cheap receiver with expensive speakers?

[HomeTheaterVirgin]

Im thinking of going with the paradigm monitor 11s but my question is will the reciever Im intrested in power these babys good enough Pioneer VSX 1019.I just feal like Im doing something wrong 500.00 on a reciever and 1400.00 on 2 speakers? should I be investing that money in a better unit?

[got rice]

Originally Posted by HomeTheaterVirgin

Im thinking of going with the paradigm monitor 11s but my question is will the reciever Im intrested in power these babys good enough Pioneer VSX 1019.I just feal like Im doing something wrong 500.00 on a reciever and 1400.00 on 2 speakers? should I be investing that money in a better unit?

Nice speakers. Althought the monitor 11's are pretty efficient, I would consider spending more on the receiver and a little less on the speakers.

Just to stay with the brands you mentioned, Pioneer Elite 05 or 03 and Monitor 7's or 9's respectively. Eventually building towards a good sub.

Definitely don't skimp on the center. Trust me from experience, I wish I had gone with the CC-390.

[Rob J in WNY]

The VSX-1019 is not a bad receiver at all. Just below the Elite line. If you are not planning on running at "reference" volumes, then you would be okay with the 1019, but if you like the maximum theatrical loudness, then consider a receiver which puts up "real world" output numbers. In other words, clean power that actually matches what the rated output ratings are.

If you are of the latter sort (reference volume nut), and you can spare a little more money, move up to at least the Pioneer Elite SC-05. The SC-05/07/09 use Class D amplifiers and have a tremendous amount of dynamic headroom. There are some good specials on the SC-05 and SC-07 if you can still find them at your local Best Buy Magnolia Store or 6ave.com. YMMV.

[HomeTheaterVirgin]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

The VSX-1019 is not a bad receiver at all. Just below the Elite line. If you are not planning on running at "reference" volumes, then you would be okay with the 1019, but if you like the maximum theatrical loudness, then consider a receiver which puts up "real world" output numbers. In other words, clean power that actually matches what the rated output ratings are.

If you are of the latter sort (reference volume nut), and you can spare a little more money, move up to at least the Pioneer Elite SC-05. The SC-05/07/09 use Class D amplifiers and have a tremendous amount of dynamic headroom. There are some good specials on the SC-05 and SC-07 if you can still find them at your local Best Buy Magnolia Store or 6ave.com. YMMV.

This might be a dumb question but how about at low levels do they still sound good?what if I downgrade to monitor 7s or 11s then and go with the Sc-05 would that be too much power?

[Rob J in WNY]

Originally Posted by HomeTheaterVirgin

This might be a dumb question but how about at low levels do they still sound good?what if I downgrade to monitor 7s or 11s then and go with the Sc-05 would that be too much power?

Not a dumb question at all.

First off, at low volumes, you don't really ever have "too much power." The Paradigm Monitor 7s are rated for 130 watts "maxiumum," but, according to Paradigm's website, the speakers are suitable with an amplifier output of up to 180 watts per channel. There's always a little room for vascillation with regard to amplifer power versus speaker power handling. In the end, it's safer not to push it, but you can see that there is a little "play room."

The SC-05 is rated at 130 watts per channel, 20-20KHz, 0.09% THD into 8-ohms. In "real world" analysis, the SC-05 comes very close to producing its rated power before total harmonic distortion begins its spike. That's quite a bit of clean power. Its Class D "ICEpower" amplifers run a bit cooler due to the nature of their "switching" operation, and believe me (and others) when I say that this receiver will deliver all the loudness you need with astonishing clarity. It's essentially a near-perfect marriage of power efficiency and accurate, robust output.

One of the really nice things about the SC-05 is that it uses "THX Loudness Plus," which is basically an advanced loudness contouring system for listening at low volumes. It does an excellent job of maintaining full-bodied sound and presence when the volume is low. I don't often run at low levels (not often at reference levels, either), but when the volume is low, THX Loudness Plus does its job superbly. Solid LFE/sub bass and pinpoint highs.

Goodness, Pioneer should be paying me for all the props I have given the SC-05 since I upgraded to it! But it's really a receiver which delivers well on its features and performance.

[StimpsonJCat]

IMHO you will get more sound improvement from better speakers than a better AVR. Not saying an upgrade in the AVR department won't improve your sound. But with a starter setup a speaker upgrade will do more to give you better sound as long as the AVR is somewhat capable.

If you start getting into low effecient speakers that need more power to drive (and sound good) then it is time to upgrade the AVR (or go to seperates). But most mid level AVRs ($500 - $700) will handle the majority of speakers with no problem.

So, I recommend getting the better speakers and look to upgrade the AVR down the road.

[Histep]

Originally Posted by HomeTheaterVirgin

Im thinking of going with the paradigm monitor 11s but my question is will the reciever Im intrested in power these babys good enough Pioneer VSX 1019.I just feal like Im doing something wrong 500.00 on a reciever and 1400.00 on 2 speakers? should I be investing that money in a better unit?

Go with the better speakers. If they are what you want, and you plan to keep them long enough to get your $1400 worth. Good speakers will always sound good and will make a lesser receiver sound better than it is. You can pair cheap speakers with a $5000 receiver, and they will always sound like cheap speakers.
HERB

[got rice]

Although I can't disagree with building your HT around the speakers, I'm having a difficult time with people, not providing examples.

would you suggest Klipsch RF-82's with Yamaha 665

I think the OP will benefit more with specifics so he/she can have an idea of your thoughts. JMO

[callas01]

Originally Posted by HomeTheaterVirgin

This might be a dumb question but how about at low levels do they still sound good?what if I downgrade to monitor 7s or 11s then and go with the Sc-05 would that be too much power?

If I can suggest, perhaps you could talk with PitbullMike about his $500 marantz 5003 he has for sale, that would lessen the burden of money on a reciever and get you a receiver that is top flight, and still allow you to get the Monitor 11s and have better power then the pioneer you looking at to drive them.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by HomeTheaterVirgin

Im thinking of going with the paradigm monitor 11s but my question is will the reciever Im intrested in power these babys good enough Pioneer VSX 1019.I just feal like Im doing something wrong 500.00 on a reciever and 1400.00 on 2 speakers? should I be investing that money in a better unit?

You didn't say you had a budgetary limit, so why limit yourself with a low end AVR? However to answer your general question, it is better to have an amplifier that is more powerful than the speakers' ratings, even though that sounds backwards. The reason is that with an underpowered amp/avr you may have a tendency to turn up the volume and drive the amplifier output into a clipping mode. Clipping creates DC voltages being sent to the speakers and that can drive the voice coils beyond their limits leading to premature failure, etc. As long as you never turn up the volume on your AVR you would be OK, but who knows where that potential for clipping lies? It depends on external factors as much as the AVR design itself, e.g. music that is recorded into the clipping zone could initiate an amplifier's clipping at a lower level than you would expect.