A/V Reciever advice

FX4Newfie
FX4Newfie Posts: 23
edited December 2005 in Electronics
Hi,

I have just bought the following to replace my current speaker setup.

4 X TC265i in-wall speakers (Side and Back)
2 X RTi12 Floor Standing speakers (Front)
1 X CSi5 Center Channel speaker (Center)
1 X PSW505 Subwoofer (Sub)

I currently have a Home Theatre PowerCenter™ HTS 2000 MKII with Clean Power™ Stage 2 v.2.
http://www.monstercable.com/power/productPagePower.asp?pin=1900&LastPage=Home%20Theater%20Power

I also have a Pioneer VSX-D812K A/V Recevier.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/pna/product/detail/0,,32171715_32252771_35784898,00.html?compName=PNA_ProductDetailComponent

What would be a good A/V receiver/amp to purchase that would go along with this system? Would there be any point keeping my current Pioneer VSX-D812K A/V Recevier? Should I purchase multiple amps? My budget is a little flexible but preferrably don't want to spend too much. Maximum would probably be about $2500, but preferrably keep the cost around $1500 or less.

Thanks,

Newfie
FX4Newfie

Samsung 55" LED 3D TV (un55c7000)
RTi12's (Main) powered by 2 Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks
CSi5 (Center)
TC265i (Surround X 4)
Center and Surrounds powered by 2 Rotel RMB-1066's
PSW505 Sub
Sony STR-DA5400ES
XBOX 360
Nintendo Wii
Pioneer CD Player (PD-M403)
JVC DVD Player (XV-N40)
Bell 9200 Dual Tuner HD PVR
Harmony Remote
Post edited by FX4Newfie on

Comments

  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited December 2005
    You're gonna need a separate 2-channel amp (minimum 200 wpc) to power those Rti12's if you want to really hear what they can do. Then get a decent receiver with pre-outs. Definitely doable within your $1,500 price range, especially if you go with used gear. Check www.audiogon.com. It'll be a really nice system once you get it hooked up.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited December 2005
    Do you like the sound of the pioneer? Use it as a pre, and get yourself a nice multichannel amp. Outlaw comes to mind, but there are alot to choose from. I prefer Sunfire, but I'm partial. Here is one at your limit.

    Try a pre owned higher end receiver. I have Sunfire Ultimate. Good for 7.1, 200 WPC @ 8 Ohms, 400 WPC @ 4. Does the job quite nicely, and is pretty musical to boot. You should be able to pick one up for less than $2K...
  • gregure
    gregure Posts: 871
    edited December 2005
    While separates are always a good idea due to the greater power and performance bigger amps provide, you may want to start with a good receiver, and upgrade to better amps in the future when you can afford it.
    I would recommend looking at a SR8500 from Marantz. At 125 wpc it's a great piece, uses a torroidal transformer, and has a clear, open and powerful sound. It retails for $1500.
    A Pioneer Elite VSX56TXi also has many of the same qualities as the Marantz, but is a tad brighter sounding. These have been discontinued, but should still be around here and there. You may be able to find one for cheap, as they originally retailed for $1500.
    Toward the $2500 mark, look at a Rotel receiver. Probably the best sounding, most powerful receiver in that price range. I think their flagship receiver is $2500.
    Any one of those would start you with a good system, and you could branch out for a better two-channel amp in the future when you've saved up some more $$$.
    Current System:

    Mitsubishi 30" LCD LT-3020 (for sale**)
    Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand (Rosewood)-Mains (with Audioquest Mont Blanc cables)
    CSi5-Center (for sale**)
    FXi3-surrounds (for sale**)
    Martin Logan Depth-Sub
    B&K AVR 507
    Pimare CD21-CD Player
    Denon 1815-DVD Player
    Panamax M5500-EX-Line Conditioner
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited December 2005
    You will be VERY hard pressed to beat this combo. It is Outlaw's top of the line Pre/Pro, the 990, combined with their 7 channel 125watt/channel amp. The cool part is you can trade in the 125 watt/channel amp for a FULL refund when their new amp comes out if you decide the 125 just isn't doing it for you.

    For only $1898 you get to not only step into the world of separates, but get a killer pre/pro and a decent amp. I would go this way and just get out of the reciever game if it is an option for you.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
  • okiepolkie
    okiepolkie Posts: 2,258
    edited December 2005
    McLoki wrote:
    You will be VERY hard pressed to beat this combo. It is Outlaw's top of the line Pre/Pro, the 990, combined with their 7 channel 125watt/channel amp. The cool part is you can trade in the 125 watt/channel amp for a FULL refund when their new amp comes out if you decide the 125 just isn't doing it for you.

    For only $1898 you get to not only step into the world of separates, but get a killer pre/pro and a decent amp. I would go this way and just get out of the reciever game if it is an option for you.

