Heya, first post! Anywho, i recently bought the 32inch sharp 1080p LCD hdtv and have a PS3 and i wanna get it all hooked up with my sound system in my main room, i have an old reciever but i'm planning on upgrading very soon..so i have been researching and had made up my mind on a yamaha (because i had heard so many good things) it was the RX-V661 that i was looking at, then i read a review that was talking about "next-gen" recievers that use HDMI 1.3 so i then found the Onkyo TX-SR605 that looked great for what i need also...any help would be greatly appreciated, and what i plan on doing is having my pc's and ps3 and all that goin into the one reciever into my HDTV (thats why i like the HDMI upconversion that these both offer) thanks!
Here's an answer if there is a question. Run your video sources straight to the TV and use it to switch between them. Don't connect your PC directly to your receiver either, which will likely cause ground loop or other noise problems. Instead connect your PC to a music server(yes, sorry I know they are expensive) then the server to your rec.
Alright thx Eric. And jan my question was is the onkyo TX-SR605 a good reciever that will last me a little while and work with all my HD components? or is there a better reciever that im just not seeing..the guys at best buy told me to get yamaha but they didnt have onkyo there. Thx!
Well, first, I guess I'd have to say I wouldn't take much advice from the guys at Best Buy no matter what. They are working there so they can buy some car stereo on salesman's accomodation and they'll be out of there once they get the subwoofer they want. They aren't there to learn about audio and they aren't there to give great advice. I'd be headed to a small independent audio dealer - if it were me.
If the Onkyo seems to be a good fit for your needs as you assess those needs, there's not much to argue about. You seem to be picking your receiver based on features rather than performance. It's a bit easier to argue whether a particular receiver will drive a particular set of speakers as desired. It's far more difficult to argue whether a particular feature or set of features is desirable. If you feel a HDMI 1.3 connection is important, and you are willing to place that higher on your priorities than sound quality, then I cannot make a case for another product assuming you like the Onkyo based on its rear panel alone.
With that said, I would suggest you now pick speakers that can be driven with ease by your soon-to-be-new receiver. Otherwise, you'll soon be back here asking; "What's wrong with my system?"
And, if it were me, I wouldn't be asking the guys at Best Buy which speakers you should pair with that Onkyo.
Well..SQ is very important, im trying to find one that has good SQ and will still have all the functionalities i need (HDMI mainly) and like i said, i dont know much about this stuff so i dont know if HDMI 1.3 is worth the $$ over 1.2..Also, im just now beginning to look at recievers so im just asking about what i have seen, i also just read about the elite pioneer AV recievers which seem really nice too and i have heard some good reviews on the SQ im jus tryin to get a better overall picture of what i want to spend my money on, and yea best buy techs arent a good reference i know :-P
" ... i also just read about the elite pioneer AV recievers which seem really nice too."
Why? Not trying to put you on the spot. But what makes you think an Elite receiver seems really nice? What did you read that made it seem nice? Did the article have any negatives to mention about the receiver? Ya gotta kinda wonder when they can't find anything negative to add to the review. If everything was positive, they probably didn't look or listen very hard.
Did the article mention what speakers they used with the receiver? What about the sound quality was mentioned that made you think this might be a possible choice? Do you have any priorities other than "it sounded good"? Did they use the receiver with a subwoofer? If so, what did they say about the low frequency response that made the receiver sound nice?
You can do some research on HDMI 1.3 to determine whether this connection is worth the money. HDMI connections have changed rapidly with each new revision being offered on newer models of HT receivers. It's a pretty safe bet 1.3 will be updated soon also. You might also want to go over to the Home Theater section of the forum and ask the HDMI question over there. Those guys are into connectivity like computer geeks are into updates on the latest spyware software. We concentrate mostly on the sound quality in this portion of the forum.
what made me look into the elite pioneers? I read someone (like me tryin to figure which reciever to get) asking about the onkyo and a few people responded with, if you can afford the upgrade, the new elite pioneers offer the same functions and connectivity of the onkyo, but with much better SQ..again, like i said, i know little regarding the subject and im not an audiophile (so i prolly wont be able to tell all the differences in recievers sound) but i know i want a good sounding system..and the speakers i have atm are Bose 201 series IV (2 speakers no center, from 96' i believe) and the reciever is straight out of the 70's so i know whatever i get will sound better lol. And thanks for all the help Jan, i been readin around these forums and you are very helpful in more than just one area! forgive the n00bness when it comes to this lol
For the most part Pioneer's Elite line up of receivers are upgraded by adding gold plated RCA connectors, better (though still not great) speaker connectors and a few extra features to the basic Pioneer product. Their digital players fare better in the upscale market but not tremendously so and can usually be bettered by any specialist product from Cambridge or Rega.
Your speakers are undemanding loads for any amplifier. And most receivers will sound very much the same through those speakers. I have no idea where you live or what products you have the ability to audition before you make a purchase. Therefore, it's not a simple matter to make any recommendations and, as a rule, I seldom make specific product endorsements.
Here's what I would advise. Get out of the mass market product and into something a bit more specialist in nature. Try to find a Cambridge dealer in your area and go audition some of their gear. The products you've looked at are sold on the faceplate and rear panel. These will be obsoleted in a few years and when the receiver needs repair, it will be easier to just by something new with new features. Unfortunately, this is a trend I see in many AV receivers. Buying for internals rather than externals should provide more incentive to buy and keep a good sounding product.
I wouldn't pay extra for a rebranded Pioneer or Sony. The Onkyo yadayada605 has just received a very good review in the current "The Absolute Sound", so you might want to check that magazine out. My long time favorites among receivers are HK and Outlaw. Outlaw is an internet only product. NAD is also a favorite among many of this forum's users. I'm so-so on NAD myself.
In the end, I would suggest you consider whether paying for a HT receiver is wise. While they have features that are attractive to a young buyer such as yourself, they have a limited lifespan that typically lands them on the junk heap when they finally fail. And, unfortuantely, failure is their one consistency. All of these products are based around integrated circuits which are, on average, less reliable than discrete components. A surge protector is a good investment with any AV receiver in order to give as much protection as possible to these low level IC's.
On that note, I would say you should give a listen to a very nice two channel system before plunging into home theatre. The same copy of "The Absolute Sound" offers their picks for several low to medium priced systems based around two channel gear with upgradability and longevity in mind. Go listen to some music on a good two channel system and then on a HT system. See which appeals to you the most and which seems the better value. You'll have to search out a good audio dealer in your area but the audition should be worth the time. You should not rush into spending a few hundred dollars. Take your time and weigh your options without getting paralyzed by indecision.
Finally, whichever product you choose, check out repair facilities in your area. I always told my clients, "Anything sounds better in your home than in my repair shop." Check with the repair shops for their opinions of products and how easily and how often they repair certain lines.
Check out that magazine, "The Absolute Sound". You should be able to find it at any well stocked bookseller.
wow, Jan that is a novel.lol All of it is very true though.
Aaron - Go take a listen to some stuff. See what sounds best to you bud, you may hate Onkyo. As far as buying a receiver based on it having the latest HDMI connection is crazy. As Jan said, HDMI 1.3 will soon be HDMI 1.3b or whatever, and then what? Im a huge believer of keeping my audio and video separate. The guys over in the Home Theater section will tell you..."oh U NEED HDMI MAN>.YEAH YEAH HD AUDIO FORMATS" BS!!!!!!! When you go to buy a Blu-Ray player of HD-DVD player in the future, or if you use the PS3 you have two choices. One, use the 5.1ch output on the dvd player and let the dvd player decode the HD Formats itself. Two, if you use the PS3, yes you will need HDMI which pretty much all receivers now do have, but the receiver still does not have to decode the HD Audio formats, the PS3 will. Then theres getting 1080p display. For one, on a 32 inch TV, your not going to tell the difference between 720p,1080i or 1080P. It will all look the same on a 32 inch television bud.
Base your purchase on what sound appeals to you. Outlaw, NAD and Cambridge all make receivers that do a very very good job at two channel audio as well. I would look at those three. I also like H/K, but did an A/B test with a HK635 to my NADT763 and I though the NAD blew it away, and so did my friend who owned the H/K. That was just two guys opinion though. Jan is so so on NAD and loves the H/K. I love NAD and the Outlaw myself. To each their own Aaron, get out there and listen dude, and stay away from the 15 year old kids help at Best Buy. Cheers.
wow..thx lol...but yea i understand about the 1.3 hdmi, and the 2 channel systems which may be better for my setup atm, but i would like a reciever i could eventually upgrade to at least 5.1 i will check out the 2 channel systems and see if any offer the hdmi upscaling or upconversion. That feature seems great from what i have read about it (upgrading non-HD signals to 480p, making better use of my HD TV with SD signals, right?) But im not near making my choice on what reciever yet hehe so many options, and i will try to find a local dealer where i can audition some of the different ones..And im always down for upgrading my speakers eventually (of course will have to for 5.1) You guys are extremely helpful (lol i made the same post over in the HT forum and have had not 1 response) and i appreciate all the time your putting into just the reponses!
I'm just not keeping up with HT stuff cause it bores me to tears but I think in a few months the government will take care of that upgrade to 1080. It won't happen in the TV or the receiver so don't get hasty about spending money you could put to better use.
Aaron, dont worry about the upconverting stuff either, its a marketing scheme. If the source material, say a tv show or dvd is recorded in 320 lines of resolution, there is no way to up it to 480 or any other resolution for that matter through a dvd player or receiver. Upconverting is known as the largest marketing scheme in Home Theater. Next in line is 1080p resolution. Get something that sounds good. Audio is 80 percent of a movie experience. Enjoy.
Jan- I agree, home theater is becoming over driven by too much crap. My system of course was built around Home Theater, but I think Im going to start upgrading components to push toward a nice two channel system, or build a separate system all together. I will be looking for your advice when the time comes.lol.
My sister is in a similar boat to the OP. She is also going down the route of PS3 as player/games console source. Since the PS3 doesn't offer an iLink equivalent, the only ways to get the uncompressed BluRay audio from it is via the HDMI 1.3a interface or possibly (but not sure) as a DTS stream via optical. If using the HDMI 1.3a connection for the best audio, the OP has correctly sought this functionality in potential receivers.
Andre Money has just bought the new Elite receiver (91txh) which includes HDMI 1.3a and he seems very happy with it. He's also found out that the power supply has been upgraded over its predecessor (from 400VA to 800VA) which takes the new receiver into the seriously interesting category in my view.
I did some research for my sister while on holiday. The only downside to the TS-XR605 I could see was that early 605s had a problem with decoding one of the lossless audio formats which has now been fixed with an upgrade. It's a downside because the 605 doesn't have an RS232 connection so I'm not sure how one is supposed to get the upgrade into the receiver! Other than that, the 605 seems to tick all the right boxes.
Other than that, the 605 seems to tick all the right boxes.