
Marantz has entered the entry-level AV receiver market by releasing the NR1501. Priced at $600, the AV receiver comes with four HDMI inputs, onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and analog video upconversion. The NR1501 also a bit smaller than most receivers. Sadly, there is no 7.1 analog inputs, multizone functionality, and satellite radio connections. [Crave]

Here is a new AV receiver from Panasonic. Dubbed as the Panasonic SA-BX500, the AV receiver feature a 7 x 130-Watt amplification, HDMI connectivity (3 inputs, 1 output), HDMI-CEC in VIERA Link form, and support for Dobly TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. The cool factor of this device is that it can simulate 7.1-channels of surround in 5.1-channel systems. The Panasonic SA-BX500 AV receiver will be released in October for $799. [MarketWatch]

Onkyo today announced the new AV Receiver, the TX-SR606, that features four HDMI inputs and 1080i upscaling. Key features of the Onkyo TX-SR606 are:
- 7.1 channels, 90 watts per channel
- Four HDMI 1.3 inputs
- Onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
- 1080i upconversion for analog signals
- New “music optimizer” software that claims to improve the sound quality of MP3 sources
- Powered second zone
- Available in April with a list price of $580
The Onkyo TX-SR606 AV receiver retails for approx. $580. [CNetCrave]