Voltaire Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Well I suppose this had to happen sooner or later, in my case much LATER.............. I have chosen the speakers I will utilise................. Orpheus #1's for front L+R and rear L+R, Orpheus Aurora .5 Centre speaker and possibly a Velodyne sub............... 5.1 will be enough for now. Budget for the receiver is around $3,000.00 Recommendations please........................? V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joz Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Whats happening,first BD now this. Well al,ll I can add is that I'm a very happy Yamaha reciever owner,i've had a few and never had a problem. Really either of their current series RXV 1900/3900 would do justice to your gear. They do everything thats expected of them with no fuss or bother. Either of these will decode the new audio codecs and have plenty of other features to boot. Any of todays recievers in that pricing will do all that you'd want and do it well. You 're shopping in the price range that will get you some quality gear without going to extreme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumby Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Prefacing this with the caveat that I know little about surround sound gear, I have read many glowing reviews in AV discussion groups of Arcam receivers. CAV in Melbourne are selling the Arcam AVR350 right now for $2.8k ("reg" $3.5k) http://www.carltonaudiovisual.com.au/?q=node/view/206 Might be worth a look. Might pick it up for 2.5k. Who knows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benoz Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 arcam or cambridge audio for me. I was tempted by the arcam but price made the choice for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltaire Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 Prefacing this with the caveat that I know little about surround sound gear, I have read many glowing reviews in AV discussion groups of Arcam receivers.CAV in Melbourne are selling the Arcam AVR350 right now for $2.8k ("reg" $3.5k) http://www.carltonaudiovisual.com.au/?q=node/view/206 Might be worth a look. Might pick it up for 2.5k. Who knows I do like the look of the Arcan, simple and understated.................. Thanks Brumb's V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumby Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 You're welcome, Volly. But if you think it's "simple and understated" take a look at the back of the unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltaire Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 Yeh I know, best that most manufactures stop placing "rear view" on the web sites for their products, kind a daunting............... More than half of the bloody connections you would never use and consider all of those wayward electrons that escape from the box mate....................... out of all of those holes that never get plugged!!! Disgusting I reckon............ V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumby Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Agreed, I have every orifice in the back of my modest pre (except the tape in- out) suitably "impregnated". Must preserve modesty, not to mention electrons! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeyboi Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 (edited) I wish that some enterprising manufacturer would bring back decent fully featured seperates. My last pre-pro that was a seperate was a Sony TA-E9000ES with v2.5 in the flashROM. Did multichannel AAC decoding too. My more recent pre-pro has inbuilt digital power amps which have never driven a speaker since day one. The analogue pre-outs feed seperate analogue power amplifiers. Cheers, Alan R. Edited March 3, 2009 by Alan Rutlidge helps if you don't leave out words - Doh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drizt Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I wish that some enterprising manufacturer would bring back decent fully featured seperates. My last pre-pro that was a seperate was a Sony TA-E9000ES with v2.5 in the flashROM. Did multichannel AAC decoding too.My more recent pre-pro has inbuilt digital power amps which have never driven a speaker since day one. The analogue pre-outs feed seperate analogue power amplifiers. Cheers, Alan R. Theres a number of fully featured pre/pro's out there. This ones a beauty -> Integra DHC9.9 Theres also a number of expensive denons as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joz Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Not sure if the Arcam decodes the latest codecs,if not it's already a relic. Pre pros in the ht scene though better really may suffer when it's time to move them on. Few people want to spend $$ on extra amplification when the pre is out dated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norpus Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Theres a number of fully featured pre/pro's out there.This ones a beauty -> Integra DHC9.9 Theres also a number of expensive denons as well. Yes, this one seems to have all the fruit and about 1/4 the price of my Denon! Who is selling them locally - I thought I spotted an Integra at SGR last time I was there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drizt Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Yes, this one seems to have all the fruit and about 1/4 the price of my Denon!Who is selling them locally - I thought I spotted an Integra at SGR last time I was there? Yeap, SGR sell them. I haven't had a chance to listen to one yet but its high on my list of things