1st buyer for Home Audio Receiver

[goku4658]

I'm new to the home audio thing and I'm looking for a possible audio setup now. I'm going to buy a 37" industrial model Panasonic plasma without speakers.

Does anyone have a preference between Denon or Harman Kardon?

I'm looking at the Denon AVR-2105, Denon AVR-785S, Denon AVR-1906, or the Harman Kardon AVR-335. www.jr.com has got a deal on the Harman Kardon for $460 w/ free shipping.

I'm looking for a home audio setup for a living room thats only 17' x 12'. And the receiver has to be able to power a multi-room setup since my gf wants to be able to listen to music out on the deck. Also it would be nice if the receiver could do video conversion of composite to s-video and/or to component. Any help you guys can give me is highly appreciated.

-Jon

 

[chuyler1]

The one feature I absolutely needed when I picked out a receiver for my parents was video-switching (I think that is what it is called). Many do not have it.

Lets say you have a VCR (standard RCA connectors), Digital Cable (Component Video), and a Game System (S-Video). Ideally you want to connect each one to the receiver and have one Component Video cable go to your HD TV. Without video-switching you would have to have three cables and when you changed the receiver input you would also have to change the TV input. That is one too many steps for my parents.

I picked out a Denon that was base-level but still had the video-switching. It was about $400 from www.Crutchfield.com (free shipping). I suggest using Crutchfield to at least compare features and specs. They have the best selection of pratical (ie not budget) models to choose from.

Edit...

The model I got for them was the Denon AVR-1705 and it was $399 at the time. If you order from Crutchfield use my reference code, pxp28-h1tsx-wtqe3, and you can save $20.

 

[goku4658]

Ok so maybe I don't need video conversion. I can live with video-switching. I've decided to move up from the HK AVR-335 to either the AVR-435 or 635.

www.JR.com has a really sweat deal on all the HK's right now w/ free shipping if anyone else is interested!

 

[chuyler1]

I think we're talking about the same thing. In order to do video-switching it must be able to do video-conversion. Most of them will convert to Component Video for an HD TV. Converting from Component to S-Video is not desireable because you will loose picture quality.

Even if you don't have an HD TV (or a TV that accepts Component Video input) you should plan for it...your next TV probably will be and you don't want to drop another $500 for a new receiver at that point...

I haven't made the switch yet...s***, I'm still using a $250 ProLogic unit. I'm trying to save for a house right now so a new TV and/or reciever isn't in the budget.

 

[hazeXban]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-LFdwOm3QJKN/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10420&I=033AV1905B

Get this and call it a day !

 

[hazeXban]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-LFdwOm3QJKN/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=10420&id=essential_info&i=580TXS602S#Tab

Or this

 

[chuyler1]

Here is a comparison of the 1705 to the 1905...

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-GTv66KrPAWx/cgi-bin/ProdComp.asp?g=10420&c=4&s=0&cc=01&pt2=0&ITM033AV1705B=on&ITM033AV1905B=on&x=26&y=4

The 1705 is currently $319 and the 1905 is $449. For the aditional $110 you can play different sources in different rooms (the 1705 just has two main speaker outputs in a A/B fashion). Your g/f could listen to music on the deck while you watch the game in HD in the living room. You also get an additional optical input and optical output.

Personally, I don't think its worth $110...but thats me.

 

[Newf]

the denon 3805 is about to be replaced with the 3806 and therefore is cheaper. Tweeter apparantly has a great deal on them now.

There are a lot of things to look for in a receiver. That plasma, how does it connect? component? HDMI? What sound do you like? bright, warm? ( Sharp/clear vs Mid rang'y)


HK 635, Denon 3805, Yamaha 2500 all good.

Take my word, and make sure whatever you have has a built in EQ.

start reading...
www.audioholics.com
www.avsforum.com

and when u want speakers.. www.axiomaudio.com

I'm in the middle of building a dedicated media room for a front projection screen and have gotten all new stuff so I've been reading this stuff for months now.

 

[goku4658]

thanks newf...as of right now i'm leaning towards the HK635 and was thinking about pairing it up w/ the HKTS14 speakers just so everything would match. but i just started reading about the paradigms and i guess i'll hafta check out axiom.

P.S. the plasma im getting is the Panasonic TH-37PWD8UK, not HD, but EDTV, but from the reviews i've been reading I don't think it will matter much to me. Thats the 8th gen of that model and the 7 gen got rave reviews about how it would be hard to tell that it wasn't HD even if you compared them side-by-side.

 

[Newf]

Don't bother with Paradigm's. I have had a set for years, and my father has a house full of them. The Paradigm Monitor series can't touch the Axiom's. And The Paradigm Studio series are seriously overpriced but the Axioms have a similar sound.

Axiom has a free 30day trial with free shipping. If you don't like em, send em back. shipping back is your only cost and a lot cheaper then you might think. Most people get their Axioms within 2-3 business days, free Fed Ex Airmail.

I have bought a NAD T773 ( www.nadelectronics.com ) but I am going to try out a Yamaha 4600 before commiting to the NAD. The NAD doesn't have a EQ but has tons of power.

 

[goku4658]

i checked out the axiom's, i can't afford them :|

edit: actually I'm considering scaling back on the receiver as well from the avr-635 to the avr-435. I can give up a couple of watts and the video conversion to components I think. The only things I'll need component inputs for are the DVD player and Satellite HD receiver, so the 435 should have everything I need and nothing I don't. Plus it will also be alil easier on the checkbook, considering I hafta get the GAF (girlfriend approval factor), buy the 37" plasma, subscribe to DirecTV, get the DirecTV HD DVR, subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan package, buy miscellaneous goods like a bbq grill for the new house I'm moving into this month, pay off some debt, buy new pads and rotors for the MSP's brakes, and save up for a unichip.

Cliffnotes: I'm fuct.

 

[Newf]

I couldn't either, but I got them anyways

M80ti's fronts, QS8 surrounds, VP-150 center, and HSU VTF3 MKII Sub.

Thank god for credit

As for the HDTV vs EDTV thing, yeah, contrary to what some believe, it is hard to actually "see" a difference in most material. Sports, like football in HDTV is one thing you would notice a difference if you looked for it. That's going to be a nice tv. DVD's aren't going to use either anyways so don't worry. If bluray and HD DVD ever get sorted out then it might be more important to have hdtv.

 

[Newf]

i checked out the axiom's, i can't afford them :|

edit: actually I'm considering scaling back on the receiver as well from the avr-635 to the avr-435. I can give up a couple of watts and the video conversion to components I think. The only things I'll need component inputs for are the DVD player and Satellite HD receiver, so the 435 should have everything I need and nothing I don't. Plus it will also be alil easier on the checkbook, considering I hafta get the GAF (girlfriend approval factor), buy the 37" plasma, subscribe to DirecTV, get the DirecTV HD DVR, subscribe to NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan package, buy miscellaneous goods like a bbq grill for the new house I'm moving into this month, pay off some debt, buy new pads and rotors for the MSP's brakes, and save up for a unichip.

Cliffnotes: I'm fuct.

If your in the states, you can get some amazing deals on B stock HK 635's with full warranties. You would be much better off with the 635 in the end. And if you shop around, you can get the 635 for much less then you think., Check out those audio forums I posted, you'll find HK b stock resellers, or even brand new HK's for damn good prices.

Good luck.

Oh and btw, not sure how old you are, but eventually you realize that the absolute WORSE thing you could put money into is parts for a car. Worse investment ever.