New reciever time, Any suggestions?

[snowball_iv]

I don't really have any expierence with any different brands. I have a onkyo htib for a few years. It has been a good reciever. I just upgraded my tv, so now its time to upgrade my audio. I figured i would get a new reciever first, then speakers later on down the road.

1. I would like my price range to be about $500, but i might be willing to go up to 700.

2. I am pretty sure that i don't want another onkyo. I have been kinda leaning towards pioneer.

3. Well getting a new reciever up my sound quality, and volume, or would speakers be better first?

Thank you everyone for the advice.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by snowball_iv

I don't really have any expierence with any different brands. I have a onkyo htib for a few years. It has been a good reciever. I just upgraded my tv, so now its time to upgrade my audio. I figured i would get a new reciever first, then speakers later on down the road.

1. I would like my price range to be about $500, but i might be willing to go up to 700.

2. I am pretty sure that i don't want another onkyo. I have been kinda leaning towards pioneer.

3. Well getting a new reciever up my sound quality, and volume, or would speakers be better first?

Thank you everyone for the advice.

I am gonna assume you will spend $700 so I am suggesting the Marantz 5003. Probably one of the best in class receivers on the market in that price range. Otherwise I would say the Pioneer Elite VSX-21 or 23, but I would go with the Marantz first personally.

Re-read, saw the speaker question.... I would probably get new speakers, but that receiver would be right around the corner...... Even if you just start out with a 2.0 and use the existing speakers as surrounds... New fronts, New receiver would be the way to start... IMO

[BLURAYSONYES]

true that. Marantz all the way. Ive also seen a lot of good ROTEL receivers on ebay for very low price as well.

[mvs9963]

+3 for the marantz

[snowball_iv]

Okay so it looks like the marantz is winning the show.

[callas01]

only thing you need to do is check the specs on the HTiB manual to see what the ohm rating is 3, 4, 6, 8 (may have an omega symbol to identify the ohms)... then make sure that the receiver can play that ohm level. 4-8 is pretty safe for the receiver, 3 may be pushing it.....

[timbre4gear]

I'd say speakers first because HTiB packages cut those corners first. A better compliment of speakers, especially subwoofer will make a huge difference.

There are plenty of great receivers for not a lot of bread; it's a matter of inputs, routing options and soundtrack decoding for the most part.

I prefer Denon receivers (a tad bright) with neutral accurate speakers speakers to work out with the right balance for me.

Just one opinion folks.

[callas01]

snowball,

I was trying to figure out what receiver that is, it looks like it is an actual receiver, and not a typical HTiB, check in your manual at the specs, it should say something to the effect of 110 watts, 8 ohm loads, .09% THD..... or something similar.

IF it does, Then Read the last part of my 1st reply, GET THE SPEAKERS FIRST.

Most importantly get the Fronts and Center first, and if you can stretch the budget for a Receiver at the same time do it otherwise save up some more and then buy a receiver.

A good package would be like these Jamos and then add say this Onkyo

That is $700

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by callas01

only thing you need to do is check the specs on the HTiB manual to see what the ohm rating is 3, 4, 6, 8 (may have an omega symbol to identify the ohms)... then make sure that the receiver can play that ohm level. 4-8 is pretty safe for the receiver, 3 may be pushing it.....

I don't think there's very many HTiB configurations out there with anything other than 8-ohm speakers... they're starter rigs.

Y'all probably know what receiver I'd recommend at that price: Marantz 5003. Best feature-set in a low-cost receiver, and has preamp outs, so you can add power later.

At this stage, I don't think it makes all that much of a difference whether you get the new receiver first, or get new frontstage speakers first. It's when you do both that you really get the improvement you're after. The biggest difference is the price of that decision, and I vote for saving more money before wading into the phase of auditioning speakers (which will be easier to do if you already have the receiver you want, anyway).

[snowball_iv]

When i get speakers, i want to get some paridigm or b & w, like for 1000 or so. The only reason i wanna upgrade my receiver first, is because it doesn't decode high def audio.

And Callas01 i checked the book and it says its 110 watts, 8 ohms, and less than 0.9% thd. It says the receiver is Onkyo HT-R550

So what pioneer receiver would be equivalent to the Marantz 5003?

[callas01]

Originally Posted by snowball_iv

When i get speakers, i want to get some paridigm or b & w, like for 1000 or so. The only reason i wanna upgrade my receiver first, is because it doesn't decode high def audio.

And Callas01 i checked the book and it says its 110 watts, 8 ohms, and less than 0.9% thd. It says the receiver is Onkyo HT-R550

So what pioneer receiver would be equivalent to the Marantz 5003?

Pioneer Elite VSX-23 should be on par...

you did mean for the 2 fronts, right? And good it sounds like any receiver you prefer will work.

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by snowball_iv

When i get speakers, i want to get some paridigm or b & w, like for 1000 or so. The only reason i wanna upgrade my receiver first, is because it doesn't decode high def audio.

