Stone-Age Videophyte

[sholling]

Yeah, I think I can live with that. Roku troubles me a little: a great idea, an inexpensive technology, but is the company ITSELF going to be around that long? What with big manufacturer's incorporating more and more streaming capability to their receivers, players, and TVs, if Roku is really successful, I could easily see them bought out just to take them out of the competition.

I have to wonder about that to however they offer a whole lot more channels than just Netflix and Pandora. I have like 70 of their free channels loaded in my menu. Admittedly I rarely look at most of them but they're there if I want them. The only one I pay for directly is Netflix and I was already a subscriber. I have 70 loaded in my menu but they offer a whole lot more, some pay, some free, and most of the channels are special interest like Thai Cooking or Revision3 (techie stuff) but a few are old movies. There are only about a half dozen free old movie/old TV show channels. BTW it's worth the $5 for a 2GB micro SD card (Roku 2 XS only) if you're going to add that many channels. You won't need more than that.

Please tell me more about the Roku problem and setting an HDMI port to "direct" in the Onkyos

I discovered the problem just like everyone else. If you watch Netflix movies with 2 channel sound selected there is no problem, however if you watch one of the 5.1 Dolby Digital movies in 5.1 sound the color shifts to a shade of purple until you reset the Roku box or change the Roku's screen resolution to something else and then back - which basically resets the video. It's then fine until the next attempt to watch a 5.1 sound movie in 5.1. Again there is no problem when watching in stereo.

The workaround is to go into the Onkyo setup menu, choose "source Setup" and "Picture Adjust". Make sure you are on the correct HDMI port for the Roku and in "Picture Mode" choose "Direct". That seems to eliminate the problem.

Here is a tread from the Roku forum.

 

[sholling]

OK, here are my choices. Please comment!

Onkyo TX-NR709 Factory Refurb.
MSRP new: $899.99
Accessories4Less Refurb Price: $419.99

or

Denon AVR2112CI MSRP New
MSRP $649.00
On Special at OneCall: $487.00

Thanks!

Bart

This is a bit of a budget buster and I've never laid hands on this model but the Amazon Gold Box deal of the day (6/15/12 only) is a brand new Denon AVR-3312CI for $550 (MSRP $1099). Just note that the good stuff often sells out early. This one would tempt the heck out of me if I didn't already have more receivers than I need.

Amazon.com: Denon AVR3312CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver: Electronics

Product Features:

• 7.2ch Integrated Network A/V Receiver
• HDMI 1.4a 7-In/2-Out 3D Ready
• AirPlay Ready
• Discrete Power Amps rated at 125 watts each

 

[bartbrn]

Yeah, I was about to post that Amazon deal, except I've been on the phone since 11:30AM (now 2:45PM) with an Apple Care Senior Tech, trying to make my LATEST replacement 27" iMac actually work...

The Amazon deal seems hard to resist. If I was willing to pay $487.00 for a new Denon AVR2112CI (MSRP $649.00; 25% or thereabouts savings) at OneCall, it would seem a false economy to not cough up the extra $62 for the AVR3312CI (MSRP $1099.99, 50% savings)... so I just did. My GOD, I hate spending money!

There's an excellent review of the AVR3312CI right here at audioholics:

Denon AVR-3312CI AV Receiver Video Review — Reviews and News from Audioholics

And here's a direct link to the Amazon deal:

Amazon.com Gold Box: New Deals. Every Day.

Denon AVR3312CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver

This 7.2-Channel A/V Receiver sets a new standard in 3D, Blu-ray, game console, and device integration. It features seven 125-watt channels of equal power, dual subwoofer outputs, and high-resolution audio formats. It also supports HDMI v1.4a, AirPlay, mp3/WMA/WAV and FLAC HD audio, and Windows 7 compatibility.
List Price: $1099.99
Today's Discount: - $550.00
Gold Box Price: $549.99 (50% off)

BTW, on Roku -- if you haven't already, check out archive.org -- an excellent source for PD movies (like Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" series of propaganda films made for the War Department in WWII), old TV shows, books in pdf, kindle, and other formats, and images up the kazoo. A great site, either by roku or browser.

Thanks again for all your help. I hope this receiver is everything it should be (not that I'd know...).

Bart

 

[BMXTRIX]

Amazon.com: Denon AVR3312CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver: Electronics

Wow, that's WELL under MAP and typical Denon cost. I had to jump on that price and get one.