Receivers... A List of Possibles

Mike682
Mike682 Posts: 2,074
edited July 2005 in Electronics
Ok, I am looking for a new receiver. It must have pre-outs and component jacks.

Here is a short list (not in any order) I compiled. I have an oppurtunity to get a corporate discount and the only reason some brands are excluded is because the store does not carry them..

One note: The amp section is not much of an issue as I will be using the pre-outs. These receivers will be used as pre-pros..

Prices are for new
H/K:
1) AVR 235 - $329
2) AVR 335 - $449

Denon:
1) AVR 785 - $365

Pioneer:
1) AVR 815 - $230 (got very good reviews on S&V and Audioholics)
2) AVR 1015 - $395

What do you guys think?

Mike
Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
Mains: polk R30
Center: polk CSi3
Rear Surrounds: polk R20
Subwoofer: polk PSW404
DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
Post edited by Mike682 on
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Comments

  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,064
    edited July 2005
    So why are you asking? I don't see why some one would spend for example 1k on a receiver to be used as a pre/pro.
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  • phuz
    phuz Posts: 2,372
    edited July 2005
    Denon.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited July 2005
    Yeah, if you're going to be using this as a pre/pro, I'd definitely go with Denon - probably has the best processing of anything out there in your price range.

    FWIW, I'd go with the denon even if you were using it to power speakers, but since you're looking for a processor only, that makes the Denon a no brainer IMO.
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Willow
    So why are you asking? I don't see why some one would spend for example 1k on a receiver to be used as a pre/pro.


    I am asking fellow polkies for their opinion on these receivers. I'm most interested in opinions regarding the pre/pro performance of these units. I know the decision ultimately lies with me, but I would appreciate any input based on experience with using a receiver as a pre/pro.

    Overall, I may be overlooking something and I am just trying to cover everything...


    Mike
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • marker
    marker Posts: 1,084
    edited July 2005
    At that price point, Pioneer 1015 which is a rebadged Pioneer elite unit.

    If you could up the budget a little, HK 435
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    H/K 235 or Denon 785- too close to call.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by aaharvel
    H/K 235 or Denon 785- too close to call.
    Man you gotta do something about all that extra space under your sig...:D
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,064
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by marker
    If you could up the budget a little, HK 435

    again WHY?
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited July 2005
    Willow, no one's talking about dropping a grand on a receiver just to use as a processor - all the units he asked about are in the ~$350 range.

    He probably doesn't want to spend the cash for a pre/pro right now, and so is looking at receivers in his price range. You can't really get a pre/pro in that price range. Plus, it sounds like he's limited to what's in a retail store somewhere, and I doubt they have a pre/pro selection...
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Polkmaniac
    Man you gotta do something about all that extra space under your sig...:D

    no kidding. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?!? I didn't put it there.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,413
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Willow
    again WHY?

    He doesn't need the amps.

    He needs a pre/pro

    he is getting a discount, but only on certain brands, these certain brands don't make pre/pro's so he is using a receiver as a prepro.
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    Thanks Polk! I fixed it! :)
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    hoosier and polkmaniac are correct.

    If I want to take advantage of this offer, I am limited to what the store carries. Also, it is an authorized store for all the brands it carries..

    Basically, I am looking to get the most out of my money...something that can be flexible in the future.

    I know many people have done very well with using a receiver as a pre/pro and that is the road I want to take.....
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Mike682
    Basically, I am looking to get the most out of my money...something that can be flexible in the future.

    I know many people have done very well with using a receiver as a pre/pro and that is the road I want to take.....

    speaking from experience- i recommend the hk235. Pre-Outs, dpLIIx, Lexicon's Logic-7, the whole 9 yards.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • jet2001
    jet2001 Posts: 180
    edited July 2005
    that Logic-7 almost pushed me to buy a H/K...I ultimatly bought a Denon...but price had a lot to do with it...I was very impressed with both H/K's and Denon. Unfortunatly I can't comment on the Denon's pre-out as I am seperate ampless. :(

    Good luck!
    RTi4-fronts
    CSi3-center
    R15-surrounds
    Cerwin Vega LW15-Sub
    Denon AVR 885
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by jet2001
    that Logic-7 almost pushed me to buy a H/K...I ultimatly bought a Denon...but price had a lot to do with it...I was very impressed with both H/K's and Denon. Unfortunatly I can't comment on the Denon's pre-out as I am seperate ampless. :(

    Good luck!

