Is HDMI 1.4 worth paying for? Prices on 1.3 stuff are really cheap now

[ProfJohn]

So was looking at prices on new receivers and it seems that the 1.3 stuff is going really cheap right now.

Onkyo stuff that was $1000 can be had for $500ish depending on the model.

I am just wonder if the 1.4 standard is worth paying for or am I going to be happy with the 1.3 stuff?

And does it take 1.4 to do 3-d?

For price comparison:
ONKYO TX-NR808 = $699
ONKYO TX-NR807 = $599

They look to be about the same except the 808 is 1.4 while the 807 is 1.3

 

[Exterous]

Do you need:
Audio return channel
4k resolution
ethernet channel
3d? (although 1.4a would be the best bet here)

If so then get the 808

 

[AndroidVageta]

1.4 really won't matter unless, like Exterous said, you really need one of the features.

To me audio return isn't important, 4k resolution = new $10,000 TV, ethernet...who cares, and 3D? A gimmick that'll eventually go away like it always does and not worth the $ for a new TV and a few hundred on top of that for a compatible BD player and glasses.

So if I were you, save $100 and buy some new movies or something useful unlike HDMI 1.4...

Edit: Officially 1.4 is said to be needed for 3D...but I think this is a corporate scam as I can do 3D perfectly fine over my 1.3 cable from my HTPC to my TV...1.4 will only be NEEDED because they have deemed it so (as in in order to use the 3D BD player that we made 1.4, you have to have a 1.4 receiver and TV, etc...)...so YES 1.4 is needed for 3D, but I wouldn't support just cause its BS

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Onkyo stuff that was $1000 can be had for $500ish depending on the model.

This happens pretty much every year, FYI. I bought my 703 for $400 from Fry's after the next year's models came out. Accessories4less.com has a lot of refurb'd and old-stock Onkyos, some of them pretty cheap. They have refurb'd 707s for $400.

And to add to what the above posters said: it depends on your purchasing decisions for the rest of your components. If your other stuff is bleeding-edge, the receiver needs to keep up. If you've got a 3D-capable TV, 3D-capable BRD player, etc., then go for the 1.4. If your TV is a couple years old, etc. then stick with 1.3. Next year, the 1.4 receivers will all be cheaper, and the 3D TV's will be cheaper, and 3D movies will be more widely available, etc. IMHO, for the value-concerned consumer, it never pays to go with technology n when you can get n-1 for half the price or less. Hopefully there will come a day when I've got a few million in the bank and I'm ready to go all-out on a HT, but until then I will be happy with cheaper, somewhat older technology.

 

[s44]

If you don't need 1.4, then the 876 is the way to go. Much more power, superior video processing, and MultEQ XT.

 

[Aharami]

a bit off topic: how does Onkyo compare to Denon? I've been looking at the 707/708 for my HT, but my friend is telling me Denon 2310/2311 is better. Feature-wise, the Onkyo wins, but which will have a better amp?
The Denons are higher priced on amazon - 707-$499; 708-$560; 2310-$513; 2311-$899

And s44, where does the 876 fall in Onkyo's lineup?

 

[NutBucket]

I believe Denon is suppose to have better amps. Will you ever notice in everyday use? Probably not.

 

[s44]

They're pretty close, though Onkyo has better amps on the high end. The 876 was the high-end product two years ago, with monstrous amps for an AVR and every feature under the sun (all the Audyssey stuff and very nice per-input video processing). What you don't get: extra width and height channels (2009) and HDMI 1.4 (2010).

The advantage Denon has is the ability to use the Audyssey flat curve without messing around with THX modes (Onkyos basically put you on the standard Audyssey curve). And fewer heat complaints. I wouldn't choose any AVR without pre-outs over the 707/708 though. The 2311 price is absurd...

 

[Aharami]

I wouldn't choose any AVR without pre-outs over the 707/708 though.

what do you mean by that? dont most AVRs in this price range have pre-outs? This seems like a good deal, although I haven't done any AVR research yet. Im considering building these speakers which have recommended amplification of 100 W RMS. Im wondering if the 140W/channel of this AVR will hurt the speakers (probably a n00b question)

 

[Anubis]

no you wont hurt the speakers

as for the preout comment yes most do, however if you never plan on using stand alone amps its a moot point

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

what do you mean by that? dont most AVRs in this price range have pre-outs? This seems like a good deal, although I haven't done any AVR research yet. Im considering building these speakers which have recommended amplification of 100 W RMS. Im wondering if the 140W/channel of this AVR will hurt the speakers (probably a n00b question)

I believe he said that because the Denons you listed only have subwoofer pre-outs.

It's better to have more clean power than not enough power. Most receivers fail to meet their rated power with multiple channels given.

I have an 876, but am not using the amp section on it (although I'm sure I'd be perfectly satisfied using it)

 

[Aharami]

yoyo, it seems im just unintentionally copying your setup. I start researching Panny 4000U pj and find out you have it. I start considering the 876 and now you have that also

How do you like the features of the 876 compared to say a newer but lower end AVR, like the 808? Do you wish the 876 had a particular feature that would make your life easier? Im thinking about buying the refurb 876 even though my basement build wont be done for a couple more months. I can always boot my Onkyo HTIB AVR currently in my living room and put the 876 there (for now).

Do you have your PJ connected via the 876? Or do you have each video signal being sent to the PJ separately? Between BRD, XBOX/PS3, Cable box, and HTPC/WD TV Live, all HDMI inputs of the 876 will be used up with no room for future components.


