Lack of analog RCA inputs on AVRs

[Ex-Newsie]

Thanks again to all who provided such great info on my stereo receiver vs. AVR newbie question a few weeks ago. I'm waiting until after the holidays to make a purchase, BTW.

One thing I notice is that the newer AVRs that I've researched have a serious dearth of analog inputs. I want my new receiver to be able to handle a turntable, CD player, DVD or Blu-Ray, and, yes, my still-awesome Yamaha cassette deck. Many of the AVRs I see have two analog audio inputs, unless I'm looking at them cross-eyed. Am I? Or do some manufacturers accommodate people like me more than others?

 

[Swerd]

One thing I notice is that the newer AVRs that I've researched have a serious dearth of analog inputs. I want my new receiver to be able to handle a turntable, CD player, DVD or Blu-Ray, and, yes, my still-awesome Yamaha cassette deck. Many of the AVRs I see have two analog audio inputs, unless I'm looking at them cross-eyed. Am I? Or do some manufacturers accommodate people like me more than others?

Yes, there are fewer and fewer RCA analog inputs, especially in the lower price ranges. Which model did you choose?

In your case, you need one pair of analog inputs for a turntable, and another pair for a cassette deck playback. Good luck finding an AVR with a full tape recording loop .

But CD, DVD or Blu-Ray players work with a digital connection, Toslink (optical), coaxial, or HDMI. Most people play CDs or DVDs on a Blu-Ray player, eliminating the need for any other disc player. The digital to analog conversion takes place in the AVR.

 

[Adam]

Agreed, AVRs at low to mid level are dropping most of the analog connections. Companies are just moving analog connections further up the line and loading the models that most folks will buy with a lot more digital connections. You can almost sure get all of the connections that you want if you're willing to buy an expensive-enough model.

AVRs aside, stereo receivers like the Onkyo TX-8020 still have tape inputs/outputs, but that Onkyo doesn't have any digital inputs.

EDIT: Ah, the TX-8050 does have a set of digital audio inputs, but still no HDMI.

 

[KEW]

How old are your CD and DVD players? Check the back for other connections. You should have an optical port (there are 5 in this photo) unless it is pretty old. I'm pretty confident that by the time BluRays came out they all have one of these ports.

They are smaller than they look here - about 1/4" square.

 

[j_garcia]

Mid level was the key word. If you want analog, you'll have to move up the food chain. They've dropped them for the most part because new Blu-ray players going forward will not have analog connections either, and other types of analog players are becoming less common as well. They're still out there, you just have to look a little harder.

 

[markw]

DVD and Blu-ray players should be handled in the digital domain. I'd venture to say that many CD plyers will be able to as well.

About the only two devices you've mentioned that absotivley posilutely must be handled in the analog domain would be turntables and your tape deck.

 

[Ex-Newsie]

How old are your CD and DVD players? Check the back for other connections. You should have an optical port (there are 5 in this photo) unless it is pretty old. I'm pretty confident that by the time BluRays came out they all have one of these ports.

They are smaller than they look here - about 1/4" square.

The DVD player is old, but I'll check it. The CD player is ancient, but if the DVD has optical out, no worries. Thanx, KEW.

 

[Ex-Newsie]

Yes, there are fewer and fewer RCA analog inputs, especially in the lower price ranges. Which model did you choose?

Still haven't decided whether to stay 2.0 and go with Yamaha or AVR, in which case I'll probably join the many Denon fans on the Forum.

 

[selden]

The DVD player is old, but I'll check it. The CD player is ancient, but if the DVD has optical out, no worries. Thanx, KEW.

Don't forget that the DVD player can play CDs, too, although that might be what you were referring to with "no worries"