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TechRadar: The 7.1-capable RX-V567 from Yamaha – a company that has played a pivotal role in popularising home cinema – is not the most affordable model in its line-up, but at £400 still looks like a bit of a bargain.

The problem is, almost every other AV brand is aggressively targeting this end of the market, so does it do enough to stand out?

Need input!

It certainly gets off to a good start, with connections on the V567 including four HDMI 1.4 inputs and seven analogue AVs – including one on the front panel. Each is ‘fixed’ and has its own remote selection button, although you can marry the audio associated with one of these inputs to an HDMI (which also support 3D, the audio return channel, and CEC device-control).

This is useful if, for example, your set-top box cannot deliver 5.1 via HDMI but has a digital audio output. It can also be tied in with Yamaha’s ‘scene’ function, which is an array of four customisable buttons. Pressing one of these selects a specific source and soundfield.

The latter is a Yamaha speciality. Its 32-bit DSP chip is combined with 24-bit/192kHz Burr-Brown DACs. You can choose from 17 soundfields, all of which are modelled on ‘real-world’ venues.

The V567 covers all of the essential surround sound formats and codecs, although Dolby Pro- Logic IIz and its ‘height’ channels are conspicuous by their absence (something which Sony has specced on its similarly-priced STR-DH810).

Hi-fi enthusiasts will appreciate the V567′s compatibility with stereo/multi-channel PCM and DTS 96/24 soundtracks. If you’re using a universal player with an HDMI output, then DVD-A and even SACD/DSD content can be enjoyed.

Another worthwhile feature is that analogue video sources (up to 1080i for component) are converted to HDMI, so only one cable is needed. Conversion quality is excellent for a low-priced unit – 480/576p, 720p and 1080i/p conversion can be selected, but upscaling of HDMI isn’t permitted – it’s switching only.

The V567 may lack USB or networked audio, but a dedicated rear-panel socket readies the V567 for an optional iPod dock or Bluetooth receiver that can wirelessly stream music stored on devices like multimedia-savvy mobiles.

Already built-in is switchable enhancement for compressed audio sources. Yamaha claims this signal processing will restore depth and dynamics.

The V567 is easy to set up; the well-organised menus cater for speaker configuration, input-trimming (to eliminate volume ‘jumps’ after switching), lip-sync adjustment and Pro-Logic IIx decoding tweaks amongst others.

The V567 also features YPAO auto-calibration. We recommend carrying out speaker and level setup before using it, otherwise some odd errors can result. There’s also a user-controlled graphic equaliser allowing you to boost or cut each channel over seven different bands.

Performance

The V567 turns in a very creditable performance, certainly from movies. On a DVD of Avatar, the wildlife sounds of the night-time Pandora jungle are conveyed with awesome detail. The closing battle also fares well.

Steering is superb, as revealed by the missiles zinging between speakers. Switching to the hi-res soundtracks of Blu-ray, specifically Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, demonstrates that the V567 can cope equally well with even subtler details.

With music, matters aren’t so clear-cut. In some of the DSP modes, bass passed to the subwoofer sounds unpleasantly monotonal. There’s also an overall muddying of the soundstage that can be tamed, but not entirely eliminated, by engaging the ‘direct’ mode.

Our Tech Labs also rate the V567 poorly in terms of raw power, with a measurement of 20W-per-channel into 8Ω with five channels driven. That’s still enough for a small-scale setup – exactly the target market for a low-range AVR of this ilk – but should be taken into account when you’re drawing up your audition list.
 

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Pioneer.eu: Pioneer introduces an updated version of the well-loved HDJ-1000 DJ headphones in two new colours (black or gold), now offering a more comfortable fit and easier low-range listening. 

The HDJ-1000 Limited offers the exceptional sound quality, lightweight design and futuristic look of the widely used HDJ-1000. But their new, innovative features deliver the next level in professional DJ headphones.

Designed for easy low-range listening and high responsiveness
The new headphones feature a thicker diaphragm (38 micrometers) and longer voice coil (1.5mm), to enable playback of low and heavy sounds, achieving high responsiveness – even with a high input. Plus, the protection resistance value in the MONO/STEREO switch has been halved, making beats and other sounds in the mid-range even easier to hear.

A more comfortable fit and better sound insulation
Low-rebound urethane on the ear pads makes for a better fit, ensuring comfort during even the longest DJ set. As with its predecessor, the huge 50mm dome driver reproduces the best possible sound clarity. And the ear pads create a tight seal on your ears for incredible sound isolation and accurate monitoring in even the loudest clubs.

Other features include the swivel mechanism with 90-degree housing rotation to support a wide range of monitoring styles, a convenient MONO/STEREO switch for single ear use and exchangeable cables and ear pads.

