question about audio receivers

[CATyler610]

In the process of upgrading my home stereo system I've been doing a little research on receivers and I'm a little confused about something. Could someone tell me if there is a difference between a home a/v receiver and a stereo receiver?

[AndreaSueEllen]

a/v means audio visual doesn't it, so it would hook up to your tv too? stereo is just the sound.

its all guesswork here on my part

[CATyler610]

But I run my tv through the receiver I have now. and the a/v receivers have tuners in them.

[AndreaSueEllen]

But I run my tv through the receiver I have now. and the a/v receivers have tuners in them.

hmmm, i'm fresh oout of ideas. sorry

[Scott]

The a/v receivers usually have capabilities that your stereo receiver do not have. 5.1 audio, digital inputs, surround sound etc. Todays receivers are completely different from what was available five years ago.

[benjamin]

The a/v receivers usually have capabilities that your stereo receiver do not have. 5.1 audio, digital inputs, surround sound etc. Todays receivers are completely different from what was available five years ago.

That's right - it'a actually getting harder to find a simple stereo receiver - although there are some really high end things out there, if you have lots of extra cash.

If, like me, you're still in the old "two speakers is all I need" world, then Onkyo, I believe still sells some really nice stereo receivers - high current amps and very low noise and harmonic distortion figures.

[ColinM]

I wouldn't waste any money on a 2 channel receiver. It's just too obsolete. You don't know what capabilities you'll want in 2 or 3 years. Find a nice, 5 channel receiver (even if you're only suing 2 channels) with matching wattage to each channel. Look for binding posts, not spring clips for the speaker wire connection. You want multiple audio and video connections. I have 2 VCR's, 1 LD, 1 DVD, TV audio and 1 CD changer hooked up to mine.

One of the coolest things about A/V receivers is the video switching capability. All of your video sources come into the receiver. VCR, satellite, DVD, whatever. Then a single video cable connects from monitor out on receiver to monitor in on TV. Then when you switch from satellite to DVD, it's one button. The unit switches the audio routing and the video routing at the same time.

[CATyler610]

Here's what I've narrowed my search down to:
a/v receivers:
Denon AVR-1705
Yamaha HTR-5750
Onkyo TX-SR601

cd players:
Denon DCM 380
Yamaha CDC 585

although I'm open to suggestions for others to look in to.

[HerrProctor]

i have a denon 2105 and i love it

[Jackstraw_1969]

I wouldn't waste any money on a 2 channel receiver. It's just too obsolete.

Pfffffffft. Check out a WAVAC Audio Lab SH-833 (http://www.tmhaudio.com/)........ be sure to click on the price list! ;)

[Scott]

Here's what I've narrowed my search down to:
cd players: Denon DCM 380 Yamaha CDC 585

although I'm open to suggestions for others to look in to.

Look into a DVD/CD combo player. ALSO, you may want to get one that plays DVD-A and SACD. Especially if you are ever going to get a 5.1 system. Dark Side of the Moon in SACD is an experience all to it's own.

[ColinM]

Denon and Yamaha are both excellent. I've been with Denon for 4 years now.

Sorry, Jack. I forgot to add, "...for most users."

Most people don't have listening rooms or even budgets that justify a spearate pre-amp, left and right mono block amp, separate D/A converter, compact disc transit, blah, blah, blah...

Quality and multi use receivers are really the way to go for most of us. By typping that he didn't know the difference between A/V and 2 channel units, I would guess he would not be into Creek Audio, or Magnepan, or Rotel, or whatever.

[Jackstraw_1969]

Sorry, Jack. I forgot to add, "...for most users."

Most people don't have listening rooms or even budgets that justify a spearate pre-amp, left and right mono block amp, separate D/A converter, compact disc transit, blah, blah, blah...

Quality and multi use receivers are really the way to go for most of us. By typping that he didn't know the difference between A/V and 2 channel units, I would guess he would not be into Creek Audio, or Magnepan, or Rotel, or whatever.

I hear ya....just having a little fun......no WAY I'd drop that kinda jack on an amp......that's just fucking nuts! 350K on an AMP?!? For 350K it better come with a band that can play any god-damn song I want anytime! :lol

I've been really pleased with my Sony. It's a Sony STR-GX800ES - Audio/Video reciever. 115w in Stereo and 90w Front & Center 30w rear in Surround. More on my setup
here (http://www.thetradersden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=749)

[CATyler610]

How about a turntable to go with that amp?
http://www.audiofederation.com/catalog/turntables/

[ColinM]

I used to have a hard on for Sony ES. The little mouse remote was pretty cool. Then I waited and looked around and found Denon was more to my liking.

