Which receiver for a new ht system?

cHeeZeFacTory

Golden Member
Apr 23, 2001
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I'm planning to purchase the infinity entra point 5 HTS, but i don't know which amp i should get. Which deciding between the Harman AVR 320 & Denon 2802. The Harman is ~400, and the denon is ~500...the denon has more features, but paired with a entry level infinity speakers, would the extra features and wattage matter? I would be saving 100 if the purchase harman, hmm, but the denon is also a pretty good deal. Eh? so which one should i get? thanks!

 

hemicuda

Banned
Aug 6, 2002
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whenever i go to all the home theatre stores around here that sell mirage and mcintosh products they have the very high end speakers hooked up to yamahas
 

cHeeZeFacTory

Golden Member
Apr 23, 2001
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Originally posted by: hemicuda
whenever i go to all the home theatre stores around here that sell mirage and mcintosh products they have the very high end speakers hooked up to yamahas

but the speakers bought aren't exactly high end...more like entry level..lol
 

hemicuda

Banned
Aug 6, 2002
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yes what im trying to say is that you dont need dennon or kardon equiptment yamaha offers the best bang for the buck
 

cHeeZeFacTory

Golden Member
Apr 23, 2001
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can i get anything better for $400 to $500 dollars? the avr320 for 400 and 2802 for 500 is already decent...how much are the yamaha's?
 

austin316

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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goto www.hometheaterforums.com and check out the boatloads of information there. Not sure how much your paying for the speakers, but there are much better deals on better sounding speakers. With the receivers (not amps) you chosed, you can't go wrong with either one, although I believe the Denon 1803 comes out this week, and it should be comarable to the 2802. LMK how much you want to spend on the speakers and sub.
 

Raincity

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2000
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yes what im trying to say is that you dont need dennon or kardon equiptment yamaha offers the best bang for the buck
Not true. None of the reciever makers out there have this claim to fame. You should also be looking into recievers made by Onkyo, Pioneer, Marantz,Outlaw,Yamaha.
There are alot of things to consider when deciding on a reciever. Does it have enough digital inputs and outputs to support all my existing gear and gear added in the future. Is the remote user friendly. How much control in the options does the reciever have over the DSP. Does the componet video inputs have enough bandwith to support High Def sources without a issue.

Rain
 

ZaneNBK

Golden Member
Sep 14, 2000
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I've got a set of Inifity Reference series speakers. I've had them hooked up to Harman Kardon, Onkyo and Yamaha receivers (similar price ranges for the three). Yamaha was the worst sounding (mainly because the amp wasn't as powerfull, it couldn't drive any bass on my large front speakers). Both the Harman Kardon and Onkyo receivers sounded great at all levels and with all types of input. (Celtic, R&B, Rock, Pop, Movies, etc..)
 

mboy

Diamond Member
Jul 29, 2001
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For the $$$, you cant beat the Pioneer VSX-D811s. Component video switching, DD-ES, DTS-EX 6.1, Pro logic II. I have had mine for almost 2 months and simply luv it. Can be had for $300 or so from online vendor, around $400 at BB or the like!
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
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Well how odd.....those are the exact receivers I'm looking at. Where are you finding the H/K for around 400?

Really depends on what you're looking for, but I'm on HTF a lot, and one thing you'll see quite often is that H/K is more "musical" than the Denon, and especially favored in 2-channel stereo. I've tested the Infinity References/IL's before, and I would say to go with the H/K (that's what I"m leaning towards), but it's really up to you.

Hopefully you can find a store nearby that will let you take them home and test side by side. I can't wait to do that when I get my paradigm monitor 9s. w00t. :)
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
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Note: You might want to look at the Onkyo 600 as well....the only reason I didn't list it is because I'm looking for a receiver with pre-outs, so that I can amp them next year and not worry about upgrading entirely for at least 2 years. ;)
 

Entity

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
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You can get a Denon 3802 for $699 from 6ave right now. I have it, and love it. Great watching LOTR last night. :D

Rob
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Entity
You can get a Denon 3802 for $699 from 6ave right now. I have it, and love it. Great watching LOTR last night. :D

Rob

I too use this receiver and it's a steal @ 699.
 

austin316

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2001
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I second the Pioneer 811s. Also, for even cheaper, you can get a high rated Panasonic HE-100 for $235 online. Has 6.1 DTS-ES, and very, very good component switching (50mhz). Downsides are that it does not have a pre-amp, only front speakers come with the good clips, and it doesn't officially support DD EX (although from reviews, it will still work).
 

Entity

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
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Originally posted by: John
Originally posted by: Entity
You can get a Denon 3802 for $699 from 6ave right now. I have it, and love it. Great watching LOTR last night. :D

Rob

I too use this receiver and it's a steal @ 699.
Yeah, you just couldn't let me ignore that price, could you? Bastard. :D

BTW, thanks for tempting me. I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad I got that receiver. Even sold my old receiver for $150 (paid $240 four years ago for it).

