Receiver suggestions

[Upconvertme]

Hey everyone, I'd like to get some opinions on receivers to consider. I currently have a 5.1 setup consisting of 2 Infinity Primus 250s for the R & L channels, an Infinity Primus C25 for the center, 2 Primus 150s for the rear channels and an Infinity PS-12 for the sub. I also have 2 additional Primus 150s for eventually moving to a 7.1 setup.

I can't shake the feeling that my current receiver, a Pioneer VSX-515K, just isn't pushing the speakers like it should. Volume isn't a problem, but clarity, separation and overall sound quality is (not that I expect the world from a 2 year old receiver that cost $170).

Ideally, I'd like a receiver for ~$500, but up to $1000 is workable provided the extra money pays off in sound quality. I have been considering the Onkyo SR605 and SR805 respectively, but am starting this thread for other suggestions and/or confirmation these would make good choices with my speakers.

This is used 90% for TV/DVD/Games, and 10% for music. I currently do not need HDMI, but odds are good I will during the lifetime of this receiver. I'd like it to be capable of 7.1 sound as well. It will be hooked up to a PS2 via optical, Xbox 360 via optical, DVD via coax, and HDTV cable box via coax. Features such as video upconversion, pre outs, and multiple zones are not important to me; I'm looking for something that will first and foremost sound decent. I appreciate your feedback. Thanks!

P.S. This purchase is probably a month or two out, so receivers coming out soon are fair game as well.

 

[Dolby CP-200]

Hello

I’ll say it’s the loudspeakers and there positioning in the room that is mostly the fault of any home cinema these days. You really should outfit the fronts with matching loudspeakers there’s no dispute or expectations here!

They should be of adequate size that is the bass mid should produce equal bass over the matching LCR and the high ends adds transparency and detail to give good imaging to films!

Make some of these changes and you’ll realize I was speaking the truth.

And if you what centre back surround a little re-plugging of the surrounds with a Dolby pro-logic receiver or best a processor can be brought on the Ebay for next to nothing. Use a little common sense mate and save the dollars!

Home cinema can either be an extremely expensive or it can be an affordable affair with the right attitude and thinking.

Has for all these new AVR and AVP that are around I have no ideas to which affordable model you what. All I can see is that you need affordable solutions with less spent out on a new AVR that would be so outdated within a month or two and to what cost?

I’ve done mine on the cheap and with stunning sound impact that makes most home cinema demonstration rooms here in the UK sound embarrassing when you consider the outrageous cost of single AVR, that has 7.1 and since there’s no source martial readily available on the consumer market. I’d just wait a few years until Dolby 7.1 is like a rash all over the DVD market!

 

[Leprkon]

you might go with a Denon..

http://dakmart.com/itemdetails/30630/173/

or if you're a little more serious:

http://dakmart.com/itemdetails/28983/173/

Both are well within your budget, but neither has HDMI.

If the HDMI is just too much to let go, then check out the Emotiva Ultra Theater series set up. It's at the top of your budget ($899), but a drool-worthy package for the price.

http://www.emotivaaudio.com/products.html

 

[Davemcc]

Look at the Yamaha HTR-6060. It seems to be the equal of the Denon AVR-2307, but is much less expensive and right in your price range. It is available at Best Buy, so maybe you can catch a preferred member or online only sale.

 

[satish536]

"a Pioneer VSX-515K,[/URL] just isn't pushing the speakers like it should. Volume isn't a problem, but clarity, separation and overall sound quality is (not that I expect the world from a 2 year old receiver that cost $170).

i think he needs a power amplifier ! If the pioneer has pre outs get the Emotiva http://www.emotivaaudio.com/lpa1.html LPA-1 !

 

[Upconvertme]

I appreciate all the input so far!

Dolby CP-200: Good suggestions. My current apartment has a less than wonderful living room design with respect to home theater layout, but it's passable. It seems to cause more problems with the surround effect than anything (I'm assuming because the surround speakers are on stands and would ideally be a few feet higer). I'll be moving to a (hopefully) better laid-out place in a couple months fortunately.

Leprkon: Those receivers both look exceptional, especially the 3805. My only concern as you guessed would be the lack of HDMI. It's no problem whatsoever with my current setup, but I'm afraid it would be become an issue down the road, as it could potentially limit my sound options with HD DVD/Bluray/PS3 and presumably future video game consoles. Many players often don't have 7.1 analog out jacks, but can send 7.1 channel PCM via HDMI. I'd hate to see a receiver of that quality reduced to 5.1 channel lossy audio via optical because the HD DVD/Bluray/PS3 player was only able to output via HDMI or optical. However, does it seem feasible that, in the future when HDMI is needed, I could buy a pre/pro with HDMI and 7.1 analog out and feed that to the 3805?

