I’m the guy with a 9 year old Technics receiver paired with the very first version of the Bose Accoustimass speaker system – AND…….thinks my house rocks when I turn it all on.
I’m the guy who thought that my Accoustimass module was a subwoofer for the last 9 years. I assumed the lack of bass was the best it could be. I mean I spent $1,000 on ‘high-end’ speakers years ago.
I’m the guy who thinks ‘Burr-Brown’ is the color of my Technics receiver.
I’m the guy who had a neighbor’s dog walk into my living room, lift his leg, and pee square into the hole in my accoustimass module and now blame the sound from my speakers to that dog.
Yeah, I’m that guy. And I need your help.
5 years ago, I started saving cash to upgrade my home theater. $2 a day was dumped into a large box and on really good days, I’d drop in a $10 or a $20. 2 years ago, and $8,000+ in my pocket, I bought a Samsung Plasma 720p and hooked up my Technics and Bose system, sat back and thought I was living life large.
Time for a new receiver and speakers. I stumbled upon Audioholics and the world of reviews & forums & researched until my body went limp from exhaustion. You folks helped me decide on the Yamaha RX-V659. I didn’t need HDMI out since I have 2 on my TV, this was going to be my choice. Or so I thought.
Even though I still had an additional $6,000 to spend, why spend it all on a receiver. I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference anyway, or would I? I mean do I spend $500, $1,000 or $2,000 on a receiver? All of the reviews on the Yamaha 659 said the unit was excellent so why pay $1,000 more on the unknown?
Time went on, I never bought anything and then I went to Best Buy Magnolia and after listening to the sounds in Magnolia, told myself, it was time to drop the remaining $6K. The Yamaha 663 was out with good reviews, so this will be going home with me. But wait.
I’m being told that I’ll be sorry if I buy a receiver with 2 HDMI ins. So more research. Denon looks nice but I hear they are difficult to work with. Something I don’t need. Onkyo runs hot and since the receiver will go in an enclosed area – no go. And then I hear about the 1018 Yamaha, Pioneer Elites, and now the SC-05/07......etc etc etc.
So I went to Best Buy in Willow Grove, PA with my 12% off coupon to ask someone to educate me on receivers, and speakers. Well, I’d have been better off going back to elementary school than ask for help at this Best Buy. Oh I'm sure other Best Buys are excellent -- just not this location.
I went to the store with ripped jeans, a baseball hat and a wad of money to spend. Trouble was I couldn’t find a single employee to talk too. In fact I couldn’t find anyone to help, at least in the AV department. Not just once, but two different times with absolutely NO SERVICE whatsoever. I should have asked for the Manager, but I didn't.
So I went to my local Tweeter last week (Bel Air, MD). The salesmen clearly looked like he didn’t have time for me. Trouble was, there was nobody else in the store -- no customers but me. Maybe it was the way I was dressed and he thought I lived in a tent, maybe he has people walk in all day, take all his time and walk across the street to Best Buy and buy from them. Who knows? It was clear I was disturbing him.
I’d have paid a premium price for the right receiver & killer speakers from Tweeter if I received the education that I needed to make the right decision. I had questions. Yamaha vs. Denon vs. Pioneer? He seemed uninterested and said, “Yamaha is good, and Pioneer is solid” but didn’t elaborate. He suggested I buy the Elite 91thx as this was on sale and far better than the RX-663. That was it.
I’ll try again. I said, “Sir, if you have $6,400 in your pocket and could buy a new receiver & speakers – what would your top choices be, and why?” His reply?
I’d spend $5K on the receiver and save up for quality Polk speakers down the road. That was it. You’re kidding me!! There wasn’t ONE other person in his store.
I left with my cash in hand. As I was walking out I stopped and looked at a Sony Blu Ray on sale. The salesman picked up his phone and I heard him say, “No. It’s not busy. Just some fool wanting information so he can buy elsewhere.......”
Ok….. I’m 50, no kid. I could have walked -- I didn’t. I walked up to the cash warp in the middle of the store, reached into my pocket and pulled out a stack of $100 bills, slapped them on the counter and said, “Who’s the idiot now?”
Best Buy (at least the one I was in) was no help, and why should I expect them to be any time soon. Tweeter is of no help. I don’t do credit cards, only cash, so I’m not going to Crutchfield or anywhere else. I’m on my own to buy locally.
So I turn to the folks that first turned me onto the world of audio education. Albeit, in about 20 different directions, but educate me you did.
If you had $6,000 in your pocket and wanted a new receiver, nice floor standing speakers (surround sound), and a fancy Blu Ray – what would it look like, and why?
One last thing: I was considering the Def Tech 1000’s until I added in the cost of speaker stands and said why not consider floor standing models. But now I see that some floor standing modles have a sub and some don’t. Evertyhing is going into my finished basement.
Thanks...
