Need some help in deciding between A/V receivers

[Chapbass]

Alright, so I've got all my stuff set up as far as ordering is concerned, and the final component comes down to the receiver! So I could use a bit of advice as far as comparisons.

First off, the setup:

Inputs:
My primary source is going to be my C2D HTPC thats equipped with three tuners, two analog and one HD (OTA). It also has the Xbox360 HD-DVD player that works wonderfully. It will be using an AV-710 sound card going digital out to the receiver

Secondary sources: Nintendo Wii, soon to be Playstation 3 (sooner or later at least).



Outputs:

Video is handled by a Westinghouse LVM-47 47" 1080p LCD. Also some potential for a 50" Panasonic 1080p plasma, but I'm quite sure im leaving it with the westinghouse. It looks great, no reason to change it.


As far as audio I just scored a great deal on some Klipsch reference series speakers (and no, its not a white van deal or anything like that, completely legit).

Fronts: RF-82 (x2)
Center: RC-52
Rears: RS-42 (x4)
Sub: RW-12D

For a 7.1 setup. Now, being in an apt, im probably only going to do 5.1 for now, and 7.1 in a year or two when i get a new place. So im planning on 7.1.


This system will be mainly used for Movies, and TV use. very rarely any music.

So pretty much all thats left is the Receiver. The three receivers im debating:


Harman Kardon AVR-347
Yamaha HTR-6090
Yamaha RX-V861


Honestly heres where im completely unsure of where to go. I'm leaning against the Harman Kardon, unless someone can say otherwise... but as far as the other two...im not sure.

the 861 is 100 dollars more expensive than the 6090, and is obviously a little more recent (model-wise)... But since I'll be doing a lot of stuff in HD (hddvd, bluray)...thoughts?


Id like to keep the receivers to ones that Best Buy carries, as I've got a 500 dollar gift card burning a hole in my pocket...


opinions welcome!

 

[jamautosound]

Boo on the HK AVR-347! I just bought one of these to install at a friends house. Brand new and it wouldn't even turn on. The power light worked, that's it. Bad quality control, in my opinion.

I looked at the Yamaha RX model and an Onkyo TX-SR 605. Hopefully, if the vendor refunds my money, I'll be picking up the Onkyo this weekend.

 

[Chapbass]

yeah...as much as i absolutely love the silver look of the HK (Matches the silver of my ahanix d.vine D4 case perfectly)...i just cant justfity it...


so....between the two yamaha models then...?

 

[Deudalus]

I seriously wouldnt go Yamaha.

Klipsch already sound very, very bright with their horn tweeters. Couple this with the fact that Yamaha is a very bright sounding receiver and should you decide to listen to music you'll get so much damn listening fatigue its silly.

Try a Harmon Kardon, Sony, or Pioneer man.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: Deudalus
I seriously wouldnt go Yamaha.

Klipsch already sound very, very bright with their horn tweeters. Couple this with the fact that Yamaha is a very bright sounding receiver and should you decide to listen to music you'll get so much damn listening fatigue its silly.

Try a Harmon Kardon, Sony, or Pioneer man.

"Bright sounding"?

Turn down the treble, and/or mount the speakers off-axis.

I'm a big fan of Yamahas, which have worked very well in my experience - very reliable.

Make sure you've got the appropriate HD connections. You'll want RGB for the Gamecube, and HDMI/HDCP/whatever for the Xbox and PC.

 

[vi edit]

Unless you need multiroom, save yourself a couple hundred bucks and look at the H/K AVR-247 instead of the 347.

 

[Chapbass]

hmmm, a bunch of different opinions so far....



lol yeah, I've got all the proper connections and that sort of thing, thats not the problem


I'm not that new to computers and home theater and such, its just this one receiver thing that i'm completely at a wash for. I've got a week or two before my klipschs are all set up, so I've got a little bit of time, but i just cant make up my mind .

 

[Deudalus]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
"Bright sounding"?

Turn down the treble, and/or mount the speakers off-axis.

I'm a big fan of Yamahas, which have worked very well in my experience - very reliable.

Make sure you've got the appropriate HD connections. You'll want RGB for the Gamecube, and HDMI/HDCP/whatever for the Xbox and PC.

Yes, some electronics will naturally brighten up or muffle a recording and its not so easy as to turn down the treble a little because that will reduce that entire spectrum of sound when its typically only the really high pitches that will bother you. Turning down treble then makes the upper mid and lower highs way too bland.

Klipsch brighten up everything and so does Yamaha. Thats a bad combination.

Don't get me wrong, Yamaha is a fantastic brand. I've owned 2 different Yamaha's in the past year or so.

They just dont match well with Klipsch.

