Yamaha RX-A820 vs. Denon AVR-2313CI

[benso37]

I posted this on another forum but I hope you guys can give me some input as well.


I currently have the Onkyo 705 feeding my Energy Take classic 5 (in a 7.1 configuration). I need more HDMI outputs, 3D and Network features such as DLNA, Sportify, etc. I don't own any Apple hardware so Apple's airplay isn't necessary but will be nice to have in case I ever buy an Apple product.

Anyway, I initially started looking at the Onkyo 818 but decided that it was an overkill for my speakers and living room so I moved on to the 717. I soon found out the 717 was missing the Audyssey MultEQ XT which meant this had to be crossed off my list as well. Then I started looking at the Denon's (AVR-2313CI) and the Yamaha (RX-A820).

These two receivers have their advantages and disadvantages but I need help figuring out which of the disadvantages below to overlook.

AVR-2313CI

- 5 HDMI's on the back might not be enough
- No universal remote control
- THX Ultra2
- Missing party mode or something similar


RX-A820
- THX Ultra2
- No MultEQ XT
- No spotify or pandora

After reading a lot of the posts on different forums, it looks to me like people prefer the Audyssey more than the YPAO. Can someone explain to me what makes Audyssey much better and if that makes the YPAO a deal breaker?

Lastly, It is my understanding that I can hook up the Yamaha to my 7.1 in the living room and hook up two additional speakers to the L & R terminal for zone 2 (patio). When I have zone two on, it switches to 5.1 in the living room, when I have zone 2 off, I get my 7.1 back. Does the Denon work the same way? On the Denon forum it states that "Network audio (including AirPlay) can stream independently to Zone 2", can I still stream airplay to the main 7.1 setup?

 

[benso37]

Did you mean to post this on Facebook?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I posted this on another forum but I hope you guys can give me some input as well.


I currently have the Onkyo 705 feeding my Energy Take classic 5 (in a 7.1 configuration). I need more HDMI outputs, 3D and Network features such as DLNA, Sportify, etc. I don't own any Apple hardware so Apple's airplay isn't necessary but will be nice to have in case I ever buy an Apple product.

Anyway, I initially started looking at the Onkyo 818 but decided that it was an overkill for my speakers and living room so I moved on to the 717. I soon found out the 717 was missing the Audyssey MultEQ XT which meant this had to be crossed off my list as well. Then I started looking at the Denon's (AVR-2313CI) and the Yamaha (RX-A820).

These two receivers have their advantages and disadvantages but I need help figuring out which of the disadvantages below to overlook.

AVR-2313CI

- 5 HDMI's on the back might not be enough
- No universal remote control
- THX Ultra2
- Missing party mode or something similar


RX-A820
- THX Ultra2
- No MultEQ XT
- No spotify or pandora

After reading a lot of the posts on different forums, it looks to me like people prefer the Audyssey more than the YPAO. Can someone explain to me what makes Audyssey much better and if that makes the YPAO a deal breaker?

Lastly, It is my understanding that I can hook up the Yamaha to my 7.1 in the living room and hook up two additional speakers to the L & R terminal for zone 2 (patio). When I have zone two on, it switches to 5.1 in the living room, when I have zone 2 off, I get my 7.1 back. Does the Denon work the same way? On the Denon forum it states that "Network audio (including AirPlay) can stream independently to Zone 2", can I still stream airplay to the main 7.1 setup?

I would get the Denon 3312 brand new for $550 today on Amazon. STAT. Now.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR3312CI-Integrated-Surround-Receiver/dp/B004Z50L6E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339789429&sr=8-1&keywords=denon+3312

 

[benso37]

I would get the Denon 3312 brand new for $550 today on Amazon. Now.

I saw that but it doesn't have spotify which I currently subscribe to so that's a negative. It also doesn't seem to do the zone 2 auto switching that the Yamaha does. Right? unless I'm missing something.

 

[PENG]

These two receivers have their advantages and disadvantages but I need help figuring out which of the disadvantages below to overlook.

AVR-2313CI

- 5 HDMI's on the back might not be enough
- No universal remote control
- THX Ultra2
- Missing party mode or something similar


RX-A820
- THX Ultra2
- No MultEQ XT
- No spotify or pandora

After reading a lot of the posts on different forums, it looks to me like people prefer the Audyssey more than the YPAO. Can someone explain to me what makes Audyssey much better and if that makes the YPAO a deal breaker?

As far as I know neither one has any THX certification let alone Ultra2, you might have misread their specs or the advertiser made a mistake.

The 2313 will likely has 6 HDMI but 1 of them may be in the front. Even my 1912 has 6 HDMI so again the advertiser might have make a mistake there too. You should download the specs/manual from Denon.com just to be sure.

I am not sure if Audyssey XT is better but it probably has higher resolution filter for the LFE channel.

Lastly, It is my understanding that I can hook up the Yamaha to my 7.1 in the living room and hook up two additional speakers to the L & R terminal for zone 2 (patio). When I have zone two on, it switches to 5.1 in the living room, when I have zone 2 off, I get my 7.1 back. Does the Denon work the same way? On the Denon forum it states that "Network audio (including AirPlay) can stream independently to Zone 2", can I still stream airplay to the main 7.1 setup?

I think you are right but check the manual to be sure.

 

[benso37]

Peng,

The list you see are the things missing from each model I see as a disadvantage.

I was asking for which ones to overlook.

 

[PENG]

Peng,

The list you see are the things missing from each model I see as a disadvantage.

I was asking for which ones to overlook.

Sorry, my mistake. I would overlook THX for sure. If you ever need more power I would not overlook the lack of preouts. In that sense the Yamaha is better but it most likely costs more so as ADTG suggested you may want to consider the 3312 if you can do without that spotify thing (I don't know what that is).

 

[benso37]

Sorry, my mistake. I would overlook THX for sure. If you ever need more power I would not overlook the lack of preouts. In that sense the Yamaha is better but it most likely costs more so as ADTG suggested you may want to consider the 3312 if you can do without that spotify thing (I don't know what that is).

The Yamaha has one feature I just can't overlook. I thought all the current AVR's on the market worked this way but apparently not.

The 820 has the ability to automatically switch my main (7.1) to 5.1 when zone 2 is on and switch it back to 7.1 when zone 2 is off without me having to move any speaker wires around. That I need. The second zone is going to my patio.

Spotify is a streaming service my wife and I subscribe to and I liked the idea of having the APP running on the AVR that way we don't use up our cell phone and tablet batteries but I can overlook that.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The Yamaha has one feature I just can't overlook. I thought all the current AVR's on the market worked this way but apparently not.

The 820 has the ability to automatically switch my main (7.1) to 5.1 when zone 2 is on and switch it back to 7.1 when zone 2 is off without me having to move any speaker wires around. That I need. The second zone is going to my patio.

Spotify is a streaming service my wife and I subscribe to and I liked the idea of having the APP running on the AVR that way we don't use up our cell phone and tablet batteries but I can overlook that.

I think Yamaha makes AVRs (RX-A1010 example) that measure superbly. Highly recommended. So the RX-A820 should be great.

 

[avnetguy]

Don't last year's Yamaha AVRs (e.g. RX-A1010) have pandora? Unless the 820 has some new needed feature you might be able to get a much better deal on one of the older models.

Steve

 

[benso37]

The 1010 costs more than the 820 and it's missing 4k video up-conversion (though I don't have any need for it now). Also missing is the new version of YPAO. I have no experience with the old version so I don't know how to compare the two. It has bluetooth though, which is nice.

If I find it around the same price or cheaper than the 820, I might go for it.

 

[benso37]

Is $750 a good deal on the A820? Brand new.