Using an old Harman Kardon AVR 25II With new tv/blu-ray

[Robs2]

I have the above receiver but only use it with front (A and B) speakers, so I don't take advantage of any of the surround sound effects. It is about 15 years old and has RCA connections...no HDMI. Here I'll try to embed an image:

It has an equalizer connected to the Tape2 input.

I need to connect:
HDTV
Blu-ray
DirecTv Genie receiver
Wii
Possibly an Xbox in the near future
A way to play an iPod


My B speakers are wired to my back porch and will need to remain connected via regular speaker wire. My A speakers are Paradigm bookshelf speakers. Because of space constraints, I would like to retire the Paradigms and go with a more compact setup (ie. soundbar + sub).

I am not an audio expert or even someone with an above average amount of audio knowledge...but I am able to follow clear directions. I would appreciate if anyone can walk me through the best way to set this system up.....or convince me to scrap the H/K and go a different direction altogether (I do need to have FM radio). Thx

 

[macddmac]

Hi and welcome to the forum!
with all of the hdmi connected gear and the iPod , I would consider a new 7.1 receiver with AirPlay capability and retire the HK to another system or the garage along with the Paradigms.
Sound quality with a soundbar may be a let down compared with what you currently have.
cheers, Mac

 

[afterlife2]

Hi and welcome! I agree with Mac. Depending on your budget. How about something like this?

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1712/DENON-AVR-1712-7.1-A/V-Surround-Receiver/1.html
or
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007R8U5VM
then we can recommend speakers and sub.

or very tight budget:
Newegg.com - Pioneer HTP-072 5.1 Channel Home Theater Package with 3D AV Receiver, Subwoofer and Satellite Speakers

 

[Robs2]

Thank you Mac and Afterlife. Those suggestions are well within budget and bring up a couple add'l questions:

- If I retire the Paradigms, I'll still have the back porch Infinity's. Those would become my front channel A speakers. How would I hook up a new soundbar/sub? Would that be through the optical? I want to be sure to retain a very high quality sound inside.
- If I buy the Denon 1712 (or any 7.1 channel receiver), would a soundbar/sub fully accommodate the 7.1 feature? Or is that overkill? (I'm brand new to soundbars)
- Would the Denon 1712 give me everything I would need or are there additional features I might like to have if I were to purchase something higher end?
- Would I retire my equalizer if I buy a new receiver or would I want to keep it (it's a very old, very basic Techniques eq)?
- How do the iPods connect to these new receivers? Through a Bluetooth connection? Or are they wired? We have both 30-pin and ligntning that would need to connect.
- Here's a basic question that will show my ignorance but one that I really need to understand. The Denon 1712 says "With six HDMI inputs, the AVR-1712 allows you to route multiple high-definition devices--like game consoles and Blu-ray players--to your TV." Should all my external devices route through my receiver and then to the TV? I would have thought those devices would have routed directly to the HDMI inputs on the TV and then the TV outputs the sound to the receiver, perhaps via optical? Do I have that wrong? Would love someone to help me understand this.
- If all devices route through the receiver, will there be an HDMI output on the receiver for each HDMI input coming in? In other words, if I have an Xbox and a Wii and a blue-ray both connected to the receiver via HDMI, will there be 3 HDMI outs to the TV?......or just 1? if 1, would you have to use the TV controls to switch between the devices?
Thanks much....you guys are very helpful.

 

[macddmac]

Hey, the porch speakers would likely be powered by your # 6&7 Channel's- you designate your sbl and sbr channels as your zone 2 when you set up the new receiver( assuming it has the capability, most do)
Optical is digital.
Zone 2 feeds often don't have the ability to pass through digital signals (1712 doesn't ), so keep that in mind.
Sounbars are usually self powered so, connecting via digital shouldn't tax your 1712's amps at all.
I'm not a fan of outboard eq, the 1712 likely wouldn't have the capability anyway to run one. Ck with denon online- the specs are all there.
As long as you can connect an Ethernet cable, your good to go- if not, use an Apple TV or airport express to stream your later model iPod .
All hdmi devices will connect to your receiver and a single cable will go to the TV .
Get a harmony remote or similar to coordinate all of this electronic wizardry.
Cheers, Mac

 

[afterlife2]

You won't need the soundbar at all. Give us a round figure of what you want to spend and we can go from there.

 

[Robs2]

Hey, the porch speakers would likely be powered by your # 6&7 Channel's- you designate your sbl and sbr channels as your zone 2 when you set up the new receiver( assuming it has the capability, most do)
Optical is digital.
Zone 2 feeds often don't have the ability to pass through digital signals (1712 doesn't ), so keep that in mind.
Sounbars are usually self powered so, connecting via digital shouldn't tax your 1712's amps at all.
I'm not a fan of outboard eq, the 1712 likely wouldn't have the capability anyway to run one. Ck with denon online- the specs are all there.
As long as you can connect an Ethernet cable, your good to go- if not, use an Apple TV or airport express to stream your later model iPod .
All hdmi devices will connect to your receiver and a single cable will go to the TV .
Get a harmony remote or similar to coordinate all of this electronic wizardry.
Cheers, Mac

Thanks, Mac. Unfortunately, most of this is over my head. Not sure what is meant by zone 2 or sbl/sbr channels or the comment about digital signal for zone 2.....also not sure what the Ethernet cable would be used for and how the iPods would operate.... Anything you guys would recommend I read so I can understand how all this will go together? I'm easy to buy new equipment but don't want to start until I fully understand how the system will come together.

 

[Robs2]

Thanks Afterlife....I might want to figure out how this full system is going to come together before I start putting items in my cart

 

[afterlife2]

2nd Zone is if you want to do another setup with 2 speakers with the same receiver, which you may or not need:
Zone 2 - Definition and Explanation

Read: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-53bLbLI5l5v/learn/learningcenter/home/ht_need.html
and
http://video.about.com/hometheater/Home-Theater-Set-Up-Tips.htm
and
http://hometheater.about.com/od/hometheaterbasics/a/ht-system-plan.htm
and
http://hometheater.about.com/od/avreceiversseparates/ig/Home-Theater-Receiver-Connect/

You can use this one it has Ipod plugin and airplay with ethernet you can listen to internet radio stations: DENON AVR-1912 7.1ch Network A/V Home Theater Receiver w/ Airplay | Accessories4less

 

[markw]

If you can live with obsolete, non-digital, matrixed multi-channel sound instead of the newer, much improved, true digital discrete multichannel sound and ALL your sources offer red/white analog audio outputs, you could do what you want with your current receiver.

But, your sound would be greatly improved with a new unit, assuming it has enough inputs for all your sources. You need to be careful of that.

 

[Robs2]

You won't need the soundbar at all. Give us a round figure of what you want to spend and we can go from there.

If I decide to go with a new receiver (I'm leaning that way) what would you suggest for speaker setup? Remember that my space is at a premium. I'd much prefer something on the compact side and I also do not want to wire speakers across the room. I'd prefer for everything to be I the tv consol.

 

[afterlife2]

I have these in my small apt. and love them for sound quality, small and looks(stunning piano finish in person). Buy 3 for a 3.1 and use one as a center: Amazon.com : Nxg Pro 4.1 Satellite Speaker : Home Theater Speaker Systems : Electronics
and this subwoofer: PB-1000