New home theater

[Duran Durandall]

I have a PS3, now - and I suppose next I should upgrade my receiver. The one I have is a JVC 5.1 - with DTS ES support. I run HDMI video to my TV, and the optical out on my PS3 to the receiver. I want to upgrade to a fullHD receiver. I dont want to spend more than $1000.

Mostly, I need it to accept HDMI for both Audio and Video, and pass on the Video signal to my TV, with HDMI. I want TrueHD, and whatever other lossless audio codecs are available now.

Is something like that, available in my price range? I've been eyeballing this receiver on Amazon.com

Link to the receiver

If I put down that kind of money, I'd expect it to last me a good 8 years like my current receiver has.

[Colglizity]

That's a pretty good receiver. I'm not sure about getting the 8 years from an Onkyo, they have been known to have some heat issues, and that's a receivers worst enemy. Is 1000 your budget just for the receiver, or for some speakers aswell?

[jswilli1]

There are many threads in this forum about this subject and as an owner of an 805 I do Highly recommend it. I upgraded from my Sony receiver with DTS-ES so I could utilize HMDI. The 805 has 3 HMDI inputs and 1 HDMI out (for TV). My TV is 3 years old and has only 1 HDMI input which makes this reciever great for my application. The only cables I use are 3 HDMI (DISH -DVR, PS3, TV) and 1 Component for the WII. I got rid of all my Component, Optical, and RCA cables. The only con of the receiver is it's size it is very heavy at 53 pounds and requires space! Once setup though it is the easiest receiver I have ever owned and operated.

[Duran Durandall]

Originally Posted by Colglizity

Is 1000 your budget just for the receiver, or for some speakers aswell?

Just the receiver. I already have speakers... I'll give them a 4.5 out of 10. I plan to upgrade everything - just, for now - receiver.

[Colglizity]

Originally Posted by Duran Durandall

Just the receiver. I already have speakers... I'll give them a 4.5 out of 10. I plan to upgrade everything - just, for now - receiver.

If it were me personally, and I had a budget of 1000, I would buy this, the big brother to what I have now:

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...0&CTID=5000300

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Duran Durandall

Just the receiver. I already have speakers... I'll give them a 4.5 out of 10. I plan to upgrade everything - just, for now - receiver.

Have you thought of seperates?

If your current reciever has analog inputs, you can start with a proc and keep using your current receiver until you upgrade to a dedicated amp.

It will cost you a little more in the long run, but they tend to have longer shelf lives and you can upgrade them seperately as time goes on.

A good dedicated amplifier can last more than eight years.

[Duran Durandall]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

If your current reciever has analog inputs, you can start with a proc and keep using your current receiver until you upgrade to a dedicated amp.

You've got my attention. I've never heard of such a thing... Where can I see one? I'd like to see the proc (I guess you mean a processor) and a dedicated amp. I think I've seen an amp... but never knew why I'd need one.

[Duran Durandall]

Originally Posted by Colglizity

If it were me personally, and I had a budget of 1000, I would buy this, the big brother to what I have now:

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...0&CTID=5000300

I looks nice... but it also looks like it has things I may never use. What is a SCENE button? I do like the integrated HD Radio! I've had a Yamaha receiver before and I was very pleased with it.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Duran Durandall

You've got my attention. I've never heard of such a thing... Where can I see one? I'd like to see the proc (I guess you mean a processor) and a dedicated amp. I think I've seen an amp... but never knew why I'd need one.

http://www.emotiva.com
http://www.outlawaudio.com
http://www.rotel.com
http://www.sherbourn.com

Emotiva has a new processor coming out sometime this summer, but they are the most reasonably priced of these companies that I've found. I believe the proc was called the UMC-1, but I can't find it their website anymore. It was supposed to support decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-MA, and have 4 hdmi in to 1 hdmi out.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

http://www.emotiva.com
http://www.outlawaudio.com
http://www.rotel.com
http://www.sherbourn.com

Emotiva has a new processor coming out sometime this summer, but they are the most reasonably priced of these companies that I've found. I believe the proc was called the UMC-1, but I can't find it their website anymore. It was supposed to support decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-MA, and have 4 hdmi in to 1 hdmi out.

This is GREAT advice.....

[MacDaddyOJack]

805 has connections for both XM and Sirius satellite radio as well. I have the 805 and it's a friggin' monster. Nothing in it's price range even comes close, and I got it when it was $850! Everyone has their own opinion and brand loyalty, but I really love my 805. Tons on power and clean, clean sound

BTW: Your reciever does not need to have TrueHD and DTS-MA decoding since the PS3 is your BD player. The PS3 will decode the HD audio codecs and send them to your reciever as a PCM signal (HDMI only). You just need a reciever to accept multichannel PCM signals over HDMI.

[Duran Durandall]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

http://www.emotiva.com
http://www.outlawaudio.com
http://www.rotel.com
http://www.sherbourn.com

Emotiva has a new processor coming out sometime this summer, but they are the most reasonably priced of these companies that I've found. I believe the proc was called the UMC-1, but I can't find it their website anymore. It was supposed to support decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-MA, and have 4 hdmi in to 1 hdmi out.

