So, a question for the Hi-Fi gurus out there.
I'm planning to pick up a pair of B&W 683's in the near future (the 804's are sadly out of my price range at the moment [drool]). I am looking for suggestions on receivers. My sources are varied: PS3, PC, line in from various accessores, vinyl. I'm looking to gradually build up a decent home theatre system based off these speakers and said receiver as well. What do you recommend? [beer]
You said vinyl, so . . . Here a short list of the ones I like
http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TX-NR717&class=Receiver&p=i (http://www.us.onkyo.com/model.cfm?m=TX-NR717&class=Receiver&p=i)
http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=AVReceivers&SubCatId=0&ProductId=SR6007 (http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=AVReceivers&SubCatId=0&ProductId=SR6007)
http://www.carveraudio.com/index.php/receivers/htr-8851 (http://www.carveraudio.com/index.php/receivers/htr-8851)
http://usa.denon.com/us/product/pages/productdetail.aspx?catid=avreceivers(denonna)&pid=avr3313ci(denonna) (http://usa.denon.com/us/product/pages/productdetail.aspx?catid=avreceivers(denonna)&pid=avr3313ci(denonna))
I no longer follow HiFi that much and have forgotten lots of brands that maybe are no longer in existence . . .
Quote from: Tricknology on February 22, 2013, 11:21:49 AM
So, a question for the Hi-Fi gurus out there.
I'm planning to pick up a pair of B&W 683's in the near future (the 804's are sadly out of my price range at the moment [drool]). I am looking for suggestions on receivers. My sources are varied: PS3, PC, line in from various accessores, vinyl. I'm looking to gradually build up a decent home theatre system based off these speakers and said receiver as well. What do you recommend? [beer]
i just bought a denon avr-3313ci to power my b&w 805s+htm2 (which may be for sale and possibly even in your budget).
fwiw, if you're going to pair your speakers with a sub, you might as well get the bookshelves vs the "full-range" floor-standers (because the latter are not really full range and your receiver, set correctly, will cross them over well above the bottom half of the speaker).
If you are going to run just the receiver's amp, I HIGHLY recommend the Pioneer Elite SC stuff. The ICE and Class D amps in those are absolute beasts.
I am sure you know already that pretty much all AVR ratings are listed as either 1 or 2 channels driven and as you add load, those numbers tend to drop. The SC series stuff, not so much.
Plus everything from the SC-61 up has pre-outs so if you later on decide to add a stand alone amp for your mains, you are good to go.
I personally have a Yamaha Aventage RX-A1000 and love everything about it except the phono pre section of it.
I listened to the Denon 3313ci, Pioneer Elite SC-61 and Yamaha Aventage RX-A1020 back to back on the same speakers. The only reasons I bought the older Aventage after all was said and done was the price (I got a brand new leftover stock 1000 for about 35% of retail) and how close to the Pioneer it sounded. The Denon was nice but there were just a few things about the sound that didn't really finish it for me.
I am using my Yamaha as a pre/pro only though too. I have a pair of Emotiva amps, UPA-5 and UPA-2 (both 125wpc).
I could go on for days about this stuff.
I agree with Derby to a point about the bookies. Especially if you are going to favor music listening over home theater. But I have a designated 2 channel system and a HT system so I don't have that conundrum hehe.
Onkyo and Harmon Kardon stuff is great. Awesome delivery for a not-so-awesome watt rating. Kinda like twins v. inline fours I suppose.
That being said...
I have a Pioneer receiver from around 1994. It is amazing. It is a basic stereo amplifier with a few old school features like 3-Channel Logic and such. Don't hesitate as Zilbert said to look at their stuff.
JM
These guys make some good stuff too (internet only, so not as mainstream): http://www.outlawaudio.com/ (http://www.outlawaudio.com/)
B&W speakers will hurt your feelings. 8)
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on February 22, 2013, 07:30:24 PM
These guys make some good stuff too (internet only, so not as mainstream): http://www.outlawaudio.com/ (http://www.outlawaudio.com/)
[thumbsup]
and while we're talking internet-only, i'm a big fan of these guys' subs:
http://www.svsound.com/ (http://www.svsound.com/)
Quote from: kopfjäger on February 22, 2013, 07:49:44 PM
B&W speakers will hurt your feelings. 8)
nah, just your wallet... big time.
Quote from: ZILBERT on February 22, 2013, 03:33:34 PM
I agree with Derby to a point about the bookies. Especially if you are going to favor music listening over home theater. But I have a designated 2 channel system and a HT system so I don't have that conundrum hehe.
I have dual systems as well. Granted my stuff is probably considered budget to a lot of the stuff mentioned in this thread.
Music (game systems run through this as well):
Receiver:
Pioneer A - 150x2, B - 150x2
Speakers: Pair of KLH w/ 15" sub, 4" mid, 3" mid, .75" tweet
This setup could entertain the neighborhood. It's (in nearly 20 years) has never been above half, if even that far. As far as games go, when you blow something up, the whole house feels it.
