New set up Yamaha RXA3000??

[rjxox]

Hi everyone. I have been reading a lot on this site im glad i found it. Lots of great info and reviews. The last stereo i bought was a sony ES69 series 20 years ago already lol. I have a set of Klipsh Heresy2's.

Im finally ready to jump into it again and boy have things changed. Im finally looking for a new receiver and i am planning to buy a new tv and surround set up, AKA home theatre.

Money is not unlimited however im a fan of buying something right and not needing to for a while again. I started by looking at the RXA 1000 and some of the reviews here made it look quite good(system for $3500 Review). The RXA3000 sounds very impressive. Im not convinced that i need all the power or the hookups but they are good for future needs as well. I tend to d/l lots of xvids so the upconversion sounds like a great option as well.

Can someone please tell me do you think the RXA3000 is the best bang for that price range or should i look at something else for the same price range. I know the answer is subjective.

Mostly i will use the system for music and watching movies. Not so much for regular tv. (The bypass HDMI on the 3000 again sounds good). Perhaps gaming but im not huge into that on TV.


I was thinking of the Klipsch RB-51 5.1 Loudspeaker System also from the $3500 review.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rjxox

 

[XEagleDriver]

A Different Approach

Rjxox,

Welcome to the forum. I suggest you consider the following sequence to get a better solution to what you are looking for.

Set an overall budget for the HT project:
Roughly divided as follows ($3500 example):
Display 30-40% (~$1000-1500)
Speakers 30-40% (~$1000-1500)
AVR 15% (~$500)
Sources/Cables 15% (~$500)

For the Audio:
Set the Budget --> Pick the Room --> Select Speakers --> Define Sources
--> Select AVR or prepo/amp to handle speakers and sources

For Video:
Set the Budget --> Pick the Room --> Define seating distance
--> Calculate Display Size--> Select Display Type --> Select Display within budget

Personally, I would not be looking at an ~$1800 receiver to pair with a ~$1600 set of 5.1 speakers. IMHO that plan allocates way too much money into the receiver at the expense of better speakers/sub or display.

Hope this helps frame your problem a bit better.

Cheers,
XEagleDriver

 

[rjxox]

Rjxox,

Welcome to the forum. I suggest you consider the following sequence to get a better solution to what you are looking for.

Set an overall budget for the HT project:
Roughly divided as follows ($3500 example):
Display 30-40% (~$1000-1500)
Speakers 30-40% (~$1000-1500)
AVR 15% (~$500)
Sources/Cables 15% (~$500)

For the Audio:
Set the Budget --> Pick the Room --> Select Speakers --> Define Sources
--> Select AVR or prepo/amp to handle speakers and sources

For Video:
Set the Budget --> Pick the Room --> Define seating distance
--> Calculate Display Size--> Select Display Type --> Select Display within budget

Personally, I would not be looking at an ~$1800 receiver to pair with a ~$1600 set of 5.1 speakers. IMHO that plan allocates way too much money into the receiver at the expense of better speakers/sub or display.

Hope this helps frame your problem a bit better.

Cheers,
XEagleDriver

I think you have a very good point on that pairing example. Im not so concerned about the money side of the budget more so what i think is a reasonable amount and also how much i can convince the wife is a reasonable amount. Right now im thinking about a $4000 budget for Receiver and speakers. Is $1800 receiver and $2200 speaker more even or is do you think i should be looking at $1000 receiver and $3000 Speakers?

Any recomendations ?

 

[AVRat]

It would also be helpful if you could elaborate about the room, ie. dimensions, open to other space, LR vs FR. I'm assuming you're looking for a 5.1 setup? Bookshelfs vs Towers, preference? How big of a display are you considering?

We will definitely be steering you away from most speaker manufacturer's subs! Size constraints?

The 1/3 budget ratio is more the norm where the sub can eat up a bit of the speaker side.

 

[rjxox]

It would also be helpful if you could elaborate about the room, ie. dimensions, open to other space, LR vs FR. I'm assuming you're looking for a 5.1 setup? Bookshelfs vs Towers, preference? How big of a display are you considering?

We will definitely be steering you away from most speaker manufacturer's subs! Size constraints?

The 1/3 budget ratio is more the norm where the sub can eat up a bit of the speaker side.

In the end ts going to be in the basement. We are currently finishing the basement. The room will be about 20 feet x 24 feet. Should be all one family room divided from others. 5.1 sounds good. Really no preference to bookshelf or tower either could work. Im planning on about a 50 inch tv.

Just for audio im thinking a budget of up to $4000 Canadian lol.

Again mostly for watching xvids and tv, music.

 

[HexOmega]

Honestly unless you NEED the most power and features available from a receiver, you could probably get adequate future-proofing from a lower level Yamaha receiver and spend the savings on better speakers and/or sub(s) which will make the most difference in audible performance.

I was thinking maybe something like a RX-V667 or Aventage RX-A700 which are both quite capable. Of course, if you need much more power than that, external amps are probably the way to go anyway.

 

[rjxox]

and what would you suggest for speakers? i know i should go listen to them but can you point me in the right direction?

