If money were no object and you just had to get the best AVR

[Trebdp83]

So let's line up all that high price gear and see if anyone can tell the difference in a blind test.

I could tell the difference with my eyes closed if I turned one of those McIntosh knobs. Nothin’ else like em’. Then, I'd open my eyes and smile. They’re things of beauty.

 

[MacCali]

I am asking this as a warrior type of question to see what is known in this forum out there. Nowhere in this thread I ask that one bring in the cheaper stuff. This is not intended to be an advice to buy thread. What I am asking and wanting to know is what is the state of the art in equipment and what you have seen even if way out of your budget. Cheap not a goal here. To start off as an idea and example, from what I have seen in Audio Science Review and other places for a reference stereo system setup for noise floor and quality one would be hard to pass up on the combination from Benchmark media

Benchmark HPA4 Headphone / Line Amplifier

Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. and THX, Ltd. have partnered to introduce the Benchmark HPA4 headphone/line amplifier featuring THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier (AAA™) technology. Featuring the flagship THX-888 amplifier design, the revolutionary HPA4 headphone amplifier incorporates the same...

benchmarkmedia.com

Benchmark DAC3 HGC - Digital to Analog Audio Converter

Benchmark DAC3 converters are in daily use in many of the world's finest recording studios and mastering rooms. They are also enjoyed by thousands of audiophiles. The DAC3 delivers outstanding musical detail and precise stereo imaging. It employs an advanced high-headroom digital filter design...

benchmarkmedia.com

Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier

Benchmark's new AHB2 Power Amplifier - "The Quietest, Cleanest Audio Amplifier on the Planet"

benchmarkmedia.com

And from Audio Science Review we have the following measurements

Review and Measurements of Benchmark HPA4 Headphone Amp/Pre

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Benchmark HPA4 headphone amplifier and preamplifier. The company was kind enough to loan me one for testing. The HPA4 retails for US $2999 so not cheap. It is a collaboration between Benchmark and THX to implement the "888" standard. Will it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Review and Measurements of Benchmark AHB2 Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier using THX technology to reduce distortion. I was going to request one for testing due to membership demand but to my pleasant surprise, the company volunteered to contact me and send not one, but two units! I requested...

www.audiosciencereview.com

and the related DAC (not the exact)

Review and Measurements of Benchmark DAC3

This is a review and detailed measurements of Benchmark DAC3 and headphone amplifier. The unit is on kind loan from member Dallasjustice and is highly anticipated evaluation by myself and I am sure many of you. As of this writing the DAC3 retails for USD $2195 from Benchmark site. Others...

www.audiosciencereview.com

In my honest opinion this the best stereo setup based on the measurements that everything else is measured by for stereo. Amrin in summation says that for the HPA4 and the AHB2 amp that these components for what they are have the lowest noise floor he has ever seen. And the DAC is also good in actively dealing with inherent distortions caused by the digital to analog conversion. I would invite more reading on the links provided.

As I reiterate above, this is an example of what I am looking for when an AVR is postulated. As the stereo example was easier for me to give, this should be an idea of what I would like to see in this thread. I want a thorough discussion of each AVR and links to where the best reviews and measurements are given.

Now for room correction the examples I have been able to find to date on this are as follows

Audessy
YPAO
Dirac
Anthem room correction
Trinnov

And I am certain there are others. I know we have favorites, and many times we also are on a budget, unless we have gotten real lucky and have either won the lottery or married money (that is definitely not me). We all have our favorites, this is not that kind of thread. What I am looking for if you all can dig it up is what you have found that intrigues you. What you have found that seems to excel over other stuff in the category, and point to where if possible the unit has been reviewed and measured if possible by someone 3rd party. And it would be helpful to someone else reading to point a link to the manufacturer web page for the device you are discussing. As in the stereo sample above, I only found this recently and if I were to upgrade my stereo system connected to my computer, this would be something I would consider. In this thread do not worry about budget, lets find the best of the best if we can and have fun doing it.

I think for me, and I am very new to home theater. My first 5 channel just went up less than 4 days ago.

I really like Classe and Arcam. They seem to have very high quality equipment and really no bs. Not sure which one I would prefer more. Ive heard classe at Bestbuy in their demo room on some high end B&W towers, sounded really nice even though I am not very fond of B&W sonics. But I believe of the two Classe is the more expensive brand in all category's.

 

[Sachb]

I would get the RX-A3080 reciever with some really expensive towers if money wouldn't have been a problem.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

 

[stalag2005]

I think for me, and I am very new to home theater. My first 5 channel just went up less than 4 days ago.

I really like Classe and Arcam. They seem to have very high quality equipment and really no bs. Not sure which one I would prefer more. Ive heard classe at Bestbuy in their demo room on some high end B&W towers, sounded really nice even though I am not very fond of B&W sonics. But I believe of the two Classe is the more expensive brand in all category's.

Mind expanding which units you like? Links to reviews and measurements if possible?

