An A/V receiver with the WOW factor

Advantages: Looks great, sounds awesome, feels awesome
Disadvantages: Detailed set up can be tricky - just as well it comes idiot proof!

...Ok then, so I'm a lucky boy.... On my last birthday my wife decided that she wanted to treat me to a home cinema system so off we went to our local Richer Sounds store (they are VERY cheap and VERY helpful - recommended everyone pays them a visit!) with cash in hand an wangled a deal. I got this Marantz A/V Receiver , A Yamaha surround sound speaker package and a Panasonic DVD recorder for the princly sum of £350 - a bit of a discount from the £900 RRP! I'll be reviewing each product in turn so check out my other reviews if you want a full system checkup! So into the review of the A/V Receiver: 1) The Theory I wanted a reciever that not only looked good, but that also provided the output and poer to match. I've long been a fan of the Marantz range as they not only look and feel good to use, they also have the reputation...

Durahm.Dazzler 24.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Marantz SR 4400 A/V Receiver

Sony is back with a bang!

Advantages: slick piece of hardware, great games, so much to do!
Disadvantages: not cheap!

...Having just recently won a competition to spend a night with the PS3 I figured it would be a smart idea to do a personal review of the console which everyone will be talking about (in the UK) in a few weeks to come. Please bear in mind that I have only had a chance to test this baby out for a few hours and so my review will not be as in-depth as you might expect. First Impressions The PS3 is indeed a slick looking machine, about the size of it's older brother (PS2) it seems as though finally Sony have caught on to the fact that the outer design of the console is as important to a gamer as the leather interior is to a 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Gone is that ugly block-like design and in comes a smooth surfaced console with curved edges just begging you to caress them. Much like it's predecessor, the PS3 can be placed...

bwerket 10.02.2007 · Read review
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Review of Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Sony Playstation 3 (PS3)

Advantages: Best Entertainment System Avaliable, Region free games only
Disadvantages: 4GB file limitation External Storage, Cant read NTFS

...I am going to be reviewing possibly one of the biggest console in the market currently the PS3. Firstly I have one and it is great, now let's take a look at it in detail: LAUNCH November 11, 2006: This is when it debut in Japan November 17, 2006: It released in North America March 23, 2007: Finally was released in Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand. The UK launch was a shock for who went to it, as it was announced that everyone in the queue would receive a 46" Sony Bravia TV worth £2000. The launches did not turn out great for Sony as initial figures were low, here are the figures below: Worldwide: 5.59 Million - Japan 1,341,000 - North America 2,105,500 - Other 1,300,000 The launch was initially supposed to be as follows: November 11th for Japan and November 17th for North America...

dharma.roy 30.11.2007 (03.12.2007) · Read review
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Review of Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)

A Great System from Sony

Advantages: Nice Classy Design, Great Graphics, and a Good Online
Disadvantages: Small Gamelist Thus Far and Some Games Suffer From Framerate and Graphical Pop-Up Issues

...Sony's Playstation 3 is thier third go around in the Video Game business. My console reviews usually consist of reviews in the following categories Controller, Graphics, Multiplayer/Online, and Game Library. Much like the Xbox 360, i'll also be reviewing the Design of the PS3. The design of the PS3 is the more classy of the three new consoles. The PS3 is a black square system with a curved top. While the design is beautiful, this system is very big, matching the 360 in terms of size. The system also offers Blu-ray but, in my opinion, that should not be the only reason you should be spending $400-500 on this system. The PS3's controller is the classic Playstation controller once again and that shouldn't be a problem for any gamer. The original PS3 controller was the Sixaxis but is now Dualshock 3. For a company that created...

TheGame2k2 27.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Sony Official PS3 SIXAXIS Wireless Controller

Advantages: Great Design
Disadvantages: No Dual Shock

...This is a great controller jus like the classic ps1/ps2 the design stayed the same. This is the perfect controller i can not say anything about the slick design. As you may know this controller is wireless so you may use it from newere in the room so no messy wires hanging around. And the batttery lasts very long i dont have to charge it very often but i dont play hours every day either. Only bad this about this controller is that unlike the ps1/ps2 controllers this does not have dual shock so no rumble :(.This is because sony could not get rights for the technology. Sony what happened? Well good news this controller is being released again next year as Dual Shock 3 is comming out. So if you can wait i strongly urge you wait for it to come out as it is a great feature. The feeling for the game is lost without dual shock. Need...

dharma.roy 28.11.2007 (29.11.2007) · Read review
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Review of Sony Official PS3 SIXAXIS Wireless Controller

