Upgrade time-Which receiver should i buy? Onkyo TX-SR605/606 or Sony STR-DA1200ES?

[admin_exported]

I am currently running the Acoustic Energy Evo 3 speaker package ( Floorstanders to front and bookshelves to rear, centre and sub) ; Denon AVR-2105 receiver ; Sky-HD ; Pioneer DV575A dvd player and Panasonic Viera 37" plasma. My system is getting a little dated now and I would like to upgrade. I intend on purchasing a Blu-ray player but firstly I would like to upgrade my receiver.As many people these days I don’t have the space to run two separate systems, for movies and music, as such I am looking for a receiver that sounds as good with movies as it does with music. (If that’s possible?) I know that everybody is raving about the new Onkyo TX range I’m considering the 605 or 606 but I have not read any reviews where it stands up well with music as well as movies. Would I be wiser to consider the Sony STR-DA1200ES? Or should I be looking at something else? My budget is only £400I am aware that the Onkyo 605 has only 2 HDMI inputs whereas the 606 has 4 but I am not into gaming and wouldn't require the additional inputs at this time. Would the Onkyo be able to upscale the image from my current DVD player? The best output it has is optical.Any advice would be greatly appreciated, many thanks.

 

[matengawhat]

Only thing i would say is that the Sony can not handle HD sound over HDMI but the Onkyo will - if you are buying a Blu-ray player further down the line, if you go for the Sony you will have to make sure the BP outputs HD sound via a full set of outputs not just the HDMI - for example the PS3 can only send via HDMI so would not work with the Sony for HD sound formats - as for music the onkyo sound a little bright in that department but depends on personal taste. The sony is an old machine so you should be able to get it for about half the price of the Onkyo kit. I think from memory the Onkyo will upscale to 720p/1080i but please check for def the Sony won't.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

[quote user="matengawhat"]Only thing i would say is that the Sony can not handle HD sound over HDMI but the Onkyo will - if you are buying a Blu-ray player further down the line, if you go for the Sony you will have to make sure the BP outputs HD sound via a full set of outputs not just the HDMI - for example the PS3 can only send via HDMI so would not work with the Sony for HD sound formats - as for music the onkyo sound a little bright in that department but depends on personal taste. The sony is an old machine so you should be able to get it for about half the price of the Onkyo kit. I think from memory the Onkyo will upscale to 720p/1080i but please check for def the Sony won't.[/quote] Neither machine upscales image. I have the Sony and it's great but I've not heard the Onkyo in action. I will upgrade soon as I want to get into the Bluray world and would prefer to spend less on a BD player (which will probably mean one that cannot decode HD audio itself) and therefore will need a receiver that will do all the work.

 

[matengawhat]

Sorry I should have said i also have the Sony, i have just upgraded to an Onkyo 805 should arrive tomorrow - it is a good machine if you don't need the HDMI for HD audio and its not bad in stereo either.

 

[professorhat]

For a more musical amp, I'd audition the Marantz SR4002. Unfortunately, when going for a good balance between music and movies, you are likely to have to compromise the sounds of both at this budget level.

By the way, the Onkyo 606 will upscale the picture from standard def inputs to 1080i and output via the HDMI socket.

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="matengawhat"]Sorry I should have said i also have the Sony, i have just upgraded to an Onkyo 805 should arrive tomorrow - it is a good machine if you don't need the HDMI for HD audio and its not bad in stereo either.[/quote]

Hi

Maybe you could offer your old sony unit to the OP ?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for getting back to me so soon and the sound advice.

I am interested in the HD sound and as such i think i will need to look more closely at the Onkyo 606. But i will also keep the marantz in mind. I will contact my local dealer for a sound test.

I know that recievers cant provide the best of both worlds, i'll just have to hear which one performs best.

 

[professorhat]

[quote user="nelly2058"]I will contact my local dealer for a sound test.[/quote]
Definitely the best thing you can do.