Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Need to buy a new AVR - choices

The AVR 740 (just available this month) looks like a winner for HK. For $3499 msrp. Hope HK will have a manual to download soon.

Doug,
i think Freeflap was correct in his earlier statement about the Yamaha having upscaling ability on the RX-V2600 model stating, "Video composite, s-video and component signals are up-converted to HDMI output, with a Time Base Corrector (TBC) in the Analog Devices high-performance encoder and decoder. In addition, the RXV2600 also uses an Oplus™ high-performance de-interlacer for the best quality progressive video images (480i to 480p). It also up-scales 480i signals to 1080i/720p high definition resolution. The de-interlacing and up-scaling technologies used in the RXV2600 are superior to those of any other receiver in its class."

Funny, Denon looks like they might, with the 4306 & 4806 stating, "analog-to-HDMI video conversion, with video scaling to streamline video switching and to provide for maximum content quality for every source in your system," but later saying, "output signal up-converted to HDMI retains the resolution of the input signal."

If all things are equal between the Yamaha & HK vid processing, Yamaha takes a huge lead in the $$$ department. You should be able to find a 2600 for around a grand $US.

For a clarification... The 7300 has 480i to 480p video processing. 720 and 1080 signals are passed but not processed. Still a nice feature to get the 480p which looks better on my tv.

Add 1 more.

Connectivity showing 2600's upscaling properties.

$1000 digital receiver.

That’s the way I read the HK literature. The 7300 only scales to 480P from 480i, while the 740 will scale from 480i to 1080 (P/i?? I don’t know which). The 740 also has DVI and HDMI outputs, while the 7300 has none.

Seeing how the 7300 msrp is about $2300 US and can be bought for $1200 US, hopefully the 740 will also be around $1500 US on the street. Interestingly though, the 7300 still has much more robust amps. I see a 7400 coming from HK pretty soon. And If I’m lucky, HK will have an upgrade for the 7300 that will match the new 740’s video processing. –wishful thinking on my part.

The Yamaha certainly looks like an attractive AVR, but the jury is still out on whether or not it can drive a 4 ohm load without issue. I wasn’t willing to experiment in this department. One could always run their mains with the Yamaha’s pre outs into another amp I reckon, but that’s additional costs.

Touching on some of the points mentioned: as Mike and Doug pointed out, the 3806 is another of the receivers that can set separate crossovers for separate speaker groups; the jury should be in that current Yamaha receivers do fine in most situations at 4 ohms, as tests indicate 4 ohm power in the 150-200 watt range; whether any player, receiver or separate unit does deinterlacing and/or scaling may be meaningless if the deinterlacing/scaling that the HD TV set itself does(it has to)is good enough so that having the processing done instead at some earlier point doesn't result in visible improvement.

yes, even the killer denon 5805 cannot do this. but you must have a hdmi tv to benefit.

plus, it has onscreen display using hdmi and 1080i, a nice but not necessary feature.

sorry i cannot comment on the 4ohm test (i am using the y2600 as a prepro to my ATI2007), but most of the better quality receivers in the 1k price range can drive 4 ohms.

audioholics tested the older rxv2500 and found it did fine driving the RBH1266se which are 4ohm speakers. their final review on the RXV2600 isn't done yet.

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/2005productawards.php

right now, the upscaling is very nice, and IMO, more a deal than the variable xo (the unit does have variable xo's 40,60,80,100hz etc..., and does do the "large/small" selection.

I like the ability to upcode DVD's and non HD TV. also minimizes cable spaghetti with just the HDMI output from the receiver to the TV.

in 5-10 years when all video is 1080p, then no. not a big deal. but you'll have upgraded your receiver /preamp by then... :-) this is another reason i would NOT spend more than 1k on any receiver / prepro. The tech is changing very rapidly. none of these current options including my beloved Y2600 can handle 1080p. forcing an upgrade in a couple years anyway....

also, once you start hitting 2-3k, you should start looking at separates. better amps generally and more flexible re: upgrades, IMO

audio quality is exceptionally clean and detailed. a noticeable improvement over my 6 year old HK510 (yes, not fair to compare receivers 5 years apart in age)

LINK