How about Arcam? I have a Yamaha I'd say pretty neautral.
-
Get an exclusive sneak peek into our new project. >>> Click Here
-
Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.
NEED HELP - looking for a "warm" sounding AVR...
Hi:
I am in the market for a new AVR.
I really like the "warm" sound of the Harman Kardon AVRs - but HK seems to be going downhill...
I have heard that Yamaha's AVR are "warm" sounding - but have never actually heard one.
I have heard the Denon line - and they, to me, were not very "warm" sounding...
I have never had a chance to hear a Marantz AVR - so don't know either way.
I am very interested in the Sony 5800ES - again, have not had a chance to hear one yet...
The closest retailers that carry anything "upper-level" are over 150 miles away - so any input for anyone here would be greatly appreciated!
Any suggestions on "warm" sounding AVRs?
Thanks!
Hi:
I am in the market for a new AVR.
I really like the "warm" sound of the Harman Kardon AVRs - but HK seems to be going downhill...
I have heard that Yamaha's AVR are "warm" sounding - but have never actually heard one.
I have heard the Denon line - and they, to me, were not very "warm" sounding...
I have never had a chance to hear a Marantz AVR - so don't know either way.
I am very interested in the Sony 5800ES - again, have not had a chance to hear one yet...
The closest retailers that carry anything "upper-level" are over 150 miles away - so any input for anyone here would be greatly appreciated!
Any suggestions on "warm" sounding AVRs?
Thanks!
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
The simple fact is that the current AVRs from Sony, Yamaha, Pioneer, and Onkyo have all gone to cheap-as-possible Class D amplifiers and cheap power supplies that sound crappy IMO.
The only ones I will recommend to anymore are AVRs from Cambridge Audio (the best-sounding by far, but you pay for it), NAD, and Marantz.. ARCAM also makes a great one, the AVR750, but it costs several thousand dollars.
It isn't a question of "neutral", except that the better ones simply have lower distortion when driving actual speakers, rather than a resistive load. Distortion is what makes an amplifier sound bad; period. A "warm-sounding" amplifier is one with low distortion, pure and simple.
Almost any amplifier has virtually zero distortion driving a resistive load until it reaches its power limit. This proves damn near NOTHING about how it will drive a real speaker system. This is why spec sheets are ridiculous as an indication of amplifier sound quality.
All amplifiers will have much more distortion when driving a real speaker system, with its inductances and capacitances, which drive cheaper amplifiers crazy and causes high distortion.
Better-designed amplifers cost more because they have much larger more stable power supplies that can allow the amplifier to drive REAL SPEAKERS with lower distortion. Cheaper ones simply produce more distortion because of the marginal way they are designed.
Any engineer or audio professional knows that comparing power specs is a fool's game, because there are 40 watt high-quality amplifiers that will drive almost any speaker with low distortion, and cheap AVRs that advertise over 100 watts that sound like crap because they have much cheaper power supplies that don't have the current capacity to drive real speakers properly.
The oats are always cheaper after they come out of the back end of a horse.
The only ones I will recommend to anymore are AVRs from Cambridge Audio (the best-sounding by far, but you pay for it), NAD, and Marantz.. ARCAM also makes a great one, the AVR750, but it costs several thousand dollars.
It isn't a question of "neutral", except that the better ones simply have lower distortion when driving actual speakers, rather than a resistive load. Distortion is what makes an amplifier sound bad; period. A "warm-sounding" amplifier is one with low distortion, pure and simple.
Almost any amplifier has virtually zero distortion driving a resistive load until it reaches its power limit. This proves damn near NOTHING about how it will drive a real speaker system. This is why spec sheets are ridiculous as an indication of amplifier sound quality.
All amplifiers will have much more distortion when driving a real speaker system, with its inductances and capacitances, which drive cheaper amplifiers crazy and causes high distortion.
Better-designed amplifers cost more because they have much larger more stable power supplies that can allow the amplifier to drive REAL SPEAKERS with lower distortion. Cheaper ones simply produce more distortion because of the marginal way they are designed.
