HiFi News' AV Tech supplement (
www.hifinews.co.uk) has done it again. After a thorough and informative comparative review of subs there is an excellent comparison of £1,000 receivers (although the graphs are not as useful as they were for the subs).
The findings are revealing:
- Arcam AVR300: "composed performance, but not quite in the top drawer"
- *Denon AVR-3805: "may not have the raw power of the Pioneer, it seems capable of building a more realistic sense of atmosphere" , "dialogue most intelligible of the bunch"
- Harman Kardon AVR 630: "not as 'hazy-sounding' as the Yamaha but for all its extra freshness, there's very little richness, body and weight to carry the performance aloft. It's a light salad in a steak restaurant."
- *Pioneer VSX-AX5i "The extra power and grip is immediately apparent ... some suggesation of dryness at the very top (with cymbals in particular) ... sounds impressive"
- *Rotel RSX-1056: "If you are looking to be transported to the heart of the action, then the RSX-1056 will get you closer than any amplifier at this price. ... bags of headroom, conveying subtle detail, while handling the greatest of impacts ... Confident ... rip-roaring sound"
- Yamaha RX-V2400RDS: "In multi-channel by-pass mode ... The overall demeanour of the amp is pretty laid back ... there's a softness about its overall balance ... [but it] doesn't sound compressed, muted or lacking in atmosphere. It's digital inputs were a different matter ... slightly lumpy, one-note bass .. amp is a little short of fireworks if still capable of building a good sense of tension and excitement. Choose speakers with care, because it's a party animal only for the gin, tonic and cocktail sausage set."
* = AVTech commendation
"The RSX-1056 is our choice for bomb-proof 5.1 performance. Our best buy award ... AVR-3805 ... has more more than a hint of the Arcam's weighty bass, neatly tied-down by the sort of control exercised by the Pioneer."
Why can't all mags do reviews like this, where you come away with a good picture of the different strengths and weaknesses of the gear under test, rather than having to read between the lines, or reading that everything is fantasic?
