equipment purchase questions

[mikey d]

Im getting ready to bump my home theater system up a notch and i have a few questions.

the big one is choosing between 2 recivers
i can get an rxv 2600 for around 1300 bucks
or i can get an rx-z9 wich was top dog about a year ago for a few hundred bucks more? What do you do when you face a choice like that?

im using a pioneer reciever now that does 5.1 DTS and DD but its gotta be at least 5 years old now. Im sure anything will be a HUGE improvement!

 

[krzywica]

Im getting ready to bump my home theater system up a notch and i have a few questions.

the big one is choosing between 2 recivers
i can get an rxv 2600 for around 1300 bucks
or i can get an rx-z9 wich was top dog about a year ago for a few hundred bucks more? What do you do when you face a choice like that?

im using a pioneer reciever now that does 5.1 DTS and DD but its gotta be at least 5 years old now. Im sure anything will be a HUGE improvement!

Do you need hdmi? Do you need that much crap that comes with the z9? It should be pretty self explanatory. Just match the things you need with the features of the reciever in question.

 

[markw]

You can make out like a bandit by buying last years models.

Unless you really really want or really really need what the newest and shiniest recivers can do, and you find that last years models have all that you do need, then you can save a buncha bucks.

Then again, I've never been an early adopter or one to try to keep up with the Jonses. I march to my own beat.

When I finally jumped into HT about three years ago and the Denon 2803 was first released, I found a NIB Denon 2802 for $395, or roughly for half it's originallist price. It had all the features I needed and I've been happy as a clam at high tide ever since.

Remember, that brand new unit with all the glitzy whiz bang features will be, in about six months time, last years model too.

 

[mikey d]

Thanks!
I actually could use HDMI. I have a DLP big screen that has HDMI imputs but i find i like the component cable vid quality better so far, so while it would be cool to get ride of some of the wires back there its not that important to me.

It sounds like last years model would be great for me then. Ill have to do some research to see what was good stuff back then.

thanks

 

[AVRat]

You're on the right track. The two most popular that come to mind are the Yamaha RX-V2500 & Denon AVR-3805. But you'd better be quick, they're going fast.

 

[Buckle-meister]

A different perspective

i can get an rxv 2600 for around 1300 bucks
or i can get an rx-z9 wich was top dog about a year ago for a few hundred bucks more? What do you do when you face a choice like that?

$1300 vs. $1400. This means the Z9 is less than 8% more than the cost of the RXV2600. Alternatively, a different way of looking at it is that the Z9 costs just 1 part in 13 more than the RXV2600. If it was me, I know which I'd go for. But then, I'm biased; I own a Z9.

Bear in mind that the following is only relevant to the Z9:

im using a pioneer reciever now that does 5.1 DTS and DD but its gotta be at least 5 years old now. Im sure anything will be a HUGE improvement!

Not so sure about that. The Z9 certainly has more up to date decoders like dts ES and DD EX etc. But if you do not have the additional speakers these modes require, and are not planning on getting them, then the decoders are redundant and therefore wasted. In this case, your existing 5.1 dts and DD decoders are (I think) no different from those of the Z9.

Of course, the Z9 will almost certainly have more DSP modes, and Yamaha's DSP modes are very highly acclaimed, but it still comes down to a matter of taste. The only 'HUGE' improvement you might then experiance would be from the possibly larger amplifier sections of the Z9. When I got my Z9, it was to replace my Musical Fidelity Pre/100wpc Power amp, and I can tell you that for me, the difference was huge. Again, only you can decide.

Do you need that much crap that comes with the z9?

What crap would that be? Or do you simply use the word crap in place of functionality.

I actually could use HDMI. I have a DLP big screen that has HDMI imputs but i find i like the component cable vid quality better so far, so while it would be cool to get ride of some of the wires back there its not that important to me.

Personally, I'm not bothered about the Z9's lack of HDMI. I currently use component leads from my DVD player to the projector directly, and even though I am possibly about to go for the HDMI connection, I'll still bypass the Z9 in the video signal path in the same way. You of course may have other needs though. Only you know what you do and do not require.

Hope this has been some small help

Regards