    Michael




    +1(more if I could) for this option

    Zach
    Tschüss
    Zach
  • kingtut
    kingtut Posts: 813
    edited December 2005
    McLoki wrote:
    You will be VERY hard pressed to beat this combo. It is Outlaw's top of the line Pre/Pro, the 990, combined with their 7 channel 125watt/channel amp. The cool part is you can trade in the 125 watt/channel amp for a FULL refund when their new amp comes out if you decide the 125 just isn't doing it for you.

    For only $1898 you get to not only step into the world of separates, but get a killer pre/pro and a decent amp. I would go this way and just get out of the reciever game if it is an option for you.

    Michael

    Totally in agreement.
  • FX4Newfie
    FX4Newfie Posts: 23
    edited December 2005
    Thanks for all your oppinions guys, much appreciated.
    I think I will wait a little bit :( , and maybe by the spring have a look at the outlaw 990 pre/pro and maybe Outlaw's 7700 amp :) , I will probably try running everything with my Pioneer VSX-D812 until then. I am living in Northern Canada, Above the Arctic Circle Actually, and have to pay a lot of money for anything I want shipped up here. Anybody see any problems with me running the polks with the Pioneer Receiver?

    Thanks, :D
    FX4Newfie

    Samsung 55" LED 3D TV (un55c7000)
    RTi12's (Main) powered by 2 Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks
    CSi5 (Center)
    TC265i (Surround X 4)
    Center and Surrounds powered by 2 Rotel RMB-1066's
    PSW505 Sub
    Sony STR-DA5400ES
    XBOX 360
    Nintendo Wii
    Pioneer CD Player (PD-M403)
    JVC DVD Player (XV-N40)
    Bell 9200 Dual Tuner HD PVR
    Harmony Remote
  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited December 2005
    if you don't want to into separates due to space i would look at NAD or Harman Kardon's 7300/740. Watts are important, but look for current capability, and a secondary power supply as well. They're just as if not more important than wattage specs.

    You don't need 200 watts minimum to drive the rti12. You need alot of power sure, but not 200watts.
    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
  • FX4Newfie
    FX4Newfie Posts: 23
    edited December 2005
    I hope people are still reading this thread.

    I'm thinking that I will go ahead and get the outlaw combo. Now my next question is:

    I'm assuming I have a 15 amp circuit in my living room to run my HT. Will a 15 amp circuit have any problem running the following:

    Outlaw combo (990 pre/pro, 7125 amplifier)
    50" Samsung DLP TV
    Pioneer 6-pack cd-player
    XBox
    XBox 360
    PSW505 Polk Sub
    JVC DVD Player
    Pioneer VSX-D812 AVR (May use this to bi-amp the RTI12's) Any suggestions on this?
    Expressvu 9200 Dual Tuner HD PVR

    This will be connected through a Monster HT2000 Powercenter
    http://www.monstercable.com/power/productPagePower.asp?pin=1900&LastPage=Home%20Theater%20Power


    Thanks alot for the help,

    Newfie
    FX4Newfie

    Samsung 55" LED 3D TV (un55c7000)
    RTi12's (Main) powered by 2 Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks
    CSi5 (Center)
    TC265i (Surround X 4)
    Center and Surrounds powered by 2 Rotel RMB-1066's
    PSW505 Sub
    Sony STR-DA5400ES
    XBOX 360
    Nintendo Wii
    Pioneer CD Player (PD-M403)
    JVC DVD Player (XV-N40)
    Bell 9200 Dual Tuner HD PVR
    Harmony Remote
  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited December 2005
    It will. I would stick a 20 amp breaker on it anyway. But I have 2 dedicated 20's for my HT...
  • sickicw
    sickicw Posts: 456
    edited December 2005
    I would think 15 amps would probably be enough. That all i have in my living room, and i have no problems right now. If you blow a circuit breaker because you turn it up too loud, then you will know you need to get a dedicated line.

    I am thinking about selling my 990 pre/pro and 755 Amplifier. Might be a good idea to have 200 watts per channel (instead of 125) and then get a seperate amp for the 12s. anyhoo, im gonna probably be selling them sometime in january, so let me know.

    Oh yea both come with about 4.8 years left on the transferable warrenty.
    Speakers: LSi9 x 2, LSic, LSiFX x 2, Velodyne HGS-15
    Amps & Power: Rockford Fosgate T8004 x 3, Cascade Audio APS-55 power supplies x 5, and 1 farad capacitor.
    Electronics: Denon 3806, Toshiba HD-A1, & Sony KDL46XBR2
    Accessories: Anti-IC interconnects, 8 Mondo Traps from Realtraps, and Salamander furniture.
  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,217
    edited December 2005
    I always vote to go with seperates if possible. If you decide a receiver is more what you are looking for. Adcom has a new very good/excellent AVR.

    http://www.adcom.com/newproducts/gfr700ii.htm

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited December 2005
    "Pioneer VSX-D812 AVR (May use this to bi-amp the RTI12's) Any suggestions on this?"

    Bad idea. Forget about it.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."