Need Advice On A Low Cost AV Receiver

Autor

Beitrag

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#1 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 07:52

I have recently bought a (pre-owned) Bose

Acoustimass 15 Home theater system. It consists of One active Sub and 5 satelitte channels. Its for my Kid's room, where I recently fitted an LCD TV.

It will be used ONLY for Home Theatre and TV related use, Not for serious 2 channel listning.

I now need to buy the 5 channel amplification.

I am IGNORANT on the topic and would appreciate ANY and all advice on what features I need / should look for. ( DTS, Dolby, HDMI ... whatever )

I would ideally Not like to spend more than Rs 12,000 but could streatch it to Rs 15,000 for a good product. There is still that DVD player I will have to buy. ( another Rs 6 K approx

)

A built in FM Tuner, is not a priority, though a learning / Universal remote would be a boon, to avoid using 4 remote controls ! ( Cable TV STB, DVD Player, LCD TV & AV Receiver

)

Value for money is a prime factor, and I want to curtail the spend. A full Bells Lights & Whistles AV Receiver is also not what I am chasing. Easy use by my kids would be preferred....

My preference is for buying the product in the Mumbai Grey market or 2nd hand ...so please point this prices, when recommending.

Like I said, Any and All Advice, even a basic primer on features to look for in an AV receiver, would be most appreciated.

Thanks for your time, advice and pre-owned products if any for sale

[Beitrag von Amp_Nut am 09. Aug 2007, 07:59 bearbeitet]

abhi.pani
Inventar

#2 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 08:09

My first choice would be Onkyo TX-SR503.
Very involving HT performance (without getting too bright), robust, plenty of service and spares availability, not too bad with music....entertaining

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#3 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 08:18

The Rs 12,000 question.... for All Product recommendations for this application .... Price ?

Is it in my price point ?

Mumbai has a RIP OFF Sales Tax of approx 17%.

Remember I mentioned Grey Market ?

That's why !

Arj
Inventar

#4 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 08:20

Amp Nut ji, Get any of the entry level receivers. I run a Onkya SR502 with a Bose Passive setup. i just with it had more power ie i need to run ot at around 80% of its volume for loud sound.

I do have a question on the connection of your AM15..what is the input ? is it Low level RCA for each channele or any proprietary Bose connection ?

abhi.pani
Inventar

#5 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 08:29

I think it should available in grey market for 13-14k.
Try bargaining with a friendly Onkyo dealer and see if he can give you the same for 15-16k with warranty (a better bet)

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#6 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 08:30

Ah ! so the Bose needs power... How many Watts does the Onkyo SR502 put out ?

Clearly I will need more juice than that.

My room is rather small... about 10 feet X 15 feet.

The Bose will provide outputs for the 5 channels, thru RCAs, on the Active Sub.

Arj
Inventar

#7 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 08:37

Onkyos fool aronhd with ratings..thye say 60W into 6 ohms !!!! which translates to 50 into 8.

But my Living come Dining is something like 30x12..so that is obviously a factor.

Again your being a Powered setup, i am not sure if it is as simple as giving it high level inputs..

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#8 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 08:43

Arj,

ONLY the Sub is Powered.....

SNV
Stammgast

#9 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:06

Dear Amp_Nut,

Firstly, the bose speakers you have are not easy to drive, they draw a lot of current from the amp.
I think, their sensitivity is as low as 86db or may be even lower. You need a powerful amp to drive these.

Options around 15k from the grey market -

YAMAHA RXV 361 - Rs 13k (with warranty)
YAMAHA RXV 461 - Rs 16k (with warranty)

MARANTZ SR 301 - Rs 20k (with 3 yrs warranty)
MARANTZ SR 3001 - Rs 22k (with 3 yrs warranty)

Although you need one of the higher models with better power.

Regards
SNV

Arj
Inventar

#10 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:21

those are good options above..the 16K Yammy might be a very good bet.

