Suggestions for A/V receiver for older person?

[cgallery]

My 81-YO mother recently purchased a 42" LCD TV, and a new combo DVD/VCR, and she picked up a Time Warner/Scientific Atlanta Digital DVR.

She is using an old Sansui receiver for switching audio only (it offers to video switching). She needs audio to come through her receiver, as the TV's built-in speakers AREN'T NEARLY LOUD ENOUGH.

I've trained her on the remotes. But I'm wondering if there are any good receivers that may offer audio and video switching that may be fairly easy to operate?

Or, maybe a better remote that does some macros to facilitate some of the switching? Preferably with lots of decent downloadable programming?

What are you guys doing for elderly relatives that want to joint the digital revolution?

[dewi1219]

I would suggest a look at the Logitech Harmony line of universal remotes. I have a fairly complicated setup in my home theater room which my wife and daughter could not operate. I went with the Harmony 520 and I absolutely love it. One button is labeled "Watch TV" and another "Watch a DVD" and so on. The remote automatically switches inputs on the TV and/or receiver as needed. Setup is done with a PC via usb, so your mom may need some help there. But the remote is completely customizable and very simple to use once it is set up. HTH.

[wbsettle]

I'll definitely 2nd the Harmony remotes. Use two 550s in the house myself. Since the remote takes care of all of the switching and input setup so my wife doesn't need a cheat sheet, it allows me to set up the living room system to always run through the surround receiver and speakers. I also set my dad up with a 550 when I recently installed a surround system for him and he loves it. Currently, Amazon is only showing them from 3rd party vendors, but watch for a bit and it should come back around...got my dad's for $50 delivered back in October...they'll run $100ish at your local stores.

Possibly the best feature of the Harmony's for those that aren't "in to it" is the Help button. Using the LCD display, the remote can ask a series of yes/no questions and attempt to send the necessary command to correct the problem if the receiver misses a change input command for example.

If the audio from the Sansui satisfies her, a Harmony would allow for transparently letting the TV switch the video and the Sansui to switch the audio as long as they're all essentially in line of sight of the remote...typically TV on a stand above the receiver/cable box/dvd.

Otherwise, most any modern A/V receiver will do what you're asking, but for best video quality, you'll want HDMI from the cable box to the TV (even if switched through the receiver). The DVD player may have an HDMI output, but the VCR section will only be composite. For a one cable solution from the receiver to the TV, you'll need an upconverting receiver that will convert analog video (composite, s-video, component) from the VCR/DVD to HDMI for output. Figure $300ish. If you don't mind feeding multiple video cables, I recommend the Onkyo TX-SR506...again, the solution I used for my parents. If you don't mind going with a refurbished unit, they can be had for $150-160 from shoponkyo.com and accessories4less. You'll need to register with shoponkyo to see the best prices.

And since it's a woodworking forum, I can use this thread to show off the little bit of woodworking I did for my parents setup. I converted their custom cabinetry built for a 35" CRT tv over the fireplace to using a 46" widescreen LCD while adding surround sound. To keep it on a budget and totally custom fit it to their cabinetry, I also designed and built the subwoofer. Speakers are mounted to the ceiling, one is just visible in the top right corner of the "after" photo.

-Brent

[Daryl]

Boy, when I am eighty one I hope my kids don't think I need the latest technology. I think I would be happy with an old chunker tv, you know where you are either happy with whats on or get up and walk over and change it.

[steve-norrell]

There is something out there called "TV Ears" that are very popular for those of us with hearing problems, although I have never used them. I have a BlueTooth device that works with my hearing aids (Oticon EPOQs and Streamer). I have a relative that uses TV Ears and loves them.

Believe me, her problem is serious and it could prove very frustrating unless an easy-to-work solution can be found.

Regards, Steve

[BerniePA]

If you are looking for a better remote, you can't beat the Logitech Harmony's. I happen to have the 880, but I don't care what your system is or what you want it to do, these things WILL automate it down to a single click of a button. I have had to get tech support involved at times, which by the way is excellent, but it always ends up doing what I want. Can't recommend them enough.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

I have a Logitech Harmony 880 remote. dewi1219 is right, it's the (almost) perfect answer to condensing all remotes into one. One click turns on and configures the appropriate equipment for the operation that you want. HiDef / reg TV / CD / DVD / etc. The set up is easy and is done via internet. I don't know of any other remote that does this.

I say "(almost)" because my wife still has trouble after over a year. I love her, but she can break a crowbar. The equipment must be able to see the remote while it makes the appriate settings on each. I think my wife lays the remote down as soon as the set comes on, so some of the equipment may not configure correctly.

And then, sometimes, the equip gets out of sync just for the heck of it. So, your mom may have some problems getting it back on track if that happens.

Guess I muddied up the water more than helped.

Remember the good old days when you had to get up to change to one of the three available TV stations, and to flip the record over to hear the remainder. The closest thing to DVD or VHS was 8mm home movies.

- Lonnie

[cgallery]

Boy, when I am eighty one I hope my kids don't think I need the latest technology. I think I would be happy with an old chunker tv, you know where you are either happy with whats on or get up and walk over and change it.

This wasn't our idea, it was hers. It was all triggered by her owning a TV that had a broken built-in DVD player. It spiraled out of control from there.

[Daryl]

This wasn't our idea, it was hers. It was all triggered by her owning a TV that had a broken built-in DVD player. It spiraled out of control from there.

Didn't mean to come across judgmental, I just don't think I will be able to use modern technology if I ever make it to that age.
By the way, I must use captions when I watch tv.

[messmaker]

I think most are pretty easy until you push the wrong button. Anything that has as many posibile combinations as an AV receiver,DVD player and a new TV Is a train wreck waiting to happen to anyone without a fair idea of "what is doing what". I would lean toward a Home theater in a box. The parts are made to work together and tend to have a few less hook-up's.

[LCHIEN]

If your TV has variable audio outputs then you can use the receiver set to aux or video inputs for audio only and when you change the volume on the TV remote it changes the volume on the speakers driven by the receiver. Most of the time you can also disable the speakers in the TV. You can use the TV's input selector to select video and audio in from the various sources and in all cases the TV volume will be controlled by the TV remote.

If your TV does not have variable outputs, then you will be forced to use the receivers remote. You can still set up the receiver to use one input (aux or video) but you will be forced to use the receiver remote for volume and the TV remote for channels which might be confusing.

Or buy a highly integrated HTS which has an AV receiver with builtin DVD and has one control for all functions.

With older non-tech people having multiple remotes can be daunting and sometimes a wrong button push can send the system off in to the weeds.

[gerti]

Another vote for the Harmony. I have the "One", liked the button layout better than the others. Programming it is a bit of a chore because the software is somewhat slow, but it is quite easy.

[Kristofor]

As if it's needed, here's another vote for the Harmony series remotes. I have an 890 since I was able to pick it up for under $100, but the 880 and 550 should both be okay for the scenario described.

When I purchased the remote I didn't have an HDMI switching receiver and I was basically the only person who could change inputs in a reasonable fashion. It eliminated all of those issues.

Since then I have purchased a new reciever which does HDMI switching and will convert composite/svideo/component signals and display them over HDMI so it's no longer really an issue. That was a year ago so I'm not sure if that functionality is available in an inexpensive receiver yet, but if so it's also a 1 button solution.