Hello all. Sorry for the the newbish question. However, I am going to set up my first sound system and need some help in selecting the receiver. My father left me a Onkyo receiver, dvd player and Bose Acoustimass 15 series speakers. The Onkyo receiver seems to not have connection to HDMI. Anyway....
I was interested in getting something that is inexpensive and just gets the job done. The Sony DH-500 and DH-700 caught my eye as replacements for receivers. However, the reviews mention that the sound quality is not all that good. Plus, the Sony receiver likes to play nice with other Sony products. I have a LG 42' tv , Direct TV and a Xbox 360 that I would like to make use of the audio. Maybe a PS3 later in the future. :P
What other receivers can I go for?
I am looking to spend about $200 dollars. I know my reach is limited, but maybe find something to get me going. Unfortunately, I think I am brand whoring by only looking at Sony. lol 
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Hardware › Receivers/Separates/Amps › Help with picking receiver for first sound system.
Join Now
Be a part of the community.
It's free, join today!
Featured Reviews
-
One of the greatest courtroom dramas ever made and one whose courtroom scenes still sizzle today more than fifty years later, Otto Preminger’s Anatomy of a Murder is a one-of-a-kind showcase for...
-
Rainer Werner Fassbinder had only been making feature films for four years when he tackled the enormous miniseries version of World on a Wire. Filmed in two parts totaling over three and a half...
-
A kind of low budget combination of Jules Dassin’s The Naked City and William Wyler’s Detective Story, Arnold Laven’s Vice Squad offers an entertaining West Coast twist to the police work shown...
-
The Phantom of the Opera gets a great showcase on Blu-ray with this performance at the Royal Albert Hall last October, in honor of its 25th anniversary. Like last year’s Blu-ray of Les...
-
After scoring as an international sensation and winning six 2011 Emmy Awards, Downton Abbey became last season’s most buzzed about new show (curiously, the first season won no major prizes in...
Help with picking receiver for first sound system.
post #2 of 5
10/1/09 at 2:39pm
- David Willow
- dewd
- Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
- offline
- Joined: January 2004
- Posts: 1,865
- Select All Posts By This User
Which Onkyo do you have? For $200 you are not going to find much that will have HDMI (at least HDMI that also handles audio).
Also, the biggest influence on the sound is the speakers, not the receiver. Those BOSE will sound like BOSE not matter what you use to power them.
Also, the biggest influence on the sound is the speakers, not the receiver. Those BOSE will sound like BOSE not matter what you use to power them.
post #3 of 5
10/1/09 at 3:06pm
Sony receivers aren't recommended, until you get into their ES line, and they are a lot more than $200. About the cheapest good receiver you can find, with HDMI that can handle audio (which you'll need when you get a ps3), is an Onkyo TX-SR507. Amazon.com has it right now for $322.65, and they are factory authorized dealers. See here:
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR507-5-1-Channel-Surround-Receiver/dp/B001VEI290/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=aht&qid=1254434494&sr=1-7
Onkyo gives a lot of bang for the buck. If you get one, don't close it in, in an entertainment center. Leave it where it can breathe.
I'd also replace those Bose speakers as soon as possible..............
http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR507-5-1-Channel-Surround-Receiver/dp/B001VEI290/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=aht&qid=1254434494&sr=1-7
Onkyo gives a lot of bang for the buck. If you get one, don't close it in, in an entertainment center. Leave it where it can breathe.
I'd also replace those Bose speakers as soon as possible..............
post #4 of 5
10/2/09 at 6:27am
- RobertLindemann
- Robert Lindemann
- offline
- Joined: September 2009
- Posts: 12
- Select All Posts By This User
Ditto Ed's recommendation for the Onkyo. I have their 607 which I believe is identical, except it is built for 7.2 audio. It's a little under $400. I'm very pleased with it.
Also consider the HT-RC160 which is nearly identical to the 607 for a few less dollars. It just omits the Sirius interface and has 10 less watts per channel.
The manual doesn't simplify things but it's a complicated receiver.
It does get warm.
I bought an Onkyo 7.1 speaker set. I wasn't expecting it to be spectacular and it's not. I'll upgrade if and when my budget permits. Definitely shop around for speakers that will suit your needs.
