Entry Level(starter) Receivers

[aramis109]

I wouldn't worry about upscaling so much. If your TV has more than one HDMI input, you can always run the cable box directly to it and then run optical or digital coax (both of which can easily carry DD 5.1) to the receiver. You can completely avoid going through the receiver that way if you want to.

I run my coaxial cable directly to the set, and then run a digital coax wire down to the receiver since I don't have a cable box. I get SD and HD channels in fine, and get DD 5.1 when it's available.

Don't let video processing scare you off of a good deal.

[DonRSD]

Originally Posted by 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

hey, good luck on your never ending quest of upgrade-itis.....lol

i just wanted to point out that if you need speaker wire, hdmi wires, etc go to www.monoprice.com

and i too agree with going with a 2 speaker setup for now......then get a center, then finally rears.

POST PICS

[callas01]

Originally Posted by 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

most receivers should do anything to the video if it goes in via HDMI then it should be unaltered going out via HDMI, at least that is the way the Sonys work. I have never had a PQ issue with video going through the AVR as opposed to direct.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by 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.

Just to add my 2 cents, many people will move their fronts to the rear or surrounds as they upgrade. So maybe you can focus more money on the AVR and not worry as much about the speakers right now. Later you can justify the expense of new fronts on the basis they will be vastly better than your initial ones, and your wife will be happy with the result of a better sound once you get there. You will leave yourself a bit more money or maybe apply it towards a center right away. Congrats on the baby!

[Newmason]

I'll post some pictures and a first day setup when the vsx-919 shows up on friday.

[zodiak]

Thanks for the info and the congrats on the baby, I guess Im confussed on what direction I want to go....I thought I had my mind made up on the pioneer vsx 03, the based on a suggestion I read about the 1019 and thought a lil more cost efficient "maybe the one" then I read about the 05 and though ahhh maybe, but I keep coming back to its my first set up, start simple.

But the avr in my opinion is the building block.....so I will vassilate some more

[got rice]

Originally Posted by 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

No problem, you're welcome. So here is what needs to be addressed. What is more important Video or Audio?

Here is where the trade off occurs. If you like Video then you should selct an AVR such as the Pioneer 1019, Sony 820/920?? or the Yamaha 665, Onkyo 607. All of these offer better features than their predecessors. But you lose in the power department. The paper wattage is misleading and not close to what the manufacturer claims. These are called bench mark tests. Real world wattage vs. speculated paper wattage.

If audio is more important then go with the Yamaha RX-v663 or the Onkyo 606 they both offer wattages closer to the stated specs on paper. The power transformers are better in these two as opposed to the latest versions listed above.

To me it sounds as if you are geared to the Video end of HT. So I would go with one of the ones listed in the first paragraph. However I must warn you that you will eventaully want more power. To avoid having to completely buy another AVR down the road, buy one with pre outs so you can add an external amp. I'm not sure which of the newer version have these. Hopefully some of the others can chime in and give you some suggestions.

If you can provide a $$ amount, this will help tremendously.

We can go from there. If it were me I'd go with the Elite 03 or Denon 2309 and be done with it.

[zodiak]

GOT RICE.... thanks for the straight talk, I guess Im concerned about video(or lack there of in some cases) the truth is I have never had a AVR so yes power may not be the thing Im most concerned with.

Price wise I was hoping in the neighborhood of 500... but could go 600 for something like the 03 it was the 1st receiver to catch my eye...but the 1019 is beginning to look more exceptable

Thanks again you guys are priceless

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by zodiak

GOT RICE.... thanks for the straight talk, I guess Im concerned about video(or lack there of in some cases) the truth is I have never had a AVR so yes power may not be the thing Im most concerned with.

Price wise I was hoping in the neighborhood of 500... but could go 600 for something like the 03 it was the 1st receiver to catch my eye...but the 1019 is beginning to look more exceptable

Thanks again you guys are priceless

Trust "got rice", as he helped me get the deal on my Pioneer SC-05 yesterday, and he'll back up anything he says with substance! Trust whatever he tells you...and I think the 03 is the way to go with your budget.

