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View Full Version : Please clear up something the Best Buy guy said....


DigitalDuck
09-24-00, 09:58 PM
Lo members..can you help me out with a few things the BB guy told me today...

1. Regarding new receivers I am very close to getting a new one and after reading reviews its either sony 545, 845 or 945 and possibly a Yahama..but thats the thing, a yahama? If I want a yamaha ill buy a motorcycle..j/k. He tried to sell me on it over any Sony..so what about the Yamaha? He told me about the Yahama HTR 5230-50. I was looking at the Sony Strde 545, 845 or 945. I have all Sony components now..so I wanted to keep it in the family for my last purchase..

2. Next, subwoofer hookup...now I read originally that the best way to set it up is the crossover method? I think thats the name, right now my speakre out on receiver is going to back of sub and my L and R speakres are going to back of sub..the BB guy told me the best way is to hook up the sub out on receiver to the lines in the sub...i thought the other method was best? He showed me the monster sub cables with the y connection and said its the best method what do you think? Right now I have all KLH speakres and Sony trinitron 35" and sony dvd and pioneer old pro-logic receiver...I really need some new wire when I get my new receiver...im using some 18 gage Solutions for my rears and OLD radio shack for everythign else...I know its not JBL or Monster but im workign on it...


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Duck (http://www.dvdtracker.com/~duck)

cloud
09-24-00, 10:45 PM
I can't help you on number 2, but as far as number 1 goes....

Yamaha make very good receivers, especially under $1000. I have a RX-V595a and am very happy with it. I think they are comprable if not better then similarly priced Sony's, especially the Sony DB and DE series. The Sony ES series may be better. IMHO the low end Yamaha's look more solidly built then the comprable Sony's. I have a Sony DVD player and TV and was also looking at the Sony receivers but went with the Yamaha. Some people also say that the power of the Sony's is also overstated and that of the Yamaha's is understated. I beleive the power rating on my Yamaha is 70 watts but it sure sounds like a lot more then that, at least 85 watts.

By the way I think it is more important to consider which brands are good for a specific type of component as opposed to try to keep everything the same brand. There are usually specific brands that are best for specific components. I am not saying Sony is bad, just that don't limit your self to Sony just because everything else you have is Sony. At the end of the day it is all about quality and performance. You want to make sure you get the best of both at the price point you are considering. Just my 2 cents.

Audioreview (http://www.audioreview.com/reviews/avreceiver/index_byrating.shtml) - Check here for a list of reviews in descending order from best to worst. By the way you will see that overall Yamaha receivers do very well where as the Sony's don't. Sony do make good receivers but especially at the low end Yamaha is a lot better.

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[This message has been edited by cloud (edited September 24, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by cloud (edited September 24, 2000).]

Andy Kim
09-24-00, 11:01 PM
GO with the Yamaha...
Although, Sony is a good brand and make good products, they have reliability problems. And Sony is a bit on the mass market product side.

Yamaha's on the other hand are more geared toward the upper-end.

Have you heard of Onkyo, Harmon Kardon, Denon, Lexicon? Sound like no-names?
Well, actually they are the "best" and most priciest equipment out there. As you go up ladder of quality/price, you will leave the more familiar names such as Sony, Panasonic, Kenwood behind and be introduced to unfamiliar names like the ones I mentioned.

I would go with the Yamaha.
Andy

shaun3000
09-24-00, 11:07 PM
About the sub connections:

Most receivers you buy nowadays have a built-in crossover. Plus, any 5.1 sound has the LFE channel output separte from the other 5 channels. The line out is the way to go for subs.

Master J
09-24-00, 11:07 PM
If you are looking at the Sony DE series especially the 845 and 945 I would recommend the DB series instead, models 840 and 940. They are very solidly built and offer better capacitors and ampliphication units more along the lines of the ES series. I have the DB 830 model from last year and I have not had any complaints whatsoever.

