Which works out to be the better deal?

[Chopper Greg]

Do I invest my money in an "All in one" A/V receiver, or go with separate controller/decoder and amp?

I don't need any immediate radio capacity ( I rarely listen to the radio, and the CD's I listen to are usually soundtracks to movies that I have watched ), and if I can get a better unit that doesn't have it and amp for the same money I would just as soon go that route.

 

[m_vanmeter]

you have just brought up the sacred subject of "a/v receiver vs. separate pre-amp/amplifier" debate. It really will come down to "total budget" in the end.

Modern a/v receivers by H/K, Denon, Onkyo, and Marantz (typical consumer level a/v equipment) is very good and more than adequate for today's in-house home theater setups.

Pre-amps and power amplifiers are harder to find at consumer level pricing and are usually audio speciality items sold through audio dealers. When you need a lot of solid power to the speakers, separate power amps have a definate advantage over most mid-level receivers. But even that advantage starts to fade when you consider top of the line a/v receivers against pre-amp/amp setups.

One way to by-pass the debate is to buy a solid a/v receiver which also has separate channel pre-outs. You start out using the receiver, and if you find you really need more power, us the pre-outs to send each channel to a free standing power amplifier......best of both worlds.

What are your "needs", budget, room conditions, music vs. movie sound tracks, preferences in speakers (towers vs. bookshelf), overall room size ???

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Separates:
Emotiva XPA5 (200w x 5ch) $800 + Emotiva UMC-1 pre-pro ($700) = $1,500 (5 yrs warranty).

So, if you are willing to spend $1,500, then you should go this route (when the UMC-1 is really released).

Otherwise, get something like an Onkyo 806 for $600 on amazon.com.

 

[Hicks]

Separates:
Emotiva XPA5 (200w x 5ch) $800 + Emotiva UMC-1 pre-pro ($700) = $1,500 (5 yrs warranty).

So, if you are willing to spend $1,500, then you should go this route (when the UMC-1 is really released).

Otherwise, get something like an Onkyo 806 for $600 on amazon.com.

+1 on that, although a lot of folks use the XPA-3 because they don't need 200 wpc for their surrounds.

You also get pre-outs from the 706 from Onkyo.

 

[njedpx3]

All in one Marantz SR8002

and then if that isn't enough connect a Behringher EP2500 to the pre-outs to drive your front speakers.

 

[tcarcio]

+1 on the EP2500........

 

[JerryLove]

and then if that isn't enough connect a Behringher EP2500 to the pre-outs to drive your front speakers.

The spot that fails against the Emotiva suggestion is "what happens with the next upgrade"?

The amp needs pretty much won't change. So when HDMI 1.4 becomes the must-have feature for PurpleRay disks, the 8002 needs to be entirely replaced (another $2k), where the separates need only a new pre.

I would say: the higher up you go, the more effective separates are. Looking at (say) $600 units, the value add of being able to keep the amp isn't easily offset by the costs. Looking in the $2k+ range, it's hard to not go with separates.

I would say that returns diminish rapidly in the receiver-amp area for most people... meaning the most "bang-for-buck" is at the relatively low end and therefore with integrated units. If you are going to spend more, spend it on separates.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So when HDMI 1.4 becomes the must-have feature for PurpleRay disks

Bring it on!

But I'll have to wait for 4K Resolution projector prices to come down. The cheapest one right now is over $100K!

I think we're good for another 5 years.

 

[lsiberian]

Do I invest my money in an "All in one" A/V receiver, or go with separate controller/decoder and amp?

I don't need any immediate radio capacity ( I rarely listen to the radio, and the CD's I listen to are usually soundtracks to movies that I have watched ), and if I can get a better unit that doesn't have it and amp for the same money I would just as soon go that route.

I'm a fan of the separates route myself.(I used to sing the other tune)

An Onkyo STS-885 paired with an Emotiva XPA-5 will give you a great amp and pre-processor. The euphoric feeling of having an external amp is incredible.

If your looking at pro level amps you may look at QSC amps. They tend to have great deals.

 

[njedpx3]

The half life of newest audio equipment is ....

The spot that fails against the Emotiva suggestion is "what happens with the next upgrade"?

The amp needs pretty much won't change. So when HDMI 1.4 becomes the must-have feature for PurpleRay disks, the 8002 needs to be entirely replaced (another $2k), where the separates need only a new pre.

I would say: the higher up you go, the more effective separates are. Looking at (say) $600 units, the value add of being able to keep the amp isn't easily offset by the costs. Looking in the $2k+ range, it's hard to not go with separates.

I would say that returns diminish rapidly in the receiver-amp area for most people... meaning the most "bang-for-buck" is at the relatively low end and therefore with integrated units. If you are going to spend more, spend it on separates.

