Need receiver advice -Onyko or Yamaha

[etpfonehome]

Hi, hope I am doing this right as I am new to this sort of thing.

I am looking for a new reciever. I now have an older Integra DTR 6.0 which is basically fine except that I have some KEF Reference 3 front speakers that seem a little anemic and maybe a more powerfull amp would help them along.
I really like the Onkyo TX SR 805/875 base on the reviews. But sometimes I think that if I don't care about video switching and future proofing I could get something maybe older more powerfull and cheaper.
I also like FM and sometimes think about the Yamaha RX-V4600 because it has HD radio. Right now I have a Denon DVD 2900 player w/o HDMI so I quess future proof may be important someday.
Sorry - long winded I guess.
Eric

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

Since most you are not to concerned about having HDMI 1.3, the newest video processing, etc. look for a discount on last year model. Several manufactures including Yamaha and denon are releasing new gear this month so look a deal on a Yamaha RX-V2700 or Denon 3806 or 2807. With street prices on the Onkyo 805 of <$900, it is also a great option.

Above this price range, most of the additional features are for video scaling, networking, EQ, etc.

If you are content with the feature of your current receiver, consider getting a 200 Watt 2 channel amp to driving the new Kef speakers.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Amen to just adding an ext. amp to your current AVR!

 

[gmichael]

I agree. IMO you should keep what you have and just add an external amp to power your mains.

 

[Seth=L]

I agree. IMO you should keep what you have and just add an external amp to power your mains.

Yes, this way if you do upgrade the receiver in the future (when what you need will be cheaper) you will still have a perfectly good amplifier to power the mains.

 

[etpfonehome]

Good idea. Any ideas for an amp? Can I find a nice used one on ebay or new one?

 

[Seth=L]

Good idea. Any ideas for an amp? Can I find a nice used one on ebay or new one?

You can do a multitude of things, it is a difficult decision to make (at least for me) on which route to take. I usually wait for the opportune moment (due to my budgets) and pounce on the few great deals I find. Emotiva has some good deals on new amplifiers (internet direct only, and China made). Another good thing to look for is Bryston, Carver, Parasound, and many others on Ebay or Audiogon.

 

[freelancer]

Went through a same situation recently when my 7 years old Sony AV decided to call it a day. I picked up a Yamaha V1700 at a good price rather than the newer replacement model. My primary needs is a good amplifier on the audio side with some video switching capability. Video upscaling is a nice to have feature as the LCD TV can handle that quite nicely to some extent plus the video side on AV receivers is still expensive at the moment.

 

[fmw]

I think you should go back and analyze your term anemic. More amplifier power will provide more low distortion volume. Is that what you need? You need to double the amplifier power for each additional 3 db of overhead. What happens to your system when you play at the normal volume level? Do you encounter audible distortion at volume peaks? What exactly does anemic mean? Do you have any idea of the percentage of the available amplifier power you are using now? How critical is an additional 3 db of overhead or 6 db?

 

[Seth=L]

I think you should go back and analyze your term anemic. More amplifier power will provide more low distortion volume. Is that what you need? You need to double the amplifier power for each additional 3 db of overhead. What happens to your system when you play at the normal volume level? Do you encounter audible distortion at volume peaks? What exactly does anemic mean? Do you have any idea of the percentage of the available amplifier power you are using now? How critical is an additional 3 db of overhead or 6 db?

Don't forget to call into consideration that seperate amplifiers will have more dynamic power capability than most AVRs, so don't look at it as just plus 3dB if the power rating is double that of the AVR, or even the same rating. Power amplifiers are more conservatively (though still optimistic at times) than receivers.