Need advice on new receiver

[vsavka]

Hello everryone

I need some advice on a receiver.

It needs to be at least a 5.1 (7.1 is good as well), and have video conversion up to component. at least 5 digital inputs, and if it has an ethernet input that would be awesome as well.

I will be using Polk Audio R50s on it as my fronts, and probably r15s as my rears.

Havent decided on the sub yet.

My budget is around $300-350 as I am a university student and can't afford anything more expensive.

thanks

 

[jcPanny]

Yamaha receiver

I think that the Yamaha RX-V659 (and HTR-5960) models have everything you are looking for except the ethernet port and are in your budget.
You can still stream music from the PC to any receiver via an analog or digital connection, but you will have to controll it on the PC.

 

[vsavka]

now i am also wondering what is the difference between 50mhz and 100mhz component video transmission?

 

[MDS]

now i am also wondering what is the difference between 50mhz and 100mhz component video transmission?

50 Mhz.

Component Video is analog and the bandwidth required to transmit that analog signal is the difference between the lowest frequency and highest frequency. I didn't do the math just now, but from memory I believe you need at least 37 Mhz for High Definition signals.

There will be a small loss over the distance the signal has to travel from your receiver to the TV. The number they give you for the component video bandwidth is the maximum frequency it can transmit with loss no more than 3 dB. So 100 Mhz is better as it should be able to transmit frequencies as high as 50 Mhz with less than 3 dB loss whereas the 50 Mhz switch would only be as good to 25 Mhz. The 50 Mhz switch will still get the job done for HD but the loss will be just a tad higher. Will you be able to easily spot the difference between 50 MHz and 100 Mhz switching - nope.

 

[vsavka]

these are the receivers i was able to find within my budget limit

Denon AVR-1907
Pioneer VSX-1016TXV-K (THX verified)
Sony STR-DG800

Yamaha RX-V659
Yamaha HTR-5890
the last two are the ones jcPanny recommended. Which ones out of the four is the most decent? WIll be used 50/50 tv and music.

 

[vsavka]

besides that...i will probably be considering buying an amp as well, so i need a receiver that has pre-amp out as well. Unless if there are amps that have coax or optical in and analog out?

 

[MDS]

Nearly all newer receivers have optical and coax digital ins as well as analog outs (usually on the Video1/2/3 etc jacks) but NONE of them will convert a digital signal to analog and output it from the analog outs.

 

[Snap]

I am a big fan of the 659. The RX-N600 is going to be comming out soon. And it is the upgrade for the 659. It is 100 bucks more than the 659, but it has the ethernet connection on it, and a ton more stuff. It might be worth the wait and the extra 100 bucks. I am not 100% sure about the HTR version? I am not even sure that they are going to make one of those. So the RX-N600 would have to be purchased at a AV store, and not one of the big box companies.

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=451033&CTID=5000300

 

[don maico]

besides that...i will probably be considering buying an amp as well, so i need a receiver that has pre-amp out as well. Unless if there are amps that have coax or optical in and analog out?

Buying an amp as an add on extra is a great idea if your into music as well. I khabe an Harman Kardon receiver hooked up to an Audiolab 8000 a amp. This fires my front lft and rt speakers whilst the HK takes care of the ctr and rears . I also have cd player hooked up to it so I get the best of both worlds

 

[agarwalro]

these are the receivers i was able to find within my budget limit...
Yamaha HTR-5890...

I used this one for a year before I upgraded. I recommend it. It does a great job on multi-channel sources and the "Pure Direct" mode is great for Stereo. Never felt the need for more power and the YAPO is great.