Equipment necessary?

[Ron Young]

After a jillion hours of research. I still wonder how necessary an A/V receiver is with all of the features built into the TV's now. Would a good stereo receiver be sufficient to complete the system? Keeping in mind I don't have the space to utilize a nice surround sound system two decent satellites and a center channel would make me look like the guy sitting in front of the speakers with his hair blowing straight back!

 

[Swerd]

I still wonder how necessary an A/V receiver is with all of the features built into the TV's now. Would a good stereo receiver be sufficient to complete the system?

I like to think of the TV as a peripheral audio and video source (like a Blue Ray disc player) and the AV receiver as the center of your system. TVs cannot power your speakers, cannot manage the bass signal going to sub woofers, and the digital processing in AV receivers is almost always more capable than in any smart TV. Most, but not all, stereo receivers only can power two speakers without any of the digital processing. Even if you only plan on driving two speakers, if you watch TV, streaming video, movies, etc., an AV receiver will have many more useful features than a stereo receiver.

Of course, the real heart & soul of any audio system is the speakers.

Keeping in mind I don't have the space to utilize a nice surround sound system two decent satellites and a center channel would make me look like the guy sitting in front of the speakers with his hair blowing straight back!

Whats wrong with that?

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

You’d be good to go with a stereo receiver if you weren’t interested in a center channel speaker. That one thing will require a AV receiver.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[zieglj01]

Plug this up with a nice set of 3 front channel speakers - compare it to
the wimpy TV sound system - and then get back with us? >>>

It will not take up a lot of space
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_642NR1403/Marantz-NR1403.html?tp=179&awkw=75619605265&awat=pla&awnw=g&awcr=47439149665&awdv=c

Question - are you spinning on a merry-go-round?

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

a) stereo receiver can't power nor understand what center speakers is
b) don't be afraid to to buy 5.1 or even 7.1 AVR and only use 3 channel. Economy of scale - most 5.1 AVR are better value than stereo receivers
c) your only real option to avoid AVR is if (and thats a HUGE IF) your TV supports surround spdif out (RTM) - then you could connect nice LCR soundbar using digital audio and be happy AVR less

 

[herbu]

After a jillion hours of research. I still wonder how necessary an A/V receiver is with all of the features built into the TV's now.

Seriously? You come into an audiophile forum and ask if audio equipment is necessary in addition to your TV?
Isn't that like going into a gun forum and asking if a gun is necessary in addition to your baseball bat?

 

[TLS Guy]

You can use a stereo receiver. If it a good older one with really good front speakers it will sound good. If you want to use a sub then you need one of those good oldies that have access to the preouts and amp ins via jumpers at the back. The one thing you will need is a DAC, as TVs no longer have analog audio out. This will require a DAC that converts the TOSLINK digital audio out to analog audio out via RCA cables.

If you are going to go this route, then I strongly suggest buying this DAC from Maplin stores in the UK. They have one made for them which is absolutely the best. You can use it here as it is USB powered. It can be powered from the USB port of the TV or any USB power supply.

The nice thing about this unit, is that in addition to being very stable and not sending loud noises though your system when you shut the TV down, it has a gain control. This latter is essential otherwise the signal if often too low from most DACs. This allows you to set the gain to match other sources and the radio in your receiver.

This is a very well thought out device and much better than any similar device I have encountered before.

In the end you might find it all too much trouble and go the receiver route.

One of my three systems does not use a AV pre/pro that the other two do, but really nice vintage gear. It uses separates, so it is easy to integrate subs. It sounds marvelous. You do need a little moxy to do this well. I find most people who do this do not generally get a nice result.

Buying and AVR is easy, but not necessary for two channel TV viewing.

The radio is a Quad FM 4, the pre amp A Quad 34, the power amp to the main speakers is a Quad 909 and the power amp to the subs a Quad 405-2.

So it can be done.

 

[Ron Young]

Seriously? You come into an audiophile forum and ask if audio equipment is necessary in addition to your TV?
Isn't that like going into a gun forum and asking if a gun is necessary in addition to your baseball bat?

Sorry Herbu:
Unfortunately you are totally correct. I'm way out of my league and feel like a kindergartener in a law school. I've been run out of more forums than I care to admit on most subjects I'm interested in. I usually try this because the forums on my level tend to be, how should I say? Argumentative and opinionated instead of positive and informative. I always feel like the Master and the Grasshopper. I shall no longer be the troublesome child yanking on your pant leg and asking " Please sir, may I have more !

To all, my thanks, and an appreciative farewell! Ron

 

[herbu]

To all, my thanks, and an appreciative farewell! Ron

Ron, please don't misunderstand wit for dismissal. You've gotten some good advice and responses here. Just a casual perusal of this forum will reveal some of us have an affinity for levity, however inept the attempt may be. It would be your loss to abandon the wealth of knowledge and help available here on account of the occasional sarcasm. Hope you reconsider.

 

[Ron Young]

a) stereo receiver can't power nor understand what center speakers is
b) don't be afraid to to buy 5.1 or even 7.1 AVR and only use 3 channel. Economy of scale - most 5.1 AVR are better value than stereo receivers
c) your only real option to avoid AVR is if (and thats a HUGE IF) your TV supports surround spdif out (RTM) - then you could connect nice LCR soundbar using digital audio and be happy AVR less

Thanks:
Great points. The TV is really just a small consideration. I mention it because it's coming with the important stuff. I ask a lot of questions about AVR because they are totally new to me. Arrived after I stopped paying attention about 18 years ago. 5.1 is the direction I plan to go at this point. Dennis's AA Slim Towers and Center to start. Kind of toying with the idea of building a set of mini rear satellites. Still enjoy the fabrication and design aspects . Researched Carbon Fiber, Kevlar and Aramyd composites awhile back when doing motorcycle customizing. There's a couple of CF Panels with sound optimized cores that caught my attention. Anyway I'm rambling again. Considered a sound bar till I found Dennis. Dying to experience his work. Wish I was young and could apprentice under him. Maybe in another life !

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Thanks:
Great points. The TV is really just a small consideration. I mention it because it's coming with the important stuff. I ask a lot of questions about AVR because they are totally new to me. Arrived after I stopped paying attention about 18 years ago. 5.1 is the direction I plan to go at this point. Dennis's AA Slim Towers and Center to start. Kind of toying with the idea of building a set of mini rear satellites. Still enjoy the fabrication and design aspects . Researched Carbon Fiber, Kevlar and Aramyd composites awhile back when doing motorcycle customizing. There's a couple of CF Panels with sound optimized cores that caught my attention. Anyway I'm rambling again. Considered a sound bar till I found Dennis. Dying to experience his work. Wish I was young and could apprentice under him. Maybe in another life !

Don't get stuck with exotic (and expensive materials) Properly made regular stuff could sound really good - Ascend speakers for example - they don't use ribbon twitters in 340SE (I have not heard them) but everyone is raving about them.
Surround speakers are not as critical in terms of Sound Quality (SQ) so even cheap and chearful "Overnight Sensations" speakers would go (OS plans and parts should be on Parts Express)

 

[Ron Young]

Warlord:
Just one of the many thousands of places my mind likes to go. I did however get to experience a nice set of ribbon speakers many years ago. My brother had a set that his freind bought and didn't have room for. The Subwoofer was the bottom and a six inch wide board of some exotic wood stood about six feet up. The Ribbons followed the center of the board. It was so fascinating because no matter where you put your ear it sounded the same. I got to experience them about ten times. Of course not the music I would have liked to hear. Not loud enough either ! But the quality was very noticeable.

Ancient history! Ron