Expensive receivers VS cheap seperates

Not sure I really understand your budget ? $1000 midFi AVR (3803), higher end AVR $2000 (480x), intro seperates for

...but I'll give it a shot.... Options include:


1) mid range AVR - 100ish wpc x7 $1000 +/- Can use later as a pre (#3)


2) Flagshp AVR - $2-3K (ex. Denon 5803, Onk 989)


3) mid AVR as a pre (@ $1k) + (perhaps used) seperate amp ($1-1.5K)


4) intro seperates

your best bang for the buck is a high quality receiver.....


i personally purchased a pioneer elite vsx-55txi receiver about 4 months ago.... i use it strictly as a preamp/processor with outboard amplifiers....


after looking at all the available options... this unit simply had more features, newer digital processors, and a self-calibration feature that was available only on separates that started at about $3,000 and up....


the added benefit is that you can use the internal amplifiers (100 watts per channel X 7 channels) until you get a separate amplifier(s).....


i got mine on sale for under $1400 from a local dealer....

i started a thread a couple of days ago asking the exact same question. for me i quickly ruled out the receiver. my decision came down to an outlaw 950/7100, a rotel 1066/1075 or a sherbourn 7000/5210 system. i ended up ordering the outlaw system today. hopefully i get it next week. i have owned 3 three receivers over the last couple of years a hk 315, then a denon 4802, just sold my sony 4es. i will post my impressions as soon as i get to set them up. reason i ruled out a receiver is becuase i have owned a high end receiver before, the denon, but was not too impress with it. i read a lot of threads on this forum and home theater forum about how big of an improvement there is going from a receiver to seperates and my mind was made up. i thought about just getting an amp and using my 4es as a pre/pro. but then i figure that i would not have the full benefit of seperates. i ended up choosing the outlaw because of the 30 money back guarantee and price. if i don't like them i will return them and get the rotels.

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Why discount a processor/amp just because it is missing phono stage? I don't know if the Outlaw is a good av pre-amp.. but other gear (pre-amps, integrated, av pre-amps) available in the UK don't have built-in phono stage- big deal.


External phono stages are higher quality anyway. They are quite noisy devices, so having them seperate is the better method. Start at £40 upto £1000+

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Both Rotel and Outlaw do not offer balanced outs, for example.


I keep reading and re-reading about pops/clicks and other mysterous noises when switching inputs from Rotel owners over at club Rotel and this makes me concerned as a possible buyer.


The Rotel 1066 also has a BM issue that doubles the bass for the 5.1 ins, a fix was proposed that requires a user or dealer mod to open the box and clip a wire to a resistor or cap to eliminate the problem.


Outlaw has a wierd quirk about having to switch DSP modes in a certain order as a way to aviod loosing sound somewhere else. Sorry I can't remember the exact details, perhaps a real 950 owner can elaborate.


Fot HT the 950 is fine, but I have read over and over from 950 owners that the 2 ch performance of the pre is nothing special. Personally this is something I would not be willing to compromise.


I know some of these things are perhaps not a big deal, but when I plan to spend a chuck of change, I don't want ANY issues, at all. Honestly I am willing to spend $3k on an Anthem to get a very solid product and just avoid all these little quirks, but that's just me. Now, I just wish Anthem would lower their price, like B&K did.

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my main speakers are klipsch KLF-30's powered by a carver professional ZR1000 digital amp... (225 watts per channel)


the surrounds are klipsch RS-3's powered by an elctrovoice 7100... (95 watts per channel)


and the center channel is a klipsch KLF-C7 powered by another electrovoice 7100 bridged to mono..... (bridged output 200 watts)


i use to have a dynaco sca-35 powering my mains...(hence my forum name) but after an increasing number of problems with it i decided to try the new digital amps from carver professional..... there is a great deal of discussion about these amps on more than a few forums....


and since i work at an electronic distributor....i got a very good price on it.... the electrovoice amps are an older model but are dead quiet and do a great job with my klipsch speakers.....


when i first got the pioneer vsx-55txi, i used it for awhile with the internal amps.... they were ok...but not up to the level of my separate amps...


brian cheney of vmps audio started a thread over on audiocircle comparing the carver ZR amps to amps going for up to ten times as much....

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/viewtopic.php?t=5201


cheers!