Entry Level(starter) Receivers

[zodiak]

Ok, guys sorry for the constant back and forth, my situation is this Im looking to start a home theater and want to make a quality purchase regarding the AV Receiver,however Im mostly concerned about the receiver not distorting or effecting video quality while using HDMI.
I have learned most AVR have "HDMI Pass Through" so if using HDMI the PQ will not be effected(if Im mistakedn please let me know), now as for audio Im not that concerned with having a receiver that will blow the roof off(for now atleast...upgraditist will occur Im sure)some thing thats an upgrade from nothing is going to better Im sure.

For budget reasons Im looking to purchase a receiver and the 2 fronts to start,then add the center & sub perhaps in a few months(father of one and expecting a new born in july..this may be my last indulgence for awhile) so
Im trying to be as cost effective as I can.

Now the receiver I have had my eye on the Panasonic elite vsx-03 seems like what I want however as I get closer to making the purchase I keep asking myself if the 500plus price tag is really worth it right now?
Is there a low priced receiver that will provide me with what I need now?

Again Im looking for a start up receiver that will "NOT" effect PQ while using HDMI.

Thanks and sorry for the long post

ps
can you view your tv and have say the receiver using the am radio(I enjoy watching football on the tv and listening to the radio) on all AVR's?

Thanks again for your knowledge

[Scooby Blu]

500 is worth it. You will be well pleased when football season begins in the fall. Yes, you can listen to the radio and watch TV. However, sometimes there is a delay with the hd channel. Example the play has begun and completed and the radio says they are getting ready for the snap. Go for it do not hesitate. You are going about it the right way. That is in stages. Most folks don't. So you are very wise.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I like your thinking....build slowly and a 2-channel setup is a good way to go.....

Too many times members take a set amount of cash and want to invest in a 5.1 channel setup right away. I say use that entire budget for 2 good quality fronts and build from there.

Did you have a budget for speakers in mind? And have you any preference for speaker manufacturer?

John

[Fors*]

I think you mean the Pioneer Elite VSX-03? If so, that is a very good receiver and you should be pleased. Also, starting with 2 fronts first is the best way to go about this. Pass-Through will pass the video and audio signal through the AVR and not read any information. However, this means you would need to run a seperate optical cable for audio. I believe this receiver processes the signal, so you would just need a single HDMI cable to get both video and audio. As far as the PQ being affected, you shouldn't be able to tell any difference with this particular receiver processing the signal in my opinion.

Congrats on the little one coming in July too. I just had my 2nd child 3 months ago, so I understand the need to get this done now, as I did the same thing.

[StimpsonJCat]

Do you mean Pioneer Elite vsx-03? If so where can you get it for $500? If you can that seems like a great price to me for that AVR.

I would recommend looking at last years models of Onkyo, Pioneer, Yamaha, and Denon. Can't really go to wrong with any of these. You should find a good one for ~$400 if you look around. Online is the best place to get a deal, but make sure the seller is an authorized seller for the brand you get.

You do NOT want to get "Pass thru" HDMI. It is saying you can run your video/audio through HDMI, but no audio is decoded by the AVR so you will not be able to enjoy HD Audio. You should look for an AVR that has HDMI repeater at a minimum if you want HD Audio. Most AVRs will allow you to pass the Video through HDMI untouched. You might have to do some reading on each AVR to find out.

[will0775]

you might also want to try the new VSX-1019 Ah. The guys at cnet gave it an excellent review.

http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers...CarouselArea.3

[zodiak]

STIMPSONJCAT....thanks so Im clear "Pass Through" is not a good thing I should look for HDMI repeater while reading the specs on receivers, you said at a minnimum what did you mean my that?(sorry for my ignorance)

FORSBERG.... If I understand you, using an HDMI cable from cable/BluRay/ out to AVR HDMI in will give me the best video & audio and will allow the audio to be heard in the finest quality the receiver allows?

What are some of last years model's from pioneer?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by zodiak

STIMPSONJCAT....thanks so Im clear "Pass Through" is not a good thing I should look for HDMI repeater while reading the specs on receivers, you said at a minnimum what did you mean my that?(sorry for my ignorance)

FORSBERG.... If I understand you, using an HDMI cable from cable/BluRay/ out to AVR HDMI in will give me the best video & audio and will allow the audio to be heard in the finest quality the receiver allows?

What are some of last years model's from pioneer?

not typically, but you need to be aware that some manufactures will have video pass through and that doesn't mean anything for the audio side of things, Sony is notorious for that.

[StimpsonJCat]

Originally Posted by zodiak

STIMPSONJCAT....thanks so Im clear "Pass Through" is not a good thing I should look for HDMI repeater while reading the specs on receivers, you said at a minnimum what did you mean my that?(sorry for my ignorance)

I'm just saying if you want HD Audio through HDMI you need one with HDMI repeater at minium (not one with just HDMI pass through). So, you should not consider any AVR that doesn't meet this level on its HDMI features if HD Audio is a requirement for you.

