First time setup, need advice on receivers!

hagmanm2

Hello to all! I've been a music enthusiast since my first home audio setup. I never bought a boombox, instead I saved my money and went straight for the good stuff: JVC AVR, Polk R1 bookshelfs, and Technics SB-CR77 floors. I swapped the Technics for some Bose 601 IVs and after 6 years of faithful service I've just begun my first serious, and complete, overhaul! (I have to say, it's reinvigorated my love for audio equipment!)

First I'd like to say thanks to many of you. I've browsed this forum quite a lot to get an idea of what system would work best for me. I'm 25 years old and suspect I will remain and audiophile the rest of my days. I've gained quite a bit of knowledge from the experience of others while reading through your posts. Thanks

Now, on to the question: I'm trying to choose between a Denon AVR-3805
(Denon AVR-3805)
and an Onkyo TX-SR606
(Onkyo TX-SR606).

I have TSI500 floors, PSW125 sub, and a CS20 Center. I'm using AudioQuest Type 4 speaker wires and AudioQuest A Class subwoofer cable. What do you guys think would be the best speakers to round off a 5.1 setup? I should mention my audiophile tendencies stem from my love for music moreso than movies. What do you think would be the best choice AVR if I want to focus on 2.1 system for music with a lower priority on home theatre listening?

I've read how some AVRs have 'sharper' or 'softer' tendencies and how some are better suited for a 2.1 setup, but I don't know what to think. I know the Denon has PRE OUTs for connecting an Amplifier, but I don't know how important that is right now. If and when I purchase an Amp it *probably* won't be for a few years (Ooh! Another question: do you think the TSI 500s need more power than either of these AVRs can offer?)... Which AVR do you guys think has the potential to last longer (Is life expectancy even a valid concern?)? Is there anything else I should take into consideration when choosing?

*I should mention the HDMI connectivity on the SR606 doesn't matter in the least for what I'll be doing*

Sorry for the length, but thanks in advance for taking your time to read and offer your inputs!

kuntasensei

I'm a die-hard Onkyo fan, but of those two AVRs, I'd say go with the Denon.

lectronicjunkie

Welcome to the club!!
For what you will pay for the Denon, you could pick up an Onkyo TX-NR807 and have an up to date receiver. Definitely get one with pre-outs! Good luck.

Huck344

lectronicjunkie wrote: »

Welcome to the club!!
For what you will pay for the Denon, you could pick up an Onkyo TX-NR807 and have an up to date receiver. Definitely get one with pre-outs! Good luck.

+1 on the Onkyo 807... or even the 707. But, if you are set on comparing the two models that you listed, I would chose the Denon.

hagmanm2

Thanks for the reply guys. The only reason I'm 'set' on these two AVRs is because both were recently made available to me (Gotta love Craigslist). I actually decided to contact both sellers and just buy both units! The Onkyo 606 for $80.00 and the Denon for $175.00! At those prices I'd be nuts not to pick them up, and whichever I don't keep (by what you guys are saying the Denon is gonna be the winner) I can sell on ebay.

Thanks for the input guys, I actually just got back from purchasing the Denon. I plan on testing both of them out pretty extensively. This will, of course, include some heavy doses of music and somewhat smaller doses of Flor De Cana. Speaking of which, do you guys have any musical suggestions or personal preferences you'd like to share for 'testing' a home audio setup?

Also, what do you guys think about adding an amplifier for the TSI500s? I know Polk says 20-275, but will I notice a huge difference going from the Denon at 120 watts per channel compared to.... a 150 or 200 watt amp? Thanks!

wutadumsn23

First of all, welcome to Club Polk. As for your surround question, I would go with the TSi 200's or TSi 100's. I have the Monitor 40's, which are very similar to the TSi 200's and they work very well. Mounting them can be a pain, but has been done sucessfully by a member here and he was kind enough to document his installation step by step with materials and pictures. The 100's, I believe, come from the factory with keyhole mounting slots and will be easier to mount, but won't have the ability to be moved around for ideal listening angles. You could even go with the Monitor 40's or Monitor 30's since they are much cheaper than the TSi's and timbre matching your surrounds isn't as big a deal with the surrounds as it is with the front 3. Only thing is they look much different than the TSi's, so that may be a turn off. Great scores on the AVR's, I am a die hard Onkyo fan and have an 806 myself. That Denon looks like a beast and has pre outs for adding an external amp, so I would suggest going with that one over the 606 that doesn't have pre outs. However, the 3805 doesn't have HDMI, and the 606 does. Depending on if you want to get, or already have a Blu Ray player it may be a toss up. You could always do Component from your Blu Ray player (assuming it supports it) but I am not very familiar with that process as all my equipment is set up to run via HDMI. You could always sell them both and use the funds towards an 807/707, lol. As for adding an amp, if you do mosty HT, an amp will give you some gains, but it would benefit you more with music. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

-Jeff

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93943&highlight=wall+mounting+monitor thread for wall mounting the Monitor 40's/TSi 200's

cnh

lectronicjunkie wrote: »

Welcome to the club!!
For what you will pay for the Denon, you could pick up an Onkyo TX-NR807 and have an up to date receiver. Definitely get one with pre-outs! Good luck.

