Home theatre experts

[thecoffeeguy]

So, looks like my receiver is going out. Kinda irks me, but oh well.

I need a replacement receiver here. Let me put down what I have and what I am running so recommendations are coordinated.

So, I run a 5.1 system with klipsch speakers.

The following are connected to the receiver (receiver does all the switching)

-DVD player
-Wii
-Cox DVR

That is about it. Eventually I will be upgrading my DVD player to a blu-ray player, but that is about it.

Any good recommendations? I really lack knowledge in this area.

FYI, my current/dying receiver is a Marantz

Appreciate the help.

TCG

How is this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Pioneer+...&skuId=9846526

Pioneer still pretty good?
I dont have any HDMI stuff at this time, but I think I can request a HDMI DVR box from Cox.
Blu-Ray will be HDMI, so that would be two.

Only other thing to connect would be the wii.

Just want something reliable and good sounding.

[notorious]

Denon makes some good stuff that isn't too expensive.


A grand will get you a solid receiver.


How much are you willing to dish out?

[Jewish Rabbi]

I have an Onkyo and am very happy with it. It really depends how much you're looking to spend on these things... Since you have good speakers, just make sure there is enough power for them, and that there are enough ports to expand, and you can't really go wrong.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by notorious

Denon makes some good stuff that isn't too expensive.


A grand will get you a solid receiver.


How much are you willing to dish out?

This. Denon is probably the top brand, but that doesn't mean you need that.

[Silock]

I like my Yamaha.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/it...amaha-rxv465bl

The thing that I like most is that it has audio-passthrough on the HDMI, which a lot of models in that price range don't have. It's plenty powerful, lots of options, and it has the ability to tune itself based on the speaker positioning in your room.

Good value for the $$. Lasts forever. The last Yamaha receiver I bought was 20 years ago, and it's still humming along.

[thecoffeeguy]

I am pretty familiar with Denon (and if I recall correctly, Marantz is a sister/brother company to Denon).

As far as how much I am willing to spend, under $500 would be ideal.
I dont need anything super fancy. The things that I am most concerned with are:

-good sound
-reliable
-ability to connect my devices.

I have been out of the home theatre realm for quite some time now, so my knowledge is lacking, big time.

I do have a 42" plasma TV, 1080i. It is a commericial line Panasonic, so it has no internal speakers (which I preferred). So all my sound for all my inputs comes through the receiver and 5.1 system.

can anyone tell me what audio-passthrough is?

I dont have any HDMI devices yet, but eventually will with blu-ray and when i ask my cable company to give me a HDMI DVR box.

[notorious]

Yamaha would be an excellent way to go at that price range. You can also find a decent Denon product at that price.


I love Harman products (Especially JBL) but their receivers have been a big letdown for me lately. I would avoid them to be honest.

[thecoffeeguy]

Originally Posted by notorious

Yamaha would be an excellent way to go at that price range. You can also find a decent Denon product at that price.


I love Harman products (Especially JBL) but their receivers have been a big letdown for me lately. I would avoid them to be honest.

Thanks.
I will look into them.

Everytime I think of Yamaha, I think of dirt bikes. hehhe

Any recommendations on a model?

[thecoffeeguy]

Ok...looking at these two:

Just looking at bestbuy right now. Unlikely I will be buying it there.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Denon+-+...&skuId=9878176

Question on this Denon receiver:
What does it mean when it says: 5.1 channel input = NO
Confused on that one.
But the manual shows you how to setup 5.1?

Second one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Yamaha+-...=1218173777379

What does it mean when it says "Pass through"?

Thanks for the help.

[notorious]

5.1 input-NO : There are no individual Analog 5.1 inputs. It's no big deal considering probably 1% of home theaters actually use them on a traditional receiver. Back when Dolby Pro Logic became mainstream, 5.1 inputs were nice to have because you could just upgrade your pre-amp instead of the whole receiver. Now days it doesn't mean much.


Pass-Through: I believe this means that you can run an HDMI signal right through the receiver and still have it pass the signal uncolored even with the receiver off. Very handy if you want to use TV volume at night instead of full-blown 5.1 or 7.1. Since you have no audio on your TV, it basically means you could watch the TV without having the receiver turned on.



BTW, my father's one complaint about his Yamaha was that he had to have it turned on to get the HDMI signal to the TV. It wouldn't be a problem for you, though.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Check out Accessories4Less. They sell high quality refurb receivers (Marantz, Onkyo, etc.) with full warranties and they are authorized sellers.

I got an Onkyo 805 from there in January of '09 for 600 bucks. It's one of the best receivers, relative to the quality of the build and the features for the price, of any receiver ever made.

Actually, Onkyo still hasn't made another receiver in that line that is comparable for less than 1500 bucks.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by notorious

5.1 input-NO : There are no individual Analog 5.1 inputs. It's no big deal considering probably 1% of home theaters actually use them on a traditional receiver. Back when Dolby Pro Logic became mainstream, 5.1 inputs were nice to have because you could just upgrade your pre-amp instead of the whole receiver. Now days it doesn't mean much.


Pass-Through: I believe this means that you can run an HDMI signal right through the receiver and still have it pass the signal uncolored even with the receiver off. Very handy if you want to use TV volume at night instead of full-blown 5.1 or 7.1. Since you have no audio on your TV, it basically means you could watch the TV without having the receiver turned on.



BTW, my father's one complaint about his Yamaha was that he had to have it turned on to get the HDMI signal to the TV. It wouldn't be a problem for you, though.

Actually, pass through is whether or not it will scale the picture, or just pass the digital information directly to the TV. You can also turn it on or off.

Whether or not you want the receiver to manipulate the picture is dependent upon your TV and the individual input source.

HQV Reon is the gold standard for scalars in a receiver. Faroudja is pretty good, but if you have a really good TV, just let the TV do the picture adjustments.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Here's a really good deal if you can spend 850 bucks:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...eceiver/1.html

[Bill Lundberg]

Originally Posted by thecoffeeguy

Ok...looking at these two:

Just looking at bestbuy right now. Unlikely I will be buying it there.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Denon+-+...&skuId=9878176

Question on this Denon receiver:
What does it mean when it says: 5.1 channel input = NO
Confused on that one.
But the manual shows you how to setup 5.1?

Second one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Yamaha+-...=1218173777379

What does it mean when it says "Pass through"?

Thanks for the help.

I have that Denon receiver and I love it.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by notorious

Pass-Through: I believe this means that you can run an HDMI signal right through the receiver and still have it pass the signal uncolored even with the receiver off.

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Actually, pass through is whether or not it will scale the picture, or just pass the digital information directly to the TV.

I should have been a little more clear. Thanks for cleaning up my mess, Hamas.