 

[PENG]

I am asking this as a warrior type of question to see what is known in this forum out there. Nowhere in this thread I ask that one bring in the cheaper stuff. This is not intended to be an advice to buy thread. What I am asking and wanting to know is what is the state of the art in equipment and what you have seen even if way out of your budget. Cheap not a goal here. To start off as an idea and example, from what I have seen in Audio Science Review and other places for a reference stereo system setup for noise floor and quality one would be hard to pass up on the combination from Benchmark media

Benchmark HPA4 Headphone / Line Amplifier

Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. and THX, Ltd. have partnered to introduce the Benchmark HPA4 headphone/line amplifier featuring THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier (AAA™) technology. Featuring the flagship THX-888 amplifier design, the revolutionary HPA4 headphone amplifier incorporates the same...

benchmarkmedia.com

Benchmark DAC3 HGC - Digital to Analog Audio Converter

Benchmark DAC3 converters are in daily use in many of the world's finest recording studios and mastering rooms. They are also enjoyed by thousands of audiophiles. The DAC3 delivers outstanding musical detail and precise stereo imaging. It employs an advanced high-headroom digital filter design...

benchmarkmedia.com

Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier

Benchmark's new AHB2 Power Amplifier - "The Quietest, Cleanest Audio Amplifier on the Planet"

benchmarkmedia.com

And from Audio Science Review we have the following measurements

Review and Measurements of Benchmark HPA4 Headphone Amp/Pre

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Benchmark HPA4 headphone amplifier and preamplifier. The company was kind enough to loan me one for testing. The HPA4 retails for US $2999 so not cheap. It is a collaboration between Benchmark and THX to implement the "888" standard. Will it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Review and Measurements of Benchmark AHB2 Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Benchmark AHB2 Amplifier using THX technology to reduce distortion. I was going to request one for testing due to membership demand but to my pleasant surprise, the company volunteered to contact me and send not one, but two units! I requested...

www.audiosciencereview.com

and the related DAC (not the exact)

Review and Measurements of Benchmark DAC3

This is a review and detailed measurements of Benchmark DAC3 and headphone amplifier. The unit is on kind loan from member Dallasjustice and is highly anticipated evaluation by myself and I am sure many of you. As of this writing the DAC3 retails for USD $2195 from Benchmark site. Others...

www.audiosciencereview.com

In my honest opinion this the best stereo setup based on the measurements that everything else is measured by for stereo. Amrin in summation says that for the HPA4 and the AHB2 amp that these components for what they are have the lowest noise floor he has ever seen.

Amir's comments on the HPA4 is now somewhat outdated but it is still in the top 10 of those he measured, current in the 9th position, iirc. The DAC probably ranked 15th, but the difference between it and the top one is imo negligible. The AHB2 is still the amp to beat, and I want one, despite the fact that I have too many amps collecting dust already.

What you have found that seems to excel over other stuff in the category, and point to where if possible the unit has been reviewed and measured if possible by someone 3rd party. And it would be helpful to someone else reading to point a link to the manufacturer web page for the device you are discussing.

There are obviously very expensive gear in each of the 3 categories you listed, but I doubt you can find much measurements for them so I would think most can only comment based on their subjective experience. In that case, for me, I have been to many high end dealers and never found those super expensive gear "sound better", just look and feel better. Obviously ommv, it is subjective after all.

You seem to put weight on reviews with measurements, and I happen to be a believer. So even on money no object basis, I would go with a pair of ABH2 and bridge them for Stereo. For REQ, I would go with Dirac Live, the two channel version.

For AVR/AVP, unfortunately the best measured by ASR happened to be a Denon, hopefully there will a >$10,000 AVP shows up on ASR and measure better, have to wait and see..

Note: The NAD M33 did beat the Denon, but it is a streamer, Amir probably squeezed it on that chart because while it is not an AVP, but it does have a lot of DSP functionality, albeit only two channels.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

Note: The NAD M33 did beat the Denon, but it is a streamer, Amir probably squeezed it on that chart because while it is not an AVP, but it does have a lot of DSP functionality, albeit only two channels.

NAD M33 is basically a Purifi Eigentakt™ Class D amplifier with a DAC and streamer software/hardware. I would expect that to measure better than the previous NAD receivers. Not much of a value at $5,000 considering a Purifi stereo amp can be had for between $1000-1700.

 

[PENG]

NAD M33 is basically a Purifi Eigentakt™ Class D amplifier with a DAC and streamer software/hardware. I would expect that to measure better than the previous NAD receivers. Not much of a value at $5,000 considering a Purifi stereo amp can be had for between $1000-1700.

Agreed, but I think the OP is not talking about "value" in those of cost/performance.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I am just trying to get a feel for what is present in the market place, boutique or main stream.

In case you're wondering if these $30K separates sound any better or if having THD of 0.000000000000001% sounds any better than 0.01%, the answer is NO, they don't.

But it sure would be so fun to own ridiculously expensive products just for the heck of it.

 

[VMPS-TIII]

In case you're wondering if these $30K separates sound any better or if having THD of 0.000000000000001% sounds any better than 0.01%, the answer is NO, they don't.

