Advice on a New Receiver (TrueHD, DTS-HD)

Vin_G · 05-08-2008, 03:48 PM

I am completing construction of my new home theater and I need to buy most of my A/V hardware. I currently have a Denon 1804, but I clearly need to upgrade to take advantage of Blu-Ray audio/video.

I am looking for a receiver that handles Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD and is at least 130watts per channel (RMS). Any suggestions?

P.S. I listened to the Denon 3808 at the audio store and it sounded poor for music. I am hoping that the salesman just did not have it set up properly. The speakers (same that I own) sounded terrible as there was no bass. He could not figure out how to eq. it manually.

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Tralis · 05-13-2008, 08:01 PM

I have an Onkyo 805 coming in the mail. I'll tell you exactly how it sounds Thursday.

Jari K · 05-14-2008, 01:53 AM

I recently got Yamaha v1800. Comes recommended.

RX-V1800

It has 4 HDMI in + 1 out.

Vin_G · 05-14-2008, 09:26 AM

Those sound like some good suggestions. Receivers that I have been considering beyond the Denon 3808 include:

Pioneer Elite VSX-94TH (140W/channel)
Sony STR-DA5300ES (120W/channel)
Yamaha RX-V3800 (140W/channel)
Onkyo TX-SR875/905 (140W/channel)

The Pioneer, Yamaha and Onkyo are my front runners.

Chuck Mayer · 05-14-2008, 09:46 AM

Vin,
Except for the Sony, that's pretty much my list (though the 1800 is the Yamaha I am looking at), if you include the 3808 (the strongest candidate for me, right now).

As per my usual pathway when I upgrade (rarely), I am paralyzed by options. I'm even considering an Integra pre-amp/processor using my old DSP-A1 as an amp until later next year. The A1 has the capability to take speaker input from an outboard processor. I'm not sure if that is a good idea, though.

Vin_G · 05-14-2008, 09:52 AM

I spoke with a few saleman at a high-end audio dealer and they recommended against the pre/pro. They said you have to stick with all the same brand or you will get differing quality speaker to speaker, so that ends up being way more expensive. I guess if you bought a few high-quality amplifiers that were all the same, then you could just keep switching out your processor. That sounds expensive though.

So you like the Denon 3808? Did you listen to music on it like I did? I am very reluctant to buy it due to how weak it sounded. I am sure it is good for HT though.

Vin_G · 05-14-2008, 10:55 AM

One more thing. The Onkyo SR905 looks attractive. It really advertises it's high-current capabilities with its "Massive Toraoidal transformer" (independent power supply with 70amp peak current). Sounds like it will actually be able to deliver the 140W RMS/channel as promised unlike the other receivers.

What do ya'll think?

Chuck Mayer · 05-14-2008, 11:36 AM

Vin,
The Onkyo's always look attractive

My first receiver was their 1997 flagship, and it had everything. I upgraded to the DSP-A1 a year later, not because I was unhappy, but because I wanted dts (which few receivers had in 1998). My only concerns about the Onkyo are heat and quality. I will be using my receiver for movies almost exclusively, as I don't listen to music much at home. I do appreciate the pre-pro advice, and honestly, that's overkill for my townhome.

I haven't heard the Denon or the Yamaha yet. My local Myer-Emco didn't have the Denon 3808 on the floor. The Yamaha is attractive because it's the cheapest (and I like Yamaha's), but the Denon seems the most well-reviewed and thought of.

It's a tough decision.

Vin_G · 05-14-2008, 03:31 PM

Thanks Chuck. I think you are right about the Onkyo. I think I will narrow it down to the Yamaha and the Pioneer. I do like Denon as I currently own one, but I think I will wait a couple of years to buy another as their 3808 does not seem up to par as their previous versions. The 3808 comes with all the bells and whistles, but wait until you hear music on it. Although you don't listen to music it will give you a good idea what it is doing with the frequency range. I have read similar reports on other forums about sound quality. Myself and my brother-in-law have been exclusively Denon for as long as we can remember, but we were visibly upset when we demoed the 3808.

Go to the store, only hook up towers (no subwoofer to mask the sound) and play your favorite cd, then tell me what you think.

