84 DENON AVR-1909 450 Approx www.denon.co.

uk

Enter the equalizer

This weighty Denon has aural grunt but prefers movies to games

enons middle-weight AV receiver comes to our grouptest carrying a little more round the midriff than the others. Its the biggest, weightiest and most expensive here by a fair margin but, dammit, you sure know you have bought a serious bit of kit. Equipped with Audyssey RoomEQ, video upscaling to 1080p and threein/one-out v1.3a HDMIs, it gets a double thumbs up. And, compared to a couple of the boring black boxes assembled here, its no moose to look at, either. The Audyssey MultEQ setup isnt going to win any gold medals for its alacrity. The full multi-position setup is on par with, say, plate tectonics speed-wise, and the dull menus mean its right up there with paintdrying for edge-of-the-seat entertainment. And just when you are debating if there is more chance of the PS4 or even PS5 being available before the AVR-1909 gets its well-equipped backside in order, it declares fait-accompli and suggests you check the settings dont do it! If you do, it promptly locks you into speaker-check menu pages with no viable means of escape from the remote short of powering off which loses the settings. You have to start the whole epoch-length process again. Arrrgghh! Having only narrowly avoided a rock n roll style exit from a rst-oor window at this point, the Denon
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comes back with a muscular sound and bass to wobble your gizzards. The guttural growling of the monsters in PS3 game Viking: Battle for Asgard is crafted with real presence and power; the clattering metallic effects of sword and axe against armour have a fast, zingy edge and the dialogue is none too shoddy either. The dubiouslyaccented Norse voice-over (with a hint of the Welsh valleys early on and more than a touch of Mumbai in places) projects well into the room, but the Denon is not kind to its edgy recording, highlighting the sibilance. In fact, the Denon is far more at home with a big movie, and the recent re-release of Fifth Element on Blu-ray nds it in its, er, element. The pace is fast and the sheer scale of the soundstage is huge, with the balance crisp at the top and weighty at the bottom in equal measure. Its a bit lighter through the mid-range than ideal, but nothing engaging one of the Audyssey EQ settings doesnt cure. Korben Dallas can be proud that he was instrumental in not only saving the Earth, but saving the Denon from a long drop, too.

Wave machine: The curved design of Denons AVRs is distinctly upmarket

Tech Labs
Manufacturers specifications: 90W x 7 channels (into 8 ohms) 130W (2 channels driven, 8 , 0.5% THD) 138W (2 channels driven, 4 , 0.5% THD) 112W (5 channels driven, 8 , 0.5% THD) 50W (5 channels driven, 4 , 0.5% THD) Fidelity firewall: 120W (0.042% THD, 8 , 1kHz) THD @ 50W: 0.0127% THD (1kHz, 8 ) Frequency response 20Hz20kHz: +/- 0.05dB Impressive figures for output power, fidelity firewall and frequency response confirm the subjective impressions, but Denon werent joking when they specified the speaker impedance range as 6-16 ohm try it with 4 ohm speakers, and performance is dramatically curtailed.

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ONKYO TX-SR576 300 Approx www.onkyo.co.uk 85

Crisp audio from Onkyo

Does its lack of HD audio decoders limit this Onkyos cinephile appeal?

nkyo has been driving the cutting-edge of the budget AV receiver market of late and in terms of bang-per-buck the company has seemed unbeatable. But not only has the competition stiffened these days, the TX-SR576 is already looking long in the tooth (its been at least six months since launch) and may seem at a bit of a disadvantage compared to the newer kids on the block; it doesnt give too much away in terms of core power and performance statistics, but it only has v1.2 HDMI connectivity and a serious dearth of decoding for new HD audio formats no Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio, here. But, before you turn the page in disgust, hang on a moment. Sonys PlayStation 3 can decode both Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio into LPCM, meaning that all HD audio soundtracks on Blu-ray disc can be sent to the receiver. So does not having HD audio decoding really matter? Well, not a lot in this grouptest. Good job then that it offers adequate power (81W with all channels driven), Audyssey 2EQ RoomEQ/auto setup and pretty decent connectivity. The sound is everything Ive come to expect from contemporary Onkyo AVRs, ghting well above its price point in drive and clarity. The denser cut-scenes of Viking... are laid out in a huge room-lling wall of sound

