Astro A40 Audio System - Black Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are like me you are reading just about every online forum, watching most YouTube videos, and reading every review for the latest gaming/audiophile headsets. I think I've spent close to 4-5 hours on forums alone. Many of the forum debates go between people who know what they are talking about and stupid teenagers either ranting about brand names or repeating what their chubby best friend told them, so to help you make a decision and save you time, I'll summarize most of what is out there.
The most popular and most endorsed audio system is the Astro Mixamp, people disagree on what headset is best for the Mixamp however. It is usually between the Astro A40's and any "audiophile" headphone in the 100-200 price range (Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, etc.).
The Tritton's AX720 are the best budget headset. They do the job but do not match the Astro's sound and versatility (I have not personally tried them, but this is what most say). Opinions about the Turtle Beach's are mixed - some like them but most agree that they are not as good the Tritton's/Astro's and thus are not worth the price (X41).
Be careful when reading forums and pay attention to the posting date. Some are comparing an older version of the Astro system, pre-2009 (they have since updated the Mixamp and I think re-wired the headphones). Also, take note on what system they are using a headset. The Xbox 360 has an inferior sound output compared to high-end PC sound cards. PS3 also has better sound than the Xbox. Some are even using headphone amps. Obviously the source of sound affects the headset. So when people claim "this sucks" or "sounds hollow," while others say "music sounds great," they are using different sources more than likely.
If you are looking for a quality, versatile headset with the best sound, I recommend buying the Astro system and another pair of headphones you think would be better and compare the two, then just return the ones you don't like. It all depends on your setup: Xbox, PS3, PC, etc. They are a bit pricey, but I'd rather spend $200+ on something good than $100 on something sub-par.
The Mixamp is pretty sweet. It's powered through USB or batteries, it is small/light, and it mixes voice/sound like a champ. You can hook it up to pretty much anything and use any headset/headphone you want. I like it especially because it doesn't take up much room and doesn't clog another outlet on my power strip. Right now, there is nothing like it.
The most popular audiophile headphones people are raving about are the Sennheiser 555/595 and the Audio-Technica AD700. I purchased the AD700's, along with the Astro system to see how they matched up. From most of the reviews the $90, AD700's seemed to be the best, either way I just wanted to see how audiophile headphones compared to the A40's. Some have claimed the Sennheiser PC 350's are pretty good too, but again I figured most of the audiophile headphones in this price range are roughly the same, so if the A40's beat one, then I didn't see much use comparing it to another. I used both headphones with and without the Mixamp: Xbox 360, iPod, home JBL Stereo w/digital out, and my DVR w/digital out. I care mainly about sound, so if you want to know about comfort and aesthetics then you'll want to read the countless reviews online. The AD700's are a bit different. They have a larger "soundstage" and the highs are really, really high - almost too high. For games it hurts my ears (MW2), but for music they are pretty nice. The bass is clear and clean but not deep. The A40's sound much better for gaming (better lows, clear highs yet not ear-piercing). And don't forget that the A40's have a built-in mic and accessories. For music the AD700's stand out, but they aren't all that much better than the A40's, especially not enough to give up the mic, mute switch, and accessories. If you go with something like the AD700 you'll have to find a suitable mic for the 360 (another $10-$30) and purchase the Y-adapter from Astro (another $10). Some have rigged a mic to the headset, while others have used a neck mic - I'm too lazy for all that. For me to give up the convenience of the Astro system and create my own headset the sound had better be freakin' spectacular and blow the A40's away...the AD700's did not do this. Sure they sound a bit brighter and have a slightly larger soundstage (they should with 53mm drivers), but it isn't enough to boot-kick the A40's as if they're crap. Again, it all depends on the source. So if you have some sick 5.1 Dolby receiver or a record player (does anyone listen to records anymore?) then you'll probably come to a different conclusion. In order for audiophile headphones to shine you really need a quality source. For the Xbox, iPod, and the everyday CD player the differences between the A40's and AD700's are minimal.
The Astro system is a total package deal. You can connect it to multiple systems and it sounds great with each one. While the AD700's sound a little better with music, I don't think the difference is enough to forgo the convenience and compatibility of the A40's. Personal preference determines which headphone is best, so no one will agree completely. You have to try them out yourself.


