AVR/HDMI/help me decide

[nadsys]

Hello all, first post..

looking for a complete system as i've got a bit of cash saved up and ready to dive in.

before you read on, this is about receivers, not speakers so please read all.

from research i've done and price range i can afford. the 2 speaker set's i've found are:

Canton Le 190 x2, le 150 x 1, le 120 x 2.
sub = as40
cost=1100 euro

B&W WM4 x5,
AS2 sub
cost = 1100 euro

i tested the B&W system today in a shop with a Denon AVR.

Now, my requirements are mostly for movies, not so much music, looking for a decent mid-ranged AVR.

all the HDMI AVR's start from 1100 to 2500 in price, yamaha, denon, Marantz, samsung, jvc. Bit more than i was hoping to pay.

question is this, is it worth paying for an hdmi avr? is this new technology so much better than the current system? remembering that my speakers are middle of the road, and its mostly movies im using my system for.

Next question, which avr do you suggest for the above mentioned speakers? the denon i tested the b&w's with sounded sweet-as.

big lcd tv will be next thing on list to get, which is why i ask about hdmi, if its really worth it or not.

please let this noobie have your joint brainpower and expertise.

thank you.

[Legolas2]

I am in a similar situation, but have kind of made up my mind. I am going
to keep away from HDMI switching AVR. It seems a lot of them have issue
w/ dealing w/ HDCP issues. I say invest in a good remote (let the TV do the
switching) and save yourself some money. If you really are hankering for one,
but it a year or two down the road when the technology is a little mature.

The only negative of my approach is I have an extra wire from my AVR to
TV. Also, as some TVs have lip-sync issues, it might be better to invest in
AVRs that support variable delays or each input. I am still trying to short-list
such receivers.

[tonydeluce]

[QUOTE=Legolas2]I am in a similar situation, but have kind of made up my mind. I am going
to keep away from HDMI switching AVR. It seems a lot of them have issue
w/ dealing w/ HDCP issues. I say invest in a good remote (let the TV do the
switching) and save yourself some money. If you really are hankering for one,
but it a year or two down the road when the technology is a little mature.

The only negative of my approach is I have an extra wire from my AVR to
TV. Also, as some TVs have lip-sync issues, it might be better to invest in
AVRs that support variable delays or each input. I am still trying to short-list
such receivers.[/QUOTE]


Do you guys plan on getting a BluRay or HD-DVD player?

[nadsys]

firstly, i made a mistake in first post, the speakers were 5x b&w VM1.

tonydeluce, just when i thought i was getting my head wrapped around all this technology you hit me with another thing i now have to learn. i never even though about getting any dvd player other than a standard dvd player. the two new technologies coming out, will they completely see of normal DVD or will movies still come out on 4.6gb size dvd's?

legolas, thank you aswell. never thought about lip-sync issues.

so far i've narrowed it down to about 5 AVR's i like and that are in my price range.

they are:
denon 2106/2805/2807
Marantz SR 7500
Onkyo TX-SR703 E
Yamaha RX-V1600/2600
Philips DFR9000 (its got hdmi and costs half price of others, scary or good?)

a few of them being HDMI compatible. but big range in pricing there. 2106 being dirt cheap and from what i read, a solid performer.

not sure about that lip-sync thing for any of them though, have to look into that.

anyone know about that philips mentioned above?

my local hifi shop has all recievers mentioned above except onkyo and philips, can anyone vouch for the onkyo systems?

thanks once again

[tonydeluce]

[QUOTE=nadsys]
tonydeluce, just when i thought i was getting my head wrapped around all this technology you hit me with another thing i now have to learn. i never even though about getting any dvd player other than a standard dvd player. the two new technologies coming out, will they completely see of normal DVD or will movies still come out on 4.6gb size dvd's?
[/QUOTE]

sorry :-) I am sure SD DVDs will be around for a while but the question really
boils down to whether or not you care about the new "lossless" audio formats...

[nadsys]

ok, say i do intend on getting the new technology, how does that impact on the receiver im thinking of getting? (in lamons terms please).

as i think order of getting things should be:

reciever --> speakers --> TV/dvd-player

but i dont want to find out a month down the road that the receiver i've boguht is in someway not compatible with the dvd-player i want (might be bluray/hd-dvd).

[Legolas2]

[QUOTE=tonydeluce]Do you guys plan on getting a BluRay or HD-DVD player?[/QUOTE]

Not right away (not 1st gen). But remember any Blu-ray/HD-DVD players will play
DVD. HD-DVD physical data format was developed to be similar to DVD, it is easy
for the players to support it (I used to design chips for DVD recorders not very
long ago)

Either way, I don't think a customer will pay $1K and not expect DVD/CD support.
Again like I said, HDMI switching technology will be better and cheaper in two
more years. (I bought a Yamaha RXV995 for $1500 about years ago, and doubth
there will be even a buyer for it for $100 now.

My 2 cents