Better upgrade? Receiver or amp for a music first - HT setup?

[thebrieze]

Hi, over the years my listening habits have changed and I find myself enjoying music much more than the HT usage, however I do not have the space for a dedicated music setup. So I still need the whiz bang video and surround capabilities, but looking to improve my music experience.

I’m currently using a Denon 4200 receiver to drive my speakers (4 ohm 88 dB sensitive) and my listening space is at one end of 12x20 foot room.

I’m looking for more warmth and a more musical experience. Would you recommend upgrading the receiver, or adding a 2 (or 3 channel) amp to improve the sound of my system. - or both? I’m trying to figure out which component with have a greater effect on sound quality?

 

[Phase 2]

Hi, over the years my listening habits have changed and I find myself enjoying music much more than the HT usage, however I do not have the space for a dedicated music setup. So I still need the whiz bang video and surround capabilities, but looking to improve my music experience.

I’m currently using a Denon 4200 receiver to drive my speakers (4 ohm 88 dB sensitive) and my listening space is at one end of 12x20 foot room.

I’m looking for more warmth and a more musical experience. Would you recommend upgrading the receiver, or adding a 2 (or 3 channel) amp to improve the sound of my system. - or both? I’m trying to figure out which component with have a greater effect on sound quality?

What speakers do you have? That AVR is a nice unit, I don't believe you would gain much if any replacing it, unless you want more features.

 

[ryanosaur]

Sound Quality is Speakers, not electronics.

Indeed, what speakers do you have? How far from them do you sit? What about the sub: whatcha bumpin? Do you currently have an External Amp?

 

[thebrieze]

I have Onyx Reference 1 speakers from the now defunct AV123, and a Rythmik L12 subwoofer, and a 2 channel Emotiva amp. I sit about 10 ft away from the speakers. Listening volumes are typically mid level, and never too loud. Typically -25 - -20, and rarely goes above -15

 

[PENG]

I have Onyx Reference 1 speakers from the now defunct AV123, and a Rythmik L12 subwoofer, and a 2 channel Emotiva amp. I sit about 10 ft away from the speakers. Listening volumes are typically mid level, and never too loud. Typically -25 - -20, and rarely goes above -15

Assuming your level trims are all set to within a few dB + or - of "0", with MV at -25-20, the X4200W should be outputting less than 10 W total, or a few watts per L, R, C channels so adding a power amp won't help except you may benefit from Placebo. If you want to crank things up to 0 (reference level) then you need to add a 200/300W/8/4 ohm amp, but then the speaker may become the bottleneck. I doubt they were designed to provide reference level at 10 ft in a medium sized room.

 

[lovinthehd]

Other than changing speakers room acoustics/treatment may also need attention.

 

[thebrieze]

I’m not really looking for loudness. My current setup is loud enough without distortion.

Rather I’m looking to get a more warm tube like experience. I’ve heard good speakers sound harsh bad electronics, and while I wouldn’t say my system is harsh, it isn’t as lush as I would like it to be


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[lovinthehd]

Get an equalizer?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Maybe bump the sub channel up a couple dB? Or raise the XO?

 

[PENG]

I’m not really looking for loudness. My current setup is loud enough without distortion.

Rather I’m looking to get a more warm tube like experience. I’ve heard good speakers sound harsh bad electronics, and while I wouldn’t say my system is harsh, it isn’t as lush as I would like it to be


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As mentioned, EQ may be your friend then, or try bumping the sub up a few dB, raise the XO etc. Tube amps, don't all sound the same as many might have been designed to biased towards certain "tone" and/or even harmonics, i.e. not neutral. Some, like the recent McIntosh models, could/should sound very neutral like many solid state amps.

By the way, when the MV is so far below 0, before bumping up the sub channel level, you really should try turning on DEQ if not yet. For music you can leave it on but change the reference from 0 to 5, or 10.

 

[mtrycrafts]

As mentioned about EQ but that Denon may have have on included already. Play with it. Cannot hurt as you can always go back to where it was.

 

[thebrieze]

I would have to turn off Audyssey to use the EQ built into the Denon. Unfortunately the model year of my receiver doesn’t allow me to edit the curve. That functionality came out in the following years model with the App.


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[thebrieze]

Will try turning on Dynamic EQ. I never got a good sense on if this was to be largely avoided (like many other features/gimmicks that do more harm than good) or a “good” thing


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[William Lemmerhirt]

Will try turning on Dynamic EQ. I never got a good sense on if this was to be largely avoided (like many other features/gimmicks that do more harm than good) or a “good” thing


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Curious, have you ever tried Deq before? I have a love/hate thing with it, but as far as what your looking for, it might be just the ticket. One thing I do like(and what I think you will) is that it makes bass very full sounding. Depending on your gear, and setup it can also be obnoxious. That’s easy to deal with though. What I don’t like is that it boosts surround speaker levels too high. I can definitely try the “offset” but I use a Minidsp to build my house curve and I like the consistency of that. That’s just me though.
So yeah, definitely try it out. Or bump the trim in the AVR. Either way, I think you’ll like.

 

[snakeeyes]

I have a L12 and it’s great in my bedroom in 1350 cu ft, but for your space you should have at least two.

I can also recommend the LVX12 if you like ported. I have one in my 2600 cu ft, small theater room.

I also like my pair of HSU VTF2 in my living room. These cost a little less than the LVX12 and they have a lot of mid bass.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I’m looking to get a more warm tube like experience.

What does it sound like now?

Bright? Too much treble and not enough bass?