Feature-packed budget receiver?

[darien87]

Hello all,

I am seriously considering buying Behringer components to handle power and crossover functions. But I would still need a receiver to use as my pre-amp and surround sound decoder. So since I am only going to use these basic receiver functions, is there anyone out there that makes a unit that has functionality without costing $1,000?

The features I am looking for are:

1. HDMI audio (for Blu-ray lossless audio tracks)
2. 6.1 and 7.1 processing
3. The ability to rename sources, (i.e. changing the display on the screen
from "DVD" to "PS 3", etc.)
4. Obviously, it must have preouts for connecting to the Behringer processors
and amps.

Is "feature-packed, yet inexpensive" an oxymoron?

 

[AVRat]

I suggest you start downloading manuals for receivers in your budget range to find those that will meet your requirements. I'm guessing there will only be a handful.

 

[Pwner_2130]

Feature packed

My Sony STR-DG-800 7.1 Channel AV receiver is a very good unit for the price $350 - $400. It includes HDMI switching and assignable inputs. I use it for everything, it has a nice array of inputs and offers Pro LogicIIx as well as NEO 6 Cinema decoding and it has Pro Logic II game, movie and Music sound fields

 

[Seth=L]

My Sony STR-DG-800 7.1 Channel AV receiver is a very good unit for the price $350 - $400. It includes HDMI switching and assignable inputs. I use it for everything, it has a nice array of inputs and offers Pro LogicIIx as well as NEO 6 Cinema decoding and it has Pro Logic II game, movie and Music sound fields

The Sony STR-DG800 only switches HDMI. The new STR-DG710, 810, 910 offer lossless decoding and 1080p via HDMI, but lack preouts making them not possibilities for this situation.

The STR-DG1000 fits the profile as well as the new Yamaha RX-V661 and RX-V861. The RX-V661 is the successor to the very popular RX-V659. The RX-V661 offers uncompressed 8 channel PCM decoding, Simplay certification (helps guarantee compatibility with other HDMI devices), preouts, and a sturdy amplifier until the Behringer amplifiers are purchased. The RX-V661 falls into the $400-500 range.

Onkyo's TX-SR674 has dropped in price and could be considered a good alternative to the Yamaha, but I would still prefer the Yamaha because it is so feature laden.

Pioneer Elite, Marantz, Denon all have alternatives, but most likely not in the same price bracket.

 

[jcPanny]

New Onkyo Receiver

It looks like the upcomming Onkyo 605 will include HDMI 1.3 and retail for $400. Should be a good option assuming it has pre-amp outputs.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=832270

If you don't want to deal with multiple behringer amps, check out the Emotiva LPA-1 for $500.

 

[Seth=L]

It looks like the upcomming Onkyo 605 will include HDMI 1.3 and retail for $400. Should be a good option assuming it has pre-amp outputs.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=832270

If you don't want to deal with multiple behringer amps, check out the Emotiva LPA-1 for $500.

Wouldn't hope for preouts on that model considering that the 604 did not. Since the 605 will have 1.3, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD decoding for that price you can't really ask for more.

 

[darien87]

The Sony STR-DG800 only switches HDMI. The new STR-DG710, 810, 910 offer lossless decoding and 1080p via HDMI, but lack preouts making them not possibilities for this situation.

The STR-DG1000 fits the profile as well as the new Yamaha RX-V661 and RX-V861. The RX-V661 is the successor to the very popular RX-V659. The RX-V661 offers uncompressed 8 channel PCM decoding, Simplay certification (helps guarantee compatibility with other HDMI devices), preouts, and a sturdy amplifier until the Behringer amplifiers are purchased. The RX-V661 falls into the $400-500 range.

Onkyo's TX-SR674 has dropped in price and could be considered a good alternative to the Yamaha, but I would still prefer the Yamaha because it is so feature laden.

Pioneer Elite, Marantz, Denon all have alternatives, but most likely not in the same price bracket.

Man am I happy I found this site. Sorry, but I HATE Sony. I have had bad luck with just about every Sony product I have ever owned. But I love Yamaha. I'll have to check out the ones you mentioned. Thanks a lot!!!!

 

[darien87]

It looks like the upcomming Onkyo 605 will include HDMI 1.3 and retail for $400. Should be a good option assuming it has pre-amp outputs.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=832270

If you don't want to deal with multiple behringer amps, check out the Emotiva LPA-1 for $500.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look that Emotiva up.

 

[Seth=L]

Man am I happy I found this site. Sorry, but I HATE Sony. I have had bad luck with just about every Sony product I have ever owned. But I love Yamaha. I'll have to check out the ones you mentioned. Thanks a lot!!!!

I don't blame you for hating Sony, most everyone here does. I do personally like the look of the DG1000, it looks like the ES, only black (silver sucks). I would like to review the Sony STR-DG1000, but in the end I would rather have a Yamaha or Onkyo with Denon, Marantz, Pioneer Elite all being close to the "desire" list.

 

[darien87]

I don't blame you for hating Sony, most everyone here does. I do personally like the look of the DG1000, it looks like the ES, only black (silver sucks). I would like to review the Sony STR-DG1000, but in the end I would rather have a Yamaha or Onkyo with Denon, Marantz, Pioneer Elite all being close to the "desire" list.

Hey Seth, I looked up the Yamaha 661 and 861, and the 661 seems to fit the bill nicely. However, they both have HDMI 1.2. I thought you had to have 1.3 to get the lossless audio. Is this correct?

Also, though it's not high on my list of priorities, I don't see any mention of whether or not you can change the names of inputs on the display. Do you know if the 661 does this? Not that big of a deal, but it would be nice.