As for Yamaha, they offer some very nice receivers for the dollar. They tend to be rated amplification wise slightly lower than other recievers but they are plenty powerful. My one recommendation would be to look for Yamahas at a place other than Best Buy. In the past they have had proprietary models which were a bit stripped down compared to likely equipped models sold elsewhere.

Also you need to decide if the receiver you are getting is a good match for your speakers, if you already own some. Yamahas in general have a reputation of being a bit bright so you should take that into account as well. I hope this helps a bit, if you need any more info feel free to ask...

J

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darkside
09-24-00, 11:27 PM
From experience I can tell you to stay away from Sony receivers. I had an ES model and it was a nightmare. Very unreliable. I went with Onkyo, but Yamaha makes great receivers as well.

4KRG
09-24-00, 11:34 PM
Another vote for Yamaha for quality and bang for the buck! Sony made good stuff in their wjole product line YEARS ago, but they have lost it and now only a few items they make are worth a damn. BUT you are the only one that can determine what YOU like the sound of. If the sony sounds better to you then take the chance on the quality.

As for number 2 I would say the LFE or sub out is the better connection method, but as I always adivise in situations of sound preference do what sounds best to YOU hook it up both ways and listen.

ccoolidge
09-25-00, 12:33 AM
Another vote for the Yamaha, I used to have one and found it to be a quality, reliable component. Sony's receivers are sh!t. They make great dvd players and TV's, but I have had nothing but problems with not one, but two different Sony receivers.

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"HEY, you lay a FINGER on me, I'll burn it down and piss on the ashes" - Shooter McGavin

ZenDog
09-25-00, 02:46 AM
I disagree with most others on this post. Sony is a very reliable brand and their higher end recievers are nicer then their Yamaha counterparts. You can not count out a brand of recievers simply because a select few had reliability problems. Even high end Denon, Onkyo, and Marantz recievers are duds every now and then. There is also no way I would put Yamaha in the category with HK and Denon and then leave the Sony ES line out. I looked at Yamaha recievers ever so briefly, but found the Sony ES far surpasses them in quality and build. I wound up purchasing the Sony STR-555ES and have found this reciever to be a dream. If I were you I would stay away from the DE seris and go with a Sony from the DB seris if you can't afford an ES. If you go with the DB or the ES seris you will not be dissapointed. Sony has not "lost it" as these two models offer exceptional recievers. No matter what anyone tells you, go out and look at all your options and pick the reciever that best suits your HT needs.

sweetdeal
09-25-00, 03:44 AM
I own a yamaha and would have to say that it is of high quality. But if you want a system that will blow your socks off, buy a bose lifestyle 30 or 50. It has the sub and the sound is just out of this world. It takes little space and it hits the highs and lows with the highest clarity I have ever heard.

Love watching movies with this system.....

DigitalDuck
09-25-00, 06:39 AM
Cloud, Andy, Shaun, Master J, darkside, 4krg, ccool, Zen, sweet thanx for all your help so far. I appreciate it very much.

Well, It appears that I should be looking at the Yahamas now, hmm...So how about the HTR 5240. The 5230 doesnt have dts so I should get the 5240. Hmm..yeah I understand the point about really looking for what is best for each component instead of keeping it all in the family. If Yahama is better then Sony for receivers then I guess I should go with Yahama (speaking of the de line for sony)

What about the points about the watts on the Yamaha? People were mentioning 80 wtas or 70 but is that each channel? And how does it compare to the 100 wats which is typical on the Sonys (and others I assume) Is the 80 watts just better anyway because its Yamaha? I like the look of the Sonys better, but then again its just the looks, and performance is what matters...

For anyone who can answer more on the sub question..so direct from the sub-out on the receiver is the best way? I heard crossover is the best with L/R channels on the receiver to the sub and then the sub out to the L/R speakers. The setup of it sounds more complicated but in the long run it seems like it would make more sense, but then agian im not the sub expert.

Someone else mentioned that I should take into consideration the "brightness" of the Yahama with the speakers that are attached to it..what exactly do you mean?

