Audio

Current preferred setup

Yamaha v765 or Denon 789

KEF IQ series

Required receiver features

• HDMI 1.3a with audio processing (not just pass through)
• Dynamic volume (commercials, different channels with different levels)

Should have?

• XV/deep colour
• 120hz pass through

Nice to have

• Starts up at set-able volume
• Auto set up (YPAO, etc)
• 5.1 analog input
• Front HDMI connection
• USB audio (for ipod/storage/etc).
• OSD
• Smaller cabinet
• Non VFD display (sheesh)
• Low power on standby
• Compressed (mp3) music enhancer
• Good universal remote with backlighting
• Nice appearance (least like Pioneer's shiny plastic or Denon's weird curves, they all have too many buttons)
• Convert analog video to hdmi (decreasingly important but would require getting a new disc player)

Feature analysis

from http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1122166&page=2

Be careful with receivers that use Audyssey because there are several different levels: http://www.audyssey.com/technology/multEQ_products.html. Low-cost receivers may only have Audyssey 2EQ, which doesn't EQ the subwoofer at all. MultEQ and MultEQ XT are usually only on higher end products. Also, as soon as you want to make any manual adjustments to the EQ, Audyssey is turned off and you just get the same kind of parametric EQ that Yamaha uses.

Receiver

Pioneer

VSX-819H - no initial volume control. OSD only via component or composite. Sheesh.

Has USB in.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10123899&catid=20313

http://www.hd.ca/pioneerreceivers/vsx919ahk.php

Yamaha

Why does the 365 have some features the higher priced 465 doesn't? Are they mad?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10168346-1.html

Onkyo TX-SR307

http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TX-SR307&class=Receiver&p=i

Overview of Onkyo 2009: http://reviews.cnet.com/av-receivers/onkyo-tx-sr507-black/4505-6466_7-33553552.html?tag=mncol;txt

• Audyssey Dynamic Volume
• Decent reviews
• "Warmer sound" than Denon
• Available in silver
• Smaller cabinet size
• $300 list

Denon 505

Overview of 2009 Denon: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10237889-1.html

• Audyssey Dynamic Volume
• OSD
• $350 list

Retailers: http://ca.denon.com/DealerLocator.asp?selstate=QC

Speakers

KEF fivetwo 11

Discontinued! And they never replied to my email.

http://www2.kef.com/ca/SurroundSound/FiveTwo/model11 , http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9682390-1.html

Very good stereo audio, decent surround (no real "rears")

Does it require four walls?

Retailers: http://www.digitalcraze.com/content.asp?ContentID=4 (US) , http://www.audiovillemtl.com/html/contact.html

Panel mount

In wall: http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/furniture/speaker-and-display-mounts/peerless-im760pu-in-wall-mount

Maximize your flat panel experience by installing it truly flat against the wall with the industry’s first universal in-wall mounting solution for up to 60" screens. Installation is quick and easy thanks to the mounts self-locating tabs that center the in-wall box snugly between standard 16" wood stud centers. View the flat panel screen in its no-profile home position, or extend the arm over 19" to watch it virtually anywhere else within the room.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/furniture/speaker-and-display-mounts/peerless-im760pu-in-wall-mount lists shops selling it for $340 US