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Help - looking for 5.1 receiver to match my HK 3470 2 channel sound quality

post #1 of 14
5/6/12 at 6:27pm
Thread Starter 
Good Evening -

I have a 5.1 set of Klipsch RF-3ii speakers (which i love). Previously I had a Yamaha 5.1 receiver (dont recall the model number.. perhaps rx-v7xx. the receiver eventually stopped working so i no longer have it) and the 2 channel music sounded good but not great.

Due to space restrictions in my current apartment i have a 2.0 set up with the main set of tower speakers running through a Harman Kardon HK 3470 stereo receiver and the sound is amazing. I feel its a great match for the speakers and really has a nice, warm, full and punchy sound to it. I dont even need a sub and I really love the music quality

Now my issue is I am moving and going back to a 5.1 set up once again for use with games/blu ray/cable and music.

Is there a receiver that is powerful enough to deliver a sound comparable to the HK stereo receiver? I'd like to stay around $600 if possible, but perhaps at that price range I may just be out of luck. Id be using the receiver for video switching as well. Please let me know if you have any recommendations. I am looking at the Yamaha RX-A710BL but that is because i could buy it at Best Buy and return it if it didnt meet expectations

thanks for your help,

Adam
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post #2 of 14
5/6/12 at 6:34pm
I had lots of suggestions but when you thew in "space limitation" and "budget" well am out.
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post #3 of 14
5/6/12 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBobb View Post

I had lots of suggestions but when you thew in "space limitation" and "budget" well am out.

To be fair I will not have a space limitation at my new place

The budget limitation, however, will unfortunately remain! 600 is definitely a sweet spot
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post #4 of 14
5/6/12 at 7:00pm
harman kardon avr 3600
http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-...6356010&sr=1-1
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post #5 of 14
5/6/12 at 8:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by afrogt View Post

harman kardon avr 3600
http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-...6356010&sr=1-1

Thanks for your help. Do you think I will be disappointed due to the significant decrease in power going from the stereo receiver to the 5.1? Then again I guess at this price range beggars can't be choosers
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post #6 of 14
5/6/12 at 8:49pm
Considering you are using high sensitivity speakers you are most likely using less than a watt during most listening. and you are talking about 80 watts vs 100 watts. that is nothing, if you were going from 200+ watts to 80 watts with low sensitivity speakers then there might be a difference. But with what you have I would expect no difference at all.

But if sound quality is what you are looking for, you may want to check out something with room correction. Something that has MultEQ XT, or the Sherwood R972 with Trinnov Optimizer.
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post #7 of 14
5/7/12 at 12:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by afrogt View Post

harman kardon avr 3600
http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-...6356010&sr=1-1


This+++++

I recently received this unit from HK as a replacement for my AVR-354 which failed on me, and it is more than enough power for my B&W 604's which only have a sensitivity rating of 88db. Your Klipsch are much more sensitive so you will likely have even better sound than me.

As for the comment regarding room correction, the AVR-3600 has HK's EZset/EQ which is their own room correction, and I think it works pretty well.
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post #8 of 14
5/7/12 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

This+++++

I recently received this unit from HK as a replacement for my AVR-354 which failed on me, and it is more than enough power for my B&W 604's which only have a sensitivity rating of 88db. Your Klipsch are much more sensitive so you will likely have even better sound than me.

As for the comment regarding room correction, the AVR-3600 has HK's EZset/EQ which is their own room correction, and I think it works pretty well.

Ok great - I was going to ask about the EZset as I thought i read that it was a feature

It sounds like this is probably going to be the best fit for me right now. It seems that some actually prefer the 3600 to more current HK models - unless anybody else has any feedback


thanks
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post #9 of 14
5/7/12 at 2:49pm
Yeah, most people do prefer the 3600 to the 3650 because HK deleted a few key features and some power from the 3650.
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post #10 of 14
5/7/12 at 8:04pm
The 3600 is better than the 3650 IMO, but I really dislike EZset/EQ. I would look into something with Audyssey. Yamaha receivers also have better rc than HK receivers and do very well power wise into 2 channels.
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post #11 of 14
5/8/12 at 6:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rnatalli View Post

The 3600 is better than the 3650 IMO, but I really dislike EZset/EQ. I would look into something with Audyssey. Yamaha receivers also have better rc than HK receivers and do very well power wise into 2 channels.

My only concern about going with the Yamaha is that I felt the sound I got out of my Harman Kardon stereo receiver was much more musical than that of the Yamaha 5.1 receiver I previously had

I guess I could always pick up a Yamaha from best buy and compare it next to the receiver i have now. I can pick up a refurb 3600 from the HK shop on ebay for 399 which seems like a good price even though the video scaling is a bit old
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post #12 of 14
5/8/12 at 6:24am
I upgraded from a Yamaha HTR-6090 rated at 120wpc and was a $1200 receiver new to the HK, and the sonic difference is amazing. The Yamaha was cold and sterile whereas the HK is full and powerful. Yes there may be a few headaches with the HK, however aren't we all in this for the best "SOUND" after all? The HK provides that imo.
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post #13 of 14
5/8/12 at 6:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tweaked05 View Post

I upgraded from a Yamaha HTR-6090 rated at 120wpc and was a $1200 receiver new to the HK, and the sonic difference is amazing. The Yamaha was cold and sterile whereas the HK is full and powerful. Yes there may be a few headaches with the HK, however aren't we all in this for the best "SOUND" after all? The HK provides that imo.

Definitely. Did you use the room calibration on the HK? My system will be in a condo with a very open floor plan. The kitchen and the TV area are all one room so acoustically the room calibration may be important.

I have no knowledge of working with sound meters or anything like that so i will be very dependent on the calibration software of the receiver
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post #14 of 14
5/8/12 at 9:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TopRock03 View Post

Definitely. Did you use the room calibration on the HK? My system will be in a condo with a very open floor plan. The kitchen and the TV area are all one room so acoustically the room calibration may be important.

I have no knowledge of working with sound meters or anything like that so i will be very dependent on the calibration software of the receiver

Yes I use the room correction. However personal preferences preside. I typically run the calibration and then make adjustments to crossovers, speaker distances, and levels as needed. I then compare the sound with the EQ on and off and set it to which ever I think sounds best. Then you can play with Dolby Volume and see if you like it or not. I turned it off. But I love the sound of this receiver.
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