Receiver to replace something old - Approx. £500 max

stoofa

stoofa

stoofa

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Don't know if this will be possible, but here goes.
Currently have an old Onkyo HT-R548. Has been doing exactly what I want it to do in a 5.1 setup.
However, on checking the full specification of the receiver it has HDMI 1.3 (I believe) and under "HDTV Capable" it actually says 720p/1080i
As per my other thread I am looking to purchase a UHD TV soon and I cannot help feel that the receiver will need replacing.
I've managed to find an old link showing it's full specification:

http://www.ambertech.com.au/solutio...oducts/onkyo-ht-r548-5.1-3d-ready-av-receiver

So anyway, I need nothing special. My speakers are a quite standard 5.1 setup (Onkyo sub & satellites that were supplied with this receiver) and I've got no intention of upgrading from these. I don't demand the best, I just like having surround sound.

I really don't want to be spending more than £500 on a new receiver as I simply don't demand the quality more expensive units offer.
It does need to be fully UHD compatible, so I'm assuming that means HDMI 2.0. Other than that, I've not had the likes of Dolby Atmos in the past and whereas I'm sure it is amazing, I won't miss what I've never had (although I note this is a feature on lower end units anyway).
The Onkyo units seem quite expensive, Yamaha & Denon appear at a more sensible price. Any recommendations with this in mind?

Thanks all.
Should be my last thread - got one on TV's and one on wall mounting, this should be the last advice I need for the current time :)
 
If you like your existing Onkyo, I would stick with them and just get a newer model

https://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/onkyo/txnr656/onky-txnr656-blk

for £379 would seem to do everything you need and more (including 4K upscaling).

Don't think there really is a lot in it price wise against Denon & Yamaha - certainly not enough to sway my purchasing decision if I was already happy with a certain brand.
 
there are new formats coming out and new AVR's as well

https://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/yamaha/rxv683/yama-rxv683-blk

this hasn't been released yet. i'd personally wait the 7 days or so until it is. it has dolby vision, etc which none of last years models have.

Stock due mid-June - Pre-order now!

Compatible with everything from your turntable to an HDR UHD Blu-ray player, the Yamaha RXV683 is an AVR hub that will handle it all.

Designed for a UHD 4K future
With six HDMI sockets, including one at the front, the RXV683 has fifty percent more inputs than the models below. For full compatibility with the exciting new UHD Blu-ray format, three of them are compatible with HDR Video including Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma, and BT.2020.

Perfect for your audio sources - including your turntable
Audio inputs include an MM phono connection for your turntable as well as three RCA phono inputs at the back for a CD player and other music sources. At the front there's a 3.5mm input that's ideal for an MP3 player. A USB socket is also at hand for connecting your USB media stick and playing back digital music files.

A new dimension in sound with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Dolby Atmos uses ceiling or upwards firing speakers to produce a multi-dimensional, immersive sound that's a match for the finest cinemas. DTS:X literally pushes the boundaries of what you can expect from home cinema. It renders images in three dimensions that conventional processing can't match. It also easily adapts with your existing speaker configuration.

Hi-Res Audio playback
At the heart of the Yamaha's digital processing are top quality Burr Brown DACs (Digital to Analogue Convertor). These not only provide punchy and lifelike sound but also facilitate the playback of High Resolution audio formats. The RXV683 is compatible with a wide range of HD audio formats, including DSD 5.6 MHz and FLAC 192kHz-24-bit for exceptional sound quality.

YPAO-R.S.C for optimal sound in your room
YPAO-R.S.C. stands for Reflected Sound Control and adapts the RXV683 to get the very best sound quality in your room. By measuring reflected sound it can make corrections via the DSP (Digital Sound Processor) to make sure the sound is as natural as possible. Even better, all this is done at the touch of a button and takes no extra effort to achieve.

UHD 4K Upscaling
Another great feature with the RXV683 is HDMI and UHD 4K upscaling. This means that, once plugged into your UHD 4K TV, Blu-rays and 1080p games can be upscaled to 4K UHD resolution, giving sharper more detailed pictures. HDMI upscaling means that sources connected via component or composite, such as older DVD players or games consoles can be outputted by the single HDMI output.

Stream the best music services
Compatible with Spotify, Pandora, Napster, Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz, the RXV683 is fully equipped for your favourite music streaming service. With Tidal and Qobuz already offering higher resolution playback, it's now possible to find a streaming service that at least matches the quality of CD and, in some cases, even improves upon it.

MusicCast for music all around your home
The Yamaha RXV683 is part of Yamaha's hugely impressive network audio system, MusicCast. With MusicCast you can control all your compatible Yamaha MusicCast products via your smartphone or tablet. Play the same music on all the components or split the sound into different zones for different moods in each room; the choice is yours. The MusicCast CONTROLLER app lets you operate the system around your home and change settings quickly and easily.

Advanced networking including Apple AirPlay and Bluetooth
As well as MusicCast, the RXV683 also has built-in Apple AirPlay, letting you stream music from your Apple iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad or other compatible Apple device, wirelessly. You can also view data such as song title, artist name as well as album art* via the AV receiver's on-screen display. *Some models don't support album art display. If you use another brand of smartphone or tablet then you've also got Bluetooth, for easy music streaming from your portable device.

