Oh yeah that sounds better. You think that setup will sounds better than the Onkyo 875?
Yes,
I think Separate Components sound better than Receivers.
Is it
True?
Now that's up for pages and pages of
debate!
Things that sound the same: Amps, Preamps, DACs, Cables/Wires.
Things that sound different: Speakers, Room Acoustics, Digital Processors.
I believe the purest and cleanest sound will come from a Clean
Amplifier + a Clean Stereo Line-Level
Preamplifier. Unless they cause enough distortion, all Amplifiers and Preamplifiers sound the same.
The next level of quality will come from a Clean
Amplifier + a Clean
Preamplifier/Processor.
Then the next level would be the Receivers (Amplifier + Preamplifier/Processor + Tuners + other circuits).
Let's put it this way.
I think if you give any Audiophile $100,000 to spend on audio equipments, most (if not all) will buy
separate components.
You ask any audiophile
why he buys a separate Amplifier, and the answer will always be "CLEAN
POWER". We just cannot have ENOUGH POWER. Why? Better Sound.
The new Yamaha Z11
$5,000 receiver (looks AWESOME) has 140 watts x 7 + 50 watts x 4 @ 8 ohms.
The new Denon AVR5308CI
$5,200 receiver (looks AWESOME) has 150 watts x 7 @ 8 ohms.
The $900 Emotiva IPS-1 is 150 watts x 7 @ 8 ohms & 200 Watts x 7 @ 4 ohms.
We are all addicted to audio!
If I had the money, heck yeah I would get a 1,000 watts per channel (4 ohms) Rotel amp!!!
For now, I'll be happy with my 300 watts (4 ohms) x 12 ch Acurus Amps.
So yeah, I think separates are better, but that's my opinion.
I can't prove anything because there are no significant double-blinded studies to compare Receivers Vs. Pre-Pros+Amps.