Panasonic receiver

[CCM]

I'm looking to upgrade my surround system and came across this deal:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009E1YPW/ref=pd_luc_mri/103-0509280-2644611?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

What are your opinions of this reciever for only $150?  Also, I have some sony points burning a hole in my pocket, so are there any sony speaker systems that would work well with the panasonic receiver?

[somunny]

Sink your teeth into this 108 page (!) thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=530504&highlight=panasonic+saxr55k

I generally felt a good vibe while very briefly browsing through.  One plus not mentioned in the specs at Amazon; the unit decodes Pro Logic II.  This is beneficial if you intend on picking up a Nintendo Wii (or have a gamecube) as that console does not support DD 5.1.

[CCM]

Thanks for the link...  I went ahead and ordered the receiver, just in time, it's now back up to 199.99.  Now I just need to find a good set of speakers.

[boykster]

I have it and it is hands down the BEST value in home theater receivers right now.  All digital amp sections, runs cool, decodes DPLIIx, 7.1, etc. 

I replaced a Denon AVR-5803 ($4000!!!) with this little guy and my theater has never sounded better.

 

[CCM]

I have it and it is hands down the BEST value in home theater receivers right now.  All digital amp sections, runs cool, decodes DPLIIx, 7.1, etc. 

I replaced a Denon AVR-5803 ($4000!!!) with this little guy and my theater has never sounded better.

 

Can you suggest a decent set of speakers and a sub for this receiver?  How do these sound?

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SA-VE445H-5-1-Channel-Surround-Speaker/dp/B000095R9P/sr=8-16/qid=1162847207/ref=sr_1_16/103-0509280-2644611?ie=UTF8&s=electronics


I realize that sony doesn't make the best speakers in the world, but I want to use my sony points...

[ChadTower]

This is the one I have... it's awesome and you cannot do better at $300.  You would be hard pressed to do better at $500.

They sell their refurbs on Ebay, too... I picked mine up, from HK themselves, on Ebay for about $240 shipped.

[CCM]

This is the one I have... it's awesome and you cannot do better at $300.  You would be hard pressed to do better at $500.

They sell their refurbs on Ebay, too... I picked mine up, from HK themselves, on Ebay for about $240 shipped.

I already ordered the Panasonic... should be here tomorrow.  I just need a set of speakers and a sub, preferably Sony so I can use my points

[boykster]

I haven't listened to that particular set of speakers, but this amp will drive pretty much anything.  I use HTD Level III speakers in my theater, along with some CSW dipoles (for surround) and it sounds pretty sweet.  If you can use your sony points and get that set for a good price, then I say go for it. 

[AtomSmasher]

Doesn't help you now that you've ordered, but heres what I have in case others are looking to buy something: http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=200502&CTID=5000400

You can find it for around $300, which is what I got it for a few months ago.  Some of the things I like about it are that it has an ipod doc (cable sold seperate), xm ready, and upconverts most video signals to component video.  Also, since it has multiple optical inputs (which my old receiver didn't) I was able to use one for my tivo, and that made a huge difference for regular tv.  I never knew how much bass there in in South Park until now.....seriously, they seem to go crazy on the bass in that show.

[boykster]

what makes this receiver so special is its digital amp section.  they are clean, linear, and can handle high current speakers with no problem and still stay very cool. 

[shmokes]

FWIW I am locked into Klipsch speakers for life, which isn't such a bad thing considering they make incredibly good speakers but get a load of this.  I bought a set of Klipsch Promedia 5.1 PC speakers that ran about $500.  They came with a 1-year warranty.  After I'd had them for about 15 months they stopped working and all I got from them was a rhythmic clicking/popping sound.  So begins the best customer service experience I should ever hope to have . . .

I call Klipsch and have a live person on the line immediately.  I describe the problem and the lady tells me she knows what's wrong based on the symptoms.  A transformer (IIRC) went out in the subwoofer and it would need to be replaced (all the speakers plug into the subwoofer, which plugs into the computer so the brains are all in the sub).  She then tells me she will send a box out too me with a prepaid label to send the subwoofer back at their expense (considering the size and weight of the subwoofer this probably saved me $40), at which point they would ship me a new one free of charge, in spite of it being out of warranty.  Sweet.  I'm totally satisfied.  I'm more than satisfied.  They'd be justified to just make me buy a new one, considering it was out of warranty.  But get a load of this . . . it doesn't end there.

A week or so later my wife calls me at work and says, "Hey, your new speakers came."  And I said, "Oh . . . it's just a new subwoofer."  And than my wife says, "Really?  It looks like a box with a whole set of speakers."  I assure her it isn't and we finish chatting and hang up.  Then I get home from work.  So, yeah, not only is their a brand new retail box containing a completely new $500 set of Promedia 5.1 speakers . . . there is a completely new set of the next-year's version of the Promedia 5.1 speakers THAT ISN'T EVEN GOING TO BE RELEASED FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS ! ! !  Not even the press had these yet (or at least I couldn't find a single review or mention of them in the press aside from press releases saying when they were coming.  So not only do I now have the brand new set, but I still have the excellent satellites and center channel from my original set!

I can never buy anything but Klipsch now.  How can I possibly justify buying from someone else after that?  To make a long story short, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend Klipsch.  And obviously it helps that the sound produced by Klipsch speakers is second to none.

p.s.  I have never worked for Klipsch or in any industry that is remotely connected with Klipsch or any other company in the audio industry.  Hell, I've never even worked in retail.  The only relation I have to the company is what I described above.

