Moosensquirrel's Future Home Theater

[moosensquirrel]

Hey, everyone.

I'm new to this website, and I'm in the process of building my first home theater, admittedly a modest one. And I'm looking for advice!

My first topic is about receivers.

Yesterday, I purchased a 7.1 Sony receiver from Best Buy. They said it was normally $400, but on clearance for $280. I believe it is the Sony STR-DH520, and if so, the price I paid wasn't a good price, since Amazon has it for $240 tax free. I haven't opened it yet, and I have 14 days to return it even if I do open it. (I'm strongly considering returning it, but I bought it just in case because I thought it might be a good deal and they might sell out quick.)

A friend would like to sell me his somewhat older Yamaha receiver, I believe the RX-V1800. He is asking $380 for it, including shipping.

I already have the speakers, 7x Infinity Primus 150 bookshelf speakers (undecided if I will use five channels or seven), and 2x Polk PSW10 subwoofers.

I'm on a budget, the cheaper the better. I won't be using 3D or 4k on this receiver. My questions are:

1. Is one brand of receiver better than another at a given age and price point?
2. Is there an audible quality difference between cheap receivers and expensive receivers?
3. At a given price point, is it better to get a cheap new receiver or a used expensive receiver?
4. Since I'm unsure how a 5.1 system interprets 7.1 information and how a 7.1 system interprets 5.1 information, is one an inherently better match for me?
5. Since I do have two (admittedly awful) subs, are there any advantages to 7.2 receivers? Is the receiver smart enough to route front left, left surround, left back surround, and LFE to the left sub; and front right, right surround, right back surround, and LFE to the right sub? Or are receivers dumb enough that all bass goes everywhere and it is just the same signal to each sub output with a different internal volume control for the subs?

Music is my first love, and that will be on another (two channel) system in another room. For my home theater, I just want "good enough" sound and picture to be carried away by the plot and dialogue and cinematography and special effects of a movie. "Good enough" on a budget is all I'm hoping to receive.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

- Moosensquirrel

[DangeRuss]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

So you've opened up a thread of your own

Congrats Bullwinkle

[moosensquirrel]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

So you've opened up a thread of your own

Congrats Bullwinkle

Thanks, dangerous fellow.

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by moosensquirrel

Thanks, dangerous fellow.

Now you are aware how things go around here right ?

You buy a piece of equipment ....... YOU MUST

1. Take pictures upon its arrival

2. Takes pictures of the unboxing proceedure

3. Take a picture of it in its new environment and ........

4. Post said pictures here

BTW: You'll soon need to start your gallery

[hometheatergeek]

Welcome to the neighborhood........ Moose. Oops I almost used your real name. Let me mull over your questions and I'll get back to you in a few.

[moosensquirrel]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Now you are aware how things go around here right ?

You buy a piece of equipment ....... YOU MUST

1. Take pictures upon its arrival

2. Takes pictures of the unboxing proceedure

3. Take a picture of it in its new environment and ........

4. Post said pictures here

BTW: You'll soon need to start your gallery

Haha, fine, I'll see if I can take some pictures tonight. Demanding people!

I don't suppose you have any opinions on the questions I asked above?

[hometheatergeek]

Originally Posted by moosensquirrel

Haha, fine, I'll see if I can take some pictures tonight. Demanding people!

I don't suppose you have any opinions on the questions I asked above?

Did you just ask if Russ has opinions?????

[moosensquirrel]

Originally Posted by hometheatergeek

Welcome to the neighborhood........ Moose. Oops I almost used your real name. Let me mull over your questions and I'll get back to you in a few.

Bah, like you would even know my real name!

[moosensquirrel]

Originally Posted by hometheatergeek

Did you just ask if Russ has opinions?????

Why? Does he belong to some whacky subset of the home theater market? Perhaps he'll only listen to line-arrays of 3,000 Apple earbuds?

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by hometheatergeek

Did you just ask if Russ has opinions?????

And just what's that supposed to mean ?

I have some answers but I'd like to have some questions answered and or photos to work with .........

As in how large is your space and the budget with which you'll be working with.

