Arcam AVR300, Yamaha or Denon?

[andhan]

WHAT TO DO???

Here's my situation: I'm remodeling my house and will soon have a main floor kitchen/family room/dining all in one open space. I have a Panasonic plasma (HDMI capable) I'll hang on the wall. The speakers will be a combination of higher-end Paradigm in wall/in-ceiling speakers. I can't decide what do do about the receiver. This receiver will be used mostly for movies/TV but will also used for music.

With that said, it seems to me that HDMI switching would be important. In addition, up scaling seems to be important also. Especially, since my cable channel (digital) look like crap. In fact, I try not to watch TV unless its HD.

Yamaha (RXV-2500) and Denon (3806) both have great reviews from people and also include the HDMI features mentioned above. However, I also read threads from people who say these types of receivers don't have enough power and that you would also need an AMP. Which leads me to the Arcam AVR300. If I decide to pay $1999 for a receiver, I think it would have more than enough power, sound terrific, but then lack the HDMI.

Would I be disappointed without HDMI switching or would having such a great receiver make up for it (using component switching instead)?

Or, would the power from the Denon or Yamaha be enough? Or maybe I should stop reading reviews...I'm driving myself crazy.

 

[ExtraCheese]

First off, I would say that you have every right to go crazy. It's impossible to figure out where you are going to end up when you start thinking about highend audio equipment.

I don't know much about the Paradigms that you are talking about but after my experience I would say if you go the Denon/Yamaho route, be prepared to start buying separate amps shortly after.

Whatever the case maybe, I can almost gaurantee that you will hear a significant improvement in audio quality going to a audiophile grade amplifier. The difference that I saw attaching a Rotel 1070 amp to my 3805 was night and day. Of course, my fronts (2 1/2 way floorstanding Dynaudio 72 SE's) are extremely inefficient but even with in-walls at higher SPL's all channels driven (i.e. showing off to your friends), the Denon or the Yamaha will quickly lose composure.

Also, I've never seen a review where somone said that they saw a noticable difference from HDMI to component. I'm not big into HT though, so I might be wrong.

 

[zumbo]

My problem with the Arcam is no HDMI, and no pre-outs for if you want to add more power in the future. At least I didn't see any.

Solution: http://www.adcom.com/newproducts/gfr700ii.htm

 

[PENG]

There will always be people telling you adding an amp to a receiver such as the Yamaha 2500 or Denon 3806 will get you the "day and night" difference. There will also be people telling you all similarly priced receivers and amps sound the same as long as you don't crank it up beyond its capability. I have had my 3805 hooked up to amps up to 300 WPC and could not hear those huge or day and night difference. I left the amp in just to feel good, allowing the Denon to run cooler and hopefully last longer, and I already have the amps anyway.

Whether you will hear the often reported huge difference depends on many thing, e.g. room acoustic characteristics, speaker sensitivity, and your own perception.

The Arcam AVR300 had no trouble driving my 87 dB sensitivity speakers but so does my 3805 on its own. To me the 3806 will get you more bangs for the buck, especially if you are planning on adding an amp eventually. The Arcam really won't get you more power, based on published specs and reviews.

 

[wuttuptae]

My problem with the Arcam is no HDMI, and no pre-outs for if you want to add more power in the future. At least I didn't see any.

Solution: http://www.adcom.com/newproducts/gfr700ii.htm

The AVR300 does have preouts. The AVR250 does not. From what I heard in the demo room (not with my current speakers), the Arcam sounded more musical to me. I own a Denon 3806, and I am purchasing an ext. amplifier to power my Studio 100's. I know plenty of people, though, who are completely satisfied with using the 3806's amplifier. These speakers just seem to want more juice.

I'm pretty sure the Denon 3806 does not do up-scaling. It does convert analog to HDMI, though.

 

[zumbo]

The AVR300 does have preouts.

I found them. You are correct.