Receiver decision

[flyfisherdb]

Okay, I've read and reread posts on recommended receivers and I think I'm more confused than ever... I'm shopping for an HT system to replace a SONY DA80ES and KLipsch Synergy speakers. I have read about the Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha. I could really use some guidance. I am budgeting about 1000.00 for the receiver. I already own the Marantz 8400 DVD player. I would prefer small speakers as the wife will not allow floor standing.

 

[droeses58]

You might also consider the Outlaw 1070, I just got mine Saturday, took the cover off of that and a 100wpc pioneer and I gotta tell you this Outlaw so far just reaks of quality. For $899 it's a heck of a receiver.

 

[abboudc]

You really can't go wrong with any of those brands. Your best bet is to go down to a local tweeter and listen to all of them and see which one you like the best.

Convince your wife to let you get floorstanding, but you'll get them in a wood finish like cherry instead of black. Worked for me

 

[Hanse18]

Well I can tell you right now, there is no clear-cut leader in the $1000 range as far as receivers go. A little more info on the speakers you are planning on using and the type of tv (with ur dvd player, I assume you have hdtv..... but maybe not.).

The marantz dvd player is pretty solid. It doesn't make much sense to me to run the dvd video through your receiver, unless convenience is really important to you. As for cable/sat, I'm unfamiliar with the de-interlacing quality for those machines, especially since there are so many different boxes out there. So that leaves mostly music... I recently chose the yamaha htr-5890 as my receiver. There weren't as many hd video inputs on the yammy as there were on the comparably priced denon avr-2805. I liked this because my dvd player (the oppo dvd player.. uses same faroudja technology as your marantz) already had a good de-interlacer, and right now I don't really care about my cable, since the service around here is a joke. After my initial spec comparisons whittled my selections down to a handful of receivers, the denon avr-2805 and yamaha htr-5890 were the only receivers i was able to demo at any stores in my area, and i decided to go with the yammy. I have been very pleased with the sound and the ypao was surprisingly easy to do, considering my lack of technichal expertise. Now if only TV's were that easy to calibrate....

Good luck with your search

 

[L-Jay]

Yeah I wouldn't stress too much. Go out and listen to the brands you named. You may want to throw HK in there also.

Want a little side tip. Drop your avr budget down to $900 and use that extra $100 on flowers and a nice dinner for wifee. Use dessert as a good time to tell her how good she looks and how you would LOVE to get some nice cherry floorstanders. You never know.=)

 

[flyfisherdb]

How long did you wait for your Outlaw? From what I have been reading it seems like it would take forever.

 

[flyfisherdb]

Not a bad idea. I already have her looking at the Mordaunt shorts. Now if I could only find a dealer inthe NY, NJ, PA area.

 

[flyfisherdb]

What did you like about the Yammie.isaw it at a local Best Buy but they didn'thave it hooked up. I did hear the Denon 3805 at Tweeter under horrible conditions. They had a whining ventilation fan in the sound room.

 

[flyfisherdb]

No real decision on speakers other than I need to stay on the small side. I have an old Velodyne sub oak finish ( 15 inch with 400 watt amp) and the TV is a brand new Sony 42A10. Wifee wants satellites. she almost made me buy Bose. Not that they sounded half bad

 

[Thunder18]

Check out the Pioner VSX-9300TX. It is the slightly younger brother of the Pioneer Elite VSX-56TXi. Check it out here:
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/538184344
Ignore the picture of it shown there it is not the real picture. If you want to know what it looks like then go here:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4155_123728213,00.html

It's the same receiver with 2 exceptions. It doesn't say Elite on the front and it doesn't have i.link. If you can live with those two exceptions then you will have a bargain of a receiver. I had one till it got struck by lightning. For all intents and purposes it is a slightly de-tuned VSX-56TXi...actually, I guess you could almost call it the VSX-56TX(no I for I.link).

It sells for $799 at Vanns.com w/free shipping. For another $50 you can get a JBL E150P powered subwoofer(sells for close to $400 at Best Buy). If you don't want it you can sell the sub on ebay for at least triple what it would have cost you at regular retail.

If your local Best Buy has a Magnolia section, then you can see the 56TXi in person. I've had both and they are the same inside save for the firewire/i.link i/o.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

The heavier the better. I'd say for $1000, you'd be looking at a unit approaching 40lbs. Nothing scientific, just years of shopping and listening has led me to this wonderful buying guide. The best deals seem to be those being replaced by new units, as well as "B" stock. Make sure you get a solid warranty and buy from a reliable source.

 

[Thunder18]

The 9300TX weighs 44.8lbs.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

The 9300TX weighs 44.8lbs.

Excellent choice. Here's another 44 pounder:
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3726025

(The B unit was $499, but now sold out )

One of my all time favorites:
http://cgi.ebay.com/HARMAN-KARDON-AVR-7200-RECEIVER-NEW-IN-ORIGINAL-BOX_W0QQitemZ5808816509QQcategoryZ39794QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A meager 61lbs.

 

[flyfisherdb]

that 801 looks good. I got to hear it at Circuit City. Price is really good to boot.

 

[droeses58]

How long did you wait for your Outlaw? From what I have been reading it seems like it would take forever.

About a week and a half. IMO it's well worth the wait. I posted a couple of pictures of it in "member systems".

 

[flyfisherdb]

I was able to listen to Outlaw gear at the CES in New York and I was very impressed. Granted the system was all seperates but it sounded GOOD!!! If the receiver is anywhere near that sound I would seriously consider it.

 

[Thunder18]

Here's another one to consider

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4038867

It is a THX Ultra certified JVC. It was their top of the line at one time, but obviously the THX Ultra2 certification is out at present. This receiver once sold for $1700, now it's on clearance for $600

 

[flyfisherdb]

How about the Rotel RSX-1056???

I just heard it along side the marantz 7500.I enjoyed the Rotel sound

 

[azcoyote]

No real decision on speakers other than I need to stay on the small side. I have an old Velodyne sub oak finish ( 15 inch with 400 watt amp) and the TV is a brand new Sony 42A10. Wifee wants satellites. she almost made me buy Bose. Not that they sounded half bad

If you have to do satellites there are some good options other than Bose..

Check out www.orbaudio.com

My best friend just put these in his house with the Mod2 config in the bronzed finish. They sound great and the look awesome. Avoid the sub they offer though. It is too small to go to extreme depth and volume and yours sounds sufficient.

If you can do floor standing all the better. Better get those flowers ready! I had to agree to a girls weekend trip to Vegas to see a NASCAR event in order to get my wife onboard. Worth it though... She will see it at the track. I will see and hear it in the new HT.... 8)

Good luck,

Wiley

 

[flyfisherdb]

I just picked up the B&W M1's. I thought they sounded pretty good for such small speakers. I can't find any info on them. and oh yeah, by the way, I got my Rotel.