Yamaha 861 or 663? - Blu-ray Forum

Underdog · 06-05-2008, 11:55 AM

I am at a terrible dilemma between those 2 AVRs.
My source is a PS3 (LPCM output anyway), so i'm considering going for the higher series instead of the new codecs. What do you think? Is the discounted 8 series actually an improvement over the newer 6 soundwise?

z24lucifer · 06-11-2008, 02:01 PM

I was in the exact same position as you.

I just picked up the 861, since I found it cheaper than the 663 (in Canada anyways). I decided to go for more power/features on the 861 vs the 663, and hoping that my gamble will pay off.

I just got it last night, and I didn't have a chance to hook it up just yet. I'll let you know how it goes.

kingofgrills · 06-11-2008, 04:21 PM

The 861 would probably be the better choice sonically, if you have external decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. The 861 has a bit of a better power supply and amp section to generate the extra 20 wpc. However, it does give up a few things on the video side of things. The 861 only upscales to 1080i, as opposed to 1080p for the 663. It also has HDMI v1.2 versus 1.3 on the 661.

If it were me, I'd probably get the 861 for the added space on the amp side. I use my PS3 for Blu-ray, so it does all of the decoding. If I had a standalone player that could bitstream, I'd probably search for a deal on the the RX-V863, the 861's replacement, or I'd get the RX-V663

z24lucifer · 06-11-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

However, it does give up a few things on the video side of things. The 861 only upscales to 1080i, as opposed to 1080p for the 663.

I'm pretty sure that the 663 doesn't do any upscale to 1080p. The 863 does though.

kingofgrills · 06-11-2008, 08:21 PM

It doesn't? I thought for sure it did. Maybe that's one of the reasons I've been focused on the 863.

hagar852 · 06-11-2008, 08:57 PM

v663 upconverts to 1080p.. So if you have a component source at 1080p it will upconvert to HDMI 1080p..

z24lucifer · 06-12-2008, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar852

v663 upconverts to 1080p.. So if you have a component source at 1080p it will upconvert to HDMI 1080p..

Ok, I might have my terms confused. I don't *think* that the v663 has video upscaling. If you plug in a 480p source into the 861, it will come out as 1080i/720p.

hagar852 · 06-12-2008, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z24lucifer

Ok, I might have my terms confused. I don't *think* that the v663 has video upscaling. If you plug in a 480p source into the 861, it will come out as 1080i/720p.

Right upscaling does what you just posted.. 480p to 720p or whatever.. and it is usually component sources that get upscaled in that way.

Underdog · 06-12-2008, 01:16 PM

After finding out of the "problematic" pass-through of 1080p/24 through the 861's 1.2 HDMI, i changed my order to the 663. The new codecs come as a bonus, and i guess i wont be missing the extra power too much.

kingofgrills · 06-12-2008, 06:20 PM

Good for you. My SXRD TV is not 24 hz enabled, so that wasn't an issue for me.

So, does the 663 upscale all video sources to 1080p? That question was never definitively answered.

blupq · 06-13-2008, 06:39 PM

Nope, it doesn't upscale to 1080, just convert from component, rca, s-video to hdmi connected to the tv. I have the 663, and have no complain!!!

steddy6 · 06-13-2008, 06:49 PM

I have a ps3 with blu-rays that are truehd and dtshd audio codec. do i really need the new receivers with truehd and dtshd in order to hear the new truehd dtshd from my ps3

blurayisking · 06-13-2008, 06:57 PM

Muck the expense, go for the gusto. Get the 863 (aka HTR-6180) that has 3 HDMI inputs and other extras.

kurtlingle · 06-13-2008, 07:24 PM

You can get the 663 from J&R for $399 and free shipping if you mention the AVSforum deal. Look at the main thread for the 663 at AVSforum.com and you can see the deal.

I think you can mention Lamont (he is the manager at J&R). But you'll need to call to get the deal.

z24lucifer · 06-16-2008, 02:25 AM

Just to let everybody know who is wondering, I just hooked up the HTR-6080 to a PS3, and it DOES pass 1080p@24Hz beautifully.

I couldn't find much info on it, so I was crossing my fingers!