But it sure would be so fun to own ridiculously expensive products just for the heck of it.

That's what companies that make ridiculously expensive gear are counting on.

 

[Sachb]

In case you're wondering if these $30K separates sound any better or if having THD of 0.000000000000001% sounds any better than 0.01%, the answer is NO, they don't.

But it sure would be so fun to own ridiculously expensive products just for the heck of it.

So in that case that chart which has been put up by audio science review is pretty much meaningless for thd levels. Is that what you're implying?

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

 

[pcosmic]

Yeah I would get the McIntosh MX170 Pre-pro and some McIntosh Amps.

Forget the McIntosh crap. I already know this is what you want. Submit thyself to the overlord/boss YAMAHA! Don't piss off the boss.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/c-5000/specs.html#product-tabs

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/m-5000/specs.html#product-tabs

 

[Calin75]

If ever I will made a home theater room I will probably buy separates but, if I need to choose an AVR I think this is the way to go right now: Denon AVC -A110, an anniversary edition.

AV Receivers | Denon - Global

Discover Denon AV Receivers. Prepare to hear sound differently.

www.denon.com

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So in that case that chart which has been put up by audio science review is pretty much meaningless for thd levels. Is that what you're implying?

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

Well, that ASR website wasn't the first to measure distortion, noise, crosstalk, FR, etc.

These numbers have been measured by many other bigger publications like Stereophile, Home Theater Magazine, S&V Magazine, Soundstage, Audioholics, and others for about the last 30 years or more. These numbers mean the same today as they meant 30 years ago. They are mostly academic for audiophiles to talk about and for the rest of the world to roll their eyes.

I mean what would we have talked about for the last 30 years without these numbers?

It doesn't matter if they are audible or not. It doesn't matter if the numbers don't say anything about Heat production, reliability, sound quality, functionality, etc. We still gotta talk about it. Like that GEICO commercial syas, we're audiophiles, it's WHAT WE DO.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Forget the McIntosh crap. I already know this is what you want. Submit thyself to the overlord/boss YAMAHA! Don't piss off the boss.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/c-5000/specs.html#product-tabs

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/m-5000/specs.html#product-tabs

Super nice. But I was thinking in the line of getting four Yamaha A-S3200 integrated amps and let the big Panasonic BluRay player decode everything to the 4 Yamaha A-S3200.

 

[MacCali]

I would get the RX-A3080 reciever with some really expensive towers if money wouldn't have been a problem.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

Mind expanding which units you like? Links to reviews and measurements if possible?

Classe is more of a music based stereo unit

Arcam here: https://www.arcam.co.uk/product,fmj,av-receivers,avr850.htm

This is their older modelas well, but available.

Anthem here: https://www.anthemav.com/products-current/type=av-receiver/model=mrx-1140/page=overview

They got the 1120 which was I guess 2019 model same deal.

Sorry I forgot to mention Anthem

 

[Gmoney]

Forget the McIntosh crap. I already know this is what you want. Submit thyself to the overlord/boss YAMAHA! Don't piss off the boss.

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/c-5000/specs.html#product-tabs

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/m-5000/specs.html#product-tabs

Denon =

 

[Sachb]

Denon =
View attachment 42759

Denon = Hot & thin sounding.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

 

[TankTop5]

So let's line up all that high price gear and see if anyone can tell the difference in a blind test.

Something like a Trinnov with 4 independent subwoofer channels and Dirac. Yeah, I think you’d notice.

 

[pcosmic]

Denon =
View attachment 42759

Hanging up that Denon pinata again for its early morning beatdown eh?

Sachb VS William Lemmerhirt Thunderdome......in 10....9....8

 

[highfigh]

In case you're wondering if these $30K separates sound any better or if having THD of 0.000000000000001% sounds any better than 0.01%, the answer is NO, they don't.

But it sure would be so fun to own ridiculously expensive products just for the heck of it.

Have you heard the Steinway-Lyngdorf system? If money was no object, I would have that. It's the best I have heard, although it wasn't in a controlled environment- I was at Cedia and over the din of various manufacturers trying to make sure we all heard their stuff (yeah, we freakin' heard it!) came the sound of a piano. Not the typical sound of a recording of a piano, it sounded like the piano was there. This was from over 100' away and it was louder than a real piano was likely to be in a large space like that, but it sounded amazing. As I approached, it only became louder, but no less real. They switched to different music and that sounded amazing, too.

There's some peace in using equipment that sounds good and accepting the fact that it's not 'top of the food chain' amazing. The chase for the best in everything causes so much neurosis that I don't want to be caught up in it, but I do want sound that satisfies me, even though I know it has some limitations.

Part of the expense if I had a ton of cash would go toward the room's design- for a theater, it would be designed to be a theater and for music, it would be like a good music venue. The two ARE NOT the same. OTOH, if I had that much money, I could just buy a club and host live gigs and not worry about whether the place is profitable. I could have my favorite bands/performers and it would be great, unless they need an arena or stadium-sized stage.