Pioneer VSX-1017 vs Onkyo TX-SR804 vs Onkyo TX-SR605

[tsa71]

I'm finally updating my 2ch system for the home theater system and now I need help for the AV receiver selection. I listen quite much music so sound quality is still important. My usage will be approximately 50% music and 50% movies + music dvd's. Main speakers are Infinity reference 50 (ones with emit-R element). I will have 40" full HD lcd tv, separate CD for the music listening and then media PC with DVD player for the movies. Budget is 500-700 euros. Now I have three finalists to choose and due to bargains in "older models" these all fits to the budget. So options and price offers are: Pioneer VSX-1017 (665 euros) vs Onkyo TX-SR804 (690 euros) vs Onkyo TX-SR605 (595 euros). Which one would you choose and why? I have read some stories about humming in 804, is it still problem with latest units? On the other hand 605 seems to me little bit "lightweight" compared to the others, but it has the 1.3 HDMI so....please give some comments to help me to decide. Thanks!

 

[Seth=L]

I'm finally updating my 2ch system for the home theater system and now I need help for the AV receiver selection. I listen quite much music so sound quality is still important. My usage will be approximately 50% music and 50% movies + music dvd's. Main speakers are Infinity reference 50 (ones with emit-R element). I will have 40" full HD lcd tv, separate CD for the music listening and then media PC with DVD player for the movies. Budget is 500-700 euros. Now I have three finalists to choose and due to bargains in "older models" these all fits to the budget. So options and price offers are: Pioneer VSX-1017 (665 euros) vs Onkyo TX-SR804 (690 euros) vs Onkyo TX-SR605 (595 euros). Which one would you choose and why? I have read some stories about humming in 804, is it still problem with latest units? On the other hand 605 seems to me little bit "lightweight" compared to the others, but it has the 1.3 HDMI so....please give some comments to help me to decide. Thanks!

My vote goes to the Onkyo TX-SR804 because it can do 7.1 audio (lossless LPCM) from an HD DVD or Blu-ray player (most, if not all HD players can process Dolby TrueHD and convert it to high resolution 7.1 LPCM for output via HDMI). The HDMI 1.3 is a nice feature, but all it is really getting you is the Deep Color but it has yet to be implemented and may not be entirely necessary, if at all with your television).

The Pioneer VSX-1017 does not process audio via HDMI, it is pass-thru only.

The TX-SR605 offers the scaler, but if plan to use a HD DVD or Blu-ray player it won't be necessary as they have superior scalers to the TX-SR605's implementation of scaler.

 

[tsa71]

Thanks for the info seth-L. 804 has also been number 1 in my list, because I think it's more "heavyweight" receiver compared for example to the 605 and now I can have it almost for the same price due to these "old model" bargains. I would like to have something like 805 or 905 but that goes out of the budget so that's why this seems to be the solution.

I almost pulled the trigger for 804 some days ago and and then I read long thread from avsforum about the humming problems in 804. After that I've been hesitating should I go for it or not? Have you heared anything about this humming thing and if yes do you have any idea is it still relevant with these later production series? Or is this more or less minor thing, because reviews/tests I've read from the magazines don't mention anything about this kind of problems and 804 has had excellent evaluations there. Hard to decide....so thanks for the help in advance!

 

[Gasman]

(most, if not all HD players can process Dolby TrueHD and convert it to high resolution 7.1 LPCM for output via HDMI).

The Pioneer VSX-1017 does not process audio via HDMI, it is pass-thru only.
.

I am curious as to where the info on this is coming from?
I have 2 HD DVD players, and 1 Blu Ray player. (HD-XA1, HD-A2, BD-P1200)
None of them (from my knowledge) will convert Dolby TrueHD using a 5.1 track, into a 7.1?????
(a AVR, would convert it)
Only the newest HD players (now coming out) will do a 7.1 track over HDMI.

As well, I am wondering where the info that the VSX-1017 will not process audio, via HDMI?
http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/products/42/98/405/VSX-1017AV-S/index.html

Is there confusion going on here.

 

[tsa71]

As well, I am wondering where the info that the VSX-1017 will not process audio, via HDMI?

