Best Bang for Buck

[drunkenaudio]

I am getting a set of Ascend Acoustic speakers, and want a receiver that is great sounding and has the best performance for the price. I have 600 max to spend. I am looking at Yamaha, Pioneer, HK, and Marantz. I have been told they are musical sounding. Feel free to send links with internet deals. I am up for all expert opinions.

 

[j_garcia]

If you don't mind refurb, check www.ac4l.com for Marantz. The 7400 is $549 (they also have them for $699 new). For H/K check www.harmanaudio.com or ebay. You can check www.ecost.com for Onkyo and Denon refurbs as well.

340s or 170s?

 

[Xsound]

check out the Pioneer vsx-1015, and the vsx-9100. The 1015 is readily available in stores and on-line. The 9100 is a little trickier to find, but is still out there. send me a message if you have any questions.

 

[j_garcia]

I'd skip the 1015 personally. I tried out the 1014, which has basically the exact same amp section, and I found it's power rating to be exaggerated. Sound was decent, but easily went into distortion with just my 902s hooked to it in my smallish bedroom. MCACC off, stereo, direct in both analog and digital. It sounded better with a digital connection, but still lacked balls, IMO. I know the analog noise issue was with the 1014 also, because I use it with my 7200 (which is analog only) without issue.

 

[jaxvon]

I own the 1015 and I'd also say skip it at your budget and look at Yamaha, Marantz, or HK. I think something in the lower end of the RX-V series (657 and 757) would do nicely. Yamaha has good, clean outputs.

I went with the 1015 because I got it for a steal of a price (under $333) and it had tons of connectivity options. Nothing else at that price can touch the 1015.

 

[Nomo]

You may be able to get a Yamaha RX-V1500 within your budget, now that the 1600s are out. Onkyo also makes very nice recievers, although IMO they are second to Yamaha as far as you bang for buck goes.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am getting a set of Ascend Acoustic speakers, and want a receiver that is great sounding and has the best performance for the price. I have 600 max to spend. I am looking at Yamaha, Pioneer, HK, and Marantz. I have been told they are musical sounding. Feel free to send links with internet deals. I am up for all expert opinions.

Do you have a receiver now?
If not, any of your options will do if it can drive your speaker load. Modern electronics are transparent for the most part.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

$600 is a very tough budget. You can really move up if you can stretch to $700.

http://www.ubid.com/actn/opn/getpage.asp?AuctionId=10533619

I guess if I had $600 max, I'd probably be eyeing this one.

http://store.yahoo.com/authorizedelectronics/yarxinst1.html

 

[patnshan]

If you ordered the ascends, you must be looking for a completely flat frequency response. If you want your electronics to continue that "uncolored" audio, do not get a yamaha. I have one in my old system, but they tend to have a lot of bells and whistles that "color" sound. The marantz (I have an 8400) also tends to be warm and doesn't color the sounds. I think ascend and marantz would be a perfect match.

Pat

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver transparency

Check out the audioholics review on the Yamaha RX-V2500 (and 1500) models. They found it to have a very transparent pre-amp and amp stages. In fact, they sugested it for use with as a pre-pro with a high power amp like the emotiva "Big Dog" amp.

Just because there are a lot of features does not mean that you have to use them to "color" the sound. That is what "Pure Direct" mode is for.

 

[Davidt1]

You can get the new JVC RX-D702 for $600. Here is a cnet review:

http://reviews.cnet.com/JVC_RX_D702/4505-6466_7-31473551.html?tag=cnetfd.sd

 

[Tomorrow]

I own the 1015 and I'd also say skip it at your budget and look at Yamaha, Marantz, or HK. I think something in the lower end of the RX-V series (657 and 757) would do nicely. Yamaha has good, clean outputs.

I went with the 1015 because I got it for a steal of a price (under $333) and it had tons of connectivity options. Nothing else at that price can touch the 1015.

Jax,

Where are the LFE crossover points on the 1015? T'anx.

 

[jaxvon]

I'll try to do this from memory (manual is floating around somewhere, and I can't turn the lights on in my room as my roomie is sleeping). The points are global and set at 60, 80, 100, 120, and either 140 or 40 (can't remember). I'll edit this tomorrow and give you the straight info. I use the 80Hz setting as I have bookshelves. While they have decent response down below 60Hz, I've found they sound better with the crossover at 80Hz. I may change this some day, I don't know.

 

[rumble]

Jax,

Where are the LFE crossover points on the 1015? T'anx.

50, 80, 100, 150 and 200.

 

[mgripy]

b&H

I just got a nice catalog from b&H pro audio, and impressed with there online prices example that harmanaudio/com selling a avr-635 for 698 refurb, they are selling new for like same price. I was impressed with there online prices so far. www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[jaxvon]

50, 80, 100, 150 and 200.

Thanks. I should've memorized this by now.