Help in choosing AV Receiver.

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Help in choosing AV Receiver.

snaffta

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#19141 6-Feb-2008 20:46

Hello.

I'm currently looking for an AV Receiver to connect to PS3 and then to TV.

I want to use a receiver with HDMI passthru.

There seem to be very few that will do what I want them to. I guess i want hi-end without paying more than $1000...

One unit Sony STR-DG810. Has the functions i require. HDMI passthru, surround sound, 1080p upscale.

There are a few things I don't understand...

What uncompressed PCM is and how it is relivent to surround. Ie playing games? I have read that some AV recievers dont do PCM or linear PCM properly and games dont play 6.1.   So LPCM seems important enough to be essential.

Is there anything else to consider?    Not to worried about the number of channels. And the +/- 1% seems fairly resonable for the amps.
Any other worthwhile amps?

PS.   From sony.co.nz the receiver retails for nz$899 and from ebay [via New York] inc. post works out to nz$433 ...     It also retails in Aust. For Aus$899. Go figure that.

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38 posts

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#108981 6-Feb-2008 21:56

Thanx for the 15odd views of the viod... Now this thread actually has text in it...

Ta.

rscole86

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#108989 6-Feb-2008 22:34

snaffta:
Thanx for the 15odd views of the viod... Now this thread actually has text in it...

Ta.

I am sure that people will reply if they are able to help you. Just for the record, I looked at this just to see if I could help. And I can't.

I am sure that you wil appreciate that I have now added to your thread, albeit an unhelpful answer.

Fossie

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#108990 6-Feb-2008 22:37

Don't worry, we're all actually paid to answer everyones threads. So it shouldn't take long.

stuzzo

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#109004 7-Feb-2008 02:24

snaffta: Hello.
I'm currently looking for an AV Receiver to connect to PS3 and then to TV.
I want to use a receiver with HDMI passthru.
There seem to be very few that will do what I want them to. I guess i want hi-end without paying more than $1000...

One unit Sony STR-DG810. Has the functions i require. HDMI passthru, surround sound, 1080p upscale.

There are a few things I don't understand...

What uncompressed PCM is and how it is relivent to surround. Ie playing games? I have read that some AV recievers dont do PCM or linear PCM properly and games dont play 6.1. So LPCM seems important enough to be essential.

Is there anything else to consider? Not to worried about the number of channels. And the +/- 1% seems fairly resonable for the amps.
Any other worthwhile amps?

PS. From sony.co.nz the receiver retails for nz$899 and from ebay [via New York] inc. post works out to nz$433 ... It also retails in Aust. For Aus$899. Go figure that.

Uncompressed PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) is basically audio data in it's simplest or standard form and typically that which it needs to be in to be converted into analogue audio via a DAC (Digital to analogue converter). The parameters for PCM are the sampling rate in khz and the bit depth (the accuracy of the reading). e.g PCM for a CD is 44.1khz and 16 bit x2 channels.

On the other hand, bitstream (the term in it's home theatre usage) is an output of data that is still coded in a range of formats e.g Dolby Digital, primarily for the purpose of reducing the bit rate and therefore storage requirements. Bitstream needs to be decoded before the DAC process, generally.

Home theatre receivers with HDMI inputs are able to output multi-channel sound when receiving PCM via HDMI from a source or player. That is to say when the decoding has been done at the source. (Though some early hdmi receivers simply acted as hdmi switches and couldn't output audio ).

Recently receivers have come on to the market with the ability to decode bitsteam data in the latest formats, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS Master Audio etc. These receivers are currently in a higher price range than you are considering and your PS3 doesn't currently output high definition audio formats as bitstream anyway.

I'm not familiar with the Sony STR-DG810 but I believe their ES range is more highly regarded soundwise. Other brands to consider are Pioneer, Denon and Yamaha. Most manufacturer's sites have manuals etc and most receivers are reviewed somewhere on-line eg CNET.

stuzzo

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#109027 7-Feb-2008 11:04

What uncompressed PCM is and how it is relivent to surround. Ie playing games? I have read that some AV recievers dont do PCM or linear PCM properly and games dont play 6.1. So LPCM seems important enough to be essential.

