NEW AMP £800 TO SPEND!

[admin_exported]

Ive decided im going for a new Av amp to replace my DENON 2803 ive already asked a few questions about the onkyos and flicked through the magazine but havent made up my mind as i have seen a few bargains including an arcam amp mentioned on the forum! I think ill limit myself to £800 but could stretch to a little more what would everyones choices be Onkyo 875/905 something else? Only requirements i can use it for HD surround with my Blu ray player, Hdmi inputs and has to be reasonable with music as i will use it for movies and music. Thanks

 

[hunnyy]

I suggest you take a look/listen at the Yamaha RX-V3800. RRP is around £1,200, but you can pick it up for £800 or less at the moment. It should suit your requirement for movies and music very nicely.

 

[Anonymous]

How about the Arcam Avr 350 which ive seen mentioned and saw for £599 which seems like an absolute bargain? i read that it supports HD.

 

[Frank Harvey]

flairdj:How about the Arcam Avr 350 which ive seen mentioned and saw for £599 which seems like an absolute bargain? i read that it supports HD.The AVR350 does have HDMI connectivity, but doesn't support audio over it. As mentioned, for the sort of money you're looking at, the RXV3800 is pretty hard to beat.

 

[Anonymous]

The most obvious choice is often the best one. I'd get the 905 myself.

 

[Anonymous]

After a very quick look found the Yamaha rx-v3800 for £749 and the Onkyo 905 for £799 looks like they are the choices so far! Anyone have a preference between these? Or other choices? Thanks for your replies

 

[Anonymous]

Using this amp for just home cinema? Or music as well?

 

[Anonymous]

flairdj:After a very quick look found the Yamaha rx-v3800 for £749 and the Onkyo 905 for £799 looks like they are the choices so far! Anyone have a preference between these?
I personally prefer the soundfield that the Yamahas recreate, they just seem more convincing. Plus you can add front effect speakers and control them seperately if you want to bring the front ambience out into the room a little more. These speakers can also lift dialogue when using large projector screens.

 

[Sorreltiger]

Another factor is upscaling by the receiver: ÿthe Onkyo is almost certainly better than the Yamaha in that respect. ÿHowever, the Yamaha scores highly in other ways. ÿI've had mine for a couple of weeks and I think it's wonderful. ÿTonight I was listening to the DVD Audio mix of the Beatles' 'Love' album, made for Cirque de Soleil by George Martin and his son. ÿUsing PLIIX to matrix the 5.1 into 7 channels, it sounded sensational. ÿUnlike most movies, the surrounds are in action all of the time so that you're in the middle of everything. ÿThe fairground in Mr Kite swirls round in the most astonishing fashion.

As usual, you should try to audition all of the contenders. ÿIt really is a matter of personal choice.ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Ill be using it for music and movies! How much benefit is there running for instance my denon 3910 or a ps3 through upscaling in the amp? If you dont mind me asking how much did you get your Yamaha for? Thanks

 

[Sorreltiger]

I got my Yamaha from HiFix in Coventry. ÿThey are offering it at £749.95 at present - quite a deal for a receiver which originally cost £1400. ÿAfter buying speakers from them mail order, I actually went to the shop (Frank Harvey) this time. ÿIt's quite a place - an incredibly old and beautiful building stuffed full with hi-tech gear!

ÿAlthough the Yamaha will go loud, what I am most surprised by is the clarity and subtlety of the sound, especially speech. ÿThis is particularly handy at night when the kids are in bed. ÿIt actually has a form of Dynamic Volume processing, like the new Denons, although it's automatic and they don't make much of it in the manual. ÿAs for upscaling, it depends on your TV. ÿMy Pioneer does such a good job, I just send DVD playback to it at 576i, passed through the receiver.

 

[Anonymous]

Does it only come in the silver finish? Im kinda of stuck between the 905 and the Yamaha rang round cant find anywhere local to demo the two then again if it only comes in silver would probably rule that out! Thanks

 

[Sorreltiger]

I'm afraid the black finish wasn't made available in the UK. ÿWe're stuck with silver ('Titanium').

 

[Anonymous]

Ok thanks thats a shame want something in black really! So looks like the 905 is now the obvious option without much competition at the reduced price!