Recommendations for an audiophile-grade av receivers?

[hybridauth_Facebook_10157310639320623]

Hi all,

Looking for recommendations for an audiophile-grade av receiver. I will probably use it for stereo 95% of the time, but want to have the optionality that an av receiver enables.

Thanks!

 

[bigboss]

Arcam and Anthem. What's your budget? And what speakers have you got?

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10157310639320623]

Looking to pair the receiver with two floor speakers. Happy to get an advice on that as well. Altogether, looking to spend up to $4k-$4.5k. Looking also at second hand/refurbished. Thanks!

 

[bigboss]

What's the brand and model number of your speakers?

If you want a 2-channel AV receiver, look at this one.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

I'd spend all that money on a good "proper stereo" amp and speakers, then add a modest 7.1 receiver er with RCA outputs for (at least) the front left and right channels. Connect those to the "Aux" or "AV" inputs of your proper stereo pre or integrated amp. That way you'll get the best "proper stereo" you can afford with fair to good AV surround sound.

 

[Native_bon]

I'd spend all that money on a good "proper stereo" amp and speakers, then add a modest 7.1 receiver er with RCA outputs for (at least) the front left and right channels. Connect those to the "Aux" or "AV" inputs of your proper stereo pre or integrated amp. That way you'll get the best "proper stereo" you can afford with fair to good AV surround sound.

At this price point it becomes a matter of presentation as suppose to sound quality. He may not want several boxes. I think the SR250 will more than do the job. I don.t think a seperate 2 channel amp will make much difference, unless his looking to spend much more than the price of the SR250.

Edit: The addition of Dirac room correction software makes it an even more attractive proposition.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

US4k to 4.5k will buy a pretty good mid range "proper stereo" well beyond the usual Bestbuy dross, but not a really high end system.
Something like a Cambridge Audio CXA80 ($1000 on Amazon) plus a CXN network player ($1100) and a pair of Monitor Audio S10 floorstanders ($1250). Add $500 for decent speaker cables and interconnects and that comes out at just under $4k.
Then you add, say, a Yamaha 850 7.2 receiver ($680) with all the latest HDMI, HDCP, HDR, 4k passthrough, DTS:x and Atmos capabilities (which most "boutique" AV receivers don't have, sadly), and that's $4500 well spent (assuming the Cambridge and MA kit works well together, of course). A centre speaker, a sub or two, surround speakers, etc. can be added later as the OP's spending money allows. Talk to retailers and wave Ben Franklin's at them and a centre speaker, for example, might get thrown in for free.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

PS the OP said his main use was proper stereo, not AV surround, so if I were him I'd stick to the maxim of "proper stereo for proper stereo, AV receivers for surround sound, and never the twain shall meet".

 

[bigboss]

PS the OP said his main use was proper stereo, not AV surround, so if I were him I'd stick to the maxim of "proper stereo for proper stereo, AV receivers for surround sound, and never the twain shall meet".

You haven't seen Arcam SR250 then!

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

PS the OP said his main use was proper stereo, not AV surround, so if I were him I'd stick to the maxim of "proper stereo for proper stereo, AV receivers for surround sound, and never the twain shall meet".

You haven't seen Arcam SR250 then!

The 250 is only 2 channel. Might as well hook up all your AV sources directly to your TV and use the audio outs from those boxes to feed an integrated stereo amp.

 

[bigboss]

PS the OP said his main use was proper stereo, not AV surround, so if I were him I'd stick to the maxim of "proper stereo for proper stereo, AV receivers for surround sound, and never the twain shall meet".

You haven't seen Arcam SR250 then!

The 250 is only 2 channel. Might as well hook up all your AV sources directly to your TV and use the audio outs from those boxes to feed an integrated stereo amp.

You won't get HD sound that way (even though it's only 2-channel).

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

And how does HD sound differ from regular stereo?

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_10157310639320623]

Thanks all!

I really appreciate all the great advice! I think that the two alternatives you offered are interesting.

Would you consider the MRX 520 for this cause? I think from Arcam, the only relevant option is the SR 250.

Would you suggest anything different for another $500-$1000?

Thanks!

 

[bigboss]

Yes, the Anthem is also superb with music.

 

[bigboss]

And how does HD sound differ from regular stereo?

Lossy tracks like Dolby Digital and DTS can be mixed differently to their lossless counterparts. DD tracks often include lower bass than HD, for example.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

And how does HD sound differ from regular stereo?

 

[bigboss]

And how does HD sound differ from regular stereo?

Lossy tracks like Dolby Digital and DTS can be mixed differently to their lossless counterparts. DD tracks often include lower bass than HD, for example.  

Fairy Nuff. But you'll still only get left and right speakers to play back as low as they go, and only get the deeper bass with a big 12 or 15 inch sub added, which is also probably true if you simply feed the stereo audio signal to a standard hi-fi amp anyway.

Will the stereo amplifier decode Dolby and DTS? Will it be able to correct lip sync?

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Polly Nott...

Points taken.

Still seems a lot for a stereo receiver though. Given what you could get from a mainstream offering for far less money.

 

[Regisss]

What about new Yamaha RX-A3060? Is it really most musical Yamaha AVR?

 

[bigboss]

What about new Yamaha RX-A3060? Is it really most musical Yamaha AVR?

Yes. Yamahas are known to be musical amps.