Need receiver opinions and suggestions

[Lordoftherings]

Receivers have far less impact on sound quality than speakers. That's why the focus should be on speakers and not limited by receiver choice. If you should decide on easy to drive speakers, rest easy. Processing and amplification can be had relatively inexpensively. But if you choose harder to drive speakers, you have a choice between a higher end receiver or a receiver with preouts to drive a separate amp. It's not "that" big a deal, as long as you know what you need when you go receiver shopping.

The other problem is that some of the best sounding speakers are low impedence, low sensitivity. Once you start listening to speakers and find the ones you like, you don't want to have to pass on them because of the receiver you picked.

+1 Got to love it. The speakers are the true dictators of arbitration.

Bob

 

[Lordoftherings]

No $800 receivers will be able to drive 4 ohm speakers in a 5.1 or 7.1 system unless the system is in a small room and you don't listen loud (say <85 dB./m).


Very few receivers can do well with 4 ohm speakers regardless of price.

Mmmm... My Onkyo TX-SR805 is doing a very good job with all my 7 speakers that are all below 5ohms, and down to a minimum of 2.8ohm (center channel).
My two main fronts are 3.9ohms over most of their range (down to 24hz), and I run them full range too!
And my 805 cost me less than $700. It was as low as $449 at one point.

Also my Denon AVR-3805 (more $) did a very good job too. And some Yamaha models are adequate too, without going for their flagship. My 3805 cost me less than $800 at the time. I bet you can buy the Yamaha RX-V1 for less than $800. The Denon 4306 should be add for around that price too.

You can get quite a few receivers for $800 and less (older models & refurbs) that will drive 4ohm loads to satisfying levels. You just have to know which ones.

Also all Emotiva amps (some for as low as $529) will do just fine with 4ohm loads. The XPA-5 is $799, for example. The UPA-7 is $599. The XPA-3 is $529, when in sale.

Yep, there are some bargain out there, when you know what you're looking for. By the way, it is very sweet when you can get an older flagship receiver with all channels with preouts & main/ins, for a low price.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Fenix]

Alright then. I guess that I need to get to doing my speaker research then. I'll wait a bit longer so I can save more and try to have a total budget of about $2000 for the system. Tell if this break down looks about right for components:

AVR - $500
L/R/Surrounds - $700 ($350/pair)
Center - $300 (or I could bump it to $400 and put the others at $300/pair)
Sub - $500

Think that will work well?

 

[jostenmeat]

L/R/Surrounds - $700 ($350/pair)
Center - $300 (or I could bump it to $400 and put the others at $300/pair)

Or you can make the front three identical. That is the best choice.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Alright then. I guess that I need to get to doing my speaker research then. I'll wait a bit longer so I can save more and try to have a total budget of about $2000 for the system. Tell if this break down looks about right for components:

AVR - $500
L/R/Surrounds - $700 ($350/pair)
Center - $300 (or I could bump it to $400 and put the others at $300/pair)
Sub - $500

Think that will work well?

These are excellent number figures, very smart indeed.
25 to 30% for the receiver and the rest for the speakers = right balance.

Bob

 

[raypasote]

Yamaha RXV 765

Hi, I am a newby in your position looking for a good A/V receiver. I have done a lot of research and I have decided to wait for the announced Yamaha RXV 765. It should be out in a couple of weeks. I noticed that you looked at that also. Have you ruled it out? If so, why? I am new at this but it appears to have what I need. I think it has pre-outs also. I would like opinions on this new yammy. I have already bought Klipsch RF52 home theater system. I like klipsch and if you look at their web site, they actually have systems already designed to go together. I did not want one part of my system to overpower the other part (like the fronts drowing out the center, etc.,) so I went with their setup. I got a mid-range system that I can grow with (I think). I might want to go bigger later.(i am new at this. I hope I posted to this thread ok)

 

[raypasote]

Another thing to consider

Another thing to consider: will your A/V receiver be able to decode all the newer versions of dolby, dts, prologic, etc., I read an article by one of the audioholic reviewers that said that one of the reasons that the companies such as yamaha, sony, etc., are releasing new A/V receivers so frequently is to be able to incorporate all the latest versions of these into their products. He went on to say that his very expensive receiver purchased just 3 years ago could not decode some of his new bluray discs. This is another reason I decided to buy the new yamaha. Would anyone else have an opinion to add?

 

[Fenix]

ray,

I don't think that Yammy is going to be in my options anymore, unless I can find it for under $500 (I think it was close to $600 at newegg.com, I haven't looked at it for a while now).

One of the main options that I was looking for in an AVR was the ability to take the audio through the HDMI so that I wouldn't need an additional cable to connect from my Blu-Ray and Xbox 360.

I found that just about every AVR that had the option supported the new versions of DTS and Dolby. Also they were mostly 7.1 or 7.2 receivers (I can't think of any that were 5.1 off the top of my head).

At this point I am looking for a new house and trying to find time to listen to speakers to see what I like the sound of. Once I get the new house, then I will be "gun ho" in getting all of the equipment.

I'm not really too concerned at this point with speakers overpowering each other as I know I can change individual speaker volume levels through the AVR.

 

[Lordoftherings]

At this point I am looking for a new house and trying to find time to listen to speakers to see what I like the sound of. Once I get the new house, then I will be "gun ho" in getting all of the equipment.

Hi Fenix,

What kind of house are you looking for? What is your price range? 5 rooms plus one bathroom or 7 rooms plus two bathrooms? Formal setup or advanced?
With good sound insulation? Wood floors? Big square footage? Close to or far from neighbours? What style of house do you normally like to live in?

Maybe I can help,

Bob

 

[Fenix]

I would love to have something that big, but I'm still rather young and still working my way up.

Currently my wife and I own a 1200 Sq Ft Condo. We've owned it for ~5 yrs and luckily are not upside down. I doubt we will be able to sell it as the market is full of fairly cheap foreclosures and auctions, so we will try to rent our place out.

What we are trying to do to get a house is find one of the home auctions here (that is where we feel we can get the best deal) and try bidding on one that we like. we would like something at 1700+ Sq Ft (more is better of course), 2 Car Garage (3 car would be ideal, I need extra space for tools and workbench, etc), if I had the choice I would love to have a gas appliances.

I don't plan on having a dedicated theater room, but we need room so that we can start having kids soon.

I'm in the Phoenix, AZ area. Preferably I would like to try to stay in the East part of the Valley, since that is where our relatives are.

 

[Mog]

I own the Sony STRDA-2400ES. I love it. It sounds awesome at 100w x 7.1. The upconversion is good and plenty of HDMI inputs. I have all my gear running into my receiver and only one HDMI out to my TV. I had my last SonyES for 13 years and had no problems, I just wanted to up grade to HDMI. Good luck.

 

[Lordoftherings]

I would love to have something that big, but I'm still rather young and still working my way up.

Currently my wife and I own a 1200 Sq Ft Condo. We've owned it for ~5 yrs and luckily are not upside down. I doubt we will be able to sell it as the market is full of fairly cheap foreclosures and auctions, so we will try to rent our place out.

What we are trying to do to get a house is find one of the home auctions here (that is where we feel we can get the best deal) and try bidding on one that we like. we would like something at 1700+ Sq Ft (more is better of course), 2 Car Garage (3 car would be ideal, I need extra space for tools and workbench, etc), if I had the choice I would love to have a gas appliances.

I don't plan on having a dedicated theater room, but we need room so that we can start having kids soon.

I'm in the Phoenix, AZ area. Preferably I would like to try to stay in the East part of the Valley, since that is where our relatives are.

Lol. Fenix, this is an audio forum... But I have to say that I'm good with investments and home counselling too. But I was just kidding, but you knew that too. So, that's good that you answer me. Because it gives me a good feedback about what will suit your audio needs for your eventual new home.

A good rule of thumb (for me anyway) is to spend about 75% on your home audio & video system, and the rest on your home!

The funny thing is, this is exactly what I did!

But to be serious and perfectly honest, I don't recommend you what I did. It's just me, the way I am in true life. I can tell you many stories that would make your eyebrows raise over the very top of your head, but I'll spare you that trouble.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[ozmedia]

I agree but...

If you are looking for a 5.1 speaker system for less than $800, I recommend the EMP HTP-351 5.1 system at the audioholics store for $489. The subwoofer is good, as are the other speakers. The system can fill a large room well and medium to smaller rooms well also. The system price is much lower cost than the speakers priced separately or their RBH equivalents. The regular system price is $1319 at the AH store.

http://store.audioholics.com/product/1866/17/emp-htp-351-5-1-speaker-system

This system also sounds extremely well balanced with an Onkyo TX-SR606 which is available at a good discount refurbished at the Onkyo store for $349. (They sell out fast so you may have to watch for availability.) The Audyssey equalization feature makes setup very easy and gives a good balanced sound in your particular room.

http://www.shoponkyo.com/products.cfm?group_id=1&subcat=Receiver

Of course you can never have too much power so an upscale receiver would also work well, but I would get one with Audyssey equalization.

While the EMP is a less expensive/more cost effective speaker, RBH is hardly an 'Equivalent' product. The TK's (assuming that's what you are referring to) are a lot different than the EMP's. The dirver construction itself is vastly different between a TK and the EMP versions.
It's like comparing RBH A-Series in-walls to the TK series in-walls, its night and day really.

While made by RBH, I find the EMP's are a much more entry level product that really shouldn't be compared as an equal to RBH but should be seen as an alternative or more budget concious alternative, made by RBH.
They have the expected great build and quality components but don't stand up to the RBH products.

Just like Destination Audio and the much higher end Status Acoustics are all RBH made but very different products.

 

[Fenix]

Thank you everybody for your suggestions, they have been most helpful.

I have surprisingly purchased my system!!!

I wasn't expecting to get anything while I was out doing my homework, but I couldn't resist the offer.

I got:

Klipsch XB-10 x 4
Klipsch XL-23 (Center)
Klipsch Sub-12
Yamaha RX-V665

The regular price for all together (including cables) ~$3300

I walked out of the store with them all and cable plus extended warranties $1900 after tax!!

The speakers sound amazing. The sub is great (30 min into watching my first blu-ray I had a neighbor knocking and complaining already...)

Every place that I went to was very impressed with the CD that I burned to test the speakers (I had some hip-hop, Rock, Phantom of the Opera, Shania Twain, and a few others on it).

When I started listening to the Klipschs and how great they sounded, then looked at their price tag, I didn't think that I would be able to get anything that great sounding at my price, but I was pleasantly surprised at how willing stores are to make deals right now.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Congratulations Fenix!

You seem very happy, and that is the main factor.

I am also happy for you and appreciate you sharing with us your happyness with your final purchase. It is indeed a sweet deal with extra sleep from your extended warranty.

I wish you and your wife many happy music listening sessions and movie watching. And be good to your neighbours with that sub.

Cheers,

Bob