HT ROB · 05-15-2008, 10:54 AM

Well I've owned the 3808 and we love it. It's great on HT and for music it does great also. I will tell you we mostly listen to Jazz and sometimes classic rock. We just upgraded our speakers to Monitor Audio GS10's

. I'm not sure how they have the 3808 hooked up at the stores but I can tell you it does great for us on music.tried to post a pic of our set up but I guess you have to have posted more than 10 times

Vin_G · 05-15-2008, 12:04 PM

HT_ROB,

Can you tell me how you managed to get mid-bass out of it? When we listened to the towers in the store there was no bass at all. I tried to fiddle around with it by disabling the subwoofer, setting the fronts to large and so on. There didn't seem to be an equalizer setting to adjust the sound as it is automatic with a mic.

How did you dial in the sound?

Dave Moritz · 05-15-2008, 12:58 PM

I am willing to bet that the store you went to most likely had something messed up. I have heard the Denon 3808ci and it sounds great. You could also try check out the Onkyo 805, 875 and 905 receiver. I have heard that the Yamaha's and Pioneer's do not actually put out what they are advertising. To my knowledge the Onkyo 805 puts out 60 amps and the 905 puts out 70 amps, I do not know what the Denon 3808ci puts out.

I know for what I am looking for the Pioneer Elite and Yamaha's do not fit what I am looking for. One thing I beleive in is if you want to know if something is built well, pick it up. While that is not the only way to tell if something has good build quality. I currently own a Yamaha RX-V995 and I want to have it upgraded by November.

Denon AVR-3808ci 7.1 Receiver MSRP$1,599
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 130 X 7
Weight: In Pounds 39.2 lbs
THX Ultra2
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 (4 Inputs/1 Out)
Audyssey MultEQ

Denon AVR-4308ci 7.1 Receiver MSRP$2,499
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 140 X 7
Weight: In Pounds 41.6 lbs
THX Ultra2
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 4 Inputs/2 Out
Audyssey MultEQ
(This model has more flexability and more features than the 3808ci)

Onkyo TX-SR805 7.1 Receiver MSRP$1,099
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 130 X 7
High Instantaneous Current Capability 60A
Weight: In Pounds 50.9 lbs
THX Ultra2
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 (3 Inputs/1 Out)
Audyssey MultEQ
(The Onkyo's put out what they advertise power wise but it does run hot)

Onkyo TX-NR905 7.1 Receiver MSRP$2,099
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 140 X 7
High Instantaneous Current Capability 70A
Toroidal Transformer
Independent Power Supply for audio and video sections
Weight: In Pounds 54 lbs
THX Ultra2
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 (4 Inputs/2 Out)
Audyssey MultEQ
(The Onkyo's put out what they advertise power wise but it does run hot)

Yamaha RX-V1800 7.1 Receiver MSRP$1,299.95
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 130 X 7
Weight: In Pounds 37.3 lbs
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 (4 Inputs/1 Out)
YPAO Automatic System Calibration

Yamaha RX-V3800 7.1 Receiver MSRP$1,699.95
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 140 X 7
Weight: In Pounds 38.4 lbs
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 (4 Inputs/1 Out)
YPAO Automatic System Calibration

I personally did not care for the lower end Yamaha's and they hardly weigh a thing.

Pioneer VSX-91TXH 7.1 Receiver MSRP$1,200
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 110 X 7
Weight: In Pounds 33lbs. 12oz
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 (2 Inputs/1 Out)
Advanced MCACC 9-band EQ

Pioneer VSX-92TXH 7.1 Receiver MSRP$1,500
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 130 X 7
Weight: In Pounds 37.5 lbs
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 (3 Inputs/1 Out)
Advanced MCACC 9-band EQ

Pioneer VSX-94TXH 7.1 Receiver MSRP$1,800
Power Output; Watts Per Channel 140 X 7
Weight: In Pounds 41.14 lbs
Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+
dts-HD Master Audio
Component Video Inputs x Bandwidth - *Assignable - *3 x 100MHz
HDMI 1.3 (4 Inputs/1 Out)
Advanced MCACC 9-band EQ

I beleive that the Pioneer uses class d amplifiers and you may or may not like how they sound?)

I would take a few of your favorite CD's and movies to help you compair each receiver. IMHO this is the best way to audition a receiver. Also when doing the demo of the receiver try to match speakers in the store as close to the ones you own. Another thing to consider is that I beleive that the Audyssey set up has been receiving better reviews vs what Pioneer, Yamaha or Sony uses.

Personally at this point in time I am currently looking at the following receivers:

Denon AVR-3808ci
Onkyo TX-SR805
Onkyo TX-NR905

I would research every brand you are considering, this may take up alot of time but you will be glad you did in the end. Hope this helps in some way?

This is my current system and the Yamaha RX-V995 in the picture is going to get hooked up to my PC.