2 CH Home Theater Help

EkMotten

Hello All,

I'm trying to figure out the best components within my budget to couple with my SDA 1C Studio's for a 2 channel living room home theater setup. I need to decide whether to buy an AVR with L/R pre-outs and a 2 channel amplifier, or go Pre/Pro instead of AVR and Amp. I was looking at the Marantz line of slimline receivers with pre-outs if I go the AVR and Amp route. I'm also interested in getting a pro amplifier. This will be my main setup and will be used for 80% movies, 20% music. Let me know what you guys recommend, thanks!

Budget:
>$400 Receiver or Pre/Pro
>$250 Amplifier

EkMotten

Any suggestions?

EkMotten

Okay. I'm looking to use a PS3 as my main source for Blu-Rays, DVDs, and CDs as well as streaming. I guess I'm confused on what an integrated amplifier can do. Are these units only analog, taking in RCA inputs, or do they have digital inputs with their own DACs. What processing would I need from an AVR for a two channel home theater?

jeremymarcinko

The Onkyo A-9050 is a nice mix. Stereo integrated amp with digital inputs. Wolfson 192kH/24-bit DAC for all of your loss less digital files plus a phono stage and stereo and subwoofer preouts to add the external amp. I am considering one of these for myself.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580A9050/Onkyo-A-9050.html?tp=34948&awkw=48750813625&awat=pla&awnw=g&awcr=20057922865&awdv=c

cnh

If you're going to use the PS3 as, pretty much a transport, you should consider a unit that has DACs in it and coax and toslink INS.

Not sure how many integrateds have something like that. But I'd check entries from NAD and Cambridge Audio first in your price range--to see if they offer such an amp? The main problem will be that you're limited to an OPTICAL (toslink) out on the PS3 and, I believe most integrateds in this price range, if they do have digital processing, only have coax INS?

I suppose you could just use the PS3 analog harness and go L/R RCA, but then you're dependent on the PS3s DACs which are so-so.

A Marantz AVR with pre-outs and an amp might be a good solution for you? Then you could just HDMI the PS3 into the Marantz and use that as the pre/pro as you suggest above.


cnh

zingo

I'm currently using a B&K AVR-202 for a 2-channel movie watching rig, and it works great! It has a good 2-channel mode, and does a much better job of down-mixing the signal from my blu-ray player than the analog outs on the BDP. With only using the two of five channels, the sound quality is very good for movies or music, and you speakers are not limited by the power supply as it's designed for twice the load. Plus it has tons of digital and analog inputs and outputs, so it can accommodate most changes or upgrades in the future.

EkMotten

Thanks SO much guys! Definitely cleared up a ton for me and given me great suggestions! I'll look into each one of your suggestions and see if I have any questions

EkMotten

Totally noobie noob question: Is there any way to give thanks to users or "kudos" like on other forums?

EkMotten

Should I also be looking for just a preamp processor and coupling that with an amp, for example a Crown XLS1500? I don't think that any of these integrated amps have enough power for what I've been reading that these SDAs really need to shine. Thanks

EkMotten

What is higher current as opposed to higher wattage (noob here)?

EkMotten

If I get one of the above mentioned integrated amps with built in DAC or a Marantz receiver and use the PS3 as a digital transport (like another user mentioned), won't it be no different than any other source? Because you'd be relying on the DAC of the integrated amp or receiver, right?

EkMotten

Thanks a lot nbrowser! That clears it up very well!

EkMotten

After a lot of research I feel like I want an AV Processor to couple with an amplifier. Like you guys have mentioned, there aren't too many options for an all-in-one integrated amp or even pre-amplifier with built in DACs (DAC is a must). I read about the Onkyo that jeremymarcinko recommended but it didn't get very good reviews sonically. I also looked at what NAD and Cambridge had to offer. The NAD D 3020 seemed perfect until I realized that it wasn't a pre-amp as well. Looking into AV processors, I now want to be able to hook up HDMI, coax, and toslink, and maybe even a few old game systems (analog audio outs). I was going to have to sacrifice this importance for the other setups but now I'm relieved that I won't have to. I'm quite interested in both the Emotiva UMC-200 and the Outlaw Audio 975 AV pre/pros. My main question though is, if I'm using only external amps, can't I treat a good AV receiver as my pre/pro with just as good or very comparable sound quality? For an exact example, a Marantz NR1403 (~$350 used) vs the two mentioned processors (~$550-600)

Thanks a lot!

EkMotten

Note: This will be used for 2Ch only or possibly Quadrophonic for now. I would eventually like to get a matching center though and a subwoofer (if I even need one with the 1C's two 12in. PRs) but that shouldn't be for a while.

zingo

How about a nice B&K Reference Pre/Pro? They are in your price range, offer good 2-channel playback, and 5-channel when you get there.

EndersShadow

EkMotten wrote: »

My main question though is, if I'm using only external amps, can't I treat a good AV receiver as my pre/pro with just as good or very comparable sound quality? For an exact example, a Marantz NR1403 (~$350 used) vs the two mentioned processors (~$550-600)

You can however the main issue is many of the entry level receivers lack pre-outs which are needed to connect your dedicated amps. I believe the 1403 lacks these pre-outs as well. I am not sure any of the marantz slimline models (NR model numbers) have pre-outs at all.

EkMotten

Thanks for the suggestion zingo! I'll start looking into them.

EkMotten

Actually EndersShadow, all of the Marantz slimlines have 2CH (assignable) pre-outs. That's why I was specifically interested in those

EkMotten

Zingo, the only modern B&K processors I'm finding are upwards of $1000...?

jeremymarcinko

^^ which is why I suggested the Onkyo 9050. There's not much else available at that price point. If an ext.amp is added is added it will sound very nice. The Wolfson dac inside is a decent one. At $400 there's going to be compromises.
Good luck

EndersShadow

EkMotten wrote: »

Actually EndersShadow, all of the Marantz slimlines have 2CH (assignable) pre-outs. That's why I was specifically interested in those

Wow, that is pretty cool!


As a side note, I currently have a Integra DTR 5.9 receiver that I may be replacing with another unit here in the next few weeks. Take a look and see if that unit might interest you. Its got 4 HDMI, 2 optical, couple coaxial, composite, s-video, 7.1 pre-outs, 6 channel inputs, etc.

EkMotten

Thank you very much for the suggestion jeremymarcinko, but I've realized it will be too much of a sacrifice for me to not have HDMI inputs and switching, composite inputs, and everything else that a receiver/processor offers over an integrated amp.

EkMotten

EndersShadow, that looks like a GREAT receiver, and everything I'd really ever want. But...at the moment, I'm penniless and with current school debts I'm just trying to solidify my future setup in my head or else it eats away at my concentration all parts of the day (I'm obsessed lol). Every so often I'm able to save up enough money though (like when I bought SDA 1C's). So, thank you for the offer! Would you like to PM me with a possible starting price?

zingo

EkMotten wrote: »

Zingo, the only modern B&K processors I'm finding are upwards of $1000...?

Snatch it up: http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-K-Reference-50-THX-ultra-2-/151268613894?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item23384fdf06

EkMotten

I really want HDMI audio input. It's the only lossless digital input.

EkMotten

And I already have all the HDMI cables I need, otherwise I'd need to buy multiple optical and coaxial cables.

EkMotten

Thanks for posting the find though!

EkMotten

How do you guys think the Marantz slimline series would sound as a pre/pro? I really love all of the features and the form factor. Do you have any other suggestions for good sounding affordable receivers or processors to be used as a pre/pro only?