No-Nonsense Reciever

[jsmetona]

After a lot of listening at local av shops, ive decided on these mains:

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/rm8000t/
(half off at tweeter)

Anyway, i'm having trouble finding a suitable reciever. I don't need HDMI switching or anything fancy. I'm looking for a clear, straightforward, high power 7.1 reciever that can push those mains and then whatever else i decide to add to it later(center, surrounds, sub).

Is there some manufacturer that i should be looking at? How much power should i be shooting for? Can i trade off things like hdmi switching for a lower price, but still maintain the same sound quality of a higher end unit?

 

[mtrycrafts]

After a lot of listening at local av shops, ive decided on these mains:

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/rm8000t/
(half off at tweeter)

Anyway, i'm having trouble finding a suitable reciever. I don't need HDMI switching or anything fancy. I'm looking for a clear, straightforward, high power 7.1 reciever that can push those mains and then whatever else i decide to add to it later(center, surrounds, sub).

Is there some manufacturer that i should be looking at? How much power should i be shooting for? Can i trade off things like hdmi switching for a lower price, but still maintain the same sound quality of a higher end unit?

Lots of good ones out there. Those speakers are not difficult to drive, 8 ohms, 90dB spl sensitivity, although not sure that is in room or not. Room add 4 more dB spl.

 

[baseman]

I wanted a powerful receiver with good features and sound but nothing crazy, something I could build on in the future. I read the review of the Yamaha RX-V659 on this web site and bought one a couple weeks ago for $370. I couldn't be more pleased with the unit, it sounds fantastic, has everything I need, nothing I don't (I'm not really a hardcore audio/video type) and will be with me a long time I'm sure.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

IMO you just cant beat the 659 from a price vs. specs. The only concern I have is the life span of a Yamaha reciever. I finally had to give my last one away. I purchased it brand new in 1988 and it served a full life in my entertainment room until Christmas of 2005; at that time it went in the garage to finish its life as a second system in the hot Texas garage enviroment. I felt sure it would die shortly after but "NO" it made it for two years and was still flawless. When I pruchased a new house 4 months ago, I just gave it to a neighborhood kid along with a giant pair of Klipsch speakers that were just as old and still sounded pretty darn good too.

Oh wait...I guess Yamahas do have a good life span.

 

[AVRat]

What is your budget and how big (cu. ft.) is your space?

 

[jsmetona]

The area is roughly 650sq ft. (edit: by 8ft ceiling)

My budget is whatever i need to spend to make those speakers sound good. I don't want to go above $1200, but i don't want to spend more then i have to.

 

[blekenbleu]

Can i trade off things like hdmi switching for a lower price, but still maintain the same sound quality of a higher end unit?

My RPTV does not accept HDMI, but I really appreciate the better surround sound available from SACD and DVD-Audio available via HDMI from Oppo players,
and I expect the newer surround audio formats (e.g. from High Def DVDs) available via HDMI will increasingly be considered a more vital sound quality factor.

 

[jsmetona]

My RPTV does not accept HDMI, but I really appreciate the better surround sound available from SACD and DVD-Audio available via HDMI from Oppo players,
and I expect the newer surround audio formats (e.g. from High Def DVDs) available via HDMI will increasingly be considered a more vital sound quality factor.

10-4. Definatly will be getting hdmi. Taking into account the speakers i have and the room size, what power range should i be shooting for?

 

[gene]

Its a bit of a risk but if you don't care about the lastest and greatest, try picking up a used older flagship receiver such as:

Yamaha RX-Z1
Denon AVR-5803
Marantz SR-18

You won't beat the amp sections in these receivers for under $1k and they decode DD/DTS, have THX certification, and 6CH EXT inputs.

Alternatively, If you want some good meaty amp performance, and ease of use on the cheap, check out the Emotiva Ultra Series Separates for $899:

http://emotiva.com/products.html

 

[jsmetona]

I checked out the Yamaha RX-Z1 and it looks great. Unfortunately i can't find one for sale anywhere. Must be that good.

