New A/V Rec

[Syrch]

I am currently using a Onkyo SR701 (http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR701.../dp/B00009R56L). Sadly I have no HDMI or any newer features on this receiver. I hate to replace it but its certainly time. I have read yoyo's thread and was looking at the Onkyo TX-NR1007, Pioneer VSX-23TXH and Yamaha RX-v1900. I am looking to stay around $1000 but if have to squeeze a bit more money to get a much better reciever i will. I Love the fact that Onkyo has Pandora Support though that is not a huge selling point for me.

I leave this in your hands, A/V guru's of AT! Recommend a new receiver for me.

I will be using this at home in single room application. HD audio is a must as I only run bluray movies and HD content.

Links of what i have found so far.
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TX-NR1007&class=Receiver&p=i
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=5016804&CTID=5000300
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/P...AV-Receivers/EliteReceivers/ci.VSX-23TXH.Kuro

 

[lokiju]

This?

 

[vi edit]

I think the 707 is the sweet spot in the Onkyo lineup. I've seen it on Amazon for $480-500 a couple times since Mid-Dec. I had an order at 6th Ave for it for $470 but they were running 6-8 weeks out. So I cancelled hoping maybe it would go cheaper at some point.

I'd keep an eye out for it to hit that $480-$500 mark again. Unless you need network access on it, then there's really not that much of a difference between the 8x and 7x.

 

[s44]

MultEQ XT is big. If you want to spend less than the Onkyo 1007, there's last year's 876 for ~$850. No internet stuff though.

 

[Syrch]

MultEQ XT is big. If you want to spend less than the Onkyo 1007, there's last year's 876 for ~$850. No internet stuff though.

My only fear with the 876 is that it only had 4HDMI. I currently have the PS3, HD DirecTV, HD-DVD all running HDMI. I add the xbox360 w/hdmi i have no room for expansion...

 

[CrimsonWolf]

I bought a VSX-21TXH about a month ago as an early Christmas present to myself. Paid $600 + tax from a local B&M store. Been very happy with it!

The 23 has a little more inputs/outputs than the 21, but they are otherwise identical. If you don't need the extra functionality of the 23, you can probably save some money and get the 21.

From a press release as I did a quick google: "The VSX-21TXH has four HDMI 1.3 inputs and accommodates two zones of A/V distribution, while the VSX-23TXH has five HDMI 1.3 inputs, two outputs, and provides distribution for three rooms."

Besides, it has "Elite" stamped on the front. It must be good, right? :biggrin:

Also, something else I found out while shopping that might matter if you're an iPod user. The Pioneer Elite receivers come with necessary cable and hooking up an iPod works right out of the box. I think the Yamaha and Onkyo receivers need a separate adapter or dock to hook it up.

 

[CrimsonWolf]

My only fear with the 876 is that it only had 4HDMI. I currently have the PS3, HD DirecTV, HD-DVD all running HDMI. I add the xbox360 w/hdmi i have no room for expansion...

Makes sense... if you go Pioneer then the VSX-23TXH is probably your best bet. It has five HDMI, one of which is in the front.

 

[Syrch]

Makes sense... if you go Pioneer then the VSX-23TXH is probably your best bet. It has five HDMI, one of which is in the front.

lol i so hate plugging stuff into the front of the receiver..

Even the next step up only has 4/2 in the back.

Is the pioneer that much better than the onkyo?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

MultEQ XT is big. If you want to spend less than the Onkyo 1007, there's last year's 876 for ~$850. No internet stuff though.

I'm using the 876.

As for internet stuff... I believe the PS3 can do pandora? I haven't tried it yet though.

For more HDMI inputs, a couple other options are
-additional HDMI switch
-plugging directly into the display and only using the receiver for audio... no big deal if the source does not use the HD audio formats

 

[CrimsonWolf]

lol i so hate plugging stuff into the front of the receiver..

Even the next step up only has 4/2 in the back.

Is the pioneer that much better than the onkyo?

That I couldn't tell you. I haven't played around with any recent Onkyo models, so I can't really say much other than vouch for the Pioneer.

From a quick look at the specs of the two Onkyos in this thread, they seem better but also more $$$. Guess it's just a matter of what features you want and how much you're willing to spend.

 

[Syrch]

I'm using the 876.

As for internet stuff... I believe the PS3 can do pandora? I haven't tried it yet though.

For more HDMI inputs, a couple other options are
-additional HDMI switch
-plugging directly into the display and only using the receiver for audio... no big deal if the source does not use the HD audio formats

YOYO i did that Well you suggested that before and i followed the advice like a wise young grasshopper. I Have the monoprice 5 port HDMI switch to do most of my HDMI switching and my SONY KDSa2000 to do the rest. Sadly the xbox360, HDDVD and PS3 all use HD Audio. I am not sure about direcTV (i doubt it) and those take up atleast three of the four ports.

I will admit that I did not know the PS3 did pandora and i'll have to look into it but the ease of use having it built into receiver beats it imo. Just flip to that input and you got music instread of turning on all the components then finding it in the PS3 menu. Again though thats not my biggest selling point. If I end up with that big of a hard on for Pandora i'll just buy something that adds to my system. I just want a really good quality receiver that will meet my immediate and future needs. I bought the Sr701 when it was brand new and pretty sure I paid close to 1k for it. That had to be a decade or so ago.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

I'm using the 876.