==Sony Have Done It Again!!==

Advantages: the most powerful console on the market, built in blu-ray player, internet capabilities, stylish
Disadvantages: none that i have yet found (owned for nearly 2 years)

...Let me start by saying, that despite the hefty rrp, despite the fact that its 3rd in the console race behind the nintendo wii and xbox 360 respectfully, the playstation 3 is in my honest opinion, the best out of the three without a doubt. When sony designed the playstation 3, it was intended to be a multimedia system that you could proudly place under your tv that dosn't look like it's ment to be in your teenagers bedroom and that they've comendeered your lcd tv because they can see more than they can on the portable in their room. i digress, they point i am trying to make is that this machine is as beautifull as it is powerful, and as practical as it is pricey (original rrp was £425) The playstation 3 is not just the best console (graphically nothing compares) it is also one of the best blu-ray players on the market and those...

j.t.87 20.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Much better than I ever expected!

Advantages: Flexibilty of audio adjustments, plenty of power
Disadvantages: Takes a little time to figure out ALL the functions

...knew existed, making the movie watching experience top notch. Watching movies that have DTS capability are the ultimate movie watching experience with this receiver, I cannot tell you how much I really like it! I also was surprised at the amount of different DSP settings that were available. So many, that I know I'll never use them all. If this thing won't satisfy your surround sound needs, then you?re a very hard person to please. There are many different Cinema modes, and others, to give you the effect you are looking for. The Church mode is great for those times when you want to listen to your favorite spiritual CD's, it adds a beautiful background echo, that makes it seem as if you were right there in your place of worship, hearing it live. There are also MANY others that Sony put a LOT of research into, in order to deliver...

ktk3438 26.02.2004 · Read review
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Review of Sony STR-DE 975 A/V Receiver

Have Sony rolled in the next gen with a bang??

Advantages: Excellent multimedia package ahead of its time
Disadvantages: Backward compatability probs, and some minor glitches

...Sony Playstation 3 (60 GB) At last the pinnacle of next generation gaming is finally upon us. Or is it? Maybe so, but have we not seen all this already? Sony's new games console the Playstation 3 or more commonly known as the PS3 was finally released across the European Union and Australia as well as the other PAL region 2 compatible countries on Friday 23rd March. With up to 300,000 units available at launch it was unlikely that the PS3, which had already been available in Japan and US from November last year, was going to be an overnight sell out. Even now as I write this review they are still available in the stores. Disappointed ebay sellers, who had hoped to make a bit of profit from pre-order sales riding on the launches of Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PSP, are well and truly kicking themselves now...

170driver 06.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Surround Sound with Attitude

Advantages: Does exactly what it says on the box !
Disadvantages: So far, none ! Although even I find that difficult to believe

...I started off my surround sound adventure with an older Marantz, but the call of DVD Audio proved to be too strong once I had actually heard (and felt) it. I take great pride in my HC system, and it has taken several years to get it right. Some earlier components did not match sonically with others, and it took about 4 years of juggling to get the setup I now have. This currently comprises the following, and this is the system as reviewed : The Denon 1803 AV receiver Pioneer 656A DVD player Thompson 32" WS 100Hz TV Sony VHS recorder Sky TV Speakers : Fronts : Acoustic Energy Aegis EVO3's Rears : KEF Coda 7's Centre : Tannoy MXC Sub : Yamaha YST-SW320 All speaker cabling is bi-wired where possible, with as chunky a cable as my house furnishings will allow ! Interconnects are generally optical where possible, or QED...

g8ina 06.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Denon AVR-1803 AV Receiver

Sony Playstation 3

Advantages: Excellent gaming and user interface, incorporated Blu-Ray and DVD Player, 60Gb Hard Drive.
Disadvantages: Few 'top title' release games, size of console, appears very expensive.

...The Sony Playstation 3 has been on the market for over a month now and is slowly beginning to realise its potential. The graphical changes have been vast from that of the PS2, with the HD ready games making it a whole new gaming experience. Whats more, the wireless controllers allow for extra freedom and comfort whilst playing, with the wireless range being so huge that you can even control games from another room (yet the ability to see through walls remains absent!). The integrated "PS Button" allows for complete user control whilst gaming, allowing for access to the menu at the same time as gaming, making it easy to sign onto the Playstation online network. The 'Sixaxis' controllers also allow for a more real gaming experience, tilting and moving the control as part of games. Though not on par to the Nintendo Wii on this aspect, it...

slate_dawg 30.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3)