Decent 5.1 AV receiver
- Thread starter dink
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It's difficult to buy a bad AV receiver now in the £200~£250 price range if you stick to the main brands. Unless you need something slim, then the pick of the bunch for me are the two Yamahas: RX-V575 and RX-V675, and the Sony STRDN1040.
Given that the 675 is on clearance and only £30 more than the 575, I think the 675 is a no-brainer. I like the fact it has video cross-conversion, so what you put in as composite or component gets converted to HDMI. This means just one video connection to the TV/monitor. I'm also a fan of front effects speakers.
The Sony is also on clearance and it trades multichannel presence speaker outputs of the Yamaha (7.1 + effects) for more HDMI inputs. It has 7 + 1 front HDMI versus Yamaha's 5 + 1 front.
Beyond that both amps offer pretty much the same range of features: ARC (Audio Return Channel); HDMI Standby pass-through (the last used HDMI gets routed to the display even when the amp is in standby); 4K scaling which is pretty pointless unless you have a 4K display that doesn't automatically scale non-4K inputs... as if; MHL support; internet radio and network features.
Given that the 675 is on clearance and only £30 more than the 575, I think the 675 is a no-brainer. I like the fact it has video cross-conversion, so what you put in as composite or component gets converted to HDMI. This means just one video connection to the TV/monitor. I'm also a fan of front effects speakers.
The Sony is also on clearance and it trades multichannel presence speaker outputs of the Yamaha (7.1 + effects) for more HDMI inputs. It has 7 + 1 front HDMI versus Yamaha's 5 + 1 front.
Beyond that both amps offer pretty much the same range of features: ARC (Audio Return Channel); HDMI Standby pass-through (the last used HDMI gets routed to the display even when the amp is in standby); 4K scaling which is pretty pointless unless you have a 4K display that doesn't automatically scale non-4K inputs... as if; MHL support; internet radio and network features.
Soldato
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Either PIONEER VSX329 for £199 with 1 year warranty or Yamaha RX-V500D for £209 with 3 years warranty.
Soldato
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You mean the VSX923? I bought one of those earlier in the year and it seems to work perfectly
It was 199 at Richer sounds 
Soldato
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Bought the older Pioneer VSX 922 last year for £220 inc 5 year warranty from Richer Sounds. Can'f fault it to be honest. Does a good job with my Monitor Audio BX5's. Was going to splash out a bit more for the midrange Yamaha's or Sony offering but thought it was a great price.
Soldato
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You mean the VSX923? I bought one of those earlier in the year and it seems to work perfectly
No I really mean VSX-329-K, currently listed as new on Pioneer site. Funny it now cost £199 at Richer Sounds, it was £249. You bought better spec VSX923 for £199 earlier in 2014 but surprised it was been discontinued.
Been replaced by the VSX924. Sooner or later this model will be the same price as the 923.
I think you're nuts to overlook the Sony and Yamaha for the sake of £50 in the 323, particularly given the comparative reviews on its bigger sibling the 528. But each to their own. You might not use the extra features immediately. But at some time in the future.....
I do quite fancy the Sony looks really nice and 8 HDMI inputs, although having trouble locating one for that price, found it for 500 online on amazon or 250 inshore at Richer Sounds although no stock around where I live, its a present from my girlfriend so would need to be easy for her to pick it up or get it delivered at a reasonable cost.
Thought I'd update this now it's all set up, went for the Yamaha RXV477, with Tannoy HTS101 5.1 speakers and Cambridge audio symphony 300 speaker cable and oh my word I'm absolutely blown away! Coming from a Samsung all in one unit to this is pretty much night and day, I had no idea how good a sound system could sound!
But annoyingly when setting up the banana plugs didn't fit in the back, reading up on it it seems certain European models have smaller holes in the back to stop banana plugs being used, so spent quite a while fiddling about wiring it all up. Everything just sounds, and in a weird way looks just so much better.
Anyway I'll leave thanks here for the help in not only this thread but two others re cables and speakers.
But annoyingly when setting up the banana plugs didn't fit in the back, reading up on it it seems certain European models have smaller holes in the back to stop banana plugs being used, so spent quite a while fiddling about wiring it all up. Everything just sounds, and in a weird way looks just so much better.
Anyway I'll leave thanks here for the help in not only this thread but two others re cables and speakers.