Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with receiver

What's the best wireless audio bridge / networked digital audio receiver that works on the Mac?

nitsuj — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:27:10 -0800

What's the best wireless audio bridge / networked digital audio receiver that works on the Mac? I'm looking for a simple hardware solution that will allow me to bridge my Macbook Pro's audio-out source to my home theater amplifier. Many products like the WMB54G and Sirocco either have no Mac support at all, or have very poor reviews and cost way too much.

The Airport Express seems decent if I only wanted to stream iTunes, but I'd also like to stream from other sources, like Spotify, which it won't support.

Is there a simple, under-$100 (or close to it) solution out there?

How to program a Radio Shack PRO-2018 Scanning Receiver?

randomthoughts — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:03:52 -0800

Can some one explain simply how to program a Radio Shack PRO-2018 Scanning Receiver Police/Fire/Weather/Air/Marine Radio? Bonus for finding Minnesota fire and police codes?

Receive me.

wordsmith — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:38:59 -0800

I'm looking for a home audio receiver + speakers to serve a few different purposes. Can you help me find a good one? I'm piecing together my home theater, and need to buy a decent receiver that will do the following:

1) At least 5.1 audio -- including support for a (powered?) sub.
2) Multiple speaker selection; I have outdoor speakers that I'd like to hook into this as well. Ideally, I'd be able to listen to whatever either indoors only, outdoors only, or both. Do receivers ever support three channels? Eventually, I'd like to hook up a third set of speakers in the basement, and be able to switch between all of them.

What brands should I be looking at? Links to specific receivers that do what I need it to do would be appreciated.

Budget: under $250.

Sounds Good...

madeinitaly — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:34:33 -0800

[Hi-Fi / HT filter] Help me find the right front speakers for my receiver, so that both music and movies sound good ! Hello.

I have a Harman Kardon AV 145 which i always used with the standard JBL 5.1 speaker set it came with (little and probably not so good satellites, but i really like the subwoofer).

I got my hands on a Mission m7c1 center speaker (got for almost free) and recently replaced the left and right front speaker (which previously were just little boxes) with some TEAC coming out of a compact system a friend was throwing away.

The difference since i put those left/right (sorry i don't have name or characteristics, but just imagine your typical 2 ways system from a 90s compact system) is amazing: music sounds much better - and i guess it's because now the left/right sound can manage some bass and the subwoofer just gives it a final touch.

The issue is that now when i watch a movie, i think the right/left sound too powerful compared to the middle - so you hear all the background noised much louder than the speech... and that's less than optimal. My receiver has the option to select if each speaker is "large" or "small", option that basically cross-overs the bass to the subwoofer or to the speakers themselves.

now... i think i might need to set the speakers as "small" in order to not overpower the middle... but then i miss the improvement i gained in the music listening area....

does this make sense? What would you do and/or what tests would you do ?

Secondly... I have now the chance to do two things

1) replace those TEAC speakers with the speakers that come from this Panasonic SC-DP1 system which actually sound _amazing_ and i would like to keep. Problem... these speakers have 4 wires coming out of them and my HK AVR 145 only has 2 plugs for each speaker... how do i connect them ?

2) someone is selling these amazing Mission 733 speakers for a very low price... i really like the idea of professional speakers but... will they be alright for the rest of my system or would i just add to the problem of left/right overpowering the middle ?

thank you all for your help!

What receiver and speakers should I purchase for under $400?

vmrob — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:58:51 -0800

I'm on a budget and want to upgrade my audio system. What receiver/speakers I should purchase to get the most for my money? I currently own a mini-hifi system from Sony (Specifically the MHC-GX45). I wouldn't mind reusing the receiver/amp from that system though I have a feeling to get the most out of the system, I'll be looking for a new receiver as the input options are very limited on the device.

The entire system will be used for stereo sources so surround isn't a priority though a dedicated subwoofer would be nice.

After a quick look online, I found a set of speakers from Sony (SS-F5000) that seem to fit my budget and have overall good reviews. If there is a better pair of speakers (floor standing would be nice, but not necessary) at about that price, what are they and where can I get them?