The Emotiva I had seen mentioned in other threads and looks amazing. The one potential problem is that for a 7.1 channel setup, the 6th channel is split into 2 50 watt channels. It's not like I'm aiming to blow out the neighborhood with this setup, but 50 watts for the rears seems just a bit low. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Davemcc: Good suggestion as well. According to Yamaha's it has similar features to the RX-V661, which I've heard good things about.

satish536: No pre outs on the Pioneer. That's what you get with the Circuit City discount model (In my defense, this receiver was originally powering el cheapo HTiB speakers).

 

[Dolby CP-200]

Upconvertme

Well my room is considerable smaller than yours and its jam packed wall to wall with JBL layout. Heck I’m surprised I can swing a cat in here!

Fix the surrounds to wall like this!

Now I’m not saying this is how it should be, but I’m afraid that is how it is in the real world and it works in this small room with stunning impact so why shouldn’t it work in you’re room, its doable.

The fixing brackets came supplied with the JBL Control 1 and fixing took a few days for each side as I didn’t what to rush it. It’s still incomplete as I need to add a few more to the sidewalls rear wall and height surrounds!

The cost of the surround array set me back around £249.98 and that’s just the surround array, the fronts are different kettle of fish.


The sixth channel in a Dolby Digital-EX professional or even the consumer version minus the (extra channel out) is divided from the left and right in the same fashion as Dolby Pro-Logic is decoded for the front channels.

Note its left centre right for fronts now swing that around and send the inputs from the surrounds especially (split-surrounds) the signal is subtracted and divided and sent out to sidewalls and rear wall.

Minus height surround! All the modern AVR that I’ve seen from the early days don’t carry the extra channel that was used a few years back for “We Where Soldiers.” Now I’ve been playing around with the extra channel on a Dolby Pro-Logic processor that works in the same as the Dolby SA-10 which is modified stripped down Dolby CP-45 cinema processor.

 

[jcPanny]

Yamaha receivers

There is a good deal on ubid for a refurbished Yamaha RX-V1600, $400.
http://www.ubid.com/Yamaha_RX-V1600_840_Watts_7.1_Ch._A/V_Home_Theater/a11033617.html
It would be a major power and feature upgrade (including HDMI switching and upconversion) from your low end pioneer.

I have a mid range Yamaha HTR-5860 and recently added the Emotiva LPA-1 amp. It is definately more capable driving my 4-ohm Onix Ref 1's and will eventually power a 5.1 HT with a few pairs of house speakers hooked up to 2 of the channels. I wouldn't worry to much about the shared 6/7 channel. 50 Watts is more than most receivers are capable of (All channels driven) and the surround back channels don't get too much material. I have heard that the next generation LPA-2 will be a 7 discrete channel configuration.

 

[darien87]

I'm not sure how well it would drive your speakers, but I would recommend the Yamaha 661. I just bought one and I absolutely LOVE it. It has HDMI, just about every feature you could possibly want, and it can be found for under $400 online! I'm not really one for DSP and all that, but last weekend, I played the Symphony & Metallica CD through a concert program and it was pretty spectacular. It felt like being there.

It is only rated at 90 watts per channel though. I currently have an Acurus 200 watt per channel driving my fronts.

 

[Seth=L]

Dolby,

While I think your system probably sounds very good for a Pro-logic system I find it unlikely it will contend with discrete 5.1 Dolby, DTS, or more advanced surround formats found on the new generation of formats. I had a Rotel Pro-logic pre/pro once and it can't hold anything against even the least expensive 5.1 decoders found on today's receivers. Since Dolby is essentially 2 channels derived to 4 channel matrix surround it can't possibly do what 6 channel surround can, plus there is loss on the top end with Pro-logic. Pro-logic II and IIx are significant improvements over the old pro-logic systems, and still no where near 6 channel.


Upconvertme,

The Yamaha RX-V661 (HTR-6060 is the same as the RX-V661) or the Onkyo TX-SR605 would be my top choices. The TX-SR605 has HDMI 1.3, the most up to date HDMI interface. The RX-V661 has HDMI 1.2 and is very good, but doesn't have all the HDMI features the Onkyo does. It makes up for it by having pre-outs, which you said you don't need. That said the RX-V661 is proabably the least expensive of the two as it is just a tad older than the TX-SR605.