Sort of hardware related. Who makes good recievers? (home stereo)

[Erasmus-X]

Grrrr........double post.

 

[frover2000]

I don't think your looking at the overall picture here, a set of decent loudspeakers is gonna have much more of an effect then what reciever you choose. What are you considering for your main speakers?

 

[Noriaki]

For now I'm swiping a set of HKs from a friend of mine.
Not sure exact models numbers or anything but I'm happy with how they sound on his HK amp, it's just his amp cost over $3k and I don't want to spend that kind of cash.

 

[tristramshandy]

The recommendation for Mark Levinson is pretty good if you can spend the bucks. At the level of mid-range consumer hifi, why not think about Creek or NAD: both produce superior sound quality at reasonable prices. For both, the emphasis is on reducing bells and whistles (flashy displays, etc.) and giving better sound that similarly priced brands (including Yamaha and Denon by my lights).

Got questions. My favorite stereo dealer is Mike Shotts at Accurate Audio (-not promotional, he's just the best): accurateaudio@earthlink.net

 

[fs5]

here's my .02:

Everybody keeps recommending Yahama. They sell different lines to through different companies, ie Best Buys will sell a different line than The Good Guys (if you're on the west coast). So keep that in mind if you're set on getting a Yahama.

Also specs don't mean everything. If you have your mind set on speakers then look for a receiver that'll push those speakers well. If you don't have a set of speakers in mind then go in to a home theatre store and listen to the receivers side by side using the same pair of speakers. Bring a sample of what you'll be using the receiver for (dvd, cd, whatnot). For the price you're looking at they might not have them set up though.

Yahama sounds GREAT with music. It has low wattage for the price (I'm talking about the real wattage not what's listed). They have awesome DSP setting. Denon is what you want to get if you're using it for movies. Sony = expensive, but if you like all the bells and whistles go for it! 🙂 Kenwood = suck.

That's all the brands I'm familiar with.

 

[dkozloski]

The rule of thumb for many years has been to buy the best speakers that you can possibly afford and if you are suffering from pecuniary strangulation(your ass is busted) go cheap on the amp and front end. If your speakers won't deliver enough base to knock the dishes off the shelves in the kitchen and crisp enough highs to crack a wine glass it makes no difference what you have for electronics. You won't be happy with it. I paid $400 (thousands in todays money)each for Wharfedale W90 speakers in the 1960's that still perform to the level of the best available today. They weigh about 200lbs each. One of the best investments I ever made.

 

[jamarno]

All component receivers (contain tuner, preamp, power amp only) sound the same unless they're defective, the FM reception is bad (either because of reception conditions or inferior FM section), or the listener is imagining things. So get something cheap, reliable, capable of driving 4-ohm speakers, and has a long warranty and good local service. Most of the Japanese brands, except Sony, are good. Concentrate on the speakers, and ignore brand names because quality varies too much by individual model.

If you like the kind of bad sound found at bigger movie theatres, you may want surround sound, but otherwise skip it and save money.

 

[fs5]

<< All component receivers (contain tuner, preamp, power amp only) sound the same unless they're defective >>



I beg to differ, try going to a local home theater shop and using the same speakers/input compare a Yamaha and a Denon. BIG difference.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

jamarno, this is an argument you shouldn't get into. All of us computer nerds swear by the fact that G400 has the best image quality you can get (or V5, or GTS, or whatever). Show the same video game with different video cards to your average joe and he'll tell you they all look identical.

Audio quality is the same way. All of my friends tell me that they can't tell the difference between low-end and high-end audio equipment. I, on the other hand, can tell a noticeable difference. If you listen carefully you will understand.



<< All component receivers (contain tuner, preamp, power amp only) sound the same unless they're defective >>


I find that to be complete and utter bologne. Your words fall on deaf ears, my friend.😛

 

[urbantechie]

<< and pioneer sucks. i hate mine :| >>



Umm, do you have one of those cheap ones they sell at Circuit City or something? You need to get the Elite Series.

 

[glen]

Pioneer makes most of them...no matter what the brand name.
The best is probably a Lexicon with separate amps.
I just got a Pioneer VSX-D709S.
You can get one for under $450 shipped.

 

[glen]

<< I beg to differ, try going to a local home theater shop and using the same speakers/input compare a Yamaha and a Denon. BIG difference. >>


Actually, when people do scientific blind testing with the levels matched, people can not tell the difference between the most expensive amps, like Krell, and the cheapest ones, like RadioShack. Actually, AnandTech has the resources to do a good job testing this. Why don't you all at AnandTech go for it and do the tests?

 

[glen]

The weak points in hometheater are:
The features/remote
The room treatment
The sub-woofer
The TV

 

[fs5]

I don't know what &quot;tests&quot; you're refering too but if there wasn't a difference between brands then why would there even be a market for it? Just to look at it logically that is. I mean if all receivers sounded the same wouldn't sony/yamaha/denon just have one model?

I've sold home theater equipment in the past and I only sell the stuff that people want. Like I said before in a previous post, go in with your own demo material and listen to the receivers. The material should be something you're familiar with, like a favorite song, or a certain scene in a movie. A side by side between 2 or 3 products and you WILL be able to hear the difference. Now from there if you like the cheaper brand better then great!