Just regarding this issue, it may be a reference to the fact that some receivers cannot take a 5.1 PCM soundtrack and reprocess it into 6.1 or 7.1 channels.

lchiu7

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#109092 7-Feb-2008 15:33

snaffta: Hello.
I'm currently looking for an AV Receiver to connect to PS3 and then to TV.
I want to use a receiver with HDMI passthru.
There seem to be very few that will do what I want them to. I guess i want hi-end without paying more than $1000...

One unit Sony STR-DG810. Has the functions i require. HDMI passthru, surround sound, 1080p upscale.

There are a few things I don't understand...

What uncompressed PCM is and how it is relivent to surround. Ie playing games? I have read that some AV recievers dont do PCM or linear PCM properly and games dont play 6.1. So LPCM seems important enough to be essential.

Is there anything else to consider? Not to worried about the number of channels. And the +/- 1% seems fairly resonable for the amps.
Any other worthwhile amps?

PS. From sony.co.nz the receiver retails for nz$899 and from ebay [via New York] inc. post works out to nz$433 ... It also retails in Aust. For Aus$899. Go figure that.

That's the model I am looking at. I was also looking at ebay but the price wasn't that good. More like $490. I like the model because it has 3 HDMI inputs (I need 3), does audio over HDMI via PCM. While I have both a BR player (PS3) and HD-DVD player (Toshiba A3) neither outputs Dolby True HD or DTS-Master HD over bitstream so I don't need a AVR that can process those audio formats. The players can do it and just output PCM.

No issue with 110V since I would be replacing a AVR that currently is 110V anyway.

My thoughts. The only thing holding me up is, whether or not I will travelling to the US soon and can pick it up there to save on postage.

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.

HP

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snaffta

38 posts

Geek

#109151 7-Feb-2008 19:40

That's the model I am looking at. I was also looking at ebay but the price wasn't that good. More like $490. I like the model because it has 3 HDMI inputs (I need 3), does audio over HDMI via PCM. While I have both a BR player (PS3) and HD-DVD player (Toshiba A3) neither outputs Dolby True HD or DTS-Master HD over bitstream so I don't need a AVR that can process those audio formats. The players can do it and just output PCM.

No issue with 110V since I would be replacing a AVR that currently is 110V anyway.

My thoughts. The only thing holding me up is, whether or not I will travelling to the US soon and can pick it up there to save on postage.

Larry

OK. Well there definately _was_ a unit for US$214 which worked out to NZ$290 + $133 post. Postage was probably quoted in US now that I think about it...
I think it's expired now.

What are you're main reasons for chosing 810 over the 710/510?

Ta.

snaffta

38 posts

Geek

#109153 7-Feb-2008 19:45

rscole86:
snaffta:
Thanx for the 15odd views of the viod... Now this thread actually has text in it...

Ta.

I am sure that people will reply if they are able to help you. Just for the record, I looked at this just to see if I could help. And I can't.

I am sure that you wil appreciate that I have now added to your thread, albeit an unhelpful answer.

... Yeah but I had a BLANK thread, for about an hour or so... Coz I pressed enter. Before i typed anything.

But i do appreciate unhelpful answers...

~Snaff

snaffta

38 posts

Geek

#109158 7-Feb-2008 19:59

On the other hand, bitstream (the term in it's home theatre usage) is an output of data that is still coded in a range of formats e.g Dolby Digital, primarily for the purpose of reducing the bit rate and therefore storage requirements. Bitstream needs to be decoded before the DAC process, generally.

Home theatre receivers with HDMI inputs are able to output multi-channel sound when receiving PCM via HDMI from a source or player. That is to say when the decoding has been done at the source. (Though some early hdmi receivers simply acted as hdmi switches and couldn't output audio ).

Recently receivers have come on to the market with the ability to decode bitsteam data in the latest formats, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS Master Audio etc. These receivers are currently in a higher price range than you are considering and your PS3 doesn't currently output high definition audio formats as bitstream anyway.

I'm not familiar with the Sony STR-DG810 but I believe their ES range is more highly regarded soundwise. Other brands to consider are Pioneer, Denon and Yamaha. Most manufacturer's sites have manuals etc and most receivers are reviewed somewhere on-line eg CNET.

