I have pretty much loved my Onkyo TX-SR605 since the day I got it, but needed a technology refresh. The only thing I didn't really like about the TX-SR605 (aside from the obvious missing technologies such as 3D blu-ray support) is that it definitely ran hot inside my Ikea home theater cabinetry, but it has always been a flawless performer for me. Also when I forgot to turn it off, it sucked electricity like a vampire, to the tune of $10 bucks a month in added electricity bill.
My setup is:
-Samsung 6900D LED 1080p HDTV (I'm assuming this up converts video?)
-Polk front and rear surround speakers
-Velodyne subwoofer
-Essentially making it a 5.1 setup..
-Sony Blu-Ray Player
-Sony PS3 (For 3D Blu ray although may eventually replace with a dedicated)
-WII
-AppleTV
-WDTV Live (for 1080p and for playing "non apple" files such as divx, etc)
-Apple Airport adaptor (although I don't really use this now that I airplay to the AppleTV - and also i have a direct ethernet connection in my living room now)
-Griffin Beacon remote for controlling it all
I don't really want to spend more then around $300 for a receiver. I'm in an apartment complex so I can't really blast the sound anyway, so why waste a lot of cash on something you can't use too much.
I'm torn between Denon (TX-NR515) and Onkyo (i.e. the avr-1613). The Denon has direct airplay capability built in. I also read that the Denon will automatically power on when you send the airplay signal to it, which is super cool. Of course, I already have airplay through my AppleTV, and through the Airport Express, so it's not necessarily a must. Honestly though with direct built in Airplay I could probably ditch AppleTV - I find myself using the WDTV live 90% of the time ,and only using the AppleTV when I want to stream a video from my iPad.
I read that the Onkyo remote app is nicer, and controls all the internet radio direct from the app. Of course, with Airplay on the Denon, who would ever use that? I can just fire up Spotify and airplay it to the Denon and control it from my phone.
I read that the Onkyo has issues with the Wii, and some people say they had to run a separate cable to the TV. That's not going to work for me, everything has to work perfectly plugged in. I want my receiver to just work when I switch from one source to another, and not have to fuss with stuff and have to reboot stuff to get a video signal.
Another thing is the up-conversion feature on the Onkyo. If my blu-ray player up converts, and my Samsung TV up-converts, then is there really a reason or a practical application for that feature?
Anything else I might be missing? It seems like with built in airplay on the Denon I could get rid of the Airport Express and the AppleTV and just use my WDTV Live, simplifying all the wires behind my TV. Although one thing Denon doesn't mention if it allows video airplay or just audio LOL. I heard the audio quality on the Denon is better. I don't need the 7.1, so what would the Onkyo really give me over the cheaper Denon (aside from having 7 HDMI inputs instead of only 4 lol)
Edited: I read that the Denon does not convert analog video to HDMI, so I guess that would mean running another cable to the TV for the WII? Same with the Onkyo?