As for a receiver, I'm totally lost. I've never been in the market and I'm not sure what I need. Auto-switching sources would be nice though I don't know what other features I should be looking for. Recommendations?

My budget for the whole system would preferably be less than $400. If you point out a sub I could add later, bonus points to you. I know the budget will force me to make sacrifices to the sound quality and I'm ok with that, but I really want a system that sounds good. In other words, if I have to step up the price, I can do that, but my purchase will be a little delayed.

Can I get my PC to use this Mac-based USB device?

kjackelen05 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:58:43 -0800

Help me set up this USB infrared receiver for my PC. The machine doesn't recognize it when I plug it in. I bought the device after reading in a forum that it can work with Windows to receive remote control commands. I figured this would be perfect for my Harmony One remote, since this computer sits in the living room and uses my HDTV as a display. I realize the device is targeted toward the Mac, but I was hopeful that configuring it for the PC would be a simple task.

I was wrong. The first time I connected the device to my computer, it said that it was installed and ready for use. It did not respond to the commands from my remote, and it was not listed in the device manager anywhere. As a result, I have no idea how to try to configure it. Every time I've connected the device since the first time, the machine has not responded to it in any way. No sound indicating a device has been connected, no system tray icon saying it's being installed, no entry in the device manager, nothing.

If anyone has an idea of how to get this working with my machine, your help is greatly appreciated. If I can't get it working, I'll order something designed for Windows, which isn't the end of the world, but I'd obviously like to use what I've already got if possible. Thanks!

Relevant information: My PC is a Dell Inspiron 531s desktop machine running Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit.

Relevant links:
Aforementioned forum thread where I learned about this device
Article on the subject that might be more helpful to you than it was to me

How could I hack a phone receiver to act as a PC audio device?

bartleby — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:10:33 -0800

Can I use the RJ11 (modem) port on a PC to plug in a phone handset and use it as an audio device? Trying to help a Skype user who has trouble with headsets but knows how to pick up a phone. So I've got a relative who's had to cut out phone service and move to Skype for budget reasons. They love Skype, but find that when it rings, they just can't make it to the computer and get the headset on and activated in time to catch the call. They also don't like the speakers/mic option, since this makes every call a speakerphone call.

And we both know that there are purpose-built Skype phone devices out there, but they can't afford to buy any of them (and won't take one as a gift - stubborn SOB).
But they know how to pick up a phone and already own several.

So I'm thinking that perhaps there is some way to plug a plain ol' phone into their RJ11 modem port and somehow get the system to use the receiver as the speaker and mic. Skype rings, you pick up the phone, the sound comes out of the phone.

I know that they'll still have to use the computer to dial; I'm just trying to find a way to repurpose an old phone receiver as a PC headset alternative.

As another option, they also own a cellphone headset that they like, but it's got an 1/8" plug connector like most of them do; is there a dongle out there that would adapt that for USB? That would solve the problem too, and they'd probably believe me if I told them it only cost a few bucks - even if it didn't.

Convert my tunes

auralcoral — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:44:44 -0800

Is there any way to play music on my external hard drive through a stereo receiver? That is, is there any sort of device that could play middleman between the two? My home computer is busted and all my music is trapped in my little Maxtor. Is this even possible?

How do I stop my surround sound system cutting out?

Beep — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:26:46 -0800

My surround sound system keeps cutting out at higher volumes. Please help me find a way to stop it happening. I'm using a Panasonic SC-AK600 receiver; it has 5 speakers and is programmed to receive digital signals. It's plugged into both my DVD player and Xbox 360 through a coaxial cable and optical cable, respectively. When the volume is at higher levels, all but the center speaker cuts out. And it cuts out at a single instance of sound (such as a sudden explosion or noise in the movie/game). I know that this may be some kind of safety feature to keep the speakers from becoming ruined, but I feel that the volume should be able to be higher.

Important point: the volume only cuts out when it is receiving a signal in 5.1 surround sound. If I'm not watching something in that configuration (ie, noise is still coming from all speakers; it's just not in 5.1) I can turn the volume up as high as I want, and nothing happens. So, I know that the fact the volume can't be higher is something to do with it receiving a 5.1 surround signal. The receiver is meant to be able to play this, so I don't know why this keeps happening.

