What to look for in an AV receiver
Discussion
I've had a 2004-era TEAC AG-5D receiver providing sound for my TV for 20-odd years, but it has finally packed up and won't switch on.
So I need to source a replacement. Budget isn't much, so it'll be secondhand.
It's a pretty simple setup at the moment.
A Panasonic plasma TV, connected to the amp via an optical cable (the amp is too old to have HDMI sockets). Rear surround speakers. Centre speaker, Front speaker outputs go to a Yamaha active sub, and then on to the front speakers themselves. Blue ray player connects to the TV via HDMI, as does the Amazon Firestick.
Then for audio, there is a Pioneer CD player connected by RCA, and a NAD turntable connected via a pre-amp and RCA.
Obviously technology has marched on since my last purchase, and there is a sea of new acronyms that I know nothing about. So the question is, what tech or connectivity is essential, and which can be safely ignored? Should i bestringing everything via HDMI now? Do i need Atmos/DTS/Dolby Vision, or is my other kit all too old to actually make use of any of that stuff?
So I need to source a replacement. Budget isn't much, so it'll be secondhand.
It's a pretty simple setup at the moment.
A Panasonic plasma TV, connected to the amp via an optical cable (the amp is too old to have HDMI sockets). Rear surround speakers. Centre speaker, Front speaker outputs go to a Yamaha active sub, and then on to the front speakers themselves. Blue ray player connects to the TV via HDMI, as does the Amazon Firestick.
Then for audio, there is a Pioneer CD player connected by RCA, and a NAD turntable connected via a pre-amp and RCA.
Obviously technology has marched on since my last purchase, and there is a sea of new acronyms that I know nothing about. So the question is, what tech or connectivity is essential, and which can be safely ignored? Should i bestringing everything via HDMI now? Do i need Atmos/DTS/Dolby Vision, or is my other kit all too old to actually make use of any of that stuff?
Just go for one of the main brands such as Denon and Yamaha and google reviews based on what you find on ebay.
There's nothing else you would benefit from in terms of tech ... HDMI arc is probably all an AVR will have extra but as you're using a plasma TV, it won't have this feature anyway.
Generally most systems will have sources connected via HDMI and then HDMI from AVR to TV ... in your case, I'd suggest you stick with optical from TV to AVR.
There's nothing else you would benefit from in terms of tech ... HDMI arc is probably all an AVR will have extra but as you're using a plasma TV, it won't have this feature anyway.
Generally most systems will have sources connected via HDMI and then HDMI from AVR to TV ... in your case, I'd suggest you stick with optical from TV to AVR.
Assuming your TV has HDMI connectivity but isn't 4k then something like this is all you need.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/188737501351?_skw=denon...
- Note to add this is not my listing, just the first one I found on ebay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/188737501351?_skw=denon...
- Note to add this is not my listing, just the first one I found on ebay
My main requirement beyond the right number of HDMI/etc was a compressor to try and deal with modern cinema habit of having really quiet vocal and very loud effects. I think Denon call it dynamic compression.
Volume Normalisation is similar but seems to be more about having the same output volume for different inputs, mines not got that but would be interested in having that too next time I change.
Volume Normalisation is similar but seems to be more about having the same output volume for different inputs, mines not got that but would be interested in having that too next time I change.
I'd start at around a Denon avr-x3500H level (my latest amp) . At that "entry point" you get all you need including a phono stage. The lower models omit the phono.
I'd go second hand, unless you like a shock - the AVR market has changed from good value to "cash in on the few without soundbars".
I'd go second hand, unless you like a shock - the AVR market has changed from good value to "cash in on the few without soundbars".
wombleh said:
My main requirement beyond the right number of HDMI/etc was a compressor to try and deal with modern cinema habit of having really quiet vocal and very loud effects. I think Denon call it dynamic compression.
Volume Normalisation is similar but seems to be more about having the same output volume for different inputs, mines not got that but would be interested in having that too next time I change.
apple tv has a button to fix low vocal channelVolume Normalisation is similar but seems to be more about having the same output volume for different inputs, mines not got that but would be interested in having that too next time I change.
dolby digital/atmos sources seam to suffer less from this
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