Looking for the right receiver, no compromise. A lot of constraints..

[oinker]

I am relatively new to this and found that I want it all... Before I make any purchase I do hours upon hours of reading about whatever I’m going to buy. The audio video has been technically refreshing and I’m enjoying it a lot! But listen to this interesting proposition.

I would like to prop up my small bedroom with a 1080p projector (optoma HD20) and suit it with a nice surround. I’m thinking 5.1 will do, and power seems not to be that important since the room is so small. As I said the room is too small for more than 5 speakers but maybe I’ll try doing the height speakers if i have the money and time left.

Movies and videogames are important for me, but more importantly is good music. I’d like to listen to some good music in my room so choosing the left and right channel speakers is an important decision, right? If I’d like to listen to music id turn off the surround and use the left and right only right?

Next my room is not the main music listening area; there is a nice patio outdoor area next to my room that I’d like to hook up. So preamp outputs are a big plus so i can send the signal to the next room and I’ll worry about amplification there and power some nice speakers there. I want to hook up two to four speakers stereo there plus a sub.

Other neat things to consider are net connectivity, not in dire need of it but it will come handy for any firmware updates. Perhaps i can get into the streaming music but I’m not sure. HDMI 1.4... ahh i know i don’t need it at all, i don’t care about the bilateral communication really and 3D seems like hype to me. But that doesn’t mean i don’t want it... weird eh? Up conversion seems not that important because all the signals i send are pretty good already, they will come from my PS3, digital cable box and my comp. Any ideas on how to hook up the comp? I’m guessing optical is the way to go for sound and then convert the DVI to HDMI?

I’d like it to look pretty; i mean this is a big investment for me so... imma show it off. I like Onkyo 608 it has all i need i think except the pre amp outputs. I’d like to spend that much on the receiver, if i spend more then something else will have to give. ??

Any suggestions or ideas, things I’m missing? Speaker suggestions are very welcome.

 

[sholling]

Start with the speakers and then select the receiver based on what the speakers need plus desired features. My advice is to figure out a budget and plan out where you want to go with it. If you have a tight budget start with a pair of good speakers up front and a decent subwoofer. If you have bigger budget then go 5.1 right off but the front 3 are the key for movies and the left and right fronts for most music. The front 3 have to be a timbre match. Why don't you give us some idea of what your budget is and I'm sure you'll get some suggestions.

After you pick out speakers then figure out if the 608 is a good fit for those speakers. For example if you fall in love with 4ohm speakers then the 608 isn't for you. It does not have preouts however if memory serves it does support 2 zones but you should double check that.

 

[oinker]

Ok.. I would think that the receiver would be the first addition, but i plan on spending about $1000 on the left and right channel speakers. Im pretty lost on how to get the most bang for my buck. Im still surprised hows expensive these things can be...

 

[sholling]

If your room isn't too big the surprisingly affordable answer might be 3 pair pf Behringer B2030P bookshelf studio monitors at $140/pr. I use these in my home-office and they sound pretty good stock even better with the DIY mods that WmAx developed. You'll have to search the forum to find the directions but they really work. Add a properly sized subwoofer from Elemental Designs, Hsu Research, or SVSounds and you'll have a rocking 5.1 system (plus a spare) that will do well with rock, jazz, and classical for $1000. These are 8ohm so the 608 will drive them fine. The downside is they are industrial-homely looking.

I'm looking to replace my bedroom speakers early next year so I've given this some thought. I mainly listen to jazz, newage and acoustic guitar in my bedroom and for that (just based on Audioholics' reviews) what I have on my list of contenders so far are Usher Audio's S-520, and Emotiva's ERM-1 bookshelves but with a center would eat up most your budget leaving almost nothing for the subwoofer and Ushers are 4ohm and so are not 608 friendly. They also may not be your taste. I listed them just to illustrate why you need to decide on speakers 1st. BTW Audioholics' pro reviews are a great source of information.

Speakers are very-very subjective and what I like you may hate so take CDs that you know very-very-very well and plan to spend hours listening at your local stores. I'd listen to every pair of bookshelves and center in the $500-1200 (for the three) range that you can find and choose what you like. I'd reserve another $500 for a subwoofer from one of the 3 internet direct companies that I listed above. They own that market and you'll get your best sub bang for the buck from them.

 

[lsiberian]

The Behringer's are nice, but I think the Ascend Acoustics make a more flexible aesthetic home theater setup. For receivers go to ebay and get an Onkyo 805 or 705. These were pre-recession receivers meaning they had the best setups. Onkyo has nerfed the receivers since that time.

 

[oinker]

Thanks for the info, back to the drawing board it is!

 

[sholling]

The Behringer's are nice, but I think the Ascend Acoustics make a more flexible aesthetic home theater setup. For receivers go to ebay and get an Onkyo 805 or 705. These were pre-recession receivers meaning they had the best setups. Onkyo has nerfed the receivers since that time.

Let's be realistic instead of misleading the OP into thinking there is something wrong with the new models. The old 805 simply had a head and shoulders better than anyone else in their price point amp section. The amplifier sections new ones are "merely" equivalent to Denons, Yamaha, and Pioneer Elites while packing a better feature set for the money. That's hardly "nerfed".

 

[EugenT]

The Behringer's are nice, but I think the Ascend Acoustics make a more flexible aesthetic home theater setup. For receivers go to ebay and get an Onkyo 805 or 705. These were pre-recession receivers meaning they had the best setups. Onkyo has nerfed the receivers since that time.

I completely agree on the Onkyo 805 (or Onkyo 875). 805 (even used) would be a much better investment than 608. It will give you all the bells and whistles and better power amp. (you will need a small computer fan on top of the video processing section to keep this beast cool, as outlined in the giant 805 thread on this forum).
I'd also recommend looking at Pioneer Elite line-up - like VSX-01TXH or 03, or the newer models (not necessarily ICE 25 or 27).

 

[sholling]

I completely agree on the Onkyo 805 (or Onkyo 875). 805 (even used) would be a much better investment than 608. It will give you <strike>all</strike> most of the bells and whistles and better power amp.

Fixed that for you. The 805 (and 875/876) have better amplifier but lack some of the bells and whistles. Neither has HDMI 1.4 nor do they have as many HDMI ports. They are still good choices if you can find one but let's not say that they have the same features.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Here you go - everything you wanted:

7 HDMI 1.4a Inputs/ 2 HDMI 1.4a Outputs/3D ready, etc...

http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=TX-NR1008&class=Receiver&p=i

Of course, pretty soon Denon, Marantz, Integra, Yamaha, Pioneer will also come out with HDMI 1.4a.

Harman Kardon flagship receivers are already HDMI1.4 with firmware updates.