Inexpensive A/V Reciever...help?

[mitchelt]

I have a nice 60" Plasma TV that has so-so speakers.

I have two nice bookshelf speakers that I want to connect to an inexpensive A/V receiver via the Optical Out of the TV.

This will only be used for the occasional movie, most of the time the TV speakers are OK.

What do you recommend?

 

[Anubis]

define inexpensive

 

[fralexandr]

craigslist
lots of sub $50 receivers which don't have hdmi
make sure it's not one of the samsung/panasonic/"bluray/dvd player receiver" ones with proprietary speaker inputs (unless your nice speakers are one of those...)

 

[Anubis]

TBH id get one with HDMI, just because they can be had cheap and they do make a lot of things easier

 

[fralexandr]

yeah HDMI really makes things easier, but he did say he was using optical :S.
HDMI receivers aren't as easy to find cheap, shoponkyo sometimes has some going for ~$$120-150. I don't think I've seen any that pass audio for cheaper yet though. There might have been a few pyle's less than $100... but they have some issues

I guess there are these insignia ones also?
https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...=X&ei=11f4UdqcO8bpiwKKw4HwDA&ved=0CJgBEPMCMAA

 

[Number1]

TBH id get one with HDMI, just because they can be had cheap and they do make a lot of things easier

You have to be careful with the first generation of receivers with HDMI. They only supported HDMI switching and you still had to use the optical or coaxial digital audio connections to the receiver to get sound. My first Sony was like that.

This ridiculous local add is a good example of what NOT to buy:

Sony STR-DG510 Receiver



The easy way to tell is to make sure the receiver supports Dolby TrueHD and DTSHD

 

[boomhower]

You have to be careful with the first generation of receivers with HDMI. They only supported HDMI switching and you still had to use the optical or coaxial digital audio connections to the receiver to get sound. My first Sony was like that.

This ridiculous local add is a good example of what NOT to buy:

Sony STR-DG510 Receiver



The easy way to tell is to make sure the receiver supports Dolby TrueHD and DTSHD

Correct. OP if you do decide to go HDMI the spec your looking for is ARC or audio return channel.

If you can stand a refurb here's a solid choice for cheap. For $200 you can get a bunch of upgrades you don't need but do get ARC if you choose that route. Link

I had a 1612 until lightning took it out because I was to stupid to get a quality surge protector. It's a great receiver.

 

[purbeast0]

if you are around maryland and want my old yamaha receiver that i used for 10 years or so but still works great, i'd give it to you for like $20 lol. it was an $800 receiver new, that i paid $450 for when i worked at best buy back in like 2002. it'll be more than enough for what you need.

 

[mitchelt]

define inexpensive

Less than $200

 

[mitchelt]

craigslist
lots of sub $50 receivers which don't have hdmi
make sure it's not one of the samsung/panasonic/"bluray/dvd player receiver" ones with proprietary speaker inputs (unless your nice speakers are one of those...)

That's a good idea, as long as it has an Optical In.

 

[mitchelt]

TBH id get one with HDMI, just because they can be had cheap and they do make a lot of things easier

I was under the impression that Optical IN would be easier than HDMI IN.

Doesn't the HDMI IN have to be ARC compatible?

I have no interest in plugging everything into the A/V receiver.

 

[mitchelt]

if you are around maryland and want my old yamaha receiver that i used for 10 years or so but still works great, i'd give it to you for like $20 lol. it was an $800 receiver new, that i paid $450 for when i worked at best buy back in like 2002. it'll be more than enough for what you need.

Thank you...but I am in Colorado.

 

[mitchelt]

Correct. OP if you do decide to go HDMI the spec your looking for is ARC or audio return channel.

If you can stand a refurb here's a solid choice for cheap. For $200 you can get a bunch of upgrades you don't need but do get ARC if you choose that route. Link

I had a 1612 until lightning took it out because I was to stupid to get a quality surge protector. It's a great receiver.

Thanks for the info.

Is it better to go ARC or Optical Out of the TV?

 

[mitchelt]

Correct. OP if you do decide to go HDMI the spec your looking for is ARC or audio return channel.

If you can stand a refurb here's a solid choice for cheap. For $200 you can get a bunch of upgrades you don't need but do get ARC if you choose that route. Link

I had a 1612 until lightning took it out because I was to stupid to get a quality surge protector. It's a great receiver.

