Onkyo RC260 or Pioneer 1020-K?

disco_al

I'm about to make the jump to a 5.1 system, and wanted some opinions on the choices i need to make. So far looking at the following Polk speaker combinations:

2 x Monitor 60 (fronts), 2 x Monitor 50 (rear), 1 x CS2 series II (center),
or
2 x Monitor 50 (fronts), 2 x Monitor 30 (rear - on stands), 1 x CS1 series II (center),

and then a sub to go with them at a later date (approx $250 - $300).

The receivers i have narrowed it down to are the Onkyo RC260 or the Pioneer 1020 - Still weighing this part up. Both will do a good job i think with either speaker set-up, but i like the USB playback feature of the 1020.

Can anyone speak on how these two receivers compare? The 1020 is $50 more from newegg, which to me is probably just about worth it for the USB audio playback feature. Anything about either receiver that's better than the other?

Please voice your opinions, as i was leaning toward the Onkyo, despite the many voices towards Pioneer, Marantz & Denon. I didn't think any of these brands would be close in price for a receiver with 5 or more HDMI inputs, but now i see the 1020 is only $50, and so i am now leaning towards that, but still undecided. Please help!

tonyb

Personally,I like the pioneer. Keep in mind though,I don't think either one has pre-outs to add an amp down the road,but if thats not important to you,rock on.

lessthanzero

Yep, Pioneer, and I like your first configuration with the Monitor 60's......Just my .02

disco_al

Yeah i don't see myself doing any kind of additional amping down the road. I plan on getting this system & setup and leaving it be for years to come.

Besides the PC VGA input, does the RC260/SR608 offer anything that the 1020 does not? I am preferring the 1020 thanks to the USB playback, but wondered if there were any features on the Onkyos i'd be missing out on? (Better on screen display / OSD?)

Thanks for the input - almost certainly going with speaker choice 1, just unsure on the center speaker being the CS1 or CS2.

disco_al

Went with 70s for the fronts, cs2 for center and 50s for the rears and the Pioneer 1020 receiver. Only problem is Cs2 is so big it's blocking my tv screen - i have to get a riser for it!

I also now need to get a sub to go with my setup. Any thoughts?

My living room is 23 feet long by 13 feet wide, with main couch 13 feet from TV (and front speakers).

lessthanzero

disco_al wrote: »

Went with 70s for the fronts, cs2 for center and 50s for the rears and the Pioneer 1020 receiver. Only problem is Cs2 is so big it's blocking my tv screen - i have to get a riser for it!

I also now need to get a sub to go with my setup. Any thoughts?

My living room is 23 feet long by 13 feet wide, with main couch 13 feet from TV (and front speakers).

I am looking at the Velodyne VX-11 10 inch 100W sub from Vanns.....anybody have any experience with this?? Lots of positive reviews.......

cnh

You really don't want to buy anything less than a Velo DLS-3750R or the newer DEQ-10R at Vanns. The lower end Velodynes are really not anything to talk about. I'd take the Polk PSW505 over the VX series for 250 shipped--at newegg?

Also, you'd get more feedback if you start a new thread on this.

cnh