Once again, this is all subjective some people love it. I personally hate it, and no I'm not crazy:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com...0-receiver-1-2003.html

The sound of the RX-630 is excellent. It draws a little more attention to itself than the Marantz I was previously using, but this is a welcome change for high-action 5.1 material. I found the Marantz to be a little more laid-back than I would like for high energy action films. However for music, either 5.1 or 2-channel, I preferred the laid-back nature of the Marantz over the Yamaha which I found a little bright at times. I should mention that I am not particularly fond of bright-sounding equipment, and you may not find the Yamaha bright at all depending on your preferences and system configuration. Many people prefer this audio signature as they find it brings more detail to the music. You might infer from this that I am a tube aficionado, and that would be correct. Tubes almost never sound bright.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com...2-receiver-1-2002.html

nstrumental compositions like Mussorgsky's, "Pictures at an Exhibition" can also envision the satisfaction of a live concert hall performance. The midrange and treble on "The Heroes' Gate at Kiev" come across with a keen perception of musical transparency. Instruments seem to hang in a three-dimensional space. Lower quality units can easily perform this piece as way too forward and bright sounding. Usually, they have levels of treble that can expose a metallic harshness, which can give one the false impression of more musical detail. Previous experience with this type of poor performance, exhibits a sensation of fatigue to the listening ear. The Denon was found to provide hours upon hours of comfortable quality music listening, with a natural comfort of precision. Kudos to Denon for focusing equal attention to this important aspect of the complete audio video presentation. Some manufacturers seem to easily defer the importance of musical performance, without realizing that a quality musical presentation also makes for a quality home theater experience.

Just google "bright sounding receiver" and you'll get a ton of hits from audio reviewers who talk about a warmness vs. brightness of receivers.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

I've been very happy with my Denon for years, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. The sound is great, tons of features, very good setup, and 100% rock solid.

 

[Chapbass]

Anyone tried the Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH?


And yeah, I've heard that the yamahas were bright as well...hmmmm...

 

[Deudalus]

Originally posted by: Chapbass
Anyone tried the Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH?


And yeah, I've heard that the yamahas were bright as well...hmmmm...

Yah I almost got a Pioneer Elite for my HT system. Its nice just didn't wind up going with it.

Wound up going with an Emotiva set instead tho.

The Pioneer is a warmer sounding receiver though so it would pair well with the Klipsch.

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: Chapbass
Anyone tried the Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH?


And yeah, I've heard that the yamahas were bright as well...hmmmm...

I've got the VSX-91TXH for my Vienna Acoustic's stereo setup, and I love it. Now that the new Denon's are starting to ship, check out the AVR-2808. I'd keep it between the 91 and the 2808. No reason to look at Onkyo; too many potential problems, and they are fugly units, IMO.

 

[Chapbass]

interesting comments....definitely give it a thought.


two more models that are of option:


Harman Kardon AVR-445 and AVR-645.


Doesnt seem like they add that much besides power and a few more inputs...which i probably dont need.


I just quickly glanced over the specs though. gonna go through them more in detail later tonight.


EDIT: ugh, i just thought of something....Am i going to HAVE to go through my receiver for audio and video? seems like most of these receivers have OSD controls that use the tv...


Good thing i bought that DVI -> HDMI cable a while back i guess...

 

[Deudalus]

Whats your budget here Chapbass........

 

[Chapbass]

well, anywhere really between 500 and 800....


however, im an employee, so...discounts .


theres an H/K discount

347: $450
445: $623
645: $736


combined with my ~500 dollars of gift cards...kinda works out. the 736 for the avr-645 is pretty much my top end though.


as a reference, the v861 yamaha is around 500, maybe a little lower..but i doubt it.


dont know price on the pioneer elite.

 

[FP]

I have the Onkyo 705 and I love it. Paid $580 for it.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: binister
I have the Onkyo 705 and I love it. Paid $580 for it.

I got the 705 last week too, and I dont think I could be any happier with a receiver. I paid 610 at Crutchfield for it (Haggled a bit over the phone)

For the price you wont find a receiver with even remotely comparable features. The sound quality is also amazing.

Denon is also a great brand for quality, but for Quality + Features I'd still take Onkyo.

 

[Chapbass]

Alright, so after scouring the AVS forums, I bit the bullet and bought the HK AVR-247.


Kinda reverse what my initial thoughts were, but it seems its main downfall is the inability to upconvert to 1080p....which i dont care about anyway.


Now to just wait for my speakers to get here. I'l let you all know how it goes! thanks for the help

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Chapbass
Alright, so after scouring the AVS forums, I bit the bullet and bought the HK AVR-247.


Kinda reverse what my initial thoughts were, but it seems its main downfall is the inability to upconvert to 1080p....which i dont care about anyway.


Now to just wait for my speakers to get here. I'l let you all know how it goes! thanks for the help

If you don't have one already, get a Harmony remote, set up your action keys and stick the H/K remote in a drawer and never touch it again. I don't understand how they execute the receiver portion so well yet put together a hard to hold and ever harder to use input device of torture.

 

[Chapbass]

you know...i was gonna look into programming a harmony to work instead of the firefly remote, but i was never sure if it could....


might deserve another look...