Save up or get a deal on last year models?

[gerrygr]

I hate these decisons

It may be time to update my Yamaha, and I'm considering looking at last year's receivers for a value buy. Since they're all in the same $500 price range, I figure it's tough to beat the bang for the buck on the Y-2500, Denon 3805, or Pioneer 1015.

But then, do I save up another $300-$400 and go for this year's models of the above, or go for the HK 7300 or the discountinued Boston Acoustics?

Decisions, decisons.

Right now, I'm leaning towards the 3805.

 

[Daz3d&Confus3d]

Well...how bad do you need HDMI? Is it worth $400

 

[markw]

That depends.

Like D&C said, unless you aboolutely, positively NEED a feature the new model had that last year's model lacks, you can geta heckuva bargain on a "leftover".

For instance, I bought m Denon 2802 a few years ago as a NIB leftover from an authorized dealer for $395 when the 2803 came out. They listed then, I believe. for $700 - 800. There was nothing on the 2803 I couldn't live without or missed.

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

I would recommend a less expensive last year's model. You can upgrade to a receiver with HDMI in a couple years when v1.3 is finalized, the HD audio formats are suported and HD-DVD and/or BluRay are readily available and reasonably priced.

 

[mike c]

you think the burr brown dac is a big improvement (enough to buy the 659) in the 659 over the 657?

 

[Pyrrho]

Basically, you need to consider what differences there are in performance and features. Do you need anything offered in the new model not found in the old?

Also, if you are saving money for the new version of something, you then need to consider whether you would be better off with a higher model from last year for about the same price.

Most likely, you would be better off buying last year's model at a large discount, but you need to consider the differences in the particular receivers in question, and what you need, and what you plan on needing in the near future. However, they will both be obsolete shortly, as there are new audio formats for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, so you may wish to reconsider whether or not your old receiver really needs to be replaced now.

 

[gerrygr]

That's exactly my thought process. I don't have HDMI anything, and I won't be moving my HD RPTV anytime soon and it only has component in. The only rationale for HDMI would be if I decide to spring for a projector - and that's probably 2 yrs out anyway.

The biggest thing to me is sound power - a my RXV620 can't handle the 6 ohm NHTs, and it doesn't have pre-outs to take the load off the main speakers. I'm running 8 speakers off this thing, but the NHT's side subs really take the juice. I wish I had the luxury of waiting a year for Y-4600 to drop in price.

The second thing is connectivity, as I need to connect 13 components to the receiver, and as it, I'm doubling up on a lot of inputs.

Video conversion is important too, as I have multiple analog video
sources.

 

[Lsimon]

What prior model will save A LOT of money?

I've been looking at the Denon 2807 or 3806. I have a five channel B&K amp, but need a new pre/pro. I've been thinking of using the receiver for the surrounds and bridging two of the B&K channels and using that for fronts and center. I've also been thinking of using the rear surround amps to power a second zone outside on the deck for music.

Sounds like HDMI switching is a bit buggy, and I can get by without it (although it would be nice). I also only need a 5.1 system and could get by using another old amp, and maybe a completely different system, I have for the second zone (although this too would be nice to control with a common pre/pro/receiver).

So let's say I decide to ditch the idea of a new 2807 or 3806 to save money. What older receiver would people suggest that has a significant savings? From what I've seen a slightly used 3805 isn't selling for a whole lot less than a mail-order or refurbished 3806. So what can I get that is good but a huge savings? Any suggestions?

Should I go with something a few years older? Would I be missing much as long as it was decent quality and had Pro Logic II? (My older preamp doesn't have this).

 

[JMO_PWR]

As said above read reviews and take a look at what the real improvments are. Normally there just interface changes expessially with the Denon 3805 compared to the 3806. Youll find saving up that much money isnt worth the upgrade, however it depends on your requirements now and intentions for future upgrades etc.

People are often overwelmed with the realease of new features that they believe they have to upgrade, when they would be perfectly fine with what theve got.

Personal Opinion: Denon 3805

 

[Lsimon]

I've looked around and really don't see that great a bargain on the 3805. Now it could be that I'm just looking on internet, and haven't tried local dealers. But I'd guess most have sold off their 3805's by now.

I mean this in a polite way, as I'm hoping you could point me in the right direction to save even more money, but... The only way I can see to save $400 on a 3805 v. a 3806 is when pricing internet for the 3805 v. a local dealer for the 3806.

On the internet it looks like most 3805's I see are used at around $550+ or refurbished at over $600. One popular on-line dealer wanted $699 for a refurbished 3805 and only $725 for a refurbished 3806. Frankly, I'm leery of buying used. And I think for $100 or so I'd rather have the current model.

Frankly, I'm a bit surprised I haven't found a larger price difference. Is there a better place to shop?

 

[jcPanny]

Refurbished receivers

For some reason there are better deals on the refurbished Yamaha RX-V2500's (<$500 vs. $1k for the 2600). Maybe Yamaha has a higher volume so there are more returns. The features and performace of the Yamaha is nearly identical to the Denon 3805 so you should consider it if you want to save a few more bucks. The pioneer is not really an old model (yet) and is not in the same league as the Yamaha and Denon you list.

