Yamaha RX-V559 vs Onkyo TX-SR505

[dotVIBE]

Hey guys,

Long time reader but first time poster.

I'm purchasing a new system, and it has come down to the wire between these 2 receivers - they are what I can afford. Unfortunately those cost over $600 over here in africa land, so my choices are limited.

Now, for the Onkyo:
7.1 (don't need it)
HDMI pass thru (component is just as good for vid anyway, right? might as well get a 504 then, eh?)

For the Yammy:
a bit more power
something called "component video up-conversion" and "digital video processing with TBC"

For background info, this goes with a 720p TV and a 5.1 set Wharfedale Diamond 9 series speakers (6 ohm).

So, which would you take if you were me?

ps. If you know of something better on amazon.com for less than $230, feel free to tell me of it.

 

[dotVIBE]

and while we're at it, can someone explain the difference between yamaha's RX and HTR series A/V receivers to me?

 

[Seth=L]

The difference between HTR and RX-V is HTR is where they are sold. For example, the RX-V661 is the same as the HTR-6060. The RX-V series is made in Japan I believe, where as HTR is made in another country (which country escapes me at this moment.

The power difference between these two receivers is neglegible, so the features, price and aesthetics of each receiver should be the deciding factor. It is likely the Onkyo also converts composite and s-video to component much like the Yamaha's "component video up-conversion". The TX-SR505 passes HDMI 1.3 so it is ready for newer HDMI devices, but this receiver does no post processing on HDMI like its bigger brother TX-SR605. HDMI has the potential to be better than component video, but at this time many either can't tell the difference or like one over the other depending on application.

 

[dotVIBE]

ok, so you are saying that the only real difference is that the SR505 has HDMI passthru?

 

[Adam]

Just to clear something up, the Onkyo 505 does not do upconversion to component video - at least according to their own literature.

 

[dotVIBE]

does video upconversion make a noticable difference to the quality of the visuals?

 

[dotVIBE]

and another thing, what does "Digital Video Processing with TBC (Time Base Corrector)" do?

 

[mfabien]

Commercial SD DVD's contain a protocol which limits resolution to 480p when Components are the connected output/input. For Upconversion in HD, the SD DVD requires a digital connection (DVI or HDMI).

My HD-A1 operation confirms the above when a SD DVD is used with Components.

Note: A copy of a SD DVD on a new disc may be upconverted.

 

[dotVIBE]

ok, so what would be the point of component upconversion then? It'd probably be best to run an HDMI straight from the DVD player to the TV, and a Digital audio from the DVD to the Receiver, right?

 

[Adam]

does video upconversion make a noticable difference to the quality of the visuals?

From what I've seen and read, here's the story. "Upconversion" just means that a receiver can take a video input and then output that video to a "higher-level" output. In order of level, it goes composite, s-video, component, HMDI. Upconversion is a convenience feature. It allows you to plug in video sources that have different types of connections (say, a VCR with composite video and an older DVD player with s-video) and output all of those through one connection to your TV (say, s-video, component, or even HMDI for some newer receivers).

"Upscaling" is the ability to output a higher resolution than the input source. This would be when a receiver can take, for example, a 480i input and output a 1080p signal. Upscaling to 1080p is currently only found on more expensive units.

 

[dotVIBE]

okay then, one last question. this whole "Digital Video Processing with TBC (Time Base Corrector)". just a gimmick, or does it actually do something?

Oh yeah, and please vote between the onkyo and the yamaha. Just for kicks, you know.

 

[Adam]

I'd have to research that digital video processing to know what it was. It might be a deinterlacer or something more fancy. It may not be a gimmick.

I think that Yamaha and Onkyo both make good units. I've owned both brands, although I'm using a Pioneer at the moment. I agree with Seth=L that the features, price, and aesthetics should be the deciding factors here. It's amazing to me the features and quality that are available now at those prices. I've recommended the 505 (and earlier 500 series models) a few times based on my experience with Onkyo and the number of glowing reviews of the 500 series. I don't have nearly as much knowledge about the new Yamaha models.

 

[dotVIBE]

Okay, managed to find something about it here.
A bit over my head, but I guess it means that it processes analogue feeds like from VCR (or my satellite box?) and upgrades them to a digital signal, restoring any missing bits to the feed. Useful, i suppose, but I guess I'll just stick to dvd then. So it's not really necessary.

 

[MDS]

Tbc

Cutting through the engineering gobbledygook...

The video has a certain resolution, say 480i (720 x 480) , which means the image consists of 480 horizontal lines and 720 vertical lines. The display needs to know when it has received a full line and should drop down to the next line to continue drawing the image. Likewise, it needs to know when it has finished the entire image so it can go back to the top and start the process over. The analog signal contains 'sync pulses' and they tell the display where lines start and end.

That is the figure in the article that shows 64 microsecond pulses to indicate the edges of the lines. If noise distorts the sync pulses or the source device, like a VCR, cannot output the signal with stable timing it becomes difficult for the display to know when lines start and end and that results in visible artifacts.

So instead of the display having to 'look' for the pulses in real time, the TBC identifies the timing, buffers the signal, and then outputs it with the exact timing to the display so the display can easily identify the transitions; ie the sync pulses will be more regular and always be at 64 us (as in that example) as opposed to possibly 64, 63, 65, 64 etc without correction.

 

[dotVIBE]

cool, thanks.

Not something I'd be needing then. Then I might as well get the TX-V459. excellent. more money to spend on speakers, yay!