Amp with existing receiver?

[PENG]

Okay, if I'm following, something like this would be a good path?

Canton SL 596.2 for Front Left and Right (with the free center as center)
Denon AVR3700H receiver (in place of my onkyo)
Outboard Amp for Front three (DefTech Promonitor 800 rear and front upper surrounds remain on AVR for power)

Iirc those are 4 ohm speakers so depends on your seating distance and spl requirements you may need an external power amp to assist the AVR-X3700H.

By the way, ASR has just bench tested the AVR-X3700H and the reviewer reported that he had Denon signed off on it today so you can expect the results to be published tomorrow.

Is there a Marantz and Yamaha AVR that is similar to the 3700?

Yes, the SR6015 is the equivalent Marantz model. The SR6014 would be the almost the same except the missing 2020 only features. Based on bench test results, the AVR-X3600H measured slightly better than the $5,000 AV8805 dedicated preamp processor and much better than the $2,200 AV7705 and the SR6014.

So if the AVR-X3700H measures as good as the AVR-X3600H, it would be among the best measured AVR and AV preamp/processors ever measured by ASR. That is unless you need balanced connections.

 

[Pogre]

Thanks. No on the long runs at this time. Just wanted it for future-proofing. I've had xlr connections in the past and prefer the simplicity as well. But its not an absolute need I guess.

I don't know how XLR is simpler? Either way I wouldn't get hung up on or increase the budget for it unless you have unusually long runs.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Is there a Marantz and Yamaha AVR that is similar to the 3700? I've always loved Yamaha and had one for 10 years as my main AVR. Finally moved it to another room and bought a top of the line model Denon (it was a AVR-4520CI model - just looked at my purchase history) from accessories for less and it died the month after the warranty ended.

Personally, I would stick to brand new Yamaha since Yamaha might be the most reliable.

I think most people would look at the RX-A1080 or RX-A2080.

 

[KEW]

Iirc those are 4 ohm speakers so depends on your seating distance and spl requirements you may need an external power amp to assist the AVR-X3700H.

By the way, ASR has just bench tested the AVR-X3700H and the reviewer reported that he had Denon signed off on it today so you can expect the results to be published tomorrow.



Yes, the SR6015 is the equivalent Marantz model. The SR6014 would be the almost the same except the missing 2020 only features. Based on bench test results, the AVR-X3600H measured slightly better than the $5,000 AV8805 dedicated preamp processor and much better than the $2,200 AV7705 and the SR6014.

So if the AVR-X3700H measures as good as the AVR-X3600H, it would be among the best measured AVR and AV preamp/processors ever measured by ASR. That is unless you need balanced connections.

Thanks for the correction, I should have checked to see if the 6015 was out before I suggested the 6014 as equivalent to the 3700!

 

[PENG]

Thanks for the correction, I should have checked to see if the 6015 was out before I suggested the 6014 as equivalent to the 3700!

Actually I didn't even know you had suggested that lol..

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I was just looking at the 3080. I like that it has XLR input and XLR main speaker output, but not for all channels unfortunately. But that looks like a great unit.

I'm actually using the XLR Outputs on my RX-A3080 AVR!

I mean we see people use XLR all the time on separates like preamps and pre-pros, but not on AVR.

 

[txbonds]

I'm actually using the XLR Outputs on my RX-A3080 AVR!

I mean we see people use XLR all the time on separates like preamps and pre-pros, but not on AVR.

I just like them for future usage purposes. I don't have an immediate use other than I could connect my Marantz UD7007 to it via XLR, or if I get a higher end 4k player it might have them. But also for adding front end amps. Wish they had one for the center as well. Seems you would want to outboard amp the front 3 with an AVR and let it power all the others. But I guess taking the front two off gives the AVR some extra headroom.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I just like them for future usage purposes. I don't have an immediate use other than I could connect my Marantz UD7007 to it via XLR, or if I get a higher end 4k player it might have them. But also for adding front end amps. Wish they had one for the center as well. Seems you would want to outboard amp the front 3 with an AVR and let it power all the others. But I guess taking the front two off gives the AVR some extra headroom.

Yeah, I really never thought I would be using XLR for anything on an AVR.

I use XLR for all my outputs (9 speakers and 10 subs) on my Yamaha CX-A5100 pre-pro, but didn't think I would use XLR on any AVR.

And in terms of power usage, the main Front L/R speakers probably use the most power after the Subs.

No doubt, the idea for the XLR Front L/R was for people who wanted an Analog Media Player with XLR L/R outputs and 2Ch Amps with XLR L/R Inputs for their 2CH Stereo Music.

 

[lovinthehd]

Or just that people in 2ch world paricularly seem to assign some magical qualities to xlr....

 

[PENG]

We can keep flocking AVRs, but ASR just measured another $1,199 AVR that beats all the separates measured on the same bench.

