new reciever questions: why no eq's

L

lostsoul74

Audioholic Intern
Hey guys, you gotta excuse me, breakin into getting a new reciever but somewhat confused by all the options/lack of certain options.
Currently I'm running a quadro.1 system (dont prefer center channel), with intentions of the near future of adding 2 more matching ribbons for 6.1 then 6.2.
Unfortunately I have an audiophile ear, but merely an average joe with light pockets. I like crisp highs, gentle mids, and engulfing lows. Currently I'm using the Monsoon fpf series ribbon speakers. I have both the 1000's and the 600's for rears, (bi-ampable) with the intent on finding matching 600's at some point off ebay or something. For now the 500 watt dahlquist pdq1500 15" sub for lows. Theyre awesome looking speakers (monsoons), great imaging, detail, and soundstage. But theyre not the fpf1500's and geared more towards home theater lovers, their mids are a bit overpowering. (they could of done a better job with thier resisters and caps)
When I first got these I hooked them to an old school JVC reciever which had plenty of wattage and digital 7 band eq. which allowed me perfect designing of my own listoning critique. The monsoons sounded great with it, and produced some of the best engolving pure bass and highs i've had the pleasure of owning. However the monsoons are low impendence and bi-ampable capable. The JVC blew eventually.
I picked up a deal off the net for a Pioneer for a bill, it was currently selling then for around 4 bills. I was not at all impressed what so ever. Even though it was the same wattage as the old JVC, it just had no oomph to it at all. It made my lows sound absolutely terrible, which is why I had to go get the dahlquist sub to even out. It only had tonal balances along with the standard dsp modes. No availability of customizing or eq looping.
Now i'm looking to pick up a used reciever off the net for around a couple bills, just under hopefully...
But I cant seem to find any newer recievers that have an eq anymore. Just tons of different dsp fields, which i like, but i dont like thier pre-programmed unmodified versions. And I cant find a newer reciever that allows for an eq or loop like some of the older models did in the day. I need something where as I can control the octives of my mids bass and highs. I enjoy both movies (8 foot hd projector) and music. I like the sound fields, i'm not really a natural stereo sound kind of guy, i do enjoy the modern soundstaging, but i need control.

I see models that list dsp equilization calibration adjustments??? is that like an Eq??

Are theyre current recievers that still have EQ's, and why not??? What happend to Eq loops??

If it's all dsp's now, then are they adjustible, meaning can I control it to equate my preference and/or equipment lack. ??


Final question: I'm probobly looking to spend 2 bills on a used reciever,(meaning they were probobly 4-5 hundred last year or before) dont know what model, just what ever is in the price range at the time as i'm watching. Probobly going towards Denon or Yamaha. Do I get a little more bang for the buck (listoning pleasure) and which brand can handle bass and crisp highs better .. just in general, i know I have no model number to compare, just personal prefferences from you guys. I have very diversified music tastes. Oh yea, and how is the JVC name these days, have they turned to junk like everyone else???I remember Pioneer use to be decent, but not thier consumer stuff anymore. (pioneer elite doesnt count) I read JVC's new chips and circuits were geared more high end, I was satisfied with thier older early 90's stuff, is thier product still decent. Thanks for all the help guys, been looking for days and it's all just a big confusion nowadays. I want modern and technology, but I want custimization. thanks again.
 
Last edited:
jcPanny

jcPanny

Audioholic Ninja
Entry level Receivers.

It sounds like you have a high end speaker and projector setup. So why do you want to short change on the electronics?

They ribbon speakers you have are probably a very dynamic load with impedence in the 4-6 ohm range, meaning they will work best with a dedicated outboard amplifier. The least expenisve receivers with the EQ features you need are probably the Yamaha RX-V2500 and 1500 or the Denon 3805. These have auto EQ functions and also allow you to manually adjust each band. Expect to pay $500-700 for one of these new. A member is selling his 2500 in the calssified section for $500 which is a good deal. You might be able to find a steal on one of these on Ebay. Also check the Harman Audio store for a good deal on a high end refurbished model.

These days, $200 will get you an entry level 6.1 receiver with limited power and features.
 
Buckeyefan 1

Buckeyefan 1

Audioholic Ninja
Are theyre current recievers that still have EQ's, and why not??? What happend to Eq loops??
The Denon 3805 has a built in eq with on screen display, and also has an analog loop, but it's tricky to setup. A few mfg. sell 7 band eq's, but they need to be hooked up through an analog loop, or between a receiver and surround amp. It's impossible to eq all 5,6, or 7 channels from a digital source (ie digital cable/satellite box/dvd player) before it's converted to analog. Thus, you must take the final signal and eq it.

The days of trying to eq a modern day surround sound receiver by itself with a separate eq are gone. You'll need to invest $500 - $800 in a higher end unit that gas a built in eq to get what you're looking for, since buying a budget surround receiver and a multi-channel amp won't fit your budget.
 
