Samsung HW-D700 7.1 Channel A/V Receiver

If you're in search of an entry-level receiver to process multi-channel sound and power your home theater, the Samsung HW-D700 7.1 Channel A/V Receiver could meet and exceed your needs. It can pump out a total audio power of 840 watts, and it has 4 HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs. That means you can easily connect your Blu-ray Disc Player, gaming console, set-top box or any other HD device. Of course, it also has connections for legacy devices -- two component video in and one out, and five composite video in with one output.

But when you hook up the HW-D700 to your system, you'll find that it can output exceptional audio and video. For one thing, it can upscale video to 1080p, so you can enjoy crisp, clear images from virtually any source. So if you've gotten used to ultra-high definition, you can see your DVDs and other older source materials with picture quality that's closer to HD -- and who knows, your friends might not even guess it's not a Blu-ray disc.

In addition to the video, you need stellar sound to really put you into the action. This receiver features Crystal Sound Pro, a signature Samsung technology that uses two internal signal filters to remove sound distortion and noise to provide you with crystal clear sound. This sound can be further enhanced by audio codecs (processors) Dolby Digital and DTS -- most DVDs and Blu-ray discs have a soundtrack encoded in one of these.

It's likely that you might have an iPod or iPhone -- and if you do, you'll be able to hook it up to the included cradle to widen your options for your home entertainment system. When you dock your device, you can enjoy streamed or stored content, right through your system. It's just another way this receiver helps to customize your entertainment experience. So you can watch a YouTube clip, listen to a favorite iTunes album and watch a flick without skipping a beat (as long as your iPod or iPhone goes online).

This receiver also has an MP3 enhancer, so it can put the life back into the compressed files from your portable music player or cell phone. When you play them through your speakers, they'll come out closer to the way they were originally recorded for clear, realistic sound.

One of the handy features of the HW-D700 is Smart Volume, which evens out the loud parts of TV commercials or thundering sound effects on your movies. That way, you won't have to reach for the remote every time a commercial comes on, and you can also indulge in late-night viewing without waking the whole house or having angry neighbors come banging on your door. So, in addition to high powered A/V processing the HW-D700 offers a few things to make your life easier.

This receiver also includes 14 DSP modes to simulate the acoustic environments of a rock concert, theater, even 3D-depth sound to help boost the emotional realism of your entertainment.

But if you're anything like us, you don't just want good sound and video, you want a simplified entertainment experience. If this is the case, you'll be pleased to find that your new HW-D700 has a couple of conveniences to eliminate any headaches and let you jump right into the action of your movies, music or games. First, it has an on-screen display with text for seamless operation, and an IR wireless remote for commanding your A/V system from your favorite spot.

All in all this receiver makes a great foundation for any home theater system when paired with a Blu-ray disc player or other source device, TV and your choice of speakers placed throughout your space. When you get it all together, you'll be able to sit back and enjoy engulfing, realistic surround sound to make you feel like you're right in the action of your movies -- without leaving your couch!