new reciever

[chuckc]

merry christmas all in need of some advice on a new reciever my onkyo 707 is dying (bad relay speakers wont turn on and hdmi boards losing signal) anyway thinking about staying with onkyo products seem to be some great deals on their stuff right now. I have a oppo 103 already and getting a xpa 5 for christmas thinking of the 818 or 717 or the 809 any thoughts or suggestions would like to get something before the holidays

[emovac]

What are you looking to use the receiver for? music, movies, or both. Number of channels, streaming, room correction, etc. Do you intend to use the AVR as a prepro, or stand alone AVR? What is your budget?

[chuckc]

both music and movies but music about 75% 7 .1 maybe 7.2 i think I have the streaming covered with the oppo probably a prepro budget $800

[emovac]

I like Yamaha for music and durability. Denon also makes great units. Consider the one version back Yamaha RX-A810 Aventage AVR. Under $700 on amazon.com. Has preouts.... If you need multi-channel analog inputs for your OPPO, you need to go one model higher and above your price range. You can still find the RX-A2010 (2 models higher) for around $1100 on amazon. The new 2012 model is $1600. I have the RX-A3010. The are folks who like the Onkyo 818; they sound good but Onkyo has had some reliability issues in the past. Yamaha has a three year warranty on the Aventage series, and amazon is an authorized dealer.

[carolinaaudiofile]

Read this thread if you are looking to get the Onkyo 818 and use your XPA-5 amp.

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=receivers&action=display&thread=26845

[garbulky]

Since you already are getting the xpa-5, is there a reason you don't want to go with a dedicated pre/pro? That seems to me to be the best way to go.

[Deleted]

I 2nd Garbulky's question - why are you considering receivers instead of dedicated prepros? It would seem that a UMC-200 would do quite nicely for you connected to the XPA-5. Additionally, why pay for a receiver when you are simply going to idle the contained amps? Unless, of course, you plan to make use of the receiver's amps to drive additional speakers or for bi-amping some of the channels...

-RW-

[emovac]

Garbulky and rlw make good observations about using a dedicated pre pro. You certainly could pick up a prepro and an extra 2 channel amp to make this work. The AVR is a one box solution and offers extra amplification options since you want to go 7.1 or 7.2. using a 5-channel external power amp. IMO, idle amps aren't a big concern except for the extra power. I've done it both ways. In fact, you could buy a higher model AVR, and couple it with a higher class two channel amp such as the XPR-2. With the AVR, you can add the external power amp at your convenience and as budget permits. With the higher end AVR, you can expand to 9.2 or even 11.2, although for music 5.1/7.1 is more than ample for me. Some advice I wished I had followed MYSELF earlier along the way - spend a little more now, and avoid the upgrade bug later, it's less expensive in the long run.

Good luck and have fun with your research.

[dad311]

Dec 19, 2012 9:55:34 GMT -5 @rlw said:

I 2nd Garbulky's question - why are you considering receivers instead of dedicated prepros? It would seem that a UMC-200 would do quite nicely for you connected to the XPA-5. Additionally, why pay for a receiver when you are simply going to idle the contained amps? Unless, of course, you plan to make use of the receiver's amps to drive additional speakers or for bi-amping some of the channels...

-RW-

This is the question I asked myself last week when I bought the Onkyo 818. My thoughts are; the Onkyo is on sale for 675.00, has lots of great reviews, sounds outstanding, Audyessy xt32, next time I upgrade (ie. RMC) I will have a great AVR for a second system.

Another thought, if my XPA-5 would fail, I would still be able to use my AVR while the XPA-5 is being repaired.

Does a pre/pro sound better than a AVR, yeah, maybe , it should but I cant hear it.

[emovac]

Dec 19, 2012 13:34:48 GMT -5 dad311 said:

Dec 19, 2012 9:55:34 GMT -5 @rlw said:

I 2nd Garbulky's question - why are you considering receivers instead of dedicated prepros? It would seem that a UMC-200 would do quite nicely for you connected to the XPA-5. Additionally, why pay for a receiver when you are simply going to idle the contained amps? Unless, of course, you plan to make use of the receiver's amps to drive additional speakers or for bi-amping some of the channels...

-RW-

This is the question I asked myself last week when I bought the Onkyo 818. My thoughts are; the Onkyo is on sale for 675.00, has lots of great reviews, sounds outstanding, Audyessy xt32, next time I upgrade (ie. RMC) I will have a great AVR for a second system.

Another thought, if my XPA-5 would fail, I would still be able to use my AVR while the XPA-5 is being repaired.

Does a pre/pro sound better than a AVR, yeah, maybe , it should but I cant hear it.

+1 I agree.

[The Mad Norseman]

Dec 18, 2012 21:17:47 GMT -5 emovac said:

I like Yamaha for music and durability. Denon also makes great units. Consider the one version back Yamaha RX-A810 Aventage AVR. Under $700 on amazon.com. Has preouts.... If you need multi-channel analog inputs for your OPPO, you need to go one model higher and above your price range. You can still find the RX-A2010 (2 models higher) for around $1100 on amazon. The new 2012 model is $1600. I have the RX-A3010. The are folks who like the Onkyo 818; they sound good but Onkyo has had some reliability issues in the past. Yamaha has a three year warranty on the Aventage series, and amazon is an authorized dealer.

^ +1

[chuckc]

thanks for the replies everybody. My original plan was to add the xpa5 to my 707 so I asked for it for christmas before it started having issues. I'm pretty sure its in the house already but have to that surprised look on the big day. As far as the pre/pro realy wasn't thinking about going that routr till it was suggested I was assuming I would get more bang for my buck going with a ht receiver at the prices I've seen on the web. Dad311 would you recomend the 818 or 717 I am on the fence as to what to do now are you happy with your setup now and do you think it was a good investment?

