Posted: 1/11/2008 12:01:11 PM EDT
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You guys did a great job of gettiing me up to speed on the purchase of a new HDTV for my home. The thing is, the need for an AV receiver came up during that discussion. What are they? What do they do for me? As mentioned above, a primary function is to provide a single cable interface to the wall-mounted LCD HDTV. What is a decent one to buy? |
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An A/V receiver combines the funtions of a pre-processor and amplifier in one unit. The pre-processor is the brains of any home theater. It does the multi-channel surround sound processing and audio/video switching. The amplifier increases the line level audio signal to a strength that can be heard using speakers. I like Yamaha receivers. I don't know the current models though. |
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Make sure they do not kick out too much heat if you're putting yours (when you get one) in a cabinet. The first one I had (a Sony  ) I took back - I found out later that they earned the nickname "The Toaster" for how how they got.I bought a Pioneer (this is in '00 so it's been a while) and with the exception of a power surge making some of the buttons change functionality  it's been a great receiver.
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LOL! It just so happens, the intended location is the firebox in the unused fireplace. 
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Another vote for Yamaha AV receivers. Also, if you run an HDTV (plasma, LCD or rear-projection) get an AV receiver with lip-sync adjustment if action on the screen not in-sync with audio would bother you. HDTV tvs have a fixed video lag anywhere from 20 to 120 milliseconds (depending on TV) due to the digital computations needed to make the picture. Most people can notice it when the lag is over 20 ms out of sync the AV receiver sound. If it's like 100 ms out of sync, it's very noticeable by most. I have a Panny plasma and Yamaha receiver and at 84 ms of audio lag, it matches the action on screne perfectly. It takes some experimenting and good eye/ear coordination, plus plenty of beer, to zero in on the correct delay for the TV and AV receiver you combined. But that's part of the enjoyment. |
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Another Yammy fan. RX-V3000 here. Also consider a good universal remote. One of the very best investments in my HT system was a Logitech Harmony remote. It was very simple to set up, and it literally gives one button control over your system. No more setting inputs and turning stuff on individually and so forth. |
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you could go the separates route and just get a processor and a multi-channel amp and then you can always upgrade the processor without having to pay for new power. You spend good money on great amps and you are pretty much set for life. You really need to check out AVSforum.com It is the holy grail of all things audio/video! 
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| Thanks for the referral to AVSForum, I'll check them out later tonight. In the mean time, I was reading that the SONY TV I'm thinking of comes with its own universal remote system (if I buy a SONY AV receiver). What do you think of the SONY AV receivers, DVD players, etc? |
Same situation for me. This what I just bought in Dec: Philips - Ambilight 2 47" 1080p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV Harman Kardon - 300W 5.1-Ch. A/V Home Theater Receiver Klipsch - Synergy Series Quintet III 5-Piece Home Theater Speaker System Klipsch - 10" 420W Powered Subwoofer Sony - Blu-ray High-Definition Disc Player Microsoft - Xbox 360 Elite Console - Black The AVR I bought is not the top of the line, but it is pretty good. It has two HDMI ports for switching, but it does not decode so you have to use digital cable/optic cables. |
While I respect some (SOME!) of their technology and products, I cannot in good conscience give Sony any of my money. Their debacle of including a Rootkit on Audio CDs they sold was just too over the top. For those that don't know, a Rootkit is a MALWARE application, similar to a Virus or Trojan, which completely takes over the root level of control of your PC when you put in one of the affected CDs. This allowed them to control what you did with the CD to avoid having you make copies, but at the same time opened your machine to remotely being hacked by Sony or ANYONE ELSE who could see your machine from the Internet. Bad JuJu! And, until they were forced by public demand to release a removal tool, any attempt to remove it would completely hose your Windows installation, forcing you to reinstall Windows to make your PC functional again. And, they did it without any notice at all when you bought the CD! Most IT/Computer/Home Theater folks regard this betrayal as very similar to, if not worse than, the Ruger AWB and S&W HUD Govt. Agreements. And Sony has failed to ever make any sort of reasonable apology. Many are boycotting Sony, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. So, no Sony for me. Anyone seeking more info can simply Google for 'Sony Rootkit' to find tons of information. FluxPrism |
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Ok, From the tone of your post, you are not a audio/videophile? You want something to get you going, that is current technology but does not have to be the be all, end all of audio gear? You are going to watch HDTV broadcasts over satellite/cable and maybe even internet? I would suggest the following link: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3169600&Sku=O22-1028 Copy and paste it into a new window and take a look. It is a decently powered (1000 watts) system from Onkyo that is 7.1, has HDMI switching capabilities, has 7 speakers and a 230w powered subwoofer. It comes in a box, all you need to do is hook it up (or gimme a call, I'll help all I can), have a good Blu-Ray player (go with a PS3, you get games for the kids/grandkids and a good Blu-Ray player that can download new firmware) and watch. The only thing it is truly missing is LucasFilm THX certification. I have an older Kenwood that is THX certified, but the cost alone of the receiver is more than the whole enchilada with the Onkyo setup. |
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LOL ! I'm even lower on the totem pole (food chain) than that. I don't have cable or satellite, I watch broadcast TV exclusively and, of course, watch DVD movies. I will never use my sound LOUD! I was an "audiophile" when I was younger. What I discovered then and continue to believe is that a great set of headphones beats the best speakers - hands down. It also doesn't disturb the neighbors or spouse or,... I have multi-$100 head phones, wired and wireless. I appreciate the best but haven't studied this technology enough (yet) to know what to buy. I want to get up and running (without buying everything twice). You got that part 100% correct. |
AV receivers are combination switches/amplifiers/decoders. They multiplex several inputs into several outputs, and decode surround sound for delivery to speakers.
