List of Digital Home Theater Receivers - Page 58

I hope Panasonic stays in. They make great gear, IMO.

The Pioneers are huge, and to my hearing, ICE is OK, but certainly not "better" than what I get from my current Panny at reasonable volumes. Definitely not worth the bulk, or the price.

The Neo looks interesting on paper, but it's a 6-channel box, which is ... eh.

I really hope Panny stays in, but if nothing comes out at CES, I'll probably pick up a 500 to keep me going for the next few years.

P.S. I think the industry hates the idea of Class D, since they are often inexpensive, and harder to BS about. Anyway, this was fun to read:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1161048

Can anyone help? I am new to the AV scene.I have a Panasonic TH46PZ85 TV.I am now looking to add a BD player,AV amp and speakers.I havent decided on the BD player,but am looking at the Denon 1910 for the AV receiver and Teufel Columa 700/900 for the speakers.Any comments would be appreciated.

This is the wrong thread for a question relating to the Denon.... look in the main receiver area. Good luck.

One new one coming soon, the Sherwood R-904N NetBoxx:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1170346

Sounds like it's TI-based, although unclear exactly which chipset. Includes HDMI, TrueHD/DTS-HD MA, and most of the bells and whistles expected from a modern receiver. Priced a good bit higher than most of the old Panasonics though.

Might finally have something to replace my Panny SA-XR55...

This does sound god. Finally a decent digital amp receiver!

Bummer that it's the only one introduced (so far?)

Well, my trusty Panny SAXR50 sounds great but can no longer handle the variety of hdmi inputs i need (can't handle any, for that matter!) The current 500 models are nowhere to be found, so what are the current digital receiver options that are available now?

I am currently waiting to jump on the Sherwood R-904N. I like the T amps, it has enough bells and whistles (although, since I run everything through my HTPC, I only need one HDMI It does all the things my SA R57 does, and a few more).

For those without HTPCs, the Netflix, Hulu, etc. net features, should be well worth the extra $$. IMO, it's the first notable receiver to come out in a few years.

Anyone in Europe (or elsewhere) see this new contender?
http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/a/a...12_pss_aen.pdf
http://www.testberichte.de/p/philips...stbericht.html
Philips avr9900. Any idea if this will come stateside, and what street prices are/will be?

Spec sheet says Class A/B amplifier, so not really a digital amp section.

I like the design though.

Arrrgh! I missed that....I saw the "Pure path signal processing" and missed the other so incorrectly assumed TI's Purepath. I'm feeling 4 months late to the bx-500 party, but unfortunately wasn't in the market for a receiver then. Now there are none of these types.

Where are the Blu Ray receivers.

Hi All,
I am considering a used Panasonic receiver with digital amps. But before jumping in, I want to get an opinion on what's new out there.

So are there any receivers with digital amps released in 2009 which can handle 1080p video through HDMI?
Thanks

From 2009, not much at all besides the Sherwood R904. Most of the entries stopped late in 2008 with the Panasonic BX500 and a number of $$$$ IcePower receivers from Pioneer/Rotel/etc. Beyond that, your best hope is an HTiB, they usually use digital amp sections, but not really good ones.

I've been thinking of one as well and was a little saddened by the lack of new devices besides the Sherwood (which seems priced kind of high). Now I'm thinking combining this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

with one of the older ones might be an interesting way to work around the HDMI limitation.

Everyone here seems to be raving about Panasonic digital receivers. I own one and quite happy so far. Granted I am not a audiophile, but it is pretty good for casual user like me, but sad part is that Panasonic seems to be discontinuing the models and my other friends with limited knowledge also seem to look down upon digital receivers. If not for anything else it's form factor should appeal to casual users, but somehow not! I really pray that Panasonic comes up with a model that just has more HDMI inputs (and upconversion) on their existing models.

I have heard rumors that Pioneer will be dropping the Elite AVRs. Anyone else know anything? Pioneer says this isn't so, but that could be PR.

Funny, I don't even care about more HDMI, since I run everything through my HTPC, which I plug into my Panasonic SA-XR57, which then goes via HDMI to my 60" Kuro plasma.