 

[gerrygr]

A follow up - I have an old Yamaha Rx-V1050 collecting dust. Has anyone used it as a stereo amp? (it has preamp inputs for the mains)

I figure that I can get the Y-2500 or the D-3805, and use the old Yamaha to juice up the power on the main speakers. The 1050 is a beefy unit, and I'm guessing that its 2-ch amps are stronger than the new units.

The other consideration is to get the Y-2500 or the D-3805, and get a pro-amp like Behringer for extra juice (but why spend the cash when not needed). Just thinking out loud, the money saved on the amp can go towards this year's models, and get the full features of the 2600 or 2807.

 

[zoran]

u can buy hdmi switcher for $50 my humble advice, stick to old Optical/coaxial digital, buy better audio processor

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver power

The Yamaha and Denon models you are looking at have more power than most receivers. You might give them a try first. Unless you have inefficient 4 ohm speakers or a huge room, then the receiver's amp will probably be adequate. Use the Old amp for zone 2 or 3.

 

[augerpro]

Gerrygr I'm in the same situation as you and was also looking at the 3805. Well after much hemming and hawing I decided to up my budget to $1k-1.5k. After more hemming and hawing over seperates versus a reciever I decided the firesale on Boston Acoustics stuff going on right now was too good to pass up. So I bought the A7200 amp. Now I'm just looking for a pre/pro, probably a used "last year's" Rotel or something, not sure yet. Although I could have got the pre/pro&amp package for like $1.5k I was kinda nervous about the pre/pro. It's a clone of the Sherwood Newcastle p965 which is great pre/pro but has some bugs. They are supposed to be fixed with the newest firmware but the firmware for the BA version will no longer be updated, so I decided to go with a different pre/pro. There is a good thread at avsforum on this, check it out, maybe you won't mind not having the newest firmware (assuming you even want to spend $1.5k) I guess BA got bought and the new owner is axing all the electronics stuff (for home anyway) The cool thing is instead of just doing a small markdown and sell of the inventory gradually they dropped everything to like a 1/3 the price!

Anyway long story short, onecall and audioadvisor have insane deals on the BA stuff right now. You may want to check out the 7000/7100/7120 recievers. They had the 7000 for $700, regularily $2200!! I doubt anyone here could suggest anything better in SQ, power, or features for that kind of money. Until the stock runs out I think anyone in the sub $1.5k market is gonna have a hard time finding anything better for the money.

 

[gerrygr]

Anyway long story short, onecall and audioadvisor have insane deals on the BA stuff right now. You may want to check out the 7000/7100/7120 recievers. They had the 7000 for $700, regularily $2200!! I doubt anyone here could suggest anything better in SQ, power, or features for that kind of money. Until the stock runs out I think anyone in the sub $1.5k market is gonna have a hard time finding anything better for the money.

I looked at those, but honestly after the initial, "Wow, what a great deal," I held back.

I know it's hard to overlook the $3K sticker price that's down to $1K and not think that. But, the user comments on the BAs here and AVSforum haven't been unanimous. Then, when you consider the BAs are rebadged Sherwoods, why was there such a $$ premium to the BAs from Sherwood in the first place? Plus, isn't it worth $200 more to buy a Sherwood and get future updates than be stuck with BA with no support?

Maybe I'm still a noob at all this. About 80% of my listening source is old fashioned stereo music. I like the 5-ch stereo option of my existing Yamy for the extra noise in the house. I don't know if I would really benefit from true 7.1 amplification. I really need to have the fronts driven well, and finding it hard with 6 ohm speakers.

By extension, even when I watch a movie, aren't the mains and center the most important speakers? Isn't 100W for the surrounds & rear surrounds overkill?

To wrap up, I'm about to pull the trigger on Y-2500 at $600 from an authorized dealer. If the amp section is lacking, I figure I can get a very good 2-ch amp down the road.

BTW, is the goal of the home sound systems to reproduce the sound as it comes from a directional source or to create an enveloping wall of sound?

 

[GraysonPeddie]

Hi. I'd consider getting a new receiver (and probably sell my Sony STR-DE898) after the price of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD comes down in range like $200--maybe less, along with a new sound card that will support the new audio formats. Speaking of sound card, I meant for a computer with Windows Vista. Right now, I'm currently saving my money for the apartment and I'm currently in GED (reading is the only one left--400 out of a passing score of 410 and my current total GED score is 2270), plus, I'm putting on a money for building a new subwoofer (Peerless XXLS 12" with 2 Peerless XLS 12" passive radiators on side). I'll probably target the prices of receivers for like around $500...well, you get what you pay for...

So if you want to get a new receiver with Dolby Digital HD/Plus and other audio formats, wait until Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players come down to a reasonable price--something like around less than $200.

 

[augerpro]

Gerrygr I think most of the issues concern some bugs in the avp7 and 7120. Which is why I passed on them. But from everything I've read the 7100 and 7000 don't have these bugs. I don't know anything about the price difference between BA and sherwood before this sale started. And granted I would probably not have bought a BA for full price with competition like Rotel and Arcam available for a simialr price. But considering the 7000/7100 seem bug free, I again cannot believe that the 3805 or 2500 is even in the same league in any way, especially for only $700.