New receiver to replace RX-V1070, what to do!!?

[brade07]

My current set up is not ideal for my main speakers, I will be adding a seperate 2 channel amp in the future but for now I am just trying to replace the receiver.

Currently I am using a RX-V1070, it still works rather well, but I noticed recently that I am losing some low end (id say below 120hz) on one channel, and yes it follows the amplifier not the speakers if I switch channels.

The speakers I am running are 2x Mirage 190i's for my center channel, 2x Mirage 190i's for my rear channels and 2 Mirage M1's for my main L/R channels. I dont run a subwoofer, since the M1's do a fine job and drown out most small-medium size subs.

I need a new receiver (to fix the issue with low end) and also to take advantage of HDMI, digital sound processing.

I love the sound of my Yamaha, but I have been looking at Yamaha, Elite (pioneer), Denon and Onkyo. My main concern is quality of sound, build quality and price. (id like to stay under $1500.00 for a new receiver) I prefer bright accurate sound and have always loved the Yamaha's Ive had in the past, but my RX-V1070 was the last new receiver I've bought and used, so I have no reference for what the new ones sound like.


Any recommendations would be great, thanks

 

[markw]

The sound differences (if any) between good receivers nowadays is so minimal that none will sound appreciably different than another. You would do well searching for the features you need among the main brands such as Denon, Marantz, Pioneer, Integra, Yamaha and the like. Odds are very good that you might even find you don't need a separate power amp to satisfy your musical needs.

 

[brade07]

I basically want something that will also set up easy, I dont feel like screwing around with sound stages and equalizers for hours on end to get the sound I want.
The only reason I would add a power amp is to get the speakers to their full potential, and to push them beyond half volume without distortion, I cant track down the exact specs but I believe they were capable of handling over 500W RMS per channel.

The best Ive found in my price range so far was in the 150-160watts rms @6ohms, I was also leaning towards Yamaha since Ive noticed with my 1070 distortion is at 0.015% for the front speakers where as most of the other brands Ive checked have been 0.05% or 0.08%

 

[Pyrrho]

I basically want something that will also set up easy, I dont feel like screwing around with sound stages and equalizers for hours on end to get the sound I want.
The only reason I would add a power amp is to get the speakers to their full potential, and to push them beyond half volume without distortion, I cant track down the exact specs but I believe they were capable of handling over 500W RMS per channel.

The best Ive found in my price range so far was in the 150-160watts rms @6ohms, I was also leaning towards Yamaha since Ive noticed with my 1070 distortion is at 0.015% for the front speakers where as most of the other brands Ive checked have been 0.05% or 0.08%

Yamaha is fine, but those differences in distortion that you quote are inaudible and therefore of no importance. Since you are already used to Yamaha, it will probably be easier for you to learn to use a Yamaha than something else, but keep in mind that new features will need to be learned regardless. And try the receiver without a power ąmp first. If you don't need a power ąmp, then buying one will just be wasted money. But do buy a receiver with preamp outputs for all channels so that you can add power ąmps if you wish.

 

[markw]

It's said that humans can run up to 30 mph. But, for how long could they do that?

Actually, they say the average is about 11 mph but, again, how long could you survive doing that? And, do you need to drive a car 150 mph in order to get good performance from tires rated for 150 mph?

The only reason I would add a power amp is to get the speakers to their full potential, and to push them beyond half volume without distortion, I cant track down the exact specs but I believe they were capable of handling over 500W RMS per channel.

Just a speaker says they can "handle" 500 watts, I wouldn't look to feed it that much for too long. Even though it might survive for a second or so, there's no guarantee it'll sound good while doing so. It sounds like you're finding that out already when you say you can't push the volume over half way. The laws of physics dictate that, without expensive tricks, small speakers can only move so much air and, therefore, only play so loud.

On the average, you use about 2 watts at average/loud listening levels. With 20 decibel peaks, it may draw 20 times that but that would put you at painful listening levels.

So, I wouldn't be too quick to go looking for 500 watt amps. One of the receivers from the brands I mentioned in your price range will drive your speakers to their maximum audible advantage.

[edit] I reread your post and saw your mains were Mirage 1, not 1s. Go for a big amp, but make sure it's stable at four ohms. With their sensitivity rating of 83 db and noninal 6 ohm rating, 4 ohhm minimum, it sucked that poor AVR dry. As for the other speakers, well, everthing else still stands.