I've heard a couple of receivers sound identical to the company's integrateds. Every time, the receiver cost a good bit more than the integrated...
NAD 720BEE and 320BEE sounded identical in a demo. The 720BEE cost about twice as much (or more). It had a few extra features in addition to the tuner, but nothing major.
The Naim Uniti sounds identical to the Naim Nait 5i/CD5i combo to my ears. The Uniti has the Nait and CD5i innards stuffed into one box, plus several other features. It's not a great cost comparison between the two, as the Uniti has a ton of features like DAC, streaming, iPod input, internet tuner, and so on. For the money, the Uniti is a better bargain than the Nait 5i/CD5i combo, as you get a bunch more very usable features for not a whole lot more money. But in a strictly amplification sense, the Uniti costs significantly more than the Nait.
Sorry if I side tracked there.
All that being said, the only receivers I've heard that I'd consider higher end would be the Naim Uniti and the Magnum Dynalab MD 208. I haven't heard the MD 308. If I were to buy a stereo receiver, I'd get a Harmon Kardon. Doesn't compete with good integrateds, but it doesn't try to either. Pretty good prices on refurbs through Harmon's website.
If you want great sound for the dollar, integrateds are the way to go IMO. Add an inexpensive tuner, and you're far better off sonically. Just my experience.
NAD 720BEE and 320BEE sounded identical in a demo. The 720BEE cost about twice as much (or more). It had a few extra features in addition to the tuner, but nothing major.
The Naim Uniti sounds identical to the Naim Nait 5i/CD5i combo to my ears. The Uniti has the Nait and CD5i innards stuffed into one box, plus several other features. It's not a great cost comparison between the two, as the Uniti has a ton of features like DAC, streaming, iPod input, internet tuner, and so on. For the money, the Uniti is a better bargain than the Nait 5i/CD5i combo, as you get a bunch more very usable features for not a whole lot more money. But in a strictly amplification sense, the Uniti costs significantly more than the Nait.
Sorry if I side tracked there.
All that being said, the only receivers I've heard that I'd consider higher end would be the Naim Uniti and the Magnum Dynalab MD 208. I haven't heard the MD 308. If I were to buy a stereo receiver, I'd get a Harmon Kardon. Doesn't compete with good integrateds, but it doesn't try to either. Pretty good prices on refurbs through Harmon's website.
If you want great sound for the dollar, integrateds are the way to go IMO. Add an inexpensive tuner, and you're far better off sonically. Just my experience.