Yamaha RX-V465BL or Onkyo HT-RC160

[nugent]

Looking to pick up a budget receiver for my brother.

Any input on pros or cons between these two?

[rick240]

What's the budget?

What speakers will they be driving (now and is there an upgrade for these planned in the near future or not)?

Odds are, whatever your budget is, you can find a good sale on something from Yamaha/Pioneer/Denon/Marantz/Onkyo and you will find proponents of whichever one you say you are going to get.

You will probably also be able to get more for your money if you get a new (or refurbed), but older model.

[nugent]

What's the budget?

What speakers will they be driving (now and is there an upgrade for these planned in the near future or not)?

Odds are, whatever your budget is, you can find a good sale on something from Yamaha/Pioneer/Denon/Marantz/Onkyo and you will find proponents of whichever one you say you are going to get.

You will probably also be able to get more for your money if you get a new (or refurbed), but older model.

Both of the models I listed I can get via Bing and Tiger Direct for $280 and $245 with the Onkyo being the more expensive of the two.

I don't have a problem with re-furbs. I want to keep it at $300 or less.

He has a sub-sat system with a powered sub from Boston I believe. They are pretty efficient. I set him up with a used Denon a couple years back but he needs something with HDMI inputs.

I have owned all those brands listed at some point and they are have pros and cons.

I was just curious if anyone had perhaps been shopping for either of the two I listed as they seem to do what he would need. He isn't picky at all. This is my little project than his actually.

[rick240]

When you say he needs HDMI inputs, what all is this for?

Are you also needing lossless audio decoding as part of it; or are you wanting the AVR to receive PCM audio over HDMI; or are you wanting the AVR to mux multiple HDMI ins?

How many HDMI ins?

I can't speak to the specific models you listed, but if you don't need lossless decoding (i.e. it is being done in your Blu-ray player, like a PS3) then this Marantz sr4002 fits the bill.

By the way, from the a4l site I see the Onkyo on your list at $300 so the price you mentioned is pretty good for something almost like the 607. For the Yamaha, I'd be tempted to go with the 663, two generations old but two models higher in the line and available at Amazon in your budget.

[nugent]

Thanks for the input!

I need lossless decoding. Will be hooking up a Panny BD player I got him for Christmas along with a HD DVD player and cable box. Would like to plug them all into the receiver and use that as the switcher. So I need at least 3 HDMI inputs. Really don't want to mess with a extra HDMI switcher.

I will give the 663 a look.

Thanks!

When you say he needs HDMI inputs, what all is this for?

Are you also needing lossless audio decoding as part of it; or are you wanting the AVR to receive PCM audio over HDMI; or are you wanting the AVR to mux multiple HDMI ins?

How many HDMI ins?

I can't speak to the specific models you listed, but if you don't need lossless decoding (i.e. it is being done in your Blu-ray player, like a PS3) then this Marantz sr4002 fits the bill.

By the way, from the a4l site I see the Onkyo on your list at $300 so the price you mentioned is pretty good for something almost like the 607. For the Yamaha, I'd be tempted to go with the 663, two generations old but two models higher in the line and available at Amazon in your budget.

[nugent]

Bing Cash Back for Tiger Direct dropped to 8% before I could make up my mind. Poked around on eBay and found a YAMAHA HTR-6240, same as the RX-V465BL. It is a factory refurb but after instant 8% back via Bing I got it for $180 delivered.

For the ablility to decode the lossless formats and for the price I figured it was worth a shot.