Discussion
I currently have a 10 year old Yamaha AV reciver (that does both 5.1 movies and stereo music poorly) and I'm planning on upgrading.
- I'm after surround sound for movies but also decent music sound quality.
- Budget around £500.
- I have OK front speakers, Yamaha suround/subwoofer, and a CD player that can all be upgraded in the future.
My question is, at this price point is it better to get a half decent AV receiver and use it for music (eg Yamaha RXV673/various Onkyos), or buy a lower end AV receiver with pre outs and a separate HiFi amp?
Cheers,
Jim
- I'm after surround sound for movies but also decent music sound quality.
- Budget around £500.
- I have OK front speakers, Yamaha suround/subwoofer, and a CD player that can all be upgraded in the future.
My question is, at this price point is it better to get a half decent AV receiver and use it for music (eg Yamaha RXV673/various Onkyos), or buy a lower end AV receiver with pre outs and a separate HiFi amp?
Cheers,
Jim
Is the priority movies or music?
Are you happy buying 2nd hand or do you want new equipment?
Do you need HDMI switching? Do you need to be able to decode the latest lossless HD audio codecs? I ask because AV receivers are a strange case in that residual prices get pummeled as new standards emerge, based on their feature spec, and almost irrespective of their audio quality. So, if you can forego some of the features you can get a massively better audio section for your money, as amp and 2 channel audio technology doesn't move on at anything like the same rate as home cinema
For instance if you want a good balance between the two then a 2nd hand Arcam AVR would probably be my suggestion given your budget. Something like an AVR350 is well within your budget and would blow away most new AVR's sub £1k. Alternatively something like a Yamaha Z9 (I have one) that was over £3k new and has a massively capable audio section and can be had for around £600-700 on eBay and is actually superb at both cinema and 2 channel (The modern Yamaha sound signature is very smooth and full-bodied - a million miles away from the bright sound they had a decade ago) - it briefly powered my B&W Nautilus speakers when my main amp was away being serviced and did a very decent job (you can biamp the from LR with 2 x 170W) - http://www.hometheater.com/content/yamaha-rx-z9-av...
Are you happy buying 2nd hand or do you want new equipment?
Do you need HDMI switching? Do you need to be able to decode the latest lossless HD audio codecs? I ask because AV receivers are a strange case in that residual prices get pummeled as new standards emerge, based on their feature spec, and almost irrespective of their audio quality. So, if you can forego some of the features you can get a massively better audio section for your money, as amp and 2 channel audio technology doesn't move on at anything like the same rate as home cinema
For instance if you want a good balance between the two then a 2nd hand Arcam AVR would probably be my suggestion given your budget. Something like an AVR350 is well within your budget and would blow away most new AVR's sub £1k. Alternatively something like a Yamaha Z9 (I have one) that was over £3k new and has a massively capable audio section and can be had for around £600-700 on eBay and is actually superb at both cinema and 2 channel (The modern Yamaha sound signature is very smooth and full-bodied - a million miles away from the bright sound they had a decade ago) - it briefly powered my B&W Nautilus speakers when my main amp was away being serviced and did a very decent job (you can biamp the from LR with 2 x 170W) - http://www.hometheater.com/content/yamaha-rx-z9-av...
Which Yamaha is it and what are your speakers? If music is a priority I'd be looking at maybe a main speaker upgrade first.
Good call on an Arcam AVR BTW. I have an AVR200 which is good and the 350 is supposed to be much better.
The pre out with a stereo amp is also a good call, ideally you want an amp with a proper AV (or unity gain) input, otherwise you will need to set the amp to a high level to use with your AV and remember to turn it down before using it on its own for stereo, a right pain when you forget and nearly blow your speakers and give yourself a heart attack and yes I've been there and frightened my self silly :-)
Good call on an Arcam AVR BTW. I have an AVR200 which is good and the 350 is supposed to be much better.
The pre out with a stereo amp is also a good call, ideally you want an amp with a proper AV (or unity gain) input, otherwise you will need to set the amp to a high level to use with your AV and remember to turn it down before using it on its own for stereo, a right pain when you forget and nearly blow your speakers and give yourself a heart attack and yes I've been there and frightened my self silly :-)
OK, in answer to the above:
- Movies vs music fairly equal priority but music tips the balance
- Happy to go second hand
- From my limited understanding, it sounds like HDMI switching is a good idea
- Probably don't need to decode the latest HD audio codecs but keen to future-proof if possible within limited budget
- Current AVR is a Yamaha RX 350 (budget in 2004) so upgraded speakers won't help!
Further thoughts:
- I'm thinking get as good an AV receiver as poss now, with pre outs, and then if I still feel the need to improve music quality in the future, get a separate hi fi amp. Arcam AVR had also caught my attention.
- I'll upgrade speakers and CD player later
- I rarely play CDs anymore, preferring to plug an ipod/android phone in - whats's the best way to do this for optimum sound quality?
Cheers for the help,
Jim
- Movies vs music fairly equal priority but music tips the balance
- Happy to go second hand
- From my limited understanding, it sounds like HDMI switching is a good idea
- Probably don't need to decode the latest HD audio codecs but keen to future-proof if possible within limited budget
- Current AVR is a Yamaha RX 350 (budget in 2004) so upgraded speakers won't help!
Further thoughts:
- I'm thinking get as good an AV receiver as poss now, with pre outs, and then if I still feel the need to improve music quality in the future, get a separate hi fi amp. Arcam AVR had also caught my attention.
- I'll upgrade speakers and CD player later
- I rarely play CDs anymore, preferring to plug an ipod/android phone in - whats's the best way to do this for optimum sound quality?
Cheers for the help,
Jim
smegma said:
OK, in answer to the above:
- Movies vs music fairly equal priority but music tips the balance
- Happy to go second hand
- From my limited understanding, it sounds like HDMI switching is a good idea
- Probably don't need to decode the latest HD audio codecs but keen to future-proof if possible within limited budget
- Current AVR is a Yamaha RX 350 (budget in 2004) so upgraded speakers won't help!
Further thoughts:
- I'm thinking get as good an AV receiver as poss now, with pre outs, and then if I still feel the need to improve music quality in the future, get a separate hi fi amp. Arcam AVR had also caught my attention.
- I'll upgrade speakers and CD player later
- I rarely play CDs anymore, preferring to plug an ipod/android phone in - whats's the best way to do this for optimum sound quality?
Cheers for the help,
Jim
In that case I would prob go the AVR350 route - and you can add something like a P25 power amp for front left/right duties to crank up the sound quality still further. Alternatively get an AVP700 processor (also available around £200 s/h) and you'll gain HDMI switching at the expense of internal amps, but you can then partner with a P25/3 and a P25?- Movies vs music fairly equal priority but music tips the balance
- Happy to go second hand
- From my limited understanding, it sounds like HDMI switching is a good idea
- Probably don't need to decode the latest HD audio codecs but keen to future-proof if possible within limited budget
- Current AVR is a Yamaha RX 350 (budget in 2004) so upgraded speakers won't help!
Further thoughts:
- I'm thinking get as good an AV receiver as poss now, with pre outs, and then if I still feel the need to improve music quality in the future, get a separate hi fi amp. Arcam AVR had also caught my attention.
- I'll upgrade speakers and CD player later
- I rarely play CDs anymore, preferring to plug an ipod/android phone in - whats's the best way to do this for optimum sound quality?
Cheers for the help,
Jim
Then just grab a s/h rDock for you Phone.
http://www.arcam.co.uk/advice-and-support/disconti...
http://www.arcam.co.uk/advice-and-support/disconti...
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