Is there confusion going on here.[/QUOTE]

I was also confused about the info given in the Pioneer web pages. I contacted distributor few days ago and they gave me this kind of answer (VSX-1017 has 1.3 version HDMI, but codecs for the HD sound processing are missing so it doesn't process audio via HDMI). You notice the difference also in the feature list if you compare 1017 and LX-50. I wasn't sure is it really like that but now Seth L gave similar info so it seems that there is something really missing in Pioneer compared to others..

 

[Gasman]

HD sound processing are missing so it doesn't process audio via HDMI

Ah, but that is stated differently.
It will process audio via HDMI.
But there are a ton of HDMI AVRs out there that will not process HD format audio. (True HD, DTS-HD (MA), etc..)

But, that means little.
DD+ is what is mandatory, and that is backwards compatable. (well sort of)
http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/tech_library/DDPlus_FAQ.pdf
This is what I mean, quoted from T. Andry
"Designed for the A/V receiver of the future, Dolby Digital Plus remains fully compatible with all existing multichannel audio systems that incorporate Dolby Digital."

 

[tsa71]

Sorry but now I didn't get it? Do you mean that it will transfer audio via HDMI, but not True HD, DTS-HD (MA), etc?

 

[patnshan]

I am curious as to where the info on this is coming from?
I have 2 HD DVD players, and 1 Blu Ray player. (HD-XA1, HD-A2, BD-P1200)
None of them (from my knowledge) will convert Dolby TrueHD using a 5.1 track, into a 7.1?????
(a AVR, would convert it)
Only the newest HD players (now coming out) will do a 7.1 track over HDMI.

As well, I am wondering where the info that the VSX-1017 will not process audio, via HDMI?
http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/products/42/98/405/VSX-1017AV-S/index.html

Is there confusion going on here.

It cannot process multichannel PCM via HDMI, which should be a must have for any new AV receiver. Pioneer dropped a huge ball here. DD+ takes the multichannel PCM from the player and decodes it, ie: True HD, etc.

Pat

 

[tsa71]

So what is the difference between Onkyo TX-SR804 and Pioneer VSX1017?Meaning can Onkyo do something more compared to Pioneer or are they working similar way in meaning neither can handle true HD etc. sound or what?

So does it mean that with these receivers I can have True HD/Blue ray picture, but sound I must forget?

 

[Seth=L]

Ah, but that is stated differently.
It will process audio via HDMI.
But there are a ton of HDMI AVRs out there that will not process HD format audio. (True HD, DTS-HD (MA), etc..)

But, that means little.
DD+ is what is mandatory, and that is backwards compatable. (well sort of)
http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/tech_library/DDPlus_FAQ.pdf
This is what I mean, quoted from T. Andry
"Designed for the A/V receiver of the future, Dolby Digital Plus remains fully compatible with all existing multichannel audio systems that incorporate Dolby Digital."

The Pioneer VSX-1017 has HDMI 1.3 pass-thru only, no processing, no upconversion from other inputs, nada. Just like the Onkyo TX-SR505, it features HDMI 1.3 switching, but that is all it does, no repeater.

Also, I am pretty certain that the HD players (yes, even the first ones) can process the Dolby Digital TrueHD (7.1 discrete) and convert it to 7.1 LPCM for output over HDMI.

Lastly, if DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD, or Dolby plus are selected on the disc and you are using SPDIF the player downmixes the tracks to useable form, but at the standard Dolby Digital and DTS bitrates.

 

[tsa71]

So I'll skip 1017 and will choose between Onkyos (804 vs 605). It's still little bit unclear for me that do I loose something if I go for 804 with 1.1 HDMI instead of 605?

 

[Elvis1977]

So I'll skip 1017 and will choose between Onkyos (804 vs 605). It's still little bit unclear for me that do I loose something if I go for 804 with 1.1 HDMI instead of 605?

I have no humming with my 804. I'll sell it to you for $300. It is in perfect condition and i have all manuals, remote,etc.

 

[Seth=L]

I have no humming with my 804. I'll sell it to you for $300. It is in perfect condition and i have all manuals, remote,etc.

I would take this deal, before someone else does.

 

[tsa71]

Jep that's good offer, but I live in Europe so when you add all transfer costs, customs etc. it's not good bargain anymore...sorry. Thanks anyway!

Still wondering should I go for 804 or 605, because I'm not totally sure about the differences in the functionality of HDMI connection in my usage??... helpful comments/tips are appreciated!