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I prefer a receiver over an integrated...am I a freak?

guitarplyr

guitarplyr

Active Member
Hi all,
For the past 3 years or so I've been using a vintage Hitachi SR-303 receiver and loved the sound...it's only 15 watts but I'm in a small apartment so power was never an issue. Awhile back I found a JVC JA-S55 integrated amp from the late '70s and had it restored at a local repair shop (cleaned, new outputs, new relays). I used the JVC for over a month steady and I have to admit, the sound was less than thrilling...the sound wasn't very "ballsy" and snare drums didn't have a lot of impact (sorry...I'm not familiar with audiophile terms). In fact, I found myself not wanting to listen to music! A few days ago I removed the JVC and hooked up the Hitachi receiver again and my enjoyment came back...the sound was bigger, crisper and the had more impact. Now I look forward to listening to music again! The general consensus is that integrateds are better than receivers...has anyone else had a similar experience with a receiver sounding better than an integrated or has all the years of listening to Motorhead, Metallica and Rush made me deaf?
 
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I think itwould be folly to make a judgement on an entire category of equipment based upon one single observation/comparison. There are some excellent integrateds lousy receivers; excellent receivers and lousy integrateds- even seperates for that matter.
 
Agreed, there are many factors that can explain why a low-powered receiver sounds better to you than an integrated amp. You didn't say whether the JVC has higher power output -- I am assuming it does -- but more power and/or features do not necessarily mean better sound
I have a 20-watt Pioneer receiver that, depending on the type of music, sounds every bit as good as my high-power Adcom/Kenwood combo.
Maybe you just like the sound of Hitachi better than JVC, and that's fine. Whatever the reason, crank it up and enjoy!
 
At one time I thought of going for an integrated amp. But I do prefer receivers. And not because I necessarily think they sound better. I'm sure there are many integrateds that sound much better than my Pioneer SX5580 and there is most likely many that don't sound as good.
I love the looks of all the recievers I've owned or do own. I also love the sound of them. I guess if I was going for the best hifi sound I could get I'd probably go separate amp/preamp. But not at the price I paid. I'm probably going to have a hard time getting an integrated to beat my receiver at the price I pay for my vintage receivers.
 
I generally prefer gear that sounds good to gear that doesn't sound as good. That's about the only categorization that I care about.
 
guitarplyr said:
I used the JVC for over a month steady and I have to admit, the sound was less than thrilling...the sound wasn't very "ballsy" and snare drums didn't have a lot of impact (sorry...I'm not familiar with audiophile terms). In fact, I found myself not wanting to listen to music! A few days ago I removed the JVC and hooked up the Hitachi receiver again and my enjoyment came back...the sound was bigger, crisper and the had more impact. Now I look forward to listening to music again!
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That's a good place to be. It's a good feeling when you look forward to hearing your system each day.
You turn it on and once again are reminded why you have the desire. :banana:
 
I just like the lights, rarely listen to radio. I have no reason not to like intergrated amps even though they make more sense for my needs, I would not need the tuner but would want it. I do have an intergated tube amp and tuner setup. the real story. I'm not looking for anymore gear in particular. Recievers are what I have been finding now and then on my record runs. My last pickup was a power amp should I ever come across the matching pre-amp I will build a system arround that. Just because. Would anyone of these setups be better, that is a possibility that would not matter to me. I am a record guy. :D
 
In most cases, an integrated is nothing but a receiver without a tuner...although in many cases the integrated will have more features. For instance, my Onkyo integrated has a switchable MM/MC phono input, something I doubt you'd find on many receivers. In Europe, integrateds are more popular than here; their relative scarcity in the US means that they're usually worth more than the zillions of receivers out there.

But, by itself, nothing would mean an integrated is better than a receiver, or the opposite.

As always, just my opinion, YMMV.
 
The only thing I have to say about your observations is that you prefer the sound of that particular receiver over that particular amplifier. That's the only conclusion you can draw, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Try 20 other receivers and amps and you might have different results. Start changing the speakers and the room and it could swing in some other direction.

Also if you are a freak so are thousands of others here at AK. :)
 
The definition of a receiver is a tuner, preamp and amp in one enclosure. An "integrated" amp is nothing more than a preamp and an amp in one enclosure, so a 'receiver' is an integrated amp with a tuner that has been added for single-package convenience.

The usual distinction should become at least somewhat audibly apparent with 'separates'. There are plus and minus scenarios all over the spectrum, from varying quality to the different pricing tiers, yet the general thought is that separates tend be better quality than receivers or integrated amps. The theory is that the intent of dedication to the design of a single piece, along with the potential for the expanded 'real estate' (more room for each piece in their separate enclosures) makes for better overall quality. Setup a classic, higher-end separates system next to most receivers, and you should realize some form of improvement, somewhere in the range of subtle to dramatic.
 
62caddy said:
I think itwould be folly to make a judgement on an entire category of equipment based upon one single observation/comparison. There are some excellent integrateds lousy receivers; excellent receivers and lousy integrateds- even seperates for that matter.
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Thanks for saying it for me! :thmbsp:
 
A lot of people prefer the LowFi sound compared to overdetailed analitical sources, Its a matter of taste or habitt,

on the other hand that receiver can really sound better than the integrated.

:music::music::music:
 
I (still) love my old Denon...even though the tubes get about 300% more use these days.

I've got a PMA-770. I don't remember if it says Precision on it or not, but it calls itself an "Integrated Pre/mains amplifier"

Obviously, by the title, integrated amp. First time I picked it up, did not anticipate its weight, that hurt. So I decided too bring it home. It became my reference, the solid state amp by which I compare other solid states. The sound I got out of it was just...so clear and unlike anything Id heard before.

It made me fall in love with Denon. My mother fell in love with it too when I loaned it to her, when she bought her HT receiver, she got a Denon.

I have to say, even the modern Denon stuff sounds nice. The 770 is a workhorse. The most abuse I put it through was I DJ'd a wedding reception for some people. Ran two pairs of 8 ohm speakers, which appeared as a 4ohm, for probably 4 or 5 hours at a pretty decent volume. I added fans, that sucker still got warm...but nothing went pop. Just pure clean sound.
 
I've seen some high end vintage sansiu recievers with masive dual mono power supplies. I wouldn't be surprised if they shamed some well known seperate power amps and Integrated's. They probably cost's a bunch more than a lot of those power amps and Integrated's too though.

That said, IMO most brands keep their best sound for their Seperate and Integrated amps, more for marketing reasons than because of energineering limitations. No doubt the equivalent Sansui Seperates of the day were outstanding too.
 
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Gospel of Audiophiles : Surely all separates when put together must sound better than an integrated therefore all integrateds must sound better than a Receiver


:D
 
No, you are not a freak. at least about this observation.

You're observation may be correct

It may be incorrect.

The differences you heard might be real or
might not be real.

The way an electrical signal enters and exits a box, has very little to do with the box.
 
Seriously... I recently acquired a Yamaha cr-2020 in mint condition relatively to her age. I had some preventive maintenance/service done to her and have fallen in love with her sound. When paired with my Fortes' the music seems liquid & holographic.
 
One broad generalization is that the tuner in a receiver will have a worst signal-to-noise ratio than a separate, stand-alone tuner will have.

However, as a general marketing decision, integrated amps USUALLY occupy a notch higher price point on a wpc basis, ie more "upmarket" than receivers.

Me? I'm sucker for the pretty, pretty lights on a receiver but I have in service a receiver, an integrated amp, and separate pre-amp/amp setups in separate rooms.

Horses for courses.
 
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