Need help with picking a new TV /AVR

[facetman]

OK- Tech people - need advise on a new AVR and 4k TV ( 65 inch). Its been 10+ years since purchasing a new receiver/TV and frankly I don't understand some of the new tech (ARC/Earc,etc.). TV's have also come a long way with the new OLED stuff. I would like to play PC games on the new TV - if possible- currently use an older plasma 55 inch in my man cave - which works good in 1080P - but would like to kinda future proof and use the new 4k TV for gaming. Max price on AVR= $600, TV= $2000. I am currently using Comcast cable- but have been thinking about cutting the cord.

So, one of many questions is about "smart/apps" . Do I need a smart TV if I am using a "smart AVR" with built in apps and a ROKU/apple TV/what ever streaming device attached to it in one of the HDMI inputs - then sending video signal from the ARV via HDMI cord to the TV? Seems dumb to have both the ARV and the TV to have the same apps on them and since Audio is best processed by the ARV why even use apps on the TV?

Why don't these new TV's have a 1.4 display port? With all the HDMI controversy on bandwidth,etc. between the HDMI ports (1.0/2.0/2.1) wouldn't it be easier to use a 1.4 display port for video signal from a PC that has a much better processor and video card than any TV, console, or cable box? Then you could just stream directly from the internet using apps in Windows/Linux,etc. at 4K. As I missing something or what??

 

[mdram]

avr - im a denon/marantz fan, find one in your budget
tv - samsung for me

make sure its hdcp 2.2 compatible
in that price range its hard not to find a smartv

arc allows the hdmi cable to send sound from the tv to the avr if your using tv apps, or a device connected to the tv hdmi

 

[facetman]

Dennon 2300, Sony 1080, Yamaha 7810 on short list.

 

[Kartajan]

my recommendation:
Sony X900E $1700 https://www.amazon.com/Sony-XBR65X900E-65-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B01MZF81NS
Sony STRDN1070 $567.43 https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Channel...ments=p_n_feature_nine_browse-bin:13686538011

I normally recommend Denon AVR, but would recommend keeping brand consistency in this case..
The built- in app capability means that you can keep the remote count down with similar functionality as a 3rd box for the "smartness"...

 

[facetman]

Isnt the new Sony 1080 the newest , and best, and its currently on sale for $499?

https://www.cnet.com/products/sony-str-dn1080/preview/

 

[razel]

When it comes to sound quality buying a good single AVR is an expensive journey. You could be better off with separates. If you are interested, just make sure the ones you buy have left/right pre-outs. A trigger would be awesome too. Having pre-out frees you up to buy a lesser AVR that has all the newer features, codec support and allows you to spend the rest of your money on a real banging 2 channel amplifier for music duties to power your left/right speakers. The trigger simplifies it more since the power amp will turn itself on/off with your AVR.

I've been beyond happy with my Marantz slimline NR1606 which was mid-500s when on sale. The current iteration is NR1608. Even though my 1606 is 2-3 years old it's still getting firmware updates. I'm not sure how much longer that'll be true though since it's so old now.

 

[spacejamz]

If you have a Frys' nearby, they have the Denon AVR X3400 on sale until Friday for $498 (reg price is $999)...you need to sign up for their promo codes to get the discount...

 

[facetman]

thanks I will check that out.

edit: nope I am the Pittsburgh Pa area. But will see if that special can be shipped - Also will check to see if Frys is an authorized dealer.

As I said I have been away for a while- Razel. Are you saying that your AVR from Marantz can use separate amp(s) and it turns them on/off with a "trigger"? So, I could use my very old but good Soundcraftmen PC800 amps to power my front 2 speakers?

 

[mdram]

thanks I will check that out.

edit: nope I am the Pittsburgh Pa area. But will see if that special can be shipped - Also will check to see if Frys is an authorized dealer.

As I said I have been away for a while- Razel. Are you saying that your AVR from Marantz can use separate amp(s) and it turns them on/off with a "trigger"? So, I could use my very old but good Soundcraftmen PC800 amps to power my front 2 speakers?

marantz avrs have pre-outs for all channels iirc
one of the few manufactures to still have them as standard

 

[razel]

As I said I have been away for a while- Razel. Are you saying that your AVR from Marantz can use separate amp(s) and it turns them on/off with a "trigger"? So, I could use my very old but good Soundcraftmen PC800 amps to power my front 2 speakers?

If the amplifier has a trigger input (often looks like a 12v DC, headphone jack). Looks like that PC800 doesn't and damn... does that it was made in Santa Ana, CA. Not far from where I work.

 

[facetman]

yep - I have 2 PC800 amps that I bridged in my old home audio system with a Soundcraftsmen preamp/equalizer and Jamo speakers in the late 1970's early 1980's. The EQ is having issues now-a-days- but it was dam good in its prime, 40 years ago. OK ya, I had never heard of a amp trigger before. I used to work in a stereo place when I was in college in the summer- they had high end stuff like Soundcraftsmen, Harmon Kardan, etc. I got my stuff cheap as the bosses liked be and so they put down on sales slips that I sold every system that the store sold and thus making me a winner in a contest by Soundcraftsmen - that is how I got one amp and the preamp/EQ. Then I just bought the other amp at cost - it was a kick ass system in the dorm.

Here is the EQ/pre-amp :

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/soundcraftsmen-dx4200-preamp-135224327

Ok well that wont work as I don't want to keep reach down and behind to turn on the amps - so onward with the search for knew stuff.

