Need help with a new Receiver

[Red Rock]

Hey everybody! I could use everone's help. I recently upgraded my tv (I now have a Panasonic TC-P54G10) and it's amazing! The one thing lacking now is the True Dolby and the DTS Master sound. I would like to purchase a reciever that decodes these, upscales video to 1080p and have the pre-out option in case I want to add an emotiva amp down the road. I am asking for all your help in guiding me to the right receiver. Thanks

[callas01]

Marantz 5003, Onkyo 707, Yamaha 765, Sony STR-DA2400ES, Pioneer Elite VSX-23.

Each of these will do a fine job for what you're after.

[canative454]

If you are looking to save a little cash then take a look at refurb Harman Kardon AVR 254 or 364 on HK's ebay store. I purchased a 254 for slightly over $200 and it is great has pre-outs for my future purchase of an emotiva XPA-5. The sound out of this AVR is absolutely rock solid.

[Red Rock]

Thanks for the great suggestions. Does anyone have experience with a Yamaha rx-v665?

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Red Rock

Thanks for the great suggestions. Does anyone have experience with a Yamaha rx-v665?

I had A rx-663 for some time . The 665 is the 663's replacement I believe . Vary good well made receivers .
It was A really good natural sounding receiver , & had the Pre-outs I needed for an external Amp .

[Red Rock]

Maybe I don't need the pre-outs as I originally thought. I have a Klipsch vc-25 center vf-35 floorstanding and vs-14 surrounds. I think that any receiver should pump enough power to these right? Maybe all I need is a decent reciever.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Red Rock

Maybe I don't need the pre-outs as I originally thought. I have a Klipsch vc-25 center vf-35 floorstanding and vs-14 surrounds. I think that any receiver should pump enough power to these right? Maybe all I need is a decent reciever.

Then the 665 would be A good choice .

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Red Rock

Maybe I don't need the pre-outs as I originally thought. I have a Klipsch vc-25 center vf-35 floorstanding and vs-14 surrounds. I think that any receiver should pump enough power to these right? Maybe all I need is a decent reciever.

If you can get an AVR with pre-outs within your budget, I would recommend that you not pass on this feature. It'll allow you to add an external amp, which many people do after a while. It brings your system to another level, both in terms of quality and flexibility.

John

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by John72953

If you can get an AVR with pre-outs within your budget, I would recommend that you not pass on this feature. It'll allow you to add an external amp, which many people do after a while. It brings your system to another level, both in terms of quality and flexibility.

John

+10 I most certainly agree with John on this. If you have to, you may want to stretch your budget a little to include this feature. It will solve a lot of heartache and headaches later.

Rich

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

+10 I most certainly agree with John on this. If you have to, you may want to stretch your budget a little to include this feature. It will solve a lot of heartache and headaches later.

Rich

Along with having to buy another receiver down the road !..

[^Lestat^]

I have not heard the Icon series so pretty much the best recommendation i could give you would be to audition the recievers you are planning to purchase with the speakers you have. Different recievers has different sound. HK marantz denon tend to be on the warmer side yammy sounds neutral. I have not heard the sony es or the pio elite so i could not give any input on that. The only onkyo i have auditioned was the 606 and 607 and i guess the sound was not for me was auditioned with Reference series. And i would listen to callas and the other's advise if you could get preouts go for it. The speakers and power amp could last you 10 or more years before you need to upgrade the recievers usually 2-5 years until some new codec and such would force you to change them.

Oh and congratulations on your new TV.

[Red Rock]

Thanks a lot for your help guys. Your right having those pre-outs adds that flexibility with out having to re-purchase. For right now I think I am leaning towards a Harman 254 or the yamaha 665 or the Harman 3600. Any suggestions on the way to go? I love that I narrowed down my search.

[stickb5]

The the elite and not elite line of pioneer are really good, i did have a Yamaha before and i upgraded to the pioneer elite c07, it was really a big difference in sound and performance.

[Lipcsey]

Originally Posted by Red Rock

Thanks a lot for your help guys. Your right having those pre-outs adds that flexibility with out having to re-purchase. For right now I think I am leaning towards a Harman 254 or the yamaha 665 or the Harman 3600. Any suggestions on the way to go? I love that I narrowed down my search.

I was looking at the HK 254, my local Visions had it on sale for $550 CND new in the box--if you can get it for just over 200 then that would be a great deal, however you might want to look else where as the HK may not have the power or the quality of video processing that you want.

