Best AVR for LSi9s?

Shicks18 · June 2008

Hello. I just recently purchased a pair of LSi9s and I am using a Yamaha RX-V663 AVR to run them.
I am curious if this would be a good enough AVR for the LSi9s. I AM GOING TO GET AN AMP FOR THEM JUST SO YOU KNOW! If there are any other AVRs that are a lot better I would like to know, especially for clarity and overall power until I get an amp. Having 7.1 with preouts is a must! My budget is $400.

I paid $300 for the Yamaha new from a local friend of mine and could get almost all of that back if I were to sell.

Thanks,
Scooter

dkg999 · June 2008

The separate amp route is the way to go. If you want to stick with an AVR, then you need one that says B&K on the front.

amulford · June 2008

If you want an AVR to run LSi's, it's going to cost more than that.

mantis · June 2008

Right now theres B&K, Nad , Rotel , Sunfire , McIntosh receivers to name a few that will run the Lsi's correctly. With your budget , there is no receiver made that can run them correctly.

Save your money and do it right and you'll love the Lsi's even more. A suggestion would be to get rid of the Yamaha and get a Pioneer Elite vsx92 or 94. Then add a 5 or 7 channel amp like a B&K ref200.5 or 200.7. This is a killer setup since there is only like 4 preamps right now to choose from that can handle todays formats.

Good luck

Dan

Shicks18 · June 2008

of course the separate amp route is the way to go, and i will be going that way when I have the funds!!

but for now all I can manage is an avr to power these. SO what would be the best <$400 AVR ?

edit: I would either buy a used AVR or one off ebay. Some I have been looking at are Pioneer VSX-1017 , Onkyo's and such.

jayman_1975 · June 2008

I don't know if this http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?miscrcvr&1218135409 one would power them "properly" but there's alot of good stuff being said about these recievers. Plus it has pre-amp outs for adding an external amp down the road. Plus it's in you price range and it's new so there would be warranty.

Sami · June 2008

Your Yamaha has preouts, just get an amp with the $400 budget. If you're set in getting an AVR that can properly drive the 9's with $400 budget, your best bet is to find a used HK 7200 or 7300 (you might find one for that price, or you might not).

Shicks18 · June 2008

well that budget included if i were to sell the yamaha and get $300 back.

i just didn't know if there are better options around than the yamaha

dkg999 · June 2008

Then I would stick with the Yamaha and keep the volume at very conservative levels. It will work for a while. I would start saving for at least a used 2 ch amp to get the front mains off the AVR. You can find some good deals on used Adcom amps.

Shicks18 · June 2008

will do.. but just a little curious... how would the pioneer vsx-1017 work with the lsi9s? i could exchange my yamaha for that avr + $100, which is enticing especially if the performance is equal between the 2 avrs

Marty913 · June 2008

Shicks18 wrote: »

will do.. but just a little curious... how would the pioneer vsx-1017 work with the lsi9s? i could exchange my yamaha for that avr + $100, which is enticing especially if the performance is equal between the 2 avrs

If you like Pioneer, specifically the 1017 then you'd be better off getting the VSX-1018TXH-K just made available for $599 MRSP. It solves a lot of the 1017 shortcomings and will pretty much process anything (audio or video) that you have.

Here's a link to the AVS Forum discussion regarding the merits.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1042314&highlight=pioneer+vsx-1017

Shicks18 · June 2008

may main question is how would the 1017 drive the LSi9s? will it be able to handle them at a decent volume level until I get a dedicated amp? Saving $100 on this instead of the Yammy will really speed up the process on an amp, which is more important to me then having DTS HD etc etc.

dkg999 · June 2008

I would vote for the Pioneer as a better match for the LSi's than the Yamaha.

Shizelbs · June 2008

mantis wrote: »

Right now theres B&W, Nad , Rotel , Sunfire , McIntosh receivers to name a few that will run the Lsi's correctly. With your budget , there is no receiver made that can run them correctly.

Save your money and do it right and you'll love the Lsi's even more. A suggestion would be to get rid of the Yamaha and get a Pioneer Elite vsx92 or 94. Then add a 5 or 7 channel amp like a B&K ref200.5 or 200.7. This is a killer setup since there is only like 4 preamps right now to choose from that can handle todays formats.

Good luck

Dan

+1. Outstanding advice.

From my own personal experience; I wish I had been more patient, saved for and spent what was necessary for what I wanted than what would get the job barely done now. FWIW.

cfrizz · June 2008

Truer words were never spoken!

Do it once, do it right, then sit back and enjoy.

The gear will still be there when you have all the money in hand.

Shizelbs wrote: »

+1. Outstanding advice.

From my own personal experience; I wish I had been more patient, saved for and spent what was necessary for what I wanted than what would get the job barely done now. FWIW.

Shicks18 · June 2008

what exactly makes the elites so much better than the regular?

my main concern is having an avr with 7.1 and preouts, and can do an okay job powering my LSi9s until I can buy an amp.

My friend is giving me the option of trading in my Yamaha RX-V663 for a Pioneer 1017 and $100 , which could be put forth the amp sooner than later. That is what is enticing me! =]

edit: I dont have a blu-ray player, and don't plan on getting one for another 2 years or so, which is why all the HD codecs aren't that important to me. In a few years from now when I am ready to get a blu-ray I will also have the funds to upgrade my receiver again, and put the current one in another room =]

Marty913 · June 2008

Shicks18 wrote: »

what exactly makes the elites so much better than the regular?

my main concern is having an avr with 7.1 and preouts, and can do an okay job powering my LSi9s until I can buy an amp.

