Budget 5.1 receiver

A2597

A2597

New member
So, with Christmas around the corner, wife and I decided to go with getting a 5.1 receiver. (speakers to follow, for the short term, we'll be using a 2.1 set we have on hand, to be upgraded to the Monoprice 5.1 speakers)

Right now, we're routing audio from the TV to an EEEPC, and from there to a set of PC speakers. (and controling volume with an app on our phone of all things). So it won't be hard to improve from that set up.

Budget is ~$200, amazon preferred.
I'm looking at these right now:

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR33...&qid=1418744840&sr=1-13&keywords=5.1+receiver

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR31...8&qid=1418744840&sr=1-2&keywords=5.1+receiver

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V37...8&qid=1418744840&sr=1-1&keywords=5.1+receiver

One thing that is a consideration for me is 4K. We have no intent to upgrade our TV anytime soon, but in 5 years or so there's a good chance 4k will be the standard, so I'd like to be prepared for that.

Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-VSX-1...&qid=1418746949&sr=8-1&keywords=PIONEER+1020K



You will not find better in that price range. It's the same internals as the Elite 32 series of that generation. It also has the Marvell 1080P Upconverting chip. (best upscalling chip)

Actually, thats only used available, so scratch that idea. My bad. Disregard that suggestion.

This would be my next suggestion, but its $80 over your budget.

http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon...747876&sr=8-2&keywords=HARMON+KARDON+AVR+1700

This one is decent, but still $50 over your budget.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AVR-S50...qid=1418747976&sr=8-1&keywords=denon+receiver

(The denon has 4k pass through FWIW). But it's pass through, not decoding, and I'm not sure if it can grab audio since it's pass through, I'd think not.



Sorry I don't have much expierence with anything lower than that, if I'd guess at anything I'd probably go with the Yamaha, Onkyo has degraded in terms of quality over the past few years. I wouldn't trust their lower end stuff further than I could throw it.
 
Last edited:
for the $248 price I'd go with the S500 over the e400. It's an entire generation newer for the same price, with similar out put specs. Unless he needs that one more input slot.

And he can get the refurbished for $199.


Again, keep in mind. These are all 4k Pass through. Which means audio will not be stripped from the HDMI source IIRC. I could be wrong, but that's how it was in the past.
 
So with receivers "newer is better"? Obviously with things like 4k can't get too old, but wasn't certain.
 
CurrentlyPissed said:
for the $248 price I'd go with the S500 over the e400. It's an entire generation newer for the same price, with similar out put specs. Unless he needs that one more input slot.

And he can get the refurbished for $199.


Again, keep in mind. These are all 4k Pass through. Which means audio will not be stripped from the HDMI source IIRC. I could be wrong, but that's how it was in the past.
Click to expand...

Generation newer maybe, but not as similar in specs as you mention.

7.1 vs 5.1
90w vs 70w per channel
Audyssey MultiEQ vs Denon Proprietary Speaker Calibration
Also, the AVR-E400 shows 4k Upscaling as well as 4K Pass-Through (using HDMI). Only upscales to 1080p using analog connections.

Depends on usage I guess.
 
confusedsoul said:
Generation newer maybe, but not as similar in specs as you mention.

7.1 vs 5.1
90w vs 70w per channel
Audyssey MultiEQ vs Denon Proprietary Speaker Calibration
Also, the AVR-E400 shows 4k Upscaling as well as 4K Pass-Through (using HDMI). Only upscales to 1080p using analog connections.

Depends on usage I guess.
Click to expand...

The S500 is actually 5.2. But I doubt he's going to use 2 subs. So probably a moot point. But maybe not, who knows. The S500 also says its 4k 4:4:4, if it was actually pass through not sure why they would display a 4:4:4 capability so maybe it's not just passthrough, I'm honestly not sure.
 
I've always preferred Yamaha for lower-end AVRs, but Pioneer has certainly improved theirs and they're probably even by now. Stepping up is Onkyo and HK in my mind. I think Denon edges those two out, personally, with the step up from there being Marantz (same company) as far as "name brand" goes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top