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sub $600 receivers which fit my needs?

1547 Views 25 Replies 14 Participants Last post by CygnusXI, Feb 9, 2004

Xcited1

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2004

I have a small room, 4x4 meters, which is a dedicated home theater room.

I will be listening to 95% Home Theater and Gaming.

I want a receiver which is very clear and accurate (is the saying transparent?), I am prepared to sacrafice power for the sound detail.

I would prefer a 6.1 unit which can also switch s-video and component inside the receiver (plug s-video in and use component out).

What are some candidates?

Also what would be a good speaker match under $1000? (front center and rears).

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1 - 20 of 26 Posts

lespurgeon

· #2 · Jan 19, 2004

Panasonic XR45 and Kenwood VR7070 at the lower end. There are thousands of threads on best sub $600 receiver.

GONGLEE

· #3 · Jan 19, 2004

For speakers, www.axiomaudio.com sells direct so they can give you more quality for the buck. Read all the raving reviews they got on the sight.

Xcited1

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 19, 2004

Panasonic XR45 and Kenwood VR7070

Can these two do video switching and will the sound be as good as a yammy?

HeinePaul

· #5 · Jan 21, 2004

The Panasonic can do component, composite, and SVideo switching (although no conversion in the unit). and since I'm replacing my Yamaha receiver with the Panasonic, I've had a chance to compare.

Hands down, it's the Panasonic XR-45. I'm delighted I made the purchase.

I matched it up with a set of Athena Point Five MkII speakers and the matching P300 subwoofer for a room about the same size as yours. YMMV, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

With a little shopping, I got all of the above for under $1000, total.

Denis K

· #6 · Jan 21, 2004

HeinePaul,

May I ask what model of Yammy you are replacing (and what you compared the XR-45 to?) Most evaluations of the Panny focus on music -- how do you feel it does with theater? Decent decoding? Any additional comments you can add?

Thanks!

Xcited1

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 21, 2004

I cant find anywhere that mentions switching for the xr45, whats the difference between switching and upconversion (I know what upconversion is).

Why not just go for the xr25?

I like my pioneer more in features, but it doesnt do 6.1 and the sound is rounded (warm). So I should go have a listen of the panny

lespurgeon

· #8 · Jan 21, 2004

Switching lets you plug all of your sources into the receiver and it sends the appropriate video source onot the TV. Download the manual from Panasonic. Supposedly the 45 has some better components in it. Read the $300 Krell Killer Thread for way too much information and opinion on this model.

Xcited1

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 21, 2004

but means you still need to have seperate leads running to your proector?

ie you have a component in and a rca composite in, you need to have a composite out and a component out on the receiver?

I guess thats still better than having to change video source at the projector end.

lespurgeon

· #10 · Jan 22, 2004

Yes - you need at least 2, Component and either composite or S-vid (not sure abotu the 45, many receivers let you use s-vid monitor for either composite or s-vid in I believe - I have never done this).

I don't use switching at all - I have S-vid, composite, and component to the projector and a wall plate next to the couch where I plug components in as appropriate. All components are in a equipment rack behind the couch.

tubeguy44

· #11 · Feb 6, 2004

read this thread....

your choice will be simple in your price bracket...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=304368

a friend of mine bought the panasonic for his bedroom... he ended up replacing a $1,000 denon in his main system with this under $300 unit because it sounded better....

the panasonic is in his home theatre and the $1,000 denon is in his bedroom....

waltonat59

· #12 · Feb 9, 2004

the onkyo txsr601 is a hard receiver to beat at 500$. it have component switching, composite to s-vid up conversion, zone 2 multi-source. and some of the best reliability Ive ever seen.

margomaps

· #13 · Feb 9, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by waltonat59
the onkyo txsr601 is a hard receiver to beat at 500$. it have component switching, composite to s-vid up conversion, zone 2 multi-source. and some of the best reliability Ive ever seen.

In the lower price range, I've really enjoyed my Yamaha 5660. It's probably the most "transparent" AVR I've used in this price range. People often criticize this aspect of Yammy's because it can lead to a "brighter" sound than they expect/want. The 5660 is 6.1, has component switching, multi-zone, composite-to-S-video conversion, and is an all-around solid performer with typical outstanding Yamaha build quality. I think it's $330 at amazon.com these days.

Xcited1, it sounds like you're in the same sort of situation as me. I'm in a smallish theater room that is used for movie watching and gaming via a projector. About the only feature that my 5660 lacks for this is the ability to convert composite/s-video into component. I don't think that's a very common feature. I'm looking to buy some sort of external switching device to do this.

I'll also recommend Paradigm speakers. I've been using Atoms/CC-170 with my Yamaha, and it sounds excellent to me. Atoms are typically ~ $90/each, and the CC-170 somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 I believe. Add a budget sub of your choice, and you'll have a very nice setup that's more than adequate for your small room, all for

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gac1982

· #14 · Feb 9, 2004

If you're not a Sony-hater, check out the STR-DE995. Very feature rich, I got one for Christmas, use it for HT and music in 7.1 and it sounds great. It can be set up for 6.1 also.

CygnusXI

· #15 · Feb 9, 2004

Instead of making a new thread I'll post my *newb* question here too

I have 3 optical inputs (PS2,Sat,DVD).

I see models with 3 or 4 opt inputs, but some seem to be assigned to CD or other audio only devices. Can they all be associated to a video device?

Thanks.

It's confusing to me. Right now my ss receiver only has ONE Opt input, and I have to use a manual rotating selector to toggle between the 3 devices

Pain in the .....

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waltonat59

· #16 · Feb 9, 2004

gac the sony is a nice receiver and has alot of features the only thing it lacks to the onkyo an yamaha is the high current amplifier design. the way that sony rates their wattage is at a higher thd ( total harmonic distortion) technically is onkyo and yamaha rated their wattage the same as sony they would be more powerful. cygnus most receivers allow you to change the digital inputs to other input other than the default assigned inputs.

btoneill

· #17 · Feb 9, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by CygnusXI
I see models with 3 or 4 opt inputs, but some seem to be assigned to CD or other audio only devices. Can they all be associated to a video device?

It all depends on the unit. The Panny XR45 has 3 optical, and one coax. All 4 of these are assignable to any input. The comparably priced Sony STR-DE695 is not assignable, so you're stuck with one of the optical inputs being set for the MD player input.

As for the questions elsewhere:

* Why not get the 25?

Well, the 45 isn't that much more expensive (my 45 was $20 more online then the 25 was at BB), it has 3 optical inputs vs. 2 on the 25, it has an onscreen menu for configuration (much easier then messing with all the front panel buttons), it does DTS 96/24, plus other internal changes such as a different power supply.

Margo:

You're really not going to find any reciever that converts to component, atleast none that are less then $2-3k. While composite to s-video is a common conversion, it's common because it's simple. Literally all you need to do to convert composite to svideo is, an adaptor. Altho a normal S-Video connection seperates the Y (luminance) and C (chroma) on different wires, most all s-video devices will accept a signal that has both Y and C on both wires, which is what composite has all combined. Component YCbCr connections are much different, and require active circuitry to convert it. The cheapest device I've found that does s-video to component is around $399, I can't recall who made it tho.

waltonat59:

Saying your Onkyo up converts composite to s-video is misleading. It really doesn't convert the signal, it just changes the video connector. Also, composite and s-video are the same resolution, it's just that the picture is normally clearer on s-video because it doesn't have "bleeding" of the chroma and luminance signals on the same wire.

Get the XR45, you'll love it!

Brian

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waltonat59

· #18 · Feb 9, 2004

Originally posted by btoneill

waltonat59:

Saying your Onkyo up converts composite to s-video is misleading. It really doesn't convert the signal, it just changes the video connector. Also, composite and s-video are the same resolution, it's just that the picture is normally clearer on s-video because it doesn't have "bleeding" of the chroma and luminance signals on the same wire.

thank you, i apologize for not being clear.

gac1982

· #19 · Feb 9, 2004

"...most receivers allow you to change the digital inputs to other input other than the default assigned inputs..."

FWIW, for the Sony STR-DE995, you cannot assign an optical audio input to the DVD player. You can workaround by reassigning one of the opticals to Video 2 or 3 and connecting the DVD to that input or to the TV directly. Don't know if other receivers advertise the ability to customize, but you have to read the manual to see what the limits are for customizability (if I that's even a word). I had members from this and another forum tell me they "thought" it was possible to just reassign an input. I finally gave up on it, I use digital coax and that's good enough. Bottom line, there's no substitute for going to see the equipment (and hear it of course) and read what the manual says about the features. Lots of bad gouge on the net.

trpltongue

· #20 · Feb 9, 2004

btoneill,

The Denon 3803 does component *upconversion*. It will take composite or S-video and upconvert them to component. Only 1 connection needs to be made between the receiver and the video display. This receiver can be had from Denon's approved online retailers for less than $600 (refurbished) and is a great product. I highly recommend it.

Russ

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

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