What makes a good receiver?

[EddieG]

With the same CD player/cable box/dvd player and the same speakers, what is it that makes one receiver $200 and another $800, aside from features? Of course there is a difference between a $89 receiver and a $1500 one, but when it comes to the next model of a mfg, such as the Onkyo 505 vs HK 347?

Also another question not mentioned in my title...

With blue ray or HD dvd's, how much of a difference is the between machines? I just checked Best Buy and the price difference for Blue Ray is $150 from the cheapest to the highest. Is it just features? If all I'm using it for is renting movies should I stick with the cheapest one?

Thanks!

Eddie G

 

[MDS]

Aside from convenience features as you go up in the model line you get 'better' parts but take that with a grain of salt. The difference between the Onkyo 505 and 805 is the 805 has a much better power supply and can deal with low impedance speakers. The higher model also has better video processing and a lot more inputs (presumably under the theory that if you are buying an expensive model you have dozens of other devices to connect to it. )

I say take it with a grain of salt simply because it is often much overkill to buy near the high end of the line unless you really need the features or you have a giant room with low impedance speakers that can benefit from the better components of the receiver. Things like Wolfson DACS vs Burr Brown DACS aren't likely to matter one bit.

 

[Seth=L]

The features, parts, and power are generally better on higher priced models.

 

[mtrycrafts]

With the same CD player/cable box/dvd player and the same speakers, what is it that makes one receiver $200 and another $800, aside from features? Of course there is a difference between a $89 receiver and a $1500 one, but when it comes to the next model of a mfg, such as the Onkyo 505 vs HK 347?

Also another question not mentioned in my title...

With blue ray or HD dvd's, how much of a difference is the between machines? I just checked Best Buy and the price difference for Blue Ray is $150 from the cheapest to the highest. Is it just features? If all I'm using it for is renting movies should I stick with the cheapest one?

Thanks!

Eddie G

And, at some price point you just pay for the name on the front panel

 

[fmw]

Features, to some degree, and margins, mostly. The manufacturers make higher percentage margins on the higher priced models just like car manufacturers make higher margins on SUV's than they do on economy sedans.

The main purpose of the receiver is to decode digital audio and power the speakers. In general, you won't find much difference in the way the various models do this. If you use a powered subwoofer, almost any size amp will drive the speakers in a typical living room sized home theater. If you don't then the rules are slightly different.

Personally, I view the receiver as fairly trivial in my system. Speakers (including subwoofer) and TV set are what matter most to me. Even these things are less important than the acoustics of the room.

As soon as I can buy a receiver with 4 HDMI inputs for under $500, I'll upgrade what I have. That would make automation a little nicer. Otherwise I could care less.

 

[hogfan]

Buy for ease of use. Once you decide number of speakers, & power see if its user friendly. I have an Onkyo txds575x (75wts) that is so easy to adjust, trim & play with. My brother-n-law has a Denon 3806. It works great, I like mine better. Yamaha is very involved also. Whose using this besides you? Look at the remote carefully & take it on a test drive.

 

[croseiv]

Give this a read. It still applies even if it's a little dated.

 

[Seth=L]

Give this a read. It still applies even if it's a little dated.

Good article.

I liked the part about "weight".

 

[Haoleb]

Some people simply want to buy a quality machine. Taking the difference in quality between a low end and high end reciever may be taking with a grain of salt in some folks eyes but then there are others that even though they may be able to get by just fine with a cheap reciever they want something better. The quality of most of the low end lines is seriously laughable.

Electronics in general wouldnt be so disposable now days if the average consumer cared more about buying a quality product. I guess the mentality is people Expect that whatever it is they just bought will probably break so why invest any appreciable amount of money into it.

What I have said I think applies to the 2 channel hobby more than HT, Since in a few years whatever is state of the art now will of course be obsolete so for those wanting to keep with the times it may not make much sense to spend a bunch on a reciever because they wont plan on keeping it for 20 years.

 

[Haoleb]

And, at some price point you just pay for the name on the front panel

Mtry you've glossed over the entire reason for paying more. The front panel itself. If your ever shopping and there are no price tags on something, Just look at the front panel. If its plastic it probably costs less than $500 If its aluminum but the big knobs are plastic its probably under $1500, If the front is aluminum and so are the big knobs its pretty much always going to be over $2000