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Electronista: Cobra Electronics, well-known for their long-standing line of radar, laser and speed-trap detection devices, are launching the iRadar Detection System, which combines a state-of-the-art radar/laser detector with an app for the iPhone, which uses Bluetooth to connect and control the detector, enabling users to hear, log and view alerts for various threats.

The software uses the iPhone’s built-in GPS capabilities to show motorists their speed and compass heading as well as tap into a larger database of known hazards. The iPhone display of the app also notifies drivers of past alert locations, their car battery voltage and lets them flag new locations as well as set the audio level of alerts.

The hardware detector picks up all radar and laser guns in a 360-degree radius, and sports its own speaker which escalates volume relative to the distance of the threat. It can function as a standalone detector when not paired with the iPhone app, but can be more easily controlled from the iPhone, including setting which notifications will be audible and at what volume.

The app includes Cobra’s camera and driving hazard database, which can warn drivers of red light camera locations, speed traps and known dangerous intersections. The database is updated daily by Cobra.

The iRadar Detection System retails for $170 and is available now. The iRadar app is free from the App Store.

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Crave: Want your music to dynamically change in reaction to your driving style, tweet while you’re on the move and update Facebook on the motorway? There’s an app — and a car — for that.

Those who buy a new Mini with the navigation system fitted will be able to take advantage of the Mini Connected app. This allows iPhones and iPods to link directly to the car using the iPod Out feature, which places the gadget’s menus directly on to a display in the centre of the speedometer.

From here, drivers can use the car’s media controls to choose music for playback on the car’s speakers or select the Dynamic Music function, which selects tracks based on your driving style.

Fling your Mini around like a bat out of hell and it’ll select rousing, high-tempo tracks to spur you on. Amble around in traffic, however, and it’ll choose slower tracks that better fit the mood.

Tracks for all music styles can be pre-selected by the user. You simply create a couple of playlists for each mood and the car chooses the playlists based on how it’s being driven. At present, it’s not been confirmed how the car will make its music choices, but it’ll likely analyse engine revs, overall speed and feedback from the phone’s accelerometers.

Dynamic music is just the tip of the Mini Connected iceberg. The app will also allow drivers to stream Internet radio stations from the Web, which will hugely increase the choice of music available to the user, although it’ll eat into your phone’s data allowance. It will also allow the driver to send Twitter and Facebook updates on the go and get tips on the efficiency of their driving using a feature known as the Minimalism Analyser.

Mini’s given no precise date for the availability of the Mini Connected app, but it tells us this functionality will only work in Minis fitted with the navigation system or the forthcoming Mini Visual Boost enhanced radio display.

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Newlaunches: Bose has introduced the Lifestyle 235 home theater system. The company claims it is their best 2.1 channel surround system. You can connect upto 6 audio or visual sources and the system supports HD upscaling for non HD media upto 1080p. The system comes with an iPod / iPhone dock, a remote and a headset to calibrate the system’s sound. The Lifestyle 235 can be yours for $2300.

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Crave: The world of the audiophile is different to the one us regular folk tread. That’s not a bad thing, because it means that someone, somewhere, is making sure we don’t get stuck with low-quality MP3s and rubbish-sounding DAB. Audiophiles want music to be as close to the original as possible, and so does Naim, which is where the UnitiQute comes in.

Think of this as the Rolls Royce of streaming audio, where Sonos is the Jaguar. Both do similar things, but one is aimed at people who like cars, while the other is aimed at people who like cars so much they spend more than the price of a house on one. The Naim UnitiQute promises the best possible build quality — it’s designed and built in the UK — and a wealth of features, although, unlike the Rolls, it has no walnut trim.

What it does have, though, is a Rolls Royce price tag. At around £1,350, the Naim isn’t cheap. But as with the car, it’s the highest quality piece of equipment you’re likely to find. There is a DAB radio, but the UnitiQute can happily tune in high-quality FM stations and access Internet radio, too. If you can’t find anything on this wireless worth listening to, you really aren’t trying hard enough.

Digtial inputs mean you can connect a CD transport and get the best possible sound from your discs. Apple Lossless and FLAC support round off the high-end audio support, but should mean that music lovers never have to suffer through a compressed song again.

Crucially, in addition to streaming things like 320kbps MP3s, the Naim can also take audio with sampling rates of up to 24bit/96kHz. That means it’s capable of doing justice to everything you own, not just those Britney Spears MP3s you nicked off Napster ten years ago.

The Naim UnitiQute might be pricey, but it’s a lovely piece of kit. Well built and well specified, it will appeal to those who want music moved from their computer to their Hi-Fi, but need better quality than you could ever get from other, cheaper devices.
 

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TechRadar: Mobile navigation has put on a huge growth spurt in the past 12 months, with 44 million people using their mobile phones to get from a to b – a 57 per cent increase from last year.

