Looking for a mid-range a/v receiver

[Andrew Valkauskas]

Hi,

I'm looking to get a mid-range receiver for my home theater ($400-$700) with a run of the mill HDMI TV. It has to have wireless streaming capabilities, FLAC codec, handle at least 5.1 sound and a phono input would be nice as well. The movie to music split is 50/50, so I'm looking for audiophile level of audio fidelity/quality. 4k HDMI will be an upgrade in the next 12 months. The room is roughly 16'x24' so I'd need a receiver with adequate power output to fill that space. Atmos is not overly important right now (no plans to upgrade in the next 24 months).

Right now the options I am exploring are:
- Yamaha RX-V 683
- Onkyo TX-NR 777
- Denon AVR-S 930H

Which would you suggest? Ano other good options for the price/features?

Also is an Aventage/TX-RZ/etc system worth the jump for the "quality" components?

Thanks!

 

[everettT]

Speakers?

 

[Andrew Valkauskas]

Have a few sets to try out:
- 3.1 Pioneer SP-BS22-LR & SP-C22
- 5.1 Klipsh 300
- 5.1 THX certified Logitech Z-680

 

[PENG]

Hi,

I'm looking to get a mid-range receiver for my home theater ($400-$700) with a run of the mill HDMI TV. It has to have wireless streaming capabilities, FLAC codec, handle at least 5.1 sound and a phono input would be nice as well. The movie to music split is 50/50, so I'm looking for audiophile level of audio fidelity/quality. 4k HDMI will be an upgrade in the next 12 months. The room is roughly 16'x24' so I'd need a receiver with adequate power output to fill that space. Atmos is not overly important right now (no plans to upgrade in the next 24 months).

Right now the options I am exploring are:
- Yamaha RX-V 683
- Onkyo TX-NR 777
- Denon AVR-S 930H

Which would you suggest? Ano other good options for the price/features?

Also is an Aventage/TX-RZ/etc system worth the jump for the "quality" components?

Thanks!

If you must have phono input, then the Denon AVR-x4300h would be a good choice. It had been on sale at $799 often enough that it is worth waiting for it's return, otherwise you probably have to pay $999.

If you can forgo phono, then the AVR-X3300H or X3400H should save you $200 or more.

 

[Andrew Valkauskas]

Thanks Peng. If I understand correctly, I can get photo connectivity by adding a preamp? If so, I've never wired a receiver wqith a preamp, would anyone have a video or url to explain how that works?

 

[lovinthehd]

If you add an external phono stage/pre-amp you'd connect the tt to the phono stage/pre-amp and then another set of rca interconnects to any of the avr's line inputs.

Have you checked out accessories4less.com for refurb/closeout avrs? I'd go with Peng's recommendation...

 

[Andrew Valkauskas]

Lovinthehd, looks like you guys make a good case for Denon receivers. The prices at accessories4less are really good, but unfortunately they don't ship to Canada. The best sire for us is https://gibbyselectronicsupermarket.ca/

So there are 2 phono-stage/pre-amps?

 

[lovinthehd]

Lovinthehd, looks like you guys make a good case for Denon receivers. The prices at accessories4less are really good, but unfortunately they don't ship to Canada. The best sire for us is https://gibbyselectronicsupermarket.ca/

So there are 2 phono-stage/pre-amps?

I'm very happy with my Denons and am a fan of Audyssey XT32 particularly.

I was wondering if you were in the US with the price range you posted but hard to know unless you say so up front.

Not sure what you mean by 2 phono-stage/pre-amps....does your tt already have one?

 

[everettT]

Have a few sets to try out:
- 3.1 Pioneer SP-BS22-LR & SP-C22
- 5.1 Klipsh 300
- 5.1 THX certified Logitech Z-680

Have a few sets to try out:
- 3.1 Pioneer SP-BS22-LR & SP-C22
- 5.1 Klipsh 300
- 5.1 THX certified Logitech Z-680

Forget the second two where are you located? If in the US, look at these
http://www.philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html.

 

[Andrew Valkauskas]

Forget the second two where are you located? If in the US, look at these
http://www.philharmonicaudio.com/aa.html.

The Klipsh I'd agree, they're my last choice. The Logitech speakers are suprisingly amazing, brand considered. I think they had competent engineers. The Pioneers are a recent addition and are great. I am underutilizing them at the moment, running them through a Lepy amp in the office.

I'm in Canada, how much are the artisan speakers you're recommending? I have a smallish budget and was going to blow it on the a/v receiver in order to get the best quality internals possible.

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[Andrew Valkauskas]

Not sure what you mean by 2 phono-stage/pre-amps....does your tt already have one?

