Poll: Pre amp/power amp VS AV receiver

I've used both pre/amp and receiver/amp in the past few months (and throughout the years). I've gone back and forth a lot but with the streaming, and Internet capability starting to appear in sub-$1000 receivers, my guess is I will stay in the receiver / amp camp for the future. Just can't see spending $2.5K+ for technology that changes every 6 months.

I think if you have vast amounts of cash...which few of us have these days you can do both. If you want to run two channel and AV you pretty much have to go AVR/Power Amp.

While it is true that you can find good used gear--problems are HDMI, upgrades, processing...etc.

On the other hand if you're a 2 channel rig man/woman! All the HDMI/pre/pro is irrelevant. Just need a great amp/pre/amp and top notch CDP and turntable! Lot's of people here fit that mold. Home Theater sound is a 'very' different beast as has been noted in a number of recent posts.

As for me....I've got to hold down the 'budget' a bit.

cnh

I have my Denon 2807 AVR, that Im using as a pre/pro, and a Rotel 1080 2 channel amp + Rotel 5 channel amp as the secondary amps. Im hoping to upgrade to the Rotel 1570 pre/pro in a year or year and a half time though.

I think alot of us have been using the AVR/amp combo because the seperate pre/pro's have lacked the HDMI 1.3, HD format decoding, and other bells and whistles that AVR have had for a couple of years now. With the seperate pre/pro starting to get these features in some of us will no doubt start adopting them.

I for one am very curious as to what increase in sound quality there is from going to a $1000 avr (with internal amp section) to a $2500 pre/pro with higher quality internal parts (or so I think anyway :rolleyes:).

Z

I can tell you first hand there is no comparison between say my My Onkyo
TX-NR901 as a pre and the Anthem Pre-2L. (You can probably get this pre for around $500-600 and my amp was under $500.)

My Onkyo sounds flat and somewhat lifeless by comparison. The Anthem brings the music to life and makes it three dimensional and real. It adds texture and musicality. I was without the Anthem for a couple of months. My desire to listen to my system faded. The Anthem brought it back.

YMMV...try it for yourself. Get something used, if it makes no difference sell it for what you paid. At least you'll know. Just like cables!!!

Who the hell is doing all of these polls? A recent one got into demographics by asking the age of CP members. The frequency of polls of late is starting to look like market research.

Hillbilly61 wrote: »

Who the hell is doing all of these polls? A recent one got into demographics by asking the age of CP members. The frequency of polls of late is starting to look like market research.

What is your problem hillbilly? You have been here for a month and this is the kind of posts you are making? So are you here to participate in a community or just to stir the pot? If you don't like a thread/poll, just stay out of it.

#3 AVR/Amp. I'm in the camp that prefers a mid-fi lower cost AVR to keep tech upgrades within my budget. New tech seems to hit the mainstream receiver manufactures way before the dedicated market. I guess I could wait longer for the newer tech./features, but what fun would that be.:D

For a long time I was a HT nut. Music came in second. Had a B&K Ref 30 and 7 channels of B&K amplification out of 2 amps. After the Ref30 crapped out, I bought a HK AVR to use with my 5 channel amp. Formats change quicker than the weather and nobody I've seen yet truely has a future proof piece. It should last long enough for me since I'm not deep into the HT anymore. If the HK goes obsolete in a year or two, it will not cost that much to upgrade it if I feel it necessary.

I find I spend more time in front of my 2 channel rig than the HT. If you have the space and funds, seperate systems give you the opportunity to tailor each for your likes without having to compromise on one or the other.

That is not to say that there are not wonderful multi-function systems out there. It appears to take tremendous amount of work and experimentation to achieve your goals. I'm not willing to go through that type of effort and prefer to "enjoy the music or movie" instead of the chase.

Gordon

Some speakers are more difficult to drive and require more power in order to sound their best. Also, receiver's published power is normally not measured in the same way as in amplifiers; a 130 WPC receiver maybe will only put out half of that with all channels driven. Of course this varies by manufacturer.

I have RTi8's and CSi5 and use a Denon receiver; I don't feel the need of getting additional power. If I had less efficient speakers (LSi line which is 4 ohms), or higher up in the Rti line (Rti10 or 12 which have more drivers), I would probably consider an external amp.

I use an avr, but it's a good one...

All of the above Poll choices. Depends on the application:

• My HT is using an AVR with an ext amp
• My 2 Ch is using a Tube pre with an amp (or two-still evolving-might turn into a second system )
• My 2nd HT is currently just using the AVR. (but will be changing to ext amps when I change the speakers out.)
• Both of my 2 ch office systems are using an integrated amp (one SS and one Tube Hybrid).
• The Outdoor setup is a pre and an amp.
• When I set the bedroom systems up (for TV), I will either be using just an AVR with speakers or simple like an amplified soundbar. (right now they are still HTiB :eek: or TV speakers :eek::eek:)

Hillbilly61 wrote: »

Who the hell is doing all of these polls? A recent one got into demographics by asking the age of CP members. The frequency of polls of late is starting to look like market research.

And?

Poll away Mr2, you aren't doing any harm & learning important info in the process.

I started out with 2 channel separates, got a receiver to get into HT, added a separate 205wpc 2 channel amp & discovered the wonders of powerful separate amplification. Now I'm back to all separates which is in my signature.

I won't be going back to a receiver.

I have gone the AVR/Amp route for my system and will be stuck like that for some time as I blew my upgrade nut for the next two years on my SDA-1c's. LSI15's and my Sunfire. Now my system sounds as sexy as it looks... in fact if I could sleep with it I woody:D