Need your opinion regarding a new receiver

[steviekfc]

Good afternoon everyone,

My Pioneer VSX-1017AV receiver has stopped working due to corrosion on some boards.

I am now left with a choice of what receiver I should replace it with.

All I own is 2 x Klipsch Synergy F3's and the Klipsch 12" subwoofer.

http://www.klipsch.com.au/products/f-3-floorstanding-speaker
&
http://www.klipsch.com.au/products/sub-12-subwoofer

I have spent a lot of time reading about amplifiers and receivers but still am unsure on what to purchase.

I don't have the ability to go into a local shop to hear the different sounds of each amplifier so I was hoping you guys could help me make a decision online.

The two amps I have been looking at are both Yamaha's, the RX-A1060 and the RX-V1081.

I am not sure which one to choose - if either.

Please help me make a decision. I am open to all suggestions.

If you could recommend what you would do in my situation I would be very thankful.

Thank you,

Steve

 

[lovinthehd]

What would you like the receiver to do other than power your speakers? Pick by features/connectivity you want; power differences among avrs in general are relatively trivial, and are very close in this case anyways, the 1060 having a slight edge (ps on second look they're differently spec'd by a bit but appear to be the same overall). Your speakers are quite sensitive so you don't need tons of power either...

 

[steviekfc]

What would you like the receiver to do other than power your speakers? Pick by features/connectivity you want; power differences among avrs in general are relatively trivial, and are very close in this case anyways, the 1060 having a slight edge (ps on second look they're differently spec'd by a bit but appear to be the same overall). Your speakers are quite sensitive so you don't need tons of power either...

Thanks for the reply.

All I am really looking for is decent sound quality and enough power to power the speakers comfortably.

The main things I will have connected are my TV and Xbox One (which I mainly use for PLEX), but also have a bluray collection.

I would even be happy with the slim RX-AS710 if the power was suitable.

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks for the reply.

All I am really looking for is decent sound quality and enough power to power the speakers comfortably.

The main things I will have connected are my TV and Xbox One (which I mainly use for PLEX), but also have a bluray collection.

I would even be happy with the slim RX-AS710 if the power was suitable.

In that room I'd think even the RX-AS710 would do very well, but about 3dB shy of what the other two can do (3dB isn't a lot either; takes a doubling of power to gain 3dB in spl). If you had lower sensitivity/impedance speakers then maybe a beefier amp might be in order. The sub takes some of the work off the amp, too. All the units you're considering should have at least the sound quality of the Pioneer albeit it maybe a slightly different sound.

Just how loud do you listen? One of the nice things about high sensitivity speakers like yours is that even a relatively low power amp can drive them to very loud levels. Try using this spl calculator to get an idea of what different amp power will get you for peaks at your listening position http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

 

[steviekfc]

In that room I'd think even the RX-AS710 would do very well, but about 3dB shy of what the other two can do (3dB isn't a lot either; takes a doubling of power to gain 3dB in spl). If you had lower sensitivity/impedance speakers then maybe a beefier amp might be in order. The sub takes some of the work off the amp, too. All the units you're considering should have at least the sound quality of the Pioneer albeit it maybe a slightly different sound.

Just how loud do you listen? One of the nice things about high sensitivity speakers like yours is that even a relatively low power amp can drive them to very loud levels. Try using this spl calculator to get an idea of what different amp power will get you for peaks at your listening position http://myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

Thanks heaps for your input, that calculator is a real eye opener to power.

I have attached the two amps (the 1060 and the slim 710). My only question is - would the 710 need to be cranked all the way up to get to a decent volume and potentially create distortion?

What would you choose if you were me?

Thanks mate!

EDIT:

Sorry I just had a bit more of a play with the calculator. If the amp is capable of say 60W max, and I have it at a volume of 50% well then I am still receiving a whopping 106ish dB? Which according to this article http://www.hear-it.org/hearing-loss-coming-to-a-theatre-near-you-1 I probably wont be doing anyway as I will probably piss my neighbours right off and damage my hearing? Awesome

EDIT 2:

Ok now after using that calculator I am leaning towards the smaller RX-A860. Do you think these differences http://faq.yamaha.com/us/en/article/audio-visual/aventage/rx-a860_u/11057/9203/ (like the DAC) will make a noticable difference in sound? I'll do some Googling on what "Jitter" is as well.

 

[lovinthehd]

Jitter isn't much of an issue, unlikely you'll ever hear any and if you start running into posts by a guy named amirm don't say I didn't warn you. DACs are not a big worry, while of course some specs can be better than others, they're usually quite competent, it's a mature science at this point. They're far more similar in terms of audible results; did you worry about the DAC in your other avr?

Did you ever calibrate the volume scale on the Pioneer you had by running MCACC to setup distance/levels etc at your listening position or use an spl meter? Do you remember what volume setting would you play movies or music back at? I don't have an idea of what you consider loud or usual. FWIW the movie THX standard reference volume is 85dB from the speakers, allowing for 20dB peaks (LFE channel is 10dB more); music doesn't really have a standard so the number only means so much but would give us an idea of what your normal listening levels are.

