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HT Receiver or High end integrated for music??

Contemplating a new HT receiver for two channel music with an option to add the rears and center for movies. Somthing like an Arcam AVR350, reputed to be superb, but haven't heard it yet. Will the high end integrated still sound better??
Maybe a Plinius 9200 or Cary SLi80 for tubes!

Have owned a variety of separates in the past, but I'm fed up with all the boxes and cables. I have spending money on cables, not one of them has ever been worth the money, and none of them impressed me either. I'm not a HT fanatic like some, I'd give it up for superior 2 channel performance anyday, and movies thru a great 2 channel setup still sound fantastic!!

Any thoughts will be appreciated!!

Thanks to all!
128x128pluto
reubent
6,988 posts
 
Like L'wood, I've been there (actually several times). If your goal is great 2-channel sound, an HT receiver is not going to get you there. Buy a quality integrated amp. Maybe even look for one that has an HT bypass/processor loop. This would allow you to easily integrate a moderately priced HT receiver into your system at a future date if you decide you really need multi-channel and an HT processor.

Enjoy,

TIC
ellery911
549 posts
 
I started snooping around here about 5 years ago and was considering the home theater surround sound thing. I figured that I would start slowly and as everybody above says...get an integrated amp first. Well...I have 2 integrateds now...thinking about my 3rd...even entertaining the idea of new speakers and source.

I haven't entertained the idea of surround sound for quite some time now and I'm still ok with 2.1 for movies.
donbellphd
205 posts
 
I think Bob Reynolds has the good answer, and that speakers are the main determiners of the sound you get (it's the tansduction process) followed by cartridge if you're into analog (or tape speed, tape width and thickness, and storage). But Pluto, who I suspect is not serious in his post given his stated preference for 2-channel stereo, complains about boxes and cables. Are there any high quality 5-channel integrateds that are better than a receiver from, say, Lexicon?

db
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
There is a trend here. I too have tried the HT recv route with unsatisfactory result. If you are serious about music the HT won't deliver. I've owned countless (seriously I can't remember them all) integrateds and my top picks depending on power requirements are Audio Refinement Complete, Portal Panache and Classe CAP-151.
flrnlamb
508 posts
 
There's centainly things to be considered here, and factors that need to be taken into account. If you are playing rock, R&B, techno, rap, new world music, or are a "head-banger", and like high dynamics and loud levels, then you probably will get better results crossing most speaker aplications over to "small", using a pre/pro, and adding a sub! Still, if you mostly do 2 channel lighter music dubties, with lesser dynamic needs then, yes, you would get better sonics (as long as you have a good source with good fidelity and processing, is key) with 2 channel integrateds, for certain. Good luck
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