Wanting to upgrade my current receiver and need some advice, please.

[Optimus]

Hello everyone
I currently own A Yamaha RX-V363 (room dimensions are 14' x 14') that I have owned for well over a decade. (more like 13 yrs .. ish )
It has been a bullet proof receiver and I just want an updated receiver with more up to date surround decoding software ... and hopefully a little more power.
Usage is equal between music and movies.
I do not want Bluetooth and streaming capabilities (if possible). I already have that with our Blue-ray player and IMO, it's redundant and wasteful to spend money on a receiver that has those same streaming and Bluetooth capabilities.
I also don't care if it has system calibration software or not. I am old school and will pull out the trusty tape measure to manually calibrate the system anyway.
Do they even exist anymore?
Budget wise.. $500.00-600.00 (ish) range, but I have no problem saving to get a more expensive (or less expensive) receiver IF it is a better bang for my buck.
Any input would be very much appreciated, thanks

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Keep an eye on Amazon for deals on AVR. They'll have brand new AVRs on sale for ~ 40% off MSRP.

Like the $800 Denon X2300 for $499.

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X2300W-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B01E69LWWA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1499361175&sr=8-2&keywords=denon+avr

You may see a Denon X3000 series for $599.

As far as features go, all these AVRs will have many features, but they don't degrade the sound quality and you don't have to use them.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

what speakers do you have now?

 

[lovinthehd]

The avr will likely have features bundled in you don't need or use, just the nature of the beast these days, may actually cost you more to find a unit without certain features. What sources and speakers does it need to work with?

Tape measure won't help you a lot with integrating the sub....

 

[Optimus]

what speakers do you have now?

I recently gave away my towers (yamaha NS-1738) difficult to timbre match and too much speaker for the room IMO.
Currently using Polk audio T15's as main and surround w/ T30 center and PSW10 sub
also considering upgrading them as well but amp 1st

 

[Optimus]

The avr will likely have features bundled in you don't need or use, just the nature of the beast these days, may actually cost you more to find a unit without certain features. What sources and speakers does it need to work with?

Tape measure won't help you a lot with integrating the sub....

I know, I do the sub woofer crawl to find the best spot.

I recently gave away my towers (yamaha NS-1738) difficult to timbre match and too much speaker for the room IMO.
Currently using Polk audio T15's as main and surround w/ T30 center and PSW10 sub
also considering upgrading them as well but amp 1st

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

You're going backwards about it. Upgrade speakers first and then you'll know how much power you'll need from next avr.

 

[lovinthehd]

I know, I do the sub woofer crawl to find the best spot.

I recently gave away my towers (yamaha NS-1738) difficult to timbre match and too much speaker for the room IMO.
Currently using Polk audio T15's as main and surround w/ T30 center and PSW10 sub
also considering upgrading them as well but amp 1st

The crawl may help you find a good spot for the sub, but what I meant is that a tape measure won't really help with setting proper delay....

What sources are you using?

I'd also think about working on better speakers and sub first....

 

[Optimus]

You're going backwards about it. Upgrade speakers first and then you'll know how much power you'll need from next avr.

But I just did that? LOL.
I went to Polk audio T15's as main and surround w/ T30 center and PSW10 sub.
I want to upgrade my amp to current standards and possibly have some room for growth as I may (one day) want to upgrade the speakers with slightly better/bigger speaker system but will stay away from towers.
(small room 14'x14')
Definitely getting a bigger sub. planning on the 12" big brother to the PSW10 I am borrowing from my computer room (Identical system but in a 9' x 12' room)

 

[Optimus]

The crawl may help you find a good spot for the sub, but what I meant is that a tape measure won't really help with setting proper delay....

What sources are you using?

I'd also think about working on better speakers and sub first....

I am using Pandora/Netflix via either PC or Blueray player. and occasionally play cd's via the same PC or BRP.
Definitely planning on upgrading sub 1st and eventually speakers. I will stay with Bookshelf vs towers though. Small room (14x14)

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

But I just did that? LOL.
I went to Polk audio T15's as main and surround w/ T30 center and PSW10 sub.
I want to upgrade my amp to current standards and possibly have some room for growth as I may (one day) want to upgrade the speakers with slightly better/bigger speaker system but will stay away from towers.
(small room 14'x14')
Definitely getting a bigger sub. planning on the 12" big brother to the PSW10 I am borrowing from my computer room (Identical system but in a 9' x 12' room)

I know, I do the sub woofer crawl to find the best spot.

