Pioneer/HK/Yamaha Receiver Sound

[rnatalli]

I was at the mall today with my wife and she decided to go off and do her own shopping and perhaps visit the hair stylist. As I had some time to burn, I decided to head into Best Buy. I had them fire up a Yammie 661, HK 247, and Pioneer 1017. I spent maybe a good 45 minutes to an hour in the sound room and I'll confirm once again what we on the forum have been telling people for ages. I did not hear a dark HK or bright Yammie. The sound from these three receivers is 98% identical. If I had relistened to the same song over and over again for a few more hours, I might hear subtle differences, but for all practical purposes, there was none. Last time I did a similar test, the results were the same. Just thought I'd share

 

[Seth=L]

I was worried from the thread title this was going to be one of "those" discussions. I can breath a sigh of relief after reading your post knowing it's one of "those other" threads.

Oh, and you and me both.

 

[B3Nut]

Match the levels and make sure the processing's turned off and you'll take care of the other 2% of identicalness. Those are all good units...

 

[Davidt1]

Maybe the difference is more obvious in one's home. I bought X receiver and promptly returned it because the sound was not to my liking at all. Exchanged it for Y receiver and was happy like a dog with a bone.

 

[PENG]

I spent some time in a Future shop store a few years ago and I also thought HK models sounded as "bright" as the others and the others sounded as "warm" as the HK models. The speakers in the room were mostly Polk Audio RTi series and some Athena. It was a small room, around 12X14.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Maybe the difference is more obvious in one's home. .

OR, when properly compared they are not

 

[Exit]

If they all sound the same, then the main reason for buying separates is more power?

 

[Davidt1]

It's a long the line of beers taste the same because they are all beers, beef taste the same because it's beef, or farts smell the same , etc, etc.

 

[Seth=L]

It's a long the line of beers taste the same because they are all beers, beef taste the same because it's beef, or farts smell the same , etc, etc.

That does not apply, but I understand what you meant by that. Fact is, most amplifiers (unless damaged or intentionally designed to do so) sound transparent, not leaving an audible mark on the original source. Not all amplifiers do sound the same, but most of them do within the human audible range and abilities.

 

[mtrycrafts]

If they all sound the same, then the main reason for buying separates is more power?

If you really need it
But then, not 'ALL' sound the same. There is bound to be some that sound different.