Don't let Apple Corp dictate whats in a receiver

[3db]

I''ve noticed a disturbing trend of AVR reviews where the first two to three paragraphs are dedicated to supporting Apple and their apps. Who gives a flying f??k? Seriously, I'd rather see less money spent on that BS and more towards the power supply and amplifier circuits then trying to appease the lossy audio crowds. Unfortunately, I do understand that marketing/features lends to sales/profits. Maybe I'm becomming an audiophile snob but I wiuld like to less of this junk.

 

[avnetguy]

That's the world we live in, mass market prices for mass market appeal.

But really, does it matter that you can by an app for control or ipod dock for your AVR? Aren't we already well into the diminishing returns realm for mid to high level AVR amplifiers?

And the good news is, providing you have an AVR with pre-outs, you can get whatever amp you want so you can have it your way!

Steve

P.S. Are lossy codec's really that bad? I listen to MP2/MP3 audio quite often and don't have any issues with it.

 

[Ares]

Naw your not a audiophile snob 3db, your just old enough to know the difference between the good and the bad.

 

[j_garcia]

Have not been a fan of Apple's products for some time now. They are trying to place themselves into everything and I don't like it at all.

 

[agarwalro]

With everything ending up on the cloud and integrated and mobile broadband and no delayed gratification... Pick one... Skynet, Applenet, Googlenet or Microsoftnet.

 

[bikdav]

With everything ending up on the cloud and integrated and mobile broadband and no delayed gratification... Pick one... Skynet, Applenet, Googlenet or Microsoftnet.

You are so right. I'm into computers and I too find a lot of this confusing as hell. The more you learn, the more it's obsolete.

 

[sholling]

I'm not a pod-person or an iGuy and could not care one bit less about Apple integration. Give me reliability (so far in 35 years I've never had a receiver die), good solid amplification, and good solid room correction. They can keep all of the silly stadium, concert hall (etc) effects while they're at it.

 

[GranteedEV]

I hear you!!!!

Sadly, here's the gist of a PM discussion I had with a person at AVS Forum who wanted my advice on a receiver:

Other person: Hey, I don't have much of a budget, but I want to know what I should pair with the $2000 Philharmonics while extracting the most bla bla bla.

Me: $1100 MSRP SR6004 for ~$450 + a link to the amp measurements + to get an XPA-2 later

Him: But I need it to hook up to my ipod. I'm thinking of a $400 MSRP Onkyo. BTW I used to have an Onkyo but it heated up to much and went bad. But I need the ipod dock.

*sigh*

...I've got this newfangled thing called a 3.5mm to RCA cable and for some reason I can hook my MP3 player, granted not an ipod, to my receiver well and fine.

 

[jonnythan]

It's not Apple, it's the consumers. They want features. iPod integration is another tickbox in the features list.

 

[j_garcia]

It's not Apple, it's the consumers. They want features. iPod integration is another tickbox in the features list.

Not if you don't own an iPod, like me

These "people" you speak of - they are the reason why music is now more an industry than something to just enjoy. The fact that we even call it an industry is sad.

 

[3db]

My kids own ipods and I own an old Sansa where I have to drag and drop the music files from a folder to the device. I'm not stumbling through Apple's iTune to load songs or worse yet, have them so protected that I can burn a compliation CD back when Apple used to control the music rights. My MP3 player will never interface with my AVR as I rather go through the motions of loading a CD or cleaning an LP before gently lowering the needle to the groove.

 

[jonnythan]

You guys have to realize that you are a very, very small segment of the market. In the low and midrange receiver market, iPod compatibility is a feature that consumers expect.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

You guys have to realize that you are a very, very small segment of the market. In the low and midrange receiver market, iPod compatibility is a feature that consumers expect.

I was going to say that too.

The mass market wants Apple & Bose.

There is nothing we can do about it.

"Whatever sells" is the name of the game, especially in this bad economy.

For the record, I have never owned anything from Apple/Mac.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My kids own ipods and I own an old Sansa...

I bought my kids and wife the Sansa units. No iPods or anything Apple/Mac for my kids or anyone in my family.

 

[rgriffin25]

Well with all the anti-apple sentiment in here I am almost affraid to put in my two cents. I will say the integration of iOS and android control into the new receivers is GREAT. The fact is most people who have a home theater are now using smart phones. It really makes sense to integrate the two. The new Yamaha app for iProducts is actually pretty slick. Especially if someone wants more control over multizone setups. Consumers no longer have the need to buy RF remotes or IR extenders to have basic control of their system in other areas of their home. Which is a big selling point. Throw in an apple TV and its like carrying around a remote control with a CD changer built into it. While I can understand the argument against the bells and whistles on new receivers. I think most of you "haters" would think otherwise if given a chance to try them out.

 

[Warpdrv]

ANDROID !!!!

Apple Blows

 

[jonnythan]

The fanboyism is strong in this thread.

 

[3db]

You guys have to realize that you are a very, very small segment of the market. In the low and midrange receiver market, iPod compatibility is a feature that consumers expect.

I realize that but what I'm afraid off is that the midrange receivers now sink to the quality of low level receivers because so much of the budget is used to make it an iReceiver....thus giving consumer products with less capable power supplies and amplifier circuits all for the sake of convenience.

 

[jonnythan]

I realize that but what I'm afraid off is that the midrange receivers now sink to the quality of low level receivers because so much of the budget is used to make it an iReceiver....thus giving consumer products with less capable power supplies and amplifier circuits all for the sake of convenience.

Has that actually happened?

Is there any evidence that, at a given price point, midrange receivers have less power than they did say 5-10 years ago?

 

[3db]

Well with all the anti-apple sentiment in here I am almost affraid to put in my two cents. I will say the integration of iOS and android control into the new receivers is GREAT. The fact is most people who have a home theater are now using smart phones. It really makes sense to integrate the two. The new Yamaha app for iProducts is actually pretty slick. Especially if someone wants more control over multizone setups. Consumers no longer have the need to buy RF remotes or IR extenders to have basic control of their system in other areas of their home. Which is a big selling point. Throw in an apple TV and its like carrying around a remote control with a CD changer built into it. While I can understand the argument against the bells and whistles on new receivers. I think most of you "haters" would think otherwise if given a chance to try them out.

Throws daggers your way

I can understand the integration movement and yes, it all sounds cool. However, I don't want to move into integration at the expense of audio quality by using cheaper power supplies/amp circuits. Thats what I'm getting at.