Advice on 5.1 Home Theatre Receivers

ridgeroad on 23/05/2022 - 21:42
Last edited 23/05/2022 - 23:36 by 1 other user

Hello,

I have finally bought a SmartTV (TCL 65P8M). It has ARC but not eARC.

The receiver I currently use (RXV363) only decodes surround sound for some apps (it's a Toslink setup).

I'd like the possibility of running 4k HDMI into the receiver and for it to decode audio and send 4k video to the TV. I'd also like for the receiver to decode the most common 5.1 standards that SmartTV streaming apps use.

I've found a few options:
* $249 Onkyo TX-SR444 7.1 Channel A/V Receiver *second hand from Cash Converters
* $399 AVR-X250BT 5.1ch 4K UHD AV Receiver *Factory Refurbished*
* $499 Yamaha RX-V385 5.1-Channel AV Receiver with Bluetooth, Black

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or feedback on the best options.

Poll Options

• 3
  Onkyo TX-SR444 7.1 $249 from Cash Converters
• 0
  AVR-X250BT $399 Refurbished
• 7
  Yamaha RX-V385 $499 New

• 

  spackbace on 23/05/2022 - 22:03

  I have the V6A, very happy with it

  Got it for relative future proofing

• 

  lorikeet on 23/05/2022 - 22:13

  ARC is like SPDIF/Toslink and can only transport lossy Dolby Digital and DTS (No Atmos or DTS HDMA). So it will only work with the streaming apps which can output in those formats.

  • 

    ridgeroad on 23/05/2022 - 22:27

    Interesting… so I won't be able to access a wider format of codecs than I can currently use? Maybe I'll need to use an external media player then. Probably should have factored this in when buying the TV.

• 

  Mechz on 23/05/2022 - 23:15

  That Denon looks like cheap trash with only small spring clips for all the speaker wires.

  Also bear in mind that if you go through the AVR from source to tv it may affect the colours as some have reported in other forums.

• 

  RiseAndRuin on 24/05/2022 - 09:51

  Assuming it doesn't have any issue, I'd pick the Onkyo, but try to negotiate the price down to ~$200 if you can.

• 

  apple2016 on 24/05/2022 - 09:54

  What speaker do you intend to use? This could also affect your choices of amp/receiver.

  • 

    ridgeroad on 24/05/2022 - 14:37

    I have the following speaker setup
    * Jamo E650 6ohm
    * DTX7.5C 6ohm Centre
    * DTX S50ETH Sub
    * Realtec 8ohm Rears

• 

  Carl Xu on 24/05/2022 - 19:05

  You can try the Yamaha RX-V385, it performs better for TV/movies than music but the external DAC and better speakers have helped heaps.

• 

  Socialsuicide01 on 25/05/2022 - 13:11

  Maybe sign up with Stereonet and look for a second hand AV receiver, or join a Facebook group that sells/trades AV equipment.