Need Help Deciding for a A/V Reciever

[Soulfreak28]

I currently own the Bose Acoustimass 16 6.1 speaker system; I also incorporated the Bose VCS-10 as my center channel to obtain a 7.1 speaker setup. My concern now is to obtain a high quality receiver to get the best possible surround sound and up to date technology. Some of the receivers I been looking at and strongly considering were the Yamaha RXV-2600, Denon AVR-4806CI (Strongly Considering), and Pioneer VSX-84TXSi. I am open for any suggestions and am fully aware the speakers that I already own might perhaps be out of reach to handle these monstrous receivers. On that note, I did inquire with each of these manufactures and the results I got from each is that the speakers are fully equipped to handle the power of each of these units. Again, any suggestions, advice, is much appreciated. Thank You!

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

You list some great receiver options, however, they are way overkill for your current speaker system, IMO. If you are happy with the performance level of your Bose speakers than check out the receiver options in the $3-500 price range. In this range, the Yamaha RX-V659 and Pioneer 1016 are a couple good options.

 

[B5I8]

Those receivers are far to good for Bose . I have a suggestion. For the amount you would've spent on the Denon AVR-4806CI, instead get a Denon AVR-4306 and some better speakers.

 

[vicorjr_26]

yamaha rxv 659

get yamaha,rxv 659 ....i have the same set up

 

[apatel25314]

go for the pioneer it is a good median and has lots of hdmi inputs

 

[Nick250]

Please remember that the various receivers will have practically no influence on sound quality of your system. Any Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Pioneer in the four to five hundred range would be my suggestion and save your money for room treatments or a speaker upgrade. That is where really noticeable improved SQ can be found.

Nick

 

[Nick250]

Of course tube amps and SS receivers will sound different, but that is not the topic. The topic is modern AV receivers. If you want to discuss solid state vs tube, start a thread on it.

Nick

 

[patnshan]

For those speakers, I'd be looking at the cheapest receiver I could get that would do what I want it to do in terms of functions.
Or you could sell the acoustimass system on e-bay, buy some orbs (also small, cheaper, and look and sound better), then get a nice receiver. You would likely have money left over and better sound.

Pat

 

[Seth=L]

New guy here, but not new to audio (audiophile), or A/V. I wonder about the statement: ”Please remember that the various receivers will have practically no influence on sound quality of your system”. My experience differs, for example; I own some old Audio Research equipment that I bought in 1983-tube pre-amp, solid state amp, at that time I also bought some K-Horns and used them with great satisfaction until 1996 when I moved and no longer had the space for the K-Horns. So I bought a pair of Sound Dynamics 300ti’s – very nice sounding speakers, great imaging etc. Move forward to this past December I decided to build a theater system and I am now using the 300ti’s as fronts with a Denon 3806. Well, the difference in sound quality is quite astonishing; the speakers no longer have the warm airy detail they once had. The sound stage is completely collapsed in comparison So, what’s different? The speakers aren’t. The cables are the same; the room is a little different (not much). It is the receiver that is different. While still fairly nice sounding, it doesn’t come close to the Audio Research which I still have and it drives some Spendors for more critical listening. The source system is an Underwood modified DVD-3910 and I tried it with both systems and still it doesn’t sound as nice as the Audio Research, which is an SP-5 Pre Amp and a D-100 Amp.

So, how is it that the receiver will have no influence on sound quality in any system? And in this case I am comparing a source being passed to a device that is simply amplifying the signal which is pretty much the same thing as Denon in pure direct mode vs. a good separate system.

I agree with Nick, about there being a difference (massive) between Tube and Transistor amplifiers. But please don't start a thread on that topic. We have enough on that already. Comparing a tube amp to a transistor amp is like comparing apples to oranges. They are completely different in principle design. Tube amps add distortion to the signal, that is the warm airy sound. It may be a treat to listen to, but it isn't accurate to the original recording.

As for the OP topic, getting a reciever in the $300-500 would do you just fine with you sound system. The Pioneer VSX-1016 is an excellent choice, it has great features.

