Which way to go? AVR or AVR + amp

[ivseenbetter2020]

I used an emotiva xpa-3 to run my front stage (Rocket rs850s and rsc200) for years using the preouts on my old rxv663. Its worked great for years but now I'm losing my large theater room and merging it into the main living room. I'm allowed to bring my old front stage with me so I could just keep things as they are... however I'm tied to a new TV with eARC. So I'm wondering if it would make more sense to reduce all of this down into a single new receiver that can still drive my speakers (and sell my emotiva), or should I look for the cheapest avr that has eARC and preamps?

 

[lovinthehd]

If in doubt I'd stick to an avr with pre-outs, just my preference for flexibility in any case and is generally on the ones with better amp sections anyways. Whether you really "need" amps or eARC particularly when using an avr (are you limited to tv apps?) that's something else

....and check this out if you haven't already https://www.audioholics.com/news/bug-in-hdmi-2.1-chipsets

 

[ivseenbetter2020]

Nah, I'm not limited to TV apps but I have been liking the interface on the TV. I stream everything. I could plug in the roku instead. That's the plan unless I can find a reasonable alternative.

 

[lovinthehd]

Nah, I'm not limited to TV apps but I have been liking the interface on the TV. I stream everything. I could plug in the roku instead. That's the plan unless I can find a reasonable alternative.

I care less what my display (tv) does. That's all I use it for....the apps were too limited in capability as well as choice.

 

[ivseenbetter2020]

Yeah I agree based on the TV I had before this one. Now I like the new interface a lot. Just a different preference. I like the idea of reducing the number of boxes since I'm moving into the living room too. But of course I still need to push these giant floorstanding speakers so maybe the cheapest avr that can support 4k with preouts is the way to go.

 

[Auditor55]

Yeah I agree based on the TV I had before this one. Now I like the new interface a lot. Just a different preference. I like the idea of reducing the number of boxes since I'm moving into the living room too. But of course I still need to push these giant floorstanding speakers so maybe the cheapest avr that can support 4k with preouts is the way to go.

Stay with what you have. Some of those new AVR's with eArc are either expensively overpriced over cheap pieces of crap. Also, I don't advise using TV apps.

 

[Gmoney]

OP, if your looking for a really good deal on a AVR check out @AcuDefTechGuy he is a audio/video dealer he has saved many of us AH members a lot of cash.

 

[ivseenbetter2020]

I may be reaching out after tye new year then. Thanks. Wow, that is another name I remember from over 10 years ago when I was so much more active here.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...I'm losing my large theater room...I'm allowed to...

My condolences.

I have a pre-pro + amps in my 26x22x14 HT room. But my 22x23x13 Living room gets the Yamaha RX-A3080, which can output about 300 Watts x 2Ch into 4 ohms.

Most mid-priced AVRs are very capable of powering most speaker systems without any external amps.

 

[ivseenbetter2020]

LoL. I was sad to see my theater die...but happy with the new house. Its crazy because the house is actually much bigger but the way it is laid out it didn't make sense to have the dedicated theater.

Been using my TV speakers for awhile after the move (hanging pictures and Christmas shopping was the priority). During that time I started to convince myself that I didn't miss my setup. I even thought about just getting a soundbar and calling it good. Thankfully just one post here convinced me to hook up the mains at least, and I immediately remembered all that I was missing.

Right now I'm running my mains off the AVR and it sounds good. So long story short, I think you might be right about just using the AVR. Its a much smaller room than the room I had before. Dedicated room was a 22 x 35 x 8 and now I'm filling an 18 x 16 x 9...but one wall is open to the rest of the house but I don't care what it sounds like in there. I'm gonna run with the old AVR for a bit. Put it through a movie marathon and a long music session and see what happens. If it holds up, I'll probably sell my Emotiva and just run the Yamaha into the ground before buying a new AVR.

Tonight I hook up the Center. Maybe I'll even do tue surrounds too. Super curious what my MFW15 is gonna do to this room. LoL

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

LoL. I was sad to see my theater die...but happy with the new house. Its crazy because the house is actually much bigger but the way it is laid out it didn't make sense to have the dedicated theater.

Been using my TV speakers for awhile after the move (hanging pictures and Christmas shopping was the priority). During that time I started to convince myself that I didn't miss my setup. I even thought about just getting a soundbar and calling it good. Thankfully just one post here convinced me to hook up the mains at least, and I immediately remembered all that I was missing.

Right now I'm running my mains off the AVR and it sounds good. So long story short, I think you might be right about just using the AVR. Its a much smaller room than the room I had before. Dedicated room was a 22 x 35 x 8 and now I'm filling an 18 x 16 x 9...but one wall is open to the rest of the house but I don't care what it sounds like in there. I'm gonna run with the old AVR for a bit. Put it through a movie marathon and a long music session and see what happens. If it holds up, I'll probably sell my Emotiva and just run the Yamaha into the ground before buying a new AVR.

Tonight I hook up the Center. Maybe I'll even do tue surrounds too. Super curious what my MFW15 is gonna do to this room. LoL

Yeah if the current Yamaha does a good job, just use the Yamaha until it drops...like in 20 more years.

But it's dangerous sticking around here because you might develop upgraditis even though your Yamaha still works perfectly.

 

[Gmoney]

Yeah if the current Yamaha does a good job, just use the Yamaha until it drops...like in 20 more years.

But it's dangerous sticking around here because you might develop upgraditis even though your Yamaha still works perfectly.

Yeah sometimes ones just gotta have a new AVR. Nothing beats the new smell of Electrons burning in.

 

[ivseenbetter2020]

Lol! That's exactly why it's been so long since I was on this site. Upgrade Pandemic!