Looking for a Home Theater receiver

Mr. Sharpe

Some what recently I did away with my home theater due to space issues and just kept my 2.0 things. Well I'm wanting to get the HT back up again. I have a Denon AVR 3805 I was using but I'm wanting HDMI audio pass through, maybe even with standby pass through. there's not really a budget yet so if you'd name a few good ones (doesn't have to be top end but needs 12v triggers and preouts just incase). I've read a lot on Marantz's and Denon's offerings, but I notice the denon's can be more beefy weight wise some of the time. I like either brand but others will do as well.... I may even end up adding a 2ch amp or 5ch amp and use the receiver as a pre/pro, hence wanting preouts and 12v triggers:)

I will be using a Marantz UD-7007, after reading a lot decided from much research, compared to the Oppo 105, I like the idea of the marantz over the Oppo for it's analog section. thanks.

Like I said there's not really a price limit yet, but nothing over $1,000. there are a lot of Refurbs on Accessori4less that are very affrodable and much nicer AVR's of the brands mentioned.

many many thanks in advance.

mrloren

I always liked Sony ES receivers. My loved 5700ES fried a thermal sensor and Sony sent me a new one. It's up for sale if you want. Has everything you are looking for.

Also look at Onkyo. When I found out that I would be without a receiver for a month I went and picked up last years model 626 and was impressed. The 838 should have everything you are looking for and be under budget for $799 @ Amazon.

deronb1

I concur on the Onk 838. Great reviews and future proof...for a while. I switched from Pioneer AB to Onk AB and couldn't be happier.

polk500

I when from a oink not sure what model I paid $1800 for it and returned it in a week just wasn't for me.

Then a few HK models and settled on the HK 3600 for a few years.

Last Christmas I picked up the new Yamaha 2040 fantastic AVR all the features you could want couldn't be happier.

Enjoy the hunt.

Cheers
Roger

Mr. Sharpe

I never thought to use Yamaha, Onkyo or Sony ES. I had a Sony STR-de597 long time ago, it was my ht receiver and it worked fine until it got old and I could put ear to it and hear it humming. things change though. I'm using an Onkyo TX8555 as a stereo pre right now and haven't any problems at all either until the other day I turned it on and loud buzzing (like a loose wire) came out of the speakers. didn't get the sound with just the amp plugged into the wall so I can only assume it's the receiver. My 1 year-old daughter like to repeatedly push the power button and I'm sure that's what's up.

I haven't had experience with any Yamaha but I haven't anything bad about them. mostly the reason for the denon and marantz mentioned is because I've used the denon receiver and liked it, super nice sound and beefy. and of course a few of their players. and the marantz would match the ud player. We'll see if anyone else with experience with newer denons or others will chime in sometime.

txcoastal1

Had a long discussion couple nights ago with a fellow Polkie

We were both surfing the internet about pros/cons for a new AVR, anyway looks like Denon and Marantz are ahead of the tech curve for a change VS Pio etc.

Their units are firmware upgrade able for the new Dolby DTS-X release. The current Pio generation is not. There was a few other pro/cons and looks like Marantz will be up my alley in the future...this is coming from a long time Pio nerd

Mr. Sharpe

Thank for the reply, could you please direct to that thread so I may read it?

Mr. Sharpe

Or maybe some model no.s would help.

txcoastal1

We were talking on the phone, here is one of the several aricles
http://hometheaterreview.com/dts-provides-more-details-on-the-dtsx-platform/

[Deleted User]

"My 1 year-old daughter like to repeatedly push the power button and I'm sure that's what's up."
I lost the needle on my dual TT that way. My 1 YO wanted to hear music but didn't realize you needed to put vinyl on it first.

cnh

Lower to mid-level Denons have suspect amplification. Denons have been on a diet for years! Their amps are Home Theater "light" except for the HEAVIEST, more EXPENSIVE models!

I like Marantz SR6009 or higher model. And Onkyos have always been pretty "current" if you want bells and whistles 8XX series or higher. I still prefer the D amps in Pioneer Elites, though.

I'd also look at the AVENTAGE series Yamahas. Improved sound over anything older! Put Yamaha back in the AVR game. Having the "latest" processing and "only" focusing on that, may bring the buggiest firmware to your house?

EndersShadow

I'd shoot for the AV8801, AV7702, or the SR7009. All have XT32. The AV8802 is nice too but pricey but it will be able to be upgraded to the latest codecs and HDCP 2.2.


For me I don't need that so I'm in the 8801, 7009, 7702 range depending on pricing. I'd like the 7009 for the extra amps for more surround speakers and Atmos if I ever go that route, but the pre-pros also interests me as if think they have better parts since no amps needed.

Nightfall

I love my Yamaha Aventage, no matter how many of my posts saying so are LOL'd by WilliamM2 and his Monoprice cables.

jeremymarcinko

+1 for the Aventage....my Onkyo nr717 sounded great, but the UI would lag a bit, and was buggy at times. My Aventage 1010 is very responsive, and doesn't do anything weird, ever. Oh yeah it sounds just about right with the RTi's IMO.

