Please.... Talk Me Out Of My Purchase

[kingpin]

Hello there guys.

Been reading everything and anything around here for a loooong time.
I have read all the comparisons and pretty much have an idea of what is what, and what " I Really Need". First I will tell you what I have right now and what is coming.

My entertainment consists of:

HP 58" DLP
High Def. Box
Crown XLS 402 power amp(for future fronts)
Yamaha DVD-C996 5 Disc DVD player
X-Box
Yamaha NS-T849MKII floor standers(dual 8" and tweeter)moving to rear

**Coming Soon**
Oppo dvd upscaler
Cerwin Vega CLS-C215 Front Floor standingNo Flaming Please
and a new receiver

Here is the dilema.
I am just about to buy a Yamaha RXV-1600. For about a $1000 cad. I don't think I will really need it but it looks so clean and sexy. 'Specially in silver.
I could get away with the features of the RXV-757 for about $700cad but it looks like a pimply face kid. I love the silver color but if I could find a RXV-2500 for around $800 cad I think I would scoop that up in a second.

I am afraid when I walk in to the store next week I will walk out with the RXV-1600 on looks alone. Yes it has some nicer features than the others like burr-brown dac's and hdmi connections, the latter I couldn't care less for.

What am I asking you guys. I really don't know.
Well that's it for now.

Maybe I am looking for a little validity in my receiver purchase.

Thanks
Mike

 

[knobturner75]

I know exactly what you mean. I was looking at the HTR-5890, and I decided to spend my speaker money and the receiver money that I had on the RX-V1600. My reasonings were the same. That 1600 is beautiful. Mine is black though. I have had mine for about 2 weeks. I have absolutely no regrets in buying this receiver, although, I still am learning all of the functions, and probably will be for a while. The crafstmanship seems great. Now I just have to start saving again so I can buy some speakers to really see what this receiver is capable of.

Sorry, I'm not going to talk you out of doing the exact same thing that I did.

 

[kingpin]

Now for something else I just thought of.

I have a tv that is capable of 1080p.
Seeing that it is high definition would it maybe be wise to go with something even more simple because the new receivers are still working out the hdmi issues.

"knobturner75"

Thanks for your comment. Like I said, I have a feeling that is exactly what is going to happen once I get a look at it.

Mike

 

[gmichael]

Now for something else I just thought of.

I have a tv that is capable of 1080p.
Seeing that it is high definition would it maybe be wise to go with something even more simple because the new receivers are still working out the hdmi issues.

"knobturner75"

Thanks for your comment. Like I said, I have a feeling that is exactly what is going to happen once I get a look at it.

Mike

I'm thinking that you need the 2600 instead.

 

[Nick250]

A reminder here that what you hear from your system is almost all speaker choice and room acoustics. Receivers have high "toy factor" but do not contribute much to the sound. Nothing wrong with toys, I like them myself. And if having a cool receiver with lots of adjustments is higher on your list than getting the best sound, then continue along the way you are going. However, if you decide you want the best sound put the bulk of your budget into speakers and your main speakers should be your first and most important purchase IMO.

 

[jcPanny]

Speakers

You might consider purchasing a pair of floorstanding speakers from a good canadian company, Axiom Audio, Paradigm, and PSB come to mind.

Those Cerwin Vegas would be great for frat parties but are not recommended for a real HT. After you have a good pair of mains, add the matching center channel, sub, and surrounds, and a receiver that is capable of driving them.

 

[knobturner75]

I have to slightly disagree with Nick250. I have noticed a much cleaner sound out of my new receiver versus my old one. I replaced a Sony STR-DE445 A/V receiver with the Yamaha RX-V1600. Like I said, the sound is much cleaner and more full than the Sony put out. My Sony was about 5 years old and it was purchased at an outlet store that deals with only discontinued items of all kinds and all brands. So, there could have been problems from the start. However, it served it's purpose well until now.

I will say this in Nick250's defense, I am still using a Jensen HTIB setup purchased 5 years ago at Circuit City for $150. Your talkin a super high quality setup there. YEAH RIGHT!!! I have been very happy with it though. It has supplied me with great enjoyment for my movies over the years. I am in the process of saving up to buy some new speakers though. So hopefully I will see how much of a difference some better speakers will make. Sadly enough, I will not be purchasing speakers that cost more than my receiver. I was blessed with a nice income tax return that purchased the receiver. The rest is for vacation. Also, I have a wife that I like sleeping next to. So, for now, I have to skimp a little on the speakers. I think I'm going to purchase three "Extensively Modified" BIC America DV62CLR-S's from Ed Frias of EFE Technology to start out.

Sorry to be so long winded (I mean typed?). Ultimately it is your decision on what you purchase. I was told the same thing when I asked some questions, but I didn't listen, did I. What a rebel I am!

Personally, I'm not at the audiophile level the majority of the fine folks are here. So, if you are looking for the ultimate sounding system, you might want to follow their advice. I am just a beginner myself to the higher end of home audio.

 

[kingpin]

Well.........................
I did just what I thought I would do.
I bought the Yamaha RXV-1600.
Got a great price from the guys at Trutone Electronics in Mississauga.
I think I also got the last Titanium one left in Ontario.

I can say this. This receiver sound awesome. A much cleaner and fuller sound than from my old Pioneer VSX-D608.
And then,.....
I added my Crown XLS 402 amp. First time I have used an amp on home theater. WOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW.
What a difference this makes. Now I know what people mean when they say they will never go back to just a receiver. Bass is tighter, mids are stroger, and highs seem crystal clear. Big time difference.

Ony problem is a humm(ground loop) from the speakers which I temporarily solved with a cheater plug on the amp 'till tomorrow. That's another thread though.

As for my speaker choice. I will say this right now, you could have the tastiest plate of food in front of you, but if it comes to you placed on a dirty dish with wilted parsley it will not taste as good as it could have. To me thats what most of the affordable $1000-2000 speakers have gone to. Small foot print small speakers and to me just plain ordinary. Not that their is anything wrong with ordinary. Just not my preference.

What I am trying to say is this. I like big, heavy, mechanical looking speakers. To me part of my enjoyment is watching the speaker move as the music is playing and being able to see this big overpowering 100lb behometh on each side of my tv. Do I give up some quality, sure. But I have had the little speakers of different styles for many years now and no matter how good they sound I am just not happy. I am actually not a CV fan. I went and listened to the monsters(dual 15's/6.5"/vifa tweeter) and they sounded pretty good. Not of audiophile quality. But then again I don't have $5 grand to spend on speakers. With a little tweaking and an eq. they will be perfect and I won't need a sub.

But, for those who know StudioLab in Toronto, I went and listened to a pair of towers they had just made(dual 12's/dual 6's I think and tweeter) and they stood abouth 5 1/2' tall. They were also pretty good but seemed to lack the punch that I thought they should have. I will have to see if they will let me buy them and audition them at home. Anybody in Toronto they are on Lawrence ave. near Pharmacy. Go have a listen and tell me what you think.

Alright I am out of breath.

Yamaha RXV-1600 I think is awesome.
But then again, I also like the sound of the CV's I heard.
Go figure.

Mike