Poll: Which AV Receiver is the best value for the $$$ ?

[thereal_1_]

Hello,

Which of the following AV receiver would offer me the best value for the bucks? I have a buget of $1000 Canadian ($800US) with these Paradigm speakers: Titants front, Cinema 90 rear, CC-170 ctr, and PDR-10 sub. I'm thinking of upgrading my 5-yr old Pioneer VSX-DS509S and my time spent on movies/music ratio is 70/30.

- Marantz SR6400 ($700 Cdn) (don't have the price for SR6500)
- Denon AVR 2105 ($900 Cdn)
- Yamaha RXC1500 ($1080 Cdn)
- Pioneer Elite VX52TX ($1900 Cdn)

If there are any other good receivers I should consider, please let me know.

Thank-you all in advance
Brad

 

[dloweman]

real,
i have paradigms, and have heard them with pioneer elite and yamaha. I thought the elite sounded really bad with them, and that is the consensus on this forum, too warm of a sound. The marantz paradigm match is also too warm. I think the yamaha sounds great and would suggest finding the 1400 on clearance, can be had for 899. I am also a fan of denon with paradigm cause both denon and the yammie are brighter/thinner which is good for paradigms warmth. If I was to go denon though i would try and save up for the 2805 which is around 1099. It has a much bigger power supply, along with less total harmonic distortion, and is sounds much better. So listen to the 1400, 1500 and denons 2805 and then you pick. Best of luck
derek

 

[rgriffin25]

real,
i have paradigms, and have heard them with pioneer elite and yamaha. I thought the elite sounded really bad with them, and that is the consensus on this forum, too warm of a sound. The marantz paradigm match is also too warm. I think the yamaha sounds great and would suggest finding the 1400 on clearance, can be had for 899. I am also a fan of denon with paradigm cause both denon and the yammie are brighter/thinner which is good for paradigms warmth. If I was to go denon though i would try and save up for the 2805 which is around 1099. It has a much bigger power supply, along with less total harmonic distortion, and is sounds much better. So listen to the 1400, 1500 and denons 2805 and then you pick. Best of luck
derek

I think the "warm sound" is a matter of opinion. I happen to like the warmth my Elite receiver adds to my HT. I think the consensus is with non-Pioneer owners. I am not saying that those who feel this way are wrong, it's just a matter of their opinion.

 

[PENG]

I heard the Studio 60 & 100 with the RX-V1400 A-B with a Anthem separates setup. I really cannot say I heard the difference so I assume the Yamaha is a good choice and it is future proof should you ever upgrade to the Studio series. The RX-V did not sound bright at all. I have the Denon 3805 but I don't find it bright neither.

 

[vermintrex]

- Pioneer Elite VX52TX ($1900 Cdn)

Not sure where you got that pricing, or maybe it's a typo, but a local brick n' mortar has the VSX-52tx for $1099 Cdn and the VSX-56TXi for $1999. As a side note, both shops that carried Pioneer seemed very willing to negotiate, one salesman offered the VSX-56TXi for $1799 after only a couple minutes, I wasn't even to the "walking out" stage yet.

At this price range I'd probably go with the Yammy for the features, although the VSX-52tx probably has an edge in the PS/Amp arena. I haven't auditioned the Denon nor the Marantz so I won't comment on either. If you stretched the budget a bit I'd take a Pioneer VSX-54TX for the robust power supply and amps, plus Advanced MCACC which seems to do a much more accurate setup than Yamaha's YPAO, albeit a conclusion based on anecdotal web research.

Good luck,

vermin

 

[thereal_1_]

Thanks everyone for your input. There was a price typo for the Pioneer Elite VSX-52TX, which should have been $1,090 Cdn. For my Paradigm setup, most people are recommending the Yamaha RX-V750 ($750Cdn) as best bang for the bucks. I might be tempted to spend a few more bucks for an upgrade to Yamaha RX-V1500 for $1,000 Cdn. One of the site I was referred to for buying electronics on-line from Canada is http://www.etronics.com/ where I can get the RX-V1500 for $866 Cdn, including shipping and taxes. The Elite VX52TX from them is only $846 Cdn S/H and tax included.

Most people and sales guys are saying the Pioneer and Marantz sound too warm with Paradigm and so it's either Denon or Yammy for me. I will probably go with the Yamaha RX-V1500 and upgrade my front speakers to something better for my apartment.

