Shopping this time of year has my head spinning! HELP

[olddog]

Oh Boy! Have I been shopping! I believe I now understand what Pres. Regan ment when he said "as a boy I sholved all the horse poop in the stable every day because I just knew there had to be a pony there somewhere."
As I am in need of replacing my old but faithful Onkyo TX-DS484 to something more in keeping with today’s times. I have for the last 2 weeks have been reading everything I could find and driving 40 and 60 miles a day to listen and look. This is what I have found so far that seems to fit my needs and I was wondering if someone had any opinions on my choices so far.
Onkyo TX SR875
Dennon 2309 CI
Yamaha RXV 663

 

[jostenmeat]

The 663 might be a great value, but it simply can't compare with the other two.

The Denon offers Audyssey Dyn volume/EQ, which is a blessing for those who need to turn it down at night.

The 875 offers Reon HQV, and the Multi EQ XT, (not vanilla MEQ as with the Denon). Its the best consumer version of Audyssey available.

If it was me, 875 is a no-brainer. I'm sure others might prefer the Denon, if only for the name. Of course, besides the Dyn vol/eq.

 

[olddog]

I appreciate the input! I have a new Samsung HD TV and need to step up so to speak. The speakers I have liked so far have all been in the 85 to 90db and 4 to 6 ohm range. I like my music and my movies. It's a large room 25'x18'. I was also wondering as I saw today a Pioneer Elite DV48 AV player for a sub 100.00 price, and thought it might be a good addition for all my older DVD collection due to it's upscalling features?

 

[Davemcc]

If you are looking 4-6 ohm speakers in the 85-90db range, I would hold off on choosing an AVR until you know what speakers you're going to get. If you decide to get 4 ohm speakers with 85db, you are probably going to need an AVR with a very robust amp section or separate amplification. Plus, that's a pretty big room and it's going to take some power to fill the space in any event. Choose the speakers first, then select an amplifier with the ability to support those speakers.

With the current price of Blu-Ray players, it doesn't make sense to spend even $100 on a DVD player, IMO. Virtually every BD player will upconvert as well or better than upconverting DVD players.

 

[olddog]

Thanks Davemcc. Duh don't know what I was thinking on that DVD player. Guess I just saw what I felt was a bargain for something, but your right just wait and get a good BR player. As to the amp/receiver, I need to get it first in this case I believe because the speakers I want (totem hawk) would sound like Mickey mouse on the amp I have now, if at all, and I do not have the Wife approval to go out and do it all at once. As I said "I do kinda feel like a one legged grasshopper in a chicken yard " with all the choices out there, but I felt the Yahama, Dennon, and Onkyo selections I made should have the guts to do the job. Then I could always buy a pre-amp later if needed.

 

[allargon]

Thanks Davemcc. Duh don't know what I was thinking on that DVD player. Guess I just saw what I felt was a bargain for something, but your right just wait and get a good BR player. As to the amp/receiver, I need to get it first in this case I believe because the speakers I want (totem hawk) would sound like Mickey mouse on the amp I have now, if at all, and I do not have the Wife approval to go out and do it all at once. As I said "I do kinda feel like a one legged grasshopper in a chicken yard " with all the choices out there, but I felt the Yahama, Dennon, and Onkyo selections I made should have the guts to do the job. Then I could always buy a pre-amp later if needed.

Even guys who are single don't do everything at once unless they have a LOT of spare change under the cushions. I bought two floorstanders initially. Then I bought a receiver and ran everything in glorious two channel (already had my Blu-Ray/satellite/HD DVD sources). Later I added a center and surrounds (sub to come soon).

 

[olddog]

Well Allargon I appreciate that, and along with that I have a home with many family members in it so a disruption of the main entertainment area is a big fo-pa. I do have my current speakers to get by on while I save up. There just seems to be some aggressive pricing going on in my trigger range on the amp/recievers at the moment.
Speakers Warfdale Zaldek S2000 with center and surrounds
High-output center channel loudspeaker
Dual 6.5” polycarbonate laminate bass drivers
Horn midrange and horn tweeter
Wired internally with premium Monster XP speaker cable
Heavy-duty MDF cabinet construction
Recommended amplifier power 20W-150W
Nominal impedance 6 ohm (suitable for 8 ohm amplifier)
Sensitivity (for 2.83v at 1m) 90dB
Frequency range at -6dB: 75Hz to 29kHz
Crossover frequencies at 2kHz and 7kHz
Dimensions (H x W x D): 8.5” x 24” x 10

Sub Speaker-Mirage LF 100 front firing with 8” ribbed speaker(I'll keep this one)

 

[AVRat]

The Totem Hawks (6 ohm, 88 dB) should work fine with either the Denon or Onkyo. The Onkyo probably being more robust and better value.

