Time to down grade to an AV amp ?

9designs2

9designs2

9designs2

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Well longish story short I want to upgrade my Hi-Fi set-up, and to raise some funds to help I'm thinking to sell off the current Pre-Power amps I use from Linn in the lounge AV set-up, and go for a Pioneer or Marantz AV amp.

Found these so far:-

The VSX-LX55: PIONEER VSXLX55 AV RECEIVER £999.00
The VSX-2021: PIONEER VSX2021 AV RECEIVER £799.00.

Finding the current Pioneer range and info a muddle and bit confusing as to what is new or being replaced or not out yet !!!

Or something from Marantz, like the look of them, but they seem to be lagging behind with adding streaming and FLAC support, plus would like iPAD app control.

Will add a matching BD player as well.

OR..... a high end golden oldie with a high spec BD player and use it's analogue outs for HD output ???

Biggest issue everything is so dam big !!! :eek: Will need to cut the shelf (Ikea AV bench) for anything to fit in !

Any thoughts or ideas guys...
 
9designs2 said:
OR..... a high end golden oldie with a high spec BD player and use it's analogue outs for HD output ???
Click to expand...

I'd go for this setup TBH. I think you'll be disappointed with those makes of AV receivers sound quality after having a Linn setup.

If you can afford it I'd go for an Arcam AVR400 if you want new & HDMI passthrough. or Denon as an alternative.
 
Have you stopped listening to music?
If not, don't buy what you're looking at.

Some options that come to mind:
- Legacy AV pro with balanced inputs for your Akurate and 5.1 analogue for say a Denon 3800 for BD. The Proceed AV2 was apparently very good, though the version with analogue inputs are limited and you'd still need a BD player with a decent analogue output section. Probable cost of a min of £1500 for the processor and BD player (assuming s/h)
- I did dem a Bel Canto Pre-Pro recently. That supported both balanced and 7.1 inputs. It was very good, just not any better sonically than what I already have. The guy wanted £1k for it, so similar price range to the Proceed
- If you're happy to dump the DS Ak, another option would be a Meridian processor (e.g. G68 or 568.2 with a HD621). That's Meridian's way of getting full HD audio into their kit. The problem with the solution is (a) the cost, which is most like £2500. Additionally, the processor converts analogue signals to digital, negating the point to the Ak DS. You might aswell run a cheap streamer into it.
- A new HD capable processor, e.g. Audiolab 8000AP (8200AP is due soon, so the 8000 will be cheap soon). Good, but not apparently as good as say the Meridian solution from a sonic perspective. The 8000AP are now cheap (£500 s/h should be realistic) Another similar option would be the Marantz processor (can't remenber it's name). They're well thought of. Either of those would allow you to keep your dedicated stereo, and simply take a HDMI from your BD player via the processor, stuff front pre-outs to you Linn system, then a new power amp for your rears.

Option 3 holds the least risk as it won't impact upon the sound of your stereo, just add in the option of HD audio.
 
Hi Mr_S,
Kind of a bit different than perhaps you imagined.... I run two set ups, a Linn AV system in the lounge, and a Linn stereo system in a spare room, known as the music room.... I'm robbing the lounge to pay the music room !!!!!

In the lounge we really don't listen to music, why would we when there is some Klimax amps sitting upstairs !

The Kinos pre-amp and three 2250 power amps, with active main L+R speakers, in the lounge is a bit over kill for watching TV and two Blue rays a month from Tesco rental ! LOL.

So idea is sell it, buy cheaper AV amp, and the money earned goes to further improve the music room, currently has an LP12 and Akurate DS as source components.

So guess I'm looking where to pitch in with the AV amp.... have around grand as my budget in mind.... (Linn stuff should fetch me about 4K on the bay).

Marantz seems to be getting the better comments on AVForums..... SR7005 perhaps as top choice.... which I've seen listed just over the 1K mark.... Though to be honest really tempted to cut it back further considering our causal use at present......
So a "Golden Oldie" could be a good idea, perhaps with one of the new OPPO BD players ?

The music set-up gets used most evenings :D
 
Sorry for taking it off topic but I'm more interested in what you want to do for the music room :p
 
Source improvements :) And some internal reworks back at the factory:p

Anyone compared Marantz and Pioneer, and any of the usual crowd ?
 
Not that i can really make many comparisions as i made the purchase kind of blind but i used to have a Pioneer VSC LX70 which was excellent and the build quality seemed superb. Not heard the 55 though
 
Having thought about it, s/h Audiolab 8000AP and some s/h Rotel RB power amps. Should be possible to get 3 cheap stereo power amps for under £100 each, then £400-500 for the AP. Job done.
 
Had a good chat and look over some kit in Frank Harvey/Hifix.... Info I got, not listened yet, was perhaps the Pioneer is more "impressive" on films... But the Marantz is perhaps more suited to music.

What more influencing me is the BD choice. Would like SACD support, as I have about 20, and would be nice to access the extra content from time to time. This kind of steers me to the Marantz, perhaps the UD5005. Then the matching SR6005.

Obviously would be better to step up to the SR7005/UD7005, but really get motivated to spend the extra on our usage.... Unless I find some stonking deals as they are likely to be replaced later in the year.

Streaming is supported, though FLAC support isn't :eek: ..... might have to convert over to WAV files .... :(

Upgrade route in the future, should I need it, would be add to power amps to drive the main speakers better. Past experience has shown not using the internal power amps brings big improvements......

Back to Google for more research ;)
 
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