Need to decide ASAP ... help! receiver as pre

[mike c]

I need to buy a receiver to use purely as a pre-amp ...

I gave my HK dealer up to yesterday to meet my price, not hearing from him, I gave my yammy dealer up to today to meet my price. (which I think he'd give)
but this morning, the HK called to meet the price.

the choices are Harman Kardon 335 vs. Yamaha Rx-v659 (in titanium color)

Harman beats the Yammy in looks
but the
Yammy beats the Harman with a 12v trigger for my amp.
Yammy is also cheaper (HK = 533USD Yammy = 490+-USD)

 

[tomd51]

The 12v trigger is something you can get around, don't base your decision on this. If the Yamaha's cheaper, you're not set on either unit and they'd provide you with a similar feature set, I'd go w/the Yamaha. If you're familar w/the sound of HK, are satisfied w/the features and like the aesthetics over the Yamaha, the HK may be a better fit for you.

Personally, I'd listen to both and buy whichever fit my needs. A couple of months ago, I weighed a similar option. I wanted an upgrade of my Denon AVR-3803 and the Denon AVR-3805 and Yamaha RX-V2500 were both available. I was more familiar w/Denon, loved the sound it put out and wanted something similar, but better (relative term) w/more features. After weighing my options for some time, I went w/the 2500 over the 3805 for one reason. I could get the 2500 for $150 cheaper and due to the overwhelming consensus that the 2500 was almost identical to the 3805 in features and performance, I bit the bullet and gave it a shot.

I was quite impressed after calibration and setup of the 2500 and to this day, I feel I made the right choice for myself. Good luck and enjoy your choices! -TD

 

[mike c]

thanks tom! I think i'm going for the HK, otherwise I'll always get the what if feeling if I go for the yammy. since I am already familiar with the yammy sound I should try something else. I'm going to buy a replacement receiver as soon as the market formats get their acts together.

I'm picking up the HK tomorrow ... I can always ask the wife to turn on the amp when I plonk my butt onto the chair, I'm like the blob, the only reason I'm getting back up is to get food and drinks (or maybe I should ask the wife to get me that too)

p.s. so you didn't notice a difference in sound between the denon and yammy?

 

[mike c]

after purchasing the HK ... I would like to give the features that I "miss" from yamaha.

video upconversion - though not a necessity, It could have saved me from wiring many runs from the receiver to the TV.

pure direct - it takes more than a few button presses on the HK remote to get to "pure direct" (no sub, fronts to large)

ypao - I would like to have tried the PEQ

12v trigger - I have gotten around this by using a plug adaptor

going by looks on choosing your receiver is kinda like choosing a wife based solely on looks. after a while. pretty just ain't enough

 

[tomd51]

Hi Mike;
Sorry, I think I missed your post back in June regarding if I notice a difference in sound btw the Denon and the Yamaha.

As for music, they are pretty much the same, very similar in performance. As far as movie soundtracks, I think the Yamaha seems to have slightly better separation and seems to bring soundtracks "alive" a bit better than the Denon.

This is not a knock on the Denon whatsoever, it did everything asked of it and did so impressively. I just think the Yamaha performs a bit better when watching satt and movies. The YPAO may help out a bit in this arena as the 3803 didn't have a similar feature, but considering I calibrate SPLs about once a month and typically use DTS-ES when available or DD-EX, both receivers have the same features here and the configuration was identical.

I'm sure the HK does a solid job on most material as well, but I'm sure you could answer that question a bit better than I could... -TD

 

[PENG]

Mike, S&V reviewed and bench tested the RX-V657 and the 330 before, these two models should be quite similar to the 659 and 335 that you were comparing. It may be too late now but if you are interested in numbers, here are the links:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/receivers/863/yamaha-rx-v657-digital-surround-receiver-page3.html

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/assets/download/322004163324.pdf

On paper they are equal in 5 channel driven power but the Yamaha does much better in one channel. If you use it as a prepro they are pretty much equal but of course that is on paper only. Enjoy your HK, it does look pretty!

 

[mike c]

thanks Tom

sound wise, I have no complaints

... the HK does use purely dolby digital, DTS, and stuff. but sometimes I miss the yamaha DSP's - though I can't compare the sound now. perhaps yamaha just knows what features people will miss

 

[mike c]

thanks for the links PENG, sometime back I think you gave me those links before I made my decision. so it helped me then to decide that they are pretty much the same sans the features I enumerated above.

 

[PENG]

thanks for the links PENG, sometime back I think you gave me those links before I made my decision. so it helped me then to decide that they are pretty much the same sans the features I enumerated above.

So that's why it was a tough decision for you!