Tell me why I need HDMI 2.1

[nugent]

OK, here's my situation. Just bought a new Sony 77" OLED.

I currently have a 12 year old beast of an Onkyo 7 x 140 wats per channel.

Obviously it isn't 4K compatible.

For "now" I would prefer to stay under $500 fo a stopgap receiver.
Don't want to rush into spending $1,500 or so on a receiver right now.

To the HDMI question I am looking at these two Denon models,
https://www.accessories4less.com/mak...-w/heos/1.html
https://www.accessories4less.com/mak...-w/heos/1.html

I do not now, nor will I in the future ever be doing any sort of "gaming".
There will never be a game console involved.

The Denon 1600 model does not have 2.1 while the 960 does.

With all this said is there any scenario where I would need HDMI 2.1 for "my" purposes?

My speaker set up is all super-efficient Klipsch so the power of either should be at least adequate for now.

[slimdude]

The benefit of a HDMI 2.1 cable is that it allows higher bandwidth capacity, and can transfer more data at one, support higher resolutions and frame rates. With a 4K UHD TV, a HDMI 2.1 cable is recommended, especially with a newly high-quality 77" Sony OLED 4K TV you've just purchased.

[oddbox83]

For 4K, the X1600H is more than capable. It does have eARC, just not VRR and 4k 120hz features by the look of it. For the S960H you're paying for slightly higher power, 8K passthrough VRR/HRR features for gaming, so mainly stuff you won't be using.

Since it's just a stop gap, I'd recommend the X1600H (a very good stop gap at that) and save that extra $100 for later.

[McGarnigal]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

For 4K, the X1600H is more than capable. It does have eARC, just not VRR and 4k 120hz features by the look of it. For the S960H you're paying for slightly higher power, 8K passthrough VRR/HRR features for gaming, so mainly stuff you won't be using.

Since it's just a stop gap, I'd recommend the X1600H (a very good stop gap at that) and save that extra $100 for later.

I second this

[nugent]

Thanks for all the input!

I haven't shopped for receivers in over 10 years so I have had to do a ton of reading trying to get up to speed.

I was hoping to score one of these today but came up empty handed,
https://www.costco.com/denon-avr-s76...100774339.html

A lot of Costco's have them for $250 at the moment but the only one in my area did not.

TV will not arrive till next week and then I am headed on vacation for week.
Unless some better deal comes along I will likely order the 1600.
I would like a bit more power but it will be adequate for the time being.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by nugent

Thanks for all the input!

I haven't shopped for receivers in over 10 years so I have had to do a ton of reading trying to get up to speed.

I was hoping to score one of these today but came up empty handed,
https://www.costco.com/denon-avr-s76...100774339.html

A lot of Costco's have them for $250 at the moment but the only one in my area did not.

TV will not arrive till next week and then I am headed on vacation for week.
Unless some better deal comes along I will likely order the 1600.
I would like a bit more power but it will be adequate for the time being.

Costco also has this receiver which is very popular.
https://www.costco.com/onkyo-tx-nr60...100804401.html
$250 for that Denon is practically giving it away!

[nugent]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Costco also has this receiver which is very popular.
https://www.costco.com/onkyo-tx-nr60...100804401.html
$250 for that Denon is practically giving it away!

I have owned a LOT of receivers through the years including Yamaha, Onkyo and Denon. My current main setup being Onkyo and bedroom setup Denon.

I was all set to get the 1600 Denon above but came across a deal on this,
https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audi...700/index.html

I had almost $200 in eBay GC's I had acquired to buy a phone but wound up going another direction on that. So I really wanted to burn that on something other than just odds and ends.

The Yamaha had HDMI 1.2 teething issues early on, but Yamaha wound up just replacing the entire board. Other growing pains along the way which appear to have been largely address with firmware updates.
It comes with a 2 year SquareTrade warranty.

I found a YT video doing actual power tests and this Yamaha had some amazing real world power output for a budget receiver in this class.
I jotted down a few numbers but the most impressive was it hitting 119 watts into all 7 channels at one point on a Mad Max trailer.

I am not making a commitment to this for the next 10 years but I think it will be fine for my needs in the short term.