    I consider H/K and Denon at a virtual tie. The Denon does have better processing and DACS but I like that H/K sound- it tames my Adcoms pretty well.

    (edit) if you have all bookshelves- prologic IIx is better than L7. L7 takes too much bass out of the subwoofer, and when the crossover is on, too much is lost upon delivery.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • marker
    marker Posts: 1,084
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Willow
    again WHY?

    For one thing it has the best processor currently on the market, the same TI used in Denon's AVR-5805. Another is that it has an above average room correction system too. Well worth the extra $$ over the Pioneer IMO.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2005
    I'd add Marantz to your list of receivers. Atleast check them out. I think you'd probably be happiest with the Denon or H/K receivers for your price range though. Good Luck.
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  • shiu
    shiu Posts: 169
    edited July 2005
    I have only used a Sony ES and my current 3805 as prepro, and for the L/R channels only. I was more than happy with the Sony/Adcom combination. I no longer have the Sony, but in listening to two channel music, the Denon sounds as good, or better than my Adcom preamp. Of those listed, the Pioneer seems to give the best value, but you can't go wrong with the HK or Denon neither.
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by shiu
    Of those listed, the Pioneer seems to give the best value, but you can't go wrong with the HK or Denon neither.

    Exactly, I am really impressed with the amount of options the Pioneer has for the price. However, I really like HK; their receivers are solid and have very good processing.

    Denon, Marantz also seem like very good choices also.....

    I will keep researching
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Airplay355
    I'd add Marantz to your list of receivers. Atleast check them out. I think you'd probably be happiest with the Denon or H/K receivers for your price range though. Good Luck.

    Thanks for the heads up...I was over at Marantz's website and they have a very nice entry level unit.

    I will keep an eye on them

    Thanks
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    stupid double post.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by Mike682
    Thanks for the heads up...I was over at Marantz's website and they have a very nice entry level unit.

    I will keep an eye on them

    Thanks

    THe Marantz SR4500.

    For mainstream receivers H/K, Denon and Marantz are my favorites- in that order.

    H/K for the amp quality and sound
    Denon for the processing and features
    Marantz- They're looks are to die for.

    jmo
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Andrew, thanks for the input. I agree 100% with your list

    Mike
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Originally posted by aaharvel
    stupid double post.

    I had this happen also...the forum seemed to hang when I went to post, so I hit the back button, then foward and hit submit again thinking it didn't get posted...and oops 2 repeat posts...
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2005
    Just my late $.02 on the Pioneer 815, I got the 814 recently and love it. Has all the jacks I need and more features than I could ever use. Preouts too. It appears to have excellent build quality and has a very solid feel to it. If it performs well over the long haul Ill be defecting from a Sony diehard to Pioneer. ;)
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • neokeelo
    neokeelo Posts: 168
    edited July 2005
    I got an Onkyo TX-SR800 for $300.00 and I haven not looked back yet. :D
    My System
    Pre/Pro - Integra DTR 40.2
    Amplifier -Parasound 2205a
    Paradigm Studio 60s V5 Mains
    Paradigm Studio 590 V5 Center
    Paradigm 20s - rear ( Wanted)
    SUB - SVS PB12-NSD
    LG PK250 60inch Plasma
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  • Mike682
    Mike682 Posts: 2,074
    edited July 2005
    Thanks for the input so far. I am still looking, so keep 'em coming...

    The store where I get my disc also sells onkyo and yamaha...I just have to call to get the prices on these...


    now if somebody would by my hk in the fleamarket.....:D
    Receiver: harmankardon AVR235
    Mains: polk R30
    Center: polk CSi3
    Rear Surrounds: polk R20
    Subwoofer: polk PSW404
    DVD: Panasonic DVD-S29
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