If you were looking for a new Amp, and Receiver,

Toolfan66
Toolfan66 Posts: 16,832
edited January 2020 in Electronics
What would you buy, and why????

Comments

  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Marantz because I have had the best luck with them (at discounted prices)
    Something class D for amps. I am a fan.
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    For an amp I would stick with Pass. Not sure who to pick for a receiver, although they would have to offer a tuner/preamp model to get my attention. Currently I have an Onkyo SC5509 pre, and, while old, works and sounds great.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 6,646
    A Parasound Halo JC 5 because I want one.

    No receiver whatsoever because I DON'T want one.
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    I sorry larry: but that for??? 2.1 or more? 5.1 or atmos? Makes a diff!?!
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:
    Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra

    Bedroom 2.1
    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 16,832
    rooftop59 wrote: »
    I sorry larry: but that for??? 2.1 or more? 5.1 or atmos? Makes a diff!?!

    It’s for HT, yes Atmos 7-2-2

  • Thorton
    Thorton Posts: 1,324
    Marantz. Audyssey XT32 with the new app works and sounds great. Easy to set-up and adjust. I would not go lower than XT32. A bunch of different amps to choose from based on your needs (2, 3 or 7 channels). For HT, I'd get a Nord or Wyred 4 Sound amp.
    _____________________________________________________________________________________________
    Ethernet Filter: GigaFOILv4 with Keces P3 LPS
    Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
    DAC: Bricasti M1SE
    Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
    Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
    Amp1: Nord One NC1200DM Signature, Amp2: W4S MC-5, AMP3: W4S MMC-7
    Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
    Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
    Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
    IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
    Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
    Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
  • halen
    halen Posts: 675
    I have both the Pioneer Elite SC99 and Marantz 7010. Completely happy with them. I would not buy any new versions and do not care for them.

    So if I did not have anything at the moment I would buy the model before or before that.

    As for amps. I am into low wattage tube amps and speakers so can’t comment there. If I had to choose, it would be Unison Research.

    Cheers.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,033
    Arcam AVR550 for the receiver. Best in the game IMHO, and a set of Raven 350 for the amplifiers... easily among the great tube amps of all time.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    Viking64 wrote: »
    A Parasound Halo JC 5 because I want one.

    No receiver whatsoever because I DON'T want one.

    Well, that would be a terrible system, with an amp and no pre...

    Play by the rules, dude...
  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 6,646
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    Viking64 wrote: »
    A Parasound Halo JC 5 because I want one.

    No receiver whatsoever because I DON'T want one.

    Well, that would be a terrible system, with an amp and no pre...

    Play by the rules, dude...

    I said I didn't want a receiver. That still leaves me open to a pre-amp or an integrated amp.

    Stop trolling.
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,031
    I'd probably been considering the Denon AVR6500H. I would want to do a VS with my current Sony STRZA500ES which is a pretty fine receiver. I also really like the Integra DRX R1.1. It's a beast and after Calibrating 2 of them I'm very impressed.
    Amp wise depending on use. For theater use external amps are nice when if you need them. Depending on the room and speakers I would decide if this is something that is needed or not. 2 channel amps there are so many used options. I'd probably look for a used B&K 200.2 and for a multichannel I'd try to grab a B&K 200.7.
    Buying new amps I'm not sure what I would buy. I'd probably start checking out the new offerings from Monoprice, Emotiva, Outlaw etc as I never got to demo them. Bryston are probably the best overall amps on the market dollar for dollar but they don't offer a 5 or 7 channel model so you left with a stack of 2 and 3 channel amps.
    Parasound and NAD are good choices.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
  • I would look at Marantz Preamp/Processor and one of the Marantz multi-channel amps. Made for HT.
    "Sometimes you have to look to the past to understand where you are going in the future"


    Harry / Marietta GA
  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    Viking64 wrote: »
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    Viking64 wrote: »
    A Parasound Halo JC 5 because I want one.

    No receiver whatsoever because I DON'T want one.

    Well, that would be a terrible system, with an amp and no pre...

    Play by the rules, dude...

    I said I didn't want a receiver. That still leaves me open to a pre-amp or an integrated amp.

    Stop trolling.

    Not trolling... just wanting to read about real solutions. What pre-amp? I'm pretty sure he's looking for multi-channel options.
  • Viking64
    Viking64 Posts: 6,646
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    Not trolling... just wanting to read about real solutions. What pre-amp? I'm pretty sure he's looking for multi-channel options.

    His initial post asked: "What would YOU buy?"

    All information regarding what Larry's plans were came after my comment.

    If he was asking my opinion as to what he should buy, I would still say to get something without an AM/FM tuner.

