Looking for an A/V Receiver Brand Recommendation

[JackT]

I am in the beginning stages of shopping for an A/V receiver. Can anyone tell me what brands offer ALL of following:

1) Independent lf crossover setting for the front, center, and rear speakers.
2) Digital video connectivity (preferably HDMI, but DVI is acceptable
3) Routing of any incoming video signal to the digital output

My budget is in the mid-level range (Think Pioneer VSX-72XV, HK AVR635, Denon 3806 type of range). Does anything in this range combine all of the features I have mentioned?

Thanks for any responses.

 

[dponeill]

I believe that that would be a no.

The Pioneer and the Denon do #2 and #3, but only the HK does #1.

I just got an AVR-635. I had considered getting something with hdmi conectivity, but decided that the standard was still changing too qiuckly to buy anything at this time.

 

[JackT]

Just came across the Onkyo TX-SR803, which apparently does #1 and #2. Interesting. I haven't seen much about this receiver.

 

[Geno]

I just upgraded to a Denon 4306. It does all those things and more, but also is 2 bills. I don't think any less-expensive units will do all you're asking for.

 

[JMO_PWR]

Nothing really in that price range will. Have you tried looking at factory repacks?

Denon AVR-4306 (HDMI)
Marantz SR-8500 (DVI)
Yamaha RX-V2600 (HDMI)

Personal Opinion: Yamaha RX-V2600 (mainly due to value for money)

Goodluck.

 

[AVRat]

The Denon 3806 actually does #1 & #2 not #3. #3 seems to be quirky in most units, therefore I wouldn't put to much emphasis on that feature.

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

See your other thread for my comments on multiple crossovers.

Definately add the Yamaha RX-V2600 and Denon 2807 to your list of contenders.

 

[JackT]

The Denon 3806 actually does #1 & #2 not #3. #3 seems to be quirky in most units, therefore I wouldn't put to much emphasis on that feature.

Yes, I was just recently checking that receiver out. It has been characterized by some reviewers as "user hostile", as in your wife would never be able to operate it in a million years. Is this an accurate characterization of these Denons? (Or Denons in general for that matter?) (I posted a similar question on a thread about the 3805, sorry for the duplication...)

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

Yes, I was just recently checking that receiver out. It has been characterized by some reviewers as "user hostile", as in your wife would never be able to operate it in a million years. Is this an accurate characterization of these Denons? (Or Denons in general for that matter?) (I posted a similar question on a thread about the 3805, sorry for the duplication...)

That is freaking funny....my 2 yr old (almost three) knows how to turn the left knob on my 3805 ans select back and forth between dvd and vcr-1....and then set the volume with the right knob....I mean how much do our wives really need to know about our receivers other than input and volume? I know I dont want my wife messing with anything beyond that...lol. It's MY remote and my reciever...they're my toys....hands off!

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

Are some of the features more difficult to set up and operate?...sure....but how many of us let our wives set them up? I dont see to many wives starting posts like, "My husband bought this $1000 receiver can someone help me?"....

In all honesty my wife knows how to select imputs, turn it on/off, and volume control. That's all she really cares about......she gets a kick out of me when Im trying to show her something new I've learned about the receiver.....she could learn it, she just doesn't care and that's fine with me...lol

 

[zildjian]

reply to question about Denon's ease of use...

Yes, I was just recently checking that receiver out. It has been characterized by some reviewers as "user hostile", as in your wife would never be able to operate it in a million years. Is this an accurate characterization of these Denons? (Or Denons in general for that matter?) (I posted a similar question on a thread about the 3805, sorry for the duplication...)

Have to back up Daz3d&confus3d here, I have the Denon 3806 as the prepro in my home theater, and some friends were over last week who actually are not tech people and were women (and no that's not redundant before someone makes that joke... ), and they started up the system playing some of their CD's with no problem; I didn't even know they were in there. I think it's a pretty userfriendly component; the remote probably isn't the most intuitive for people who are only familiar with using just a simple TV remote, but the receiver itself is pretty straight forward in terms of basic day to day operation. It has more complex features if one wants to take advantage of them, but the basic stuff isn't very involved; my legally blind bestfriend figured out how to use the receiver itself just after I got it... if he can do it, anybody can.
Brad

 

[jcPanny]

Key to user friendly HT

I thik that one of the keys to a user friendly HT is a good universal remote like a Harmany or one of the Home Theater Master remotes.
These have an LCD display and allow you to program macros to Play a CD, watch TV, etc. that will change the settings on the TV, receiver, and source with the press of a single button.

 

[billy p]

I'm picking up my denon 3805 tomorrow.My wife won't even notice the change from my jvc(black) unit to my new toy.The only thing see cares about is how to turn it on and the basic use of remote!!

 

[Vigor]

If you are musical Pioneer VSX-72XV is the best you wil not regret.

 

[Geno]

If you've got a wife, you'd better have a Harmony, or some other universal remote, that'll do the switching. The idea that men are from Mars and women from Venus is never more true than with a home theatre. The only thing my wife wants to know is which single button to press for TV, DVD, VCR, CD, and how to adjust the volume. Try to get a woman to do anything more is asking for WW3.
Of course, that's just my opinion; I could be wrong...

 

[danglerb]

Does any receiver really work well with HDMI right now?

Isn't HDCP going to be problem for all the current stuff?

 

[billy p]

If you've got a wife, you'd better have a Harmony, or some other universal remote, that'll do the switching. The idea that men are from Mars and women from Venus is never more true than with a home theatre. The only thing my wife wants to know is which single button to press for TV, DVD, VCR, CD, and how to adjust the volume. Try to get a woman to do anything more is asking for WW3.
Of course, that's just my opinion; I could be wrong...

STOP IT NOW YOUR KILLING ME! I'M STILLING LOOKING FOR THAT 1 BUTTON REMOTE MYSELF LOL

 

[JackT]

Here's an excerpt from a review of the 3806 from audioreview.com:

'My wife has a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. ... Forget about the casual user (wife, baby sitter, etc) getting the hang of this thing. My wife doesn't even listen to music anymore because changing the input is confusing. "That's the number 5 key." she says "Yes but it also changes the input on the amp" I say. "Just forget it" she says, "I'll sit in silence." Want more examples? The remote: To control the reciever (the most common use) you have to click some hard button on the remote to get the soft buttons to light up. Already my wife is annoyed. Then you have to click the "amp" soft button. But you better not click it twice because then you are in a different mode and then you have to click it three more times to cycle back to the regular amp control mode. And one of those modes you cycle through is 'system call' programming mode. How do you know you are in a different mode? Only by subtle differences in what buttons are enabled. Try telling your wife, "you've clicked the amp button too many times and accidently entered 'system call' mode and erased all of the programmed frequencies and macros".'

 

[Geno]

Does any receiver really work well with HDMI right now?

Isn't HDCP going to be problem for all the current stuff?

My new 4306 works flawlessly with my sources. I understand a number of cable boxes don't work well with some receivers, but my satellite receiver is just fine.