Crap, I just realized that I hijacked ProfJohn's thread. Really sorry PJ

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

yoyo, it seems im just unintentionally copying your setup. I start researching Panny 4000U pj and find out you have it. I start considering the 876 and now you have that also

How do you like the features of the 876 compared to say a newer but lower end AVR, like the 808? Do you wish the 876 had a particular feature that would make your life easier? Im thinking about buying the refurb 876 even though my basement build wont be done for a couple more months. I can always boot my Onkyo HTIB AVR currently in my living room and put the 876 there (for now).

Well don't copy my speakers, that's for sure

Since I bought the 876, I've sort of intentionally kept my head in the sand. I've been won over by Audyssey, so I think the MultEQ XT is a good feature to have. There have been a couple new advancements with Audyssey, but I'm not sure how many really apply to me in a movie-only setup.

I chose the 876 since it had good video processing and it was a very good deal at the time. I had to spend a certain amount to get some rewards back from a Sony CC and I used bing cashback, so I think it was something like $400 end cost to me.

Since I'm using it as a pre-pro, I would really have preferred the Onkyo 886 or the Integra 9.9
It's served me well for what I'm doing though. If it was cooler, that would be a plus.

It only has 1 subwoofer pre-out, so it was not really able to optimally correct my dual sub setup, so I ended up throwing more money at the issue and bought the SVS AS-EQ1.

I imagine that if I was doing it over again now, I'd get one of the newer AVRs that can handle multiple subwoofers well on its own. I'd have to read up on all the new features that are out now and decide if they're actually meaningful / useful... or just something thrown on to give people the upgrade bug.

I do believe that since the 806, the 80X lineup from Onkyo has had a not-so-excellent amplifier section. This may have been revised, but I do know that the 805 was a very robust receiver for power and the 806 model seemed to lose some ground against it in a couple areas even though it was newer.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Do you have your PJ connected via the 876? Or do you have each video signal being sent to the PJ separately? Between BRD, XBOX/PS3, Cable box, and HTPC/WD TV Live, all HDMI inputs of the 876 will be used up with no room for future components.

Yes, I do have it connected.

I'm using the Main HDMI Out to the projector. All video inputs go to the receiver first.

There's always the option to add an HDMI switch if you run out of spots.

 

[Aharami]

Well don't copy my speakers, that's for sure

well I can't...seeing as how av123's out of business

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

well I can't...seeing as how av123's out of business

You could go used

 

[Aharami]

nah im gonna build mine. just got off the phone with Danny at GR Research. Super nice guy. I think Im gonna go with an N3+N3S as my front mains, X-Omni for my surrounds, and AV1-RS for my rear surround. Not sure about the sub setup yet.

 

[RavenSEAL]

I just bought like 3 1.3b cables on buy.com for like..6 dollars lol. Not to mention the prices on plasmas are going down...no reason to get no dang 1.4 and pay for some fancy ass cable

 

[electroju]

ProfJohn, like others have said HDMI 1.4 just adds more features. To me the features of HDMI 1.4 are useless. Probably HDMI 1.4 selling point is 3D because neither TV have support for resolutions higher than 1080p.

what do you mean by that? dont most AVRs in this price range have pre-outs? This seems like a good deal, although I haven't done any AVR research yet. Im considering building these speakers which have recommended amplification of 100 W RMS. Im wondering if the 140W/channel of this AVR will hurt the speakers (probably a n00b question)

Watt RMS is different compared to just stating watts. Watt RMS uses a true spec to state power of AC. Watt RMS is more than what your AV receiver is capable of handling.

It's better to have more clean power than not enough power. Most receivers fail to meet their rated power with multiple channels given.

This not true. It is best to have enough current. If there is not enough current, the sound quality gets poor and it is not able to handle bass frequencies.

I agree that most AV receivers does not meet the advertise wattage output. This is why I strongly recommend check the power consumption before making a final decision.

 

[Howard]

Watt RMS is more than what your AV receiver is capable of handling.

Huh?

 

[s44]

Huh?

That's pretty much the proper response to all of his posts.

 

[Anubis]

lol i tried reading that this morning and assumed the reason my head went WAT! was because i hadn't had any coffee yet, but i was wrong

 

[Destiny]

HDMI 1.3 can do 3D resolution up to 1080i... HDMI 1.4 supports 3D resolution up to 1080p... at least that is what I got from other forums...

 

[Aharami]

since we've been talking about the Onkyo 876 in this thread, I just wanted to let people know that shoponkyo is also selling the 876 refurb for $699 but they have a 10% off sale right now which brings the price lower than accessories4less.com

I just pulled the trigger on the 876 and ended up getting it for $652 (I had 19 onkyo points from my last purchase)

699 - 19 points - 69.90 discount + 42.71 tax + 0 shipping

Not even done with my basement and I'm already buying electronics!!
Oh well. I guess it will be replacing my living room Onkyo HTIB receiver until the basement is done

 

[Koing]

1.4 really won't matter unless, like Exterous said, you really need one of the features.

To me audio return isn't important, 4k resolution = new $10,000 TV, ethernet...who cares, and 3D? A gimmick that'll eventually go away like it always does and not worth the $ for a new TV and a few hundred on top of that for a compatible BD player and glasses.

So if I were you, save $100 and buy some new movies or something useful unlike HDMI 1.4...

Edit: Officially 1.4 is said to be needed for 3D...but I think this is a corporate scam as I can do 3D perfectly fine over my 1.3 cable from my HTPC to my TV...1.4 will only be NEEDED because they have deemed it so (as in in order to use the 3D BD player that we made 1.4, you have to have a 1.4 receiver and TV, etc...)...so YES 1.4 is needed for 3D, but I wouldn't support just cause its BS

You would have 100 people bite your arm off for a 4k resolution $10k tv...

Koing