KaiWinters
02-23-2006, 06:42 PM
Hi all,
What is the difference "sound wise" between a mid-range receiver and a low-budget receiver of similar power? Can a "non-audiophile", such a myself, tell the difference?
I do not mean the connections, etc. I also do not need multi-zone. I am referring to the sound difference to my untrained ears.
I have been given the go ahead to buy a new receiver, daughter will inherit the Sony so I am not just fishing for comments but a need to learn for a good purchase and better listening pleasure.
For example in my car I use MB Quart speakers, fronts and sub, because to me they sound great when compared to the others I listened to...lived in the Boston MA area then with a much wider offering of stores devoted to hi-fi...I have a very nice Alpine stereo with a Rockford Fosgate amplifier. I could have gotten a much more powerful amplifier for the same or less money but the RF was much cleaner, gave a more spacious seeming "sound stage?" with little to no noise. So in that case quality actually gave more "sound". Does the same run true with HT, etc. receivers?
My speakers are Paradigm Titans/front, Klipsch Synergy SC.5/Center, Klipsch KSW-10/sub with an old pair of Bose 301's for surrounds. In the near future I will be using the Titans as the surrounds and getting a pair of Paradigm monitor 5's (great deal on a demo pair as the local dealer for $395) or a pair of mini-monitors.
Wife and I listen to rock, AC/DC etc at 75% of max power, though not very often at that volume. Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Annie Lennox, Carly Simon, etc. at lower levels hehe.
We also watch action/adventure movies at 50 to 60% of max power.
Here are some samples I have been reading about. My price range maxs out at the $899 and my wife would "love me much" if I stayed in the $600 range.
Denon AVR-3805/ $899 at Crutchfield/ 110 Watts
Denon AVR-1906/ $549/ 85 watts
Marantz SR4600/ $430/ 80 watts
Outlaw 1070/ $899/ 60 watts
My receiver is a Sony STR-DE697/110 watts advertised/ $200 (photo in webshots is oldish showing an old Technics...have not had time to update photo)
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-home.pl?mdl=STRDE697&LOC=3
http://community.webshots.com/photo/2284597350085331027pqZboa
What is the difference "sound wise" between a mid-range receiver and a low-budget receiver of similar power? Can a "non-audiophile", such a myself, tell the difference?
I do not mean the connections, etc. I also do not need multi-zone. I am referring to the sound difference to my untrained ears.
I have been given the go ahead to buy a new receiver, daughter will inherit the Sony so I am not just fishing for comments but a need to learn for a good purchase and better listening pleasure.
For example in my car I use MB Quart speakers, fronts and sub, because to me they sound great when compared to the others I listened to...lived in the Boston MA area then with a much wider offering of stores devoted to hi-fi...I have a very nice Alpine stereo with a Rockford Fosgate amplifier. I could have gotten a much more powerful amplifier for the same or less money but the RF was much cleaner, gave a more spacious seeming "sound stage?" with little to no noise. So in that case quality actually gave more "sound". Does the same run true with HT, etc. receivers?
My speakers are Paradigm Titans/front, Klipsch Synergy SC.5/Center, Klipsch KSW-10/sub with an old pair of Bose 301's for surrounds. In the near future I will be using the Titans as the surrounds and getting a pair of Paradigm monitor 5's (great deal on a demo pair as the local dealer for $395) or a pair of mini-monitors.
Wife and I listen to rock, AC/DC etc at 75% of max power, though not very often at that volume. Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Annie Lennox, Carly Simon, etc. at lower levels hehe.
We also watch action/adventure movies at 50 to 60% of max power.
Here are some samples I have been reading about. My price range maxs out at the $899 and my wife would "love me much" if I stayed in the $600 range.
Denon AVR-3805/ $899 at Crutchfield/ 110 Watts
Denon AVR-1906/ $549/ 85 watts
Marantz SR4600/ $430/ 80 watts
Outlaw 1070/ $899/ 60 watts
My receiver is a Sony STR-DE697/110 watts advertised/ $200 (photo in webshots is oldish showing an old Technics...have not had time to update photo)
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-home.pl?mdl=STRDE697&LOC=3
http://community.webshots.com/photo/2284597350085331027pqZboa