2. home-theater
  3. 1345486347

Hate this, I need an AV receiver. Help me choose

Since the manufacturers won't simply put analog audio out jacks on their new TV's, it looks like I will have to buy a crappy AV receiver to get sound to the outboard speakers. TV only has optical digital out which you all know we would never choose between our cherished CD transports and DAC's. It irks me because I have unused amp and preamp that would work just fine for this. I am an old school Tube and 2 channel audiophile. Even though this is only for the TV set up I don't want anything that sounds too crappy. What can you guys recommend for me here that I can find maybe at Best Buy without wasting too many dollars. Any hope in a 5.1 Yamaha for under 300 bucks for example?
hifiharv
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Another great brand was Harmon-Kardon, don't know if they are still making them, though. I used one for many years.
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
Just get a modest DAC with optical input. It will almost certainly equal and probably better the DAC in any low-cost AV receiver you'd get, then you can just use your existing preamp and amp. Toslink's shortcomings are greatly exaggerated. Use a glass cable if you can -- e.g., Wireworld.

BTW, where does your TV content come from -- is it all OTA?
soix
9,354 posts
 
"Using the speakers in the TV as a quasi center channel so to speak." Ugh. If the front L/R speakers are half way decent I'd think using a phantom or no center would be much preferable with proper setup unless you're sitting well off center (and if you are I'd invest in a decent center speaker and a cheap HT receiver from Denon, Pioneer, Onkyo, etc.). Other than that I agree with Drubin, but get a used DAC with optical input since there's no reason to pay full retail for this application or you might as well get a HT receiver. Worrying about optical vs. SPDIF is relatively insignificant in this application I'd think. Best of luck.
slikric3000
638 posts
 
Ok, I looked at two tv's on the web and both had audio out's. Maybe I'm not reading the post correctly.
zydo's avatar
zydo
242 posts
 
Slikric, I think what he is saying is that his new TV doesn't have variable outputs. I assume his TV does have outputs. With no variable he would have to adjust the volume on his preamp. If that doesn't have a remote, he has to get up to change the volume when he wants to.
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