I recently gave away my towers (yamaha NS-1738) difficult to timbre match and too much speaker for the room IMO.
Currently using Polk audio T15's as main and surround w/ T30 center and PSW10 sub
also considering upgrading them as well but amp 1st

so you did said, you're considering to upgrade Polks. Not bad idea imho and which I why I said - do it first before the speakers. Getting amp with room to growth seems like good plan, but it isn't

 

[lovinthehd]

Look elsewhere than Polk for subs would be my recommendation. The avr I'd wait on.

I am using Pandora/Netflix via either PC or Blueray player. and occasionally play cd's via the same PC or BRP.
Definitely planning on upgrading sub 1st and eventually speakers. I will stay with Bookshelf vs towers though. Small room (14x14)

 

[Optimus]

The crawl may help you find a good spot for the sub, but what I meant is that a tape measure won't really help with setting proper delay....

What sources are you using?

I'd also think about working on better speakers and sub first....

so you did said, you're considering to upgrade Polks. Not bad idea imho and which I why I said - do it first before the speakers. Getting amp with room to growth seems like good plan, but it isn't

That is some very good advice, Thank you.
Any suggestions on decent speaker upgrades that are still considered budget speakers?
I like the SVS prime bookshelf, but I'm not sure that spending 500.00 on just 2 bookshelf speakers is a smart move. specially when I still have to upgrade surrounds, center and sub. and have to stay within whatever brand/line for timbre matching.
I also like the better polk systems and they are much more wallet friendly than the SVS but will I hear a difference either way? , also looked into NHT systems.. slightly less than SVS but still more than polk systems and again, will I hear a difference?
Keep in mind, I am not rich.. in fact any upgrade I do will require saving up for.

 

[lovinthehd]

The audio quality is mostly in your speakers so that's where I'd spend the money. You might try the free trial SVS offers to see if there's a difference worth spending the money on. Ascend Acoustics has some very good budget speakers as well.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

At these price points, I'd be very unhelpful if I don't recommend you to try Philharmonic AA speakers instead. Yes, your current polk is suboptimal to say it very politely, but for music you may not it with AA speakers.

 

[Pogre]

If you upgrade your receiver you will have more modern connections and options. If you're looking to improve sound quality, as has been said, get some new speakers first.

 

[Mikado463]

Keep an eye on Amazon for deals on AVR. They'll have brand new AVRs on sale for ~ 40% off MSRP.

Like the $800 Denon X2300 for $499.

https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-X2300W-Channel-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B01E69LWWA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1499361175&sr=8-2&keywords=denon+avr

You may see a Denon X3000 series for $599.

As far as features go, all these AVRs will have many features, but they don't degrade the sound quality and you don't have to use them.

Jumping on the bandwagon here as well ........my old Onkyo is starting to give me issues, would the AVR experts here consider the above unit to be a good one in the $500 price range ?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Jumping on the bandwagon here as well ........my old Onkyo is starting to give me issues, would the AVR experts here consider the above unit to be a good one in the $500 price range ?

You're not jumping on bandwagon, but highjacking a thread and the answer for your question: a) it depends. b) do some research instead of relying on so called "AVR experts" or forum trolls regulars like myself c) after you took time to learn the features, glossary of terms, you're most welcome to open your own thread and ask specific questions

 

[lovinthehd]

Jumping on the bandwagon here as well ........my old Onkyo is starting to give me issues, would the AVR experts here consider the above unit to be a good one in the $500 price range ?

Is it eligible for the extended warranty program for Onkyo avrs as discussed in this thread?

 

[Mikado463]

You're not jumping on bandwagon, but highjacking a thread and the answer for your question: a) it depends. b) do some research instead of relying on so called "AVR experts" or forum trolls regulars like myself c) after you took time to learn the features, glossary of terms, you're most welcome to open your own thread and ask specific questions

You wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something, for Gods sake man my question was....1) in line with topic at hand. 2) a direct reference to a product mention in the second post.

Sorry I got your panties all in twist.