Sunfire TGR-401: Finally, a powerful AV receiver

Today's audiovisual receivers are jam-packed with features, but the rarest feature is real power.

Power in the range of 100-to-150 watts or so is all you get, even in the high-end models. Models with 200 watts are rare, so we were excited to hear about the TGR-401, Sunfire's latest 200-watt receiver. Sunfire's in-house genius Bob Carver has a knack for designing high power amplifiers. Carver, in fact, designed the world's first consumer high power amp, the legendary 350 watt by two channel Phase Linear 700 stereo amp in 1972.

(Credit: Sunfire)

Carver's latest, the TGR-401 ($4,000), is a 200 watt by seven channel AV receiver that sports three HDMI version 1.3a inputs.

Hidden behind a viscously damped, brushed aluminum door the front video connections may be assigned as Y/Pr/Pb/optical for HD gaming, or composite/S-Video/analog for camcorders with a simple press of a button.

The TGR-401's Auto EQ provides a simple, automatic process to equalize all seven channels plus the subwoofer. For the installing dealer, who would like to perform hands-on tweaking, there are detailed manual adjustments available for each channel pair.

Also onboard is Sunfire's remarkable Sonic Holography circuit. Invented by Bob Carver in the 1980s, Sonic Holography creates a wide and deep soundstage from stereo recordings.

The TGR-401 also includes Sirius satellite radio, AM and FM tuners, an eight-channel input for Blu-ray, DVD-Audio, or SACD, and eight balanced XLR outputs.

At the heart of the TGR-401 is Sunfire's patented Tracking Downconverter that produces a remarkable 200 watts for each of its seven channels. TDC, now in its sixth generation, provides high-current power to speakers through a unique "just-in-time" approach that generates virtually no heat. This eliminates the need for either a fan or massive heat sinks. Oh, and while I haven't yet heard the TGR-401, I'm sure it'll sound great. Bob Carver's designs always do.

[alegr]

After reading on Sonic Holography (audio crosstalk cancellation) it looks like a snake oil. For what it's worth, it would only work as designed if your head is rigidly fixed at exact same distance from the speakers. In my understanding, nobody's sitting that way. Move 10 cm to the left or right, and the supposed cancellation just doesn't happen.

[mangarel]

I've owned a Carver preamp with Sonic Holography since 1985 and it is neither snake oil nor position dependant. The effect can be heard anywhere in the room. It is especially useful when playing early CDs that were converted to digital without re-mastering. As with any effect, you can just turn it off if you don't like the resulting sound.

[ed mcguirk]

While Sonic Holography does work best on the centerline between two speakers, the sound manipulation will tend stay similar from one voltage peak to the next for the duration of the sound you are listening to. As long as the size of your head is within the normal range of head sizes it should still work reasonably well even when the distance to each speaker is not equal.

However while you are sitting in the sweet spot, the width of the soundstage can be startling. Even normal unassisted stereo sound diminishes as you move away from the center. In my experience Sonic Holography is almost always better. (I don't ever remember it being worse)

[Ballmerrocks]

The premier audio device is no doubt the Zune!

http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

[MadLyb]

$4K and only 3 HDMI inputs and 1 out?

They may have great audio, but their video side is budget level. 4 in/2 out should be the minimum for a receiver in this price range.

[pubmat]

Pioneer's new flagship (sc-09) receiver specs out at 200 x 7, or 140 x 10, and measures pretty close to that as well. Its more expensive, but it has more bell and whistles than the sunfire. I wonder how it compares. Also, Lexicon has a 200 x 7 high current monster receiver that I'm told is awesome. I'm looking for a high end receiver, or even separates, so I'm interested if anyone has heard any of these.

[gerrycabalo]

I know the topic about Bob Carver's sonic holography is old, but I have been a Carver product enthusiast since the early 80's. I would rather have sonic holography than surround sound any day. The sound stage is wider deeper and more detailed than even SACD on surround. Unfortunately my Sunfire Ultimate Receiver was just struck with lightning and got fried along with several electronics and appliances in the house. I am looking forward to the TGR 401.