Whats the best AV Receiver fro $600-$700??

[msnoopy22]

I've been searching on this for about a month. I'm back to the drawing board now. I just checked out the Denon 1909 & 2309. They sound good. I also was looking at the DG920, but I hear Sony is comming out with a DN1000. I keep reading the forums, now I'm thinking Onkyo or Pioneer Elite. I'm all messed up now!!!

Make it easy on me, just tell which one is the best. My budget is around $600-$750.

Things I want my new receiver to do:
1) Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
2) 1080p upconversion for analog signals

What's this Dolby IIz??? I see it on the 09 models. Is it a must to have? I read on CNET.COM they said they didnt notice it. It's suppose to take you up to 9.1

My room is 15 x 18. I need something that will sound great in a room that size. I read a forum about "pre outs". What do you need pre outs for if you have a good receiver?? HUH? I'm lost... please help

p.s. WHY ARE AV RECEIVER SO MUCH TOUGHER TO FIGURE OUT THAN TV's? TV's where easy KURO is the best. I had to check a couple of sites. All the forums agreed.. GET THE KURO! Easiest descion I ever made.

[Colglizity]

I just bought my Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH at Magnolia A/V for 615. So far I'm lovin' it. The best thing to do is listen to several and see which one blows up your skirt.

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

Originally Posted by msnoopy22

I've been searching on this for about a month. I'm back to the drawing board now. I just checked out the Denon 1909 & 2309. They sound good. I also was looking at the DG920, but I hear Sony is comming out with a DN1000. I keep reading the forums, now I'm thinking Onkyo or Pioneer Elite. I'm all messed up now!!!

Make it easy on me, just tell which one is the best. My budget is around $600-$750.

Things I want my new receiver to do:
1) Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
2) 1080p upconversion for analog signals

What's this Dolby IIz??? I see it on the 09 models. Is it a must to have? I read on CNET.COM they said they didnt notice it. It's suppose to take you up to 9.1

My room is 15 x 18. I need something that will sound great in a room that size. I read a forum about "pre outs". What do you need pre outs for if you have a good receiver?? HUH? I'm lost... please help

p.s. WHY ARE AV RECEIVER SO MUCH TOUGHER TO FIGURE OUT THAN TV's? TV's where easy KURO is the best. I had to check a couple of sites. All the forums agreed.. GET THE KURO! Easiest descion I ever made.

For number 2) You would have to jump up to a mid entry level receiver. Shouldn't be a problem with your budget.

Dolby IIz has the ability to matrix a source into a 9.1 audio output.

Pre-outs are used for external amplification. Even if you think that you have a 'good' receiver, an external amp will drive your speakers more efficiently and will a lot for cleaner power to be output at higher volumes. Yum, dynamic head room.

Last question...there are so many subjective things that go into making a 'great' AVR for the user. Each one has it's own unique sound and quality. It's up to the consumer to determine which one sounds good to him, provides features needed, and decent power to the speakers in the end.

[Rob J in WNY]

Pioneer Elite SC-05 owner here. HIGHLY impressed with the product so far (I wrote up about it a bit in my gallery photos if you want to take a look there). The Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH would also do everything you need it to and would be my next best choice, easily.

If you have an ear for finer audio, then the move to lossless audio processing will be a major jump in your home theater experience.

The Sony STR-DG920 is a solid receiver which would fill your room nicely, but I don't think that, save for the silky smooth faceplate cosmetics of the upcoming DN1000, there is much, if any, improvement in the performance and features. I was considering the 920 for an upgrade, then waited until more information came out on the 1000, and wound up going Pioneer Elite when a really nice sale came down the pike. I have always been very partial to Sony electronics, but since I went with the SC-05, I have not regretted my change of heart a bit.

To answer your question about why receivers are more difficult to choose, it probably has to do with the fact that while you can see a TV's picture at a store (albeit likely uncalibrated), you can't easily audition receivers. Aspects of visual picture quality are easier to define (motion blurriness, black levels/detail, etc.), but sound is not so easy. For most people, the simple aspect of picture quality ranks #1 in their choice, with functionality second. Receivers are different. There's so much more to consider for the demanding customer. "Real" output power (which is nearly impossible to gauge at a store), video upscale quality, input options, CODECs, sound quality (which of course cannot be personally judged just by seeing the receiver in a picture or set on a shelf in a store, or anyone's claims, written or verbal), pre-out option, room correction algorithms, etc.

Given your budget, you should be able to find a receiver which will do everything you need, and provide you with some nice surprises as well. As previously mentioned, auditioning the receivers at a store (if you can) is the best and wisest choice. Like speakers, different receivers will have their own sound "signature" that may cause one to stand out more to you. For the fairest comparison, ask the store personnel to make sure that all processing and tonal controls are either turned off or set flat, and play them through the same set of speakers if at all possible.

Good luck and have fun!

[msnoopy22]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

Pioneer Elite SC-05 owner here. HIGHLY impressed with the product so far (I wrote up about it a bit in my gallery photos if you want to take a look there). The Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH would also do everything you need it to and would be my next best choice, easily.
Good luck and have fun!