Denon AVR-X3700H AVR Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of Denon AVR-X3700H 9.2 channel 8K Home Theater AV Receiver (AVR). It is kindly loaned to me by a local member and costs US $1,199. Visually, if you have seen one AVR, you have seen the look of the AVR-X3700H: The input selector is plastic and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Note: The $4,999 RMC-1 is shown on top rank by HDMI input SINAD, with 100 dB SINAD (0.001% THD+N), but that's just one test and one single point of the curve. If you look at the overall picture and the Pre-out voltage between the full 0 to 2 V range, the 3 Denon AVRs are actually on top.

This has nothing to do with bias, fans or foes, just facts and figures. If AVRs measured only half as good as prepros in the <$3,000 range, I would serious consider go back to one in my next purchase.

 

[txbonds]

Thanks for all the feedback. I ended up spending my budget for right now on Canton 596.2 front stage speakers with the free 556.2 center. Will have to wait a bit on the amp/receiver front, but will regroup once I have the budge in place again for it. I've been looking with interest at possibly an emotive 5 channel xpa-5 amp and one of their xmc-1 refurbished processors (initially). The idea being to get these now and later add an xpa-2 and eventually a more current processor from them or other vendor. But, it would get me nice amps with a workable processor initially.

Of course I may end up with an AVR like a 3600/3700 or something as suggested above also.

 

[everettT]

Thanks for all the feedback. I ended up spending my budget for right now on Canton 596.2 front stage speakers with the free 556.2 center. Will have to wait a bit on the amp/receiver front, but will regroup once I have the budge in place again for it. I've been looking with interest at possibly an emotive 5 channel xpa-5 amp and one of their xmc-1 refurbished processors (initially). The idea being to get these now and later add an xpa-2 and eventually a more current processor from them or other vendor. But, it would get me nice amps with a workable processor initially.

Of course I may end up with an AVR like a 3600/3700 or something as suggested above also.

Another amp to consider is the Monoprice Monolith series. Built by ATI, unless you can spring for the ATI NCore series. This if you end up needing one.

 

[txbonds]

I was just looking at the monolith 7 channel. It's on my radar also.

Thanks.

 

[mazersteven]

Those Canton's will only sound good with this

McIntosh MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier

The MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier has all the features to meet the needs of today’s music enthusiast while preserving the qualities that have made it the most revered McIntosh tube amplifier of all time.

www.mcintoshlabs.com

 

[everettT]

Those Canton's will only sound good with this

McIntosh MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier

The MC275 Vacuum Tube Amplifier has all the features to meet the needs of today’s music enthusiast while preserving the qualities that have made it the most revered McIntosh tube amplifier of all time.

www.mcintoshlabs.com

Why stop there? Get a hybrid, one tube section for the mids and highs, and solid state for the woofer...

MC901 Dual Mono Amplifier

The ultimate solution for bi-amping loudspeakers: 300 Watt vacuum tube amplifier and 600 Watt solid state amplifier on one chassis.

www.mcintoshlabs.com

 

[Pogre]

I was just looking at the monolith 7 channel. It's on my radar also.

Thanks.

I have one. Built like a tank, quiet, great sound, not ugly, never felt it get hot and no matter what speakers I end up with I know my power needs are handled. It's frickin' heavy tho!

 

[mazersteven]

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

We can keep flocking AVRs, but ASR just measured another $1,199 AVR that beats all the separates measured on the same bench.

Denon AVR-X3700H AVR Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of Denon AVR-X3700H 9.2 channel 8K Home Theater AV Receiver (AVR). It is kindly loaned to me by a local member and costs US $1,199. Visually, if you have seen one AVR, you have seen the look of the AVR-X3700H: The input selector is plastic and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Note: The $4,999 RMC-1 is shown on top rank by HDMI input SINAD, with 100 dB SINAD (0.001% THD+N), but that's just one test and one single point of the curve. If you look at the overall picture and the Pre-out voltage between the full 0 to 2 V range, the 3 Denon AVRs are actually on top.

This has nothing to do with bias, fans or foes, just facts and figures. If AVRs measured only half as good as prepros in the <$3,000 range, I would serious consider go back to one in my next purchase.

As we've mentioned before, if companies like Denon and Emotiva know exactly what Amir measures, they will make sure all their components (AVR, AVP) measure well. We can be sure all the Denon and Emo in the future will have the best SINAD, THD, etc.

It just becomes a numbers game.

Back then, companies made sure their components measured well for Stereophile, S&V, and AH. Now they will make sure their components measure well for ASR and AH.

But again, newbies need to understand that we cannot hear the difference between the best 0.001% THD (SINAD 100dB) vs one of the worst 0.03% THD (SINAD 70dB).

 

[M Code]

I wonder where that unit ASR tested came from...
Did it come from a Denon insider and was pre-tweaked...
Measured specs were excellent, I wonder what an average production unit measures...
It would be interesting to send ASR another unit selected from random stock, and then compare..

Just my $0.02...

 

[lovinthehd]

I wonder where that unit ASR tested came from...
Did it come from a Denon insider and was pre-tweaked...
Measured specs were excellent, I wonder what an average production unit measures...
It would be interesting to send ASR another unit selected from random stock, and then compare..

Just my $0.02...

One of the ASR members like the review indicated....and the member often pops up in the ensuing thread.