Lightning took out part of my AVR

[Spiralout]

Lovely...I'm dropping some $$$ getting new siding and windows and during the installation, lightning strikes a tree across the street.

While it didn't hit power lines, the strike caused my cable tv stream to flake out, warranting a repair visit. Once I got the signal back, I noticed that my HDMI input on the receiver was taken with it. (My sister had something similar happen: a nearby lightning strike to a tree took out her PC modem and her garage door.)

I've tried a processor reset on the Denon, but I think that input is toast. The only other input is in use, and it's flaked out once already as well.

It may be time for a new device...

The device is a Denon 2308-CI. Not bad, but not that great. I know there's been some significant feature improvements since I bought mine: Wifi/bluetooth enabled, Dolby/DTS TruHD, but I don't really know if I should go the AVR route or the pre-amp/amp setup that so many of you do.

I'm driving an AV123 rocket setup (RS850 sig, bigfoot sig, RS450 sig rears).

I don't have a budget, but I'm entertaining options under $1k. It looks like Denon's 2312ci is a suitable replacement at around $600, but I'm a little irked that my current denon has occasionally lost the video signal for a split second at random.

Does anyone have a recommendation?

[Jethro]

I'm in the same boat. Onkyo 805 just stopped working on me. Looking for a replacement receiver for around $600, but I'm worried that the replacement won't be powerful enough as the onkyo does well driving my rockets.

[Maximum kahuna]

Sorry to hear about the lightning strike. I took a strike on my satellite dish one time and it took out random electronics even though nothing was turned on. Satellite box, tv tuner, dvr, not the receiver nor disc player, very strange.

Do you like the Denon sound? If so try Marantz which has a similar warm sound. Some people like Yamaha and Rockets because the more neutral (forward, some say) sound of Yamaha balances the "laid -back" sound of Rockets. Before going to a separate amp, I ran my Rocket 550s with a Yamaha RX-V 657 and like the sound a lot. Without the amp, I think it sounded better driving my Rockets than the Marantz I now have. The other drawback to Denon is that you have to go pretty high up the model chain to get pre amp outs which allows you to add a power amp.

[Spiralout]

Sorry to hear about the lightning strike. I took a strike on my satellite dish one time and it took out random electronics even though nothing was turned on. Satellite box, tv tuner, dvr, not the receiver nor disc player, very strange.

Do you like the Denon sound? If so try Marantz which has a similar warm sound. Some people like Yamaha and Rockets because the more neutral (forward, some say) sound of Yamaha balances the "laid -back" sound of Rockets. Before going to a separate amp, I ran my Rocket 550s with a Yamaha RX-V 657 and like the sound a lot. Without the amp, I think it sounded better driving my Rockets than the Marantz I now have. The other drawback to Denon is that you have to go pretty high up the model chain to get pre amp outs which allows you to add a power amp.

I love the way the denon worked with movies, but was meh with music. I hear way too many bad artifacts in cds due to over compression. I feel like the harder rock/metal I like to listen to is a bit too bright until I really crank the power. I figured that was a result of not driving with more power(separates) as opposed to a denon issue.

Yamaha's price point makes me wonder if they're less audiophile quality than what I wanted. I appreciate you setting me straight: maybe I should look at them. I don't know of a way to audition AVRs before buying at my price range, so I have to go by reviews.

I took a look at the XPA 5 and was blown away: I don't remember it being $900! I'd love to do pre-amp/amp, but I can't drop that kind of cash.

[Jethro]

I love the way the denon worked with movies, but was meh with music. I hear way too many bad artifacts in cds due to over compression. I feel like the harder rock/metal I like to listen to is a bit too bright until I really crank the power. I figured that was a result of not driving with more power(separates) as opposed to a denon issue.

Yamaha's price point makes me wonder if they're less audiophile quality than what I wanted. I appreciate you setting me straight: maybe I should look at them. I don't know of a way to audition AVRs before buying at my price range, so I have to go by reviews.

I took a look at the XPA 5 and was blown away: I don't remember it being $900! I'd love to do pre-amp/amp, but I can't drop that kind of cash.

Hey Gwilks... what do you make of this receiver?

