Around $1,000: Receiver or Seperates?

[theaudiohobby]

Jon If it were me I would go out and find your speakers first.That way you will know if you need a beefier amp.You may pick speakers that most new receivers can drive.IMO I see nothing wrong with 2ch reproduction with a good 7.1 receiver .I have found no major difference in my RXV 1400 7.1 receiver played in 2ch and a Adcom GFP 750,and Rotel RC 1070.2ch preamps.

I have said this in the past and it beers repeating, the preamplifier can be the limiting factor in many setups effectively choking the life of out of the power amplifier, this is probably even moreso for active preamplifers.

[46minaudio]

I have said this in the past and it beers repeating, the preamplifier can be the limiting factor in many setups effectively choking the life of out of the power amplifier, this is probably even moreso for active preamplifers.

The 750 is both active and passive>>.

[Geoffcin]

The 750 is both active and passive>>.

Yes, and also a Nelson Pass design I belive.

[theaudiohobby]

The 750 is both active and passive>>.

In this case it will be interesting looking at the circuit design, if the signal path has anything more than a set of resistors in passive mode, then it is still the limiting factor to the sound, a large number of 'passive' attenuator are transformer based with the intention (declared or not) to color the sound.