Opinions Needed...

[cbecker33]

I recently moved into a new house and need to update my living room home theater setup. I have a set of Infinity speakers (IL40s, 30s and a 25c) sitting unused in the basement and am debating setting them up in the living room. I also have an Denon 1802 and powered subwoofer that are not being used. Some concerns are that I can only run 3.1 due to the room setup and I cannot use the Denon in my "A/V" cabinet (it is too deep).

My questions are:

1. Should I buy a powered "soundbar" and call it a day?
2. If not, should I set up my Infinity center and fronts or buy something else?
2a. What is a good sub $400 receiver to run the speakers?


Thanks,

Chris

 

[j_garcia]

A soundbar will not come anywhere near the capability of the IL40s. Those were pretty good speakers. 3.1 will still be better than any sound bar. For surrounds you could potentially do in ceiling or pick up a wireless option (transmitter/receiver, add your own amp) and use the existing ones.

 

[cbecker33]

A soundbar will not come anywhere near the capability of the IL40s. Those were pretty good speakers. 3.1 will still be better than any sound bar. For surrounds you could potentially do in ceiling or pick up a wireless option (transmitter/receiver, add your own amp) and use the existing ones.

I guess I know that - wishful thinking on my part. This will not be my main HT setup once I finish the basement. I really just need a little more "oomp" for movies/tv and some music when we are entertaining.

Any input on a receiver? I'm thinking Onkyo TX-NR515 or TX-NR616 from accessories for less.

 

[anamorphic96]

I guess I know that - wishful thinking on my part. This will not be my main HT setup once I finish the basement. I really just need a little more "oomp" for movies/tv and some music when we are entertaining.

Any input on a receiver? I'm thinking Onkyo TX-NR515 or TX-NR616 from accessories for less.

Go with one of the Denon's instead from accessories for less. They are much better than the Onkyo's in my opinion. The Audyssey MultEQ is worh it alone.

 

[cbecker33]

Go with one of the Denon's instead from accessories for less. They are much better than the Onkyo's in my opinion. The Audyssey MultEQ is worh it alone.

It looks like the Denons are a bit more than the comparable Onkyo unit. Is Audyssey MultEQ that much better than Audyssey 2EQ?

My options are:

Onkyo TX-NR616 - $309.99
Denon AVR-1913 - $349.99
Denon AVR-2112CI - $359.99

I also forget to mention that I have a Kinergetics Chiro c-500 amplifier (140w x5) sitting in my basement that I can hook up of it makes sense to do so.

 

[j_garcia]

Below the 7xx, the Onkyos are pretty average and also below that they don't have preamp outs. I agree, I'd go Denon before Onkyo.

Since it isn't a permanent setup, I'd just go 3.1. I ran 3.1 for the last few months and didn't mind it at all.

 

[cbecker33]

Below the 7xx, the Onkyos are pretty average and also below that they don't have preamp outs. I agree, I'd go Denon before Onkyo.

Since it isn't a permanent setup, I'd just go 3.1. I ran 3.1 for the last few months and didn't mind it at all.

Thanks. What's your opinion on Denon AVR-1913 vs. AVR-2112CI?

 

[j_garcia]

Only seen the 1912, not the 1913, and it is good. If features matter, the 1913 seems to have a few improvements from the 2112 and since the power appears to be the same, I'd probably opt for the 1913. If you don't need or care about features, the 2112 would be fine; I didn't compare them 1 to 1 so I didn't see a "killer app" that would make me choose one over the other, especially with the power being the same. My dad needs a new receiver and unless I can find a 1912 for a good price, I will probably pick him up a 1913.

 

[afterlife2]

For surrounds you could potentially do in ceiling or pick up a wireless option.

What is a good budget wireless kit option?

 

[j_garcia]

What is a good budget wireless kit option?

Audioengine and Aperion both offer one at $149. Those are probably the better known names I know of, but there are a number of companies selling something similar. I have yet to try one of them and had been considering one of those two to try in my setups, but I just ran wires for my surrounds in the apartment for now. Sort of low priority for me.

 

[jcl]

What is a good budget wireless kit option?

I have the older model audioengine kit. After I fixed the ground loop it works quite well.

I had an even older rocketfish, but that was an amplified product and I wasn't that crazy about it. There was a thread not long ago where someone had the newer rocketfish and it was working well for them.

Outlaw also has solutions, one amplified, and another not.
Outlaw Audio's OAW3 Wireless Audio System
Outlaw Audio's OAW3 Amplified Wireless Audio System

 

[cbecker33]

Beat it thread hijackers

Alright...last question then I pull the trigger.

AVR-1913 - $349.99
AVR-2113CI - $419.99
AVR-2312CI - $449.99

I like the 2113CI over the 1913 because I generally find "middle of the road" products to be the best bang for the buck (maybe that is naive).

I like the 2312Ci because I want to run two subs (I have 'em - might as well use 'em).

Any thoughts?

Chris

 

[j_garcia]

Beat it thread hijackers

Alright...last question then I pull the trigger.

AVR-1913 - $349.99
AVR-2113CI - $419.99
AVR-2312CI - $449.99

I like the 2113CI over the 1913 because I generally find "middle of the road" products to be the best bang for the buck (maybe that is naive).

I like the 2312Ci because I want to run two subs (I have 'em - might as well use 'em).

Any thoughts?

Chris

A $3-5 Y-splitter will give you two sub capability, so if that is the only bonus, then it isn't really one

 

[cbecker33]

A $3-5 Y-splitter will give you two sub capability, so if that is the only bonus, then it isn't really one

Really? Well, that is good to know. I'll toss that right out.

Glancing through the rest of the specs I'm hard pressed to find a bunch differences between the 1913 & 2113. So, is the 2113 worth the extra $70 to get 5w, pre-amp outputs for multizone, MultEQ XT, 1080p/24 - 4K scaling, and independent power supplies?

 

[j_garcia]

5W preamp outs is a nice thing, but if it is only for the multizone then that would only be a benefit if you intend to use other zones. 4K scaling, again, only if you have a fairly large display and/or are planning on upgrading to a 4K display. Independent power supplies sounds like an advantage to me, but I am going to guess it won't turn out to be a huge difference in output unless you have demanding speakers. MultiEQ XT also sounds like a benefit as it seems to be what many on here prefer.

 

[cbecker33]

Many thanks - ordered the 1913.

 

[cbecker33]

I have been using the 1913 for about a week now. It does everything I want and was a pleasure to setup. It does seem like Audyssey set my sub levels too low for my liking, but that was easy to rectify.

My only complaint questions/complaints:

1. Is it possible to 'pass through' the HDMI signal from my DVR to my TV without having the receiver switched on?

2. I typically only use the surround sound for movies/special events. I normally watch TV using the TV's speakers. I currently have to manually change the HDMI audio out on the receiver depending on which speakers I want to use - is there another option?

All in all, good receiver and cheap as well. Thank you all for your help!

Chris

 

[afterlife2]

It does seem like Audyssey set my sub levels too low for my liking, but that was easy to rectify.

What did it give you? and what did you set it at?

 

[cbecker33]

What did it give you? and what did you set it at?

If I remember correctly the subs were all the way down (-12db) and I boosted it to -6db....

Don't quote me on that - I'm at work on a Friday and my brain is done!

 

[j_garcia]

My only complaint questions/complaints:

1. Is it possible to 'pass through' the HDMI signal from my DVR to my TV without having the receiver switched on?

I haven't seen Denons that had this yet, but I also haven't looked that hard. The previous models did not seem to.