AV receiver - easy to use?
Discussion
Hi all,
Having just replaced my tv unit with a much neater Ikea Besta unit with built in Uppleva TV mount (which is excellent), I no longer have room for my bookshelf speakers beside the TV.
Going back to using just the TV speakers has both angered and pleased me. Angered because I miss the sound (B&W bookshelves with a Loewe Legro/Linn Classik, the latter having the worst user interface and remote control of any device I have ever used in my entire life), but pleased because the combination of our TV, PVR, AMP and Harmony remote were infuriating to use. The remote would constantly go out of sync (one device would turn on but not the other), or just wouldn't work right, which resulted in lots of frustrated phone calls to me from the Mrs when she "couldn't get the sound on".
Now we are able to use just the PVR remote which will also control the TV's volume level.
So now I am thinking about replacement speakers, and I am considering getting an AV receiver, and possibly either a 2.1 or, 3.1 or 5.1 setup. However, I haven't used an AV receiver since before HDMI came along. I want to be sure that if I get one, it is as simple to use as possible. Will it play nicely with my TV and PVR, or are we likely to end up in the same situation as before?
Any thoughts appreciated!
Having just replaced my tv unit with a much neater Ikea Besta unit with built in Uppleva TV mount (which is excellent), I no longer have room for my bookshelf speakers beside the TV.
Going back to using just the TV speakers has both angered and pleased me. Angered because I miss the sound (B&W bookshelves with a Loewe Legro/Linn Classik, the latter having the worst user interface and remote control of any device I have ever used in my entire life), but pleased because the combination of our TV, PVR, AMP and Harmony remote were infuriating to use. The remote would constantly go out of sync (one device would turn on but not the other), or just wouldn't work right, which resulted in lots of frustrated phone calls to me from the Mrs when she "couldn't get the sound on".
Now we are able to use just the PVR remote which will also control the TV's volume level.
So now I am thinking about replacement speakers, and I am considering getting an AV receiver, and possibly either a 2.1 or, 3.1 or 5.1 setup. However, I haven't used an AV receiver since before HDMI came along. I want to be sure that if I get one, it is as simple to use as possible. Will it play nicely with my TV and PVR, or are we likely to end up in the same situation as before?
Any thoughts appreciated!
Short answer might be, it depends..
I updated my AV receiver recently, and the Yamaha remote have more buttons than you are ever likely to use on a day-to-day basis, which are too small for daily use, and a PITA for even doing the setup. On the other hand, the iPad/Android apps are great.
As a basic setup for a technophobe, I'd be considering a multifunction remote (like a Harmony) to keep it as simple as possible, assuming all they are doing is switching sources, and changing volume.
I updated my AV receiver recently, and the Yamaha remote have more buttons than you are ever likely to use on a day-to-day basis, which are too small for daily use, and a PITA for even doing the setup. On the other hand, the iPad/Android apps are great.
As a basic setup for a technophobe, I'd be considering a multifunction remote (like a Harmony) to keep it as simple as possible, assuming all they are doing is switching sources, and changing volume.
Almost every new amp these days will have HDMI pass through and that does most of the fiddly work for you, i.e. it changes the sound and the picture. Very nice and easy to use.
Just make sure it (and anything else in the chain you are buying new) is HDMI 2/ HDCP2.2 capable for futureproofing and or 4k.
I replaced my trusty old Yamaha AV amp last for a Marantz item, you will be amazed at how things have moved on. The Marantz does Spotify, internet radio and will also check and upgrade it firmware!
The only downside is having a mischevious son who will remotely switch it to some death metal shoutfest on Spotify whilst we are watching something on Netflix. He has been warned half heartedly but I think it is very funny as it always scares the crap out of the Mrs.
Just make sure it (and anything else in the chain you are buying new) is HDMI 2/ HDCP2.2 capable for futureproofing and or 4k.
I replaced my trusty old Yamaha AV amp last for a Marantz item, you will be amazed at how things have moved on. The Marantz does Spotify, internet radio and will also check and upgrade it firmware!
The only downside is having a mischevious son who will remotely switch it to some death metal shoutfest on Spotify whilst we are watching something on Netflix. He has been warned half heartedly but I think it is very funny as it always scares the crap out of the Mrs.
chasingracecars said:
Have you thought about a Soundbar? Most AV amps can get in a muddle unless they are selected carefully and you set them up right.
I would need to know make and model of the TV to have any chance of choosing an AV reciever that will be easy to use.
It's a bit of a relic:I would need to know make and model of the TV to have any chance of choosing an AV reciever that will be easy to use.
https://www.bol.com/nl/p/samsung-lcd-tv-le37a552-3...
In the past I had used a stereo amp to drive my two speakers, using the DAC in the TV to convert all inputs to RCA out, which I then fed to the amp. This worked fantastically, from an ease of use point of view, however, when the cable company updated our PVR, they gave us a box which has a fixed level audio output, meaning that we had to adjust the volume level from the amp, which is what ruined that.
Re. soundbars, I think I'd rather not bother. I've heard some decent ones but I am a bit relucant to go down that route as I miss proper stereo already.
hoegaardenruls said:
Short answer might be, it depends..
As a basic setup for a technophobe, I'd be considering a multifunction remote (like a Harmony) to keep it as simple as possible, assuming all they are doing is switching sources, and changing volume.
Thanks. Indeed, it would just be switching sources and changing volume. As a basic setup for a technophobe, I'd be considering a multifunction remote (like a Harmony) to keep it as simple as possible, assuming all they are doing is switching sources, and changing volume.
I have a harmony remote, but with the current setup it has caused heaps of problems. I suspect it would play more nicely with a modern AV receiver though.
benz0 said:
hoegaardenruls said:
Short answer might be, it depends..
As a basic setup for a technophobe, I'd be considering a multifunction remote (like a Harmony) to keep it as simple as possible, assuming all they are doing is switching sources, and changing volume.
Thanks. Indeed, it would just be switching sources and changing volume. As a basic setup for a technophobe, I'd be considering a multifunction remote (like a Harmony) to keep it as simple as possible, assuming all they are doing is switching sources, and changing volume.
I have a harmony remote, but with the current setup it has caused heaps of problems. I suspect it would play more nicely with a modern AV receiver though.
The only gotcha might be the age of the TV, with a new amp, as even recent TV's may only support HDCP 1.4 over HDMI, which causes problems if the amp is HDCP 2.2 compliant. I had to buy one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N948UGN
You can get cheaper, but in-line between the receiver and TV, it sorts out the blank screen if there are compatibility issues.
Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff