New 2ch Receiver

[Highbar]

I'll through Rotel into the mix. They make some nice integrated amp's and I absolutely love my RX-1052. Check them out, might be a close to the top of the budget but there is always Audiogon with good used deals.

T

 

[fmw]

I trust you.....I am not looking to build the best sounding system out there...hints my budget. Just something I can play loud a clear. Is this unit able to receive an EQ and a sub if needed? And any recomendation on a place to purchase?

I bought mine new on Ebay. I think J&R has them.

 

[Seth=L]

I'll go ahead and write up a review of it for the review forum. Sorry, Seth, I'm not going to open it up for photography. I did that for the Denon tuner and nobody cared.

But I care, I must have missed the Denon. I will looks it up.


Edit: Looked it up. I know why no one cared, it's just a tuner. I would guess most audioholics care nothing about what the inside of a tuner looks like. A receiver or amplifier however, fun stuff. I understand if you don't want to open it up though.

 

[yettitheman]

I did that for the Denon tuner and nobody cared.

I found it....
I'll get some pics of the 950 up soon

 

[ematthews]

So if I throw out the two big names and just look into the Teac and Outlaw......
Would there be a huge difference in these two besides the price?

 

[Brett A]

So if I throw out the two big names and just look into the Teac and Outlaw......
Would there be a huge difference in these two besides the price?

It's my opinion yes. To many Teac is considered mid-fi and Outlaw highfi.
The best (and aruably only) way to know for sure is to listen to them both.

Another one to consider: from the Spearit Sound website/used and demos/ new listings
"Cambridge Audio Azur 540R (v1) AV receiver, silver (List $699) $299 Used"
http://www.spearitsound.com/specials.htm

 

[Halvie]

Sorry to hijack, would it be really stupid to pick up a RA-1062 if I plan on using my system 50/50 HT and music?

 

[markw]

Sorry to hijack, would it be really stupid to pick up a RA-1062 if I plan on using my system 50/50 HT and music?

Isn't that a two channel stereo integrated amp? You want a two channel HT system?

 

[Halvie]

Yeah...I never got the surround thing. I would much rather have more expensive/better fronts than mediocre speakers all around....not like b&w 685s are special or anything lol

 

[ematthews]

So no good reply's on the Yamaha? I like it on paper........I have no place in town that carries any 2 channel receivers to listen to.
Also is the 0.019% thd rating on the Yamaha bad? It's higher than all the others I see.....I have found that rec for 350 as well.....Still no luck finding a Teac anywhere.

 

[Haoleb]

I would really reccomend looking at 2 channel integrated amplifiers used vs a stereo reciever. Generally speaking you are going to get a better quality peice of equipment going the integrated route vs reciever. A NAD C-370 is a very nice peice for about $400 used. Keep in mind Integrated amplifiers do not have the radio circuitry so you would have to get a seperate tuner to listen to radio.

 

[Seth=L]

I would really reccomend looking at 2 channel integrated amplifiers used vs a stereo reciever. Generally speaking you are going to get a better quality peice of equipment going the integrated route vs reciever. A NAD C-370 is a very nice peice for about $400 used. Keep in mind Integrated amplifiers do not have the radio circuitry so you would have to get a seperate tuner to listen to radio.

I kinda agree with Haleob here.

You say you don't need a tuner, so why do you need a receiver? Polk RTI series speakers can be hard to drive, and the Outlaw is one of the most competent receivers to drive them, but, a decent integrated amplifier would do wonders as well. Buying used integrated amplifiers isn't that risky of business. Most are very well built and well taken care for. Audiogon is a great place where you can find some mint integrated amplifiers, some of which are fairly recent.

I would pretty much ignore those specifications concerning output power, or THD. The THD on that Yamaha is far below the human hearing threshold, and not a concern of any kind.

 

[ematthews]

Are you talking about something like this? I am not sure what an integrated amp is. Sounds like everything a receiver has...less the tuner. Correct?

http://store.audioholics.com/product/1125/73/yamaha-ax-497-natural-sound-stereo-integrated-amplifier

 

[3db]

Are you talking about something like this? I am not sure what an integrated amp is. Sounds like everything a receiver has...less the tuner. Correct?

http://store.audioholics.com/product/1125/73/yamaha-ax-497-natural-sound-stereo-integrated-amplifier

Think of an integreated amp as a receiver without the radio (tuner) section in it. Thats all an integrated amp is. They call it integrated because the idea is that they integrated a pre-amp and a power amp into one chassis.

It kinda works like this;

for ex, The output from CD player is fed into a preamp where it gets amplified a little. At this stage, tone controls and balance are thrown in here too. The signal leaves the preamp and goes to the power where it REALLY gets amplified to drive your loudspeakers.

so to sum up;

seperates are pre-amp and power amp in 2 different chassis.
integrated amp is pre-amp and power amp built into one chassis
receiver is pre-amp. power-amp and tuner section all in one chassis.

 

[ematthews]

Think of an integreated amp as a receiver without the radio (tuner) section in it. Thats all an integrated amp is. They call it integrated because the idea is that they integrated a pre-amp and a power amp into one chassis.

It kinda works like this;

for ex, The output from CD player is fed into a preamp where it gets amplified a little. At this stage, tone controls and balance are thrown in here too. The signal leaves the preamp and goes to the power where it REALLY gets amplified to drive your loudspeakers.

so to sum up;

seperates are pre-amp and power amp in 2 different chassis.
integrated amp is pre-amp and power amp built into one chassis
receiver is pre-amp. power-amp and tuner section all in one chassis.

Thank you so much...This is great.
So If we had to sum up this thread......
I see it as Don't buy a Receiver....and if I had to, look at the Teac....good product and cheap.
Buy the Outlaw for a HI-FI Receiver unit for the Money
Don't buy mass produce off the shelf Yamaha/Denon
Or buy pass all of this a spend a few more dollars for an integrated unit for the best sound.

 

[Seth=L]

There is nothing wrong with the Yamaha and Denon receivers, but an integrated amplifier in the same price range should perform better than a receiver.

 

[ematthews]

Maaannn. I sure have put myself in a bind now that I have all of this info....... I will have to sit back a maybe flip a coin or something.

 

[Seth=L]

Maaannn. I sure have put myself in a bind now that I have all of this info....... I will have to sit back a maybe flip a coin or something.

LMAO, maybe not the best course of action.

 

[ematthews]

The Outlaw keeps playing in my head. To have a good amp and a receiver if ever needed would be a good thing. However, I think I used my Onkyo receiver for radio maybe 4 times in 15 years.

I have seen The Yamaha ax-497 as cheap a 298.00 on the web, up to 450.00.
Right in my price range as well.

 

[3db]

The Outlaw keeps playing in my head. To have a good amp and a receiver if ever needed would be a good thing. However, I think I used my Onkyo receiver for radio maybe 4 times in 15 years.

I have seen The Yamaha ax-497 as cheap a 298.00 on the web, up to 450.00.
Right in my price range as well.

Here's another way of looking at this. Sorry to add to the pie of confusion.

My thinking is that the Outlaw is your best for the following reasons.
1. Its amplifier section is as stout's as a NAD integrated amplifier.
2. Because of reason 1, you could drive alsmost any pair of speakers you wanted making your receiver futur proof to upgrades because of difficult to drive speakers. You want to drive a pair of 4 ohm PSB Synchrons? You can with this receiver.
3. Even though you don't listen to the radio much, you would have the option to do so.
4. They have awesome customer service.