Today, I should be buying my 3rd AVR

DonnerUndBlitzen

I've had this day on my mind for the last few months as it marks the 20th year since my dad passed away. It also is the day that I will pull the trigger on a new AVR. I have narrowed the field down to 3, but am still undecided. This is a good time to buy audio-video receivers. The 2016 models are being phased out and the 2017 models introduced. (kinda like getting a good deal on last year's car model).

The 3 receivers I'm considering are: The Yamaha Aventage RX-A1060 (2016 model). The Yamaha RX-A1070 (2017 model), and the Yamaha RX-A2060 (2016 model). I did consider Denon and Marantz and kept circling back to Yamaha. There are far too many choices to wade through!

Yamaha has decided to support two more flavors of ultra HD video (Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log-Gamma) with firmware updates for the 2016 models. The only major difference between the 2016 model RX-A1060 and 2017 model RX-A1070 that I've discovered is an update of their virtual presence CINEMA DSP 3D for the 2017 models.

So, I can save a couple of hundred dollars on the 1060 vs. the 1070, or I can get a deal on the 2060 for about the same price as the 1070. The RX-A2060 offers more power - 140 watts per channel vs. 110 watts and 9 channel processing vs. 7 channel. I plan on initially doing 5.1 surround and possibly adding front presence/Dolby Atmos speakers down the road. I don't need 9 channel processing, but having more power seems to be a good thing.

What makes the decision hard is that I have never heard any of these receivers and don't know if 110 watts rms is enough power, or if 140 watts is enough. With either of these receivers I may need to buy a front speakers power amp.

I now have a wait and see how things go attitude and am prepared to be both overwhelmed and underwhelmed. I am close to being done with upgrading and hope to focus on other things next year and enjoy what I have. It is much easier saving to buy $15 to $30 worth of DVDs and BD discs than to save for audio equipment. After the AVR, I hope to get another sub-woofer and a new 4k TV.

I checked on the manuals for the 2060/3060 vs. the 2070/3070 and the new model manual is only 1 page longer for 2017. It is ONLY 232 pages long. By the time I figure out how to use all the features it will be time to upgrade again. The similarity of the manuals is a good sign that the 2017 models are only a very minor tweak over the 2016 models. The big change this year is the 3070 has balanced and unbalanced inputs. They have also upgraded the SABRE DACs on the 3070. The 2070 has the same dual SABRE DACs as the 2016 model 2060.

So, I have carefully considered my options and don't have a clear road ahead. But then again, "Rock, paper, scissors" have almost always been a winner for me. Any of the 3 receivers should work out and can be augmented if needed by adding a power amp. I have 3 good choices. In politics, I'm used to voting and trying to figure out which candidate is the best of the worst. Having 3 good choices is a good thing.

rpf65

I wouldn't base the decision on power ratings. Not really a great deal of difference between 110 and 140 watts when dealing with an AVR.

There was a upgrade worthy enough to consider the xx50 over the xx60, but not sure if that's the case between the xx60 and xx70 series.

When it comes to adding an amp, for whichever combination of speakers you can dream up, most on this forum will usually say it will be an improvement. There are some, mostly from on other forums, that can't understand why anybody would add an amp.

Personally I think the decision should be based more so on the speaker instead of a blanket statement. Could most speakers benefit from a separate amp; Yes. Is it necessary to get additional amplification for all speakers; No.

I have the 2060, and am quite happy with it. My choice was based on the fact that I'm running 9 speakers, and don't really think I will be going to 11 any time soon, if ever.

I may be mistaken, but believe your running RTI A5's. Any of those AVR's will drive those speakers without issue, at a sensible volume. A separate amp won't be necessary, but will probably be beneficial, providing the speakers and amp get along well together.

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rpf65

Ran RTI A5's, CSI A4, FXI A6's, RTI A3's, and RTI A1's with no problem using the 2060. Although I very rarely go above the 65 dB range. Don't get to hung up on watts. They are mainly a marketing device, and at best, a very poor comparison guide.

