no1lives4ever
Active Member
acoustics & no1livesforever,
thanks for a detailed discussion on this topic.... i've got a learn a lot with the same. Although i guess we have still not reached a conclusion as to whether DTS HD MA sounds way better than DTS Core ( both found on same Bluray Disc ) there is something else which i'd like to ask here....
My AVR is 6 yrs old and i guess it's accurate to say that the RX V450 when it was sold new in 2005 must have been in the "entry level" range.
So keeping the DTS HD MA vs. DTS Core discussion aside for a moment, would it make a huge/significant difference to general performance if i simply got one of the newer "middle level" models like the RX V 2067 ?
I mean will the RX V 2067 ( or a equivalent "middle range avr" from another brand like say maybe NAD T747, Onkyo 808 etc ) make a significant improvement which i can hear over my current ageing RX V450 ?
If the answer to above is a Empathetic/Resounding "Yes".... then it makes sense for me to get a new AVR and by default that will also give me hdmi, hd audio decoding, auto room calibaration etc.
But it the answer is "No" then i might as well stick to my RX V450 which i believe can atleast decode "DTS Core" via optical cable from a bluray player. ( is that correct ? )
A midrange AVR like the Yamaha RX V2067, NAD T 747, Onkyo 808 etc will cost me at least in the region of about 70k to 80k.
So does 70k to 80k brings me a Huge jump in sound quality over my RX V450 ?
I have a simple solution. Talk to a few dealers and ask for an audition of a BluRay player + a modern AVR at your home. Or else carry your AVR and do a preliminary set of auditions. That will answer your queries. I would also suggest that you look at a cheaper level of AVRs like the Denon 1911/2311, Onkyo 608/609, etc in addition to the mid levels ones you state.
To me it seems like you are looking at a reason to upgrade your AVR and you should in theory get better quality sound output from a more modern AVR.
IMO one thing with modern AVRs is the addition of room correction technology like Audyssey. Audyssey can make setting up and tuning a 5.1 AVR significantly easier. It does wonders in a typical untreated living room or bedroom. Do not discount this feature when looking at new AVRs. After using the Audyssey in my 1910, I will not get any AVR w/o auto room correction. That is unless I set up a home theater in a special room with proper acoustic treatment. This is also one feature that is very difficult to audition outside your home.
Do note that over the years, most manufacturers have been guilty of decreasing the overall quality of their AVRs, so your entry level Yamaha AVR from 6 years back may have better quality than the current generation AVRs of similar type.
-- no1lives4ever