HD Receivers

[cnowels]

I am in dire need of a new receiver and have gotten a LOT of great advice by reading all the threads in here. However, it would be a huge help to me (and I think others) if we could have one list of receivers that can decode Dolby True HD and DTS-HD MA since it seems like that list wouldn't really be all that long.

As for myself, I am particularly interested in those that can be had for less than $1000.

This would really help me out with my research. Thanks for all your great help!

[MacDaddyOJack]

For less than $1000, you can get the Onkyo 805 (I LOVE mine) or the Yamaha RX-V1800, also a great reciever. Denon has the 2808ci but its not as much power as the first two I mentioned. It does scale to 1080p though, depends on your needs. There is also a Pioneer elite, but I dont know much about it since I didnt look into it when I got my reciever. I dont really care for Pioneer products, but that is just a personal preference of mine. I think that is about it for your current choices under $1000. Somebody may be able to add one if I have forgotten.

[crackinhedz]

For under $1,000

ONKYO 605,705,805 (875 if on sale)
Yamaha RX-V663,RX-V863

[MacDaddyOJack]

I forgot to mention that the prices for the recievers I mentioned were online only. You cant get Yamaha RX-V1800 in stores for under $1000. If you do choose to buy online, just make sure you aren't buying a refurb. It depends on the site, but you can get the ones I listed for under $1000.

[crackinhedz]

The 805 or the newer Yamaha's will probably be the best option for under a grand.

(Onkyo 605 if you want to save money and still have a good quality hdmi receiver)

[Barnum]

I know your budget was $1000 but if you look around the Denon 3808 can be found for $1200. You will not regret the purchase.

[cnowels]

Okay, I have to admit a prejudice of mine. I dislike amber front-panel displays. I think the Yamaha's would be difficult for me to get over. Sad, I know. But then I once picked out a DVD player based upon which front-end of the unit and remote I thought looked the coolest.

[crackinhedz]

to each his own.

[krazeyeyez]

ill be getting an integra dtr-5.8 for $800, decodes both true and ma. my only thing is that i don't know if this receiver requires that extra audio cord or whatever or if its just hdmi.

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by cnowels

Okay, I have to admit a prejudice of mine. I dislike amber front-panel displays. I think the Yamaha's would be difficult for me to get over. Sad, I know. But then I once picked out a DVD player based upon which front-end of the unit and remote I thought looked the coolest.

Then you gotta get the 805 , the display is blue/green and there is a cool blue light that glows around the volume knob. It also has a pure audio mode that turns all the lights off when in use.

[cnowels]

Originally Posted by MacDaddyOJack

Then you gotta get the 805 , the display is blue/green and there is a cool blue light that glows around the volume knob. It also has a pure audio mode that turns all the lights off when in use.

Does the display give you enough information? It looks a bit small. I'm not an audio expert so I really need to make sure it clearly tells me exactly what it is receiving, decoding, and outputting.

[Brian Cash]

id go with the onkyo i had the 805 and it was a really good receiver

[cnowels]

Originally Posted by KingLeerUK

Spend the extra $$$ and go for the Onkyo TX-SR875 if you have any legacy video devices in your system (game systems, VCR, satellite, laserdisc) it has the capability to upconvert those sources and output them to your display via a single cable.

Okay, let me make sure I understand this. So if a receiver does not upconvert those other sources - does that mean that I can't use the one HDMI cable from the receiver to the TV? That I would have to run some other cable for the other video inputs? Or would it still use the single HDMI, but the quality wouldn't be quite as good?

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by cnowels

Okay, let me make sure I understand this. So if a receiver does not upconvert those other sources - does that mean that I can't use the one HDMI cable from the receiver to the TV? That I would have to run some other cable for the other video inputs? Or would it still use the single HDMI, but the quality wouldn't be quite as good?

The 805 only upconverts to 720p, the 875 upconverts to 1080p. Both will pass though any hi-def signal untouched. If you want one single HDMI cable in the back of the tv with everything at 1080p, then you need the 875. On the other hand, if your tv is natively 1080p, then most will upconvert to 1080p anyways, you just have to plug the video feed directly into the tv. If your tv is only 720p then the 805 is perfect for you.

As for your other question, the display is plenty big. The reciever itself is monstrous, so dont try and judge from the pic.

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by MacDaddyOJack

Then you gotta get the 805 , the display is blue/green and there is a cool blue light that glows around the volume knob. It also has a pure audio mode that turns all the lights off when in use.

Blue or green? You mean we can pick??? Awe man I got green I didn't even know! Still looks really nice but blue would've been awesome especially for the back lit remote.

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by Rike255

Blue or green? You mean we can pick??? Awe man I got green I didn't even know! Still looks really nice but blue would've been awesome especially for the back lit remote.

Haha, no I meant that the display is bluish-green, not a choice between the two! The light around my volume knob is straight blue though.

[Rike255]

Oh ok phew. I was worried there. There was a picture of the 805 remote with a blue back light instead of the green I had. Then when you mentioned that I thought there was a blue display version too. Good I'm still happy with my green!

[Flomaster]

my vote goes to the Yamaha RX-V1800 I prefer blue display over amber, but I will not let a small pet peeve like that stop me from buying the best my money can buy.

[doctorsteve]

So (aside from having the combination of features you want), what is it about a receiver that makes one better than another. Are the components really that different that one does a better 'job' than another? I mean decoding is decoding, no?

Onkyo owners seem to love theirs... why? Why is one different or better than another???

I'm a month or three from getting a receiver, but due to the orgasms from the Onkyo sector, they've piqued my interest... any suggestions from you guys?

Long story short - I have a PS3, but may have a standalone later. I'm looking for decode capability of both DTS-HD MA and True HD, at least 2 HDMI 1.3 inputs. At least 5.1, but if I'm going to buy a reciever, I'd prefer 7.1 just in case...

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

So (aside from having the combination of features you want), what is it about a receiver that makes one better than another. Are the components really that different that one does a better 'job' than another? I mean decoding is decoding, no?

Onkyo owners seem to love theirs... why? Why is one different or better than another???

I'm a month or three from getting a receiver, but due to the orgasms from the Onkyo sector, they've piqued my interest... any suggestions from you guys?

Long story short - I have a PS3, but may have a standalone later. I'm looking for decode capability of both DTS-HD MA and True HD, at least 2 HDMI 1.3 inputs. At least 5.1, but if I'm going to buy a reciever, I'd prefer 7.1 just in case...

Anyone?