Are there any receivers with self setup (Like ADAPTiQ) in that range ?

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#11 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:21

Hi SNV,

Thanks for the recommendations.

I have seen a MARANTZ SR 301 offered in Grey market to me for Rs 13K, and frankly I am swayed with the trusted Brand name. How does it compare to the older SR 4400 ?

Will the SR 301 be upto the job ? How many watts does this put out ?

Is the SR 3001 Significantly better ? In what way ?

Are the Yamaha's as good as the Marantz ? Your personal impressions welcome.

Also, I am not sure what you mean by Grey Market with 1 year warranty ?

I thought Grey mkt ... No Warranty ?

Thanks for your patience and advice.

SNV
Stammgast

#12 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:32

Arj schrieb:

those are good options above..the 16K Yammy might be a very good bet.

Are there any receivers with self setup (Like ADAPTiQ) in that range ?

Dear Arj,

The 461 Yammy comes with self set up. (YPAO)

Regards
SNV

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#13 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:38

Pardon my ignorance.... but will auto EQ be of any use with my BOSE setup which uses an active sub ?

abhi.pani
Inventar

#14 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:39

The only reasin i didnt recommend Yamaha is because fo two reasons:

1. Its bright and tiring

.

2. I have seen a couple of Yamaha recievers going kaput due to voltage fluctuations (or whatever other reasons). I dont find them to be as trustworthy as the Onkyo, Denon, Marantz counter part (Just my 2 paise, since you are buying grey).

BTW, I have heard the Marantz SR-5001. Superb sound!!!!!!!
In stereo mode, it beats many entry level stereo amps (wouldnt name it

) hands down.
I heard it with a full Dynaudio HT setup.

[Beitrag von abhi.pani am 09. Aug 2007, 10:00 bearbeitet]

Arj
Inventar

#15 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:40

Amp_nut Ji based on the above I would recommend the Yammy. and if your budget does exgtend to a grey market Marantz then get a White market Yammy with Warranty.

since you anyway have a stere setup, the DSP of a Yammy used to be very much superior to others and this is important as you will be using this for TV as well.

SNV
Stammgast

#16 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:41

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Dear Amp_Nut,

The SR 4400 might just be a better product.
The SR301 i think is a 70 watter (5.1). The SR3001 is also a 70 watter but 7.1.
The SR4001 is a 80 watter, 7.1 with hdmi switching.

Sir all above prices are cash prices.(No invoice) Warranty is there irrespective.

Honestly, i feel none of the above amps will deliver the oomph required by the bose but if one to had to choose then its either the 461 yamaha or sr 3001 marantz.

Regards
SNV

Arj
Inventar

#17 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:44

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Pardon my ignorance.... but will auto EQ be of any use with my BOSE setup which uses an active sub ?

yes. it changes the power output so that 3 positions in your seating will have equalised sound across the frequesncy range (YOu need to set it up by placing a microphone in those points and the software auto-caliberates)

the active sub is only a bass enhancer..in boses case it usually takes the range below 200Hz.

SNV
Stammgast

#18 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:51

Arj schrieb:

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Pardon my ignorance.... but will auto EQ be of any use with my BOSE setup which uses an active sub ?

It basically takes care of the db level of each speaker(matches them) at your listening position and also programs the delays respectively.

Regards
SNV

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#19 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:55

Thanks, Arj.

SNV, I did some reading on the net, and the YAMAHA RXV 461 seems ideal for me.

Besides the Self EQ, the optional iPod dock and ipod video on TV functions will be VERY welcome.

How much is the optional iPod dock ?

Your comment :

Honestly, i feel none of the above amps will deliver the oomph required by the BOSE

Has got me concerned.

Which product then would you recommend to adequately drive the BOSE ? Approx Price ?

Thanks

SNV
Stammgast

#20 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 09:58

Well, ideally i would recommend the Marantz sr 5001. It should drive the bose speakers well. The sr 5001 is about 25k in the grey.
But you could do with the Yamaha rxv 461 also.