As for internet stuff... I believe the PS3 can do pandora? I haven't tried it yet though.

For more HDMI inputs, a couple other options are
-additional HDMI switch
-plugging directly into the display and only using the receiver for audio... no big deal if the source does not use the HD audio formats

Just got a PS3 yesterday. Confirming it can do pandora and I believe even the 192kbs stream I pay for, although I do not know how to check bitrate on the PS3.

On a sidenote, I used to **** the daughter of Pandora.com's owner, so if you have any tips regarding the service I can pass them along to her/her dad.

PS plse dont quote the above... lol.. might edit it out later..

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I'm not familiar with xbox360 details. When does it use the new HD audio formats?

Oh, and if you do have the HDMI switch, then you'd just connect the output of that to the 4th HDMI input on the 876, right?

Then you'd have 8 HDMI inputs (3 from the onkyo + 5 from the switch) and 2 HDMI outputs (one active at a time).

 

[Syrch]

I'm not familiar with xbox360 details. When does it use the new HD audio formats?

Oh, and if you do have the HDMI switch, then you'd just connect the output of that to the 4th HDMI input on the 876, right?

Then you'd have 8 HDMI inputs (3 from the onkyo + 5 from the switch) and 2 HDMI outputs (one active at a time).

youre a dirty man sir! I like the idea though.

 

[CubanlB]

Xbox uses Dolby Digital 5.1 w/wma pro at best. HDMI not required.

 

[richardycc]

Onkyo tx-nr1007 is very buggy, actually, all their new 007 receivers are very buggy. read this owner thread in avs http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1181069&page=37
but thanks to this bugginess, I was able to pick up an openbox tx-nr5007 for around $1350, with the latest firmware, it is working flawlessly.

 

[Syrch]

Onkyo tx-nr1007 is very buggy, actually, all their new 007 receivers are very buggy. read this owner thread in avs http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1181069&page=37
but thanks to this bugginess, I was able to pick up an openbox tx-nr5007 for around $1350, with the latest firmware, it is working flawlessly.

From what it looks like the bugs are worked out with the latest firmware, is this true?

Also, anyone ever order from accessories4less.com?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I got my 876 from accessories4less. It went fine.

 

[richardycc]

From what it looks like the bugs are worked out with the latest firmware, is this true?

Also, anyone ever order from accessories4less.com?

for me it was. but some 3007 owners are still experiencing issues even with the latest firmware, and I think some starting to experience problem after the latest firmware update. check out those owner threads in avsforum for details. oh and 1007 has the wrong resistors on the HDMI board that firmware can't fix, those will need to send into the repair center. If you can spend a little bit more, you should get a refurb 5007, I think it has less issues than the other 2 or avoid Onkyo all together.

 

[Syrch]

for me it was. but some 3007 owners are still experiencing issues even with the latest firmware, and I think some starting to experience problem after the latest firmware update. check out those owner threads in avsforum for details. oh and 1007 has the wrong resistors on the HDMI board that firmware can't fix, those will need to send into the repair center. If you can spend a little bit more, you should get a refurb 5007, I think it has less issues than the other 2 or avoid Onkyo all together.

as much as i'd love to have a 5007 I really can't spend that much on a AVR. At accessories4less they are $1700. Really want to keep this purchase below 1200.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What speaker and sub are you hooking this up to by the way?

Indeed $1700 is a lot of money for a receiver, and so is $1200... so I'm wondering what else is going to be in the system.

 

[Syrch]

What speaker and sub are you hooking this up to by the way?

Indeed $1700 is a lot of money for a receiver, and so is $1200... so I'm wondering what else is going to be in the system.

Let me put on my flame suite and hide in the corner before I respond!

Currently i have Cambridge Soundwords Towers, Center and rears with 2 12in powered subs by them as well. Before the beatings begin! I do plan on upgrading this entire package but that will be another thread. Actually I mentioned this a few months ago and you gave me some good sound suggestions but told me i needed to upgrade my AVR first. This was before the forums were changed though.

Here is that thread http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=303381&highlight=syrch

these are the towers, http://www.audioreview.com/cat/spea...idge-soundworks/tower/PRD_119248_1594crx.aspx

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well I have been really impressed with what Audyssey can do.

I mainly asked about the speakers since I didn't want to be steering you toward a $1000+ receiver if you weren't going to have speakers of similar quality to hook up to them. If you already have pretty decent stuff and plan to make upgrades to other components in the future as well, then a new receiver that's rather expensive would make sense.

 

[s44]

Well I have been really impressed with what Audyssey can do.

I mainly asked about the speakers since I didn't want to be steering you toward a $1000+ receiver if you weren't going to have speakers of similar quality to hook up to them.

On the other hand, given your experience with cheap Sony speakers, maybe expensive Audyssey is just what such a setup needs.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

On the other hand, given your experience with cheap Sony speakers, maybe expensive Audyssey is just what such a setup needs.

A little of that too