Mr. Sharpe

Platform wise I'm really no in need of Bluetooth,wifi etc. or upgrades. I'm not nuts about being current bc I don't get half of what they're doing! But most the hd sound plats there are that will be used in the ud player.

Would a av7005 be worth a try? Sr6009 would be fine but that 7005 is cheaper refurbished. I may go with something used if I can get a good price.... I'm not going completely nuts with it

Mr. Sharpe

cnh wrote: »

Lower to mid-level Denons have suspect amplification. Denons have been on a diet for years! Their amps are Home Theater "light" except for the HEAVIEST, more EXPENSIVE models!

I like Marantz SR6009 or higher model. And Onkyos have always been pretty "current" if you want bells and whistles 8XX series or higher. I still prefer the D amps in Pioneer Elites, though.

I'd also look at the AVENTAGE series Yamahas. Improved sound over anything older! Put Yamaha back in the AVR game. Having the "latest" processing and "only" focusing on that, may bring the buggiest firmware to your house?

So would a 7007 be higher than a 6009 cus that's one I'm looking at also.

deronb1

I recommend the Onk TX SR 805. Can be had reasonable now. It's a friggin beast and if you don't need all the latest doo cats it's a sound choice. It just doesn't seem to run out of gas. Has the older Audysey and weighs 50 plus pounds for a reason. One of the best AVRs I've ever heard.

motorhead43026

You cannot go wrong with the Marantz. Easy setup, plenty power, and not shabby at for 2 channel music. I have 2 older units a SR8002 and a SR6003, both excellent at what they do. My choice would be the 7007 over the 6009.

cnh

Mr. Sharpe wrote: »

cnh wrote: »

Lower to mid-level Denons have suspect amplification. Denons have been on a diet for years! Their amps are Home Theater "light" except for the HEAVIEST, more EXPENSIVE models!

I like Marantz SR6009 or higher model. And Onkyos have always been pretty "current" if you want bells and whistles 8XX series or higher. I still prefer the D amps in Pioneer Elites, though.

I'd also look at the AVENTAGE series Yamahas. Improved sound over anything older! Put Yamaha back in the AVR game. Having the "latest" processing and "only" focusing on that, may bring the buggiest firmware to your house?

So would a 7007 be higher than a 6009 cus that's one I'm looking at also.

Yes! But it is an older model. The new model would be the 7009-which has Dolby Atmos processing and a number of other new features. You should see if it meets your feature needs.

Mr. Sharpe

It's twice as much as the 7007 though. I'm not going to need atmos, just read about a little bit. I'm only going to have a 5.1 traditional setup for the time being, I may one day have 7.1. Most of my movies are DVDs as well, I may get a few blu rays here and there. The 7007 has the features I need, but I've read a good bit on separates and can afford one of marantzs older processors for not that bad like the av I mentioned.

EndersShadow

Make sure it's got Audyssey XT or XT32.... You really want that feature!

motorhead43026

The SR7007 has Audyssey XT.

motorhead43026

Phone rang Skippy, hit post by mistake. See, I came back and finished.

Mr. Sharpe

Lol the best signature:)

I meant the AV7007 but it looks it sold out.... Or av 7701. I mean I plan on getting separates regardless, pretty much thinking it'd be pointless to get an avr if I can afford a preamp.

Mr. Sharpe

I've been thinking too, I'm not going to use balanced cables bc my amp won't have xlr inputs. Probably be pointless getting one of their preamps then. With the avr I'll have the power amp separate then have all those extra speaker amps on the receiver if I need them. Now it's just a matter of choosing the receiver:)

Mr. Sharpe

We'll see what comes up. I agree with that thought though. I don't have an amp already but I've seen they can be had for not a lot of money.

mrloren

It's all about how much you want or can spend.

Mr. Sharpe

agreed. I appreciate all the replies!

Nightfall

My Yamaha was $1200 new bought it used from @Rick88 for around $650. If you aren't against used you can save a ton of dough.

jeremymarcinko

I wouldn't overlook the Aventage series. I have had a couple of decent Onkyo avrs and a pre hdmi marantz home theater 5.1 preamp w/ ext yamaha amplification, and in my experience the Yamaha Aventage AVR is seemingly as good as the pre/processor amp combo. (still using ext. Amplifier for the mains). The Onkyo's with audyssey were fantastic for movies, but the un-eq'd Aventage does very good with both music and movies as did the Marantz.

mrloren

A few months back a couple of coworkers and I were at Fry's demoing speakers. The sales guy was using Yamaha receivers. I did like the sound of them. The Onkyo I got to temp replace my Sony ES sounds great on movies but just does not have the power for music.

Next year I will be seriously looking at either Yamaha or Onkyo to replace my main HT receiver. I will go check them out at Fry's and Best Buy and most likely either order from Amazon or Accessories for less.