Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Receiver upgrade options

Hi everyone. I'm looking to upgrade my receiver at some point in the near future. Budget would be around $1500 CAD and I would like something with at least 9.2 channels with pre out options. I've noticed on the gibbys electronics site they have a pioneer elite vsx-lx504 which has 9.2 ch and 180w per ch w 1 ch driven at 8ohms. For $1349. The 1 ch driven thing kinda seems like they are boosting the specs up because arent receivers generally rated at 2ch driven? If anyone has some recommendations that would be great. Oh and my m5hp's are arriving on Monday or Tuesday and I'm also looking at a vp160 hp in the near future as well so I would need a reciever to handle them as I usually like to listen loud. Thanks.

Corey, how far away will you be sitting, what size is your room and I surmise you will be using at least one sub?

Hi mojo, right now I'm about 11'. The room im in currently is about 13' front to back and maybe 14' wide to a half wall that separates the kitchen which is another 15' or so. This setup is only temporary as I'm looking on buying a home in the next year. So I'd like some future proofing options in a receiver.

And yes I have a klipsch r120 sw that I have to keep at about 10% gain so I don't piss off my neighbours lol

At 11 feet, you're going to need about 64 peak Watts a side to hit 102 dB peaks without a sub. With a sub, you'll need maybe 45W a side. So, not a tall order but...


...that receiver is a piece of shit!

"Power output versus load at 4 ohm was initially shocking at just 33 watts!"

It's an absolutely horrific write-up by Amir:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...surements-of-pioneer-vsx-lx504-avr.8862/

Get another receiver!

BTW, you'll eventually need a real sub. Sorry. LOL!

Disclaimer: If your room is overly cushy, you'll need more power.

Ok, well thats good to know, I'm new to all this but I'm learning more everyday. So if that receiver is a POS would you have any other suggestions on which would be a decent option in that price range? Also, out of curiosity, whats so bad about the klipsch sub? I heard their speakers are too bright (which led me to axiom) but to me the sub sounds great.

That sub doesn't go low enough for home theater...and some music. Music like rock, jazz and blues is OK but certainly not nuanced and textured. I compared it side-by-side with the Mirage Omni S10 200W and the Mirage was quite good! Both in the same price range. But if you like it, that's all that counts.

I really don't know much about receivers as of late because I haven't been in the market for 8 years+. Maybe someone else can help.

What receiver do you have? I may be able to tell you if that will "work" for you temporarily.

I have the onkyo tx-sr353. Right now I'm just dreaming of a new home theatre system so when I get a house to call my own I can have a system already started. Most of my listening is for movies and TV but also like to crank up the tunes with a bit of everything. (Old school hip hop, heavy metal, funk, blues, anything and everything except for country of course). Maybe I just leave the receiver as is for now and upgrade my center channel instead? CC is a paradigm cc-170v3. Sorry, going down a rabbit hole here

OK, that receiver will be great for cranking in stereo. I don't know about movies because I can't find detailed info.

Don't spend any more money until you have a chance to develop an appreciation for what you already have. One suggestion is to try playing your M5s without and with the Klipsch. You may have to dial down the M5 bass. Try to bring them away from front and side walls. Also try the AccuEQ.

Excellent choice on the M5s. You'll really enjoy them except maybe the first 30 hours. They take about that long to ripen unless someone at Axiom is planning to party with them before they get shipped. What finish? What surrounds?

BTW, the 160 is awesome!

Nad T758v3i

Can do 7.2.4 and has Dirac. Uses upgrade card system so later you can swap in new audio and video processing cards to get more life out of it.

For more than 7 channels you need to add a power amp. You can use the Onkyo to drive more channels off of its pre-outs -like height channels or zone 2.