7.1 over 5.1?

[iLIKEtoEATmango]

Hey, I got Mission E3 AV 5.1 speakers and in need of a receiver. Been looking into Onkyo and they've got various models at various prices. Just wondered what I should know and if the Onkyo TX-SR308B would be ideal?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Onkyo-TX-SR3...2453457&sr=1-1

Many thanks...

[LordoftheRings]

That is a fine receiver for a smaller room with undemanding speakers and with a 5.1-channel speaker system.

* But if you can stretch for the next higher model, the 508, that would be even more fine.
And the 608 would be the Ultimate for your setup, and you'll be ready for the Future much better equipped.

[bigshot]

100 watts per channel is plenty. No need for more power. The only reason to upgrade would be for features.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by bigshot

100 watts per channel is plenty. No need for more power. The only reason to upgrade would be for features.

Yes, I would agree that 100 Watts per channel is adequate. But many new time buyers of AVRs go wow wee over specs like 100 wpc advertised for a 7.1 system and fail to realize that they aren't really getting anywhere near 100 wpc. Let's use my midlevel AVR, the Yamaha RX V663 as a prime example. With all 7 channels driven, it will only be able to deliver 45 wpc at best. My AVR will only deliver that 100 wpc when it is in stereo mode. The same is true for many midlevel AVRs on the market too. If you do try driving them hard to get 80 to 100 wpc, they will start to distort and sound dirty. They just don't have large enough power supplies for such high current demands.

Fortunately for me my V663 has 7.1 analog outputs. I thus use it as a pre/pro to drive external power amps each of which are high current types with big power supplies that can deliver clean, undistorted 100 wpc.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

Yes, I would agree that 100 Watts per channel is adequate. But many new time buyers of AVRs go wow wee over specs like 100 wpc advertised for a 7.1 system and fail to realize that they aren't really getting anywhere near 100 wpc. Let's use my midlevel AVR, the Yamaha RX V663 as a prime example. With all 7 channels driven, it will only be able to deliver 45 wpc at best. My AVR will only deliver that 100 wpc when it is in stereo mode. The same is true for many midlevel AVRs on the market too. If you do try driving them hard to get 80 to 100 wpc, they will start to distort and sound dirty. They just don't have large enough power supplies for such high current demands.

Fortunately for me my V663 has 7.1 analog outputs. I thus use it as a pre/pro to drive external power amps each of which are high current types with big power supplies that can deliver clean, undistorted 100 wpc.

And that, having preouts for all channels is a very nice feature to have indeed.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

And that, having preouts for all channels is a very nice feature to have indeed.

Yes, that's the way it turned out for me. But initially I didn't buy it for that particular feature. It was like buying land without realizing oil reserves lie buried under it.

[jomari]

as rwojtalewicz has mentioned, 100watts per channel means nothing if driving speakers simultaneously. hes pretty much summed everything to say mostly about it.

lets put it this way, when purchasing for a house or a car, you dont necessarily want to rush into getting one, why do the same with your home theater? its one imperative point most of us old schoolers have tried to teach - is that going the inexpensive route firsthand, and upgrading later on, is essentially more expensive than an initial drop.

id consider my priorities to be
- speakers
(broken down via importance based on budget constraints)
a. Fronts and if possible,
b. Center
c. Sub or surrounds
- AVR (Audio Video Receiver)
- Room treatments

Dont forget to include additional cost, ie. Speaker wires, Terminals etc...