What was your favorite receiver of all time?

mantis · February 2023

Over the years I have owned so many different receivers. There has been many I considered to top my all time favorite. I'll probably do a top 5 or to 3 or something like that but here , Only the #1 will do. Runner up is always a nice touch just to say.

I owned the B&K AVR307. Back in the early 2000's I got to train in New York at B&K and really got to see one be built from a circuit board to a fully functional AVR.

The. AVR307 was a real built separates in one chassis. it has a Ref30 preamp built inside , and a ST125.7 amp. I know this for a fact, I saw it built.

Anyway, the B&K was special. It sounded so damn good, very powerful, you can run very high end speakers on it with ease. It could power a large room and not have to catch it's breath.

A unique feature of this AVR is really 2 things. One B&K had a upgrade program to upgrade the AVR when the times changed. They had a AV317 program where you sent it to B&K and they updated it to the latest Tech at that time.

The other feature that was unique then was the ability to re wire the surround back channels to Zone 2 powered. This was a big deal back then , no external amp was needed IF you main channel system was a 5.1 system, the remaining channels could be used as a powered Zone 2. Big deal back than and it wasn't some switch inside, you actually had to take the AVR apart and actually re wire them on the main board. It was awesome.

My Runner up was the Mighty Pioneer Elite SC68. This Receiver was so awesome. Computer music was becoming very popular and Pioneer decided it was a good idea to build a actual USB DAC inside B style. I was so awesome, I did a full training back in the day with pure music and different Flac software high Rez music files. What a killer high end sounding AVR with a built in USB DAC. I miss that unit. I sold it for a SC99 which was nice and kept the USB DAC, actually it was Pioneer's last SUB DAC receiver. I miss those days.

What receiver was your all time favorite?

mantis · February 2023

audioluvr · February 2023

AVR- 507 was incrementally better than the 307 I had. Had a Denon after that that was nice but didn't hold a candle during demanding moments.

VR3 · February 2023

no particular model but I always liked the old Pioneer Elite stuff

mikejedi0619 · February 2023

Yamaha DSPA3090. Still own it. I think I paid 2k in 1996. “Only” 80 watts all channels .. it’s a beast. Maybe someday I will use it again

SIHAB · February 2023

What I currently have;
Denon AVR 4520ci
or Yamaha A-S2100...

mhardy6647 · February 2023

Receiver?
Not really terribly interested in receivers -- too much junk in one box, for one power supply.
That said:

1) I do have a few here.

2) The two I'd rate at the top of the heap - at least in sheer impact, particularly aesthetically, I don't have.

a) harman/kardon Citation Receiver

At least this h/k (similar to other, lesser h/k receivers of its era) does have dual power supplies for its two channels

b) Yamaha CR-3020

EDIT Whoops, fixed the wrong image 'borrowed' -- thanks, google.

I do have a CR-2020, and it's pretty nice for a receiver (and quite aesthetically pleasing), but not as elegant inside as the 3020.

3) Upon reflection -- I'd have to give runner-up status to Pioneer's SX-1250. Working against it, of course, is being a Pioneer receiver

but I have to admit it is really nicely put together.

Don't have one of these, either -- I do have an SX-1050, though, which is also pretty beefy, although with a standard E-I core PT, but also a dual P/S from dual PT secondaries on.

pitdogg2 · February 2023

Boy that tuning gang in the yamaha 3020 is a thing of beauty

, Got to love a good tuning gang!

mhardy6647 · February 2023

my two big receivers, FWIW. Both are restored and work as they should -- but they're mostly shelf queens, because there's much better sounding stuff here to listen to.

They are attractive, though.

If we think back to the styles of the seventies, it is astonishing (particularly in retrospect) how elegant some of the mid to late 1970s massmarket audio equipment was.

Some of it...

Is this abomination (which I believe was foisted on an unsuspected public by Sears in Canada) evidence that Yamaha and Marantz receivers, mutated by exposure to airborne nuclear bomb testing, interbred?

Toolfan66 · February 2023

I still have a Pioneer SC 07 sitting in a box, can't get myself to part with it..

nooshinjohn · February 2023

invalid · February 2023

I blew one of those carver receivers up in spectacular fashion, a flame about a foot tall came out of the top cover.

skipshot12 · February 2023

My Sansui G-9000.
So Perdy… Do miss it.

Emlyn · February 2023

The receiver I got the most out of compared to what I had previously had was a Marantz SR8002 because it was the first that had HDMI connections that allowed me to go from 480p to 1080p video and high resolution audio. The SR80xx models are all special products.

pitdogg2 · February 2023

Toolfan66 wrote: »

I still have a Pioneer SC 07 sitting in a box, can't get myself to part with it..

HOARDER !! I've been waiting years for the call...... I gave up bought Don's Elite receiver

kevhed72 · February 2023

Ill say my Pioneer Elite SC 05 which was sent to receiver heaven by a lightning strike!

mhardy6647 · February 2023

invalid wrote: »

I blew one of those carver receivers up in spectacular fashion, a flame about a foot tall came out of the top cover.

An erstwhile boss (the best one I had across my whole career, BTW) gave me one that (and he did know, and disclose, this) had issues. They were, shall we say, rather subject to mortality, as I recall.

msg · February 2023

B&K AVR 507 and Harman Kardon's HK 990 Integrated

I've only used each of these in 2ch. I really enjoy B&K stuff. I thought it paired really well with the 703s I ran in my secondary system. Spent many an eve relaxing before going to sleep in that space. Great chill sessions. Just nice, rich sound.