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Onkyo HT-S990THX 7.1 THX Home Theater Entertainment System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this product about 3 weeks ago, and have now come to fully experience what it can do. It is a wonderful piece of equipment that is worth the money.
Pros:
The system is cost effective. For the money, you get a very good system. Sure, it's not as good as one that costs several thousand dollars, but it's much better than the standard HTIB you can find at a retail store. Remember, you always get what you pay for. If you want a cheap system that will need to be replaced often, this system is not for you. However, if you are like me and are just looking for a good system that's not going to break the bank, consider this as one of your options.
The system is also easy to set up. It comes with color coded wires and connections. The back of the receiver has all speaker connections color coded, and the colors match the wires and speaker terminals. Also, unlike most HTIB systems, the surround wires are long enough to support the room size this system was designed for. Remember, this is not a THX Select or Ultra system. It's not designed to play in large spaces (Select is for 2000 cubic feet, a 250 square foot room with an 8 foot ceiling; Ultra is for 3000+ cubic feet, about a 375 square foot room with an 8 foot ceiling). This system is designed for a smaller room (such as an apartment or small home). My living room is about 170 square feet (I live in an apartment).
The system is also easy to use. Just a glance at the user's manual will let you navigate through the configuration menu with no problems. Unlike other HTIB systems I have seen, the speaker distance is fully configurable, in standard or metric units. Other systems I have seen do not understand that your front speakers might be closer than your rear speakers. Instead, they would assume that this could not be possible, so if your application called for a front speaker distance of 7 feet, and a rear speaker distance of 10 feet, the receiver could not configure it. Therefore, the system did not sound correct unless you rearranged the room, or knock down walls. This system allows you to input any variation of measurements, but it's always in feet or meters. For once, I would like to see a system that had precise control of the delay, to the inch. 6 inches difference is about 0.5 milliseconds. Even though it's a small number, it seems as if the front soundstage is drastically different with differences as small as an inch between the FL/FR and center channels.
Cons:
Receiver does not support HDMI. This is both a pro and a con. First, I priced a Monster HDMI cable. There was one cable at Best Buy for $80. The good stuff started at $120. I didn't even look for anything THX certified. On the other hand, you can get a THX certified Component Video set for about $40, and a THX certified optical audio cable for about $38. From other reviews I have read, there is no noticeable difference between using HDMI and component connections.
Another con is that THX specifications call for a dipole side surround speaker, where as this system comes with a monopole side surround speaker. The side surrounds appear to be the exact same as the back surrounds. THX calls for monopole back surrounds and dipole side surrounds. This can make a difference in how enveloping the surround information is. Even though this system has monopole side surrounds, the surround effect is enveloping, but I've seen $10,000 setups that sounded much better. And this system doesn't cost $10,000 does it?
Yet another con has to do with the crossover point of the system. Ideally, you want all frequencies to blend together properly. In my setup, when using the THX demo disk, I notice a slight dip in bass output when transitioning from the main speakers to the subwoofer, then the subwoofer picks up the volume to normal as the frequency decreases. Now I'm sure I could compensate for this by spending thousands of dollars treating my room structures, purchasing equalizers, and moving the subwoofer around...but I don't want to do that...and probably neither do you. The system does not give perfectly flat response, but is withing 6 dB all the way through the transition. Also, the subwoofer is not the best suited for music. I cannot tell what class box is used (I don't want to take it apart), but it lacks the impact of a sealed box, and acts more like a vented or bandpass box. It delivers a rumbling impact when watching movies, but lacks accuracy for music reproduction. It seems as if there is a very sharp curve as the frequency gets lower, similar to a bandpass box. Listen for yourself and see what you think. Be sure to use music that has various bass frequencies.
Overall, I say this is a 4 out of 5. For those of you that want a dedicated movie theater in your house, this system is probably too small for you. For the rest of us, this is a great solution. It's an entry level high end home theater system, and the best HTIB on the market today. If you are considering going with something cheaper, consider this: This system comes with everything you need to play every audio format widely used today. It does both Dolby Digital and DTS, and adds THX to both standards (you can also listen in the native format being broadcast, with no THX). You can play this system in 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, and 7.1 configurations, and comes with everything necessary to matrix stereo signals into all configurations, as well as matrix 5.1 signals into 6.1 or 7.1. Basically, it's a one-stop-shop. It's one system, in one box, that plays everything. I think that's why it was designed. Maybe more consumers buy HTIB systems rather than seperate components. As far as value, I'm sure if you shop around, you might find a better seperate component system for the same money, or close to it. But what does the average consumer want? Simplicity. This one word best describes this system. Given proper speaker and seating arangements, the system does exactly what it was designed to do, yet it's simple. And what was it designed to do? Bring the movie theater experience to your living room. It does that, without any problems.

