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Just Curious - About using a AV Receiver as main unit

Just curious about something.

I know it is preferable to use a Integrated Amp or Pre-Amp+Amp combo as your main unit in the system but sometimes I see used AV's receivers see from manufacturers who make really good high end 2 channel equipment and these receivers sell for less then say a 2 channel component from the same manufacturer (units from say Rotel, Anthem, Arcam, Marantz, etc). Also, since we are talking about AV Receivers, I guess it's fair to compare them to SS Amps. If your into Tubes, then that is whole different story.

I wonder sometimes if you start a build using one of the AV receivers instead of the 2 channel component, would that be a good system to build off of.

I will say for myself, I started with a Denon AVR-5700 (which I still have and was a beast in it's day) and I think it was an excellent piece of equipment and had a great 2 channel section.

Last year I bought a Integrated amp but honestly, I could have easily stayed with the Denon and build off of that.

Sure, these AV's receivers wont compare to components that are way up there in the thousands but if your budget is bit tight I think these components would be great to start with and I am not talking about your $400 dealer receiver from best buy, I mean AV's receivers that were top of the line in their day and now can be had for much cheaper. 

Well just curious and my opinion.

Thanks
128x128jay73
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
I see used AV's receivers see from manufacturers who make really good high end 2 channel equipment and these receivers sell for less then say a 2 channel component from the same manufacturer

Yes and for a really good reason: AVRs are crap. Pure crap.
Its not that they set out to deliberately make crap. As you point out there's some decent names with decent 2ch rep making AVR crap. It is however always crap, no matter who makes it, and for good reasons.

One of the hardest things to do, and most important to get right in any component, is the power supply. A seemingly simple thing to do it is in practice quite hard to supply constant clean power. Hard to do with just one component. In an AVR one power supply is supposed to power a 5 channel preamp, 5 power amps, one multi-channel processor, one tuner, and God knows what else. Because AVR buyers all think the more they get the better the deal. They are in other words ignorant and misinformed. Don't be like that. Especially not now. Having been informed you are mono longer ignorant and would then have to be deluded. Don't. Just don't.

Sure, these AV's receivers wont compare to components that are way up there in the thousands but if your budget is bit tight I think these components would be great to start with and I am not talking about your $400 dealer receiver from best buy, I mean AV's receivers that were top of the line in their day and now can be had for much cheaper.

Yeah, no. Not even. Quite the opposite. The less you have to spend the harder it is to get quality and so its even more important not to search out a high value integrated and not squander your scarce resources on a POC AVR.  

But hey, don't take my word for it. Just go back and look at those prices. Listen to price. Hear the message those prices are sending: this is all its worth- because its crap.
akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,274 posts
 
Millercarbon just gave you the very best advice supported by a well composed succinct summary of key reasons why.

The “older” receivers ( pre-HDMI ) arguably may still be operating longer when compared to the current predictable failing AVR HDMI offerings ..... ok .... maybe ... but It’s not that they were built better,

Rather, it’s only because their obsolete legacy composite inputs and non-HDMI main boards don’t suffer from the well-travelled posts about the HDMI dodgy handshake issues and eventually failing HDMI main boards. 
Most importantly, the key point highlighted by Millercarbon involves the important issue that AVRs have comparatively crummy power supplies that limit their performance.

Takeaway

AVRs have their niche in “manufactured sound” multi-channel audio home theatre setups .
However, quality build 2-channel audio components (either a pre-amp / power amp or an integrated amp ) is your preferred pathway forward for 2-channel audio performance and audio enjoyment in lockstep. They will clearly best the AVRs - full stop - and the differences are not subtle.
erik_squires
16,133 posts
 
AVRs are all over the map. Pure sound quality, the Onkyo receiver and Emotiva processors I heard were garbage. I haven’t heard every brand and every unit though. In particular, these units sounded thin, powerless and lifeless.

Anthem is much much better. It is worthwhile and simpler to think about an Anthem MXR-720 for instance, and then consider adding an external 2 channel amplifier for your mains, especially in terms of system simplicity and having a built in DAC. You save a lot on cables and shelf space!

Currently I run an Anthem AVM into a Luxman integrated with spearate 3 channel amps for the rest of the HT. Waaaay too much shelf space when you consider the 3 sources (streamer, dac, Roku, Bluray), so I feel your pain in terms of money and space savings and the sheer volume of remotes!

Best,

E
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,787 posts
 
I don’t think AVRs are all that bad. My 11 year old Onkyo (post HDMI) is more than adequate for casual listening. It 1. Does not distort 2. Has no noticeable frequency imbalances 3. Is very dynamic (you should see the power supply tranny on this baby!) and 4. Has versatility out the wazoo!
It is lacking some power (on paper) compared to my BAT two-channel and some refinement but it isn’t "total crap" -not by a long shot.
Finally, what the Onkyo does with a movie soundtrack is awesome!
Onkyo TX-SR876
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