To each their own. :clap:

[Jackstraw_1969]

I used to have a hard on for Sony ES. The little mouse remote was pretty cool. Then I waited and looked around and found Denon was more to my liking.

To each their own. :clap:

It's been a good unit for me......although I have to admit it's going on 10 years old, so I really should be in the market for an upgrade.....don't tell my wife tho! ;)

[Jackstraw_1969]

How about a turntable to go with that amp?
http://www.audiofederation.com/catalog/turntables/

I'll stick with my Technics 1200 thankyouverymuch...... :D

[Tapeworm]

If you still believe a simple stereo amp is all you want, hit ebay, there are some real steals, if you know what you want.

[SIBLY]

I have an older (last series before 5.1 emerged) mid-level Yamaha. Mine switches video as well. But too old for componet input. Still sounds great and never had any problem. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.

I am TV shopping, and it is a nightmare. So much out there. I am looking at DLP and LCD rear projections (42"-50"). The true flat screens are too much money. I have been looking at Sonys, Panasonics and Toshibas. I won't buy an RCA, Zenith, Smsunbg or a no-name.

Anyone with experience in this line of fun?

[ColinM]

Sony WEGA models are the shit. If you have the scratch, get an XBR model. My firend had a 20" WEGA flat tube and it was INCREDIBLE. Of course we had to be within 5 feet, but hey, good times, right?

TV shopping is tough because of the multiple choices. Just make sure you like the remote. My dad hates his, but can't exactly return it now 4 years later.

[RainDawg]

I highly recommend the Yamaha Natural Sound series of recievers. I bought one last year after trek through all of the "high end" audio stores in the delaware valley, and it has fantastic sound and a nice array of options for anything less that $1000. It's an A/V reciever which means it can decode DTS, Dolby Digital, and also act as a Composite/S-Vid/Coponent video gateway, a VERY nice feature if you've got a bunch of devices to control with it (I've got my PC, VCR, Nintendo, DVD Player, Turntable, and Antenna).

Stereo recievers are more for controlling non-video devices and usually do not have multi-channel capability. But if that's all you're using it for, there are certainly some very nice stereo units out there. But, for the multitude of purposes these things serve these days, I'd recommend an A/V unti that you can grow with instead of being limited by.

[CATyler610]

I have an older (last series before 5.1 emerged) mid-level Yamaha. Mine switches video as well. But too old for componet input. Still sounds great and never had any problem. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.

I am TV shopping, and it is a nightmare. So much out there. I am looking at DLP and LCD rear projections (42"-50"). The true flat screens are too much money. I have been looking at Sonys, Panasonics and Toshibas. I won't buy an RCA, Zenith, Smsunbg or a no-name.

Anyone with experience in this line of fun?

I bought a 32" Toshiba flat screen about 18 months ago. I've been mostly pretty happy with it but the sound from the tv alone isn't rich enough, it has to run through a av system. It's a beast though, weighing in at about 150 pounds and 22" deep. I was a little bummed though because right after I bought it I got a nice work bonus that would have let me afford the 36" or a flat panel. I have a relatively small living room though so I can live with the 32".

For the record I decided on a Denon system yesterday and picked up an avr-1705 receiver and a dcm-380 cd player. A HUGE improvement over the lower tiered 8 year old jvc components that I was living with.

[RainDawg]

Good choice. Denon is absolutely a high quality unit, and it was a close choice between that and the Yamaha when I was buying. They are comparable units, and it really just comes down to the preference in sound at that point.

Congrats on your new home theater system!

[ColinM]

If your TV has component video capability, you're in good shape. Component DVD out to receiver, to monitor component out.

When you switch from component source to composite source on the remote (DVD to VCR) it will do it all for you. Of course, the unit can't do anything about the shitty picture of a VCR... :lol

[CATyler610]

Good choice. Denon is absolutely a high quality unit, and it was a close choice between that and the Yamaha when I was buying. They are comparable units, and it really just comes down to the preference in sound at that point.

Congrats on your new home theater system!

I looked pretty hard at the Yamahas it was really down to those two brands and I could have gone either way. I got a better deal on the Denon though.
Now that Phase II is complete I can focus on the triumvirate finale and start planning my surround sound speaker system. I'm running a pair of Klipsch SB-3 bookshelf speakers which sound great but now that I have all this power I need to listen to The Closing of Winterland in glorious surround sound.