Absolutely NO comparison between the power of a Denon 3805 and an Onkyo 807....the 807 loses. And I am an Onkyo fan.

The Denon 3800 series is more like a 1500 dollar NEW Onkyo. And more POWERFUL than anything else mentioned above.

Your problem...it can't do Blu-ray. Has NO HDMIs, I think!

But if you're Blu-ray has multi-channel analogs out and decodes HD audio you can use the Multi-channel ins on the Denon--which will do HD surround formats just fine.

Plus the Denon has pres....and will make your Polks Tsis Sing! Those OLDER Denons are actually better amp sections than the new models! And more reliable. At 175 that's a steal...

It will also sound MUCH better in 2 channel!

cnh

wutadumsn23

cnh wrote: »

Your problem...it can't do Blu-ray. Has NO HDMIs, I think!

But if you're Blu-ray has multi-channel analogs out and decodes HD audio you can use the Multi-channel ins on the Denon.cnh

This is very true, and was what I attempted to say in my post. Glad I wasn't talking out my arse, lol.

-Jeff

domflane

*I should mention the HDMI connectivity on the SR606 doesn't matter in the least for what I'll be doing*

He obviously doesn't have a bluray player, so definately go for the AVR with the better amp, the Denon.
By the way, if you buy a decent 150-200w 2 channel amp, you won't believe how much better those TSi500's will sound. Look for a used Adcom or Carver on craigslist, you can easily score one for around $200. You'll be blown away, trust me . . .
Good luck and welcome to the club

wutadumsn23

I saw that after I replied, and besides he says he doesn't want it now, but everything is going that way so it doesn't hurt to try and future proof your rig as much as possibhle, IMHO.

-Jeff

kcoc321

Well since you got them both, you will be able to ell US which sounds better on your system, but my money is on the Denon. I had a coupe of them before stepping up to the B&K stuff I am using now. I like their warm sound, although I have not ever listened to Onkyo stuff. At some point you will want to add an amp, and that will really step up the front stage. As far surrounds, I would stick with the TSi's to mach your fronts. Although some people say they timber match to the new Monitor series, from the only listening test I have heard, the are not an exact match. But I was only comparing the Mon70 & Tsi500 (Jeff's @ the GTG) plus they will aesthetically match as well. Not as essential to the audio side of things, but definitely makes a difference in the WAf arena. Enjoy

digitalvideo

I would go with one of the Pioneer Elite's if you're more interested in sound as I think they're superior to other a/v's for sound and go with Pio's hands down for 2 channel music where they really shine!

http://hometheatermag.com/receivers/pioneer_elite_sc-27_av_receiver/#

wutadumsn23

kcoc321 wrote: »

But I was only comparing the Mon70 & Tsi500 (Jeff's @ the GTG) plus they will aesthetically match as well. Not as essential to the audio side of things, but definitely makes a difference in the WAf arena. Enjoy

Very true Cam, they were a bit different, but I would imagine the difference would be less noticable with the smaller TSi's? Like you said though, asthetically they are polar opposites, so that may be an issue. The only "complaint" I have is the way the 500's didn't seem to match up with my CS2 center when I had the 500's up front. Maybe I was just being overly critical, but IMHO there was a difference.

-Jeff

kcoc321

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

Very true Cam, they were a bit different, but I would imagine the difference would be less noticable with the smaller TSi's? Like you said though, asthetically they are polar opposites, so that may be an issue. The only "complaint" I have is the way the 500's didn't seem to match up with my CS2 center when I had the 500's up front. Maybe I was just being overly critical, but IMHO there was a difference.

-Jeff

DUDE, I am KC..Not Cameron..he's much taller....
And YOU need to try a different center...

wutadumsn23

Whoops, my bad man. I saw your sn and confused it for his, lol. Yeah, but I got the 500's pulling surround duty now, so I'm good.

-Jeff

dvran

Save your money and get the Onkyo 707/807 or the Denon 1910/2310. A good receiver with HDMI capabilities will last you for years.

hagmanm2

digitalvideo wrote: »

I would go with one of the Pioneer Elite's if you're more interested in sound as I think they're superior to other a/v's for sound and go with Pio's hands down for 2 channel music where they really shine!

http://hometheatermag.com/receivers/pioneer_elite_sc-27_av_receiver/#

Haha, yeah I'd loove to go with that powerhouse! Do you think I can find it for under 200 bucks? Haha


The TSI200s seem like the way to go. However, I do have another question about finishing my 5.1 setup. If size and price aren't issues, how would a pair of TSI400s compare to the TSI200s for surrounds? What should I take under consideration? Power consumption etc?

