Please help me upgrade my system!

[Bloodstriker]

I'm getting a bit frustrated in figuring out what receiver to buy for my system.

My current system is:

AV Receiver:

Denon AVR 2802

Bluray/HD DVD via PS3 and XBOX360

DVD Player

Pioneer DVD-V550

Front Speakers:

Totem Accoustic Hawk

Center Channel

Totem Accoustic Rainmaker

Rear Surround Channel:

PSB Image 4T


Subwoofer:

PSB Subsonic 5


Display:

Sony Bravia KDL52XBR2


I'm looking for a solution for the following:

- HDMI 1.3a support
- enough juice to drive the front and center channels properly. they're rated at 120W and 6 ohms.
- New subwoofer (probably will get the matching ones to the fronts).

I'm currently very interested in getting the Denon 4308CI. It's got all the funtionality I want except for the Silicon Optix Reon chip for upconversion.

However, some of the people that I've spoken to are telling me to get a lower-end receiver and get a seperate 5 channel amp. If this is the case, what should I be getting?

I don't know what to do.. help!!

 

[mazersteven]

Those speakers are not the easiest to drive. I'm not sure how the Denon would handle the 6ohm load, and 86 sensitivity.

That Denon looks like an awesome receiver for $2500 bucks. I don't think you can get all those features with pre/pro and amp combo. So that being said you could always add an amp if you feel the receiver is running to hot, or not doing the job.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Thanks for you reply, mazersteven.

So you're saying get the 4308ci and then if needed, go get a separate amp? I'm pretty new to the scene and I'm not sure what kind of amp would be sufficient to deliver the goods. Do they make 7 channel amps?

 

[mazersteven]

Thanks for you reply, mazersteven.

So you're saying get the 4308ci

Im not saying to go that route. I'm just giving a option if you do decide to go that route.

From the research, and reading I have done on the internet, and forums. I like 2-channel and mono-block amps myself over multi-channel amps. Again that is just my opinion. Everyone will have different opinions. Some will agree, some will not.

The ones that "will not" are wrong. LOL Only Kidding.

 

[mike c]

my opinion:

get the 3808 and a 2 channel amp for the fronts (and an outlaw monoblock for the center)

how much budget are we talking about? if it's a lot, the Rotel RMB1095 looks pretty good for a multichannel amp at 200wpc

try to audition subwoofers from velodyne, SVS, HSU rather than getting a matching subwoofers just because they match the fronts ...

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I would find the least expensive AVR that has the features you need and then add add an external amp.

Ummm; I think I just repeated what Mike C said...

 

[westcott]

I am a Denon fan and normally I would say you will do just fine. But, at this price point, I may have to suggest going with an Emotiva separate setup or a lower end Denon receiver with an Emotiva MPS1. I think that it would be hard to beat an Emotiva system for the price\performance ratio. Here is the link to the Audioholics review. I am seriously considering the MPS1 myself as one of my next upgrades. (read as my wallet has finally recovered from all the remodeling). I will keep my Denon as a preamp for now.

MPS - 1 Amp

Ultra Theater Pre Amp

DMC - 1

I love the Silcon Optix Reon and Realta solutions but I think that your money would be better spent buying a player with this chip than a preamp or AV receiver with this video solution. I am of the opinion that less processing is more. Sending a poorly processed signal from a player to a receiver to be re processed is not going to net you the best results. If you spend the money to send a good signal to your AV receiver, then the money spent is somewhat redundant on the receiver.

 

[agarwalro]

Depending on your budget there are 2 options,

1) Pre/Pro + 7 ch amp
2) Mid level receiver + 3 ch amp

Both routes will meet your requirements in terms of connectivity, but only upper level Pre/Pro and receivers will have the Silicon Optix processing.

Assuming your budget is $2000-3000 since you are looking at the 4308CI, a good quality setup for Option 2 will be easier to achieve. If you go this route, aim to spend $800 on the receiver and the remainder on the amp.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Thanks for all the replies. This seems like a really great forum.

Budget would be around $3000.00 for the receiver/amp combo. About $1-2K for the sub.

Sorry, but what is a "pre/pro?" compared to a receiver plus amp?

The reason I would like the Reon chip is because the Sony LCD doesn't do a good job of de-interlacing 1080i signals - this is noticable when watching HDTV. I was hoping to output the HD Cable Box into a receiver and have it clean it up before sending it out to the TV.

I'm not sure what receivers in the $800 range have the functionality that I'm looking for. Something from Onkyo? I'm not sure how those perform?

 

[obscbyclouds]

Thanks for all the replies. This seems like a really great forum.

Budget would be around $3000.00 for the receiver/amp combo. About $1-2K for the sub.

Sorry, but what is a "pre/pro?" compared to a receiver plus amp?

The reason I would like the Reon chip is because the Sony LCD doesn't do a good job of de-interlacing 1080i signals - this is noticable when watching HDTV. I was hoping to output the HD Cable Box into a receiver and have it clean it up before sending it out to the TV.

I'm not sure what receivers in the $800 range have the functionality that I'm looking for. Something from Onkyo? I'm not sure how those perform?

