BEST sounding HT receiver for right around $1000??? buying next week

The stickied AVR Faq might help a explain a bit about modern AV receivers.

I picked up my Pioneer Elite 91THX for under 1000, you can't go wrong with that unit. I have had it for about one year and it's been just outstanding.

Get a Denon 3808CI from an authorized dealer, like 6th ave. CALL them for a price, do NOT go on their web site price. Calling will knock several hundred off the price. Best receiver in its class, IMHO. Do NOT buy Onkyo.

Check out the Onkyo 876, I think you will like it for under 1k. If you want to go over 1k, there are many others out there. It is always best to review as many different receivers as you can Watch out for the WV above

Why settle for just those options? Keep shopping and find what you want not just because the sales guys is pushing a possibly older unit. Things are always coming out and stores need to get rid of the old to bring in the new. What's wrong with Yamaha or Harmon Kardon. I now there are some others for a lot more but like you I was on a budget and after seeing the quality difference from Sony to Yamaha, it was a no brainer for me. Maybe Sony has changed but for me I would not consider it over the other four better offerings. Bang for the buck is nice but better performance is going to take a little more bucks.

Why limit yourself to a receiver? For $1000 I'd consider separates. You can get an Emotiva 7 channel amp for $600. Find a $400 receiver with the functions you need and use it as a pre/pro.


http://emotiva.com/upa7.shtm

I use an HK AVR247 as a pre/pro with my UPA-7. I bought it for $200 from Harman Audio store on ebay. Before that I had an HK AVR520 for about 8 years. The improvement in sound quality is astounding.

Comparing 125wpc in an amp vs a receiver isn't even fair.

Same here on the Sony, never had any luck with them. The two I had were not the most reliable units. They were not the most expensive Sony units out there, but they weren't cheap either. Both lasted around 14 mos. before going tits up.

That is when I went with Denon. I still have, and use, my Denon AVR 4802, watching the Lions and Green Bay on her right now. She has seen allot of usage over the past 7+ years I have had her. And I have no complaints, she just keeps going and going, along with that old remote, still works like a champ.

Same thing downstairs, another Denon, an AVR 4308ci. Great unit, and I would recommend its little brother as someone else did, the AVR 3808ci. Looks like it can be had for around $1200. What is nice about these new Denons, is that if a firmware update comes out, the 3808ci can download right from Denon over the internet with an ethernet connection and a pc.

Oh, and did I mention they sound so sweeeet.

Emotiva amp, drooling. Next toy on my list.

Ya you can't beat Denon's support for live firmware updates via the internet. They regularly release updates, and performing the update is as easy as a few clicks in the menu. Unlike other manufacturers that either don't allow any type of firmware updates, or take elaborate schemes and 'underground' passing around of files and special hardware to perform updates.

Plus Denon came out with a feature pack for the xx08 models which added cool new Audyssey features, and other enhancements as well. You really can't beat the support Denon shows to their existing base. No receiver is perfect, but the Denon 3808 really sings and performs like a champ.

Audyssey Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume are both cool features, which really grow on you. I personally don't use DV, but many others really like the feature. I always leave DEQ engaged.

Thar she Blows!

Onkyo 606.

I think you need to go and compare the owners manuals and see what are the functionality differences (go to the website and dload them.) Then, if possible, go out and check them out in the field. Also, check the user threads. Then make your own decision, what you want. Not some fanboy-WV response like you will get here

Wow no Yamaha?
I have the Pioneer vsx 94 and like it very much but just too much learning... Each company's recievers sound different. You really need to hear the ones you are looking at with the same speakers and in the same environment!

How about doing some research we have given you the tools. Use them.

You can't use an external amp with the 606, it has no pre-amp outputs. Look at the Yamaha 663, or something similar that has pre-amp outputs.

You're searching for a reciever that has "Pre outs" that will allow you to out put a signal to an external amp. The main reason for recommending a Reciever, as opposed to a true Pre/Pro, is the recievers have a lot of bells and whisles for a LOT less money than at ture Pre/Pro, which has no amp.


