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High-End AVRs for Stereo?

awillia6 said:
"Took a bath"? They're onto 4k UHD switching, Atmos decoding, and full support of Wifi streaming and A/V jukeboxing. And happy as clams with their NEW $4k gizmo. Different strokes...
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Yes--"took a bath"--as "early adopters" of any new technology does. I remember seeing (at an electronics show) my very first plasma flat-screen TV, with a projected price of $13K--the one that hangs on my wall in the living room is light-years away in technology/features, and cost me 1/10th that price and does things not even imagined back then. My first car with ABS had it as an $1100 option (before it became federally mandated standard equipment)--air bags--same thing. My first home computer/printer/scanner/modem rig was $3800--now my phone could eat it for lunch and then some. Don't worry--that $4K new gizmo will be worth $200 (at best) in a couple years, but there will be another "replacement" $4K gizmo that you "have to have".
 
savatage1973 said:
You hit the "nail on the head", so to speak. Does it sound awesome?--I'm sure it does or you wouldn't still have it. If you wanted the original remote to unlock everything, would you probably pay more for the remote than you did for the whole unit?--probably. As I stated in my previous post--not "dissing" AVRs in any way--many are quite capable, and a great value--as you said--someone "took a bath" on that unit and you got a great deal. :rockon:
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The 4806 is 140 wpc x 8 (I IRC) so there is potential for 560 wpc x 2 channel stereo. Let's say with the transformer and output transistors present, it could easily make 400 wpc as a pure stereo receiver. Strip out all of the video and audio processors, keep the HD tuner and DAC, and add MC phono. The 4806 could easily have been an all time great stereo receiver. What could have been. As is, 140 watts is a ton and would place it solidly in the vintage Monster Receivers list.
 
I've got a nice NAD T-763 (2005) that I got for free from my son. 45.6 lb's per Hi-Fi engine. I have been very impressed with the sound. One problem is that to do a complete setup for multi-channel use you have to have the remote and a way of hooking up a monitor. No HDMI. That may not matter for 2-Channel use.
 
awillia6 said:
"Took a bath"? They're onto 4k UHD switching, Atmos decoding, and full support of Wifi streaming and A/V jukeboxing. And happy as clams with their NEW $4k gizmo. Different strokes...
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Guilty as charged, PC officer. True, massive depreciation is part of the landscape for AV equipment. That AV early adopters are willing and eager to take depreciation does not diminish their enthusiasm. A visit to any AV forum will show this to be the truth.
 
SoCal Sam said:
The 4806 is 140 wpc x 8 (I IRC) so there is potential for 560 wpc x 2 channel stereo. Let's say with the transformer and output transistors present, it could easily make 400 wpc as a pure stereo receiver. Strip out all of the video and audio processors, keep the HD tuner and DAC, and add MC phono. The 4806 could easily have been an all time great stereo receiver. What could have been. As is, 140 watts is a ton and would place it solidly in the vintage Monster Receivers list.
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Suggest you pull the Service Manual for this unit and learn something of its architecture. "Strip out all of the video and audio processors..." Yu fonny!
 
savatage1973 said:
Yes--"took a bath"--as "early adopters" of any new technology does.
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TVM applies to gear as well as money. Those with a surfeit of the latter do us all a big favor, eventually, with respect to the former. All a matter of prioritization of one's Time, Value, and Money. Your calculus indicates an unfortunate dearth of the last.
 
No one has mentioned the Rotel AVR receivers. I use the RSX-1056 and it sounds great in 2 channel mode.
 
For two channel I've found the Panasonic home theater chip receivers, xrsa series, with digital inputs to sound better than any other avr I've tried. Pure digital pcm at the inputs no dac needed. Found regularly on epay for $100 or less. Remotes are a problem. However, the power on these so somewhere around 60 watts per, iirc.
 
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awillia6 said:
TVM applies to gear as well as money. Those with a surfeit of the latter do us all a big favor, eventually, with respect to the former. All a matter of prioritization of one's Time, Value, and Money. Your calculus indicates an unfortunate dearth of the last.
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You are crossing the line.
 
Owned a Kenwood KR-V 6050 for over 20 years, In 2 channel mode it put out 100 W rms. Has a lovely rotary loudness knob and sounds great. My Dad is using it now....
 
Used high end AVR's is a viable option for stereo only applications if your looking for some serous stereo performance with a limited budget. Based on the price of vintage stereo receivers (many of which I love) and amps with adequate (35 wpc+) power. Some of those you see for sale, are being sold because they malfunction, so you may be doing some repair work yourself, Or you may be paying more for repairs than for the unit.

You really don't need high end AVR's either to get decent stereo sound. Just not the low end/budget models. Often the midrange offerings from the past offer the best overall value with 90%+ of the SQ of their bigger brothers when kept out of clipping. Just less features. My 2001 Onkyo 575x DD/DTS 5.1 AVR for example does a great job for both stereo music and DD 5.1.

As far as depreciation goes on new equipment, Your best value remains in the midrange models. My new Yamaha Rx A770 for example has all the toys, Including Dolby Atmos and control of 9 Wi-Fi wireless speakers for about $700 US. The performance from it's 7 amps is WAY better than it has any right to be, Considering all the features this AVR has. Or you could pay perhaps $3,000 for their Rx A3070 and get 2 more channels, Better DAC's and a bit more power and functions, But the SQ from the analog amps will be very close to the A770, just a barely perceivable 2 db's quitter.
 
