Pioneer vsx 815 v. Yamaha 5840

[NoLimitMD]

Hello all! First off, thanks for the great resource! I've been lurking a lot, and finally decided I needed some specific help!!

I'm setting up a new HT system, and will be setting it up in a basic 5.1 configuration. I just need some help w/ picking the receiver, and based on exhaustive research, it seems like the 815 and 5840 offer the best bang for my buck. I just can't decide on which one...both are listed under $300 (which seems like a steal!!)

I originally was considering a couple of HK receivers, but they didn't seem to offer the power I'm looking for. I'm running Boston Acoustics fronts, and will be getting a Polk center channel and Velodyne sub (will swap out the center if it doesn't voice match right.)

There's no way I'll use the side or rear center channels with a 6.1 or 7.1 right now, but still want a capable receiver.

The room it will be set up in is about 30X20, with 11 foot ceilings...and the use will be primarily TV (HD) and music (hard rock, hip hop, jazz.)

I originally ruled out Pioneer based on my impression of their products, but they seem to offer a lot of functionality for the dollar. I've heard great things about Yamaha, and have been fixated primarily on Denon as the "premier" receiver.

Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks again!!

 

[NoLimitMD]

Quick follow-up...

I see the 5860 for $305 at american-deals.com. Hmmm....anybody know anything about this site? I'm definitely wary of the ole "if it's too good to be true" adage, but wow, that's a lot of receiver for not a lot of money!!!

 

[skipsterut]

Watch out for warranty issues

Welcome to the forum as an official posting member.

I'm afraid I can't offer any help with the Pioneer vs Yamaha choice since I'm just now getting my own first HT system. I decided on the Pioneer VSX-72 because it has lots of great features that I need including HDMI w/video upconversion, 130wpc and fantastic sound field adjustment capabilities -- both auto and manual --and I kind of got myself into a Pioneer track a while ago so just stayed with it. But many forum members really love the Yammie line and I don't think you can go wrong with either.

But I did want to offer one bit of advice about buying online -- a problem with low cost sites for certain product lines is that the manufacturer will not honor the warranty because they are not an authorized dealer. This is true for both Pioneer and Yamaha. They both specify minimum selling prices that authorized dealers must comply with -- which are considerably higher than the lowest online prices you will find.

Be sure to check the warranty policy of each site and see if they say whether or not they are authorized for the brand you want to buy. A legitimate site will say up front whether or not they are authorized -- and if not, what your options are. You need to decide if the savings is worth it -- and if/how the dealer would provide service if necessary -- since the manufacturer won't.

Here are some threads that discuss this problem a bit:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=108370#post108370

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14810

In my case I finally decided to go with a non-authorized dealer because the savings were so great and the dealer's stated policy is that during the warranty period they will get the unit serviced by an factory authorized repair center -- and they will pay shipping both ways. This is my first experience with this dealer and so far I'm a little nervous because of some communication issues I had in placing and following up on the initial order. So right now, I'm not willing to post their name until I feel better about their follow through. If you would like to e-mail me privately I'll tell you who it is, but no free advertising until I'm satisfied with their performance.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[jcPanny]

Yamaha options

I was looking closely at the Yamaha 5840 model is the $200 price range but found a good deal on the 5860. This receiver should be great for an entry level HT with up to 6 channels and will outperform anything that comes in a cheep HTIB system. You might also check for deals on last years models (5760, 5750, and 5740). These lack the XM radio feature but everything else is the same.

Another option in your price range is the Onkyo 502 or 503. You can find refubished models with a full warantee for <$200.

Concerning HK, their receivers power is rated differently than most other manufactuers, so an AVR-135 or 235 would have plenty of power for efficient bookshelf speakers.

The Athena Audion Series or BIC Venturi lines would perform well with these receivers.

 

[luiz gutierrez]

Yamaha 5860:wonderfully articulate and CLEAR

Replying to NOlimitMD:

Go to the B&K website, and if they still have the Yamaha 5860 for about $325. BUY IT . (Authorized dealer, no warranty worries.) Just do it. It's that good.

I just hooked up mine last night for the first time, and even without using the YPAO (automatic room calibration), what struck me immediately were:
1.Music in the "direct" mode (bypassing all the internal electronic gunk) was comparable to my Jolida tube amp. Lacking the last degree of sensuous presence, but comparable.
2. The total sonic experience in ordinary Dolby 5.1 (The Interpreter, with a wonderfully layered sountrack), was incomparably more you-are-there than the receiver it replaced, a Sony STR-DB 830, a receiver of comparable quality in its day. The dialogue was crystal clear and the ambient sounds were distinctly layered in the soundstage, subtle and clearly separated from each other.

Read the review in Yamaha's website (RX-V650, basically the same receiver, thanks, JCPanny).

You, too, will fall in love. Just be prepared for a jealous wife!
Happy trails ,
Luiz

 

[jcPanny]

Htr-5860

I also bought the 5860 and second the recommendation if it is in your budget.

 

[t3031999]

I have a 5890 and it is a solid buy.
I would assume the 5860 would also be good.

 

[3db]

The jealous wife *L*

Replying to NOlimitMD:

Go to the B&K website, and if they still have the Yamaha 5860 for about $325. BUY IT . (Authorized dealer, no warranty worries.) Just do it. It's that good.

I just hooked up mine last night for the first time, and even without using the YPAO (automatic room calibration), what struck me immediately were:
1.Music in the "direct" mode (bypassing all the internal electronic gunk) was comparable to my Jolida tube amp. Lacking the last degree of sensuous presence, but comparable.
2. The total sonic experience in ordinary Dolby 5.1 (The Interpreter, with a wonderfully layered sountrack), was incomparably more you-are-there than the receiver it replaced, a Sony STR-DB 830, a receiver of comparable quality in its day. The dialogue was crystal clear and the ambient sounds were distinctly layered in the soundstage, subtle and clearly separated from each other.

Read the review in Yamaha's website (RX-V650, basically the same receiver, thanks, JCPanny).

You, too, will fall in love. Just be prepared for a jealous wife!
Happy trails ,
Luiz

Your unwittingly bringing up another hurdle/issue with home theater/audio. Jealousy. At the end of the evening, I can't wait to go downstairs into my HT room and spend an hour in quiet solitude listening to my system

 

[luiz gutierrez]

Yamaha: B&H website, not B&K!

Oops! Sorry for the wrong info. That should be B&H (BHphotovideo.com), not B&K.
Luiz

 

[NoLimitMD]

Thanks for the advice everyone (on this and other threads!) I went with the 5840, and thus far love the thing!

I've still got to get some rear speakers (the Polks I planned on getting aren't ceiling-mountable...argh...), but with the Polk center, Boston Acoustic fronts, and a 12" Velodyne, it sounds pretty great already!!!! Now, I just need to spend a couple of hours (months) figuring out all the features!!

 

[jcPanny]

6.1 receiver

FYI, the HTR-5840 is a 6.1 receiver, so you can connect two surround speakers and a single surround back speaker.

Make sure you calibrate the receiver by entering the speaker distances and adjusting the volume levels for each channel. This works best with a Radioshack SPL meter, but you can do it by ear and get in the ballpark.

 

[NoLimitMD]

FYI, the HTR-5840 is a 6.1 receiver, so you can connect two surround speakers and a single surround back speaker.

Yea, I plan to do the surround speakers. The Polks that I planned on getting do not have screw-in mounts (they just have the hole to hang 'em on a nail.)

My house is pre-wired with rear surround in the ceiling (albeit not centered for our layout), so I've got to find a pair of rear surrounds that voice match close to the BA's and Polk. Any suggestions are of course appreciated!!!