The main difference between the 806 and 876 is the 867 has a Reon upconverting chip that will make standard def TV and DVD look better on your TV.
Not sure what's in the Denon, but I believe it's still a Faroudja chip.

OK, its late, but I'll try to sort this out for you.

Receivers contain everything you need to hook up speakers and turn it on and get sound, even if its only the radio. Hooking up a CD or DVD or your video for switching is a convenience we've come to expect even in the cheaper receivers. The shortcoming of those receivers is the power, or lack thereof.


An integrated amp is basically a receiver without the tuner section. In other words it contains a preamp, and amp, and in the case of multi channel, a processor for audio, and the newer ones process video as well. They usually contain more powerful amp sections than receivers, but not always. They can be very expensive to replace, especially when the video and audio processors are not up to date. They also have most if not all the connections you would expect to find on a receiver.

A power amp is just that. It doesn't even have a volume control, the preamp processor does that. Connections on the most basic ones are for inputs from the preamp and speaker binding posts to connect the speakers.

Many, but not all receivers have preamp output jacks. A quick look at the back panel will tell you if it does. Many of us use a receiver with an external amp, and for varied reasons. Most of us buy external amps because the power of a receiver often isn't enough for satisfactory sound quality.

Some debate this approach as being unnecessary. Thats fine. I know what I know, and its enough for me to continue this practice.

Buying an inexpensive receiver allows me to upgrade to newer features when they become available without having to buy the expensive ones simply for the power they have. I already have my amp, I just need the preamp processor part to function adequately so my 5.1 sound system is up to date and sounds great.

When its time to upgrade, I'll be looking at refurbed units with quality preamp output and the features I'm looking for. I won't be concerned with buying for power.

Perhaps I'll buy a dedicated pre/pro unit if the right one comes along at the right price.

I am currently using an HK AVR 247 for my pre/pro. It has 50wpc x7. My amp has 125wpc x7. Which would you rather power speakers with?

It works well and I've not found any issues that would cause me to return it. The preamp section is very quiet and it has the usual HK sound, a tad on the warm side, but I like it that way. It replaced a still functional HK AVR 520 that was a bear to configure. Until a few weeks ago the 520 was what I listened to each day.

get a used Arcam AVR350 for a few hundred more... that receiver is awesome

Observation: Right or wrong, audio folks don't like Sony receivers. Arcam, Denon, Harmon Kardon (HK), Marantz, Onkyo, Pioneer, and Yamaha get a lot more respect.

IMO, buy one of the respected brands I listed based on connectivity and features, even if you can't hear it first. Here's the approach I recommend for buying a receiver:

1. Figure out how many HDMI inputs you need/want for the foreseeable future and use that, along with your budget constraints, to narrow the field. Make a list of what sources do you have now, and what else are you already envisioning for your system -- Blu-ray/upscaling-DVD player, cable/sat, game systems, HTPC, etc. Post the list here and we'll help you finish it, double-check it for you, and make better recommendations for your needs.

2. If you'd like to have the capability to try an external amp (now or later), buy a receiver with pre-outs.

3. Figure out if you really need the receiver to do high-quality video upscaling, or if your source components and/or TV are already capable of doing a fine job on the upscaling without the receiver's help. Most folks don't need the receiver to do high-quality video upscaling. If you post your TV (including any pending plans to upgrade) along with your list of sources, we can help you figure this out.

I suggest allocating less than $1000 of your total budget for a receiver. Buying a $500 receiver and spending the extra $500 on speakers or a sub will almost certainly yield better system performance. I like having an activity-based universal remote (e.g. Logitech Harmony remotes), too, so I can just hit one button and have it turn everything on and choose the right inputs for me. I'd allocate some of the budget for one of those.

-Max

Try taking it to the next step. Here are the manual links

Here is the link to get the Onkyo manuals:
http://www.onkyousa.com/download/own...m?cat=Receiver

Here is the link to get the 2809ci manual:
http://usa.denon.com/1766.asp?modelS...imageField.y=6

Here is the link to get the 3808ci manual:
http://usa.denon.com/1766.asp?modelS...imageField.y=8

Here is the link to get the Sony manual:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/mod...ES&region_id=1