Need help picking a home theater receiver?

Question

I was thinking of one of these 3.

1.Sony STR-DG910 $400

2.Onkyo TX-SR605 $400

3.Harman Kardon AVR-247 $500

Answer 1

Check out the RX-V line of Yamaha receivers those are real home theater receivers if not Onkyo is good, sony is good but is more brand marketing than anything else and HK is good too.

Answer 2

I would go with the Harmon/Kardon. They are the best brand of the three because they still accurately rate all of their audio equipment so what you see is what you get. The sound quality of Harmon/Kardon receivers is also excellent. It's a little more expensive than the others but it's worth it. The model you mentioned has 85watts/(7)ch which is more than enough power to fill even a large room with great sound. Onkyo is a good brand too but H/K is better. I would not get Sony though. I have a Sony stereo receiver and there is a slight hiss if it is idle which is kind of annoying. I would only get a high-end Sony receiver. Sony's lower-end receivers aren't very good.  This is the order of the brands to me (1 being best, 3 being least)

1. Harmon/Kardon

2. Onkyo

3. Sony

Answer 3

Good choices, I would recommend the Onkyo.  Besides having one (TX-SR603) for over a year, I researched it before purchasing it (ie consumer reports, cnet) and it is one of the top rated receivers.  

It does run hotter than other receivers that I've had or compared too, but it isn't a problem.

I think you'll be happy with any of these recievers.

Answer 4

The Onkyo by far.  HDMI 1.3 compliant therefore futureproof.  Harman Kardon give off a "high end" vibe but are far from being there.  They are overrated.  The Sony I wont waste my time on.

Answer 5

Picking a good home theater receiver can be fun but tricky at the same time, simply because there are so many choices on the market to choose from.   But to me seem like you have narrowed it down to a few choices here.   Well I am going to just be frankly honest with you______The only good choice out of the (3) you choose [just to name a few] would be the Onkyo TX-SR605, Harman Kardon, just can't pull the wattage and they product[s] just don't seem to handle the heat.

        As far as Sony, they to me just seem to be a good name when it come to game gear, video and other products.   I wouldn't purchase a Sony receiver.    Now I noticed that you have a price range.

         What if I told you that Pioneer makes a 7.1 with 120watts along with THX Select 2 for $499.00 [VSX-1017TX] and it is better than the (3) choices that you chose, without hurting the piggy bank__now if you just prefer to go with the one[s] you made, go with the Onkyo......good luck!

Answer 6

The Onkyo 705 unit won "Best Home Theater Receiver" in a recent "Perfect Vision" magazine.  I imagine the 605 is a reduced power version of the higher end unit.  This would by my first choice of the three.

The Sony "ES" line is their better receivers. Sony makes a lot of so-so quality units and the DG910 does not stand out.

HK is not very popular. When Circuit City was nearly going out of business, they only carried HK receivers for a while because they were so inexpensive.  I have not read any reviews on HK receivers in a while so I just dont have anything good/bad to say.

Answer 7

Onkyo.  I just bought an 805 and couldn't be happier.  As for the pioneer that was recommended the hdmi doesn't transmit the audio you have to get a pioneer elite to get that luxury.  The reviews at bestbuy.co say it all.  Hk doesn't have the power and it is more $.  The only decent product sony seems to make is tvs.