First Setup and Entry level receiver

lockmart

I'm a new Polk owner, my speakers are set to arrive on Monday. I'm looking around for a Onkyo 705, in the meantime I'm thinking about going ahead and hooking up my new speakers to my Pioneer VSX-D307 (Pro Logic) receiver. It has 100 Watts per channel at .09 THD (not sure how many channels run at test). It's running 8 ohms, not really any adjustments available. Would there be any harm using this until I can get a better receiver?

Also, I've got a DLP TV and planning to run the center speaker wire under the TV (14 gauge or maybe even 18 gauge for easier fit). Would there be any harm in this as it will put pressure on the wire? I could run it along the front but won't look as good.

VSchneider

I suspect you should be fine using the Pioneer to get a taste of your Polks.

As far as having a TV sit on a wire - I wouldn't.. If the insulation gets pinched and shorts the cable, your AVR may go down next.

lockmart

Alright negative on the wire under TV, I'm hoping to find a new stand for the TV too. Right now it's sitting on one with a marble top, the next one will be wood most likely and perhaps I can drill a small hole close to the tv where the center will sit for the wire. In the meantime I'll live with the wire in sight.

How much of a difference will it be in sound do you think? Obviously the Pioneer can't take advantage of the current movie formats, but for 2 channel listening I wonder how the quality will vary. It has to be better on the Onkyo I would imagine.

VSchneider

It will sound different, but Pioneer makes some fine electronics, too, so it may be a wash quality wise.

Didn't mean to scare ya with the "pinched wire, dead receiver" thing, but that's the worst case.

lockmart

I'd rather be safe than sorry, I kind of suspected it wouldn't be the best method but wanted to get some responses.

With the new receiver I'm thinking I can do all HDMI 1.3a connections when I go to a compliant Blu Ray Player and my 1080P HDMI 1.1 TV? Would that be the optimal configuration? TV, DVD to receiver and receiver to TV all with HDMI? I just downloaded the 705 manual and briefly started skimming it in Adobe and it mentions THX recommends component?

cfrizz

Welcome Lockmart. By all means hook up your 8's to your old receiver until you get your new one & enjoy it!

The most important thing about the Onkyo is the 705 has preamp outputs for when you decide you want to power the speakers with separate amplification.

Don't have anything sitting on the cables, it will all restrict the sound. I had it happen when one of my speakers was sitting on one of my front speaker wires. I noticed that the sound was soft & muffled, when I notice & moved the wire out from under the sound went back to normal.

lockmart

Thanks for the welcome, I can't wait to fire them up and to also see the look on my wife's face (she hasn't heard them at the store as I have). Coming from Bose there is no comparison in the detail and soundstage. The new lossless formats on Blu Ray got me interested in this stuff again, but I'm now planning on waiting until they have a better player out. Still the upconverting and DD will be a huge step up from Progressive scan and Pro Logic. Then I get to experience an improvement again with the Blu Ray!

wlburgess

If you like pioneer, and can wait until June, I just saw this today

http://ces.cnet.com/8300-13855_1-67-0.html?keyword=VSX-1018TXH-K

I was dead set on a marantz sr 7001, but this one is making me reconsider.

lockmart

Hmm that looks like a great pick. The Onkyo does have me worried about HDMI issues and overheating. I've also read it is a little bright, but I'm not really sure how much of a difference it makes with the new receivers. I'll have to keep this on the radar, I've always had good luck with reliability on Pioneer but I've never owned any of their more powerful stuff. 130 watts is insane for that price, I wonder if they tested 5 channels at that? The 1 digital out seems low, but it will only be going to my TV anyway. I wonder if you'll be able to find it discounted online right away? I'd go $450 but $599 I'm not sure. I'm looking for a refurb 705 for $450. I could go higher if necessary but my main goal is bang for the buck.