Any receivers sound good with music?

[admin_exported]

Hi All,

I've a Denon AVR1910 with B&W 602s3's on the front channels. Music playback in this room is via Apple lossless files played on the Apple TV.

I find that the sound of the Denon, while involving with Blu Rays, is frankly pants with music played on two channels. I've tried all options to try to improve the sound. I've run the signal from the Apple through a DacMagic, I've tried the amps own DAC and tried the analoge out of the Apple to the amp. I've also put an Arcam CD73 through the amp, and this sounds far worse than it does when using another 2 channel amp.

My question is, are there any AV receivers that sound great with music on 2 channels. I know that I could use a dedicated amp for the fronts, but this would be a box too far in the sitting room. My budget for a receiver is 500-800 ish!

Any suggestions would be very welcome.

 

[d4v3pum4]

Perhaps the next model up, the 2310 would be worth an audition or perhaps the Marantz SR6004. A demo is crucial but ultimately any AVR costing <£1k isn't going to sound as good as a dedicated stereo amp. I would still maintain that adding a stereo amp for the fronts is the way to go. I used to do this with an Arcam/Denon combo. It worked a treat.

 

[Anonymous]

I bi-amped my denon 2310 and had my apollo cd player running through it for a demo the other day and it really did sound very good for a receiver. There is a big difference between the 1910 & 2310 and in my opinion the 2310 is well worth the extra. the marantz looks great but just did'nt do it for me in the demo room.

 

[RCduck7]

Judging from What Hifi reviews Arcam and NAD are good with music to.

Sony and Pioneer doesn't fall on their face either.

 

[kinda]

Can vouch for Marantz. Use an SR6001 that was originally about £700 - 800 and it sounds very good fed from the Sonos.

Having said that I've demod a Denon in the same prioce bracket to the SR6001 and 7001/2, (can't remember the model), a couple of years ago and that also sounded good with music.

 

[Anonymous]

To make music sound better on Denon amps change the surround mode to DIRECT on the CD player's input, as it bypasses unnecessary circuitry, giving a purer sound. For an even bigger improvement press PURE DIRECT under the flap of the remote control. It switches off the GUI and the screen on the amplifier itself which makes music sound MUCH more spacious and pure.

 

[tj27]

Nintendo_Fan:To make music sound better on Denon amps change the surround mode to DIRECT on the CD player's input, as it bypasses unnecessary circuitry, giving a purer sound. For an even bigger improvement press PURE DIRECT under the flap of the remote control. It switches off the GUI and the screen on the amplifier itself which makes music sound MUCH more spacious and pure.

i have the same on my yamaha dsp-863se amp & it does help & the sound is very good, i reckon its better than my cambridge audio azur 540v2 amp

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the replies!

Yes, I was listening to the sound in direct mode originally. I tried Pure direct late last night after the OH finished watching her Monday night telly, and I think that there was a slight improvement. I'm not sure if it was the Placebo effect or not though. I couldn't go too loud as the kids were asleep. I'll give it a further listen over the next few days and decide what to do. Maybe I'm expecting too much comparing it to my main music system (Naim uniti and Monitor Audio RX6) which blows me away.

 

[TheHomeCinemaCentre]

It is unlikely you re going to get an AV set up to sound close to what you have but if you are looking for options to try the Marantz SR6004 would be my suggestion at your price point. Highly accomplished with surround sound and very good with stereo.

 

[Anonymous]

Pulse Dub:

I know that I could use a dedicated amp for the fronts...

Apologies for asking such a dumb question but how would you wire up the front speakers to an additional amp? They are currently wired to the Denon so do you wire them to the new dedicated hi fi amp and then somehow to the AV amp?

 

[d4v3pum4]

I don't think you can with the Denon AVR1910 as it lacks front pre-outs. The AVR2310 is the first in Denon's current line-up that has front pre-outs for connection to external amplification.

 

[Anonymous]

d4v3pum4:I don't think you can with the Denon AVR1910 as it lacks front pre-outs. The AVR2310 is the first in Denon's current line-up that has front pre-outs for connection to external amplification.

So the order would be say CD player to AVR2310, AVR2310 pre-outs to external amp, external amp to front speakers? If you watched a movie via the 2310 wouldn't you then lose the front speakers as they would be connected to the external amp?

Can't get my head around this one!!!