Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater ONKYO TX-SR601, DENON AVR-1803, NAD T742 ???HELP!!

That's funny, the other day I put in my first post asking questions about my Onkyo HTR510(similar to TX-SR501) beeing able to push Paradigm speakers and now I am already about to upgrade my receiver!! This hobby is killing me!! Anyway, hello everyone! Well, I am ready to upgrade my receiver after having this Onkyo for only 40 days. I have experienced a minor problem with it already. when I turn on the unit it shuts back off after about 2 seconds, then i go to turn it back on and it stays on with no other problems, weird huh? Mabe its just a problem with the button or something? Anyway, I am taking it back to circuit City tomorrow and exchanging it for a brand new one in the box. I will leave it in the box unopened and list it on Ebay for sale. I have been researching different receivers for a couple of days. My budget is no more than $500.00 for a receiver. So the onkyo,denon and NAD have been on my mind. I do listen to music sometimes, but not too loud. I like listening to smooth jazz and R&B mostly. The most thing I will be doing with the receiver is watching movies like a madman!!!!:)My Onkyo I currently have is excellent for movies and music as well. Now I know for sure that the Onkyo TX-sr601 is much better than the receiver I currently have, I think. I heard an NAD receiver at a local stereo place and it sounded excellent, but the post here about NAD's kind of pushes me away from them. I know Denon is good but heard that Onkyo's sound better with movies which is what I will be doing most. I am not putting Denon down in anyway, I like Denon alot and many of my friends own them as well as Onkyo. It's just that I already have other Onkyo componets to match my system. Also, I have owned nothing but Onkyo receivers and this is the first one that i have had a problem with. My room is only 10x11 and I dont think I need barrels of power . I am just looking for the cleanest sounding receiver that sounds excellent with movies and music as well for $500.00 or less. What do you guys think of the receivers I listed in the Subject? Thank you in advance.

P.S. My current Onkyo is a 6.1 receiver , I would like to be able to get a receiver within my budget that also has 6.1 .

also, what does everyone here think about Harmon Kardon ??

I won't read your post, but based on your subject, get the Denon.

NAD breaks easily, apparently, although they look nice. I also find them to not be so dynamic.

ONKYO overrates power ratings these days.

Denon's great, and clean. A great 6.1 with easy to use features. Solid build.

Love my HK525 refurb from Onecall. If/When they get them in stock you could get the refurb HK325-z. Always conservative power ratings from HK.

Frank

I really like my H/K 525. Very full featured, good price, clean sound. Also from Onecall.

Check this site out and e-mail/call for price. They have the Onkyo SR601 on sale for less than $500 and they are an authorized onkyo dealer.www.bestpriceaudiovideo.com
As far as power ratings go every company, with the exception of HK, over rates power and this includes denon. Im not saying that one company is better than the other and mass market receivers in the same price range usually yeild simaller performance. You have to go and listen for your self. Since you have already been bitten by the upgrade bug, I would buy a receiver with preouts if I were ytou. Good luck.

What is the 601? Did this just recently replace the 600? Anyone know what they changed if so? I have the 600 and am just curious....I guess I could always go check their site.

Or not...their site doesn't look like it makes it easy to compare the two. I believe the powered zone 2 vs. just a B speaker connection is new...I believe the Denon 1803 had that and Onkyo didn't (the two I was comparing between before I bought). Nothing else jumped out at me right away, but there is probably other stuff as well.

The differances are powerd zone 2, 192 kHz/24-Bit x 6 DAC's (the 600 only had 192 kHz/24-Bit x2)composite to s video sonversion, and I think 85 wats vs 80. There might be a couple more. The features on the 601 are almost the exact same features that I have on my Onkyo SR700, besides the wattage and lack of preouts. I am happy with my 700 and I think you would be happy with the 601. Check the web site I told you about, they have the best prices I've seen on Onkyo equipment. Let me know how you make out. By the way I auditioned the denon 1803 and liked it alot. To me the sound of the Denon amp was very very similar to the sound of the Onkyo amp. I got a better deal on the Onkyo so I bought that. I also own an older Onkyo pro logic amp and had great luck with it.

HK 525. I could list it's features, but instead just think of everyfeature on other recievers, and this one will cover 98% of them. It'll even go to the fridge and bring you back a cold beer, with a special attachment that will be comming out in Q3 of 2088. And, it just looks so pretty!

Franco,

It beats me why all the posties here bagged NAD receiver?? I've been using a NADT761 for more than a year now and very recently, upgraded my main speakers to a pair of Monitor Audio Silver S8 and as we speak, I simply loved the combo to death!! The clarity and details are nothing I have ever experienced!

Fortunately, I did not experience the nasties that some of you had with either the product or the sales demons in the stores. However, I did heaps of research and made an executive decision after weighing the pros and cons from reading reviews. I'm no super duper hi-fi expert but in my books, I'm estactic with my set-up!

So, there you go, Franco. Although the postings here are fantastic as guides and opinions, at the end of the day, it comes down to your ears (and wallet, if I must add) All the best.......

I think the 601 has been out since about May of this year, one of the main changes has been to address the power supply problems that I believe gave very low power output when all channels are driven.

Figures....got my SR600 in March. Maybe they could give me a free upgrade

I'm with Ravi, I prefer Denon. That's really strange that you heard they aren't as good with movies. That's the *rave* I hear most about the Denon's. Believe me, it performs well with movies. I'm on my second Denon and I love it. The complaint that I hear often or read in reviews is that it is not very "musical". It's very neutral (not bright sounding) IMO, but if set up properly to your room, it can be very musical. I found it's important with the Denon (and probably with other receivers as well) to set the correct distance from the listening postion. It really makes a difference in the soundstage. I'm not sure if these mass market dealers (Circuit City, Ultimate Electronics, etc.) properly set up the equiptment for the audtioning room or not. I've always found that whenever I go to these places, the sales guy turns up the volume on all the stuff that he WANTS to sell making it seem more appealing.

Got to agree with you on that one sonicfox,

i have done alot of testing with different brands and came to conclusion of that they are all so very close except for some very minor differneces in sound (which perferences of a personal nature) in most cases i have found that the biggest audio differneces always remained in the setup (taken the the amps are in the same cat) these days i belive the the choice of amp must be based more on features than the audio qualities (cause they are so minor) and in that respect, my belif is that the denon's are very flexible with setups and are complete as to features...

just my .03 canadian cents

Zarak, a person I work with has the 600 and he is very pleased with it.
IF you are happy with it and you have enough power for your speakers then there is nothing wrong with it. I know from experience that the grass always "appears greener on the other side" but if you keep following that philosophy it will cost you a lot more than money.

cheers

No...there's nothing wrong with it....doesn't stop the desire for something better though

Actually....I'm done on the speaker side for at least 10 years....the TV is the next upgrade.