 

[Pyrrho]

I think you have a very good point on that pairing example. Im not so concerned about the money side of the budget more so what i think is a reasonable amount and also how much i can convince the wife is a reasonable amount. Right now im thinking about a $4000 budget for Receiver and speakers. Is $1800 receiver and $2200 speaker more even or is do you think i should be looking at $1000 receiver and $3000 Speakers?

Any recomendations ?

I would very definitely spend much more on the speakers than the receiver. In my case, I am currently running a receiver that retails for about $1700 with speakers that retail for well over $6000. Previously, I was using a receiver that retailed for $600 with the same speakers. It sounds the same as before, unless I engage a feature that affects the sound. (I bought the more expensive receiver because I wanted more features.) If the best sound quality is the goal, buy a receiver from a reputable company (e.g., Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, Pioneer) that is about as inexpensive as it can be while having all of the features you need, and then spend all of the rest on the speakers (speakers, of course, include subwoofers).

So, unless you need a feature not found on a $600 receiver, I would go with about that for the receiver, and then spend the $3400 on some good speakers. Not only will this sound much better than spending more on the receiver, it will also be a better investment for the future. The reason being that when they come out with some new feature that you feel the need to get, you will be replacing the receiver, not the speakers. Put your money in your speakers if you want the best sound you can get.

 

[XEagleDriver]

Check out PSB and Paradigm to start

and what would you suggest for speakers? i know i should go listen to them but can you point me in the right direction?

Being up in Canada, audio equipment (especially imported) can get pricey.

On the flip side, you have some excellent home-grown speaker companies; two which come to mind and definitely worth looking into are: PSB and Paradigm.

There are several others that I am less familiar with.

From PSB specifically, give a listen to the "Image" and "Imagine" lines as a good starting point within your budget.

For your subwoofer, I would research the ID companies like HSU, SVS, etc. and see what the shipping/tax situation would be to go to CAN--in general they provide more bang-for-the-looney than other sub options, and there is no advantage to having your sub be from the same company as your speakers AFAIK.

As to your previous AVR/speaker ratio ?: your proposed "$1k/$3k split" should be very close to a good balance of resources.

XEagleDriver

 

[AVRat]

Since you’re in Canada an Axiom setup would be pretty good bang/C$: http://www.axiomaudio.com/epic60_500.html# And if you wanted, you could swap out the QS8s for the M2s: http://www.axiomaudio.com/m2.html

Receiver to power it: http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/denon-denon-7-2-home-theater-receiver-avr-891-avr-891/10145894.aspx?path=94a40db50a152f98e744bc12b49535b3en02

 

[rjxox]

I will do some work ASAP

 

[rjxox]

Since you’re in Canada an Axiom setup would be pretty good bang/C$: http://www.axiomaudio.com/epic60_500.html# And if you wanted, you could swap out the QS8s for the M2s: http://www.axiomaudio.com/m2.html

Receiver to power it: http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/denon-denon-7-2-home-theater-receiver-avr-891-avr-891/10145894.aspx?path=94a40db50a152f98e744bc12b49535b3en02

I have never heard of Axiom before. I spent some time looking over their site and ran into this post
http://www.axiomaudio.com/boards/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=331294#Post331294

Am im reading it right? they suugest a M2 (a bookshelf speaker) as a better centre channel then the VP150? Perhaps im not understanding something?


The other question i have is on the Epic 60 500 link it mentions

"Ideal for rooms of 2,100 cu. ft. to 6,000 cu ft. and those with vaulted ceilings, “great rooms” and dedicated home theaters, the Epic 60 / 500 results in a large increment in powerful deep bass and improves overall dialog intelligibility for larger rooms and listening distances greater than 15 feet"

Now this might seem like a dumb question but is it ok for a smaller room? Do i really need a 500 or should i look at a epic 60 350?

If the M2 speaker is really better maybe i should price individually?

Thx again for all the help

 

[HexOmega]

and what would you suggest for speakers? i know i should go listen to them but can you point me in the right direction?

I concur with Pyrrho's and XEagleDriver's posts and apologize for not replying earlier:

I would very definitely spend much more on the speakers than the receiver. In my case, I am currently running a receiver that retails for about $1700 with speakers that retail for well over $6000. Previously, I was using a receiver that retailed for $600 with the same speakers. It sounds the same as before, unless I engage a feature that affects the sound. (I bought the more expensive receiver because I wanted more features.) If the best sound quality is the goal, buy a receiver from a reputable company (e.g., Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, Pioneer) that is about as inexpensive as it can be while having all of the features you need, and then spend all of the rest on the speakers (speakers, of course, include subwoofers).

So, unless you need a feature not found on a $600 receiver, I would go with about that for the receiver, and then spend the $3400 on some good speakers. Not only will this sound much better than spending more on the receiver, it will also be a better investment for the future. The reason being that when they come out with some new feature that you feel the need to get, you will be replacing the receiver, not the speakers. Put your money in your speakers if you want the best sound you can get.

Being up in Canada, audio equipment (especially imported) can get pricey.