 

[jsmetona]

Its a bit of a risk but if you don't care about the lastest and greatest, try picking up a used older flagship receiver such as:

Yamaha RX-Z1
Denon AVR-5803
Marantz SR-18

You won't beat the amp sections in these receivers for under $1k and they decode DD/DTS, have THX certification, and 6CH EXT inputs.

Alternatively, If you want some good meaty amp performance, and ease of use on the cheap, check out the Emotiva Ultra Series Separates for $899:

http://emotiva.com/products.html

where would i find one of these used units? Not much luck on ebay...

 

[jsmetona]

another question...

my tv is a 1080i rear projection with component only in.

If i buy a Reciever with Component switching as well as hdmi inputs, can i get a dvd player such as the oppo 981 with hdmi only out, and have the reciever switch that over to its own component out?

So basically can i...

DVD HDMI OUT ---> Reciever HDMI IN ---> Reciever Component OUT --> TV Component IN

 

[MDS]

So basically can i...

DVD HDMI OUT ---> Reciever HDMI IN ---> Reciever Component OUT --> TV Component IN

I've never seen any receiver that will take HDMI In and send Component Out. Many will do component down to s-video or composite but not HDMI.

 

[moverton]

My RPTV does not accept HDMI, but I really appreciate the better surround sound available from SACD and DVD-Audio available via HDMI from Oppo players,
and I expect the newer surround audio formats (e.g. from High Def DVDs) available via HDMI will increasingly be considered a more vital sound quality factor.

hdmi 1.3 supports dvd-audio and sacd I think. Hdmi 1.3 receivers are not out yet are they?

 

[MichaelJHuman]

HDMI 1.2 and 1.2a support SACD bistream. I don't recall DVD-Audio (Meridian Lossless?) being supported in any version of HDMI 1.3

I believe my player which can read SACD and DVD-Audio can output MPCM (Multi-channel PCM) over HDMI with the decoding taking place in the player.

I would not worry about HDMI 1.3, it's technology without a clear reason to exist. Read the thread over in the amp section in avsforum.

 

[hemiram]

IMO you just cant beat the 659 from a price vs. specs. The only concern I have is the life span of a Yamaha reciever. I finally had to give my last one away. I purchased it brand new in 1988 and it served a full life in my entertainment room until Christmas of 2005; at that time it went in the garage to finish its life as a second system in the hot Texas garage enviroment. I felt sure it would die shortly after but "NO" it made it for two years and was still flawless. When I pruchased a new house 4 months ago, I just gave it to a neighborhood kid along with a giant pair of Klipsch speakers that were just as old and still sounded pretty darn good too.

Oh wait...I guess Yamahas do have a good life span.

I recently sold my 25+ year old Yamaha R-900 to a guy in Austrailia. He's very happy with it. The only problem I ever had with it was a couple of the knobs loosened up, I guess they werent too tight in the first place. My friend has a Yamaha FM tuner that is at least 32 years old, and still sounds great. He bought it used when he was in college, and he has it set up for the one local oldies station that sounds really good.

I recently sold a Yamaha PX-2 Turntable, it worked great too. Didn't get much for it though.

 

[jcPanny]

Save $80 . . .

another question...

my tv is a 1080i rear projection with component only in.

If i buy a Reciever with Component switching as well as hdmi inputs, can i get a dvd player such as the oppo 981 with hdmi only out, and have the reciever switch that over to its own component out?

So basically can i...

DVD HDMI OUT ---> Reciever HDMI IN ---> Reciever Component OUT --> TV Component IN

Buy the Oppo DV-970 which will upconvert and output over component video. No point in a better DVD (+$80) player and an HDMI receiver (+$500) when your TV does not support it. I have the Oppo 970 (using HDMI output) and recommend it.