Need help choosing a receiver

[JP1221]

Hello all... I am new to this forum and fairly new to home audio so I would like some of your sage advice in choosing a receiver. I used the search function and looked for all related topics but didn't find an exact answer for my situation, so...

I have already chosen speakers and a sub for my 5.1 HT setup and want to know which reciever you think would be a good fit. My usage will be about 80% movies and 20% music. The speaker set up (at least the one I'm planning) is as follows:

Fronts: KEF iQ9
Rears: KEF iQ5
Center: KEF iQ6
Sub: Hsu VTF-3 mk 3

The receivers I have in mind are:

Onkyo TX-SR706 or TX-SR806
Pioneer VSX01-TXH or VSX03-TXH
Denon AVR-2309CI or AVR-2809CI

I like these receivers based on their functionality for an HDMI-based HT setup and the fact that they are all at or under $1000. I am of course open to any suggestions not listed above. Please help and if any of you have experience with KEF speakers, please chime in on them as well (pros/cons, etc). I am fairly certain I will ger the KEF's unless any of you feel I should steer clear of them. Thanks!!!

P.S. - Also wanted to ask if any of you have heard anything about Audyssey (found in the Onkyo and Denon receivers) causing problems with subs. One of the salespeople at SVSound told me that they don't recommend Audyssey as it can give unexpected/unreliable responses with subs. Any thoughts?

 

[perkey84]

i got the onkyo 6o6 hooked up to klisch synergy quintett 111 and im very happy with it. but for a lil more money you can get the denon which is slightly better in my opinion.

 

[JP1221]

I'm leaning toward the Denon 2309/2809 but the fact that one of the people at SVSound said that the Audyssey is "bad" for subwoofer sound made me a little hesitant. Has anyone heard of this?

 

[Chopin_Guy]

I have never heard any discussions on how Audyssey effects the LFE channel, but I have heard about it causing the center channel to be difficult to hear when enabled. Some of this might have to do with your room and the calculations that Audyssey does, as well. As for me with my 3808, it's an excellent AVR and I have been nothing but thrilled with it. Given the range you are looking are looking in, in terms of AVRs, I would certainly go with the Denon over the Onkyo....and if you can squeeze it out go for the 2809ci as that gives you the new GUI (which is great), added power, as well as some other useful features...

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum! Great to see another Tucsonan on here.

I have the Pioneer 1015 that came out in 2005 (I think). I've been very happy with it, and the Pioneer MCACC auto set-up routine worked great for me. It's my first system with auto set-up, so I can't say if MCACC is better or worse than Audyssey (and I know that both systems have changed over the past three years). If I were to get a new receiver right now, the VSX01-TXH would be a heavy contender because of how much I like the 1015.

Like Chopin_Guy, I haven't heard of Audyssey causing issues with low frequencies. I didn't know that they did anything with the sub. If it does, you should be able to manually reset the EQ for the sub. At least with MCACC, I can tweak any of the settings that it made.

Adam

 

[Timmy245]

hey
i also have been looking around at receiers for my system and have been stuck on which one to buy for quite some time
just today (in australia) i have found the pioneer VSX-LX60 RRP $2499
but at the moment i can get this pioneer amp for $999 from Bing Lees on sale! (this is actually a store not an online buying place) offer ends on the 24th December
im going to give them a ring tomorrow as i imagine stocks would be limited if not though and it is available still does anyone recommend this amp from what ive read its a powerful amp with all the features (only 3 hdmi inputs i think is a bit dissapointing when you would normally be payin $2499 for this
anyway replies would be appreciated
and good luck in the quest for your amp JP
cheers

 

[JP1221]

Thanks for the quick replies!!! I think I've effectively ruled out Onkyo and am now looking at the Denon 2309 and the Pioneer VSX-01. If I can justify the extra $$, I might step up to Denon 2809 or Pioneer VSX-03. Do you happen to know if the KEF spreakers will receive an advantage/disadvantage in terms of sound quality using either the Denon or Pioneer?

Adam, did you happen to see the 'Cats whoop up on BYU last night???

 

[Adam]

Adam, did you happen to see the 'Cats whoop up on BYU last night???

Nope. I'm not much of a 'Cats fan, as I grew up in Illinois and went to college there. I don't dislike them, mind you, so I'm happy that they won. Although, I was extremely excited when Illinois came back from behind and beat Arizona in the basketball tournament a couple of years ago. Hee, hee. I think that I was about the only person who lived around here that was actually happy about that.

 

[Chopin_Guy]

Good choices on the Denon and Pioneer....I myself am a Denon guy, but Pioneer owners here are very happy with their units as well. If you can pony up the $$$ I think the 2809ci would be a great call as it has a load of features, plenty of power, and if I recall from reading the specs, it also has the new GUI which is fantastic....

 

[JP1221]

I found a nice deal on the Denon 2809 through Vann's for $999 and with the purchase they are throwing in an 8 GB iPod touch (worth $250 I believe). I'll do a bit more research and if I don't find a significantly better deal on something else, I'm gonna go for it.

I'm not much of a 'Cats fan either but it was nice to see them win in a bowl (it think it had been 10+ years ).

 

[jostenmeat]

One of the salespeople at SVSound told me that they don't recommend Audyssey as it can give unexpected/unreliable responses with subs. Any thoughts?

He obviously has no idea about what he is talking about.

#1 Audyssey works, and it works well.

#2 SVS is going to release a high-end BM system, and it will cost a lot. Guess what? It uses Audyssey MultiEQ XT

SVS AE-SQ1 pdf
http://www.svsound.com/CES2007/SVS_AudyessyRelease.pdf

 

[JP1221]

He obviously has no idea about what he is talking about.

#1 Audyssey works, and it works well.

#2 SVS is going to release a high-end BM system, and it will cost a lot. Guess what? It uses Audyssey MultiEQ XT

SVS AE-SQ1 pdf
http://www.svsound.com/CES2007/SVS_AudyessyRelease.pdf

Wow... That's very interesting. I had heard rave reviews about the customer service and support at SVS but the person I spoke to (I think his name was Eric) was extremely condescending and not the least bit helpful. This in part contributed to my decision to purchase Hsu (who, buy the way, DOES employ incredibly nice and helpful customer service people).

I think I'll go ahead and roll with the Denon 2809 knowing that the Audyssey won't negatively impact the sound from my sub. Thanks for all of the helpful info!!!