Best Budget AV Receiver for Klipsch Setup?

[emak212]

Hello everyone,

I just recently purchased a pair of klipsch B3s, a C3 center, and a klipsch synergy sub-10 for my home theatre. I am working on developing my home theatre into a 5.1 system that will work best for my usage (80% music, 20% movies). I will be needing a new receiver, as my old receiver does not play music in 5.1 and does not have a strong enough amp to power my new speakers.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

-Pricerange: preferably below $400

-***I would like to play music from my laptop through 5.1 channels (prologic II?)

-***I would like to play music wirelessly from the laptop (I have a wireless G music bridge - linksys WMB54G)

-my laptop does not have SPDIF, just one audio ou

-I don't need 7.1 channels

-The TV I use is 720pp

-I have not picked out a pair of surround speakers yet, but am looking at the S-2s.

I have done some research, and so far, it seems that the Pioneer
VSX-918 best suits my needs. However, would the receiver be able to convert the mp3s I play wirelessly from itunes into 5.1 surround? Or would I still need an external sound card to enable this capability? I apologize in advance for the bombardment with questions, but please know I am open to ANY feedback at all! Thanks!

-emakattack

[tommyboy]

Check out these Pioneer's. Great performance at great prices!

http://www.onecall.com/ProductSearch.aspx?N=0&Dn=0&Ntt=Pioneer+receivers&D=Pioneer+receivers

[Groomlakearea51]

Onkyo TX-SR605's and usually direct on sale through Onkyo.

[Bill H.]

Or the HK AVR 245 or newer model.............

confused yet?

[tommyboy]

Panasonic has some nice budget receivers also. Yamaha also does, but I'm not sure if they specialize in the "budget" area or not. Try partsexpress.com They usually have some great deals. Black friday is 3 days away. You should be able to find a real nice receiver for around 400 bucks.....

[Arky]

Don't know about features but for audio quality hard to beat H/K.

[falcon20x]

Don't know about features but for audio quality hard to beat H/K.

I agree with Arky.

Check this link, there is one for every budget

[ScubaDude]

You may also want to look at Marantz. The SR3001 (60 watts x 7) is only $350, and the SR4003 (80 watts) is $549. Accessories4less is an authorized refurb dealer for Marantz and always has some great bargians, on new and refurb units... a quick scan shows they have an SR5001 (an older model), new not refurb for $380.

[abjonesiii]

Onkyo is the best bank for your buck

[chuckles]

I've heard the pairing of klipsch and onkyo.

Some observations I've made were that the high ends sounded shrilly.

For example, it's not a pairing that you would use if you were to

listen to soft music for a long period of time.

The music lacked the rich full sound I was looking for.

That in turn though made this receiver excellent for movies.

where special effects sounds became vibrant and lively.

Really brought you in to the movie.

Another receiver I brought home recently was a Harmon Kardon avr254.

Boy.... what a treat. the music. Eric clapton, stevie ray vaughan.

The music was so rich, full, and clear.

Difference of nighty and day.

but for movies, very dissapointing.

Couldn't get that lively noise out of the amp.

Final amp I thought was a great compromise that I heard

at visions.

The impression I got while flipping back and forth from H/K and Pioneer

darnit, i didn't write down the model.

was that Pioneer also possessed that richness in sound that I was looking for

but it wasn't as clear and harmonious as the H/K.

The H/K really hits the note spot on for sound clarity, depthness.

However, Pioneer did just as well of a job as the Onkyo for movies.

I couldn't find too much fault between the two for movie effects in the

short time I spent listening to the two.

So in the end, the budget receiver you are looking for depends

on what you want to achieve.

Ultimately, you'll want to bring it home and hear it for yourself and

choose.

Good luck and happy hunting.

ps- I heard Denons also sound similar to H/K, so perhapse

that might be something you want to check out.

[Youthman]

Chuckles heard the same that I did when comparing Onkyo and HK. Onkyo was fantastic for movies, ok for 2ch. Not enough separation of musical instruments. HK was wonderful in 2ch, but only ok for HT. I really like my Yamaha that I have. It is incredible for movies, and much better than the Onkyo for 2ch but not as wonderful as the HK. It's all about compromise I guess and what is important to you.

[chuckles]

Compromises are made with my wife.

My wife had looks of deer in headlights when she

listened to her favorite Shania Twain CD on the Onkyo and then the H/K.

Her reactions were same as mine and she commented on how music

can get tiredsome on her ears after long sessions of listening to music.

I have to say I totally agree and I think that goes along with many people's opinion.

It baffles me at how much sound reproduction from data off a cd is can be so

different between the amp manufacturers.

The AVR-254 was my first H/K and I think I'm in love. The details of individual

instruments that you can hear is just amazing. Youthman, the separation

of sound is the best way to describe the music difference.

It's fantastic when you can focus on a single instrument and enjoy it with

background sound of other instruments complimenting it or letting your

mind wander and let the whole song come through. The Onkyo

seemed to blend the sounds together and have instruments that are playing

the loudest stand out.

You could almost say the Onkyo sounds muffled for musical components

in comparison to H/K.

I heard the Yamaha sounds bright as well, but since you say it is a good

compromise I will check it out over the weekend.

Denon vs Yamaha vs Pioneer for the one amp solution

[ClaudeJ1]

Onkyo 606 or 706 are the ones to beat. Great signal processing amplifiers.........I use mine on an all-horn top end with 109 db efficiency. This means that it's VERY sensitive to noise, since I only use MILLIWATTS of power. My bottom of the Line Onkyo (501) from 3 years ago is dead quiet at those levels, and of course headroom coming out of your ears with this kind of efficiency.

I don't agree with a prior comment about "2-channel separation in an Onkyo." I use mine for 2-channel all the time. Besides you only need about 10 db of "separation" for the stereo effect to take place. Most of the receivers have 80-90 db of channel separation which refutes comments of this nature.

You just can't beat the feature, performance and price of Onky for 2-channel or surround.

[Mikekid]

Picked up a Yamaha RX-V461 close-out at BB for $200.00. 100 watts per and LOTS of features for that price. Sounds great, and at that price...it IS a budget receiver. Also..you can find the new RX-V463 on Ebay for about the same. It includes HDMI switching w/ full 1080P pass-thru..

Mike:

(The Yamaha Underdog)

[jwatson364]

i got a denon 1508 and i love it so far!!! bestbuy 350 retail, got mine for like 275 on sale few months back...its in the magnolia section of the store, so it must be good right???

[Hifi jim]

I like Yamaha too. The RX-v663 can be had for under $400 on eBay, new and shipped. It has the two HDMI inputs and decodes the new codecs too. The UK publication What Hi*Fi? loves the Yamaha line and as an owner of an RX-v receiver I can agree.