Need help choosing receiver - Blu-ray Forum

mkelley · 05-07-2008, 07:54 PM

Here's your chance, folks -- I need to (finally) upgrade my receiver. I'm looking for any and all recommendations on what to at least consider.

Rather large room with almost no coverings (wood floor, few drapes), projector big screen (9 feet), 5.1 speaker system with PS3 as my player for the forseeable future. Sub-woofer is not powered (also looking for recommendations on augmenting and/or replacing it) and I have no desire to add more speakers (I like my Sony twin towers and side and middle speakers). Current system is 100 watts x 5 and this seems more than enough power for that room.

I'd prefer not to spend a fortune -- audio is important but I'm not super critical and listening to movies is all we do with the receiver (not used for anything else). But it needs to be able to decode TrueDolby HD because my present system doesn't (only DD 5.1) and I've found a few discs that only have this as the audio (would be nice, I guess, to also do DTS if my PS3 will do that).

I'm using optical audio on my present system because it doesn't have HDMI inputs, but if a new receiver has HDMI I will also need HDMI out since my projector doesn't have this (so if I use the HDMI from the PS3 it will have to go first to the receiver and then from the receiver to my projector). Does this all make sense? (I'm an old man and a little left behind by all this technology).

TIA for any information.

crackinhedz · 05-07-2008, 07:59 PM

Yamaha RX-V663

Onkyo TX-SR805

...I think two of the better options.

Woody · 05-07-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkelley

Here's your chance, folks -- I need to (finally) upgrade my receiver. I'm looking for any and all recommendations on what to at least consider.

Rather large room with almost no coverings (wood floor, few drapes), projector big screen (9 feet), 5.1 speaker system with PS3 as my player for the forseeable future. Sub-woofer is not powered (also looking for recommendations on augmenting and/or replacing it) and I have no desire to add more speakers (I like my Sony twin towers and side and middle speakers). Current system is 100 watts x 5 and this seems more than enough power for that room.

I'd prefer not to spend a fortune -- audio is important but I'm not super critical and listening to movies is all we do with the receiver (not used for anything else). But it needs to be able to decode TrueDolby HD because my present system doesn't (only DD 5.1) and I've found a few discs that only have this as the audio (would be nice, I guess, to also do DTS if my PS3 will do that).

I'm using optical audio on my present system because it doesn't have HDMI inputs, but if a new receiver has HDMI I will also need HDMI out since my projector doesn't have this (so if I use the HDMI from the PS3 it will have to go first to the receiver and then from the receiver to my projector). Does this all make sense? (I'm an old man and a little left behind by all this technology).

TIA for any information.

What is your budget?

crackinhedz · 05-07-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkelley

my present system doesn't have HDMI inputs, but if a new receiver has HDMI I will also need HDMI out since my projector doesn't have this

maybe Im reading this part wrong...does your projector have HDMI inputs?

anyways, with the PS3 you can output Video over the Component cable to the projector while at the same time output Audio over the HDMI cable to the Receiver...so your projector does not need an HDMI connection to receive the video.

crackinhedz · 05-07-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkelley

Sub-woofer is not powered (also looking for recommendations on augmenting and/or replacing it)

Id ditch it.

JBL Venue Series SUB12

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkelley

(would be nice, I guess, to also do DTS if my PS3 will do that).

yes, the PS3 can now decode Dts-HD Master Audio.

mkelley · 05-07-2008, 08:43 PM

Um, projector has HDMI *inputs* not outputs, which is why I need them on the receiver (if I am to use HDMI to go from the PS3 to the receiver I then need to go HDMI from the receiver to the projector). Sorry for the confusion.

