What £1k AV receiver?
- Thread starter Django x2
- Start date
Depends.
£1k is a reasonable amount of dosh. A few options that spring to mind are:
1. New Yam or similar with all the latest gizmos.
2. I recently saw a s/h Onk 875 for £350, which says something about depreciation on new kit. That would also have all the bells and whistles.
3. An Audiolab 8000AP (HD capable processor) and then some cheap power amps. 8000APs are quite difficult to find s/h, so chances are that you'd need to go new, they're around £800. That would only leave a couple of hundred for power amps, so you'd need to go s/h to get anything half decent. Still, you'd have a good processor and would have the option of upgrading the power amps later.
4. A legacy flagship receiver, e.g. something like one of the old monster Yam units. these are also available for under £400.
5. A legacy AV processor, e.g. Tag AV32R, Proceed AVP2, Bryston 1.6 or Meridian 568.2. All of these are available for well under £1k, leaving dosh for power amps. Most won't deal with HD audio signals themselves, but some do accept 5.1 analogue inputs, giving the option of using a BD player with high quality analogue outputs.
So, plenty of choices. Really depends on what BD player you already have and how much time you spend watching BDs over SD-DVDs and TV. The legacy kit would be better for non-BD formats and music.
£1k is a reasonable amount of dosh. A few options that spring to mind are:
1. New Yam or similar with all the latest gizmos.
2. I recently saw a s/h Onk 875 for £350, which says something about depreciation on new kit. That would also have all the bells and whistles.
3. An Audiolab 8000AP (HD capable processor) and then some cheap power amps. 8000APs are quite difficult to find s/h, so chances are that you'd need to go new, they're around £800. That would only leave a couple of hundred for power amps, so you'd need to go s/h to get anything half decent. Still, you'd have a good processor and would have the option of upgrading the power amps later.
4. A legacy flagship receiver, e.g. something like one of the old monster Yam units. these are also available for under £400.
5. A legacy AV processor, e.g. Tag AV32R, Proceed AVP2, Bryston 1.6 or Meridian 568.2. All of these are available for well under £1k, leaving dosh for power amps. Most won't deal with HD audio signals themselves, but some do accept 5.1 analogue inputs, giving the option of using a BD player with high quality analogue outputs.
So, plenty of choices. Really depends on what BD player you already have and how much time you spend watching BDs over SD-DVDs and TV. The legacy kit would be better for non-BD formats and music.
Thanks mate,
I have an HTPC which is running a Sony BD drive through Arcsoft TMT on an intel G45 chipset. This is the heart of my sysem at the mo as it has all my music and films on there, both SD and DVD / BD
It doesn't do TV at the mo but may at some point in the future when PC tuners pick up their game.
I have an HTPC which is running a Sony BD drive through Arcsoft TMT on an intel G45 chipset. This is the heart of my sysem at the mo as it has all my music and films on there, both SD and DVD / BD
It doesn't do TV at the mo but may at some point in the future when PC tuners pick up their game.
Wait for the Emotiva UMC-1 processer which should be shipping soon, with us brits most likely being able to get them in Jan time.
About £5-600 once imported, leaving £4-500 on a decent power amp.
Compared to an integrated receiver there will be no comparison.
About £5-600 once imported, leaving £4-500 on a decent power amp.
Compared to an integrated receiver there will be no comparison.
That sounds a nice piece of kit. My hi-fi setup is pre-amp / power amp, but these days I mainly use my Onkyo 875 and M&K speakers in the lounge. I would thoroughly recommend a Onkyo 875 if you see one at £350, the struggle will be getting decent speakers and sub for the right money as they just don't drop the same.
I'd look at a 2nd hand Yamaha Z7, under 2k probably about as good as you will get unless you move into decent pre/power gear.
The emotiva kit might prove ok but then you only have a few hundred for i assume a 5 channel power amp .....then you have cable costs on top with that ...it all adds up.
The emotiva kit might prove ok but then you only have a few hundred for i assume a 5 channel power amp .....then you have cable costs on top with that ...it all adds up.
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I third the pre/pro. Any time you get the opportunity to go separate, take it. The 8000AP has a rumored successor out in January that you may want to wait for (even just to get a deal on an 8000AP). Power amps can be had cheap if you don't mind mixing and matching (2 or 3 Rotel power amps from an auction site can be cheap), and sometimes you can get a cheap 5 channel too.
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My Onkyo 805 is still doing stirling service in my main setup, and an 875 for that amount (as long as its in good nick of course - which is why I tend to stay away from s/h stuff) is a really good deal
Personally I think some around here (not necessarily on this thread yet) are a little snobby about processor and power amp setups. Undoubtedly they can be very good, but there are some very good integrated amps available also
Personally I think some around here (not necessarily on this thread yet) are a little snobby about processor and power amp setups. Undoubtedly they can be very good, but there are some very good integrated amps available also
It's interesting you mention that. I dem'd an 875 at home and really didn't rate it.
I've got to ask, have you tried a good processor at home?
