New AV Receiver required

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › New AV Receiver required - Suggestions?

greminn

181 posts

Master Geek

#21845 8-May-2008 15:33

Hi There,

I have a Pioneer VSX-D511 AV reciever, which is the base of my HT. Ive got a SONY Bravia 40" LCD, a Zinwell Freeview HD STB, a Media Centre PC and a pioneer DVD player connected to it. The problem i have is the lack of both digitial audio and HDMI ports. It has only one digital audio input and no HDMIs... So it looks to be time for an upgrade.

I think i would need at least 3-4 HDMI for:

- FreeviewHD
- Media PC or other (thinking of ditching this for a media player like a popcorn hour or somthing)
- Blueray player or playstation3 (soon, soon)

Along with the digital audio inputs to go with it. Any suggestions?

Oh - and it cant be higher than the VSX-D511 :)

Thanks

Simon

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750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#129411 8-May-2008 16:12

As a work around how about a joytech 3-1 HDMI switch for the video ($49) for you Freeview, Blue ray and Media centre. Digital audio from the blue ray to the AV,: you don’t need anything other than 2 channel audio from the Freeview for the time being and HT standard audio from the Playstation / media centre to the AV? Then you can shop at your leisure.

bazzer

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#129416 8-May-2008 16:39

greminn: Hi There,

I have a Pioneer VSX-D511 AV reciever, which is the base of my HT. Ive got a SONY Bravia 40" LCD, a Zinwell Freeview HD STB, a Media Centre PC and a pioneer DVD player connected to it. The problem i have is the lack of both digitial audio and HDMI ports. It has only one digital audio input and no HDMIs... So it looks to be time for an upgrade.

I think i would need at least 3-4 HDMI for:

- FreeviewHD
- Media PC or other (thinking of ditching this for a media player like a popcorn hour or somthing)
- Blueray player or playstation3 (soon, soon)

Along with the digital audio inputs to go with it. Any suggestions?

Oh - and it cant be higher than the VSX-D511 :)

Thanks

Simon

You won't need digital audio inputs as well will you? The audio should be transported over HDMI too. In fact it's the only way to get the new HD audio formats as I understand it.

marmel

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#129433 8-May-2008 17:58

The new Onkyo amps have all the bells and whistles, I was going to buy one then realised what a massive mark-up we have to pay here in New Zealand.

The SR605 sells for about $500NZ from Amazon with free shipping:

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-SR605-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B000OBLARC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1210226164&sr=8-1

Over here the same amp retails for over $1700NZ, OVER THREE TIMES the price.

http://www.lvmartin.co.nz/public/products/ProductViewDetails.aspx?productcode=TXSR605B&level1code=L1ENT

There is simply no justification for that at all in my view, either the importer or distributor is ripping someone off.

If anyone on the board works in this industry I would like to hear their views on this massive price difference.

marmel

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#129438 8-May-2008 18:06

In fact if you were looking at buying one of the higher end amps you could buy a return ticket to the US and buy the amp for less than what you would pay in NZ (voltage differences aside).

Sorry to hijack the thread by the way, just frustrated at the consumers being shafted over here once again.

Radiotron

180 posts

Master Geek

#129463 8-May-2008 19:47

Dunno what what sort of price point floats your boat, but maybe an offering from Sony: http://www.sony.co.nz/products/product/audio/hi-fi-components/strda3300ess.jsp
And there is always the DA5300ES: http://www.sony.co.nz/products/product/audio/hi-fi-components/strda5300ess.jsp
Maybe worth a look, and you will have a local warranty.

marmel

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#129476 8-May-2008 20:14

Whatever you get I would recommend you look at something that can process HDMI 1.3. I know the new Onkyo models do, not sure about the Sony models mentioned above. There are newer Sony models that have been released overseas, not sure if we will get them here.

stuzzo

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#129483 8-May-2008 20:31

You'd be hard pressed to find a receiver capable of audio over HDMI for under $1500. I have to agree with previous posters that receivers (in particular) seem to be a horrendous price in NZ compared to other countries. Having said that there is often a lot of discounting at retail level if you hunt around. I find paulmoney.co.nz is a good site to see what current street prices are. They do Pioneer, Yamaha, Nad I think.

If you take the Pioneer brand, for example, I think audio over HDMI only starts currently at their LX range which is their elite receiver range and quite pricey.

One strategy is to buy previous years models on run-out where they are often heavily discounted.

Receivers are an area where you've really got to do a lot of research. Even studying on-line manuals to know what you are buying is going to meet your needs.

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

richms

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#129805 10-May-2008 02:45

After all the problems my mate has had with his new AVR, samsung LCD and hdmi sources I would suggest waiting if you can for things to mature some more.

