Advice on a used av receiver

[sjmatthews]

Hi all,
I have a Yamaha rx-v671, which I use for movies but music more so.
I have some old, but excellent high end ATC SCM10 speakers which are power hungry and a KK DXD-808 sub. So the Yammy is now a weak part of the system, a little low on power and seems to lack clarity and detail.
I'm looking at buying (used) either a Pioneer sc-lx82 (c.£2000 in 2009!!) or a Onkyo TX NR838 (c.£1000 in 2013). Both used will cost me £300 - 400 with similar power, both THX2plus.
My question...will the newer cheaper Onkyo sound as good as the older pricier Pioneer? I understand that the Onkyo will be more future proof (4k etc), but the sound quality is probably more important to me.

 

[jjbomber]

I understand that the Onkyo will be more future proof (4k etc), but the sound quality is probably more important to me.

If's it's sound you want, then a second hand Nain n-Vi will blow anything else out of the water. Not furture proof at all, but it excels as a CD player, has brilliant stereo sound as well as 5.1 and a DAC to die for. They go for around £300-£400 these days but are few and far between.

 

[sjmatthews]

Thanks JJ, but I need some real RMS power to drive my little ATCs properly. Nice idea though ☺

 

[jonathanRD]

I can't remember who, but there was definately a log-term poster here that raved over his Onkyo NR837 or 838 in that in his opinion it was as good as any 2 channel amplifier.

Maybe try to search for reviews online for both av amps.

 

[matthewjh]

I was thinking the same thing.

An SC-LX82 has come up near me and im wondering if its worth £250 or pay £400 for a new Denon 2300

matt

 

[sjmatthews]

Pioneer SC LX82 it is. I've just picked it up on the basis that it is real quality piece of kit with amazing reviews...and there's not a lot out there in 4K anyway.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

If music is your main focus, I would start by buying as good a stereo amplifier as you can afford, not one over-matched to your speakers, but at least worthy of them. I would ask on the hifi section of the board on that subject, as I have no idea about those speakers or amps to drive them. Sorry.

Then I would look on the 'Bay for a secondhand 7.1 receiver (assuming you want 7.1), and if you don't want or plan on having Atmos in the near future, don't bother getting a receiver that does it. If you want netowrking for internet music or streaming from a NAS drive or whatever, yes, get one with a netowrk capability. If not, don't.

Make sure, however, that the receiver has pre-amp outputs for at least the front speakers.

You than hook up the front pre-amp outputs of the receiver to the aux or AV inputs on your amplifier and use your "proper stereo" for both "proper stereo" and AV duties.

Other things to bear in mind - HDCP2.2 and HDR and 4K pass-through are only necessary if you have the sources (UD Blu-Ray, for example) and TV (4K) to justify them.