Need super cheap 5.1 reciever for BluRay. Pioneer VSX-518-K?

The 518 doesn't do PCM over HDMI so it will not send the HD audio from your PS3 through to your speakers. For this feature I believe the entry level receivers for you to consider would be the Pioneer VSX-918, Yamaha RX-V463, Onkyo TX-SR576 or Marantz SR4002.
Find the best deal on any of those and you're good to go. You'll likely pay a bit over $200 but probably less than $300 w/free shipping for any of them.

The OP should consider 2 year old models that accept PCM over HDMI. Aren't those AVRs getting down below $200 now?

So what are you trying to do? If there is no DD track, then your only choice for surround will be the lossless track (assuming you checked for a basic DTS soundtrack). The only way to get lossless from your ps3 is through HDMI...so there you are. You do need PCM over HDMI if you are going to listen to Fogetting Sarah Marshall in surround.

Or you can just have PS3 output 2 channel PCM over optical and apply Dolby PL.

I don't get it -- if you want lossless audio get a budget receiver with HDMI audio capabilities (Yamma 463, Marantz 4002, etc)

If you just want to add standard DTS decoding, get any old used or refurb receiver that is slightly newer than your old Denon. You can get, say, a Denon 1907 (two years old) for well under $200:
http://www.ecost.com/Detail.aspx?edp...avid=155441519

Just get the Pioneer 918...I believe you can find it for under $230.

I just think we don't understand, or perhaps you don't understand what your needs are precisely enough to explain them. You keep saying you want 5.1 surround sound but your current receiver is a 5.1 receiver. So what exactly are you missing? Just the ability to take DTS? If so I gave you a viable suggestion already.

If you don't want to upgrade to HDMI and your current receiver will process DD then another receiver isn't going to help you. No receiver is going to create a DD track from a DVD that doesn't have it. Although I find it strange any movie on DVD wouldn't have an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack.

You can use the receivers processing modes to simulate a DD 5.1 signal but if the DVD doesn't have it, nothing is going to create one.

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Edit. Ok I understand the issue now as I've checked the Denon AVR-85. It only has Dolby Pro Logic decoding. It sounded like from your original post it had DD decoders.

Basically any receiver out now will handle your needs. You can get good deals on Onkyo refurbs from accessories4less.com or shoponkyo.com, look for the 5xx series as they have a good amount of in class features at a good price. If you want to go new, anything from the popular brands, Onkyo, Pioneer, HK, Onkyo, Yamaha, Marantz and Denon will fit your needs. Accessories4.less also has the Marantz 4002 at a great price and will handle HDMI audio if you decide to go there in the future. Since you have the PS3 I personally wouldn't recommend buying anything without HDMI audio but that's your choice.

Yes, Blu Ray DVDs include the DD soundtrack and that's what your get with the 518 which I basically stated in my above post when I said basically any receiver out now will fit your needs. I don't know how to get any clearer than that either.

if all you need is DTS then ANY modern receiver from the last 8 years will do what you want, just hop on craigslist and get something newer than your current model, as I suggested above.

once you are spending $200+ you may as well get an HDMI receiver, as others have suggested.

DTS 96/24 is a whole 'nuther thing. That's a specific surround format that is rarely used.

The DTS "downmix" or "core" soundtrack would just be standard 5.1 DTS but at the max (1.5 kb/s) bitrate. What you need is a receiver that can do DTS in addition to DD, which means you can just upgrade to any Denon receiver that is a few years newer than yours.

Like the 1907 I suggested above, well under $200, or just grab any digital receiver that is of fairly recent vintage off craigslist.

what city are you in? I can check out your local craigslist...

DTS 96/24 is a format that's very rarely used but to answer your question yes it's available over optical or coaxial digital.

The newer HD audio formats require HDMI which was my recommendation above. You can get a refurbished HK 247 with full 2 year warranty on HKs ebay auctions which go for around $200ish + shipping or Marantz 4002 from accessories4lessl.com. Both will handle HDMI audio as well as meeting your other requirements. With the PS3 since your investing in another receiver I don't see why you wouldn't go for one at those prices. Why limit yourself when you already have the player, but that's your call and again. If you don't want HDMI audio basically any receiver out will meet your needs.

I'm kind of in the same boat as the OP. I'm wondering which receiver you would buy if you were choosing between the VSX518 & the AVR1907? I don't have blue ray at this point and don't see me buying one in the near future. I've been using Tos-link for many years now and I don't feel the least bit deprived. Maybe I'm missing something here? Right now money is tight but I need a receiver for the second place, and I just want something under $200.00. Any thoughts or help would be appreciated. I liked the Pio because of the 120W per channel I think the Denon is a lot less. But I'm not sure it's a big deal or not? I'll be using this with Energy C-100's and a C-C100. The Denon's dual source/zone feature might be interesting but I'm not even sure how it works? I'm open to suggestions on other receivers also.

Thanks,

Bill

take the Denon 1907. the Pio 518 is a bargain basement entry-level unit whereas the 1907 was a mid-level model that retailed for $550. While it doesn't have HDMI, it has WAY more features than the Pio 518 and is a better built unit.

