Choosing a Home Theatre Reciever...

[Nufy]

Looking to upgrade from my 4 channel surround sound.

Will feed audio from flat screen via optical link if possible but also want to connect cd player & cassette deck via standard RCA connections.

What is the difference between 5.1 and 7.1 ?? The number of speakers ???

Needs AM/FM tuner as well.

Under 500 bux for a price range.

Thanks in advance.

[bluejays]

I don't have any suggestions in that range that I can recommend, but if you do a search in this forum you're bound to find endless threads every month it seems on HT receivers. I can answer your question on what 5.1 and 7.1 represents. The first number (in this case the 5) is the number of speakers it can support. The second digit (in this case the 1) is the number of subwoofers you choose to connect. I'd say this. If you have a small area where you're putting your speakers, go for a 5.1 as you'll find it hard to mount or fit stands behind you for a 7.1 system. You may save a hundred or two just on having a 5.1 receiver. I got a Pioneer Elite which I got from under cost from an employee (I like to brag about this fact in every HT thread ).

[fundmark19]

Someone was saying in the other receiver thread that the new ones come with hdmi 1.4 which = 3d. Even if you don't think you will be jumping on the band wagon now for under 700 dollars to have a receiver that will work for you if this 3d stuff does take off the extra 200 dollars would really be worth it.

The bad news is you have to wait till may ish for them to come out. That is the point i am at is counting down the days till I can get a reciever

[Vulcan]

Yeah, I'd wait for the new 1.4 HDMI 3 d capable receivers to come out. The prices look not to bad on this USA Pioneer site for the two they list.

$229 for the VSX-520-K

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...VSX-520-K.Kuro

and $299 for the VSX-820-K

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...VSX-820-K.Kuro

Can't say what the Canadian advantage prices will be.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by fleury

I can answer your question on what 5.1 and 7.1 represents. The first number (in this case the 5) is the number of speakers it can support. The second digit (in this case the 1) is the number of subwoofers you choose to connect.

Not exactly. The number of subwoofers is irrelavent. It's the number of subwoofer channels. For example, if you have a single subwoofer out, split it, and connect 3 subs, it's not considered 5.3. They have to be independant channels (IE: left and right).

Likewise, the first digit is the number of audio channels (2 for stereo, 3 for stereo with centre, 5 for fronts/centre/rears, 6 for fronts/centre/rears/rear centre, and so on).