[RainDawg]

BTW...I am going to move this to Technobabble...seems that it would get some more response there.

[katnapz]

Dark Side of the Moon in SACD is an experience all to it's own.

Bah!...to me DSotM sounds much better sourced from the original quadraphonic source(s) to DTS...and why in the world they still haven't (re)released WYWH in surround is a mystery to me. If any album should be floating around your head it's definately that one.

Keeping on the thread subject though, I have a Yamaha receiver and am happy with it. I haven't looked at receivers for about two years now so I'm out of the loop, but one thing I'd make sure I could do is set the balance on each speaker with the remote "on the fly." Must be my hearing, or the way different things are mixed but I usually find myself either raising or lowering something while I'm listening. Either the voices are too soft in a movie compared to the special effects or the rear channels don't envelope me into the "experience" as much as I'd like.

[RainDawg]

Watch out...the Katz and the Dawgs are in the house now ;). :thumbsup to Yamaha!

[katnapz]

Watch out...the Katz and the Dawgs are in the house now ;). :thumbsup to Yamaha!

I never thought of that connection before! :roflol:

Hope we never end up fighting like Katz and Dawgs... :rolleyes: :roflol:

[dmb2much]

I highly recommend the Yamaha Natural Sound series of recievers.
Another Yamaha fan here!

RX-V890
RX-V995
RX-V1300 (Current.... Love it! Just wish it had OSD while using the Component out... Can't see the goddamn speaker levels on the small display, from my listening throne)

[fatoldpig]

Good choice. Denon is absolutely a high quality unit, and it was a close choice between that and the Yamaha when I was buying. They are comparable units, and it really just comes down to the preference in sound at that point.

Congrats on your new home theater system!I'm not too sure about Denon anymore. I have AVR-3300 5.1 receiver, it works great but very noisy fan and you can hear clearly when volume is too low or during quiet parts. I sent it to Denon once (costs me about $50 for shipping to NJ), they changed the fan but the new fan is no better.

[ColinM]

That's too bad. Really. :(

[fatoldpig]

That's too bad. Really. :(i know. i like everything else, too bad. i think these guys (not just denon) need to slow down and concentrate on quality not how soon they can release another model. i see a new model every year or less.

[diggrd]

Bah!...to me DSotM sounds much better sourced from the original quadraphonic source(s) to DTS...and why in the world they still haven't (re)released WYWH in surround is a mystery to me. If any album should be floating around your head it's definately that one.
Double Bah the experience of DSotM live in a small vaudeville era theater, where by the way the sound did travel around the audience's head can never be topped for me. Great thread since I too am seeking a new receiver for the step up to HT for the ever amassing collection of music DVD's I find myself in possesion of.

[katnapz]

Double Bah the experience of DSotM live in a small vaudeville era theater, where by the way the sound did travel around the audience's head can never be topped for me. Great thread since I too am seeking a new receiver for the step up to HT for the ever amassing collection of music DVD's I find myself in possesion of.

Closest I ever got to that was at Pittsburghs Three River Stadium (RIP-they tore it down a couple years back) during the DSoT tour. They had speakers up in the nosebleed sections at the top of the stadium at the left-right-and rear for that surround sound experience. I was lucky enough to be something like 26 rows back from center stage and I still remember looking up at those extra stacks and seeing guys literally hanging off of the speakers.....they must've been deaf by the end of the show...
But the WEIRDEST thing about the concert?...it was a really hot and really humid day....it was completely clear with the sun shining, but when I walked into the stadium?...it was raining! That's the strangest sensation to look inside and see it raining, turn around and see the sun outside. The humidity was so high that a small raincloud actually formed right inside the stadium for a couple.
(sorry to the mods, not really related to the thread, but I had to say something back :) )

I will add one more bit of advice you might want to think of...you might want your receiver to have a TOSLINK connector (fiber) so if you play any DTS encoded CD's the DTS signal will make it from your player to the receiver...well, if you plan on ever playing any of them. There's more and more being released everyday. Personally I'm not impressed with the majority of the mixes as it seems the engineers have "movie mix" mentality on the brain....meaning they want to plant the vocals right in front at that center speaker. Meatloafs Bat Of Hell sounds AWFUL. Give me the old quad mixes any day... BUT for those who don't have those as reference the new stuff is entertaining.