Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater urgent: need help deciding a receiver by tomorrow

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If it were me I would go with the lower priced receiver and put the extra money into an EP 500.

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This is worth some thought. Had I to do it again I would buy the 2805.

i got down to these 4 becuase they were suggested to my local audio stores. Suggested that i go with the most updated receivers which have hdmi (to improve my hdtv viewing experience and because it seems that's what the trend is heading).

Again, I am all new when it comes to home theater, i thought i get some unbiased opinions from you guys.

I have a Panasonic DVD player with HDMI, but I hook that directly to my projector, not through my receiver. My receiver does convert all inputs (composite/s-video) upto component, so my VCR/Satellite/HD receiver are all going to my receiver and then I just have one component out to my TV to save cables and clutter. I would take your time, there are lots of good AVR's from Denon, HK, Pioneer, Yammy that cost less and have the same bells whistles. For me it was the surround decoding, not all the extras they are putting into receivers these days that I'll never use.

I just don't understand how HDMI switching on your receiver would improve your HDTV viewing experience.

Did they tell you how????

A receiver will not alter your source in any positive sort of way. It may not alter it in a negative way. At best, it will do nothing with your source other than pass it through to the display (TV). So if you don't have anything outputting HDMI (ie a DVD player, HD cable, satellite, etc.) then getting an HDMI receiver will gain you nothing. Other than headaches when they change the standard and connector next year or whenever they do it.

i just bought a High definition cable box. I guess that's why they recommended i switch to hdmi. Is the general view that i just stick to regular cable wiring.

p.s. isn't 1000 kind of too much for a subwoofer (Ep 500 model)????. I was thinking of spending around 5-6 hundred.

OK, but do you have any other devices that are hdmi?

What is your total budget for speakers, including the sub.

right now i am not using anything that involve hdmi.
however, my tv and hdtv cable box can use hdmi.

originally, i was planning to spending $1000u.s. on receiver. and around $2000 on speakers. I plan on ordering from axiom factory outlet to save some more money.

Blackorp, lets be sure we are clear on something. First, it is my opinion that connecting HDMI or DVI outputs in your source (DVD player and/or cable or Sat box) to HDMI or DVI inputs on your HDTV results in slightly superior picture quality than connecting them via component, and considerably superior picture quality than connecting them via S-Video, or composite. BUT, you don't have to go through your receiver in order to achieve HDMI connections.

I have 3 sources with DVI outputs. I connect them directly to the one DVI input on my HDTV by going through a stand alone DVI switch with 4 inputs and 1 output. If you get a receiver with HDMI switching, then it will serve the same function as my stand alone DVI switch. Although, most receivers I've seen have only 2 HDMI inputs which would suffice if you only have a DVD player and cable/Sat box.

Either way, it will cost you money. If you do it the way I do, you save money because you can get a less expensive receiver without HDMI switching. BUT, you have to buy a switch. So it sort of balances out.

An alternative is to skip the switching, either in the receiver, or with a stand alone switch, and use the HDMI input on your HDTV for your cable/sat box to take advantage of high definition, and use a component connection for your DVD player. Currently, DVD players are not high definition. When the hi def players do hit the market and their prices finally come down to a reasonable level, you can add a switch if you are so inclined.

The point is you do NOT have to feed your video through the receiver in order to utilize the HDMI/DVI inputs and outputs of your equipment.