Pioneer vsx 815-k vs. Kenwood vr 9050-s

[mpa4712]

Hello,

Im on the final stages of putting together my first real (no htib, non tib) system. Im having some trouble picking the right reciever to compliment my current equipment. Right now, I have still in the box Flaunce SXHTB+, and I just purchased a 61' hd ultravision widescreen. We are currently using a very inadiquate (logitech 70w 5.1 speakers) for our surround sound. now while this sounds ok to us, we decided its time to go for the real thing. Im currnetly debating on the two recievers mentioned above; the pioneer vsx 815k and the Kenwood vr 9050-s. Both systems are 7.1, both decode the same digital formats, and both have simular wattage output as well as digital inputs. The difference on the Kenwood is that it has component up-conversion. I can't seem to find any details on that though. My questions are, what does the up conversion really do? Is it really nessacary? I already run my dvd player in progessive scan with my hitatchi ultravision via component inputs. Another question is, is there really a noticeable difference between 5.1 and 7.1? What i should mention is, I can tell the difference between bad and good sound, but i doubt id be able to point out any differences between good and great sound. I really enjoy watching a movie and hearing objects or sounds fly across the room seemlessly. Half the movie experience is the sound. Another question to ask, my brother will run a xbox 360 along with a ps3 when it comes out, do these systems need to be hooked up to the system via optical input to get 7.1(5.1) sound or will a reciever still decode it while using rca compasite input? I have very limited time to purchase one of these, less than 5 hours, so any help is appriciated. Also, i read the review on the pioneer in this forum, very well done.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[xboxweasel]

Component up conversion: it will take any composite and any s-video signal and up convert it to component video. That way you only need one video cable (component) from the receiver to your TV. That way all the A/V routing is done in the receiver, and you don't have to bother with switching between the different inputs on your TV. However, up conversion does not mean you get HD quality video all the time. It's not a video scaler. The receiver just breaks up/converts the video signals to their Y, Pr, Pb parts.

5.1 vs 6.1/7.1: IMHO for movies, 5.1 is just fine. Not many movies come out in 6.1 or 7.1. Our ears point forward (and out to the sides), it's harder to hear ambient sounds coming from the back. However, listening to music I trully enjoy the 6/7 channel stereo mode. It really helps fill the room with the music, instead of coming from the front 2 speakers only. In Dolby Digital the 6th and 7th channel are not discreet. They are encoded onto the surround channels. In DTS they are discreet. Discreet meaning complete seperately encoded onto the track and not part of a different channel. Similar to how dolby surround generated 4 channels of audio from a stereo source.

PS3/Xbox 360 5.1/6.1/7.1: Depending on the connections avaiable you will be connecting those units with either a coax (RCA) digital cable or a fibre optic (Toslink) digital cable to get your surround. Both are better than a stereo (RCA left and right) connection (you don't get surround channels that way). Fibre optic is better in the sense that noise cannot be induced onto the signal.

I hope you get the information you require before you run out. Boxing day sale.....enough said.