Comparable recievers to the Onkyo 606, WITH preamp outs?

[Trouble Maker]

Hey all,

Finally going to take the plunge into my new HT setup.

Looking at receivers comparable to the 606, but that have preamp outs for future upgradeability. For if/when I decide to get an external amp down the road.

I had pretty much decided on the 606 until I saw that it didn't have preamp outs.

Must have 4 HDMI connections (XBOX 360, set top cable box, HD DVD player and PC DVI>HDMI).

IIRC the yahama 663 has outs and ins, but only 2 hdmi inputs?

I don't know all of the receivers out there, so if anything matches what I'm looking for, or if my info on the 606 not having outs is wrong, please clue me in!

TIA

 

[allargon]

Hey all,

Finally going to take the plunge into my new HT setup.

Looking at receivers comparable to the 606, but that have preamp outs for future upgradeability. For if/when I decide to get an external amp down the road.

I had pretty much decided on the 606 until I saw that it didn't have preamp outs.

Must have 4 HDMI connections (XBOX 360, set top cable box, HD DVD player and PC DVI>HDMI).

IIRC the yahama 663 has outs and ins, but only 2 hdmi inputs?

I don't know all of the receivers out there, so if anything matches what I'm looking for, or if my info on the 606 not having outs is wrong, please clue me in!

TIA

The lack of pre-outs are harder to workaround than the 2 HDMI inputs. A simple HDMI switch can handle that. My HK AVR-247 (which does have pre-outs) only has 2 HDMI inputs. I have a four port Monoprice switch on the first HDMI port with a Dish DVR, a Blu-Ray/HD DVD player, a HD DVD player and an upconverting DVD recorder.

 

[drummy83]

Personnaly, I'd look at the HK AVR254/255. If you shop for the 254, I think you can have a nice deal cause the 255 will take its place soon.

I'm not going to try to hide it, I'm an HK fan I believe, from what I have heard and from my experiments, that they simply offer the best SQ in their price range.

It features a Faroudja upscaler that seems to work pretty well. The negative sides: it only have 3 HDMI inputs and some users report a bug with PS3 HDMI.

 

[jostenmeat]

It features a Faroudja upscaler that seems to work pretty well. The negative sides: it only have 3 HDMI inputs and some users report a bug with PS3 HDMI.

Yeah, I've read of the PS3's settings possibly messing up even other sources connected!!! There is a very knowledgable Onkyo 805 user who had his PS3 settings... I believe it was superwhite, on or off I cannot remember. In any case, the setting was raising black levels for every other device connected, including his HD-A35. Strange.

Anyways, if looking at Onkyo, Trouble Maker, the 705 and 805 have preouts.

I never get excited about Faroudja. The cheapest way to get Reon in a receiver is with Onkyo, 875/876. I'm not sure how affordable Anchor Bay can be, but I think Yammy has 'em.

 

[Trouble Maker]

Anyways, if looking at Onkyo, Trouble Maker, the 705 and 805 have preouts.

Probably not looking to spend that much on the reciever right now. Especially considering I have a 2.1 (with busted amp on the sub) right now, so I will also be buying a new front stage and sub/sub amp.

I've always been an Onkyo fan, despite my TX-DS575 dying after 4 or 5 years of normal use. So they are my go-to and the 606 does have a lot of nice options at that price point. I am more than open to other brands though.

I understand and agree with the point about the HDMI inputs being easier to work around/add than the preouts.

But I want/need 4 HDMI inputs now. I might use pre-outs later down the road. Push comes to shove I'll take what I know I'm going to use now over what I might use later.

That's really strange about the PS3. I only have the XBox 360 for now and plan on keeping just it for a while. Won't 'upgrade' to Blu Ray until the media prices are less expensive. I will probably, depending on the price of quality stand alone BR players at point, get the PS3. But it will be a ways down the road if ever so that's nothing to worry about for now.