HT receiver or pre under $2000 recommendations

polkfarmboy

With a ton of awesome bluray being released I find myself in a position with nothing but a tube integrated for audio after selling my receiver

I have a separate savings account for relegation of funds for a nice amp but I also have a 5ch amp not being used so maybe I should be looking for a pre


Would like to hear your opinions and would love to know what you have and how it stacks up against its competitors

jayman_1975

what are your requirements? Do you need the pre to decode the new Bluray audio formats? If not i would recommend an Arcam AV9. They retailed for $6500 and won processor of the year a few times. I got mine for $1500 used. I compared it for two channel against my Arcam C31 preamp. The C31 has since been sold.

polkfarmboy

Just for HT

I use the tube for 2 channel and dont have a high end bdp with a good featured analog section

leroyjr1

Onkyo 5008/3008
Pioneer SC 05/07/25/27/35/37

It also depends on you speakers and setup.

polkfarmboy

The pioneer line is feature lacked these days with only 7 ch and that old 7 band eq

Onkyo receivers lack the clarity that the pioneers have on the center channels

Eventualy I want to go 9.1 or even 11.1

leroyjr1

The new Elites are 9.1

jayman_1975

11.1? WTF? Do you have a couple speakers on your lap in this configuration?

polkfarmboy

jayman_1975 wrote: »

11.1? WTF? Do you have a couple speakers on your lap in this configuration?

I have a 120" screen so it would be , 4 surround 2, width 2, height 2 ,front and center . I would never have this for a tv but its there for large projection setups . Even if I dont use its still nice to have

The pioneer is not 9.1 its false advertising

leroyjr1

........ Edited......

Sherardp

polkfarmboy wrote: »

The pioneer line is feature lacked these days with only 7 ch and that old 7 band eq

Onkyo receivers lack the clarity that the pioneers have on the center channels

Eventualy I want to go 9.1 or even 11.1

9.1/11.1 is a waste of money bro. A good 7.1 setup should sound comparable. The only thing those other channels are adding is effects. You won't miss it in a good 7.1. Get yourself an Elite SC37 and report back. What's the room size you plan to put this in? Please don't tell me a living room.

polkfarmboy

Hell yeah its a living room son lol

I want to try a pioneer sc but I just keep thinking its a waste of good ice amps because I will be adding a krell ,cary or parasound later down the road . I nearly orderd one the other day (sc35) but I thought I should ask around first

The sc35 is second with the integra 9.9 first and the denon4311 third with its audessy xt32 ,,, I have been reading about the denons "blue rain " problem as well as other bugs though

Just want to add 9 or 11 speaker configs is just somthing i would like to have if needed

nooshinjohn

This...

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?miscrcvr&1296222031&/Yamaha-RX-Z7-7.1-Receiver

polkfarmboy

That yammy has very low distortion but I have heard alot of horror stories about pairing them up with martin logans

nooshinjohn

You could get a decent two channel amp for the mains and still come out ahead. I am not familiar with ML's, but I can say that the Z series Yammy's are no slouch in the power department. If your mission is to put together a very good HT setup, this Yammy won't disappoint.

leroyjr1

polkfarmboy wrote: »

Hell yeah its a living room son lol

I want to try a pioneer sc but I just keep thinking its a waste of good ice amps because I will be adding a krell ,cary or parasound later down the road . I nearly orderd one the other day (sc35) but I thought I should ask around first

The sc35 is second with the integra 9.9 first and the denon4311 third with its audessy xt32 ,,, I have been reading about the denons "blue rain " problem as well as other bugs though

Just want to add 9 or 11 speaker configs is just somthing i would like to have if needed

While the ice amp section in the Elite is outstanding for efficient speakers I think an external amp will give you better results. Still worth the $1000 asking price as a pre.

I'm running efficient speakers on both my elite receivers (94db & 93db) and it doesn't have any problems at higher volume.

What size is your living room?

codyc1ark

jayman_1975 wrote: »

11.1? WTF? Do you have a couple speakers on your lap in this configuration?

I can vouch for PFB. He IS crazy, and he WILL also be using headphones with his 11.3+1 setup.