[garbulky]

Dec 19, 2012 18:15:16 GMT -5 chuckc said:

thanks for the replies everybody. My original plan was to add the xpa5 to my 707 so I asked for it for christmas before it started having issues. I'm pretty sure its in the house already but have to that surprised look on the big day. As far as the pre/pro realy wasn't thinking about going that routr till it was suggested I was assuming I would get more bang for my buck going with a ht receiver at the prices I've seen on the web. Dad311 would you recomend the 818 or 717 I am on the fence as to what to do now are you happy with your setup now and do you think it was a good investment?

Well it depends on what you are looking for. IMO if you already have the XPA-5, then spending on a dedicated pre-pro will have more of your money being spent on the sound quality of the pre-pro than having some of your money being diverted towards amplifiers etc. IMO, if you don't NEED an AVR, then a pre-pro is the way to go. The UMC-200 for instance uses analog volume controls while I assume an AVR will probably opt for a form of lossy digital attenuation. Also you could also purchase a mini-x or something small later down the line if you really need extra channels. Jump into full separates soon as possible is my recommendation.

[bootman]

At the current prices, the 818 is the one to get if you are set for another Onkyo.

Btw are you mostly a movie or music fan?

For music, I'll pick the UMC-200.
For mostly music, x32 is nice.....

[Deleted]

If you plan on upgrading later and using the AVR to power another system, then buy an AVR. But if you want to get the best sound quality NOW and the street cred [smile] of owning separates, get a prepro.

There is NO doubt that the amp sections of ALL of the Yamaha, Denon, and Onkyo receivers are vastly inferior to what you'll find in a dedicated amp - it ain't even close. What they advertise as "150 watts/ch." is, in reality, about 40-60 watts/ch. all channels driven simultaneously. AVRs have no guts, plain and simple...

-RW-

[dad311]

Dec 19, 2012 18:15:16 GMT -5 chuckc said:

thanks for the replies everybody. My original plan was to add the xpa5 to my 707 so I asked for it for christmas before it started having issues. I'm pretty sure its in the house already but have to that surprised look on the big day. As far as the pre/pro realy wasn't thinking about going that routr till it was suggested I was assuming I would get more bang for my buck going with a ht receiver at the prices I've seen on the web. Dad311 would you recomend the 818 or 717 I am on the fence as to what to do now are you happy with your setup now and do you think it was a good investment?

I just bought the 818 based on reviews on this and other forums. For 675.00, no tax and free shipping its was the right move for me and Im very happy with the purchase.

Im planning on buying the RMC-1, but only after its been out for a few months and has great reviews. Who knows when the RMC will appear.

Im listen to Pink Floyd The Wall as I write this post. The 818 in THX music mode simply rocks. The sound is crisp, clean and very dynamic. Bass is very tight.

See the link below for 818 info.

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=receivers&action=display&thread=26845&page=1

[audiohead]

chuckc,I have the NR818 and for the bucks its a good buy.I like it a lot for HT.But when I was looking for a unit too upgrade too EMO didn't have the 200 out yet so I went with the NR818.After a few days and I mean a few days EMO listed the 200 unit on there page.If it where in at the time I was buying I would have jump all over it and I still may do that.Now don't get me wrong the NR818 is doing a great job for HT and it is a keeper for me and I agree that having an AVR with amps in it just incase my XPA-5 gives out I could use the AVR till my XPA-5 gets fixed,but it over a year old and still kickin ass.Who knows with this hobby I miss out on a good deal with EMO's 200 Pre,but thats how it goes with this hobby.Some really good advice for "rlw" and the others in here good luck Bro and my the power of the watts be with you!

[wizardofoz]

Get a umc-200 and if you dont think its a good improvement then return it...i dont really condone this type of trial but its offered so i guess they condone it...what do you have to lose?

[dad311]

Oh, just a heads-up. If you go the Onkyo route, you will need a universal remote control to setup the auto trigger for a external amp. Onkyo has tiggers for zone 2 & 3 , but not zone 1 so it takes a little magic to automate it. Not a big deal if you have a universal remote (harmony, home theater master,etc) but if you have to purchase a remote it might be a deal breaker.

[emovac]

Dec 19, 2012 20:33:11 GMT -5 @rlw said:

If you plan on upgrading later and using the AVR to power another system, then buy an AVR. But if you want to get the best sound quality NOW and the street cred [smile] of owning separates, get a prepro.

There is NO doubt that the amp sections of ALL of the Yamaha, Denon, and Onkyo receivers are vastly inferior to what you'll find in a dedicated amp - it ain't even close. What they advertise as "150 watts/ch." is, in reality, about 40-60 watts/ch. all channels driven simultaneously. AVRs have no guts, plain and simple...

-RW-

RLW - Would you submit to the fact 40-60 wpc is sufficient to run his surrounds? You seem down on AVRs, and their amp sections, but step back and look at what he is trying to accomplish. He cannot run 7.1 or 7.2 with a prepro and XPA-5. I am using my Yamaha RX-A3010 as a prepro, with the potential to go to 9.2. The system two channel goes through an integrated and external multichannel amp and completely bypasses the AVR, unless I choose to insert it in the chain. The Yamaha AVR does a great job as a prepro, and has plenty of street cred in my book. It uses Burr-Brown 1796s, similar to the XMC-1s 1793s. It replaced a Parasound C2 prepro and does a lot more things, and does them exceptionally well. The Onkyo 818 would also perform well in this fashion, and provide some great options a lower priced prepro would not.