AV Receiver for my Monitor Audio Apex 5.1

[gosalh]

Hi all,

I've recently purchase my MA Apex 5.1 system. I haven't decided on the AV receiver and the demo left me even more undecided. I love the speakers but i'm looking for an AV receiver that will give me warm, bassy dialogue but continue to have punchy and clear sound.

Any suggestions? My budget can stretch to approx £1000, and maybe a bit more. Is the Denon AVR-3311 any good?

Thanks

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi gosalh

The Denon will work well with the Apex speakers. Yamaha's RX-V2067 or at a stretch the RX-V3067 are also worth serious consideration as these gel superbly with Monitor Audio speakers.

Btw, what finish are your Apex speakers in please?

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[gosalh]

Hi Rick,

I have the Black finish.

Are Japanese AV Receivers (Denon, Yamaha etc) quite bright by default?

 

[Frank Harvey]

Agreed. The RXV2067 and in particular the RXV3067 will work extremely well with them. The Pioneer SCLX73 and SCLX83 are also worth investigating - we ran our Apex package in on the 83's predecessor, which sounded phenomenal.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

FrankHarveyHiFi:Agreed. The RXV2067 and in particular the RXV3067 will work extremely well with them. The Pioneer SCLX73 and SCLX83 are also worth investigating - we ran our Apex package in on the 83's predecessor, which sounded phenomenal.

How do they compare against the B&W MT30 package then David, because they look very similar, apart from the center speaker looks bigger? Also how about music which is not great on the MT30?

Cheers

 

[richardw42]

Sweet looking speakers like that deserve a good looking amp.

Has anybody tried the Marantz SR6005 with the Apex ?

 

[MUSICRAFT]

gosalh:
Hi Rick,

I have the Black finish.

Are Japanese AV Receivers (Denon, Yamaha etc) quite bright by default?

Hi gosalh

Thanks for your reply.

Piano black is my favourite colour for the Apex speakers. They look stunning.

Products can have a bright presentation regardless of origin. If you are after some warmth then from the popular Japanese AV amps Denon, Onkyo and in particular Yamaha are my preferred choice with Monitor Audio speakers whereas using these speakers with Pioneer AV amps incorporating ice power supplies (as good as they are) i feel sound cold.

Ime Yamaha AV amps + Monitor Audio speakers = great match (time after time). A combination which can be listen to for hours without fatigue.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[michael hoy]

gosalh:
Hi all,

I've recently purchase my MA Apex 5.1 system. I haven't decided on the AV receiver and the demo left me even more undecided. I love the speakers but i'm looking for an AV receiver that will give me warm, bassy dialogue but continue to have punchy and clear sound.

Any suggestions? My budget can stretch to approx £1000, and maybe a bit more. Is the Denon AVR-3311 any good?

Thanks

Hi,

I have the Apex speakers in a 5.1 setup.

I demoed these with an Onkyo 608 and the Arcam AVR500, they sounded good with the Onkyo but stunning on the Arcam.

I had at the time a Denon 1909 and they sounded good with this amp, I did feel though that the 1909 could not do justice to the Apex.

I did consider moving up to the 3311 but I purchased the Pioneer SC-LX72 (not bothered about 3D) and wow, this combination of pioneer and Apex is a treat to my ears.

Please do not be put off by people saying Pioneer amps are bright, go out and demo and you will be suprised.

 

[Frank Harvey]

gel:
FrankHarveyHiFi:Agreed. The RXV2067 and in particular the RXV3067 will work extremely well with them. The Pioneer SCLX73 and SCLX83 are also worth investigating - we ran our Apex package in on the 83's predecessor, which sounded phenomenal.

How do they compare against the B&W MT30 package then David, because they look very similar, apart from the center speaker looks bigger? Also how about music which is not great on the MT30?

Cheers

Quite different to be honest. The majority of the the MT30 package budget has gone on the sub, which in theory is a good move, but it's not up there with other similarly priced subs for home cinema. The sub of the Apex package is the same, which basically means that the budget spent on the Apex satellites is the same same as a who,e MT30 package. The drivers of the Apex system are derived from their Gold series, and build quality is top notch - it may initially seem expensive, but when you look at the package in detail and what goes to make it up, you realise it's really rather nicely priced. And then you get to hear it

 

[Frank Harvey]

richardw42:Sweet looking speakers like that deserve a good looking amp.

Has anybody tried the Marantz SR6005 with the Apex ?
Not yet, but it should work really well, although they'd benefit from the SR7005.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

FrankHarveyHiFi:gel:

FrankHarveyHiFi:Agreed. The RXV2067 and in particular the RXV3067 will work extremely well with them. The Pioneer SCLX73 and SCLX83 are also worth investigating - we ran our Apex package in on the 83's predecessor, which sounded phenomenal.

