My time to upgrade

[stalag2005]

How good are your old age ears??? In that case, how good a speakers do you need that would make a significant difference? My 2015 model Denon, bought in 2016, has worked perfectly with updates from Denon. I have experienced good Denon customer support via e-mail too.
I have mixed matched speakers with no issue to my ears.........Yes, I can afford, so called, "Better Speakers" I watch a lot of movies in a small room.
If having the better equipment makes you feel good......go for it!

Actually much better than many in my family. Note the list of speakers above. They are very good. There are better but IMHO I cannot tell much of a difference with demonstrated speakers in those much more expensive lines than what I got at this point. All I am trying to upgrade is the driver for this. As stated above, I want to move away from that AVR as I can't service it and it is too fiddly for what I can now do!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My experience with the current unit the Yamaha RX-V663 is not good and coupled with that the interfacing and how the menuing system works, is with my changes in physical capability has become a thorn in my side. Plus the YPAO correction when I tried it turned off the Subwoofer I do have !!!!!. This is why I am so dead set against Yamaha. But admittedly the tech I have was first put out there in the early 2000's. Given this, it would be really instructive for me to actually hear from those who have tried different AVR's in the past. This is only my second purchase of an AVR and that is including my current AVR purchased in 2008. It got me up and running but when I recommissioned what I had (had major cleanup) I realized I could no longer do what is needed to handle this. Chalk this up to age.

Given the above is why I set a budget target of $3K. Yes there is stretch in this, but I don't have infinite money. If you do find a young female sugar baby for me that might change.......but then there is reality! I prefer quality and in audio equipment reliability/simplicity/bug free are very high on the tree of importance. Looks just don't cut the mustard with me. And I don't have a sig other that I have to worry about making happy or for that matter can help by being able to do physically the things I no longer can.

Since you have eliminated my favorite AVR (Yamaha RX-A3080), I think the next step is the Denon X6700.

 

[stalag2005]

Since you have eliminated my favorite AVR (Yamaha RX-A3080), I think the next step is the Denon X6700.

I am actually considering based off of Mazers the Denon 3700. The 6700 is it's big cousin from what I can determine. Sound design an issue as a company? I have heard that if there is an issue that dealing direct with the company is an issue. Use Crutchfield? @AcuDefTechGuy I see in your sig you represent many products. I like Kimber Kable's basic lines as they are good cables. Heard good things about SVS and Blue Jean's cables as well. I see that you also represent Denon/Marantz of Sound United, and Yamaha. Of the other AVR's you carry, what are your personal experiences with them?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I see that you also represent Denon/Marantz of Sound United, and Yamaha. Of the other AVR's you carry, what are your personal experiences with them?

I think the AVRs from Denon/Marantz and Yamaha sound great.

I used to own all Denon products for many years. But I have sold all my Denon products and now have Yamaha's in my house.

Might check out this thread:

Denon/Marantz vs Yamaha vs Anthem Thread

It seems DM, Yamaha, and Anthem are the 3 big AVR heavyweights these days. I think a lot of newbies would love to get some perspective on these three brands. What are their pros and cons? If you have owned all three brands of AVR, your opinions would be greatly appreciated. If you have at...

forums.audioholics.com

Everyone has a different experience. You might have a good experience with Denon or whatever you buy.

 

[stalag2005]

I think the AVRs from Denon/Marantz and Yamaha sound great.

I used to own all Denon products for many years. But I have sold all my Denon products and now have Yamaha's in my house.

Might check out this thread:

Denon/Marantz vs Yamaha vs Anthem Thread

It seems DM, Yamaha, and Anthem are the 3 big AVR heavyweights these days. I think a lot of newbies would love to get some perspective on these three brands. What are their pros and cons? If you have owned all three brands of AVR, your opinions would be greatly appreciated. If you have at...

forums.audioholics.com

Everyone has a different experience. You might have a good experience with Denon or whatever you buy.