I am trying to picture it. So take the audio out from the turn table, hook it into the pre-amp, then hook the mono cable into where? Would it be mono to stereo cable at this point?

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[lovinthehd]

I am trying to picture it. So take the audio out from the turn table, hook it into the pre-amp, then hook the mono cable into where? Would it be mono to stereo cable at this point?

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Audio out from turntable is mono, not stereo? What tt do you have!!??

 

[lovinthehd]

The Klipsh I'd agree, they're my last choice. The Logitech speakers are suprisingly amazing, brand considered. I think they had competent engineers. The Pioneers are a recent addition and are great. I am underutilizing them at the moment, running them through a Lepy amp in the office.

I'm in Canada, how much are the artisan speakers you're recommending? I have a smallish budget and was going to blow it on the a/v receiver in order to get the best quality internals possible.

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The Affordable Accuracy monitors are $210/pr, the center is $150 plus shipping (see the home page), but whether Dennis ships to Canada couldn't tell you. The AAs used to be modified Pioneer SP-BS22, and are now based on the Dayton BR-1 kit (available thru Parts-Express.com) but the center is still the modified Pioneer C-22. Very nice for the price. Generally you want to spend as much as you can on the speakers, not so much the electronics (aside from the functionality you need).

 

[everettT]

I am trying to picture it. So take the audio out from the turn table, hook it into the pre-amp, then hook the mono cable into where? Would it be mono to stereo cable at this point?

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$219 a pair plus shipping and your import cost. They play like a $600 a pair set. He also modified the pioneers for a while and still has the reworked center channel.

What he said ^

 

[Andrew Valkauskas]

The Affordable Accuracy monitors are $210/pr, the center is $150 plus shipping (see the home page), but whether Dennis ships to Canada couldn't tell you. The AAs used to be modified Pioneer SP-BS22, and are now based on the Dayton BR-1 kit (available thru Parts-Express.com) but the center is still the modified Pioneer C-22. Very nice for the price. Generally you want to spend as much as you can on the speakers, not so much the electronics (aside from the functionality you need).

Thanks for the info, that guy sounds his services are worth the money. I'll bookmark his page for a later upgrade.

As for the tt, it was some obscure model from the 60's picked up at a garage sale many moons ago. Works though lol, has a super raspy vintage (1930's) tone.

For the receiver, 4300h vs 3300h what would be the biggest differentiators?

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[lovinthehd]

Dennis Murphy is also a member here at AH.

Maybe show a pic of the tt and it's connectors? Make and model number would be helpful...don't know what a raspy 1930s tone is particularly, but that doesn't sound good. Like an old victrola with a steel needle or something?

More channels of amp (9 vs 7) on the 4300 vs 3300 is the biggest difference IIRC but you can go to Denon's site and compare all specs/features easily....

 

[everettT]

Well if its pre mid 50s no phone stage needed somewhere around 56 or so with RIAA implemented IIRC

 

[PENG]

Well if its pre mid 50s no phone stage needed somewhere around 56 or so with RIAA implemented IIRC

If he goes with the AVR-x3300w or x3400h he will need an external phono stage, but I assume you are talking about the ancient ceramic cartridges?

 

[PENG]

Thanks Peng. If I understand correctly, I can get photo connectivity by adding a preamp? If so, I've never wired a receiver wqith a preamp, would anyone have a video or url to explain how that works?

It is quite simple. You buy a phono box ($99 if you have the MM, i.e. moving magnet cartridge) such as one of Projet's linked below:

https://extremeelectronics.ca/collections/pro-ject-pre-amps/products/pro-ject-phono-box-mm?variant=16882513350

Connect the turntable to the input, and connect the output (of the phono box) to one of the AVR's (picture below shows those of the Denon AVR-X3300W) line level inputs such as the one for DVD. When you play your album, select DVD, that is line level input 2,.

I highly recommend you go with the X4300H or X4400H but there is nothing wrong with the X3300W plus a phono box, if 7 channels are all you need.

 

[Verdinut]

Thanks for the info, that guy sounds his services are worth the money. I'll bookmark his page for a later upgrade.

As for the tt, it was some obscure model from the 60's picked up at a garage sale many moons ago. Works though lol, has a super raspy vintage (1930's) tone.

For the receiver, 4300h vs 3300h what would be the biggest differentiators?

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

If you haven't as yet bought the AVR, Gibby's have a sale on a Denon X3300W, a B-Stock unit for only C$629, but the sale would end today. It comes with Denon Canada's 1 year warranty. On the website, they show the definition of a B-Stock product. Otherwise, they also sell a new X4300X for only C$1199.

https://gibbyselectronicsupermarket.ca/product/denon-avr-x3300w-7-2-in-command-receiver-b-stock/