WHat Receiver and Blu-Ray Player!!!! (1 Viewer)

[Vin_G]

My home theater is almost constructed and now I have to buy equipment. I need a projector, blu-ray player, and receiver. I want to take advantage of Blu-Ray as I want the 1080p for my large screen and I want the TrueHD and DTS-HD sound on my new Paradigm speakers

• Receiver: I wanted the Denon 3808 or Onkyo 905, but to save money the Onkyo 805 looks good!
• Blu-Ray Player: PS3 to take advantage of "Profile 2.0" or more expensive player with decoder and analogue outputs so I can temporarily use my Denon 1804 receiver

I know in a year Blu-Ray players will be very affordable and better quality. I don't want to buy top-of-the-line anything as I will have to re-buy in a year. So maybe I should get the cheapest Blu-Ray player out there, even if it only has Profile 1.1, and then get an decent receiver with decoding and good power such as the Onkyo 805.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

[gene c]

I'd get the PS3 for the short term as it would be fairly easy to sell when the better one is purchased. However, I've also been looking at BlueRay players to go with my older Pioneer which is without any hdmi's. I think the best model for me, (other than the PS3) is the Samsung 1400 which, with a firmware upgrade, can decode, process and/or spit out DD-HD (but not DTS-MA) thru the 5.1 analog outs and can be had off ebay as a factory refurb-with warranty-for around $300. Other players that do their thing thru the analog outs are much, much more expensive. It's the cheapest one I've seen that at least decodes something thru the 5.1 analogs. I hope what I've said is true. If not, please, someone correct me!

 

[pink]

what is with this forum should I get Denon or Onkyo. It's one and the same company..It's a matter of fact most of their stuff is manufactured by a company called East-tech. It's like Sony they don't make any Blue-Ray players, the only player they make is that of the PS-3. Sony Blue Ray Players are made by Pionner, lets stop all this Onkyo vs. Denon, please.

 

[gene c]

Never gonna happen. American consumers are swayed by brand loyalty. And even if Denon and Onkyo are made by the same manufacturer (and I don't think they are, but I admit that I don't really know either) they are made to different specs with different parts so there are things to discuss.

 

[pink]

I hate to tell you American consumers don't know the difference between a wingnut and a walnut.. very sorry to say that...

 

[gene c]

That's what most brands are counting on. And I'm very sorry to say that.

 

[Adam Barratt]

The Denon 3808 and Onkyo NR905 are both made in Japan. Eastech's production facilities are in China.

The Denon AVR-3808 is made at D&M Holdings' (Denon's parent company) Shirakawa city, Fukushima prefecture plant. This is their 'high end' facility.

Onkyo's TX-SR805, 875 and NR905 are made at Onkyo's Kurayoshi city, Tottori prefecture plant.

Adam

 

[Paul Kemp]

The Denon AVR-3808 is a tour de force, but it is very expensive. I would still pick it over the Onkyo, which in my opinion as an engineer is not terribly well designed.

The PS3 is my preferred Blu Ray player also, but having it makes it hard to justify the expensive of an HD compatible receiver (as the PS3 is fully compatible with 'older' HDMI kit).

 

[troy evans]

Well, I do my friend. Also, since shit products are made and purchased all around the world how is this an american consumer thing? People who invest in Onkyo or Denon, I would bet, know more than the average consumer in regards to quality products and what they want.

 

[JohnRice]

Sorry Roger, but your logic is severely flawed. That is like saying Cadillac is the same things as a Chevy Cavalier.

 

[pink]

John you might be right my logic might be severely flawed. You see the way I see things is (we're talking about department store electronics and the department store speakers they push, does it realy matter that much. It's not like they're driving Thiels, Sonus Farbers etc. where the quality of amplification does matter, all I see in this forums is Denon-Onkyo-Yamaha. You can go on audiogon and for $1500.00 get a kickass poweramp and a great processor that'll take on any Denon or Onkyo. My compay I work for just purchased a denon receiver, I don't know which model of hand and Klipsch speakers. Receiver was $2000.00 140X7 Watts per channel and Speakers $3500.00 and I have to tell you what a joke. Receiver seems like it has no power, for that kind of money you you want want to feel the fire, I am sure you know what I am talking about. It's good noise that's about all I can say.
And everybody wants HDMI inputs, the best way to input any signal is direct, not trough a processor or receiver. Any kind of loop you take you loose quality in sound or picture. And very few people run top displays anyway. There is never any mentioning of Ronco Plasmas. People think there is only Panny's. I guees I got this of my chest.
Thanks John for keeping me in check

 

[gene c]

Well, I didn't get a kick-ass power and pre-amp, though I did consider a couple of them, but I did pick up a good as new Pioneer 59txi and 59avi on Audiogon for $1000 shipped. Might not be all that high end, but it's good enough for now. And I can do without hdmi on the avr for the time being.