 

[Abracode]

I am in a market for a new receiver too and I have been looking long and hard at Yamaha RXV650 thinking it is the best deal until I found that the YPAO in this model is lacking the equalizer feature (Yamaha website will not tell you this).
Doing some reaserch (but not actual listening tests) I found that Pioneer VSX-1014 would be the most likely candidate for the "best bang for a buck". It is said to be a repackaged Elite 52 TX so it would be a a value of US $800 for a US $450 (as bought online from authorized Pioneer dealer with no tax and free shipping). 1014 features room audio optimization but I am not sure how it compares to the same feature found in its bigger brothers.

Tom
Abracode & VHS-TO-DVD

 

[rgriffin25]

Most people and sales guys are saying the Pioneer and Marantz sound too warm with Paradigm and so it's either Denon or Yammy for me. I will probably go with the Yamaha RX-V1500 and upgrade my front speakers to something better for my apartment.

I really wonder what these "people" mean by sounding too warm. Does it make them sweat or need a cold shower? I really think it is best to make a purchase based on what you think sounds good. Don't leave it up to someone who may or may not share your listening tastes. It is good to research and to get other people's opinion however, you will be the one who will have to live with the decision you make.

 

[dloweman]

griffin,
what i consider warm sounding is an over emphasis on vocals, and lack of emphasis on symbals and drums etc. With a warm system, it seems like you really have to turn it up loud to hear the detail in all the instruments surrounding the vocals. Just my opinion.
derek

 

[Karp]

Just pick the receiver with the features that you want/need that sounds best to you. I prefer Dennon myself (I have a 2805). I though the Pioneer sounded very nice at lower listening levels, but became a little aenemic when pushed to reference volume. The Yamaha sounded very nuetral and has fantastic DSP's, but I would never use most of them, and it didn't seem to push out the bass as well as the Dennon. I have not listened to the Marantz.

 

[farscaper]

Check out the new Marantz

Hello,

Which of the following AV receiver would offer me the best value for the bucks? I have a buget of $1000 Canadian ($800US) with these Paradigm speakers: Titants front, Cinema 90 rear, CC-170 ctr, and PDR-10 sub. I'm thinking of upgrading my 5-yr old Pioneer VSX-DS509S and my time spent on movies/music ratio is 70/30.

- Marantz SR6400 ($700 Cdn) (don't have the price for SR6500)
- Denon AVR 2105 ($900 Cdn)
- Yamaha RXC1500 ($1080 Cdn)
- Pioneer Elite VX52TX ($1900 Cdn)

If there are any other good receivers I should consider, please let me know.

Thank-you all in advance
Brad

You really do need to check out the new Marantz 5500 and 7500. Both will fall into your price range. I had heard the 5500 with a definitive tech set-up. I liked it. There may be a dealer with both Marantz and Paradigm for you to listen to.
Enjoy shopping & listening to all your options.

 

[quadlog]

I find nearly all of the DSP's to be useless - really, who needs a CAVE DSP?

The only one I use is the widescreen and I also have the 2805.

 

[zumbo]

Osama bin Laden may enjoy CAVE DSP!

 

[Nick250]

Hello,

Which of the following AV receiver would offer me the best value for the bucks? I have a buget of $1000 Canadian ($800US) with these Paradigm speakers: Titants front, Cinema 90 rear, CC-170 ctr, and PDR-10 sub. I'm thinking of upgrading my 5-yr old Pioneer VSX-DS509S and my time spent on movies/music ratio is 70/30.

- Marantz SR6400 ($700 Cdn) (don't have the price for SR6500)
- Denon AVR 2105 ($900 Cdn)
- Yamaha RXC1500 ($1080 Cdn)
- Pioneer Elite VX52TX ($1900 Cdn)

If there are any other good receivers I should consider, please let me know.

Thank-you all in advance
Brad

If you really want to improve the sound of your system, take that $800 and buy better front speakers and room treatments if necessary. This would net you a hugh, audible improvement in your system. A new receiver will not. In the big picture speakers and room acoustics and speakers contribute 95% of what you hear. The receiver contributes very little. If you MUST get a new receiver (I get upgradeiteus too) buy a $400 US Denon, Yamaha, Marantz , etc., and save the rest for your speaker upgrade fund. The speakers are the primary limiting factor in your system not the receiver.

Nick

 

[just_visiting]

Just pick the receiver with the features that you want/need that sounds best to you. I prefer Dennon myself (I have a 2805). I though the Pioneer sounded very nice at lower listening levels, but became a little aenemic when pushed to reference volume. The Yamaha sounded very nuetral and has fantastic DSP's, but I would never use most of them, and it didn't seem to push out the bass as well as the Dennon. I have not listened to the Marantz.

==================

Exactly. I have the Denon 3805. It came down to either the Onkyo or Denon for me interms of features. HDCD, digital inputs, etc...