Newbie with avr questions

[johnnysflooring]

Newbie to this informational highway. I was going to buy the dreaded Bose lifestyle system until I found this site. I'm looking for and avr that will do a good job running my plasma tv, blue ray player, and xbox360. I also would like it to run 2 zones so I can do some outdoor speakers or have sound in my bedroom. My budget is 800.00 to 1200.00 dollars. Do I need to spend that much? I have read on your site alot about the onkyo 906 and the dennon 3038, are these high end or middle class? Right now I have some klipsch floor stand speakers but along with the avr purchase am looking at the monitor or paradigm on wall mount speakers. suggestions

 

[CraigV]

I suggest checking out the Yamaha RX-V663 - lots of flexibility, good sound, and a price that will allow you to spend more on some quality speakers (although what you’re looking at is good stuff)

 

[johnnysflooring]

Thanks for some feedback I will look into this unit. Keep the suggestions and information coming I'm in the learning curve

 

[jostenmeat]

Thanks for some feedback I will look into this unit. Keep the suggestions and information coming I'm in the learning curve

Is $800-1200 for the receiver, or for EVERYTHING?

If just for the receiver, the 3808 and 906 are in a different class of receiver from the yammy 663. If, however, that budget is for everything, I find Craig's advice to be prudent.

a few of the limitations of the 663 include inflexible bass mgmt, inability to matrix hidef bitstreams, clips btb/wtw, and for me I wish it had a bit more power, and lastly, Id pay $100-200 more to find Audyssey MultEQ XT in a different product.

Otherwise, at the $300-350 mark, there aren't that too many other good candidates.

 

[johnnysflooring]

800.00-1200.00 is for receiver only. Like I said I'm new to this although I love sound and electronics. I see all the benefits and feature these units have but I'm not sure If I will use them. I just want a good system to watch movies,tv and music with although I don't want to skimp on anything. keep um coming

 

[jostenmeat]

800.00-1200.00 is for receiver only. Like I said I'm new to this although I love sound and electronics. I see all the benefits and feature these units have but I'm not sure If I will use them. I just want a good system to watch movies,tv and music with although I don't want to skimp on anything. keep um coming

Well, with your very unspecific demands on desired features, I guess nearly anything will work. Try the 663, and when you figure out that it might not do what you want, upgrade.

For your lack of specifics will only result in the same on our part.

1) You're not sure you will use the features
2) You don't want to skimp out

That's pretty ambiguous!!

 

[johnnysflooring]

Since I'm new to this I guess I really don't know what I'm asking for. I guess I can't go wrong with a dennon or onkyo in the 800-1200 range right?

 

[DocHolliday]

I had this same question and it was down to the Onkyo 906/876 or Denon 3808. I went with the Denon as I found it for a couple hundred cheaper (you can buy a certified refurb with 1 year warranty at Dakmart for $979) and I am worried about ventilation in my Home Theater. (the Onkyo runs HOT!!...well so the reviewers say. I have not confirmed this in person)

It comes down to what you need I think. The Onkyo (both the 876 and 906) have a much better video scaler than Denon so if you have no near future plans to buy a new HD tv that will accept all signals and scale them well accordingly, you might look a little harder at this.

Most people I have talked to who have owned Onkyo and Denon say that Denon is more reliable. With the Denon you can also get optional firmware/software updates over your home network. (Buy before 3/31 and you get the $100 Audyssey, Sirius update for free).

If video is not a concern at all and all you need is pass through...maybe look at the Marantz 7002. I hear good things about the amps in that one.

In your price range, I would consider the Onkyo 876 if you want to buy new or the Denon 3808 if you don't mind the refurb.

Really, I had a tough one between those two so I will let you know what I think after I get my Denon 3808 in.

 

[bandphan]

As meat asked, sources would need to be known as well as speakers.

 

[johnnysflooring]

soureces digital cable box, blu ray, panasonic 58" plasma, xbox 360. Speakers are going to be wall mount. The three im looking at paradigm cinema 330, monitor r250, emp ew 30.

 

[jostenmeat]

I had this same question and it was down to the Onkyo 906/876 or Denon 3808. I went with the Denon . . .

If video is not a concern at all and all you need is pass through...maybe look at the Marantz 7002. I hear good things about the amps in that one. . .

Really, I had a tough one between those two so I will let you know what I think after I get my Denon 3808 in.

If these were my only two choices, I would think in the same manner. 876 if VP is important whatsoever, and perhaps the 3808 if it wasn't.

Marantz, AFAIK, does not offer Audyssey XT, so that right there personally takes it out of the running.

As meat asked, sources would need to be known as well as speakers.

soureces digital cable box, blu ray, panasonic 58" plasma, xbox 360. Speakers are going to be wall mount. The three im looking at paradigm cinema 330, monitor r250, emp ew 30.

I think your budget is not very balanced. Most here would tell you to spend on speakers first.

I think the 663 will be plenty for you, for now. The main thing, IMO, that you might miss is Audyssey. Other than that, you will have many hundreds of dollars in the pocket. Money that you can use on other upgrades.

 

[johnnysflooring]

Ok with that being said can you help me on some on wall speaker choices? I know this is not that section but some help would be great. I know I'm giving up on some sound going with on wall type but that's where I am. So maybe I need to look past the paradigm, monitor . or emp

 

[santeini]

Go with the Denon i have listened to it and sounds nice.