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Sony and Pioneer receivers edge out the competition in CNET shootout
Back in November, I asked the question, "What's the best midpriced AV receiver?"--but had to confess that we hadn't reviewed as many as we would've liked. Since then, Senior Associate Editor Matt Moskovciak and resident Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg sequestered themselves in the CNET listening room and put several models to the test.
When the smoke cleared, the Sony STR-DG920 was at the top of the heap, with the Pioneer VSX-1018AH and Onkyo TX-SR606 impressing us as well. The Denon AVR-1909 sounded great and was packed with features, but that model's confusing remote control … Read more
Review: Yamaha RX-V663 receiver wows us with sound, but still disappoints
For most home theater enthusiasts, midrange AV receivers represent the best value, and the Yamaha RX-V663 falls right into the midrange class. When we first set up the RX-V663 in the CNET listening room, our first impressions were positive, as it bested the Sony STR-DG920 in a head-to-head test.
On the other hand, we ultimately found it hard to recommend due to its paltry HDMI connectivity, poor upconversion quality, and other design quirks. If you're all about sound quality and can put up with these issues, the RX-V663 is worth looking at; otherwise, you'll probably be better off … Read more
RefurbDepot.com has the HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion for $349.95, after $550 savings.
95: The real Porsche Panamera unveiled!
The real Porsche Panamera is unveiled,2008 is going down as the worst car year in a generation, another navigation device gets an Internet connection, and we pass on the Lexus RX400h. Listen now: Download today's podcast
SHOW NOTES• TeleNav Shotgun connected GPS
• Tiger calls it quits with GM
2010 Lexus RX gets update, new Remote Touch controller
We were just commenting yesterday, as we piloted our 2009 Lexus RX 400h down California's HWY 5, that the crossover SUV was getting a bit long in the tooth. Starting February 2009, that will no longer be the case because the new 2010 RX 350 will be available, followed shortly by the RX 450h hybrid.
Lexus unveiled the updated RXs at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The new vehicles feature updated powertrains, new designs, and a much needed cabin tech refresh.
At the center of the cabin tech experience is the hard-drive-based navigation system with a new "… Read more
What's the best midpriced AV receiver?
Update (February 12, 2009): Check out our follow-up story, with full reviews of all the products mentioned here.
I receive a lot of e-mail asking why we haven't reviewed many AV receivers in recent months. First off, let me say: mea culpa. Reviews coverage of this category has suffered, mostly because AV receivers are among the most time-consuming products to analyze (because they now need to be examined in detail for their audio and video performance). But enough of the excuses; here's what we're doing to remedy the situation. … Read more
Photos: The Lexus Hybrid Living Tour
Lexus invited us to test drive its entire lineup of Hybrid vehicles. Along the way, we got a peek at how luxury living and sustainable living can go hand in hand.
We took delivery of the Lexus GS450h in Berkeley, Calif. This was to be the first of the three Lexus hybrids we'd be driving over the weekend. Using the Lexus' crisp and colorful touch screen and GPS navigation, we selected our first location--San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel--and took the GS for a spin.
Check out the photos of the Lexus Hybrid Living Tour.Mazda to mass produce hydrogen vehicles within five years
Usually when we hear about hydrogen as a fuel, it's actually being used to generate electricity for an electric motor. It's no secret that Mazda's been developing a hydrogen powered version of its Renesis rotary engine for years, but now the automaker says that it will soon be mass-producing hydrogen powered vehicles. The rotary engine's unique design actually makes it well suited for using hydrogen as a combustible fuel.
In an interview with U.K. magazine Autocar, James Muir, Mazda Europe's CEO said that the company "will do the hydrogen rotary engine, but it … Read more
82: HDTV in your car at 62 mph
• 4G to power HDTV on the road
• California backs pay-by-the-mile auto insurance