My friend is giving me the option of trading in my Yamaha RX-V663 for a Pioneer 1017 and $100 , which could be put forth the amp sooner than later. That is what is enticing me! =]

edit: I dont have a blu-ray player, and don't plan on getting one for another 2 years or so, which is why all the HD codecs aren't that important to me. In a few years from now when I am ready to get a blu-ray I will also have the funds to upgrade my receiver again, and put the current one in another room =]

Assuming equal features, the Elite (or ES in Sony's case) usually offer slightly better components, heavier power supplies, and a better warranty (2 or 3 years versus 1 or 2). Of course they also offer the "mine is better than yours bragging rights". Some feel they are cosmetically "prettier". Pioneer Elite can only be sold through authorized dealers. My opinion only but I think with today's technology the Elite-type designation is maybe not as important as it was say 15 - 20 years ago.

I think the main advantages in trading for the 1017 is that you pick up 50% more power, give up nothing in features that are important to you, and put $100 in your pocket for a future amp purchase. Some think the Yamaha sounds better, an equal number think the Pioneer sounds better so let's just call that a fan war. The power increase is very real as is the $100. I say go for it.

Shicks18 · June 2008

I think so too, I have the Yamaha now and its great, but I realize that those HD codecs serve no purpose for me now and thats really the only thing that would have merit a $100 bump in price. However, I still wanted to ask people on this forum since they know a lot more than me. And also make sure that a Pioneer 1017 could power the LSi9s and be of little risk without damaging them.

Marty913 · June 2008

Shicks18 wrote: »

I think so too, I have the Yamaha now and its great, but I realize that those HD codecs serve no purpose for me now and thats really the only thing that would have merit a $100 bump in price. However, I still wanted to ask people on this forum since they know a lot more than me. And also make sure that a Pioneer 1017 could power the LSi9s and be of little risk without damaging them.

I don't see a huge difference between them other than the 1017 is THX certified, has 130 watts versus 95 for the Yamaha, and actually has a 6ohm rating at 150 watts. I think your risk of damage would be greater with the less power in the Yamaha but I don't think there's much risk with either one.

If it would be possible to hook up the Pioneer first before closing the deal that might make you feel better but it seems like a good deal to me.

mantis · June 2008

Shicks18 wrote: »

what exactly makes the elites so much better than the regular?

my main concern is having an avr with 7.1 and preouts, and can do an okay job powering my LSi9s until I can buy an amp.

My friend is giving me the option of trading in my Yamaha RX-V663 for a Pioneer 1017 and $100 , which could be put forth the amp sooner than later. That is what is enticing me! =]

edit: I dont have a blu-ray player, and don't plan on getting one for another 2 years or so, which is why all the HD codecs aren't that important to me. In a few years from now when I am ready to get a blu-ray I will also have the funds to upgrade my receiver again, and put the current one in another room =]

The Elite receivers sound better. They are built better with better components. they are superior to the regular line if your using the internal amps or as a preamp. The preamp makes up more of the overall tone then the amp will. So going Elite is the way to go. You decided to go with the "ELITE" speakers from polk in the Lsi's so why wouldn't you try to support what you own?

If you don't plan on getting a Blu ray player anytime soon, then look used at the Rotel rsx1067. You will have to save up more money as I think used they still go for around 12 to 1400.00. Thats a killer price for a 7.1 Rotel built receiver that can drive the hell out of the Lsi's allday and twice on Sunday.

You can do anything you want but if you want to hear what you spent your money on, your going to have to support everything. A system is a system which needs everything to work correctly together.

Sami · June 2008

Shicks18 wrote: »

well that budget included if i were to sell the yamaha and get $300 back.

i just didn't know if there are better options around than the yamaha

Used market it is then. I think you'd be able to get an 7200 for around $500 these days, it will drive the 9's without any problems.

If your only option is new through your friend, I think you might be best off with the cheapest model you can find with preouts. I think you can find used Adcom 545 or similar for less than $200 to do the amplification for the 9's.

SKsolutions · June 2008

Someone said it earlier. The AVR you use won't become a non-issue when you add an amp. You will still be using it as a preamp, and it will have it's own sound. At lower to moderate levels, you could side by side compare them before making a decision, because part of that sound will still be there when you add your amp. Pay attention to how it sounds at lower levels (thin, full) When you can upgrade: Grab any Adcom, B&K, Parasound, for 200-400 and smile for awhile.

Shicks18 · June 2008

I heard the Yamaha RX-V663 is better than the Pioneer 1017 as far as a pre-amp goes. I have only demoed each of their amps, not pre-amps. Anyone ever used these or similar models for pre-amps? What did yall think?

jon s · June 2008

no matter what amp/receiver you buy, make sure it can handle 4-ohm loads. The LSi series are low impedance speakers and require more current than what most cheap amps/receivers can deliver. A LOT of amps/receivers cannot handle 4-ohm loads and will clip readily or go into protect mode very quickly. Sorry to say, I would not recommend Sony's newest stuff (including their ES line) for the LSis as their regulated power supplies are totally inadequate for loud volumes. they go into protect mode very quickly.

Best AVR for LSi9s?

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