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/SHERR972/SHERWOOD-R-972-Newcastle-7.1-A/V-Surround-Receiver-TrueHD-DTS-HD/1.html

Sherwood r-972
Supposedly sounds great with trinnov processing, but may not be as user friendly as the onkyo's, denon's, yammy's, etc...

For my budget, It's hard for me to look past it right now. I don't really have a budget either, but if I spend a grand... I'll probably be sleeping on the couch for a while as the wife wants a new vehicle. :(

[phipp01]

I love the way the denon worked with movies, but was meh with music. I hear way too many bad artifacts in cds due to over compression. I feel like the harder rock/metal I like to listen to is a bit too bright until I really crank the power. I figured that was a result of not driving with more power(separates) as opposed to a denon issue.

Yamaha's price point makes me wonder if they're less audiophile quality than what I wanted. I appreciate you setting me straight: maybe I should look at them. I don't know of a way to audition AVRs before buying at my price range, so I have to go by reviews.

I took a look at the XPA 5 and was blown away: I don't remember it being $900! I'd love to do pre-amp/amp, but I can't drop that kind of cash.

I liked the way my cheap Yamaha RX-V663 sounded with my Rockets. If you dont mind refurbed (I have never had a problem with anything I bought refurbed) accessories4less.com has a Denon 3312, with pre-outs, 1 year factory warranty for $650. And you could always buy a EW for a few more years coverage if you were nervous.

Im trying to remember the price of the XPA 5 when it came out. IIRC it was introduced at $599 for a limited time then went to $699. I know back when I was looking at them a used one would be snapped up in less than a day. I didnt know they raised their price to $899. I think at that price I would start looking at Outlaw or an ATI amp.

[Maximum kahuna]

For their mid priced models, when Yamaha went to HDMI connections, I think it was the *61 models, e.g. RX-V661, they cheapend the amps to keep the price points. They got a lot of grief in the press, especially because the *57 and *59 models were so stout. However the last model or two have gone back to better amps. The receivers are heavier and now have ratings at "all channels driven."

My XPA-3 has gone up $200 since I bought it about 2 years ago. Used XPAs (2,3,& 5) sell quickly. I love my Emo amp but new 200 watters are getting pricey.

[tthurman]

Hey Gwilks... what do you make of this receiver?

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/SHERR972/SHERWOOD-R-972-Newcastle-7.1-A/V-Surround-Receiver-TrueHD-DTS-HD/1.html

Sherwood r-972
Supposedly sounds great with trinnov processing, but may not be as user friendly as the onkyo's, denon's, yammy's, etc...

For my budget, It's hard for me to look past it right now. I don't really have a budget either, but if I spend a grand... I'll probably be sleeping on the couch for a while as the wife wants a new vehicle. :(

I'd be interested in your thoughts on that Sherwood if you decide to get it.

I have a Sherwood unit that came in a SLS Audio HTIB. It's component only, is rated at 100w, and is obviously lacking in some features due to the bundle, but the amp actually sounds pretty good. I've been driving my X-Statiks, VOCE and SLS with it for a couple years now due to not having a budget for a good AVR, as this is my secondary system. I tested the water a couple years ago, but it appears that the Denon 3010 era series was the last before lots of major changes with the feature set, namely inputs and hardware decoding etc.. It also appeared to me that since the end of the Denon XX08CI series, that when they left Japan manufacturing, they also left their quality. Every review seems to be a mixed bag. I nearly went with Marantz at one point, but same story.

[1BionicEar]

Lightning strikes really suck. In one strike, I lost the control board on my central air unit, the power transformer on my Marantz SR7000, the HDMI board on my Onkyo 805, and an HP LaserJet printer, all of which were on surge protectors. Oh yeah, it also fried the board on my Monster HTS5000 surge protector that the Marantz was plugged into. :eek:

[boober]

1 AVR you guys might want to check out is the new 2012 Onkyo TX-NR818.

It has Multi EQXT32. Has 7 channels, but can do 9 channels with an extra external amp. I just ordered mine online new for $900.00 shipped.

I can't wait to get it to replace my almost 4 year old Yamaha RX-V663. :D

I'm gonna power it up with my two XPA-5's.

It's been available for about 3 weeks or so and has been getting rave reviews for it's SQ and PQ.