Yamaha HTR-5860 vs. HK AVR-235

[jcPanny]

I have narrowed down my options to the Yamaha HTR-5860(RX-V657) and HK AVR-235 receivers for use in my entry level home theater. These receivers are both in my price range and both have the A/V Sync feature that will be necessary for my front projector setup.
I will be driving Athena audition series speakers including bookshelf fronts, center, and rear bipoles. The combined family/living room is approximately 12 x 22 and open at the rear to the dinning room. I also want enough power to drive a future speaker upgrade like an Axiom bookshelf or floorstander system.

I am interested in feedback and opinions from users on the following aspects of these two receivers:

1. Sound Quality for Music.

2. Sound Quality for Home Theater.

3. Performance / Usefulness of the Parametric EQ on the HTR-5860.

 

[jcPanny]

PEQ performance

The Audioholics review of the RX-V2500 and RX-V4600 don't speak too highly of the performance of the PEQ feature on these receivers.
This AV Guide review, however, raves about the feature and considers it a must have.
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/reviews/pdf_reviews/RX-V657review.pdf

Are there any owners who have experience with the PEQ on new Yamahas?

 

[avnetguy]

I have a Yamaha HVR-5750 and the Athena Audition speakers you mention.
I'm very happy with the sound quality for both music and home theater though I'd say this setup favors home theater use. This system is more than loud enough with the Athena's, probably due to their high sensitivity of about ~90db which leaves plenty of receiver headroom. I rarely even go into the negative single digit db levels for loud listening levels.

Of course you should listen for yourself, some say this combination is "too bright" but I personally don't hear it that way.

Steve

 

[James02]

Reeq

I have a Yamaha 2500 with Athena audition speakers. The 2500 has 6 memories so I ran the ypao in each combination and saved the results. Now I can easily flip around to try out each. What I found is that you can literally adjust your system however you like it and even use different curves for music vs movies. I find it wonderful since I can adjust anything I don't like. Always always listen yourself, I have some good friends with good equipment who will always disagree with my choices both in music and equipment. They are not wrong they just have different tastes, so reviews and opinions are just that and may not speak for you.


James

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I'd choose the HK

I have narrowed down my options to the Yamaha HTR-5860(RX-V657) and HK AVR-235 receivers for use in my entry level home theater.

Personally, I'd go for the HK 235 with those two options (it falls into my non-scientific 33lb receiver floor category ).

Now if you asked me to choose between the 235 and 5890, then I'd lean towards the 5890 (the 5860 is 27lbs and the 5890 is 33.1lbs). It may be unscientific, but what you get with a beefier unit is usually a larger transformer and heat sink - both necessary to help units play longer at higher volumes, with less distortion (assuming a class a/b amp and not a class d).