Best 7.1 receiver for $300-$400?

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Jaxcomet

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 28, 2005

Quote:

Ahhh! The thread police!

It's always nice to freshen things up a bit. Every topic has probably been discussed before at one time or another.

Note: The first five I looked at (chosen at random) from you're list above didn't even apply to the topic....

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James W. Johnson

· #4 · Dec 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaxcomet
Ahhh! The thread police!

It's always nice to freshen things up a bit. Every topic has probably been discussed before at one time or another.

Note: The first five I looked at (chosen at random) from you're list above didn't even apply to the topic....

+1

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LeeLee

· #5 · Dec 28, 2005

They all contain information about receivers in the $300 to $400 range. If that doesn't match your question, perhaps you should have put more than two words in your original post. I don't think anyone minds an old topic being rehashed just in case something new comes along, but it seems like every other day we get someone asking about receivers in the $300 to $400 range. Instead of repeating 1015TX, 55XR, refurb HR, what new information is available now that wasn't available the last time this topic came up?

Why else do you think the participation in this thread of yours is so low?

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James W. Johnson

· #6 · Dec 28, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeLee
Why else do you think the participation in this thread of yours is so low?

Maybe because nobody likes you?

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pack66

· #7 · Dec 28, 2005

I'm curious to know if anyone has owned several of the models mentioned by LeeLee and which one they decided to go with.

I've owned an XR55 and a Yamaha HTR-5860. Although I liked both, I'm curious to see how they stack up to the Pio 1015 as I haven't had a chance to listen to it. Admittedly, I'm a little biased against Pioneer simply due to poor reputation in the past (except for the elite series).

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TJEli

· #8 · Dec 28, 2005

In the small amount of time I have spent playing with and listening to a 1015, it appears to be a very nice piece for the money.

-Eli

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Jaxcomet

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 30, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeLee
They all contain information about receivers in the $300 to $400 range. If that doesn't match your question, perhaps you should have put more than two words in your original post. I don't think anyone minds an old topic being rehashed just in case something new comes along, but it seems like every other day we get someone asking about receivers in the $300 to $400 range. Instead of repeating 1015TX, 55XR, refurb HR, what new information is available now that wasn't available the last time this topic came up?

Why else do you think the participation in this thread of yours is so low?

It's not worth arguing. I'll just do some research on my own.......

I'll stick to the video game and movie forums. Not quite as many smart asses there.

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suffolk112000

· #10 · Dec 30, 2005

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In the time that you took to show him up coming up with all of those links, you could have just given some solid advice and been done with it.

Yes, the search engine is there, but it does not always work the best either.

Thread participation is a bit low because the thread is a whopping two days old and when you made your hideous comments it was not even one day old.

Craig

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fanofmusic

· #11 · Dec 30, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaxcomet
Not quite as many smart asses there.

I'll say I have to agree on that one. Being a newbie here myself, I have been quite suprised by the high numbers of them, but then again this is a VERY large forum.

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pack66

· #12 · Dec 30, 2005

I've been doing a lot of research in this area in the past few months. I've boiled down my list to the Panny XR55, Yamaha HTR-5860 and in the last few days, the Pio 1015TX. The Pio is the most expensive and I haven't had a chance to touch, much less hear one. I've had and returned both the Panny and the Yamaha. I returned them not because I was unhappy, but wanted to see what other choices were out there. I could not tell a difference in sound between the two, although I did not do an A/B test.

Impressions of the Yamaha. I really like their direct sound feature. One used, the display turns off, the soundfields turn off and it's just 2ch. stereo and done very well in my opinion. In a German review of the Panny, they did somewhat of a shootout between it, the Yamaha RX-v657, a Sony and an HK. In the measured specs, the Panny's 2ch sound was measured at [email protected] 657 was measured at [email protected] Strange thing is, I felt that the Panny held it's own to the HTR-5860 in terms of 2channel sound (note the 657 and the HTR-5860 are pretty much the same thing, only re-badged for high end stores). Link:
http://www.produkte.panasonic.de/tes...bnis_10802.pdf

In terms of multi-channel sound, the Panny was measured at around [email protected] for 5 speakers. Incredibly, the 657 was measured at [email protected] for 5 channel. In 7 channel sound, the Panny was measured at [email protected] and the Yamaha faired better than last time with [email protected]

I also liked the YPAO feature of the Yamaha. I'm not an audiophile and don't have an SPL meter. That said, when I set up the Panny, I tried to use some of the data from the YPAO setup, along with my own hearing. I felt I did a decent job as I was happy with the sound of either receiver in terms of music, 2ch or 5.1 and in terms of movies (in 5.1).

What I didn't like about either:

Yamaha...had a lot of sound fields for the different mult-channel modes. I'm more of a purist of sort and don't really want to mess with whether something should be in 5.1 "Game" sound or 5.1 "movie" sound. That was really my only complaint on the panny. Oh, btw, really liked the blue led when in direct sound mode.