Wi-Fi, DLNA and a smart app for effortless streaming
Connecting to your home network is easy with built-in Wi-Fi. A DLNA certified connection also makes streaming a breeze. You can access your stored music from PC, laptop or NAS drive and listen to Internet radio stations. Another great feature is the downloadable Apple or Android app that lets you control many of the receiver's functions from your smartphone, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad or tablet.

With the ability to handle all your music and video sources, the Yamaha RXV683 is a true master of all.
 
Thank you for the suggestions. The Yamaha maybe a little on the rich side for me, although extremely impressive specifications.
The Denon I'd seen recommended elsewhere.
I have been very happy with the Onkyo - so it is a brand I'd be happy to purchase again.
Just found this one:
http://www.uk.onkyo.com/en/products/tx-nr555-129869.html
Available for £269 which appears to be able to offer everything I'd be looking for. Any reason that would not be a model to look at?

Thanks
 
stoofa said:
I have been very happy with the Onkyo - so it is a brand I'd be happy to purchase again.
Just found this one:
http://www.uk.onkyo.com/en/products/tx-nr555-129869.html
Available for £269 which appears to be able to offer everything I'd be looking for. Any reason that would not be a model to look at?
Click to expand...

Nope don't see why not - just missed it as I only looked on Richer Sounds site and guess it is a Superfi exclusive :)
http://www.superfi.co.uk/p-18013-onkyo-txnr555-home-cinema-receiver.aspx
 
Onkyo still apparently have the issue with HDMI board failing. We had 3 different generation Onkyo receivers that all had the HDMI board fail. Onkyo UK didn't give a toss.

Shame, I did like them. Sounded great and worked well. Ended up with a Yamaha 675 and it's been bulletproof for the last 3 years.
 
Are they still having issues?
I did some digging and found that models from 2009-2012 were plagued with issues. However I also see that Onkyo Europe offered a free collect, repair and return on models with the issue and also extended their warranty until December 2018.
If I google for Onkyo HDMI board failures I see plenty of posts up until around 2014 (when I presume the 2009-2012 models started failing) but then less talk about the issue.
Obviously genuinely interested if I'm considering a new one from them.
 
Why do you need to replace the receiver? Will you actually need to use the hdmi splitter for 4k devices? /are you planning to change speakers?

If the amp works fine and you have fairly cheap speakers i imagine it can't add much to the sound quality.

I say it only as food for thought, Im sure I will be told im wrong!
 
The speakers are nothing special, the sub, again came with the receiver as listed in the initial post.
I have read that you can use splitters for 4k devices. It's just I've got a receiver that is now rather old and designed for the days of 720p/1080i and I'm now, albeit, slowly moving over to something a little more modern.
I'm certainly not one to spend if I don't need to, but no splitters, something newer with newer features and designed with 4k in mind seems a sensible purchase. If it lasts only half as long as the existing receiver I'd say money well spent.
 
So chaps. Reading through the specifications, seeing what I need etc, it seems to be down to 3:

Onkyo TXNR555 - £269
Yamaha RXV581 - £299
Denon X2300W - £329

Seems the Denon is getting the most love here. But is it worth £60 over the Onkyo or £30 over the Yamaha?
 
Last edited:
OK, all sorted - thanks all for the input.
Richer had the Silver Yamaha RXV581 listed for £249 which I felt was a bargain. No stock, but some available at warehouse, so they are getting me one in for me to collect next weekend.
No bank breaking, but everything "neat & tidy" for my move into the world of UHD.
Ta
 
Denon gets a lot of love because it's cheap. It's also prone to running hot and a lot of users have modded theirs with a fan, etc.

I'd go with Yamaha. I know people with Yamaha amps that are 20 years old and still going strong.
 
stoofa said:
OK, all sorted - thanks all for the input.
Richer had the Silver Yamaha RXV581 listed for £249 which I felt was a bargain. No stock, but some available at warehouse, so they are getting me one in for me to collect next weekend.
No bank breaking, but everything "neat & tidy" for my move into the world of UHD.
Ta
Click to expand...

I have the 781. It's a brilliant amp. You won't be disappointed.
 
stoofa said:
OK, all sorted - thanks all for the input.
Richer had the Silver Yamaha RXV581 listed for £249 which I felt was a bargain. No stock, but some available at warehouse, so they are getting me one in for me to collect next weekend.
No bank breaking, but everything "neat & tidy" for my move into the world of UHD.
Ta
Click to expand...
seems a bargain :)
 
Psycho Sonny said:
Denon gets a lot of love because it's cheap. It's also prone to running hot and a lot of users have modded theirs with a fan, etc.
Click to expand...

Perhaps they have been in the past, but my Denon X1300W is barely warm to the touch even after several hours of usage (compared to the Sony 2400ES it replaced which you couldn't even touch).
 
Is the Richer "Supercare" as good as it sounds?
6 years of cover for £25, covers repairs, replacement if unable to repair etc. Then, at the end of 6 years, if I haven't had to use it I can get the whole amount back.
Seems a no-brainer?
 
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