I wanted to upgrade from my old Yamaha RXV550, so I actually decided to buy an Onkyo SR706 the other day because I got a pretty decent deal on it I think: $699 CND including taxes. The SR707 (this year's version of the 706) sells for $1000 here CND before taxes and has no new features that are of use to me. I have been blown away so far with the quality and the power of the sound. It does upconvert through HDMI to 1080P. It does have pre-amp outs, and even has phono input if you want to add a turntable. It is also THX certified. I would recommend looking into getting something like that as you can save money by buying last years models.

Does anyone else have the 706 here, what are your opinions?

P.S. I have been surfing these boards for quite a while, but this is my first post.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Red Rock

Thanks a lot for your help guys. Your right having those pre-outs adds that flexibility with out having to re-purchase. For right now I think I am leaning towards a Harman 254 or the yamaha 665 or the Harman 3600. Any suggestions on the way to go? I love that I narrowed down my search.

That's a tough choice to make. HK make very reliable products and have built some great gear over the years. Their Citation amps were beauties! I can't really comment on their offerings today however.

As fas as Yamaha is concerned, all I can tell you is that the Yamaha Canada customer service is outstanding, and that is a major plus in my book. I own a Yamaha HTR-6190B AVR and have been pleased so far with what it offers.

Good choice on sticking with an AVR that has Pre/outs, you won't regret that decision down the line.

John

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Lipcsey

I was looking at the HK 254, my local Visions had it on sale for $550 CND new in the box--if you can get it for just over 200 then that would be a great deal, however you might want to look else where as the HK may not have the power or the quality of video processing that you want.

I wanted to upgrade from my old Yamaha RXV550, so I actually decided to buy an Onkyo SR706 the other day because I got a pretty decent deal on it I think: $699 CND including taxes. The SR707 (this year's version of the 706) sells for $1000 here CND before taxes and has no new features that are of use to me. I have been blown away so far with the quality and the power of the sound. It does upconvert through HDMI to 1080P. It does have pre-amp outs, and even has phono input if you want to add a turntable. It is also THX certified. I would recommend looking into getting something like that as you can save money by buying last years models.

Does anyone else have the 706 here, what are your opinions?

P.S. I have been surfing these boards for quite a while, but this is my first post.

Welcome then Lipcsey to Blu-ray.com

John

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by John72953

If you can get an AVR with pre-outs within your budget, I would recommend that you not pass on this feature. It'll allow you to add an external amp, which many people do after a while. It brings your system to another level, both in terms of quality and flexibility.

John

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

+10 I most certainly agree with John on this. If you have to, you may want to stretch your budget a little to include this feature. It will solve a lot of heartache and headaches later.

Rich

i agree with both of these fellows. this is the best possible time to get it right for your future. make the right choice now in options that will allow your upgrade path to be there when and if you should choose to follow it. i would never buy a receiver or pre/pro if it didn't have both multichannel in & out.

i would also recommend you try to get something that offers you 4 or more HDMI's everything and it's brother is HDMI now adays and you will run out of them faster than you ever thought you might. going with 4 or more (more is better) will avoid you having to purchase an HDMI switch down the road. do your homework on the receivers and get the best balance between power & quality you can swing.

best of luck to ya and keep us posted.

[joe1515]

What is the primary purpose Home theatre? Are you using for any 2 channel music listening?

You might want to look at pre-owned on Audiogon to stretch your budget.

Joe

[arrt vandelay]

Originally Posted by Red Rock

Thanks a lot for your help guys. Your right having those pre-outs adds that flexibility with out having to re-purchase. For right now I think I am leaning towards a Harman 254 or the yamaha 665 or the Harman 3600. Any suggestions on the way to go? I love that I narrowed down my search.

both HK's will give you what you're looking for. you may want to read up over on avsforum.com about the x54 HK's though. a lot of people have had issues w/ the hdmi inputs, but if you're looking to go the re-furb ebay route, you should be fine as HK seems to have their refurbs in tip top shape. if you can swing the 3600, i think that would be the best option of all three...

if you go the yamaha route, i'd suggest going up one model to the rx v765. it will give you more clean power than the rx v665 and still has your pre-outs. i can also personally vouch for the rx v765...great receiver...

[ak_ka]

Originally Posted by arrt vandelay

both HK's will give you what you're looking for. you may want to read up over on avsforum.com about the x54 HK's though. a lot of people have had issues w/ the hdmi inputs, but if you're looking to go the re-furb ebay route, you should be fine as HK seems to have their refurbs in tip top shape. if you can swing the 3600, i think that would be the best option of all three...

if you go the yamaha route, i'd suggest going up one model to the rx v765. it will give you more clean power than the rx v665 and still has your pre-outs. i can also personally vouch for the rx v765...great receiver...

+1.. If you're going with the x54 route, you should check out the firmware version.
The 3600 is a newer model, replacement for the 354. I can vouch for the clean sound of the HK, having just bought a 254 myself