Anyone here make the AVR switch.

[ematthews]

I have been thinking of making the AVR switch for some time from my high end 2 channel audio only system. Now I only listen to music so video is not important to me since currently I don't have a tv in my audio room. What I am thinking is this would give me more options to listen too. I could take advantage of DVD audio as well as BD. I am very hesitant because I have never been able to get a great sound out of my current HT set up that is in my living room. I have gone through all the set ups and even used Onkyo's mic several times. Now I know the speakers in my HT set up aren't even in the same category as my music room but I just can't get the current HT set up to sound good for music only playback. Is this because it's an older system etc?
Confused about audio on my HT set up...
In the music room I would be going with the BDP105D and either the Denon AVR or Marantz. I would also have to get a center and surround channels to match the RBH SX6300/R's. That's a big buy just to listen to DVD and BD.
I know some here only use AVR's in their set up. Looking for feedback on 2 channel snobs who made the switch as well.
Is it worth the big investment?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I was definitely a 2Ch analog snob back then. I was so hardcore about not even using a pre-pro for 7.1 surround sound!

Now some people asked, "How can you do 7.1 surround sound using just 2ch analog stereo preamps?"

Well, at one point, I had 4 Acurus RL11 class-A analog preamps.





This Acurus preamp didn't even have TONE controls! It was so "pure" it only had balance and volume control. I would use the 7.1 analog outputs from my Denon BD player and hooked to those 4 analog stereo amps. Crazy.

But then I did a comparison between a $500 AVR in Direct Mode vs my pure class-A Acurus preamp. The sound from the AVR in Direct Mode was just as crystal clear as the stereo preamp. I couldn't believe it. The measurements show it. But it's still difficult for any analog guy to accept that even a pre-pro could match the clarity of an analog preamp, much less an AVR for crying out loud!

So IMO, if you only use Direct mode and don't care for things like Subwoofer EQ and Dynamic EQ, then stereo preamp, pre-pro, or AVR would all work just as well.

What is interesting is that you think the Marantz integrated amp sounded like crap! I wonder if there is a Direct mode on that Marantz?

Not all components have direct mode. For example, I used to own a $1,500 Pioneer Processor that did NOT even have a direct mode. I mean the closest thing was a Stereo mode. But when compared to the Acurus preamp and $500 AVR, the Pioneer processor sounded like crap too because there was some obvious tone control in the background. There was no "Direct Mode" button.

 

[ematthews]

How did I know you would chime in first!!!
The PM8004 isn't really crap. It does have source direct. Just not nearly as good as the Parasound running with the ATI.
But like I said, I would be only doing this to take advantage of the DVD,BD audio and the EQing that the AVR has.

Wouldn't my current Onkyo 805 be close to what is being offered today in an AVR?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Wouldn't my current Onkyo 805 be close to what is being offered today in an AVR?

Absolutely!

Hook the Onkyo 805 to your current music setup. After a few days of effectuating Audyssey and Dynamic EQ and also bypassing with Pure Direct mode and you still don't think it sounds at least as good as the P5, then AVRs and pre-pros may just not be your cup of tea.

 

[ematthews]

I will play around with it since my P5 won't be back for who knows when. The ATI amp is getting no attention either right now. It's been a sleep for a while.

 

[zieglj01]

Wouldn't my current Onkyo 805 be close to what is being offered today in an AVR?

Yes it will, I recently bought a Tascam (Integra/Onkyo) PAR-200 receiver - and it replaced my Denon
and Pioneer receivers, and it is good - it will stay hooked up, and will continue to drive my MB Quart
Vera speakers.

 

[slipperybidness]

Living room = Pio Elite with GE T2s (+ Rythmik F15HP) and it sounds great!

Workshop = Emo USP-1, Parasound 1206, Philharmonitors (+ Velodyne 10" sub) and it also sounds great!

 

[ematthews]

Would you guys make the switch just to be able to play BD and DVD audio?

 

[slipperybidness]

Would you guys make the switch just to be able to play BD and DVD audio?

Me personally? NO.

The material on those formats is somewhat limited and not worth the trouble for marginal or no real improvement (other than MC audio).

 

[zieglj01]

Would you guys make the switch just to be able to play BD and DVD audio?

Yes - I use it for all formats

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I will play around with it since my P5 won't be back for who knows when. The ATI amp is getting no attention either right now. It's been a sleep for a while.

I feel your pain as my ATI amps are also being quite neglected secondary to recent speaker sales.

 

[ematthews]

Thinking of putting up a screen. Adding at least a center to make it 3.1. This way I could watch some concerts that come in those formats. Just having some options is the exciting part.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Would you guys make the switch just to be able to play BD and DVD audio?

You should have gotten the P7, huh?

Product Lines > Halo > P 7 Preamplifier

You may be able to find a used one for cheap.

 

[ematthews]

Yep. That's what I might get. Use it along with the Oppo. Would that work however. Oppo to Tv would be HDMI. And Oppo to P7 would be XLR etc.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yep. That's what I might get. Use it along with the Oppo. Would that work however. Oppo to Tv would be HDMI. And Oppo to P7 would be XLR etc.

If the Onkyo 805 doesn't sound as good, the P7 would work just as well as the P5, except the P7 would be multichannel.

 

[ematthews]

What about the connection to Tv? Would that come straight from the Oppo?

 

[adk highlander]

Doesn't the P5 have a home theater bypass?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What about the connection to Tv? Would that come straight from the Oppo?

Yup. Video and Audio will be separate. HDMI video from Oppo to TV directly. 5.1 analog audio from Oppo to P7.

But just for the record, I am 100% for AVR or pre-pro.

 

[3db]

My system is a dual purpose system built around an AVR and it sounds very good according to all my friends that have heard it.