2. home-theater
  3. 1158075986

Picking a mid-tier HT receiver for optimal audio

Budget won't allow for separates for a while, but in the next few months I may upgrade my HTIB Onkyo 7.1 100w/ch receiver (which sounds surprisingly good btw).

As long as it gets the basic job done on 7.1 HT duty, I'm not too concerned about HT features (I let my TV do the HDMI switching, for instance). I'm looking to get the absolute most out of the audio quality, since this is also my primary 2-channel listening system.

The systems I've been looking at so far include:

Denon 3806
Outlaw 1070
Sherwood Newcastle R985
NAD T773

I'd love to hear some recommendations for a system that will give me great sounding audio in this range...

Thanks!

fwiw the rest of my setup:

Audionote DAC 1.1
Amphion Argon front l/r
Gallo Nucleus surrounds
joncourage

Showing 2 responses by distortion

distortion
571 posts
 
I am downsizing my HT. New Baby directives! I will be trying a few Receivers in the next month or so. I'll post my opinions if you wish.

I have heard nearly all of them already (not Sherwood, Outlaw, or NAD though), and not in my system. I agree, the Onkyo's do sound good. I liked the Yamaha sound as well.

I will be trying an Arcam first.
distortion
571 posts
 
I am currently trying out an Arcam AVR200. Its really quite nice. 2 channel is smooth with a nice emphasis on the mids. Good resolution on mids. Surprisingly good resolution on highs, albeit somewhat rolled off. Bass is predictably less coherent that my previous seperates but its nice enough considering its a recciever. Dolby Digital is rather good. I suspect once I get my sub up and running again DD/DTS will be very good.

I suspect the AVR300 is even better still. The AVR is the best reciever I have used to date.
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