HK AVR 2600 vs. Pioneer Elite VSX 23

[Jefft54]

Looking to replace my aging HK AVR525. I'm using Mirage nanosat 5.1's, DVD player, digital cable, and LG HDTV. Prices are pretty close so that's not an issue.
Thoughts?
Thanks

 

[H/Kthunder]

Pioneer Elite definetly. But are you going to upgrade your speakers? An Elite might be overkill for those speakers.

 

[Jefft54]

Pioneer Elite definetly. But are you going to upgrade your speakers? An Elite might be overkill for those speakers.

That's what i was thinking. I also have Infinity entra and acoustic energy. I switched to the mirage because of the small size, liked the sound, so kept them. Plus I got tired of hearing from the wife that our living room looked like a studio.

 

[Ares]

That's what i was thinking. I also have Infinity entra and acoustic energy. I switched to the mirage because of the small size, liked the sound, so kept them. Plus I got tired of hearing from the wife that our living room looked like a studio.

The Elite would do fine with the Mirage Nanosat, I went to a Magnolia store some time ago and check out the Elite 21 and 23 with the Nanosat and Nanosat Prestige and they handled the receivers just fine. From one married guy to another deal with the speakers til you can get your own man cave, because you know you will never hear the end of it.

 

[Jefft54]

The Elite would do fine with the Mirage Nanosat, I went to a Magnolia store some time ago and check out the Elite 21 and 23 with the Nanosat and Nanosat Prestige and they handled the receivers just fine. From one married guy to another deal with the speakers til you can get your own man cave, because you know you will never hear the end of it.

Man cave? Oh yeah, you mean the coffin we're buried in.

I was also thinking if the elite's were overkill to take it down a few notches with an Onkyo 607 or is there a huge difference between them?

 

[Ares]

The Pioneer 21 and the 23 are similar except for this feature the 21 uses 2-Channel PQLS (Precision Quartz Lock System) and the 23 uses PQLS Multi-channel Surround (Precision Quartz Lock System the 23 has 5 HDMI inputs the 21 has 4, the 21 has 2 zones and the 23 has 3 zones. The 21 and 23 have 7.1 pre-outs in case you want or need to add an external amp down the road. The 607 does not have pre-outs. I have never heard of anyone saying they have to much watts it more like I don't have enough. The difference between the 607 and the 21 and 23 is 20 watts not that big of a difference. If it were me I would go with the 21 or the 23 IMHO.

 

[H/Kthunder]

That's what i was thinking. I also have Infinity entra and acoustic energy. I switched to the mirage because of the small size, liked the sound, so kept them. Plus I got tired of hearing from the wife that our living room looked like a studio.

As much as we love the big giant speakers, sometimes we have to settle for the minis. I myself have a Harman Kardon 5.1 system with a Pioneer receiver. Even with the nanosat, definetly get the Elite - its a good upgrade for later on.

 

[selkec]

I agree get the elite 21. Unless you need 3 zones or more hdmi. I have the elite 21 which i upgraded from an older HK DPR1005. I will never own an HK again. Unless I go with seperates one day Im sticking with the elite. I like the feature of plugging in a flash drive with mp3's on it. Its a nice feature, now friends can bring all their music on a flash drive and pop it in and get the party started. O their iphone or ipod also plug into it.

 

[Jefft54]

I can get the VSX23 for only $35.00 more than the 21. Worth the extra $ or use the $ for cables?

 

[Ares]

I can get the VSX23 for only $35.00 more than the 21. Worth the extra $ or use the $ for cables?

If you need the 1+ HDMI input and the extra zone and the PQLS Multi-channel Surround then go with the 23, If not the 21 will do just fine and buy your cables from Monoprice or Blue Jean Cable.

 

[Jefft54]

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm going with the Elite and monoprice.

 

[André Machado]

I would like to know the minimum impedance for hk 2600 and 3600. thank you very much.
front kenwood, speakers 10 "6 ohms
central primus 250
surround primus 162
surround back primus 162
sub 212 ps which receiver I buy?

 

[Jefft54]

Just purchased the elite 23 and cable from monoprice. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[drunkmunk]

I can get the VSX23 for only $35.00 more than the 21. Worth the extra $ or use the $ for cables?

Where are you purchasing this? the vsx23 is only 35 bucks more? that seems like it would be a great deal!