He finds that if he turns off the tv when listening to audio (it makes a hiss out the internal speakers even at 0 volume and plugging headphones in doesnt help) - when turning it back in its hit or miss if there will be video from the pc or dvd player via hdmi, sometimes the audio will disappear when the tvs turned on till things are powercycled in the right order.

If he hibernates the PC then it will usually not have video when back into windows till he vnc's into it and changes the res a couple of times.

Changing input on the avr when playing the dvd player means that when you change back it will often lose signal till you stop and then play again.

The salespeoples solution always seems to revolve around either using a brand new monster hdmi cable with gold all over it, using a optical/coax cable for audio instead of hdmi or some other expensive solution to a problem that wouldnt happen if the devices just did what they said they would do.

Richard rich.ms

jburrows

31 posts

Geek

#130232 12-May-2008 14:20

I've been doing a bit of research as I to are looking to upgrade to an HDMI capable Home Theatre.
The Onkyo TX-606 is the one i'm looking at buying - 4 hdmi in and 1 out.
http://www.intl.onkyo.com/products/av_components/av_receivers/tx-sr606/index.html

It's not coming out until the end of the month apparently.

jburrows

31 posts

Geek

#130252 12-May-2008 14:52

I just tried to purchase the TX-SR606 online from amazon after enetering my address details it says they cant send this product to my location????

Se7ensyns

133 posts

Master Geek

#130268 12-May-2008 15:41

If you want to ship from the US an options is to use shipbuktu whcih gives you a local US postage address whcih the goods get shipped to then forwarded to NZ. can be pricey though for big things. I have the Pioneer 1016VSX which has HDMI but it doesnt do HDMI audio but then again I dont think there is much out there that actually passes the HDMI audio (could be wrong as I am not an audiophile). If you are in Wellington check lvmartins.co.nz as they have big specials every month. I got my receiver for nearly half price been very happy with it LV's have good prices on Pioneer and Wharfedale as they have a very good relationship with them. Also got some PACEVOIII speakers for 50% off which are fantastic. I think for what you are wanting to do you may need to look at the elite models. $$$

marmel

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#130311 12-May-2008 18:02

jburrows: I just tried to purchase the TX-SR606 online from amazon after enetering my address details it says they cant send this product to my location????

Be careful before you order from the US. The voltage is different for s start and most amps will not have a voltage switch on the back. You also have to consider the chips in them as well, especially the models that upscale. The US versions can upscale NTSC TV signals, the Pal version is different.

Radiotron

180 posts

Master Geek

#130366 12-May-2008 20:52

Yes, be careful if importing an overseas model, there won't be any sort of warranty that is valid in NZ, and local brand owner may not be terribly supportive (for warranty anyway) should there be a problem, nevermind compatability with NZ AC line voltage, and differing signal formats.
And, from a safety point of view, the line cord and components in power are unlikely to locally approved for NZ line voltage, therefore being a potential safety hazard, not mention a problem with your insurance company if something very unfortunate happens.
In short, buy a product in the market it is intended to be used in, then it has appropriate safety approvals for electrical compliance, and it will have a warranty.

marmel

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#130394 12-May-2008 21:29

The other option would be to import from a country that uses the same voltage and PAL, the UK for instance. You would probably still save money. personally I would have to save at least 35% off the NZ price to make it worthwhile.

richms

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#130445 13-May-2008 01:45

Radiotron: Yes, be careful if importing an overseas model, there won't be any sort of warranty that is valid in NZ, and local brand owner may not be terribly supportive (for warranty anyway) should there be a problem, nevermind compatability with NZ AC line voltage, and differing signal formats.
And, from a safety point of view, the line cord and components in power are unlikely to locally approved for NZ line voltage, therefore being a potential safety hazard, not mention a problem with your insurance company if something very unfortunate happens.
In short, buy a product in the market it is intended to be used in, then it has appropriate safety approvals for electrical compliance, and it will have a warranty.

With the ripoff that is eastern hifi and the other importers of gear, you can afford to get 2 of them for what they sell locally, failure rates on AVRs is stuff all compared with optical drives and displays. Infact all of my old ones are still working way back to a pro-logic only sony something that has a crap DSP on it that distorts if you try to add any bass.

as for the voltage difference? Get one with a selector on it. Most seem to have them, Signal format, - DD 5.1 is DD 5.1 - component video is component video. HDMI is HDMI. Only possible issues are in the upscaling of PAL if you get a avr from the states. and pal is pretty much dead now, if its a problem then run a composite out from the avr to the display and switch it yourself.

local approvals are a non issue, things work just fine on 220-240 volts in other countries, its not like your trying to run it on our obscure 415v 3 phase or something.

Also, last I checked insurance companies were quite happy to pay local replacement value on goods sourced overseas, but thats possibly something you need to sort out with your insurance by possibly specifying the items on your policy ahead of time with an agreed value.

Richard rich.ms

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