Hi everyone,

I just bought my new Panasonic DMP-BD60.
I now would like to buy an Audio-Only Receiver...

I've been searching and searching though the Web and All I find
are BIG Receivers with Video Inputs too...

All I need is a Receiver that can Take Optical PCM Audio and connect
it to a 7.1 Speaker System.

Are there any Audio-Only Receivers, preferable not as big as a AV Receiver?

Thanks in Advance.

No, they are all Audio-video these days for surround-sound models.  Not enough demand for audio-only for manufacturers to make them.  Compact receivers tend only to be found in "home theater in a box" packages, combined with a DVD player.  Those tend to be 5.1 not 7.1, and very limiting in ability to connect extra components (often only 1-2 digital ins, no HDMI input for newer BD-audio formats).

There are some Blu-ray 7.1 HTib like from Panasonic that come with compact Blu-ray/receiver combo.  But keep in mind significant drawbacks compared to a separate big receiver:
- only 2 digital ins for other components
- speakers are mediocre, paying for something you may want to replace
- receiver has much less power for driving replacement speakers
- if BD breaks you lose the surround sound for all your other components also while it is being fixed
- down the road, can't upgrade BD for new tech (3D??) without upgrade receiver also

So keep in mind what you give up for the compactness.

Edited by Stephen Tu - 7/3/2009 at 05:59 pm GMT

Hi Stephen,

What a great comment, thanks a lot.

The thing is...receivers these days are quite expensive and I already spent
about 250€ on the new BD. If I take in account for a Receiver and some quality
speakers I can prepare at least 400€... That's too much for me right now.

Maybe I should just buy the new Logitech Z-5500 Digital. But that way I may
be wasting 250€ on something probably not Home Theatre Quality.
Also, they're 5.1 only.

Building an Home Theatre is quite expensive. I still have to buy an LCD.

If there were LCD's that could take PCM HDMI Audio and then have 5.1 Analog Outputs
that would be best, but probably doesn't exist :(

Ahhh what should I do?

Can you give me some advice on some Receivers that don't go beyond 150€? Or aren't
there any?

Thank you in Advance.

For that price you might find a store brand like Insignia @ Best Buy or look for a factory refurbished piece from www.dakmart.com/index.php or ac4l.com.. You get a one year factory warranty but shipping is usually extra.

At that price you most likely won't be able to take advantage of everything BluRay has to offer but it's still much better than listenning thru your tv's speakers. What you really need is a receiver that accepts LPCM via HDMI. But that will cost closer to $300.

And what about speakers? Those are even more important.

150€ receiver worth buying?  Don't think they exist.  You don't say what country you are in, but I think the situation is you pay about the same in € as we do in US$, which unfortunately makes stuff more expensive for you than here in USA.  I am not familiar with online stores in Europe, so I have to go by pricing in £ at amazon.co.uk .

At your budget level, I think you have to give up on 7.1, which gives you many more options.  There's not a lot of 7.1 content out there anyway, vast majority of DVD/BD are 5.1 only.  You are pretty much forced into the "home theater in box" route despite the compromises, since standalone receivers are £300+ just by themselves, without speakers.

I saw Samsung 5.1 BD home theater system (HT-BD1252) for £460.  I think if you return the BD-60 for that, you'll get the most sound given your budget for BD+speaker+receiver.

Hello.

@gene_c
Thanks for the Recommendations. I saw both stores, they have quite good prices,
although, I'm a bit afraid of ordering from outside the European Union because, outside
orders have taxes applied. My country's a thief on that part LOL. Imagine, if I pay 200$
for something, I'll have to pay extra 80-120$ just to get it... It's not worth it like that :S

About the Speakers, well, I can buy professional speakers. I'm a musician and live performer
so I do know about the quality of speakers. I was thiking of buying a set of 1 subwoofer and
7 top speakers for about 300€ non-amplified or 450 amplified. Amplified are quite better but
the extra money is not worth it, since I'll probably have to buy a receiver. Speakers are 200Watt RMS.

Also what's really the difference between HDMI PCM and Optical Out PCM? Aren't they
both Digital Formats? Also, consider that an HDMI cable also offers some resistance to the
electric signal, when an Optical Cable doesn't, since it uses a 100% reflection ratio. I never
understand why people say HDMI audio is better :S


@Stephen
I live in Portugal... yes that shitty small Country LOL. But it was once the one that discovered
the whole world. I'm proud of that LOL.
Buying at Amazon is difficult. Most products don't ship to Portugal because receivers are Big, Ugly and
Heavy. LOL
The All-in-One cinema solution you mentioned seems quite nice, but as you said it does pose
disadvantages. Also, they won't let me return my DMP-BD60 because it's not faulty. I would have
to make up a lie or something :S


@Both
Ahh Home Cinema is quite expensive... Don't know how you guys can spend so much
on this but it does feel great afterwards...
Thank you both for all the help and comments.

That would really be the best way to go for sound quality. The subwoofer needs to be amplified because receivers aren't designed to power them, only the other 5 or 7. The cheapest good receivers here for 7.1 are Yamaha 565, Onkyo 607. 5.1 are the Yamaha 465, Onkyo 507. 5.1 is going to be maybe 100€ cheaper. Unfortunately probably 400€ + for 7.1.


- Resistance is irrelevant, because these cables are carrying digital data, not an analog signal.  Basically it is a voltage vs. time wave.  Even if the resistance causes voltage to drop, as long as it is above a certain threshold for the receiving chip to still recognize a "1" as a "1" (> some voltage relative to ground), and "0" as a "0", it simply doesn't matter.  It only would have effect for extremely long cables, like 15m+.  Digital transmission is robust against signal degradation, it remains "perfect" until the point where you start getting audio dropouts.

- The reason HDMI is better is because it supports more channels of audio.  It will carry 7.1 channels of uncompressed PCM, @ up to 24 bit, 192 kHz sampling rate, while the optical only designed to carry 2 channels of PCM.  Both can carry the older lossy compression 5.1 Dolby Digital, DTS formats.  But only HDMI will carry the higher bitrate lossless compression TrueHD, DTS-HD/MA formats.
I think in theory they could have still used optical for the newer formats, if they changed the transmission+receiving chips, but manufacturers were moving to HDMI to carry video also, plus there was pressure from studios to have copy-protection measures.



Yes it can be.  One mitigating factor is that the equipment can last a very long time.  I used my previous receiver for 10 years.  My speakers I haven't changed in almost 15 years, except for subwoofer I replaced because of failed amplifier (that I used 10 years).  Also, I choose to spend money on this TV/movie watching equipment, instead of buying more expensive automobiles.  Cars are more money than this :).

It's also cheaper than to actually go to the theater & pay admission to watch movies, if you like to watch many movies per year.

Used gear!!!!!  It's the best bang for the buck ever.  If all you want is something with a digital input and 7.1 or 5.1 output, don't worry about the latest and greatest video connections, etc.  You can get something years old for a song. 

Ah Sorry for not coming here for so long, I'm still a student and time
is a very important thing.

@Stephen
I'm quite surprised with your Post. You seem yo know a lot about this
stuff and that is quite helpful. I want to thank you because you gave me
great ideias.

@Philip
That's a good point. I wonder why I didn't remeber it sooner. But you know
buying used stuff specially speakers is dangerous. I'll have to be extra cautious
but it might work.

@All
Thank you for everything.