Which reciever to choose?

ND13

Help me make a decision on which of the following recievers to use for a music only rig. As of right, it will be driving a minty fresh pair of RTA 8TL's with upgraded tweets via POLK, just installed last week. Not broken in good yet. Wanted to wait till I had cleaner power to do so. Also have a pair of R30's and soon to join the room will be either some Monitor 10's or RTA 11tl's or hopefully both, til some nice SDA's show up within a few hours of Indy. Here's my choices:
Denon DRA-395 for $349 w/80 WPC and free shipping
Onkyo TX8511 for $239 + shipping w/100 WPC
HK HK3380 for $229 w/80 WPC and free shipping
HK HK3480 for $299 w/120 WPC and free shipping
or should I go with the Onkyo M-282 amp w/100 WPC along with an Audio Pre One for $229 + $170 + shipping.

Also has anyone heard of Alesis amps? Any good?

Thanks for any advice, it will be taken seriously.

Also the power will also be used to drive some vintage Smaller Advents and Maestros, so it will have to have some balls seeing that they aren't known for efficiency but I just love there tight clean sound. And no not at the same time.

AsSiMiLaTeD

If you need power with some balls, then I'd opt for the HK. Out of the ones you've listed, they are the most high curent amps...

ND13

That's what I figured. I used to run HK seperates back in the day and the amp was only rated at 45 wpc and it did just fine with the Advents. I was also thinking about some vintage Crown's with that Dodd ELP everyone seems to be so happy with.

ohskigod

sounds like your going for 2 channel and not home theater right?

with the RTA 8's, Mon 10's and the RTA 11's, your probably want to go with seperates. seems like your going to place emphasis on bang for the buck given what seems to be your budget (definitly nothing wrong with that). the thing is, nothing is better bang for buck then used.
used 2 channel pre like an onkyo, rotel, parasound can be had for 100-200 dollars. (if you can find a Parasound php-850, usually in the 150 ish range, is a huge performer for the price. an absolutly stunning pre and a steal at the price range)

amp wise, same thing. Rotels are solid. parasounds are good too at a little more money. Onkyo M-501 and higher (504-506....508 too, but rare and very pricey) the 501 is a solid performer that can be had for under 200 usually, its not the most refined amp on the planet, but mine served me well for years.

I have Integra's equivalent of the M-282 (ADM.2.1), i'll admit, it performs well, but it definitly lacks a little oomph for the speakers that perform well with better amplification. the 282 is more for adding surround channels and what not then for primary 2 channel listening. just my opinion.

hang out on the site for a while and learn. there are many who know much more than me that you can learn from, lord knows i did.

ND13

I appreciate the reply. I been reading on this forum for a while now and have already picked up a lot of info. Seems like most of the members are pretty cool, too. Have noticed some though that aren't very open to the FNG's. Any opinion on Alesis? They look pretty but that doesn't mean ****. What about the Crown + Dodd combo?

ND13

I've always had a liking to vintage Carver also. And yes this will be for 2-channel only. I already have 2 HT set-ups. Budget rigs but nice sounding for movies. I am much more a 2-channel guy by far. I grew up with an appreciation for nice equipment but also affordable. My father bought my Smaller Advent new in 1972 along w a marantz 1060 int from Ovation in Memphis. He also had a very nice Philips(Holland of course) turntable and a Roberts reel to reel. Still has the Roberts but it is need of heads and some TLC. I might get it repaired if it is worth it.

marker

Out of the receivers you listed, I have two of them, the Onkyo TX-8511 and the HK 3480.

As to how they compare? Well, features wise (looks too), HK all the way. It has a sub out (but no crossover I don't think), pre-ins and outs, and actual 5 way speaker wire binding posts as opposed to cheesy spring clips.

It also has a virtual surround mode from only the 2 main front speakers that is absolutely jaw dropping. You would swear there are speakers beside you playing on ambient movie noises during scenes such as background traffic on a busy city street, etc. I don't know how they do it, but it definitely works as advertised.

The Onkyo does have video switching and probably a better tuner. It also has a phono stage too if that matters.

As to which sounds beter? I think it depends on the speakers you are using them with. On a pair of Infinity IL60, I think the Onkyo sounds better. On Polks with tri-lam tweeters, I think the HK sounds better.

ND13

Marker, thanks for your input. I was leaning towards the HK anyway. Am still waiting for opinions on the Alesis, Crown + Dodd combo and Carver.

ohskigod

I think a tube pre with a carver amp is a good way to go. more than I initially thought your budget was (sorry for that)
havent heard the Dodd, but no one has said a bad thing about, which means a lot from the guys on this board.

I currently use a Radii MNP-01 pre (which is also a tube pre) with a Carver M4.0t amp. The carver sounds great with a tube pre. Nice combo of a more laid back smooth tube sound with the dynamics and ooomph of a powerful Solid state amp. a nice combination of both worlds in my opinion.

I am very happy with my current 2 channel set up, and think you just cant go wrong with the Dodd and Carver arrangement. by the way, Kudos on your choice to go with the replacement tweets (it was still one fo the best upgrades in my system)

ND13

I think I will look for a Carver. Hopefully I can still get the Dodd at the deal that Russman set up. But I might go ahead and order the HK 3480 til the right Carver falls in my lap. My budget can vary depending on the equipment.

marker

BTW ND13, I know of somebody who has had both the HK 3480 and the Denon DRA-685 (100 watt x 2) stereo receivers at one time or the other, and he said that he thought the Denon was the better of the two.

I can't comment on that though as I've never heard the Denon for myself.

ND13

Wow, just remembered grammar rule i before e except after c.

jmierzur

You did not specify a budget, so a quick search found these:

RC-980BX pre

RB-980BX amp

I used these two with Monitor 10's with excellent results for many years.

The amps have been for sale for a long time; have been listed many times. I would make an offer if interested.

PS. I never saw the amps retail for $1200 in Canada.

ND13

Thanx for the links. I'll see how bad they want to rid themselves of such burdens. HAHA!!!

ND13

I'd like to thank everyone for their input. Unless I can get some info on a HK Award A500 tube receiver that can be had for $325, I'll probably end up going with the HK 3480 for now. A very good buy @ $299 w/ free shipping. I'll make a decision today on that or used. Any info on the HK tube? Good buy? Good receiver?

organ

If I had to pick from the receivers you listed, I'd go for Onkyo or HK.

But like others have mentioned, going used or saving a little more money is a better way to go for a 2ch system. Better to save up for what you really want than starting low and building up your system. You save more money that way.

Maurice

ND13

Update:

Went with the HK. Spent most Sunday hooking it up. Very big improvement over the Pro Series Optimist/Pioneer. Clean all the way to "TOO LOUD" for the family and neighbors. Here's the system as of now.

HK HK3480- $299/ J&R
Onkyo 340 6-disc CD changer-$28/EZ Pawn
Polk RTA 8TL's w/ upgraded tweeters-$165/local find/like new
Polk R30's-$80/Fry's
JBL E150P Sub-$129 NIB/HH GREGG's Tent sale.

Next is to upgrade wiring.

Will always continue to look for upgrades in source, power, and speakers.