New RM7600 owner - need receiver

par-man

Hello all,

I recently purchased a set of RM7600's with a PSW12 sub.
I would like some recommendations on receivers. I would prefer to get one from Best Buy (only because I can tack it on with the 24mo. financing from my plasma purchase) plus I have about $250 is reward dollars to spend. BestBuy is, however, not an absolute necessity.

Budget = approx $3-400.... Any thoughts??

MC

Seggy

The Onkyo TX-SR601 can be had for $300.00. Best bang for the buck, IMO...

pjdami

Welcome to the forum.

The best receiver in your price range that Best Buy carries is probably the Yamaha HTR-5750. Depending on how critical you are of your music, you may love it or hate it. This combo may have a more forward sound to it.

Best Buy also has Sony and Pioneer, but it is best to stick with the Sony ES or Pioneer Elite lines which Best Buy doesn't sell.

You may also want to look into Marantz. The 4400 refurbished can be found here:

http://accessories4less.com/Amazing/itemdesc.asp?CartId=6915-EVEREST-152MOSQI356&ic=MAR+SR4400&cc=&tpc=

I would research the receivers and see if they have an adjustable LFE crossover for the sub (my Yamaha was fixed at 90 hz) as with those satellites you have you may need to run the crossover on the sub a little high to reduce any mid bass gap you may have.

Do a search for the 7600 here on the forum and you will find some interesting reading.

scottvamp

Originally posted by Seggy
The Onkyo TX-SR601 can be had for $300.00. Best bang for the buck, IMO...

I agree with Seggy - great call on the 601.

par-man

Thanks for the replies and the welcome guys

I spend a good bit of time over at the avsforum and recently found this one (since I am a polk owner now)

Here is a little more information based on comments you posted.
I would like to have some sort of room equalization.
Yamaha has the YPAO (i.e HTR-5760 which is in the price range)
Pioneer has the MCAAC (or something like that) in the VSX-D814K

I have heard great things about this technology - but do not know if any of the units you guys mentioned have this feature.
Any thoughts on room eq and it's effectiveness??

Also - system use will be approx 75% movies/tv - 25% music
Perhaps this is also a stupid question - but hopefully the unit will have A and B speaker selectors. The new house has speakers in the HT/Living room as well as 2 ceiling mounted speakers in the dining room.

Thanks again guys
MC

AsSiMiLaTeD

I'll be honest...at the price you are looking at with your speakers, I wouldn't worry too much about the room equalization thing. If a receiver you like has it, then that's great, but I wouldn't buy based on that feature.

You need to listen to your options, and decide which one you like best. If you're wanting to stay with Best Buy, then that Yammy is probably your best bet there. I doubt their less expenxive receivers will have the room EQ thing, but I don't know...

Your biggest concern right now should be which receiver has the sound you are looking for. Each one has it's own sound, you've just got to see which you like best...

As for the room EQ thing, you can still set the speaker volumes by ear, and that will get you close enough...you can always buy an SPL meter down the road and get a more precise setting (30 bucks at Radio Shack), but I think you'll be fine setting it by ear...

par-man

Point well taken polkmaniac

That is part of the dilema. I am not necessarily limited to BB.
Would just be nice to use my reward bucks - but it's not like I will not ever buy anything else from there.

Anothe issue is being able to listen to different receivers with the speakers. CC is the only store in my area that has these speakers and they have them hooked up to a $1400 HK. The store I bought the package from is over an hour away - but the price was worth it ($599) Since CC I can not easily listen to a multitude of receivers with these speakers, I almost have to rely on input from people that have actually heard different combinations. I know some combos are too bright or too flat (albeit everyones listening tastes differ so any advise will not be exact) but at least it may get me closer to what I want to hear and if I have to take one or two units back, because they did not sound good, that is ok.

So, bottom line, I do not have to limit my choice to BB. I also do not want to skimp on the cost if a something slightly higher will yield significantly better results. In my area I have BB, CC & CompUSA.

P.S.. I should also add that I do not know enough about matching speaker specs with receiver specs. There was mention in an earlier post about crossovers and that went right over my head

kingtut

In that price range, I'd check Audiogon for a used Denon 2802 or Harman Kardon 525 or 325. Make sure the HK is not refurbished. A lot of HK have shut down problems w/refurbished models, according to members of HT forum. HK 525 & 325 has the automatic calibration, the Denon does not. I owned both the Denon 3803 (however, it's above your specified price range) and the HK 525, and both of them are very good receivers.

par-man

Thanks tut - I will see what I can find in those.
In the meantime - I did find a few clearance models at the local B&M

Kenwood VR-7070 ($350)
Yamaha HTR-5560 ($300)
Yamaha HTR-5590 ($375)

Thoughts??

kingtut

If those Yamaha are from the previous generation, my opinion is that their are on the bright side. I like my music & HT warm, and bright sounds tend to hurt my ears after extended listening. The current generation yamaha is warmer. Some people like bright sound, others like it warm.