Thanx for everyones responces, I appreciate it.

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Duck (http://www.dvdtracker.com/~duck)

[This message has been edited by Duck (edited September 25, 2000).]

jumbojp
09-25-00, 07:03 AM
Wow it seems everyone overlooked that
a Bestbuy employee actually gave decent advice! I was wondering why it was so
cold today, Hell must be freezing over http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif

rmach
09-25-00, 08:09 AM
I agree that the Yahama is better in general than the Sony for low end. I personally went with an Onkyo which I think is a better choice. I would consider the Onkyo 575x which I think are about $400.

As for the sub, connect it directly from the amp. The amp has built in "base management" that makes sure the sub gets the LFE channel (the .1) as well as base from the other 5 channels. If you configure it by running only the L & R speaker wires, you will only be getting the base from those 2 channels and not all 5. Also, it generally sounds better to configure your receiver to have all speakers in the "small" setting regardless of speaker size and let the sub handle all the low base. This frees up your amp and speakers to do only the mid and high range which usually improves sound quality and allows more room for volume since low sounds take lots of power to reproduce.

DNMonty
09-25-00, 09:53 AM
From personal xperience, I have the Onkyo 575x. Which BTW, I did get for $379 from onecall.com. I have had Onkyo in the past and it's reliability & performance was the first thing that made me look @ another to replace it with. My old on was a Prologic model which is now going to run my auxiliary HT setup in my basement. Nothing actually wrong with the PL model, but wanted DD & DTS for the main system. I recently became a DTS convert when I played a few DTS titles in my system. Made a big difference to me.
As far as hooking up the sub, when you connect a powered sub, use the sub-out preamp output. If it isn't powered, you'll need to run it in the crossover method. Having the sub powered and running the bass for all channels, frees the other speakers up to produce the other frequencies without having to try toproduce the bass too. Allows more power to concentrate on them.

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Sony 32" Trinitron
Onkyo TX-DS575x
Pioneer DV-525
JBL Music1 mains, Phase Technology 1C center, Advent Baby II surrounds, Infinity BU-120 sub

El Pollo
09-25-00, 12:42 PM
Duck, if I was to go out and buy a receiver right now, I'll only look to three brands. Denon, Marantz, and Yamaha. Those are usually recognized by audio enthusiasts as some of the best receivers around for between $500 and $4000. Parasound, HK, Lexicon, are nice too, but I've always found them to be somewhat overpriced across the board for what you get.

What you'll find at Best Buy is the mass market line of Yamaha receivers. I'm not sure exactly what the difference is to their specialty store line, but the reliability I'd figure to be just as excellent.

djones6746
09-25-00, 12:46 PM
Yamaha does put out a good receiver!!! You may want to check out other home theater stores in regards to current model numbers etc....sometimes Best Buy has an older model on the shelf which can be purchased cheaper elsewhere!!! Do not be afraid to purchase your receiver online from a reputable dealer....J&R music isn't bad and they bend over backwards to get a sale!!! Whatever price they have listed can usually be talked down by a good $50 which can help pay for your shipping expenses and more.... just call one of their salespeople and negotiate!!! Do not sound too interested...just ask for the price and tell them you will call them back!!! They usually tell you right then and there..."What would it take for you to decide now?" Here is their web address....
www.jandr.com (http://www.jandr.com)

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DigitalDuck
09-25-00, 02:19 PM
Thanx again everyone, first djones, yes i am most likely going to buy online jsut because I have found places $75-100 cheaper then best buy on certain models. Of course Ill make sure the company is worth it first, but ill definetely be ordering online.

For my setup ill probably be going with a Yamaha either a 5240 0r 50. Not the 5230 because of the lack of DTS. What do you think? I know its not the top of the line but from what you guys have been telling me its a lot better then a Sony and compared to what I have right now, im looking forward to the change.

