An AVR is a jack of all trades, master of none and designed to hit a palatable (and aggressive) price point. Think minivan vs. Porsche. If AVRs used parts quality comparable to good stereo preamps they’d cost multiples of what they do now. Plus there are the inherent problems of having noisy digital circuitry in the same box as relatively small and sensitive analog signals that would require substantial shielding, and on and on. Companies like Anthem with audiophile roots do much better than most with their AVRs in terms of 2-channel performance, but the limitations still apply. Anyway...
SQ! - avr vs high end stereo preamp, who wins SQ challenge? And why
So thinking about getting a C47 McIntosh preamp for stereo listening for use in Ht bypass mode. All this vs a mid range avr used in a home theater with high end speakers and amp.
what is it that diminishes sound quality when listening to stereo music with the “pure direct” mode selection from an avr?
Why can’t the avr producers do a better job when designing their avr’s or maybe not a big deal in that avr SQ for stereo is comparable to a stereo preamp.
what is it that diminishes sound quality when listening to stereo music with the “pure direct” mode selection from an avr?
Why can’t the avr producers do a better job when designing their avr’s or maybe not a big deal in that avr SQ for stereo is comparable to a stereo preamp.