Replacing an Onkyo TX-SR805 reciever

[Aziz]

Sorry to hear about your Onkyo 805, I have one in the media room and it's still chugging along.

I recently purchased a Pioneer VSX-1020 for my living room and I'm very happy with it. It's hooked to a 5.1 setup and I use the Zone 2 option to play my iPod in the same room using a different set of speakers.

[Yosho-sama]

Let me ask you all, because I am still in the process of learning my way around the Denon.

What can anyone tell me about bi-amping my speakers. I notice that my floor speakers have two sets of cable inputs and I think I've heard that you can hook into the receiver to separate the highs and the lows in the tower, but there are also Bi-wire cables available for doing that as well.

Your thoughts?

[comixguru]

Also, I'd like to mention that I am not an audio purist, I'd prefer ease over top-of-the-line quality. I could have just as easily bought a top of the line receiver, however I was more concerned about features and price over enthusiast quality.

I'm more interested in replacing the 805 with something similar than upgrading. I've never felt that I was missing too much when I compared my system to much more professionally built systems. Maybe I don't have the ears for it but at least it's the cheaper route. :P

If you are looking for alternates from Yamaha, here's what I'd consider.

NewEgg.com has the RX-V765 and RX-V1065 at good prices on Saturdays. They are $399 or $599, good deals.

Crutchfield has the Yamaha RX-V1900 for $699. Pretty incredible deal if you want a Yamaha in the same price range as the 800 series Onkyo.

For Denon, you might also consider the 3308. It's $799 at JR.com.

I would consider Integra and Marantz models if you are looking to spend $600-1000.

Since you had a bad experience with your last receiver, you may consider an extended warranty this time around. Consider Mack over other options. You can check them out here. The maximum they extended the original warranty is three years. With a Yamaha receiver's 2 yr warranty, that's 5 years of coverage.

[LordoftheRingsEE]

FL: Bowers & Wilkins CDM-7NT
FR: Bowers & Wilkins CDM-7NT
CE: Bowers & Wilkins CDM-CNT
SL: Bowers & Wilkins CDM-SNT
SR: Bowers & Wilkins CDM-SNT
BL: Polk Audio F/X5i
BR: Polk Audio F/X5i

Room is about 20' L x 10' W

The Denon AVR-4308CI is perfectly suitable. ...Enjoy!

* Hope you have a least one sub!

[LordoftheRingsEE]

Let me ask you all, because I am still in the process of learning my way around the Denon.

What can anyone tell me about bi-amping my speakers. I notice that my floor speakers have two sets of cable inputs and I think I've heard that you can hook into the receiver to separate the highs and the lows in the tower, but there are also Bi-wire cables available for doing that as well.

Your thoughts?

Forget about Bi-amping; it is only useful with separate active x-overs.
Same for Bi-wiring, just use a higher speaker cable gauge that's all.

Conclusion: Just single wire your speakers, and bi-amping is NOT beneficial at all in your particular case with your particular speakers. And it's also not for the vast majority of people (about 99.5%).
* For more on this just Google Bi-amping & Bi-wiring. There is some great info on this from various audio sites like Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, Audioholics, Stereophile, Audio Karma and others.

Cheers,
Bob

[Yosho-sama]

Thanks for the advice! Now for the joyous task of wire hiding and harmony programming.

[LordoftheRingsEE]

Thanks for the advice! Now for the joyous task of wire hiding and harmony programming.

* Wire hiding: be creative, baseboards are one good way. Under carpets is another.

* Harmony remote: very simple, call their toll free number and they'll guide you through. You can certainly use your computer to program the basics.