help needed in new setup

[itsmemadhans]

Hi all ,
i am new buyer in receiever and speaker and did few investigations before buying the same.
80% music lestener and 20% movies
types of music: rock,pop,country,metal
room size : 21*16

i finalized 2 configurations as per my budget so pelase let me know which is the right choice and good configuration

1.reciever : onkyo tx nr 609
front tower speaker : boston acoustic A360
sub: boston acoustic asw650

2. reciever : onkyo tx nr708
front tower speaker : boston acoustic A360
sub: boston acoustic asw650

3.reciever : onkyo tx nr 609
front tower speaker : monitor audio m6
sub: boston acoustic asw650


option 1 and 3 is 200 dollars less than second otion so please let me know which one is better and expertise comments please which tower speaker suits for my type of music.
also let m,e know if i need to switch to denon 2310 instead of onkyo tx nr609 ot 708

currently i didnt want to purchase centre and surround due to budget contraint and also i listen to music most often

 

[PharmD]

So Boston Acoustics and Monitor Audio are the only 2 brands you will buy?

If that is the case, then I will pick Monitor Audio brand.

I will also pick the Denon brand.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

This sub is way to small for your room. You'd much better off with ID sub and there's not need to brand match sub
for AVR - I like refub onkyo tx nr708 from ac4l - 609 doesn't have pre-outs

What's your total budget?

 

[PharmD]

If you are on a tight budget, I think the BIC H-100 12" subwoofer is a fantastic buy. You can get it for $220 (free shipping) @ sounddistributors.com & use the coupon code (TV15).

$60 will get you a more power amp in the BIC PL-200 for $279 shipped.

Both were designed by HSU Research.

I would put the extra money into the front tower budget and get the KEF Q900 from accessories4less.com.

The Q900 has been considered to be one of the best in the $2K/pr range. It seems to have superb speaker measurements and sound quality.

If you are on a tighter budget, I recommend the Infinity P363 for $200 each. This speaker has been considered to be one of the best in the $1K/pr range.

 

[jonnythan]

This sub is way to small for your room. You'd much better off with ID sub and there's not need to brand match sub
for AVR - I like refub onkyo tx nr708 from ac4l - 609 doesn't have pre-outs

What's your total budget?

Pre-outs are overrated. Who really mates a $350 receiver to a separate amp, especially on what appears to be a shoestring budget?

The 608 is less than $300.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

pre-outs are overrated. Who really mates a $350 receiver to a separate amp, especially on what appears to be a shoestring budget?

The 608 is less than $300.

609 - $350, $708 - $400.

 

[its phillip]

Pre-outs are overrated. Who really mates a $350 receiver to a separate amp, especially on what appears to be a shoestring budget?

The 608 is less than $300.

It makes MORE sense to get a receiver that has them when you're limited by money. In the future you can just add an amp if you desire (or upgrade your speakers). If you cut corners and get something entry level with no preouts you'll have to get a new receiver in addition to the amp.

Getting a refurbed unit from A4L makes plenty of sense considering how cheaply you can get one and that they still come with a warranty - 1 yr vs 2 is the tradeoff when comparing refurbed onkyo to new onkyo though.

 

[jonnythan]

Raise your hand if you've ever purchased a $350-$400 receiver for a 2.1 setup when on a shoestring budget and then, years later, upgraded your speakers and decided you needed more power but kept the same years-old receiver as the core of your system.

 

[PharmD]

Getting a refurbed unit from A4L makes plenty of sense considering how cheaply you can get one and that they still come with a warranty

I've never bought any refurbished AVRs from A4L.

Has anyone gotten any bad refurbished AVRs from A4L?

I seem to hear nothing but good remarks & recommendations regarding A4L.

Yet, I hear nothing but horrific stories regarding Dakmart & Ecost refurbished AVRs.

 

[jonnythan]

I've never bought any refurbished AVRs from A4L.

Has anyone gotten any bad refurbished AVRs from A4L?

I seem to hear nothing but good remarks & recommendations regarding A4L.

Yet, I hear nothing but horrific stories regarding Dakmart & Ecost refurbished AVRs.

