This is a question for folks in the know.
I’ve been looking at some low/mid range AVRs and noticed that the current models are getting on a bit. I know there’s a chip shortage and other issues like 4K/8k chips etc
The likes of the yamaha rx-a4a/a6a have been around for a couple of years and so has the denon avr-2700. Sony doesn’t seem to have replaced the str-1080 which is still meant to be pretty good.
What I am trying to avoid is buying one of the above and a new one comes out making my new one old and obsolete. Another thing is when the new one comes out the last gen goes for significantly cheaper so a good bargain could be had.
Anyone know when these companies are releasing new models. Should I wait a bit or just bite the bullet now?
The Yamaha RX-A4a and the A6a were launched last year. Do you mean the RX-V4a and the V6a? Yamaha haven't even managed to issue the full complement of firmware updates they promised for these models yet so doubt that they are in any rush to bring anything new to the market, at least not until they've managed to update their current products.
Regardless, nothing new has arrived in terms of technology that would warrant the manufacturers having to launch new models. Just because they'd got into the bad habit of reinventing the wheel each and every year doesn't mean that there's an actual requirement or technical reason to replace models each and every year. Just buy one of the current AV receivers that meets your requirements.
New models will not be any cheaper to buy and are more than likely going to be even more expensive than the models they replace.
Why would a new model being introduced make older models obsolete? New models have generally tended to be little if at all different to the models they replace. As I said, the manufacturers have got into a bad habit of introducung new model to fit with marketing schedules as oppoised to intoroducing improvements or tech you actually need.
What I think you'll start to see is fewer new models and replacements only being launched only when there's an actual need to introduce new technology. Just replaceing older products from a previous year because it fits in with a marketing schedule is ridiculous and is just a waste of resources.
By the way, Virgin Media STVs don't support HDMI CEC so you wont be able to control one using HDMI Control and another device's remote. Neither will the Virgin box's remore control the volume of an AV receiver.
I'd suggest you look into a universal remote rather than pinning all your hopes on HDMI CEC. It can be a PITA and most people avoid having to utilise HDMI Control.
All in all, there a world shortage of ekectrical components and manufacturer is still not at the levels they were prior to the pandemic. Manufacturers are finding it hard enough to meet current demand with the products they have without the headaches associatedwith retooling and launching new models. They've also learnt that they don't have to keep replacing models each and every year to stimulate sales. DEmand for their products is the same whether the models are one or 2 years old and why replace something that doesn't need replacing?