Receiver recommendations?

Campindog · « **on:** 16 May 2005, 03:39 am »

Okay.. A friend of mine heard my RM30's and decided he needed the same. He's not "into" audio, but loves music. So now he has a line on a pair of used ones and no electronics to speak of. He's not ready to step up to separates, but he is willing to spend ~$1500 for a receiver (new or used). Anyone have suggestions as to what might do a decent job driving these speakers? I tried some RM2's with an upper end Yamaha and you could really tell the amp section was falling on its face.. I wouldn't want that to happen to him.
Next I'll have to talk him out of that $50 Apex DVD player at Circuit City

warnerwh · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 May 2005, 05:50 am »

Get a used preamp and power amp. You can get a used Parasound 1500a or Rotel 990bx for 500 bucks that's 200wpc. That leaves about a grand for a preamp. If he needs a tuner a vintage tuner is the best bet for the money. In other words don't even bother with a receiver, tell him it's a waste of time. If he needs to integrate home theater and stereo then get a preamp with a home theater pass through.

jimmyp58 · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 May 2005, 10:22 am »

If he can spring for a little more $$$, I'd suggest the ARCAM AVR-300 (if he is into receivers).

Jim

Bingenito · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 May 2005, 12:28 pm »

Or a decent integrated.

Florian · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 May 2005, 09:39 pm »

Well i had several Receivers which are pretty darn good for the money.

Onkyo Integra TX-DS939
Onkyo Integra TX-DS838
Cambridge Audio Azur 540R
Marantz SR7200

Dont expect something really goodbut for the cash they are hard to beat on the used Market.

WEEZ · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 May 2005, 10:32 pm »

If it HAS to be a receiver- he should try to look for a Magnum-Dynalab.

Otherwise, as has already been suggested, and integrated is the way to go, IMHO.

WEEZ

JCC · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 May 2005, 11:03 pm »

The JVC RX-F10 is hard to beat - Audiophile sound for cheap.

warnerwh · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 May 2005, 12:27 am »

You should have him bring over his Apex dvd player to your house so he can compare. I suspect with the RM 30's the sound of that player will be awful. Also whether or not he's ready to step upto separates he can afford them. Unless he listens at low volume in a small room I recommend a good amp at a minimum of 150wpc and although I'm not familiar with receivers I suspect even the Parasound and Rotel amps I've suggested will be a much better match.

jackman · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 May 2005, 01:10 am »

For that kind of money, you could get a used Aragon 4004 and a 24K preamp with IPS (isolated power supply). Heck, you could get this combo for under $1000 used. The 4004 is a real tank and a very good sounding amp. I've got one running my subs on my BESL system and I'm very happy with the performance. It's class A and I suspect sounds very good with the VMPS ribbons. The amp is completely dual mono with two transformers, etc.

Just a suggestion, good luck!

Jack

Campindog · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 May 2005, 02:35 am »

Thanks for the ideas gentlemen. JCC, I'm not sure what you're recommending.. I know he's looking to get into home theater, upgradable path, and remote control (ah hell, all the bells and whistles). I've been leaning towards a Sherwood Newcastle or Marantz receiver. Still exploring options for separates and integrated. Had a bad experience with Parasound

but Rotel may be an option. Since I'm using a Sherwood preamp with good results, their receiver may not be far behind. And this is going in a townhouse.
Thanks again for the input.

avalon65 · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 May 2005, 02:41 am »

Quote from: Campindog

...He's not ready to step up to separates, but he is willing to spend ~$1500 for a receiver (new or used). Anyone have suggestions as to what might do a decent job driving these speakers?...

If this guy is willing to spend $1500 why waste it on a receiver that will invariably fall flat. Is he after home theater? If not, and two channel is what he is looking for there are many recommendations on the USED market that can be had for that kind of coin. I'd spend $600-700 on an Amp $500-600 on a preamp and $100-200 on a cheap tuner. Buying used is the way to go. I'd also check out the Odyssey equipment. Incredible bang for the buck! Klaus just came out with a great integrated amp for $900. Spend the rest on a tuner, cabling and software. $1500 can go a long way on the used two-channel market. Do your friend a favor and talk him out of the receiver and into separates(providing HT is not his thing).

