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Upgrade Worse Sound Quality. : ( Explain Help

post #1 of 8
4/28/12 at 2:38pm
Thread Starter 
Originally my setup was a Yamaha AX-497 with a cd player and your basic analog out heading from my soundcard. (Depeding if I wanted to play cds or audio from iTunes)

The sound I was getting out of my soundcard was not sufficing, when using the cd player the audio was just PERFECT and more much dynamic and detailed.

Since I rip all my music Losslessly I figured I'd buy a new receiver which supports optical in and then run my my optical out from my soundcard to the new receiver.

So I went with a Yamaha RX-V371 and now how optical out going from my PC to the receiver.

The sound quality is NO WHERE near the same of the AX-497 which really upsets me. I even hooked up the cd player to the new amp to see if mabe the DAC on that was giving me the good sound and it was not the case.

What gives? I'm about to refund the new receiver. Is their anything comparable to the quality of the AX-497 with optical ins? Is this just a clear cut case of amplification and quality?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882115313



(http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio..._u/?mode=model)
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post #2 of 8
4/28/12 at 3:03pm
Did you run calibration? Did you set speaker size? Usually the avr will default to large speakers which will nullify any subwoofer in any 2 channel mode. Setting speakers to small will allow subwoofer to be active even in stereo.
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post #3 of 8
4/28/12 at 8:04pm
Thread Starter 
Yes all calibrated correctly.
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post #4 of 8
4/28/12 at 8:44pm
Not sure what the problem is. And not sure if this matters, but the 371 is the CHEAPEST model Yamaha makes. It has a small power supply.

I would personally steer clear from the lowest models, because they will involve the most compromises. That does not mean the problem is the receiver. Just making an observation.
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post #5 of 8
4/28/12 at 9:02pm
Thread Starter 
Very True, and the AX-497 is considered a high fi reciever. (intended for audio ONLY) with a price tag of $500. While as the 371 I paid for was only 170 bucks and offers an on board DAC/4 HDMI and a million other features, I guess that is a very good point for quality.

So what Do I need for a Good Speaker/Reciever Dac combo? Becuase I would like to run optical out.
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post #6 of 8
4/28/12 at 9:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by peck1234 View Post

Very True, and the AX-497 is considered a high fi reciever. (intended for audio ONLY) with a price tag of $500. While as the 371 I paid for was only 170 bucks and offers an on board DAC/4 HDMI and a million other features, I guess that is a very good point for quality.

So what Do I need for a Good Speaker/Reciever Dac combo? Becuase I would like to run optical out.


Check out the specs for the 371 and compare these to some of Yamaha higher priced AVRs..
The 371 specs are horrible, especially THD..
As others have mentioned you better go up a couple of price steps to get better sonic performance..

Just my $0.02...
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post #7 of 8
4/28/12 at 9:14pm
Thread Starter 
Thinking of getting this and runing aux out's to my AX-497. SNR is fantastic.
Funny this little card costs more than my entire reciever. Clear case of "you get what you pay for"

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829132014
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post #8 of 8
4/29/12 at 5:47am
You did not "upgrade" your receiver. You downgraded it.

If you are going from a $500 receiver and want to upgrade, generally, you pay same if not more then the original receiver.

This might be a better option at $419

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882115363
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