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Suggestions for a home theatre receiver, please

post #1 of 41
12/26/09 at 11:25pm
Thread Starter 
Must have analog to HDMI conversion (so you can hook up all your old crap to it and then route everything into the TV/Monitor with one HDMI cable) and 1080p upconversion. An HDMI input on the front would be nice too, but not essential.

Any ideas?
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post #2 of 41
12/26/09 at 11:35pm
Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH. Got mine for $430 shipped from Valueelectronics.com. The price has now gone up to $465 but there may be haggle room. They are an authorized dealer so you have to order over the phone. The unit is $700 at Best Buy and is the best value in its class as you get a solid 7 channel amp, Pioneer's latest MCACC and the latest True HD/DTS-MA decoding along with decent Anchor Bay up-conversion. I am happy with mine -- I switch FIOS STB, Bluray, and a Popcorn Audio media streamer to one HDMI and it drives my Polk LSI-25s and LSI-c (a notoriously difficult load) and 4 OWM3s without any apparent issues or excessive heat.
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post #3 of 41
12/26/09 at 11:43pm
Choosing a receiver based on it's ability to convert video to hdmi, without any consideration of audio, seems kinda backwards. Why don't you just use the multiple inputs on the TV? I'm sure it takes more than just hdmi. And you forgot to say what your budget is.
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post #4 of 41
12/27/09 at 12:07am
Pioneer Elite, Sony ES, and Denon are good brands in receivers in my experience. Some of the Onkyos get great reviews as well.
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post #5 of 41
12/27/09 at 12:21pm
I'm very pleased with my Sony ES 5300ES. I'm not sure if they're still making that model, but I've never been disappointed by Sony ES.
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post #6 of 41
12/27/09 at 1:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hopkins_student View Post
I'm very pleased with my Sony ES 5300ES. I'm not sure if they're still making that model, but I've never been disappointed by Sony ES.

My SACD player is an ES and it is built like a tank and sounds terrific.
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post #7 of 41
12/27/09 at 2:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
Choosing a receiver based on it's ability to convert video to hdmi, without any consideration of audio, seems kinda backwards. Why don't you just use the multiple inputs on the TV? I'm sure it takes more than just hdmi. And you forgot to say what your budget is.

I am not a true audiophile -- more of a "convenience-ophile" than anything else!

Getting only one hdmi to the tv/monitor will help tame the clutter-beast, eh?

As for budget, I'll pay 1000 $CAD before tax or thereabouts.

This Onkyo has what I am looking for (analog to hdmi conversion; 1080p upconversion; some inputs on the front), but I wondered if there were other brands with similar specs: http://www.intl.onkyo.com/products/a...707/index.html
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post #8 of 41
12/27/09 at 2:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by username79 View Post
Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH. Got mine for $430 shipped from Valueelectronics.com.

The price has now gone up to $465 but there may be haggle room. They are an authorized dealer so you have to order over the phone.

The unit is $700 at Best Buy and is the best value in its class as you get a solid 7 channel amp, Pioneer's latest MCACC and the latest True HD/DTS-MA decoding along with decent Anchor Bay up-conversion. I am happy with mine -- I switch FIOS STB, Bluray, and a Popcorn Audio media streamer to one HDMI and it drives my Polk LSI-25s and LSI-c (a notoriously difficult load) and 4 OWM3s without any apparent issues or excessive heat.

That's helpful, thanks -- will it convert older input devices to hdmi like the Onkyo 707 does?
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post #9 of 41
12/27/09 at 3:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eg1 View Post
I am not a true audiophile -- more of a "convenience-ophile" than anything else!

Getting only one hdmi to the tv/monitor will help tame the clutter-beast, eh?

As for budget, I'll pay 1000 $CAD before tax or thereabouts.

This Onkyo has what I am looking for (analog to hdmi conversion; 1080p upconversion; some inputs on the front), but I wondered if there were other brands with similar specs: http://www.intl.onkyo.com/products/a...707/index.html

I have the similarly tiered Onkyo from last year, very pleased. Definitely one of the leaders in features per dollar. It does run hot, to the point where I would be afraid to put it in a closed cabinet. Also, I think it does give up a bit in terms of sound quality to my old Harmon Kardon, but I found the video capabilities a fair trade.

The 707 has been on sale at good prices lately, check slickdeals.net
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post #10 of 41
12/27/09 at 4:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eg1 View Post
That's helpful, thanks -- will it convert older input devices to hdmi like the Onkyo 707 does?

Yes, the Pio-Elite will do all that based on the owner's manual. FWIW the Pio Elites will have a better amp section imo. They're beefier and much more conservatively rated than the Onkyo (no way it puts out 175Wpc).
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post #11 of 41
12/27/09 at 4:57pm
I have an Onkyo and love it. A friend of mine who is an electronics junkie recommended the brand.
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post #12 of 41
12/27/09 at 5:28pm
^^ There's no doubt it's a good brand. I'm guessing the beefier amps probably wouldn't help the OP much. I'm sure he has small, aesthetically pleasing speakers that his wife picked out.
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post #13 of 41
12/27/09 at 7:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eg1 View Post
I am not a true audiophile -- more of a "convenience-ophile" than anything else!

If you want the best possible sound for your budget, then you are indeed an audiophile.
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post #14 of 41
12/27/09 at 7:26pm
That brings up a good point: what speakers are OP using?

Sony ES hasn't had a good reputation: they've tended to be pretty noisy, perhaps as a price for all their digital bells and whistles.

I'd stick to Onkyo, Denon, and maybe Pioneer.

--Andre
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post #15 of 41
12/27/09 at 8:27pm
The OP could also get a cheaper receiver to just use as a pre-pro and run it to something like this if he wants moar power : http://emotiva.com/upa7.shtm Or better yet: http://emotiva.com/xpa5.shtm Frankly, I think it's pretty amazing what this company is doing for the money it charges: http://emotiva.com/xpa1.shtm review: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/power...k=view&start=1
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