Bedroom set up.

[cmdrdredd]

I have a small set of Yamaha digital drums myself, besides my others.

I have no problem with them at all, sometimes its a matter of what you want to spend to get a desired result I guess.

I'd just rather splurge a little more on the speakers myself, and the Sony AVRs have been good to me for the price over time.

Yeah I bought Denon because they pack more features into mid-range models than Yamaha and Pioneer which were my first choices.

 

[gus6464]

http://www.accessories4less.com/mak...-ch-x-50-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html

 

[nathanddrews]

OP,

Your choice of the RX-V581 is a good one. Whether you know it or not, that's the least expensive Yamaha AVR that supports all the latest tech - Atmos, DTS:X, HDCP 2.2/UHD passthrough, etc. If you don't need Atmos or DTS:X, you can step down to the 481 and save some money. If you go lower to the 381, then you will lose the MusicCast feature, which is really kickass. It's basically Sonos, but more flexible and less proprietary. If you jump up to the RX-V681, you'll get dual, independent zone control which can also be really nice.

This is perhaps really obvious to you or not at all - no judgment intended - but if you are buying an AVR based upon power output, don't waste your time. Watts/channel and THD is a completely meaningless venture unless you consistently listen to music/movies at or above reference volume with speakers that are not very sensitive. 95% of all speakers will be louder than is comfortable with just 30W of power.

For your listening environment, I would highly recommend that you stick to a stereo configuration, whether with two speakers or a single soundbar. Like you said, surround sound is only beneficial if you're in the sweet spot, whereas stereo is a bit more forgiving (depends more on the speakers used). Fewer speakers also means fewer wires, less complexity, etc. You'll also find that in many cases, good stereo placement (or a good soundbar) can provide an adequate surround illusion.

FWIW, I've been buying Yamaha almost exclusively since 1993 and never had a single problem. That said, there's nothing inherently bad or good about most brands. The switching/amplification process was perfected about 100 years ago and not much has changed in the AVR world from that perspective. Really it just comes down to features/software/usability. Denon and Yamaha are both pretty competitive when it comes to software/app control over the network. Yamaha's recent MusicCast system has proven to be incredible, however. I generally favor the DSP of Yamaha, but that's mostly because it's what I keep buying so I'm used to it.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Ask on AVS which is more reliable. Guaranteed they say Yamaha

I don't really care what someone might say on AVS. I've been a member there for years and I have seen Onkyo raved about there too along with other brands. In either case Onkyo does have a solid fan base. Are you saying that someone who buys an Onkyo is getting screwed? They are buying a POS or something that may not last? I personally wouldn't buy Yamaha but not because they do not make a good receiver. I'm sure they are great. I have solid experience with Pioneer, Onkyo, Denon, and HK. So I tend to buy what has treated me well over the years.

If I hurt your feelings because I copied your post but substituted Onkyo in; I meant no offence. Both are solid brands but it just so happens that I prefer Onkyo myself. My HT room uses a Denon by the way so i wasn't just pushing my current receiver. But I do have an Onkyo as well that works as the day I bought it which was back in 2007. Maybe the more reliable amp I own tbh.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Where did I say that? Don't put words into my mouth. I am saying that Yamaha has continually had far fewer issues with reliability over the years and has a well earned reputation for being rock solid. I'm sure you remember the onkyo hdmi issues where they went out and required people to solder the connector back on and it wasn't a permanent fix?

Just saying

 

[WhiteNoise]

I wasn't putting anything in your mouth but I was asking you what you meant. I wasn't sure exactly how to take what you said but now that you have explained yourself better I get it.

Anyways sometimes it is hard to determine what someone means from words on a screen. I do know of the HDMI issue but I own one of the amps that supposedly has had this issue but luckily mine does not. (Onkyo TX SR605) and for the record Onkyo was and still is offering to fix this HDMI no sound or no video issue if you sent the receiver in...even out of warranty which is pretty damn cool of them. I mean they could have just looked the other way but they stepped up to the plate and took care of those customers willing to send their amps in. In any case any manufacturer can produce an item that unfortunately might have a major or minor issue. I wouldn't damn a brand due to it. Now if it was a repeated issue over the course of several years then yeah I might damn em then. And I'm sure if it happened to me I may feel different as well. All in all though Onkyo has been a great brand for many years. I cannot recall any other major issues that I have heard about Onkyo.

 

[phillyman36]

Bit of a strange question. When the equipment is turned off(receiver) does it usually shut off the speakers as well? Not sure if the speakers(subwoofers especially) have to be turned off manually.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Once the amp is turned off the speakers (which are not powered) go silent. Subwoofers will go into standby mode or you can reach back and shut them off manually. All the subs I have owned have an auto feature and will turn on and off when a signal is present or not present from the amp. Some amps have switching outlets on the back of them which when the amp is shut off anything plugged into those outlets shut off as well. Also many amps and some audio/video equipment have triggers that can connect between equipment to power them on and off.

I use a Harmony One remote which by pressing one button I can turn everything on or off.

 

[phillyman36]

Im looking thru the Yamaha RX-V581 pdf manual i download and i have to say its a little intimidating for a newbie lol. Speaker impedance, crossover frequency, level of each speaker.

 

[spacejamz]

I have a vizio 2.1 sound bar (40" version)...wireless sub and you connect rear speakers to it so wires to run from tv to back of room (forces you put sub close to where you want the rear speakers) which makes it nice...pretty good sound as well...got it from amazon warehouse as a refurb so I saved some $$ on it...

I had a 5.1 Denon receiver with some polk speakers and the sound bar takes up much less space which is another plus for a sound bar....

 

[gus6464]

Yamaha sucks. YPAO is garbage. Marantz all the way.

 

[phillyman36]

So i went to Bestbuy and heard the Klipsch speakers. They sounded good with the demo they had running so I'm going the Klipsch route. As far as speaker go im trying to decide between these 2

Center Channel
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_714RP250CE/Klipsch-Reference-Premiere-RP-250C-Ebony.html
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_714R25C/Klipsch-Reference-R-25C.html?search=klipsch_r-25c&skipvs=T

BookShelf
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_714RP150ME/Klipsch-Reference-Premiere-RP-150M-Ebony.html
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_714R15M/Klipsch-Reference-R-15M.html

Seems the R-25c and R-15m should be paired together and the RP-250c and RP-150m should be paired together.
Should I get the R series or the RP series? This is for a bedroom that is 12x15 min seating distance is about 6 feet maximum distance would be about 13 feet away. My gut tells me to go with the R series since its my first 3.1-5.1 set up using a av receiver. Is there going to be any major difference between the 2? This is being paired with a Denon AVR S720W and the sub will be a Klipsch R-10s Sub.

 

[giantpandaman2]

RP Series. I wouldn't get a center channel that only goes down to 82Hz.

I wouldn't get a Klipsch sub. There are just too many better values out there.

 

[phillyman36]

Never mind found my answer in regards to cabling.