My $2,000 Cambridge Audio amp

Danny Tse

Have always been a 2 channel kind of guy. So I walked into my local Magnolia Hi-Fi (inside my local Best Buy) and browsed. To be honest, I was itching to upgrade my system from 2 channel stereo to multi-channel (3.1 in my situation). The salesman came by and we got talking, so I told him that my current amp is a Cambridge Audio A500 stereo integrated amp (purchased for $250.00 new) and I wanted a multi-channel HT receiver to sound as good in 2 channel stereo as the CA. I was shocked when he told me it will take a $2,000 HT receiver to match my little CA amp in 2 channel performance. I don't know whether he was putting me on, trying to sell me something way beyond my budget, or the truth. Now I can understand that a HT receiver is build for purposes entirely different than a integrated amp, but $2,000?? Are HT receiver really that bad at producing 2 channel? If it takes $2,000 to just get an extra channel, forget it.

Early B.

That guy was yankin' your chain. Cambridge Audio makes a $600 receiver that probably sounds just a good as your amp in 2-channel mode.

StopherJJ1980

yeah, dont trust him, you can find a better deal, especially if youre willing to go used.

Ferres

Many of the older reciever 4 to 5 years ago had noise issues due to being the 'jack of all trade' in the audio side of HT set-ups. But a lot has changed since then.

But I would still not recommend a 4ohm speaker to run on a reciever. :P