    Here, I'll start over again so no more feelings are hurt:

    "A Parasound Halo JC 5 because I want one."
  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    What would you buy, and why????
    Tough question... For me, it would depend on the speakers I intended to use, in order to determine needed power, unless money is no object... The Marantz (and Yamaha) pre-pro and multi-channel amp options are intriguing, but I'd probably stick with a nice receiver to handle at least some of the surround/Atmos speakers, if not all of them, paired with an amp to help drive the front soundstage. The higher-end options from Denon, Marantz, and Yamaha are most intriguing to me. I'll let others make the amp recommendations.
  • Anything Anthem.
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.

    Imagine making politics your entire personality.
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    Within my current budget, I'd be hard-pressed to find anything better than the Denon PMA-600NE. It checks off all the boxes for me and it got some very good reviews from Steve Guttenberg and Sean at Zero Fidelity. I wouldn't mind the newer version of the NAD C 316BEE V2 but that's more $$$ than the Denon.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    Viking64 wrote: »
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    Not trolling... just wanting to read about real solutions. What pre-amp? I'm pretty sure he's looking for multi-channel options.

    His initial post asked: "What would YOU buy?"

    All information regarding what Larry's plans were came after my comment.

    If he was asking my opinion as to what he should buy, I would still say to get something without an AM/FM tuner.

    Here, I'll start over again so no more feelings are hurt:

    "A Parasound Halo JC 5 because I want one."
    Fortunately, my feelings regenerate at twice the speed of a normal man's.

    Also, fortunately, they weren't ever hurt to begin with...
  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    I would get either a Yamaha 20xx or Marantz 70xx series AVR. I like the sound of both manufacturers, and since you only need 9 channels, I would save a little and not get the 11 channel units.

    The calibration programs are better on the flagship units, but I just don’t think it’s worth the extra money. Anthem would be a good choice, but just shy of $4k, out of my price range.

    If it were strictly a HT system, would probably look at something from Outlaw Audio for a 5 or 7 channel amp. Don’t see any problem with an AVR handling the rears and height speakers. If duel purpose I would hold out for a Parasound A 51. Think it would work better for music than the Outlaw.
  • Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Anything Anthem.

    The one brand in this arena that I would like to try.
  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,505
    Hmm
    Depends on budget
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
  • gp4jesus
    gp4jesus Posts: 1,969
    edited January 2020
    New new? Undecided

    Or just new to my house? 3 more Rotel RB-981s

    Poor ma-aybe... can I have all the parts & test equipment to build a special pair of 5 channel amps?!
    Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside BJC 10 ga - LCR mids, inside* & out 8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out *soldered LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & “Plugged*” Mids - 981, connected w/MP Premiere ICs Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981 -> Bi-amped CSi A6 Surrounds: Premiere ICs ->Rotel 981 -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3. 5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”. Power Conditioning & Distribution: 4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s *Xschop's handy work
  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    New amp and AVR.

    Hmm, Marantz SR8012 and Parasound A31 or A51
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    That’s a nice combo^
  • mrloren
    mrloren Posts: 2,454
    joecoulson wrote: »
    That’s a nice combo^

    Yeah, if only I had the funds
    When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.
    Family Room:LG QNED80 75", Onkyo RZ50 Emotiva XPA3 GEN3 Oppo BDP-93,Sony UBP-X800BM. Main: Polk LsiM 705Center: Polk LSiM 704CFront High/Rear High In-Ceiling Polk 80F/X RT Surrounds: Polk S15 Sub: HSU VTF3-MK5
    Bed Room; Marantz SR5010, BDP-S270Main: Polk Signature S20Center: Polk Signature S35Rear: Polk R15 Sub: SVS SB2000
    Working Warehouse; Yamaha A-S301, Sony DVP-NS3100ES for disc Plok TSX550T SVS PB2000 Mini tower PC with 400GB of music
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    Anything Anthem.

    I may be a bit biased owning 3 pieces of anthem in the past, but that is where I would start. Not to say they are the be-all-end-all, that that would be my starting point.

    Their Pre’s are considered high(er) end and I would match them with a PVA or MC amp to round it out. Get ready to spend some coin.
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • afterburnt
    afterburnt Posts: 7,892
    RX-A2030 and an A-31 I know someone that runs those and he likes em.
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited January 2020
    Marantz AV8805
    Sunfire TGA 7401
    Parasound A21+ for Mains.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,056
    edited January 2020
    I would go with that Marantz AV8805 if your not needing the 7 channels that Sunfire provides. I would go with a Parasound A31 along with a A21, but I'm a Parasound fanboy but a yeah that combo should do it.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)