 

[Nomo]

Oh Boy! Have I been shopping! I believe I now understand what Pres. Regan ment when he said "as a boy I sholved all the horse poop in the stable every day because I just knew there had to be a pony there somewhere."
As I am in need of replacing my old but faithful Onkyo TX-DS484 to something more in keeping with today’s times. I have for the last 2 weeks have been reading everything I could find and driving 40 and 60 miles a day to listen and look. This is what I have found so far that seems to fit my needs and I was wondering if someone had any opinions on my choices so far.
Onkyo TX SR875
Dennon 2309 CI
Yamaha RXV 663

Of the 3 on your list:
I agree with jostenmeat. The Onkyo is a no brainer.

 

[olddog]

As I have been studing today again it would seem my choice has become dated(blaim it on what the local merchants had on hand for me to listen to) the Okyno I believe would be the 876 ,that is the replacement for the 875. I have only one worry about this choice ,and that is from what I hear it runs hot? The only space I have for a amp is on a open glass shelf 8" high under the TV? Open area on either side. Youve seen them I'm shure.

 

[jostenmeat]

As I have been studing today again it would seem my choice has become dated(blaim it on what the local merchants had on hand for me to listen to) the Okyno I believe would be the 876 ,that is the replacement for the 875. I have only one worry about this choice ,and that is from what I hear it runs hot? The only space I have for a amp is on a open glass shelf 8" high under the TV? Open area on either side. Youve seen them I'm shure.

If the 876, make sure it can fit. However, are you sure you need this much receiver? Do you need ISF calibration abilities per source input? Do you need the Reon HQV? We are talking about completely different price points between the few receivers you are looking at. You can buy 3x Yam 663 for the price of one 876. You can even just buy the 663, and add outboard VP at a later date, and it will still be less money. OTOH, the amp is weaker... but then do you need that amp? That is yet another thing you can always add later.

Just trying to help you clarify what you need. I'm not always an advocate of going as cheap as possible, but I don't recommend going overkill either. Anyhoo, if the 876 fits, try some fans like these perhaps.

 

[olddog]

Thank you jostenmeat. That is some sage advice. I believe the Denon choice looks quite a bit better the more I dig into it.

 

[olddog]

Well I have always realy liked the Okyno's but after more vewing,listening,and shopping I believe I will settle for the DenonAVR 2809CI as it seems to have everything I want or need except I just wonder if the THX Ultra2 Certification is that needed?Also I do like to listen to the FM radio and I do not see HD radio, or Silicon Optx Relta Processing and scaling nor HDMI Vidio switching function?
Do I need these things? For what price?
Now I just have to sit back and watch prices till I find the best deal on it

Overview AVR-2809CI: 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH

PRODUCT FEATURES

GENERAL
Availability August 2008

Finish Black

--> Power Output; Watts Per Channel 115

All Channels Rated @ 0.08 THD

Weight: In Pounds 28.2

Width (inches) 17.1

Height (inches) 6.7

Depth (inches) 16.9


SOUND MODES
Processor(s) – Bit Depth and Type 2 -21366 x 1 and 21367 x 1 32-bit Floating Point

Dolby Pro Logic IIx – with Cinema, Music, Game Modes
Dolby Digital Surround EX Decoding
dts ES Discrete 6.1 Decoding
dts ES Matrix 6.1 Decoding
dts Neo:6 Stereo-to-Surround Cinema and Music Modes
dts 96/24 5.1 for DVD-Video Processing
Audio Signal Delay (Sync. Audio with Video signal) – By source
Pure Direct/Direct/Stereo Modes on Digital/Analog inputs
Stereo/Direct Modes w/Pure Analog Path


