What are you essentially paying for when going to more expensive receivers?

[blued888]

Is it just the inclusion of minor upgrades which some users/enthusiasts deem useful?

Aside from the following:
1. Increased advertised power output, which is usually negligible to an average user.
2. Slightly expanded feature-set per model jump.
3. Availability of 7.1/5.1 pre-outs, 12v triggers for external amplifiers.
4. Video upscaling capabilities.
5. Lossless audio decoding capability.
6. Better DACs

Is there anything else?

 

[Exit]

Here are a few more upgrades depending on what level receiver you start with:

more HDMI inputs
multi-zones
sometimes better D/A converters
more surround modes
more power with lower distortion

 

[fmw]

The great majority of the difference you are paying is additional gross profit for the manufacturer. Sorry, but that's the truth. Forget the DAC's. There isn't any audible difference between them. Forget the power. You are talking about a difference of 3 db or so which isn't that important. You can judge the features and specs for yourself. I have a mid priced receiver personally because I like the way it scales SD programming from satellite. If it weren't for that I would have an entry level unit.

The manufacturers play it close to the vest at the low end of the line and improve their margin as they go up the ladder. The higher you go up the ladder, the greater the percentage of the selling price is gross profit for the manufacturer.

 

[blued888]

@fmw

You mean mid-priced as $400 to $600?

 

[fmw]

No, I mean mid priced from $800 to $2000. High end receivers are in the $2500 to $4000 range from my perspective and under $800 or $900 would be the lower range by my definition.

 

[DD66000]

No, I mean mid priced from $800 to $2000. High end receivers are in the $2500 to $4000 range from my perspective and under $800 or $900 would be the lower range by my definition.

But what an AVR lists for and what it sells for can change it from being in one class (price wise) to another. A $1300 avr selling for $799. Still the same receiver.

 

[Cpt.America]

Sometimes build quality... sometimes warranties.

 

[zumbo]

It's getting trickier every day. While low/mid-fi receivers used to be mostly equal to their mid/hi-fi counterparts in features and connectivity, this has changed.

For example: My Yamaha 1400 was equal to everything on the 2400 except power. This has changed.

Today, one needs to be certain the receiver can cover the needs of the BR player, speakers, and every other component.

My advice is to go up the ladder, read manuals of every unit considered, and be 100% certain it will cover every need. Once you have determined the receiver will do what you need it to do, don't go any farther up the ladder.

 

[jostenmeat]

Features, Features, Features.

Also, some big differences just within two types of such features.

Varying levels of Room Correction. Whether YPAO, MCAAC, Audyssey 2EQ, Multi EQ, Multi EQ XT, Audyssey PRO.

Varying levels of Video Processing. Whether conversion, whether just component, or more types, just pass thru only, or Faroudja, Anchor Bay, Reon, Realta.

 

[fmw]

But what an AVR lists for and what it sells for can change it from being in one class (price wise) to another. A $1300 avr selling for $799. Still the same receiver.

Yes, sometimes life can seem like a series of conundrums. Somehow we get through them.