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The more time goes by, the more I prefer separates over receivers

z-adamson

z-adamson

Addicted Member
So, I don't even use my receivers anymore. I exclusively use separates.

I have some nice receivers too....Sansui 9090db, Pioneer SX1250. As such I feel kinda bad for setting them aside in favor of separates.

But there is something about picking the individual devices and putting a system together that is more satisfying than using an "all-in-one" package that is a receiver. Separates tend to be built to a higher standard as well, placing more emphasis on function than feature, which is appealing in a way. Receivers have more bling factor which does little for me these days. Although at one time I was drawn to that.

I don't really have a question. I am just thinking out loud and maybe someone else has felt the same way and can relate.
 
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I've never found receivers to be particularly compelling. That's mostly because by the time I became a teenager I was pretty much done with commercial radio so why pay for something I didn't really use?
 
I used to feel that way, but have come to appreciate the virtues of a good integrated amp, not the least of which is taking up less real estate. I do like a separate tuner, though, as I still use FM. There is an old, cheapie, no-name, low-power receiver stuck in a closet around here somewhere that I bought at a garage sale because I thought it had a pretty face - in oddly excellent cosmetic condition - but doesn't work. I thought maybe I'd learn a little basic repair with it, but have yet to open her up. That would be my only receiver.

All systems in use here, except the Edifiers on the porch, are driven by either an integrated amp or an amp with attenuator built in.

I am working on a project here, though. Every week I replace all my audio cables with increasingly lighter gauges which I will continue to do until I've trained the system to become wireless. It is a Zen plan; Zen and the Art of Audio Maintenance.
 
z-adamson said:
So, I don't even use my receivers anymore. I exclusively use separates.

I have some nice receivers too....Sansui 9090db, Pioneer SX1250. As such I feel kinda bad for setting them aside in favor of separates.

But there is something about picking the individual devices and putting a system together that is more satisfying than using an "all-in-one" package that is a receiver. Separates tend to be built to a higher standard as well, placing more emphasis on function than feature, which is appealing in a way. Receivers have more bling factor which does little for me these days. Although at one time I was drawn to that.

I don't really have a question. I am just thinking out loud and maybe someone else has felt the same way and can relate.
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Only receiver I've ever owned is the Pioneer SX1010 I inherited when my father in law passed away in 98.

A few yrs before the big Pioneer was having issues, we dropped it off with my tech. The estimate was $350, he decided not to have it repaired. I called the shop and had it repaired and gave it to him for his birthday a few weeks later.

Still have it but I've always had separates from my first system in the 70's so it sits idle. Did use it for a time in 2012, great amp, maybe I'll drag it out and connect it to the Heresys in the bedroom. Should give them a bit more headroom than the little Kenwood KA-4006 in there now lol.
 
I did separates for a while but, like Musichal, have gone the way of the integrated. You don't have to worry about synergy as much when they are in the same box and designed to work together from the start. I do agree that separates can be much more flexible but I haven't changed my amp or speakers in years so that type of flexibility is lost on me.
Receivers I've never messed with really. I had one way back when, as my first piece of hi fi gear in fact, but moved on pretty quickly.
 
OMGCat! said:
I did separates for a while but, like Musichal, have gone the way of the integrated. You don't have to worry about synergy as much when they are in the same box and designed to work together from the start. I do agree that separates can be much more flexible but I haven't changed my amp or speakers in years so that type of flexibility is lost on me.
Receivers I've never messed with really. I had one way back when, as my first piece of hi fi gear in fact, but moved on pretty quickly.
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Synergy?

Well there's that, but here's the thing, just because they're in the same chassis doesn't guarantee better sound lol.

For example, take this schveet Kenny, notice the clean architectural layout of the true dual mono design.
6debaf45375b391120f0064318b834aa.jpg
kenKA7300.jpg

Great amp, maybe an endgame for many, but used as a preamp connected to this it's pure magic.
fd2aa93d76dcfeabaabf88eb455aceeb (2).jpg
 
My mother bought an HH Scott 35 WPC solid state receiver in the late 1960's. I was by far the most frequent user, so much so that there was no objection to me keeping it my room. But at age 17, when I moved out, it stayed behind under orders.

My first brand new system was purchased in 1973 consisting of an integrated amp, turntable and speakers. I had been exposed to decent HiFi and then stereo systems from a young age by uncles, older cousins and even one of my parent's long time tenants. None owned a receiver.

When that time came for me to take the plunge, it was with the guidance of a salesman at what was one the few reputable, long standing, bona fide high end shops (but I was unaware of that term in those days) who I hounded to death before becoming an actual customer. Early on, it was explained that a receiver met the needs of the not too demanding, budget conscious and next up the ladder was integrated amp and tuner. True separates were much too high up that ladder for me to reach so integrated amplifier it was, It was proposed that a tuner could always come later if I ever felt the need. For my main rig, I never did in 47 years.

I will admit to an 8 WPC Heathkit tube amp and matching AM tuner in my work area so I can listen to the news - my main source for current events as I do not own a TV.

Something I noticed, perusing the goods in that store, was that a tuner, in an integrated amp/tuner pair, frequently cost more than it's companion amplifier. Whether it was combined on one chassis or two distinct units, my logic dictated receiving broadcast music was wasting my money. Not to mention ads, ads and more ads. I realize that FM radio did from time to time play an entire album or side but I could do that myself and listen to music I chose, not someone else.

The mega-watt monster receivers came later and when they did, I understood it was marketing and not need or practicality, In my mind, if and when the time came to upgrade from my integrated, moving to a high power receiver was ludicrous. More money for more power and better sound was the unassailable territory of power amp / pre-amp combos.

