Onkyo or ?? System recommendations

[Audiofyle]

I'm looking to buy a system for my 20x20 living room w/vaulted ceilings. Here's the basics: rear projection TV w/HDMI input, DVD player, cable box, PlayStation; need a 5.1 surround speaker system for the room, plus 2 outdoor speakers on the patio, and a receiver to drive everything.

I've been told HDMI is the way to go, but I don't know enough about it to make an informed decision. Is the better picture quality and simpler wiring really worth the extra $$?

I'm looking at 3 Onkyo receivers: TXSR604, 674 and 803. I'd like to be able to:
- listen to music on the patio while the game is on in the living room, with independent control of the volume.
- have ample power to drive both zones.

I have a rudimentary understanding of HDMI, but not quite sure about the whole upconverting and switching business.

Will all 3 of the Onkyo receivers mentioned work for this setup? Am I better off staying away from HDMI to accomplish what I want? What am I losing/gaining by giving up HDMI?

Just looking for opinions from folks with experience. I'm not tied to Onkyo, but I've used Onkyo in the past and have been satisfied. Any other brand receivers that would fit the bill in the price ranges of the 3 Onkyo receivers?

Fire away, and thanks for your input,
John

 

[audiorookie]

You can get a receiver without hdmi inputs pretty cheap.
A receiver with component connections will work and i believe they will give you 1080i max if that..
Even going with a receiver with HDMI connectors they are almost all rated for 1080i except for the new models comming out.
Yamaha rx v1700 and rx v2700 plus a few Denon models.
If your tv is only 1080i a receiver with 1080p hdmi connectors will do you no good, might as well get the cheapo modle with component connections.
But if you have a 1080p tv you might want to go for the good stuff with
Blue Ray dvd and PLaystation 3 commuing out. Note* HD TV transmits in 1080i untill they go to 1080p you wont see a difference.
I also am setting up my system and done lots of research.
Im going with the Yamaha rx v2700 7.1 for my 50' 1080p tv because it has 140 watts per chanel
and has 3 1080p hdmi inputs, what more do you want.
As far as the speakers im still undecided.

 

[Audiofyle]

Thanks for that info rookie. My TV is a Hitachi HDTV...not sure if it's 1080i or 1080p? Are you saying 1080p is the latest and greatest new thing on the horizon? What's the difference between 1080i and 1080p?

Thanks,
John

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

Fyle,
For about $350, something like the Yamaha RX-V679 would meet all of your audio needs (powered Zone 2 w/ 5.1). You can always connect HDMI directly from the source (DVD, etc.) to the TV and buy a switchbox for multiple HDMI connections.

There are higher end receivers with HDMI built in for much more $$$. You might be able to find a deal on a model like the Yamaha RX-V1600 since it was just replaced by the 1700.

It would also be a good idea to decide on your speakers first and get a receiver that is capable of driving them.

 

[audiorookie]

Thanks for that info rookie. My TV is a Hitachi HDTV...not sure if it's 1080i or 1080p? Are you saying 1080p is the latest and greatest new thing on the horizon? What's the difference between 1080i and 1080p?

Thanks,
John

Yes as far as i know only Blueray dvd players and Playstation 3 wich comes with a Blueray player in it put out 1080p but eventually Dish, Direct tv and Cable will all go to this format for HD programming.
Basicly 1080p (progressive) is supposed to have more frames per sec. giving a smoother picture than 1080i (interlaced)
Standard tv is 480i then came 480p then came 720i then came 720p then came 1080i then came 1080p then came ???? well i guess we'll have to wait and see wont we..
Oh yes one more note HD dvd players are also 1080i
So if your tv is 1080i it wont help to buy 1080p equipment so try and find out.

 

[Audiofyle]

Great info guys!

Found out my TV is 1080i.

Does that mean an HDMI receiver will do me no good? As far as the switchbox, will a setup like that work with an RF remote control? Did I mention I'm also looking for ease of use? That's what sold me on the HDMI idea (eliminating the jumble of cables behind the components).

