Itching.....

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concealer404
concealer404 Posts: 7,440
edited August 2008 in Electronics
So... I've gotten to the point that i believe i would benefit at this point more from upgrading my receiver rather than speakers.

My Onkyo has no pre-outs.

I'm happy with how it sounds, but i have this nagging feeling that i could do better, and especially after reading all the revelations on these forums of people switching to using a reciever as a pre and separate amps....

I want to try.

Now, here's the dilemma:

What exactly am i looking for? The power ratings of the reciever won't be too important to me, i'm assuming, so basically i just need something with 7.1 pre-outs. Is it justifiable to go out and get something like an Onkyo 805 or higher if i'm just going to use it as a pre? Or can i skate through with something like an H/K 245/247 for cheaper and still get the same or extremely similar end results?

Learn me please! :o
I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited August 2008
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    Why not just get a preamp, if you're going to have an amp powering the speakers? Receivers are great if you're still wanting to use the built in amps in some way (bi-amping, powering surrounds, power another zone, etc). However, if you're going to go exclusively with an external amp and not use the amps in the receiver, you're probably better off with a preamp, and there are good offerings from people like Emotiva and Outlaw at reasonable prices.
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited August 2008
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    It would more than likely be used to do another Zone. I'm moving into a house finally this fall and i would like to have the capability to do that.

    Although if this upgrade happens soon, i'll probably have a few extra recievers....

    Are there any downsides from an HT standpoint in going to a dedicated pre-amp rather than HT reciever?

    Let's say theoretically, between an Onkyo 805 or higher, vs. a pre-amp from Emotiva, which ends up being the better compromise in terms of sound and HT-friendlyness?

    I'm looking through Emotiva's site right now.... i have a feeling i'll be spending a bunch of money shortly.... Guess i should do this before i get married, right? :D
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited August 2008
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    Onkyo 805 is a sick AVR for the price. Probably one of the best bang for buck deals out there right now. Check out newegg, onsale there for 649 or shop around BB or Frys and see if you can score one there for a lower price.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited August 2008
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    Oh god....

    I'm now drooling over Emotiva's MMC-1 and UPA-7... What have i gotten myself into?

    Going to go check out Outlaw.... who else should i be looking into?
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited August 2008
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    Sherardp wrote: »
    Onkyo 805 is a sick AVR for the price. Probably one of the best bang for buck deals out there right now. Check out newegg, onsale there for 649 or shop around BB or Frys and see if you can score one there for a lower price.


    Would you suggest getting one and then amping from that? Or just getting a dedicated processor? Will it really make a difference either way?
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • NewHTguy
    NewHTguy Posts: 584
    edited August 2008
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    I recently went through the same decision process. Despite all the suggestions to go the way of separates, I went with the Onk 875 and then sold my old 605. At 140 watts, it has plenty of power for the Rti 10's that I have up front. (It helped to get a really good deal: $900 delivered from an auth dealer.) My main reason for going with an AVR was the video processing. The 875 does a nice job upconverting standard DVD with my old progressive scan dvd players. My impression is that most of the preamps don't have much to offer in the way of video processing. So, you should ask yourself how much the video processing matters to you.
    MAIN: Polk Lsi9s; Polk PSW505; Lsic (in box); Onkyo SR-875; Parasound 2250; Cambridge Audio 740C; LG BD370
    OFFICE: Polk Lsi7; REL T3; HK 3490; CA 840W; Onkyo C-S5VL
    BENCHED: CS20; OWM3s
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,811
    edited August 2008
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    If you are upgrading right now, I would make sure you get HDMI 1.3. All the new features and codecs will force this eventually anyways. So far Emotiva and Outlaw have nothing to offer, Outlaw doesn't have HDMI at all.

    Right now the only pre's with current features are the Onkyo 885/ Integra 9.8, Marantz 8003, and the NAD T175.

    The Marantz has very buggy HDMI implementation, and is seriously lacking in processing power. Can't do the new HD codecs and use Audyssey at the same time for instance. The HDMI issues should be fixed with a firmware update, but Marantz doesn't let end users or dealers install firmware, it will have to be shipped in.

    The NAD also has HDMI handshake issues, along with clicking and popping from the speakers being reported.

    Not many choices right now, but Emotiva has some interesting looking pre's that should be released this fall, and their will also be new units from Onkyo/Integra.
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited August 2008
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    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    If you are upgrading right now, I would make sure you get HDMI 1.3. All the new features and codecs will force this eventually anyways. So far Emotiva and Outlaw have nothing to offer, Outlaw doesn't have HDMI at all.

    Right now the only pre's with current features are the Onkyo 885/ Integra 9.8, Marantz 8003, and the NAD T175.

    The Marantz has very buggy HDMI implementation, and is seriously lacking in processing power. Can't do the new HD codecs and use Audyssey at the same time for instance. The HDMI issues should be fixed with a firmware update, but Marantz doesn't let end users or dealers install firmware, it will have to be shipped in.

    The NAD also has HDMI handshake issues, along with clicking and popping from the speakers being reported.

    Not many choices right now, but Emotiva has some interesting looking pre's that should be released this fall, and their will also be new units from Onkyo/Integra.


    So for right this instant, you sound like you'd go for Onkyo in my case.

    What i think i may do is just go ahead and get the amp now before i change my mind, and then wait and see what this fall brings from Emotiva/Onkyo. :)
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,811
    edited August 2008
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    concealer404 wrote: »
    So for right this instant, you sound like you'd go for Onkyo in my case.

    What i think i may do is just go ahead and get the amp now before i change my mind, and then wait and see what this fall brings from Emotiva/Onkyo. :)

    I went for the Onkyo in my case, had the 885 since last September. If I were looking now, I would probably wait and see what is coming this fall.
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