I am not a Sony fan. Their products just don't seem to be designed with sufficient user-friendliness, at least for this user :-) I admit this is a very personal decision. I wouldn't be concerned about interoperability - if you want the best possible option for each component, it's unlikely they'll all be made by the same manufacturer.
Also consider the HT-RC160 which is nearly identical to the 607 for a few less dollars. It just omits the Sirius interface and has 10 less watts per channel.
The manual doesn't simplify things but it's a complicated receiver.
It does get warm.
I bought an Onkyo 7.1 speaker set. I wasn't expecting it to be spectacular and it's not. I'll upgrade if and when my budget permits. Definitely shop around for speakers that will suit your needs.
I am not a Sony fan. Their products just don't seem to be designed with sufficient user-friendliness, at least for this user :-) I admit this is a very personal decision. I wouldn't be concerned about interoperability - if you want the best possible option for each component, it's unlikely they'll all be made by the same manufacturer.
post #5 of 5
10/21/09 at 2:25pm
I sold audio receivers for 16 yrs. and would definitely recommend an Onkyo. Sony receivers are awful. You might be able to pick up a used Onkyo or Denon in your price range. Otherwise save up a bit. Your receiver is the heart and brains of your system. Don't skimp.
Return Home
Back to Forum: Receivers/Separates/Amps
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Hardware › Receivers/Separates/Amps › Help with picking receiver for first sound system.
Currently, there are 950 Active Users
(42 Members and 908 Guests)
Recent Discussions
- › Chronicle - quick review 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
- › Survivor : One World (season 24) 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
- › Energy Micro 5.0 + Receiver (US > Europe) - please advice 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
- › The Big Bang Theory - season 5 thread 1 hour, 36 minutes ago
- › CSI: Las Vegas season 12 thread 1 hour, 48 minutes ago
- › Castle Season 4 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
- › Using Yamaha DSP-A1 with Blu-Ray player ???? 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
- › Star Trek Trivia (Series and Films) 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
- › While we wait for A few words about...™ Lawrence of Arabia -- in... 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
- › Blake Edwards on Blu-ray 2 hours, 32 minutes ago
View: New Posts | All Discussions
Recent Reviews
- › Anatomy of a Murder (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] by MattH.
- › World on a Wire (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] by MattH.
- › Vice Squad (MGM/MOD) by MattH.
- › Logitech 915-000144 Harmony Link - Black by Ronald Epstein
- › Love Story [Blu-ray] by MatthewA
- › The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall [Blu-ray] by Kevin EK
- › Downton Abbey: Season 2 (Original U.K. Edition) [Blu-ray] by MattH.
- › Tiny Furniture (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] by MattH.
- › Three Outlaw Samurai (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] by MattH.
- › Rebound [Blu-ray] by MattH.
View: More Reviews
Recent Articles
- › HTF AWARDS 2011 by Ronald Epstein
- › 2012 Home Theater Forum Meet Information by Ronald Epstein
- › HTF Official Blu Ray Review Archive Part 2 by Ronald Epstein
- › Robert Fowkes, HTF Moderator, 1942-2011 by Ronald Epstein
- › Blu-ray Previously Released Listing: #-D by Robert Crawford
- › Blu-ray Previously Released Listing: E-I by Robert Crawford
- › Blu-ray Previously Released Listing: J-P by Robert Crawford
- › Blu-ray Previously Released Listing: Q-T by Robert Crawford
- › Blu-ray Previously Released Listing: U-Z by Robert Crawford
- › Interview With Director Simon Wells About... by Adam Gregorich
View: Recent Articles | All Articles
Home | Home Theater Gear, Movies & More | Forums | Articles | My Profile
About Home Theater Forum | Join the Community | HTF Chat | HTF Events | Advertise
© 2012 Home Theater Forum is powered by Huddler Tech | FAQ | Support | Privacy/TOS | Site Map
About Home Theater Forum | Join the Community | HTF Chat | HTF Events | Advertise
© 2012 Home Theater Forum is powered by Huddler Tech | FAQ | Support | Privacy/TOS | Site Map