Budget? Well, the Yamaha listed sounds good -- under $500 for what is only going to be my theater audio seems about right. But I will consider almost any reasonable pricing (just a matter of figuring out how to pay it off :>)

Powered sub-woof looks good -- after seeing Iron Man at the Imax I was super impressed by the body moving (yet extremely clean and not over boomy) bass in their super system there and was wondering if I could even come close in my own home (I can get lots of bass, but it's not the "feel" but more of a sound).

mkelley · 05-07-2008, 09:02 PM

Oh -- stupid question time, but when looking at that powered subwoofer I notice the back has two inputs. Two inputs? Consider me remarkably dense (or just old) but I was always taught that a sub only needed one channel input (and, indeed, my current receiver only has one sub preamp out). Could I still use this sub with my current receiver? Have the rules changed in some significant way or was I always wrong?

crackinhedz · 05-07-2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkelley

Oh -- stupid question time, but when looking at that powered subwoofer I notice the back has two inputs. Two inputs? Consider me remarkably dense (or just old) but I was always taught that a sub only needed one channel input (and, indeed, my current receiver only has one sub preamp out). Could I still use this sub with my current receiver? Have the rules changed in some significant way or was I always wrong?

the subwoofer can still connect using the one cable...no worries.

...also, bestbuy has "no interest for xx months" on items $499 and up, but the deal usually changes from week to week.

Yamaha RX-V663

(This receiver actually has an option to use two subwoofers! 7.2 audio.)

mkelley · 05-08-2008, 04:48 AM

Thanks for all your help -- I've ordered the Yamaha and the JBL sub woof and I think I'll be very happy (well, perhaps my *budget* won't be so happy, but...)

Now I guess I need to hook my PS3 to the internet to get the latest downloads, right? So I can have DTS?

(And I'm hoping that the receiver is smart enough to just figure all this out -- one thing I really hate about my old receiver is that it's so stupid it needs lots of help just trying to get Dolby Digital right. With all these audio choices I hope I can just put the blu-ray disc in and hear good sound without having to think about it too much. I'm very old :>)

crackinhedz · 05-08-2008, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkelley

I'm very old :>)

well, any new technology can be confusing at first...so if you got any questions about setting it up just ask.

...and definitely update the PS3.

crackinhedz · 05-08-2008, 05:38 AM

So you ended up buying the Yamaha RX-V663?

PM me your email adress and I'll send you the User Manual download or go here (requires sign on)

also here is the manual for the subwoofer.

This will help you to familiarize yourself with it. So it won't hit you like a ton of bricks.

Beta Man · 05-08-2008, 12:25 PM

Is in-home auditions a possibility for you?

CH108 · 05-08-2008, 01:29 PM

Hi I am also looking for a reciever my room isn't very big and I don't want it to run too hot.

My current setup consists of my Blu-ray player connecting to my home cinema in a box with an optical cable which really isn't that good.

Beta Man · 05-08-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CH108

Hi I am also looking for a reciever my room isn't very big and I don't want it to run too hot.

My current setup consists of my Blu-ray player connecting to my home cinema in a box with an optical cable which really isn't that good.

I posted this elsewhere.... may come in handy for you.

Quote:

I'd recommend, REGARDLESS of what receiver you get, if you have enough room behind the components, place a VERY small, quiet fan (PC type fan basically) and connect the power to the AC-Outlet on the back of the receiver, so the small external fan runs whenever you power-on your receiver......

If you're capable, wire up small PC speakers, and build them directly into the shelves......

Rabidhunter · 05-08-2008, 03:12 PM

See my sig... That reciever rocks. For $300 it can do most everything. It's simple easy to use, and since your PS3 internally decodes all codecs into PCM it won't matter that the 720 doesn't decode HD codecs (it accepts PCM). It has three HDMI inputs which is more than enough for most.

CH108 · 05-09-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I posted this elsewhere.... may come in handy for you.

What receiver do you have?

Beta Man · 05-09-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CH108

What receiver do you have?

I have a Marantz SR7001 and a Marantz SR5001, and Two older Denon AVR that I'm not sure of the models, as well as one Sony STR-DE698

I've never had an "over-heating" issue, but I give my equipment plenty of room to breath.

