AVR - Few basic questions

[AMITNOIDA]

I have recently purchased Sony BDP S370. It has 2.0 channel sound out and has digital co-axial & optical out also. Presently I am using my 2.0 channel Music set-up for it's audio.

I am thinking to purchase a 5.1 channel AVR. But will my BDP be able to satisfy the basic requirement of a 5.1 AVR or I have to replace the BDP with one which has 5.1 output?

If my current BDP is possible to use with 5.1 AVR, what should I look for while selecting the AVR and what should be the best connectivity between BDP and AVR? I will use the AVR for 100% movie only.

For helping you guys for giving suggestion I like to give the following information:

1) My room size is 14 x 11.5 ft (room treatment is not planned)
2) My TV is 40" LED (viewing distance 8-9 ft)
3) I will use Sony BDP S370 and also my desktop (with Asus Xonar Essence 2.0 soundcard) as source.
4) My budget for AVR is flexible.
5) I have not yet decided on speakers

Need your advise please. You may suggest AVR and speakers also.

 

[amateur]

I have recently purchased Sony BDP S370. It has 2.0 channel sound out and has digital co-axial & optical out also. Presently I am using my 2.0 channel Music set-up for it's audio.

I am thinking to purchase a 5.1 channel AVR. But will my BDP be able to satisfy the basic requirement of a 5.1 AVR or I have to replace the BDP with one which has 5.1 output?

If my current BDP is possible to use with 5.1 AVR, what should I look for while selecting the AVR and what should be the best connectivity between BDP and AVR? I will use the AVR for 100% movie only.

For helping you guys for giving suggestion I like to give the following information:

1) My room size is 14 x 11.5 ft (room treatment is not planned)
2) My TV is 40" LED (viewing distance 8-9 ft)
3) I will use Sony BDP S370 and also my desktop (with Asus Xonar Essence 2.0 soundcard) as source.
4) My budget for AVR is flexible.
5) I have not yet decided on speakers

Need your advise please. You may suggest AVR and speakers also.

Hi,

Sony BDP s370 which is around 10K has HDMI connectivity - all you need is one HDMI cable to connect to your AVR , from AVR you can take HDMI out to connect to your TV. AVR will have the ports to connect the speakers - it's as simple as that. For your room size, entry level AVRs should be ok - such as Denon 1311 or 1611 - 1611 should be more than enough

Sony BDP is the source here
AVR - receives the video and audio using the single HDMI cable
AVR has ports for speaker connectivity - depending on how many channels you are going to connect to AVR, things will work fine.

 

[NetFreak]

Given that it has Optical and Coax outputs, it will be able to send 5.1 audio to AVR.

 

[venkatcr]

If my current BDP is possible to use with 5.1 AVR, what should I look for while selecting the AVR and what should be the best connectivity between BDP and AVR? I will use the AVR for 100% movie only.

For helping you guys for giving suggestion I like to give the following information:

1) My room size is 14 x 11.5 ft (room treatment is not planned)
2) My TV is 40" LED (viewing distance 8-9 ft)
3) I will use Sony BDP S370 and also my desktop (with Asus Xonar Essence 2.0 soundcard) as source.
4) My budget for AVR is flexible.
5) I have not yet decided on speakers

Amit, all BDPs support full 7.1 output through HDMI. That is the best connection to use for movies.

Though you room size may be small, and since you are not planning for room treatment, I would suggest you avoid entry level AVRs. I have seen entry level models such as 1311 and 1611 struggling to drive speakers. The only time they work decently is when you connect them to tiny satellite speakers.

Though you may currently be interested only in an 5.1, see if you can go in for a 7.1 receiver. 5.1 receivers, though inexpensive, lack a number of features such as Audessey setting, and more importantly power. An AVR needs ample power reserve as movies make a huge demand for sudden spikes in power.

You can also connect all your two channel sources using Front L&R In of the AVR and setting it to Stereo or Pure Direct Mode. Before you shout, 'What? Use an AVR for music?', I would suggest you do listen to a good AVR playing music and decide whether that is good for you.

If you want only movies, AVR from Yamaha and Onlyo will work fine. Denon will add a little bit of warmth for music. At the higher end NAD, Arcam, and Anthem make superb AVRs that can be the center of your AV system for a few years and keep you happy for both music and movies. Of course, these units cost a pretty paisa.

