Reciever suggestions for HTPC

tlarkin

tlarkin

VIP Member
There is no home theater section on the forum, so I guess this would go in general computer chat?

I am rebuiling and upgrading my HTPC and home theater set up. I need a good receiver that is not going to cost me an arm and a leg. Right now I will need I/O for my HDTV, Xbox 360, PS3 (buying one soon), my record player (so it needs a preamp), and possible other devices.

Every receiver I am finding with a preamp is ungodly expensive. I don't need it to be top notch.
 
Here is one ($290)...

http://www.dakmart.com/m5/DENON/p50...-A-V-Receiver-with-Warranty/product_info.html

Denon hands down make the goods. This normally goes for $699. Dakmart has been around for a long time. They carry alot of refurbished and b stock, but still carry a warranty (1 year on this one-refurbished).

This unit has high current amps, so you'll get 100wpc regardless of volume level. THX Ultra2-Certified.

Only downside, no HDMI inputs. Not really a big issue. I personally wouldn't run video thru a receiver-always straight to the TV from the source.
 
wag 42 said:
Here is one ($290)...

http://www.dakmart.com/m5/DENON/p50...-A-V-Receiver-with-Warranty/product_info.html

Denon hands down make the goods. This normally goes for $699. Dakmart has been around for a long time. They carry alot of refurbished and b stock, but still carry a warranty (1 year on this one-refurbished).

This unit has high current amps, so you'll get 100wpc regardless of volume level. THX Ultra2-Certified.

Only downside, no HDMI inputs. Not really a big issue. I personally wouldn't run video thru a receiver-always straight to the TV from the source.
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A receiver isnt gonna diminish the quality of an HDMI signal, and these days if you have a receiver you would really want something along the lines of HDMI input. Denon makes pretty nice receivers, however i prefer Onkyo myself, but both make some pretty solid products. THX certification doesnt mean much by the way, the Z-5500's arent that great of speakers and they are "THX Certified".
 
bomberboysk said:
A receiver isnt gonna diminish the quality of an HDMI signal, and these days if you have a receiver you would really want something along the lines of HDMI input. Denon makes pretty nice receivers, however i prefer Onkyo myself, but both make some pretty solid products. THX certification doesnt mean much by the way, the Z-5500's arent that great of speakers and they are "THX Certified".
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Running thru an additional source will diminish the signal-minimal, yes, but for some of us that means something.

As for THX certified, sure does mean something. Z-5500's? Not something i'd use as "reference", but to each his own.

Personally, there is really no comparison between the two receivers. Onkyo does make decent stuff, but that Denon blows it away. Denon uses discrete high current amps-the Onkyo, can't say for sure. Based on it's size and weight, my guess would be it doesn't.

If HDMI switching is important, then the Onkyo would be a good way to go. I don't personally like to have my receiver always on when I am running different components (gaming systems, dvd, etc.)-I just don't need the "thunderous sound" all of the time, but that's just me. I have mine set-up so I can either listen to it thru the TV speakers or my surround sound.
 
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wag 42 said:
Running thru an additional source will diminish the signal-minimal, yes, but for some of us that means something.

As for THX certified, sure does mean something. Z-5500's? Not something i'd use as "reference", but to each his own.

Personally, there is really no comparison between the two receivers. Onkyo does make decent stuff, but that Denon blows it away. Denon uses discrete high current amps-the Onkyo, can't say for sure. Based on it's size and weight, my guess would be it doesn't.

If HDMI switching is important, then the Onkyo would be a good way to go. I don't personally like to have my receiver always on when I am running different components (gaming systems, dvd, etc.)-I just don't need the "thunderous sound" all of the time, but that's just me. I have mine set-up so I can either listen to it thru the TV speakers or my surround sound.
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Not sure how long you have been into home theater stuff, but THX has really come down to meaning very little in the world of home theater equipment. The Z-5500's were used as reference because they have pretty poor sound quality for being "THX Certified".

Also, the digital signal that is used by HDMI will not diminish enough to degrade signal quality through a high quality receiver such as the onkyo. Onkyo arguably makes some of the best high end home theater receivers, but arguing Onkyo vs Denon is like arguing Ati V. Nvidia, everyone will have their preference. For the lower price brackets, Onkyo definately has Denon beat. Not to mention, the PS3 only does DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD over HDMI, not toslink.
 