Any engineer or audio professional knows that comparing power specs is a fool's game, because there are 40 watt high-quality amplifiers that will drive almost any speaker with low distortion, and cheap AVRs that advertise over 100 watts that sound like crap because they have much cheaper power supplies that don't have the current capacity to drive real speakers properly.
The oats are always cheaper after they come out of the back end of a horse.
OK... is the Cambridge Audio AVR a "warm" sounding AVR?
The Azur 751R is a pretty nice looking AVR...
Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman /t/1518732/need-help-looking-for-a-warm-sounding-avr#post_24380239
The simple fact is that the current AVRs from Sony, Yamaha, Pioneer, and Onkyo have all gone to cheap-as-possible Class D amplifiers and cheap power supplies that sound crappy IMO.
The only ones I will recommend to anymore are AVRs from Cambridge Audio (the best-sounding by far, but you pay for it), NAD, and Marantz.. ARCAM also makes a great one, the AVR750, but it costs several thousand dollars.
It isn't a question of "neutral", except that the better ones simply have lower distortion when driving actual speakers, rather than a resistive load. Distortion is what makes an amplifier sound bad; period.
Almost any amplifier has virtually zero distortion driving a resistive load until it reaches its power limit. This proves damn near NOTHING about how it will drive a real speaker system.
All amplifiers will have much more distortion when driving a real speaker system, with its inductances and capacitances, which drive cheaper amplifiers crazy and causes high distortion.
Better-designed amplifers cost more because they have much larger more stable power supplies that can allow the amplifier to drive REAL SPEAKERS with lower distortion. Cheaper ones simply produce more distortion because of the marginal way they are designed.
Any engineer or audio professional knows that comparing power specs is a fool's game, because there are 40 watt high-quality amplifiers that will drive almost any speaker with low distortion, and cheap AVRs that advertise over 100 watts that sound like crap because they have much cheaper power supplies that don't have the current capacity to drive real speakers properly.
The oats are always cheaper after they come out of the back end of a horse.
OK... is the Cambridge Audio AVR a "warm" sounding AVR?
The Azur 751R is a pretty nice looking AVR...
The 751R has is an excellent receiver with low distortion, great sound quality, and the power to drive virtually any speakers without any strain whatsoever.
You will also note that it gives actual specifications for what it will do driving all seven channels at once, which none of the lower-quality receivers even attempt to give any numbers for (they would be rather embarrassing).
If you look at the reviews done by Home Theater magazine, you will see that they always have high praise for the sound quality of Cambridge receivers.
Either the 751R or the 651R would be capable of powering almost any speakers, but the 751R does have more features as well as a bit more power.
I currently have only a modest $25K 2.1 system myself, but if I ever decide to go to a 5.1 system I probably would go with the 751R or the Arcam receiver. They are the two best ones available IMO.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HDTVAV /t/1518732/need-help-looking-for-a-warm-sounding-avr#post_24380310
OK... is the Cambridge Audio AVR a "warm" sounding AVR?![]()
The Azur 751R is a pretty nice looking AVR...
The 751R has is an excellent receiver with low distortion, great sound quality, and the power to drive virtually any speakers without any strain whatsoever.
You will also note that it gives actual specifications for what it will do driving all seven channels at once, which none of the lower-quality receivers even attempt to give any numbers for (they would be rather embarrassing).
If you look at the reviews done by Home Theater magazine, you will see that they always have high praise for the sound quality of Cambridge receivers.
Either the 751R or the 651R would be capable of powering almost any speakers, but the 751R does have more features as well as a bit more power.
I currently have only a modest $25K 2.1 system myself, but if I ever decide to go to a 5.1 system I probably would go with the 751R or the Arcam receiver. They are the two best ones available IMO.
LOL, yes, but is it "warm" sounding - are just "accurate" sounding?
Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman /t/1518732/need-help-looking-for-a-warm-sounding-avr#post_24380351
The 751R has is an excellent receiver with low distortion, great sound quality, and the power to drive virtually any speakers without any strain whatsoever.
You will also note that it gives actual specifications for what it will do driving all seven channels at once, which none of the lower-quality receivers even attempt to give any numbers for.
If you look at the reviews done by Home Theater magazine, you will see that they always have high praise for the sound quality of Cambridge receivers.
