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Analysis of $200-$300 HDMI Receivers

kalrith

kalrith

Diamond Member
The title basically says it all. I want HD sound from my PS3. I also want to be able to get sound through an HDMI cable from my 9500GT video card, but it will just be Dolby Digital from OTA. I might be able to swing as much as $300, but that's the absolute top of my budget. I mainly wanted your opinions on the following post that I stole from SD:

Cheaper Receivers that can do Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
Decodes: Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio

Panasonic SA-BX500 $300

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...11&Tpk=N82E16882103411

Pioneer VSX-819H-K $299 (This is only 5.1)

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-...&qid=1241445092&sr=1-1

YAMAHA RX-V565 $429 (This is frequently on sale at newegg for $329)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...95&Tpk=N82E16882115195

YAMAHA RX-V465 $297 w/ code AUDIOHOLICS & free 3-year ext. warranty

http://store.audioholics.com/product/2361/0/

Onkyo TX-SR606 $336 (Refurb)

http://www.accessories4less.co...-Receiver-BLACK/1.html


Now, if you use a PS3 to watch BR or use a player that can decode the HD Audio, you can get by with a player that accepts Audio over HDMI in the form of LPCM, as the player itself will do the decoding and your receiver will just be outputting the HD audio.


Decodes: Linear PCM

Sony STR-DH700 $233

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STR...LM&colid=2U47SFKOHV2PQ

Onkyo TX-SR576 $300

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX...2E&colid=2U47SFKOHV2PQ

Marantz SR4003 $350 (Refurb)

http://www.accessories4less.co...round-Receiver-/1.html

Marantz SR5002 $327 (Refurb)

http://www.accessories4less.co...heater-surround/1.html

Marantz SR6001 $350 (Refurb)

http://www.accessories4less.co...heater-surround/1.html
Click to expand...

Onkyo TX-SR507 $344

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...31&Tpk=N82E16882120131

Will that inexpensive Sony really give me HD soundtracks from the PS3? Will there be a noticeable difference between these different receivers. I only have 5.1 and never plan on adding more surround speakers, so the fact that the Pioneer only has 5.1 is moot. My only sources are HTPC, PS3, and PS2.

Edit: My TV is the Pioneer 5080, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't accept deep color, so that's another moot point.
 
The difference? Onkyo will give you about its listed power rating. (You can also get the new 507 that decodes everything for $350.) The others won't come close (esp. the Sony). Another option that will do 80 or so actual watts per channel: Marantz 4002, $270 refurbed at a4less or a bit more for new.

Btw, your links are busted.
 
1. How big is your room and how far are you sitting away from your speakers?
2. What is the average sensitivity of your speakers and what is their nominal impedance magnitude.

The answer to these questions helps us understand what your power requirements are. Many receivers in that price range will do easy loads without problems, but have trouble with tougher loads. Tougher loads include 4 ohm nominal impedance magnitude and less than 86dB/2.83V/1m sensitivity as examples. This is simplified greatly as speakers have differing impedance magnitude and phase overall the frequency spectrum and differing sensitivities depending on frequency.
 
For PS3 it cannot bitstream so you do not need to buy a receiver that decodes TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. You only need an LPCM receiver with HDMI. It's up to you if you want the capability for later though.

Yamaha makes excellent gear, as does Onkyo. I personally use a Sony STR-DG810 which I got on sale for $200 a while back. It's discontinued now.
 
OK, I updated the OP with some new receivers, fixed all the links, updated the prices to include shipping, and noted that the Yamaha RX-V565 is on sale for $330 at Newegg right now.

The room is 17' x 17'. The back of it, which is the opposite wall from the speakers, is a half wall that opens up into another large room as seen in this picture.

My mains are Polk R50. From the product page, the nominal impedance is 8 ohms, and the efficiency (I think it's the same as sensitivity) is 90 dB.

Just for reference, the rest of my system consists of a CSi25 center, a pair of R15 surrounds, and currently a Panasonic XR55s receiver.

Thanks for the responses so far, and hopefully they keep coming.
 
I would stay away from the yamahas personally as I feel the build quality of this years xx5 series receivers, as compared to last years models, is terrible.

Sonys are just bad.

The non elite pioneers are generally not the best built either but I have had a few frieds who have had them and loved them. Pioneers remotes are terrible so if you're not using a universal this could be a consideration.

So my vote is get the biggest onkyo or marantz you feel you need. (bigger is always better 😉 )
 
I agree with you, CubanlB. I did a little research, and it seems that the Yamahas don't have the greatest sound compared to other receivers. This is huge to me, and I'm definitely not choosing a receiver solely on features and price. Reviews on the new Panasonic seem to state that it might not even sound as good as my current Panasonic XR55s. I'd rather stick with my current receiver than to buy a new one that will sound worse even though it has more features.

