Recommended receiver for HT


I plan to downsize from Bryston SP-3 processor and Parasound amps to a single receiver for HT. The speakers would be KEF T301 fronts; LS50s are side and rear; subs are pairs of Velodyne HGS-15s and HGS-10s with SMS-1 bass management. Sources are Cox TV, Ayre DX-5 DSD, and perhaps Oppo 205 or 105D. Stereo music is a separate setup. I’ve been out of the receiver market for decades, so I’m seeking recommendations for a used receiver at moderate cost.
Ag insider logo xs@2xdbphd
Tim,

The Cox receiver has HDMI that I'll take to the Oppo where it will be split into video and audio.  Video will go directly to the projector, audio to the NAD amps.  I'm pretty confident audio will be at least 5.1.  When I wrote that Cox TV audio was 2 only channel I had misremembered that the limitation was video, no 4 K video.

db
Hello dbphd,

     That's good news. 
     Yes, an HDMI cable will be connected from the HDMI main output on the Cox cable box to the HDMI input on the 205. Another HDMI cable is connected from the HDMI OUT (Main) on the 205 to the Main HDMI Input on your projector.  Then cables are connected from the 7.1 audio out jacks on the 205 to your amps, XLR or RCA for the l+r stereo/front l+r mains outputs and RCA only for the remaining channels and sub.  
    You'll probably need to connect all 7.1 channels to the amps and speakers to determine if the Cox cable box is sending 7.1 channel surround to the 205 or just 5.1.
     Once your subs are repaired and hooked up, the last steps will be going into the 205's setup menus and making sure everything is configured properly.  Things such as the proper video output resolution settings on the 205 for your projector, crossover frequency for your subs and the trim level, size and distance settings for each of the channels. 
     If the Cox cable is not 4K but your projector is 4K, I know the 205 can take an inputted 1080P video signal and up-sample or upconvert it to a 4K picture.  Do you know if this processed 4K picture will be of sufficient resolution for your purposes?

Tim
Tim.

The projector is not 4K, but I used the Oppo 205 with DirecTV and the video quality was excellent.  I'll use the 205 with Cox when the M22 is installed next week. and reconnect the Velodyne SMS-1 and HGS-10s with crossover at 80 Hz with 4th order slope.

db

Hey dbphd,

    Excellent! Just a few more questions if you don't mind:

1. Do you plan on running the LS50s full-range, with the amp connected direct from the Oppo-205 front l+r mains outputs or are you going to run them only from 80 Hz on up, with the amp connected to the SMS-1's restricted frequency outputs?

2. Are you going to run the remainder of all your satellite LS50 speakers  full-range or restricted to 80 Hz and up?

3.  Do you know when your 15" subs will be ready for pickup in L.A.?


Thanks, 
  Tim