AHH no more research, please help

[RFosgate]

ok, so for the last 3 weeks, I have been researching home theatre receivers, and I have come to the following stopping point, the more and more I look the more I can't decide which to get. I have been looking heavily into either a Denon or Onkyo,
the Denon 1905, or the 2105 and the Onkyo 602 or 702. I can't seem to find reviews for these specific models, so I have been going off of models similar to them. Then I was introduced to a Yamaha, and it seemed nice, but didn't do what I was looking to do.

I need to have at least 4 digital inputs, and would like to be able to convert from composite up to component. I currently have a sony 545, which has run out of digital input spaces, which is why I need to upgrade, and the speakers, are my first set, they are sad to say, KLH. Which I know needs to be upgraded also, and that plans on being my next step, I would first like to get eveything hooked up first, then worry about the speakers, so If you could please advise me into a direction to go, that would be great. Thanks,

 

[crashguy]

What is it the Yamaha lacks? If you tell us that, it may help us help you.

I've never owned an Onkyo, but I have owned 2 Denons (3802 and 1500), and I currently own a Yamaha. As far as the Denons you listed go, the 1905 only has 4 digital inputs (3 opt, 1 coax), the 2105 has 5 (4 opt, 1 coax). Not familiar with the Onkyo stuff.

Just to muddy the waters further, you may want to check out Harmon/Kardon as another choice.

 

[RFosgate]

well, the Yami that I looked at in Ultimate Electronics, went for around $500, but it didn't do the conversion up to component, just from composite up to S-video. I tried to look at HK, but the only local place I have to look at them is Circuit City, and I asked three people there about the onkyo being able to do the video conversion and no one knew what I was talking about. I even asked a manager that tried to help, I explained what it was, and he said "wow that would be a really cool feature....but I don't know if this unit has that" so again, I come to the hobbiests(sp?) for advice in my search

 

[Mega2000]

doesn't the yamaha rx-v750 upconvert to component?

and probably just above $500 is the htr5790/rx-v1400 and both of those do upcoversion

i was looking at the denon's you mentioned and also all the yamaha's i listed but finially decided to go with a yamaha v2500 because I got a nice christmas bonus

 

[howie85]

I would go to the mfg web sites to get the specs on what you want ie. inputs, upconversion, then when you get that down try to listen to as many as possible and dont rely on the sales staff unless you are in a good place that knows their stuff you will usually know more than them, if you do your homework. I personally felt that my dollar went a little further with the Onkyo as far as features went. If you are looking forward to the future you might want to budget as much as possible since it is cheaper to buy good 200 more now might save you $$$ later. Consider what you will be getting into in the near future...sacd? HDMI? Some of the lower models do not offer the type of bass managment that the upper models offer etc. Happy hunting.

 

[RFosgate]

mega2000- would you have gone with the denon's if you had not gotten your bonus? When I went to Ultimate Electronics to listen to the yami, it seemed like the highs were too bright and overpowering. the denon seemed more of a total sound, and seemed to have stronger bass. But that was without making any adjustments. why does this have to be so complicated?

 

[Leprkon]

you need to ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish. A Yamaha (at least models RX-V2500 and below) will only SWITCH composite and SVideo to component. they DO NOT process the signal to give you component quality.

 

[toquemon]

There isn't such a thing as a "future ready" receiver. Technology changes very rapidly and you don't wanna buy a receiver with all the bells and wistles and then discover that you don't use them. I remember some receivers that had the LD (laserdisc) and MD, DAT inputs (Minidisc, Digital Audio Tape); none of those formats succeded and they supposed to be "future ready". We are not sure about the success of DVD-Audio and SACD even now, but we're positive about DVD.

I would buy the receiver that has all the things that i need and wouldn't spend more in features that i won't use, if i were you.

 

[Mega2000]

mega2000- would you have gone with the denon's if you had not gotten your bonus?

nah, i would be getting a yami v-750 or I was looking at a Pioneer.

i relly liked the denon 2805 and if I listened to more music and had a SACD/DVD-A player I would have probably gone with the Denon. I actually like the v2500's controller a lot too. At one point i looked at the Denon 3805 but I hated the controller and like the feel of solid buttons. I also think the yami had more digital coax inputs (I needed 3)

 

[RFosgate]

how important are DAC's? some seem to say that they have two per channel, and others say "two 192kHz/24-bit DACs, plus two 96kHz/24-bit DACs." From just the specs, I'm looking at actually getting the Onkyo 702, here is what I see. the onkyo has enough digital inputs, 100x7, conversion upto component, auto setup, THX (is this really that big of a deal?), Bass from both main and sub, IntelliVolume (which I thought was a nice feature to have, that I didn't see anywere else.) I do have sacd, though I don't use it much yet. Of coarse the yami is looking better, and I would probably go with the 1500. I guess it all really boils down to which I can get the better deal on.

 

[crashguy]

The THX processing is a personal choice. The THX SELECT certification is important, in my opinion, as is assures you the power amp stages of the unit are strong. THX PROCESSING and THX CERTIFICATION are different things. One is a surround mode, one is based on the internals of the component. Both the Yamaha 1500 and 2500 are THX SELECT CERTIFIED. What exactly the THX SELECT certification involves is not made public, but the amp must be able to drive low impedence loads (3.2 ohm I believe), and make a certain loudness level in a given size room. THX ULTRA 2 is the same specs, just that the room it must fill with sound is larger.

 

[trekuhl]

amazon has had the 702B for as low as $500 recently, saw it on bensbargains.net - in fact amazon has run a bunch of onkyos recently for pretty good deals.