How do they compare against the B&W MT30 package then David, because they look very similar, apart from the center speaker looks bigger? Also how about music which is not great on the MT30?

Cheers

Quite different to be honest. The majority of the the MT30 package budget has gone on the sub, which in theory is a good move, but it's not up there with other similarly priced subs for home cinema. The sub of the Apex package is the same, which basically means that the budget spent on the Apex satellites is the same same as a who,e MT30 package. The drivers of the Apex system are derived from their Gold series, and build quality is top notch - it may initially seem expensive, but when you look at the package in detail and what goes to make it up, you realise it's really rather nicely priced. And then you get to hear it

Cheers

 

[richardw42]

I thought of the 7005 but thought it would stretch the budget a bit too far.

 

[ric71]

Hi, I use a Denon 3310 with the Apex A10's and A40 centre and the result is fantastic for both movies and music.
Great combination with hours of listening pleasure full of punch and detail. Top speakers that have to be heard as no comparison to anything else in their genre.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

ric71:Hi, I use a Denon 3310 with the Apex A10's and A40 centre and the result is fantastic for both movies and music.
Great combination with hours of listening pleasure full of punch and detail. Top speakers that have to be heard as no comparison to anything else in their genre.

Hi ric71

Yes, the Apex series is stunning and far better then any sub/sat speakers being currently produced by Monitor Audio's direct competitors.

The Apex speakers are sheer class and worth every penny of their price.

Btw, the AVR-3310 is a good amplifier.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[ric71]

Hi RicK,
Just a quick one to say fantastic advice from one of the best and most helpful hifi/AV dealers out there. Well worth the trip to Derby from London. I am utterly blown away by the Apex and I have had some high end systems over the years.

Many thanks
Ric71

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi ric71

Your welcome.

I honestly did not realize it was you though. Anyway thanks for taking the time to visit

Btw, i am glad you are happy with your new Apex speakers however they'll get even better over the next five hundred hours of use.

Thanks for your support.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Hey gosalh, I have the same doubt as yours, I want a warm receiver to go with the Apex.

Which receiver did you ended up buying?

 

[bigboss]

Hey gosalh, I have the same doubt as yours, I want a warm receiver to go with the Apex.

Your options are:

Yamaha RX-V2067 or Denon AVR-3311 (both in the same class)

Yamaha RX-V3067 or Denon AVR-4311 (both in the same class)

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the answer, but I have a Denon 2311, and to me is the opposite of warm.

I think I will give the Yamaha RX-V1067 a try, since the 2067 is out of my budget.

 

[Anonymous]

From what I have learned in the last few months...

you won't do the apex's justice with the 1067. It's better to save up a bit more and get at least the 2067.

It's no use having high end speakers, but you do not have something suitable to drive them.

 

[Anonymous]

The apex will sound better with the 2067, but believe me the 1067 is no slouch either and sounds awesome with the Apex, in fact a friend of mine went out and bought the same setup after a few demo clips when he came round last week.

It's all well and good us all telling people to get better equipment, but sometimes your budget is your budget and you just can't stretch.

I recently demoed the 2067 as an upgrade to my 1067 and it wasn't IMO a huge improvement, fair enough I'm now looking at the pioneer pioneer sc-lx73 as an upgrade, which I suppose speaks for it's self.

Start with the Apex and you have a speaker package that can survive an upgrade or two, you can always improve the AVR at a later date.

 

[gosalh]

Hi danielmb I had similar preferences as you. I ended up purchasing the Denon AVR-3311. It works perfectly with the Apex!!

 

[bigboss]

Thanks for the answer, but I have a Denon 2311, and to me is the opposite of warm.

I think I will give the Yamaha RX-V1067 a try, since the 2067 is out of my budget.

I'm surprised that you don't find the Denon warm. Denon & Yamaha are renowned to be warm receivers. I have heard the 2311 & it was beautifully warm to my ears.

As said previously, the Yamaha RX-V1067 will not do any justice to your Apex speakers. Go for a minimum of 2067.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

From what I have learned in the last few months...

you won't do the apex's justice with the 1067. It's better to save up a bit more and get at least the 2067.

It's no use having high end speakers, but you do not have something suitable to drive them.

Hi abriffa

You're right in that an AV amplifier such as the RX-V2067 will enhance the performance of the Apex speakers even more then the RX-V1067. But then again the RX-V3067 the moves the game much further on. Fwiw, i also use the Apex sub/sats with amplification such as Chord Electronics DSP8000/SPM3005 and Onkyo PR-SC5508/Plinius Odean. Where do you draw the line?

Btw, whilst power related matters such as its quality, quantity etc. are important however care also has to be taken to tonally match an amplifier to its source component/s and speakers.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Dear bigboss,

what is you oppinion about the SR7005 in comparison with the Yamaha RX-V2067 or Denon AVR-3311