I just got my 608 refurb [from A4L] last week. I'd never have been able to tell it from new except for the fact that it said refurb on the box and didn't come with speaker labels.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I've never bought any refurbished AVRs from A4L.

Has anyone gotten any bad refurbished AVRs from A4L?

I seem to hear nothing but good remarks & recommendations regarding A4L.

Yet, I hear nothing but horrific stories regarding Dakmart & Ecost refurbished AVRs.

Yes, both Dakmark and ecost suck. stay away from them. Plenty of people here got refubs from AC4L and the success rate thou not 100% it's very high.
In case of lemons Ac4L CS promptly replaced defective units.

 

[PharmD]

I just got my 608 refurb last week. I'd never have been able to tell it from new except for the fact that it said refurb on the box and didn't come with speaker labels.

It's truly amazing how I have never heard a single bad comment regarding A4L!

It seems almost too good to be true!

I'm glad.

 

[its phillip]

Raise your hand if you've ever purchased a $350-$400 receiver for a 2.1 setup when on a shoestring budget and then, years later, upgraded your speakers and decided you needed more power but kept the same years-old receiver as the core of your system.

Who is to say it'd be years later? Even if it was, if the unit is still capable, why not still use it? Nobody is suggesting he buy an outdated/obsolete model. Are you saying he should just save $50 now so he can throw away his receiver when the time comes for more power?

 

[jonnythan]

Who is to say it'd be years later? Even if it was, if the unit is still capable, why not still use it? Nobody is suggesting he buy an outdated/obsolete model. Are you saying he should just save $50 now so he can throw away his receiver when the time comes for more power?

No, that's not what I'm saying. I am saying that pre-outs are overrated on low-end receivers. That's all. I just think that so few people need/use external amps, even fewer will be using external amps with budget receivers. When you have the money/dedication to get so into audio reproduction that you're investing the money in separates, chances are you won't be satisfied running the amp from your old lower-end receiver.

I just think it's an unlikely upgrade path. It's OK if you disagree.

 

[its phillip]

The NR-708 is not what I would call a low end receiver. I wouldn't say any low end units have preouts...that's why they're low end/entry level. It is a nice midrange unit and it is a steal for $400, and even if you really don't care about the preouts, it most likely has a more capable amp section than the 609.

It's true that most people do not get around to adding external amplification, but you shouldn't rule it out. There's nothing wrong with using a receiver like that just as a preamp, or using it to power the surrounds while you buy an amp for the front.

 

[PharmD]

I just think that so few people need/use external amps, even fewer will be using external amps with budget receivers.

I agree with that.

A few people do need external amps - those with AVR that go into protection mode for instance.

I believe most of us do not need external amps.

But we have external amps anyway because we are "audiophiles".

 

[jonnythan]

The NR-708 is not what I would call a low end receiver. I wouldn't say any low end units have preouts...that's why they're low end/entry level. It is a nice midrange unit and it is a steal for $400, and even if you really don't care about the preouts, it most likely has a more capable amp section than the 609.

It's true that most people do not get around to adding external amplification, but you shouldn't rule it out. There's nothing wrong with using a receiver like that just as a preamp, or using it to power the surrounds while you buy an amp for the front.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the 708. Just pointing out my problem with recommending one lower-end receiver over another because one "doesn't have pre-outs."

 

[3db]

Pre-outs are overrated. Who really mates a $350 receiver to a separate amp, especially on what appears to be a shoestring budget?

The 608 is less than $300.

Pre-outs are far from overrated as most AVRS make ideal pre-amps and have lower noise floors than many a high end pre-pro.

 

[PharmD]

Pre-outs are far from overrated as most AVRS make ideal pre-amps and have lower noise floors than many a high end pre-pro.

Could you please give some examples of AVRs that have lower noise floors than many high-end pre-pros?

For example, Denon AVP-A1HDCI, Anthem D2, Carry Audio 11a, & Classe CT-SSP.

 

[3db]

Could you please give some examples of AVRs that have lower noise floors than many high-end pre-pros?

For example, Denon AVP-A1HDCI, Anthem D2, Carry Audio 11a, & Classe CT-SSP.

Mr AccudefTech guy... since you are so handy with teh spec retreival, can you show him some examples? I gotta go home now.