What reciever to buy for HTPC and gaming

[stu1811]

First off is this the right forum catagory? Wasnt sure where to put this, but seeing as it is hardware...here goes.
I currently have an old Technics reciever with only RCA and digital inputs. I want a new reciever that I can play games in 7.1 via analog input. What's a good brand to look at. Looking to spend $200-300. For speakers I have a JBL 5.1 setup with 2 Gemini stage speakers. I plan to use the Geminies as my fronts in the new system. Dual room would be a nice feauture, but is not required.
Complete system in sig.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Onkyo and Pioneer have solid receivers in that price range.

Check jr.com and onecall.com prices on an Onkyo model 504 in silver or black for $229 shipped (J&R). Or maybe a closeout 603. Crutchfield.com has detailed specs and photos of both models.

The Sony STR-DG600 also looks interesting but I'm wary of low-end Sony receivers.

 

[w00t]

wait for avsforum.com to comment they know much more than most of us i bet.

 

[Pens1566]

Originally posted by: w00t
wait for avsforum.com to comment they know much more than most of us i bet.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'd agree that the AVSforum guys know a lot, but I think Dave is right on track with the Pioneer / Onkyo suggestion. There aren't a whole lot of good $200-$300 receivers that have this option. If you're willing to go used, some more options open up, but Pioneer and Onkyo would be my first place to look for this.

 

[stu1811]

What about going to 300-400 range

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: stu1811
What about going to 300-400 range

You could probably add HK and Denon to the mix... although a higher end Onkyo / Pioneer would still be a good way to go.

 

[zainali]

onkyo s790. onkyo refurbished for about 350. new from crutchfield for 450.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: zainali
onkyo s790. onkyo refurbished for about 350. new from crutchfield for 450.

The receiver with that system I think is just a renamed Onkyo 504. They bump up the wattage ratings figure to appeal to the HTIB crowd thought I think. The receiver on its own would cost around $250. Looks like $219 from shoponkyo refurb.

EDIT: Dave found a new silver version from JR in another thread
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4103629

 

[Slammy1]

Yeah, AVS is hard to get responses from unless you're talking $2000-3000. Not that they're snobs, at least not all of them . My question is, how important is 7.1 vs. 5.1 for gaming? You can get a 5.1 Yamaha receiver new in that range.

 

[knght990]

Does EAX support 7.1 i couldn't find anything that said that? Or do u intend to use the prologic7? As good as prologic is it would detract from a gaming experience as they dont perfectly mix the sound. I haven't heard logic7 specifically, but the 5s always had drops and some weird mixing even with a dolby digital 2.0 signal. Better to leave it in independant channels or someone waling up behind you form the left may be doing it from all the rear speakers. I'll assume you are intending to use the pre-decoded output from the sound card and are looking for the reciever to have a pre-decoded 7.1 input. If EAX dosen't support 7.1, then its a waste to go pre-decoded (analog) and should just use the SPDIF or optical outputs which are a digital outputs.

Reciever recomendations:
onkyo txsr604 $499(this has HDMI and dual zone where the 574 has only a and b sets of speakers and predecoded inputs)
denon avr587 $299 (dualzone but no HDMI)
denon avr887 $699 (dual zone and hdmi)

u might find with some of the same features with cheaper brands but not the same quality
-tl

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

For my own experience in 5.1 vs 7.1 for movies and gaming, I'm much happier with a high quality 5.1 set than a lower end 7.1 set.
Sometimes I miss the immersion a bit for movies, but I think if I had dipoles instead of floorstanding surrounds, I would be in better shape with just 5.1 for movies.... but I think standard direct speakers are nicer for gaming.

I think the way to go for the surround setting on the reciever is either to let the soundcard to all the work and just use the 5.1 (or higher) multichannel analog input on the receiver, or to get a DDL / DTS live card and let the receiver decode that.

PrologicIIx (7.1) is usually used for stereo sources so that wouldn't be the best way to go. Some receivers / pre-pros will let you apply prologicIIx in addition to other decoding modes to expand the output to 7.1
I haven't had a 7.1 setup since I've had a pre-pro that could do this so I haven't played around with what it can do in this regard.

So, if you get a card like an Audigy or X-Fi, then hooking up to a 5.1 analog input on the receiver is the way to go.

The only time you'd want to hook up digitally for gaming is if you get a card that can encode into a DD or DTS stream. There are several cards (and even a few integrated solutions) that can do this now. While limited to EAX 2.0 due to creative, they can encode this 5.1 material into a DD / DTS stream. Your receiver can then decode this for playback. I believe you should be able to apply DDEX / DTSES or some other expansion setting to get 7.1 playback out of these streams. I able to get 7.1 out of 5.1 DD / DTS sources when I had my first receiver, but haven't messed with 7.1 much with my previous receiver and my current pre-pro.

 

[Auric]

Also check out shoponkyo for direct refurbs (login for pricing).