And Callas01 i checked the book and it says its 110 watts, 8 ohms, and less than 0.9% thd. It says the receiver is Onkyo HT-R550

So what pioneer receiver would be equivalent to the Marantz 5003?

That is a very good reason to get the receiver first.

Do you mean equivalent in price or in quality/performance?

[snowball_iv]

Originally Posted by mjbethancourt

That is a very good reason to get the receiver first.

Do you mean equivalent in price or in quality/performance?

In either price or quality, i was hoping they would both be the same.

Originally Posted by callas01

you did mean for the 2 fronts, right? And good it sounds like any receiver you prefer will work.

Yes i meant the two fronts and maybe the center also included in that price.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by snowball_iv

In either price or quality, i was hoping they would both be the same.



Yes i meant the two fronts and maybe the center also included in that price.

Personally I prefer Marantz just slightly to Pioneer, but to me they are almost 1 - 2, with Denon right there too.

The fronts would cost about $1000-$1100 for either the Paradigm Monitor 7s or the B&W 684s, add in another $500-750 for the center channel, depends on if you get the CC190, CC290 from Paradigm, or the HTM62 or the HTM61 from B&W. And everyone says you want the CC290.

I personally put the B&Ws just slightly ahead of Paradigm, just depends what sound YOU prefer. B&W is more of a neutral speaker with great clarity and depth, and nice smooth but deep sounding bass, Paradigm are a little brighter but sound great too.

You may also check out Monitor Audios Silver line, they will be a little warm but all the reviews are that they are outstanding speakers... Definetly deserve to be heard... JasonR's opinion (to me) is highly regarded, and he says they were a little nicer then the Paradigm Monitor 9s.

These will probably be 3 of the 5 speakers I audition at some point to, when it comes to upgrading.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by callas01

Personally I prefer Marantz just slightly to Pioneer, but to me they are almost 1 - 2, with Denon right there too.

The fronts would cost about $1000-$1100 for either the Paradigm Monitor 7s or the B&W 684s, add in another $500-750 for the center channel, depends on if you get the CC190, CC290 from Paradigm, or the HTM62 or the HTM61 from B&W. And everyone says you want the CC290.

I personally put the B&Ws just slightly ahead of Paradigm, just depends what sound YOU prefer. B&W is more of a neutral speaker with great clarity and depth, and nice smooth but deep sounding bass, Paradigm are a little brighter but sound great too.

You may also check out Monitor Audios Silver line, they will be a little warm but all the reviews are that they are outstanding speakers... Definetly deserve to be heard... JasonR's opinion (to me) is highly regarded, and he says they were a little nicer then the Paradigm Monitor 9s.

These will probably be 3 of the 5 speakers I audition at some point to, when it comes to upgrading.

For $1100, he could get into the Monitor 9s. I do feel the MAs to be a more musical speaker, but the Paradigms tear it up for home theater. Just a very forward speaker. I like the 684s, but for my money I like the 683s that much better. I don't find them as detailed as the MAs, but a great speaker. If you listened to anyone of the above and chose it, I think you would be doing pretty dang good!

[mjbethancourt]

Originally Posted by callas01

Personally I prefer Marantz just slightly to Pioneer, but to me they are almost 1 - 2, with Denon right there too.

The fronts would cost about $1000-$1100 for either the Paradigm Monitor 7s or the B&W 684s, add in another $500-750 for the center channel, depends on if you get the CC190, CC290 from Paradigm, or the HTM62 or the HTM61 from B&W. And everyone says you want the CC290.

I personally put the B&Ws just slightly ahead of Paradigm, just depends what sound YOU prefer. B&W is more of a neutral speaker with great clarity and depth, and nice smooth but deep sounding bass, Paradigm are a little brighter but sound great too.

You may also check out Monitor Audios Silver line, they will be a little warm but all the reviews are that they are outstanding speakers... Definetly deserve to be heard... JasonR's opinion (to me) is highly regarded, and he says they were a little nicer then the Paradigm Monitor 9s.

These will probably be 3 of the 5 speakers I audition at some point to, when it comes to upgrading.

+1 on all that.

I think the equivalent Pioneer is probably last-year's Elite VSX-03TXH... about the same price and feature set. Can't vouch for performance, but it seems to be a favorite brand for many. Usually to get the Pioneer that you want, one has to spend a little more money than on equivalent models from competing brands: that's why I asked "price or performance".

[bhampton]

The Marantz name (label) is a bit better then Denon I would think but If was buying a AVR today I would get this one...

http://www.dakmart.com/product_info....oducts_id=6530

$369 refurb from an authorized dealer. Just saying that's what I would buy.

-Brian

[snowball_iv]

I was checking around at the prices and the pioneer elite looks like it is cheaper than the marantz 5003.
On the b&w speakers how much would it cost to get a pair of the speakers with the tweeter mounted on top, i am just curious because i like the look of those?

What exactly would be the difference between the Paridigm monitor series 7 and 9?