Onkyo TX-SR604 alternatives

[leandro]

I am interested in researching similarly priced (within $100-200 dollars on either side) receivers, given the potential problems apparently experienced by some TX-SR604 owners (unit runs hot, bass mgmt issues, HDMI switching issues).

I need a receiver with (minimum) 2 HDMI inputs, that will process audio received from an Oppo 981 (via HDMI connection) and send it to my surround sound speaker array.

I have -no- need for -video- upconversion or scaling of any kind through the receiver (I will be relying on the Oppo and my Pioneer pdp-5070 panel's internal scalers for all de-interlacing and scaling) ... in fact I would prefer if the receiver didn't even possess video upconversion capability (to lower cost and reduce the risk of signal deterioration).

In other words, I just want the digital video feed from the Oppo via HDMI to pass through the receiver to the panel unmolested, while the digitial audio is processed by the receiver for surround sound and digital audio formats, etc.

Any suggestions?

Thanks so much to all.

-Leandro

 

[Seth=L]

Signal deteriration isn't something I would be concerned with, it should be minimal to none. If you get one that doesn't have up-conversion, or scaling it will likely only be pass-thru switching, so no digital audio.

Pioneer VSX-1016 is a popular choice for your needs.

 

[leandro]

Signal deteriration isn't something I would be concerned with, it should be minimal to none. If you get one that doesn't have up-conversion, or scaling it will likely only be pass-thru switching, so no digital audio.

Pioneer VSX-1016 is a popular choice for your needs.

Thanks for the reply Seth=L

I have read on multiple threads on the avsforum that the Pio VSX-1016 does NOT support audio processing of a digital audio signal received via HDMI (that it merely acts as a switch and passes through the signal).

Is this information inaccurate?

Can someone confirm that the Pio does indeed process digital audio received via HDMI?

Cheers,

-Leandro

 

[Seth=L]

Thanks for the reply Seth=L

I have read on multiple threads on the avsforum that the Pio VSX-1016 does NOT support audio processing of a digital audio signal received via HDMI (that it merely acts as a switch and passes through the signal).

Is this information inaccurate?

Can someone confirm that the Pio does indeed process digital audio received via HDMI?

Cheers,

-Leandro

That I don't know, the 604 does however. I hadn't heard about these problems, though it is typical for Onkyos to run hot. Have you looked at Yamaha's offerings?, they are very good as well. HDMI has problems pretty much anywhere, it has glitches that should be worked out by the time they finish up with version 1.3.

 

[MDS]

I hadn't heard about these problems, though it is typical for Onkyos to run hot.

I've owned nothing but Onkyo receivers for the last 15 years. They do NOT run hot, they rarely ever have any defects whatsoever (not one at all for me), they are designed well with an easy to use setup and user interface.

Anytime anyone says something is 'typical' you should discount that statement. Nobody has enough experience with any one brand to make generalizations with any degree of accuracy.

 

[Seth=L]

I've owned nothing but Onkyo receivers for the last 15 years. They do NOT run hot, they rarely ever have any defects whatsoever (not one at all for me), they are designed well with an easy to use setup and user interface.

Anytime anyone says something is 'typical' you should discount that statement. Nobody has enough experience with any one brand to make generalizations with any degree of accuracy.

Which receivers have you owned? Both I had ran warm when not even being driven. I have come to the general concensus that they run hotter than Yamaha and Denon alike.

 

[MDS]

Which receivers have you owned? Both I had ran warm when not even being driven. I have come to the general concensus that they run hotter than Yamaha and Denon alike.

Really, Seth. Most people would say Yamaha runs hot and also that Yamaha is 'bright'. It's meaningless scuttlebutt.

From one of your posts where you posted a picture of your audio rack, I'd say the real problem is that you haven't provided adequate ventilation. I've never had one single problem with any Onkyo receiver I've ever owned. That doesn't mean that nobody has ever had a problem; likewise the fact that you think yours ran hot doesn't mean that that is 'typical'.

 

[Seth=L]

Really, Seth. Most people would say Yamaha runs hot and also that Yamaha is 'bright'. It's meaningless scuttlebutt.

From one of your posts where you posted a picture of your audio rack, I'd say the real problem is that you haven't provided adequate ventilation. I've never had one single problem with any Onkyo receiver I've ever owned. That doesn't mean that nobody has ever had a problem; likewise the fact that you think yours ran hot doesn't mean that that is 'typical'.

I never had thermal shut down issues, never said it was a really big issue, just that they run hotter on average.

BTW, here is my new rack, no ventilation problems what so ever.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27368

Hope you like the changes.

 

[ddcobb]

I am interested in researching similarly priced (within $100-200 dollars on either side) receivers, given the potential problems apparently experienced by some TX-SR604 owners (unit runs hot, bass mgmt issues, HDMI switching issues).

I need a receiver with (minimum) 2 HDMI inputs, that will process audio received from an Oppo 981 (via HDMI connection) and send it to my surround sound speaker array.

I have -no- need for -video- upconversion or scaling of any kind through the receiver (I will be relying on the Oppo and my Pioneer pdp-5070 panel's internal scalers for all de-interlacing and scaling) ... in fact I would prefer if the receiver didn't even possess video upconversion capability (to lower cost and reduce the risk of signal deterioration).

In other words, I just want the digital video feed from the Oppo via HDMI to pass through the receiver to the panel unmolested, while the digitial audio is processed by the receiver for surround sound and digital audio formats, etc.

Any suggestions?

Thanks so much to all.

-Leandro

Bump....Im interested in the same thing as I have an Oppo 981 as well.