spasmolytic

Put it simply, does this receiver have up to date specs or should I look at something newer:

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products...V-S/print.html

Spiky

Not the most up to date. I don't know if that means you should look at something else or not.

One thing you would want to look for, and I don't see any comment on that site, is whether it can handle 96/24 PCM surround sound via HDMI. If it can, then you should be good for quite some time. If not....the newest sound codecs will be trickier to use with this receiver and you may want to look at newer.

The HD audio formats have really had a poor rollout, it's hard to buy something still. I thought by now they'd have sorted this out with Bluray players and whatnot, but it really isn't easy, yet. And I mean easy just to find compatible machines, I'm not refering to hookup or anything.

spasmolytic

Thanks for you comment, that was my concern since it is a year old. I have the manual and it does 96/24 DTS but not sure if its over HDMI or not.

I am getting this second hand for just $550 US so I think it will be a good deal.

Any other folks wanna make comments?

Thanks,

spasmolytic

One more question. I can also get a new Denon 1708 for less money and get a warranty

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...ures_and_specs

What do you think?

Raul3

$550?
For less than that you can get the Onkyo 605. I've seen it online for $399 new. I think it's been for $299, refurbished, in the onkyo website.

Drexl

That DTS 96/24 is not what you're looking for. It's a codec that can be used on DVD, though I don't know which, if any, discs actually use it. What you want is support for DTS-HD MA, which is the lossless audio codec used on some BDs. You also want Dolby TrueHD, but if you get DTS-HD MA you'll probably get TrueHD too.

You technically just need multichannel PCM over HDMI, but at this point you may as well get a receiver that can decode the new formats. That would give you a little more flexibility in choosing a player, since it wouldn't have to decode the audio on its own.

Spiky

DTS 96/24 was supposed to be used on audio/concert DTS DVDs (say, Hell Freezes Over -- Eagles), but I think mostly they used 48/24. So yeah, that one is of very little concern.

The Denon above is no different than the Pioneer in features, although cheaper. According to that page, the $600 1908 might offer what you need, which is multichannel audio via HDMI. But you'd want to research further.

Denon usually has very nice amps. They might be slightly more solid than a comparably priced Onkyo, and a higher priced Pioneer. Esp with low-efficient speakers. If you have high-efficiency speakers, like horns, the lower priced Onkyo might be the better buy.