So the sub out on the amp is the best way to go huh? I guess I just followed the diagram on the little sheet that came with the sub and it said for audio/cds connect this way (sub out) and for home theatre this way (crossover) so I didnt know at the time so I just went with the crossover. Ill change now though. I saw at BB that monster had a big set of cables for the sub that were like a "Y" connection. Perhaps ill look into something like that. Now this is a stupid question, but since ive never had to deal with coax yet, what is the difference between coax cable and rca cable? You dont use rca cable for the sub out or coudl you? Just to see the difference thats all. Ill get somethign better, I just know I have some rcas up in my room.

So yeah, it looks like RCA for now, which do you reccommend? The 5240 received better reviews then the 5250 and its cheaper. Also what about the watts? Rcas 80 watts is comparable to Sonys 100 watts per channel?


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Duck (http://www.dvdtracker.com/~duck)

edclem
09-25-00, 02:33 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Duck:
Now this is a stupid question, but since ive never had to deal with coax yet, what is the difference between coax cable and rca cable? You dont use rca cable for the sub out or coudl you? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You will need a long RCA cable to hook up your sub. I personally use the Monster Cable version, but you can use any normal RCA cable (just one side of it, though).

Happy shopping! http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif

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headrusch
09-25-00, 03:09 PM
Duck, a few words:

Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Nakamichi, Marantz = Good Receivers.

IMHO stick with these names, you cannot go wrong.

Second: LISTEN TO THE RECEIVER BEFORE YOU BUY IT. Same Audio Source, Same Speakers, but completely DIFFERENT sound depending on which receiver you are listening to. Seriously, no lie. You may find you HATE the way the Yamaha reproduces sound but LOVE the Onkyo, or vice-versa.

Three: Wattage......there is a mathematical equation somewhere that escapes me that basically says that you won't hear a wattage difference until you up it by at least 1/3 or something. IE: A 70watt per channel receiver sounds no different than a 100 watt per channel receiver.

PS: A Denon 70 watt receiver is worth about 10 times as much in actual sound quality and loudness compared to a 120 watt Kenwood or Fisher or whatever. Crank the Denon up to +10 decibels and you'll still have crystal clear sound, only LOUD. Crank up an inferior receiver, and you'll have static or buzzing or whatever.

Wattage part Two: Onkyo, Denon, Marantz, etc, all correctly advertise their wattage. A 70 watt per channel Onkyo is capable of producing 70 watts PER CHANNEL under LOAD...ie: Maintainable. A cheap Sony that claims 110 watts per channel USUALLY means they see how much any ONE channel can crank out at volume......but when you try to run ALL FIVE CHANNELS (Duh, who wouldn't right?) that wattage rating drops DRAMATICALLY.

Finally: Go to the store and find a receiver you like and listen to it...but CRANK UP THE VOLUME..I mean LOUD. If it sounds like ccrap at loud volumes or hurts your ears with shrill sound, static, hiss, etc...AVOID IT.

Buy smart and don't be disappointed.

Oh, and for gods sake, dont listen to ANYTHING a Circuit City or Best Buy salesperson suggests...........go to a real audio-specialty store.....BB and CC will sell you whatever they have the most of in the warehouse and want to get rid of.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Idisappear
09-25-00, 03:15 PM
There is a difference between yamaha sold in BB and B&M stores, performance wise. What is it? I have no idea. The salesguy in the B&M store used the analogy of Pontiac Fiero and Corvette. Maybe cuz i look really puzzled once he started giving lecture on those funky audio terms http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif. Just my 2/100th Dollar.

anyway I got myself a yamahaha V995 for 600 bucks from a website i dont remember what now. feels good ever since..

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---I_disappear!----

Movie_Man
09-25-00, 04:32 PM
Back 2 years ago, I was sure I wanted a Sony just because I knew the name and liked their products. The salesdude (who was actually helpful!) demoed a few different ones for me, and the Sony sounded totally weak next to the Denon. I had never heard of Denon before but I totally love it now. I highly recommed Denon receivers.

