Wife gave me permission to upgrade

[jopela]

Long story short I have been given the go ahead to build a new home theater system. I am not an audiophile, but I like things to sound good. (Right now I have an older Technics receiver and JBL bookshelf speakers and am only somewhat satisfied.)

I have been lurking for a while and have read all of the posts and reviews and have narrowed it down to 4 receivers. Now I need to track them all down and listen to them, but I would like any comments you have and ask if there is anything specific I should look (or listen) for when I go for my test listens.

My requirements were simple 7.1 / 2 zone front / DTSHD and Dolby HD / 3+ HDMI in / min 100 watts / budget friendly

I also see that some of them have SRS Circle sound II. I have read about 'what' it is, but does it improve sound enough to eliminate the ones that do not have it?

If there are any other receivers that I should be considering let me know.

Marantz SR5003
Denon 2808CI
Yamaha RX-V863
Onkyo TX-SR706

Now I am off to research speakers.....

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Welcome to the forums jopela! Your now on a very addictive search that is fun, and can be expensive or not, yet rewarding all at the same time.

Most forum members would say to audition and pick your speakers before you buy a receiver. That way if you get some demanding speakers, you can pick a receiver that can power them.

We are all here to help, but we have to get personal and ask your budget and how much gear you expect for that sum.

We caution people to stay away from Circuit City and Best Buy, as they have nothing you can't find on the net for a better deal, and they really don't carry speakers that are worth what they ask for them IMO.

Have fun, and take your own CD's and a note pad with you when you go speaker shopping/auditioning. Jot down notes on different speakers, likes, dislikes, etc.

Many good speakers can be found online by Internet Direct companies that will allow you a 30 day in home trial. Just ask and we will post links. I bought everything in my signature online except for my TV!

Most of all HAVE FUN!

Ric

 

[jamie2112]

Welcome,I like all the AVR's minus 1 being the Onkyo. I am just not a fan. Because you need a fan......On the Onkyo that is....they get too hot for my liking...Speakers are another issue..I will go ahead and throw this out there for starters:http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Jopela...nice having you here now...and congradulations on the go-ahead to put together a new system. Any of the receivers you have listed are going to be a big upgrade from what you are currently running. As for the ones you listed and the need of it being budget friendly, my reccomendatoin will be the Denon AVR-2808ci...I know I am somewhat biased as a Denon guy...but you can get this unit for right around $595 from authorized online dealers like 6th Ave....which is an absolute steal as it was a $1,200 AVR....this would be my pic from the units you mentioned.

Everyone on here has alot of insight and you can almost certainly find someone who has used / heard / owned nearly any product you might be considering...In terms of speakers, if you let us know a budget and configuration (5.1, 6.1, 7.1, what have you) you most certainly get pointed in some very good directions...

Best wishes on your new adventure...

 

[jopela]

Thanks for all of your replies... To answer some of your questions.. by budget is <$1000 for the receiver and <$2000 for speakers (5.1 but I will upgrade to 7.1 in the future). I have done my online shopping and all of these receivers fall into that range. As far as what I want... I want what everyone else does.. the best equipment for the least money, but specifically I will be using the setup for HT 90% of the time so there is not a big focus on playing music. My living room is about 20x30 with a 9' ceiling, and it opens up into the kitchen so the space very open and is not ideal for sound, but it is what I have to work with.

I know what you mean about BB and CC. I worked at both in my younger days and know all of the dirty little secretes.

I do like the idea of selecting a speaker first to make sure I can drive them... I have looked at and liked the following 2 speaker configurations from the online reviews and with smart shopping they should both be just under $2000. I am looking for some local shops that carry Klipsch and Paradigm to listen and see if I like either of them.

Klipsch
Front::: RF-52
Center::: RF-52
Surround::: RF-42
Sub::: RW10d


Paradigm
Front:::Cinema 330
Center:::Cinema 330
Surround:::Cinema ADP
Sub::: Ultra Cube 10

I guess I will pop over to the speaker forum and do some more reading so I can post some intelligent questions.