Thanks for all the posts, they've definitely helped me make my desicion on which AVR to choose. Though, at the end of the day it was performance alone that sealed the deal!

Let me start off by saying before the Onkyo TX-SR606 I was using an Onkyo TX-SR504. From the specs the 606 was a step up but i didn't really notice much of a listening difference. Howwwwever, The Denon blew me away! I couldn't believe how much of a noticeable quality difference there was from the 606 to the Denon 3805, especially when we're only talking a 30 watt difference. The lightbulb clicked on in my head and suddenly everything I've been reading about 'quality of watts' and matching speakers to receivers started making sense! Eureka!

Compared to the Onkyos, the Denon sounded much warmer and the higher frequencies were more subdued (in a good way). The TSI500s always sounded a little to bright and harsh for my ears, but it turns out that the Denon was a perfect match for them. I also noticed considerably less background noise (white noise? Not sure what the aproppriate term is) when listening at higher dBs. All in all, I'm EXTREMELY happy with the Denon (it didn't come with the fancy remote, but at $175, I really can't complain... thinking about the Harmony 900... any thoughts?). Once again, thanks for the help guys!

I'm definitely considering a 2 channel amp, but I think I'd want to invest in at least 200-250.

What thoughts do you guys have on power conditioners?... I haven't considered them as of yet. Once again, thanks for the warm welcome to the forums!

kcoc321

I am glad you found that synergy that sounds good to you.:D
As far as remotes, I have had a Harmony 550 for a couple of years now and could not be happier. IDK about the 900, bu the Harmony remotes really make controlling multiple components easy, IF you take the time o set it up right. Takes a little time to configure where in the menu yo want your favorite features, like the ones you use the most, and to make sure you have it turning on all the right things and that they are being selected to the right inputs ect. But it is really an easy to use interface. I would never be without one again. Time to enoy some tunes..

digitalvideo

You can get far better recievers like the Pio Elite SC05 on ebay, videogon, audiogon etc for under $700, is that out of your range?

Also checkout www.ecost.com you can get great Denon recievers there that are refurbished.

seeclear

digitalvideo wrote: »

You can get far better recievers like the Pio Elite SC05 on ebay, videogon, audiogon etc for under $700, is that out of your range?

A little, he was asking above about under $200.

hagmanm2

Thanks for all the help guys. Since I'm an excessively poor recent college graduate (last semester), money is of the utmost importance. I really couldn't afford to do any of this if it weren't for the amazing deals I found on craigslist. One was the receiver and the other find I sold on ebay for a profit to give me enough cash for the speakers! All told, I think I have to have one of the most cost effective setups around!

Polk TSI500
Polk CS20
Denon 3805
Rotel 855
AudioQuest T4 (x3)
AudioQuest TA
Technics TT
total: $675.00

I'm super proud of myself btw.

jinjuku

hagmanm2 wrote: »

Thanks for all the help guys. Since I'm an excessively poor recent college graduate (last semester), money is of the utmost importance. I really couldn't afford to do any of this if it weren't for the amazing deals I found on craigslist. One was the receiver and the other find I sold on ebay for a profit to give me enough cash for the speakers! All told, I think I have to have one of the most cost effective setups around!

Polk TSI500
Polk CS20
Denon 3805
Rotel 855
AudioQuest T4 (x3)
AudioQuest TA
Technics TT
total: $675.00

I'm super proud of myself btw.

You should be. That is a heckuva setup for ~$700. I personally don't place a high level of importance on the surrounds. I would think if you can get the TSi 100's for cheap that would be the way to go.

Have you started looking for sub-woofers yet?

hagmanm2

oops, forgot to mention my sub! I grabbed a psw125 for 150!

wutadumsn23

That is a pretty good sub IMHO, I have one myself and it does a very good job. Not the best Polk sub out there, but for $150, you can't go wrong.

-Jeff

cnh

hagmanm2 wrote: »

Thanks for all the help guys. Since I'm an excessively poor recent college graduate (last semester), money is of the utmost importance. I really couldn't afford to do any of this if it weren't for the amazing deals I found on craigslist. One was the receiver and the other find I sold on ebay for a profit to give me enough cash for the speakers! All told, I think I have to have one of the most cost effective setups around!

Polk TSI500
Polk CS20
Denon 3805
Rotel 855
AudioQuest T4 (x3)
AudioQuest TA
Technics TT
total: $675.00

I'm super proud of myself btw.

You did 'good' hagmanm2, REAL GOOD! Nice system...those older Denon AVRs are a GREAT match for Polks!

Enjoy!

(digitalvideo...I hear you man, and I've heard the Pioneer ICE amps too! They are nice pieces...but the above budget system is a good one and hard to beat value wise).

cnh

wutadumsn23

cnh wrote: »

but the above budget system is a good one and hard to beat value wise).

cnh

Very true, one of the better systems I have "seen" for what he paid for it. Well done. Hell, the 500's are $700 alone!!

-Jeff