Home Theatre

One the marketplace has been waiting for ... Yamaha’s take on flagship surround sound. The RXA8A is a beautiful piece of audio engineering.

The question is .... does this mean that this new beast is now a contender against the no compromise Denon AVCA1H and Marantz Cinema 30?

You are going to have to come to Carlton Audio Visual and try them together to see which suits your taste best :-) .

Yamaha RXA8A official page 

"What Hi-Fi?" on the RXA8A 

"StereoNet" on the RXA8A 

"Audio Esoterica" on the RXA8A 

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The ViewSonic X100 LED 4K projector is setting a benchmark at its price point. There are some very cool features to this Projector that are normally found in units at least double its price. Foremost, is the LED technology. No lamp replacements needed and superior colour and brightness levels are evident at first glance.

Wide lens shift is a fantastic addition to this unit and another feature generally found in much more expensive models. In a model at htis price range we'd normally find digital keystoning instead. It achieves the same end of positioning the picture perfectly on your screen but will deteriorate the resolution of the image at the same time. Whereas Lens shift will not. 

Other nifty features are the dedicated control app that puts all of the projector's features at your finger tips (apple and android devices), in-built Alexa so you can control the unit completely hands free and motorised lens cover, that automatically opens when you power on the projector. 

This is a feature packed projector optimised for sensational Home Cinema. 

Come check it out at our Home Theatre demonstatrion rooms in Carlton!

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The brand new Denon AVC-X6800h is here. With all the features of the new Denon range including four (4!) independently controllable subwoofers, the latest in Audyssey room correction software ready to go and options for Dirac Live to be loaded.

Not only that, this is a unit that is made in the Japanese factory. This means better componentry and better quality testing. You can feel the difference in a Japanese made unit when you take it out of the box for the first time. They are more solid with less give in the chassis, there is no greasiness on the metal finish, the knobs rotate precisely and smoothly, the buttons have a solid and confident tactility.

The AVC-X6800 has a cleaner sound, more power and more grip than the smaller models. It's all about the current delivery and ability to handle the reactive impedance load imposed on the output stage by good quality loudspeakers.

The point of the photographs in front of the Hume Dam in full font is that this unit has a large reservoir of power, and that it is capable of delivering high peak current on demand with very pure low distortion power.

This series of Denon amps are famed for their tonal neutrality and their ability to meet the peak headroom demands of complex and dynamic cinema soundtracks and musical pieces.

The AVCX6800 has pure preamp mode wherein the internal amplifiers can be fully disconnected from the preamp stage, this allows for the cleanest preamp out operation up to 4v rms.

For more information follow this link to the Denon official Website

Herewith below an excellent video description of the 6800 from the US product trainer:

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The New Loewe Bild i 65" OLED Television is here. New software means your favourite apps are now even easier to access on your Loewe Television. Improvements to the panels and the integrated sound system have also been made. As well as a revamp of the chassis to make them even sleeker than the old Bild series. The very cool thing with the new Bild i range is also that you can choose to add a Klang i Soundbar to click directly on to the Television. A neat and easy instant upgrade to the sound quality of your Television.

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The mighty Neuphonix is the top of the range of Krix floorstanding home speakers. Like a Mission 753 in configuration but much better performance.

There's no finer way to break one's own ribcage than to put a kick drum in the chamber and pull the trigger on the Krix flagship speakers. A true three way cross over ensures the crisp mids and high notes are not muddled by the awesome power of the 4-driver bass array.

There is an in wall version of this loudspeaker that is surely amongst the best architectural loudspeakers available.

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Denon have this thing ... when they do a surround amp range they like to make a generational statement that throws down the gauntlet to other manufacturers.

The AVC X8500ha is this generations gauntlet ...

We have had a long affair with top of the range Denon amplifiers. We built our surround sound space in the local marketplace with the very first Denon AVR2000 Receiver and then hammered it in with the AVCA1 THX amplifiers. We still have customers out there who own these amps twenty five years later using the 5.1 multichannel input running from an external decoder in a Blu Ray Player. The AVC X8500HA will be for those discerning consumers that are able to purchase a surround sound amp that will keep their cinema going for longer and better.

"Home Cinema Choice" on the Denon AVC-X8500H.

Denon AVC-X8500H Official release video website.

Official 8500 website.

