[JoninMod]

Hi all,


I'm interested in an AV receiver for my 10+ year old Aerius speakers. I used to use use a Conrad-Johnson pre-amp with a Muse 100 2 channel amp but the amp doesn't work and the pre isn't satisfactory for movies. Please recommend a 5/7 channel receiver that would run these speakers well for both video and audio. I have a very limited budget so please try to keep the price between $500 and $700.



Thanks,




RC

 

[Knucklehead90]

I doubt you'll find an AVR that can drive them in a satisfactory manner within your budget new - maybe used. They have very low impedance - they are rated 4 ohms with dips as low as 1.7 ohms according to this review .


New 4 ohm receivers are expensive - an external amp might be a better choice. And ESL speakers aren't usually very good at home theater due to imaging off axis being typically poor. What they do best is 2 channel - and for that they excel.


You might want to explore the idea of selling them and re-doing your setup. Finding a center channel to timbre match is another in the list of why these need to be used with lots of power - and best in a 2 channel environment.

 

[JoninMod]

Thanks for the reply Knucklehead. I actually want to sell them, but haven't found any buyers. I disagree with you on their use for home theater. They used to work great with some Bose satellites and a JBL subwoofer.

 

[Filthy McNasty]

If you look on A****gon, you will see some factory refurbed NAD AVRs that are in your price range

 

[JoninMod]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Filthy McNasty /forum/post/16890028


If you look on A****gon, you will see some factory refurbed NAD AVRs that are in your price range

Which model would you recommend? The store looks like Aragon which used to make amplifiers.

 

[Knucklehead90]



Quote:
Originally Posted by JoninMod /forum/post/16890199


Which model would you recommend? The store looks like Aragon which used to make amplifiers.

Interesting. So is AVS blocking links to AG ?

We shall see if this link works or not.


Tested and works...so far.

 

[JoninMod]

Thanks for the advice. I'll give you the ones I'm considering. I've raised the limit to $800.

NAD T747, Adcom GFR-700, Marantz 6003, 5003 and Sherwood 962. I considered B&K and Rotel. Opinions?

 

[Knucklehead90]



Quote:
Originally Posted by JoninMod /forum/post/16893169


Thanks for the advice. I'll give you the ones I'm considering. I've raised the limit to $800.

NAD T747, Adcom GFR-700, Marantz 6003, 5003 and Sherwood 962. I considered B&K and Rotel. Opinions?

That sounds like a good list. NAD has had some problems - Sherwood makes a good unit - overall my pick would be the Marantz 6003.

 

[JoninMod]

I'm leaning towards the 5003 now. The 6003 only has 10W a channel more and a USB port as far as I know. The USB allows you to connect an ipod, but from what I hear, you can't navigate the songs on the ipod with your 5003 remote. The 6003 is also $150-300 more expensive. Can anybody give me a good reason to pick the 6003 over the 5003? Also, what speaker cables would you recommend? I used to have Audioquest speaker cables with spade connectors. Does anyone know if the Aerius can take banana connectors and what speaker cable would you recommend?



Oh yeah, I forgot the two HDMI outputs the 6003 has. I plan on getting a projector in the future and having the screen in front of the LCD so it looks like I'm leaning back to the 6003.


TIA

 

[MTAtech]

If you don't need HDMI, a used B&K AVR-307 (~$500) or a used B&K AVR-507 (~$700) should do the trick. You can get the benefits of HDMI video by adding a HDMI switch (about $50 at monoprice) but audio will still be digital coax or fiber on the AVR.

 

[Bruins29]



Quote:
Originally Posted by JoninMod /forum/post/16893540


. Does anyone know if the Aerius can take banana connectors and what speaker cable would you recommend?

TIA

Home Depot 12AWG speaker cable. No need to spend any more than that.

 

[MTAtech]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruins29 /forum/post/16894597


Home Depot 12AWG speaker cable. No need to spend any more than that.

I think the Monoprice 12 AWG cable is less expensive (

 

[JoninMod]

I really do want the HDMI availability on the AVR so that eliminates the B&K. I hate all the cables that connect the different components. I'm surprised you're both recommending such inexpensive speaker cable. I've bought computer cables from monoprice before. What about the connectors? The ones you're recommending are bare wire, neither spade nor banana.

 

[penngray]



Quote:
I'm surprised you're both recommending such inexpensive speaker cable.

Price does not dictate performance

 

[MTAtech]



Quote:
Originally Posted by JoninMod /forum/post/16895063


The ones you're recommending are bare wire, neither spade nor banana.

Yes, Monoprice has no way of knowing how long your runs are going to be. They expect that you will cut them to a desired length and affix your own banana plug .

 

[JoninMod]

Thanks, I get it. I'll need to buy the connectors as well. I think I'll send an offer to 6th for the 6003.