After major disappointment with audio of ARCAM Sr-250 AVR, & similar disappointments reading terrible measurements on AVRs, what do I turn to for TV s

[Gringoaudio1]

Try listening to your Arcam on Direct mode.
That whole generation of Arcam had a badly designed digital board. They crap out. Everything goes through that board unless you switch to Direct. I can no longer listen to mine unless I play it through Direct stereo.

 

[Chrispy]

No, I didn’t realize that. But I do usually buy BluRay when I invest in a DVD. I just bought a BluRay version of The Grey Fox.

FWIW dvd and bluray aren't the same thing at all except they are optical discs. A dvd isn't a bluray nor is a bluray a dvd.....

 

[Echolane]

I almost bid on a Krell 4k Foundation processor on eBay. It found a very nice review on its it and it has all the latest 4k capability, and it has component video input as well as lots of analog audio input, so would satisfy my needs. But it can only be serviced by Krell. Will Krell be around in five years? What if I didn’t like the audio. Darn, I hated to pass on it, but I did. And the problem getting really good Audio with these TV devices is still a big provlem in general. HDMI is noisy. Very noisy Making good audio very very difficult. So I’m giving up on buying an AVR. I am going to look for a better HDMI switching device and that decision will keep $4k in my pocket.

 

[Chrispy]

Why get worked up about an Arcam avr to begin with? They're generally behind the 8-ball so to speak

 

[Echolane]

Why get worked up about an Arcam avr to begin with? They're generally behind the 8-ball so to speak

it was my first AVR so I was naive. Its advertising emphasized its great audio, like a true stereo receiver and targeted for people like me who are still two channel. So its deficiency in audio really caught me by surprise and it was very disappointing. Once burned, twice shy, you might say.

 

[Echolane]

Try listening to your Arcam on Direct mode.
That whole generation of Arcam had a badly designed digital board. They crap out. Everything goes through that board unless you switch to Direct. I can no longer listen to mine unless I play it through Direct stereo.

I wish I could! But it’s “dead”. It won’t power on.

 

[abdo123]

Now we know why AVR manufacturers put those analogue video inputs on AVRs sold in 2022...

A lot of people have video game consoles from their childhood that they want to use. VCRs .etc

 

[Vict0r]

Check out Amir's review on the Denon x3600h: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/denon-avr-x3600h-av-receiver-review.12676/

I use the x2600h (because I'm too much of a cheapskate to invest in the 3600), and I'm very satisfied with the performance for both music and media. I can only imagine how well the 3600 would perform.

 

[Beershaun]

Ls50 wireless 2? It has an HDMI eARC input and bass management with a subwoofer out. Plus other wireless and digital inputs Seems like the ultimate 2.1 system for a multi purpose tv room.

 

[Echolane]

I thought I was going to call it quits on a hunt for an AVR or an SSR and go on a renewed search for a decent HDMI switch, but I quickly got side tracked. It all came about because I phoned Crutchfield to see if they had a decent switch and was directed to one that looked a lot better than the one I have. But then I asked the agent to do a search for an AVR with at least five HDMI inputs and at least two component inputs and up came a very interesting Denon. It’s a new product as of late last year and it has 4 8k inputs along with 4 4k inputs and only 7 channels! Very nice future proofing with the 8k inputs. And the component inputs I want along with way more bells and whistles than I will use, but I’m resigned to that. The price is a very reasonable $699.

Denon AVR-X1700H

7.2-channel home theater receiver with Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, Apple AirPlay® 2, and Amazon Alexa compatibility

www.crutchfield.com

Then I came across another Denon product that seems made for me, an AVR stereo receiver with 5 HDMI inputs !! And two channels !! Just what I want!!

Denon Launches AV Receiver Just For Audiophiles Who Demand Pristine Stereo Sound​

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksp...demand-pristine-stereo-sound/?sh=5b141adc5308

Of course the almost perfect product is missing something I want - component inputs, but otherwise it is a plausible choice and a product I didn’t think existed.

So to sum things up, I am finally on a path I am comfortable with for to one or the other or these two Denon products.

 

[Echolane]

Rescued by a savvy Crutchfield advisor! Turns out the component inputs I have been obsessively insisting on for next AVR will not be useable to me after all! I need component inputs for my two vintage video components but Denon does NOT translate component to HDMI internally. Instead, to make the component inputs on the Denon useful, I need to have matching component inputs on the TV! My new Sony TV not surprisingly does not have component inputs.

I am beginning to think I should give up hunting for an AVR that will fit my needs.

 

[DonR]

Rescued by a savvy Crutchfield advisor! Turns out the component inputs I have been obsessively insisting on for next AVR will not be useable to me after all! I need component inputs for my two vintage video components but Denon does NOT translate component to HDMI internally. Instead, to make the component inputs on the Denon useful, I need to have matching component inputs on the TV! My new Sony TV not surprisingly does not have component inputs.

I am beginning to think I should give up hunting for an AVR that will fit my needs.

That has usually been the preserve of higher-end models. Like 2XXX and up. Digging in a little it looks like Denon has been moving conversion up the chain for years. 10 years ago a 2XXX and even a 19XX could do video upconversion. Now you have to step up to a X4700h to get it, Last year the X3600 could do it. That is very sad to see.

 

[Echolane]

Digging in a little it looks like Denon has been moving conversion up the chain for years. 10 years ago a 2XXX and even a 19XX could do video upconversion. Now you have to step up to a X4700h to get it, Last year the X3600 could do it. That is very sad to see.

I have to clarify…the Denon x1700h I had earlier thought was so great was mischaracterized on the Crutchfield website as having component I/O. That turned out to be error in their specs as it has no component I/O. The next one up, the x2700h does have component I/O, and so on up the line from that point, BUT at least in the x2700h it does not internally convert component to HDMI. I have assumed it’s the same all the way up the model line from there. I’m not sure why they bother to include component in their products and there is no warning that I’ve seen that it is not converted to HDMI. Very odd.