Digital Audio Hi-Fi

High-Rent Hi-Fi

The $999 Onkyo TX-NR801 is a sophisticated 7.1-channel home theater receiver that can manage high-definition video and digital audio (both optical and coaxial). Like most receivers in its class, this one decodes Dolby Pro Logic II and Dolby Digital EX audio. It outputs 100 watts per channel.

But when you're scanning the myriad inputs provided on the back, it's easy to spot what sets the TX-NR801 apart from the rest of its class: an ethernet port. Just plug the receiver into your home network, and you can listen to MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) files stored on your Windows PC, as well as to a canned selection of Internet radio stations (if your favorite station isn't included, you're out of luck). The track and artist info is easy to read on the receiver's display, and you can specify up to 30 Internet radio presets (in addition to 40 AM/FM presets). The Onkyo is a very good receiver. But it will have to wait for "outstanding" status until the company lets us listen to any Internet radio station we like. A hard disk to let the device store its own audio would be nice, too.

Yamaha's $2200 MusicCast MCX-1000 does have a hard drive, an 80GB model. It's the one device I evaluated that operates independently of your PC. To download track and data information from the Internet, the MusicCast connects to your home network via ethernet. Unfortunately, the device's copy-protection scheme won't permit you to copy any music files you may already have on your computer; instead, you must re-rip all of your CDs to the MCX-1000.

The MusicCast server, about the size of a home theater receiver, will rip from other analog and digital sources, so this could be your chance to finally copy all of those old LPs and cassettes. The unit also includes a 4X CD-RW drive, so you can burn CDs (albeit slowly). You can stream music from the server to space-age-looking MusicCast clients (at $599 a pop, plus another $150 for small matching speakers) in other rooms in your home via ethernet or the integrated 802.11b connections. However, you can't listen with any other type of device--say, a computer. In the end, while the MusicCast offers the wireless networking and storage of a computer, it lacks the flexibility of one.

Freelance writer Josh Taylor lives in Brooklyn.

Does MP3 Mean High Fidelity?

Illustration: Diego Aguirre

MP3 signifies portability and convenience to most people. But does the format offer the same sound quality as CDs or other sources do? Read the sidebar to find out.