Advice needed on which old receiver to get

[digitalduck]

Hi all, I need some help deciding on which receiver move to. Trouble is I have a couple choices and prices and have no idea. I had an Yamaha HTR-5240 and sold it a while back. Now I have moved into a one floor condo with neighbors. I purchased a 60” led and want to get my 5.1 back. I have a couple choices but have no idea, not which one is best, but which one I can get away with in my 1000sq place. Looks like I have one system with speakers and one just a separate receiver.

First:
http://denver.craigslist.org/ele/3589274470.html $65.00 Sony str-k502p

Or
http://denver.craigslist.org/ele/3686977279.html $25.00 Sony STR-DE695

I need an optical input, (Apple TV, Xbox 360 etc) and don’t know if the K502p has one. I am going t ouse small speakers (think Bose cubes but a little bigger) or the ones that comes with that first set…. So which is the better deal? Assuming ill use the speakers if the receiver has optical…

Thanks in advance!

 

[fralexandr]

STR-K502P user manual
http://www.docs.sony.com/release/STRK502P.PDF
has svideo & composite video
has optical in
based on manual, the receiver is from ~2001

STR-DE695 user manual
http://www.docs.sony.com/release/STRDE695.pdf
has component video as well as some svideo & composite
has optical in
based on manual, the receiver is from ~2003

I would favor the str-de695 if you're using a TV with component, since you have an xbox 360.
what speakers are you planning on using? energy micros?

 

[Midwayman]

Component video switching is far more useful. STR-DE695.

 

[digitalduck]

Thanks for the replies. Actually since I wouldn't have hdmi on either the only thing that would matter would be optical. Optical out from tv to receiver and then Hdmi from Apple TV and Xbox to the TV should be my best bet. Speakers will just be small songs

 

[fralexandr]

This obviously only matters if you're planning on a surround setup, but
You might want to connect the Apple TV and Xbox 360 directly to the receivers optical in. This will allow you to get dolby encoded 5.1 to your receiver (if you set your device to output it). The TV probably won't output dolby digital 5.1 from it's optical.

If you're planning on playing stereo music, this also doesn't apply (you'd probably want stereo LPCM anyway)

 

[digitalduck]

Aww man, good point I won't get dd using hdmi from devices if they go from hdmi to TV but then Optical goes out to receiver. So is this where hdmi pass through comes in or do I have to make sure I have a receiver with enough optical in, say 3 of them?

 

[weez82]

go with the one that has the best bass management

 

[fralexandr]

the k502 should have 2 optical in, the de695 should have 4 optical in

whether or not the TV can send out dolby digital 5.1 from it's optical with an HDMI source depends on what TV you have
for example, supposedly most newish sonys can do this

 

[digitalduck]

Thanks for the feedback! Yeah it's just a 60" led vizio. Ill get the one that has, 3 optical should do it

 

[Number1]

the k502 should have 2 optical in, the de695 should have 4 optical in

whether or not the TV can send out dolby digital 5.1 from it's optical with an HDMI source depends on what TV you have
for example, supposedly most newish sonys can do this

Where did you hear this? The vast majority if not all TVs on the market now only put out a stereo signal via optical unless using the TV's built in apps, ie netflix.

 

[fralexandr]

thread at avsforum about it from 2012
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1389050/tvs-with-5-1-passthrough-from-hdmi-to-spdif

 

[Midwayman]

thread at avsforum about it from 2012
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1389050/tvs-with-5-1-passthrough-from-hdmi-to-spdif

I know when I was trying to avoid upgrading to a hdmi reciever and using pass throughs and converter boxes all I could ever get was stereo sound. Newer setup is much simpler and has a higher WAF. I used to find her with the reciever turned off and watching TV with the terrible in cabinet speakers 'cause of all the jerry rigging.

 

[Number1]

thread at avsforum about it from 2012
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1389050/tvs-with-5-1-passthrough-from-hdmi-to-spdif

Thanks for the link. Very interesting reading. Ill have to experiment with my sharp TV to see if it outputs 5.1 over ARC from an HDMI source. I know it does not on toslink.

 

[alkemyst]

what's the budget?

 

[olds]

There must be a market for old receivers. My brother is buying and selling old Marantz receivers left and right.

 

[alcoholbob]

Avoid Sony budget receivers, they are severely power restricted, most of them clip at beyond 30 watts/channel.

Look for Onkyo if you want bang for your buck in terms of amplification.