[StimpsonJCat]

Originally Posted by callas01

not typically, but you need to be aware that some manufactures will have video pass through and that doesn't mean anything for the audio side of things, Sony is notorious for that.

Good point. The wording for one brand may not mean the same thing as another. If you find an AVR you are interested in, try to find a thread on that model (here or other forums). You should be able to find out pretty quickley from owners what it is capable of.

[zodiak]

STIMPSONJCAT....yes HD audio will be factor, so thanks for the heads up

Now again so Im clear while looking over the specs will it state HDMI repeater?

Do you know if the Panasonic vsx 1019 ah or the vsx -03 has HDMI repeating?

Thanks again guys

[StimpsonJCat]

Originally Posted by zodiak

STIMPSONJCAT....yes HD audio will be factor, so thanks for the heads up

Now again so Im clear while looking over the specs will it state HDMI repeater?

Do you know if the Panasonic vsx 1019 ah or the vsx -03 has HDMI repeating?

Thanks again guys

It is Pioneer (not Panasonic) and yes they both are good for HD Audio. They will not only decode the PCM stream, but will handle Bitstream for processing HD Audio in the AVR. Both are also very good choices for an AVR. I have a Denon (which I also recommend) for my main HT, but my old Pioneer Elite is still going strong in my game room and I have always loved the Pioneer Elites. I came real close to getting the Pioneer 1018 (last years 1019) when I opted for Denon this time.

[zodiak]

Sorry for the mix up, so much research the names get confussed...so the pioneer VSX 1019 AH & VSX -03 are comparable in regards to HD audio & video processing

Perhaps I should consider the 1019 AH over the 03?

this can become consumming

[will0775]

Originally Posted by zodiak

Sorry for the mix up, so much research the names get confussed...so the pioneer VSX 1019 AH & VSX -03 are comparable in regards to HD audio & video processing

Perhaps I should consider the 1019 AH over the 03?

this can become consuming

Go to your nearest best buy and give them a look and a listen see witch one your budget and your ears like. From what I have read you can't go wrong with the 1019 as a mid level receiver.

[got rice]

Zodiak
The term pass through has evolved to have different meanings. The advent of HDMI was to allow HD video and audio through a single cable, however this was not true with the HDMI v1.1 format. Only the video was able to "pass through" as an HD signal, so to receive audio the consumer would have to use a separate cable (ie digital fiber optical or digital coax.)to receive surround sound.This is no longer the case.

With the newest version of HDMI v1.3 you now have full HD video and audio through a single cable. However the term "pass through" is now being used to describe the HD signal being untouched by a VIDEO processor. The advantage of this is many of the video processors on the market will alter the HD resoution and have an adverse affect on the picture quality. So ideally you only want signal lower than 1080p to be upconverted.

As far as the PIONEER elite avr., it is a solid choice. If you are dead set on video upconversion look at the Onkyo's with the REON video upconversion chip. This is one of the better ones on the market.

Good luck.

[callas01]

zodiak, for the extra $100 I would take the 03 over 1019.

[got rice]

Originally Posted by callas01

zodiak, for the extra $100 I would take the 03 over 1019.

me to.

[zodiak]

GOT RICE.... thanks for the info, Im not sure that Im dead set on video upscaling what Im concerned with is having a receiver that while Im using the HDMI inputs for cable receiver & Bluray then having the HDMI out put on the AVR sent to my tv is it going to change my picture quality then if I was simply sending the HDMI out from the cable or bluray player to the tv?

Im am concerned with video only in the sense I dont want a lesser picture because Im using a AVR to get great audio, thanks again for the help and info

[got rice]

Originally Posted by zodiak

GOT RICE.... thanks for the info, Im not sure that Im dead set on video upscaling what Im concerned with is having a receiver that while Im using the HDMI inputs for cable receiver & Bluray then having the HDMI out put on the AVR sent to my tv is it going to change my picture quality then if I was simply sending the HDMI out from the cable or bluray player to the tv?

Im am concerned with video only in the sense I dont want a lesser picture because Im using a AVR to get great audio, thanks again for the help and info

Good question...I was recently in your same situation. I found that its going to be difficult to get everything you want at a reasonable price point. So you have to make a decision on what is most important. Cable is a unique because you have standard def and HD channels, so it's going to be difficult to have the standard channels processed and the HD untouched. The way I approached it was this. Most TV's will upconvert so why have the AVR do it as well. Keep reading and asking questions it will all make sense pretty soon.

[zodiak]

GOT RICE....thanks again, I am getting less confident in my choice of avr, with the feeling that I will lose PQ.

I think I understand this stuff to know you can have different setups so you can have you video sources run to the tv and not throught the avr,but that in my mind defeats having the convenice of the HDMI in puts.

So you mentioned another AVR, that maodel is know for better pic quality?

I guess this whole experience is becoming discouraging in that I feel less sure of what Im getting and for the money this stuff cost I just want to be sure.

Thanks again gang for all your insight