Regards
SNV

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#21 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 10:15

I checked out the Yamaha at :

http://www.samstores.com/details.asp?ProdID=8215

and the Marantz 5001 at :

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AMARASR5001

The Marantz offers " Up-Conversion to Component "

This may be useful for use with my Digital cable TV Box. Does this improve the pic appreciably ? Can better quality Component Video be obtained from a Composite Video signal ( Silk From A Sow's Ear ?? )

zhopudey
Stammgast

#22 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 10:24

I doubt it would do that. I think upconversion is only provided for convenience, so that you have only one connection to your display. That way, you don't need to use your TV remote.

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#23 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 10:40

Good Point.

Thanks

Indian_Duke
Ist häufiger hier

#24 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 12:53

I prefer connecting my DVD player directly to my TV/Projector, without involving the AV receiver.

Good Luck

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#25 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 13:36

I agree with you, Indian Duke.

The other approach provides the convenience of handling only 1 remote control, as pointed out by zhopudey.

Thanks to SNV, Arj, Zhopudey and you for your advice. { A pity I did not hear from more members..

}

I think the YAMAHA RXV 461 with its optional iPod dock will be the best choice for this application, but I remain open to other suggestions.

Will probably buy next week, 18th Aug... after the Kid's exams are over

abhi.pani
Inventar

#26 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 13:51

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Thanks to SNV, Arj, Zhopudey and you for your advice. { A pity I did not hear from more members..

}

What about me...you didnt add my name

...I did everything to confuse you

ani
Stammgast

#27 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 16:12

Ampnutji,
I am having HTIB from Onkyo 4-5 yrs old, kids use it most of the time they are happy till date (they are 4 and 7yrs old)

Single box solution is that I'll go in for kids and non techie ladies of teh house, else they will find some way to get the settings all wrong

Hope you will understand why I didnt update you with my obsolete information.

Regards
Anil

Indian_Duke
Ist häufiger hier

#28 erstellt: 09. Aug 2007, 21:19

I have used a mid level Yamaha (I forget the model no) with a Bose acoustimass system many, many moons ago. I found it drove the Bose quite well for HT.

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#29 erstellt: 10. Aug 2007, 07:40

What about me...you didnt add my name

SORRY SIR !

Thanks also to Ani & Indian_Duke.

Ani... I agree with you. Maybe I should stop and think...

For the family, the MOST important feature would be a single On /Off power button and a Volume control, and no silence and head-scratching if one of the million front panel buttons / settings were activated by mistake.

After all, this is THEIR system, not mine

SNV
Stammgast

#30 erstellt: 10. Aug 2007, 08:47

Indian_Duke schrieb:

I have used a mid level Yamaha (I forget the model no) with a Bose acoustimass system many, many moons ago. I found it drove the Bose quite well for HT.

So very true. Many many moons ago even the entry level models of Yamaha could drive the bose am series.
I fail to understand why the newer Yammy models cant drive the low sensitivity speakers.
The old 400 (rxv 450 and earlier) series could easily drive the bose speakers. Compare to the new 461 with these old models and you will know what i am talking about.

Regards
SNV

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#31 erstellt: 10. Aug 2007, 08:51

Cost compromises.... reduce the Power Supply capacity, to JUST meet specs into a resistive load, and not into real world speakers... I guess.

Consumers want 'more' for less... just like my current low budget...

Savyasaachi
Inventar

#32 erstellt: 10. Aug 2007, 10:08

SNV schrieb:

Indian_Duke schrieb:

I have used a mid level Yamaha (I forget the model no) with a Bose acoustimass system many, many moons ago. I found it drove the Bose quite well for HT.

Hey!..i have the 450...wow been almost 4 years now..still didn't stop to think it as old

..lol..
Yamaha is the way to go for user friendliness..
have been trying to persuade my dad to go for a seperates setup with no remote...no dice.