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New member Username: MillerwPost Number: 2 Registered: Nov-08 | I'm looking for a new receiver for my sound system. The system will be used primarily for music however it will be hooked up to an HDTV. I'd rather get a stereo reciever because I have no real plan on buying any more speakers. (I already have two) So I'm wondering if there are any stereo recievers out there that have HD video input? Or am I just better off keeping the video seperate from the receiver? And what's the general opinion on Harmon Kardon? I've always heard of them as being a good brand but I haven't read of anyone actually recommending them. (I like the look! It matches my computer...) |
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Silver Member Username: AfjGaboroneBotswana Post Number: 150 Registered: Jan-08 | as a matter of personal choice i dont like hk for music. but there are quite a few people that would disagree with me. best way to find out is to audition it |
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Gold Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY United States Post Number: 2142 Registered: Oct-04 | http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue19/hk3480.htm http://www.audioreview.com/cat/amplification/receivers/harman-kardon/hk-3480/PRD _303435_1593crx.aspx I think HK's reputation suffers somewhat for being a mass marketed brand, but I have found HK to be an extremely well rounded performer, and an absolute giant-killer when it comes to value. The new HK3490 is the latest incarnation of this receiver; it features a much improved remote control, Dolby simulated surround, an RDS tuner, and XM upgradeability, all for under $300. It's a stupid good deal. http://www.electronics-expo.com/index.php?page=item&id=HARHK3490 |
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New member Username: MillerwPost Number: 4 Registered: Nov-08 | Exactly how many optical digital inputs does the HK3490 have? I haven't been able to find a real figure. |
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Platinum Member Username: NuckPost Number: 11090 Registered: Dec-04 | Winston, some inputs may be single ended, not optical. Does the rest of your gear have single ended digital outpus as well? This could be SP/DIF or coax. Look at both ends man. |
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New member Username: MillerwPost Number: 5 Registered: Nov-08 | Yeah I gotta be honest, I don't know what most of that means... but my computer has an optical digital output, and so does my PS3, if that helps... |
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Gold Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY United States Post Number: 2143 Registered: Oct-04 | Winston, I was not recommending the HK3480 (it's a plain old stereo receiver, and lack digital inputs), rather I was providing you with some HK reviews to peruse since you seemed to be unsure about them. The HK3490 does however have digital inputs (optical & coax). What exactly would you like us to tell you that you can't find out for yourself on the HK website? |
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New member Username: MillerwPost Number: 6 Registered: Nov-08 | Well I guess the main thing I'm wondering is if there are any Stereo Recievers with HD video inputs and optical digital inputs, not neccesarily by HK, but anyone. |
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Gold Member Username: ExerciseguyBrooklyn, NY United States Post Number: 2144 Registered: Oct-04 | The HK3490 lacks HDMI, and I don't know of any stereo receivers with HDMI. |
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Bronze Member Username: MillerwPost Number: 12 Registered: Nov-08 | Right on, thanks a lot for the help! |
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Gold Member Username: Frank_abelaBerkshire UK Post Number: 3327 Registered: Sep-04 | Winston, By receiver are you saying you need to have a tuner built into the unit? If so, what kind of tuner (FM/AM/DAB)? There are a couple of amplifiers which can take a digital input (but not HDMI) and conveert it into analogue, but I'm not sure they'd be in your price range - they're fairly specialised products. Frank. |
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Bronze Member Username: MillerwMuskokaCanada Post Number: 15 Registered: Nov-08 | Yeah I guess I don't necessarily need a reciever. I asked this question before I knew there was a difference. I really don't need the Tuner aspect at all, ideally a two channel system with optical input, and a sub output if possible. (Nevermind the HDMI) |
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Gold Member Username: Frank_abelaBerkshire UK Post Number: 3342 Registered: Sep-04 | The thing is you can use ordinary AV receivers in 2-channel mode if you like. They're not as capable musically, but they will do everything you're looking for. Not wanting to confuse you or anything, but thought you should know. It's just that DAC enabled 2-channel amplifiers are very specialised and so rather obscure and pricey beasts (e.g. Naim's SUPERNAIT at £2350). It kind of depends on the level of quality you're after I guess, but since you're using a computer as the starting point there are limitations to the quality you will get. In a sense, the best option would be something like the Sonos system. The Sonos system is a wireless-enabled networked multi-room solution. You can have your PC anywhere in the house and use the Sonos players to play stereo music through. The ZonePlayer 120 is a 55wpc class D amplifier with a built-in router. You control it using a Sonos Controller or by putting the Sonos control software on an iPod Touch or your computer. Music can be stored on your PC or on a NAS storage device (network-enabled hard disc) if you don't want to leave your PC (or Mac) on all the time. You can control any zone from the control software (or Controller). Maybe this is what you're looking for? The Sonos ZonePlayer 120 is £349. |
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Bronze Member Username: MillerwMuskokaCanada Post Number: 16 Registered: Nov-08 | Right on! That looks pretty sharp! So would you say that because the music is coming from my computer, i shouldn't worry about finding something with digital inputs? (My computer has digital audio outputs) |
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Bronze Member Username: MillerwMuskokaCanada Post Number: 17 Registered: Nov-08 | Oh! And do you think that it would have any trouble powering my rather large DCM12's? And eventually a mid-sized sub? DCM12 Tweeter - 1.8 kHz Midranger - 6.5" Woofer - 12" Frequency - 30Hz - 20kHz Impedance - 8 Ohms nominal Power Handling - 250 W RMS/500 W Total Sensitivity - 97 dB 1W/1m Weight - 53lbs |
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Gold Member Username: Frank_abelaBerkshire UK Post Number: 3344 Registered: Sep-04 | Winston, If your computer has digital audio outputs only, then you must connect it to a DAC of some sort to convert from digital to analogue, or use a networked devixce like the ZonePlayer. Also, I'm inclined to think that a DAC built onto a computer soundcard is probably not going to be that hot - it's a jack of all trades/master of none scenario. Therefore, it'd be better to use the digital output or network in this case and get a unit that can make the best of the digital signal. I cannot say if a ZonePlayer 120 is going to be man enough to drive your speakers. On paper, 97db/w/m with a nominal 8-ohm impedance should be a piece of cake to drive. According to the manual, 'as little as 20 watts per channel can provide enough power for most applications', so you should be in good shape. That said, you should still investigate what the ZonePlayer does and how you would use it in your situation. In effect, I'm telling you not to bother with the soundcard on your PC at all and access your music through the network. If you want to watch TV through the system, this is also possible. The TV would have to pump out analogue into the ZonePlayer which would then amplify the signal. I must mention one caveat. Do you want to play movies from the PC too? If so, I'm not sure how this would work. In fact, come to think of it, I'm not sure that it can work. the only way i can think of is to get the TV to downmix into analogue out to the ZonePlayer. If you don't want this, your last remaining option appears to be a full AV receiver where you only use 2 channels. Frank. |
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Bronze Member Username: MillerwMuskokaCanada Post Number: 18 Registered: Nov-08 | The description of the jack on the computer is, "Combined optical digital output/analog line out (minijack)", so you think i should just avoid using this and send the signal through the network? And I don't plan on watching any movies on my Mac. And by, full AV receiver only using two channels, do you mean something like this? HK 3490 http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?Region=USA&Country=CA&Language=E NG&cat=REC&prod=HK%203490&sType=C http://manuals.harman.com/HK/HOM/Quick%20Start%20Guide/HK_HK3490RearPanel.pdf It says it has an optical and a coax input, would that be in any way compatible with what my computer is outputting? (and it has a sub output!) |
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Gold Member Username: Frank_abelaBerkshire UK Post Number: 3353 Registered: Sep-04 | Winston, In your original post you said you wanted the receiver to be able to cope with HD video if possible. I assumed this meant that although the Mac will be used 90% of the time for music, it would still be used to display DVD or blu-ray. You're now saying you don't intend to do this so I'm confused. The jack on your computer is a 3.5mm combi-unit which I have seen in a couple of places where space is at a premium. The signal is precisely the same as one would expect from a full-size component, only the connection is different. If you connect to a stereo amp and intend to play movies off it, you must tell your computer to downmix any multi-channel signals to stereo (no idea how you do that). That HK3490 appears to be a stereo integrated receiver with a DAC built-in. That's what you were asking for originally. It's not what I meant, but in fact is probably more what you were after since it does not include the extraneous bits for the HDMI connectiviy and the extra amplifiers for the surround speakers you won't be using. The Sonos is a different solution which doesn't require being in the same room as the Mac, but it is a bit more complex since it requires the music to stream via the network. Perhaps this HK unit is a better solution for you. Frank. |
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Bronze Member Username: MillerwMuskokaCanada Post Number: 19 Registered: Nov-08 | Yeah sorry about that, I've since decided that I'm keeping the HD video seperate from the receiver as it will only be used for a small portion of the time. And so if I were to go with the HK, would I want to use a cable like this to go between my computer and the optical input on the receiver? And would that be of comparible quality to going over the network on the Sonos? Thanks! http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/view/1954/ixos-108-toslink-to-mini-toslink-1m -audio-interconnect-cable |
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Gold Member Username: Frank_abelaBerkshire UK Post Number: 3360 Registered: Sep-04 | Winston, That cable looks like the correct item. Sound quality depends on the respective natures of the Sonos and HK more than the transport mechanism (optical or network). However, I feel the HK is the simpler solution for you and perhaps that's the way you should go. I fear the Sonos may be too much like hard work. Of course, I have no idea what the HK sounds like. I know the Sonos and it's not bad, if not necessarily great. |
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Bronze Member Username: MillerwMuskokaCanada Post Number: 20 Registered: Nov-08 | Fantastic! Thanks a for everything Frank, I definitely couldn't have done all this without you! I've got some thinking ahead of me, thanks again! Winston. |