Help me choose a receiver! - Blu-ray Forum

Strommy · 03-19-2008, 07:10 AM

Hello everyone,

To skip all the introductory BS, here's the condensed version:
I want to hook up my Xbox 360 and soon to be PS3 to my HDTV in 720p with 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED digital audio. I just purchased Klipsch Quintet II's. I am still undecided on subwoofer and receiver. I have come here for help on choosing a receiver. I like the HarmonKardon AVR146 because of its price and quality.

Here is my question regarding the AVR146:
If I hook my PS3 to my receiver via optical cable, will the sound be uncompressed or is that only if I get a receiver that processes HDMI?

I originally started this post with multiple questions but I have forgot them lol. I'll post them later I'm sure. I'm very open to suggestions for other receivers you think match my specifications. I'm a value buyer, not a top of line buyer.

Thanks in advance!

Strommy · 03-19-2008, 07:13 AM

DOH! I just read a stickied post and got my answer.

Any suggestions on a cheap HDMI processing receiver?

Marcusarilius · 03-19-2008, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strommy

DOH! I just read a stickied post and got my answer.

Any suggestions on a cheap HDMI processing receiver?

"Cheap" is relative and subjective. Price range please?

Zaphod · 03-19-2008, 07:17 AM

Some popular receivers around these parts are the 07 model Onkyo's such as the 605, 705, 805. For the price they are very good receivers.

Search the forum for "Onkyo" and you will have a wealth of information.

Marcusarilius · 03-19-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Some popular receivers around these parts are the 07 model Onkyo's such as the 605, 705, 805. For the price they are very good receivers.

Search the forum for "Onkyo" and you will have a wealth of information.

My recommendation would be at least
the Onkyo 705.

Zaphod · 03-19-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

My recommendation would be at least
the Onkyo 705.

Definately, but for a little bit more I would definately go for the 805 (875 and the 905 are a little overkill especially for the price differential), but if price is a big issue, you would not be too displeased with the 605 @ $399.99

Strommy · 03-19-2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Definately, but for a little bit more I would definately go for the 805 (875 and the 905 are a little overkill especially for the price differential), but if price is a big issue, you would not be too displeased with the 605 @ $399.99

Thanks for the help guys. Man, being a college student, $400.00 is a lot of money to spend on a receiver.

Is there much of a difference between running lets say a BluRay movie on the PS3 with optical compared to HDMI?

Zaphod · 03-19-2008, 07:38 AM

Honestly, the difference between PCM over HDMI versus DD or DTS over optical is a night and day difference. Of couse the amout of difference varies on your taste and setup. If you were ok and enjoyed the sound experience you got with DVD out of the basic DD or DTS track then you will not be missing much (based on you never hearing the difference between DD and PCM or even Dolby TrueHD). But once you hear the difference then you will know what you were missing.

But for a HDMI receiver with processing of all of the next generation codecs, the $399 price is very inexpensive to other options. I know it does suck being a student and wanting these luxuries, I was there once too and can understand.

Strommy · 03-19-2008, 07:41 AM

In other words, I need to lock myself in a closet and never experience true HD so I don't have to spend the money on it. Gotcha!

Thanks again! :P

Zaphod · 03-19-2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strommy

In other words, I need to lock myself in a closet and never experience true HD so I don't have to spend the money on it. Gotcha!

Thanks again! :P

Check! It's like good crack, once you have had a little taste, you don't want anything else!

Petra_Kalbrain · 03-19-2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strommy

Thanks for the help guys. Man, being a college student, $400.00 is a lot of money to spend on a receiver.

Is there much of a difference between running lets say a BluRay movie on the PS3 with optical compared to HDMI?

If you want UNCOMPRESSED 5.1 then yes. Effectively you are answering your own question with your question since your original question can literally be translated to, "Is there much of a difference between running a Blu-ray movie on the PS3 with compressed lossy sound compared to uncompressed sound?"

Optical will only produce 2ch uncompressed sound... which sounds great, but isn't surround sound.

RECEIVER RECOMMENDATION: Onkyo 705 -> I have the 805, but I needed 2 HDMI inputs and wanted the 3rd HDMI input for a future add-on to my home theatre setup.

bdrex28 · 03-19-2008, 08:15 AM

There are three new receivers coming out that might also be what you are looking for.

