AV Amp for Stereo music

[Earthboundmisfit]

Good morning folks.

I am starting to think the time has come to replace my 1993 trusty old Kenwood V7050 Av amp (Pro-logic) to something more with the times. However, last time i bought something like this, HDMI wasn't invented and ARC was something that you put animals into two by two.

My issue is that i listen to a lot of music (vinyl and cd's) so it would need to be excellent musically. I am leaning towards NAD, Yamaha or maybe marantz (I have a PM66SE in the kitchen and that sounds superb) but i am not sold on the look of the current marantz AV amps.

I have seen a NAD T 757V2 reduced from £1100 down to £600 and this has good reviews for its musical ability. There are quite a few Yamaha amps on Richersounds which are cheaper still and also look quite nice. I would prefer to spend sub £500 as i would also need to buy a matching CD (and probably a Phono stage)as my current kenwood is starting to play up.

With regards to number of HDMI inputs. I only have a tv and possibly a bluray player (in future) hooked up so dont need a vast amount of imputs.

I'm confused with ARC and 4K pass through (is this audio or visual) but i guess i could read up on those myself.

My main question is: does anyone own an AV amp that is fantastic musically? Also, why do they have various vertions of dolby HD/True HD etc. Is one better than the other and if so, why do they alsways include many versions of the same thing.

Thanks in advance for any advice given.

David

[rhinochopig]

Pop into richer sounds and have a listen.

I have a Yamaha AV amp which is good musically. I needed a new cheap music amp and popped into richer to have a listen to a Yam amp as it was 'obvious' that Yam would be perfect based on my AV experience. I though it was crap compared to the equivalent Marrantz so ended up buying that instead. Just shows you how much personal preference comes into it as the Yam was a what hi-fi winner too.

Go mid week and you can go through lots of combos of speakers and amps and see what you like.

[900T-R]

Unless you get to the high end AV pre/ multichannel power combos, an AV amp isn't going to sound anywhere near as good as your PM66 SE. Conversely, I don't feel I'm missing anything when watching movies using a good two channel sound system, compared to my sound experience in a cinema.

For me, it would be two channel all the way up until the point where you'd have a separate movie room (as the acoustic requirements for a home cinema at that level would be quite different from those of a hifi/music room, anyway).

[Earthboundmisfit]

Thanks folks,

I have spoken to richer sounds and i am going to "buy" a few amps and cd players to try them at home with my speakers. I can return some/all depending on the outcome. I have also picked out a pioneer av amp that i'd also like to audition at home. I only live 10 miles from s RS store so its not too much of a problem. If i get another 20+ years out of it it worth a bit of messing around to find the "perfect (for me) compromise"

With regard to the 2 channel option, after using a simulated surround sound for the past 20 years i am not sure whether i could revert back to 2 chan. for films. However, i could move the PM66se into the lounge for a week or so and have a trial listen. The other option is to move my turntable into the kitchen and use that for my music and just focus on av in the lounge.

Thanks again

[Earthboundmisfit]

900T-R said:

Unless you get to the high end AV pre/ multichannel power combos, an AV amp isn't going to sound anywhere near as good as your PM66 SE.

Out of interest, what are we talking cost wise for something like this? Would this show that my mission 734's are lacking and oush me to upgrade those too?

[900T-R]

Earthboundmisfit said:

Out of interest, what are we talking cost wise for something like this?

Silly money, and several times the price of an equally good two channel amp - think £3K against £500. And then you'll still be lacking a decent phono input, so add the price of a basic phono stage for vinyl. You will have to be really, really into the multichannel movie soundtrack thing to want to spend the sort of money that'd bring you into the 'entry level high end' (a contadiction in terms, I know...) in the stereo world.

[Earthboundmisfit]

Fair enough, that is alot to spend why i'm not overly fussed on the quality of the surround. Having said that. I dont mind spending more money to get the desired result as if it lasts another 20 years then its not that bad £/yr.

I think i will try the richer sounds route and see what that shows up. At the end of the day, i could always buy a cheaper AV amp and also a matching stereo amp. Not sure how i'd arrange my sepakers so i didnt have to swap them over. More research required i guess.

