Budget AV Receivers: Onkyo vs. Denon vs. Yamaha vs. Pioneer vs. Sony

[admin_exported]

So, who is the king of the hill? The Onkyo 606?

BTW, any idea on when there will be more news on the other Onkyo models? I saw an announcement on the 706 and 806 but nothing on the 876 or 906 yet...

 

[Clare Newsome]

You've not seen the new issue, then?

 

[Anonymous]

Not yet . . . but am dying to find out the results. ;-)

My B&W MT-30s are still "ampless" at the moment.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Out today, all good newsagents and supermarkets, etc..

 

[Anonymous]

I was about to buy the Onkyo 606 and then read your review of the new Sony 820. Out next week?

I have a Sony KDL40W2000 and have just added a RDR-HXD1095. I thought it might make the number of remotes needed less if the Bravia link works through HDMI and with the TV.

I have just loaded all my music and photos on to the DVD player as it will also be used to play music. What a pain it was having to convert all the Apple lossless files in itunes to mp3.

The TV, DVD recorder and new amp will obviously all link together with HDMI cables BUT the main viwing source is Sky+.

What is the best way to link this in? I'd like to get rid of the scart lead to the TV. Is the S-video output any good?

Also can anyone help with the best way to route the ariels. Looking at the Sky, TV and DVD manuals all suggest different configurations. Is there any way of getting the DVD output to the second TV which is attached to the 2nd output and uses a TV-link.

Help please

Stevo1450

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:Out today, all good newsagents and supermarkets, etc..

Just spent my hard earned cash and got my hands on the current issue! I'm glad to see Denon coming back strongly against the Onkyo. Finally, a Winner that looks nicer than Onkyo's ugly designs.

How about a Group Test comparing the Onkyo 875 vs. Denon 3808 and Yamaya 1800, pleassseeeeeeeeeee???

 

[Andrew Everard]

seakingadvice:How about a Group Test comparing the Onkyo 875 vs. Denon 3808 and Yamaya 1800, pleassseeeeeeeeeee???

It's not terribly likely, given that the 875 seems to be on its way out.

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:
seakingadvice:How about a Group Test comparing the Onkyo 875 vs. Denon 3808 and Yamaya 1800, pleassseeeeeeeeeee???

It's not terribly likely, given that the 875 seems to be on its way out.

How would you know that the 875 is on it's way out? ;-)

I suspect that Onkyo is trying to milk the 875 given that it's main rivals Denon and Yamaha are not launching anything in that price range anytime soon. But given that their 606 has just been beaten, I think it would be better for them to launch the 876 now and have a head start for a few months before new Denons and Yamahas come out.

It would be interesting to see if sales of the Onkyo 606 drop now that the Denon 1909 is here!

More competition is good for us consumers!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Stevo1450:
I was about to buy the Onkyo 606 and then read your review of the new Sony 820. Out next week?

I have a Sony KDL40W2000 and have just added a RDR-HXD1095. I thought it might make the number of remotes needed less if the Bravia link works through HDMI and with the TV.

I have just loaded all my music and photos on to the DVD player as it will also be used to play music. What a pain it was having to convert all the Apple lossless files in itunes to mp3.

The TV, DVD recorder and new amp will obviously all link together with HDMI cables BUT the main viwing source is Sky+.

What is the best way to link this in? I'd like to get rid of the scart lead to the TV. Is the S-video output any good?

Also can anyone help with the best way to route the ariels. Looking at the Sky, TV and DVD manuals all suggest different configurations. Is there any way of getting the DVD output to the second TV which is attached to the 2nd output and uses a TV-link.

Help please

Stevo1450

Your best bet is to use s-video (the receiver does not have scart) from Sky + box to your receiver which will upconvert the signal to hdmi which your receiver will be connected to your LCD with. You can then have just one hdmi cable from screen to receiver and then hdmi from dvd player to receiver, and s-video from Sky box to receiver.

I don't know about aerials.... over to the prof.....