|   New Receiver or New Amp with Current Receiver as Pre? | Dyn Dave
Mar 6, 2001 8:07 AM | | I currently have a Denon AVR-85 receiver (85W x 5 at 8 ohm) pushing a pair of Dynaudio 1.8 MKII speakers that I just purchased. The receiver cannot handle 4 ohm loads very well (the manual says it could damage speakers with loads greater than 6 ohms), so I am trying to decide what to do. Should I buy a new receiver, like a NAD T761, that will handle 4 ohm loads, or should I use my Denon as a pre amp and purchase a decent amp (e.g. Bryston 3B ST or 4B ST, or NAD 218 THX or S200)? I listen to about 60/40 HT to 2 channel and don't blast either very often.
Thanks in advance for any advice. |
| re: New Receiver or New Amp with Current Receiver as Pre? | Jetsons
Mar 6, 2001 2:47 PM | | In my view, most definitely purchase the amp. The 3B-ST would be excellent and very easy to purchase used (awesome warranty) for less than $1K. Audition a few makes/models and see what your ears prefer.
Not sure why you would want to swap one receiver for another unless you require new features. I am not aware of too many receivers that will make you Danes sing for the cost of a slightly used quality amp.
BTW, there are quite a few amp deals on the market. Check places such as audiogon.com.
Jet |
| Bryston all the way... | agro1
Mar 8, 2001 1:19 PM | | A seperate power amp will almost always sound better than a AV receiver. |
| re: Bryston all the way- and get a good preamp too... | Ace W.
Mar 9, 2001 8:03 AM | | Bryston far outclasses the preamp section of a $4000 receiver, much less that cheapy your replacing. Receiver preamps are of the lowest quality and they may add hum and hiss due to noisy unshielded power supplies in the pre and the very nearby power amp. Also, if your Bryston is within 2-3ft of that receiver, it will probably hum.
Don't get another receiver. It won't damage the speakers on a 4 ohm load. Instead it will overheat and shut off from a really wimpy power supply. You might be able to get away with it driving only 2 channels, but it will still sound bad and might cut out. All receivers are the same way- they all suck and not even the $3000-4000 ones are much good at 4 ohms nominal reactive loading. |
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