Onkyo HT-SR800 or TX-SR605 + SKS-HT740

[saregamapa]

I am located in Chennai. I would like to get my first ever Home Theatre system, for music about 50% of the time and DVD/DTH for rest of the time. My budget is Rs.40K max. After looking around, I am thinking of going for one of the following:

Onkyo HT-SR800 HTiB, OR
Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver + SKS-HT740 Speakers

I almost decided on SR800, but am hesitating after finding it has the following drawbacks:
1) No video upconversion
2) No audio passthrough via HDMI output
The above drawbacks are a major inconvenience in my opinion. (Although you can argue that's what you will get for that price.)

My questions to this knowledgeable group:
a) Which one do you suggest I go for?
b) I expect SR800 to fit within my budget of Rs.40k, not sure about SR605 + HT740. Any idea about this combination's cost?
c) Do you think the above drawbacks of SR800 make it less attractive of the two?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[nitinbose]

Hi,
My personal opinion is to go for HT-SR800. The only drawback is the lack of HDMI interfaces. Ask yourself the big question: Am I going to use HDMI right away?

According to me, HDMI will be popular in a couple of years to come-by, when blu-ray players would be more common.

However, the blu-ray players will also have its own HDMI interfaces, so why should one opt for the a/v receiver with HDMI? You would still require a minimum of two connections in either case. IF you're worried about the audion quality, then consider pulling the audion from the optical interface of the blu-ray player!

So, I would suggest you the ht-sr800 and save some bucks.

Thanks,

Nitin.