Update receiver, HTiB <$500 or AV pro?

[codgertater]

I've got problems with my old mid-90s hardware working my newer stuff and have a tight budget of around $500 to fix/upgrade. My system was built in stages and it's a mish-mosh of components, but they all used to work wonderfully together to my amateur ear. Here's what I've got:

The core:
Technics SA-AX910 receiver
Technics SH-AC300 decoder
Nuance Advantage 2.2 front speakers
Definitive C1B center
PSB Alpha rear speakers
All the speakers are bare wire only, as are the receiver's speaker outputs.

Then, peripherally,
Denon DCD-590 CD player
Philips CDR800 CD recorder
Toshiba SD-V394 DVD/VCR combo (2006 poor guy's compromise)
Hitachi HT-202 phonograph
Sherwood S90 cassette
Hitachi 51F59 51" RP HDTV (cheap but nice!)
Comcast HD-DVR (Motorola 6412)

The problems: I used to be able to hear regular TV as well as VHS, DVD, CD, tuner and vinyl through all 5 speakers, although the PSB Alpha rears seemed always a bit weak. No more. Now I can only hear these sources through the front 3 and cable TV only through the TV's built-in speakers. No rears at all in either case. BTW, I've always been fine without a subwoofer. Maybe I need to buy an optical line to run between the TV and the Technics combo. Yes, the rear PSB Alphas are still properly wired on both ends. The DVD player is hooked to the TV via component outputs, very nice. My last DVD player had an optical out hooked to the Technics combo. I also can't get the VHS to either play or record tapes, period. Also, the power button on the receiver and its remote is dysfunctional, but at least I can use my universal remote for that. Speaking of dysfunctional, when I had the DVD, VCR, old tube 32", cable or satellite, and all 5 speakers working fine, I had a lot more brain cells working and no back problems interfering with access to all the wiring. Something tells me these problems are mostly an audio version of PEBKAC, and some button is set wrong, but with a 12-13 year old receiver/decoder it could be the hardware too.

So now I'm not only senile but poor and won't be buying a new set of components, only either a new receiver or god-help-me a simple HTiB. But they don't have a phono input! These speakers I've got remain great sounding, but were never really anywhere near a balanced set. Maybe I just need to pay an AV pro to come over...

 

[AVRat]

Either a Yamaha RX-V659/661 or HTR-6060 should meet your needs.

 

[codgertater]

thanks

Either a Yamaha RX-V659/661 or HTR-6060 should meet your needs.

Thanks AVRat, maybe I'll go with the 661 or 6060, as the 659 doesn't have HDMI. Speaking of that, what path do you recommend hooking HDMI between my Comcast box, a receiver like this, and my TV which only has one HDMI input?

 

[obscbyclouds]

Thanks AVRat, maybe I'll go with the 661 or 6060, as the 659 doesn't have HDMI. Speaking of that, what path do you recommend hooking HDMI between my Comcast box, a receiver like this, and my TV which only has one HDMI input?

I have the same cable box, and a RPTV, and it looks just as good when hooked up via component cables (maybe even a bit better) than when I use HDMI. Just another option if you need/want the HDMI for something else.

 

[codgertater]

I have the same cable box, and a RPTV, and it looks just as good when hooked up via component cables (maybe even a bit better) than when I use HDMI. Just another option if you need/want the HDMI for something else.

That's good to know!

 

[AVRat]

Thanks AVRat, maybe I'll go with the 661 or 6060, as the 659 doesn't have HDMI. Speaking of that, what path do you recommend hooking HDMI between my Comcast box, a receiver like this, and my TV which only has one HDMI input?

I don't understand the question.

 

[codgertater]

I don't understand the question.

The question may have been duh, I dunno. What I was trying to ask was, rephrased, since I could only hook one HDMI source to my TV, does either the Comcast box or a Yamaha (or other) AV receiver have a sort of HDMI "through-port" to pair them up into a single line to the TV? But since obscbyclouds says component may be better, and the TV has two component input pairs, maybe paying extra for HDMI isn't the way to go. OTOH, both the TV's component input pairs are now populated by the Comcast DVR and my DVD player. So, in either case would I need a sort of combiner to get a new receiver to talk to the display? That's probably duh too. I'm lost.

And speaking of duh, I spoke with Comcast tech today about getting the TV sound out through the HTS - like it used to be. They said that even though I may have asked the DVR installer to hook it that way (and didn't get a refusal), he wouldn't have hooked it up due to liability. So I cranked my back and looked. Hello, the audio out ports on the TV were empty. Cranking further, I found the correct wires from the receiver's TV inputs and hooked them to the TV's outputs. Logical, eh? But it still doesn't work.

 

[AVRat]

I think what you’re looking for is HDMI switching. Yes, these units have that feature, which allows you to have multiple HDMI inputs directed to one output to the TV. What these units don’t have is analog video up-conversion to HDMI. They do convert composite/S-video to component.

With you’re current set of gear, you could go without HDMI and run everything through the receiver using its component video switching. HD over cable runs at 720p/1080i which component video can handle.

Hope this helps.

 

[codgertater]

I think what you’re looking for is HDMI switching. Yes, these units have that feature, which allows you to have multiple HDMI inputs directed to one output to the TV. What these units don’t have is analog video up-conversion to HDMI. They do convert composite/S-video to component.

With you’re current set of gear, you could go without HDMI and run everything through the receiver using its component video switching. HD over cable runs at 720p/1080i which component video can handle.

Hope this helps.

It sure does help, thanks again. Would you care to comment on CNET's review on the new Onkyo TX-SR605? I can't post links, so just search CNET TX-SR605.