06-05-2008, 11:55 AM	#1
Underdog Member Member since:Nov 2007 Blu-ray collection:49	Yamaha 861 or 663? I am at a terrible dilemma between those 2 AVRs. My source is a PS3 (LPCM output anyway), so i'm considering going for the higher series instead of the new codecs. What do you think? Is the discounted 8 series actually an improvement over the newer 6 soundwise?

06-11-2008, 04:21 PM	#3
kingofgrills Blu-ray Guru Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Dec 2007 Location:PDX Home Theater Gallery:31 4K collection:5 Blu-ray collection:81 Trading Score:31	The 861 would probably be the better choice sonically, if you have external decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. The 861 has a bit of a better power supply and amp section to generate the extra 20 wpc. However, it does give up a few things on the video side of things. The 861 only upscales to 1080i, as opposed to 1080p for the 663. It also has HDMI v1.2 versus 1.3 on the 661. If it were me, I'd probably get the 861 for the added space on the amp side. I use my PS3 for Blu-ray, so it does all of the decoding. If I had a standalone player that could bitstream, I'd probably search for a deal on the the RX-V863, the 861's replacement, or I'd get the RX-V663 Last edited by kingofgrills; 06-11-2008 at 08:20 PM.

06-13-2008, 06:57 PM	#13
blurayisking Active Member Member since:Oct 2007 Blu-ray reviews:1	Muck the expense, go for the gusto. Get the 863 (aka HTR-6180) that has 3 HDMI inputs and other extras. Last edited by Deciazulado; 06-14-2008 at 01:53 AM.

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06-11-2008, 02:01 PM	#2
z24lucifer Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Toronto Blu-ray collection:26 Trading Score:7	I was in the exact same position as you. I just picked up the 861, since I found it cheaper than the 663 (in Canada anyways). I decided to go for more power/features on the 861 vs the 663, and hoping that my gamble will pay off. I just got it last night, and I didn't have a chance to hook it up just yet. I'll let you know how it goes.

06-11-2008, 08:21 PM	#5
kingofgrills Blu-ray Guru Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Dec 2007 Location:PDX Home Theater Gallery:31 4K collection:5 Blu-ray collection:81 Trading Score:31	It doesn't? I thought for sure it did. Maybe that's one of the reasons I've been focused on the 863.

06-11-2008, 08:57 PM	#6
hagar852 Senior Member Member since:Aug 2007 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:107	v663 upconverts to 1080p.. So if you have a component source at 1080p it will upconvert to HDMI 1080p..

06-12-2008, 01:16 PM	#9
Underdog Member Member since:Nov 2007 Blu-ray collection:49	After finding out of the "problematic" pass-through of 1080p/24 through the 861's 1.2 HDMI, i changed my order to the 663. The new codecs come as a bonus, and i guess i wont be missing the extra power too much.

06-12-2008, 06:20 PM	#10
kingofgrills Blu-ray Guru Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Dec 2007 Location:PDX Home Theater Gallery:31 4K collection:5 Blu-ray collection:81 Trading Score:31	Good for you. My SXRD TV is not 24 hz enabled, so that wasn't an issue for me. So, does the 663 upscale all video sources to 1080p? That question was never definitively answered.

06-13-2008, 06:39 PM	#11
blupq Junior Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Fl	Nope, it doesn't upscale to 1080, just convert from component, rca, s-video to hdmi connected to the tv. I have the 663, and have no complain!!!

06-13-2008, 06:49 PM	#12
steddy6 Member Member since:Jan 2008	I have a ps3 with blu-rays that are truehd and dtshd audio codec. do i really need the new receivers with truehd and dtshd in order to hear the new truehd dtshd from my ps3

06-13-2008, 07:24 PM	#14
kurtlingle Expert Member Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:82	You can get the 663 from J&R for $399 and free shipping if you mention the AVSforum deal. Look at the main thread for the 663 at AVSforum.com and you can see the deal. I think you can mention Lamont (he is the manager at J&R). But you'll need to call to get the deal.

06-16-2008, 02:25 AM	#15
z24lucifer Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Toronto Blu-ray collection:26 Trading Score:7	Just to let everybody know who is wondering, I just hooked up the HTR-6080 to a PS3, and it DOES pass 1080p@24Hz beautifully. I couldn't find much info on it, so I was crossing my fingers!

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