Shopping for a new AVR, under $500

mdaudioguy

Probably going with Denon, but undecided between S720, S920, and X1300. "Old" Pioneer has been, and still is, great for a small system, but lacks HDCP 2.2, which I think will allow it to pass HDR. It does 4K, just not HDR. 5.1 speakers are Definitive Technology ProMonitor 800/ProCenter 1000, so power demand isn't too great.

dromunds

I think accessories4less has several Pioneer Elite SC models with HDCP 2.2 for under $500 but it's been a bit since I looked.

Jimbo18

accessories4less has quite a few nice AVR's under $500. Here's a Yamaha less than $400 with everything you want.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/yamtsr7790bl/yamaha-tsr-7790-7.2-x-95-watts-a/v-receiver-same-as-rx-v779/1.html

[Deleted User]

I haven't been in the market for it yet, but have you considered multi room audio?
AVRs are at least supposed to be coming out with it.

Anyway, there are hundreds of choices. You should be able to get something
with your needs for 300 bones or so on sale. You don't have to go refurb with
your speakers.

dromunds

I just looked at Accessories4less, and it appears I misspoke. They have several Pioneer Elite VSX models with HDCP 2.2 for under $500, but their least expensive SC model with HDCP 2.2 is currently about $550.

andrew82

Get a Marantz slimline if you're just looking for the updated HDMI specs w/o a big power draw.

mdaudioguy

dromunds wrote: »

I just looked at Accessories4less, and it appears I misspoke. They have several Pioneer Elite VSX models with HDCP 2.2 for under $500, but their least expensive SC model with HDCP 2.2 is currently about $550.

I'm actually using a VSX-44 now. Sounds great and if it had the compatibility I'd continue with it. Honestly, I'm using it now with DirecTV and Roku running directly to the TV, and optical out to the AVR. Only thing is I lose on-screen display of volume and that's driving my OCD level up...

mdaudioguy

andrew82 wrote: »

Get a Marantz slimline if you're just looking for the updated HDMI specs w/o a big power draw.

Marantz is another possibility, although I'm leaning toward the Denon line at this time. We'll see. Probably going to make up my mind today or tomorrow.

mdaudioguy

I've owned Yamaha (still love the AVENTAGE in my real HT), Onkyo, Harman-Kardon, Marantz, and Pioneer... Might as well give Denon a try!

Jimbo18

The X2300W seems to have everything you want if you are going with Denon.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/denavrx2300w/denon-avr-x2300w-7.2-ch-x-95-watts-networking-a/v-receiver/1.html

mrloren

I 2nd the Denon

WVHillbilly

Denon over Yamaha or Onkyo.

mdaudioguy

After some input from another member, I've learned that the Denon line doesn't have proper on screen display in 4k until you get up to the X3300W model.

tonyb

mdaudioguy wrote: »

Probably going with Denon, but undecided between S720, S920, and X1300. "Old" Pioneer has been, and still is, great for a small system, but lacks HDCP 2.2, which I think will allow it to pass HDR. It does 4K, just not HDR. 5.1 speakers are Definitive Technology ProMonitor 800/ProCenter 1000, so power demand isn't too great.

Every receiver in that price range is going to have some drawbacks, somewhere. Is your TV HDR compliant ? Otherwise it won't matter in the receiver.

[Deleted User]

I was looking hard at the 3300 at one point. Nice box.
A thousand better than 2300.

mdaudioguy wrote: »

After some input from another member, I've learned that the Denon line doesn't have proper on screen display in 4k until you get up to the X3300W model.

tonyb

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/4k-vs-201604104279.htm

Good read, gives you more insight to what HDR does.

[Deleted User]

Enlightening. I stopped chasing the newest best and got
a TOTL Denon 4520ci. FIN

tonyb wrote: »

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/4k-vs-201604104279.htm

Good read, gives you more insight to what HDR does.

tonyb

What I found interesting in the article was that HDR max's out the brightness and details in clarity of your TV's settings. For all you old Plasma users, that's the equivalent of putting your Plasma in Torch mode as we used to call it.

If you wanted to, you could do that all on your own, without HDR, right ? They also claim it can look a bit washed out in a bright room, like looking at a cell phone screen in the sun, in their words.

Regardless, for or against the technology, the differences were obvious to me in the screen shots from the article. Funny thing is, my TV is HDR compliant now from firmware upgrades but I have yet to actually use it. I do know that when I watch something on Netflix or YouTube in 4k, it looks amazing. Not sure if their content is HDR compatible though.

mdaudioguy

Got halfway into that article and realized I was glad I don't pay too much attention to minute visual details. I mean, I definitely spot obvious problems, I.e. motion blur, uneven backlighting, etc...

mdaudioguy

Anywho... was looking around and stumbled into an open box Pioneer Elite SC-91 for $410. Seemed like a no-brainer, and probably overkill, but it does what I wanted and sounds pretty dang sweeeet!