Looking to spend $500-$700 on a receiver

[bluephi1914]

I'm upgrading from a Yahama RX-V3300. It was close to flagship in its day but I need HDMI now and it just does not have it.

I was looking at an Arcam AVR360 and other high end receivers but @ $1600 and up, they are out of my price range right now and it doesn't even have the speaker outputs that I need.

Also, after listening to several other receivers under the Arcam's price range ($500-$1000)... i.e Pioneer sc37, Yamaha 2010, denon, onkyo etc. They all sound very similar... so similar that i cant justify paying over $700 for a receiver.

I need 5 HDMI inputs and for speaker outputs I need: Front, Center, Surround, Rear surround and Front height/ Front Effects. I have a large front room with an open ceiling if that matters.

I am currently looking at the:

1. Denon AVR 3312CI
2. Yamaha RX-A820

I'm just trying to get some input from some of the more experienced people out here and see if there are any other receivers i might have missed in this price range (500-700). I have had bad luck with the Pioneers as my dad had an SC-35 and SC-37 that were bad out of the box and when he finally got them replaced they seemed a pain to get setup.

Thanks in advance and any advice is welcome.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Choosing between the Denon & Yamaha is tough. But I think they are the top 2. You missed out on the Denon 3312 sale last week on Amazon for $550!

 

[bluephi1914]

Choosing between the Denon & Yamaha is tough. But I think they are the top 2. You missed out on the Denon 3312 sale last week on Amazon for $550!

Yes, i saw a link in a previous post... BUT when i clicked in it, it was $778, its $678 now, so hopefully i can catch it on sale again. I'm leaning towards the denon because of the Audyssey MultEQ XT Support... I've heard that it was Superior to the Yamaha's Ypao.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yes, i saw a link in a previous post... BUT when i clicked in it, it was $778, its $678 now, so hopefully i can catch it on sale again. I'm leaning towards the denon because of the Audyssey MultEQ XT Support... I've heard that it was Superior to the Yamaha's Ypao.

I think Audyssey MultEQ XT is also superior to YPAO. Although I don't even like to use Audyssey or any kind of RC at all.

 

[FuSiON828]

question on the 3312 or any 7.2 amp. I have 2 subwoofers hooked up onto the denon 3312ci. How do i set the amp to say 7.2 right now it just keep saying 7.1 with 2 subwoofers. Thank you

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

question on the 3312 or any 7.2 amp. I have 2 subwoofers hooked up onto the denon 3312ci. How do i set the amp to say 7.2 right now it just keep saying 7.1 with 2 subwoofers. Thank you

I have the 3312 w/ dual subs.

I don't think you can do 2 independent subs on the 3312.

On my AVR-5308 & AVP-A1HDCI, you can actually set for 1 - 4 independent subs.

 

[FuSiON828]

there are 2 sw in the back on reg and one with a box around the the sw input. IS that good enough?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

there are 2 sw in the back on reg and one with a box around the the sw input. IS that good enough?

I think the dual sub connections on the 3312 is the equivalent of using a Y-cable to split one sub signal into 2. So even when you connect both subs, it's like a single sub.

 

[FuSiON828]

why would denon do that? that is just dumb lol Question you think the 3313 is really that good for projectors? that is what i have. Should i get it and return this 3312? thanks for your help

 

[bluephi1914]

I think Audyssey MultEQ XT is also superior to YPAO. Although I don't even like to use Audyssey or any kind of RC at all.

Does this 3312 have all channel stereo or something similar?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

why would denon do that? that is just dumb lol Question you think the 3313 is really that good for projectors? that is what i have. Should i get it and return this 3312? thanks for your help

Well, a lot of people don't even know about using Y-cables. Just convenience I suppose. I wouldn't go from 3312 to another 3xxx. If you want to step up to true multiple subs and better video upscaling, and Audyssey XT32, Electronics Expo was (maybe still is) selling the AVR-4311CI for $1225 shipped with the coupon code BENSBARGAINS.

 

[Cygnus]

Does this 3312 have all channel stereo or something similar?

Yes, it will have a mode called "MULTI CH STEREO", which sends a stereo signal to all 5, 6, or 7 channels.

 

[bluephi1914]

Yes, it will have a mode called "MULTI CH STEREO", which sends a stereo signal to all 5, 6, or 7 channels.

Well it looks like I'm leaning towards the Denon. this is my first Denon so i hope the power is like my old Yamaha RX-v3300 or better.

 

[bluephi1914]

I think Audyssey MultEQ XT is also superior to YPAO. Although I don't even like to use Audyssey or any kind of RC at all.

so you don't use the calibration with any amp ??

 

[Irishman]

I think Audyssey MultEQ XT is also superior to YPAO. Although I don't even like to use Audyssey or any kind of RC at all.

You must either have some killer acoustic treatments, or you love to tweak your system by hand and ear.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

so you don't use the calibration with any amp ??

I manually calibrate the channel levels using a digital SPL meter. But I do not use any kind of EQ (room EQ) or tones of any kind.

Imagine those $30,000 analog class A preamp from Mark Levinson and Krell that never had any kind of Tones, EQ, RC, or DSP.

 

[templemaners]

I manually calibrate the channel levels using a digital SPL meter. But I do not use any kind of EQ (room EQ) or tones of any kind...

Hahaha... I'm the total opposite. Love my Audyssey XT32, Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume (though, the last two are turned off for music). I'm pro-DSP all the way.