Compact/Slimline AV Reciever advice wanted

[admin_exported]

All my Sound and Video comes from a single HTPC, I built this to be small and really don't want to have a great big AV receiver, all the "standard" size ones seem massive to me which mainly seems to be due to the vast number of inputs and outputs, since I only need 1 input most of these seem redundant and simply a waste of space.

My current amplifier is an ancient QED A230S a great little amp in its day but in need of an upgrade, plus I want to get away from using the onboard DAC in my HTPC.

My requirements are pretty simple (I think)

1) at least 1xHDMI input for min Dolby 5.1 sound & 1080p video

2) at least 1xHDMI output to go to the TV

3) Ability to run as 2.1 channel (at the moment I only have 2 fronts & sub but plan to upgrade at some point in the future)

4) Budget circa £500

5) Most importantly this must be small, I really can't emphasize this enough - my current amp is 60mm High by 340mm wide and I really want something of a similar size.

6) Oh yes and ideally available in black.

I've looked all over and there doesn't seem to be anything to fit the bill.

Can anyone help? does such a device even exist?

 

[chudleighpaul]

I think you will struggle to find an av amp that is only 34 cm wide.

 

[laserman16]

Likewise one that is 60mm high.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Bit tricky cramming five channels of decent power amplification, surround processing and so on into so small a space

 

[laserman16]

Yes, might create a bit of a heat problem.

 

[Andrew Everard]

I guess it might just be feasible using digital amplification, but AFAIK no-one's tried it yet. There's also the more prosaic problem of having enough rear-panel real-estate to fit in all the connections an AV amp demands...

 

[Frank Harvey]

As far as slimline AV amps go, there's not many on the market. Marantz have the NR1501, which is an excellent amp, but it is full hi-fi width. If something was any thinner widthwise than this, it would have to be taller. So you're going to be limited.

The only other thing I can think of is the new Denon S5BD, which is an all in one, Hi-Def 5.1 receiver and Bluray player, which is 365mm wide and 119mm high, and can be used in 2.1 or 5.1 configuration. But, it's outside your budget.

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

I can't think of anything that will do what you ask. How long is it going to be until you upgrade to 5.1? If it is a long way off then a 2.1 system could work.

As an option you could run the PC to the TV directly - no need to run through an amp with only one source. For sound a digital output from your PC could run to a Harman Kardon MAS110 if you set your sound card to output 2.0. You could then run speaker level output to your sub.

You may find an older unit from the likes of TEAC that will do something similar.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm. I think the Marantz NR1501 is looking like the only remotely suitable option at the moment. This is a fairly new Amp which from what I have read is proving to be a bit of a hit. Makes me think there is a market for smaller footprint AV Receivers and that technology is comming on line that will enable it. So I am probably going to leave it a bit and see if some more players come on to the market - after all I've waited 20 years to change my Amp another 6 months to a year wont hurt. For now I've decided to replace my also ageing Wharfdale Diamond IV speakers with some Q Acoustic 2010's which I hope will freshen the sound some.

Thanks for everyones thoughts.