Well... you've really opened my eyes! Thanks, for the info. For now, though... I think the separates route is a bit over my head. But... basically... I run my source (PS3, DVR, VHS... whatever) to the processor, then the processor connects to the amp somehow - which pushes the speakers? Is that about it?

So I would look for a processor with all the features I would look for in a receiver?

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Duran Durandall

Well... you've really opened my eyes! Thanks, for the info. For now, though... I think the separates route is a bit over my head. But... basically... I run my source (PS3, DVR, VHS... whatever) to the processor, then the processor connects to the amp somehow - which pushes the speakers? Is that about it?

So I would look for a processor with all the features I would look for in a receiver?

Pretty much, except the proc will not be powering the speakers so that info would be to the amp, i.e. 200W/ch.

A benefit of seperates is the ability to eliminate distortion that can occur when the electronics are more tightly packed. Also, they tend to be made of sturdier stuff.

Many of these companies have risk-free in home trial periods of thirty days or more.

Emotiva also has a 40% off policy for customers who upgrade from one of their proc's to the next.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Duran Durandall

For now, though... I think the separates route is a bit over my head.

If you were going to spend $1000 on a reciever, then they aren't that far over your head. The UMC-1 and XPA-5 from Emotiva will only set you back $1600. If you go for the LPA-1 instead of the XPA-5 that is only $1300.

[Duran Durandall]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

Pretty much, except the proc will not be powering the speakers so that info would be to the amp, i.e. 200W/ch.

The benefit of seperates is the ability to eliminate distortion that can occur when the electronics are more tightly packed. Also, they tend to be made of sturdier stuff.

Many of these companies have risk-free in home trial periods of thirty days or more.

Emotiva also has a 40% off policy for customers who upgrade from one of their proc's to the next.

Sounds like Emotiva is the way to go, then! I'll have think about it a bit. I'm really kind of sold on the Onkyo 805 - since it's going for only $650 on amazon. It's a matter of quality that's pushing me the other direction. I'm sure the Onkyo is fine... but I really like the "upgradability" of the separates. Buy it right, buy it once... you get what you pay for... yadda yadda.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Duran Durandall

Sounds like Emotiva is the way to go, then! I'll have think about it a bit. I'm really kind of sold on the Onkyo 805 - since it's going for only $650 on amazon. It's a matter of quality that's pushing me the other direction. I'm sure the Onkyo is fine... but I really like the "upgradability" of the separates. Buy it right, buy it once... you get what you pay for... yadda yadda.

Don't take my word for it, look around for yourself. There are plenty of websites which offer their opinions on these and many other audio products.

Ultimately, it comes down to what sounds the best to you. To see if seperates are for you perhaps you should go to a specialized home audio store in your area and do a listening test for yourself. These places tend to be the best resources.

List of Rotel retailers in Texas:

http://www.rotel.com/NA/Dealers.htm?...x=4&Submit.y=0

[Duran Durandall]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

If you were going to spend $1000 on a reciever, then they aren't that far over your head. The UMC-1 and XPA-5 from Emotiva will only set you back $1600. If you go for the LPA-1 instead of the XPA-5 that is only $1300.

I wasn't referring to cost... I meant, the technology. Understanding what suits my needs. I'm one of those people that had a VCR connected to my TV through coax until 1999. It wasn't until like... 8 years ago someone showed me how to use the "input" function on a TV.

I'm just saying... I'm sorta behind the times. But, I admit that, and it's why I'm here.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Duran Durandall

Sounds like Emotiva is the way to go, then! I'll have think about it a bit. I'm really kind of sold on the Onkyo 805 - since it's going for only $650 on amazon. It's a matter of quality that's pushing me the other direction. I'm sure the Onkyo is fine... but I really like the "upgradability" of the separates. Buy it right, buy it once... you get what you pay for... yadda yadda.

The Onkyo 805 is a superb reciever. The Onkyo 805 is not built poorly or of poor quality if that is what you are insinuating. You would be more than satisfied with an 805. You can also get the 805 refurbished for $550. The difference in SQ from the 805 over seperates will probably be minimal unless you are going for an audiophile type setup.

[Duran Durandall]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

The Onkyo 805 is a superb reciever. The Onkyo 805 is not built poorly or of poor quality if that is what you are insinuating. You would be more than satisfied with an 805. You can also get the 805 refurbished for $550. The difference in SQ from the 805 over seperates will probably be minimal unless you are going for an audiophile type setup.

No, no. I'm sure the Onkyo 805 is high quality - and it's probably what I will convince myself to buy. I might get a processor and amp later... but I was insinuating that (from what I understand) the separates would be better than a receiver.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

...
The benefit of seperates is the ability to eliminate distortion that can occur when the electronics are more tightly packed. Also, they tend to be made of sturdier stuff...

Actually the main benefit of seperates is that each channel has its own power supply. When you are listening at or close to reference level, a loud passage in even just one channel can bring the PSU to its knees, leaving no juice for the other channels ---> distortion.