|   new to audio--home theater for music? | zeke
Nov 11, 2003 4:43 AM | | I have or had (I just tossed it) a 12 year old marantz amp dedicated for cd play. i am in the market for a new amp, however i am considering a home theater to cover both my audio and video needs.
is there a comprimise? would it be better to purchase 2 separate systems, one for audio another for my av needs? or could i do just as well, or almost as well with one home theater for both dvd and cd use?
please advise.
thanks in advance. |
| re: new to audio--home theater for music? | F1
Nov 11, 2003 6:42 AM | | Everybody has different opinion. To me, if you don't have very proper room and your speakers are "not good enough" to take advantage of dedicated separate components, it is more sensible to go with one home theater setup. AV receiver can sound very good if properly setup, better than separate components in lousy setup. The now discontinued Marantz SR7300 may serve you well and you probably get a good bargain as the new model is out.
Good luck. |
| re: new to audio--home theater for music? | Mr Peabody
Nov 11, 2003 8:06 AM | | This depends on your budget and how good you want your music. There are receivers that do pretty well for both music and HT. My first choice in this direction would be the Arcam AVR, this runs about $1,000. They are supposed to be coming out with another receiver with more power. You might also give a listen to receivers by Rotel and I believe B&K has a HT receiver. HK, Onkyo, Denon or Marantz make decent HT receivers but they are still just receivers. They Arcam piece is much better for music.
Another direction, a big step up from the latter, is an A/V preamp and power amp. Rotel with the RSP 1066 has pretty much dominated this combo in the entry level separates. The preamp was around $1,500. Up from there you hit the $3k preamp mark with offerings from B&K, Anthem & Roksan, may be others I'm not aware of. Keep in mind you still need matching power amp. This type of A/V preamp has DAC's built in for HT and music decoding.
Some people will integrate two systems. Certain 2 channel integrated amps or preamps will allow you to use the power section via a through input. This allows you to use a receiver for HT, running the mains off the integrated amp and then only use the integrated amp for 2 channel. I know Krell does this and a couple others that I can't remember. You can pick up a Krell 200 wpc 300iL integrated for $1,995. at www.spearitsound.com. This amp was originally $3,295. The 300iL is lightyears better than the Marantz you had. In my opinion you won't find better 2 channel sound at that price. This amp has true balanced circuitry and class A preamp section. It has seemingly limitless power. This is the type of setup I personally use now but I actually have a HT preamp for the HT side and the front outs go into my Krell 500i. I use an Arcam FMJ 3 channel for center and rear.
Another popular configuration, which is somewhat a waste in my opinion, is the HT receiver using a power amp for the mains to drive them. Granted an outboard power amp will certainly drive your main speakers better than the receivers internal amp and will give you some improvement in sound, however the kicker here is the sound is still limited and dictated by the receivers preamp section which leaves much to be desired. You need a good preamp section as well to allow the clarity and detail to come through.
HT is a very enjoyable and exciting way to view movies. I think you will enjoy it. Music is my primary listening but I was surprised at how much I enjoy the effects of a good movie soundtrack. Like in Star Wars when the ship comes in for a landing and it sounds like the landing is right in your living room. Or Pearl Harbor with bullets flying around the room and explosions you feel in your stomach.
Hope this gives you some idea of what you are looking at. I would recommend taking your time and going out to listen to several things and seeing what's out there. Just be aware that there isn't really very many sales people that actually know what they are talking about. They spew the rederick they are told by the stores owner and product distributors. Trust your own ears. |
| in addition | Mr Peabody
Nov 11, 2003 8:20 AM | | When I was discussing A/V preamps I stopped at $3k but there are a host of other offerings by several manufacturers that go up from there. You have Classe which is actually at $3k as well and probably sounds the best for 2 channel but has no video switching. You have the Krell Showcase and Primare P-30 at about $4k, the Arcam fairly new A/V preamp is around $5k, Bryston is in there somewhere but their preamp is actually 2 pieces because they separate the video and audio section and it keeps going up from there. And there are many more I didn't even mention. |
| Also | RGA
Nov 11, 2003 12:00 PM | | One should check the requirements of their speakers here. For instance the Sugden A21a with sensitive speakers is every bit as good as ANY of the models you've listed better by a considerable margin to the Bryston and Classe units IMO and far FAR FAR less money.
Granted if you have 86db 4ohm speakers you might want these other models...but if you have 89db 8ohm speakers without ridiculous impedence dips then theSugden is more than enough power.
Many of the more expensive manufacturers take their integrteds take the same quality in sound but offer bags more power in the separates they sell. The YBA Integre DT Integrated at $2500.00US had the same "sound" as their 15k separates. You needed the separates if you had unfriendly power sucking speakers. If you had an easy to drive speaker then the you save yourself $12,500.00 in unecessary amplification by getting the 50 watt integrated.
The only reason for big expensive power amplification is to be able to drive a difficult speaker properly. Good ones cost a lot of money whether it be by Krell or Bryston, YBA, Class, Sugden you're looking at multi thousands of dollars.
I would much rather buy a speaker that does not require such expensive amplifiers and can get the SAME volume level and quality(sometimes better because good integrateds have superiority in the area of noise and interference) with an integraed. |
| re: new to audio--home theater for music? | kevyy
Nov 12, 2003 7:18 AM | | I was in a difficult situation in that i loved my old sansui integrated amp but wanted a home theater/listening room with surround sound. After being dissapointed with an NAD t752 (it was an excellent sounding A/V reciever, but STILL sounded like an A/V reciever to me). I am now going with a separate processor, a smart devices CS3xjr, (only $129 now on special), and a two channel amp. It sounds fabulous with movies or music! OK, its not DD or DTS, but the sound is SOOOO smooth and effective, i'll gladly give up the nth degree of channel separation to have a system that is so versitile overall. |
| re: new to audio--home theater for music? | kevyy
Nov 12, 2003 7:21 AM | | P.S. smart devices website is www.smartdev.com They have two processors, the cxjr and the mm-1. The mm-1 is a little more geared toward being used as a music/movie processor, but the way i have it rigged it was not necessary, and the cx-jr is more than 1/2 off right now. |
| Pretty difficult to tell without a budget | Norm Strong
Nov 12, 2003 11:46 AM | | Are we talking about a home theater/audio system for less than $1000? $2000? If you're determined to spend more than $2000, I can't give you any advice you'd accept. |
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