Help! Baby coming = no more 2 ch. listening room :(

pploeser

Long story short, I will most likely need to combine my 2-channel and HT systems into the same room in the near future. 2-channel has its own room at the moment, but that room will be a nursery by next spring. My sig shows the two current configurations.

My Studio 100's will become the mains for the HT setup, and the Cinema Phantoms will move to the surround positions, with a larger CC as an eventual upgrade.

I'd like to upgrade my AVR. The primary usage will be 2-channel so I want something nice and musical. I want to continue using the B&K to power the mains, so pre-outs are a must. This is where I'm hoping some of you might be able to help, since I haven't really ever auditioned AVRs. Where should I turn for a nice warm musical sound that will compliment the B&K and keep the edge off the big 'digms which can tend to be a bit bright at times?

My budget isn't huge, and I'm willing to look at used gear to get more bang for my buck. HDMI I/O would be ideal too, since my TV and DVD player are both capable. If I could be in business for $500 or (preferably) less, I'd be happy. I don't expect a $500 AVR to match the sound quality of a pre/power amp combo worth upwards of $1000, I'm well aware that there are very good AVR options in the $500-$1000 range, but the budget is pretty firm.

I like Yamaha, since I've owned a few of their pieces already. I've never heard a Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer, H/K, etc. in person. How about Marantz? Heard one a while back and liked it, but I know they're a bit higher up on the price scale. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks for patiently navigating my ramblings.

xj4094dg

Congrats on the Baby!

But, now you won't have time to watch many movies or have many serious listening sessions. Babies and loud music don't really go well together, as they become toddlers they are in bed by eight......

Say goodbye to normal sleep also

pploeser

xj4094dg wrote: »

Congrats on the Baby!

But, now you won't have time to watch many movies or have many serious listening sessions. Babies and loud music don't really go well together, as they become toddlers they are in bed by eight......

Say goodbye to normal sleep also

Thanks! I'm bracing myself for some drastic changes. Hopefully I'll still have hobby time now and then but I'm sure there will be a big shift in priorities once it's here.

Toolfan66

I would give up my system to have my kids little again..

nedh84

High end AVR's are pretty expensive. Maybe look into a used NAD T765

Sherardp

Congrats on the new addition to the family. Go full blown HT and share all that audio/video goodness with the family. Projector and screen +AVR.

TrashyTrucker

pploeser wrote: »

Thanks! I'm bracing myself for some drastic changes. Hopefully I'll still have hobby time now and then but I'm sure there will be a big shift in priorities once it's here.

It will be all good! Congrats man!

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

I would give up my system to have my kids little again..

And Larry,
isnt that what our grand kids are for?


regards,
Matt

billbillw

The sacrifices you make will seem trivial after you hold your baby the first time.

apphd

Congrats!
Have you considered keeping your AVR and picking up a 2 ch. pre with HT bypass? I think you can find Parasound 2100's used in your price range and probably closer to $400. I've also heard lots of good things (warm not one of them) about the EMO USP1 new for 4 bills. Did that Yamaha have pre-outs?

dorourke07

The 700's or 800's series of Onkyo AVR's will get you what you need. Depending if you don't want 3D capability you could go with a used one. The prices for new ones are already between $500 and $1,000 in those lines and the older ones are under $500. The 706 has multiple hdmi I/O. I am no authority but as far as a warm laid back sound, the Onkyo delivers what I like.

rdb2001

apphd wrote: »

Congrats!
Have you considered keeping your AVR and picking up a 2 ch. pre with HT bypass? I think you can find Parasound 2100's used in your price range and probably closer to $400. I've also heard lots of good things (warm not one of them) about the EMO USP1 new for 4 bills. Did that Yamaha have pre-outs?

I was thinking the same thing. But if he is set on new receiver, I think the marantz sr7002 is a great receiver and can be had for less than 600 and then add a nice 2ch pre with ht bypass and you have yourself a winner. That is what I am doing.

dorourke07

Congrats on the little one. You won't miss a penny you spend on 'em. I haven't yet.

Jetmaker737

My system pulls double duty (see sig) and I've been quite happy with the 2 ch sound in "pure audio" mode on my Onk 805. That being said I've now got a Modwright 9.0SE Signature (tube pre w/ HT bypass) arriving Thursday. So there's my next step up the ladder. So I think you can happily have a combined system and then start looking forward to your next upgrade!

skrol

Congratulations, kids are great. I've got four of them now. Yes, we do make sacrifices and work hard to justify hanging on to our hobbies and equipment. I end up adjusting my hobbies to be more family focused. A prime example is my photography which has shifted from woodlands and wetlands to the kids and their sporting events. It is another area where we grow in ways that we otherwise wouldn't if left to our own desires.

