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I have HD & plasma - recommendations on AVR

I now have a plasma TV and HD, so it's time to upgrade the AVR.

I'm currently using a Denon AVR 3300 and it struggles to drive my Hales T-5's in stereo, so I need at least 150 Watts per channel. It will split time between Home Theatre applications and two channel audio listening. My budget is in the $3K range. I'd like to buy used, as I think it will increase my options. However, it must be the latest technology to be compatible with my TV.

I'm looking at Parasound, B&K, Bryston and Arcam.

BTW - The Hitachi 55" plasma rocks!
128x128dawgbyte
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,649 posts
 
If you need the power, you might consider getting a pre/pro with a hefty external amp. There are decent 200w x 5 amps out there.

Kal
thedautch
329 posts
 
I'd consider an Arcam AVR-300. If you don't need the 6th and 7th channels, they can be bridged to bi-amp the front channels, giving 200 watts to the fronts and 100 to the other three. This is how I've arranged my system.

The AVR-300 gores about $1800-1990 new and a few hundred less used, so this would leave room in your budget for speaker cable retermination, if needed.

Such an arrangement might be WAF/space friendly, which is why I chose it over a two-box separates solution.

Just a thought...
dawgbyte's avatar
dawgbyte OP
325 posts
 
I forgot to mention that I'm also looking at the AVM 30.

Thedautch - I've heard the Arcam's are more geared for music in comparison to video. Has this been your experience or does it handle both well.
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