On the flip side, you have some excellent home-grown speaker companies; two which come to mind and definitely worth looking into are: PSB and Paradigm.

There are several others that I am less familiar with.

From PSB specifically, give a listen to the "Image" and "Imagine" lines as a good starting point within your budget.

For your subwoofer, I would research the ID companies like HSU, SVS, etc. and see what the shipping/tax situation would be to go to CAN--in general they provide more bang-for-the-looney than other sub options, and there is no advantage to having your sub be from the same company as your speakers AFAIK.

As to your previous AVR/speaker ratio ?: your proposed "$1k/$3k split" should be very close to a good balance of resources.

XEagleDriver

 

[rjxox]

This sure is not an easy task lol. The axioms M60 get great reviews and they seem to really stand by their products. In the 2010 Audioholics $1k Floorstanding Loudspeaker Faceoff The M60 appeared to get second place, hoever each speaker had it plus and minus. I notice The PSB are avaiable in my City which is nice because i can actually go and listen to them.

Is there any point in comparing specs, or does it boil down to listerner preference?

Very often i watch Divx movies or recorded TV shows. Do you even get 5.1 out of this or do you use a simulated mode? Even from my Bell satelitte would it be 5.1? If thats what i watch mostly is 5.1 set up useless?

Thx again for everyones advice and help.

 

[Pyrrho]

This sure is not an easy task lol. The axioms M60 get great reviews and they seem to really stand by their products. In the 2010 Audioholics $1k Floorstanding Loudspeaker Faceoff The M60 appeared to get second place, hoever each speaker had it plus and minus. I notice The PSB are avaiable in my City which is nice because i can actually go and listen to them.

Is there any point in comparing specs, or does it boil down to listerner preference?

Very often i watch Divx movies or recorded TV shows. Do you even get 5.1 out of this or do you use a simulated mode? Even from my Bell satelitte would it be 5.1? If thats what i watch mostly is 5.1 set up useless?

Thx again for everyones advice and help.

With speakers, professional reviews in which actual measurements are taken can be useful, particularly for dismissing some as unacceptable.

Since the specifications given never give enough information to be used as a final arbiter, it is never a good idea to use them for the final decision. It is best to listen and pick based on that, though one may wish to pay attention to the shortcomings pointed out in professional reviews in which there were measurements. The reason being, you might not notice a particular shortcoming if you are not listening carefully enough in your auditions, or if you are listening to something that does not reveal those shortcomings. And you want to know of such things before you buy, and not find out about them a couple of months after you bought them and then regret buying them.

Basically, two speakers may be more or less equally perfect (or imperfect, if you prefer), with you preferring one of them and someone else preferring the other, as some virtues are more essential to some people, and some vices are more tolerable to some people. So you must listen yourself for getting the best results for maximizing your satisfaction.

As for the recordings of shows, it depends on what you are recording and what you are using to record it. I use a DVR that records DD 5.1 if that is what is broadcast, and so it gives me DD 5.1 sound with those shows. If you are using a VHS recorder, you will get 2.0 sound from it, which may be processed via Dolby Pro Logic or some other such thing if desired.

 

[rjxox]

I concur with Pyrrho's and XEagleDriver's posts and apologize for not replying earlier:

No problem for the reply im curious do you not like the axioms m60?

 

[HexOmega]

No problem for the reply im curious do you not like the axioms m60?

To be honest I don't really have an opinion about them since I've never heard them before.

I couldn't guarantee you'd like them best compared to everything else in the price range, but I don't think you would go wrong with the Axiom products either. Your best bet is to audition everything you can get your "ears" on and make some decisions based on your personal experience with each speaker.

 

[AVRat]

Here’s an article regarding the center channel question: http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/center-channel-speaker

I suggested the Axiom 60-500 system because you said it would end up in the larger FR and you’d definitively want the 500 for that spatial volume.

When you add a package system to the Axiom cart, the pieces are parsed out so you can easily make substitutions, and a 5% discount is applied for the package deal. You may need to call them directly to obtain a single M2 for the center.

I would definitely try and listen to the PSBs and would also recommend them. They will sound different from the Klipsch you’re used to though, more laid back. An Image T5/C5/B5 combo with http://www.sonicboomaudio.com/pb12nsd-powered-box-sub-12-nsd-woofer-black-p-6.html hopefully would fit the budget.

The Axioms have been described as more forward/bright more akin to the Klipsch sound, just FYI.

 

[rjxox]

Sorry been out of town for a couple days. I located a dealer here that sells PSB and one that sells Paradigm. I really wish there was somewhere to hear Axioms. The one thing that appeals to me about Axiom would be purchasing all the units together. It would make things a little simply. I emailed them and they did reply very quickly even on a saturday which is nice.

My goal this week is to go listen to some speakers.

Geez then i have to pick an receiver still. Would anyone recommend the amp from Axion http://www.axiomaudio.com/sherwood_r772.html Sherwood NewCastle?? i havent seen anything about it on here.

Thanks again to everyone.

 

[AVRat]

Any update?