"converts analog video sources to HDMI;

The bottom line: The Onkyo TX-SR605 raises the bar for AV receivers by delivering an amazing number of next-generation audio and video features at an unbeatably low price."​

 

[AVRat]

Not sure what type of comment you're looking for. I can say that the Onkyo 605 appears to be a good unit for the money but for your use it doesn't have a phono input. Otherwise, I would have recommended it first.

 

[codgertater]

it doesn't have a phono input.

Aha! I forgot to look for that.

 

[Seth=L]

OP could always get a phono pre-amp from RadioShack for relatively cheap.

With that said, I would still recommend getting the RX-V661 or BIG BOX store equiv. HTR-6060. It has plentiful switching, decent power, processing features for HDMI, and pre-outs. You could get a larger amplifier in the future or use the Technics to power the center and surrounds to relieve the load on the Yamaha.

I would like to add you would be doing yourself a huge favor if you replaced the Nuance speakers. They aren't designed to sound good, but rather to sound big, forward, and look like they mean total business. They are manufactured using rather inexpensive and dated driver types (paper is a thing of the past), but they do coat them with some type of polymer to make them appear to be more than what they are.

As for the problem with the PSBs, PSB has a reputation for being power hungry, they don't go as loud as other speakers given the same wattage, and they can present hard loads on amplifiers (this is typical for PSB and many higher end speakers). You have a good center and surrounds, it is the fronts that need replaced (speakers make the biggest impact on the SQ of a sound system, then acoustics of the room are next.

 

[Seth=L]

Aha! I forgot to look for that.

Would it be possible for you to post pictures of the Nuance speakers?

 

[codgertater]

Would it be possible for you to post pictures of the Nuance speakers?

This is my first attempt, so we'll see. Seems to have worked. This was the day the Hitachi tv came home, before I even noticed the blue packing tape. The Nuances are now spaced just a few inches away from the tv, all I can get in the room. About them, all I know is they were considered fairly good at the time, around '94, by the local highish-end audio store. Could you suggest replacements for someone like me on a tight budget?

On the PSB's, that's interesting, I'm pretty sure I have the control for them on the back of the Technics set all the way up. Maybe a new receiver would help?

BTW, regarding the earlier suggestion for some Yamaha receivers, I had to go to the mall today to pick up a CO detector, and ended up wwalking through Best Buy. They had a display unit Yamaha HTR-5960 for $270, no box, no manual, but yes a remote and full Yamaha warranty, and they'd print me a manual. It does have the phono input, but seems to have no HDMI. Maybe AVRat or obscbyclouds would care to comment, seems like a good deal.

 

[Seth=L]

View attachment 4831
This is my first attempt, so we'll see. Seems to have worked. This was the day the Hitachi tv came home, before I even noticed the blue packing tape. The Nuances are now spaced just a few inches away from the tv, all I can get in the room. About them, all I know is they were considered fairly good at the time, around '94, by the local highish-end audio store. Could you suggest replacements for someone like me on a tight budget?

On the PSB's, that's interesting, I'm pretty sure I have the control for them on the back of the Technics set all the way up. Maybe a new receiver would help?

BTW, regarding the earlier suggestion for some Yamaha receivers, I had to go to the mall today to pick up a CO detector, and ended up wwalking through Best Buy. They had a display unit Yamaha HTR-5960 for $270, no box, no manual, but yes a remote and full Yamaha warranty, and they'd print me a manual. It does have the phono input, but seems to have no HDMI. Maybe AVRat or obscbyclouds would care to comment, seems like a good deal.

That model is the equiv. of the Yamaha RX-V659. It was a well received unit and received almost perfect reviews. Here is a review Gene did of this model earlier this year.

Yamaha RX-V659 Review AudioHolics

I apologize for giving the Nuance speakers a hard time, but I did some digging on those and found they where less than honest. They seem like what Bose would be if Bose did crack. No offense meant, but you would be doing yourself a favor to replace them.

 

[codgertater]

Either a Yamaha RX-V659/661 or HTR-6060 should meet your needs.

BTW, regarding your suggestion for some Yamaha receivers, I had to go to the mall today to pick up a CO detector, and ended up walking through Best Buy. They had a display unit Yamaha HTR-5960 for $270, no box, no manual, but yes a remote and full Yamaha warranty, and they'd print me a manual. It does have the phono input, but seems to have no HDMI. Seems like a good deal though.

 

[Seth=L]

If you don't feel you need HDMI you could save a few bucks by getting the HTR-5960. It is a good deal.

 

[AVRat]

Unless you really feel the need for HDMI, the 5960 will meet your needs.

 

[codgertater]

Something tells me these problems are mostly an audio version of PEBKAC, and some button is set wrong, but with a 12-13 year old receiver/decoder it could be the hardware too.

Maybe I just need to pay an AV pro to come over...

Well, DUH, it was PEBKAC after all! Just in case...

PEBKAC is an acronym which stands for "Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair". The phrase is used by computer experts as a semi-humorous[2] way to describe to one another that the problem was not in the computer but was instead caused by the user operating it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEBKAC​

I had a guy come over. First he spent some time looking over all the connections - they looked fine - then he disconnected and reconnected all the possible culprits. Still only the fronts worked. So then he started checking the receiver settings. It was set to STEREO! After putting it on SURROUND I had the rears again. Too bad the unit doesn't display its mode for more than a few seconds after changing it...

That only cost me $35 to find out. I may still get a new receiver soon, but for now I'm happy again.

 

[AVRat]

That's too bad, cause we like to help other people spend their money. Glad to hear you're happy in the stone age Mr. Flintstone. PEBKAC = "operator error"! Jk! Glad all is well.