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Suggestions for replacement for my old Nuforce AVP-18 surround sound processor

Not really up on the surround sound processor market at all as I concentrate on my two channel rig.
But this is the HT system in the family room which the wife uses 96% of the time.
I bought the Nuforce AVP-18 and matching 8 channel 150w class d amp brand new a few years back and they have performed flawlessly and still do.
Running 7.1 setup and do not intend to change the speakers or power amp.
The only reason looking at upgrading the processor is that there are some newer formats it does not decode like Atmos etc. Email reply from Nuforce reveals they have no intention of ever upgrading the avp18 software any further so no further advancement can be made to it.

So whats out there?

Watch a mix of dvd/bluray from an Oppo 105d and the rest is streaming via netflix or Roku.
Tv is a 4k HD model.
Presently the Oppo is fed into the avp via HDMI and goes out to TV for picture/sound via HDMI.
All I should need are the regular RCA Analog outputs for the 7.1 to go to the power amp and two toslink inputs for a couple other devices as well as the usual HDMI IN/OUTS.

Processor only , not looking for a full on receiver.
Budget $1500 to $2000
Thank you and stay safe
128x128uberwaltz
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Be aware that Integra 80.3 is 8 years old and does not support HDMI 2.0 and 4K HDR.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
I do have a question for the experts

Do I truly even need a processor that supports the latest HDMI?
I mean the ONLY HDMI source is a Bluray player.
Could I just direct its HDMI out straight to the TV input and take a digital output direct to the processor instead of relying on the processor to pass both audio and video?
Would not that be just as effective?
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Yes. Your monitor will get its video input via HDMI- and direct, without going through the processor, which is nothing but extra unnecessary connections. Your processor will get its audio signal via the digital output from the Bluray. In principle, all other things being equal, this would be better. All other things never are equal, it all depends on the quality of the cables. But as for will it work? Yeah, sure.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz OP
13,381 posts
 
That was kinda what I thought,  surely the video should be better if we cut out one point of interface especially if not truly required.
Digital coax out from the Oppo using a WireWorld Platinum Starlight should be more than good enough.
I am going to try that setup tomorrow with existing processor just to see.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
You indicated that you have a 4K HD television.  If you want to be able to streaming 4K content and sources, you will need that HDMI 2.0 support in a processor.

The alternative is to connect your source directly to the television, but then you have challenges on how to get the audio signal into the HT processor.

That being said, you don't necessarily have to have a processor that supports HDMI 2.0 and 4K.  You can play 1080p video through the processor and TV.  The TV will still accept the signal and scale the image to the native 4k resolution.

Using a digital input from bluray player can be done, but it really depends.  I have seen some processors having a problem when you have Dolby Digital Plus.  Sometimes, the only way to do Dolby Digital Plus is over HDMI on a newer type processor.
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