Hi,
I want to setup HTPC using laptop for playback of both movies and music via HDMI. Now I'm looking for recommendation for audio part of the setup. I'd like to buy AV receiver and speakers. Since laptop has all the necessary network and internet features I believe it's a waste of money to buy such features rich AV receiver. I'd rather spend money on AV receiver with high quality DAC and amplifier without any network and internet features. However my research so far shows such AV receiver doesn't exist. Actually I found just one - Cambridge Audio Azur 351R. Still I didn't find any confirmation that this AV receiver is actually any better audio wise than competitors AV receivers from the same price range but with more I/O, network and internet features. Can anybody confirm it's best audio quality AV receiver for the price? Also is it the only recent audio only focused AV receiver? Or perhaps I'm missing something and there is some other than AV receiver equipment which can read A/V streams from HDMI source and split them between TV and audio equipment (after decoding audio codecs - DD, DTS etc.)?
Budget for AV receiver and speakers (considering anything from 4.0 to 5.1) is about 1800 EU.
I want to setup HTPC using laptop for playback of both movies and music via HDMI. Now I'm looking for recommendation for audio part of the setup. I'd like to buy AV receiver and speakers. Since laptop has all the necessary network and internet features I believe it's a waste of money to buy such features rich AV receiver. I'd rather spend money on AV receiver with high quality DAC and amplifier without any network and internet features. However my research so far shows such AV receiver doesn't exist. Actually I found just one - Cambridge Audio Azur 351R. Still I didn't find any confirmation that this AV receiver is actually any better audio wise than competitors AV receivers from the same price range but with more I/O, network and internet features. Can anybody confirm it's best audio quality AV receiver for the price? Also is it the only recent audio only focused AV receiver? Or perhaps I'm missing something and there is some other than AV receiver equipment which can read A/V streams from HDMI source and split them between TV and audio equipment (after decoding audio codecs - DD, DTS etc.)?
Budget for AV receiver and speakers (considering anything from 4.0 to 5.1) is about 1800 EU.