I have looked at that thread. I asked you about what you have seen. Even the expensive stuff. Knowing what works, what doesn't is important. These AVR's exist at multiple different price points. What is the best sounding components you have heard of the AVR's? What are the tradeoffs you have seen? Extending beyond the limits of the prior thread you reference, what about Cambridge Audio, Rotel, Arcam, Anthem in addition to the prior products mentioned. If you sell the stuff, I am certain you develop preferences, but you also should know personally how each brand stacks. Stereo is far more straight forward. From what I have seen that is Benchmark media. But they don't do AVR decoding to surround system specifications. What is the easiest to set up, what requires extensive knowledge to even begin to configure. What I don't want is a bunch of bells and whistles of multiple sources but a KISS type of equipment to drive a 7.1 system. I don't want to get into Atmos. Would buying used be a good option?

Aside from that, what in different price points works and why? Mazer is suggesting in the $1000 range the Denon 3600/3700 AVR's, You have suggested the Yamaha 3080, I have suggested the Anthem MRX-740. Given in $1000 dollar increments what would you choose and why in each bracket from 1K to 10K? On Crutchfield's site there is a lot of choices from the following Sony, Denon, Marantz, Arcam, Anthem, NAD, Yamaha, and Onkyo. I have heard of Bryston, Moon Audio, Rotel, Cambridge Audio, McIntosh, and I am certain there are others. I have never found a comprehensive 3rd party discussion on what is out there, and where the different price points intersect and where they diverge. If something is worthy, it is worth going for. What I often get here is buy this, it is cheap. What I don't see a lot of is what is exactly offered and what the comparison contrasts are.

I don't have the means of testing all this stuff as I cannot afford to by several $100K+ worth of product to come to a final solution. I tend to look at specification first but there is so much marketing crap, I am having problems figuring out what should be the gold or silver amongst the lead ore out there (so to speak). What I need driven is a 7.1 surround system easy to administer, and reasonable functionality. I don't subscribe to streaming services so that is not important. I do listen to CD's I own as well as Bluray DVD's I own. I have an older LG 1080P 42 inch TV I use and I have a cable box and have determined that there are at least 2 different types of Dolby encoding on that. As I list above, I have a set of good Paradigm speakers and I have reasonable hearing at this point. What I want is to select the source, put on the CD/DVD/Cable and listen using my speakers with the audio streams decoded properly to 7.1 surround to enjoy what I have. If I don't have to spend $3K I would be happy with the result if it just works. If I need to spend more, I may need to rethink things, but I want to know that also. I am looking for the best solution that sounds good, very low noise, easy to administer, and that is at a good price.

 

[tmurnin]

I don’t believe Cambridge makes an AVR any longer, they appear to have gotten out of the video side of things completely. If you’re open to an integrated amp, their stuff is supposed to be pretty good. McIntosh is going to be well outside your budget and you already said Moon was as well. At $3k, you’re probably looking at the Japanese companies or maybe Anthem and some NAD models.

in terms of advice, you seem to have gotten some good recommendations from a number of people here, but you don’t seem inclined to listen to those.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have looked at that thread. I asked you about what you have seen. Even the expensive stuff. Knowing what works, what doesn't is important. These AVR's exist at multiple different price points. What is the best sounding components you have heard of the AVR's? What are the tradeoffs you have seen? Extending beyond the limits of the prior thread you reference, what about Cambridge Audio, Rotel, Arcam, Anthem in addition to the prior products mentioned. If you sell the stuff, I am certain you develop preferences, but you also should know personally how each brand stacks. Stereo is far more straight forward. From what I have seen that is Benchmark media. But they don't do AVR decoding to surround system specifications. What is the easiest to set up, what requires extensive knowledge to even begin to configure. What I don't want is a bunch of bells and whistles of multiple sources but a KISS type of equipment to drive a 7.1 system. I don't want to get into Atmos. Would buying used be a good option?