I haven't read anything about the Pioneer. Lots of people like Onkyo, and even more people like Marantz. As cmdrdredd pointed out, I just need a receiver that can receive LPCM over HDMI, which the Marantz will do. If I were to buy a receiver right now, I think it would be the SR5002.
 
I tend to like the sound from the higher end yamaha receivers but their new entry level stuff is pretty bad.

A few years ago I got a pioneer vsx516k rocked it for a month before the center channel amp went out. (while my denon 3805 receiver was getting serviced) and returned it in the 30 day period. The 516 is very entry level but the construction is usually similar in most brands entry level receivers, obviously with some exceptions. just turned me off of pioneers entry level stuff. I had a coworker who picked up 2 Pioneer vsx59Txi's for $600 and that is a beefcake of a receiver, and sounded great. So don't get turned off a whole brand based on its more modest offerings.

Onkyo generally has good build quality throughout their line-up even though I've never really been a fan. Haven't got to spend a lot of 1 on 1 time with any of the better Onkyo gear so my advice here is strictly from what I have read.

Denon tends to be very similar to Marantz. Possibly because they are both owned by D&M holdings. I'm a big fan of Denon but a little less so of Marantz. But for the money you generally get more from marantz (IMO).

Have you gone anywhere to play with the receivers in person?
 
Originally posted by: CubanlB
Have you gone anywhere to play with the receivers in person?
Click to expand...

I haven't. I figured it wouldn't do much good, because most places won't have several receivers connected to the same sets of speakers. As soon as you throw in a huge variable like different speakers, then the comparison becomes moot. I can research all the features online, and professional reviewers who can set up an applicable comparison will likely provide better information than I could get myself. I'm also extremely strapped for time right now (and for the next several months), so online research I can do while at work is my preferred method of decision-making.

Also, I'll add that all I want is the receiver that can process LPCM from HDMI and sounds the best at around $300. Another nice feature, which my current receiver has, would be the ability to assign the digital inputs to any source, but I'll probably only have one digital input (PS2) with an HDMI receiver, so it's probably not necessary. I don't want video upconversion or converting of analog to HDMI. A $300 receiver will not process a video signal as well as my $2k Pioneer 5080, so I want all video to be untouched by the receiver.

Thanks for the help and input from everyone so far! I'll do some more research and then post back with my findings.
 
Originally posted by: ivan2
u can look at the Denons on ecost, they are quite cheap refurbed.
Click to expand...

Which Denon would you recommend around the $300 price range?

I found the AVR888 (from what I read, it's the same as the 2308) for $343 shipped and the AVR1909 for $360 shipped. Those are both pushing my budget a bit, and they're currently out of stock.
 
Just did a quick search for denon on ecost and the 2308ci for $337 is a pretty good deal, not smokin though. When the 09 series of denons came out the 2308 could be had for ~$400 new in box.

None of those receiver jump out at me as a great deal. I personally wouldn't recommend going below the avr1908, anything below that just isn't flexible enough to me.
 
CubanlB, is there a reason that you're "a big fan of Denon but a little less so of Marantz"? From the reviews I've read, the Marantz seem to produce the best sound quality at the price. If I buy the SR5002 from accessories4less's ebay store, then I can get 11% cash back and get it for $302 shipped. Is there anything at that price that compares to the sound quality?
 
Originally posted by: CubanlB
I would stay away from the yamahas personally as I feel the build quality of this years xx5 series receivers, as compared to last years models, is terrible.

Sonys are just bad.

The non elite pioneers are generally not the best built either but I have had a few frieds who have had them and loved them. Pioneers remotes are terrible so if you're not using a universal this could be a consideration.

So my vote is get the biggest onkyo or marantz you feel you need. (bigger is always better 😉 )
Click to expand...

I dunno, my Sony is solid and does everything I need it to do. I'm happy, especially for $200.
 
I have Onkyo receivers in my home office and living room, both with Polk speakers, and both have been solid. "AAA++ would buy again" 🙂
 
Last couple of HK generations have been glitch-ridden, particularly in HDMI implementation. Not worth it until they straighten all this stuff out, IMO.

As CubanlB said, just buy the biggest Onkyo or Marantz you think you need. That 5002 should do ya good. 😉
 
I dunno, my Sony is solid and does everything I need it to do. I'm happy, especially for $200.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I try not to generalize that broadly about electronics. If you got a good price on the Sony then great!

Generally, my feeling is that, with Sony receivers you get a lot of flash and not a lot of substance. You get a pretty gui to do your speaker calibration, but under-perfroming amps that have trouble driving even mid range (performance wise) speakers. It seems that over the last few years Sony has taken a page from the Bose playbook in this regard.
 
Originally posted by: kalrith
I'll throw another option out there. A refurb HK 247 can be had for about $240 shipped.
Click to expand...

I just got this as a replacement for a avr146, the avr247 is the shit (for the price) , plain and simple. HK upgraded me since they were out of 146's and I couldnt be happier.
 
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