Upgrading my AV Reciever Questions

Skramit · 26th December 2011, 10:21 AM

Hi Guru's.

I have a Denon AVR 1707 receiver to run the sound for my DVD player, TV and HTPC. It's a great amp and I've had it for 7 or so years. It has no HDMI support at all.

I bought a simple Blu-Ray player and having not done my research I realised it doesn't have an optical out for DTS or DD sound so I can only have sound from the TV via the HDMI

My first question is, is "HD sound" from Blu ray discs worth the upgrade over DTS or DD? I realise I would need to upgrade my av receiver to support HDMI inputs and hd audio. Do people think its worth it?

I can either get a different BD player with optical out and keep my current av Reciever but not get HD audio, or get a new Reciever and run HDMI in from the BD player I just bought.

I have some ripper B&W 601 front speakers and a B&W centre speaker. So the sound quality is fantastic either way.

Thoughts? Advice?

Is a HD Audio worth an upgrade of my AVR?

I only wan to spend 3-400 bucks max.

Thanks

aokman · 27th December 2011, 8:47 PM

Your budget is quite limited for a HD audio amp, having HDMI on the amp does not guarantee it will support it...

I do think its worth it but it all comes down to your overall setup though...

Tetsuma · 28th December 2011, 1:57 AM

You could try the USA's Amazon site, and use a forwarding service like Ship It. Then you'll probably need a step up transformer. Just be prepared to pay a lot for a little in Aus (comparatively).

BAAZMAN · 28th December 2011, 9:50 AM

for that budget i reckon getting a new bluray player is a better option imo.

sell the other to make up some of your losses maybe.

samo · 28th December 2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAAZMAN

for that budget i reckon getting a new bluray player is a better option imo.

sell the other to make up some of your losses maybe.

I reckon this is the way to go.

Your amp is quite a good one. The HD audio formats aren't OMFG!!! amazing. In most cases it's barely noticeable.

power · 28th December 2011, 10:46 AM

If you only just bought it maybe return it for a different model.

Skramit · 28th December 2011, 2:46 PM

Good news is that JB let me swap to the better model BD player even 15 days free purchase and it was opened and used. Thanks JB! Just has to pay the $100 difference to get optical out, 3D and Wifi on the better model. Ah well.

Plugged in the new one and I'm very happy with good old DTS

I read a few more web reviews about DTS HD and DD HD and they don't think the average punter can tell the difference, even on an expensive HT setup.

Skramit · 28th December 2011, 2:49 PM

Also can any recommend a compact sized subwoofer to add in to my set up? I understand that size counts for bass sounds but are there decent ones that can be hidden away in my smallish lounge room?

orbisfactor · 28th December 2011, 2:55 PM

Krix Seismix 1 or Seismix 3, between $800 and $1000, probably way out of budget though. I have the Seismix 3 and love it

Skramit · 28th December 2011, 3:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orbisfactor

Krix Seismix 1 or Seismix 3, between $800 and $1000, probably way out of budget though. I have the Seismix 3 and love it

Yeh probably too exp for me. Can you get a sub much smaller than that one? Yours is 460mm high x 395mm wide x 440mm deep

Keep in mind I dont want bone rattling bass, just enough to fill the missing bass when watching a movie.

MUTMAN · 29th December 2011, 1:14 PM

I'd say its totally worth it, the difference between dts/DD and the uncompressed formats is day and night.

samo · 29th December 2011, 9:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skramit

Yeh probably too exp for me. Can you get a sub much smaller than that one? Yours is 460mm high x 395mm wide x 440mm deep

Keep in mind I dont want bone rattling bass, just enough to fill the missing bass when watching a movie.

this may be more suitable for you

http://www.jbhifi.com.au/jb-hi-fi-ho...fer-sku-53416/

aokman · 29th December 2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUTMAN

I'd say its totally worth it, the difference between dts/DD and the uncompressed formats is day and night.

i agree also, people who cant tell the diff usually have systems that cant reproduce the fidelity or cant hear the difference...

MUTMAN · 29th December 2011, 11:59 PM

Click to view full size!

bottom left is the 7.1 inputs
what BD player did you end up with ? for 100 bucks more I'd guess its got analogue outs
even if you just tried out the fronts with a spare RCA pair, I'm sure you'll be able to hear the difference straight away

