If money were no object and you just had to get the best AVR

[stalag2005]

I am asking this as a warrior type of question to see what is known in this forum out there. Nowhere in this thread I ask that one bring in the cheaper stuff. This is not intended to be an advice to buy thread. What I am asking and wanting to know is what is the state of the art in equipment and what you have seen even if way out of your budget. Cheap not a goal here. To start off as an idea and example, from what I have seen in Audio Science Review and other places for a reference stereo system setup for noise floor and quality one would be hard to pass up on the combination from Benchmark media

Benchmark HPA4 Headphone / Line Amplifier

The HPA4 is currently shipping from stock. Overview The Ultimate Headphone Amplifier Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. and THX, Ltd. have partnered to introduce the Benchmark HPA4 headphone/line amplifier featuring THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier (AAA™) technology. THX AAA™ reduces harmonic...

benchmarkmedia.com

Benchmark DAC3 HGC - Digital to Analog Audio Converter

The DAC3 HGC is currently shipping from stock. Overview A New Reference - Going Beyond the Legendary DAC1 and DAC2 The DAC3 is Benchmark's newest 2-channel D/A converter featuring the new ESS Technologies ES9028PRO converter chip. The DAC3 converter has lower THD and THD+N noise than Benchmark's...

benchmarkmedia.com

Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier

Benchmark's new AHB2 Power Amplifier - "The Quietest, Cleanest Audio Amplifier on the Planet"

benchmarkmedia.com

And from Audio Science Review we have the following measurements

Review and Measurements of Benchmark HPA4 Headphone Amp/Pre

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Benchmark HPA4 headphone amplifier and preamplifier. The company was kind enough to loan me one for testing. The HPA4 retails for US $2999 so not cheap. It is a collaboration between Benchmark and THX to implement the "888" standard. Will it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Review and Measurements of Benchmark AHB2 Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier using THX technology to reduce distortion. I was going to request one for testing due to membership demand but to my pleasant surprise, the company volunteered to contact me and send not one, but two units! I requested...

www.audiosciencereview.com

and the related DAC (not the exact)

Review and Measurements of Benchmark DAC3

This is a review and detailed measurements of Benchmark DAC3 and headphone amplifier. The unit is on kind loan from member Dallasjustice and is highly anticipated evaluation by myself and I am sure many of you. As of this writing the DAC3 retails for USD $2195 from Benchmark site. Others...

www.audiosciencereview.com

In my honest opinion this the best stereo setup based on the measurements that everything else is measured by for stereo. Amrin in summation says that for the HPA4 and the AHB2 amp that these components for what they are have the lowest noise floor he has ever seen. And the DAC is also good in actively dealing with inherent distortions caused by the digital to analog conversion. I would invite more reading on the links provided.

As I reiterate above, this is an example of what I am looking for when an AVR is postulated. As the stereo example was easier for me to give, this should be an idea of what I would like to see in this thread. I want a thorough discussion of each AVR and links to where the best reviews and measurements are given.

Now for room correction the examples I have been able to find to date on this are as follows

Audessy
YPAO
Dirac
Anthem room correction
Trinnov

And I am certain there are others. I know we have favorites, and many times we also are on a budget, unless we have gotten real lucky and have either won the lottery or married money (that is definitely not me). We all have our favorites, this is not that kind of thread. What I am looking for if you all can dig it up is what you have found that intrigues you. What you have found that seems to excel over other stuff in the category, and point to where if possible the unit has been reviewed and measured if possible by someone 3rd party. And it would be helpful to someone else reading to point a link to the manufacturer web page for the device you are discussing. As in the stereo sample above, I only found this recently and if I were to upgrade my stereo system connected to my computer, this would be something I would consider. In this thread do not worry about budget, lets find the best of the best if we can and have fun doing it.

 

[stalag2005]

You know, I am trying to learn here. I am wondering as there is no central clearing house if and what you know. The above post is to just set the type of tone for collecting what is available in one location. The how's, why's, merits are not necessarily the object here. If this spawns other threads to discuss then great. No right or wrong here, wanting to know what you have seen and caught your fancy.

 

[stalag2005]

I found this the other day. I also found this interesting. The Trinnov Altitude 32 is a very expensive AVR but it does have excellent features. The following is what I did find

From the Manufacturer

Trinnov | 36-Channel Reference Immersive Sound AV Processor

Since 2014, Trinnov's Altitude32 leads the AV Processor market to higher levels of performance and sustainability with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro and Auro-3D

www.trinnov.com

And a couple of reviews.