You guys are great

 

[Exit]

I think the SBS-01s Jamie2112 mentioned are a good starting point too. SBSs are made in Ohio, USA and they have a very good reputation for bang-for-the-buck. SBS is also known for its low-bass subwoofers. I don’t know if you can tell sonic differences between receivers unless you turn them up to loud to the point where you get distortion. (Maybe others can hear sonic differences in receivers, I don’t know, but if so it probably takes a trained or experienced ear.) I would just look for the features you want, the power you want at low distortion, and the quality of automatic room calibration you want. Some say Audisy (SP) auto-EQ is a better system than some of the others. My receiver was about $550 and it has about 120 Watts per Channel x 7, at 8 ohms, 20Hz-20KHz at 0.04 THD distortion. I think it is plenty of power for most speakers in the low and middle price ranges including the SVS-01s.

 

[jostenmeat]

Welcome,I like all the AVR's minus 1 being the Onkyo. I am just not a fan. Because you need a fan......On the Onkyo that is....they get too hot for my liking...Speakers are another issue..I will go ahead and throw this out there for starters:http://www.svsound.com/products-sys-sbs_black.cfm

Just set the ohms rating to the lower setting. Will run at same temp as any other. If you want the better amp that Onkyo gives, per dollar, and don't mind more heat, set it back at the higher impedance setting.

 

[zumbo]

Just set the ohms rating to the lower setting. Will run at same temp as any other. If you want the better amp that Onkyo gives, per dollar, and don't mind more heat, set it back at the higher impedance setting.

jopela

DO NOT CHANGE THE OHM SETTING IN ANY RECEIVER.

I am not an Onkyo fan either.

I prefer Denon or Marantz. Depends on the deal of the day for the features needed.

I would also move a little more money to the speaker side of the budget.

 

[jostenmeat]

jopela

DO NOT CHANGE THE OHM SETTING IN ANY RECEIVER.

Why not? It'll run cooler if that's complaint #1. All its doing it dropping the rail voltage, or adding resistance. Otherwise, yeah, you'll get a better amp with Onkyo with every dollar spent. Of course, the fan is a better idea, that way you can use the amp to its full capabilities.

I am not an Onkyo fan either.

I prefer Denon or Marantz. Depends on the deal of the day for the features needed.

Tell me why Denon/Marantz is better? I'm not familiar with Marantz prices, but Denon is usually twice the price for comparable mid-level feature sets.

 

[zumbo]

Why not? It'll run cooler if that's complaint #1. All its doing it dropping the rail voltage, or adding resistance. Otherwise, yeah, you'll get a better amp with Onkyo with every dollar spent. Of course, the fan is a better idea, that way you can use the amp to its full capabilities.

You have a better chance of clipping, among many other variables described in the link below.

http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/connecting-4-ohm-speakers-to-an-8-ohm-receiver-or-amplifier/

Tell me why Denon/Marantz is better? I'm not familiar with Marantz prices, but Denon is usually twice the price for comparable mid-level feature sets.

I didn't say better. I stated what I prefer.

 

[jostenmeat]

You have a better chance of clipping, among many other variables described in the link below.

http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/connecting-4-ohm-speakers-to-an-8-ohm-receiver-or-amplifier/

Yeah sure, but even with that impedance setting on an Onkyo 605, the odds of clipping will be darn near the same with a Yammy 863 at maximum setting. I can't say what the drop will be with the 605, but if I assumed its like the 805:

Sound/Vision rates 863 at 45w/5-ch (8ohms). 605 at 85w/5-ch (8ohms). Take Onkyo's 85w-40w (impedance switch) = 45 watts. Yamaha max setting = Onkyo at lower impedance setting.

Of course I'm sure there's inaccuracy with the above numbers. But my point was that Onkyo's amps are better for the money.

I didn't say better. I stated what I prefer.

Why do you prefer to spend 2x as much?

