Will a New Receiver Make a Difference?

[Chitown2477]

Hello all,
I currently have a Yamaha HTR-5740 a/v receiver with 6.1 Channels (75W each) for my home surround system. It is a good receiver with standard decoders; originally was part of a HTIB. I am looking to upgrade to the Yamaha RX-V1600 a/v receiver with 7.1 Channels (120W each) and plenty more options like HDMI switching, THX Select2, YPAO sound optimization, and more optical inputs.

My main reason for upgrading is I now have significantly better speakers as shown below and feel the 5740 is not strong enough to bring out the full sound and detail the speakers are capable of delivering. I would think this is a signficant upgrade in a/v processing capacity. Every salesperson I talk to agrees - but I want somewhat more objective opinions. My questions are:

• Will the RX-V1600 upgrade deliver an appreciable difference in sound and detail?
• At 120 watts per channel, will it be too much power for the surrounds rated at 75 watts RMS?
• If I use the HDMI switching to connect my DirecTv HD satellite receiver, will I always have to have the RX-V1600 to simply watch TV?

Whatever feedback you can provide would be great.

Chitown2477

EXISTING SPEAKERS
Klipsch RF-52 Floorstanding Loudspeaker, 100W RMS / 400W Peak, 96dB
Klipsch RS-42 Surround Speaker, 75W RMS / 300W Peak, 93dB
Klipsch RC-52 Center Channel, 125W RMS / 500W Peak, 96dB
Definitive Technology Pro Sub 60, 150W RMS

 

[Geno]

I may be starting something here, but, my opinion is you probably won't experience a dramatic change in sound quality with a 120-watt vs a 75 watt receiver - unless you like to push your speakers to the max regularly. The newer receiver may give you a more pleasing sound experience because of its processing and room correction features, but the wattage alone probably won't be particularly noticeable - especially since your Klipsch speakers are among the more efficient ones around.
As far as the HDMI switching of your cable box through the receiver to your TV, the answer is yes, the receiver must be on to go that route. If you don't want your entire HT system on when watching TV, just connect the cable box directly to the TV and listen to the TV speakers. Personally, I think a good surround sound system makes TV watching much more enjoyable.

 

[Nuglets]

Hello all,
I currently have a Yamaha HTR-5740 a/v receiver with 6.1 Channels (75W each) for my home surround system. It is a good receiver with standard decoders; originally was part of a HTIB. I am looking to upgrade to the Yamaha RX-V1600 a/v receiver with 7.1 Channels (120W each) and plenty more options like HDMI switching, THX Select2, YPAO sound optimization, and more optical inputs.

My main reason for upgrading is I now have significantly better speakers as shown below and feel the 5740 is not strong enough to bring out the full sound and detail the speakers are capable of delivering. I would think this is a signficant upgrade in a/v processing capacity. Every salesperson I talk to agrees - but I want somewhat more objective opinions. My questions are:

• Will the RX-V1600 upgrade deliver an appreciable difference in sound and detail?
• At 120 watts per channel, will it be too much power for the surrounds rated at 75 watts RMS?
• If I use the HDMI switching to connect my DirecTv HD satellite receiver, will I always have to have the RX-V1600 to simply watch TV?

Whatever feedback you can provide would be great.

Chitown2477

EXISTING SPEAKERS
Klipsch RF-52 Floorstanding Loudspeaker, 100W RMS / 400W Peak, 96dB
Klipsch RS-42 Surround Speaker, 75W RMS / 300W Peak, 93dB
Klipsch RC-52 Center Channel, 125W RMS / 500W Peak, 96dB
Definitive Technology Pro Sub 60, 150W RMS

If you are getting distortion at high volumes then yes a new receiver with more power will likely be helpful. If you are looking for more detail at low volumes I'm not sure there is much you can do but find some speaker's that you prefer more than the ones you have or doing some acoustical treatment to your listening area. In my opinion you have some nice speaker's and depending on your expectation's a new receiver and/or amplifier will really help out. There is much disagreement on the topic of "Does an amplifier change the sound quality" and in my opinion based on my experience with solid state amplifier's only I can not hear any difference in detail's between different amplifier's. The difference I noticed when I upgraded amplifiers was the ability to turn in up far louder with no loss in quality.

 

[wire]

Hello all,
I currently have a Yamaha HTR-5740 a/v receiver with 6.1 Channels (75W each) for my home surround system. It is a good receiver with standard decoders; originally was part of a HTIB. I am looking to upgrade to the Yamaha RX-V1600 a/v receiver with 7.1 Channels (120W each) and plenty more options like HDMI switching, THX Select2, YPAO sound optimization, and more optical inputs.

My main reason for upgrading is I now have significantly better speakers as shown below and feel the 5740 is not strong enough to bring out the full sound and detail the speakers are capable of delivering. I would think this is a signficant upgrade in a/v processing capacity. Every salesperson I talk to agrees - but I want somewhat more objective opinions. My questions are:

• Will the RX-V1600 upgrade deliver an appreciable difference in sound and detail?
• At 120 watts per channel, will it be too much power for the surrounds rated at 75 watts RMS?
• If I use the HDMI switching to connect my DirecTv HD satellite receiver, will I always have to have the RX-V1600 to simply watch TV?

Whatever feedback you can provide would be great.