L

lostsoul74

Audioholic Intern
Thanks for the reply, takin note of the model number and will include in my searches. I'm a bit of an ebay finatic these days, i'm one of those guys that set the alarm clock for 3 am for a bid while everyone is sleeping. 200 bucks for me probobly means i'll find a 4-700 dollar reciever used or b stock. Almost bought a nachamichi last night for 110, but wanted 6.1. Times arent as good as they were years ago when I had a B&O that went up in a fire, so I scrap by with what I can. Yea, the monsoons are 4ohm front, 6 ohm rear. Was watching for a while for seperate amps, but they just get too much even on ebay for my budget with all the seperates. The old JVC actually did a fine job, now just finding a yamaha, denon, or other mid range that has an eq. Someone said theyres lots of new models with eq's, but when I type in Eq or equilizer in descriptions, I only get back where they say auto equilization via Mic. I dont see anything new that states..... anything like. .... 7 band EQ in any descriptions. Thanks for the model numbers, I'll use those to cross reference to see how theyre listed and what i'm missing (what they call it). Thanks again for the help guys. Any other model numbers are usefull.
 
Buckeyefan 1

Buckeyefan 1

Audioholic Ninja
You may also like the new Panny digital receiver that should fit your budget. Although it doesn't have a built in eq, it seems to emphasize the highs and lows better then the entry level class a/b receivers. Check this one out. Don't deviate on the model numbers, as this is the only one I've read that sounds as good as it does. I owned an old 2 channel JVC, and agree it had more low end than todays surround sound receivers. This Panny seems to do that - more like the old school units.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=93545&catGroupId=25013&modelNo=SA-XR55K&surfModel=SA-XR55K&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009E1YPM/ref=pd_sl_aw_flat-hi_ush05ce_12015110_1/103-1353992-5072617?n=172282
 
L

lostsoul74

Audioholic Intern
Thanks buckeye, just missed your post by seconds. Cant eq all channels??? hmm, that old jvc was dolby and surround, and it had eq. Just drop me some model number guys, if it cost 600 new, i'll find it for 250 somewhere... sometime. but need multiple models to watch. Thanks again guys, really appreciate the help. I get deals as I can find them, you gotta keep in mind i'm a paycheck to paycheck carpenter with 2 kids, so I have to. The monsoons I got brand new sealed for 322 total with shipping, all 4 would of been 1800+. Same thing with most things I have. just sit and wait...... :)

(maybe I should just be a personal shopper... lol)
 
L

lostsoul74

Audioholic Intern
thanks buckey, just check it out, not bad, but I think i'd rather go with something a bit more impressive, not so low end. I have low impedence, i'll probobly fry that in a week. Will look at that pioneer vsx-1015 tx that someone said was a elite clone, but other than that i'll avoid pioneer for a while. Maybe it's my model, but nonetheless. Yamaha, denon, harmon, and other mid levels are my criteria.... I think... lol
 
L

lostsoul74

Audioholic Intern
Thanks again buckey, but i noticed others complaining about the low impedence stability, mine are 4 and 6ohm. Not too keen on the design look either. Actually, after reading what you guys wrote, I think it's best for me to request from you guys model numbers of the last couple years models of higher end models that handle low impedence and have Eq. That way i have better luck finding a nice last years 800 dollar reicever on ebay used for under 3. so yea guys, list older models 6.1 with eq and can handle low impedence, much much appreciated guys. Thank alot, you guys have been big help.
 
Buckeyefan 1

Buckeyefan 1

Audioholic Ninja
LS,

What's the spl rating on your 4 and 6 ohm speakers? If you don't know, whats the model number/mfg? We can look it up.

Honestly, I don't know of any 6.1 entry level receivers that can handle extremely difficult loads. Maybe look at an older Harman Kardon AVR7200, or AVR8000, or AVR520, or any of the 5XX and 6XX series receivers???
 
L

lostsoul74

Audioholic Intern
Theyre the Monsoon fpf-1000, and the fpf-600 for rears, an aditional pair of 600's for middle (though the more i'm looking at it, i'm thinking maybe of going with side wall mounted monsoon mm-2000 computer speakers cause theyre voice matched same ribbons as above-to save space) I guess i read they were originally sold to monsoon by the maggie designer. yea, new or used dont matter, preferably used cause i can get a better deal. Thinking models from the last 3 years or so, ever since 6.1 came out. But it's gotta have some wattage behind it, live in a loft with ample space and i love my volume. hoping to get lucky on a 3805, but i'm sure it will end beyond my reach. Dont have the funds to go seperates, so need a good powerful reciever to push. Must be black. Thanks again buckeye
 
L

lostsoul74

Audioholic Intern
should of added that theyre bi-ampable. Sensitivity is lower at 88 though.
 
newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top