This is the small brother to the Altitude 32

Trinnov Altitude16 Home Theater Preamp/Optimizer Reviewed - HomeTheaterReview

The Trinnov Altitude16 delivers pure audio bliss, says Dennis Burger, with more configuration features than most people would have any clue what to do with. But sonic perfection does come at a price.

hometheaterreview.com

And in stereophile we have the following review

Music in the Round #98: Trinnov Altitude 32 & Essence Evolve II-4K

As I wrote before in these pages, I have long been acquainted with French electronics manufacturer Trinnov. Years ago, at an Audio Engineering Society convention in New York, a Trinnov rep used a mastering console equipped with their processor to move, at will, the sounds of instruments around...

www.stereophile.com

I was unable to find anything other than the manufacturer specifications, so unfortunately we only have the manufacturer reporting and not 3rd party testing here. This is not a cheap device as typical prices when I searched are north of $20K USD on this. I found this interesting.

 

[slipperybidness]

Here's the deal, when it comes to an AVR you are best served to stick to the BIG Brands! To me, today, this means Yamaha or Marantz/Denon, and that's it!

In days past, Pioneer and Onkyo may have been worth considering.

The fact is simple, ONLY the big brands have the engineering resources needed to produce a reliable AVR! Modern AVRs are incredibly complex electronic devices, and you better have the engineering resources to make them work properly.

When you go to a boutique brand for an AVR, understand that these small competitors simply do not have the engineering resources needed to guarantee a rock solid AVR experience.

At the end of the day, $ is no object, it is the hassle and headache of a boutique brand that is more important than the bottom line $.

Now, if we are talking about 2 channel stereo and less complex analog pre-amps, that is a whole different discussion vs. the AVR discussion.

 

[stalag2005]

Here's the deal, when it comes to an AVR you are best served to stick to the BIG Brands! To me, today, this means Yamaha or Marantz/Denon, and that's it!

In days past, Pioneer and Onkyo may have been worth considering.

The fact is simple, ONLY the big brands have the engineering resources needed to produce a reliable AVR! Modern AVRs are incredibly complex electronic devices, and you better have the engineering resources to make them work properly.

When you go to a boutique brand for an AVR, understand that these small competitors simply do not have the engineering resources needed to guarantee a rock solid AVR experience.

At the end of the day, $ is no object, it is the hassle and headache of a boutique brand that is more important than the bottom line $.

Now, if we are talking about 2 channel stereo and less complex analog pre-amps, that is a whole different discussion vs. the AVR discussion.

I am not saying that you are wrong here. However what I am looking for is not advice but examples of what you have seen here. If you want to discuss there are other threads. I am just trying to get a feel for what is present in the market place, boutique or main stream. Please stay on topic for stuff you have seen. If you have an AVR that is worth adding, no matter the price point, feel free to post the device, and links to relevant reviews/measurements. I am hoping to turn this into a thread to help educate, not criticize. Let's start another thread if you want to debate that. Let's try to keep this a reference thread only.

 

[lovinthehd]

I found this the other day. I also found this interesting. The Trinnov Altitude 32 is a very expensive AVR but it does have excellent features. The following is what I did find

From the Manufacturer

Trinnov | 36-Channel Reference Immersive Sound AV Processor

Since 2014, Trinnov's Altitude32 leads the AV Processor market to higher levels of performance and sustainability with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X Pro and Auro-3D

www.trinnov.com

And a couple of reviews.

This is the small brother to the Altitude 32

Trinnov Altitude16 Home Theater Preamp/Optimizer Reviewed - HomeTheaterReview

The Trinnov Altitude16 delivers pure audio bliss, says Dennis Burger, with more configuration features than most people would have any clue what to do with. But sonic perfection does come at a price.

hometheaterreview.com

And in stereophile we have the following review

Music in the Round #98: Trinnov Altitude 32 & Essence Evolve II-4K

As I wrote before in these pages, I have long been acquainted with French electronics manufacturer Trinnov. Years ago, at an Audio Engineering Society convention in New York, a Trinnov rep used a mastering console equipped with their processor to move, at will, the sounds of instruments around...

www.stereophile.com

I was unable to find anything other than the manufacturer specifications, so unfortunately we only have the manufacturer reporting and not 3rd party testing here. This is not a cheap device as typical prices when I searched are north of $20K USD on this. I found this interesting.

The Trinnov is a pre-pro, not an avr....but if I was spending someone else's money I'd get it

 

[stalag2005]

Pre pros also are fair game here as the amp is a separate device.

 

[lovinthehd]

Pre pros also are fair game here as the amp is a separate device.

I was just going by the thread title. Different ballgame, tho.

 

[John Parks]

Perhaps if you rename the thread to something like “... best AV equipment” as “AVR” specifically stands for (*in this forum, at least) “Audio/Video Receiver”. So far, you have posted a headphone amp, DAC, 2 channel amp and an A/V pre-pro - no receivers.

That being said, Benchmark makes some very nicely measuring stuff.

*here are some “AVR”s outside of this site: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVR

 

[stalag2005]

Perhaps if you rename the thread to something like “... best AV equipment” as “AVR” specifically stands for (*in this forum, at least) “Audio/Video Receiver”. So far, you have posted a headphone amp, DAC, 2 channel amp and an A/V pre-pro - no receivers.