to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drizt Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Not sure if the Arcam decodes the latest codecs,if not it's already a relic.Pre pros in the ht scene though better really may suffer when it's time to move them on. Few people want to spend $$ on extra amplification when the pre is out dated. AVR's don't really hold $$$ value either. Id rather spend the extra money on getting better features than getting an AVR with amps I wont use and less features (XLR inputs / outputes) etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumby Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 With a two-channel setup like you've got, Volly, why the devil do you want surround sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soultone Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Pioneer LX Series are great, Onkyo SR 806 and 906, Denon, Yamaha RXV1900 and the Sony ES3400 are very good amps that I have used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antripodean Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 For that kind of money I can highly recommend the Pioneer SC-LX81. I own one and in that price category it is a winner on all fronts, including sound quality and format decoding. Not as many tricks as the Denon but sounding a lot better. Yes, it's a D class (B&O Icepower) so it's running cool (temperature). Definitely worth a listen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drizt Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 With a two-channel setup like you've got, Volly, why the devil do you want surround sound hehe says the many who doesn't have a surround sound setup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joz Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 (edited) AVR's don't really hold $$$ value either. Id rather spend the extra money on getting better features than getting an AVR with amps I wont use and less features (XLR inputs / outputes) etc. You're right Drizt,but at least the thing can do some secondary duties somewhere in the house if it has amps. But if the pre can be updated to keep it in the game thats another story.Unlike what Rotel did to there customers with their beautiful ht pre.. Like I thought about updating my old (11 months old) Yam 3800 to the new 3900 but already had lost in excess of $50% if I were to trade up? So for what the exrtra the 3900 was going top do for me I thought I'll just sit on my existing unit. When I will upgrade the 3800 is going into the kids area.By then I should also have some redundant spealers for them too! Unlike 2 channel pre's ht ones seem to be less desirable on th s/h market. of course I'm only speaking from my perspective. So back to froggy,if the Arcam in this case has not got the latest HDMI connection or decoding abilities bother?? The thing is already due for extinction. I think that was the reason for me not buying one a couple of years ago. Edited March 4, 2009 by joz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joz Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Actually if Arcam is your thing the latest up to date model AVR 600 is a juicy $7000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffie Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 the problem for most of the past pre pros is that the cant decode all the new formats. So the new generation that can should be more desireable in the 2nd hand market for a few of years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltaire Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 (edited) I do like either of these Yamy's........................ The first a bit more $ wise............... http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/products/avit/htavreceivers/RX-V3900.asp http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/products/avit/htavreceivers/RX-V1900B.asp I do really want to keep the Hi_fi Stereo separate though Brumby as I am hoping one day to extend the living area width wise and have the TV in the next room to the Stereo. Plus I would never want to push the Pass X250.5 with a pre-stereo out from an AV receiver, to much mucking around and I would have to take the 2.5 pre out of the loop and play the Moon Eclipse CDP through the AV receiver as well. GOD FORBIT< and go back to RCA's from my expense investment into XLR's......................... And Kiat would never talk to me again............................ V Edited March 4, 2009 by Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joz Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Hi Froggy, all I can say is that they are a fine unit.Not sure whether for most cases the extra is worth spending on the 3900 over the 1900. But for the hell of it I'd go the 3900 if only for the 2 HDMI outs as opposed to one,great if you have two displays(flat screen and PJ). But at this price point most manufacturers have quality products nad I just happen to be comfy with Yamms. Others like Denon or Marantz,may be just personal choice ?? Anyhow the Yammy will do your BDs plenty of justice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soultone Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Good point Joz about the two HDMI out on the 3900, very under rated feature. I think that projectors and tv's will feature in most peoples homes in the near future. Also having 3 zones never hurts either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltaire Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 Thanks guys..................... want to buy some amps to assist my new purchase perchance? V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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