Aside from that, what in different price points works and why? Mazer is suggesting in the $1000 range the Denon 3600/3700 AVR's, You have suggested the Yamaha 3080, I have suggested the Anthem MRX-740. Given in $1000 dollar increments what would you choose and why in each bracket from 1K to 10K? On Crutchfield's site there is a lot of choices from the following Sony, Denon, Marantz, Arcam, Anthem, NAD, Yamaha, and Onkyo. I have heard of Bryston, Moon Audio, Rotel, Cambridge Audio, McIntosh, and I am certain there are others. I have never found a comprehensive 3rd party discussion on what is out there, and where the different price points intersect and where they diverge. If something is worthy, it is worth going for. What I often get here is buy this, it is cheap. What I don't see a lot of is what is exactly offered and what the comparison contrasts are.

I don't have the means of testing all this stuff as I cannot afford to by several $100K+ worth of product to come to a final solution. I tend to look at specification first but there is so much marketing crap, I am having problems figuring out what should be the gold or silver amongst the lead ore out there (so to speak). What I need driven is a 7.1 surround system easy to administer, and reasonable functionality. I don't subscribe to streaming services so that is not important. I do listen to CD's I own as well as Bluray DVD's I own. I have an older LG 1080P 42 inch TV I use and I have a cable box and have determined that there are at least 2 different types of Dolby encoding on that. As I list above, I have a set of good Paradigm speakers and I have reasonable hearing at this point. What I want is to select the source, put on the CD/DVD/Cable and listen using my speakers with the audio streams decoded properly to 7.1 surround to enjoy what I have. If I don't have to spend $3K I would be happy with the result if it just works. If I need to spend more, I may need to rethink things, but I want to know that also. I am looking for the best solution that sounds good, very low noise, easy to administer, and that is at a good price.

I have owned expensive high-end Pre-pro, separates, and AVR. I have also listened to other high-end AVR and separates.

Price doesn’t equal to better sound quality or reliability. Specs (SNR, THD, etc.) do not tell you anything about sound quality or reliability or functionality.

In direct modes (when not using any kind of EQ or DSP), I cannot hear any significant differences among them.

Thus, the difference in sound will be heard only if you apply some kind of EQ or DSP.

I think any AVRs in the $2-3K range will have enough power for your system and can sound great. In Direct modes, they can all sound equally great. The difference will be in the Features:

1. Auto Room EQ - some people swear by them while some people hate them.
2. WiFi Remote apps and WiFi Stream apps if they are important.
3. Customer Support.
4. Repair Centers - Panurgy is the official repair center for all Denon/Marantz unless your local repair shops are able to fix the problems - so depends on how bad the problem is.

 

[stalag2005]

I don’t believe Cambridge makes an AVR any longer, they appear to have gotten out of the video side of things completely. If you’re open to an integrated amp, their stuff is supposed to be pretty good. McIntosh is going to be well outside your budget and you already said Moon was as well. At $3k, you’re probably looking at the Japanese companies or maybe Anthem and some NAD models.

in terms of advice, you seem to have gotten some good recommendations from a number of people here, but you don’t seem inclined to listen to those.

It’s not that I am not listening but rather realizing how much is out there in the market place. I am trying to still decide as to which would be my best option. Given my current state of mind I am not satisfied fully with my current options. Mazer and Accudef have posited solutions I am seriously considering.

I have owned expensive high-end Pre-pro, separates, and AVR. I have also listened to other high-end AVR and separates.

Price doesn’t equal to better sound quality or reliability. Specs (SNR, THD, etc.) do not tell you anything about sound quality or reliability or functionality.

In direct modes (when not using any kind of EQ or DSP), I cannot hear any significant differences among them.

Thus, the difference in sound will be heard only if you apply some kind of EQ or DSP.

I think any AVRs in the $2-3K range will have enough power for your system and can sound great. In Direct modes, they can all sound equally great. The difference will be in the Features:

1. Auto Room EQ - some people swear by them while some people hate them.
2. WiFi Remote apps and WiFi Stream apps if they are important.
3. Customer Support.
4. Repair Centers - Panurgy is the official repair center for all Denon/Marantz unless your local repair shops are able to fix the problems - so depends on how bad the problem is.

Exactly what I am looking for.