James Romeyn · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 Jun 2005, 05:03 am »

The $200 JVC receivers with Tripath output probably are in a class of their own.

CornellAlum · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 Jun 2005, 01:18 pm »

I get the feeling that just about everyone believes seperates are better than receivers around here. While I wouldn't say my modded xr-45 is top of the line, I think it holds its own, and I am primarily and fast becoming a strictly two channel guy. Comments? Has anyone compared the panny modded vs. seperates with vmps speakers?

jermmd · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Jun 2005, 01:33 pm »

My advice and the path I am presently pursuing is a relatively cheap reciever (I bought the Pioneer 1014TX but the JVC's and the Denon 3805 might also be worth considering) and then incorporating a high quality 2 channel set up into the home theater. Go to AVSforum and look up the Pioneer 1015/1014 in the receiver section. It's 100Wx7 of digital power, it uses many of the same internals as Pioneer's Elite line and it has all the bells and whistles (including a microphone for auto calibration/setup and the newest THX certifications). Then as the audio addiction with those fine speakers gets hold, buy a high quality 2 channel amp and preamp to bypass the receiver for music.

Joe M.

Campindog · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Jun 2005, 03:50 am »

He ended up getting a Marantz reciever for 7.1 HT. I'll be helping to set up his RM30 / Larger sub in his new home this weekend. It will be interesting to hear the same gear going from his condo to an open house. The Marantz drives the RM30's well. High current with lots of power. I once tried to use a Yamaha to drive some RM2's w/o near the success.

Pocketchange · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Jul 2005, 09:33 pm »

Any of the 70s powerhouses will make most anyone a happy camper. Finding a clean example may take awhile and a tech to check it out, some time too.

Plenty of features and quality that will last for years and looks that can't be beat, compaired to most of todays offerings. $600/900 for a clean example...

I'm Pioneer SX 1250 fan because I have trouble picking up a SX1980.

VMPS 626R BCSEs w/Larger Sub = Excellent Tunes.
AND YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL LOVE YOU!!!

Bingenito · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Jul 2005, 10:53 pm »

Quote

My advice and the path I am presently pursuing is a relatively cheap reciever (I bought the Pioneer 1014TX but the JVC's and the Denon 3805 might also be worth considering) and then incorporating a high quality 2 channel set up into the home theater. Go to AVSforum and look up the Pioneer 1015/1014 in the receiver section. It's 100Wx7 of digital power, it uses many of the same internals as Pioneer's Elite line and it has all the bells and whistles (including a microphone for auto calibration/setup and the newest THX certifications). Then as the audio addiction with those fine speakers gets hold, buy a high quality 2 channel amp and preamp to bypass the receiver for music.

Agree 110% I wish more people would try what you have stated above

PhilNYC · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Jul 2005, 10:54 pm »

Quote from: jimmyp58

If he can spring for a little more $$$, I'd suggest the ARCAM AVR-300 (if he is into receivers).

Jim

I agree with this...the Arcam is an amazing unit at $1999...

CornellAlum · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 Jul 2005, 12:16 am »

I'm Pioneer SX 1250 fan because I have trouble picking up a SX1980.

VMPS 626R BCSEs w/Larger Sub = Excellent Tunes.
AND YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL LOVE YOU!!![/quote]

If you mean the neighbors hammering on the ceiling because they don't like the level of bass, then yes, mine LOVE me

We have the same set-up fwiw.

I solved this by finding a copy of the local ordinance and sticking it on her condo door, didn't stop the banging but now I just don't give a sh*(

Pocketchange · « **Reply #19 on:** 11 Jul 2005, 03:39 pm »

CORNELLALUM....
Have you made the move to BCs XOs for the Larger?
I ask because Brian mentioned them as a option and at the same time noted, I may have a problem getting past them in their stock mode with the SX1250. He was right on the mark. The setup is such a pleasure to listen to that the XOs I got from him continue to gather dust in the closet.