pre/pro or AVR suggestions

cstmar01
cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
edited December 2009 in Electronics
Hmmm sooo I want to upgrade. But I don't know what to upgrade to. I really do like the sound and options of the Pioneer Elite models, preferably the SC-07 or 27's.
But I also have been looking at the Integra pre/pros. I do use all external amps so amp power on the AVR is not a concern but more of adjustablity and features. I would look to spend 3000 or less on either new or used gear and I really want something that would be great for right now as well as down the road because I don't want to have to be spending a lot of coin again in the future.
The AVR I have now, well I think its crap. The room correction is to me very hard to get dialed in, as it only calibrates for one area of the room, so if you sit off this center spot, well the sound completely changes and I don't care for it. The video upconversion is terrible. Jaggies everywhere and yeah, its bad. I want something that I can dial in the audio perfectly and get the best performance possible when I am using my gear.
This would be used for HT only really, as I am going to start putting together a 2 channel system soon.
Also I am not looking to buy this right now, as I want to look around and listen to suggestions and try out ones before I acutally make a choice. So really any suggestions of who I should give a listen to or who I could look at would be helpful.
Thanks guys!
Post edited by cstmar01 on
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Comments

  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited December 2009
    How about the Onkyo TX-NR5007?
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • bondslex
    bondslex Posts: 109
    edited December 2009
    If you have an amp already, I would go for an Integra Pre...
    LSI 15
    LSI C
    LSI FX
    80 fx ls for atmos
    Velodyne SPL-10
    Marantz 7012
    Panasonic 9000
    JVC 420
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  • wetcoast
    wetcoast Posts: 64
    edited December 2009
    If you look around (G&G) the Onkyo PR SC-5507 is selling for around $1700 already. That is a few hundred more than NOS Integra DHC-9.9 and Onkyo PR SC-886's are going for. You get the ability to push firmware ugrades via ethernet and 32/192k DAC's.
    Speakers: Polk LSi 25, LSiC, LSiFX
    Sub: Maelstrom X 18" DIY
    Amps: Sunfire Sig Seven, Behringer EP-4000
    Processor: Integra DHC-80.1
    Monitor: Sharp LC 60E77UN
    Sources: Motorola DCT-6416, PS3 Slim 250GB, Wii
    Filter: APC S15
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited December 2009
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    Hmmm sooo I want to upgrade. But I don't know what to upgrade to. I really do like the sound and options of the Pioneer Elite models, preferably the SC-07 or 27's.
    But I also have been looking at the Integra pre/pros. I do use all external amps so amp power on the AVR is not a concern but more of adjustablity and features. I would look to spend 3000 or less on either new or used gear and I really want something that would be great for right now as well as down the road because I don't want to have to be spending a lot of coin again in the future.
    The AVR I have now, well I think its crap. The room correction is to me very hard to get dialed in, as it only calibrates for one area of the room, so if you sit off this center spot, well the sound completely changes and I don't care for it. The video upconversion is terrible. Jaggies everywhere and yeah, its bad. I want something that I can dial in the audio perfectly and get the best performance possible when I am using my gear.
    This would be used for HT only really, as I am going to start putting together a 2 channel system soon.
    Also I am not looking to buy this right now, as I want to look around and listen to suggestions and try out ones before I acutally make a choice. So really any suggestions of who I should give a listen to or who I could look at would be helpful.
    Thanks guys!

    What's your current setup?
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited December 2009
    Well my current set up consists of XBox 360, Pioneer 47-AI for DVD's, Pioneer BDP-05FD (whenever I finally get it), Monster power conditoner which one IDK, Emotiva XPA-1 (2), XPA-3 and UPA-2 for amps ( I want to upgrade these as well as time goes on). Speakers currently RTIA9's for the front, CSIA6, for now I've been using my old fronts Monitor 70's as my surrounds but will change that in the near future and TSI100 for the rear surrounds. once again, this will change in the near future to something to match the RTI's. I have a 46" samsung series 550 I think. and AVR is a Yamaha RXV-663.
    For future plans I plan on doing PS3, getting a projector and screen, and moving everything to a dedicated room, once I finally find a house I want to buy. Oh and the sub I'm using is Freddy's home made one, and love the beast. HSU woofer in it and it does a great job.
    This is a breif run down of what I have. I plan on getting something to match the RTI's better either the smaller towers of the RTI series as surrounds or FXI A6's. I would probably just move the old Mointors I was using with the TSI100's into my bedroom and do simple HT set up in there as well as I like to watch movies in there as well. That TV is just an older True Widescreen TV 27 inch I beleive. Its about 3 years old but still works well.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2009
    When I had my HT, I ran a Lexicon pre/pro and it was a great unit. If you're only going to use the receiver as a pre/pro, don't pay for the amp aspect of it and just get the real thing with more options.
    Jake
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited December 2009
    +1 on the FXiA6 for your surrounds.

    -Jeff
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
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  • craigpsu
    craigpsu Posts: 106
    edited December 2009
    I can only speak from my experience with the SC-07 paired with the Emo XPA-5. Mine sounds great and I love just about everything about the SC-07. I got a good deal from HiFi Heaven for about $800 or $900 by calling them up in Feb or March. Everything I have now looks great on my stereo rack, everything is black and has either orange or blue backlights/LEDs.

    The only little detail I would say that is a con, is that I cannot see the remote on the Pioneer Elite very well in the dark (you can always upgrade the remote if you need to). That is probably the picky engineer in me talking though.
    LSi15s, LSiC, LSiFX, LC80F/X, microPro 4000, Pioneer Elite SC-07, XPA-2, XPA-5, PS3
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  • speakergeek
    speakergeek Posts: 555
    edited December 2009
    craigpsu wrote: »
    The only little detail I would say that is a con, is that I cannot see the remote on the Pioneer Elite very well in the dark (you can always upgrade the remote if you need to). That is probably the picky engineer in me talking though.

    Can't you light it up? The remote for the SC-27 can be back lit.
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