Thank you for the great info and links...NICE Equipment!!!!
I can live with a refurb as these come with a 1-year Manuf. Warranty

 

[Anubis]

I was under the impression that Optical IN would be easier than HDMI IN.

Doesn't the HDMI IN have to be ARC compatible?

I have no interest in plugging everything into the A/V receiver.

Im assuming you have a cable box of sorts. its just as easy to do cable box - avr - TV as it is to do Cable box - TV - AVR over optical
if you are going straight into the TV with your coax then yes using optical would be slightly easier

 

[mitchelt]

Im assuming you have a cable box of sorts. its just as easy to do cable box - avr - TV as it is to do Cable box - TV - AVR over optical
if you are going straight into the TV with your coax then yes using optical would be slightly easier

I have a DishNetwork box and a Blu-Ray Player going into the TV via HDMI.

The TV has one additional HDMI (ARC) that is available.

I read something about Optical being easier...this is not by strong suit, I'm more of a computer geek.

The A/V reciever would only be used for the occasional Dish or Blu-Ray movie...not normal TV.

 

[boomhower]

Thanks for the info.

Is it better to go ARC or Optical Out of the TV?

I prefer ARC, one less cable to deal with but in the grand scheme it's not a big deal since you only hook it up once. But then again I have a more substantial set-up than you and take advantage of the other feature the more expensive receiver offers. Since you just using two book shelf speakers I'd go with the cheaper 1513. Also as mentioned above an ever cheaper craigs list special would do the trick for what your wanting. If you have ideas of expanding in the future a little money spent now could save some upgrading later.

 

[hans030390]

If you're going optical (I don't have any interest in HDMI receivers), you should be able to find a lot of options on Craigslist. I'd start there first.

 

[mitchelt]

If you're going optical (I don't have any interest in HDMI receivers), you should be able to find a lot of options on Craigslist. I'd start there first.

I think I may just try that.

 

[Number1]

I think I may just try that.

You are aware that you will only get stereo sound out of your TV if you use the TV'S optical out connector to feed the receiver?

If your TV is a smart TV only the built in apps like Netflix will output surround sound via optical or ARC.

Going with HDMI support won't cost much on craigslist and will allow you to add a center and rear speakers in the future.

Just a suggestion.

 

[mitchelt]

You are aware that you will only get stereo sound out of your TV if you use the TV'S optical out connector to feed the receiver?

If your TV is a smart TV only the built in apps like Netflix will output surround sound via optical or ARC.

Going with HDMI support won't cost much on craigslist and will allow you to add a center and rear speakers in the future.

Just a suggestion.

Oh crap...did not know that! Perhaps I will get an A/V Receiver with HDMI/ARC like my Panasonic TV has just in case I want to add some speakers later on.

I assume it has to say ARC not just HDMI?

THANK YOU!

 

[fralexandr]

pretty much all recent/new models allow hd audio through HDMI now.
as Number1 stated above, look for Dolby TrueHD/DTSHD
some examples ~$200 (new):
onkyo 313, denon 1513, yamaha 373

if you're willing to spend up to $200 i'd just go with a recent hdmi receiver.
with hdmi, you only need 1 hdmi cable per source (no seperate video/audio cables; though the cables are usually pretty fat unless you go redmere).

optical has limitations in bandwidth so if listening in 5.1, this requires a source that's encoded in dolby digital 5.1 or dts. Most movies have support for this already, but many pc games don't (optical is limited to stereo/2.0 for PCM/LPCM). Thus, this is usually most relevant to people pc gaming on their TVs with surround sound setups and optical/toslink receivers.

 

[mitchelt]

pretty much all recent/new models allow hd audio through HDMI now.
as Number1 stated above, look for Dolby TrueHD/DTSHD
some examples ~$200 (new):
onkyo 313, denon 1513, yamaha 373

if you're willing to spend up to $200 i'd just go with a recent hdmi receiver.
with hdmi, you only need 1 hdmi cable per source (no seperate video/audio cables; though the cables are usually pretty fat unless you go redmere).

optical has limitations in bandwidth so if listening in 5.1, this requires a source that's encoded in dolby digital 5.1 or dts. Most movies have support for this already, but many pc games don't (optical is limited to stereo/2.0 for PCM/LPCM). Thus, this is usually most relevant to people pc gaming on their TVs with surround sound setups and optical/toslink receivers.

Thank you for the detailed info!

 

[boomhower]

I assume it has to say ARC not just HDMI?

THANK YOU!

yes