that leaves you in no doubt that you are deep into the game. The metallic effects have a good leading-edge attack and the echoes ring out into the back of the room. This AVR has plenty of oomph on tap but it gets very, hot at high volume. Switch to movies and it is so easy to see why Onkyo has been on ne form. Fifth Element is presented with considerable scale, enormous effects and crisp dialogue. However, the centre channel is a little laidback for my taste and the Audyssey EQ is not easy to tweak using the amps only interface the fascia display. Fiddly ergonomics aside, the sound is thoroughly enjoyable, albeit not possessing the clarity of the similarly-priced Sony STR-DG820 or the Panasonic SA-BX500. But while pushing the volume to its limits, the amp section gets hot near the HDMI board, and it wasnt long before I began to fear that the receiver was heading for a meltdown. Onkyos are traditionally hot to trot. None more so than this model. That said, this model appears a solid offering if you intend to base your system around the PS3.

Hard target: You can only tweak the Audyssey EQ settings via the fascia display

Tech Labs
Manufacturers specifications: 130W x 7 channels (into 6 ohms) 43W (2 channels driven, 8 , 0.5% THD) 58W (2 channels driven, 4 , 0.5% THD) 81W (5 channels driven, 8 , 0.5% THD) 52W (5 channels driven, 4 , 0.5% THD) Fidelity firewall: 85W (0.06% THD, 8 , 1kHz) THD @ 50W: 0.67% THD (1kHz, 8 ) Frequency response 20Hz20kHz: +/- 0.019dB Tests suggest that it doesnt reach anything like its rated power, and there are odd anomalies in the power of 5channel compared to 2-channel performance, identical on two units tested. However, fidelity firewall and frequency response results are good, suggesting a clean and undistorted sound to the limits of its ability

NOVEMBER 2008 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

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86 PANASONIC SA-BX500 360 Approx www.panasonic.co.uk

Digital crankication
Panasonics AVR has HD audio-decoding, cool-running digital amp modules

he SA-BX500 is the Amy Winehouse of the budget AV receiver market: incredibly talented but not without its issues or outright weirdness. For starters, the case is almost the same size as Sonys STR-DG820 but seems to weigh less than a DVD sleeve without a disc in, at that. Beneath the lid there is enough fresh air to ll a small woodland park and this is wholly reected in the frugal features count. No RoomEQ, no onscreen display and no video upscaling. On the upside, there are plenty of operational tie-ins and one-button features between this receiver and Panasonics latest BD players and Viera plasma TVs, plus wireless rears if you buy into Panasonics digital transmitter option. Setup is a doddle, although the segmented uorescent display is strangely devoid of useful info. Moreover, there is no easy way to check the speaker parameters after the auto setup, so you have to trust its acoustic delay measurements. In my listening room it set the centre-channel a little light but there is manual level adjustment described somewhere deep in the latter pages of the manual. The front-panel controls are not exactly rock-solid, the remote is festooned with huge legends, its digital amp modules put in a dismal showing in our Tech Labs and its cosmetic appeal is marred by the use
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of a complete rainbow of LEDs on the fascia. But then it cracks out an electrifying edition of Rehab and you can forgive it all the misgivings... Viking: Battle for Asgard has an immediate, upfront and spacious sound backed by fairly enthusiastic LFE which the BX500 nails perfectly. It comes across every bit as classy, rened and detailed as the Sony STR-DG820 but expands on the sound-stage in every direction. The sound kicks bass butt with every crunching axe blow. The ropey dialogue in the cut-scenes is a little too smooth but it does at least buff out the rough edges. Switch to Blu-ray movies and the elaborate guffawing of Fifth Element swells into the room with great emotional drive. The bass effect of every gunshot is utterly addictive. The Divas operatic song is strangely enthralling, without a ragged edge or dull tone. A couple of extra dB on the centre channel brings the dialogue up. When the going gets tough this Panasonic clearly hasnt got the gumption of the Denon, but what it does have is genuine allround appeal.

