What influences your A/V receiver purchases the most?

[Alex2507]

While I do find many of AH member's feedback to be very influential when it comes to AVR purchases, ultimately I've placed more weight on AH's professional reviews due to the technical nature that many of the reviews are able to go into.

It's close, but I'd have to give the nod to the AH reviews... -TD

I agree with that but I give member feedback something like 'Veto Power'.

If a company's CS consists of, "Speak into my c**k", I'm all set.

 

[nibhaz]

Pro Reviews, but...

Personally I'm a big fan of the Audioholics Pro Reviews, but I'm kind of an Onkyo guy, and Audioholics rarely reviews Onkyo products. I have no choice, but to look elsewhere for my information.

But I will admit that before the xx5, and xx6, series of Onkyo AVRs came out, I thought for sure my next AVR would be a Denon based on Audioholics Reviews. I guess I’m just luck that Onkyo seems to pull their heads out the sand each time I’m ready to upgrade.

 

[Tomorrow]

Personal feedback from those whose ears I trust in the forum makes my feel comfortable buying.

 

[JLMEMT]

I went with forum opinions as well. I like to find at least a couple of reviews, but I always prefer to hear from a few that have owned it as well before making a final decision. My AV/R didn't have a review here either, so I couldn't go with that.

 

[Biggiesized]

I chose "Audioholics forum member feedback" because the test sample you bench for the review may not be indicative of the overall quality that a product line may possess.

 

[fractile]

Feedback

I'm way new here, but what got me here and what brought me back is member feedback. I'd read the specs of the Sierra1 speaker, but it was members discussing head-to-head listening tests with other speakers in a similar class that gave me an actual idea what to expect, both plus and minus, and convinced me that it is the product I'm looking for. I now own 3 of them and plan to go all the way to 7.

Before I got here, it was a similar situation upgrading my first AVR to lower than the 10% THD of the Sony STR-DG910. I kept spreading my net to more major known (to me) brands, reviewing the specs of their product lines. The Denon and Onkyo were pulling ahead, then I read some comparison against the Marantz and I was sold. That and a professional review: http://www.ultimateavmag.com/avreceivers/208mar8002/

and add TrueHD capability, along with some Audyssey.

 

[DTS]

I voted, did I win .... thanks for every bodies input and knowledge.

 

[shenaniganz]

I like to fast for 4 days walk into the desert and wait till I see my answer. No but really this sight has changed my life. I walked in wanting info on a Onkyo HTIB. Yea I know a HTIB... Now about $1500 bucks later I have a wicked nice system in my dorm room. So I say thanks to you guys and your info. You have helped!!!

 

[cwall99]

Timing is everything

I've only made one A/V purchase since I started reading Audioholics, and that was an Oppo 980H. I know Audioholics likes the player, but it was the review I read of it on Stereophile that really swayed me (btw, there's no way I have the budget for 98% of the stuff they review on that site).

 

[fractile]

Me Too!

I've only made one A/V purchase since I started reading Audioholics, and that was an Oppo 980H. I know Audioholics likes the player, but it was the review I read of it on Stereophile that really swayed me (btw, there's no way I have the budget for 98% of the stuff they review on that site).

I was just looking at my email receipt for the Oppo 980H I ordered. I needed an SACD player for the disks I bought and my Sony (co-inventer of SACD) 'universal' Bluray player can only play the CD layer of the hibrids. I recalled the buzz about Oppo I'd seen here, so went there first, to check it out. The added bonus is it will also play the PAL DVD I naively bought as an import.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Yo,

Any winner yet?

 

[mperfct]

for me, it's not any one thing. Maybe I give the most credence to AH reviewers, since you guys go through so much gear. I think only a few AH'ers on here go through that much gear (you know who you are!). I have a Marantz receiver, but I couldn't honestly tell you if it's better than a Denon, Pioneer Elite, or a Rotel. Even if I switched receivers every year, that'd be a 4-year differential, which isn't exactly apples and apples.

 

[Kai]

I am not influenced by any "one" review, etc. Magazine/website reviews may be tilted towards the positive when the brand is a major advertisor. I generally prefer user reviews but even with those it is the person describing their experience(s) with the device.

I prefer a wide variety of info and especially like head to head competitions brand vs brand/model vs model. I feel that gives us a great starting point when we begin our own shopping forays.

As an aside I absolutely love the AV Rant podcast...love it, love it, love it. Thanks !

 

[fractile]

i did notice the difference from %10 distrortion in the sony dg-str910 and the marantz sr8200 having less than 1.

can i say that?

 

[lexvid]

I have owned 4 and personally bought the last 2 - a Denon 3300 and, recently , the Denon AV 789. Expert (read experienced and up-to-date) reviews help in terms of pro's and cons with some user input.

I go to all the usual channels (i.e. cnet, epinions, hometheatre, etc.) to get a feel for what I need or want. In the end it got to make sense from a budget point of view and noticeably increase my enjoyment of music or video.

My 2-cents

 

[gene]

Congrat to AcuDefTechGuy for winning the contest prize. Please PM me your full contact info and mailing address and I will get the HDMI cable out to you. thanks to everyone for participating!

 

[i1own0u]

Edited, noticed i posted a tad late

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Congrat to AcuDefTechGuy for winning the contest prize. Please PM me your full contact info and mailing address and I will get the HDMI cable out to you. thanks to everyone for participating!

Wow!

I cannot believe I actually won something!!!

And from a place I respect and enjoy!!!