Home Theater/Stereo Thread...

[Picard]

Best A/V Receiver for Music and HT

Dear Folks,

If you want to hear music as much as viewing HT,
I think the best A/V receiver is Marantz SR-7200.
The sound quality in 2 channel stereo mode for
music is great!

It can even be compared with higher-end amplifier
system costed 2-3 more expensive.

The speaker, you can try ProAc Response 1.5.
Or JMLab Electra.

[Muad'Dib]

I've heard the 7200. It sounds REALLY nice, I agree. A little on the weak side if I recall.

Never heard of those speakers though Picard....

Oh well, thanks KvH....

-Dimitri

[ahartman]

Not sure how you managed to squeeze a 3802 out of your original 500-700 budget... (not an auth. dealer?)

Anyway, I came back to this thread to mention I just picked up an Onkyo TX-D696 from J&R for $599. I was also considering the 2802 & the Yamaha VX-R1000. The price (from an authorized dealer) is what made me pick the Onkyo. All 3 receivers were just about the same.

It'll go nicely with the $500 worth of Direct TV stuff I bought last weekend...

And only 2 weeks before I can hook it all up at the new house!

[DuRaNgO]

Ahartman,
you'll really enjoy that receiver, plenty o' power for the finest HT, the powered zone 2 capabilities are very good which is the main reason I went Onkyo (797)
jim

[Jammrock]

ahartman,

I said $500-700 if I had to pay for it upright, $1200 if I could spread it out. Plus I got my Denon AVR-3802 on sale, from and authorized dealer, for $850. Not too shabby. Then I got to the store and they were running a 12-month no interest loan. 12-months to pay of the stuff I got will be a cinche. So I picked up some speakers, mainly because they were selling the floor models for $500 off. And then he cut me a deal on Audio Quest cables... I love that store :_) Once I'm done paying off my current rig I'm going to look into a B&W CDM CNT center, B&W CDM 1NT's for surrounds and a Rotel THX certified, 5-channel powered amp

I looked at the Integra line, which is Onkyo's high-end part. It was a nice reciever, but the store had them hooked up to some ratty Klipsch RF3's...ick! So I never got a chance to really compare the two on good speakers.

I'm helping a friend pick out some Phase tech speakers on Friday. Those were the only other speakers that could even compete with the B&W's...more hi-fi shopping for Jammrock

Jammrock

[ALBPM]

Speaking of Center channel speakers...

Hey KvH do you have a HTM2 Center at your shop. And if so how does it compare to the CDM CNT?????

I had this problem with my 605 S2 speakers the center that went with that series was not robust (Full enough range) and ended up with a CDM CSE center.

I'm wondering if the HTM2 has a better range than the CDM CNT.

Paul

[KvHagedorn]

I've sold some 800 series stuff, including the HTM1 and HTM2.. We sold an HTM2 and set it up in a system with 805s and the nautilus surrounds.. definite improvement over the NTs.. sounds awesome. Of course, you know you won't stop this foolishness, so why not just go ahead and get that HTM1 that you want so bad..

[ALBPM]

LOL.....My TV might collapse. The HTM1 weighs around 46 lbs. And it is only $2000.

The HTM2 is much more practical. And cheaper.

Paul

[Jammrock]

Wow, the B&W HTM2 has gotten some rave reviews. Too bad it's $1000!!!!!! My main fronts cost only $50 more than that a speaker!!! We'll see how rich I'm feeling when I'm in the market for a new center channel.

BTW, if anyone wants customer testimonial about a product, hit www.AudioReview.com. Great site!

Jammrock

[ALBPM]

I read all those already. I'm going to have to go and listen. It will only be $400 with the trade in of my CDM CNT.

Paul

[ALBPM]

Well, I went and compared the CDM CNT, HTM2 and the HTM1. The CDM CNT sounded very Boxy compared to the HTM2 and HTM1.
The HTM2 was nice, very transparent but the HTM1 blew me away.

So, I traded my CDM CNT for the Demo HTM1. Went home and hooked it up and could actually bump up the center channel level a couple notches.

It blends in perfectly with the CDM 9nts. The biggest difference is with DVDs but it really cleans up music CDs as well.
HTM1

It's a big MOFO 30 inches long and 46 lbs.

This was the second time I had to upgrade my center channel to the next higher Series to get the right sound. But you must remember that almost 80% of the sound with DVD movies comes from the center channel. So, don't scrimp on your center speaker.

You where right as usual KvH....THANKS!!!

Paul

[Jammrock]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

That's not what I wanted to hear, ALBPM!

*sigh*

....pay off cuurent rig first, pay off current rig first....

Jammrock

[ALBPM]

LOL.....

Paul

[windigo]

Have anyone heard of Magnat speakers?

Im going into the city next month and am thinking of replacing my Sony speakers with something from PSB, Mirage or Velodyne so far. What speakers would you recommend I take a serious look at while I have the chance.

What im looking for is a mini-theatre setup because of budget restraints (and Im a tightwad and I dont want to put a hodge podge of different manufacteurs in my small aboad

If possible I can spread the upgrade out and get front towers if thats better?!? my budget is about 1250$

EDIT: How important is biwiring? and what effects will that have on my choices? more money? better off with towers?

[Jammrock]

For $1250 you'll want to look into Phase Technology speakers. Their dealer locator is here. If there is a dealer in the big city, definately check these out. The Teatro 7.5VDT's make great fronts for a tight budget, and run about $650 a pair. The center channel needs to be the Teatro 6.5, as that is the primary function for 6.5 and it runs ~$200. For surrounds you should grab a pair of Teatro 4.5, or Teatro Surrounds. Your total cost will be under $1250 easy and will be the best sounding system for that price (at least that I have heard).

If you decide to be insane like ALBPM and I, take a look at B&W speakers. But be careful, because your ears will never listen to music the same once you listen to B&W (, Martin Logan, Wilson Audio or Thiel) and they are EXPENSIVE. ALBPM's new center channel retails at $2000!!!

Bi-wiring will make a difference IF 1) your speakers have good internal electronics with seperate stages for HF and LF, and 2) you use GOOD speaker cable. Otherwise you're wasting your money, as far as I'm concerned. On my B&W CDM 9NT's bi-wiring with Audio Quest Type 2 speaker cable made an extremely noticable difference. KvH would know more about bi-wiring advantages than I would though

Jammrock