 

[Nuglets]

Well the receiver can make a difference in sound if you are using any sort of signal processing or tone control's that the receiver has to offer. If you are listening in a direct stereo mode there should be little difference between the sound quality of differing receiver's. There are many other factor's that will be included in the cost of a receiver other than the way it sounds including but not limited to: Video feature's(input's, output's, OSD, etc), Power, Number of channels(including extra Zone's), Brand name, where you buy it from, etc, etc...So buying the most expensive receiver and not noticing a dramatic increase in sound quality is not by any means a waste of money if it has all the feature's you would like and you have done your research to find out if you are getting the best possible deal.

 

[zumbo]

I believe there has been a misunderstanding. The point that Nick250 is making, is a mid-fi receiver from Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer, or similar jap product of similar power and cost, will sound the same. I don't believe he meant all. He clearly stated four to five hundred. While it will have influence on the sound, I believe he meant there would be no difference between the brands. And I agree.

Please remember that the various receivers will have practically no influence on sound quality of your system. Any Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Pioneer in the four to five hundred range would be my suggestion and save your money for room treatments or a speaker upgrade. That is where really noticeable improved SQ can be found.

Nick

 

[zumbo]

But still, getting more expensive speakers for an OK sounding system is like polishing a turd, it's still a turd.

Are you sure about the above statement? It couldn't be farther from the truth.

 

[Seth=L]

But still, getting more expensive speakers for an OK sounding system is like polishing a turd, it's still a turd.

Speakers make the largest impact on the sound. Now a crap receiver with a crap pre section would probably make a pair of Klipsch sound terrible. I can agree that in some instances it is similar to polishing a "turd" as you say. When using OK electronics, which I would define as mid-level, better speakers should always improve things. This exempts rules of resistance and room acoustics of course.

And one more thing, Preamps make a difference in the sound more so than the amp (unless you are comparing tube amps to solid state amplifiers), so the preamp for the older system is giving it that smooth airy sound, since today's receivers use solid state for preamp and amplifier your argument for the amp is still invalid. And of course you seperate will likely be more powerful thus sound better at higher volumes with the same speakers.

 

[zumbo]

And one more thing, Preamps make a difference in the sound more so than the amp.

Yep. Pre-amp is the key. That is why if you add an amp to a receiver, it sounds the same. It may clean up the high volume output, but the sound will be the same. Same pre-amp. Same sound.

Good point Seth=L

 

[mikew]

Well obviously we have two completely different schools of thought here. I come from the school of; crap in - crap out. You guys clearly feel crap in - polish it a little with another device and wha la, butta!

I'll leave it at that.

Again, thanks for the welcome.

 

[Seth=L]

Well obviously we have two completely different schools of thought here. I come from the school of; crap in - crap out. You guys clearly feel crap in - polish it a little with another device and wha la, butta!

I'll leave it at that.

Again, thanks for the welcome.

How did you get that, not what we are saying at all? Transistor amplfication is a proven technoligy with little to know room for change, except to make them smaller and more efficient. Pre-amplifier affect the sound, especially when you change the type you are using. A tube preamp will sound nothing like a solid state preamp.

 

[zumbo]

Well obviously we have two completely different schools of thought here. I come from the school of; crap in - crap out. You guys clearly feel crap in - polish it a little with another device and wha la, butta!

I'll leave it at that.

Again, thanks for the welcome.

But wait. You stated amps make a difference in SQ. That would be the polish to the pre-amp. Correct?

And, talk about polishing things. Tubes? Give me a gallon!

 

[Seth=L]

Ha LOL, tubes are an acquired taste, like vinegary wine. They have a neat sound, but it can be recreated using DSPs (much cheaper)

 

[zumbo]

Uh Oh! I think he took his ball and went home. Oops. He must think there is only one side to everything. If we didn't disagree on things, there wouldn't be much conversation.

 

[Seth=L]

Uh Oh! I think he took his ball and went home. Oops. He must think there is only one side to everything. If we didn't disagree on things, there wouldn't be much conversation.

No, he left the ball. To have the ball would have meant he had power in argument, he did not have the ball.