Picking a receiver - Blu-ray Forum

spaghettidinner · 11-22-2008, 09:40 AM

Hi everyone,

I am very new to HD Audio, but am in love with it. I have my eyes set on updating my old a/v receiver. I have read that the onkyo series have problems with HDMI video though. I have come across the Pioneer Elite VSX-90TXV, this receiver has caught my eye and at a pretty reasonable price. I will be hooking it up to my Panasonic DMP-BD30 player. I want that TrueHD and DTS-HD audio out of it. I am just wondering if I am making the right choice on this receiver. Has anyone else used this or would recommend another receiver capable of these HD audio formats with no video problems?

Thanks

Opips2 · 11-22-2008, 03:58 PM

I want that TrueHD and DTS-HD audio out and 7.1 ch. for a receiver.

my old home theatre receiver panasonic SC-HT900 but all speakers are 60 watts, centre speaker 250 watts.

I find it harman kardon AVR 254 has TrueHD and DTS-HD audio out and 7.1 ch. audio. the receiver output 50 watts for 7.1 and stereo 65 watts power.

LifeOfAPirate13 · 11-22-2008, 03:59 PM

The Pioneer Elite 94 model I dunno the numbers that follow it is a very awesome system that is a last season model for them you can get it at a discounted price most places

rlf3911 · 11-22-2008, 04:00 PM

My Onkyo 805 is perfect, think you are getting info from the wrong sources. There aren't too many people here who have had problems with Onkyo.

callas01 · 11-22-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaghettidinner

Hi everyone,

I am very new to HD Audio, but am in love with it. I have my eyes set on updating my old a/v receiver. I have read that the onkyo series have problems with HDMI video though. I have come across the Pioneer Elite VSX-90TXV, this receiver has caught my eye and at a pretty reasonable price. I will be hooking it up to my Panasonic DMP-BD30 player. I want that TrueHD and DTS-HD audio out of it. I am just wondering if I am making the right choice on this receiver. Has anyone else used this or would recommend another receiver capable of these HD audio formats with no video problems?

Thanks

That would be a great receiver. enjoy it very much. you will want to bitstream the audio down to the receiver once you set it up.

spaghettidinner · 11-22-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlf3911

My Onkyo 805 is perfect, think you are getting info from the wrong sources. There aren't too many people here who have had problems with Onkyo.

What is your opinion on the Onkyo 606 or 705? Can you tell me the main differences between them?

Quote:

Originally Posted by callas01

That would be a great receiver. enjoy it very much. you will want to bitstream the audio down to the receiver once you set it up.

Hey thanks, I just read somewhere that for this model it doesn't fully support HDMI sound and a additional optical cable is required to from the unit of video source to the receiver. Is this true? If so then how is this receiver capable of dolby trueHD or DTS-HD because I thought optical cables couldn't do that? Its only possible with HDMI and multi-output cables for audio right?

cinema725 · 11-22-2008, 10:35 PM

I'm guessing the problems your reading about concerning Onkyo video problems has to do with video upconversion. It takes video from other sources and outputs it via HDMI. Some reviewers have noted that the image quality of the unconverted sources could be a little sharper. But as far as pure HDMI, you won't have any video problems. All the receiver does is pass it through to the source. It retains the video quality that your blu-ray player can produce. Hope that helps.

I'm getting full HD audio (all formats) at a little over 100 watts/per channel with the Onkyo 705. Couldn't ask for more.

brett_day · 11-22-2008, 10:37 PM

best thing to do is to go and see the receivers in action and see which one sounds the best to you! All receivers will have different sound characteristics

callas01 · 11-22-2008, 10:52 PM

Yeah, I went and looked at reviews after you mentioned that and yes someone at Vanns, said you have to run a seperate cable for audio..... I don't know that much about that reciever... sorry if i gave you bad advise.

I take it your budget for this receiver is around the $500-$700 mark, if so why not try these

Onkyo 706 $506 amazon.com (new)
Denon 988 $550
Harman 354 $483 (75 watts only but I hear good things about HK)
Denon AVR-2309CI $770
Yamaha 1800 $720
Sony 4300ES $685
Onkyo 805 $600

callas01 · 11-22-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett_day

best thing to do is to go and see the receivers in action and see which one sounds the best to you! All receivers will have different sound characteristics

great advise, also not all watts are the same so one maker might say 100 watts and another will say 75 but sound better

JimShaw · 11-22-2008, 11:06 PM

I have a Marantz SR7002 that I pucked up for $800 and I love it.

spaghettidinner · 11-22-2008, 11:14 PM

Thank you all for you kind replies. I might be thinking a bit less actually. (I am just dreaming more I guess haha) I have herd good things from the onkyo 606 unit. How you would say the 606 compares to the 706. I think if I go with the 606, I can save some money.

brett_day · 11-22-2008, 11:18 PM

i have the 605, the 606 is the same apart from a couple more HDMi inputs! The sound i get from my 605 now that i have set it up correctly, is absolutely mind blowing! HD audio is phenominal! The 605/606 are amazing receivers for the price. i got my 605 for $257. you can get the 606 for about $350 on sale.

cinema725 · 11-22-2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaghettidinner

Thank you all for you kind replies. I might be thinking a bit less actually. (I am just dreaming more I guess haha) I have herd good things from the onkyo 606 unit. How you would say the 606 compares to the 706. I think if I go with the 606, I can save some money.

Check out Onkyo's website for a breakdown of specifications. They are only slightly different. The 606 just has a few less bells and whistles. You'll be plenty satisfied either way!

callas01 · 11-22-2008, 11:25 PM

If you are considering the entry-mid level receivers like the Onkyo 606 also take a listen to the Pioneer 1018 and the Sony 920, I was between these to before I just bought the Sony. Pioneer was great just too big for my AVR and the Sony had just dropped $70 on Amazon, so I jumped on the Sony. Either way, I think you would find the 3 are all great AVR's.

take a drive to your local HT store and take a listen.

11-22-2008, 09:40 AM	#1
spaghettidinner New Member Member since:Dec 2007	Picking a receiver Hi everyone, I am very new to HD Audio, but am in love with it. I have my eyes set on updating my old a/v receiver. I have read that the onkyo series have problems with HDMI video though. I have come across the Pioneer Elite VSX-90TXV, this receiver has caught my eye and at a pretty reasonable price. I will be hooking it up to my Panasonic DMP-BD30 player. I want that TrueHD and DTS-HD audio out of it. I am just wondering if I am making the right choice on this receiver. Has anyone else used this or would recommend another receiver capable of these HD audio formats with no video problems? Thanks

11-22-2008, 03:58 PM	#2
Opips2 Special Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Edmonton, AB Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:175 Blu-ray reviews:10 Trading Score:1	I want that TrueHD and DTS-HD audio out and 7.1 ch. for a receiver. my old home theatre receiver panasonic SC-HT900 but all speakers are 60 watts, centre speaker 250 watts. I find it harman kardon AVR 254 has TrueHD and DTS-HD audio out and 7.1 ch. audio. the receiver output 50 watts for 7.1 and stereo 65 watts power. Last edited by Opips2; 11-22-2008 at 04:00 PM.

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11-22-2008, 03:59 PM	#3
LifeOfAPirate13 Expert Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Chicago, IL Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:18	The Pioneer Elite 94 model I dunno the numbers that follow it is a very awesome system that is a last season model for them you can get it at a discounted price most places

11-22-2008, 04:00 PM	#4
rlf3911 Senior Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Mansfield, TX Blu-ray collection:251 Trading Score:6	My Onkyo 805 is perfect, think you are getting info from the wrong sources. There aren't too many people here who have had problems with Onkyo.

11-22-2008, 10:35 PM	#7
cinema725 Active Member Member since:Nov 2008 Blu-ray reviews:2	I'm guessing the problems your reading about concerning Onkyo video problems has to do with video upconversion. It takes video from other sources and outputs it via HDMI. Some reviewers have noted that the image quality of the unconverted sources could be a little sharper. But as far as pure HDMI, you won't have any video problems. All the receiver does is pass it through to the source. It retains the video quality that your blu-ray player can produce. Hope that helps. I'm getting full HD audio (all formats) at a little over 100 watts/per channel with the Onkyo 705. Couldn't ask for more.

11-22-2008, 10:37 PM	#8
brett_day Blu-ray Guru Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Moore, Oklahoma Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:45 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	best thing to do is to go and see the receivers in action and see which one sounds the best to you! All receivers will have different sound characteristics

11-22-2008, 10:52 PM	#9
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	Yeah, I went and looked at reviews after you mentioned that and yes someone at Vanns, said you have to run a seperate cable for audio..... I don't know that much about that reciever... sorry if i gave you bad advise. I take it your budget for this receiver is around the $500-$700 mark, if so why not try these Onkyo 706 $506 amazon.com (new) Denon 988 $550 Harman 354 $483 (75 watts only but I hear good things about HK) Denon AVR-2309CI $770 Yamaha 1800 $720 Sony 4300ES $685 Onkyo 805 $600

11-22-2008, 11:06 PM	#11
JimShaw Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Menifee, CA 4K collection:49 Blu-ray collection:1069 Trading Score:141	I have a Marantz SR7002 that I pucked up for $800 and I love it.

11-22-2008, 11:14 PM	#12
spaghettidinner New Member Member since:Dec 2007	Thank you all for you kind replies. I might be thinking a bit less actually. (I am just dreaming more I guess haha) I have herd good things from the onkyo 606 unit. How you would say the 606 compares to the 706. I think if I go with the 606, I can save some money.

11-22-2008, 11:18 PM	#13
brett_day Blu-ray Guru Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Moore, Oklahoma Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:45 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	i have the 605, the 606 is the same apart from a couple more HDMi inputs! The sound i get from my 605 now that i have set it up correctly, is absolutely mind blowing! HD audio is phenominal! The 605/606 are amazing receivers for the price. i got my 605 for $257. you can get the 606 for about $350 on sale.

11-22-2008, 11:25 PM	#15
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	If you are considering the entry-mid level receivers like the Onkyo 606 also take a listen to the Pioneer 1018 and the Sony 920, I was between these to before I just bought the Sony. Pioneer was great just too big for my AVR and the Sony had just dropped $70 on Amazon, so I jumped on the Sony. Either way, I think you would find the 3 are all great AVR's. take a drive to your local HT store and take a listen.

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