Which Reciever to buy...?

Jer_ry
Jer_ry Posts: 118
edited December 2005 in Electronics
HI guys I am looking into getting a new reciever. I think mine is getting to outdated for what i need it for. It's a Yamaha HTR-5250. I am looking toward getting one from Best Buy, mostly because thats where I have credit LOL. I have a 5.1 setup right now and the model i am looking at HTR-5850BL is 6.1. I was wondering if you have to get another set of speakers to make this sound right or is there an option to make it 5.1. Looking for something around the $400-$550 price range. They also have a nice 7.1 I like the power output on that one but again it's 7.1. But before i do that i wonder if after spending $500 on a new one if i would even tell a difference. Thanks.
Post edited by Jer_ry on
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited December 2005
    A 6.1 or 7.1 AVR will run in 5.1 mode just fine. (just set the rear speakers to off in the receiver) Before we start throwing money at it though - what is the problem that you are trying to fix?

    Do you just not like your old reciever? Does it not sound like it should to you? You want to play louder than it currently can? Adding new speakers and not sure if your old one is up to the task? What are you hoping to gain by purchasing a new one?

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited December 2005
    If you're limiting yourself to shopping at BB on the budget you indicated, you may not gain very much from an upgrade. If you're willing to go outside BB and buy off the 'net, you will get a substantial improvement in sound quality, power and features.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,064
    edited December 2005
    I think BB now has Denon in their line-ups of receivers
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  • Jer_ry
    Jer_ry Posts: 118
    edited December 2005
    Well my old reciever has almost no sub adjusment capabilities just an lfe and volume. I had a pb-10 for about 2 months and i know it's not sounding like it should due to this. My rear speakers sound really strange all echoed out and i can't fix that. I now have HDTV and it would be nice to use the reciever as the component cable switch and not have an external switch like i have. And i would just like to improve the overall sound. If i do go outside of BB and buy off the net then what should i be looking for here?
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  • Fallen Kell
    Fallen Kell Posts: 94
    edited December 2005
    Well, I don't know what kind of "sub adjustments" you think will be available. Asside from setting crossover points on individual speakers/pairs, most recievers will not be able to offer much more then lfe and volume adjustmants. I know some Lexicons will allow seperate sub outputs for LFE and redirected bass (i.e. the bass that would normally go to your other speakers, but is below the crossover point).

    Now I personally did VERY well on ebay at the harman kardon direct store (scored a refurb DPR1001 for $200 over a year ago, which is factory direct, full warrenty). Now I will be the first to say that it doesn't have enough power, but since it has pre-outs, that is no problem when paired with external amplifiers.

    Anyway, things to look at. Well, go look at some of the yamaha's and some of the HK's. The yammy's are nice since many have auto-room calibration (though I still prefer using a SPL meter and measuring tape since you will get better calibration that way because most all auto calibration setups still have issues with getting the phase/delay set correctly). The denons are nice as well, but usually more expensive them you might be looking for. Also check out the "pioneer elite" recievers (not the regular pioneer's, but make sure it is the elites).

    Bang for buck, you can do very well on Harman Kardon's ebay store. Yes the stuff is refurb, but it is right from the factory. You do need to watch it for a while since prices will fluctuate depending on how many people are looking for gear "now" (it is the holiday season), and how many pieces of that model are available at the time. Again, as I said, I got a refurb DPR-1001 for $200, which was going for $1300 new... that is hard to beat (I think the other bidder on it fell asleep).
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,782
    edited December 2005
    I see that BB wants $410 for that reciever, you could do much better:

    http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=yamhtr5850

    If you go with Yamaha, I would look at the RX-V models. The RX-V1500 only set me back $525 brand new:

    http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=yamrxv1500&store=&catid=4118
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