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Bodyblue said:
Hardly, but think whatever you want. If something is complicated has no bearing on the reliability. Quality of engineering, how it is assembled and the quality of materials is what matters. Cars are far more complicated than ever and they are far more reliable than ever.
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Say what......

A new car with sensors, solenoid fuel injectors, disc brakes, electric everything, engine management system and a wiring harness that goes bad after a few decades is somehow better than an old car with a straight six (1-5-3-6-2-4 all with the same firing order) that has a carburetor, manual 3-speed tranny, brake shoes that only require brake cylinders, crank up windows and two fuses in the fuse box......one for the radio and one for the heater will last forever on the west coast. The flaw with your assumption is the logistics that is required to keep a new car on the road.....parts, parts and more parts that will break down and once all those parts stop being produced a new car is only one thing....recycle material. A ‘55 Chevy with drum brakes and a 327 will never be replaced by anything built after 1970.

Any of the early 90’s AVR’s will outlast any of the newer AVR’s or large receivers made in the last twenty years....
 
Bodyblue said:
Total fantasy that cant be proven, but whatever.
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Already has been proven...

Look at all the equipment from the sixties through the nineties that has never been repaired and is increasing in price. People low on cash have been using early nineties AVR’s with junk speakers forever just to have something to listen to. Anyone and everyone has seen these AVR’s sitting at thrift shops being bought up by those that have less. Facts are facts...
 
Djcoolray said:
Already has been proven...

Look at all the equipment from the sixties through the nineties that has never been repaired and is increasing in price. People low on cash have been using early nineties AVR’s with junk speakers forever just to have something to listen to. Anyone and everyone has seen these AVR’s sitting at thrift shops being bought up by those that have less. Facts are facts...
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I think the point of this thread is there are gems at the bottom of the ocean aka the piles of BPC to be found and enjoyed. I would rank my AVR-4806 above nearly all Silver receivers and believe you me, I have heard and owned more than I care to admit. Another fine and cheap AVR would be the Marantz SR-8002 which to my ears sounds better than all of the classic silver models including the 2500/2600, 2325, 2285B, all of which I have owned.
 
I have been using an 1991 Pioneer VSX-D1S since new and it has only needed a cleaning and a reset. The only draw back is learning how long it takes to adjust everything to gain optimal performance in 2-channel stereo. The clarity is sensational and has been compared to the best stereo receivers.
 
fredgarvin said:
For two channel I've found the Panasonic home theater chip receivers, xrsa series, with digital inputs to sound better than any other avr I've tried. Pure digital pcm at the inputs no dac needed. Found regularly on epay for $100 or less. Remotes are a problem. However, the power on these so somewhere around 60 watts per, iirc.
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John Meyer, of NewForm Research, swore these were the best amps ever for powering his ribbon hybrid speakers. He was even selling a package speaker system, that included the SA-XR45 receiver. John recommended bi-amping or even tri-amping with the receiver, through it's multi-channel inputs. I used to have the XR25, and it sounded very good on my Monsoon planar speakers. I'm often tempted to pick up another one, to play with.
 
BobHol said:
I've got a nice NAD T-763 (2005) that I got for free from my son. 45.6 lb's per Hi-Fi engine. I have been very impressed with the sound. One problem is that to do a complete setup for multi-channel use you have to have the remote and a way of hooking up a monitor. No HDMI. That may not matter for 2-Channel use.
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One other nice thing about the NAD's and some other brands (HK and some TOL examples from other brands) is the preamp out/main in jacks allowing their use as power amps. I'm currently using an NAD T744 and HK AVR80 mkii in home theater systems.

Djcoolray said:
Say what......

A new car with sensors, solenoid fuel injectors, disc brakes, electric everything, engine management system and a wiring harness that goes bad after a few decades is somehow better than an old car with a straight six (1-5-3-6-2-4 all with the same firing order) that has a carburetor, manual 3-speed tranny, brake shoes that only require brake cylinders, crank up windows and two fuses in the fuse box......one for the radio and one for the heater will last forever on the west coast. The flaw with your assumption is the logistics that is required to keep a new car on the road.....parts, parts and more parts that will break down and once all those parts stop being produced a new car is only one thing....recycle material. A ‘55 Chevy with drum brakes and a 327 will never be replaced by anything built after 1970.

Any of the early 90’s AVR’s will outlast any of the newer AVR’s or large receivers made in the last twenty years....
Click to expand...

Actually using automobiles as an example, they are actually more reliable now. Carbs have to be worked on and were quite buggy as fuel economy and emissions standards tightened. The clutches wore out after 50,000 miles. Most cars now use automatics (and this from someone who likes a stick.) Tires didn't last as long. In fact getting 100,000 miles out of a car was unusual while today they typically last well past 100,000 miles. "Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org/) says the average life expectancy of a new vehicle these days is around 8 years or 150,000 miles. Of course, some well-built vehicles can go 15 years and 300,000, if properly maintained."
 
SoCal Sam said:
I think the point of this thread is there are gems at the bottom of the ocean aka the piles of BPC to be found and enjoyed. I would rank my AVR-4806 above nearly all Silver receivers and believe you me, I have heard and owned more than I care to admit. Another fine and cheap AVR would be the Marantz SR-8002 which to my ears sounds better than all of the classic silver models including the 2500/2600, 2325, 2285B, all of which I have owned.
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I also have owned allot of 60’s and 70’s equipment all TOTL, but once I bought a European spec Pioneer VSX-D1S my search was over. Then I do agree that even Kenwood made great AVR’s during the early nineties.
 
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