Speaker/Receiver Match-up?

sigma

Hi, a friend of mine was looking for some speakers and I recommended Polk based on my own system. He really enjoys my speakers and has finally saved up for a decent setup. He seems solid on:

RTi A7
CSi A6
FXi A4/A6
PSW 125

He agrees that the DSW PRO series did have a better sound overall, but availability and price seems to turn that option off. The A4/A6 debate seems to lean more toward the A4 due to pricing, and he says he can't notice the difference most of the time. The room is 18' by 14', but it is a very open room opening up to two rooms about 12' by 12' each (open concept).

The receiver he was looking at was the Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K. It seems to have a nice feature set and wattage. Now would it be enough to power the entire 5.1 setup. He listens to music 25% of the time (via iPod and Blu-Rays) and the rest is mainly movies (from a HD source). I know that he will need an amp for the fronts, but he's a very casual guy that will literally use it about 6-8 HRs a week. He may get an amp but the price to benefits at this point aren't in its favour.

PS: what would be a good medium powered amp (and what receiver would you pair that up with, the 1019 doesn't have preouts). Is the sound quality significantly improved with the amp? By what percentile (on average)?

cnh

If you like Pioneer get the older 1018--it HAD pre-outs and more power. Or an entry level Pioneer Elite. Either one will sound fine with that set up.

If he can swing it he should consider a new Pioneer Elite SC-05/07. I know they're a bit more in price...but they have been found at almost half price!

Power amps--Sunfire, Rotel, Adcom, Parasound, Nad, etc. All have their defenders and can be found at a good price on the 'used' market. I'd listen to as many as I can before deciding...though the Pioneer will, to an extent, color and determine what direction the sound takes as a pre/pro.

cnh

jimmydep

sigma wrote: »

He agrees that the DSW PRO series did have a better sound overall, but availability and price seems to turn that option off.

No Affil.

Best price I've seen on a new DSW PRO 600 anywhere

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110407357221


Check the sellers store he has equally good deals on the 400 and 500. Beware they go very fast......


Jimmy

royalty

Just bought a psw125 from polk's ebay refurb store for only 180 and I am very pleased

royalty

Also there are four dsw micro pros on the store and no one has bid on them yet.....

jimmydep

There is a new DSW MICRO 1000 for $400 on the Egg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290129


and a PSW505 for $250

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290130



I've made several purchases from Polk Audio Direct and they are great, the refurbs are like brand new.......the only down side is paying for delivery and sales tax:(


Jimmy

renowilliams

I would suggest looking into a used reciever. There are a lot of great avrs out there for a good price. In fact, that is what I did and have been very happy.

sigma

The crappy thing is that I'm in Canada and except for some eBay vendors, no one ships to me.

But I was exploring my receiver options and the only thing thats really pushing me to the 1019 (and Pioneer) is the USB iPod jack. My friend has his entire collection on the iPod and it's a huge convenience. He also looked at 9130 (VSX-01) and he likes that too, but it has 10 less watts per channel. Now would performance be compromised? Also, how different would the sound quality be with an amp on the two fronts and the receiver on the rest. Will an amp overpower the fronts? Will he have to get amps for the entire system to balance it? Is the performance gain worth $500-600 for a 2/3 channel amp (e.g. an Emotiva)? How much of a difference (in percentile) can we expect?

Also, the Harman Kardon receivers (HD 3550 or AVR 354) adequate? I know its "high current," but how would it compare to the Pioneers mentioned. I've heard many issues with the AVR 354's HDMI; is the HD 3550 just a "fixed" version of the 354?

PS: I've heard wonders about the Denon AVR-989 (2809), how would the above mentioned receivers rank in sound quality (general) without any amps?

Thanks for all your help!!

renowilliams

I live in canada as well and I bought my reciever from someone on Canuck Audio Mart. They shipped the reciever to me. You have to read the user feedbacks but I have had good luck using Canuck Audio Mart. There are some good deals to behad out there.

Here is a link to a great deal on a nice reciever on Canuck Audio Mart


http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/132031-pioneer_56_txi/




Good Luck


Tim

mdk5068

First of all that is a great setup to have recommended, as I have the exact same one (except I have an svs sub). I Used to have a dsw 400, though (up for sale now - 250). Also, an Emotiva (which I have - xpa-5) will not overpower your fronts, as the surrounds are rated at 125-150. It will not be that big of a drain on your surrounds to use the receiver amp, especially if it is only the 10 watt difference you spoke of.

--Mark

sigma wrote: »

The crappy thing is that I'm in Canada and except for some eBay vendors, no one ships to me.

But I was exploring my receiver options and the only thing thats really pushing me to the 1019 (and Pioneer) is the USB iPod jack. My friend has his entire collection on the iPod and it's a huge convenience. He also looked at 9130 (VSX-01) and he likes that too, but it has 10 less watts per channel. Now would performance be compromised? Also, how different would the sound quality be with an amp on the two fronts and the receiver on the rest. Will an amp overpower the fronts? Will he have to get amps for the entire system to balance it? Is the performance gain worth $500-600 for a 2/3 channel amp (e.g. an Emotiva)? How much of a difference (in percentile) can we expect?

Also, the Harman Kardon receivers (HD 3550 or AVR 354) adequate? I know its "high current," but how would it compare to the Pioneers mentioned. I've heard many issues with the AVR 354's HDMI; is the HD 3550 just a "fixed" version of the 354?

PS: I've heard wonders about the Denon AVR-989 (2809), how would the above mentioned receivers rank in sound quality (general) without any amps?

Thanks for all your help!!

cnh

All those receivers put out a different kind of sound, with the H/K being the warmest. The Pioneer 1018 is the superior amp and more POWERFUL than the new version--which does not meet its rated capacity.

The Harman's are fairly powerful. At least enough for your speakers, and have pre-outs.

The Denon's are a bit less warm, more neutral (than H/Ks) and may have slightly more detailed HIGHS than the H/Ks. But that's to my ears? The H/K will give you more BASS.

Pioneer sound below the mid-higher end Elites is not the cleanest I've heard but it's OK.

You should really try and hear all this yourself. Because you might not agree with the way my ears 'work'?

cnh