Briefly, I am interested in
stereo audio only - No video, No games, Just audio.
Setup:
A) 2 Floor-standing Polk audio speakers - rear
B) 2 Wall-mounted Sony bookshelf speakers - front
C) Klipsch subwoofer (300 watt internal amp)
I presently own a brand-new, never been used Denon AVR-2112CI.
A/V Receiver, Home Theater Receiver | AVR-2112CI | Denon
I have been playing all day with this Denon and now have Pandora coming out of all 4 speakers and the subwoofer. Unfortunately the sound is extremely disjointed, with a "where the heck did that come from" thumpy bass. Turning off the Klipsch subwoofer makes no difference. Tried adjusting the "small/large", etc. Still awful.
Although ages ago, I built my own tube amps and speakers, times have changed; such that all my past experience is now irrelevant. Recently an AV specialist told me that
I had made a wrong purchase with the Denon 2112CI and that I should look for a dedicated stereo unit instead.
Two such units would be:
1) Onkyo TX-8050 Onkyo TX-8050 - Network Stereo Receiver | Model Information | Onkyo USA Home Theater Products
2) and the much more expensive (about what I paid for with the Denon that I now have here)
Integra DTM-40.4 (made by Onkyo kind of like Lexus is made by Toyota). Apparently these stereo receiver/amps support two sets of speakers and a subwoofer pre-out. Yikes! Things
have changed.
Products
All three of these units are networkable, have optical inputs, and subwoofer pre-outs. I need
all three. Obviously I also need to control volume, tone and balance (side to side, front to back).
Only two music sources will be used: Pandora internet radio (have an account) and FLAC tunes from one of my many computers (optical connect from HT Omega Claro sound card to receiver/amp or via the wired network).
Question: I have so much money already invested in speakers, computers, cables, etc. that I am willing to bite the bullet on amp/receiver pricing.
Should I put the new/never used Denon up for sale and replace it with the equally expensive Integra or the much cheaper Onkyo. Will either of these two units give me better quality sound and fewer setup headaches than the Denon?
I am about to lose my mind and could really use some help.