Denon AVR-1909, Sony STR-DG820 or Yamaha RX-V663 with Q Acoustics 1000i?

[skyform]

Hey guys,

Which of this three receivers would be better for Q Acoustics 1000i 5.1.

Denon seems to be playing at 6 ohms and 6 ohms is the optimum for my speakers, 4 is minimum but from what i have heard and read Yamaha seems to be the better receiver, but is it better for my speakers and what about Sony is i any good.

I can get Denon for 500€, Sony for 370€ and Yamaha for 390€.

 

[strube]

The bottom line, at least for me, is that Sony is like Microsoft: they limit features too much so they can't be "messed up" and think that we are all fools who don't know how to do anything. I have found in many cases that competitors have tons more features than equivalent price-range Sonys (mostly in the projector department recently, but also with some HTiB systems). You can probably tell I am not a Sony fan - just my rant-ish two cents.

I have had good experience with the Denon 1909/8 series except for recently discussed problems with Audyssey.

 

[CAVU]

The Yamaha represents the best bang for the buck!

 

[Gladstone]

IMO your speakers would basically sound the same with each receiver. I would go with the one with the most features. The Yamaha only has 2 hdmi ports. The sony with 4 and denon with 3. Sony does no analog video upconversion or passing. The denon upconverts and the yamaha only passes it through hdmi. The yamaha has pre outs so you can use a seperate amp. The others don't. I own the Yamaha. Thats what I would go with.

 

[GlocksRock]

I have the 663 and I love it, and a buddy of mine has the 1909, which I also like very much. I believe the Yamaha will be less money, but if that doesn't matter, I would probably go with the Denon.

 

[rnatalli]

I agree with GlocksRocks. The Denon 1909 is the better unit, but does cost more. Denon's are known to meet their printed specs so it's likely the 1909 will deliver 90 watts into 7 channels whereas the 663 was measured at under 40 watts into 7 channels which is still plenty unless your speakers are very hard to drive. On the plus side, the Yammie did crank in 2-channel mode. Any reason why you aren't checking out the Pioneer 1018 or HK254?

 

[tyreal78]

Heard nothing but good things about the Denon. Can't go wrong there. If you don't have any analog signals to upconvert, the Sony is super budget. I've had a Sony receiver for 17 years and it's still running strong. I put that thing through abuse too. I'm not a big fan of just 2 HDMI inputs on the Yammy. I have three components using HDMI and will probably need more in the future.

So I say go with the Denon if you have the money, the Yammy for middle of the road (only if you have 2 HDMI components), and the Sony for a budget option. Some might say go and purchase an HDMI switch for $50 but that just defeats the purpose of switching everything through one component, in this case the receiver. Plus, that's $50 that could go towards a different receiver.

Another one to consider...the HK 254. $390 on Amazon right now. 3 HDMI inputs, hi-def codecs, upconverting and repeating HDMI, sexy, and a good clean sound.

I'm trying to choose between the Denon and the HK.

Good luck!

 

[skyform]

Thanks for all the comments.

I don't need upscaling and HDMI inputs, so is Denon still the one to get or should i rather take Yamaha?

I want the one which has a more dynamic and clear sound.

 

[GlocksRock]

They will both sound very good, but the Denon does not have analog outputs, so if you think that at any point you will want to connect an external amplier, then go with the Yamaha, especially since you don't need HDMI or scaling and it costs less.

 

[skyform]

They will both sound very good, but the Denon does not have analog outputs, so if you think that at any point you will want to connect an external amplier, then go with the Yamaha, especially since you don't need HDMI or scaling and it costs less.

But isn't Yamaha going to drive my speakers worse then Denon because it plays at 8ohms, my speakers optimum is 6ohms and Denon plays at 6ohms?

 

[GlocksRock]

They will both play fine at 6 ohms.

 

[skyform]

Ok then i will buy Yamaha, thanks and Yamaha has 1 optical more exactly what i need

EDIT: oh wait it has only 2 optical at the back, damn thought there are 4 same as 863, right now ineed 3, but one day when i will change my DVd player i will need 4

 

[GlocksRock]

you can always get an optical switcher, or a digital optical to digital coax converter... but one day when you change your dvd player, you might as well start using HDMI.

 

[skyform]

you can always get an optical switcher, or a digital optical to digital coax converter... but one day when you change your dvd player, you might as well start using HDMI.

Why would i use HDMI, how does that even work? I never had a receiver before so i have no idea why is a HDMI good on a receiver.

My dvd player is Philips DVP598 and im just going to connect my dvd player with coax to Yamaha and dvd player is conected to TV with HDMI. Same for PS3 and Xbox 360 just that they will be connected to receiver with optical.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Your PS3 and maybe your X Box (I have never looked at an X Box) will connect via HDMI so you don't need so many optical ports.

 

[skyform]

I have one question about the upscaling, can a receiver with 1080p upscaling upscale analog SD and if yes does it look any better then or are this upscalings useless?

 

[RoninStang]

The RX-V663 will not pass Blacker Than Black. The HDMI standard says that video should use level 16 for black and level 235 for white, but most other receivers do full BTB. The Denon and the Sony will pass 0-255.