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Selection Request - Receiver to pair with TV+BlueRay

post #1 of 7
7/16/08 at 7:07pm
Thread Starter 
I've finally taken the step into this decade and bought myself a Sharp LC46SE94U LCD TV (replacing my Sony Trinitron). I'm pretty much decided on getting the new Sony Blue Ray BDD-S350 that just came out. But it's time I upgrade my OLD Sony receiver (DA333ES). Was wondering if anyone had an opinion on a good receiver to add to my mix without breaking the bank (under $500 would be nice... way under is obviously nicer...). I currently have a 5.1 speaker setup with Energy E:XL speakers (I think E:XL-16's along with center and sub). While I was thinking of the Sony STR-DG820, I wanted to get some opinions on the setup. I'm not an audiophile and cannot tell the difference btw 320 bit sampling versus 321 (those that have seen Mr Mom will get the humor in that - those that don't - flame on).
The only other thing I'll be hooking up to the receiver is my HTPC system via an optical cable. (which is hooked to the Sharp LCD fo rVideo).
Last question for now - would it be better to hook the Blue Ray to the tv or the receiver?

Appreciate the assist...
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post #2 of 7
7/16/08 at 8:27pm
If you get an HDMI receiver, I would consider hooking up the player to the receiver. You can get a receiver which upconverts non HDMI video to HDMI. In that way, you can switch all your audio/video through your receiver.

Look at receivers like the Yamaha RX-V663. It has two HDMI inputs, but that may be all you mean.
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post #3 of 7
7/16/08 at 9:33pm
Agree with Michael - Definitely hook the Blu-Ray player up to the receiver, and then ther receiver to the TV via HDMI. If you want to have your receiver decode the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA HD audio tracks from Blu-Ray, you MUST connect the receiver to the player via HDMI. Optical and Digital Coax have a 1.5 Mbps bandwidth maximum limit, and the lossless 7.1 on Blu-Ray can be up to 18 Mbps. Only HDMI can carry that kind of bandwidth on consumer-level gear.

$500 is at the low end for a receiver with the HD audio codecs built-in, but every one of the entries in that price range is a good choice.

Greg
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post #4 of 7
7/17/08 at 7:30pm
Thread Starter 
cool - thanks for the suggestions. I'll hookup the blue ray to the receiver... the htpc currently is only used for music and doesn't have a hdmi card (yet) so optical is all it can do at this time. I'll check out the Yamaha...
I guess one more question is - would going with a higher end reciever have THAT much of an effect on the overall playing through a blue ray and normal tv? Or is it really like a car with 400 hp versus one with 420... ie the difference is really noticable only to a few people out there with superiior senses
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post #5 of 7
7/17/08 at 8:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Booboo- View Post

I've finally taken the step into this decade and bought myself a Sharp LC46SE94U LCD TV (replacing my Sony Trinitron). I'm pretty much decided on getting the new Sony Blue Ray BDD-S350 that just came out. But it's time I upgrade my OLD Sony receiver (DA333ES). Was wondering if anyone had an opinion on a good receiver to add to my mix without breaking the bank (under $500 would be nice... way under is obviously nicer...). I currently have a 5.1 speaker setup with Energy E:XL speakers (I think E:XL-16's along with center and sub). While I was thinking of the Sony STR-DG820, I wanted to get some opinions on the setup. I'm not an audiophile and cannot tell the difference btw 320 bit sampling versus 321 (those that have seen Mr Mom will get the humor in that - those that don't - flame on).
The only other thing I'll be hooking up to the receiver is my HTPC system via an optical cable. (which is hooked to the Sharp LCD fo rVideo).
Last question for now - would it be better to hook the Blue Ray to the tv or the receiver?

Appreciate the assist...

Currently the "most bang for the buck" in a AV receiver under $500 is the new Onkyo TX-SR606. I supports decoding all of the latest audio formats offered by Blu-ray Disc and has 4 HDMI inputs. Also its power output with 5 or 7 channels driven is much better than most other budget receivers, including those from Yamaha, Sony and Pioneer (based on published test results, such as the recent reviews in Home Theater Magazine).
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post #6 of 7
7/19/08 at 7:36pm
Thread Starter 
I just picked up the Sony Blue Ray 350 and got the Sony 820 receiver since it had the basics - 4 hdmi in 1 out, and the digitial optical I need for the htpc. The low cost was a selling point on that receiver... definately not all the bells and whistles, but a HUGE upgrade over the old receiver I had. Now if I had just bought some HDMI cables....
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post #7 of 7
7/19/08 at 10:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Booboo- View Post

I just picked up the Sony Blue Ray 350 and got the Sony 820 receiver since it had the basics - 4 hdmi in 1 out, and the digitial optical I need for the htpc. The low cost was a selling point on that receiver... definately not all the bells and whistles, but a HUGE upgrade over the old receiver I had. Now if I had just bought some HDMI cables....

With an HTPC I wouldn't buy seperates. I did that a few months ago and returned them.

Here is what I'm doing:

1) LG HDDVD/Bluray writer $160 on ebay brand new with 35% live.com coupon

2) Denon 1909/2309/2909 - will buy. 1909 is starting to show up while the others will be out later.

3) Asus HDAV HDMI sound card or Auzentech's new one when they come out. I need them for my gaming. If you don't then there are other options that you can buy today to get HDMI sound out of your pc.
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