I don't know if it is still true, but Denon used to be one of the few receivers that would play music(ie: radio, CDs) in all 5 speakers, rather than just the front set.

In summary, go to a store where you can listen to them side by side and go with what sounds best. Don't buy based on what the box says.

Master J
09-25-00, 06:13 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Movie_Man:
Back 2 years ago, I was sure I wanted a Sony just because I knew the name and liked their products. The salesdude (who was actually helpful!) demoed a few different ones for me, and the Sony sounded totally weak next to the Denon. I had never heard of Denon before but I totally love it now. I highly recommed Denon receivers.

I don't know if it is still true, but Denon used to be one of the few receivers that would play music(ie: radio, CDs) in all 5 speakers, rather than just the front set.

In summary, go to a store where you can listen to them side by side and go with what sounds best. Don't buy based on what the box says.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thats very true, and even better would be to go to a store that lets you have a demo period for the receiver in your home so you can listen to it with your speakers. As for Sony, stay away from the DE line that is sold in Best Buy and the such. Instead look for the DB and ES line. Espeically check out www.oncecall.com (http://www.oncecall.com) which is clearing out lst years DB830 receivers for a bit over 300 bucks. Denon still has a 5 channel stereo mode, but HK as well has something similar on their new receivers if multichannel music listening is something that interests you.

J


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movielib
09-26-00, 12:10 AM
I've had three receivers over the last ten years. The first, a Sony, gave me a lot of trouble and I wouldn't touch one again. The second, a Pioneer, was fine. I just wanted to upgrade to DD and DTS.

I went all out and got the Yamaha DSP-A1. I think it was only the second receiver out that processed both DD and DTS. I've never been sorry, even though it was quite expensive (although I got a great deal). Of course it doesn't do DD EX or DTS ES but I'm very, very happy.

I don't think you can beat Yamaha at whatever price level you're at.

DigitalDuck
09-26-00, 01:42 AM
Thanx everyone so far...well Yamaha it is then...BTW I saw the HTR 5240 at Ecost.com for 289.99 which I think is a great price considering BB has it on SALE right now for I believe 379 or 69...big difference..Also, I did call Sears (thanx for the tip) and they said they will price match it..so there you go..sound good?

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Duck (http://www.dvdtracker.com/~duck)

cloud
09-26-00, 05:22 AM
Whatever you do, make sure you buy from an authorized dealer. If you don't and there is a problem the manufacturer may not honor the warranty.

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tdamico
09-26-00, 09:43 AM
I agree with Movielib. I got the 2095, one step down from the A1. It cost a bit more but it has give nothing but unparalleled enjoyment. I neve have understood the "bright" statments. Mabey you need to match the right speakers to it. I listened to the Denon's and HK's in a very high end audio store, and they were fantastic, but I still prefered the Yamaha. Its nice to see so many good comments in this thread. Yamaha doesn't seem to garner the respect it deserves.

DigitalDuck
09-26-00, 01:39 PM
Yes, all the positive posts for Yamaha makes my dicision much easier... what about the price? I mentioned that from ecost.com they have the HTR-5240 for 289.99 and shipping is $28 so I will price match it from Sears and get it for around 318.00 plus tax im assuming..but that is much better then BB where it is on SALE now for like 384.00 ouch...how is that price or does anyone know of a cheaper price? Let me know http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif

Duck

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tdamico
09-26-00, 02:03 PM
Opposite of what is thought, retail stores WILL deal with you. Ignore sale prices. I researched all of the stores including high end audio stores. I listened to what I wanted. Then I researched them on the web, printed out the prices I could buy them for, and then took them to the retail stores where I felt comfortable. My story was that I would much prefer to do business local, much prefered to buy from a store that would service the equipment, and understood that they could not match exactly, but what was the best they could do? INCLUDING TAX. What happened is that at three seperate stores ( I bought stuff from three different stores) They ALL price matched within 2%.

Dominus
09-26-00, 04:12 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Duck:
Lo members..can you help me out with a few things the BB guy told me today...