I have been waiting for a Class D receiver with a good Room EQ, but nothing great has come along with the right form factor.

So, a year ago, I bought a Velodyne DD-10 sub to go with my Gallo Solos for my stereo room. The DD-10 does Room EQ and it has worked great. It replaced a Sunfire True Sub (no EQ) and it really cleaned up the bass.

Now, since I've given up on a great slim Class D receiver with a great Room EQ, I just bought a Velodyne Optimum 10, which also has Room EQ, for my TV room. It's replacing another Sunfire True Sub.

I think I am set for a while.

I really, really love the sound the SA-XR57 makes - it was the only receiver which came close in tonality to my previous Class A Pass Aleph heater (with my speakers, and to my ear, of course). It sounds noticeably better than the NAD, Denon and HK I've had.

It just sucks that nobody has come up with a good slim Class D lately, with all the latest bells and whistles. The Pioneer SCs are just too huge and kind of so last century

The Sherwood R-904N is certainly interesting, but it's just not a great fit for me, plus it needs a more advanced Room EQ.

P.S. Wow! Between the new Velodyne Optimum 10's automatic EQ, and Windows 7's built-in Room EQ, I have achieved everything I was looking for in a new receiver, and get to keep my SA-XR57! Room EQ does make a difference and here is what I did.

Any interest in a well cared for XR700? PM me.

Please tell us what is going to replace the XR700?

Not to be a stick in the mud,

But can we declare the Digital Amp revolution over?

So what do you think killed it?

Nope, the digital amp revolution is really just starting thanks to IcePower.

I got a great deal on a Denon 1910 for LESS than I currently have offers on for the XR700. I got to the point where I needed more HDMI and wanted the Audyssey and ABT VRS technology there. The 1910/790 was the only amp that had that and bench tested around the same power as the Panasonic digitals (~75w/7 channel ACD).

I replaced my speakers and sub this year, this completes my upgrades until something really revolutionary comes along. Thus my new signature.

which one to get? 5.1

A lot of vested interest in selling (and reviewing) $2k+ amps where quality equals weight.

Most of the industry is not interested in undercutting their profitable big box business with digital, which is going to make them more difficult to differentiate, and much more difficult to convince the public to pay large amounts of cash for.

Most of the trade publications and reviewers are also not interested in digital, which they see as further commoditization of AV equipment, which would diminish both their authority, and their ad revenue.

So, it was left to the couple of brands without major presence in the higher end to bring out the likes of XR-57 or XR700.

But of course, Joe Average reads a review here and there, then goes to Magnolia and comes out with a 45lbs box, because he was told that it is much better than the slim, light Panny or JVC. Much better to show off a big Denon to his beer friends and show them a glowing review in some trade pub.

So, this is why there are no more digital receivers, IMO. And why the likes of Denon will fight digital as long as they can.

ICE is different, because it came from B&O (fantastic design and marginal performance, in my experience) and has the pedigree demanded by "discerning" audiophiles, and because it costs enough to justify the good reviews and heftier profit margins.

But to my ears, the XR-57 sounds just as good, and there is no particular technical reason why it shouldn't.

This is a very cynical view of the Audio biz. Accurate, but cynical. I share your view. Even the part about the XR-57. By the way you have B&O nailed.

Is there anything new coming out anytime soon in terms of digital amps or receivers at a lower end that digital ice?

2 questions:

1. Why hasn't the first post been updated in over 2 years? What is the point of keeping this stickied if that is not getting updated?

2. Why is pricing discussion not allowed here when it is allowed in the Blu-ray forum (in a specific thread)?

Thanks!
Mike

+1

I agree on both points. This thread does not deserve a sticky if the first post is not updated. I think at the time (in 2004) it likely made sense to have a list of "digital" HT receivers since there were only a few dozen. Now, it seems like this list would be several hundred, if not thousands, of items strong.

On the 2nd point, I just PM'd Alan asking if we could have a similar thread to the blu-ray specials one. Will see what he comes back with.