Insane.

polkfarmboy

leroyjr1 wrote: »

While the ice amp section in the Elite is outstanding for efficient speakers I think an external amp will give you better results. Still worth the $1000 asking price as a pre.

I'm running efficient speakers on both my elite receivers (94db & 93db) and it doesn't have any problems at higher volume.

What size is your living room?

The living room is about 18 by 26 but I have to pull the martin logans out 4 ft

polkfarmboy

I have been reading the marantz av7005 thread on avs for a buzzillion hours and alot of happy users posting their thoughts

Sounds like a possibility for only $1500 but the balanced output connections only work with marantz amps and it wont do 96 khz with audessy engaged when bitstreaming . Recordings done at 192 will have to be sent via pcm

I wonder if the integra 9.9 has this prob

leroyjr1

Also look at Anthem. A bit pricey but used should fall into your budget.

kawizx9r

Wondering why the use of a receivers' built-in amps is being brought up, thought the OP had a 5-ch amp available for use?

polkfarmboy

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Also look at Anthem. A bit pricey but used should fall into your budget.

I was but $2000 is the absolute limit and I might not even hit that mark ,hoping not to just for a HT processor

The anthem D2 is always kicking around the $3000 mark with arc kits and I dont have the time to save up the coin as I'm without a receiver at the moment

I think the reason the pioneer sc is appealing as its affordable and could get me by till I did have the coin for somthing realy good. But the marantz av7005 is getting really great feedback from its users and supposedly beats the 8003 pre for HT but not for music as it lacks the balanced stereo and gold plated rca terminals

polkfarmboy

I have been finding some integra 80.1 for $1400 and integra 9.9 for $1000 also integra 9.8's are going for around $650!!!!

Does any users on the forum own integra prepro's?

Huck344

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I have been reading the marantz av7005 thread on avs for a buzzillion hours and alot of happy users posting their thoughts

Sounds like a possibility for only $1500 but the balanced output connections only work with marantz amps . . .

I was curious, where you read that the XLR will only work with Marantz amps. That could be a deal killer for me.

polkfarmboy

Huck344 wrote: »

I was curious, where you read that the XLR will only work with Marantz amps. That could be a deal killer for me.

You should go to the avs forum but here is a review I read on crutchfield ........

. I had no sound from my fronts, and after long conversations with Jon in tech support it was determined (he had to talk with a Marantz engineer) that my cables from the Marantz to my amp were not "appropriate" and that custom cables would have to be made. Give me a break; the thing is going back to Crutchfield tomorrow. Apparantly Marantz has some proprietary cable design so if you have other Marantz components and the right cables you should be fine but if you're putting this thing into a system with a non Marantz amp save yourself the trouble.

Huck344

I read that review. On the AVS forums, they attribute it to user error. After doing some research, it appears that the balanced outputs for the amp are Euro design instead of American. As far as I can tell, a phase reverser on each balanced connection would fix the issue if the amp doesn't match the Pre/Pro. However, based on the AVS forums, the majority of the users have no issue. I, myself will have an issue on my amp, but will either re-wire the balanced connections or purchase a phase reverser for each connection.

polkfarmboy

Well thats good news

If I pull the trigger then I have a short rack and balanced xlr on this is only beneficial for cable runs of over 1.5 meter

If you did go balanced then you may only use 7 channels and cant mix and match with unbalanced and balanced

Let me know if you do get one as i would love to hear your thoughts buddy

Huck344

I will definitely let you know my thoughts. I'm going to decide by the end of the day whether or not I will order it.

MADGSF

Here is a vote for the new Marantz AV7005. Have not heard it but it looks interesting for the price.

LuSh

How Marantz and Denon products can be recommended when dramatic reductions in weight appear every year is beyond me. 26-28lbs for $1000 plus price point products is simply unacceptable. I don't care what anybody tells me, room correction will only do so much...where on earth has the drive and power gone?

How can people accept and recommend products that are more or less kleenex boxes...I don't understand.

Huck344

I ordered the AV7005 last night from Crutchfield (got a deal using AMEX points). Once it's up and running, I will write a review. There is no amp in it, so the weight doesn't bother me. But, I suppose I can open up and put a brick in it to add some weight!:biggrin:

tonyb

Didn't integra just come out with their new HT processor...40.2 or something like that?