You shouldn't have a problem driving the A5's and three other speakers with the 10 series. Just keep an eye on the volume knob. Very seldom have I personally found myself listening to movies above -20, there were exceptions, but I can't ever remembering going to -15. That was about 70 dB, measured with the Radio Shack meter, sitting 14 feet away from the front three.

mdaudioguy

If you buy the 2060, you'll probably never say, "Man, I wish I would have bought one of the other models."

I've had at least 4 Yamaha AVRs, including the Aventage 1010 and now the 2040. I wish I could give you details on the difference in wpc, but I've always had an amp in between the AVR and the RTi speakers. My amp drives 5 and the receiver drives the remaining 4.

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polrbehr

You say listening at -35 is fairly loud? I'm having a hard time understanding that, only because I have similar fronts (RTi10s) and a similar Denon AVR (120wpc, IIRC?) and to achieve that level of sound I'd need to go to about -15db. Maybe yours are set up differently with the Yamaha, I manually configured mine with an SPL meter.

@mdaudioguy is right; they're never "future-proof", but in the long run you'll be happy you got the better one.

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pkquat

IMO the wattage difference for the AVR will not be much. If you are running a sub, I would not worry about the AVR power. The 2060 likely has a larger power supply which is better, but how much larger is the key. Often the stated output may be 40WPC more per channel, but the PS realistically is only 60-80 WPC higher. IMO unless your surround speakers are hard to drive, save the money and put it towards a decent 2Ch amp for the mains.

I have an old Yamaha HTR rated at 80-90WPC for 6 channels. That is ~500W total.
The PS is just under 300 WPC. Its not hard to do the math. This is how most AVR's are designed.

For 2 channel, no sub, my HTR will drive my SDA 1C's and other speakers that require similar power just fine. They get very loud and it is still clean for an HTR. There is good bass punch as well. It has done ok, as best I can tell for HT duty, no sub, although when you get a quick very loud explosion from all speakers, its tough to tell if there may be some hidden distortion. Without a sub, there is definitely less subsonic information reaching the mains using the AVR amp, vs a separate.

If I use a separate 250 WPC amp, I do notice a difference in the bass punch when the volume is pushed. The overall sound is more detailed, but that is mostly from a better amp. I have used 100-125 WPC separates. They offer more punch too, but the main difference is the more detailed sound. They don't have as much punch as the 250 WPC amp. Mind you this is near the limits of the speakers. At loud volumes the differences are hard to hear and may really only be noticed with critical 2ch listening and a dedicated pre-amp. With this 2Ch set up, I was able to notice differences between amp design and 100W vs 115W, and 125W sound and bass punch.

afterburnt

I have two AVENTAGE I have no Idea how they sound on their own. These Plookies made me amp them right off the top. I may have ran them for a second without amps but I don't much remember. Anyway, I really like all of the Yamaha AVR's that I have had.

jeremymarcinko

I'm not critical of the ht, but my 1010 on it's own in a decent size basement RTI ht didnt leave me wanting. Leaving under 80 to the sub of course. Adding a big Emotiva changes the game for ht though.

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PSOVLSK

DonnerUndBlitzen wrote: »

For all the stuff I've ordered thru the internet, I have only gotten burned a couple of times. quote]

This confirms that you are not polkfamboy posting under a different name

WTH is wrong??? Not sure why this posted as part of the "quote."

PSOVLSK

DonnerUndBlitzen wrote: »

It traveled from Commerce CO to Salt Lake City UT and now is in route to Boise ID. We'll see if it travels from Boise to Portland OR and then up I-5 to Tacoma WA or if it goes across I-90. quote]

Funny fact: I own a mailing center west of Dallas and if someone ships an overnight package via FedEx from my store to Dallas, it goes to Memphis and then to Dallas in order to get there overnight.

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