Which AV receiver or stereo AMP?

Enigma80

Enigma80

Enigma80

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Hi all, really confused about pre-amps and whether I need them on an AV or not. I've just been informed by someone that am wrong in thinking that I don't need a pre-amp for my satellites.

I have the Gigaworks s750 satellitese that need putting to use. They are 8ohm and unpowered, so I assume I need an amplified signal for them. For example, when I plug them directly into the TV RCA outs I can barely hear them.

I'm in the market for an AV amp that I can use for a couple of years. Nothing too long term, so maybe about about £200 maximum. I've seen a few on Richer sounds for that price, and I'm even tempted to go down the stereo amp route and avoid 5.1 AV receiver for now.

Essentially all I want is better audio than the TV and something to plug my phone/mp3 player into. I've seen the following:

http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/pioneer/vsx329/pion-vsx329-blk

This Denon AVRX500 seems to fit my speakers as they are 8ohm and 70w, matching the output on the AMP:
http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/denon/avrx500/deno-avrx500

Also I've seen the Cambridge AM1 and AM5 stereo AMPS.

How would I connect my s750's to the AMPS as they have an RCA plug on the end, can I buy adaptors or do I re-wire, or simply cut the plugs off?
 
Woud it be worth getting the AZUR 351R for £199 over the AM10 for £169?

Actually, I've just seen the Cambridge TV Minx. I may make do with that for the TV for now.
 
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Unless you need a Bluetooth speaker, I'd go for an amp, whether it be stereo or AV receiver.

For music, a stereo amp will always be better. For movies and general TV, I don't think it matters too much in terms of actual sound quality. A receiver will give you the option to add more speakers and use more than stereo. You can add a subwoofer to both and it's worth considering what else you may want to connect to it later on. While a stereo amp has enough connections, they are for audio only, obviously.

As for connecting the actual speakers; just cut the RCA plugs off. You can connect some banana plugs that will push into the amps terminals, rather than inserting the bare wire. Either way is perfectly fine, but if you can't see or get to the rear easily, banana plugs will be a lot easier.
 
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-000-YA


SP-000-YA_200.jpg

incoming real soon :)

for some reason the pics keep breaking on it i'll fix (again) in the morning

If you speak to me on trust and are serious i can match Richer sounds on price too they recently dropped their price ;) I just can't drop the price on the website
 
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I know that the AM5 (£120) and AM10 (£170) don't have a sub out, so I wouldn't be able to add a sub to those then; they are simple stereo amps. The difference between them seems slightly confusing. Apart from the 10W high output per channel on the AM10, it seems identical to the AM5 less the ability to control the treble and bass using knobs on the front, the AM10 seems to be lacking this adjustment.

I was looking at the Zure 351r entry level AV for £199 from £299. I think some reviews classed it as a glorified stereo AMP, when using two channels it outputs at 70W/ch and in 5.1 it outputs 50W/ch. I'd probably use three channels, front and centre.

I keep going back and forth between the three of them. It'll probably be a month or two before I get one, but as the 351r is end of line, I doubt I'll find it anywhere by then.
 
You can add a subwoofer to any amplifier.

Taken from your X-Fi thread:-

Adding a subwoofer to either an AV receiver or stereo amp, will not be a problem. A stereo amp does not need to have a dedicated subwoofer connection or pre out, as you can get subwoofers which take high level input. This means you connect the subwoofer to the same terminals that the speakers connect to. The subwoofer will listen to the incoming audio, you set the crossover frequency and the subwoofer's internal amp will be used, rather than the stereo amp.
Click to expand...

As for the differences between the AM5 and AM10. AM10 has a headphone socket, whereas the AM5 does not. The AM10 does have tone controls, but they are accessed digitally, rather than using knobs as the AM5 does. The AM10 uses a toroidal transformer. I thought that this type of transformer was better than the frame type used in the AM5, but I was informed by Kei that there is no great advantage other than allowing for greater volt-ampere rating for the given physical size.


Twst, is this Yamaha AV receiver a one off, or are you going to stock more? What about speaker packages?
 
I wouldn't have thought so. Quite a few people bought Yamaha's £200 AV receiver and 5.1 speaker package for £200 when it was available, so these cheap receivers do a perfectly decent enough job for what is not a lot of money.
 
Oh my word, I have just seen this and I think I'm actually going to buy it very soon (nearly did 5mins ago), Yahama RXV675 and it also supports 192kHz/24-bit audio playback via USB! £240!
 
due this week they should be here i'll chase the supplier up since he phoned me with the deal :(
 
Is this a one off, TwsT?

Kind of intrigued as to how well AV receiver will sell here at OcUK, unless you start stocking speaker packages as well.
 
So ended up getting the RXV-675 and Cambridge SBX 120 sub.

All connected up with front and centres s750 speakers and sounds pretty good. I haven't got to grips 100% with all features yet but it seems ok. Sounds a little flat and probably not as much depth as I'd like, but I'm sure some tinkering would sort that, my speakers are capable of producing a migraine inducing 40Khz top end so I'll try and squeeze what I can from them.
 
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