They are:
Pioneer VSX-1018TXH-K
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...f+Home+Theater

Yamaha RXV-663
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...TE&VNM=WORKING

and

Sony STR-DG920 also the 820
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665364793

Zaphod · 03-19-2008, 08:21 AM

All good receivers but if $400 was a difficult price point to meet for him then these would be way out of his range as well.

I do like the Pioneer Elite's as well...

bdrex28 · 03-19-2008, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaphod

All good receivers but if $400 was a difficult price point to meet for him then these would be way out of his range as well.

I do like the Pioneer Elite's as well...

The Yamaha is $399 at several places.

The Pioneer is more expensive, they expect it to be around $500, the Sony's have a range from about $250+ on their new receivers.

Strommy · 03-19-2008, 06:05 PM

Here it says the STR-DG720 will decode uncompressed audio for a price tag of $299.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665361526
This looks like what I'm looking for, even though I'll only be running 5.1 for starters.

Thoughts?

bdrex28 · 03-19-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strommy

Here it says the STR-DG720 will decode uncompressed audio for a price tag of $299.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665361526
This looks like what I'm looking for, even though I'll only be running 5.1 for starters.

Thoughts?

that would be great for what you are looking for.

BigBluu · 03-19-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strommy

Here it says the STR-DG720 will decode uncompressed audio for a price tag of $299.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665361526
This looks like what I'm looking for, even though I'll only be running 5.1 for starters.

Thoughts?

if i were you, i'd try to scrape together another $100 for the str-dg820 model. it can decode all the new hd audio codecs. that's the one i'm waiting for myself. good news is it won't be out until 4/30, so you have over a month to come up with the extra dough. the bad news is i can't wait that long.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665364791

skrill · 03-19-2008, 08:02 PM

Personally -- I think there are three big names in the consumer-level AVR game.

Onkyo
Denon
Yamaha

Marantz might be there as well - but I don't know much about their products.

I would avoid Sony, Pioneer, etc. at the sub $1000 price point. I just don't think they make a good AVR in that range.

Onkyo's X05 series has been very well received. I picked up an 805 open box from Amazon for $543 shipped and I love it.

If you are looking for a "cheap" HDMI receiver -- I would look at the 605 or maybe 705. Both will get you bitstream decoding (unnecessary with a PS3 -- but you future proof yourself). And you get full PCM handling. With the 705 you at get THX certification.

ShopOnkyo.com is running a 10% off special (ends today). Good time to buy.

mugen302005 · 03-19-2008, 08:30 PM

Sorry to cut in I am in a similar situation. I am particularly fond of Denon receiver and for some long story I can only go for a denon avr 1508 but I wanted to know if I can get HD audio through this receiver. I have doubts because the specs say "its Hdmi is only passthrough, you need another connection for audio". Does that mean hdmi through a ps3 can only carry video and no audio making this receiver's hdmi ONLY video carrying capable?

I'll apreciate a lot your feedback.

Strommy · 03-19-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugen302005

Sorry to cut in I am in a similar situation. I am particularly fond of Denon receiver and for some long story I can only go for a denon avr 1508 but I wanted to know if I can get HD audio through this receiver. I have doubts because the specs say "its Hdmi is only passthrough, you need another connection for audio". Does that mean hdmi through a ps3 can only carry video and no audio making this receiver's hdmi ONLY video carrying capable?

I'll apreciate a lot your feedback.

Correct. You would have to connect you PS3's HDMI to the receiver or TV and ALSO attach the optical out of the PS3 to the receiver's optical in. In other words, you will not be achieving lossless audio because the audio won't be going through the HDMI.

That's what this thread is all about, finding the cheapest way to get that lossless audio through HDMI.