Home Theater:
Onkyo 70x5 -
Polk 10" Powered sub
Polk center channel (pair of 4" mids, .75" tweet),
Yamaha Front left/right (8" woofer, 3" mid, .5" tweet)
Onkyo rears (3" mid, .5" tweet)
The Yamahas are amazingly crisp. If they made them in a larger size with say a 10" or 12" woofer I would consider them for the music setup, and the Polks are great too.
JM
Quote from: derby on February 23, 2013, 06:00:17 AM
and while we're talking internet-only, i'm a big fan of these guys' subs:
http://www.svsound.com/ (http://www.svsound.com/)
Oh yeah?
I like these: http://www.mksoundsystem.com/ (http://www.mksoundsystem.com/)
;D
I used to keep up with audio equipment, but it's been a while. I'm thinking about a system for my new place. It's a condo, so given that I'll have neighbors, I'm more interested in quality than sheer power, although they sometimes seem to go together. Where is a good place to read up on this stuff?
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on February 23, 2013, 08:01:57 AM
Oh yeah?
I like these: http://www.mksoundsystem.com/ (http://www.mksoundsystem.com/)
;D
SVS and MK are 2 of my favorites in subs. As is HSU Research. http://www.hsuresearch.com/ (http://www.hsuresearch.com/)
For the price I got and how small it is, my Polk DSWMicroPro 2000 is astonishing.
Think I am going to make an official HiFi and HT thread. Spent the last 3 months getting back into the hobby with a vengeance.
Quote from: swampduc on February 23, 2013, 10:16:24 AM
I used to keep up with audio equipment, but it's been a while. I'm thinking about a system for my new place. It's a condo, so given that I'll have neighbors, I'm more interested in quality than sheer power, although they sometimes seem to go together. Where is a good place to read up on this stuff?
Here's a good source: http://app.audiogon.com/ (http://app.audiogon.com/)
Used to have a set of these as a two-channel set up when I lived in Hawaii. Wish I had never sold them.
(http://stereomojo.com/images/StrataMiniTop.jpg)
Quote from: DRKWNG on February 23, 2013, 03:32:59 PM
Used to have a set of these as a two-channel set up when I lived in Hawaii. Wish I had never sold them.
(http://stereomojo.com/images/StrataMiniTop.jpg)
I've got a full set of Onix Rockets from AV123 (out of business now). Great speakers.
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on February 23, 2013, 08:08:10 PM
I've got a full set of Onix Rockets from AV123 (out of business now). Great speakers.
That I am waiting on him to get sick of and sell to me so I can upgrade my home theater setup... ;D
Too bad Mark went to jail...
Quote from: DRKWNG on February 23, 2013, 10:06:13 PM
Too bad Mark went to jail...
I thought he *only* ended up with 20 years of probation?
Looks like 2 years work release and then 20 years probation...
http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/press/news/2010/10/15/attorney_general_announces_20_year_probation_sentence_longmont_man_involved_in (http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/press/news/2010/10/15/attorney_general_announces_20_year_probation_sentence_longmont_man_involved_in)
I plan on getting pne of these. They sound good to my ear and it looks simple and clean to install.
http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/home_theater/simplified_home_theater/cinemate_series_ii/index.jsp (http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/home_theater/simplified_home_theater/cinemate_series_ii/index.jsp)
a good forum for info = www.avsforum.com (//http://)
depending on your budget, ie, if it is somewhat limited (like mine), and want to buy new, I really like their amps = www.emotiva.com (//http://)
Quote from: Jaman on February 27, 2013, 10:38:02 AM
a good forum for info = www.avsforum.com (//http://) (//http://) (//http://)
depending on your budget, ie, if it is somewhat limited (like mine), and want to buy new, I really like their amps = www.emotiva.com (//http://) (//http://) (//http://)
I am a fan. I actually own 2 Emotivas myself. But it seems their reliability is hit or miss on some models. Overall, fantastic products for the price.
XPA-1 and XPA-2 I would avoid as well as their XPR (reference) series stuff. Other than that, their UPAs and 3/5 channel XPAs all seem to be great products.
So I went ahead and picked up the B&W 683's and a Denon AVR-2313CI. Ended up with the Denon primarily because that's what the Listen Up here sells and No one in town sells the Pioneer Elite receivers, and I have a severe addiction to instant gratification. My only problem now is that I need to pull out drywall, rerun electrical/signal/etc. and put up proper sound deadening sheetrock and such! [beer] Still thinking of what to do with the maple floors...
At any rate, I'm thoroughly pleased with my investment, and it's leaps above what I had before. I figure I'll invest in surrounds, sub, centre speakers as time goes by. Thanks for all the recommendations and all the Hi-fi pr0n. I can feel the beginnings of a need to set up a dedicated listening system/space in my spare bedroom already...
Quote from: Tricknology on February 28, 2013, 08:10:41 PM
I can feel the beginnings of a need to set up a dedicated listening system/space in my spare bedroom already...
You'll get there. Sitting here right now listening to Frank Sinatra Reprise The Good Years
Most likely heading to Denver in the next week or two to pick up a set of Polk Audio SDAs. Not because I don't enjoy the Polk RTAs in the picture but because I want extra options. LOL.
I am not even done. Got a second amp, Peachtree DAC and a turntable to get set up yet.
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/528457_10200727176770861_1809884964_n.jpg)