 

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This is the mother of all Surround Sound Pre-amps. It has an unprecedented 13.2 Channel Processing capability, of course all of the latest immersive audio formats like DTS:X, Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D, enough EQing and room adjustments to make your system sound perfect in ANY situation and soooo many other goodies it's hard to list them all. BUT above all it sounds BRILLIANT. And that's to do with the impeccable internal fitout. This whole unit is powered by its own Toroidal transformer. It's made in Marantz's premium Japan factory (the only other Marantz AV unit made there is the SR8012) and you can tell by the finished quality of the build. This is our go-to unit for High-End Home Cinema installations and we find they do particularly well with Krix MX series speakers! Learn More

Anthem AVM-70 is capable of 15.2 channels of processing. That's a hefty amount of processing perfect for serious high-end residential theatres. It comes with everything you'd expect of a modern surround processor: 4K/60Hz pass-through (8K pass-through will be an upgradeable option), HDR10, Dolby vision, apple Airplay, Bluetooth & Google Chromecast.

It's a great option for a full 15.2 channels worth of processing that sits at a slightly better price than the Marantz AV8805.

Read more about this unit at Anthem's own website here.

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Ex-demo unit in perfect condition ready to go. An opportunity to secure a brilliant TV for exceptional value.

Loewe started manufacturing Televisions in 1923 and actually made the first commercially available Television. After a few years of being manufactured in other European countries, they're now back being produced and headquartered in Kronach, Germany's heartland.

I visited Kronach and the Loewe factory in 2015. Kronach is a tiny town for German standards and its industry and in fact it's whole economy has been dominated by Loewe for generations. Most people who live in Kronach work or have worked in the Loewe factory. When I was there, there were multiple generations of the one family working side by side to exacting standards on the Televisions. All of this in what is a Storybook looking town with old wooden houses and a medieval castle on the hill.

Loewe Televisions, like premium German made motor vehicles, contain a workmanship and attention to detail above their Asian made counterparts. Machine engineered alloy bezels, cable management systems, intuitive remote and interface and swivel stands that come as standard are the details that don't come with other Televisions.

The Bild V is elegant, yet solid and robust to out live most of its contempories.

The picture quality, as you'd expect with a Television of this calibre, is bold and expressive without ever seeming artificial. Although it's pitched at replacing the old Bild 5 units, the Bild V has the same panel as the higher end Bild 7 and in substance is much closer in spec to those. 

Expect this Television to out perform generations of other Asian made units because of the picture and build quality. An expectional Television. 

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It's now here! The flagship integrated AV Receiver of Marantz's Cinema - the Cinema 30. This unit is the true replacement of the SR8015.

It matches its power and goes a step further with build quality and features.

This unit is made in their Shirakawa Japanese factory and has the class leading monolithic amplifier circuit design that sets it apart from its competitors. With that toroidal power supply in the ornate casing that hallmarks these top end Marantz Receivers.

This is the single box unit that is the iron hand in the velvet glove school of control over your loudspeakers.

It also comes with all the new features in the Cinema series. Dirac Live option, four independently controlled subwoofers and the new elegant chassis.

Marantz Cinema 30 official site (UK). 

"What Hi-Fi?" meets the Marantz Cinema 30 

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The all new Sony L series now comes in a 98" version for those who like their TV BIG but more and more for those who would prefer a TV to a Projector in their main Home Theatre Space.

For many people who are setting up a Home Theatre in a multi use, Open plan Living space, a Television is more convenient. Capable of performing when the curtains are open and the light is streaming in just as it's at home being fired up for a night going through the Blockbusters.

This Sony LED TV is perfect for this scenario. 

It features Sony's XR chip giving it superior contrast, imaging, upscaling and motion clarity over its 77L, 80L and 85L siblings.

All of your smarts are easy to use with a google operating system. 

Now playing in our main showroom on Lygon st. Come and see it for yourself. 

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Bigger, brighter and more beautiful, the future is Laser. 

This is Epson's first real 4K unit but more than that, it will actually pixel shift that whole 4K matrix. This means it'll be BETTER than 4K...and that's unheard of in the residential projector market.

It's also a 3 chip LCD design meaning there is zero rainbowing. Rainbows are nice after rain but not on your projector screen. There really aren't many projectors with 3 chips under the $10K mark.

Traditionally this place in the market has been dominated by Sony projectors in Australia. But this Epson may just trump them!

Read some of the glowing reviews coming out of the USA.

Here's one from PCMAG 

And this one from AVS Forum here where they promptly gave out a Top Choice Award to it as best in class.

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Introducing the 212/SX, 1000W of goodness with a rear firing, down firing and two active 12" front firing. Upgraded with carbon fibre blades behind the drivers to stiffen yet in doing so adding nominal weight to the drivers.

This means more control, faster, even more agile and extended low bass.

Official Rel 212 site

"Home Theatre Hi Fi Secrets on the Rel 212SX

 

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A remarkable technical achievement for Sony that breaks new ground in the marketplace. It has been a long wait to get one on demonstration and supply issues will plague this very high demand device.