Rob
 

Garet Jax

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2000
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Before buying anything, I would check out One Call.. I bought my entire setup from them about 3 years ago. I have nothing but great things to say about them. If you are thinking H/K, they are an authorized reseller (or at least they were when I bought from them) :)
 

cHeeZeFacTory

Golden Member
Apr 23, 2001
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Originally posted by: austin316
goto www.hometheaterforums.com and check out the boatloads of information there. Not sure how much your paying for the speakers, but there are much better deals on better sounding speakers. With the receivers (not amps) you chosed, you can't go wrong with either one, although I believe the Denon 1803 comes out this week, and it should be comarable to the 2802. LMK how much you want to spend on the speakers and sub.

I plan to spend about 500 on the speakers w/ sub...right now i'm looking at the entra system w/ the infinity IL 10" 250 Watt sub, which will be around $225-$250 shipped. The speaker set is about $250. Is there a better speaker/sub combination around the $500 price range? I was also looking at the wharfedale diamond 8, and energy take series. For the small speakers i plan to get, i think the 55watts per channel from the HK will be fine, but i like the denon too. Onkyo is good, but i like the look of denon and HK's.

spending 699 on the 3802 is a lil out of my price range. I plan to spend 1000 on the new system.

 
Jan 9, 2002
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Originally posted by: cHeeZeFacTory
I'm planning to purchase the infinity entra point 5 HTS, but i don't know which amp i should get. Which deciding between the Harman AVR 320 & Denon 2802. The Harman is ~400, and the denon is ~500...the denon has more features, but paired with a entry level infinity speakers, would the extra features and wattage matter? I would be saving 100 if the purchase harman, hmm, but the denon is also a pretty good deal. Eh? so which one should i get? thanks!

The Denon has a wattage meter?? :Q I'd go with the Denon if you can swing it. Other honorable mentions: Marantz, Onkyo, Yamaha.
 
Jan 9, 2002
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I would try to swing a Polk Audio speaker setup if you can. The sound is much better than Infinity, IMHO, and it can be cheaper if you look hard. Get at least a Polk Audio 10" sub, but I'd go with Velodyne 8"+ anyday of the week instead. I've got a Polk Audio 5.1 setup w/ a Velodyne subwoofer and am beyond impressed. This is my setup.

Front towers: $149 ea. (discontinued, July 2000, Circuit City)
Center channel: $69 (open item, Circuit City August 2001, new for $77 at Fry's Electronics believe it or not!)
Surrounds: $99 (on sale at Crutchfield.com, September 2001)
Subwoofer: $199 (open item, damaged theft recovery at Circuit City, June 2002)

SPEAKER TOTAL: $670.00

I recommend you go through a few Circuit Citys in your area and look for the open box receivers and speakers- they will come with warranties, are haggleable, and are amazing deals. Definitly worth it. Make sure you run at least Monster Cable-grade speaker wire (100' spool at Best Buy for $59, less on eBay). On a personal note, I plan on buying a different reciever when I can afford it- the Sony is great for features, looks, and sound to the untrained ear, but the white noise SUCKS at certain volumes and ruins audio and DVD tracks.
 

Entity

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
10,090
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I would try to swing a Polk Audio speaker setup if you can. The sound is much better than Infinity, IMHO, and it can be cheaper if you look hard. Get at least a Polk Audio 10" sub, but I'd go with Velodyne 8"+ anyday of the week instead. I've got a Polk Audio 5.1 setup w/ a Velodyne subwoofer and am beyond impressed. This is my setup.
I wish I had your speakers (I've got AR 318PS fronts, 228PS bookshelves and a 215PS Center), but I second the motion on the Velodyne. Those speakers combined with the Velodyne 12" Sound great along with the 3802. :) That being said, I can't wait until I can afford my next purchase, upgrading to some PSBs. :D

Rob
 

Entity

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
10,090
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Make sure you run at least Monster Cable-grade speaker wire (100' spool at Best Buy for $59, less on eBay).
Here we go again.
rolleye.gif


This is all you should need for speaker wire. $25/100ft right now.

Rob
 

Entity

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
10,090
0
0
Originally posted by: NightFlyerGTI
Originally posted by: Entity
Make sure you run at least Monster Cable-grade speaker wire (100' spool at Best Buy for $59, less on eBay).
Here we go again.
rolleye.gif


This is all you should need for speaker wire. $25/100ft right now.

Rob

:D To each his own, but I'm comparing it to regular lamp cord. Any decent 12 guage will be just as good- that deal is pretty good! :Q
Yeah, I just picked up two rolls of it and some banana plugs. My boss, who isn't even really into audio, thought it was too good to pass up. It really is a smokin' deal. :D

Time to get a more organized system...my cables are all over the place right now. :p

Rob