[fullerms]

Hi all,


A friend is looking for a HT system and a store nearby is offering a package consisting of the TX-SR577 AVR with Mordaunt Short MS-914 fronts, MS Carnival 5 Centre, MS Carnival 1 surrounds and MS Carnival 7 Sub for about 950 USD.


Being a Denon owner myself, I asked the store owner if he can swap out the Onkyo and give us a Denon instead. He offered to replace the Onkyo with a Denon 1610 for the same price, and wanted an additional 150 USD for the Denon 1910.

Couple of questions:

1. Whats the Denon equivalent of the Onkyo TX-SR577?
2. The reviews on the MS-914 fronts seem to suggest that they sound better with Bi-Amping. Is it worth spending the extra 150 USD on the Denon 1910 just for bi-amping?
3. Any negatives on the Onkyo in case my friend decides to go with it?

 

[JChin]

One negative on the SR577 is that it does not convert between format.

What go in must come out the same.

 

[jdsmoothie]

1. Denon 1910

2. No, although biamping with the same power supply generally does not provide any real benefit. They are referring to bi-amping with another external amp.

3. Only has Audyssey 2EQ (basic room correction filters with no sub filter) whereas the 1910 has Audyssey MultEQ (mid level correction filters WITH a sub filter as well).

 

[phantom52]

Are those speakers 4 ohms? Looks to me when I googled them they were. If so I doubt either of these would do what you want. The 1910 doesn't have pre-outs for adding an amp. Don't know about the 577 but I would doubt it does. Bi-amping with these is out of the question. May need to step up to a higher model AVR with these makers. Denon 3310 or Onkyo 707 for pre-outs to add an amp. Onkyo 807/RC180 for a better Audyssey version and pre-outs.

 

[jdsmoothie]

The MS-914's are rated 4-8 ohms although regardless, at average volume (as long as it's not cranked up), the Denon 1910 can handle 4 ohm speakers without issue.

 

[phantom52]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jdsmoothie /forum/post/18115101


The MS-914's are rated 4-8 ohms although regardless, at average volume (as long as it's not cranked up), the Denon 1910 can handle 4 ohm speakers without issue.

Hope it tested out better than the 3310 did with harder than normal speakers to drive did. The 3310 did not do so well with 4 ohm speakers. And as you say with these speakers 4-8 ohms/89db sensitivity, teach me something please, exactly what is the ohm rating for speakers measured like this.

 

[Knucklehead90]

The SR577 is the European version of the 507 - it doesn't have preamp outs but is a 7 channel AVR - the 507 is only 5 channel.


The Denon 1610 would be a great step up in features over the 507/577. It uses Audyssey MultEQ vs the 2EQ in the Onkyo. The $150 difference between the two Denon's isn't a bad price. Compare what he needs for features and see if the 1610 delivers what he needs before stepping up to the 1910.

 

[Johan81]



Quote:
Originally Posted by phantom52 /forum/post/18115040


Are those speakers 4 ohms? Looks to me when I googled them they were. If so I doubt either of these would do what you want. The 1910 doesn't have pre-outs for adding an amp. Don't know about the 577 but I would doubt it does. Bi-amping with these is out of the question. May need to step up to a higher model AVR with these makers. Denon 3310 or Onkyo 707 for pre-outs to add an amp. Onkyo 807/RC180 for a better Audyssey version and pre-outs.

707 is the same as the bold stated part!

 

[jdsmoothie]



Quote:
Originally Posted by phantom52 /forum/post/18115216


Hope it tested out better than the 3310 did with harder than normal speakers to drive did. The 3310 did not do so well with 4 ohm speakers. And as you say with these speakers 4-8 ohms/89db sensitivity, teach me something please, exactly what is the ohm rating for speakers measured like this.

I base my comment on several 4 ohm speaker owners (89db+) that have posted in the Denon 1910 thread indicating no issues at average volume. Some sites actually list them as 8ohm speakers, regardless, impedance changes based on the voltage input which can fluctuate as much as +/-5v from 120v. When speakers are rated at 8 ohms, that means "nominal" impedence as it will tend to fluctuate anywhere from 4-12 ohms on average.

 

[phantom52]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jdsmoothie /forum/post/18115400


I base my comment on several 4 ohm speaker owners (89db+) that have posted in the Denon 1910 thread indicating no issues at average volume. Some sites actually list them as 8ohm speakers, regardless, impedance changes based on the voltage input which can fluctuate as much as +/-5v from 120v. When speakers are rated at 8 ohms, that means "nominal" impedence as it will tend to fluctuate anywhere from 4-12 ohms on average.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Knucklehead90]

I had an Onkyo SR506 last year - when my Onkyo SC885 preamp coughed up a video chip I had to sent it in for a swap (under 30 days old) and was forced to use the tv speakers (Heaven forbid!) or yard the 506 out of the bedroom - which is what I did. I had all 4ohm speakers (5.1) except the AV123 Bigfoot center (8ohm). The 506 did rather well with that load and never got very hot although I never pushed it like I would with the UPA-7 except to see if I could push it into protect mode - it never did - and is still alive with my nephew rocking out with it nearly every day.


The fronts were Emotiva ERT 8.3s and surrounds were the ERD-1s. Some 4ohm speakers are very difficult to drive. I'd never use an 'average' receiver for powering a pair of electrostatic speakers but most 4ohm speakers impedance dips aren't as sever as electrostats.

 

[fullerms]

Thanks for the information guys. Need a verdict, friend is putting down the money today.

1. Stick with the Onkyo
2. Swap out the Onkyo with a Denon 1610
3. Topup the extra cash and get the 1910

Recommendations please?

 

[JChin]

I vote for #2 (1610) if your friend don't need an extra HDMI, scaling, 7.1 and other features.

But if your friend is sticking with the listed speakers then I vote for #3 (1910).