That being said, Benchmark makes some very nicely measuring stuff.

*here are some “AVR”s outside of this site: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVR

The wikipedia is def not the direction. But at this point it would take a forum moderator to change the title. The example of the Benchmark media was only to set a pattern for others to follow but not be the main topic. AVR's for home theater is what I want to see, whether an all in one or a pre processor with amps needed. Want to see what is out there.

 

[mazersteven]

I like to put a 2 channel system together with these

McIntosh C22 2-Channel Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Mk V

The C22 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Mk V is the latest McIntosh preamp to carry the cherished C22 model number and will fit in with home audio systems of any era.

www.mcintoshlabs.com

McIntosh MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier

The MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier has all the features to meet the needs of today’s music enthusiast while preserving the qualities that have made it the most revered McIntosh tube amplifier of all time.

www.mcintoshlabs.com

 

[lovinthehd]

There's really not a lot out there compared to the various 2ch variety of boxes. You have the main players, and as was said, they're best equipped for scale of economies. The boutique players tend simply not to fare as well. There's not much in the sense of esoteric stuff like in 2ch. As far as top avrs the Denon 8500/A110 would probably be as SOTA for an avr as there is. For pre-pros measured so far, not so much.

 

[stalag2005]

There's really not a lot out there compared to the various 2ch variety of boxes. You have the main players, and as was said, they're best equipped for scale of economies. The boutique players tend simply not to fare as well. There's not much in the sense of esoteric stuff like in 2ch. As far as top avrs the Denon 8500/A110 would probably be as SOTA for an avr as there is. For pre-pros measured so far, not so much.

The challenge is to find the AVR stuff that does have info on it. A preprocessor does the same thing as a multichannel AVR but is minus the amplifier. Those are also important as people are often sold down a direction where they don't need to go. The idea here in this thread is to try to find and post the info on AVR or processor/amplifier combinations where we can find the data. We do have a few reviews and Amrin over in his server is trying, but we here are also audioholics and as such enjoy good audio also. What is interesting is the hunt to try to find the best. And good solid information is the start. This thread is the attempt to try to find the good stuff and the stuff that is more snake oil. There has to be a better way of finding stuff than what we currently have.

 

[lovinthehd]

The challenge is to find the AVR stuff that does have info on it. A preprocessor does the same thing as a multichannel AVR but is minus the amplifier. Those are also important as people are often sold down a direction where they don't need to go. The idea here in this thread is to try to find and post the info on AVR or processor/amplifier combinations where we can find the data. We do have a few reviews and Amrin over in his server is trying, but we here are also audioholics and as such enjoy good audio also. What is interesting is the hunt to try to find the best. And good solid information is the start. This thread is the attempt to try to find the good stuff and the stuff that is more snake oil. There has to be a better way of finding stuff than what we currently have.

It's mostly a matter of test subjects As well as those willing to put forth the effort. Amir is if you buy one and send it to him.....probably same for Gene if you ask.

 

[pcosmic]

You are listing everything except a receiver? Wrong title?

Best Receiver i have heard thus far = Yamaha RX-A3080 with its preouts into a couple of class A power amps. I can't comment on pre pros as i don't have any. I am not sold that a prepro sounds better than a equivalent flagship receiver.

If you are looking at the $$$$ territory for 2 channel gear
Best preamp i have heard (though it is far from most expensive out there) = Luxman C900u
Best Power Amplifier i have heard (though it is far from most expensive) = Luxman M900u.

However, i highly recommend that anyone/everyone boycott the stinking vulture who distributes Luxman gear in the US. This fckwit needs to go out of business. There are other ways to get your hands on Luxman gear. I have these, but, imho, it may not work for everyone out there. It has its own quirks. If Mr Dellasella didn't live on the other side of the country, i would have loaned it to him so he could put it on his testbench. I am afraid to ship this anywhere and have it manhandled in shipping.

I know a guy who swears that the Yamaha C5000+M5000 is the best thing on earth. But, i have not had a chance to audit his stuff because of covid.

 

[mazersteven]

You're trying to find the Audio Nirvana, the Zen, the Quan.

It Doesn't Exist. It only exists in your mind

There are many different ways to look at this hobby called Audio. There's Scientifics, there is Mathematics, there is Physics, and there is Sights and Sounds. All are integrated one way or another into Audio.
No two systems like a Thumbprint, or like a Snowflake are the same. Each one similar, yet different. What is the same is the enjoyment it gives to each one of us.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah I would get the McIntosh MX170 Pre-pro and some McIntosh Amps.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah I would get the McIntosh MX170 Pre-pro and some McIntosh Amps.

Don't forget the dealer sign, the clock, the towels, the cups, all that good marketing stuff

 

[VMPS-TIII]

So let's line up all that high price gear and see if anyone can tell the difference in a blind test.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd just like to play with the Trinnov req setups....as long as I don't have to pay for it.