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bomberboysk said:
Not sure how long you have been into home theater stuff, but THX has really come down to meaning very little in the world of home theater equipment. The Z-5500's were used as reference because they have pretty poor sound quality for being "THX Certified".

Also, the digital signal that is used by HDMI will not diminish enough to degrade signal quality through a high quality receiver such as the onkyo. Onkyo arguably makes some of the best high end home theater receivers, but arguing Onkyo vs Denon is like arguing Ati V. Nvidia, everyone will have their preference. For the lower price brackets, Onkyo definately has Denon beat. Not to mention, the PS3 only does DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD over HDMI, not toslink.
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The OP is looking for a quality receiver, for which I provided. And yes, at that price point, they definetly have Denon beat-and there is a reason for that, which to me is obvious-quality and performance.

For myself, the most important feature that a receiver provides is sound, and there is no comparison between the 2. I have listened to many different receivers over my many years, and that is where my opinions come from. I base my opinions and decisions on experience, not just reading about it.

I would like to point out that he did ask for peoples suggestions, which I provided. It seems as though if anyones opinion differs from yours, then you take exception, and try to prove them wrong. I don't know why this is, and really don't care.

So, good luck to the OP. I hope he finds a good receiver at a reasonable price that fullfills his needs...
 
wag 42 said:
The OP is looking for a quality receiver, for which I provided. And yes, at that price point, they definetly have Denon beat-and there is a reason for that, which to me is obvious-quality and performance.

For myself, the most important feature that a receiver provides is sound, and there is no comparison between the 2. I have listened to many different receivers over my many years, and that is where my opinions come from. I base my opinions and decisions on experience, not just reading about it.

I would like to point out that he did ask for peoples suggestions, which I provided. It seems as though if anyones opinion differs from yours, then you take exception, and try to prove them wrong. I don't know why this is, and really don't care.

So, good luck to the OP. I hope he finds a good receiver at a reasonable price that fullfills his needs...
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Actually, the reason that i said something about that denon receiver was that it doesnt really fulfill all it could at that price point(even single hdmi would be nice for PS3 owners. also, the obvious weight difference is more due to the fact the denon has to power an additional two channels, being a 7.1 vs 5.1 receiver, and it outputs 20W more per channel). When the receiver is not able to utilize higher quality codecs such as DTS-HD(which the PS3 will not output over toslink). The onkyo unit i linked also has very similar specs to that denon, except it has 2 less channels,less wattage but THD and such is the same. That denon unit is also a little bit older and does not support the latest codecs.

At the higher price points, denon makes some pretty nice receivers. I have a buddy with an AVR-1910 & Polk 40's, which actually the reason he went for that over a similar onkyo unit was analogue inputs(he also has an X-fi card in his computer, which has features that really help with music and gaming instead of sending the straight audio to the receiver over toslink).

Another option would be something like this sony, but its alot more consumer quality than a denon or onkyo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882105284
 
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Well my biggest concerns are HDMI and a preamp as it must support my turntable for my vinyl records. As far as quality goes, I would like to have a good one, but I live in an Apartment still. I am looking to buy a home but every home in the area I want to live in is either too run down, too expensive, or is lacking a required feature I want (ie 2 car garage). So, when I buy a home and build my home theater properly, where I can drill holes and run cables and mount TVs on walls, I will spend a bit more money.

For now, I need something that is just going to work and not cost me a ton of money because it is not like I can use it to it's fullest potential in my apartment. That first one linked on newegg seems nice. I am also checking craig's list for local people selling their used ones.
 
Well I am going to bestbuy tomorrow since I have around 350 left on my credit they gave me for financing. I am going to apply that towards a new receiver.
 
Same one as newegg, albeit $50 more: SKU: 9515893 Model: TX-SR507 (For some reason best buys links arent working correctly)

Denon unit there aswell(only 3hdmi though): SKU 9382492 Model: AVR-590
 
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I think at that price point, grab the Onkyo Bomber suggested-better deal. Plus the Denon has no input for phono.

Nice to hear someone still listens to records!
 
wag 42 said:
I think at that price point, grab the Onkyo Bomber suggested-better deal. Plus the Denon has no input for phono.

Nice to hear someone still listens to records!
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I got about 250 or so vinyl records and once my stereo is back in order you better believe I will be buying more.
 
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