Best budget-mid range Receiver with Sony BD350 BDP

[techmine]

I have purchased the sony BDP (as part of building my home theater system). Since I have purchased my disc player before the receiver and it has lots of upconverting/decoding capabilities, I would live to ask the experts which budget/mid range receiver is best with this combination. I am not planning to drive big speakers but just something like Polk6750. I have digital cable box (no game console). My interests are music (a lot) and movies.

 

[bandphan]

IMO you should choose your speakers first, then get an avr that can drive them in your room with the features you need.

 

[Adam]

Scott has good advice.

Something to consider in the receiver is the ability to process audio over HDMI. There are some nice receivers in the $200 range (such as the Onkyo 506), but they can't do that. You would need to step up to the next level of receivers in the about $350 range to get it.

It's not critical to have that ability, but it would be quite convenient. If the Sony can process the new audio codecs and pass them out through multi-channel analog outputs, then you could connect to the Onkyo 506 using those and not need HDMI audio processing. However, it's more cables to run.

Some popular models with HDMI audio processing are the Onkyo 606, Yamaha 663, and Pioneer 1018.

 

[techmine]

Scott has good advice.

Something to consider in the receiver is the ability to process audio over HDMI. There are some nice receivers in the $200 range (such as the Onkyo 506), but they can't do that. You would need to step up to the next level of receivers in the about $350 range to get it.

It's not critical to have that ability, but it would be quite convenient. If the Sony can process the new audio codecs and pass them out through multi-channel analog outputs, then you could connect to the Onkyo 506 using those and not need HDMI audio processing. However, it's more cables to run.

Some popular models with HDMI audio processing are the Onkyo 606, Yamaha 663, and Pioneer 1018.

Thanks all for the replies. Most probably I will go with Polk speakers. I have read lots of good things about them. Unfortunately, none of the stores I visited had them setup on the shelf. Anyway coming back to receivers, you made a good point about Audio processing. Less cables is always better option. Onkyo 606 is a best buy in that category because it has a lot of positive feedback(been around for a long time) and a little less expensive than the others (yamaha and pioneer). Another name I am interested in is, Sony. Sony 820 and 920 seem to be capable receivers. I am not able to pin point the HMDI Audio processing though from specs. (my knowledge is limited). I think they both do. 920 has Video upconversion capabilities I guess.

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Techmine,

The advice you have gotten thus far is spot on....you really should have the speaker choice made and then picking the appropriate AVR will be a easy task. Now given what you said about the Polk's, those speakers are not difficult ones to drive and any AVR will do a good job with them...

Now you have not given an exact price you are looking to go with so I will make a couple suggestions as well....the first would be to stay away from the Sony--you can do better for your money. The 606 is a very good option and can be had for $368 through 6ave Electronics. Now for less than $100 more, if that is possible on your budget, I would go with the Denon AVR-2308ci. This $800 AVR is on sale for $449 shipped as the new 2309ci is out. If you can this would be the best deal, IMHO, in the budget end right now...as going up to the Onkyo 706 is $578 and not as good of a deal....

 

[jostenmeat]

Another to look at is the Onkyo 805. This one has Audyssey Multi EQ XT, of which I have become a huge fan of. It will have at least 8x the resolution of Multi EQ (such as in the Denon 2308ci or 706), for BOTH the sats and the sub.

I am such a big fan, I'm trying to figure out if its worth implementing in my 2-ch system. The cheapest way would be to buy an HT receiver acting as a pre/pro, but I just wonder about SQ b/w that and my Cambridge integrated. The stand-alone SEQ is something like $2k. You'll never find XT in an integrated/stereo-receiver due to economies of scale.

Do you need XT? You will benefit in a room that is less than ideal acoustically.

OTOH, I might forgo XT if that means for the same money you can get Dynamic Volume, if you listen at moderate volumes with family sleeping.

Me? I have a dedicated HT that sometimes gets close to reference. XT all the way, FTW. And that's after 9 large acoustic panels, and more on the way.

Also, the 805s Ultra rating means it spec'd to handle 3.2 ohm load. Its Its $600 new, but you can buy refurbished like I did. I've seen people land it that way for as low as $425.

-jostenmeat

 

[techmine]

Techmine,

The advice you have gotten thus far is spot on....you really should have the speaker choice made and then picking the appropriate AVR will be a easy task. Now given what you said about the Polk's, those speakers are not difficult ones to drive and any AVR will do a good job with them...

Now you have not given an exact price you are looking to go with so I will make a couple suggestions as well....the first would be to stay away from the Sony--you can do better for your money. The 606 is a very good option and can be had for $368 through 6ave Electronics. Now for less than $100 more, if that is possible on your budget, I would go with the Denon AVR-2308ci. This $800 AVR is on sale for $449 shipped as the new 2309ci is out. If you can this would be the best deal, IMHO, in the budget end right now...as going up to the Onkyo 706 is $578 and not as good of a deal....

2808ci is rated to be the most difficult receivers to setup. I would not take a chance with my first receiver where half of the things I don't understand while setting up . Thanks for the honest opinion though. With BD player, I have taken care of most of my video needs, I am getting interested in Yamaha 463. Lets see where I end up.

 

[techmine]

Another to look at is the Onkyo 805. This one has Audyssey Multi EQ XT, of which I have become a huge fan of. It will have at least 8x the resolution of Multi EQ (such as in the Denon 2308ci or 706), for BOTH the sats and the sub.

I am such a big fan, I'm trying to figure out if its worth implementing in my 2-ch system. The cheapest way would be to buy an HT receiver acting as a pre/pro, but I just wonder about SQ b/w that and my Cambridge integrated. The stand-alone SEQ is something like $2k. You'll never find XT in an integrated/stereo-receiver due to economies of scale.

Do you need XT? You will benefit in a room that is less than ideal acoustically.

OTOH, I might forgo XT if that means for the same money you can get Dynamic Volume, if you listen at moderate volumes with family sleeping.

Me? I have a dedicated HT that sometimes gets close to reference. XT all the way, FTW. And that's after 9 large acoustic panels, and more on the way.

Also, the 805s Ultra rating means it spec'd to handle 3.2 ohm load. Its Its $600 new, but you can buy refurbished like I did. I've seen people land it that way for as low as $425.

-jostenmeat

Thanks jostenmeat but 600 is a bit over priced for me and I have not had great experience with refurbs.