Time to Update Stereo Receiver...What to Look at?

 
titleist1
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Post by titleist1 » Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 8:34 am

So we splurge not too long ago and get an entertainment center built by an Amish outfit. The decorating committee said it was time to move on from the bench / shelf set up I built 40+ years ago and didn't want to wait for my 6 month design/production schedule. I objected that the 2x4 'primitive' style was actually making a come back, but the vote was 1 - 1 so I lost.

Anyway since the Amish are allergic to anything electrical they do not understand the need for a DEEP cabinet area to accommodate the massive (thus the 2x4 construction), vintage Onkyo TX65 receiver I still have from the initial build of the bench.

Since I also lost the 1 - 1 vote on leaving the cabinet doors open so the Onkyo could stick 4" out into the room I am now beginning the search for a replacement receiver so I can spend the money saved buying Amish furniture.

Since it has been 35+ years since I went shopping for this stuff I thought I'd get some input from those of you more up to date on this stuff. I am looking at Onkyo and Yamaha receiver units, are they still making equipment good enough for the non-audiophile to enjoy listening too? Any other brands I should be considering?

I am looking for something simple to use that can take inputs from the DVD player, a CD player, the DirecTV box, the kids iPod / iPhone and maybe even the video / audio files on a hard drive on the home network. It doesn't have to be wireless to our router I can run an ethernet cable to it for the network connection. The 65 Watt/ch Onkyo drives the rebuilt Polk Model 10's well so that is the required power. For the room it is going into I do not need surround sound or subwoofer connections, only an A + B speaker connection.

My tinnitus is bad enough I don't need to spend big $$ on specialty, separate pre-amps, amps, filters, etc., etc. $500 is my ballpark budget, I think with Christmas sales I should be able to stay close to that, am I dreaming?


 
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Post by McGiever » Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 9:16 am

Shall we assume there is a TV in the mix since DirectTV is a part of this?

Depending on whatTV input levels, something as simple as a proper TV with a proper sound bar will get you everyting but the OTA AM & FM radio.

Already having the Polks doesn't go with this idea, but... my Polks went to the attic to be stored. :roll:

He77, I'm typing this on 55" w/ internet browser from on couch right now. :)
Last edited by McGiever on Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 9:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Post by titleist1 » Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 9:25 am

Yes a TV is involved. Not sure what constitutes a 'proper' TV? We have a recently purchased flat screen Samsung LN40 that was needed because the 19" box style I had been watching also wouldn't fit on the entertainment center.... :bang:

What is this sound bar you speak of? CN will probably tell me its a well built place to drink bourbon but I suspect its something different....will begin extensive google research! Sounds less expensive than a stereo receiver!

 
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Post by McGiever » Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 9:34 am

Sound Bar is external speaker package that pairs w/ your Flat TV to not have to use the internal speakers is all.
It also allows toggling through mutiple inputs which the (proper) TV handles...TV & Sound Bar are coupled.

I do this w/ a LG TV and a Samsung Sound Bar...so it is not a matched brand thing.

But this TV does accept ethernet/internet and has a built in browser so a network hard drive would be accessable plus any streaming services the internet could ever bring.

TV Firmware even gets often updated or new added features simply by internet connection, so features are always improving. :)
Last edited by McGiever on Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 9:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 9:40 am

I would keep the OnKyo for a tuner, hardly anything made today will outperform it.

X2 on the soundbar. Run all inputs to the TV, and an optical cable from the TV to the sound bar. I have done something similar and it works very well.

 
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Post by titleist1 » Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 10:14 am

All inputs to the TV....So that would include the CD player and the iPod / iPhone?? I will have to dig out the manual and turn the TV around to see what inputs it takes.

I doubt the TV would have a pre-amp for the turntable but I can move it downstairs where the Onkyo will live and apparently the Polks also since the sound bar will now be the speakers.

 
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Post by McGiever » Sun. Dec. 04, 2016 1:49 pm

Your Golden if you have some number of these to get your desired gear interconnected...HDMI, USB, Optical Toslink.

Then with wireless capabilities you may even get some additional connectibility. Wireless can be had by using a TV spare USB jack w/ a wireless adapter if needed and the TV has the compatibility for such.


 
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Post by Richard S. » Mon. Dec. 05, 2016 7:02 am

You might want to consider a 5.1 home theater sytem especially if you do not have smart TV because it opens a world of options. Add a good universal remote and you are in business.

Cable box>> Home theater >> TV

For example on Comcast they have the music choice channels with no commercials. If you program the remote you can just flip through them without the TV. :D
  • AM/FM
  • CD/DVD/Blu Ray
  • Direct Ipod input
  • Play movies/audio/images on networked connected device like your PC or a NAS.
  • Apps for all kinds of free/paid services like Youtube etc.
Anything that has sound can be run through it and output to the TV if necessary.

 
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Post by CapeCoaler » Mon. Dec. 05, 2016 11:19 am

Yamahas at best buy will fit your needs...
Plenty of inputs and ability to act as switch box then one line to TV...
Just was at a customers house had just a Sound bar and subwoofer from Sonos for speakers...
Plenty of sound just at 5 on the dial...

 
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Post by titleist1 » Mon. Dec. 05, 2016 6:00 pm

Mr. Mayor....are you trying to get me to spend big $$ ??? :D I see "Home Theater" and think we are over the $500 budget right away?! But maybe not, I will have to google research that. Or maybe my budget number is unrealistic?

....never mind....i see 'home theater' is pretty close to a 'receiver' in my mind.

Capecoaler, just to be clear, do you mean a Yamaha receiver? Which would take all the inputs and have a single HDMI to the TV which could be connected to a sound bar like your customer did?

Something like this?:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/yamaha-700w-5-1-ch-4k-ultra-hd-a ... swodsh8Ahw

 
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Post by Richard S. » Mon. Dec. 05, 2016 7:13 pm

I'm not going to make any recommendations on brand but looks they start around $220. Ours is LG and I think it was about $350, rear speakers are semi wireless which is probably something to look for. They have their own amp with wireless receiver and speaker wires go from there . I don't know if you have heard any these small systems lately but as long as they have the sub they sound fantastic with plenty of volume.

 
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Post by titleist1 » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 4:30 pm

Been looking at a few google search results and the damage isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Sound bars for less than $100, Yamaha or Onkyo A/V units or receivers for $300 - $400, even a combo Blu ray / DVD / CD player for less than $100.

I was going by a very foggy 30+ year memory of my Denon CD player costing over $600 by itself and thinking I was going to be spending more than that!

 
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Post by grumpy » Tue. Dec. 06, 2016 5:12 pm

I wish Carver was still around, anyone a fan here ?

Edit to add, he is still around but only makes tube amps.. lots on ebay,, vintage gear.

http://www.bobcarvercorp.com/for-your-listening-room

 
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Post by CapeCoaler » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 8:29 am

adds network so you can use stuff from internet and Wi-Fi to the box...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/yamaha-725w-5-1-ch-network-ready ... Id=5017800
So much needs internet now...
and you held the last one for how long... ;)
not much more needed...

 
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Post by titleist1 » Thu. Dec. 08, 2016 5:15 pm

Great minds thinking alike, CC.....I have the RX-V679BL in my cart waiting for me to pull the trigger as I made a few more comparisons. Looks like mostly the same features, I will check both out thanks for the link.

I think the first pick up will be a sound bar, then the blu ray/dvd/cd combo player then the receiver. Besides spreading the $$ out over a few weeks so I don't break out in hives that gives me more time to research the receiver. Sound bar and blu-ray are easier.
CapeCoaler wrote:and you held the last one for how long.
This makes it sound like I am getting rid of the Onkyo...... nope...it has moved downstairs to handle the turntable, cd player and drive the re-built Polk's and tonight will be shaking the windows with some Brain Salad Surgery, Tarkus and Pictures At An Exhibition in honor of Mr. Lake & Mr. Emerson.


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