Need advice on replacing my "old" Sony TA-FB930R QS series Integr. Amp. by newer AV receiver.

[mageor]

Hi guys, I already own a SONY TA-FB930R Stereo Amplifier which i bought at 1999. I am generally happy with it. It was relatively expensive at that time....I used to amplify various sources that days....a Pioneer DVD, my Roland Synth, a VHS.... now times passed, needs changed....i have all my Cds archived in flac and mp3 formats (Synology NAS)....i have a Premium Spotify subscription...probably Tidal in the future....I also plan to get a good CD player (for example....Marantz 6006) and an Ultra Bluray player (Sony X800) ...i watch Netflix....
So.....I find myself tempted to buy an AV Receiver (Onkyo 686 or Denon 2500 or Sony Str-1080)....around 700 euros.....

Is this a logical move to make? I mean, AV amplifiers are not that much an audiophiles choice....i forgot to tell you that i will use a pair of B&W 603 S2 speakers and i also have a Samsung KS8000 TV for Video.....I mostly have worries about the audio quality from the Cd player....almost 20 years past.....will a new AV receiver sound worse than my old Sony TA-FB930R? I d like to have the digital input options that i now do not have....

Thanks in advance and sorry about my English....
Margaritis Georgiadis - Greece

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

There is always that debate about "separates" vs AVR.

But I think the new AVR's will most likely sound at least as good as your 20YR 80WPC Integrated Amp.

 

[PENG]

Agreed, but I think something like the Denon AVR-X2500H, Yamaha RX-A1080, Sony STR-DN1080 would be the absolute minimum. The X3400H (should be on blow out sale now), RX-A1080, SR6012 will likely be better for the 603 S2.

 

[Good4it]

I say don’t buy a Yamaha.

 

[PENG]

I say don’t buy a Yamaha.

I hope that's not just because of your not so good experience with the Pandora "thing"..

 

[Good4it]

Why can’t they make AVRs that could download a app instead of making us use a third device like an iPad?
They are already hooked up to the internet and they send updates wirelessly. We already have AVRs, speakers with wires, internet fees, routers and modems etc. Guess they want to it more expensive and complicated.

 

[lovinthehd]

Why can’t they make AVRs that could download a app instead of making us use a third device like an iPad?
They are already hooked up to the internet and they send updates wirelessly. We already have AVRs, speakers with wires, internet fees, routers and modems etc. Guess they want to it more expensive and complicated.

Probably because they already cheaped out on the future support of the apps in the avrs in general. Probably partly the fault of the streaming service itself in the way the modify/update their service and don't make things backwards compatible. I sure wasn't happy that a feature of my avr becomes useless within a few years (as I ran into with Spotify on my Onkyo, altho it is a 2011 avr...and I've had periods of time waiting for update for Pandora as well on both the Onkyo and my Denon), but I don't know what the relative costs or technical challenges are either. For especially a flagship unit you'd expect support longer at the least (and so far my Denon flagship has been supported with changes, even though it takes them a couple of months sometimes).

If they all evolve like Spotify Connect where the renderer/avr just simply plays what's pointed at it from a computer or phone/tablet, then it seems maybe the avr manufacturers can stabilize the support of the app a bit easier (not having to deal with menu/graphical interface changes). We'll see.....it was only four years ago I got my first smartphone as I never realized just how handy they can be...and I do use mine now for various audio purposes now....

 

[Good4it]

Do separates treat us the same way with apps as AVRs? Do they even have them?

 

[lovinthehd]

@mageor sorry to divert your thread. As to your basic question...don't know what "sound" your current unit has so hard to know what you might think of a different unit...but I think an avr will work well for your purposes, I use several for the same sort of things you're looking to do.

 

[PENG]

Do separates treat us the same way with apps as AVRs? Do they even have them?

I would say prepros would have the same issues. May be ADTG can tell you if the CX-A5100 can do better.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Do separates treat us the same way with apps as AVRs? Do they even have them?

Separates Pre-Pros are just like AVRs sans the amp section, so the Separates Pre-pros will be just like AVRs.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I would say prepros would have the same issues. May be ADTG can tell you if the CX-A5100 can do better.

The CX-A5100 is like 3 years old, so it may not be like the 2018 new models.

The new CX-A5200 (Nov-Dec 2018) will probably be like the RX-3080.

I don't use these internet radio/music services or apps.

A long time ago I tried some internet streaming services on my Denon AVP-A1 and 5308. But it was so frustrating and I gave up completely.

Since then, I have not touched any kind of internet/streaming services like Pandora/Spotify.

For streaming music, I have music files on my PC/home network.

 

[mageor]

I thank you all for your answers and your contribution to my future decision...I was amazed by your sincere interest in my problem....Keep up the good work

 

[Verdinut]

Hi guys, I already own a SONY TA-FB930R Stereo Amplifier which i bought at 1999. I am generally happy with it. It was relatively expensive at that time....I used to amplify various sources that days....a Pioneer DVD, my Roland Synth, a VHS.... now times passed, needs changed....i have all my Cds archived in flac and mp3 formats (Synology NAS)....i have a Premium Spotify subscription...probably Tidal in the future....I also plan to get a good CD player (for example....Marantz 6006) and an Ultra Bluray player (Sony X800) ...i watch Netflix....
So.....I find myself tempted to buy an AV Receiver (Onkyo 686 or Denon 2500 or Sony Str-1080)....around 700 euros.....

Is this a logical move to make? I mean, AV amplifiers are not that much an audiophiles choice....i forgot to tell you that i will use a pair of B&W 603 S2 speakers and i also have a Samsung KS8000 TV for Video.....I mostly have worries about the audio quality from the Cd player....almost 20 years past.....will a new AV receiver sound worse than my old Sony TA-FB930R? I d like to have the digital input options that i now do not have....

Thanks in advance and sorry about my English....
Margaritis Georgiadis - Greece

If you buy a Blu-ray player, it will play all your CDs, so you may not need to get a separate CD player. IMO, any decent Blu-ray player will play CDs as well as any decent CD player.

 

[snakeeyes]

Maybe you can raise the asking price on the used 1050.