Replacement for my Sony ES9000

[drick]

Hi Everyone,

I need some help deciding what i should get to replace my current Sony ES9000 receiver. I need something new that has a min of 3 HDMI ports, and will push my speakers (Klipsch RF-7's/RC-7/RB-75's/RS-7's/RSW-15) at least as well as the current receiver. To be concise, i am much more interested in video features than audio features as we use the system 95% for TV & movies, and 5% for music.

Must haves:
1080p upscaling
min of 3 HDMI in ports / 1 hdmi out port
min of 3 optical in ports
7.1

Nice to haves:
THX
under $2000

So far on my list (in no particular order):
Marantz SR8001
Denon 4306
Pioneer VSX-48txsi
Sony 5200ES
Sony 7100ES

Any / all input welcome.

 

[astrodon]

Hi Everyone,

I need some help deciding what i should get to replace my current Sony ES9000 receiver. I need something new that has a min of 3 HDMI ports, and will push my speakers (Klipsch RF-7's/RC-7/RB-75's/RS-7's/RSW-15) at least as well as the current receiver. To be concise, i am much more interested in video features than audio features as we use the system 95% for TV & movies, and 5% for music.

Must haves:
1080p upscaling
min of 3 HDMI in ports / 1 hdmi out port
min of 3 optical in ports
7.1

Nice to haves:
THX
under $2000

So far on my list (in no particular order):
Marantz SR8001
Denon 4306
Pioneer VSX-48txsi
Sony 5200ES
Sony 7100ES

Any / all input welcome.

I would wait until later in the summer when A/V receivers with HDMI 1.3 come out. This way you can enjoy the the new DVD high-resolution audio formats on DVD-HD and Blu-ray players in the future. Note that your PS 3 will output high-resolution linear PCM 7.1 and SACD through its HDMI output port if your receiver has HDMI 1.3 input ports. I have read that the "08" series of Denon receivers will be compatible with HDMI 1.3 and are to be released later this summer.

 

[drick]

I would wait until later in the summer when A/V receivers with HDMI 1.3 come out. This way you can enjoy the the new DVD high-resolution audio formats on DVD-HD and Blu-ray players in the future. Note that your PS 3 will output high-resolution linear PCM 7.1 and SACD through its HDMI output port if your receiver has HDMI 1.3 input ports. I have read that the "08" series of Denon receivers will be compatible with HDMI 1.3 and are to be released later this summer.

do you remember where you read about the denon receivers that suport 1.3?

 

[astrodon]

do you remember where you read about the denon receivers that suport 1.3?

Yes it was right here on audioholics last month (main thread titled "Denon 3808"). In this thread there was a link to

http://www.hometheaterblog.com/hometheater/2007/02/follow_up_denon.html

which states that the upcoming Denon receivers will have HDMI 1.3. When they come out, I may sell my Sony DA3ES reciever, move my 3806 to the living room and buy either the 3808ci or 4308ci for my home theater. I hate suffering from this "upgrade-itis!"

 

[drick]

Yes it was right here on audioholics last month (main thread titled "Denon 3808"). In this thread there was a link to

http://www.hometheaterblog.com/hometheater/2007/02/follow_up_denon.html

which states that the upcoming Denon receivers will have HDMI 1.3. When they come out, I may sell my Sony DA3ES reciever, move my 3806 to the living room and buy either the 3808ci or 4308ci for my home theater. I hate suffering from this "upgrade-itis!"

that seals it for me, i'm waiting!

 

[Hi Ho]

Any reason the Yamaha RX-V2700 isn't on the list? It meets all of your requirements. I couldn't be happier with mine.

If you're waiting for HDMI v1.3 I would look to the Denon models. I haven't heard anything about Yamaha receivers with HDMI 1.3. Anyone have any news?

 

[drick]

Any reason the Yamaha RX-V2700 isn't on the list? It meets all of your requirements. I couldn't be happier with mine.

If you're waiting for HDMI v1.3 I would look to the Denon models. I haven't heard anything about Yamaha receivers with HDMI 1.3. Anyone have any news?

when i looked at the spec sheet, it doesn't upconvert to 1080p unless i misread it?

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=451511&CTID=5000300&ATRID=1020&DETYP=ATTRIBUTE

HDMI Up Conversion • (Scale to 480p/ 720p/ 1080i)

Aside from that, it looks good!

 

[Hi Ho]

The only receiver on your list that upscales to 1080p is the Sony 5200ES. There are no other receivers that do that. The Marantz doesn't upscale at all. It simply transcodes to HDMI.

I think you're confusing the terms "HDMI 1080p capable/compatible" with "HDMI 1080p upscaling". They are two different things. All of those receivers will pass a 1080p signal through the HDMI ports but only the Sony will scale any source to 1080p.

With that said, I have no idea if the Sony is any good at scaling and I'm not sure if it's worth fretting over. Personally, I would take a Yamaha, Pioneer, or Denon receiver over any Sony but i'm more into the audio side of things. The reviews I have found for those Sony models didn't exactly praise them.

http://www.avrev.com/equip/sony_strda7100es/index3.html

The 7100ES won't even pass an HD signal from component through HDMI.

 

[drick]

The only receiver on your list that upscales to 1080p is the Sony 5200ES. There are no other receivers that do that. The Marantz doesn't upscale at all. It simply transcodes to HDMI.

I think you're confusing the terms "HDMI 1080p capable/compatible" with "HDMI 1080p upscaling". They are two different things. All of those receivers will pass a 1080p signal through the HDMI ports but only the Sony will scale any source to 1080p.

With that said, I have no idea if the Sony is any good at scaling and I'm not sure if it's worth fretting over. Personally, I would take a Yamaha, Pioneer, or Denon receiver over any Sony but i'm more into the audio side of things. The reviews I have found for those Sony models didn't exactly praise them.

http://www.avrev.com/equip/sony_strda7100es/index3.html

The 7100ES won't even pass an HD signal from component through HDMI.

my apologies, you are correct.

since my dvd player already upconverts to 1080p, the ps3 sends out a native 1080p signal with the correct cables, and DTV doesn't supply 1080p, i don't need the receiver to upscale as you pointed out.

Having said that, you are also correct that i should consider the Yammy.



p.s. i still think that i will wait for HDMI v1.3 either way

 

[PENG]

Having said that, you are also correct that i should consider the Yammy.



p.s. i still think that i will wait for HDMI v1.3 either way

Looking at the specs of the 9000ES, such as it's 62.5 lb weight and the huge toroidal tansformer in it, you are going to have to wait for the flag ship Yamaha, or Denon. Anything less than and including the RX-V2800 (assuming it will replace the 2700 and have the HDMI1.3), could be a potential downgrade on the audio side. The next Denon that replaces the 4806 may be a better choice if it has the HDMI that you want.