Receiver.. what to do?

[The Guardian]

So I have a Marantz SR-5300 receiver. I love the sound, but it lacks the modern codecs as well as HDMI. So I see two options...

1. Pick up a cheapie like an Onkyo -605 or something along those lines, use it as a processor with analog outs and use the Marantz as an amp using its analog ins...

2. Live with 2.1 PCM sound from the PS3 for a loong while until I can afford a receiver that's an upgrade in every way (Pioneer -92, Denon 2808, Marantz SR7002)

3. Buy a new player that has analog outs

Unfortunately for #3 there aren't any that decode DTS-MA are there? And that would be the least likely one I could convince my wife on also

Any thoughts or other ideas?

[crackinhedz]

sell your Marantz on Ebay.

and pick up a new receiver.

[quetzalcoatl]

That is a tough choice. Where you get great sound out of the Hi-end CEs they are very slow to adapt. For option number 3 you are looking at waiting until Jan CES and hoping to see some announcements. Or waiting for the Denons to hit the street. I suspect that the new Pioneer to be announced will do MA and will be the same price as what they have been doing 1K. Of course the Denon is 2K.

But I think you covered all the bases. Just none of them are very good choices.

[powersfoss]

I just bought the Sony STR-DG810 receiver and just watched my first movie in lossless PCM 5.1 audio. This is my very first full 1080p/LPCM 5.1 beyond HD experience. HD Audio/HD Video. OMG, I am so stoked!

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665061597

Only $348 at Best Buy.

[JimSD]

Originally Posted by powersfoss

I just bought the Sony STR-DG810 receiver and just watched my first movie in lossless PCM 5.1 audio. This is my very first full 1080p/LPCM 5.1 beyond HD experience. HD Audio/HD Video. OMG, I am so stoked!

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665061597

Only $348 at Best Buy.

I too am considering a new receiver so that I can take advantage of the audio capabilities of Blu-ray. I assume you have your new receiver hooked up to a PS3 based on your sig. I've been considering the Onkyo 605 because it decodes the new HD audio formats, but if this Sony would also work it is something I'll consider using with my PS3. Since it doesn't look like the Sony decodes formats such as TrueHD, etc, (but does handle PCM), are there any limitations I'd have as compared to the Onkyo?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by JimSD

... are there any limitations I'd have as compared to the Onkyo?

The Onkyo TX-SR605 is 7.1 PCM capable. The Sony STR-DG810 is only 5.1 PCM. (But the Sony STR-DG910 is also 7.1 PCM capable.)

[The Guardian]

The other thing to keep in mind is in a year and a half the money will (according to plan) not be quite as tight anymore... and players will be much cheaper. So I don't see buying a new player at all, until then the PS3 should be fine especially if we get the DTS-MA decoding.

That Sony might make a good cheap option... I will only have a 5.1 setup once the rest of my speakers get here. I'll have to check it out. I'd still run it through the Marantz as an amp of course... two receivers are gonna look a little ridiculous though eh?

[Durentis]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

sell your Marantz on Ebay.

and pick up a new receiver.

If not this, then option two.

When the rest of your speakers get in you'll have the 5.1 compressed audio (or 2.1 uncompressed for dramas/etc) until you can afford a SR7002/SR8002.

Waste of money, imo, to upgrade receivers twice in such a short time frame. Wishing I didn't buy a Pioneer VSX-917v without looking into what it wasn't capable of. Now I'll have to try and sell it or pass it on when I upgrade shortly and I'm out a few hundred bucks that could have gone into more blu-rays or paying off my speakers.

Option three?

[The Guardian]

Hey your setup looks extremely similar to a friend of mine's...

I think I'll stick with Option 2 until I get the extra 3 speakers... maybe re-evaluate it then.

[powersfoss]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

The Onkyo TX-SR605 is 7.1 PCM capable. The Sony STR-DG810 is only 5.1 PCM. (But the Sony STR-DG910 is also 7.1 PCM capable.)

Actually, my receiver does 6.1 and 5.1 PCM. It's not 7.1 but I have no intentions of running yet more cable and speakers in my home theater room. I find 5.1 lossless PCM absolutey awesome!

[Downhere]

Originally Posted by The Guardian

So I have a Marantz SR-5300 receiver. I love the sound, but it lacks the modern codecs as well as HDMI. So I see two options...

1. Pick up a cheapie like an Onkyo -605 or something along those lines, use it as a processor with analog outs and use the Marantz as an amp using its analog ins...

2. Live with 2.1 PCM sound from the PS3 for a loong while until I can afford a receiver that's an upgrade in every way (Pioneer -92, Denon 2808, Marantz SR7002)

3. Buy a new player that has analog outs

Unfortunately for #3 there aren't any that decode DTS-MA are there? And that would be the least likely one I could convince my wife on also

Any thoughts or other ideas?

Why not just wait and instead of using 2.1 PCM go lossy until you can afford a fantastic new receiver. I'm not sure how long you are going to wait, but if you wait six months or so you will start seeing some great deals on current models because new models will be coming out by then. You could probably pick up a heck of a receiver for a great price in that time.

I don't know, my suggestion would be to wait and get a quality high end receiver when you can.