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I want to change from 2 channel to HT but what....

I have a very good Karan KAi180 integrated amp, a diy cd player and Merlin VSM-m speakers. I would like to sell the Karan and purchase a used or new HT receiver or separates. I want to spend around $2500.00 (the used price of my Karan). I am looking at, in this order, B&K 507, Sunfire receiver or separates like the Lexicon MC-1 with a good amp. I have also read some good info on Yamaha, Denon and a new Samsung digital receiver. I have also read that Sony has a digital amp in a receiver as well. The Samsung is out of my price. My plans for the near future is to buy a new Panasonic 50" plasma. I would like the hdmi switching, 7.1 and THX Ultra. I don't think the B&K 507 or the Sunfire has these. I am not realy keen on Sony, Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo or Samsung etc. receivers for the only reason that I would not buy one for a 2 channel set-up, but I am willing to consider everything. I do want at least 170wpc, THX Ultra, DTS, DD, 7.1 and a good video switch hopefully with HDMI. I do believe a good receiver can sound as good as separates. Mybe not in my $2500.00 price range. My Karan integrated was an upgrade from $7500 Melos separates.
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Showing 3 responses by flrnlamb

flrnlamb
508 posts
 
Na...you must do separates for good sound. I've worked in this for 15 years, 6 audio stores, and hundreds of installs. Do yourself a favor and do separates. Receivers powersupplies must delegate power to all the switching, processing, lights, dials, preamp/output section, as well as the amplification section....not to mention crosstalk and interference between components and such. Separates are much more efficient, and the amps can deliver better cleaner current most every time. I've never heard any receiver that can do what good separates can do. And I've sold the Denon 5803, Yamaha RXV1,Marantz SR18/14,and B&K receivers,etc., retail. Separates stomps these overall, especially in dynamics, detail retreival, overall resolve, soundstage, you name it.
flrnlamb
508 posts
 
As you said in your post, "I do belive a receiver can sound as good as separates." This makes logical sense why you'd go the Arcam route.
While I have no doubt the Arcam makes good sound for a receiver, and I used to sell that line, it can't compete with separates...good separates that is.
Do yourself a great favor sometime, and add an outboard amp the the receiver, and use the ARcam as a pre/pro. YOu'll be amazed how much better the sound quality is from even a lowely parasound 5 channel amp, and similar!!! The amp's in those receivers really can't hold a candle to a dedicated amp. It's always been that way...not to mention a good pre/pro's preamp section is better as well, especially dynamically.
For the record, and I've sold some good sounding receivers over the years including the original model 100 Arcam, I'd NEVER spend $2k on ANY RECEIVER, EVER! I've worked in this business to long to know better. The sound is just not there for that money. A used $1200-1500 pre/pro and $600-1000 multi channel amp punishes any receiver ever made from my experiences. But, it's fun finding out this stuff, I"ll conceed that.
flrnlamb
508 posts
 
Rackon, thank you for the insight! I very much have NOT heard the AVM300. So, yes it's likely I'm off base here. This has just been my experiences over and over again. The AVM300 may indeed be "all that", and "separates-like" in performance. I think I shall look into this "thing" a bit further.
I appologize to the Arcam receiver if I offended it, or sold it short. I must give it a try to see what it can do. Let the auditioning begin. (and I really do hope it works up to it's hype. I may then recommend it thereafter as a subsitute at the price point)
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