recievers: does newer = better?

[big_will]

Hello All,

This question is a general one, with some more specific ones following.

I know that many products today have benefited from the trickle-down effect of research and development in new products over the last 10+ years. I am wondering if this applies to consumer grade audio equipment.

After much reading on this forum, I bought a Pioneer VSX-816. I got a really good deal - $50 off cuz I caught it on sale, and another $40 off for being "open box"... so I couldnt resist buying it for $200. I purchased this as an "upgrade" to my old Sony STR-D915 [circa 1996/7] reciever (not the DE model that so many report having issues with). I mostly listen to music (80%/20%), but I'm going to be watching more movies in the very near future (hence the HT upgrade). I liked the pre-amp out feature of the Pioneer reciever, incase I ever wanted to experiment with some power amps.. or an old tube reciever I've got sitting here in need of repair.

I currently use my computer as a HTPC, and I was hoping (but haven't seen any comparisons) to get a better DAC than what is typically available on computer sound cards. Internal computer sound cards arent known for their audio quality. Interference from being in the computer with all those other computer components, is the reason that has been explained to me. I really like the idea of using optical out on the computer to make use of the optical in on the reciever.

Here is the question - Are the DACs in today's recievers any good? Do people have any issues with the quality of the DACs in newer recievers?

I guess I also want to know if the built-in amps settle down after some listening as well (I've heard this about tube amps, dont even know if it's true :shrug... this new reciever seems to have sharper highs than the old Sony does (the sony has 10 years of listening at least 2 hours a day on it with some old kenwood 3-way speakers that went to a friend), and it's almost annoying... or will I just get used to it? On the up side, it does seem to have a wider dynamic between quiet and loud (what's the term here?)

anyhow... thanks for any info

-big will

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hello All,
This question is a general one, with some more specific ones following.
Here is the question - Are the DACs in today's recievers any good? Do people have any issues with the quality of the DACs in newer recievers?

I guess I also want to know if the built-in amps settle down after some listening as well (I've heard this about tube amps, dont even know if it's true :shrug...
anyhow... thanks for any info

-big will

Newer is not always better must be careful what are you really after. A must have feature? Then yes.
Dacs have been around a long time and pretty well a commodity item. So, I would not let that alone worry you at all.

Amps don't settle in. Good from the go. Audio is full of urban legends and voodoo, so be careful.


Perhaps your perception is misleading you on this component? Room or speaker issues?

 

[jcPanny]

Sound cards

You can get a PC sound card with high quality D/As like M-Audio for about $100 or a SqueezeBox for $2-300. This will help for 2 channel stereo listening, but you will still want the digital optical or coax connection for multichannel HT.

I bought the Chaintech card w/ bit-perfect digital output for my PC for $30. While source components and D/As make a difference, speakers have a much bigger impact on the audio quality of your system.

 

[Audioholics]

As far as absolute statements go, I'd say newer = more features for the most part. Now in the case of the RX-V2400 to the RX-V2500, Yamaha, in my opinion, elevated a 2000-series receiver to a 3000-series receiver... but the price went up as well. Huge change, and not always the case.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I had the Sony STRD925 and upgraded to a Denon 3805. The preamp section sounded much better in the Denon, and there was definitely more reserves to drive more demanding speakers.

The Sony was rated at 110x5 and the Denon 120x7, so watts alone don't define a receiver. I think you get what you pay for most of the time in a name, price, and weight of a unit.

You can get a "signature sound" in different names based on how the preamp unit is set up and the flexibility of the built in tone/eq controls.

Built in amps won't "settle down" after a time period at Mtry said. They are what they are.

 

[agarwalro]

Like folks said, newer usually means more features. Another thing is compatibility with newer standards. HDMI capable receivers are a prime example. When Yamaha released the 2600, it was the only one with HDMI switching. Now there are many receivers that offer the capability.

Yet another thing to consider is that there are features being removed from receivers. The only ones that come to mind are the monitor loop and Phono-in which are not so common any more. I am sure some day we will see receivers that dont have the composite and S-video inputs...

Last but not the least, just because its old, does not mean its no longer good... components like amps, subwoofers, speakers, etc. if bought right can be used forever (or till they fail).

 

[big_will]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I think the technology HAS come a long way in the 10 years since I bought the Sony. And with my recent, and growing interest in movies, I was starting to feel the limitations of the old Sony. It has some static when I use it connected to my computer with any of the DSPs in use. It's especially noticable when using the Dolby Pro Logic, and it's really loud on the rear channels. But if I use a regular CD player, or just plain stereo from the PC, the static isn't there. I've had this same issue with other equipment and this reciever as well.

The whole thing that spurred me to start upgrading, and doing some research was that I got some hand-me-down speakers from my stepdad. They're old (circa 1980/1) 3D Acoustics bookshelf speakers. The speaker system was one of the first 2.1 systems available. Unfortunately, he blew the subwoofer out, but still had the bookshelfs. Welp... these old 3D Acoustics speakers were so much better sounding than the kenwoods, that I decided that the massive 3way speakers werent worth the space in my apartment, especially considering that I ordered a new pair of Klipsch RB-61's. I'm very interested in seeing how they stack up against the Klipsch RB-61 speakers that I had ordered about 2 days before I hooked up the older 3D Acoustics (they're coming in today, and Im very excited).

I ordered some optical cables, and the proper cables to hook up my sub to this Pioneer reciever yesterday, as I've been using the speaker-level ins on the sub for a long time. Im particularly interested in being able to filter the bass going to the old 3D Acoustics speakers, since the original system had a x-over that resided in the sub.

Oh well... Im sure my friend will be happy to accept the old sony to go with the old kenwoods that it was hooked upto for the last 10 years. lol

any way... thanks for your time

-big will