A 5 year-old receiver. Worth it?? [Archive] - Audio & Video Forums

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nathanisgreen
01-04-2011, 05:36 PM
Hello All,

Getting into the game because now I can afford it!

Found a 5 year old Integra DTR 7.4channel for $200. Not trying to get a forum to build my set for me, but looking for a couple recommends:

Is buying a 5 year old system worth it? Yeah there's great retro gear out there but I'm not interested in hearing flat MP3s. Maybe using a coax or opt will take care of this problem?

Anyone have thoughts on the Integra DTR? Currently looking for mid-ranges and a good idea for a remote.
I think the I'm getting one was made before Onkyo bought them out. http://www.integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?m=DTR-7.4&class=Receiver&p=i

Also a chickpea is neither a chick, nor a pea. Discuss.

Mr Peabody
01-04-2011, 06:14 PM
Integra has been Onkyo's higher line product as long as I can remember, not sure if it's always been that way or which came first. Any way to your question, I'm not sure what Bluebook on that unit would be. To buy an older receiver really depends on what you will be doing, if only interested in 2-channel music I'd skip any kind of home theater receiver, if you have Blu-ray I would buy new to get current technology, if you have only DVD and plan to stick with it for a while or no interest in Blu at this time then maybe save some coin and buy an older receiver. Integra is a quality product.

Welcome to AR

Tarheel_
01-05-2011, 09:02 AM
Your decision really depends on what you want out of the receiver. Do you want mainly sound quality? Then an older 'higher end' receiver is a good choice. Just make sure it has pre-outs and multichannel-ins.

If you just want something to power a surround system for tv and blu-ray, then spend the $200 on a new 'lower end' receiver. This unit will have HDMI switching making life easier for you.

I believe $200 for a 5 year old receiver is high. As a reference, i purchased a 5 year old HK receiver (AVR 525) for $99 on ebay. In it's day, the unit retailed for $1200. Great receiver!

harley .guy07
01-05-2011, 11:02 AM
If it has analog inputs like my yamaha does it will work for blue ray just fine if you have a blue ray player with onboard processing like my Oppo does. But that is the only way that this receiver will be able to utilize the latest home theater formats. If this unit does not have these and home theater is an interest now or in the future then I would skip this unit and look for something newer. If 2 channel is your only concern Mr. peabody is right that seperates or an integrated amplifier is the best way to go for sound quality and a receiver would only be the way to go if budget was an issue and the unit has better than average performance record.

harley .guy07
01-05-2011, 11:03 AM
I forgot to say that the analog inputs on this receiver would have to be set for 6 or 7 channel direct input for a processor to input into the receiver.

bobsticks
01-05-2011, 11:17 AM
Is buying a 5 year old system worth it?

As has been said, that's gonna depend on what exactly your criteria for success is.

I looked at the link you provided and the unit in question has some advantages and disadvantages.

On the plus side, the amp section is plenty strong and Onkyo/Integra are known for running hi-current which should give you greater leeway on speaker selection. To further that thought, there is a full compliment of input/preouts which would give you the option of expanding with external amplification if desired or necessary. Also, the DAC processessing looks to be of quality meaning unless you put garbage in you shouldn't need to worry about getting garbage out.

On the other hand, there is no HDMI passthrough, only component video and multiple audio inputs. This will come into play in two areas: 1) you'll have to route hi-def sources seperately to your monitor to get full resolution, and 2) you might have handshake problems between (audio) sources with hi-def codecs and the receiver.

$200 is a tough pricepoint and there's going to be compromises in virtually any scenario you envision. I would spend some time thinking about the longterm goals of a system before proceeding.

pixelthis
01-05-2011, 12:37 PM
Hello All,

Getting into the game because now I can afford it!

Found a 5 year old Integra DTR 7.4channel for $200. Not trying to get a forum to build my set for me, but looking for a couple recommends:

Is buying a 5 year old system worth it? Yeah there's great retro gear out there but I'm not interested in hearing flat MP3s. Maybe using a coax or opt will take care of this problem?

Anyone have thoughts on the Integra DTR? Currently looking for mid-ranges and a good idea for a remote.
I think the I'm getting one was made before Onkyo bought them out. http://www.integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?m=DTR-7.4&class=Receiver&p=i

Also a chickpea is neither a chick, nor a pea. Discuss.

CURIOUS as to where you spotted this one, because its exactly the same model I GAVE MY BROTHER. Wonder if hes' trying to make a few bucks.
Mine cost 1200 bucks around five years ago, and is audiophile grade, with a phono stage,
unbelievable amps for this price point, and great versatility .
The video section is obsolete, only has component, as is the digital board, only has DD and DTS.
The good news, with 192khz dacs and the great amps, its a great audio system
receiver.
If you can find a BLU player that has analog 7.1 out, and can live without video switching,
you can use it for Home theater. IF YOU CAN FIND a suitable BLURAY player.
And Onkyo didn't "buy out" Integra, unless I missed something.
This is Onkyo's "LEXUS" brand, aimed at HT installers, but also with a few extra bells and whistles for people wanting a bit more than an average receiver.
HOW DID I LIKE IT? Well, I bought a 6.9 a year ago on closeout.
Integra receivers used to be comparable to Onkyo receivers of the same class, but a year ago they moved their INTEGRAS upscale. THE 7.4 became the 7.9, at 1400 bucks.
For HT I can't recommend it, no video switching. If you can live without video switching,
them great.
For audio systems it makes a great center of a starter system, and I HIGHLY RECCOMEND IT.
The amps are quite, no cross talk, higher q than your average receiver.
Think of it as a starter audiophile grade preamp with a modest power amp built in.
Runs hot, BTW, but that is its nature. NOT BAD, not bad at all.:1:

pixelthis
01-05-2011, 12:39 PM
BTW it runs four ohm speakers with no problem, ran a pair of these four ohm suckers.:1:

evilspoons
01-05-2011, 01:48 PM
What do you mean by "not interested in hearing flat MP3s"? Are you planning on using a PC as a source and want to get a better connection to it or are you just saying you'll be listening to higher quality sources?

Perhaps a more detailed explanation of exactly what you want to do with this thing would help refine everyone's answers.



The good news, with 192khz dacs and the great amps, its a great audio system
receiver.

Off topic, but I've been wondering since I joined this forum... why do you put
random
line
breaks
in the middle of your sentences, pixelthis?

bobsticks
01-05-2011, 03:28 PM
Off topic, but I've been wondering since I joined this forum... why do you put
random
line
breaks
in the middle of your sentences, pixelthis?

Back when Pix was trying to convince us all that he wasn't just another incarnation of Scotti-Too-Hottie-Too-Fruity-Rich-and-Ruti he adopted certain affectations...some have chosen to believe...others, not so much...

In any case, as the person with the actual experience with the unit in question I have faith in his assertions.

Smokey
01-05-2011, 05:00 PM
Off topic, but I've been wondering since I joined this forum... why do you put
random
line
breaks
in the middle of your sentences, pixelthis?

That is because he is too lazy. I told him about it 100 times already.

When Copying/Paste a post via Microsoft Works, it make the post break up like that. He need to use back space to join sentences together. Good luck getting thru to him about this.

evilspoons
01-06-2011, 10:05 AM
Microsoft Works.
:sosp:

I wasn't aware that even functioned any more.

Incidentally, if you want it for spell check features, a modern browser like Google Chrome will do the spell checking right in the Reply text box, no external program necessary.

pixelthis
01-06-2011, 12:32 PM
:sosp:

I wasn't aware that even functioned any more.

Incidentally, if you want it for spell check features, a modern browser like Google Chrome will do the spell checking right in the Reply text box, no external program necessary.

I never use outside programs, used Explorer for the longest, now I use Google chrome.
However the browser puts it up there, thats the way it turns out. Sorry, but with my
dyslexia trying to fix it might make it worse.
AND the 7.4 is a bargain, aluminum face plate, Ethernet with net radio, and most important, great sound. You could do worse. HAS MORE of the features of a 2,000 receiver than a 1200 dollar one.:1:

amarmistry
01-07-2011, 11:07 AM
CURIOUS as to where you spotted this one, because its exactly the same model I GAVE MY BROTHER. Wonder if hes' trying to make a few bucks.
Mine cost 1200 bucks around five years ago, and is audiophile grade, with a phono stage,
unbelievable amps for this price point, and great versatility .
The video section is obsolete, only has component, as is the digital board, only has DD and DTS.
The good news, with 192khz dacs and the great amps, its a great audio system
receiver.
If you can find a BLU player that has analog 7.1 out, and can live without video switching,
you can use it for Home theater. IF YOU CAN FIND a suitable BLURAY player.
And Onkyo didn't "buy out" Integra, unless I missed something.
This is Onkyo's "LEXUS" brand, aimed at HT installers, but also with a few extra bells and whistles for people wanting a bit more than an average receiver.
HOW DID I LIKE IT? Well, I bought a 6.9 a year ago on closeout.
Integra receivers used to be comparable to Onkyo receivers of the same class, but a year ago they moved their INTEGRAS upscale. THE 7.4 became the 7.9, at 1400 bucks.
For HT I can't recommend it, no video switching. If you can live without video switching,
them great.
For audio systems it makes a great center of a starter system, and I HIGHLY RECCOMEND IT.
The amps are quite, no cross talk, higher q than your average receiver.
Think of it as a starter audiophile grade preamp with a modest power amp built in.
Runs hot, BTW, but that is its nature. NOT BAD, not bad at all.:1:

These are the BluRays with 7.1Ch analog audio I considered for my HK non-HDMI receiver and are still available in the market:
Panny DMP-BD85 (Bought this, its awsome)
Samsung C6500 (I heard this one awesome too)
There is one more, which I could not afford i.e. Oppo 93.

pixelthis
01-07-2011, 02:00 PM
These are the BluRays with 7.1Ch analog audio I considered for my HK non-HDMI receiver and are still available in the market:
Panny DMP-BD85 (Bought this, its awsome)
Samsung C6500 (I heard this one awesome too)
There is one more, which I could not afford i.e. Oppo 93.

Just make sure you understand the way your pick handles sound. MOST turn the sound
injto LPCM and you don't know what they turned it into lpcm from, which was my
problem. PROBABLY could have found one that I liked, just ready for a receiver upgrade.:1: