Sub $2k Pre/Power suggestions

[trailertrash]

i am considering the outlaw 990/7125 to replace a low end sony. i have ba vr3's and will have a vrc up front. in the back, 2 cr75's. i am looking for a 5 - 7 chanel amp. i will use the extra 2 chanels to power other rooms.

thanks
john

 

[majorloser]

You might want to look at Emotiva.
http://www.emotiva.com/products.html

They have a couple options for you that will fit in that price range.

 

[riceaterslc]

i upgraded from a sony AVR to a 990/m2200 combo. i could not be happier with this setup. Emotiva is another good option in this price range

 

[Davemcc]

The 990/7125 doesn't appear to me to be a good match, but I'm new at this myself. The 7125 doesn't have balanced inputs, so that feature on the 990 would go to waste unless it's for upgrading the amp later, depending on your plans. The 970/7125 seems to be a better match to me, unless the 990 has some other features that you need that the 970 doesn't.

I've got my eye on the Emotiva Ultra Theater Series, which seems like a good match to the Outlaw combo above. Comparable preamp + free HDMI switcher + 5x125/2x50 Amp + free shipping for $899. It seems like quite a deal, which leads me to one concern.

Are Outlaw and/or Emotiva going to be introducing preamps with integrated HDMI switcher/decoders leaving me sorry that I took this deal instead of waiting?

Dave.

 

[riceaterslc]

The 990/7125 doesn't appear to me to be a good match, but I'm new at this myself. .

check out this review, they seemed to like the combo quite a bit

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_4/outlaw-990-ssp-7125-amp-12-2005-part-1.html

 

[angstadt530]

Are Outlaw and/or Emotiva going to be introducing preamps with integrated HDMI switcher/decoders leaving me sorry that I took this deal instead of waiting?

Outlaw said that they didn't use HDMI because it is still an evolving technology. My guess is once that HDMI 1.3 becomes the standard, they'll start using this technology in their products. I guess we'll find out in a couple of years.

 

[Seth=L]

In all seriousness, I don't think that most seperates in this price range are really on par with similarly priced receivers from Denon, Yamaha, Marantz, or even Onkyo. If you are upgrading from an older Sony to any receivers from any of these manufacturers for even $1000 or a little more that would be an extremely good upgrade. I would bet the processors and features are better and more numerous on todays higher-end receivers in comparison to inexpensive seperates. The best part is, if you don't feel the receiver has enough power, it has preouts so you can add a more powerfull amplifier. Unless you have a huge room, it probably won't be necessary to get an amplifier.

Someone mentioned balanced outputs and inputs, from what I have heard there are a lot of so called "balanced outputs/inputs" that aren't true balanced inputs/outputs.

 

[Davemcc]

check out this review, they seemed to like the combo quite a bit

Well, the reviewer did make quite a deal over the balanced outputs on the 990, but then ignored the fact that these outputs were not used during the review because the amp didn't have the corresponding inputs. An error of omission, maybe? I get the impression that the review was of the processor, specifically, and not the amp or combination except as required by circumstance.

The 990 does have some features the 970 doesn't, such as a phono section, auto-setup, zone 2 and sleep timer, among others. If these features are important enough to warrant a premium, by all means get the upgraded processor.

Here's the comparison.
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/comparison.html

 

[Nick250]

In all seriousness, I don't think that most seperates in this price range are really on par with similarly priced receivers from Denon, Yamaha, Marantz, or even Onkyo. If you are upgrading from an older Sony to any receivers from any of these manufacturers for even $1000 or a little more that would be an extremely good upgrade. I would bet the processors and features are better and more numerous on todays higher-end receivers in comparison to inexpensive seperates. The best part is, if you don't feel the receiver has enough power, it has preouts so you can add a more powerfull amplifier. Unless you have a huge room, it probably won't be necessary to get an amplifier.

Seth, I must say, you have come a long way in your views on amplification since you first posted here on AH. All for the best IMO.

Nick

 

[PENG]

Seth, I must say, you have come a long way in your views on amplification since you first posted here on AH. All for the best IMO.

Nick

I am sure he has been reading a lot, and hopefully auditioning a lot too. By listening for himself he would know how little difference (if any) a 200WPC low to mid level separate amps could make over a 120WPC main stay sub $1K receiver, when paired with sub $1K 8 ohm speakers of average sensitivity. I am a believer of the rule of thumb you mentioned before, spend more(was it 70%?) of one's budget on speakers in order to get more bang for the money.

 

[zumbo]

I am going to agree with the receiver recommendations as well. You could get one-hell-of-a receiver for that budget.

 

[Seth=L]

I am going to agree with the receiver recommendations as well. You could get one-hell-of-a receiver for that budget.

I remember hearing this advice before, glad I followed it. Who was that who gave me the advise I wonder.

 

[Seth=L]

Seth, I must say, you have come a long way in your views on amplification since you first posted here on AH. All for the best IMO.

Nick

I know, and I have done tests since to confirm it.