Would the Onkyo 604 or 674 give me what I need? I can get the 604 for under $400 and the 674 for under $550.

Is the picture/sound quality going to be any better w/the 604 or 674 than with something like the Yamaha RX-V 679? As for speakers, I'm leaning heavily toward the Infinity 5.1 TSS-1100. Thoughts?

Thanks guys,
John

 

[MDS]

Found out my TV is 1080i.

You're getting confusing information on TV resolutions. ALL HDTVs are progressive scan, therefore it cannot be a '1080i TV'.

People confuse the resolution of the TV with the resolution of various HD formats:

720p - 1280 x 720 progressive scan, meaning the signal from the source is already progressive scan. The TV will scale that to its native resolution but will not have to 'deinterlace' to turn it into progressive scan because it arrived in progressive scan.

1080i - 1920 x 1080 interlaced. The TV WILL have to deinterlace it and will still scale it to match its native resolution.

1080p - 1920 x 1080 progressive scan. Same as 1080i in terms of resolution but already progressive scan. The TV will not have to deinterlace but will of course still scale it to the TV's native resolution.

Now if the native resolution of your TV just happens to match a HD resolution like 720p then it make sense to say it is a '720p TV'. The resolution of 720p is 1280 x 720 and the resolution of the TV is 1280 x 720. But note that the TV may still accept other resolutions like 480i, 480p, and 1080i. The interlaced versions will be deinterlaced and all of them will be scaled to match the TV resolution.

The highest resolution your TV can accept as an input is 1080i, but what is the TV's resolution? If it is not 1920 x 1080 the image will be scaled to whatever resolution the TV supports.

A TV advertised as '1080p' means one of two things:
1. Its native resolution is 1920 x 1080. It may not accept 1080p inputs but will scale anything it gets to 1080p (that is its native resolution).
2. It can accept 1080p signals AND its native resolution is 1920 x 1080.

You have to read the manual to verify which it is - marketing blurbs are meant to trip up the uninitiated.

The Onkyo 674 has one advantage over the 604 - it can upconvert component video to HDMI which would be necessary if you have any other devices that are not HDMI enabled to connect to the receiver but still want to use HDMI fromt the receiver to the TV.

 

[audiorookie]

Hey guess what I just found out, my tv has a native resolution of 1080p but will only accept 1080i signal and upconvert to 1080p.
I guess i can go with one of the older cheaper receivers with hdmi i can never really have true 1080p anyways so why pay for the feature...
What a bummer apparently a lot of people where missinformed when buying the sony sxrd "1080p" tv ,that sucks...
Hay Audiofyle looks like were in the same boat lol....it may be the yamaha rx v2600 for me now that i found this out..

 

[Audiofyle]

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm considering the Infinity TSS-1100 speaker system. Does that sound like a good match with the Onkyo 674, given my room dimensions? Any concerns about amp output for a 5.1 system in the living room plus 2 outdoor speakers? Haven't found too much info or reviews for the 674.

How about if I go with the Onkyo TXSR703? I'm giving up HDMI, but is that a good trade given the higher output of the 703?

Cheers,
John

 

[audiorookie]

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm considering the Infinity TSS-1100 speaker system. Does that sound like a good match with the Onkyo 674, given my room dimensions? Any concerns about amp output for a 5.1 system in the living room plus 2 outdoor speakers? Haven't found too much info or reviews for the 674.

How about if I go with the Onkyo TXSR703? I'm giving up HDMI, but is that a good trade given the higher output of the 703?

Cheers,
John

Hey check out cnet.com they have reveiws on all kinds of speakers and receivers, the txsr703 got 9 of 10 stars for its price range check it out
CNET.Com.

 

[Audiofyle]

Thanks all!

You've all given some great advice to steer me in the right direction. I've decided on the Onkyo TXSR674.

Now, to the speaker and DVD forums!

Thanks,
John