Yamaha
Taking over the flagship position in Yamaha's receiver fleet is the RX-Z1. It decodes Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES (Matrix and Discrete) and performs Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6 processing to deliver surround sound from stereo sources. It also has 41 digital signal processing (DSP) modes to create a variety of different acoustic environments, including Cinema DSP, which simulates the acoustics of a movie theater. It's rated to deliver 130 watts to six main channels and 45 watts to two front-effects channels. Three wideband component-video inputs can switch high-definition TV signals and progressive-scan output from a DVD player, while a six-channel analog audio input lets you hook up a DVD-Audio or Super Audio CD player. There are eight optical and three coaxial digital audio inputs. A touchscreen remote is supplied. Price: $2,799. www.yamaha.com/yec, 800-492-6242
Sunfire
The True Subwoofer Super Junior from Sunfire promises big bass with room to spare. The dual, flat-diaphragm, long-throw drivers, only 61/2 inches in diameter, are on opposite sides of a 9-inch cube. Despite the diminutive dimensions, the wee sub has an onboard amp rated for a whopping 1,500 watts of average power. The rated peak sound-pressure level is 108 dB from 22 to 100 Hz. Volume and phase are both continuously adjustable, and you can set the crossover anywhere from 35 to 100 Hz. Speaker-level inputs and line-level inputs and outputs are gold-plated. The black lacquer-finished Junior weighs only 29 pounds. Price: $995. www.sunfire.com, 425-335-4748
Velodyne
With their titanium-color finish and acoustically transparent bars protecting the tweeters, the speakers in Velodyne's Deco system are sure to give your home theater a distinctive look. The computer-designed cabinets eliminate parallel surfaces to reduce internal standing waves that can cause response peaks and dips. The five satellites, each with a 3/4-inch silk-dome tweeter and a 4-inch woofer, have a rated frequency response of 80 Hz to 20 kHz ±3 dB. The subwoofer's Class D digital amplifier is rated to deliver 600 watts of average power to the 8-inch front-firing driver, and its cabinet measures 11 x 11 1/4 x 11 3/4 inches. Bandwidth is given as 25 to 120 Hz. Price: $1,499. www.velodyne.com, 408-436-7270