Does the this receiver have Dobly IIz??? Its 9.1 right? I was just checking out the Onkyo 607 & it has 7.2... Does that make it a better receiver???

[Rob J in WNY]

Originally Posted by msnoopy22

Does the this receiver have Dobly IIz??? Its 9.1 right? I was just checking out the Onkyo 607 & it has 7.2... Does that make it a better receiver???

I'm not sure of all the receivers which are set up to process and output PLIIz, but Onkyo opted to implement it into their new 607 - a rather nice appointment for an entry-level receiver, to be sure!

[callas01]

I would say look at Marantz 5003, Denon 1909 or 2309, Pioneer Elite VSX-03 or 01.

[lojack1976]

Originally Posted by msnoopy22

Does the this receiver have Dobly IIz??? Its 9.1 right? I was just checking out the Onkyo 607 & it has 7.2... Does that make it a better receiver???

Personally, I wouldn't put much stock into the 9.1 thing. It only adds front presence speakers if I'm not mistaken and in reviews that I've read on this you'll be very hard pressed to hear a difference. For one there are no soundtracks that are encoded for this so in order to implement the receiver will matrix the sound to 9.1. Its a nice extra I guess, but I certainly don't think it should influence you on your decision. I would say go with a Pioneer Elite and don't look back.

The higher end Sony receivers that you are considering are nice and all, but I'd take Pioneer any day of the week. You want an ES model if you go with Sony IMO. As far as Onkyo goes, you need to look at the higher end ones before taking one over the Pioneer Elite. And I'm not talking about an 806 either because its not nearly the same as an 805 which does match up well with the Elites. You need to look at the 906 or 876 and higher which cost much more than the lower level Elites. Elite all the way is what I say. I'm an Onkyo owner by the way. Its a good receiver, but its not an Elite.

[bosskmr]

I'm planning on upgrading my receiver and I'm looking at the new Denon AVR-890 which is coming out soon.

This is there new line up:

AVR-4310CI (SRP: $1,999, May '09), AVR-3310CI (SRP: $1,499, June '09), AVR-2310CI (SRP: $849, June '09), AVR-1910 (SRP: $549, May '09) and AVR-1610 (SRP: $379, May '09),

Denon's Retail Home Theater Series line, the AVR-990 (SRP: $1,499, July '09), AVR-890 (SRP: $799, June '09), AVR-790 (SRP: $499, June '09) and AVR-590 (SRP: $349, June '09).

[will0775]

Score another for the pioneer elite. I like you spend several months looking for a good receiver , I burned a lot of hours on this and avs forum, I read and tested onkyo, marantz and denon,pioneer was out of the question until I heard one and it blew my socks off then read all the forums comparing pioneer to the rest, the pio came out on top specially in quality overall, pioneer had the least amount of complaints specially the vsx -03 and the SC-05.I got the SC-05 as a gift and believe me the looks, the build quality and the sound are amazing. I almost when with the Onkyo( my father has the 606) but the receiver runs really hot and that for me is a tun off specially if you are going to put it in a TV console. I'm not saying the other brands are bad, but for me my SC-05 is above the rest in sound quality. Just make sure the receiver you get makes you happy that's all that matters in the end.

[browninggold]

I have had a Denon 3808ci for a year and a half, very happey with it...no problems.
http://www.smartguider.com/Receiver/...FRINDQodFy20oA

[Fors*]

I have an Onkyo and been shopping around a lot lately, and my impressions are that the Pioneers seem to be as good as any of the "better" manufactuer's, or possibly better, and I will probably go with one of them....I'm just looking for the best price point out there before I pull the trigger....

[Bluubyu]

Originally Posted by Colglizity

I just bought my Pioneer Elite VSX-03TXH at Magnolia A/V for 615. So far I'm lovin' it. The best thing to do is listen to several and see which one blows up your skirt.

+1

[msnoopy22]

Originally Posted by will0775

Score another for the pioneer elite. I like you spend several months looking for a good receiver , I burned a lot of hours on this and avs forum, I read and tested onkyo, marantz and denon,pioneer was out of the question until I heard one and it blew my socks off then read all the forums comparing pioneer to the rest, the pio came out on top specially in quality overall, pioneer had the least amount of complaints specially the vsx -03 and the SC-05.I got the SC-05 as a gift and believe me the looks, the build quality and the sound are amazing. I almost when with the Onkyo( my father has the 606) but the receiver runs really hot and that for me is a tun off specially if you are going to put it in a TV console. I'm not saying the other brands are bad, but for me my SC-05 is above the rest in sound quality. Just make sure the receiver you get makes you happy that's all that matters in the end.

Will the Pioneer VSX 03 or the SC-05 upscale a analog signal up to 1080p???

[callas01]

Originally Posted by msnoopy22

Will the Pioneer VSX 03 or the SC-05 upscale a analog signal up to 1080p???

pretty sure it would, my sony will take a video signal from component or other analog source and convert it to 1080p, but keep in mind that if it goes in via HDMI, you will get the same signal going out.