The more i think about it, i would prefer the music to be outstanding even if the surround sound side is adequate. I guess this is the opposite of most peoples requirements/wishes.

Edited by Earthboundmisfit on Thursday 8th October 12:42

[900T-R]

Put the front channels of an A/V processor into a pair of inputs of your stereo amp, and use any old thing (maybe a cheapo 5.1 AV receiver for a 7+1 channel setup) for the surround channels?

[blindspot]

Try the Arcam AVRs. They are great amps overall, typically less gadgety than the Japanese/US gear, but more satisfying musically.

Pioneer used to be really solid for music. Some of the best noises I heard were from a DV989 into VSXAX4 with MA RS6s in a converted barn. Compared very well to 8/9k stereo set ups in worse rooms.

[Earthboundmisfit]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am struggling to visualise this but will have a look around the net for info so as not to bug you anymore. Youve been more than helpful. Thanks

[Earthboundmisfit]

Thanks Blindspot, i will have a look at those too. I'm guessing that I will be talking £1500+ for arcam but like i said earlier, i'm happy tio spend (alot) more money if what i am getting deserves the cost.

[Earthboundmisfit]

990T-R, is this what you were getting at? The power amp being the 2 channel stereo amp?

[900T-R]

Not really, you're still degrading the signal within the A/V amp, a separate power amp will be better than the power amp stages in your typical A/V amp, but the real problem is in the preamp stages.

What I would do is:

Connect TV/DVD etc. to AV-receiver/amp.

Connect CD and turntable to stereo amp.

Connect pre-out (stereo/front channels) of AV-receiver to AUX-input of stereo amp. Connect front channels/stereo speakers to stereo amp.

Connect rear and centre channel speakers to A/V amp.

The only snag that I can think of is that you now have spearate volume controls for front speakers (on your stereo amp) and surround channels (on your AV amp) when playing movies.

[Earthboundmisfit]

I am starting to get the picture now. Ive just come off the phone to Lintone Audio (Gateshead) and he suggested the very same method. He is in the same boat as me and he does what you describe (i think) for his own set up at home. He is going to give me a demo of some stuff albeit not in my house or on my speakers.

[TEKNOPUG]

Just use a 2-way speaker switch? Surround Sound speakers connected to AV amp. In addition, front stereo speakers connected by a speaker switch which is also conncected to a stereo amp. Then just press a button when you want to switch between AV and Stereo Amp.

http://www.beresford.me/S/tc-7220.htm


You are still buying 2 amps though.

If the only source you are using is a BR Player, I'd be tempted to forego surround sound and just get a stereo amp.

Most decent BRs will have analogue outs, so they can still process the Dolby DTS/True HD (best thing about BR!). RCAs from the TV, CD, Phono etc. Simpler, less clutter, better sound per pound.

What sort of budget are you looking at? Plenty of stereo amps with digital processors about. It doesn't sound like you need an AV amp for the "V"; just to run surround sound.

[gary71]

Interesting thread as I've always been 2 channel as first priority and also now have a 7.1 setup that uses my trusty front floor standers.

I use one of the Beresford switch boxes as linked above, it's pleasingly homemade and clunky.. I'd rather not as it's yet another button to press switching from film to music but as suggested above its going to take some AV amp to beat a decent 2 channel pre/power combo.

Once you work out what the answer is I will listen with interest!

[Warmfuzzies]

900T-R said:

Put the front channels of an A/V processor into a pair of inputs of your stereo amp, and use any old thing (maybe a cheapo 5.1 AV receiver for a 7+1 channel setup) for the surround channels?

This is what I do, keeps the music as intended. Allows the use of a moderate A/V amp without going silly

[C&C]

Warmfuzzies said:

This is what I do, keeps the music as intended. Allows the use of a moderate A/V amp without going silly

+1

Except I'm using a really old Yamaha DSP-E800 AV amp that was actually designed to do this, as it only has line level outputs for front left and front right, with powered outputs for centre and the 2 rears,

In terms of the balance, just need to make a note of the hi-fi amp volume setting and set it to the same each time you use the surround sound.

Has worked fine for the last 12 or more years.