par-man

I do not like bright either - that is one of the reasons I did not go with the Klipsch Quintets (horns) - I prefer a more natural sound - particulary for movies. That is why I was wondering about the Kenwood in particular - especially since it is THX (which may just be a lot of fluff) plus it is rated @ 100W/ch

kingtut

I have not heard from the Kenwood, so I can't comment on it. THX certification is not what is cracks up to be. I purchased a Pioneer 1012 (or is it 1011) that is THX Certified. Members from other forums reported that it's the same receiver as the Pioneer Elite 45. They looks exactly the same (except the Elite name and w/out the gloss of the Pioneer Elite), and they have exact same weight. After listening to it for two weeks, I returned it to the shop because of lack of bass in comparison to the HK525 and Denon 3803. The mid and treble sounded pretty good on the Pioneer.

woodyjacobs

I have owned a Yammie 5560 and found it be good for movies (excellent DSPs, solid processing), but a bit thin sounding for music. BUT, it does have A/B speaker switching and will run 5.1 (or 6.1) AND the B speakers (in stereo) at the same time....which is pretty nice for parties, entertaining etc.

To my ears the HK 525 (which I currently use) is sweeter-sounding for music. It doesn't have a B speaker output but does offer assignable amps, so if you are running 5.1 you can configure the 6th and 7th channels to run as a stereo pair...which means you pretty much have your B speaker output...and with a seperate volume control, which is very cool.

The onkyos are fine...some find them bright, I personally think they sound pretty good (although maybe not quite as good as the HK - IMO...at least not with full range speakers -- However I have always thought that Onkyos seem to sound their best on sub/satellite systems such as yours)...and they do have a B speaker ouput...but I believe (maybe others that have this model can confirm) that when you turn on the B speakers then the main room speakers will switch off everything but the mains...so will have stereo in both rooms.

And I can't speak of the Kenwood or Pioneers, haven't owned or tried them.

par-man

Very informative review woody - thanks!
Looking at the specs of the 5560 and the 5590 - I notice a few things:

5560 = .06THD / 75W
5590 = .04THD / 100W

Aside from this - I really do not know what effect the rest of the specs have. Is there anything else important to look at with regards to the rest of the specs?? Is it safe to assume the 5590 is an upgrade from the 5560 ??

BTW, I noticed in your sig that it is time to upgrade the TV
I just upgraded from a Sony Wega 32 to a 42" Plasma. I have researched the hell out of these so if you are leaning that direction - would be happy to help shorten your curve.

MC

Reference links
http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/Specs/?gAVR00010HTR-5560
http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/Specs/?gAVR00010HTR-5590

woodyjacobs

Well a plasma would certainly be sweet...need to buy a new house first though to (attempt to) keep the Mrs. happy. My TV upgrade is going to have to wait for awhile. Thanks for the offer though.

I looked at a 5590 just last night at my local Best Buy (300 bucks open box...but it was missing all four of its feet, strangely). It's a nice-looking unit, much beefier looking than the 5560. I did find it kind of strange however, that the 5560 has all channel pre-outputs (to hook up external amps if desired) and the 5590 does not. Otherwise the 5590 does certainly seem to be a step up in power.

Nice choice with the rm7600...those will look really sweet mounted with the plasma.

Toxis

Suggestions:
Onkyo 602 (will be out end of the month) $450ish (85x6)
Harmon/Kardan 130 $350 (45x5)
H/K 230 $450 (50x6)
Denon 1804 $400 (90x6)


For the money, those are all great receivers. Those are the approx. prices I sell them at my work so you might be able to find 'em a lil cheaper on the 'Net... just realize you have a large chance of buying a refurb or not getting a warranty. Just FYI.

par-man

Toxis - I agree with you. I know things can be purchased cheaper on the net and although there are reputable online dealers - there are some bad ones too. When it comes to the audio equipment - I would rather purchase from a local B&M for several convenience and the ability to easily return units that don't meet expectations. BTW, are you @ CC or Tweeter? sounds like their lineup??

Woody - always keep the Mrs. happy - That is why we married them

I guess I may try the 5590. According to the tech guys at polk, the RM7600's like to have 100W and this receiver fits the bill. I do not know that I will add amps in the future so the lake of pre-outs is probably not a big issue.

FWIW, there is a guy at another forum that is calling the 7600's "cheap crap". I agree - these speakers have their limitations - but for those that do not want larger speakers for space and/or aesthetics purposes - I figured these were among the best.... am I misguided? I do have 30 days to return them

Toxis

Parman - I work for a place called Nebraska Furniture Mart here in Kansas City. It's the largest single company retail establishment in all of North America. IT'S FUGGEN HUGE! lol Anyhow, we have 7 brands of electronics and 8 speaker lines... that's just in home audio, not counting TV's. Over 500 TV's on display... it's pretty cool. Just we market way to much towards the HTIB customers. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: