security 2010 30-Day Trial, 1-Year Limited Warranty
• 1MB L2 Cache, 1.6GT/s
• AMD Athlon II Neo K125 1.7GHz Processor
• 250GB (5400 RPM) SATA Hard Drive with Impact Sensor (3D sensor)

• Phono Section preamp built-in
• 5 audio inputs including tuner
• Switching for two pairs of speakers
• 17 3/8" W x 5" H x 13" D
• Total Discrete Amplifier stage for all channels

• Built-in digital AM and FM radio allows you to select up to 30 stations for quick access using a built-in memory programming mode
• Delivers 100 watts per channel audio power for distinctly clear stereo sound. Four audio inputs.
• Product packaging includes - AG-790A receiver, remote control, user's manual.
• Digital FL display shows radio station numbers, selected input and clock / timer
• Sleep timer

• XM/Sirius Ready
• Pure Audio mode
• 100W/ch x 2ch
• Zone 2 Capability
• 4 AV inputs and 3 Audio inputs, including Phono input

Jun 03, 2007 by Matt B | Posted in Other - Electronics

I have a 10-15 year old LXI series home stereo receiver that has 4 speaker outputs (2 right, 2 left) and it works well, except sometimes when the volume is low, the left channel speakers go in and out, or simply won't output any sound at all. When I jack the volume up and keep it there, it "clears out" the connection and both sides work, but I can't always do that late at night when I want my music on soft. Is there something wrong with the connections or is it just dirty? I couldn't tell the inside of a receiver from a car engine, so if someone has an answer, I would appreciate a brief explanation on how to access where it is you are talking about.

tInstead of replacing the control I would try cleaning it firs. Finding the replacement may take some effort for an exact match. Get some electronics cleaner pull the knob off spray and turn the shaft. Do this three or for times and see if that does it.

Dec 12, 2005 by Dylan P | Posted in Music & Music Players

I am an avid Y!Music Unlimited Subscriber and am interested in a wireless router to enable me to stream the service through my home stereo receiver. can someone tell me what brand router to buy and why?

There are several differnt ways to stream music from your PC to your home stereo. If you have a standalone Tivo, you can do it through the Tivo desktop. You can use a FM Transmitter if your PC and home stereo are close in proximity. However, I think the best way is the D-Link DSM-320 Media Lounge. Not sure if you can play real-time from the music service, but the D-Link is a good place to start

Sep 08, 2007 by Ryan D | Posted in Home Theater

Okay, i have some nice speakers but don't think the receiver is really fully utilizing them. My front speakers are the JBL ND310 II, a JBL PB12 subwoofer, 2 KLH rear speakers and a bose center channel speaker. The receiver i have now is the sony str-de685. It's a pretty basic receiver. Any suggestions on good receivers for a moderate budget to really get the full effect of my speakers?

JBL is good, and make sure you get a subwoofer

Aug 14, 2006 by the builder | Posted in Home Theater

I have a Yamaha HTR-5730 that will power on, and then immediately powers back off. Does anyone know how to troubleshoot or repair this stereo, or can you direct me to someone who can. I would prefer to do the work myself if possible, since the cost at a service center would be a large percentage of the replacement cost.

I use to get into tube amps and when I had that happen to me on them it was usually a bad cap (capacitor). This gets tricky as 20 years ago I would just tell you to replace them (caps) all because that is what I did on my collection of old tube amps. However, today finding good caps that equal the ones in capacitance value in your Yamaha is not so easy.

To find the bad cap spray each one individually with freon (the cold helps in holding the capacitance) and you will know the bad one once the power stays on. Caps look like mini beer cans. Of course after the freon thaws it will lose its capacitance and powers back down but now you know your problem child and know what to replace. Good luck on finding it.

Last but not least you might have to trust it to a pro. If this was an expensive amp then pay the money and have it done right or it will only brake again very soon. Wish I could have been of better help.

Edit update: I have replaced the caps on my modern computers motherboard with complete success, so it can be done even by todays standerds. Just insure that the capacitance is within 10%. I think that is how that law goes.

Feb 18, 2008 by kk13cball | Posted in Home Theater

i recently lost my pioneer receiver. i lost it to a storm surge even though it was on a surge protector. it was a good receiver for the $250 i paid and i am just wanting some suggestions for when i go about replacing it. i would prefer to stick to major brands but other than that tell me what you have liked and disliked. i will need to run a sattellite, a dvd, a wii, cd player, and computer system sound through it. thanks

Harmon Kardon can't be beat and are reasonably priced
go to the Harmon Kardon site and
check out the HK 3385

May 27, 2008 by Andrew C | Posted in Home Theater

Ok I am purchasing a home audio receiver, and just have a quick question about Ohms.

I already bought 2 speakers, which are 6 ohms each.
I looked for receivers and found that most are rated for 8 ohms per channel. What will happen if I connect 6 ohms and the receiver is rated for 8? Are they manufactured to accept the difference?

It will work fine.

Receivers are NOT rated for a particular ohm speaker. They tend to work will all of them.

What does happen is that companies like Yamaha, Denon publish power ratings for 4, 6 and 8 ohms. But since 8 ohm speakers are the most common - this is usually the most prominently printed value.

Speakers actually change their impedance from about 3 to 30 ohms. It all depends on what sounds they are producing at the moment.

Dec 08, 2008 by CS | Posted in Home Theater

I have 4 Cerwin Vega CLS-6 bookshelf speakers, plus a matching center channel. I have a late 90's Pioneer VSX series receiver, would like to upgrade to one w/more features to bring out the capabilities of the CVs'. They sound decent now, but w/the lack of features ( i think) on my current unit, I would like something more current. Thanks!

Try Onkyo TX-SR606 (under $400) or TX-SR606 (under $650) - depending on your budget. In addition to decent power, all the latest audio/video connectivity and decoding, it has Audyssey 2EQ Dynamic EQ system - which will correct most of the problems with your current speakers/room acoustics, etc. I think Onkyo is the best value for the money today.

Aug 21, 2006 by Droppin Knowledge | Posted in Home Theater

I just moved and have my DVD player with a bunch of cords, a TV, and my surround sound system. It's been sitting there for weeks and unsure how to hook it up.

There are two kinds of inputs and outputs on modern TVs and DVD players. One is called HDMI and the other is called "component." If your Sony Wega TV and DVD player have HDMI inputs/outputs, use an HDMI cable to connect the DVD player to the TV. If there are no HDMI connectors, use three component cables and connect them to the outputs on your DVD player labeled Cr, Cb and Y. Connect the other ends to the similar connectors on your TV. Be sure the Cr output gets connected to the Cr input, and so forth. Colors will be very strange if you mix up the cables.

Your DVD will have a variety of audio outputs. The most basic is a stereo pair, left and right. You can connect the left/right outputs from the DVD player to an "Aux" or "DVD" input on your stereo. If your stereo has a digital input connection, connect a cable from the digital output on the DVD player to the digital input on the stereo. All it takes is one cable.

Good luck!

May 05, 2008 by FloridaMRM | Posted in Music & Music Players

There are all sorts of ways of doing it. You can get an iPod connection kit like this one
http://www.amazon.ca/iPod-Stereo-Connection-Monster-Cable/dp/B0002OD0N8
or this
http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=708892

Another option if you want to skip the dock and have it streamed from your computer is to get an Airport Express. It will allow you to stream your music from the computer right to your stereo in another room. I have one and it works quite well.

Sep 27, 2006 by william g | Posted in Music & Music Players

Between the Pre-amp ond Power Amp.

How to connect peripherals to a stereo receiver for your home theater; get expert tips and advice on hooking up video and audio equipment for home ...

03.12.09

If that's more than you bargained for, maybe you should be looking for something simpler: a single-speaker surround system ? That would eliminate most of the wiring and setup hassles. Check my CNET reviews to see if one is right for you.

For small bedrooms or dorm rooms, a budget HTIB or single-speaker surround system may be ideal. Family-size home theaters may require larger systems with larger speakers and powered subwoofers.

Connectivity varies a lot in this category, so don't assume all HTIBs have what you need. If you don't want to switch inputs on your TV every time you select a different video source, say from a game system to a Blu-ray player, make sure the HTIB has enough HDMI and other video inputs. Some HTIBs don't switch video at all. Some have USB inputs and iPod -docking capabilities.

HTIBs tend to sound best with movies; music comes in a distant second place. I always refer to HTIBs' performance with movies and music, so if you plan on listening to a lot of music over your new system, definitely look for that in the reviews. Don't assume the sound will be equally good for music and movies; it rarely is.

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10.12.09

The Popcorn Hour is a Networked Media Tank that grants a simple to use interface and hardware in the new Popcorn Hour C-200, providing an amazing product with many possibilities for home media.

The new Popcorn Hour C-200 grants an easy to use interface just like its previous models, and makes it easy for many to set up quickly in their home and start using either by a network connection or external media storage devices. Moreover, it works with Blu-Ray movies, so for those that are looking to maximize their viewing experience, you do not have to worry about such limitations.

While the Popcorn Hour C-200 is offered in different versions, we have tried the basic model without the additional add-ons and features, and we must add…were still impressed and happy with the new gadget’s response and practicality.

Design and Menu

Straight out of the box, you can see the Popcorn Hour is a nice sized media gadget that is slightly larger than a regular Blu-Ray player and rather smaller than a stereo receiver. There aren’t too many buttons on its face to confuse the regular day to day individual and make them worry about getting lost with all the possibilities the Popcorn Hour movie streamer has to offer. The front face does in fact include the main buttons that are required for viewing a movie, listening to music and other basic navigational access, making it also simple if you have misplaced your remote after much use.

The C-200 model continues with the Popcorn Hour tradition of easy to navigate menus for sources, music and even network. Still, while you may not have to be a rocket scientist to hook yourself up to your network, some may need a few extra minutes to figure it out without the manuals. But on a better note, once it is hooked up and ready, it can be easily fired up and used without having to think twice.

As soon as we started the C-200, we noticed immediately how simple it was to use. Navigating the different options didn’t have to be searched, for the remote basically thought of our questions and needs before we have. Moreover, it browsed and moved throughout the menus with great speed, and made it easy to simply “return” if the wrong button or selection was made.

Image, Sound and Speed

The new Popcorn Hour C-200 delivers as hoped with great speed and loading of media selections you are interested in. In addition, based on different tryouts, it seemed that as long as source is of quality…the result through the Popcorn Hour is great. This wasn’t necessarily so with various Online content, but then again, it also highly depends on the application offered for Online viewing and the quality of the content.

Additional Features

While most are happy with a great streamer for movies, there are plenty that would love to include music and photos to be with such a good response. The great news are that the C-200 provides so in a great fashion and also delivers with multitasking, such as listening to music and viewing your photographs slideshow on TV at the same time.

In addition, there is also a FTP server that has the ability to transfer files from your computers to a Network, as to reduce files on your computer, share media or speed up viewing (in case of a slow connection).

Bottom Line

The Pocpcorn Hour C-200 Network Media Tank is a great solution to those that want a media network that plays comfortably, delivers on needs and does so in a simple fashion. Moreover, it supports many codecs, so playing your specific file should not be a problem, and if a problem does arise, support and/or firmware updates should cover that small area.

The new C-200 model runs for $300 in the US and higher in Europe (approximately 300 Euros). It is a wonderful toy for media enthusiasts and at the US price, seems like a great product that does what it says, and in a great way.

For more details, technical specs and to make an order, visit Popcorn Hour’s site.

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08.12.09

Elan Home Systems announces new D12 and D16 digital power amplifers (8/12/2009)

Elan Home Systems has announced 2 new digital power amplifiers, the 12 channel D12 and 16 channel D16.

Utilizing state of the art technology from Texas Instruments, these products have been engineered to establish a new benchmark in reliability, flexibility and performance. The amplifiers provide cool power at an 85%-90% efficiency rating, and simultaneously deliver 115 watts at 4 ohms into 12 channels (D12) and 75 watts at 4 ohms into 16 channels (D16).

ELAN engineers worked closely with Texas Instruments to develop the D12's cool-running, digital amplifier technology. Analogue to digital modulation was coupled with 8X oversampling and 5th order noise shaping to ensure highly reliable and sonically pure designs. The result is robust and efficient. 

The new design enables “green-friendly,” low-power standby consumption whilst providing nearly instant turn-on for predictable operation. At just over 5-inches tall, the D12 is up to 40% slimmer than many competitive amplifiers.

The D12 will drive up to six stereo pairs of speakers, 12 mono speakers or any combination of the two. With stability down to 4 ohms, two 8 ohm ELAN speakers can be connected to each channel without the need for impedance matching volume controls.

Each channel can be configured for mono, stereo, bussed mono or bussed stereo. The need for extra patch cables and Y-cords has been eliminated by equipping two universal stereo buss inputs with buffered outputs.

An IR control system allows the volume for each stereo pair to be independently adjusted using a remote control in each room. Combined with the stereo buss feature, the D12 can be used with an inexpensive stereo receiver to provide a moderately priced, high quality whole house music distribution system with independent volume control in up to six rooms.

D12 / D12 Key Features

D12 - High power output, 115W x 12 into 4 Ohms (75W x 12 into 8 Ohms) all channels driven.
D16 - Power output, 75W x 16 into 4 Ohms (50W x 16 into 8 Ohms) all channels driven.
Texas Instruments Class-D topology with 8X oversampling and 5th order noise shaping
Cool-running, high-efficiency output
Low-power standby with instant turn-on
Thermal and short circuit protection with ACE™ anti-clipping
Software lockable gain settings for increased speaker protection
IR volume control for stand-alone use
Two-year manufacturer's warranty

www.elansystemsuk.com

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