Also, my left surround speaker has some additional speaker wire I had to hook up to it to extend the length, and has a lower volume than the right surround speaker. I don't know if that's a result of the additional speaker wire or not. I know it has nothing to do with settings on the receiver because I've checked that. Anyway, does this lower volume or additional speaker wire on the left surround speaker have anything to do with the speakers cutting out in 5.1 surround sound? I'm no sound expert, but thought I'd throw that out there for anyone who may know.

While I'm at it, there seems to be a slight difference between the audio coming from the TV and from the receiver's speakers (again, only in 5.1) when using the DVD player. I usually just turn down the TV's volume to 0, but feel as I shouldn't have to. There's an HDMI cable running from the DVD player to the TV. And again, the receiver is hooked up directly to the DVD player.

Thanks for reading this whole thing. Please help me with any knowledge/experience you may have.

Please introduce a n00b to geocaching!

Arasithil — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:44:21 -0800

I've just learned about geocaching and it sounds incredible. Please help me get started, especially with choosing a receiver! I'm a poor student, so the cheaper the better, but I'm willing to spend a bit more if it's really worth it.

I've looked around a bit for recommendations, but I'm still having trouble deciding, and so I have turned to the hive mind for help. I've read this, but since it's more than two years old I was wondering if there have been improved models since then.

Any advice for beginners would also be greatly appreciated!

Minor details/questions:
- I normally live in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and I don't have a car, so I figure I'll mostly be geocaching around the UBC endowment lands or around Coquitlam to start off.
- Right now I'm in Japan for some time, so if there are models with cool features that I can only get here or that I can get for much cheaper I'd love to know.
- I have some friends I think might be interested - how enjoyable is geocaching with, say, 3-4 people? 4 times the fun, or just more frustrating because you only have one receiver between you?

Thanks very much in advance, everyone!

Is it a problem for an AV receiver to be on it's side, instead of resting horizontally on it's feet?

RustyBrooks — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:48:41 -0800

Is it a problem for an AV receiver to be on it's side, instead of resting horizontally on it's feet? I had a Denon AVR-series receiver die on me recently - it's settings started changing randomly, getting more and more frequent until it started turning itself off and on, changing the volume, etc. I bought a replacement recently.

We have a flatscreen TV that rests of sort of a cabinet, the cabinet is not wide enough on the interior to put a receiver (interior widths are less than 17"). So, I've been keeping the receiver behind the cabinet, on it's side, for a couple of years. Is this likely to have contributed to it's demise?

Advice for A/V Setup

atodedeus — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:17:11 -0800

I'm buying a completely new A/V setup (the audio portion). Any advice? So, I've gotten extremely tired of the kludge that exists in my living room, and I'm in the mood to splurge on some quality A/V equipment. I've got a 42" HD Hitachi Plasma that I like, so that's not going anywhere, but I'm looking for some community advice on a high-end A/V receiver and speakers (5.1, potentially?). I'm not a *true* audiophile so I don't need anything ridiculous, but I'd like to take advantage of some of the newer features of these receivers such as ethernet/wi-fi connections for internet radio, hdmi inputs/outputs, etc. I am also considering the Sonos system to be able to stream music from my main server upstairs, but I'm curious if that is even necessary. In general, I'll be using this for Movie playback as well as music.

Thanks!

boadcast HDTV Receiver

comasight — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:32:53 -0800

I have HDTV w/out a tuner. I don't really want cable or satellite however; it looks like the Samsung DTBH260F is the only recommended receiver. Is there any other [good] receivers on the market? Moreover, a receiver for somebody on a budget...

Help me set up my new 5.1 surround sound speakers!

Effigy2000 — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:23:51 -0800

I just bought a 5.1 home theatre system. The speakers are Klipsch; the receiver is a Yamaha RX-V363. I'm having some (read; a lot) setup problems that I'm hoping the hive mind could help me out with. Specifically, I'm having trouble getting sound out of my PS3 and a picture and sound out of my Wii. Hope me! OK, so this is the first time I've ever tussled with a 5.1 surround system so this is a bit new for me. Normally I'm pretty good setting things up like this with a bit of trial and error but I've been at this for a few hours now and I'm at my wits end.

