Re: Need Home Theater Receiver Recommendations

[Frank Olson <use-the-email-links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

J Miller wrote:
> Frank Olson wrote:
>> jonjkelly@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
>>> Can anyone recommend a fairly inexpensive home theater receiver to
>>> replace my existing receiver.  As I've upgraded my components, I'd now
>>> like to have the ability for the receiver to accept HDMI input (2 or,
>>> ideally, more inputs) and send HDMI out to the TV.
>>>
>>> My ideal setup uses the TV like a monitor, such that the receiver uses
>>> the HDMI inputs for both the video and the sound.  I'd like the sound
>>> to be distributed by the receiver as encoded - 5.1, etc., with the
>>> video displayed on the TV via the HDMI output.  I'd prefer the
>>> receiver to display volume and programming on the screen.
>>>
>>> As I research models, it is hard to figure out which HDMI ready
>>> systems are merely "switching-only", thereby seemingly just passing
>>> the video and sound along to the TV.  For example, Harmon/Kardon makes
>>> the distinction, though others do not.
>>>
>>> My current wiring is for 5.1 with pre-out RCA for the subwoofer.  I'm
>>> perfectly happy with that setup and probably will never use the 7.1 of
>>> the newer systems.
>>
>>
>> I personally like the Denon line.  The price depends on how much power
>> you want to output to your speakers.  It also offers the ability to
>> "zone" your audio.
>
> I too have been happy with Denon.  The one I have has 2 hdmi in and one
> out for the monitor. (AVR 1908).
>
> The odd thing, is to have menus on-screen, I need to run s-video to the
> TV in addition to the HDMI, and then switch the TV to the svideo input
> to use them.
>
> I'd suspect that this has changed in the newer models.  (it seems the
> last digit in the model number is the model year, and I got mine in
> early '08)


I was really careful to purchase the newest receiver.  I decided not to
go through Best Buy because their "deal" involved an older model without
the latest HDMI connection.  Mind you, I confess that the price
certainly made it tempting, but then common "cents" prevailed and I
sourced it through one of the suppliers I deal with.  I don't have the
same problem with the onscreen menus.