Between this and the new Epson LS12000 there are some serious advantages for a consumer of good home cinema to consider an upgrade to these products honed by fierce competitive evolution.

Sony XW5000ES official site

StereoNet Australia reviews the Sony XW5000ES

"Expert Reviews" on the Sony XW5000ES

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The Bild i series of Televisions is a quality affordable OLED TV. Classier than your off the shelf mass market Asian brands. Even the finish on the metal bezel oozes quality as well as the glass on the front of the sets being super low reflection.

You now get all your smarts built into the TV and easily accesible via the remote control.

As well being an awesome, natural yet brilliant picture. It doesn't feel like you step into an oversaturated alien landscape when you watch a bild i TV. That is the effect you can get looking at even some of the super expensive, super bright Asian TVs.

The picture is sharp but not jagged and the colours are lifelike but not overly saturated.

This 77" offering may seem imposingly large but because the picture quality is so good and because the TV balances brightness and contrast so well, it doesn't feel overwhelming when you're watching it.

Come in and give it a test run for yourself. On display now at Carlton Audio Visual.

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Loewe started manufacturing Televisions in 1923 and actually made the first commercially available Television. After a few years of being manufactured in other European countries, they're now back being produced and headquartered in Kronach, Germany's heartland.

I visited Kronach and the Loewe factory in 2015. Kronach is a tiny town for German standards and its industry and in fact it's whole economy has been dominated by Loewe for generations. Most people who live in Kronach work or have worked in the Loewe factory. When I was there, there were multiple generations of the one family working side by side to exacting standards on the Televisions. All of this in what is a Storybook looking town with old wooden houses and a medieval castle on the hill.

Loewe Televisions, like premium German made motor vehicles, contain a workmanship and attention to detail above their Asian made counterparts. Machine engineered alloy bezels, cable management systems, intuitive remote and interface and swivel stands that come as standard are the details that don't come with other Televisions.

The Bild V is elegant, yet solid and robust to out live most of its contempories.

The picture quality, as you'd expect with a Television of this calibre, is bold and expressive without ever seeming artificial. Although it's pitched at replacing the old Bild 5 units, the Bild V has the same panel as the higher end Bild 7 and in substance is much closer in spec to those. 

Expect this Television to out perform generations of other Asian made units because of the picture and build quality. An expectional Television. 

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There can be only one and this is the current evolutionary pinnacle of single box multichannel home theatre amplifiers. Carlton Audio Visual had a terrific relationship with the original Denon AVCA1SE that was a 29kg five channel x 170 watt super amplifier from the year 2000. Now its 2023 and we have the only fifteen channel x 210 watt with 4 independent XLR and RCA subwoofer outputs. The amplifier is made in Shirakawa in Japan which is actually fittingly not far from the Kure Naval Arsenal where the flagship 65000 ton Battleship Yamato was constructed in 1941 ... with nine 18 inch guns the Yamato is a perfect analog for the AVCA1H. The AVCA1H has the largest power supply ever in the history of Denon theatre amps... the main transformer weighs 11.5 kg whereas the previous model AVCX8500 had a transformer weighing in at 8.1kg Learn More

It's a terrible thing to have a high end single box surround receiver that becomes outdated due to changes in HDMI and audio codecs. Often that means discarding a perfectly good multichannel receiver because of changes to digital encoding practices. Turning what was five years ago your pride and joy into 15KGs of consumer electronic waste looking for a cosy grave in Northern Suburban landfill ...

Then you buy the replacement model from the same brand and you discover that while it ticks all the feature boxes with bluetooth, wi-fi, dlna. snaggle waggle ... unfortunately it dosn't sound as good with music and dynamic theatre as the model you've just discarded.

So the first reason you buy a Surround pre and Power combination like this one is to get off the aforesaid Hamster wheel of Built In Obsolescence and waste.

The second reason is that it sounds fantastic.

Home Theatre Review on the AV8805

Home Theatre Review on the MM8077

When you graduate to a pre and power amplifier like this you have the best of both worlds. The very sensitive low noise circuitry of the preamplifier and processor is separated from the high current demand of the power amplifier and is able to do its job of recovering all the residucal fine detail of the signal to the best possible degree.

Meanwhile the power amplifier can be unleashed from the sensitive circuits of the pre-amplifier where its mass of current can be detrimental. Liberated and with massive current reserves, the power amplifier is able to grip and modulate the reactive load of the loudspeakers with unmitigated force complying with the complex demands of the sinal produced at the preamplifier stage.

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