 

[riceaterslc]

In all seriousness, I don't think that most seperates in this price range are really on par with similarly priced receivers from Denon, Yamaha, Marantz, or even Onkyo.

i disagree, but just to make everyone happy, and since i am an outlaw fan

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/1070.html

 

[Seth=L]

i disagree, but just to make everyone happy, and since i am an outlaw fan

http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/1070.html

That is funny you should mention that receiver. I once wanted that exact receiver very bad, but I ended up with the Yamaha HTR-5890 and I am not looking back.

Here is the problem with cheap separates-

1.) Pre/pros in this category probably aren't any more sophisticated than the ones in today's higher end receivers.

2.) Sonic differences between similar amplifier topologies or negligible.

3.) Emotiva, for example, is a new company, with little experience designing preamplifiers and processors, though they should have the amplifier part down cause everyone else pretty much does as well. (all they could do is build on efficiency). Yamaha, Denon, and Onkyo have been in the game of surround sound for much longer than Emotiva and Outlaw, I would tend to think that gives them an edge.

General consensus is if you want to get your bang for buck you should get a receiver. If you spend $2000 on a receiver you should get better performance and value than if you had spend $2000 on separates.

 

[riceaterslc]

General consensus is if you want to get your bang for buck you should get a receiver. If you spend $2000 on a receiver you should get better performance and value than if you had spend $2000 on separates.

but if you spend $1000 on a pre/pro, then $1000 on an amplifier/amplifiers, when the new formats come out you only have to spend $1000 to replace the pre/pro. i expect my pre/pro to be outdated in no more than three years, and will probably replace in 5. at that point i will be making more money and be able to buy a nicer unit. but my amplifiers should last me quite longer than that...thats my reasoning for it. if he looks used he should be able to get a killer setup for $2k.

 

[gene]

Alternatively if you want to spend around $2k on separates, consider the Emotiva Reference Theater Series:

http://emotiva.com/products.html

It has a nice meaty amp (similar to the MPS-1 but non modular and slightly less power). Although it doesn't have all the latest features of say a Denon/Yamaha receiver, it is simplier to use and has a much meatier power section.

 

[Seth=L]

Alternatively if you want to spend around $2k on separates, consider the Emotiva Reference Theater Series:

http://emotiva.com/products.html

It has a nice meaty amp (similar to the MPS-1 but non modular and slightly less power). Although it doesn't have all the latest features of say a Denon/Yamaha receiver, it is simplier to use and has a much meatier power section.

How bout this, $1000 or less for a receiver, then get some Behringer A-500s to power the speakers. That is the best plan I have ever come up with, and my brain is bout to splode from all the "best plan ever". Receivers are good because if you get say a Yamaha RX-V2500 now and the amps and you want to upgrade later to a receiver that has HDMI ver. 1.3 with DTS-HD and Dolby Digital TrueHD you can use the Yamaha RX-V2500 for something else if you need it, or sell it to a friend that needs a receiver.

 

[GeorgeH]

Timely thread, as I am currently going through this very purchasing decision. I'll be powering a pair of Onix Reference 1s as mains, a Reference 100 center, and using my old TDL bookshelves (for now) as the surrounds in a 5.1 system. All speakers are 4 ohm & low sensitivty, and I'm told the Ref1s are especially critical of upstream components, so I'm considering the amp section carefully.

I was seriously considering a Yamaha RX-V2700, but then I realized I can get an RX-V659 and an Emotiva IPS-1 for only slightly more money. Not sure about the 659 yet - I may go for a HTR-6090 instead (the "box store" version of the RX-V1700) as it can be had fairly cheap as well.

But either way I really like the idea of a modern receiver from a mainstream brand, since as others have pointed out, the big companies have the cash available to do the R&D on the pre-pro side, while it makes sense that a smaller, ID company should be able to provide a solid amp at a good price.

Of course, this is all conjecture on my part. Just trying to read between the posts, if you will. Perhaps I'll get the HTR-6090 & the Emotiva, and try the system both with and without the amp. I do like those 30 day return policies the ID brands have.

 

[Seth=L]

Timely thread, as I am currently going through this very purchasing decision. I'll be powering a pair of Onix Reference 1s as mains, a Reference 100 center, and using my old TDL bookshelves (for now) as the surrounds in a 5.1 system. All speakers are 4 ohm & low sensitivty, and I'm told the Ref1s are especially critical of upstream components, so I'm considering the amp section carefully.

I was seriously considering a Yamaha RX-V2700, but then I realized I can get an RX-V659 and an Emotiva IPS-1 for only slightly more money. Not sure about the 659 yet - I may go for a HTR-6090 instead (the "box store" version of the RX-V1700) as it can be had fairly cheap as well.

But either way I really like the idea of a modern receiver from a mainstream brand, since as others have pointed out, the big companies have the cash available to do the R&D on the pre-pro side, while it makes sense that a smaller, ID company should be able to provide a solid amp at a good price.

Of course, this is all conjecture on my part. Just trying to read between the posts, if you will. Perhaps I'll get the HTR-6090 & the Emotiva, and try the system both with and without the amp. I do like those 30 day return policies the ID brands have.

The Behringer A-500 is very capable with 4ohms. I believe the spec is 230 watts x 2 @ 4 ohms. Get three of them for a 5.1 setup and you will have an extra channel just in case you needed it for a passive sub. Get those with the Yamaha, and you have got a straight deal.