 

[facetman]

Anybody Have any thought/experience with Yamaha audio? Costco has a 7810 for under $500.

https://m.costco.com/Yamaha-TSR-7810-7.2-Channel-Network-AV-Receiver.product.100308760.html

 

[Aikouka]

It might be worthwhile to wait a couple months. Manufacturers tend to show off their new equipment at CES, and release it around the April-June time frame. The benefit there is that you can spend about the same amount of money on the newer items, or usually reap nice discounts on the older items. As an example, I've never bought the current generation Denon receiver. I've always bought the last generation on discount because it's just so much cheaper and there usually isn't a feature that I need.

You may want to ask about some of the terms if you're not sure what they are. As for the example that you provided, ARC/eARC is the Audio Return Channel and Enhanced Audio Return Channel. This allows the TV to send the audio back through the HDMI cable to the receiver, and it's used when you're using apps that are on the TV itself. ARC is available on most devices today, but it's currently a bit limited as it only supports lossy formats such as Dolby Digital 5.1. Currently, Blu-ray videos use lossless formats such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio, and the one that you'd really care about is that a lot of streaming sites are providing a Dolby Atmos track now. eARC, unlike ARC, is capable of sending Dolby Atmos back to the receiver. Keep in mind that this only matters if you want to use TV apps! Frankly, I recommend not using TV apps as the TV software is usually slower than a good, set-top box anyway.

 

[facetman]

yep- the Denon 2300 is replaced with the 2400H - the only difference that I can find is the HEOS addition. The 2300 is now $449 on a few websites - just a month or two ago it was 700. Yamaha 781 or 7810 ( Costco ) is no longer the newer AVR - the 683 is the newer model - what?? Maybe the 7810 at Costco will go even cheaper. So, things are a changing. Hanging on for a month or two may be a good idea- but all the Denon 2300's will be gone. I will have to look into the eARC - it may not be on anything that is under $1000 for a while.

Looks like eARC wont be a commonly available until 2019. Don't think I can wait that long.

 

[facetman]

What is interesting is that you can see "reviews" Saying the 2400 has better sound than the 2300- how?

 

[Aikouka]

What is interesting is that you can see "reviews" Saying the 2400 has better sound than the 2300- how?

I think I saw a review like that, and... eh... it's important to keep in mind that these are just personal reviews, which are likely very subjective. I doubt that your average user will notice a difference if the feature set is the same. There also could be other things that affect the sound. For example, making changes to the room (e.g. putting an area rug over a hardwood floor) can affect sound, and if the person ran calibration (Audyssey MultiEQ) prior to that with the 2300 and after it with the 2400, it might legitimately sound better... but that's because they really needed to recalibrate the 2300.

 

[facetman]

Very good point. I could not find any reason the 2400 was "better" - just like I cant find any info why the Sony 1080 and the 810ES are different - with the ES model supposedly much better- no one seems knows why.

 

[Aikouka]

Very good point. I could not find any reason the 2400 was "better" - just like I cant find any info why the Sony 1080 and the 810ES are different - with the ES model supposedly much better- no one seems knows why.

AVS Forums is usually a good place to go for specific AV information. There's almost always a Denon thread for each year (the 2017 x400 being no exception), and it will usually talk about what's new in each model. Typically, the features that most look for are number of inputs, input type (HDMI 2.0/2.1, HDCP 2.2, etc.) and room correction (e.g. Audyssey MultiEQ XT).

 

[facetman]

Well- it appears the Sony ARV's are out- I have a pair of Spica T50 's speakers that I was planning on using and they are only down to 6 ohm ( unless you use another amp via pre-amp outs. So , I guess Denon it is.

 

[WhiteNoise]

Denon and Samsung gets my vote.

Which video card will be playing the games? Going to 4K gaming is ...man its awesome but you'll need a good card to do it well. My GTX1080 did it passibly and I quickly upgraded to the GTX1080Ti and I've been pretty happy with the 4k and VR performance.

 

[facetman]

Gaming is with a EVGA 1070, pretty good i5 PC that I put together myself. Probably cant game 4k - but it is really good on 1080p. Won't the AVR upscale it to 4k to the TV (kinda anyhow) . Not sure I will every VR - we'll see. I am currently looking for a Denon 2300 from an "approved seller" - Amazon has them - but they are not the official seller, just the middle man- so Denon will not recognize their own warranty.

 

[Aikouka]

Gaming is with a EVGA 1070, pretty good i5 PC that I put together myself. Probably cant game 4k - but it is really good on 1080p. Won't the AVR upscale it to 4k to the TV (kinda anyhow) . Not sure I will every VR - we'll see. I am currently looking for a Denon 2300 from an "approved seller" - Amazon has them - but they are not the official seller, just the middle man- so Denon will not recognize their own warranty.

If I remember correctly, it doesn't matter if Amazon ships it. The company selling it has to be the authorized retailer. I looked up the 2300 on Amazon, and both HiDEF Lifestyle and ListenUp are on Denon's Approved Retailer list.

 

[facetman]

Thank you so much - I tried to look up to see if they were authorized or not and I could not find it. can you provide a link please. .

 

[mdram]

he did, the link in his post is to denons websire with a list of authorized resellers

 

[facetman]

Ahh looking on the phone - lol did not see it. Thanks