receiver and amp help

ddstar

I am looking to buy speakers, receiver, and maybe an amp.
With some help from a few people on here I had narrowed it down to rti a7's and pioneer elite sc-55 and maybe adding an amp later if I needed to.
My room is approximately 15x40 all open. and this will only be used for listening to music.

What I'm wondering is maybe it would be better to start off with an amp right away and go with a less expensive receiver like the vsx-52.

Any thoughts on this?

hochpt21

A lot of options depending on your budget.

Are you planning to add more speakers? The sc-55 is a 9.1 receiver. If you're only doing 2-channel, I would go a different route. Maybe a good integrated in that price range.

ddstar

I may add more speakers later.
I don't know anything about integrated.

As far as budget I'd like to keep everything together under $3000.

ibewbrother

I'm still learning to use my SC-57. The 55 is basically the same animal....it has the same manual. You won't need any external amps. The D3 amps are impressive...I could run my theater set up nicely with just the 140wpc Elite.

My Carvers are still at the shop....but I'm not sure it would make that much difference. It'll make your ears bleed at reference.


Also...if this is just for music....the Pioneer is not where to go....It is a total control audio/video receiver. If all you want is music...go 2 channel.

Brother

Marty913

Either the 52 or the 55 would work fine IF you also go the separate amp route. Of course you give up the Elite name, better chassis build quality and isolation, bigger caps / power supply, and a little better heat dissipation. Without the separate amp the 52 will not deliver nearly the power of the ice-amps in the 55.

It doesn't sound like 7.1 versus 9.1 makes any difference with your usage intentions so that's not an issue.

If you like the Pioneer sound and plan on adding an amp, the 52/53 would save you 3 or 4 bills over the SC-55 so if the budget is close (like amp vs no amp) then that would be the way to go Pioneer-wise. Without the amp, the SC-55 would be a much better solution.

ddstar

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Music is all that I want this for. Listening through itunes or my ipod. Internet radio would be nice too.
I researched the squeezebox touch last night. Can you hook that to an amp? or would that not sound good?

2 channel is the way I want to go, I just need steered in the right direction.

ibewbrother

Have you thought about going vintage? If I ever get to do a 2 channel rig...I doubt anything in it would be newer than ..say...1990....

hochpt21

For 2 channel you basically have 3 options.

Stereo receiver
Integrated amplifier
Separates (pre and power amp)

Any way you go you can hook the squeezebox up to, and the squeezebox is a very good option IMO.

Do some research on your own...google, hi-fi books and magazines or your local hi-fi shop.

It's better to do your research at the beginning and buy what you really want so you don't need to keep looking to upgrade. Trust me, that is exactly what I haven't done.:cheesygrin:

tonyb

ddstar wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Music is all that I want this for. Listening through itunes or my ipod. Internet radio would be nice too.
I researched the squeezebox touch last night. Can you hook that to an amp? or would that not sound good?

2 channel is the way I want to go, I just need steered in the right direction.

Well, budget is your only limiting factor when it comes to this hobby. For starters, and a simple system that you can add a squeezebox to, maybe a good stereo receiver that has a good dac in it and optical in connections. The pioneer you are looking at has good dacs in it with flexability to add more speakers if you want stereo in 4-6 speakers, plus ya never know when you'll want to play a blu-ray concert disc down the line. My vote goes for the pioneer in your case as I feel it will give you the most flexability for any future changes or add ons.