Upgrade receiver but lose Amp?

ArsenalFC
ArsenalFC Posts: 50
edited March 2021 in Electronics
Hey folks,

I've always appreciated your input on all things audio and you've given me great advice over the years.

My current set-up:

Receiver: Pioneer SC-61
Amp: Krell S-300i (Run in 2 channel amp mode for L+R)

L+R: GoldenEar Triton 2
Center: GoldenEar SuperCenter XXL
Surround: Polk S10 (a weak spot, need to upgrade. I have RTi 4s I could swap in here)

Sub: SVS SB 2000

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So, the receiver has served me well over the years. But, it isn't capable of Atmos. I'm 100% sure my wife wouldn't appreciate me dropping what is necessary to upgrade the receiver (after all, it works just fine). But, I could consider selling the Krell (and the Pioneer for whatever little could be recouped from that) and end up with a $1000 - $1500 receiver.

Any thoughts on old receiver + amp vs new receiver? Opinions on other options are welcome as well!


Sidenote" I can't seem to shake the feeling that my system "leans" right. I've tried different configurations, wired directly from the receiver and now from the amp and it still seems to lean. It might be the room. But I wonder if it may be the receiver which is another driver in thinking about upgrading.

Comments

  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 4,892
    Part of the answer is going to depend on what speakers you have (hard to drive or not).
    Alea jacta est!
  • ArsenalFC
    ArsenalFC Posts: 50
    The Triton 2s aren't incredibly difficult to power, but I'm sure like all speakers they'll definitely sing more with their own dedicated amp.
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,952
    Something like a Cambridge, nad, or anthem in your price range might work. The little Cambridge I have in the bedroom. Definitely the most musical avr I’ve had...
    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
  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 4,892
    Apologies, didn’t notice that your speakers were in the original post...
    • Sensitivity: 91dB/2.83V/m.
    • Nominal impedance: 8 Ω

    Shouldn’t be hard to drive. The suggestions from rooftop59 should work well, but you won’t know if you’ll miss the Krell or not until you listen to the new setup IMO.
    Alea jacta est!
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    You're thinking about giving up an excellent AVR and power amp just to get ATMOS? Are you crazy!?!
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • ArsenalFC
    ArsenalFC Posts: 50
    Now this is the type of feedback I came here for! Thanks guys. So a $1000-1500 AVR simply isn't an upgrade over status quo? I suppose it's not just Atmos, but that's part of it. The old dilemma of asking for both music and movie strength. Hard to do both well.
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,346
    Regarding the perceived "lean" in room response you can try a sound pressure level meter or an app on a smartphone to double check decibel levels for each speaker manually.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    ArsenalFC wrote: »
    Now this is the type of feedback I came here for! Thanks guys. So a $1000-1500 AVR simply isn't an upgrade over status quo? I suppose it's not just Atmos, but that's part of it. The old dilemma of asking for both music and movie strength. Hard to do both well.

    You could look into getting a 2 channel pre-amp with an HT pass through/bypass, then get an ATMOS capable AVR.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk