Suggestions for new receiver?

Dave Moritz · 04-27-2008, 09:36 PM

This for some reason has been the hardest upgrade I have ever done in the history of my HT hobby. I am still trying to save up for the receiver that will take the place of my current Yamaha RX-V995. Maybe I am just over thinking it all or maybe I am just exspecting to much anymore?

One thing is for certain I do not want to end up with a mousy light weight receiver that will end up falling short especially in the amplifier department. This is what has been causing me to take so much time in choosing my 995's successor. I am on a budget but I do not want to compromize ether.

The receiver I end up with will have to last at least as long as my current one has, at least 10 years. My current receiver is still going strong after 10+ years and has performed well.

I am looking for the following features & qualities:

Exseptional build quality.

Very good sound quality, something can will eclips what I currently own.

3 HDMI 1.3 inputs minimum.

100 watts per channel minimum.

7.1 Channel Receiver.

Dolby True HD & DTS-HD MA

THX Certified not manditory.

Must have a big enough power supply so amplifiers can put out a good amount of current.

7.1 Analog Input

High Quality DAC's

Assignable Inputs

My main uses are watching SD-DVD's, HD-DVD's and Blu-ray's. And listening to CD's and some DVD-A's and SACD's. I will most likely get digital cable again sometime after the purchase of my new reciever but I am not worried about that right now. I want the video section to be solid and the audio part needs to be flawless as I am very picky about my audio.

At this point I am leaning towards the Denon AVR-3808ci and the Onkyo TX-SR805. I am willing to consider Marantz, Integra and I am not completly sure about Pioneer Elite. I do not want Sony, Sherwood, Kenwood or JVC. Sony has some new models that have alot of features and inputs but the amp sections is to mousy for my tastes. I in the past I have not been a fan of there surround modes. I would very much apreciate some input as this might help in looking at something I have not considered.

My Current HT

My Former HT

gene c · 04-27-2008, 11:32 PM

We have different priorities but I just went thru the same agonizing process. There is no perfect avr. The pioneer 91, Onkyo 805 and the Marantz 8/7 fall a little short on video up-conversion if this is important to you. If it isn't, then the 805 just might work and could save you some money. Marantz is also too expensive and Pioneer Elite (94) didn't impress me as to build quality and the way it handles audio thru hdmi. That leaves the Onkyo 905/875 (which you have mentioned in other threads) and the 3808. The 905 seems to have it all but is several hundred dollars more than the other two. The 875 isn't bad but I don't think it passes DSD thru hdmi (again, if this is important to you). That leaves the 3808 as long as it passes the power/SQ thing. And has anyone ever regretted buying one? BTW, I went old school and picked up a used Pioneer 59txi (and dv59txi) for it's DSP processing thru the analog in's and i-link. Hope this helps, but it probably didn't

.

Ron-P · 04-28-2008, 01:38 AM

I have an 805 hitting my doorstep on Tuesday, $683 to my door from Amazon. I just bought the 705 and am sending it back, for not much more the 805 is a much bigger beast. I'm going to test it solo but I have 5 Adcom 535s that I run so most likely I'll be keeping those but I do want to compare how the AVR compares to separates.

Dave Moritz · 04-28-2008, 07:08 AM

Quote:

The pioneer 91, Onkyo 805 and the Marantz 8/7 fall a little short on video up-conversion if this is important to you.

Could you be a little more specific? Is it only an issue just involving the HDMI section or does it involve component to HDMI etc.... ?

What where your impressions of the best audio on what receivers?

Quote:

There is no perfect avr.

It seems like just about every brand has some quirks so I think your right on that one.

Quote:

he 875 isn't bad but I don't think it passes DSD thru hdmi (again, if this is important to you).

This particular thing is not a problem because I would be using my Denon DVD-2200 for DVD-A and SACD. And it does not have HDMI so I would not have an issue with the 875 in this particular area.

The one thing that drives me crazy about my current avr is that it has no component video switching. It has worked great for over 10 years but it is time to update it and upgrade it.

Quote:

Hope this helps, but it probably didn't

.

Yes you did help, thank you.

Quote:

I have an 805 hitting my doorstep on Tuesday, $683 to my door from Amazon.

I have seen that price as well which is better than my local Fry's @ $999. And I think I saw the 805 for as low as $638 but I do not remember which online place it was. The only thing I worry about reguarding buying it online is what if something goes wrong with the 805? If I buy it from a local retailer I know I can have it swaped out in less than 1 hour. Are the Amazon 805's new or are they refurberbished?

Ron-P · 04-28-2008, 11:26 AM

You can buy new or used from Amazon, I bought new. The 805 is covered by a 2 year parts / labor warranty and I have no store in my area that will swap out a receiver if mine crashes. But I do have several back-ups plus my Outlaw 950 pre/pro that I can use if something happens.

**HTF Ads**

Dave Moritz · 04-28-2008, 11:57 AM

I am not worried about not having a back up ether as I will be keeping my Yamaha RX-V995. After I purchase the new receiver the Yamaha will get hooked up to my PC and that will get transformed into a 100 watt X 5 HTPC.

I just am not crazy about the idea of having to pay to ship it just because I purchased it online. But then if nothing goes wrong I have save alot of money by switching to Geico.

Man-Fai Wong · 04-28-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron-P

I have an 805 hitting my doorstep on Tuesday, $683 to my door from Amazon. I just bought the 705 and am sending it back, for not much more the 805 is a much bigger beast. I'm going to test it solo but I have 5 Adcom 535s that I run so most likely I'll be keeping those but I do want to compare how the AVR compares to separates.

Would love to hear how this works out for you as I seem to be in the same boat (w/ my B&K 5-channel amp). As far as I can tell, Brent seems to like using his 805 in this way hooked up to his Adcom 5-channel amp. I guess going this route will also minimize concerns about overheating too since we wouldn't be using the 805's power amp section.

As you might've noticed by now, I've also been considering the Yammy 663 for this purpose. I wonder though if the Yammy isn't more musical than the Onkyo for this purpose -- but maybe less punch for general HT use (and missing the benefits of the Audyssey setup)...

_Man_

Dave Moritz · 04-28-2008, 05:16 PM

Quote:

As far as I can tell, Brent seems to like using his 805 in this way hooked up to his Adcom 5-channel amp. I guess going this route will also minimize concerns about overheating too since we wouldn't be using the 805's power amp section.

Even if you do not use the internal amplifiers on the Onkyo it still seems to put out a good deal of heat anyway. I have noticed at a retailer that even with the 805 sitting idle the top still felt really warm.