You mentioned improving your stereo listening needs...which is 80% of your time...reality: AN entry level intergrated amp by NAD,etc will SOUND significantly better than any AV receiver...and for improved imaging...hard to beat a 2-way monitor such as the minis(Used)...at any rate...hope this helps...
Stereo amp upgrade path?
Hello all,
First time posting here, but after reading many of the posts here, I think I may be in a place to get some seriously unbiased (yeah right!) opinions of how to approach my given situation.
“System” Set-up:
1. Yamaha RV703 AVR. About 5 years old. NO pre-outs!
2. Panasonic (cheapy) DVD player (trust me, good enough for my AV needs)
3. CD Player: ummm, the Panasonic DVD atm…
4. PSB Silver Stratus i’s, C5i center channel, and Subsonic 7 subwoofer. No surround speakers atm, but planning on matching with more PSB…perhaps the mini’s. Main speakers are Bi-wired.
5. 12 gauge $4 a foot bi-wire speaker cable with Dayton gold connectors plugs. Hell, I got the speaker cable thrown in free with the purchase of the speakers and it sure is better than the 20 gauge Rat-shack zip cord I used to use…
My TOTAL (remaining) Budget for upgrades: $1,000. (I blew $1k on the Silver Strats, $350 on the C5i, and $600 on the sub…all in all I think a great deal.)
I am looking for an upgrade path to improve my stereo listening needs.
Obviously the first thing is a new CD player. I am leaning towards a NAD C521/C541. It is my understanding that NAD works great with PSB speakers … Figure up to $350 for the CD player but I am very open to listening to other options and/or buying used. Suggestions?
NOW we get to the fun part: HOW do I upgrade the amplification? Some options I have thought of:
a. Buy a higher end AVR with pre-outs to allow use of a downstream amp: Aka: NAD 762 or such, then add an additional 2/3 channel amp down the road
b. Buy a completely separate int/amp such as a NAD C532ct or Rotel and somehow run TWO sets of speaker wires to the PSB mains directly from the int/amp. IE: CD to Int/Amp wire split to speakers…DVD to Yamaha split wires to speakers…
c. Just buy the CD player and wait for something like an Outlaw separates system to come out for sale…
My listening is easily 80% stereo, and maybe 20% HT. I like movies, but they don’t stir my soul. To me, the movie is more or less icing on the cake.
Any suggestions on upgrade paths would be greatly appreciated.
First time posting here, but after reading many of the posts here, I think I may be in a place to get some seriously unbiased (yeah right!) opinions of how to approach my given situation.
“System” Set-up:
1. Yamaha RV703 AVR. About 5 years old. NO pre-outs!
2. Panasonic (cheapy) DVD player (trust me, good enough for my AV needs)
3. CD Player: ummm, the Panasonic DVD atm…
4. PSB Silver Stratus i’s, C5i center channel, and Subsonic 7 subwoofer. No surround speakers atm, but planning on matching with more PSB…perhaps the mini’s. Main speakers are Bi-wired.
5. 12 gauge $4 a foot bi-wire speaker cable with Dayton gold connectors plugs. Hell, I got the speaker cable thrown in free with the purchase of the speakers and it sure is better than the 20 gauge Rat-shack zip cord I used to use…
My TOTAL (remaining) Budget for upgrades: $1,000. (I blew $1k on the Silver Strats, $350 on the C5i, and $600 on the sub…all in all I think a great deal.)
I am looking for an upgrade path to improve my stereo listening needs.
Obviously the first thing is a new CD player. I am leaning towards a NAD C521/C541. It is my understanding that NAD works great with PSB speakers … Figure up to $350 for the CD player but I am very open to listening to other options and/or buying used. Suggestions?
NOW we get to the fun part: HOW do I upgrade the amplification? Some options I have thought of:
a. Buy a higher end AVR with pre-outs to allow use of a downstream amp: Aka: NAD 762 or such, then add an additional 2/3 channel amp down the road
b. Buy a completely separate int/amp such as a NAD C532ct or Rotel and somehow run TWO sets of speaker wires to the PSB mains directly from the int/amp. IE: CD to Int/Amp wire split to speakers…DVD to Yamaha split wires to speakers…
c. Just buy the CD player and wait for something like an Outlaw separates system to come out for sale…
My listening is easily 80% stereo, and maybe 20% HT. I like movies, but they don’t stir my soul. To me, the movie is more or less icing on the cake.
Any suggestions on upgrade paths would be greatly appreciated.