[ChadTower]

That's a good experience.  Now I will consider Klipsch next time I buy speakers.

[boykster]

wow. nice experience.  That's the kind of customer feedback you almost never get online...all you ever hear about are the problem situations.

My theater has HTD Level III speakers (not super expensive, but nice speakers) and I had a problem with the sub a year or so ago.  I called their tech support, got a live person immediately, they immediately shipped me a newer version of the plate amp (the part that was failing) and included a return shipping label (prepaid) IF I wanted to return the defective one so they could examine it to figure out why it failed.  Total cost to me? $0.00  Total downtime? 36hrs from time of failure.

I love good service.   

[whammoed]

I love klipsch too, and have a set of the 2.1 promedia, however the 5.1 promedia are notorious for that problem, and apparently it is not remedied in the new version.  They have good customer service but if you buy the 5.1 promedia, plan on them failing at some point.  I will continue to buy klipsch, just not that set...

[somunny]

I ordered an XR55S from Amazon over the weekend.  $169.99 w/ free shipping.

[AlanS17]

This is the one I have... it's awesome and you cannot do better at $300.  You would be hard pressed to do better at $500.

They sell their refurbs on Ebay, too... I picked mine up, from HK themselves, on Ebay for about $240 shipped.

I'm really really liking this receiver. I'm in the market for a home audio system for myself since I'll be getting my own place in the next six months, and the stereo we use now actually belongs to my brother.

[ChadTower]

It rocks and has tons of inputs for video and audio.  Came highly recommended by the AVSForum folks.

[AlanS17]

After reading the reviews on places like cnet and seeing them for myself at Fry's, I think my next stereo is going to be an HK. Thanks for the heads up on the refurbs.

[shmokes]

I love HK styling, and am under the impression that they sound great, but they're damned expensive.  Yamaha seems to consistently deliver underpriced performance. 

[somunny]

I've also read some great things about Harmon Kardon equipment.  And while I beleive it's probably a good value, I couldn't say no to the bargain-basement price and rave reviews for the XR55.  I'll have it hooked up this weekend and post an opinion or two.

[AlanS17]

I've also read some great things about Harmon Kardon equipment.  And while I beleive it's probably a good value, I couldn't say no to the bargain-basement price and rave reviews for the XR55.  I'll have it hooked up this weekend and post an opinion or two.

Looking forward to hearing what you've got to say on the matter.

[boykster]

The Pioneer VSX-1016TXV is another inexpensive but incredibly performing AV receiver

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069809_316743263,00.html

I believe it streets around $400 so a bit more expensive than the HK or panny, but it also has a strong following over at AVSForums.  The great feature of this receiver is that it has auto room calibration.  I demo'd a pioneer Elite unit a year or so ago (before I bought the panasonic) and the auto calibration was pretty amazing.  But I then demo'd the panny and was sold on it after just one evening with it in my theater.

[ChadTower]

The HKs usually street starting in the $600s and up.  I don't think they even make a $400 model.

One thing for sure, stay away from Bose.  I looked hard at a lot of their stuff and it always came up short for 3x the price.

[ImaTest]

 always came up short for 3x the price.

That might as well by the Bose marketing line.  Yet people still buy that garbage.   

[boykster]

The HKs usually street starting in the $600s and up.  I don't think they even make a $400 model.

The AV-144 streets for $300

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&Q=&is=REG&O=productlist&sku=469019

Its a nice AVR for the money....but the pio, yamaha, and the panny give it a run for its money fo sho.

[ChadTower]

Cool, forgot about the 100s... they weren't that low recently.  Everything seems to be dropping pretty hard lately.

[shmokes]

The Pioneer VSX-1016TXV is another inexpensive but incredibly performing AV receiver

This is the receiver I have (actually I have the VSX-1015TXK which is last year's model).  I absolutely love it.  It's got component switching (not to mention it will upconvert lesser signals to component so you only need a single cable going to the TV), it's got the kickass speaker autocalibration (plug in the included mic and put it where you sit when watching TV, a series of sounds are played through the speakers and the receiver uses the information it gets from the mic to set all the speaker levels), 7.1 (which I don't actually use), THX certification, and it sounds fantastic.  For the price it's a damned difficult receiver to beat.

[boykster]

The Pioneer VSX-1016TXV is another inexpensive but incredibly performing AV receiver

This is the receiver I have (actually I have the VSX-1015TXK which is last year's model).  I absolutely love it.  It's got component switching (not to mention it will upconvert lesser signals to component so you only need a single cable going to the TV), it's got the kickass speaker autocalibration (plug in the included mic and put it where you sit when watching TV, a series of sounds are played through the speakers and the receiver uses the information it gets from the mic to set all the speaker levels), 7.1 (which I don't actually use), THX certification, and it sounds fantastic.  For the price it's a damned difficult receiver to beat.

Yep, its a sweet little unit...I believe since the 1014TX they've had specs that almost exactly mirror the "low-end" elite model offered in their "entry level" unit.  Basically it's the same AVR with a slightly lesser power supply/amp section but the main electronics are the same.  I REALLY liked the sound/feel of the pioneer I demo'd (pre-cursor to the VSX-84TXSi) but decided on the panasonic XR55 to replace my aging Denon....