 

[pink]

It just seems to me that a lot of HT buffs are spending to much money for what they are getting.
A friend of mine purchased Polk speakers at circuit city for around a thousand a pair, he asked me to take them out of his SUV, I said I cant carry these big things, he said they don't way nothing. A $1000.00 for Polks that way nothing, I think the box was heavier than the speakers and made in China. Do me there is no speakers worth a $1000.00 that is made in China. If he would have said take these things for free I would have to say no thanks, but you can keep them, because I would have a hard time for someone to take them of my hands for free.

 

[gene c]

My current speakers were made in China so I'm going to over-look that little remark , but they are very heavy if that means anything. But they did replace Polks, some of which were bought at CC, so maybe I'm moving in the right direction, be it ever so slowly. Maybe someday I'll move up, but I still have a lot to learn before I do.

 

[Paul Kemp]

This I would entirely agree with, which is why I refuse to buy anything brand new unless I absolutely have to.

Bought the PS3 new as Sony are operating at a loss - a real rarity and brilliant news for the consumer (even rarer that such a statement should be applied to the Sony Corporation!).

My receiver, amp, speakers were all sourced S/H - there you can pay what a product is worth rather than line the pockets of dealers who, more often than not, haven't a clue what they're talking about

 

[pink]

I am not trying to insult anyone, but it seems to me people spend to much money for what they are getting (If they pay retail). I have nothing against speakers made in China or against Polk Speakers. Polk makes some great Speakers but they are not sold at CC or Best Buy, so does Klipsch. I am sure Klipsch or Polk don't design the department store speakers, but I am sure they design the Heritage Series in other words these companies all sold out. Altec, Klipsch, JBL, Polk and the list goes on...I don't know who owns JBL right now, but at one time they where owened by General Foods. Quiet a few years ago when Paul Klipsch was still alive he claimed that they still make speakers the same way they did 50 years ago and that is what they sounded like, speakers that where designed 50 years ago..Besides I have a personal friend that designs and manufactures power amps. The price range is of $1850.00 if you buy his brand and up to $9999.00 if you buy another brand. All the same amps except faceplatte and brand name. In other word you can get a $10000.00 power amp for $1850.00 if you know what you are buying. I have a Atlantic Technology P-2000 proceesor for Sale which was around $1700.00 retail, I did'nt know at the time of purchase that is was a rebadged Outlaw 950 which I could have purchased for half the price for the same piece, it's just a crazy world outhere.

 

[gene c]

Ain't it the truth. Maybe that's why few people are willing to but high end stuff? They're afraid of paying for high end but getting re-badged mid-level stuff. It's hard to make the right decision when you really don't know what you're buying. "You pays your money and you takes your chances".

 

[Vin_G]

Yes, but what I really want to know everybody is Onkyo or Denon? Just kidding.

So what are some people's suggestions? I was first thinking the Denon 3808 or Onkyo 905, but for economy and since technology changes every year, maybe something in the price range of Onkyo 805 so I can take advantage of TrueHD, etc. The 3808 and 905 are twice the price and unless I was planning on keeping this setup and technology wasn't going to change I would spend more, but it doesn't seem worth it to buy the best.

Thoughts?

 

[Ben-S]

Paul - What don't you like about the Onkyo? I just want to know for my general knowledge. Thanks in advance.

 

[Vin_G]

Ok, how about this setup:

1) Receiver: Onkyo 805 - $840 (online buy + S&H)
2) Projector: Panasonic PT-AE2000 - $2850 (will be using acoustically transparent screen)
3) Blu-Ray Player: Sony Playstation 40GB - $400

Or I get a $600 Pioneer Blu-Ray Player with analogue outputs so I can continue using my Denon 1804 but take advantage of True HD and DTS-HD sound