Well a P1000 Arcam recently sold on avforums for under £500 which is great! When going down the pre-pro road you can upgrade in stages rather than having to buy a single new unit. I've got my pre-order in for the Emotiva UMC-1 so will get impressions and a review up as soon as I get my mits on one.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/ampl...6-sale-arcam-p1000-poweramp-silver-450-a.html
A 5 channel Rotel will also be a great starting point with there being many users on avforums too.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=5260221
One for sale here:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/arch...le-black-rotle-rmb-1075-rotel-rsp-1069-a.html
http://www.avforums.com/forums/ampl...6-sale-arcam-p1000-poweramp-silver-450-a.html
A 5 channel Rotel will also be a great starting point with there being many users on avforums too.
http://www.avforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=5260221
One for sale here:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/arch...le-black-rotle-rmb-1075-rotel-rsp-1069-a.html
A Yamaha Z7 versus Emotiva-Rotel 1075/Arcam P1000 shootout would be pretty interesting.
I have a feeling they're very close, until you can pair the pre with a stronger amp but like you said you have the upgrade options down the line.
I have a feeling they're very close, until you can pair the pre with a stronger amp but like you said you have the upgrade options down the line.
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There's a huge price advantage with those separates too though, after quickly pricing up a Z7.
They (Z7) haven't half come down in price lately though
prolly be able to pickup an ex-demo for under £1000 ....they were about £2000 not long ago i think.This is one particular problem with receivers, resale value after 12mths of release is generally pretty dire. They seem to release newer models every year and subsequent ones plummet quickly ...which is why i always recommend 2nd hand where possible - or even better is ex-dem because you will generally get the manufacturers warranty also + massive discounts.
I can totally appreciate your point of view - coming from a processor / power amp setup (or at least seemingly having used them extensively from what I recall of your informative previous posts) it would only be natural that you would thnk this way
I havent tried a processor / power amp setup for a few years (and changed house several times inbetween) and possibly the fact that I knew I would be moving potentially coloured my view.
Its also very apparant that Onkyo do have a specific sound (maybe all manufacturers do to a certain extent - but Onkyo seem to in the "love it or hate it " camp with few people inbetween.)
Now that I actually have a mortgage and hopefully pretty settled where Im living I may look at pro/power setup, but with my reluctance to go s/h and lack of specific knowledge in this area it may well end up being very expensive indeed
I also have to consider whether I will be able to use any "reasonable" amount of the power to make it worthwhile. apart from my sub (midrange SVS cylindrical) I would probably have to replace all of my budget speakers to make such an investment worthwhile .....are you just trying to convince me to spend a lot of money
I can totally appreciate your point of view - coming from a processor / power amp setup (or at least seemingly having used them extensively from what I recall of your informative previous posts) it would only be natural that you would thnk this way
I havent tried a processor / power amp setup for a few years (and changed house several times inbetween) and possibly the fact that I knew I would be moving potentially coloured my view.
Its also very apparant that Onkyo do have a specific sound (maybe all manufacturers do to a certain extent - but Onkyo seem to in the "love it or hate it " camp with few people inbetween.)
Now that I actually have a mortgage and hopefully pretty settled where Im living I may look at pro/power setup, but with my reluctance to go s/h and lack of specific knowledge in this area it may well end up being very expensive indeed
I also have to consider whether I will be able to use any "reasonable" amount of the power to make it worthwhile. apart from my sub (midrange SVS cylindrical) I would probably have to replace all of my budget speakers to make such an investment worthwhile .....are you just trying to convince me to spend a lot of money
Frank,
I think you missed the point of my previous post.
I'm not advocating any specific route, that's down to the person in question and there's a variety of ways to "skin the cat".
I was simply verifying whether your comment about how good the Onk 875 was based upon experience with alternatives or not.
Regarding your comment about power, can't say I'm convinced by the need for it. For example, I use a cheapy Kenwood integrated amp (cost £25 s/h) to power my rears. The key benefit that I found by moving to a processor (I've been through a Yam E800, then Thule PR250B and now a Meridian 568.2) are often in subtleties. For example, there's simply less rubbish, thus letting through the detail, information and the steering is far more seamless. Lastly, the 568.2 works rather well as a stereo DAC, infact it's the best stereo source I've ever owned and I've been through a few.
I also have to consider whether I will be able to use any "reasonable" amount of the power to make it worthwhile. apart from my sub (midrange SVS cylindrical) I would probably have to replace all of my budget speakers to make such an investment worthwhile .....are you just trying to convince me to spend a lot of money
As Mr.Sukebe has rightly explained, although a lot of pre/power setups will have more power over most receivers it's the quality that is most different. The extra detail you hear, the better steering, the lower noise floor, just better everything really.
But yes upgrading amps also means partnering with more suitable speakers too, get your cheque book out.
Not heavily into my hifi like I used to be and possibly a bit out of touch, but why do you need to spend £1000 on an AV reciever? I mean, why have you given yourself this budget to get one? I'm not criticizing, I'm interested the features they would have over the budget I have been looking at spending. I currently run an old Marantz sr4200. Classic bit of kit from around 2001. Still doing a great job and the only reason I want to upgrade soon is to get a HDMI compatible AV reciever. I have generally seen ones that fit the bill for £200 - £300 from Yamaha/Sony/Onkyo.
Because largely you get what you pay for... features are cheap to add, but expensive to do well and make them sound good and right.... As ever down to the individual to decide where they want to spend the cash.
I have tried direct alternatives to the 805 (ie lots of receivers older and newer than the Onkyo - various Sony, Denon and Pioneer models) - but not any pre/power setups have been demod for a good few years.
Can you really get a feeling for how a Porsche feels if you only ever drive max 30mph - personally I would say not, and the same goes for processor /power setups that I have tried in the past- but each to their own