... only 4 or 5 years for me and a lot of other people (even less for the true audiophile purist). In some ways I am an early innovator. Iff HDMI 1.4 and/or PurpleRay comes along and Marantz does not provide a firmware or USB upgrade, then I will consider upgrading/replacing. Not anything can befully future proof, but the Marantz SR8002 does a decent job for a AVR. The other thing about standards and compatibility, there is overlap for a long long time. Then end ife of HMDI 1.3 and BD is still a good 7-10 years out IMHO. Heck we still have RCA analog plugs, composite video and that sure isn't state of the art. Do if I like the HD radio tuner of the SR8002, the quality
ease of use and features, YES. Will my SR8002 need to be replaced for awhile ... well NO!

You might wonder if separates are the way to go above $2K as you recommend why major companies have high end AVRs, example: Yamaha RX-Z11 retail $5499.95, Denon AVR-5308CI(A) retail $5,500, Onkyo TX-NR5007 retail $2,699.00, Marantz SR8002 $1999.00

Later,

NJ

 

[Chopper Greg]

you have just brought up the sacred subject of "a/v receiver vs. separate pre-amp/amplifier" debate. It really will come down to "total budget" in the end.

Modern a/v receivers by H/K, Denon, Onkyo, and Marantz (typical consumer level a/v equipment) is very good and more than adequate for today's in-house home theater setups.

Pre-amps and power amplifiers are harder to find at consumer level pricing and are usually audio speciality items sold through audio dealers. When you need a lot of solid power to the speakers, separate power amps have a definate advantage over most mid-level receivers. But even that advantage starts to fade when you consider top of the line a/v receivers against pre-amp/amp setups.

One way to by-pass the debate is to buy a solid a/v receiver which also has separate channel pre-outs. You start out using the receiver, and if you find you really need more power, us the pre-outs to send each channel to a free standing power amplifier......best of both worlds.

What are your "needs", budget, room conditions, music vs. movie sound tracks, preferences in speakers (towers vs. bookshelf), overall room size ???

Mostly movies, with some music ( mostly CD's ) I don't really don't listen to radio that much so that is not something I really need - budget runs around $1K give or take a couple of $100, although I might be able shake loose a few extra if I reduce the TV size, and perhaps a few more if I play with the budget. I'm not adverse to using factory reconditioned equipment, if that means I can get a better deal.

I would like to make things fairly upgrade-able one piece at a time for future expansion / replacement and hopefully sooner than later, 7.1 capable.

Rough room size and shape can be seen in this thread, along with some of my preliminary ideas :
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=626421&posted=1#post626421

Current equipment only consist of a PS3, a BlueRay capable muti media laptop with HDMI and standard video connections, and an old reel to reel tape player I want to put back into service.

 

[m_vanmeter]

"Chopper"
I took a look at your room layout and size and I'm going to make some recommendations based on your $1K +/- budget for the HT room you have.

First off, you do not need a separate pre-amp/amplifier for your room layout. It's always nice to "want" them, but you don't "need" them and your budget will not support it.

A/V Receiver: look for sale or promo coupon pricing on an Onkyo SR607, H/K 254, Denon 790/1910 and get the best feature group you can at $400 or less.

Speakers (assuming you have $600 +/- to play with and you will add a subwoofer):

A Polk Monitor system from www.newegg.com
2 Polk Monitor 60 towers, CS2 center channel, and a pair of Monitor 30's for the two surrounds

or

a Jamo 660 system from http://www.wwstereo.com/website/ecommerce/productdetail.aspx?productID=144978&menuID=33

or

or Energy systems for "on-wall" http://www.wwstereo.com/website/ecommerce/productdetail.aspx?productID=144960&menuID=33

or for a smaller footprint Energy system http://www.wwstereo.com/website/ecommerce/productdetail.aspx?productID=144992&menuID=33

subwoofer: any modestly priced (google for sales) 10" or 12" unit, like the BIC-H100, Hsu STF-1, Energy ESW-V8, Polk PSW10, or Jamo SUB300, or Infinity PS210.

By no means is this all that is available for your $1K+ budget, but it is a start with equipment that will meet your expectations and stay (well, sort of ) within your budget.

good luck

 

[Chopper Greg]

"Chopper"
I took a look at your room layout and size and I'm going to make some recommendations based on your $1K +/- budget for the HT room you have.

First off, you do not need a separate pre-amp/amplifier for your room layout. It's always nice to "want" them, but you don't "need" them and your budget will not support it.

A/V Receiver: look for sale or promo coupon pricing on an Onkyo SR607, H/K 254, Denon 790/1910 and get the best feature group you can at $400 or less.

Thanks.

Question - what are your thoughts on the Onkyo TX-SR806 or for that matter this Onkyo HT-S9100THX 7.1 Channel Receiver and Speaker Package http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-S9100THX-Channel-Receiver-Speaker/dp/B001AMUFSE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top ?

 

[m_vanmeter]

the Onkyo SR806 is a great receiver, but unless you can get it at a "super" sale price, it is much more than you need. The general rule is 1/3rd of the budget for the receiver, 2/3rds for the speakers....good speakers have that much more impact on the performance of the system.

The Onkyo S9100 HTiB is a decent system, but at the price it is usually far better to build a system of separates. The Polk Monitors or the Jamo 606 towers will run circles around the speakers included with the HTiB.