[got rice]

Originally Posted by zodiak

GOT RICE.... thanks for the straight talk, I guess Im concerned about video(or lack there of in some cases) the truth is I have never had a AVR so yes power may not be the thing Im most concerned with.

Price wise I was hoping in the neighborhood of 500... but could go 600 for something like the 03 it was the 1st receiver to catch my eye...but the 1019 is beginning to look more exceptable

Thanks again you guys are priceless

Cool now you have direction. Now go to the nearest Best Buy and give them a demo. and give us a follow up. While you are there look at the Denon line.They have the Faroudja chip upconversion.
See ya.

[got rice]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Trust "got rice", as he helped me get the deal on my Pioneer SC-05 yesterday, and he'll back up anything he says with substance! Trust whatever he tells you...and I think the 03 is the way to go with your budget.

thanks forsberg.. that means alot.

[zodiak]

GOT RICE will do one final question for now ....regarding denon what model is comparable to the pioneer vsx 03? so I can compare?

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by got rice

thanks forsberg.. that means alot.

[got rice]

Denon 2309 is your best bet. has everything you are looking for and more. for you probably better than the Elite 03

Online they are around 600-700.00. At Best Buy considerably more.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by got rice

Here is where the trade off occurs. If you like Video then you should selct an AVR such as the Pioneer 1019, Sony 820/920?? or the Yamaha 665, Onkyo 607. All of these offer better features than their predecessors. But you lose in the power department. The paper wattage is misleading and not close to what the manufacturer claims. These are called bench mark tests. Real world wattage vs. speculated paper wattage.

If audio is more important then go with the Yamaha RX-v663 or the Onkyo 606 they both offer wattages closer to the stated specs on paper. The power transformers are better in these two as opposed to the latest versions listed above.

To me it sounds as if you are geared to the Video end of HT. So I would go with one of the ones listed in the first paragraph. However I must warn you that you will eventaully want more power. To avoid having to completely buy another AVR down the road, buy one with pre outs so you can add an external amp. I'm not sure which of the newer version have these. Hopefully some of the others can chime in and give you some suggestions.

If you can provide a $$ amount, this will help tremendously.

We can go from there. If it were me I'd go with the Elite 03 or Denon 2309 and be done with it.

Just an FYI bench tests on the Yamaha 663 showed that in 5 or more channels driven it only ran 42 wpc, and the 863 was 47 wpc. I think only the 1018 and the 606 were at better then 75% of what was stated in the spec sheet. I've heard that the Sony 820 was about 39 wpc and the 920 was about 50 wpc, but haven't seen the bench tests to prove any of it personally.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by zodiak

GOT RICE will do one final question for now ....regarding denon what model is comparable to the pioneer vsx 03? so I can compare?

you may even consider the marantz 5003, i think this may be the reciever I eventually upgrade to....

[got rice]

Originally Posted by callas01

Just an FYI bench tests on the Yamaha 663 showed that in 5 or more channels driven it only ran 42 wpc, and the 863 was 47 wpc. I think only the 1018 and the 606 were at better then 75% of what was stated in the spec sheet. I've heard that the Sony 820 was about 39 wpc and the 920 was about 50 wpc, but haven't seen the bench tests to prove any of it personally.

I stand corrected. Im still learning, sorry about that.

Here is the bench test Yamaha RX-v663

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Trust "got rice", as he helped me get the deal on my Pioneer SC-05 yesterday, and he'll back up anything he says with substance! Trust whatever he tells you...and I think the 03 is the way to go with your budget.

What kind of deal did you get and where? This seems like the receiver i'll go for when the money's there, since it just keeps going down in price every month or so.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Riff Magnum

What kind of deal did you get and where? This seems like the receiver i'll go for when the money's there, since it just keeps going down in price every month or so.

I got $770 with the 3 yr warranty. I would PM "got rice" for the details, as you need to call in your order and verufy the invoice # is correct to be considered out of state, thus the 3 yr warranty will be honored.

Worked for me. I ordered mine Tuesday, and it is being delivered today!

[callas01]

Originally Posted by got rice

I stand corrected. Im still learning, sorry about that.

Here is the bench test Yamaha RX-v663

then the 663 may have tested better then the 863, here is the 863's review