I'm doing some things right though. I have my iPod dock hooked up to the receiver (via the portable connection at the front of the receiver) and sound is running from my ipod through my speakers beautifully. So it's safe to assume the speakers are connected properly.

The first problem is that my PS3 isn't giving me any sound. I'm running an HDMI cable from the PS3 to the HDMI port marked 'DVD' on the receiver (see this picture of the back of my receiver for a clearer picture of what I'm talking about). From there of course I run another HDMI cable from the HDMI out port on the back of the receiver to the HDMI In (1) port on the back of my TV, which is a Sony Bravia 40" LCD. I am getting a picture from the PS3 just fine. No sound though, which is a major bummer.

I have a theory about what may be needed to fix this. As you'll see from here's this diagram of the back of my TV, there are two HDMI In ports; HDMI In (2) has audio ports next to it. I'm assuming if I had an audio cable I could run a cable from my receiver to these ports on the back of my TV. I'm just a little confused as I've always managed to run sound and video through the single HDMI cable into the HDMI In (1) port on my TV. I'd test this out but it's night where I am and no shops are open (I need to buy this cable). In the meantime I just want to ask if I'm on the right track here?

As for my Wii, it usually runs through to the TV via component cables. With the arrival of the home theater system, it had been my hope to run the component cables into one of the component cable connections at the back of the receiver. No such luck. Switching to the DTV/CBL channel on my receiver (where I had plugged the Wii cables into), I got both no sound and no picture. I have no theories how to fix this at this stage.

I've also run the auto audio setup thing the receiver has, and I've fooled around with the 'scene' settings like the manual says. No luck.

And I've told the PS3 via it's menu to run sound through the HDMI port. As you can guess, still no luck.

To help you help me (and just in case you missed the earlier links), here's some pictures of the front and back of the receiver. Also here's something of a diagram of the back of my TV. With these pictures I'm hoping it makes it easier for any tech experts out there to tell me exactly what needs to be plugged where.

Please help me!!!

How can I keep a receiver cool?

Hogermite — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:33:26 -0800

We've got an Onkyo receiver for our new home theater that is running really hot....how can I best place a fan to maximize cooling? My father recently purchased a entertainment center to house all of his electrical components for an awesome new tv/surround sound/etc setup….the tv sits right in the center of the entertainment center and there are two cabinets below for the receiver, dvd player, ps3, etc….the cabinets have glass-paned fronts and he has cut holes in the back to allow for air-flow, however, the Onkyo receiver that he purchased seems to run really, really hot…to try and solve the problem, he purchased a large PC fan and rigged it to sit almost directly on top of the receiver (about a finger or two of space away from the top of the thing), blowing cool air down into the air vents…sorry for all the lead up, but here’s my question….is this the most effective use of the fan? Would the fan be more effective blowing warm air out than cool air in? What if he tilted the fan on its side instead to blow cool air in on top of the vents as opposed to inside of the machine itself it….basically, we’re just trying to figure out optimal fan placement for best cooling in a confined space….thank you!

Oh, and I read up on all of the previous questions regarding this topic and there was actually one that was really similar; however, the responses never really answered the question…so that’s why this is here…

like a prayer i want to take you there

yonation — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:44:41 -0800

i'm sick of blowing out my audio system. please help me pick out an affordable but good sounding system. i am looking for something quite basic: two front speakers and a receiver. i play dvd movies, ipods, etc out of the receiver and i don't really care about surround sound, dolby decoding, etc. i just want something that sounds good, will go pretty loud without too much distortion, and really have no frills i don't need. i'm certainly no audiophile but i listen to a huge range of music, from cumbia remixes to classical.

if anyone can help me wade through the oceans of reviews on different companies (ie which are overhyped, bose, etc and perhaps underrated (teac?)) i just want to order something and start listening to music again!