Thanks,
Darien

 

[Seth=L]

Hey Seth, I looked up the Yamaha 661 and 861, and the 661 seems to fit the bill nicely. However, they both have HDMI 1.2. I thought you had to have 1.3 to get the lossless audio. Is this correct?

Also, though it's not high on my list of priorities, I don't see any mention of whether or not you can change the names of inputs on the display. Do you know if the 661 does this? Not that big of a deal, but it would be nice.

Thanks,
Darien

No, lossless is uncompressed PCM. Blu-ray, HD-DVD, DVD-Audio, and SACD players decode their respective tracks internally and send them out via HDMI or if you don't have HDMI it sends it out through analog 5.1 outputs. The reason they do this is for copyright protection.

Most HDMI 1.3 receivers that will roll out this year have built in decoders for, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital TrueHD, and DTS-HD. The player sends the raw data to the receiver in this case. HDMI also offers a higher bitrate and other niceties.

Personally, I could care less if the formats are decoded in the player or in the receiver, but as it is, inside the player is the more cost effective route. You have to choose if you should wait for HDMI 1.3 or get good 7.1 discrete sound now.

 

[darien87]

No, lossless is uncompressed PCM. Blu-ray, HD-DVD, DVD-Audio, and SACD players decode their respective tracks internally and send them out via HDMI or if you don't have HDMI it sends it out through analog 5.1 outputs. The reason they do this is for copyright protection.

Most HDMI 1.3 receivers that will roll out this year have built in decoders for, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital TrueHD, and DTS-HD. The player sends the raw data to the receiver in this case. HDMI also offers a higher bitrate and other niceties.

Personally, I could care less if the formats are decoded in the player or in the receiver, but as it is, inside the player is the more cost effective route. You have to choose if you should wait for HDMI 1.3 or get good 7.1 discrete sound now.

So, just to clarify; if I were to buy the 661, I would run an HDMI cable from my PS 3 to my receiver, and that would be enough to get the uncompressed PCM tracks?

 

[Seth=L]

Yes, but the PS3 may need to have some settings adjusted for this, I am not sure as I don't own a PS3.

 

[darien87]

Yes, but the PS3 may need to have some settings adjusted for this, I am not sure as I don't own a PS3.

Cool. It looks like that will probably be the way I'll go then. Thanks for the help.

 

[Seth=L]

Cool. It looks like that will probably be the way I'll go then. Thanks for the help.

Good, Glad I could help.

 

[darien87]

Good, Glad I could help.

Hey Seth, I just called Yamaha to ask about the 661 being able to change display names of inputs and I was told that the HDMI 1.2 would NOT allow me to decode the lossless PCM tracks. He said that HDMI 1.2 is just for video, and that I would have to wait for 1.3 to be able to do PCM. Is this guy just mistaken?

 

[Seth=L]

Hey Seth, I just called Yamaha to ask about the 661 being able to change display names of inputs and I was told that the HDMI 1.2 would NOT allow me to decode the lossless PCM tracks. He said that HDMI 1.2 is just for video, and that I would have to wait for 1.3 to be able to do PCM. Is this guy just mistaken?

It sounds like he is a moron.

HDMI 1.2 is a version of HDMI, it is not limited to video, that is BS.

No-one seems to have exact details on this, but from what I have read the RX-V661 does 7.1 LPCM. It also has SACD decoding, if it does LPCM that means it will handle DVD-Audio as well.

If the guy you spoke to is not a moron, then I would guess he is being dishonest. Any High-Mach employees will do most anything to get the company more money, so if the 1.3 cert costs more (it will cost more), he wants you to buy that one, not the less expensive logical model that is available now. This is all very conpirative, and I would like to assume he is just a moron.

 

[Seth=L]

To answer the question with more solidity, the Yamaha does decode 7.1 LPCM. I declare the guy you spoke to, a moron.

From the RX-V661 manual-

* Audio Signal Types, Audio Signal Formats, Compatible HDMI components
* 2ch Linear PCM, 2ch, 32-192kHz, 16/20/24 bit, CD, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, etc
* Multi-ch Linear PCM, 8ch, 32-192 kHz, 16/20/24 bit, DVD-Audio, etc.
* DSD, 2/5.1ch, 2.8224 MHz, 1bit
* Bitstream, Dolby Digital, DTS, DVD-Video, etc.

 

[darien87]

To answer the question with more solidity, the Yamaha does decode 7.1 LPCM. I declare the guy you spoke to, a moron.

From the RX-V661 manual-

LOL, I declare you a crack-up.

Anyway, I just got off the phone with Denon, and it seems like the 2807 can do all the things I am looking for.

1. Different crossover points
2. HDMI for lossless audio, (I specifically asked about PCM from my PS 3)
3. The ability to rename inputs

Plus, I can find them online for about $700. I was seriously considering going with an Emotiva amp, and Behringer DCX's for crossover functions, but doing that will cost over $1,000, then I would still need to shell out about $400 for a receiver to get HDMI and do the decoding.

 

[capone99]

Str-dg800

I was reading feedback from everyone about the Sony STR-DG800. I have never been able to recieve sound through HDMI with my STR-DG800. Sony had no idea, they suggested me to use Optical or Coaxial and Best Buy said it was probably due to it being 1.2. I have looked through the manual and can't find anywhere if it is 1.2 or 1.3. Regardless, can I actually get full HDMI sound from my PS3 through my STR-DG800 with only the HDMI cord? Any feedback is appreciated, but keep in mind I am technically challenged.
Thanks