Best SQ Receiver

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cyclist231

Audiophyte
I want to set up a 2.0 system in my girlfriend's condo with a receiver and some small bookshelf speakers. Inputs will be a DVD player and an airport express so I want a DAC and the option to add a sub later. I am looking at AV receivers for upgrade options and the included DAC. I do not care about features other than ease of use and sound quality. I have a family member who works for crutchfield so I would like to buy from him. I am planning on PS image 4b speakers and looking for a good match receiver wise at the $500ish price point. Crutchfield carries yamaha, onkyo, denon and marantz.
thanks for the input
 
C

cyclist231

Audiophyte
I have a family member at crutchfield that can get me a discount, hence why I want to buy there, I was asking for a comparision of the receivers at the $500ish pricepoint based on how much I want to spend after discount.
 
Z

zumbo

Audioholic Spartan
cyclist231 said:
I have a family member at crutchfield that can get me a discount, hence why I want to buy there, I was asking for a comparision of the receivers at the $500ish pricepoint based on how much I want to spend after discount.
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As I mentioned, I doubt Crutchfield(with your family member discount) can beat the price of the unit I posted. Pretty sure they won't disown you.
 
anamorphic96

anamorphic96

Audioholic General
Are you looking for a HT receiver or a stereo receiver. From what it sounds like in your post your just trying to set up 2.0 stereo set up.

If so. Give the Harman Kardon 3490 a shot. It's one of the few stereo receivers with everything you need. Sub out, digital input and dac.

Here is the Audioholics review. The street price from an authorized dealer is much less than 499.00 as well.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/hk-3490
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
cyclist231 said:
I have a family member who works for crutchfield so I would like to buy from him.
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Sounds good to me. Crutchfield offers great service.

And never ever buy a refurbished AVR.

Just buy a nice brand new AVR from your family member who works for Crutchfied.

In Direct mode, I doubt if you will be able to tell the difference among any of those AVRs in SQ.

Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer, HK, & Marantz are all good.

Just compare the features and aesthetics.
 
J

Jim85IROC

Enthusiast
With 2.0 sound quality in mind, I'd look at NAD or Marantz receivers. I chose an NAD receiver a few years back for exactly that purpose... sound quality as my main priority, but the ability to run a home theater setup as well. Mine in particular (The 742) is real short on surround sound options, but gave me a far superior amplifier than most other brands in my price range. The NAD has an animal for an amplifier. It's not rated at much (50wpc maybe?) but it meets that rating with all channels driven, and in 2 channel mode has been measured to put out close to 150x2... and it sounds very nice to my ears as well.

I believe that NAD and Marantz are two of the very few receiver manufacturers that determine their power ratings with all channels driven.
 
O

ohskigod

Junior Audioholic
I'll concur with the NAD reccomendations. great, well regarded recievers for the $, especially in the used market.

for an "out of the box" option, especially if this is for a smaller condo 2 channel rig

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fatman-iTube-MkII-Valve-Amp-USB-LATEST-PRODUCT-/350422536343?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers&hash=item5196cf9097


EDIT***just realized I attached a link to a british seller, the seller doesnt matter, get it from anywhere....no affiliation on my end of course

tiny, low powered, and sounds fantastic. I have one, I love it, will never part with it. more than loud enough, and the soundquality is fantastic.

speaker sensitivity 88db per watt min will do best (low 90's, even better)

you can always get an external dac on the used market.

Incidentally, there are versions of this amp from asia direct that are cheaper (without the "fatman marketing"). Mine is one of them, got it for 150 or so (from a friend though) Cant remember the brand ofhand. I'll check at home and report back.
 
J

Jim85IROC

Enthusiast
I'd say the HK would be a great choice too, as long as it doesn't break. Unfortunately, HK has been plagued with terrible reliability for a number of years now. Perhaps they've cleaned up those issues over the last couple years since I last looked into them, but somehow I doubt it.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Jim85IROC said:
I'd say the HK would be a great choice too, as long as it doesn't break. Unfortunately, HK has been plagued with terrible reliability for a number of years now. Perhaps they've cleaned up those issues over the last couple years since I last looked into them, but somehow I doubt it.
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I didn't realize HK had a reliability issue too?

It seems like quality is going down the drain these days. :(

The only solution to all this is to get a Bryston amp & a Bryston analog preamp, each with a 20 yr warranty.:D

For 5.1, get a Bryston 5Ch amp + 3 Bryston analog preamps.:D
 
GranteedEV

GranteedEV

Audioholic Ninja
AcuDefTechGuy said:
I didn't realize HK had a reliability issue too?

It seems like quality is going down the drain these days. :(

The only solution to all this is to get a Bryston amp & a Bryston analog preamp, each with a 20 yr warranty.:D

For 5.1, get a Bryston 5Ch amp + 3 Bryston analog preamps.:D
Click to expand...
HK may stand for Harman Kardon but it also stands for something else :p
 
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