Sirius has lost it's face

shaarog — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:21:39 -0800

My Sirius reciever has stopped displaying. It is about 2 years old so just out of warrenty (of course). When I start the car the receiver displays for a little while. Then it goes blank. It still receives the signal and I can hear it but the display is blank. I suspect it is a weak solder joint that works until the receiver heats up and then fails.
Has anyone had this problem? What are the odds of opening the thing and re-soldering? Any other suggestions?

Multichannel PC test tone?

ijoyner — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:55:24 -0800

Sound Blaster from PC to 5.1 A/V Receiver. It is already hooked up with a digital Coax cable to the DVD input. It passes encoded data great (DTS, DD5.1) and the two channel 48kHz sounds great when there isn't an encoded stream. But it doesn't work for games. I still have an analog 5.1 input I can use, but need 3 "Y-adapter" type audio cables. Would this work? How could I ensure my mappings are correct? First off, If I am mistaken and there is a way to play EAX (game encoded) multi-channel sound through that Coax output, let me know.

Otherwise, how can I ensure that my inputs are proper. Is there a multichannel test tone applet I could use to play around with the system and ensure that the proper RCA plug is going to the proper channel?

Any other ideas on this subject?

Downsize my USB receiver?

bkudria — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:45:12 -0800

Can I use a Logitech VX Nano wireless receiver with my MX Revolution mouse? If so, where can I buy just the receiver. So, I own a Logitech MX Revolution, which I love - except for the receiver. The receiver sticks out of the USB port on the side of my laptop, and I'm completely nervous all the time that it'll break off.

Logitech has another mouse, the VX Nano, meant for notebooks, which I dislike because it doesn't have a gazillion buttons (all of which I actually use), but it has a very cool receiver - tiny, doesn't stick out, etc.

Can anyone confirm or deny that I could use the VX Nano receiver with my MX Revolution mouse? If not, is there somewhere online where I could purchase *just* the receiver, so I could try myself? I've checked eBay and pricewatch.com and well, where else can I look?

(Alternatively, I imagine it's possible to create a USB Mouse to Bluetooth bridge device, but I doubt these even exist...)

Home Audio 101

10ch — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:49:09 -0800

What components do I need to buy to have a solid stereo system for my home? I know nothing about home audio and I want to buy a quality turntable for playing records (including 78s) as a gift for my one and only.

I took a look at other mefi questions about turntables and found some good resources, but I quickly realized that there's a lot of vocabulary and hip-bone-connected-to-the-assumptions going on that leave me clueless. I need someone that isn't trying to sell me something to help me figure out what I need.

Fer'instance... am I better going with separate parts (and if so, what are those parts specifically) or with a "home system" (I want to avoid crappy parts just to get the 78 feature, for example).

Here are the things I'd like the system to do, in priority:

- Cost around $500
- Sound good
- Play records (78s, 33s and 45s)
- Play cds
- Play cassettes
- Play FM/AM radio
- BONUS, BUT NOT REQUIRED: Record across the above (ideally on CD)
- BONUS, BUT NOT REQUIRED: Be aesthetically pleasing

Speak jargon as long as you provide clarification (parenthetically). Links and specific make/model recommendations are appreciated. I'll be happy to converse in thread if I'm leaving details out. Thanks for your help.

Home Audio question

docpops — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:18:46 -0800

Help me with a home audio dilemma... I want to update a sound system I currently have, wherein a ten year old Onkyo receiver is driving two separate pairs of speakers, and is hooked up to my iMac. What I'm after:

A decent receiver that will handle two pairs of speakers (one outside, one in) that sometimes run simultaneously, others not. And more importantly, the cleanest, best way to run my iTunes output to the receiver.

Thanks.

Please help Windows recognize a wireless receiver for keyboard and mouse.

Asef Jil — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:15:19 -0800

Please help Windows recognize a wireless receiver for keyboard and mouse. I'm getting a "USB device not recognized" error when plugging in the USB receiver for Microsoft's Wireless Laser Destop 6000 keyboard and mouse combo. The receiver works fine in another computer (same OS--Windows XP).

Device manager claims there is no driver installed for the USB receiver. Unfortunately Microsoft doesn't provide *.inf and *.sys files for the receiver alone--everything is bundled in the Intellipoint and Intellitouch executables--so I can't point Windows to the driver directly in device manager.