But I can grasp that there are those out there, then and now, for whom a high count of lights and/or buttons & switches per square inch, on a shiny silver face is a visual crank turner. And I can't discount bragging rights, like who's receiver has the most watts.
 
Grenadeslio said:
Synergy?

Well there's that, but here's the thing, just because they're in the same chassis doesn't guarantee better sound lol.

For example, take this schveet Kenny, notice the clean architectural layout of the true dual mono design.
View attachment 1838873
View attachment 1838874

Great amp, maybe an endgame for many, but used as a preamp connected to this it's pure magic.
View attachment 1838875
Click to expand...

Well, there's no guarantee that it will work but if an integrated amp is any kind of well designed there's no reason it shouldn't. I've got a few pre amps and power amps in the closet I've been keeping around but haven't felt the need to swap anything out in quite a while.
 
OMGCat! said:
Well, there's no guarantee that it will work but if an integrated amp is any kind of well designed there's no reason it shouldn't. I've got a few pre amps and power amps in the closet I've been keeping around but haven't felt the need to swap anything out in quite a while.
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Notice I said "better sound".

The above Kenny is awesome, the Belles is just "better".
 
Separates are the way to go for me. I lost interest in receivers many years back, but I do have an old Yamaha in the shop. With separates you can tailor your system to match changes, such as different speakers with different current and power demands, change the system gain etc.it's a total win in my book.
 
I've been playing with a Franken-speaker and it's great to be able to change power-amps to find the best "voice" for the speakers to speak. I've used separates for ages; my last "Wow" integrated was the NAD 3020, back when the whole audio world said Wow. I haven't run across a great integrated at a great price since. But I have 2 receivers in the closet I think are great: a big Denon and a big Nakamichi, even better. I got both at GW because of price, features, power, condition, and an MC-capable phono stage. I used each for a couple of weeks after getting them — but returning to separates paid big musical dividends.

I'd happily re-install either of the receivers: they're good enough. But is "good enough" ever good enough? Also, they both weigh a ton.
 
I love all of them: receivers, integrated and separates... what I have done is that I keep them all connected at once, and have a switchbox (custom made) where I can choose which one to connect... this way I can pair 3 different sources with 4 different preamps, 4 different power amps, 4 receivers/integrated and 3 different speakers... I just mix and match any combination...

One of the receivers is a Pioneer SX1250 (fully restored), that sounds amazing... a different sound than the separates, but sometimes, depending on the mood, I enjoy the hell out of it!... each component has its own personality, and I appreciate what all of them offers!
 
z-adamson said:
So, I don't even use my receivers anymore. I exclusively use separates.
Click to expand...
I've owned only one stereo receiver - an Electrophonic T600 acquired when I was 13. I loved looking at the Allied and Lafayette catalogs and thought the Marantz receivers were the coolest looking devices. Then I started reading magazines and visited other stereo shops and discovered other approaches.

My next purchase two years later was an AR Integrated amp with Advent loudspeakers. My taste in aesthetics evolved to a simpler, cleaner look.

At 17, I purchased an H-K Citation 11 and Crown D-150 amp. Why not a Crown IC-150 preamp? It was truly horrible sounding. Why not an H-K Citation 12? Quite frankly, the D-150 looked cooler with the rack ears and produced double the power with the double Advents I had at the time. Never looked back at receivers or integrateds.

I think part of the flexibility value has to do with the fact that I am able to choose what I find best from different manufacturers. Only once have I owned a preamp and power amp from the same manufacturer. That worked well, but I discovered a different brand of amplifier that offered advantages, both in terms of functionality and sound quality. Note that even with companies like Pass Labs, different engineers are involved. Nelson Pass designs the power amps while Wayne Colburn designs the preamps.

With the HT, I very much want the ability to upgrade the processor without necessarily having to change the power amp for no particularly good reason. And with the music system, I would definitely not want a single component weighing 170 lbs. It is far more practical for me to have the preamp centered on the rack with the power amps tucked behind each speaker on the floor.
 
In the beginning, separates were the only way to go for high-powered systems, or so it seemed. Higher quality was generally better using that route to stereo. Today, very good receivers are affordable and perfect for many installations. Some of us still listen to FM and even if not used often, over-the-air can offer good quality programming.

Today, top integrated amps can equal the separates, I believe. OK, maybe not the nose-bleed $100K stuff, but for "normal" people ...

Our main dollar drain is still separates, with a tuner; I like the flexibility, but a Marantz receiver is well matched for a second system where FM is often used. My son mostly streams, but wanted FM too. His 100wpc Cambridge receiver drives his efficient speakers quite loud until the cooling fan kicks in.
 
The main drawback with receivers is limited options for high output power amplification and current supplies meaning most will be out of the question for the most demanding speakers. But there is even an exception to that in the MAC7200 which is capable of running speakers down to 2 ohms.

Secondly, receivers are generally more difficult to service and restore due to their compact design and inherent complexity.

For most of us running 8/4 ohm speakers of moderate to high sensitivity, a high quality, low distortion receiver can perform every bit as well as separates of similar quality.
 
There are definitely times I think about selling all of my separates, getting a nice integrated and tuner (or maybe a receiver, but they're harder to find), and calling it a day. Think of the simplicity!

But then I remember that I like tinkering :idea:
 
I've had some nice receivers over the years, but as I got more into messing with speakers, I was having trouble powering them. At first I just got a power amp and used the pre out into a power amp, then after the phono input died, I figured it was easier to just get a dedicated preamp and a separate phono pre, and have had some form of that since then. I have pickup up a few receivers over the years when the price was right. They sounded fine, but they haven't stuck around for long. The last one I had was a modded AU-999 that I got to see what all the fuss was with the mods. It was good sounding, but not enough power to push the speakers I had at the time so I never used it much and recently sold it.
 
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