Black box: The SA-BX500 is big, but only weighs 4.8kg a consequence of its digital amplication

Tech Labs
Manufacturers specifications: 130W x 7 channels (into 6 ohms) 40W (2 channels driven, 8 , 0.5% THD) 70W (2 channels driven, 4 , 0.5% THD) 40W (5 channels driven, 8 , 0.5% THD) 75W (5 channels driven, 4 , 0.5% THD) Fidelity firewall: 65W (14.5% THD, 8 , 1kHz) THD @ 50W: 3.95% THD (1kHz, 8 ) Frequency response 20Hz20kHz: +/- 0.66dB Rated at 7 x 130W, our tests show the Panasonic achieves nothing like this, 75W being more realistic. The digital amplification suffers from a lack of poke and poor distortion, but imaging has laser precision. This AVR is utterly confounding. It shouldnt work yet it delivers the goods

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SONY STR-DG820 320 Approx www.sony.co.uk 87

Rening the art of war

With best-in-class digital connectivity, does this Sony rule the roost?

ollowing the Denon onto the test bench revealed quite how very, very easy Sonys STRDG820 is to set up. By the time you have untangled the Denons mic cable the Sony will be up and running and have you half way through Resistance: Fall of Man, searching for Chimera to beat up with your burgeoning arsenal of weaponry. From box to pressing Start, the STR-DG820 is sub one-minute and the automatic test tones, being musical rather than white noise, are rather easy on the ear. Okay, its not exactly bristling with features or analogue connectivity, no S-video for example, but four-in, one-out HDMI connectivity leads the pack in numbers and the remote is best-in- class. On the missing list is anything remotely resembling an onscreen display, Sony apparently preferring to use the front display and saving a few shekels by not bothering with video generating silicon. Operationally, the learning curve is like the north face of Everest, but with day-to-day use it gets easier and easier. Sony has a home advantage when working with the PS3, and it makes the most of the synergy, too. The mood-setting scenes in Fall of Man are full of detail and ambience, creating a seamlessly solid and immersive experience. The STR-DG820 is certainly no overblown power-house, offering

70W with all channels driven it always errs on the side of renement above bludgeoning effects. Then again, when you are simultaneously unloading the canon and machinegun of your M12 tank, do you want to critique the acoustic accuracy of the weaponrys ballistics or really feel those Chimera exploding? This detailed demeanour pays big dividends with movies. Fine detail and accurate spatial information emerge from the speakers in spades. The dialogue is natural without any chestiness and only a restricted soundstage stops the DG820 being the home cinema bargain of the decade; as the bullets y around the Floston Paradise spaceship in Fifth Element, you can place every one in the scene. However, the boom! in the ballroom never really lives up to its billing as the largest indoor explosion ever created in a movie. And theres the hitch: subtlety, renement and detail are desirable attributes for a home cinema amp pressed regularly into serious thrillers, dramas and chick icks, but for action movies and games, I simply want more blood and thunder. Call me shallow.

Black and fruity: The STRDG820 has come into the world with a mission claim back market share from Onkyo but can it succeed?

Tech Labs
Manufacturers specifications: 100W x 7 channels (into 4 ohms) 102W (2 channels driven, 8 , 0.5% THD) 136W (2 channels driven, 4 , 0.5% THD) 70W (5 channels driven, 8 , 0.5% THD) 78W (5 channels driven, 4 , 0.5% THD) Fidelity firewall: 95W (0.02% THD, 8 , 1kHz) THD @ 50W: 0.0074% THD (1kHz, 8 ) Frequency response 20Hz20kHz: +/- 0.36dB Sonys budget Onkyo-buster has a few obvious omissions but it performs adequately in our labs. Two-channel performance is well over spec, although in multichannel mode it falls predictably short. However, fidelity firewall and distortion results are respectable, suggesting that for the money this receiver is unlikely to disappoint in terms of performance

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88 GROUPTEST

Final standings
heres little doubt that everyone of these budget AV receivers is capable of seriously upping the ante with PS3-delivered entertainment, assuming you partner them with a decent 5.1 or 7.1 speaker package. But each model has its strengths and weaknesses and this may sway your judgement depending on whether your PlayStation is used primarily as a games machine or a Blu-ray movie-player. The Onkyo is a cracking amp to partner a PS3 despite being on the technological back-foot by not having v1.3 HDMI or HD audio decoding on-board. But multichannel LPCM audio is all you need from the PS3, and its sonic character is one of the most forthright here ideal for both games and action movies.