The rise and rise of GPS-enabled mobile phones has seen a massive growth spurt for mobile navigation, as people begin to move onto platforms like Android and Apple’s iOS 4.

According to Berg Insight’s figures, the use of mobile navigation in the first half of 2010 increased by close to 60 per cent compared to the same period in 2009, and that number is set to grow further.

Nearly 200m

“The subscriber base is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.1 per cent to reach 195 million users worldwide in 2015,” added the report.

“Broad availability of GPS handsets and attractive pricing are key factors for widespread adoption of mobile navigation services.

“In the US, where GPS handset penetration is above 70 percent, navigation services for mobile phones has already reached about 8 percent of the total mobile subscriber base.”

As mobile phones with aGPS chips become prevalent, the pressure on the sat nav industry is growing, although many of the companies involved insist that there is still a need for a dedicated device.

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Engadget: If you liked the idea of paying £40 (about $65) for the right to access your media via AirPlay on the Marantz Melody Media receiver, you’re going to love paying the same to do the same on three further devices that the company has confirmed will be getting similar updates. Those new devices are the SR7005 receiver, the AV7005 AV preamp, and the NA7004 network audio player. It’s unclear exactly when these updates will release, or how much they’ll cost, but just think of the wonder they’ll bring to the eyes of your children and your children’s children.

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Engadget: It’s been just over a month since Apple first showed off AirPlay media streaming, part of iOS 4.2, and now we have another receiver adding compatibility. Marantz is calling its Melody Media receiver “the world’s first AirPlay certified music system,” a title that we think Denon, who announced compatibility last week, might take issue with. Regardless, the systems are quite similar, even sharing a nearly identical form-factor and neither actually being compatible with AirPlay out of the box. Marantz’s option will require a £40 firmware update, available next month, which seems a bit excessive given the up-front cost of the thing: £499.90. But, perhaps there’s some sort of licensing fee involved here Marantz doesn’t want to pay on each and every one shipped. The receiver offers dual stereo amps with 60 watts per channel, the ability to load MP3s from its integrated CD drive, and a USB connection on the front for connecting older devices that cannot play through the very air we breathe. How terribly pedestrian.

Update: And the reason why these receivers look so similar? Both companies are owned by the same parent: D&M Holdings. Perhaps this slightly optimistic statement by Marantz boils down to simple sibling rivalry.

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iPodNN: Panasonic has introduced an iPhone-friendly digital photo frame in the MW-20. Its satellite dock can also accommodate an iPod touch and playback its video, photo or audio content. The screen is large enough for typical photos at nine inches, while a 5.6mm semi-dome speaker with DSP processing sits underneath.

The MW-20 can be hung on a wall or placed in either portrait or landscape orientations on a desk or table. An SD memory card can be plugged into the frame as well, and it has 2GB of built-in storage space. There are 15 display patterns for photos, or users can show a calendar, clock, photo or any combination of either. A luminance sensor can automatically adjust the screen brightness or turn off the display depending on ambient light levels.

The frame ships late in November, priced at $250.

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Engadget: If you long for the days of leisure suits and Magnum PI mustaches, or are just in the market for audio gear to match your arcade and TV, then Yamaha’s new R-S line of receivers might be just the ticket. The R-S700, R-S500, and R-S300 draw inspiration from the audio equipment of the 70s and 80′s and all feature minimal aluminum front panels with André the Giant hand-sized knobs for adjustments. Their throwback looks hide modern day goodies like YBA-10 Bluetooth audio streaming, iPod dock connectivity and a dedicated subwoofer output. Power-wise, the R-S300 provides 50 watts per channel of clean power, while the R-S500 and R–S700 scale the wattage up to 75 and 100 watts per channel, respectively. If you like to keep your power and tuner separate, then the similarly styled A-S500 integrated amp and matching T-S500 tuner can also oblige. Slated to time warp to shelves later this October, pricing starts at $330 for the R-S300 and works its way up to $550 for the top tiered dual-zoned and dual remote-toting R-S700. With all the retro love going around though, just make sure your short shorts stay in the attic — that history ain’t quite ready to be repeated.

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Engadget HD: Seems like a long time ago many were wondering if Blu-ray would ever take off and now the latest report from the NPD Group shows that almost one in five households have a player. Sure, many of these are PS3s, but despite what some might be thinking right now, these Blu-ray households rent and buy more packaged media than the other 83 percent. And these young, wealthy families with kids aren’t digital streaming haters either, in fact a fourth of them have rented a streaming video in the past 30 days, which is 10 percent higher than those laggards with standard def disc players. So while Blu-ray has failed to keep the home media market flat, it has enjoyed growth in this terrible economy and returned profits to its proponents.

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