03-19-2008, 07:10 AM	#1
Strommy Junior Member Member since:Mar 2008	Help me choose a receiver! Hello everyone, To skip all the introductory BS, here's the condensed version: I want to hook up my Xbox 360 and soon to be PS3 to my HDTV in 720p with 5.1 UNCOMPRESSED digital audio. I just purchased Klipsch Quintet II's. I am still undecided on subwoofer and receiver. I have come here for help on choosing a receiver. I like the HarmonKardon AVR146 because of its price and quality. Here is my question regarding the AVR146: If I hook my PS3 to my receiver via optical cable, will the sound be uncompressed or is that only if I get a receiver that processes HDMI? I originally started this post with multiple questions but I have forgot them lol. I'll post them later I'm sure. I'm very open to suggestions for other receivers you think match my specifications. I'm a value buyer, not a top of line buyer. Thanks in advance!

03-19-2008, 07:38 AM	#8
Zaphod Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2007 Location:A small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. Blu-ray collection:350 Trading Score:4	Honestly, the difference between PCM over HDMI versus DD or DTS over optical is a night and day difference. Of couse the amout of difference varies on your taste and setup. If you were ok and enjoyed the sound experience you got with DVD out of the basic DD or DTS track then you will not be missing much (based on you never hearing the difference between DD and PCM or even Dolby TrueHD). But once you hear the difference then you will know what you were missing. But for a HDMI receiver with processing of all of the next generation codecs, the $399 price is very inexpensive to other options. I know it does suck being a student and wanting these luxuries, I was there once too and can understand. Last edited by Zaphod; 03-19-2008 at 07:42 AM.

03-19-2008, 08:30 PM	#19
mugen302005 Active Member Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:21 Blu-ray reviews:11	Any help here too? Sorry to cut in I am in a similar situation. I am particularly fond of Denon receiver and for some long story I can only go for a denon avr 1508 but I wanted to know if I can get HD audio through this receiver. I have doubts because the specs say "its Hdmi is only passthrough, you need another connection for audio". Does that mean hdmi through a ps3 can only carry video and no audio making this receiver's hdmi ONLY video carrying capable? I'll apreciate a lot your feedback.

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03-19-2008, 07:13 AM	#2
Strommy Junior Member Member since:Mar 2008	DOH! I just read a stickied post and got my answer. Any suggestions on a cheap HDMI processing receiver?

03-19-2008, 07:17 AM	#4
Zaphod Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2007 Location:A small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. Blu-ray collection:350 Trading Score:4	Some popular receivers around these parts are the 07 model Onkyo's such as the 605, 705, 805. For the price they are very good receivers. Search the forum for "Onkyo" and you will have a wealth of information.

03-19-2008, 07:41 AM	#9
Strommy Junior Member Member since:Mar 2008	In other words, I need to lock myself in a closet and never experience true HD so I don't have to spend the money on it. Gotcha! Thanks again! :P

03-19-2008, 08:15 AM	#12
bdrex28 Senior Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Edmond, OK Blu-ray reviews:4	There are three new receivers coming out that might also be what you are looking for. They are: Pioneer VSX-1018TXH-K http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...f+Home+Theater Yamaha RXV-663 http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...TE&VNM=WORKING and Sony STR-DG920 also the 820 http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665364793

03-19-2008, 08:21 AM	#13
Zaphod Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2007 Location:A small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. Blu-ray collection:350 Trading Score:4	All good receivers but if $400 was a difficult price point to meet for him then these would be way out of his range as well. I do like the Pioneer Elite's as well...

03-19-2008, 06:05 PM	#15
Strommy Junior Member Member since:Mar 2008	Here it says the STR-DG720 will decode uncompressed audio for a price tag of $299. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665361526 This looks like what I'm looking for, even though I'll only be running 5.1 for starters. Thoughts?

03-19-2008, 08:02 PM	#18
skrill Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Nashville!!	Personally -- I think there are three big names in the consumer-level AVR game. Onkyo Denon Yamaha Marantz might be there as well - but I don't know much about their products. I would avoid Sony, Pioneer, etc. at the sub $1000 price point. I just don't think they make a good AVR in that range. Onkyo's X05 series has been very well received. I picked up an 805 open box from Amazon for $543 shipped and I love it. If you are looking for a "cheap" HDMI receiver -- I would look at the 605 or maybe 705. Both will get you bitstream decoding (unnecessary with a PS3 -- but you future proof yourself). And you get full PCM handling. With the 705 you at get THX certification. ShopOnkyo.com is running a 10% off special (ends today). Good time to buy.

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