 

[steviekfc]

Jitter isn't much of an issue, unlikely you'll ever hear any and if you start running into posts by a guy named amirm don't say I didn't warn you. DACs are not a big worry, while of course some specs can be better than others, they're usually quite competent, it's a mature science at this point. They're far more similar in terms of audible results; did you worry about the DAC in your other avr?

Did you ever calibrate the volume scale on the Pioneer you had by running MCACC to setup distance/levels etc at your listening position or use an spl meter? Do you remember what volume setting would you play movies or music back at? I don't have an idea of what you consider loud or usual. FWIW the movie THX standard reference volume is 85dB from the speakers, allowing for 20dB peaks (LFE channel is 10dB more); music doesn't really have a standard so the number only means so much but would give us an idea of what your normal listening levels are.

Alright so I bought my Pioneer AVR with no research, just the guy at Harvey Norman recommended it to me, and I had just started working and was super keen to treat myself so I bought it from his recommendation. I still don't know what DAC it had in it - nor would I know what to look out or listen for.

I never used the MCACC setup. All I ever did was plug everything in, turn it on, make sure stereo was selected, adjust the settings with the dial on the back of the sub and watch movies / play games. I never did any tinkering with any of the settings - simply plug and play.

Now that I am taking this stuff a bit more seriously - I would really like to purchase an amp and use it properly (as much as I can with my 2.1 setup).

As for volumes - I would have no idea how loud it actually was - but I would say it was most likely standard listening. As in I would never listen to it loud enough to annoy any of my neighbours. I just appreciated the higher quality sound from it rather than the crappy tv speakers.

Sounds like if I selected any of these Yamaha's and set them up with their YPAO function I would benefit to what I had previously lol.

 

[Pogre]

The setup function isn't as critical for 2.1 as say, 5.1 or 7.1 (someone correct me if I'm wrong), but it will set your distances and eq some of the room modes, hopefully giving you a flatter response (flat is good).

I'd definitely use it to at least get a baseline to start. I use Audyssey room correction (YPAO works pretty well too) and it helped my setup out significantly, though I do like the dynamic eq setting on and some folks aren't big on it. I'm not a pure direct listener.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think it won't be too long before we see sales on Denon AVRs from Amazon & Fry's.

Get something like a Denon X3000 series AVR for about $599 brand new. Regular price is $1,000.

Some Fry's stores may still have the Denon X3200 for $599. Some stores may have open box items with full manufacturer warranty.

http://www.frys.com/product/8610860?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Amazon has the Denon X3200 right now for $799.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B011HNXIAM/ref=olp_f_primeEligible?ie=UTF8&f_primeEligible=true

 

[lovinthehd]

I think it won't be too long before we see sales on Denon AVRs from Amazon & Fry's.

Get something like a Denon X3000 series AVR for about $599 brand new. Regular price is $1,000.

Some Fry's stores may still have the Denon X3200 for $599. Some stores may have open box items with full manufacturer warranty.

http://www.frys.com/product/8610860?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Amazon has the Denon X3200 right now for $799.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B011HNXIAM/ref=olp_f_primeEligible?ie=UTF8&f_primeEligible=true

Except I think the OP is in Australia.

 

[lovinthehd]

Alright so I bought my Pioneer AVR with no research, just the guy at Harvey Norman recommended it to me, and I had just started working and was super keen to treat myself so I bought it from his recommendation. I still don't know what DAC it had in it - nor would I know what to look out or listen for.

I never used the MCACC setup. All I ever did was plug everything in, turn it on, make sure stereo was selected, adjust the settings with the dial on the back of the sub and watch movies / play games. I never did any tinkering with any of the settings - simply plug and play.

Now that I am taking this stuff a bit more seriously - I would really like to purchase an amp and use it properly (as much as I can with my 2.1 setup).

As for volumes - I would have no idea how loud it actually was - but I would say it was most likely standard listening. As in I would never listen to it loud enough to annoy any of my neighbours. I just appreciated the higher quality sound from it rather than the crappy tv speakers.

Sounds like if I selected any of these Yamaha's and set them up with their YPAO function I would benefit to what I had previously lol.

The setup routine would balance your speakers to your sub as far as level and delay goes, a good thing; you should have used MCACC even for 2.1 in my opinion rather than just by ear; as Pogre says at least as a baseline. Some people twist up the bass over a flat response but best to do that with the avr controls rather than the sub's once setup is complete.

I seriously doubt you need any more power for your purposes with those speakers if your neighbors are so close as to bother them Better for your ears, too.

 

[PENG]

EDIT 2:

Ok now after using that calculator I am leaning towards the smaller RX-A860. Do you think these differences http://faq.yamaha.com/us/en/article/audio-visual/aventage/rx-a860_u/11057/9203/ (like the DAC) will make a noticable difference in sound? I'll do some Googling on what "Jitter" is as well.

If you are considering the RX-A860 you should read the full review by Audioholics.

http://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/yamaha-rx-a860

I think the RX-A1060 is more future proof in case you want to add an external amplifier.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Except I think the OP is in Australia.

Minor details. Not important at all.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[lovinthehd]

Minor details. Not important at all.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

LOL I think most of the Aussies might have something to say about our pricing/choices compared to theirs...

Nice tapatalk ad, please go into settings and remove it? Please?

 

[Pogre]

I'm gonna get Tapatalk just to annoy HD...