You may start questioning all this as you listen to 25 Songs Kids Love to Sing through that 2ch rig and Teletubbies in Dolby Surround. Hey, at least you will still have those systems for when you want to enjoy them.
Stan

pploeser

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback (and the parenting advice). Most of your suggestions so far seem to have exactly what I'm looking for in terms of specs.

Considering these, based on your replies, and a bit of quick searching today:

Marantz SR5005
Onkyo TX-NR808
NAD T 775
Yamaha RX-V6** (not sure which yet)

All have pre-outs, HDMI I/O, and around 100wpc. I could probably bend my budget by a couple hundred or so (my wife reminded me that Christmas isn't far off, and we've got some rather generous grandparents), but I would still have to find some of these units used or heavily discounted to be able to pull the trigger. I'm not sure which way I'm leaning yet...

It won't be convenient for me to audition these to compare, so my main concern is sound quality for music.

Upstatemax

My little girl is due December 1st... I'm in the middle of moving my office to the basement and that's where the 2ch system will be.

I some how managed to convince my pregnant wife that new RTi A7's were a good idea for the HT system so that I could move my Monitor 70's into my office for another system...

I kinda brought it up as a joke and she agreed... I have been married long enough to know that when she agrees to new speakers, you RUN with it.

dcmartinpc

I would highly recommend the Onkyo TX-NR808. The amps in it are top notch for 2 channel, especially when driving into 4 ohms. I own one and love it. It also has pure audio as many of the other unit do. You can find them for around $600 if you look around on the net... If you don't mind a refurb.

Don

pploeser

Upstatemax wrote: »

My little girl is due December 1st...

Congrats to you as well!

I have been married long enough to know that when she agrees to new speakers, you RUN with it.

I agree. You run with it, and don't hesitate. That's how we ended up with a 46" Samsung LCD

Upstatemax

pploeser wrote: »

I agree. You run with it, and don't hesitate. That's how we ended up with a 46" Samsung LCD

Haha.

I was lucky enough that my wife found out she was pregnant soon AFTER we purchased our Samsung plasma.

nooshinjohn

At least you will have a non-stop single source audio system to listen to, capable of reaching incredible volumes at three in the morning! Unfortunately your model does not come with a volume control or a mute button, remote or instruictions, but the sound made is the greatest of all. Welcome to fatherhood.

cfrizz

nooshinjohn wrote: »

At least you will have a non-stop single source audio system to listen to, capable of reaching incredible volumes at three in the morning! Unfortunately your model does not come with a volume control or a mute button, remote or instruictions, but the sound made is the greatest of all. Welcome to fatherhood.

:DROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!:D Great post & outstandingly truly & funny!:D

Congrats for the 2 fathers to be.:)

sandworms

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

I would give up my system to have my kids little again..

Ditto, mine are all in college now, and when I see other parents with their kids it brings a tear to my eye. God I miss em

schutz2106

Just unplug everything but the tv for the first couple years.... I just got some new speaks and my 8 year old boy thinks they are the coolest thing. " there bigger than me dad!" was his first response. I feel sorry for his wife in the future......

pploeser

It's an old thread, I know, but we took some big steps toward a new HT setup this weekend. In the process of moving some furniture yesterday my wife mentioned mounting the TV and moving the big speakers into the living room. I took advantage of the opportunity and here are the results.

We're very pleased with the look. The Paradigm Cinema Phantoms have been moved to the back for surrounds. You'll notice I'm still using the old Yamaha receiver, which means I'm still in the market for a new one. My ultimate plan is to add a Mac Mini to the setup as a media server and get rid of the DVD player and probably the Tivo. We're contemplating cutting the cable altogether and relying on local HD channels and streaming services for entertainment. Anyone else said goodbye to cable?

Since my last post I have also picked up two Rotel RB-1070 power amps (which I had been using to bi-amp the Studio 100's). I'd like to keep them in the mix with the HT, so I'm still on the hunt for an HDMI ready AVR that has preamp outputs. Haven't even thought about a subwoofer yet, but might be content without one for now.

danz1906

Very nice!

dvran

I have a 5 month old and IF you have time to listen to music or watch an entire movie, you're lucky! hehe...

We still watch movies as a family but the subwoofer is barely pegged since it bothers the little one. Once I had the volume up accidentely when i left the room and an explosion scene came on while watching The Dark Knight, I think my son pooped his pants! lol

Enjoy the little one....

rooftop59

I will say that my experience with my first was a lot different. My wife and I are both musicians (or should I say were musicians, so ok some things changed) and we never really adjusted the volume for the baby (I mean we are not talking reference levels here, but often moderate to full volume) and number one she loves music and watching concerts with dad (we kept paladia for almost solely this reason) and two watching movies fairly loud has never bothered her even while sleeping since its always been that way. My bro-in-law did this as well and it also worked for them. But I will say that we were lucky, and if a baby is colicky or has trouble sleeping this may not work. Good luck!
Peace,
Paul