A Pre/Pro is the processor part of the reciever, in its own seperate box. If you like, a reciever is a pre/pro and power amp together in one box. Many recievers have pre-out line level connections for each speaker to connect to a power amp (i.e Emotiva RPA-1, Outlaw Monoblocks, etc.).

The new line of Onkyo's have excellent connectivity and functions, as well as HDMI 1.3 for your PS3, etc. The 805 or 605 should meet your needs. Then you could connect a 2 channel (or 5 channel) power amp for those hungry speakers of yours.

As for your TV doing a bad job de-interlacing. Try setting the cable box to output 720p if you can, many 1080p TV's are happier this way.

For a Sub, I don't think you can go wrong with HSU or SVS.

 

[Davemcc]

I'd be looking at the new Integra processor, especially for its video capability, but it seems to have everything. Emotiva does not currently have HDMI 1.3a that I'm aware of.
http://www.integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?m=DTC-9.8&class=Separates&p=i
http://www.audioholics.com/news/press-releases/integra-dtc-9-8-three-zone-preamplifier-processor-introduced.html

Couple with an outlaw 5ch 200wpc amp that will drive darned near anything.
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/7500.html

Going by spec. price, it's about $3200, but man, that extra couple of hundred will buy you a lot of capability.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm getting a bit frustrated in figuring out what receiver to buy for my system.

I'm currently very interested in getting the Denon 4308CI. It's got all the funtionality I want except for the Silicon Optix Reon chip for upconversion.

However, some of the people that I've spoken to are telling me to get a lower-end receiver and get a seperate 5 channel amp. If this is the case, what should I be getting?

I don't know what to do.. help!!

No way. I would get the Denon 4308 over separates, and this is coming from a guy who doesn't even own a receiver

I truly believe that the Denon 4308 will sound as good as any separate pre-pro-amp separates out there.

I say go for the Denon 4308! Forget the separates. You don't need any amps if you have the 4308.

 

[stato]

Get whatever amp has the features you want. Dont worry about power just use it as a pre and buy a Rotel or something similar and "Bang goes your Buck". JMHO

 

[Bloodstriker]

I've been thinking of maybe just getting a 3 channel amp to power the front speakers for the time being, then looking for a receiver at the end of the year. I'm considering the Anthem MCA30. Would that be a good choice? And what is a good price for a used one?

At this point, I'm just really afraid that I'll blow my speakers if I don't get better power. (I like listening to things a bit on the loud side).

 

[gus6464]

Why not get 2 behringer A500 amps?
http://www.etailelectronics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=11575&Category_Code=DJAmps&Store_Code=etail

Or 2 crown xls-202D amps
http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=CRXLS202D

 

[Fastnbulbous]

There don't seem to be a lot to choose from with 3 Channel amps. I'm considering the Odyssey Stratos HT3, 3x150w, lists for $1,595. Theta Dreadnaught II is nice because you can expand from 3 to 5 or 7 with modules, but expensive as a Krell.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Why not get 2 behringer A500 amps?
http://www.etailelectronics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=11575&Category_Code=DJAmps&Store_Code=etail

Or 2 crown xls-202D amps
http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=CRXLS202D

How come those are so much cheaper than the Anthems?

 

[mike c]

How come those are so much cheaper than the Anthems?

because the anthem has features the behringers don't have, like:
12v trigger
auto sense?
nicer front panel
different input sensitivity?

versus the crown amp:
the crown amp has a noisy fan
I don't think it has regular RCA inputs

I have used both behringers and a rotel amp in my HT ... I did not notice a difference except for manually turning on the behringer amps everytime I use them.

 

[gus6464]

because the anthem has features the behringers don't have, like:
12v trigger
auto sense?
nicer front panel
different input sensitivity?

versus the crown amp:
the crown amp has a noisy fan
I don't think it has regular RCA inputs

I have used both behringers and a rotel amp in my HT ... I did not notice a difference except for manually turning on the behringer amps everytime I use them.

The regular rca inputs won't matter if he gets the integra 9.8 because it has XLR preouts that all the pro amps have. Even if he buys an A500 for each speaker and bridges them he will have more power than he ever needs and will still be a lot cheaper.

Is the 12v trigger, auto sense, nicer front panel and diff. input sensitivity worth the greater amount of money that he will be spending if he goes with the anthem amp?

 

[Bloodstriker]

Well, I just bought the Anthem MCA30 and it's a big difference - very happy with it. The only nitpicky thought is that.. OMG - This thing is huge and really, really heavy. I have it sitting on the ground for now until I get a new rack.

As for the sound - the speakers seem to be doing everything effortlessly now - not as bright, more stable at higher volumes, more bass. I'm pretty new at this, so I don't know the proper terminology.

The amp itself is silent when it runs.

I don't really know what else I can say....

haha.. actually, that's just an excuse. I wanna go back and listen to more music.

Thanks for the help everyone. When the receiver gets upgraded I'll report again!

Oh...does it matter how good the RCA cables are? I don't even know what kind of cables I'm using.