Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Preferred A/V Receiver

I would like to get everyones opinion on their favourite pick for a home A/V receiver.
Please list the price of the receiver as well; $400, $500, $600 and max of $700 (the expected price from an online company selling below the list price...the ones with the voided factory warranties).
Give a brief reason for your choice, such as:
*features
*best buy for the price
*automatic room set-up
*power
*looks
*remote
* # of channels
*will not become obsolete in the near future
*etc.

Thanks, Rob

For $400 from JandR.com, I got an Onkyo TX-SR601 and have been really happy with it. Sounds great, not too warm or too bright, plenty of power for my Axiom m22's and HSU STF-2. To me, it sounds a bit better than the Yamahas, Sonys, and Pioneers I tested in this price range. I found the sound between it and the H/K 330 to be about the same. I chose the Onkyo, because I think the new H/K's are butt-ugly. I found the Denons in this price range to be a little too warm.

The Onkyo's got all the basic needed A/V features plus some rather nice ones such as two modes of nighttime listening--EXTREMELY useful at 11p.m. in an apartment with the woman sleeping in the next room!

The only irritating thing is that it's not real user-friendly. I really had to take some time to figure everything out. The remote sucks, and the manual is not well written at all. Still, the sound is what ultimately matters, and for $400, I definitely feel I got my money's worth.

jtmccoy,
I agree with you on the looks of the new H/K's.
Thanks for the feedback.

Rob

Hi

I got a Yamaha RXV1400 for USD 630 in Oct.

1) Features : You name it. Some features rarely found on USD 600 receivers that this unit has are Component switching, DPLIIx, Powered Zone 2, Auto room setup, Direct Mode (Bypassing all tone controls like an integrated amp), top-notch and clean sounding 24-bit/192k DAC's.

2) It can be had for around USD 550 in the US through some online companies.

3) Automatic room setup of Yamaha (YPAO) is really good.

4) Power 7 X 110W @ 8 Ohms is what is stated on the spec. sheet of the player. But a more realistic rating would be 70W or so.

5) I have the champagne one (Asian version) which is not that great. I prefer the black version but we cannot get it in Asia.

6) Remote : Very easy to use. I can also operate my Toshiba TV, Panasonic DVD player and JVC VCR with it (built-in codes).

7) 7 channels + 2 presence channels. It can handle all 9 channels simultaneously but requires external amplification for the presence speakers.

8) I think it has too many of the latest features to really become obsolete very soon. Other brands are still playing catchup. The only feature that I would have loved to have on this receiver was the USB Audio feature. The other feature that is lacking on this unit and which is only available on high-end and high-priced receivers is the iLink feature for digital transmission of DVD-Audio signals from players to receivers that are equipped with this port.

I personally cant find any special reason for upgrading my receiver in the near future.

Yamaha also has the slightly higher spec. RX-V2400 but there is very little difference between the 2 models. You should look at the RX-V2400 review on the Audioholics site. This will give you a very clear idea of what to expect from the RX-V1400 receiver.

Good luck in your hunt. Cheers / Mahesh

Mahesh,
I keep hearing about the DPLIIx...what is the "x"?
Is it important to make sure the receivers are updated with this?
If the on-line retailer asks what is DPLIIx, how do you explain it so you can make sure an older version isn't sent?
Rob

I second Mahesh. My only complaint about my 1400 is I wish there was a way I could have it "remember" how I want the subwoofer setting for music vs HT. I like sub out for HT but prefer front speakers only for music. It also won't allow for front speakers set to large with sub out in 2 channel stereo. Kind of small issues but if it would allow for either one I would love it more.

DPLllx can decode audio recorded in 2 channels into up to 7.1 channels and can decode 5.1 audio sources into 7.1 channels. I guess it depends on your setup and how you listen to music or HT if you will use it or not.

By my experience, most of the people you may call for one of these online sellers won't have a clue what you are talking about. I bought mine from Etronics a few weeks ago and was told they did not and by another that they did not know if they had the newer receivers with the DPLllx. I took a chance and mine does have it. I would think by now, most or all should have the newer versions. Good luck.

I just received my Yamaha RX V1400 today, about an hour ago. I purchased from Etronics for $569.95 + shipping and the unit DOES support DPL IIx. I ordered the unit on /1/7/04.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and as such I do like the look of the new H/Ks especially the blue dial that looks like a crescent moon from most angles.

I prefect anything with a bit of silver compared to the non-discript boring black slabs that almost everyone is turning out. They just look dull.

Pretty boring world if we all felt the same

I got an H/K 525 shipped directly from H/K for $500.00. It is a refurb, but comes with the full 2 year warranty.t I have been nothing but happy with it. While it does no have DPL2x or the YPAO that the Yamaha does it does have Logic 7 and DPL2 plus great bass management, great amps with dual power supplies plus EZSet which will auto-level your speakers.

H/K rates their amps very accurately, and never above actual power, always below. Someone stated the Yamaha, rated at 110 is more like 70, actually, it was measured at below 35 per channel, all channels driven.

Remember, those selling the Yamahas for so cheap are NOT authorized, which means no warranty. Many will offer a warranty for extra $. Read the fine print. The warranties say they start after the manufacturers warranty has expired. Well, if there is no manufacturer warranty, it does not expire, so you may never get that warranty you paid extra for.