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The HT-S990THX is the first system to meet the parameters set by THX for overall system performance as opposed to separate loudspeaker and amplifier performance. In effect, the HT-S990THX represents a high-performance, powerful multichannel solution that combines the convenience of all-in-one systems with the performance of much higher priced separate components. With full THX processing capabilities-- THX ASA-derived playback modes (THX Cinema2, THX Music Mode, THX Games Mode)--you can be assured that this system brings out the full potential of surround sound for all entertainment options. Equally as important, Onkyo's Wide Range Amplifier Technology (WRAT) gives the system a perfect base for stellar amplifier performance. Also, the HT-S990THX's compatibility with XM Satellite Radio and the iPod offers a completeness to this home entertainment system that has rarely been seen before.

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Sony HT-SS2300 Component Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased a $1,200 system but returned it because it sounded horrible after it was home and connected. For that much money I expected a "Wow" effect, but was very disappointed.
So, back to researching what one store told me was not possible. I just bought a Blu-ray player that I am very happy with and a Sony 46" Z series LCD TV so I didn't want a system with a DVD player or Blu-ray player. I also didn't want a big receiver, big speakers, and a big subwoofer.
I found this system on Sony's website and came here to check the price. After much consideration I selected this system because of the sleek and small receiver and speakers.
After several hours of hiding speaker wires, splicing the subwoofer wire to add a segment of additional speaker wire so I could hide the subwoofer, adding OmniMount Satellite speaker stands and hooking up all the speakers I turned the system on.
I must admit I was very skeptical because this system was only a fraction of the price I'd spent on the system I returned. I put a DVD in and sat listening thinking this sounds great when all of a sudden the back surround speakers belted out sounds from the scene playing causing me to jump in shock. This was the "Wow" effect I was looking for when I first starting looking for a surround sound.
The TV, stand and components all look sleek and clean, not cluttered with a big receiver, big center speaker, etc. Set-up was easy and understanding the remote and receiver is very straight forward. If you have a Sony Bravia TV and/or DVD/Blu-ray player the receiver interacts with all of them and makes the operation brainless.
Oh, I also used very high speed HDMI cables to match the 120 Hz refresh rate of the rest of the system. My HD cable box has a regular HDMI cable on it and the picture and sound is incredible compared to what it was before I added this system.
I can't say enough about this system...definitely give this one a try before you buy a system three times this price. Hope this review helped if you are considering this system.
UPDATED AFTER ALMOST 3 MONTHS:
I have now been using this system for 3 months and still love it. I play Xbox 360 on this system and really appreciate the small nuances I get from the background...like in Bioshock which scared me even when I was expecting it.
Granted I don't run my system volume up over 23 - 25 (which I think also speaks to the quality of this product) so I don't hear the static mentioned in other reviews.
Seriously, I honestly believe this purchase along with the TV and Blu-ray is one of the best decisions quality and value wise I've made in a long time. Regardless of what you get if you can sit back and feel good about what you're seeing and hearing you made the right choice.


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Sony BRAVIA DAV-HDX589W 5.1-Channel Theater System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this unit to complement a Samsung LN52a550 HDTV. Didn't feel there was enough sound from the unit to complement the samsungs outstanding video. Shopped for reasonably priced HTIB units and decided (despite cautions that most didn't perform) to give this unit a try. In my wildest expectations I never thought this unit would perform up to its marketing description. Placed in a den of that is approx. 15 x 25 and playing a Dolby DVD, it placed me in a cinema that provides sound effects that truly astounded. I'll qualify this by saying that I'm a audio neophyte but for this sound at this amount of money I am truly impressed.
Be aware that this Sony unit is being used with a Samsung HDTV and consequently the transition between DVD usage & HDTV usage (must change input source) is a bit bothersome. I found that in order to obtain full surround sound from the unit when receiving audio only from you TV (not from the DVD) you must purchase a digital optical cable.
Hope I haven't misled any one but if you select this unit I don't believe you'll be disappointed.


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The DAV-HDX589W BRAVIA theater system boasts an integrated 5 DVD/CD changer, and 1000 watts of room-filling power. With the included S-AIR rear speakers with rear receiver and amp (WAHT-SA10), you can now hear powerful sound from behind you without running wires. iPod support is limited based upon which optional Digital Media Port is being used. The unit will support the following players: iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod Nano 1st, 2nd & 3rd generation, iPod 4th & 5th generation & iPod Mini. The optional TDM-IP 50 adds iPhone support as well.

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