those speakers deserve some uncompressed hi-fi

26th December 2011, 10:21 AM	#1
Skramit Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,347	Upgrading my AV Reciever Questions Hi Guru's. I have a Denon AVR 1707 receiver to run the sound for my DVD player, TV and HTPC. It's a great amp and I've had it for 7 or so years. It has no HDMI support at all. I bought a simple Blu-Ray player and having not done my research I realised it doesn't have an optical out for DTS or DD sound so I can only have sound from the TV via the HDMI My first question is, is "HD sound" from Blu ray discs worth the upgrade over DTS or DD? I realise I would need to upgrade my av receiver to support HDMI inputs and hd audio. Do people think its worth it? I can either get a different BD player with optical out and keep my current av Reciever but not get HD audio, or get a new Reciever and run HDMI in from the BD player I just bought. I have some ripper B&W 601 front speakers and a B&W centre speaker. So the sound quality is fantastic either way. Thoughts? Advice? Is a HD Audio worth an upgrade of my AVR? I only wan to spend 3-400 bucks max. Thanks __________________ MAIN: Intel Core i7 2600K @ 4.7GHz\| ASRock P67 Extreme6 B3 \| Fractal Design R3 \| Thermaltake 750w \| Prolimatech Megahalems \| 8GB G.Skill Ripjaws XL DDR3 1600 \| EVGA GTX680 \| OCZ Vertex 2 120GB \| Crucial M4 256GB \| 4 HDD (6.0TB) \| Win 7 Pro HTPC: Intel Core i3 2100T 35W \| ASRock H67M-ITX-HT B3 \| 4GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 \| OCZ Vertex 2 60GB \| WD Scorpio Blue 320GB \| Antec ISK-100 ITX \| DigitalNow TinyTwin TV Tuner \| Win 7 HP

27th December 2011, 8:47 PM	#2
aokman Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 8,077	Your budget is quite limited for a HD audio amp, having HDMI on the amp does not guarantee it will support it... I do think its worth it but it all comes down to your overall setup though... __________________ EpicPhotos.com.au - Image Is Everything Next Expedition - Storm Chasing with ETT from June 3rd, 2013 Last edited by aokman; 27th December 2011 at 8:51 PM.

28th December 2011, 10:46 AM	#6
power Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: brisbane Posts: 27,286	If you only just bought it maybe return it for a different model. __________________ this is who we are.

28th December 2011, 2:46 PM	#7
Skramit Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,347	Good news is that JB let me swap to the better model BD player even 15 days free purchase and it was opened and used. Thanks JB! Just has to pay the $100 difference to get optical out, 3D and Wifi on the better model. Ah well. Plugged in the new one and I'm very happy with good old DTS I read a few more web reviews about DTS HD and DD HD and they don't think the average punter can tell the difference, even on an expensive HT setup. __________________ MAIN: Intel Core i7 2600K @ 4.7GHz\| ASRock P67 Extreme6 B3 \| Fractal Design R3 \| Thermaltake 750w \| Prolimatech Megahalems \| 8GB G.Skill Ripjaws XL DDR3 1600 \| EVGA GTX680 \| OCZ Vertex 2 120GB \| Crucial M4 256GB \| 4 HDD (6.0TB) \| Win 7 Pro HTPC: Intel Core i3 2100T 35W \| ASRock H67M-ITX-HT B3 \| 4GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 \| OCZ Vertex 2 60GB \| WD Scorpio Blue 320GB \| Antec ISK-100 ITX \| DigitalNow TinyTwin TV Tuner \| Win 7 HP

28th December 2011, 2:49 PM	#8
Skramit Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,347	Also can any recommend a compact sized subwoofer to add in to my set up? I understand that size counts for bass sounds but are there decent ones that can be hidden away in my smallish lounge room? __________________ MAIN: Intel Core i7 2600K @ 4.7GHz\| ASRock P67 Extreme6 B3 \| Fractal Design R3 \| Thermaltake 750w \| Prolimatech Megahalems \| 8GB G.Skill Ripjaws XL DDR3 1600 \| EVGA GTX680 \| OCZ Vertex 2 120GB \| Crucial M4 256GB \| 4 HDD (6.0TB) \| Win 7 Pro HTPC: Intel Core i3 2100T 35W \| ASRock H67M-ITX-HT B3 \| 4GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 \| OCZ Vertex 2 60GB \| WD Scorpio Blue 320GB \| Antec ISK-100 ITX \| DigitalNow TinyTwin TV Tuner \| Win 7 HP

28th December 2011, 1:57 AM	#3
Tetsuma Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 57	You could try the USA's Amazon site, and use a forwarding service like Ship It. Then you'll probably need a step up transformer. Just be prepared to pay a lot for a little in Aus (comparatively).

28th December 2011, 2:55 PM	#9
orbisfactor Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Huntfield Heights Posts: 1,544	Krix Seismix 1 or Seismix 3, between $800 and $1000, probably way out of budget though. I have the Seismix 3 and love it __________________ Steam ID: SilentEnigma OCAU MetaL Club Member #5169 Successful Purchases: 14 :: Successful Sales: 43

29th December 2011, 1:14 PM	#11
MUTMAN Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: brisvegas Posts: 2,084	I'd say its totally worth it, the difference between dts/DD and the uncompressed formats is day and night.

29th December 2011, 11:59 PM	#14
MUTMAN Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: brisvegas Posts: 2,084	Click to view full size! bottom left is the 7.1 inputs what BD player did you end up with ? for 100 bucks more I'd guess its got analogue outs even if you just tried out the fronts with a spare RCA pair, I'm sure you'll be able to hear the difference straight away those speakers deserve some uncompressed hi-fi