I've isolated the *.sys file for the receiver via another system but Windows won't let my install the driver without a *.inf. Can I manually edit the registry to force the receiver to use the appropriate *.sys file? I've reinstalled the drivers umpteen times. Is there something else that I'm missing?

AV Receiver recommendations for the ignorant me.

Drastic — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:09:40 -0800

Looking for recommendations and advice about AV receivers. Specific model recommendations, or good research pointers both appreciated. I'm in the market for a new AV receiver. Now, the last/first one I ever owned was from when Pro-Logic was still the hotness, and from research thus far, my head hurts.

So far, I've got desired features narrowed down roughly like so:

* Minimum three component video inputs. HDMI input is nice, but not strictly necessary--it'd be more in the realm of "future-proofing." But it seems that HDMI availability is actually far more common than enough component options.

* I don't have the space/room-shape to go up to 7.1, so simply remaining at 5.1 sound doesn't bother me. I've already got speakers available to use, though a subwoofer may be in the future.

* I've heard that some receivers these days will auto-calibrate speaker balance & sound delays and so forth, based on just putting a mike in the usual listening spot. I'm lazy enough to make that sound very desirable.

* I can go up to five hundred bucks, but am going to get twitchy at anything more.

Any sites that are a good source for comparing models, searching for desired features, etc., would be great to hear about. Also, anything that I really should be looking for, or at least keeping in mind, that I don't currently know about, etc.

Gift: Help me replace a Samsung HT-P38 DVD Home Theater

anonymoose — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 14:38:27 -0800

GiftFilter: My brother's Samsung HT-P38 DVD Home Theater receiver is broken. I'd like to fix it or replace it with something equivalent/better/the same thing. Advise! So the HT-P38 is a 5-disc DVD player and receiver for surround sound. Everything works just fine, except the tray of the DVD player is messed up and makes a grinding sound for 1 minute whenever you turn it on or off (and you can't play DVDs in it).

Repair: I get the impression that repairs on devices like that tend to cost more than replacement. Is this true?

Replacement: Can I just replace the receiver? For less than the price of a whole unit? Looks like refurbished whole units (speakers and all) are going for $150 on Amazon.

Other options: Are there other receivers that would be good, compatible with the Samsung speakers, and play dvds? (And support the HD TV)

Gahhh! My receiver has died! Please help me replace my Harman Kardon AVR-120!

SlyBevel — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:47:37 -0800

Do you know a good replacement receiver for a Harman Kardon AVR-120? Gahhh! My receiver has died! Please help me replace my Harman Kardon AVR-120!

Aw dammit, my HK AVR-120 no longer feeds sound to the left front channel. Even after a full reset. Even with a different speaker. I've continuity checked everything. I opened it up and saw nothing obvious. If it were a visibly smoked chip or a popped cap, I could have fixed it. But whatever it was has left my left speaker silent, and it's (as far as the AVR is concerned) deadly.

Getting my wife to let me buy a new receiver will be an uphill battle already, but we'll need to replace this one. It will need to be at least as fully-featured as the AVR-120, and at least as well powered. I'm hoping (against hope) that in the five years that I've had this one, prices have come down a bit.

This one has (or rather had):

6 RCA vid inputs
6 Svid inputs
8 RCA Audio feeds
3 Digital Coax Audio feeds
3 Digital Optical Audio feeds
1 All of the above Out Feed

AM/FM Radio
Surround 5.1. Lots of Dolby crap. Tons of surround modes. The option to program which feed should go to which input is a must. For instance, I need to be able to program that Video 1 gets its sound from the Optical 3 feed.

I've really liked this receiver, so if there's a newer HK on the market that's a little more advanced than this one, but dirt cheap (last year's model, refurb, etc...), then that would be great. Please don't refer me to some fancy looking POS that won't sound great. Non-HK is OK! But no RCA, RadioShack, Thomson, Philco,...You get the idea. Do tell me if you own a particular model and love it, and why.

Wonky remotes are not a consideration, as I control everything with my Harmony remote.

Also, please do not try to help me troubleshoot this one. I'm sure, so let's move on.

Help us ObiMeFi, you're our only hope.