An AV receiver will do exactly that. It will also do "simulated surround" so you get sound out of all your speakers even if you're using only a mono or stereo source.
I have a Sony 7.1 (STR-DG800). I will convert any composite/svideo source to component, and has HDMI passthrough as well but will NOT up or down convert to HDMI. I'm currently just using it in a 6.0 setup (no sub, no 7th speaker) in a 3 front, 3 rear configuration with Kenwood speakers. I'm quite happy with it, all said. It has good multiplexing features, meaning I can turn on the audio from one source (say the built in FM tuner, or the MP3s playing on the X360) while using video from another source like the DVD player/recorder. They run about $250 - $300 new. |
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I'm going to switch subjects here. As the OP, I think that is my perrogative. What is a good set of speakers to go with the AV receiver for surround sound? I want small, possibly even wireless. You have to have electrical power from somewhere so are wireless speakers truly wireless? I think I want 5.1 - four corners, center channel for voice and a subwoofer. There are so many of these out on the market, but there are always a few products that are superior: superior for their price or superior overall, despite their price. There's always something a bit better than nominal. What is it? |
Any name brand out there will sound good. Some are better than others on paper, but unless you're building them into a soundproof studio with full control over the environment, you almost certainly won't be able to really tell the difference. I have a Kenwood KS-908EX set right now, sounds great. The satellites are all small, the front L and R are tall free-standing types.
You will still need power, yes. All the battery operated ones really sound like crap, can't put out much power, and battery life is horrible.
There honestly isn't a lot of difference between them all, practically speaking. Go with a name brand that can handle the power you want to throw at it. From there, get something that's going to look nice. Seriously.
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I have the Yamaha HTR-5830. Bought the full home theater pack. Had it about 3 years now and its still hanging in there. Only thing I had to fix were the satellite speakers. They have this rubber plug thingy right behind the mount holes. Somehow they either rattled loose or I pushed them out. They started to rattle and it got annoying. I took the speakers apart and Gooped those things back in place. Good to go after that. 
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Mike, The difference in sound QUALITY between AV receiver brands isn't going to be noticable without spending several thousand dollars in speakers, and more on installation and setup, and even then, assuming you can tell a difference, you'd be unlikely to care or have a preference. It doesn't sound like you're a high-end audiophile, so don't worry so much about that. The Sonys will do just fine, and so would Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, etc. What you DO want to pay attention to are features. You'll want your receiver to be able to decode the multichannel digital audio streams that come down the HDMI cable, and there are several new formats, including high-resolution lossless, available on Blu-Rays. These can sound noticably better than the older Dolby Digital or DTS standards, which used lossy compression similar to MP3. As mentioned, you'll want to be able to add delay so that your audio is syncronized with the video, which is necessary due to the way digital video signals are processed by the TV. On that note, you'll want to make sure the receiver can accept and up-convert any analog SD signals and send them to your TV via the HDMI cable. THE most important part of any audio system is the speakers, and, how and where they are installed. Different speakers can sound VERY different, unlike the other components where differences are tiny. Most people spend too much on everything else and want to cheap out on the speakers (and almost NEVER have them positioned well), and are then never really happy with their audio system. Compared to the electronic components, you could easily write a book on what makes speakers "good" and how to pick them. Do a large degree, you get what you pay for, with one very notible exception: BOSE. AVOID BOSE! I won't even list the arguments why; you can Google plenty of reasons. Top-end systems today use 7 speakers and a sub (i.e., 7.1). This is overkill in most rooms, where 5.1 is plenty. Ideally, you want your front speakers mounted at ear level, though with a TV, you always have to compromise somewhat with the center channel. A center channel works better BELOW the TV than above it. The rear speakers are rarely driven "full-range", and are usually best mounted a few feet higher, as this gives a more natural 3D effect. Few people have actually experienced a properly configured surround-sound system, but those who have are usually blown away. When you watch Letterman, it sounds like you're IN the studio audience, and movies are just amazing. There are DVDs available that can help you adjust your receiver to properly level and set delays for your speakers so that all of the audio is balanced and properly synchronized, and they'll help you calibrate your TV's settings to. Get one. It's hard to give specific recommendations without seeing your space and talking with you at length about your wants and goals (not to mention budget), as well as figure out how to wire everything. Forget about "wireless" speakers; they're about worthless for your application, and not really wireless anyway. The more specific information you can give, the better we can help. -Troy |
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Thanks for all the sage advice, Troy. Do me a favor and check out those two SONY home theater systems I posted links to. Are either of those acceptable? Roger that on the converting/switching/mixing is important but not the power amp. Roger on speaker quality/cost. I appreciate great speakers but only buy good ones (too frugal to go all the way). I have Velodyne and Paradigm Reference speakers just for my computer-driven audio. I have a bit of background in audio and video but have not paid attention for many years. I want to "get it right" the first time. |
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I got to see the $700 SONY system the other night. It is ridiculously small. The speakers are smaller than the box a jeweler uses for rings - not too much bigger than a postage stamp. The receiver itself is also quite small, about the size of four Cup-O-Noodles placed side by side. That's a good thing, The subwoofer was by far the biggest item in the set, seemingly patterned after the BOSE subwoofer (anything connected to BOSE turns me off). |
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Any particular model I should look at? Why are you viewing ONKYO favorably? What do they have that distinguishes them? I am mostly concerned with using it as a switching hub. I'd like lots of gazintas and gazoutas. I'd like a decent remote that controls everything (i don't want two or three remotes sitting out). I will not be using it to blast the neighborhood while watching movies. |
