please help me choose a new receiver and HK1650 Subwoofer setting

[mike c]

My Denon 3808's HDMI 1-3 inputs doesn't seem to work (following a night of thunder and lightning)

I replaced the Denon 3808 + Rotel RMB1077 combo with the HK1650 I had lying around (i know, super downgrade).

anyway ... while setting it up, i noticed these options for the subwoofer:

8, 10, 12, 15 or present

the manual doesn't say much except that the numbers are transducer/woofer sizes and that setting it appropriately affects the "EQ". the manual doesn't even mention the "present" option (which I'm now assuming is 'don't touch it' mode).

so ... do I use "present" or "15"?

-0-

also, what's THE best below 1k receiver nowadays?

preferably with:
-preouts
-at least 5 HDMI inputs
-switched outlet
-GUI through HDMI (not a separate coax/RCA cable)

 

[Steve81]

so ... do I use "present" or "15"?

In the face of not knowing what the receiver is going to do in terms of EQ (or why it feels woofer size alone is an appropriate way to gauge what needs to be EQed), I'd say leave it at "present".

also, what's THE best below 1k receiver nowadays?

I'd tend to favor the Marantz SR500x; it's got everything on your list sans the switched outlet and delivers Audyssey MultEQ XT if that's worth anything to you.

 

[mike c]

what's the current onkyo offering in the below 1k and below 1.2k bracket? (they have silver color models i believe)

 

[Steve81]

The newest are the 727 and 828. Unfortunately they ditched preouts on the 727, so you'd have to step up to the 828 for that, or back a generation to the 717 (which drops down to Audyssey 2EQ vs MultEQ). A little older still is the 709 which gives preouts and MultEQ XT.

 

[mike c]

oh where have all the switched outlets gone!

online comments seem to say that the 818 is the better bang for the buck over the 828

800 vs 1k USD

What you get:

Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
4K pass-through

What you lose:

135 watt -> 130 watt
[/COLOR]Audyssey MultEQ XT32 -> Audyssey MultEQ
9.2 channels pre-out -> 7.2 channels pre-out
NO Differential DAC Mode for Front Channels
NO Isolated Power-Amp and Pre-Amp Block
18.3kg -> 15.0kg
SNR (Line IHF-A): 110dB -> 106dB

 

[mike c]

damn. choosing a receiver is going to drive me nuts.

onkyo 818 and 828
marantz 5007 - super cheap
marantz 6007 - don't know what this adds over the 5007
marantz 7007 - awesome looks
yammy 1030 - service will be easy as i know the official yammy service center

 

[mike c]

down to two:



or



onkyo 828:
larger/more info display
maybe better local support


marantz 5007/6007:
looks
jog dial for source change
cheaper

local sources don't have either of these in silver color.
i found a source with a 7007 in silver, but i'm not sure i want to spend 1300 bucks on a receiver.
hitting compare on the 5007 and 6007, the latter is spec'ed with "metal front panel"
http://www.marantz.com.hk/eng/Products/Pages/ProductComparison.aspx?CatId=HomeTheatre&SubCatId=AVReceiver&ProductId=SR7007|SR6007|SR5007

is the 7007>Onkyo 828?

 

[Steve81]

A few thoughts:

onkyo 828:
larger/more info display
maybe better local support

Is the larger on-unit display worth all that much in the age of OSD? Better support could be useful, though with Onkyo's nagging QC problems, the 828 is also more likely to need it.

marantz 5007/6007:
looks
jog dial for source change
cheaper

That's a strong combo in my book, especially when you're getting a better room correction system. I'd also expect the built in amplification even on the 5007 isn't going to be too far behind the 828 in real world terms, and that will be even less of an issue if supplemented by external amps

hitting compare on the 5007 and 6007, the latter is spec'ed with "metal front panel"

That probably accounts for most of the weight difference too

is the 7007>Onkyo 828?

The Marantz would be my preference, though the updated features of the 828 might be appealing to someone that isn't a Luddite like myself; OTOH, if we were talking about the 818 with XT32 and the better apparent build quality vs the 828, it'd be a tougher choice.

 

[Adam]

Is the larger on-unit display worth all that much in the age of OSD?

I have a comment that isn't about it being larger, but rather what it displays. My Pioneer Elite shows the sound mode in large letters, and the input source is in small (unreadable from my sitting position) letters. The Onkyo 626 shows the input source in large letters, and the sound mode in tiny (unreadable from my sitting position) letters. The Denon AVR-E400 shows both the sound mode and the input source in large letters, although they are both a bit truncated. The Pioneer Elite doesn't have an OSD that shows the sound modes or input source (that I know of), the Onkyo OSD is a bit clunky but works, and the Denon OSD is nicely refined.

My preference is to see the sound mode on the front panel. I know what source that I'm watching, but I don't always know what the audio input is (stereo, DD+, other) or what surround mode I had picked last. Others might prefer to see the input source. I like how that Onkyo shows both in readable text, as well as displaying the active speakers. I always thought that Onkyos of late were pretty ugly, and when I took the 626 out of the box, it didn't change my opinion. Once I put it into my entertainment center, though, it actually looked good to me. I can't explain it, but maybe it's because I'm not right up against it looking at the indented power button (which I'm not a fan of) and other features that look a bit clunky up close, but look fine further away.

 

[mike c]

does GUI overlay on HDMI mean i don't need a separate monitor out cable for setup?

i think am leaning marantz (thanks for the lead btw) ... question is, which marantz

5007
cheaper

6007
metal front panel (unlike 5007)

7007
super cool fascia but a bit tall for my rack

 

[Steve81]

does GUI overlay on HDMI mean i don't need a separate monitor out cable for setup?

Yes; you should only need the single HDMI to the TV to run Audyssey, fiddle with crossovers, etc.

i think am leaning marantz (thanks for the lead btw) ... question is, which marantz

By in large, I'm cheap, so....

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would stick to Marantz/ Denon, Yamaha, or Pioneer Elite, and avoid Onkyo.

 

[mike c]

lightning strikes twice! (i'm guessing one of my HDMI inputs is the culprit)

i was making do with my HK1650 as a band aid receiver when another round of thunderstorms toasted the HDMI section.

in a time of need ... research goes out the window. (the 08 marantz'es were out of stock)

ordered a yammy 830 av receiver, a new servo voltage regulator, a new media player (one of the suspects) and i'm disconnecting the other HDMI source suspect.

 

[psbfan9]

lightning strikes twice! (i'm guessing one of my HDMI inputs is the culprit)

i was making do with my HK1650 as a band aid receiver when another round of thunderstorms toasted the HDMI section.

in a time of need ... research goes out the window. (the 08 marantz'es were out of stock)

ordered a yammy 830 av receiver, a new servo voltage regulator, a new media player (one of the suspects) and i'm disconnecting the other HDMI source suspect.

Oh man, that sucks Mike. I have the Yammy A830 and I'm very happy with it. More options then I'll ever use and, for now, more than enough power. It's a huge improvement from my Onkyo 608.