1. Regarding new receivers I am very close to getting a new one and after reading reviews its either sony 545, 845 or 945 and possibly a Yahama..but thats the thing, a yahama? If I want a yamaha ill buy a motorcycle..j/k. He tried to sell me on it over any Sony..so what about the Yamaha? He told me about the Yahama HTR 5230-50. I was looking at the Sony Strde 545, 845 or 945. I have all Sony components now..so I wanted to keep it in the family for my last purchase..

2. Next, subwoofer hookup...now I read originally that the best way to set it up is the crossover method? I think thats the name, right now my speakre out on receiver is going to back of sub and my L and R speakres are going to back of sub..the BB guy told me the best way is to hook up the sub out on receiver to the lines in the sub...i thought the other method was best? He showed me the monster sub cables with the y connection and said its the best method what do you think? Right now I have all KLH speakres and Sony trinitron 35" and sony dvd and pioneer old pro-logic receiver...I really need some new wire when I get my new receiver...im using some 18 gage Solutions for my rears and OLD radio shack for everythign else...I know its not JBL or Monster but im workign on it...


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


IMHO, Yamaha makes much better equipment than Sony in that price range. But you want to be careful what you get, the Yamaha RX series is usually a much better buy than the HTR series. You want to be careful when comparing the two because the power ratings cannot be compared side by side, I was told that they use a different system to rate each (maybe RMS vs Peak?). Anyways, like anything else, the best judges of which is better are your ears.

Idisappear
09-26-00, 06:32 PM
Guys, here's sth i got from Yamaha site. Quite informative, however I hope somebody could explain the phrases "the RX series rated from 20-20000Hz and the HTR series rated AT 1000Hz". I have no idea.


What Is The Difference Between The RX-V Line And The HTR Line?

There are many similarities between these two product lines. The RX-V line and the HTR line are produced in the same Yamaha factory using the same high quality parts throughout. The RX-V and equivalent HTR models have the same warranty periods, the same manufacturer's suggested retail price, the same features, and the same remote control units.

There is a cosmetic difference found on the front panels of these two lines. The RX-V line maintains the traditional white colored lettering normally found on most Yamaha components, while the HTR line provides a slightly different approach. Yamaha has created a new look by using gold colored lettering in selected areas on the HTR receiver series. However, both the RX-V line and the HTR line feature the same high quality black metal front panel construction.

The amplifiers in the HTR and RX-V units are identical but rated differently to comply with the accepted measurement standards of their respective channels of distribution. Both ratings are FTC approved and are designed to handle the dynamics of today's audio and video sources. The RX-V line has the power amplifiers rated from 20-20000 Hz. The HTR line has the power amplifiers rated at 1000 Hz. Both lines can reproduce the full frequency response of 20-20000 Hz.

The RX-V line is typically sold through Yamaha authorized audio/video specialty retailers, and is not available for mail order sales.

The HTR line is sold through mass merchants, catalog retailers, and department stores. You may also purchase the HTR line through the mail.

All transactions must be done through the authorized Yamaha dealer network. Any purchase made from an unauthorized dealer/retailer voids the Yamaha manufacturer's warranty.

4KRG
09-26-00, 06:46 PM
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Idisappear:
Guys, here's sth i got from Yamaha site. Quite informative, however I hope somebody could explain the phrases "the RX series rated from 20-20000Hz
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is the correct way to rate power!


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
and the HTR series rated AT 1000Hz". I have no idea. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is the way you rate power when you are trying to hide a sh!tty amplifier and still not lie about it's power rating.


Having a 1000hz rating is worthless and usually WEAK amps use this method.

Master J
09-26-00, 07:03 PM
The HTR series also has cheaper speaker terminals and connectors as well. If you are going for a lower end Yamaha, stay with the RX series.