Panny....had an annoying pop when I was watching television. when I would switch to a 5.1 HD channel from a stereo SD channel or vice versa, the panny would have a little pop when switching to the requisite stereo or 5.1 mode. The yamaha, IIRC, did not due this. Fit and finish was also subpar to the yamaha.

Overall, I really like the sound out of both receivers, but then again I'm upgrading from an old Sony STR711, which didn't even have a sub output. Really liked the price of the panny, but liked the fit and finish of the Yamaha. Also liked the YPAO although I'm not afraid to get an SPL meter, should I get the Panny.

I guess right now, I'm leaning towards the Panny because of the price/performance. I figure I can pick one up, use it for a couple years until the next big thing comes along or have a great deal more money and step into the likes of a Denon 38XX/43XX series. By that time I will also have upgraded my speakers to hopefully BWs.

Still, would like to hear how the Pio sounds...

Hope this helps and would like others thoughts as well.

-J

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James W. Johnson

· #13 · Dec 30, 2005

Interesting review..I wish that was in English.

Looks like he chose the Panasonic then the Sony and Yamaha.....HK did not make the cut?

using a rough translation:

RESULT Johannes Maier author no question who seeks the bargain, lands in the Panasonic and has then only a

subjective problem: it may be then that out of the external schwachbrÃ¼stigen Surrounder so much sound comes

out taste and! He who does not accustom himself on that and puts extra value on deep sounds, should decide on

the STR DBS 798 of Sony. He who needs the entire equipment cutlery, takes however clearly the RX V 757 of

Yamaha.

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James W. Johnson

· #14 · Dec 30, 2005

Those 2 channel power delivery charts are very interesting , the Panasonic by far had the best 2ohm delivery...the HK buckled and the Sony and Yamaha look like they get unstable, they probably sound horribly distorted when pushed to that point.

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James W. Johnson

· #15 · Dec 30, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by pack66
In terms of multi-channel sound, the Panny was measured at around [email protected] for 5 speakers. Incredibly, the 657 was measured at [email protected] for 5 channel. In 7 channel sound, the Panny was measured at [email protected] and the Yamaha faired better than last time with [email protected]

-J

That would not make any sence for the Yamaha to do better in 7 channel model..I think you got it mixed up.

It looks like they were measuring @ 1hkz 1% distortion and @ 8/4ohms...

Yamaha

(1kHz, k=1%) an 8/4Ω

2x 136/203 W, 5x 46/85 W 7x 46/85 W

Sony

Sinusleistung (1kHz, k=1%) an 8/4Ω

2x 112/167 W, 5x 28/37 W*

Panasonic

Sinusleistung (1kHz, k=1%) an 8/4Ω

2x 91/168 W, 5x 80/62W*

Harman/Kardon

Sinusleistung (1kHz, k=1%) an 8/4Ω

2x 71/104 W, 5x 66/92 W 6x 56/73 W

Basically the Sony is the weakest....the Panasonic and Yamaha both

have decent power but the HK is the most brisk if you have 4ohm speakers.

IMO..if you have bright speakers and/or 4ohm speakers then the HK

is the best....otherwise you really cannot go wrong with any listed

here but id avoid the Sony with its weak amp.

Id personally take the HK or Panasonic.

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D

Dcostanza

· #16 · Dec 30, 2005

I have a question...What is the Best 7.1 receiver for $.....

sorry couldn't resist it, slow at the office today.

Happy New Year everyone

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kesone95

· #17 · Dec 30, 2005

There are alot of smart asses here. Maybe I belong

For the past weeks I've been going in circles with the receiver choices. One Yamaha, next Onkyo, and the next Pioneer. I want the THX, sounds like fun. Heres a question since the receiver was mentioned. Why wouldnt the Yamaha rxv657 or rxv757 have THX. Dosent make sense as they seem like the cousins of the Yamaha 5890 and 5990 ? Someone stop me going in circles

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pack66

· #18 · Dec 30, 2005

Kesone95,

my guess is it would cost more to have the THX stamp and so yamaha doesn't care to do that.

DConstanza...noticed you're in NE Indiana. I lived in Ft. Fun for a few years. I fondly remember the winters being so warm there (/sarcasm).

J.Johnson....I agree it doesn't make sense, but hey, I don't read German and that's what I saw. Either way, thought the numbers were very impressive for the panny comparison wise.

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valhallak

· #19 · Dec 30, 2005

The Pioneer does have the THX stamp of approval. I have the previous model the 1014 and find it a very nice reciever ... as always you probably need to match with your speakers a bit. The 1014 seemed laid back to me but the 1015 is supposed to be a bit on the brighter side... Another plus is that the Pioneer and Yamaha also both have pre-outs so if you needed more power in the future you can just add an amplifier.

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