Would You Upgrade to a New Receiver Right Now Just for PLIIz?

Peter Marlowe · 08-31-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMS

On most Yamaha receivers, the presence speakers and the rear surrounds share the same amps. The fronts and backs cannot play at the same time. The receiver's processing decides which will be used at any given time depending on the source material.

This is not the case with the new Onkyos, which makes them true 9.1 receivers (provided you don't use the Zone 2 feature).

In Butterworth's review of the 607 in Sound & Vision, he makes a note early in the piece regarding the fact that the unit won't facilitate an extreme of running all channels PLUS the PLIIz height extension -- there are tradeoffs that must be made when using the receiver with many speakers attached, but I can't recall at the moment what configurations are allowed.

JMS · 09-01-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Marlowe

In Butterworth's review of the 607 in Sound & Vision, he makes a note early in the piece regarding the fact that the unit won't facilitate an extreme of running all channels PLUS the PLIIz height extension -- there are tradeoffs that must be made when using the receiver with many speakers attached, but I can't recall at the moment what configurations are allowed.

You are right Peter:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterworth

I did all my comparisons in 5.1, switching the height speakers on and off to gauge their effect. It would have been nice to try a 9.1-channel system, but the TX-SR607 doesn’t allow it; you can use channels 6 and 7 for the rear surrounds or the height speakers, but not both.

I spent a lot of time reading the 607 manual, and I could find no clarification of this. It does make sense though -- the 607 is 7.1 and if you use either PL IIz or Zone 2, you are limited to 5.1 for the rest of the system. I stand corrected and thank you.

tvine2000 · 09-01-2009, 08:58 AM

looks like dolby's got one up on dts again.i wonder since this is not a new codec will it work with a dtsma sound track.

JMS · 09-01-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvine2000

looks like dolby's got one up on dts again.i wonder since this is not a new codec will it work with a dtsma sound track.

Also from the Butterworth article:

Quote:

...PLIIz adds a sense of height and greater envelopment to conventional 5.1-channel surround sound. It’s the first of what will be at least two (and maybe three or more) competing height-channel technologies.

Audyssey's 10 channel surround:

http://bitstream.soundandvisionmag.c...und-sound.html

Peter Marlowe · 09-02-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMS

You are right Peter:

I spent a lot of time reading the 607 manual, and I could find no clarification of this. It does make sense though -- the 607 is 7.1 and if you use either PL IIz or Zone 2, you are limited to 5.1 for the rest of the system. I stand corrected and thank you.

"Originally Posted by Butterworth"?

How did you get that quote? It makes him seem like he's a member here...

The reference I was talking about was actually early in the article where he makes some kind of mention regarding "the receiver won't facilitate that extreme..."

awol · 09-02-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Marlowe

"Originally Posted by Butterworth"?

How did you get that quote? It makes him seem like he's a member here...

You can put the QUOTE tags around any bit of text to make it appear in the "quote" box. You don't have to only use the Quote button at the bottom of the post.

jamesingram01 · 11-02-2009, 03:07 PM

Amongst all the things I was looking for when upgrading from an older Denon to the new AVR-4810ci, the need for another Pro-Logic format boggled my mind. With a room not very large and having been very satisfied with the AVR-3808ci, I was not entirely sold on the need for PLIIz. Two things changed my mind; I got a ridiculous deal from Electronics Expo with a coupon ( WS901x3807 for the receiver, WS920x3807 for my Samsung LED TV) and the change in overall image size and depth. I forgot what my worry was about the moment I turned up my old Ahnold favorite "Eraser." I was transported to the largest Zoo image I had experienced with Alligators and water-thrashing creeping up my walls. (This was with the soon-to-be-replaced JBL L-100/L-80/Velodyne system I have used since my divorce). A little tweaking after the Audyssey did its work, and the result with older material re-awakened my desire to watch these gems (even a non-Blu-ray "Fifth Element" got a workout on Halloween night) over and over. I highly recommend this receiver and all its myriad functions: the rewards are plentiful!

Peter Marlowe · 11-02-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesingram01

Amongst all the things I was looking for when upgrading from an older Denon to the new AVR-4810ci, the need for another Pro-Logic format boggled my mind. With a room not very large and having been very satisfied with the AVR-3808ci, I was not entirely sold on the need for PLIIz. Two things changed my mind; I got a ridiculous deal from Electronics Expo with a coupon ( WS901x3807 for the receiver, WS920x3807 for my Samsung LED TV) and the change in overall image size and depth. I forgot what my worry was about the moment I turned up my old Ahnold favorite "Eraser." I was transported to the largest Zoo image I had experienced with Alligators and water-thrashing creeping up my walls. (This was with the soon-to-be-replaced JBL L-100/L-80/Velodyne system I have used since my divorce). A little tweaking after the Audyssey did its work, and the result with older material re-awakened my desire to watch these gems (even a non-Blu-ray "Fifth Element" got a workout on Halloween night) over and over. I highly recommend this receiver and all its myriad functions: the rewards are plentiful!

