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Originally Posted by PSM3 /forum/post/15448400
Understood. I know some have very discerning ears, with high standards. I don't think I am one of them. This receiver will be used for movies and TV only, in a 14' x 14' room. The question is, for a non-audiophile, is the sound quality difference between an Onkyo TX-SR606 and 707, when playing a movie, something that is plainly evident, or something less.
This is turning out to be an excellent and informative thread. However, your question is rather difficult to answer, but yet an extremely typical one. Its like asking, "I know some have very discerning eyes, with high standards. I don't think I am one of them. The question is, for a non-videophile, is the video quality difference between a Panasonic 800u and 850u, when playing a movie, something that is plainly evident, or something less".
As always, YMMV. Depends who you ask. Also, the room obviously plays a factor in both video and audio. Unfortunately for you, a square room is the worst. The only way your room could be worse for acoustics is if the ceiling was also 14ft high.
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Originally Posted by s.bradford /forum/post/15448637
My last receiver was 2 grand. My current one lists for $600 (which I picked up for 4 and change). Both use outboard amps via preamp outs to drive a 7.1 Magneplanar system using 3 series up front and MMGs for surrounds. Not exactly a mid fi system. Fact is, the newer one is better.
Better because the audio path is purer in the new, far cheaper one? No. Better because of more sophisticated room correction, and multichannel bass management via HDMI.
Getting "what you pay for" in the current crop of digital receivers is far from what it once was. If the SR606 offers you the features you want and is a good match to your speakers in your room, at the listening levels you will choose, you'll be hard pressed to notice a distinct improvement from units costing significantly more.
Today's middle offerings form the likes of Onkyo, Pioneer, Denon, etc., will give you 80% of what's possible for 20% of the cost. Seeking that last 20% is what will cost you many more hundreds (or even thousands), and if you plan to spend that much more, the rest of your system (and your room) had better be up to it or much will just be money down the drain.
None of these are future proof so spend for the feature set you will be happy with for the foreseeable future.
Good post.
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Originally Posted by DUCeditor /forum/post/15448912
In AVRs a basic amp of adequate power and number of channels is key. Auto set-up modes like Audyssey are a pleasure but one can have a great sounding system without 'em. And buzz word lettering like THX certified can add more to the price than one's budget allows.
Its not an auto setup mode as much as it is EQ in the time domain; room correction with the application of hundreds of filters that does not just simply improve a single LP, but for a larger area as well. IMO, this is the most value laden feature available (above and beyond having the bare-bones prepro+amp) in a midlevel receiver,
BAR NONE. Let's see, SVS will release a new BM system that features MultEQXT and its most likely going to cost more than the OP's receiver purchase. I looked briefly to add it to my 2ch system after being so impressed with its effect on my HT, but unfortunately the economies of scale don't really allow it in the 2ch world. If I want a stand alone Audyssey processor, that's $2,000.
IOW, I can choose xovers, distances, levels w/o the need for this level of RC. Its the correction of ringing tones, with high resolution that is something I'd have no clue how to do. It would take a tremendous learning curve, time, expenses to
even come close, and there are those who HAVE, yet
still find Audyssey to be superior to their own results.
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In the case of the Onkyo 606 vs. the 706 the 706 has several advantages, but when looking at street price the difference in cost grows greatly because the 606 is often highly discounted while the 706 typically is not. Suffice it to say that for the average home theater enthusiast on a budget the 606 more than does the job and if extra bucks are available that money would usually be more effectively spent by getting better speakers.
-don
However, I have to say you are right. When the budget is rather small for the entire kit 'n kaboodle, I typically recommend a used $50 SPDIF receiver from the classifieds. Outside of this newfangled room correction that I dig, and simply having adequate amplification, there are so other many ways to effectively improve SQ per dollar. Of course, the cheapest ways to do so are free: careful listener placement, speaker placement, sub placement...