Details:

100 watts x 6 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.09% THD
Dolby® Digital EX, DTS-ES®, DTS Neo:6, and Dolby Pro Logic® IIx, and Digital Cinema Sound processing
Digital Cinema Sound modes
1080p-compatible HDMI digital audio/video switching (3 in, 1 out)
component video switching: 3 in, 1 out
4 audio/video inputs, including:
- 1 front-panel input with composite video
- 3 rear-panel inputs with composite video
2 audio-only inputs
no phono input
digital inputs: 2 optical, 1 coaxial
2 sets of main speaker outputs
binding post speaker terminals (spring clip connectors for speaker B output)

Gutted really. No Phono input...
I looked at the ES. Series. Way too expensive for me.
And i can't find a pioneer denon or yamaha with same features for less than $twice.

I don't see why they are so expensive? I guess 'cos they don't sell as many/new on the market.

Ta ~snaff.

lchiu7

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#109164 7-Feb-2008 20:21

snaffta:

That's the model I am looking at. I was also looking at ebay but the price wasn't that good. More like $490. I like the model because it has 3 HDMI inputs (I need 3), does audio over HDMI via PCM. While I have both a BR player (PS3) and HD-DVD player (Toshiba A3) neither outputs Dolby True HD or DTS-Master HD over bitstream so I don't need a AVR that can process those audio formats. The players can do it and just output PCM.

No issue with 110V since I would be replacing a AVR that currently is 110V anyway.

My thoughts. The only thing holding me up is, whether or not I will travelling to the US soon and can pick it up there to save on postage.

Larry

OK. Well there definately _was_ a unit for US$214 which worked out to NZ$290 + $133 post. Postage was probably quoted in US now that I think about it...
I think it's expired now.

What are you're main reasons for chosing 810 over the 710/510?

Ta.

I wanted a AVR that had 3 HDMI connections, not concerned about 7.1 since I would only be placing 6 speakers and it had to be able to process HDMI audio. It didn't need to be able to process Dolby True HD or DTS-HD Master either

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.

snaffta

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Geek

#109166 7-Feb-2008 20:26

I wanted a AVR that had 3 HDMI connections, not concerned about 7.1 since I would only be placing 6 speakers and it had to be able to process HDMI audio. It didn't need to be able to process Dolby True HD or DTS-HD Master either

Sweet. I guess you already explained that... :)

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stuzzo

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#109171 7-Feb-2008 20:43

I don't see why they are so expensive? I guess 'cos they don't sell as many/new on the market.

That's a much debated point and, as you say, the causes are related to the size of the market. I recently noted a receiver that had an NZ$ RRP of 2.2 times the US$ RRP when the exchange rate is about 1.3. Consequently a lot of buyers either buy from overseas or wait till effectively the models are on runnout and discounted. Maybe the manufacturers/ distributers need a new model for smaller markets.

richms

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#109190 7-Feb-2008 22:18

keep in mind that if you get a US model with a univeral remote that it will possibly not have the codes you need for a sky box etc, whereas the local ones seem to take care of that, and the tuner will be useless if it doesnt have selectable stepping and de-emphasis (if a tuner matters to you that is)

If the powercable is detachable, cable tie the US one to the back of the unit so someone doesnt replace it with a kiwi one inadvertantly.

Richard rich.ms

richms

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#109191 7-Feb-2008 22:22

Also as for NZ being a ripoff, a while back the denon 3805 was selling in NZ for a price that you could almost get 3 of them in the states for the money converted over. and that was MSRP, not the actual price they were selling for.

The fascists on the audioenz forum kept pulling threads about it - no doubt to keep eastern hifi happy to have their pillaging continue. Marantz gear is quite reasonable in NZ, but the cheap sony stuff is a total ripoff - even the car stuff is still well overpriced except the bottom of the barrel models.

Richard rich.ms

snaffta

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#109439 9-Feb-2008 10:53

richms:
The fascists on the audioenz forum kept pulling threads about it - no doubt to keep eastern hifi happy to have their pillaging continue. Marantz gear is quite reasonable in NZ, but the cheap sony stuff is a total ripoff - even the car stuff is still well overpriced except the bottom of the barrel models.

Yes, I find it interesting. Always been mildly cautious with sony. I think I might be in a target demographic (or something). I ofteen tend to lean towards the cheaper enhanced function system, which is often sony. Telling myself that it probably more tempermental product than it first appears. You can get a bad setup quite easliy.

Ta.

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