Please help a Audio noob out

MindlessCorpse

I could go on about certain issues I have had with the posted responses. Also, a lot of the replies have been to the effect of "Just go and get a Pioneer Elite AVR", with the reasoning being it has the highest output power of anything out there... but one post is to indicate that the speakers listed are a Light Load to push... Polk Recommends an amp of 20-200 watts per channel for 4 out of 5 of the speakers ( 200 watts x 4 is Not a 'Light Load') and even at that, the Pioneer will fall short... this is responded to with "the pioneer has pre-outs" so the presumed use of the pre-outs negates the need for a AVR that can push 140 watts per channel...Right ? now, just for the sheer heck of it, I did go out and pick up a Pioneer SC05. I mean, why not, right ? Before all the browbeating and attitudes presented here in this forum, I had not heard of that particular series of pioneer receiver (the Elite) it hadnt even shown up as prominent in any search. But being as it was mentioned here so frequently and then when I mentioned it to my cousin (who I did not know has a Pioneer Elite ) I thought I would try it out... Now.. It does have very nice signal processing, and the sound can be set quite dramatic, the inputs and outputs seem adequate, but the units control functions??? I have not had time to become familiar with it yet, but it seems like the units customization is lacking in areas. Too early yet to say for sure as I have only been fumbling around with it a few days. One thing is certain, I will figure it out, anything it is capable of, I will run across it, sooner or later. Too verify, I will post a pic...

top left of picture is the bottom right corner of my Panasonic GT50 60" plasma tv
under the tv, on a temporary stand is the Pioneer Elite SC05
under the AVR table is a Polk PSW505 sub
left of pic center is one Polk TSx 550t
next, a glider rocker with my laptop showing this reply in progress
right side of pic is one Polk Monitor 70 series II (which will be moved to rear surround position)
Hope this clears up the incorrect assumptions made by most here on my inability to read/listen/comprehend
My choice had little to do with what I read here however, as most do not explain the points they try to make. They just simply state "Oh go do this" ... I am of a sort that likes to understand why, at what cost, to what effect.

Nightfall

That Pioneer has a class D amp in it which are MUCH more efficient than a conventional AB, meaning less of the power you're pulling from the wall is being wasted as heat and is instead turned into power your speakers can use. They are also one of the few AVR's that are rated for a 4 ohm load, and as you have heard already the power they put out doesn't drastically diminish as you add speakers. Most AVR's tell you how many watts they put out with only 2 channels driven and quite often it is a peak number at a specific frequency. Also, TOTL SC's come with a very good Sabre DAC.

I really want to get an SC unit. I've read about the menus being confusing and/or complex but I'm sure once you get a few days of messing around with it, it will become second nature.

How are you liking it so far?

Edit: Someone's suggestion that your speakers are an easy load is nothing to do with how many watts they can take. They are referring to your speakers being a nominal 8 ohm load say vs a speaker that is 4 ohms dipping down to 1.5-2.5 ohms at certain frequencies. The lower the ohms the harder the load is on whatever is powering them, the higher the easier.

quicksilvergts

Just an observation.
This thread just got serious lol
Very fun/informative read!
Went from noob to proffesional in just 3 pages lol

tonyb

Mindless, maybe take some time and read up on previous threads by using the search feature. The same questions get asked over and over every other day so It gets tiresome to many answering them and explaining the "why's" of every answer. In other words, educate yourself by doing a little reading. You keep mentioning manufacturers suggested power ratings, they mean diddly squat in reality. Good clean power is all that's needed, and depending on speaker design, the amount of that power varies. Budgets also vary, so what we recommend depends on that....if we know it, otherwise the recommendations can be all over the map.

That said, if you wish to hang out and learn some, that's cool, your more than welcome. But, in doing so maybe tone down the confrontational tone or people won't be so quick to cooperate in any answers you seek. Fair enough ?

Hermitism

I have the SC-05. I was completely overwhelmed when I got it...so many settings. I read the manual front to back twice. It took about two weeks before I became familiar with everything and still I'd come across something that I couldn't remember. I finally downloaded the manual from Pioneer's website to my tablet which is usually with me while I'm listening to movies or music in case I needed to look something up. The remote could have been made simpler IMO. I mention this in case yours didn't come with a manual/booklet.

tonyb

nbrowser wrote: »

I'll second DSkip here, well said Tony,

I was thrashed a bit when I first started here, but I started to learn. just takes an open mind and deep blippin pockets !

Your lucky we didn't make you wear the assless chaps first. Kinda like a Polk hazing event.

Look, most of us are men here, apologies to the lady's btw, and if we talk to each other like we were sitting next to one another on a bar stool, we may learn a thing or 2 and have some fun in the process. Talk on the internet erases the tone of casual conversation and can easily be mistaken for something else, so keep that in mind is all.

As far as spending your kids college fund.....we only require you to spend the funds of the kids you don't like. Reasonable, isn't it ?

tonyb

Well, at least the Hookers and blow were last on the list of priorities....lol.

EndersShadow

tonyb wrote: »

Well, at least the Hookers and blow were last on the list of priorities....lol.

What you talking about Tony? They shoulda been FIRST.

drummer86

This is one of my favorite threads ever.