J

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DigitalDuck
09-27-00, 02:05 PM
Hey guys, I am still wondering if the price I quoted above for the HTR-5240 is a good price.. I think Sears will price match it for 289.99 plus $25 shipping.. if anyone knows a better place to get a cheaper price let me know http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Duck (http://www.dvdtracker.com/~duck)

Mike G
09-28-00, 11:19 AM
Just thought I'd through out a name brand that doesn't appear to mentioned in this thread "Outlaw". Don't have one myself but I've heard nothing but good reviews.

cloud
09-28-00, 06:01 PM
The only thing with Outlaw is their cheapest model is $599 and since you can only order directly from them there is no way to get a better price online or locally.

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"The earth does not belong to people; people belong to the earth. Everything that happens to the earth happens also to the sons and daughters of the earth." -Chief Seattle.

TThiel
09-29-00, 01:18 AM
Hmmm: I have a Yamaha and love it although it doesn't have DTS. But Lately, I've been hearing a lot about the Outlaw 1050.

Seems like somewhere in these posts our members have reviewed the Outlaw and an overwhelming number of them loved it. Especially with a $600.00 price.

So now I'm trying to save up the bucks to try one of these puppies.

BenCJedi
10-01-00, 03:43 AM
Duck do you currently have a receiver? I have a stereo Onkyo from the early 90's that has served me well, but didn't do the multi-channel audio thing (well it is capable of 4 channel stereo audio). It's crystal-clear and powerful audio though. I couldn't say goodbye to it, so it is happily powering a couple subs right now. Simply split the sub-out on your new receiver into a left and Right RCA plug. Plug them in an input on your old receiver and BOOM.. a dedicated bass effects amplifier! The good part is that I can still add a couple more subs to my setup. I call this method the packrat method of digital entertainment. It's like those with Coleco Visions and Ataris still hooked into their TV sets alongside the Dreamcasts and N64s. Anyway I had bought a Technics receiver a couple years ago with the SHAC500D DTS/DD processor. It was the cheapest and easiest for me to afford at the time. The left and right satellites have an annoying hiss in them. I attribute it directly to the price I paid. I hope to kick it out and eBay it someday and replace it with a Yamaha or Onkyo (thanks to all your suggestions on here). And yes.. the stereo Onkyo will continie to stay in 'the family'. http://talk.dvdtalk.com/ubb/smile.gif



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http://www.dvdtracker.com/~bencjedi

audrey
10-01-00, 01:25 PM
Regarding the price of the Outlaw (or any other item for that matter), the bottom line is value. OK, so the Outlaw is $600 with no discount. But if it sounds better than a $1000 amp discounted to $600 which is a better value?

Most of the mass market names like Denon, Yamaha, Sony, etc. are always discounted. Rather than compare the percentage off list, its better to compare selling price to selling price. In otherwords, if a $1000 amp ALWAYS sells for $600-$650 its really a $600 amp.

Me, I'd order the Outlaw, then bring home several other products to compare and keep the best one.

audrey
10-01-00, 01:46 PM
Regarding the sub-connection; there is no ONE best method. There are advantages and disadvantages to each connection strategy.

Line-Level Sub Out
* Unless your receiver has a variable cross-over frequency you must use the frequency built into the receiver, typically between 80-100 hrz. (THX specs 80). This frequency may or may not be a good match w/ your speakers.

* Unless your sub has a line-level input which by-passes the sub's internal cross-over, you will stack two cross-overs together; not the end of the world, but less than ideal.

* Easy to connect; simplifies bass management and routing for the center and surrounds.

* Depending on the receiver and sub, the receiver's inteneral cross-over might be of higher quality.

* Usually you can adjust the sub's volume on the fly using the receiver's on-screen menus.

Speaker Wire Connection To Sub
* Assuming the receiver has a fixed cross-over point, this approach generally makes it easier to integrate a sub into your system. You should be able to adjust the sub's internal cross-over to find the best match between the sub and the mains.

* Requires a bit more hassle in set-up. And you give up some creature features.

* Might provide the best overall sound.

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Try both approaches to see which works best for you.