There is almost always better value in the 1-2 year old, but higher end unit on discount than a brand new bottom-of-the-line model.

Additionally, the Denon will allow you to hear lossless audio when you get a Blu Ray player because it has multichannel analog inputs.


Don't believe paper specs!!! Do you REALLY think a crappy little $199 msrp unit can put out 120W per channel? It probably only puts out about 25-30 W/ch with all channels driven, the Denon probably has more than twice as much power in real world application.

Here is a bench test of the higher-end Pio 918 model (several step up from the 518) that shows it only puts out 34 W/ch with 5 channels driven!
http://hometheatermag.com/receivers/...ec/index2.html

It's more accurate in general to judge a receiver's power based on msrp than on the paper specs.

If you want great sound for around $200 also look into the HK ebay store, you can probably snag an HK AVR 247 for $200 and they come with full mfgr's warranty.

Yea I kinda figured real world power would be a lot less then they claimed. I was just looking for opinions.

I take it you would pick the HK over the Denon? I know your a big Denon fan. I see it doesn't have Audeusy though? Is that a problem? It sure appears to be a lot better deal giving you HDMI too at that price. One on there right now for $153.00.

Bill

HK doesn't use Audyssey. I think HK's version is EZ Set. Better or worse? That's up to the one using it, both do a good job, Audyssey is more popular and available in more models. Personally I would put less emphasis as to the type of auto setup it has and more priority in what your looking for at the price point.

Take away HDMI and they are both great comparable choices. I personally would go for the HK 247 in a heartbeat as it's a previous gen model that has the bugs worked out and ships with the latest firmware plus has a longer warranty and your buying direct from the manuf instead of Ecost. Plus it will handle HDMI audio and video which in this day and age is going to come into play sooner or later no matter if you plan on it now or not. Plus my experience has been good from HK direct. I've ordered several refurbs for me and other setups I've done. I've only had 1 issue with a receiver which was taken care of promptly.

I'm still not sold on the need for HDMI. I agree at some point if you want to do Blue ray it will be needed. But at this point I have zero plans to upgrade and this is for my second place so it won't be used a lot. With that said I'm looking at the HK 340 it has no HDMI but it has more optical which at this point is more important to me. I don't need the HDMI upscaling since I am using Dish Network all HD. All I want it 5.1 surround for the forseeable future.

Bill

Rather then edit my previous post I thought I would just reply to it.

Given how close they are in price the HK 247 probably makes the most sense. At some point I'm going to want blue ray and my understanding is it has to pass the audio through HDMI? Which I guess begs the question, if this receiver doesn't decode the newer Dolby codecs what good is it to buy it for the HDMI? I figure I must be missing something here? I'm just trying to makes heads or tails of all this. Last time I shopped for a receiver I was still in my teens LOL. And I haven't been there in decades.

So I guess the best way to sum this up is what at a minimum do I need to get by with here? In the past I've always just done optical to the receiver and sent the video straight to the display. I just don't get what running it through the receiver first buys me? I don't need upscaling. Which I presume is the big benefit?

Thanks,

Bill

If you do get a H/K 247 you'll need to get a B/R player that internally decodes as opposed to decoding in the receiver. PS3's do this as do many other players. That's if you decide to go Blu at some point.

Decoding can be done in the BR Player or the Receiver, doesn't matter which, same results. A Receiver without the HD Decoders that does accept audio over HDMI would need to be paired with a BR Player that has the decoders built in, which is no big deal as most BR players do, the most popular being the PS3.

just to be clear -- the other non-HDMI receivers mentioned (like the Denon 1907) will STILL allow you to hear the lossless audio. You just need to get a BDP that has multichannel analog outputs, because there isn't an HDMI input on the receiver. If you never intend to run your video through the receiver, a nice non-HDMI receiver like the Denon or another comparable, 2-3 old model will do just as well as a newer HDMI receiver like the HK 247.

The reason the HK 247 was mentioned was because it's an excellent value at the $200 price point w/ warranty from the HK store. Even if you never use the HDMI, the 247 is a solid receiver with great HK sound quality. And if you give yourself more flexibility for the future.

I am selling my Onkyo HT-R550 if you would be interested in that. I am selling it for around 125.00.

I made an offer on the HK 247 so we will see what happens. I like the idea of buying an older model since the bugs should be pretty much worked out by now. I probably won't be using the HDMI any time soon anyway. That seemed to be where most of the bugs were from what I read. Now it's just a waiting game.

Bill

Yea I'm working on getting one. It appears the best way to go is get one on the best offer. If you try to go the auction route they seem to be going for over $200.00. Everytime one gets bought they put another up for sale. I tried at 180 twice and 190 and each time I was out bid at 200. So it seems 200 is the price if you want one. Just an FYI for anyone interested in one. I read the last years worth of posts and it appears most of the glaring bugs have been finally worked out. Most of them appear to be video related. I have no plans to pass video through it anyway, at least for now. Everyone seems to love the sound it puts out and I think that's the most important aspect of any receiver.

Bill