Audio
Current preferred setup
Yamaha v765 or H-K 254
They both have virtual 5.1 on headphones.
SILENT CINEMA makes it possible to hear large-scale surround sound through ordinary headphones! This is a variation of CINEMA DSP technology that Yamaha developed to let you listen in private to movies and other multi-channel sources for hours without listening fatigue.
DO WANT its what audio has become
Yamaha promises feature rich, HK is promising faithfulness in basic features. HK waits two years between cycles. Even though some people think Yamaha appearance is cheap, I like them both compared to other brands including Denon, Onkyo, Sony, etc. They have a simple streamlined design, HK emphasizes through obscurity, Yamaha through dynasty, the angle somehow emphasizes the display vs control function.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16125045
Yamaha has pre-outs. This is huge if you ever want to step up to a power amps. I have a power amp for my mains, so this completely ruled out the 1909 and 2309 for that matter.
The 65 series Yamahas have a very nice feature called HDMI pass through, so you can still send the signal from your set top box or bluray player to your TV without turning on the receiver. I love this idea, as sometimes the TV speakers are good enough, and don't need to waste the power.
(2009 Denon models have this feature too).
"The drawback of Yamaha's YPAO is it only optimizes listening for one position."
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)
- volume scale starts at 0
- nameable inputs
- assignable audio/video combinations
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.
...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1122166&page=9
Also, I think the YAPO sounds better than Audsssey. I felt that the Audssey bloated the midrange and made voices sound to bassy.
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
V365 has no audio for HDMI.
V665 has audio pass-through while in standby. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1122166&page=9
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
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