Originally Posted by moosensquirrel

Why? Does he belong to some whacky subset of the home theater market? Perhaps he'll only listen to line-arrays of 3,000 Apple earbuds?

I don't know what he's trying to say because around these parts ......... I tend to be the Voice of Reason

[hometheatergeek]

1. Is one brand of receiver better than another at a given age and price point?
2. Is there an audible quality difference between cheap receivers and expensive receivers?
3. At a given price point, is it better to get a cheap new receiver or a used expensive receiver?
4. Since I'm unsure how a 5.1 system interprets 7.1 information and how a 7.1 system interprets 5.1 information, is one an inherently better match for me?
5. Since I do have two (admittedly awful) subs, are there any advantages to 7.2 receivers? Is the receiver smart enough to route front left, left surround, left back surround, and LFE to the left sub; and front right, right surround, right back surround, and LFE to the right sub? Or are receivers dumb enough that all bass goes everywhere and it is just the same signal to each sub output with a different internal volume control for the subs?

1. This can be debated for hours. The major brands do the auto calibration differently. For a new comer to the hobby I would say go for a brand that uses Audyssey. I have done the different version on installs and some require more work prior to running the auto calibration and the AVRs using Audyssey being the most helpful if you are a new hobbyist.
2. Yes
3. See answer to question 2
4. Depends on the size of the room.
5. For the most part their is no longer stereo subs. The subs will get anything below the crossover you set in your AVR for your speakers and they all should be set to small. And secondly the LFE is also routed to the subwoofers. When they are properly integrated in the ROOM (very important) the bass will appear to emanate from the L/R main speakers.

[moosensquirrel]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

I have some answers but I'd like to have some questions and or photos to work with .........

I'm not at home at the moment, but I found these on some realtor's website:

[Show spoiler]

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by moosensquirrel

I'm not at home at the moment, but I found these on some realtor's website:

[Show spoiler]

Wow That's a nice room with plenty of possibilities ......

But I'll start by agreeing with your assessment and returning the Sony and grabbing the Yamaha

[moosensquirrel]

Originally Posted by hometheatergeek

For a new comer to the hobby I would say go for a brand that uses Audyssey.

Which brands have Audyssey?

[hometheatergeek]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

And just what's that supposed to mean ?

I was just playing around.

I have some answers but I'd like to have some questions answered and or photos to work with .........

As in how large is your space and the budget with which you'll be working with.



I don't know what he's trying to say because around these parts ......... I tend to be the Voice of Reason

And just what's that suppose to mean? That I'm a raving lunatic?

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by moosensquirrel

Which brands have Audyssey?

Denon & Marantz, NAD & Oinkyo & Integra

[DangeRuss]

Originally Posted by hometheatergeek

And just what's that suppose to mean? That I'm a raving lunatic?

Says the man with 20 subwoofers

[moosensquirrel]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Wow That's a nice room with plenty of possibilities ......

The trouble is that the speakers are bookshelf form-factor, not floor standing. I don't have a budget for good stands, and I definitely don't have a budget for ceiling mounting and professional in-wall/ceiling wiring.

I've heard cinder-blocks make excellent speaker stands. The budget solution, I suppose, is to make six stacks of cinder-blocks and sew a snug cloth "sock" for each stack (out of a suitably-manly fabric).

It's a bit pricier, but speaker stands like these aren't terribly expensive at $20/stand.

[Show spoiler]

[hometheatergeek]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Denon & Marantz, NAD & Oinkyo & Integra

Skip the Marantz and Integra. Those are high end units usually sold by dealers. The second choice you might consider are the Yamahas. The YAPO does a decent job of getting all the speakers correct. It just need some help with the subs but that is where I come in.

[moosensquirrel]

Originally Posted by DangeRuss

Denon & Marantz, NAD & Oinkyo & Integra

Denon has a 5.1 receiver for $250, and Onkyo has a 7.2 model for $330. I suppose I could swing either of those.

But that's disregarding HTG's sentiment that expensive receivers sound better. Assuming that expensive receivers do sound better (and that it is perceptible on the quality of speakers I'll have and to someone who isn't a home theaterphile), I'm back to the used route (Craigslist?) or finding the cheapest "good-sounding" receiver out there?