How Does my Receiver Compare - Yamaha HTR-5450?

Music Junkie

I've had my speaker system for quite a few years and could use some opinions. My current system is below:

Floor speakers (for music) - RTi70
Front surround - RT35i
Centre - CS245i
Back surround - RT25i
Sub - PSW250
Receiver - Yamaha HTR-5450

While I think my sub and centre can use some improvements I'm more curious if I can gain a lot of improvement with a better receiver? My Yamaha receiver's output is 80w per channel. Would a good receiver at 100W per channel be worth the purchase? Is there more I should look at then just wattage? When I purchased everything years ago I was on a budget. Now that I have maybe a $1k to play with is it worth investing in a new receiver (at least based on the speakers I have)?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

DollarDave

Yes, you would be very well served to upgrade the center with a "previously owned" CS400i or CSi-40. You would get a lot of bang for your buck (get it), to upgrade the sub too (good deal on an Acustec in the MF). And, lastly, since I have only spent about 365 of your dollars, spend the rest on a refurbished Marantz at www.accessories4less.com and enjoy the beer you can buy by selling the Yami.

PS, sell the PSW250 and have beer for a week!

Dennis Gardner

You've got a pretty well balanced system right now. You could get a better, more advanced/powerful receiver than you have, or could go a different direction entirley by keeping the 5.1 as it is and building a totally separate 2 channel rig.

I mention this since your screen name and towers for music only indicate that you most likely would appreciate what a nice preamp/amp setup with possibly some tubes in the mix might do for your music. That is the approach that alot of the guys around here do.

HT is nice, but music rules.........

dkg999

The RTi70's will come to life with some decent power driving them. Does you receiver have pre-outs? The Yammy pre/processor prior to the HTR-56xx wasn't near as good as the later series, but it's adequate. So maybe an external amp to drive the fronts? The CSi40 is also a better match for the RTi70's.

And yes, I have RTi70's, CSi40, RTi38's as a bedroom HT system. Really no need for a sub once you get decent power to the RTi70's (at least in the bedroom!). I drive mine with a Yamaha HTR-5660 and Adcom 7605.

Music Junkie

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

You've got a pretty well balanced system right now. You could get a better, more advanced/powerful receiver than you have, or could go a different direction entirley by keeping the 5.1 as it is and building a totally separate 2 channel rig.

I mention this since your screen name and towers for music only indicate that you most likely would appreciate what a nice preamp/amp setup with possibly some tubes in the mix might do for your music. That is the approach that alot of the guys around here do.

HT is nice, but music rules.........

Thanks for all of the replies.

Dennis - I like the way you think. You're right, I probably listen to music 100 times more than I watch movies. I think keeping the 5.1 with the yahama is a good match, then having something else for the RTi70's is best. Got any ideas? I think I'm into something very fun here

comfortablycurt

DaveMuell wrote: »

Yes, you would be very well served to upgrade the center with a "previously owned" CS400i or CSi-40. You would get a lot of bang for your buck (get it), to upgrade the sub too (good deal on an Acustec in the MF). And, lastly, since I have only spent about 365 of your dollars, spend the rest on a refurbished Marantz at www.accessories4less.com and enjoy the beer you can buy by selling the Yami.

PS, sell the PSW250 and have beer for a week!

I second this suggestion.

x2 on accesories4less.com. I bought my Onk 606 from them on ebay. Their customer service is fantastic. They have great prices on refurbs too.

Music Junkie

dkg999 wrote: »

Does you receiver have pre-outs?

Hmm, I just looked and it looks like I do NOT have preouts. Do you have any suggestions on good 2 channel receivers to run the RTi70's (assuming I want to run them totally separate from the 5.1)?

Thanks to the others on the used items. It sounds like you can sure get a lot for your money if you go that route, but as I said before I know the sub and centre could use an upgrade, but I'm trying to focus on the amp/power side right now. I may however have to look into the centre speaker you mentioned, as the one I have just doesn't do it for me.

comfortablycurt

Music Junkie wrote: »

Hmm, I just looked and it looks like I do NOT have preouts. Do you have any sugegstions on good 2 channel amp's to run the RTi70's (assuming I want to run them totally separate from the 5.1)?

If your receiver doesn't have pre-outs, you won't be able to hook up an external amp. It may be time to either look into a new receiver, or a pre-amp/power amp combo.