Wow, the age of AVR "feature set explosion" is OVER... :(

Just out of curiosity, what other improvements would you like for them to have?

Better GUI in nearly all of them. Built in wi-fi in the higher end 4810 from Denon. And a hub would be cheaper to buy from WalMart than to add one to an AVR. About the only thing that's not better is still the remotes for nearly all of them.

I am hoping for a true next gen receiver.

HDMI only.
ethernet hub (powered)
digital (like ICE/nuforce) or some other interesting amplification
room correction
no rca connections (except maybe coax digital)
usb
internet radio
windows MCE
apple airplay

I suspect we are 5 yrs away from some manufacturer building this....

I just bought an Integra DTR 40.2 to replace my 7 year old 8.2. It has more bells and whistles than my 8.2 and costs way less. For example, Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker, Sirius/XM capable, I-Pod dock, HDMI in's/out's. It has the same watts per channel as well @ 110.

Jeff

So, when is HDMI 2.0 coming?

3808 is not HDMI 1.4...so that is something new.

Also, there should be working Trinnov AVRs out this year, which (if it works as people say it will) is a game changer wrt room correction systems.

The future direction of AVRs is to reduce their form factor while increasing the # of channels, increasing the # of HDMI inputs/outputs and exploiting its internet features. If you want to measure the impact of the internet just check closely the # of iOS devices (iTouch, iPhone, iPad) and the addition of iTunes, streaming music, wireless and premium services such as Napster, Pandora, vTuner. Also the iOS devices are taking over the step-up remote control biz from Pronto & Harmony..

Just my $0.02...

Don't know if they will add the ethernet hub or not anytime soon. New features they add will have to work flawlessly, they don't want to add features that will need lots of extra support and is more risk to problems. A ethernet hub/switch only cost 25 - 40 bucks retail separately but would probably add about 75 - 100 to the cost of a receiver at retail.

I would love to have a receiver that is HDMI/USB/Ethernet only, I don't have one source that is not HDMI.

As mentioned above the internet connectivity is driving the AVR pack, and along with the internet as standard equipment are the network (DNLA) and USB ports...

Just my $0.02...

Audyssey DSX is new

For new Surround modes, the DTS Neo.X just introduced is incredible..
Provides height and wide from 2.0, 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 native streams..
Plus it is under consideration by the studios to encode new HD content with Neo.X as well..

Just my $0.02...

The question should be "How soon do I want my AVR to be obsolete?"

In all seriousness I understand the OP's position.

This is a pipe dream, but I'd like to see high quality, affordable, integrated power amplification that rivals that of a decent external amp.

I think I'd still like to have a couple high quality analoge audio inputs...

I only have HDMI sources at this point as well, but I still need analoge RCA connections as my Onkyo won't pass digital audio to the 2nd and 3rd zones. Very annoying....

Here is what I would like, for the future. One simple wish: Make @#*^ing HDMI RELIABLE, notice I didn't say 'work' because HDMI does work, however it is not reliable.

Instead of adding stupid features like ethernet to HDMI, please concentrate on what we need from HDMI, A/V that works when we turn it on! It also might be nice to be able to distribute A/V around the house to more than 2 displays without spending $$$$. (I miss component some days..)

All my equipment (Onkyo 1008, Roku XD, Sony BDP S570) are new and should work when I turn them on... Both my display devices are also less than 2 years old.

Sorry for the rant I had a couple issues last night trying to use my Roku and Sony...

However, I do believe this is on topic here, as I think reliability is a great new feature we should have.

and with SubEQ ..I think those are pretty significant....especially previously you had to spend quite a few dollars to eq 2 subs.

Seriously. From my point of view, it's hard to keep up with the features.

I long ago gave up on trying to get "the best" and just stick to what I will actually use. Easier on my mind and my pocketbook.

The vast majority of the new features we are going to see (well, features that actually matter) are going to be signal processing related. Some of the posters already pointed them out, but things like SubHT, Audessey DSX, ProLogic z, and, of course, better room correction Audessy MultiEQ XT32+, and so on..

Here's the simple fact of the matter about AVRs. Their basic function (take a signal from a cable (and recently, and HDMI cable) and amplify it) is just about "perfect" at this point in time. Yes, amps could be made more powerful/efficient. However, most people are going to get 0 benefit out of that; if you want powerful amps get external gear and go for broke! Class D amplification is interesting, but that will only increase efficiency, not really alter the sound.

The input formats are probably set for a long time now (with HDMI 1.4); I doubt we'll be needing more bandwidth anytime in the near future.

The audio formats are set (because of disk based formats, we're going to be using DTS-HDMA and the other BD audio formats for the foreseeable future).

It's unlikely that we're going to see much new that "matters" to the sound over the next 5-10 years that's not room correction/processing related. We'll get better GUIs, and more powerful post processing (which matters very little/not at all). But the place we still have TONS of room for improvement is taking 2 speakers (or more) in an untreated room and getting excellent sound all over the room (flat, or near flat frequency response). This is where we have years of development left; we're still in the infancy of what we can do with room correction (and matrixing) software, it's only going to get better from here.

Honestly, I am glad that that is the case for you. For me it is as well, most of the time...

That is where my problem lies. For example, last night, I wanted to use my Sony to watch Netflix on my PJ instead of the TV. This is something I do quite frequently without issue. Well last night I had everything turned on but was looking at a black flickering screen... did everything I could to get it to work, it was only when I turned the TV on (at the same time) that the Sony's home screen showed up on the PJ.

I then turned off the TV and I had no issues at all the rest of the evening...

I know I am not the only person with random issues like this.

Ironically, my oldest HDMI device (DTV HD DVR) works the best/most reliably. When I have an issue with my other sources, I switch over to the satellite input, it always works...

I also find it amusing that when I called Roku CS for a display issue I had to switch to the composite output to see the Roku home screen and fix the issue....

I've never had HDMI issues with my setup, either (cable box and DVD player to receiver and then to TV) but I've had friends whose setups have had issues, and it can be maddening when they crop up. Sometimes for no discernible reason, too. So it does happen, and can be unpredictable.

If the majority did have HDMI issues, no one would use HDMI. Most don't have a problem, but a surprising number do. At least more than the older analog connections ever had.

Build a HTPC and connect it to a projector by HDMI and the come let us know how "trouble free" you find HDMI to be. Best come back after you've bought your GenFen, ATI 5XXX series card, and have been through more beta versions of ffdshow that you can possibly count.

HDMI isn't really the problem (the cable itself). It's HDCP that's caused all this heartburn; that's the reason that we have all theses "syncing" errors, which, in my experience, is the most common type of HDMI annoyance.

Particularly funny now since the entire point of HDCP has been rendered moot (the master keys were released last year, HDCP is now about as effective a copy protection scheme as putting a piece of paper in an unsealed envelope and asking someone not to read it).

Remember, HDMI is just DVI; and DVI has been working flawlessly to computer monitors for years now. The difference? HDCP, no HDCP on 95% of all DVI connections. Also, no repeaters (no AVR) to muck up the works.

HDMI is more than DVI as it includes HD audio..
As I have mentioned many times, certain name brand products (such as Direct TV, Samsung, Apple, Scientific Atlanta, Motorola) sold have not been certified for HDMI/HDCP. Without this certification it is a crap shoot if all works rite, especially crucial is it is an AVR repeater.

Just my $0.02...

I tried a google search on the older Integras and could find a link as to when they went to HDMI. Funny, I always thought that Denon was behind Integra! But I think it goes back and forth like a coprorate chess game!

Jeff

For HDMI 1.3 & certain DSP features actually Onkyo (and Integra) were ahead of Denon for new model introductions.. Though many people are not aware of this, the Onkyo/Integra AVRs which sell for $1499 (SRP and lower) are actually designed by the R&D team from HK...

Just my $0.02...

DVI can carry HD audio too. It's just almost never used for that purpose, but HDMI and DVI are electrically identical.

However, carrying HD audio over DVI introduces all the HDMI problems because, to make it work legally, you need HDCP.

That's my reason for not blaming HDMI, it's not the problem. It's HDCP.

IMO, in spite of a set of people on here not wanting any legacy connectivity, there is still need for it. To name some common uses -

* Zone audio (still needs analog connections for the most part)
* The Wii (I don't own one, but it lacks HDMI)
* Back up plan (for situations where a cable box, or other TV source has HDMI issues)

I hope some of you don't get your way at the expense of people who still need some analog connectivity.

Michael..
Again you are correct...
The AVRs will keep some legacy connections, the basic question is How many? and for How long?..
But as you recall certain AVR brands failed to envision the popularity of some source devices such as the Wi which used component video and analog (L/R) audio instead of S/PDIF audio.

Just my $0.02...