A/V Receiver recommendation?

25-02-2003, 13:54

I'm looking for a do-it-all A/V receiver..equally good for movies/music/radio...must have both digital ins/outs...budget of £300-400 quid....

Currently looking at models by Pioneer/Yamaha/Marantz

ddnmk · 26-02-2003, 10:55

I have a Sony Home Theatre HT-K215 for over a year now. In my humble opinion it was the best sound for the money. Setting up the the system is a breeze, if evens allows you to set each speakers distance from the TV individually.There are plenty of connections at the rear, I have it hooked up to SKy+,DVD,VCR,TV.

David

PS: you might want to try RicherSounds if you have one near you they are preety good at seeting up demos if you call in advance.

gcbus · 27-02-2003, 15:58

Hi - I've bought the Yamaha RXV630RDS in the past few weeks to replace my Technics SADA8. The Yamaha gets 5 gold stars in the March issue of Home Entertainment magazine and I can see why. It's a fab av receiver and has full blown RDS radio tuning EOS etc etc. It supports Dolby Pro-Logic; Pro-Logic II; Dolby Digital 5.1 and EX; DTS and DTS ES 6.1; plenty of sockets and they can be re-assigned in software. The sounds (via my Mordaunt Short Premier speakers) is fab - a nice smooth rounded sound that's good for DVD/CD audio too. Very nice receiver and it's around £320 fromRicher Sounds I think.

shawkins002 · 28-02-2003, 12:28

I went for the Marantz SR5300 myself - got it for £329 from Richer Sounds in Bristol. Yammy 630 may be a bit better on movies, Marantz has the edge on music, although both are great receivers for the price. I wanted 50/50 music + movies, so went for the Marantz. It's absolutely superb - especially with my new B&W 601s3 speakers.

Not sure if the Yamaha has DTS ES 6.1 discrete - which is the pure 6.1 output. I think it may only have DTS ES Matrix, which uses the left and right surround channels to create a "matrixed" centre rear channel. I may be wrong here - and not that many DVDs have DTS Discreet anyway.

The Marantz does have about a 0.5 second delay that occurs when you first press play or change chapter on a DVD whilst it works out what audio signal it is receiving. Seems to annoy some people, I couldn't give a monkeys about that, as it sounds so good.

The Sony 1080 is worth a look as well. This month's What Hi-Fi has a test of 6.1 receivers - (The cheaper Marantz 4300 is on test, not 5300). The Sony comes out on top - although I have never heard it myself. My brother's just bought one paired up with Kef Eggs, and is very pleased.

As for input/output sockets, look here:
http://www.avland.co.uk/marantz/sr5300/index.htm
http://www.avland.co.uk/sony/strdb1080/index.htm
http://www.avland.co.uk/yamaha/rxv630/index.htm

When it comes down to it, they all have something small that the other doesn't, but nothing that important IMO. I'd go to your local Richer Sounds or hi-fi dealer, and test these three out - see which you prefer. There's not much between them, and one may have the edge for you.

JonMace · 06-03-2003, 08:01

Denon make some fantastic A/V amps with in your price range and you should not rule them out

25-02-2003, 13:54	#1
The Funkmaster Posts: n/a	A/V Receiver recommendation? I'm looking for a do-it-all A/V receiver..equally good for movies/music/radio...must have both digital ins/outs...budget of £300-400 quid.... Currently looking at models by Pioneer/Yamaha/Marantz

26-02-2003, 10:55	#2
ddnmk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 5	I have a Sony Home Theatre HT-K215 for over a year now. In my humble opinion it was the best sound for the money. Setting up the the system is a breeze, if evens allows you to set each speakers distance from the TV individually.There are plenty of connections at the rear, I have it hooked up to SKy+,DVD,VCR,TV. David PS: you might want to try RicherSounds if you have one near you they are preety good at seeting up demos if you call in advance.

27-02-2003, 15:58	#3
gcbus Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Cambridge Posts: 774	Hi - I've bought the Yamaha RXV630RDS in the past few weeks to replace my Technics SADA8. The Yamaha gets 5 gold stars in the March issue of Home Entertainment magazine and I can see why. It's a fab av receiver and has full blown RDS radio tuning EOS etc etc. It supports Dolby Pro-Logic; Pro-Logic II; Dolby Digital 5.1 and EX; DTS and DTS ES 6.1; plenty of sockets and they can be re-assigned in software. The sounds (via my Mordaunt Short Premier speakers) is fab - a nice smooth rounded sound that's good for DVD/CD audio too. Very nice receiver and it's around £320 fromRicher Sounds I think.

28-02-2003, 12:28	#4
shawkins002 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Surrey Posts: 125	I went for the Marantz SR5300 myself - got it for £329 from Richer Sounds in Bristol. Yammy 630 may be a bit better on movies, Marantz has the edge on music, although both are great receivers for the price. I wanted 50/50 music + movies, so went for the Marantz. It's absolutely superb - especially with my new B&W 601s3 speakers. Not sure if the Yamaha has DTS ES 6.1 discrete - which is the pure 6.1 output. I think it may only have DTS ES Matrix, which uses the left and right surround channels to create a "matrixed" centre rear channel. I may be wrong here - and not that many DVDs have DTS Discreet anyway. The Marantz does have about a 0.5 second delay that occurs when you first press play or change chapter on a DVD whilst it works out what audio signal it is receiving. Seems to annoy some people, I couldn't give a monkeys about that, as it sounds so good. The Sony 1080 is worth a look as well. This month's What Hi-Fi has a test of 6.1 receivers - (The cheaper Marantz 4300 is on test, not 5300). The Sony comes out on top - although I have never heard it myself. My brother's just bought one paired up with Kef Eggs, and is very pleased. As for input/output sockets, look here: http://www.avland.co.uk/marantz/sr5300/index.htm http://www.avland.co.uk/sony/strdb1080/index.htm http://www.avland.co.uk/yamaha/rxv630/index.htm When it comes down to it, they all have something small that the other doesn't, but nothing that important IMO. I'd go to your local Richer Sounds or hi-fi dealer, and test these three out - see which you prefer. There's not much between them, and one may have the edge for you.

06-03-2003, 08:01	#5
JonMace Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 464	Denon make some fantastic A/V amps with in your price range and you should not rule them out

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A/V Receiver recommendation?