Onkyo, Yamaha, or Pioneer

[jdevenberg]

I'm torn between the TX-NR509, the HTR-5063BL
, and the VSX-821. They will be paired with a set of Polk Audio Monitors (40's front, 30 rear, cs1 center) and an as of yet to be determined $100 sub (cheap sub because I live in an apartment and won't be able to realize the potential of a more expensive sub). This will be almost exclusively for movies and video games.

 

[LAB3]

Yamaha or Pioneer either one are great AVR with very few warranty issues.

 

[bikdav]

My Thought

Pioneer has been offering A LOT of receiver for the money. LAB3 is probably right about the warranty question. I haven't seen many Pioneers act up early.

 

[jdevenberg]

Well, I didn't see your responses till after I purchased my receiver but it sounds like I made the right choice. I went with a Pioneer VSX-521. It was the only one in my price range that offered auto calibration (MCACC for Pioneer) and that was an important feature to me as I have never set up a higher end home theater before, only HTiB.

Now I just need to decide on which $100 or less subwoofer I will be using (I plan on upgrading this once I buy a house).

 

[jonnythan]

I bought the 521 a week ago.

I ordered an Onkyo 608 to replace it. The 608 is a little bit more money, but I get analog -> HDMI upconversion, extra output channels (7.1 vs 5.1) more power, dedicated amps, and a much better OSD that also works over HDMI (as opposed to just component like the Pio).

I almost got the Yamaha 567 (same features listed above, but a weaker amp section) for $229 from Best Buy. I got the 608 from A4L for $279.

 

[Adam]

I've used MCACC since 2005 and have been very happy with it. Others have seen me write this before - I am a HUGE fan of auto calibration/equalization. Good choice.

EDIT - By good choice, I meant going with the auto cal/eq (plus, I like Pioneer). Jonnythan makes some great points regarding the other units.

 

[jdevenberg]

I bought the 521 a week ago.

I ordered an Onkyo 608 to replace it. The 608 is a little bit more money, but I get analog -> HDMI upconversion, extra output channels (7.1 vs 5.1) more power, dedicated amps, and a much better OSD that also works over HDMI (as opposed to just component like the Pio).

I almost got the Yamaha 567 (same features listed above, but a weaker amp section) for $229 from Best Buy. I got the 608 from A4L for $279.

I saw that deal on the 608 but $250 shipped is my absolute limit on the receiver or I won't be able to afford a sub. I don't have any analog inputs, all mine are HDMI so I don't need that, If I decide to switch to 7.1 I can use the preamp outs and get either powered speakers or an amp, but truthfully I have little interest in 7.1 at the moment, my current set up doesn't have an OSD so I can continue to live without that.

 

[PhiPsi32]

How well does the auto-calibrations work? Do you still need to tweak the settings?

 

[Adam]

How well does the auto-calibrations work? Do you still need to tweak the settings?

I think that the Pioneer MCACC works very well in that I'm very happy with the end results. The only tweak that I remember making, and it's an important one, is to set my speakers to "Small." MCACC always sets them to "Large," but I want bass sent to my sub, so I manually change that.

 

[rnatalli]

I prefer Denon myself. The 1712 and 2112 offer MultEQ XT which to my ears is much better than YPAO, 2EQ, and MCACC.

 

[timoteo]

In the past, auto calibrations were not all equal. But within the last 2 yrs or so they have all come a long way & have all dialed in their systems. Audessey, MCACC & YPAO all sound great. They are all easy to use. They are all accurate on their distance & trim settings & ALL need tweaks to get 100%. Of course there will be some fan boys that claim one is better than the other. But NO auto cal will make a poorly laid out system sound good. So unless someone has heard all 3 of the major calibrations systems hooked up to the same system in the same room, you cant claim one is better.

I have heard them on my system & IMHO they all have their strengths & all can sound just as good as the other. I recommend someone not choose an AVR or Pre-amp based on the ARC. Look at tue feature set & consider the speakers you will be running off it. The ARC will come into play AFTER everything has been properly placed & setup.

 

[josephga]

I bought the Yamaha 465 2 years ago and it died this week won't turn on. Think i'll be going with another brand

 

[its phillip]

I've been using a Yamaha RX-V795 for something like eleven years, and bought an RX-V667 a couple months ago. Very happy with my Yamahas

 

[gmichael]

I have two Yamahas that have lasted for years without an issue. I just bought a 3rd last week.

 

[LAB3]

I bought the Yamaha 465 2 years ago and it died this week won't turn on. Think i'll be going with another brand

Sorry to read this.... what brand of speakers are driving the Yamaha with???

 

[josephga]

Sorry to read this.... what brand of speakers are driving the Yamaha with???

using Definitive Technology ProMonitor 800 for fronts and Definitive Technology ProCenter 1000 no sub. never blasted it. last week it started turning off during movies on the ps3. I checked all the speaker wires they appeared fine. then a few days later I turned it on and it says main on then turns off 3 seconds later. I unplugged it. plugged it back in the turned it on it says main on then turns off. you can press the on button and nothing turns on. unless you unplug it plug it back in the press on and it will say main on and turn its self off once again. I unplugged everything from it took it too another outlet and the results were the same

 

[anamorphic96]

I bought the Yamaha 465 2 years ago and it died this week won't turn on. Think i'll be going with another brand

My Onkyo HT receiver crapped 2.5 years after I bought. But I still have faith in Onkyo. In fact I recently purchased another Onkyo receiver.

You should keep things in perspective and realize modern day electronics fail. Usually when you least expect it. Do you realize the scale of production with HT receivers. Its huge. Especially Yamaha. One of the biggest names in audio. Things are gonna fail every now and then. It happens with all companies. Especially with the complexity of today's electronics.

Have you even trouble shooted the receiver to see what the issue might be. Yamaha has great customer service. Give them a ring. All may not be lost. Sometimes unplugging the unit for several hours can reset things.