VERDICT
Denon AVR-1909; 450 Price check: www.techradar.com Highs: Solid build; weighty sound with good scale; great with movies Lows: So good with movies you will forget to play games on your PS3 Performance: Design: Features:

VERDICT
Onkyo TX-SR576; 300 App Price check: www.techradar.com Highs: Crisp sound; well specified for its price Lows: No on board HD audio decoding; v1.2 HDMIs; our sample overheated under pressure Performance: Design: Features:

Overall: Specifications
Dolby TrueHD: YES DTS-HD Master Audio: YES Multi-channel audio: YES 7 x 90W amplifiers Multi-channel input: YES 7.1 analogue input HDMI Switching: YES 3-in 1-out, v1.3a HDMI audio: YES bitstream and LPCM Room EQ: YES Audyssey MultEQ Auto set-up: YES Video upscaling: YES to 1080p Dimensions/weight: 434(w) x 377(d) x 171(h)mm; 11.5kg

Overall: Specifications
Dolby TrueHD: NO DTS-HD Master Audio: NO Multi-channel audio: YES 7 x 130W amplifiers Multi-channel input: YES 7.1 analogue input HDMI Switching: YES 3-in 1-out, v1.2a HDMI audio: YES but LPCM only Room EQ: YES Audyssey 2EQ Auto set-up: YES Video upscaling: NO not here Dimensions/weight: 435(w) x 379(d) x 150(h)mm; 9.8kg

The afuent choice would undoubtedly be Denons substantial AVR-1909. It is the

best equipped in this group, most powerful and blessed with a classy, rened sound that can be considered arthouse home cinema. As a standalone receiver (without the dual role gaming/movie facet taking into consideration) it would certainly scoop top honours. But it is perhaps a little too polite for gaming action and at 150 more than some others here, thats a lot of games and Blu-ray movies you could otherwise buy.

The big two

Sonys home-turf STR-DG820 sounds very much like a smaller, less expensive Denon. It too has very clean processing, a richly-detailed sound and no shortage of subtlety and ambience. It has a nancial advantage that nudges it into my second spot but, like the Denon, you cant help but want to hear a little more mindless violence from PS3 games. Which leaves Panasonics SA-BX500 as something of a surprise winner. While others here excel in certain areas and are weak in others, the Panasonic has an all-round appeal that is impossible to criticise, despite its lack of absolute power. Stick on a movie and its neutral, open balance seems to extract all the detail and effects you could want. Switch to a game and its reserves of bass and penchant for high-speed fun are guaranteed to put a smile on your face, disc after disc. And its brilliant value, too

VERDICT
Panasonic SA-BX500; 360 App Price check: www.techradar.com Highs: All round performer; good Panasonic-link features Lows: Surreal operation system; full of fresh air; dodgy remote; no RoomEQ Performance: Design: Features:

VERDICT
Sony STR-DG820; 300 App Price check: www.techradar.com Highs: Clinically clean sound; fine with dramas; simple setup Lows: Too clinical for game mayhem; no S-video, upscaling, or analogue multichannel inputs Performance: Design: Features:

Overall: Specifications
Dolby TrueHD: YES DTS-HD Master Audio: YES Multi-channel audio: YES 7 x 130W amplifiers Multi-channel input: YES 7.1 analogue input HDMI Switching: YES 3-in 1-out, v1.3a HDMI audio: YES bitstream and LPCM Room EQ: NO do it yourself Auto set-up: YES Video upscaling: NO not here Dimensions/weight: 430(w) x 339(d) x 159(h)mm; 4.8kg

Overall: Specifications
Dolby TrueHD: YES DTS-HD Master Audio: YES Multi-channel audio: YES 7 x 100W amplifiers Multi-channel input: NO via HDMI only HDMI Switching: YES 4-in 1-out, v1.3a HDMI audio: YES bitstream and LPCM Room EQ: YES DCAC Auto set-up: YES Video upscaling: NO sadly absent Dimensions/weight: 430(w) x 318(d) x 158(h)mm; 8.4kg

Panasonic: consistency helps elevate the BX500

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