The Denon AVR-988 offers a power output of 110 watts per channel, but adds a number of engineering advancements to get the most out of the technology. One of the most significant–7-Channel Equal Power–lets you connect seven speakers independently without connecting individual power amps via pre-outs. That’s because the AVR-988 comes with a built-in internal amplifier for each speaker in your collection. This makes it possible to do things like connect a second surround back speaker directly off the main amplifier to play 7.1 surround formats. The receiver’s Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit (DDSC), meanwhile, optimizes all elements of the surround processor through the use of discrete high-performance components, including separate analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, with sophisticated DSP surround decoding.

Ready for the future, the Denon AVR-1909 is equipped with the latest high resolution surround sound format decoding capabilities, including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD Master Audio – the latest high resolution audio formats found on many Blu-ray high definition discs. The powerful seven channel amplifier section can be configured for 7.1 channel surround sound, as well as being able to drive a 5.1 channel system in the main room along with powered stereo speaker outputs for second zone audio. The video section features extensive video source switching and up-conversion capability, and is equipped with three latest specification v1.3a HDMI inputs and one HDMI output, with up to 1080p resolution. In addition, the AVR-1909 features Faroudja DCDi video processing and up-conversion, breathing new life into standard definition sources, along with three HD component video inputs and one HD component video output. Setup is a snap, thanks to the icon-based on screen display, and the Audyssey MultEQ acoustic correction and optimization system custom-tailors the sound for optimum tonal balance throughout the listening space. The Denon AVR-1909 is one of the first to offer Audyssey Dynamic Volume automatic volume-leveling system, as well as Audyssey Dynamic EQ to ensure rich bass and smooth tonal balance, even at low volume levels. With the Denon AVR-1909 you get loads of connectivity for system building, including HDTV-compatible component video switching. A front-panel audio/video input allows quick and easy connection of camcorders and game systems.

While new technologies come and go, the fundamentals of competent receiver design remain constant. It is best to think of it in simple terms: a power supply, an input stage, a driver stage, and an output stage that all combine to amplify signals without any loss in quality. The current that actually drives the loudspeakers comes from a power source via the receiver’s power supply. You can never underestimate the importance of the power supply, and all other audio processing functions cannot rule over good solid amplification. This is the direction Onkyo has taken with the Onkyo TX-8222. Built for those people who value the benefits of time-proven amplification design, the Onkyo TX-8222 takes core Onkyo technology—and an array of features you’ll actually use—to bring you a no-nonsense stereo receiver that will deliver audio and radio signals with agreeable quality.

Forget about over-hyped processing technologies. If your receiver lacks the fundamental amplifier design from the power supply through to the output stage, everything else is superfluous. The Onkyo TX8555 stereo receiver is built with this in mind. Incorporating Onkyo’s proprietary Wide Range Amplifier Design (WRAT) with an isolated power transformer and discrete output stage, the TX-8555 is focused on maintaining the purity of music, radio and video sources.