Matt0013 Posted June 5, 2002 Share Posted June 5, 2002 1. I was planning on purchasing a Sony ES STR-DA5ES A/V reciever but now I am wondering if it is possible to get something better for the same price. It does have a lot of things I want including 110 watts X 6 channels. If you have any suggestions for a reciever try and keep the MSRP under $1199 if possible. I am looking for: -Dolby Pro Logic II (a must have) -Dolby Digital EX (not sure if I can go without it) -DTS-ES (a must have) -Any THX features would be great if the price is reasonable. 2. About this 6.1 and THX stuff, how can a reciever have DTS-ES but put out 100 watts X 5? I saw another reciever that is THX Ultra and it puts out 110 X 5 watts. What is 7.1 surround sound? 3. I have a chart of surround sound formats. It has Dolby Digital and DTS listed as the same thing as far as speakers go (same amount of discrete and matrixed channels) but it says that all DVDs are Doglby Digital encoded but only some DVDs are DTS-encoded. Same thing goes for Dolby Digital EX and THX Surround EX. What does all this mean? If you can help with any of these questions I appreciate your advice, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrake Posted June 5, 2002 Share Posted June 5, 2002 1) Check out the Denon 3802. http://www.del.denon.com/catalog/pdfs/avr38023.pdf 2) Not sure how they're decoding 6 audio channels but only amplifying 5. Got a specific product in mind? 7.1 only means that it supports the use of 2 rear center speakers, like the 3802 does. It is still only decoding 6 channels plus the sub. 3) Audio formats other than DD are not always present on DVDs because they take extra space and money. If a DVD has lots of extras, there may not be room to include additional audio tracks, so they just put the DD5.1 on it. You have to check the DVD's label to know for sure. Does that help? Doug ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skonopa Posted June 5, 2002 Share Posted June 5, 2002 I have the Denon AVR3802 myself. It has 110 watts x 7 channels. It does indeed do DTS-ES (the 6.1) format. I currently have mine setup as 6.1 (6 speakers - L/R front, front center, L/R surrounds, rear center, subwoofer). The seventh channel is going unused right now (room and budget not big enough for the seventh speaker plus nothing really uses seven channels right now). You can find one for around $800 online. If you don't want to do that, you may be able to find one at a local dealer for around $1000. When I bought mine, there was no dealer in the area that sold them (only to have a Tweeters open up right after I finaly got mine delivered!). Also to add, when I was shopping around for a reciever, I wanted one with the same type of features and power you are looking for in the same price range. At the time, the Denon AVR3802 seemed to be the only one that fit my price range but had all the features I wanted (except THX certification, but it seems that is overrated anyway). ------------------ Steven Konopa Fredericksburg, VA Denon AVR3802 (Receiver) RF-7 (Fronts) RC-7 (Center) RC-7 (Rear) RS-7 (A Surrounds) Infinity RS2000.5 (B Surrounds - recycled) REL Storm III (Subwoofer 1) Yamaha YST-SW40 (Subwoofer 2 - Recycled) JVC XV-S65GD (DVD) Sharp DX-200 (CD - ancient) RCA DWD490RE (DirecTV/Ultimate TV receiver) Sharp 32 inch (TV) This message has been edited by skonopa on 06-05-2002 at 09:01 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m00n Posted June 5, 2002 Share Posted June 5, 2002 Check Harman Kardon also. AVR520 is what I am running and it is very impressive. Don't let the lower watts fool you. It runs high current to make up for it. ------------------ m00nsCinema to be the m00n system FRONTS: RF-7 CENTER: RC-7 SURROUNDS: RS-7 SUB: RSW-12 RECEIVER: Harman Kardon AVR 520 DVD: Toshiba SD 3205 (DD, DTS) TV: Samsung 27" Flatscreen COMPUTER: ProMedia 4.1 c>Microsoft XBOXc> f> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kain Posted June 6, 2002 Share Posted June 6, 2002 Don't forget Marantz! Marantz have excellent A/V receivers for a great price. Many people who compared the Denon AVR-5803 to the Marantz SR9200 said that the Marantz sounded better overall. Plus the Marantz SR9200 is cheaper than the Denon AVR-5803. I would seriously look into Marantz too. ------------------ Coming soon... Home Theater: TV: Sony KV-ES38M91 (38" Direct View FD Triniton WEGA) A/V Receiver: Marantz SR9200 DVD Player: Sony DVP-NS900V Center: Klipsch RC-7 Mains: Klipsch RF-7s Surrounds: Klipsch RS-7s Subwoofer: SVS CS-Ultra w/Samson S1000 amplifier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flason Posted June 6, 2002 Share Posted June 6, 2002 Matt, If you really have your heart set on the Sony, try UBID. They frequently have new units priced resonably. They are a pretty good site too as they are an authorized Klipsch dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QUiKSR20 Posted June 6, 2002 Share Posted June 6, 2002 I havent heard that sony personaly and I know the ES line is way better than the regular line. But for the money I would definatley go with a Harman Kardon AVR520 or a Denon AVR-3802 over the sony. I switched from a Sony STR-DE975 to a HK AVR-510 and the diffrence in power and quality was night and day. Yet my sony was rated 110wX5 vs the HK's 75wX5 The HK is only 2 inches deeper in size all the other dimensions are the same but the build quality is much better in the HK it ways 37lbs vs the Sonys 21lbs LOL ------------------ Thanks, Daryl Gregg MY Home Theatre Page HK AVR-510 Reciever Sony DVP-NS400D DVD SB-3 Mains SC-1 Center Quintet Rears KSW-12 Sub AR Proseries Interconects R.I.P. Paul W. Klipsch THE LEGEND! 3/9/04 - 5/5/02 This message has been edited by QUiKSR20 on 06-06-2002 at 10:06 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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