SR7001: Upsell me!

[DBooger]

This AVR will be used to power & control speakers / DVD player/ cable box / TV in a family room, and outdoor patio speakers only (no second room video). Speakers will be a 5.1 system, Energy RC in wall series (8 ohm), S8.3 sub plus Energy EAs for outside.

All selections will accept iPod docks, which is HUGE for me (lossy audio, I know).

As against SR8001 and Denon 4306:

- "No second HDMI video out." What would I use it for? Fine.
- "No toroidial power source." Huh? OK, fine.
- "No IR out." I'm not trying to control components in other rooms, fine.
- "What about RS232 and MP3 connectivity / compatability?" Hmmm ... the MP3 might be especially important to me, as I ultimately envision hooking up a massive slave hard drive w/ over 8,000 MP3 files. RS232? I don't mind configuring manually.

It's not the dollars, but I don't think I see the need. Can you upsell me?

Thanks!

 

[MDS]

As against SR8001 and Denon 4306:

- "No second HDMI video out." What would I use it for? Fine.
- "No toroidial power source." Huh? OK, fine.
- "No IR out." I'm not trying to control components in other rooms, fine.
- "What about RS232 and MP3 connectivity / compatability?" Hmmm ... the MP3 might be especially important to me, as I ultimately envision hooking up a massive slave hard drive w/ over 8,000 MP3 files. RS232? I don't mind configuring manually.

It's not the dollars, but I don't think I see the need. Can you upsell me?

Thanks!

I agree with your assessment and think no upsell is required.

- A second HDMI video out won't buy you much of anything unless you have multiple TVs in the same room or you already have HDMI cables in the wall running to another room. If that situation arises in the future, you can solve the problem with an HDMI switch.

- IR out could be useful but again only if you have wiring already in place to make use of it. There are many other solutions for controlling equipment in other rooms that won't require IR out on the receiver.

- RS232 on most receivers is there for applying firmware upgrades (which are rarely ever provided by the manufacturers). While some are controllable via RS232, the commands and data format are not generally publicly available and you'd have to pay a custom installer to do it for you. Same deal as IR out - there are other solutions for controlling it remotely.

- iPod doc could be very useful but it is really just a convenience. You can connect an iPod to any receiver without a doc. A doc just gives you the convenience of controlling the iPod with the receiver remote and the ability to see song information on the receiver display and/or TV.

 

[pikers]

Toroidal power supplies will be more robust and able to provide higher power levels more comfortably and with less distortion. If you have an environment where you don't see the need (and never will) then this is not really needed.

Ultimately, I would listen less to the salesperson and have him set up demos with these better pieces, to see if you discern a sound quality difference. As always, it may be there, but you have to decide if that's important to you or not.