Either the 751R or the 651R would be capable of powering almost any speakers, but the 751R does have more features as well as a bit more power.
I currently have only a modest $25K 2.1 system myself, but if I ever decide to go to a 5.1 system I probably would go with the 751R or the Arcam receiver.
LOL, yes, but is it "warm" sounding - are just "accurate" sounding?
It is a very low-distortion device.
To me, whether it would sound "warm" or " neutral", or have some other characteristics, would depend almost entirely on the speakers you use, and the source material you feed to its inputs.
It has virtually no characteristics of its own except to accurately reproduce what you put into it, with minimal distortion. That is what an ideal amplifier should do.
The "sound" of the speakers you choose will dominate what you hear; not the 751R.
To me, a so-called "warm" amplifier means one that is "rolled-off" and has has less gain at the higher frequencies.
This can be used to lessen the tendency of some lower-quality speakers to sound "hot' or "bright" at the upper-midrange and treble frequencies.
That is sort of like putting soft, mushy tires on a car with stiff suspension to get a better ride. Ford tried that with the Explorer, but the trouble was that the soft tires made the car sell better, but also made it prone to roll over and kill people; but I digress...lol.
That is using one bad characteristic to cancel out another one; not usually the best practice.
Another example of that kind of thing is pairing a cheap AVR with relatively high distortion with speakers that are low-resolution so that they will gloss over the distortion of the amplifiers a bit rather than focus attention on it; sort of like taking an out-of-focus picture of an ugly woman so you can't see her worst features very well...lol.
To me, whether it would sound "warm" or " neutral", or have some other characteristics, would depend almost entirely on the speakers you use, and the source material you feed to its inputs.
It has virtually no characteristics of its own except to accurately reproduce what you put into it, with minimal distortion. That is what an ideal amplifier should do.
The "sound" of the speakers you choose will dominate what you hear; not the 751R.
To me, a so-called "warm" amplifier means one that is "rolled-off" and has has less gain at the higher frequencies.
This can be used to lessen the tendency of some lower-quality speakers to sound "hot' or "bright" at the upper-midrange and treble frequencies.
That is sort of like putting soft, mushy tires on a car with stiff suspension to get a better ride. Ford tried that with the Explorer, but the trouble was that the soft tires made the car sell better, but also made it prone to roll over and kill people; but I digress...lol.
That is using one bad characteristic to cancel out another one; not usually the best practice.
Another example of that kind of thing is pairing a cheap AVR with relatively high distortion with speakers that are low-resolution so that they will gloss over the distortion of the amplifiers a bit rather than focus attention on it; sort of like taking an out-of-focus picture of an ugly woman so you can't see her worst features very well...lol.
Warm means coloration which means distortion; you want to buy a receiver that distorts the sound? Most modern receivers using typical class A/B amps will have a flat response until you push them where power becomes a factor; room correction will also affect the sound. Tube amps are different and do tend to lean towards warm. IMO, you should be focusing on speakers as they will affect you getting warm sound far more than a receiver will.
Kick up the subwoofer level control, and voila, a warm sound!
Quote:
Originally Posted by HDTVAV /t/1518732/need-help-looking-for-a-warm-sounding-avr#post_24379863
Hi:
I am in the market for a new AVR.
I really like the "warm" sound of the Harman Kardon AVRs - but HK seems to be going downhill...
I have heard that Yamaha's AVR are "warm" sounding - but have never actually heard one.
I have heard the Denon line - and they, to me, were not very "warm" sounding...
I have never had a chance to hear a Marantz AVR - so don't know either way.
I am very interested in the Sony 5800ES - again, have not had a chance to hear one yet...
The closest retailers that carry anything "upper-level" are over 150 miles away - so any input for anyone here would be greatly appreciated!
Any suggestions on "warm" sounding AVRs?
Thanks!
Kick up the subwoofer level control, and voila, a warm sound!
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
AVS Forum
A forum community dedicated to home theater owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, TVs, projectors, screens, receivers, speakers, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Top Contributors this Month
View All
WilliamR
872 Replies
BASSAHOLIC
487 Replies
mrtickleuk
402 Replies
Recommended Communities