 

[zumbo]

Yeah sure, but even with that impedance setting on an Onkyo 605, the odds of clipping will be darn near the same with a Yammy 863 at maximum setting. I can't say what the drop will be with the 605, but if I assumed its like the 805:

This is like buying a V8 that has more power than a 4-cylinder, but if I wanted to race it down the drag strip, I would need to only use four of the cylinders due to a running hot issue.

Of course I'm sure there's inaccuracy with the above numbers. But my point was that Onkyo's amps are better for the money.

You are claiming an amp to be better, but you have to limit it's voltage? Doesn't sound like a better amp design to me.

Why do you prefer to spend 2x as much?

Because I demand products that work properly.

I don't have a Hyundai parked in the driveway because I can get one for less than the Infiniti that is there.

 

[jostenmeat]

This is like buying a V8 that has more power than a 4-cylinder, but if I wanted to race it down the drag strip, I would need to only use four of the cylinders due to a running hot issue.

You are claiming an amp to be better, but you have to limit it's voltage? Doesn't sound like a better amp design to me.

Because I demand products that work properly.

I don't have a Hyundai parked in the driveway because I can get one for less than the Infiniti that is there.

You've completely missed my points.

Not anything that a $5 fan can't fix anyways.

If you prefer to spend $600 more so you don't need to use a fan, that's all fine with me.

I don't use a fan.

edit: the Hyundai vs Infinity is a really terrible analogy.

 

[zumbo]

edit: the Hyundai vs Infinity is a really terrible analogy.

Is it?
Hyundai Tiburon $17,200 base price
Infiniti G35 $34,900 base price

 

[Gimpy Ric]

You Guys! You've stolen a thread and now have car pictures in a new system thread! Can we give the thread back to th OP, jopela, and help him find some descent speakers?

With all due respect,

Ric

 

[zumbo]

Can I state that I don't recommend Klipsch without having to defend that?

 

[Gimpy Ric]

Can I state that I don't recommend Klipsch without having to defend that?

LOL, I don't care for the Klipsch sound either. I do approve of this idea. SVS SBS-01 5.0 Channel Set - Black $599 And depending on the size of the room, an SVS subwoofer to fill the space with bass!

 

[zumbo]

$500 each Classic Three center
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=29725

$650 pair Classic Three
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=29721

$500 pair Classic Two
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=29719

$600 each Classic Twelve
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=29727

$2250 for speakers.

Denon 2808CI $597.97
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=88234

$2847.97 total shipped

Use the Classic Three all around for $150 more.

$2997.97 total shipped (Budget)

I use an NHT 12" powered sub in my system, and I love it.

 

[jostenmeat]

Wrong sub-forum, but nevertheless:

IMO as of today, the greatest first step anyone could make in audio-only terms for the HT is to use three identical upright speakers on the same plane.

The only AHers I know that have succeeded with that are jvgillow and rumonkey2.

IMO as of today, the other greatest first step anyone could make in audio-only terms is to significantly treat the room.

I heartily believe the above are more important than even the choices between one decent mid-level speaker and another.

 

[PENG]

Sound/Vision rates 863 at 45w/5-ch (8ohms). 605 at 85w/5-ch (8ohms). Take Onkyo's 85w-40w (impedance switch) = 45 watts. Yamaha max setting = Onkyo at lower impedance setting.

Of course I'm sure there's inaccuracy with the above numbers. But my point was that Onkyo's amps are better for the money.

AS I posted about this before, for some reasons in a couple of recent S&V and HT magazine reviews their lab measurements data are not consistent. Specifically the 663, 863, 606's 5,7 channel driven power output at 0.1/1% distortion are all over the map. They also had the 3808 tested more power output than the 4308, the Onkyo 805 more power output than the 905 (could have been the equivalent Integra model I don't remember 100% but it weighed 52 lbs, same as the 905/875) yet they called the latter one the most powerful they tested etc....

If you search the web you will find other British magazines getting different numbers. This seems to be the case only this year and I have no idea why but I thought I should mention it to you since you seem to be aware of the possibility of 'inaccuracy with the above numbers".