I also enjoyed programming the B&K AVRs and Ref50 units. Takes a while to get the hang of it, but it's pretty fun. Same with their remotes, which were versions of the URC (Universal Remote Control) models. You could download maps for devices, or learn in remotes that didn't have maps. Create macros, favorites, all kinds of neat customization. That all definitely took some time to learn, and sort of have to relearn it when you don't use it for a while, but I tried to keep good digital notes in Evernote with screenshots and stuf.

The HK 990 is probably one of the best 2ch integrateds I've heard. I just recently picked one up after waiting years since my first experience which went south after a purchase on Ebay arrived with shipping damage, and I had to fight to return for refund. I did get a chance to listen to it for a short while even though the faceplate was smashed. Beautiful sound, and it was my first experience with what the term "authoritative" means. The presentation was so well controlled, clean and lacked the congestion I was used to hearing. It was obvious what a good integrated could do. I must say that it surpassed the B&K for me, which is a dear favorite. It rivals my Musical Fidelity stuff, the A308 and A5, and has some additional features like onboard DAC, DSP, and EQ functionality. Good bit of customization.

Those four pieces will be in my collection for as long as they last.

tophatjohnny · February 2023

Was my Marantz 8802a and now is The 8805! These prees are a breeze and never freeze even if I wheeze I just say Geeze I’m so glad I sprung for Dees!

mantis · February 2023

audioluvr wrote: »

AVR- 507 was incrementally better than the 307 I had. Had a Denon after that that was nice but didn't hold a candle during demanding moments.

I sold my 307 many years ago But I held on to my AVR507 S2 version. It just sits in my basement on my Audio storage rack . Both AVR's where great.

msg · February 2023

Those S2 variants were just a smidge more refined, weren't they? I liked the squared off displays. Not that the gen 1s were bad. I think the menus worked a little differently, too. I have one of each.

The Ref50s are nice, too with the 200wpc amps, like the 200.2, but the Ref50 is a little bit of a crap shoot to buy. They were known for failures, unfortunately. I had one go bad on me. Kept it for parts, which came in handy years later.

The Ref5 S2 preamp is also a really nice, sweet simple piece. Very pleasing sound. Another great combo with the B&K amps for a clean 2ch separates setup. Should probably revisit some of this gear. When I last had it in use, I wasn't really into chasing the nuances. Or, more like, I just wasn't getting it. I'm kinda curious to see how this stuff compares now that I've had some of those more refined experiences, like spatial imaging.

My first B&K stuff was the Sonata line: the MC-101 preamp, EX-442 amp, and TS-108 tuner, all in bronze. I got it all with some cat-pissed Monitor 10s from a guy couple cities over. Still have it, @mhardy6647 -fying it up over here in my spare room. I should probably break it out and clean the controls on that preamp now that I have a good supply of Caig products thanks to @pitdogg2 . I remember it was pretty noisy. I still use that tuner sometimes. Looks a bit like this one, only not so junky. Has an outboard power supply, too.

xsmi · March 2023

My old Dolby Pro-Logic Yamaha RX-V2090. That thing is STILL a beast and seems to drive ANYTHING without breaking a sweat.

mantis · March 2023

xsmi wrote: »

My old Dolby Pro-Logic Yamaha RX-V2090. That thing is STILL a beast and seems to drive ANYTHING without breaking a sweat.

Man those where good years for Yamaha. I miss those days. That receiver was great, one of my favorites from that time. I liked the DSP-A1 . I had a RXV-992 and a RXV-995 back in the day.

mhardy6647 · March 2023

Yamaha fanboi that I be -- pretty much all background listening (and nearly all Zooms) here employ this (dump find) and the R200s.

MrGeology · May 2023

Yamaha RX-V2300
Yamaha RX-V659
(Only two I have ever owned).

MLK · May 2023

Nostalgia - my first - this 15 wpc beast (Pioneer SX-450) from the 70's

MrGeology · May 2023

Picked up an RX-V2095 last week and passed my RX-V2300 on to my mom.
They both sound awesome, the 2095 weighs a bit more.
Forgot to wipe prints off before pics for all you neat freaks out there lol.

mhardy6647 · May 2023

MrGeology wrote: »

Picked up an RX-V2095...

They both sound awesome, the 2095 weighs a bit more...

Well -- there you go, then.

newbie308 · July 2023

I never owned one, but that vintage Marantz model 150 tuner with the oscilloscope definitely hits high on my list for its coolness factor.

jdjohn · July 2023

Well, shoot...with my (relative) inexperience in this subject, AND sticking with the idea that a 'receiver' should include (at least) an FM tuner, I will throw out the following few examples.

MAC1700 - this unit (actual pic) was in my dad's collection, and included the wood case.

Sansui 9090 - again, from my dad's collection (actual pic)...he didn't realize what he had.

Outlaw RR-2150 - I bought one of these receivers locally as part of a package deal. I don't have any personal pics, but these units are beasts - 100WPC>8 ohms, and 160WPC>4 ohms. Here's a stock image pic, which shows its vintage art deco design.

mantis · July 2023

kevhed72 wrote: »

Ill say my Pioneer Elite SC 05 which was sent to receiver heaven by a lightning strike!

I had the SC-07. What a great line back then.

What was your favorite receiver of all time?

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