Chitown2477

EXISTING SPEAKERS
Klipsch RF-52 Floorstanding Loudspeaker, 100W RMS / 400W Peak, 96dB
Klipsch RS-42 Surround Speaker, 75W RMS / 300W Peak, 93dB
Klipsch RC-52 Center Channel, 125W RMS / 500W Peak, 96dB
Definitive Technology Pro Sub 60, 150W RMS

Hi
I would find a store with a good return policy .
Try a couple different brands ( not only Yammy ) . Then see if there is enough of a difference to warrent the new upgrade .
I agree with Chitown and your Klipsch are very efficeint speakers ( very good speakers ) .

 

[Nick250]

Hello all,
I currently have a Yamaha HTR-5740 a/v receiver with 6.1 Channels (75W each) for my home surround system. It is a good receiver with standard decoders; originally was part of a HTIB. I am looking to upgrade to the Yamaha RX-V1600 a/v receiver with 7.1 Channels (120W each) and plenty more options like HDMI switching, THX Select2, YPAO sound optimization, and more optical inputs.

My main reason for upgrading is I now have significantly better speakers as shown below and feel the 5740 is not strong enough to bring out the full sound and detail the speakers are capable of delivering. I would think this is a signficant upgrade in a/v processing capacity. Every salesperson I talk to agrees - but I want somewhat more objective opinions. My questions are:

• Will the RX-V1600 upgrade deliver an appreciable difference in sound and detail?

Usually a decent receiver does not have that much to with sound and detail, but a receiver from a HTIB is pretty low on the food chain so in your case, I would take the V1600 home and give it a test drive. You can always return it.

• At 120 watts per channel, will it be too much power for the surrounds rated at 75 watts RMS?

Nope, that is not an issue.

• If I use the HDMI switching to connect my DirecTv HD satellite receiver, will I always have to have the RX-V1600 to simply watch TV?

I suggest sending the HDMI from the Direct TV to the TV and sending the digital audio connection from Direct TV to the receiver. That way you have the option of watching TV on its own, or using the whole AV system. I find that for regular TV, I prefer not having the whole system on, but that's just personal choice. Remember to mute the TV speakers when the whole AV system is on, it sounds terrible with both on at the same time. At least it does in my living room.

Nick

 

[mtrycrafts]

All sound inputs above. My question is are you lacking anything right now with your setup besides being worried about it?
Is it loud enough for you? Missed your speakers if you have a good sub. That would help a lot.
Then, if you have issues, certainly, upgrade.

 

[buckyg4]

The wattage is not an issue as you could drive those efficient speakers with less than 75W. Problem is the DAc and pre in your receiver. So yeah a new reciever should help from that respect.

 

[Chitown2477]

What is DAc and pre? Please elaborate on the definition and why each is important.

 

[buckyg4]

The main components of a receiver are the DAC, pre amp and amp.

The DAC is the processor that does the digital to analog conversion. If your are going digital from your CD or DVD player to your receiver you are using the receiver's DAC to convert the signal to the analog signal that plays through your speakers. Higher quality DACs give you better sound.

Pre is the Pre Amp. The pre amp is essentially your volume control and also attenuates the signal prior to the amp. Higher quality pres will give you a higher quality or more natural sound.

 

[no. 5]

The wattage is not an issue as you could drive those efficient speakers with less than 75W. Problem is the DAc and pre in your receiver. So yeah a new reciever should help from that respect.

I totaly agree, 75 watts RMS - and thay can handel 300 watt peaks - with speakers that efficient will get you to around 108dB, which is fairly loud to be listening to anything.

 

[wire]

I still say , test other brands of gear ( if your gonna look ) Yammy just doesnt sound that good ( to tinny ) and it might notbe a good match for your K-Horns .

 

[Nestor]

I still say , test other brands of gear ( if your gonna look ) Yammy just doesnt sound that good ( to tinny ) and it might notbe a good match for your K-Horns .

I've run Yammy and Klipsch for almost 15 yrs and been very happy.

 

[no. 5]

I still say , test other brands of gear ( if your gonna look ) Yammy just doesnt sound that good ( to tinny ) and it might notbe a good match for your K-Horns .

good advice about testing other brands, but Yamaha sounding tinny??

 

[wire]

good advice about testing other brands, but Yamaha sounding tinny??

Ever since i was young , i heard different brands NAD ( alot of NAD im my area and a good bang for the buck ) , Yammy , H/K , Carver , Sumo , Denon and on and on . The Yammy just couldnt do it for me , i classed it with Sony .

 

[mtrycrafts]

Yammy just doesnt sound that good ( to tinny ) .

Then this characteristics should show up in the specs. I just don't see this issue.

 

[Guiria]

I went from a 6 year old Pioneer D509S to the new Yamaha HTR-5960. I noticed a difference in sound between those two. I actually heard more with my new Yammy, both in detail for all channels and presence for my rear surround field. The receiver was the only thing that has changed in my system through the two. You could argue that I was looking for a difference in sound when I got the new receiver but I honestly think there was an improvement.

 

[Nuglets]

I went from a 6 year old Pioneer D509S to the new Yamaha HTR-5960. I noticed a difference in sound between those two. I actually heard more with my new Yammy, both in detail for all channels and presence for my rear surround field. The receiver was the only thing that has changed in my system through the two. You could argue that I was looking for a difference in sound when I got the new receiver but I honestly think there was an improvement.

I would say that the difference you are hearing have to do with the difference in sound modes you use. If you compare the two in Direct Stereo I would bet they probably sound more alike.