Thanks for your opinions, James!

It seems like more and more people are recommending the "height" algorithm in the new receivers; I want to upgrade my 605 for more sheer power, so I don't know what I am going to go with next...I want a good multichannel power amp/processor combo, but not sure which brand or model to go with yet.

Another thing I always wondered about with regard to receivers and their "distance" settings in their menus (and I suppose this would get more complicated with the added height channels) was, does changing distances to the sweet spot affect overall volume from those given speakers? I recently recalibrated my speaker distances to be more accurate (noting they were a bit off from initial install), and the front channels went up about two feet -- would this necessarily mean the playback material would "seem" louder or a bit lower, based on changing that distance setting?

It's an interesting discussion I've been having with others...

Loves2Watch · 11-03-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Marlowe

Thanks for your opinions, James!

It seems like more and more people are recommending the "height" algorithm in the new receivers; I want to upgrade my 605 for more sheer power, so I don't know what I am going to go with next...I want a good multichannel power amp/processor combo, but not sure which brand or model to go with yet.

Another thing I always wondered about with regard to receivers and their "distance" settings in their menus (and I suppose this would get more complicated with the added height channels) was, does changing distances to the sweet spot affect overall volume from those given speakers? I recently recalibrated my speaker distances to be more accurate (noting they were a bit off from initial install), and the front channels went up about two feet -- would this necessarily mean the playback material would "seem" louder or a bit lower, based on changing that distance setting?

It's an interesting discussion I've been having with others...

The Onkyo TX-NR807 sounds like it would fit your needs for power and all of the bells and whistles you can imagine.

Peter Marlowe · 11-03-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loves2Watch

The Onkyo TX-NR807 sounds like it would fit your needs for power and all of the bells and whistles you can imagine.

As always, thanks L2W for your input and opinion!

Is this Onkyo's current flagship? I have to go on their site and check, as I've been out of the loop as of late on their lineup on anything that seems to go beyond the "600" series...

Would this be as good a bet for power as going the separate amp/preamp route?

EDIT: Is this the beast you're talking about? http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i

If so, there are a couple of models above this...would this still deliver on power fronts?

Loves2Watch · 11-04-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Marlowe

As always, thanks L2W for your input and opinion!

Is this Onkyo's current flagship? I have to go on their site and check, as I've been out of the loop as of late on their lineup on anything that seems to go beyond the "600" series...No it's not their flagship as they have three other superior models yet they, for the most part only offer more power and 1 or 2 extras. The 807 is a solid, clean performer that will satisfy even the most demanding needs.

Would this be as good a bet for power as going the separate amp/preamp route? Absolutely.

EDIT: Is this the beast you're talking about? http://www.onkyousa.com/model.cfm?m=...s=Receiver&p=i Yes it is.

If so, there are a couple of models above this...would this still deliver on power fronts?

It would be and is my choice in several of my home theater rooms. There are more costly models besides other brands that can do the same but this one delivers it all for the right price point.

11-02-2009, 03:07 PM	#52
jamesingram01 What is HD? Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4	To PLIIzor not to PLIIz! Amongst all the things I was looking for when upgrading from an older Denon to the new AVR-4810ci, the need for another Pro-Logic format boggled my mind. With a room not very large and having been very satisfied with the AVR-3808ci, I was not entirely sold on the need for PLIIz. Two things changed my mind; I got a ridiculous deal from Electronics Expo with a coupon ( WS901x3807 for the receiver, WS920x3807 for my Samsung LED TV) and the change in overall image size and depth. I forgot what my worry was about the moment I turned up my old Ahnold favorite "Eraser." I was transported to the largest Zoo image I had experienced with Alligators and water-thrashing creeping up my walls. (This was with the soon-to-be-replaced JBL L-100/L-80/Velodyne system I have used since my divorce). A little tweaking after the Audyssey did its work, and the result with older material re-awakened my desire to watch these gems (even a non-Blu-ray "Fifth Element" got a workout on Halloween night) over and over. I highly recommend this receiver and all its myriad functions: the rewards are plentiful!

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09-01-2009, 08:58 AM	#48
tvine2000 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: vermont Posts: 1,275	looks like dolby's got one up on dts again.i wonder since this is not a new codec will it work with a dtsma sound track.