 

[Shockwave]

I agree with Radboy, Nakamichi is by and far probably the best, but anybody who says &quot;I have x, and it is the best&quot; is probably lying to you. Like frover said, the speakers are *far* more impoortant then the reciever. I like Sony myself, but a part of that comes from the factI have a friend who works there so I can get pretty good prices. I would look at a cheaper reciever, so i could spend more on speakers. But, it really comes down to personal preference.
Guess I didnt help much huh?

 

[sleepwalker]

I don't know what your budget is but the onkyo 575x is great. You can find it for about $400 on the net. Reviews

 

[glen]

Fivespeed, many people have done tests like this showng that humans CAN NOT hear differences in amplifiers. Bell Labs, Audio Engineering Society, etc. See for your self, level match the out puts of 2 amps, and have someone change it...see if you can tell. This really is a project for Anand. Most of us don't have the equiptment to do the level matching, and if you don't, then the 2 amps are playing at different volumes. If they are at different volumes, then both subjective and objective listening and measuring are meaningless. And remember, just because tons of folks believe soemthing and spend money on it, does not mean anything. Look at all the BS weightloss gimmiks available. It is a billion dollar industry. What I know is every &quot;audiophile&quot; you meet will swear to hearing differences in amplifiers. I also know, that none can hear these differences underscientific conditions. Who do you trust? Scientists? Marketers? Ii really think Anand needs to do this for folks. people would trust his results.

 

[pen^2]

i hear sherwoods are of good value... 800.com has a pretty decent one in stock i think 🙂

 

[billandopus]

ONKYO!

 

[BDawg]

I've been a happy Yamaha owner for the past 3 years. I have the RX-V2095 and couldn't love it more. Below is my opinion though.

Can't lose with-Yamaha, Denon, Pioneer Elite (only elite), Onkyo, Harmon Kardon.

I really liked the last NAD I listened to, but I cannot recommend it since it only had 2 digital inputs.

Stay away from-Sony (ES or regular), regular Pioneer, Nakamichi, Technics, and Fisher 😉

 

[Workin']

You go Glen! A voice of reason being drowned out by ignorant silliness.

Ok, that applies to AMPLIFIERS, not surround-sound decoding. There clearly IS a difference between the way SONY does it versus YAMAHA versus H/K versus LEXICON (BTW, best in the business!) versus on and on. It has never (that I am aware of, and I've been doing this for 20+ years) been proven in a scientifically valid test that there is any difference in the sound of properly functioning amplifiers being operated within their rated limits. Among equipment that &quot;normal&quot; peaople can afford, many in the business think that Yamaha and Sony have the best Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, and Pioneer (even Elite!) and Kenwood are inferior. The rest are in the middle.

But to each his own. My advice is find the least expensive brand and model that has all the features you NEED. Then spend more on your speakers - they are the weakest link in how a system sounds.

RadBoy it's McIntosh not Macintosh!

 

[glen]

<< But to each his own. My advice is find the least expensive brand and model that has all the features you NEED. Then spend more on your speakers - they are the weakest link in how a system sounds. >>



Agreed! And, I will go so far as to say get a cheap set, like PSB Alphas, and then build a custom sub. Even the $2,000 Velodynes are so-so. But, for $400, you can build a super one.

 

[Erasmus-X]

<< Ok, that applies to AMPLIFIERS, not surround-sound decoding. >>



There's also a distinct difference between the different amps used in receivers. Cheaper receivers (lower-end Pioneers, Sonys, Kenwoods, etc.) use IC chips for their amplifiers instead of power transistors found in the more premium brands and product lines. Yamaha, for example, uses power transistors even in their cheaper consumer-level receivers, like the HTR line. Power transistors make worlds of difference in the quality of the amplified output. I'm aware that some people can't tell the difference, but to a trained ear they do.

Earlier, it was mentioned that Yamaha receivers are a bit pricey for the power output they have. I beg to differ, because most sub-$500 receivers compared to Yamahas have power output measured in peak (what the amplifiers on the receiver can out maximum, unsustained) ratings. Even the lowest-end Yamahas are measured in RMS (root mean square) power output, which is a rating of continuous power output. RMS is a much more accurate and meaningful rating of power output. Just ask any audiophile; they'll tell you the same thing. For this reason, a lot of higher-end equipment will be measured in RMS ratings.

 

[StanG]

I &quot;slightly&quot; disagree w/ the idea of getting kick A$$ speakers and going &quot;cheap&quot; on the receiver. Your system will only be as good as your weakest link - in this case the receiver. You have to make sure the receiver you get will be able to drive the speakers efficiently.

Regarding recommendations - you really can't go wrong with brand names like Denon, Yamaha, Pioneer Elite, HK, etc...

BTW, if you don't need DTS, you should be able to pick up a nice &quot;older&quot; receiver (if you don't mind going this route) - just check out the &quot;Marketplace&quot; section of www.audioreview.com.

Oh, my system consists of: Denon AVR3200 (example of &quot;older&quot; piece), NHT VT1.2 mains, NHT VS1.2 surrounds/center, Panasonic A110 DVD, M&amp;K V75 12&quot; sub, 50&quot; Toshiba , and some other &quot;stuff&quot; 🙂
🙂😉

 

[glen]

Well, I have over $10,000 in speakers, and less than $1,000 in all the other electronics.
No one has ever listened to it and not said it was the best they had ever heard. The problem is, no matter how much you spend on speakers, they are the weakest link. Even if you use a $30 reciever from a pawn shop, it does its job more accurately than a $100,000 speaker. Seriously.