new av receiver

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › new av receiver

Johnk

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#29191 28-Dec-2008 12:28

i am in the market for a new home theater amp, i was wondering if anyone could recomend an entry model amp that will solve my problem of 4 HDMI devices and two displays, so i need 4in/2out.

or i would i be better off using some sort of powered switch?

1 | 2 | 3

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#186381 28-Dec-2008 16:39

2 Out HDMI receivers tend to be at the upper end of the price bracket. Would be cheaper to just get an HDMI splitter as the outputs are normally identical anyway in these receivers.

If you want more control you could go for something like a 4X2 matrix switcher which would give a choice of outputs from all your sources(if the displays are in different rooms) and place it between the sources and the receiver so that you don't always have to have the receiver on while watching TV. Just ensure all the devices are compatible with the switcher/splitter especially MySky HDi if you use it.

Johnk

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#186392 28-Dec-2008 17:28

thanks, was just wondering, this new audio set-up with HD audio or what ever it is called, im presuning at the mo that only blu ray actuly does this?

if that was the case, then would opitical audio from sources to amp provide as good quailty?

i will be using:
bluray player
HD STB pvr
1080p upscaler dvdHDD

have a 1080i ( 720p) projector and 1080p lcd panel,

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186395 28-Dec-2008 17:36

I'm in a very similar situation. I'm looking for a new receiver that can accept hdmi input from a ps3. In this case the receiver doesn't need to do any decoding of the HD formats, just accept the already decoded info sent to it as LPCM over HDMI. Any advice on this would be awesome. It's all bitstreamed and words like that at the mo!

Was hoping something like the Denon AVR-1708 would do in this case?

stuzzo

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#186397 28-Dec-2008 17:59

Johnk: thanks, was just wondering, this new audio set-up with HD audio or what ever it is called, im presuning at the mo that only blu ray actuly does this?

if that was the case, then would opitical audio from sources to amp provide as good quailty?

i will be using:
bluray player
HD STB pvr
1080p upscaler dvdHDD

have a 1080i ( 720p) projector and 1080p lcd panel,

Yeah currently, for audio, only bluray requires an HDMI processing receiver (for the high-def audio formats). Optical etc is just as good otherwise.

High-def sound off Blu-ray is an improvement but it's not life renewing so if this wasn't an issue you could probably get by with just adding a switcher for HDMI and your current avr if you have one and are happy with it. With a good universal remote you'd hardly notice the difference.

lchiu7

6476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186493 29-Dec-2008 12:21

Jaxson: I'm in a very similar situation. I'm looking for a new receiver that can accept hdmi input from a ps3. In this case the receiver doesn't need to do any decoding of the HD formats, just accept the already decoded info sent to it as LPCM over HDMI. Any advice on this would be awesome. It's all bitstreamed and words like that at the mo!

Was hoping something like the Denon AVR-1708 would do in this case?

Check out the Onkyo TX SR576 at HN for $699 (well it was on 24/12)

Specs

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186518 29-Dec-2008 15:25

lchiu7:
Check out the Onkyo TX SR576 at HN for $699 (well it was on 24/12)
Specs

Thanks mate, have you got this unit yourself or seen it working with the ps3?
Looks good for my set up, thanks!

EDIT: Just spoke to Harvey Norman sales guy. Deal was up till Christmas, but he'd do it at that anyway. Sales talk.
Said PS3 can not output the HD Bluray audio formats, you need a flasher 606 model to do this.

I was under the impression that the PS3 now decoded every format internally, including DTS HD Master Audio after a recent update.
As I understand it the PS3 can not bit stream these formats out for a receiver to decode, it can only output the LPCM audio, that it has decoded itself. So you'll never see the individual codec lights come up on the receiver as the PS3 has done the work already.

Am I correct with this?
If so this makes the $699 Onkyo a good deal/match as it is normally $1099, so save $400 here.

lchiu7

6476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186553 29-Dec-2008 18:28

Jaxson:
lchiu7:
Check out the Onkyo TX SR576 at HN for $699 (well it was on 24/12)
Specs

Thanks mate, have you got this unit yourself or seen it working with the ps3?
Looks good for my set up, thanks!

EDIT: Just spoke to Harvey Norman sales guy. Deal was up till Christmas, but he'd do it at that anyway. Sales talk.
Said PS3 can not output the HD Bluray audio formats, you need a flasher 606 model to do this.

I was under the impression that the PS3 now decoded every format internally, including DTS HD Master Audio after a recent update.
As I understand it the PS3 can not bit stream these formats out for a receiver to decode, it can only output the LPCM audio, that it has decoded itself. So you'll never see the individual codec lights come up on the receiver as the PS3 has done the work already.

Am I correct with this?
If so this makes the $699 Onkyo a good deal/match as it is normally $1099, so save $400 here.

HN are talking Bollocks! The PS3 with recent firmware will decode TrueHD and DTS HD Master and output it as LPCM over HDMI. This is what the Onkyo will handle and if need, produce 7.1 from 5.1 sources. I do have one but I am ashamed to admit, it's been sitting around in a box for about 6 weeks since I haven't gotten the motivation yet to un-install the existing AVR and put it in. This is because the setup I have is reasonable complex with 4 devices needing HDMI (PS3, HD-DVD, Popcorn Hour and HTPC), 3 inputs on the Onkyo and a 3 port HDMI switch.

He's right about not seeing the TrueHD or DTS Master lights come on but that model Onkyo doesn't have any ability to process those codecs anyway so it's irrelevant. It will just take the LPCM which is already decoded and process that. I think at $699 it's a great deal - best one around.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186555 29-Dec-2008 19:02

Yeah I put that bit in about the lights not coming up. Man this guy is also the head of the hifi department too!

I've got the manual for the Onkyo, what setting do you select to accept the LPCM input?

lchiu7

6476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186559 29-Dec-2008 19:56

I think you connect your device to an input (HDMI) and then assign it to a device (like DVD or whatever). The AVR senses the appropriate input and takes the right action.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186563 29-Dec-2008 20:13

Cool, let us know how you get on with it, when it comes out of the box!
Looks like the PAL versions have more power than the US ones, which seem to be 75 or 80W vs more here.
Thanks.

Johnk

832 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#186732 30-Dec-2008 20:08

still browsing through the websites,

was wondering what the diff is between HDMI 1.3a and HDMI 1.3b?

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186860 31-Dec-2008 20:27

Hi lchiu7
Huge thanks for your help over last few days. Finally understand that bitstream means send the info as is on the disc, and lpcm is this info decoded. Realise that if you have a PS3 or a Bluray player that has internal audio decoding, then you don't need a receiver that has it as well, or vice versa, the other way around.

I got the Onkyo from HN today, $699 and their 30 months interest free finance deal. Freakin awesome. Looks ugly but normal retail is $1099 so a big $400 off. Told the HN staff where to go with regards needing a receiver that had decoding onboard. I can see how they'd make that link, but they really don't understand that having decoding ability at both ends is a waste of time.

Anyway, happy new year to all, Merry Christmas!
Jackson.

LennonNZ

2459 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#186864 31-Dec-2008 21:39

Johnk: still browsing through the websites,

was wondering what the diff is between HDMI 1.3a and HDMI 1.3b?

Technically there is no difference btween HDMI 1.3a and 1.3b in capabilities except it has slightly better compliance testing.for the cables but for shorter cables it makes no difference.

Thanks

lchiu7

6476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#186874 1-Jan-2009 00:41

Jaxson: Hi lchiu7
Huge thanks for your help over last few days. Finally understand that bitstream means send the info as is on the disc, and lpcm is this info decoded. Realise that if you have a PS3 or a Bluray player that has internal audio decoding, then you don't need a receiver that has it as well, or vice versa, the other way around.

I got the Onkyo from HN today, $699 and their 30 months interest free finance deal. Freakin awesome. Looks ugly but normal retail is $1099 so a big $400 off. Told the HN staff where to go with regards needing a receiver that had decoding onboard. I can see how they'd make that link, but they really don't understand that having decoding ability at both ends is a waste of time.

Anyway, happy new year to all, Merry Christmas!
Jackson.

Good choice. And I don't think it's ugly - a nice black colour fits in nicely with the rest of the gear and the PS3. Only thing it lacks apart from being able to handle bitstreamed audio, is upscaling of video to HDMI but I didn't think that was that useful given the PS3 has a pretty good upscaler in it and upscaled SD looks pretty awful no matter what you do to it :)

Larry

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#187184 3-Jan-2009 15:50

Hi all,

Just to report back, I plugged in the Onkyo last night, watched Kungfu Panda with the wife. Has a Dolby True HD soundtrack.

Onkyo 576 works flippen amazingly great.
No other way to say it.
Just set PS3 to decode to PCM and receiver lights up with 7.1 or 5.1 lpcm input lights and shows the sample rate too, awesome.
Interface is on the unit only, no video out but this is fine as it's actually really easy to configure from there.
Remote also works on my Philips HDD recorder and Samsung TV, great.

As the PS3 can't bitstream the HD audio formats, it has to decode internally and output as LPCM anyway, no way around it, so this type of receiver is a perfect cheap match as it can't decode itself, but can handle the decoded stream fine.

Can't do zone 2 from anything but an analogue source though, but hey, that's not why I got it.
And you're right lchiu7, it's not that ugly when I got it setup either!

1 | 2 | 3