OK, the new home we moved into has mains, surrounds, and a center channel in the walls and ceiling. There is also 1 pair of speakers in the ceiling of the master bedroom with a wall mount control, which is fed by a single pair of binding posts. All speakers are 8 ohm. With an AVR and a subwoofer and I'll have my first 5.1ch setup. However, I want to be able to listen to music in both the family room and bedroom, so A+B stereo output is important. My initial desire for the AVR is for music, but I figure I should enjoy better movie watching too. I've noticed that the Denon receivers require 12 ohm speakers if using both A+B. Hmm, I think I'll need to change out the volume control in the master bedroom to add some resistance.
I would like to buy an AVR. I have my choices narrowed down to the Onkyo TX-SR507, Denon AVR-1709, and Denon AVR-1610.
Watching TV is not so important that I will pay extra for a HD DVR setup. For us (wife & I), paying what we do for DirecTV DVR Plus is borderline a waste of money. Watching movies may or may not be so important that I will go Blu-Ray and a HDTV. We'll look at those options when the TV and/or DVD player gives up the ghost. It basically boils down to whatever a HDTV and Blu-Ray costs at whatever point in time it is that I need to make the purchase. I'd rather put $$ into new mountain bike parts, or a four wheeler for the kids, or some activity that puts us outside rather than sitting on the couch. However, since the speakers are already there, I figured I could get away with $400 to $500 for AVR & sub-woofer. Oh yeah, there's cables too, but you get understand now that whiz bang is not of utmost importance.
Here's my current equipment list:
The only AVR on my list with component upconversion is the 1709, so if I go 1610 or 507, I'll need to connect both s-video and component between the AVR and TV, because that's what it's being supplied with from the DVR and DVD. No big deal I guess, it's just one more cable. I also want to supply TV with composite audio for when I don't want to send audio to 5.1 speakers. Would I still need to have AVR powered up for this, or is there a pass-thru when AVR is powered down?
Hey folks, it's late and I'm getting up in 6 hours. Thank you for your answering my dumb questions, but this stuff has come a long way since the last time I did any research. I just don't want to over buy, but I also don't want to under buy.
I'm sure I'll have more questions later. Again, thank you.
I would like to buy an AVR. I have my choices narrowed down to the Onkyo TX-SR507, Denon AVR-1709, and Denon AVR-1610.
Watching TV is not so important that I will pay extra for a HD DVR setup. For us (wife & I), paying what we do for DirecTV DVR Plus is borderline a waste of money. Watching movies may or may not be so important that I will go Blu-Ray and a HDTV. We'll look at those options when the TV and/or DVD player gives up the ghost. It basically boils down to whatever a HDTV and Blu-Ray costs at whatever point in time it is that I need to make the purchase. I'd rather put $$ into new mountain bike parts, or a four wheeler for the kids, or some activity that puts us outside rather than sitting on the couch. However, since the speakers are already there, I figured I could get away with $400 to $500 for AVR & sub-woofer. Oh yeah, there's cables too, but you get understand now that whiz bang is not of utmost importance.
Here's my current equipment list:
- TV video input - component, s-video, composite
- TV audio input - composite
- DVD video output - component, s-video, composite
- DVC audio output - digital (both optical and coaxial), composite
- Sat DVR video output - s-video, composite
- SAT DVR audio output - digital optical, composite
The only AVR on my list with component upconversion is the 1709, so if I go 1610 or 507, I'll need to connect both s-video and component between the AVR and TV, because that's what it's being supplied with from the DVR and DVD. No big deal I guess, it's just one more cable. I also want to supply TV with composite audio for when I don't want to send audio to 5.1 speakers. Would I still need to have AVR powered up for this, or is there a pass-thru when AVR is powered down?
Hey folks, it's late and I'm getting up in 6 hours. Thank you for your answering my dumb questions, but this stuff has come a long way since the last time I did any research. I just don't want to over buy, but I also don't want to under buy.
I'm sure I'll have more questions later. Again, thank you.
