Do I need upconvert?

[tech_freak]

I am looking for a new AVR for my home theatre.I currently have a hddvr,bluray player,xbox 360 and a nintendo wii on the way for my wife..
The xbox uses component connections with optical audio and I assume that the Wii will use component also.
I see some receivers do upconverting,but do I really need that?My current receiver doesn't and my xbox looks fine to me.My tv does 1080i,but the new one will do 1080p.
Just trying to figure out if paying more for that upconversion justifies the price.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am looking for a new AVR for my home theatre.I currently have a hddvr,bluray player,xbox 360 and a nintendo wii on the way for my wife..
The xbox uses component connections with optical audio and I assume that the Wii will use component also.
I see some receivers do upconverting,but do I really need that?My current receiver doesn't and my xbox looks fine to me.My tv does 1080i,but the new one will do 1080p.
Just trying to figure out if paying more for that upconversion justifies the price.

Your TV can do the up converting to meet its needs so no, you don't have to with a receiver.

 

[Davemcc]

Upconverting is really just a catchall phrase that encompasses a number of functions to make it easier for consumers to understand, which usually confuses most people. You don't really need any scaling or de-interlacing functions in the AVR. The function that you will find most important is transcoding, which is simply the act of converting your composite, s-video or component video inputs into HDMI output so that all your various connections going into the receiver can be transmitted to the display over one HDMI wire.

One feature that I've found nice to have is on screen menu display over HDMI. My previous receiver only fed the on screen display via composite video and it forced me to run another wire to the display and stop everything and change the TV's input every time I wanted to make a change in the AVR menu.

 

[Fenix]

Your setup sounds very similar to mine (minus the HDDVR). Davemcc is correct, transcoding is what you want.

I had a list of receivers that supported this, but I have since deleted it

What speakers do you currently have? This may help these guys make a better suggestion.

I'm not quite as high caliber as most of these other guys when it comes to audio quality, but I can tell you that to me my receiver does a great job (especially now that they have a firmware upgrade that will let me connect my Wii via component and assign a stereo input to it) for me. It has the transcoding and it also displays the setup and option menus on my TV through the HDMI cable. Something else that I have found useful is that on the newer receivers with HDMI 1.3b you can setup them up to allow control through HDMI, so when you turn on your TV it automatically turns on the receiver and switches it to the TV input (as long as your TV is connected to the receiver via HDMI). Also if you have a newer Blu-Ray with HDMI 1.3b, when you turn on your Blu-ray it will automatically switch the receiver to your blu-ray and change the input on the TV. Again the catch is that all of those components have to have HDMI 1.3b and bet set up to allow control. Any other connection will not automatically do the switching for you. Oh and one more perk from this, you can change the volume on the AVR just by using the TV volume up and down.

But do your homework carefully and try to find the receiver that does what you want and need.

And no, you don't need upconverting.

 

[Davemcc]

When looking through the features or specs on a receiver's web page, the operative words you are looking for will be "analog to HDMI conversion" or something along that line, depending on how each manufacturer phrases the spec sheet.

On a related note, as you are shopping, avoid any receiver that uses the phrase "HDMI switching". You absolutely want HDMI repeating.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I just want to repeat that.

"HDMI Repeater".

 

[tech_freak]

Thanks for the input.Have any recommendations that would be 500.00 or less?

 

[Fenix]

Well, for new AVR's you can look at:

Onkyo TX-SR607 and lower
Yamaha RX-V665 and lower
Denon AVR-1910 and lower

These are some bases for you to start looking at. All of the models above are right at your $500 limit and have features that you are looking for. I said lower because there are lower models that are cheaper that do what you want. I just wanted to give you the upper limit on Brand new receivers.

Now there is a site you can go to for re-certified AVR's that are cheaper and you would be able to get a higher end AVR within your $500 budget. As long as you don't mind refurbished. The site is accessories4less.

Happy hunting

 

[Lordoftherings]

Here's some of the very best in your price range.

Thanks for the input.Have any recommendations that would be 500.00 or less?

Onkyo TX-SR607 = $349 * Excellent price.
OnKyo TX-SR606 = $319 * Good price, but the 607 is a better deal for only $30 more.
Onkyo TX-SR705 = $439 * Excellent receiver with very valuable features, but could be a bit more now.
Onkyo TX-SR706 = $499 * Good price, but the 705 is the much better receiver for less.
Marantz SR5002 = $349 * Excellent price (56% off).
Marantz SR6001 = $349 * Excellent receiver at an amazing discount (71% off).
Marantz SR7001 = $499 * Excellent receiver at an amazing discount (64% off).
Marantz SR5003 = $499 * Could be a few dollars more, but another good choice.

Any of these are excellent receivers at excellent discount (from 50% to 71% off).
And of course, there are some Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer Elite and Harman Kardon too.
But I give you my best pick of them all, for performance, build quality, features, ergonomics and last but not least, for their incredible value.

These amazing deals can be found at "Accessories 4 Less" and "6th Avenue".
But most of them are at Accessories 4 Less. They are mostly refurb (but just like brand new, if not brand new), with full warranty. Excellent place of very high reputation. It is your best bet to shop there and feel very secure about getting the best deal and service for your money.

Cheers,

Bob