05-07-2008, 07:54 PM	#1
mkelley Active Member Member since:Dec 2007	Need help choosing receiver Here's your chance, folks -- I need to (finally) upgrade my receiver. I'm looking for any and all recommendations on what to at least consider. Rather large room with almost no coverings (wood floor, few drapes), projector big screen (9 feet), 5.1 speaker system with PS3 as my player for the forseeable future. Sub-woofer is not powered (also looking for recommendations on augmenting and/or replacing it) and I have no desire to add more speakers (I like my Sony twin towers and side and middle speakers). Current system is 100 watts x 5 and this seems more than enough power for that room. I'd prefer not to spend a fortune -- audio is important but I'm not super critical and listening to movies is all we do with the receiver (not used for anything else). But it needs to be able to decode TrueDolby HD because my present system doesn't (only DD 5.1) and I've found a few discs that only have this as the audio (would be nice, I guess, to also do DTS if my PS3 will do that). I'm using optical audio on my present system because it doesn't have HDMI inputs, but if a new receiver has HDMI I will also need HDMI out since my projector doesn't have this (so if I use the HDMI from the PS3 it will have to go first to the receiver and then from the receiver to my projector). Does this all make sense? (I'm an old man and a little left behind by all this technology). TIA for any information.

05-08-2008, 05:38 AM	#11
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	So you ended up buying the Yamaha RX-V663? PM me your email adress and I'll send you the User Manual download or go here (requires sign on) also here is the manual for the subwoofer. This will help you to familiarize yourself with it. So it won't hit you like a ton of bricks. Last edited by crackinhedz; 05-08-2008 at 05:57 AM.

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05-07-2008, 07:59 PM	#2
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	Yamaha RX-V663 Onkyo TX-SR805 ...I think two of the better options.

05-07-2008, 08:43 PM	#6
mkelley Active Member Member since:Dec 2007	Um, projector has HDMI inputs not outputs, which is why I need them on the receiver (if I am to use HDMI to go from the PS3 to the receiver I then need to go HDMI from the receiver to the projector). Sorry for the confusion. Budget? Well, the Yamaha listed sounds good -- under $500 for what is only going to be my theater audio seems about right. But I will consider almost any reasonable pricing (just a matter of figuring out how to pay it off :>) Powered sub-woof looks good -- after seeing Iron Man at the Imax I was super impressed by the body moving (yet extremely clean and not over boomy) bass in their super system there and was wondering if I could even come close in my own home (I can get lots of bass, but it's not the "feel" but more of a sound).

05-07-2008, 09:02 PM	#7
mkelley Active Member Member since:Dec 2007	Oh -- stupid question time, but when looking at that powered subwoofer I notice the back has two inputs. Two inputs? Consider me remarkably dense (or just old) but I was always taught that a sub only needed one channel input (and, indeed, my current receiver only has one sub preamp out). Could I still use this sub with my current receiver? Have the rules changed in some significant way or was I always wrong?

05-08-2008, 04:48 AM	#9
mkelley Active Member Member since:Dec 2007	Thanks for all your help -- I've ordered the Yamaha and the JBL sub woof and I think I'll be very happy (well, perhaps my budget won't be so happy, but...) Now I guess I need to hook my PS3 to the internet to get the latest downloads, right? So I can have DTS? (And I'm hoping that the receiver is smart enough to just figure all this out -- one thing I really hate about my old receiver is that it's so stupid it needs lots of help just trying to get Dolby Digital right. With all these audio choices I hope I can just put the blu-ray disc in and hear good sound without having to think about it too much. I'm very old :>)

05-08-2008, 12:25 PM	#12
Beta Man Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Juuuuuuuust A Bit Outside.... Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:268 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:25	Is in-home auditions a possibility for you?

05-08-2008, 01:29 PM	#13
CH108 Active Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:England Blu-ray collection:338 DVD collection:69	Hi I am also looking for a reciever my room isn't very big and I don't want it to run too hot. My current setup consists of my Blu-ray player connecting to my home cinema in a box with an optical cable which really isn't that good.

05-08-2008, 03:12 PM	#15
Rabidhunter Senior Member Member since:Feb 2008	See my sig... That reciever rocks. For $300 it can do most everything. It's simple easy to use, and since your PS3 internally decodes all codecs into PCM it won't matter that the 720 doesn't decode HD codecs (it accepts PCM). It has three HDMI inputs which is more than enough for most.

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