Video Game Mode

Wide Screen 7.1 Mode

Mono Movie Surround Mode

Rock Arena Surround Mode

Matrix Surround Mode

Jazz Club Surround Mode

Virtual Surround Mode – For 2 Speakers/Headphones

Multi-Channel Stereo Mode 5/6/7

DSP Effect Modes 7

Auto Surround Mode (Analog or Digital Input Type)

Active Center Channel In All Surround Modes

Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit - Digital HD Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit - Digital HD

Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+

dts-HD Master Audio

Neural Surround Mode XMHD

CONNECTIVITY
True 24-bit/96-kHz Digital Input Capability
Assignable Digital Inputs
Digital Inputs: Coaxial 3
Digital Inputs: Optical 3
Digital Outputs: Optical 2
Digital to Analog REC Out
Analog Audio Inputs, Incl. Tuner 10
Phono Input
Source Function Renaming
Analog Record Outputs 2
Video Conversion –Composite to S-Video to Component
Video Conversion – Composite to S-Video to Composite
Video Conversion – Analog to HDMI
Audio *1080p HDMI –
HDMI Video Outputs *1080p *
Composite Video Inputs 7
Composite Video Outputs 3
S-Video Inputs 7
S-Video Outputs 3
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable *3 x 100 MHz
Component Video Outputs
8-Ch. External Analog Input
Banana Plug Speaker Terminals, All Channels
Cinema EQ
56 Station Auto-Preset Memory Tuning
Direct Function (Tone Bypass)
Volume Control Un-muting
Selectable Muting Levels (Full/-40/-20)
Video Select Control
RS-232 Port – Third Party Remote Controllers
PC Setup and Control Capability via RS-232C
IR Serial Remote In/Out terminals
Multi-Source/Multi-Zone (*Uses REC OUT) 3S/3Z
Pre-amp Outputs for Multi-Zone
High Pass Filter for Multi-Zone Outputs
Multi-Zone Pre-Amp Outputs – Selectable Output Levels
Discrete Multi-Zone Composite Video Output - *S-Video also
Discrete Remote Power On/Off, Source Selection and Volume for Main and Second/Third* Zones
Assignable Amplifier Configuration of Surround Back Channels
Speaker Time-Delay and Level Controls: L/R, Sub, C, Surr. L/R, Surround Back
Pre-Amp Outputs All (8)
iPod Dock Control Port (Using optional ASD-1R Denon iDock)
pre Labled Assignable Digital Inputs
Digital to Analog Conversion Multi Zone Outputs
Input Delete Function
Front Panel AV Inputs Inside Panel Composite & S-video * with Optical in
s-Video Down Conversion 2nd Zone
Video Conversion Analog to HDMI Scaling 480p 720p 1080i 1080p
Faroudja DCDi Video Processing and Scaling FLI2310
HDMI 1.3a Inputs 4
HDMI 1.3a Outputs 1
HDMI Audio/Video Repeater Function
HDMI Deep Color Support-36Bit
HDMI xvYCC Color Space Support
HDMI SACD Support

COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY
Equal Power Amplifiers
Low Impedance Drive Capability
High-Current/Discrete Amplifiers
Independent Power Supplies
Dolby Digital, dts and DSP Modes – Analog Devices, HammerHead SHARC
AL24 Processing - All Channels AL24+ FL/FR
24-bit/192-kHz DACs-Burr-Brown PCM-1791
Analog-to-Digital Conversion - Bit Depth/Sampling Rate 24-bit/96-kHz Burr-Brown PCM-1803
Variable High/Low Pass Crossover Points (12/24dB) 40/60/80/100/120/150/200/250
Built In Time Based Correction
Automatic Lip Sync

CONVENIENCE FEATURES
Front Panel A/B Speaker Selector
Auto Setup Calibration
Auto/Manual Room Equalization
Audyssey Dynamic Volume
Auto Setup Microphone Included/Type Y/Mold DM-A409
Icon-Based On-Screen Display
Front Panel System Setup Control
Personal Memory Plus
System Setup/Surround Parameters Lockout
Relay-Controlled Protection Circuits
Microprocessor User Re-set Y/pg. 60
Detachable Power Cord
Pre-programmed/Learning EL Remote with Backlighting and Punch Through Commands