Yamaha HTR-6060 vs. Onkyo TX-SR605

[gmw]

Hello,

I just bought a 50" plasma (Pioneer 507CMX w/ Key Digital KD-PC2 video processing card), Polk surround system (fronts: R50, rears: R15, center: CSI25), and an Acoustech BIC America H-100 powered subwoofer... any input as to which receiver will best fit my system (or which receiver is better):

1) Yamaha HTR-6060 (this model is very similar to the RX-V661)

2) Onkyo TX-SR605

75% of my use will be home theater... a mix of low quality (i.e. divx), standard def tv, high def tv, and dvd (no blu-ray or hd-dvd)
25% of my use will be music... mostly low quality (i.e. mp3 off an iPod), but some CD-quality

Total cost (receiver + iPod dock + tax/shipping) of the Yamaha HTR-6060 is about $80 less than the Onkyo TX-SR605. I don't have the luxury of setting up the system and listening to both. Thanks in advance.

G

[gmw]

Would love some "expert" input... please let me know what you would do if you were in my shoes... thanks again...

[gmw]

Bump... I'm leaning toward the Onkyo because On Screen Display (OSD) works over HDMI, which is a known problem with the Yamaha... however, with all the low-quality content I'll be playing, I'm intrigued by Yamaha's proprietary Digital Signal Processing (DSP) called Compressed Music Enhancer, which is supposed to make compressed music sound "fuller" and "richer" - think it's a bunch of crap or a legitimate advantage over the Onkyo for someone with my intended use?

Thanks again,
G

[EPlay]

Sorry I can't give you much help, but I don't think OSD over HDMI is THAT important, as you'll probably not need to access it much after your initial setup.

I have had the Onkyo 605 for several weeks now and am contemplating the Yamaha 661. My issue is that the Onkyo sounds bright to me. . .I am curious about Yamaha's DSPs, too -- aside from the music use, it seems that some of the modes for movies are pretty good.

If HDMI 1.3 is not important to you, I think I'd go with the Yamaha in your situation. (I've read more on the 661, though, and not sure of the differences with the 6060.)

[Quatre]

is the Yamaha 5960 and RX-V661 the same or not? which is better?

no clear answer here on whether to go with Yama RX-V661 or ONkyo SR605.

Onkyo has hdmi 1.3? what if your tv doesnt have that? doesn't matter? as the onkyo then gives you hdmi 1.3?

might be a good reason to get the onkyo then and say get the Samsung hlt6187 instead of the hlt6189 which mostly just adds hdmi 1.3 but if hte receiver can give it to you then no need to spend extra on at tv with that feature.

[gmw]

Thanks for the responses... I've been assuming that without HDMI 1.3 on BOTH the output and the display, that the final product would simply be a backward compatible 1.1/1.2/1.2a, particularly if the signal from the source to the receiver is either an earlier version of HDMI or lower quality digital signal... perhaps an analog signal, however, could be converted to Deep Color. Admittedly, I don't know if any of that is true, but it brings up another difference between the Onkyo and Yamaha: it would appear that the Onkyo can transconvert (correct terminology?) signal from analog to HDMI, while the Yamaha cannot. Any more input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
G

[Russdawg]

One thing you might want to seriously consider is the Onkyo has NO PREOUTS. Your pretty much done should you ever want to consider external amplification.

This for me anyway would be a big factor in deciding between these two receivers.

[letzleta]

Just for everyones information, I recently emailed Yamaha to ask what the differences were between the HTR-6060 and the RX-V661. They said the only difference is the 661 has zone 2 capability and the 6060 does not. They also said the 661 was "geared more towards custom installations."

So, they are pretty much exactly the same.

Also, I have not seen it mentioned in this thread, but if you are going for a 7.1 setup, the 661 will process PCM digital sources where the 605 will not. I believe that means the 661 will process 5.1PCM and convert it to 7.1, but the 605 will just play 5.1 through 7 speakers.

[Quatre]

i wonder then if the rx-v661 is better for my 7.1 setup (i'm going to be adding 2 speakers to a 5.1 setup and a 7.1 receiver) then what i'm currently using it on a 6.1 setup (3 front, 3 rear and a sub) but i guess just like it will process 5.1pcm to 7.1 it will do the same for 6.1 just throught the 6 speakers instead of 7

if i end up using the 661 for my 7.1 setup what should i get for my 6.1 setup? or should i just get 2 661's as it seems to be the best bang for buck right now.

[gmw]

Thanks, everyone, for all your input... Does anyone have any advice specifically regarding the video out signal of the Onkyo vs. the Yamaha?

Thanks,
G

[eightninesuited]

I just recently heard the 605. I'd say the 661/6060 is noticably better sounding.

[gmw]

I don't think OSD over HDMI is THAT important, as you'll probably not need to access it much after your initial setup.I intend to have an iPod semi-permanently connected to the receiver via a dedicated iPod dock... the big advantage of the dedicated iPod dock is its OSD/remote control... what I don't know is whether the Yamaha HTR-6060 can't output its own OSD or can't output any OSD (although I suspect the latter)... if my receiver-to-display is a single HDMI cable that can't display any OSD, then the iPod dock would essentially be useless... I've pre-ordered the Onkyo TX-SR605 and Onkyo DS-A2X Remote Interactive Dock for iPod from J&R for $479.99 inclusive of shipping and tax, but if the Yamaha HTR-6060 and Yamaha YDS-10 will allow for OSD/remote control of the iPod, then I think I can get a receiver with better sound/better DSP for $418.05 inclusive of shipping and tax from www.etailelectronics.com & www.provantage.com - I'd love to save $60 while getting a better product, but I think the OSD problem may be a deal breaker... does anyone know something I don't?

Thanks,
G

[gmw]

Just got off the phone with Yamaha and my suspicion was confirmed - the OSD from the iPod dock will NOT be conveyed over HDMI to the display... looks like I'll be sticking with the Onkyo.

Thanks, everyone, for your input...

G

[gmw]

anyone who was following along... i ended up going with the Sony STR-DG1000 because of its ability to "turn off" video processing... since i put a premium (at least for my budget!) video processing card into the pioneer plasma, i don't want my video feeds to first be processed by an inferior mid-range receiver processor, which the Onkyo will do... ideally, i would have gotten the Onkyo TX-SR875 with onboard Reon video processing and not gotten the video processing card at all, but with the complaints about some rather non-intuitive video processing/pass-through features in the new Onkyo line, i thought better of it... my only complaint about the STR-DG1000 is that it doesn't have the Sony Digital Media Port for the proprietary Sony iPod dock (but at least it will show a third-party iPod dock's OSD over HDMI - either the Griffin TuneCenter or DLO Home Dock)...