I am looking for a receiver for 90% movies/hdtv and 10% gaming. I was initially set on the Onkyo 606 but through reading through the forums it appears that it has mixed reviews and maybe some issues and also is not great at upconversion. I will connect a Directv Hddvr, xbox360, blu-ray in the near future. Speakers will probably be in the range of Polk monitor 50's with undertermined surrounds a cs1 center and sub still to be determined. Room is approximatly 13x11. Less than $400 budget and would like to save a little on receiver if it will get job done to allocate towards the speakers. Thanks for the help guys.
Best sub 400 Receiver
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Marantz 4001 is a great budget receiver.
I like the HK AVR 254. I wasnt even considering HK cause i didnt know they had caught up to the rest of the field. Is the new line of HK's any good?
As far as the Denon goes. I like Denon cause they always have a good reputation but I was looking at the stats and realized that it doesnt decode any of the new lossless audio. Since I am getting a Blu-ray eventually will this not matter and I will still be able to receive and play loss less audio?
I like the HK AVR 254. I wasnt even considering HK cause i didnt know they had caught up to the rest of the field. Is the new line of HK's any good?
As far as the Denon goes. I like Denon cause they always have a good reputation but I was looking at the stats and realized that it doesnt decode any of the new lossless audio. Since I am getting a Blu-ray eventually will this not matter and I will still be able to receive and play loss less audio?
I know they used to have an awesome reputation but kind of fell behind the crowd and I am glad to hear they are doing better. I also like how you can upgrade the firmware. Can most new receivers do this? Also is it ipod ready or do I have to buy a dock or adapter?
I know they used to have an awesome reputation but kind of fell behind the crowd and I am glad to hear they are doing better. I also like how you can upgrade the firmware. Can most new receivers do this? Also is it ipod ready or do I have to buy a dock or adapter?
Stay away from the 606. I just returned it today. Buzz/hum issue with any unit pushing a hi-def signal through HDMI. It wasn't a ground loop either. I tried everything and could only lessen the buzz.
Anyway, here's some suggestions. All of them have 3 HDMI inputs which you'll need 3 for the listed components, HDMI is repeating (audio and video passthrough), and can play the hi-def codecs (DD True HD/DTS HD)...
Sony STRDG820 $300
HK AVR 254 $379
Pioneer 1018 $434
Denon 1909 $600
All of the prices are from Amazon. You may be able to purchase elsewhere for less expensive, or used.
Anyway, here's some suggestions. All of them have 3 HDMI inputs which you'll need 3 for the listed components, HDMI is repeating (audio and video passthrough), and can play the hi-def codecs (DD True HD/DTS HD)...
Sony STRDG820 $300
HK AVR 254 $379
Pioneer 1018 $434
Denon 1909 $600
All of the prices are from Amazon. You may be able to purchase elsewhere for less expensive, or used.
If I understand correctlythe Onkyo 606 only upscales to 1080i while the denon avr 888 upscales to 1080p. If you use a ps3 than it sounds like the audio is a moot point since the ps3 decodes the audio. Is this correct or am I missing something. The big river has the denon 888 pretty cheap right now. Competitive with the Harmon Kardon 254 and onkyo 606
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Harman Audio on ebay has been selling the AVR 347 for around $225 and less with free shipping. They seem to be flooding the auctions lately with them. Specs are similar to the 254. I don't own either, having owned an AVR 520 for some 8 years now and quite happy with it.
http://stores.ebay.com/Harman-Audio
http://stores.ebay.com/Harman-Audio
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It does come with the same warranty as a new one. 5 years IIRC. For less than half what they cost new, yeah, not a bad buy.
I'm considering one to replace my aging HK AVR520. Its 8 years old but still going strong and I don''t find I need the HDMI hookups. The only HDMI device I have is the HD satellite receiver into my 42" LCD. I use optical out of the satellite receiver to the 520.
I'll be hooking up an Emotiva UPA-7 to it when it gets here on Monday.
Good luck on your search.
It does come with the same warranty as a new one. 5 years IIRC. For less than half what they cost new, yeah, not a bad buy.
I'm considering one to replace my aging HK AVR520. Its 8 years old but still going strong and I don''t find I need the HDMI hookups. The only HDMI device I have is the HD satellite receiver into my 42" LCD. I use optical out of the satellite receiver to the 520.
I'll be hooking up an Emotiva UPA-7 to it when it gets here on Monday.
Good luck on your search.
It does look like a pretty nice receiver. I am not sure how good there reconditioned stuff is, but I have heard that there stuff is pretty reliable.
Keep in mind that you may not need HDMI now but more and more stuff will become HDMI in the future so you should incorporate a receiver with at least some HDMI so you will be more future proof in your receiver. This will help ensure that you dont need to buy a new receiver in 5 years. Good luck.
It does look like a pretty nice receiver. I am not sure how good there reconditioned stuff is, but I have heard that there stuff is pretty reliable.
Keep in mind that you may not need HDMI now but more and more stuff will become HDMI in the future so you should incorporate a receiver with at least some HDMI so you will be more future proof in your receiver. This will help ensure that you dont need to buy a new receiver in 5 years. Good luck.
Does anyone have any experience with the Denon avr-888. I like the fact that it upscales to 1080p instead of 1080i. The only downfall i have seen so far is that it doesnt decode any of the new lossless audio. I plan on getting a blu-ray player that does this anyways but have heard that it is better if you receiver does the decoding for you. Anyone have any insight on this matter or the Denon 888?
there is tons of insight on both the 888/2308 and decoding vs pcm. please read up in the FAQ's, and use the search function as there is a whole bunch of discussion on the 888 and 2308, including the dedicated 2308/888 thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=944567
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=944567
Ok I will take a look at that. There is so much material in the 888 forum it is taking awhile to get through the 100's of pages. I have looked through the PCM vs decoding thread and need to look back at it to anwser some of my questions.
Ok I will take a look at that. There is so much material in the 888 forum it is taking awhile to get through the 100's of pages. I have looked through the PCM vs decoding thread and need to look back at it to anwser some of my questions.
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Unless there are confirmed undesirable conversions when unzipped @ the player (which there are not, afaik), the is absolutely NO reason for the sound to be superior @ the receivers end.
So, I wouldn't consider it a downfall, considering your player decodes.
Unless there are confirmed undesirable conversions when unzipped @ the player (which there are not, afaik), the is absolutely NO reason for the sound to be superior @ the receivers end.
So, I wouldn't consider it a downfall, considering your player decodes.
thanks for the insight. this is what I figured just wanted conformation since I had read a couple people stating this. Thanks for the help.
So would this give the denon-888 the upper hand over the onkyo 606 since it can upconvert to 1080p if I am using the dvd player for the decoding?
thanks for the insight. this is what I figured just wanted conformation since I had read a couple people stating this. Thanks for the help.
So would this give the denon-888 the upper hand over the onkyo 606 since it can upconvert to 1080p if I am using the dvd player for the decoding?
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