Sound gurus please

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DrDee

269 posts

Ultimate Geek

#151860 8-Sep-2014 10:47

In a bit of a dilema (follow up post to my previous speaker questions).

I narrowed it down to two sets of speakers and need some advice.

I have a Denon AVR1713 amp, no pre-out. Rated at 5x120w on the box but being realistic I would expect it to be more like a true 40-60w.

First is a set of Paradigm Studio 60, reviews are all good and everything and I like the look of them (more importantly wife likes the look of them. They are rated at 15-150w which the amp should power OK.

The other set is Sonus Faber Venere 2.5, stunning speakers to look at and listen to. They are rated at 40-250w and I think my amp will struggle....

So....

If I wanted to go to a nice (but not insanely expensive) amp with pre-out and pre-amp, what is a nice set-up (good bang for buck, needs to be an AVR amp is my only requirement, networking is desired)?

I did some internet research but still confused...

rev

26 posts

Geek

#1124387 8-Sep-2014 15:04

Hi

I've recently purchased the smaller SF Venere 1.5 speakers and a Rotel RA12 and I couldn't speak highly enough of them, they are absolutely superb speakers.

Cheers,
rev

jarledb

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#1124396 8-Sep-2014 15:19

How about future proofing a little by changing to a receiver with at least 7.1/7.2 (New ones are 9.2) surround, 4K upscaling/switching of HDMI and enough power to deal with the speakers? (Not taking into account any possible budget restrictions). I think that is what I would be looking at.

The new Denon receivers look tempting.

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DrDee

269 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1124463 8-Sep-2014 16:11

jarledb: How about future proofing a little by changing to a receiver with at least 7.1/7.2 (New ones are 9.2) surround, 4K upscaling/switching of HDMI and enough power to deal with the speakers? (Not taking into account any possible budget restrictions). I think that is what I would be looking at.

The new Denon receivers look tempting.

Yea, the X2000 looks pretty good, also thinking on this one:
http://www.listeningpost.co.nz/Products/Amplifiers-Stereos-Home-Theatre/Amplifiers-Stereos-Home-Theatre/yamaha-A840-A740-Yamaha-RXA840-__I.79065__N.27756__C.27277

Was looking at some NAD models but the lack of any networking turns me off a bit, and the Harmon Kardon ones look to be in the same feature/price brackets as the Denon/Yamaha's I have been looking at.

LookingUp

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1124509 8-Sep-2014 16:43

My suggestion is listen rather than look. I'm pretty confident that you'll find a given NAD amp will sound better than the equivalent Yamaha/Denon, at which point the feature become irrelevant.

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Sideface

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#1124515 8-Sep-2014 16:46

LookingUp: My suggestion is listen rather than look. I'm pretty confident that you'll find a given NAD amp will sound better than the equivalent Yamaha/Denon, at which point the feature become irrelevant.

+1
Never believe reviews.
Believe your own ears.

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geekiegeek

2513 posts

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#1124516 8-Sep-2014 16:47

If you are going to spend that much on speakers you don't want to drive them with an AVR IMO. Personally I use an AVR with pre-out connected to a 2 channel amp which has a pass through feature for when the AVR is used for movies - when watching movies the 2 channel just acts as a power amp. All of my stereo sources are then only connected to the 2 channel amp.

AVRs are notoriously bad at 2 channel music.

DrDee

269 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1124592 8-Sep-2014 17:56

geekiegeek: If you are going to spend that much on speakers you don't want to drive them with an AVR IMO. Personally I use an AVR with pre-out connected to a 2 channel amp which has a pass through feature for when the AVR is used for movies - when watching movies the 2 channel just acts as a power amp. All of my stereo sources are then only connected to the 2 channel amp.

AVRs are notoriously bad at 2 channel music.

This is exactly what I want to do really, dual purpose with minimal comprimise.

LookingUp: My suggestion is listen rather than look. I'm pretty confident that you'll find a given NAD amp will sound better than the equivalent Yamaha/Denon, at which point the feature become irrelevant.

I understand about the difference in sound from a NAD, but I don't dislike the sound of Denon/Yamaha (they sound fairly similar to me) which I find a bit on the bright side and for movie playback I don't think that is a bad thing.
And yes, I will be listening to whatever set-up I go for in my own room so I know exactly what it sounds like before I buy anything.

I think the speaker choosing process is going to be straight forward, the amp options is what is screwing me over, there are just sooo many options, so many good reviews to try and use as a starting point to narrow it down...

I guess my amp budget is going to be $2.5k but prefer to keep it closer to $2k with the prospect of adding a 2-channel in with it.

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Radiotron

180 posts

Master Geek

#1125385 9-Sep-2014 21:58

Apologies if it upsets the applecart, but most amps (esp AVRs) sound pretty much the same (at a price point), buy anything, it's the speakers you need to think about and listen to.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1125394 9-Sep-2014 22:03

Marantz SR5008 + a Rotel 2-channel power amp.
Happy days.

DrDee

269 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1125549 10-Sep-2014 08:32

Ohh, the SR6008 is quite nice!

Dingbatt

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#1125557 10-Sep-2014 08:48

The X2000, 3000, 4000 are on runout at the moment, so should be able to be got for a reasonable price.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1127053 12-Sep-2014 10:17

DrDee: Ohh, the SR6008 is quite nice!

I do like InstaPrevue (or whatever it is) - very handy, Onkyo have done it for a while too.
I initially didn't like the porthole on the front of the Marantz amps as it didn't show enough info... but then I realised that I turn off the displays on all my equipment if possible.
Ooops.