Receiver questions

[sciencewhiz]

A few years ago, I upgraded to a HD TV, but left all of the audio components alone. Now, the receiver is starting to die, so I'm looking at upgrades. The receiver is 15 years old, connected to 2 30+ year old bookshelf speakers.

Currently, I have the following things connected to the TV, with analog audio going from the TV to the receiver.
TIVO HD, HDMI
HD-DVD player, HDMI
PS3 (for bluray), HDMI
Wii, component
VCR/DVD recorder, component

I also have a CD changer and a turntable connected directly to the receiver. In my quick search, it looks like no one puts phono inputs into receivers any more, is that true?

With the newer digital receivers, it seems like I can either keep a similar setup, and just use the optical out from the TV to connect to the receiver, or I can get a receiver that has HDMI inputs and run everything to the receiver and then a single HDMI cable to the TV. Is there any advantages to one way or the other? What should I be looking for when making that decision?

I've thought about surround sound, but I'm not sure that my room is setup for it, and don't really want to change the setup of the room. Specifically, how directional are the rear speakers?

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

If you want surround sound, it'll be easiest to run everything through the receiver. If you're happy with stereo, you can keep doing it the way you have been.

I dont think running optical out from tv to receiver will work.

You can get dipole surrounds if you want them to be less directional. Placement is flexible if you can wallmount or get stands.

 

[Anubis]

no he should be able to do that if the optical out functions the same way the analog out does. Id have to check but im pretty sure my TV will do it.

however its easiest to just get a new receiver that takes HDMI inputs and do what you first suggested running everything through it and then 1 HDMI cable to the TV

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

i'm sure it varies from tv to tv, but i'm pretty sure most tvs do optical out only for the tuner signal. I dont think most will do optical out from other inputs

 

[Rifter]

My 32" sony LCD HDTV will output Optical from any source, it will however only output Stereo through the optical. If you are staying 2 channel it really doesnt matter what you buy, i use a HK 3490 and am very happy with it, i have it pushing 2 Polk Monitor 70's and it sounds great. It has optical and digital Coaxial connections as well as a ton of analog, it also has a good Phono preamp for your turntable.

 

[sciencewhiz]

I can't really find much information about the optical out on the TV, but a few of the set up diagrams show HDMI to the TV and then optical to the receiver. It's a Sony.

I guess the question about surround sound is whether a sub-par setup is worse then not having it at all.

 

[Rifter]

That was my dilema as well, crappy surround or good stereo. I started off with a crappy 5.1 home theater in a box setup and used it for 4 or 5 years. Then i got tired of the crappy sound and upgraded to a good high quality stereo setup and havent looked back.

 

[Modelworks]

For the turntable you can get some excellent preamps on places like ebay because people are not using them much and a lot of the old ones that were really well designed are being sold off cheap.

 

[NutBucket]

The only way to get phono inputs on a new receiver is to venture into the high-end, $1k range of products.

Honestly, you're better off with a vintage receiver for LPs.

 

[sciencewhiz]

In case it helps anyone, the Denon 2310CI was the cheapest receiver I could find that has phono inputs. The MSRP is $899, but can be found for around $500. As this year's equivalent model no longer has a phono input, the minimum price is going to be even higher in the future.

 

[Auric]

Onkyo TX-SR707 has phono input for around $500 too. Plus, it has DTS Headphone.