Boston Acoustics AVR7120...????

[agood1]

I have been researching a new reciever for about 2 weeks now and I just can't seem to find the exact one I want....until I read the spec on the BA 7120.....things that i like are
USB connection to stream audio from a PC
OSD from any/all video inputs.
LCD backlit learning macro enable remote.

None of the other models I looked at had all these features....but I know that BA is new to the reciever market.....has anyone tried this unit or know any more about it? It is a concern that MSRP is $3k but many sites have it on clearance for $999.

The other models I was looking at are:
Yamaha RV-V2600
Pioneer VSX-74TXVi
Denon 3806

I really need some help with my decision.

Thanks

 

[gcmarshall]

i like BA as a company and they make good value, good sounding speakers (i own two pairs of BA speakers that have worked very nicely for me). but, personally, i'd be hesitant to spend that kind of money on a receiver made by a company that has only recently entered the receiver market. i think there are too many other very good choices from companies who have been making AV receivers for a long, long time. it may be a fine receiver, but that's a pretty penny. what kind of power does it have compared to a Yamaha 2600 or Denon 3806? you'll get all sorts of opinions on here. my opinion is that you should be looking at Yamaha or Denon, maybe add Marantz to the list if you want to branch out into a third brand as an option. yamaha and denon seem to be the pillars of the AV receiver world, in terms of making very good products that can be easily found across the country.

 

[gcmarshall]

i went to the BA web site and looked at the 7120. looks classy and weighs a lot. rated at 120 wpc. no HDMi, as far as i can tell. i didn't look very long, though. it may have some unique features, but i would seriously look at my aforementioned suggestions ahead of the BA, unless the 7210 has some unusual feature you absolutely need that nobody else offers.

i am a yamaha believer. the next person who replies may be a denon believer. decide what features are important to you (example, HDMI or not), decide how much you want to spend, compare a few products, both on paper and in person, listen to them, buy from a reputable dealer (and an authorized dealer if the manufacturer of the product you choose requires that for warranty purposes), buy it and then be happy. however, unless you take your speakers and your room to the store, what you hear in the store will likely not be what you hear at home. i always make sure there is a 30 day or more full money back return policy when i buy expensive items like electronics. and, finally, never ever buy an extended warranty on consumer electronics.

 

[treetownal]

Those BA products look awfully familiar from the back.

I'd frankly be surprised if they were actually making their own electronics rather than using the same suppliers who have made some of the other "clone" equipment.

 

[agood1]

As I understand it...HDMI will only benefit me if I have a TV that will support it...am I right? If so, I don't need HDMI....unless there is something else I can use it for...
Here is a excerpt from the manual on the BA...is this not HDMI?

The biggest feature I like about the BA is the USB for streaming audio....I have a MP3 server in my home that I use for my whole house system...it has over 75GB of music on it...so it would be nice to stream those files to the theater room if I wanted to.

I also like the remote on the BA.

 

[agood1]

Clones? Who are they?

 

[EdS]

The BA AVR7120 and AVR7110 are clones of the Sherwood Newcastle R-965 and R-865 respectively. I'm not sure if there were any upgrades made to the BA equipment as they list at over $1000. more expensive than the equivalent Sherwood models. That said, OneCall (and maybe some others) are having clearance sales such that the BA equipment is significantly cheaper than it's Sherwood counterparts. One thing to keep in mind is after sales support, if BA is exiting the receiver arena, then there might not be any SW upgrades available, whereas Sherwood is both fixing bugs and adding features.

 

[agood1]

OK, I have another question.....

From what I read, it appears that most of the more common recievers only display the OSD thru the component outputs.....am I reading this right? If so I don't have a tv with component inputs....so I will not have OSD with these receivers....which is a must have since my reciever is hidden in my theatre.

 

[FLMike]

Why not look at a dedicated streaming device?

If you are looking to stream your music collection, why not look at a dedicated device like the Squeezbox from www.slimdevices.com or a high-quality sound card from someone like www.M-audio.com? The Squeezebox would allow your server to be in another room than the stereo if you wanted and can either be connected to your server via Coax or wireless and to your stereo via digital or analog connections. The M-audio cards are geared to music repro (their higher end stuff is oriented toward studio recording) and have digital outputs designed to connect to HTR receivers. They start at only $99.00. This would allow you to broaden your receiver selection and get the access to your music you are looking for.