Look for an unit that can deliver 100 watts per channel at the minimum.

Cheers

 

[amateur]

Amit, all BDPs support full 7.1 output through HDMI. That is the best connection to use for movies.

Though you room size may be small, and since you are not planning for room treatment, I would suggest you avoid entry level AVRs. I have seen entry level models such as 1311 and 1611 struggling to drive speakers. The only time they work decently is when you connect them to tiny satellite speakers.

Though you may currently be interested only in an 5.1, see if you can go in for a 7.1 receiver. 5.1 receivers, though inexpensive, lack a number of features such as Audessey setting, and more importantly power. An AVR needs ample power reserve as movies make a huge demand for sudden spikes in power.

You can also connect all your two channel sources using Front L&R In of the AVR and setting it to Stereo or Pure Direct Mode. Before you shout, 'What? Use an AVR for music?', I would suggest you do listen to a good AVR playing music and decide whether that is good for you.

If you want only movies, AVR from Yamaha and Onlyo will work fine. Denon will add a little bit of warmth for music. At the higher end NAD, Arcam, and Anthem make superb AVRs that can be the center of your AV system for a few years and keep you happy for both music and movies. Of course, these units cost a pretty paisa.

Look for an unit that can deliver 100 watts per channel at the minimum.

Cheers

For the room size, isn't denon 1611 power enough ? won't it not overwhelm the room already ? just thought why a denon 1910 for example will be needed for such a small room. how do we find that the amp is not performing for the sudden power hungry scene of a movie, etc ? how do we feel it ? for that room size, may be 1311 is not ok, but 1611 should be definitely ok in my humble opinion -

 

[venkatcr]

Though room size is important, there are lots of other factors such as speaker efficiency, room acoustics, sound loudness that matter. And room size is not just length and breadth. You have to consider the volume of the room with the height.

Speaker efficiency matter a lot. That is where, unless you pair them well, I have seen both 1311 and 1611 fail. BTW, they both have the same power output of 75 watts into 8 ohms.

In terms of reserve power, to deliver some 70-75dB of SPL at around 8 feet, the 1311/1611 have both to be driven at nearly 75% of their capacity if you need to hear the dialogues clearly. When you are doing this, and there is sudden explosive sound, both these amps do not have enough extra power to deliver the sound stage needed. As I said, the only way these amps work well is when they drive speakers with an efficiency of around 90dB and a max power handling capacity of around 60 odd watts.

Cheers

 

[Lakozy Electronics]

. At the higher end NAD, Arcam, and Anthem make superb AVRs that can be the center of your AV system for a few years and keep you happy for both music and movies. Of course, these units cost a pretty paisa.
Look for an unit that can deliver 100 watts per channel at the minimum.

Cheers

Amitji, please allow me to give you a demo of NAD T747 and Alpha HT1 satellite / Bookshelf based B5 or B6 / Alpha T1 tower - just to suggest a few options. Ofcourse if you indicate your budget, it would be better.

By the books, this NAD is only 60Watts. But, these are NAD watts. It can handle a lot more than the specs suggest.


Ashish

 

[avidyarthy]

My 5.1 AVR has the following specs on audio (this obtained from the instruction manual).

FTC power output
- Stereo, 65 W x 2 (20 hz to 20 khz, 8 ohm, 0.2%)

Rated power output (Front, Centre, Surround)
- 125 W per channel (1 khz, 6 ohm, 1%)

Maximum power output (Front, Centre, Surround)
- 150 W per channel (1 khz, 6 ohm, 10%)

Total harmonic distortion
- 0.06% (20 hz to 20 khz, 8 ohm, 85 W/ch)

This AVR feeds to satellite speakers and a sub-woofer (make - Wharfedale MS 70+). My room dimension is 15' x 11' x 10'.

Reproduction of sound is very good for music on stereo mode and quite good for movies, since I feel, the sub-woofer is a tad weak.

Need suggestions in the forum to 'translate' the above specs .... as to whether the specs are in line to the desired. This could help newbies to select suitable equipment.

 

[NetFreak]

This is basically a 50W per channel AVR. Specs have been quoted in a way that makes it look more powerful.

E.g. :
Power output is specified at 6 Ohms (Instead of 8)
Power output is defined for only 1 KHz (Instead of full range like 25 Hz to 20 KHz).