Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater What is a good value receiver?

I just got me the big Epic 80 set and now I need a receiver to hook it to. Something that can run another set of speakers in another room would be excellent. Other nice features might be; good power, great remote, easy to operate, not very expensive. Just an all around good receiver for the money. I don't need a debate on this receiver is "brighter" than another because I don't think I would notice anyway.
Someone must have looked at all kinds of receivers and found just the right one, or found a better one after buying theirs. I would like to know the big differences between $300, $600, and higher priced units. Is is worth it?
People smart enough to buy axiom speakers must know something; now share!

Thanks,
SirBlastaLot

Check out ecost.com for some refurbed Denons, or accessories4less for used Marantz. I use a Denon 2803, which I'm very happy with. IMO, once you get into a certain price range they're all pretty much the same. As long as it powers up your speakers, you're in business.

Well one problem you may have is that you'll need to find a receiver that can drive the 4ohm load of the M80's. So at $300-600 you may be very limited or lucky to find one. The Axiom folks usually say Denon, HK, or NAD will work, but they may be referring to the higher end models from those manufacturers. Hopefully some other M80 folks will chime in for you....

I like your name. With a name like that you are probably used to 500 W/channel. You need to consider that while making your next purchase. Rock on.

I'd recommend the Pioneer VSX-1014-Tx. It is a rebadged Elite 52Tx minus the glossy finish on the front panel, RS-232 Computer connection (to view the MCACC results on the PC), and 12V trigger input (it still has a 12v trigger output, however).

I bought this receiver to replace a Yamaha, and I find that it's very powerful and well designed. I also like the built-in bi-amp main-channels functionality, as I chose to not go 7.1 yet. Having an effective 220Wx2 for stereo combined with excellent DACs (24bit 192 kHz on all channels) and decoders (the unit uses the same Motorolla 48-bit 150 MIPS decoder that is found in many high-end theaters) makes this receiver very hard to pass up -- especially when you consider that you can find it online, shipped to your home, for change over $400.

I went with it and I couldn't be happier.

Edit: I just noticed that you have the Epic 80 system, so the mains would be 4 ohm speakers. While the 1014 is only "rated" to 6 ohms, I'd assume that it could handle down to 4-ohms. If I am not mistaken, I believe that THX Specification requires that an amplifier to function under either 2 or 4 ohm loads, and I THINK that it is in fact 2. Additionally, the M80s present a very benign 4-ohm load, as 4-ohms is the lowest that the speakers dip, as opposed to other 4-ohm speakers which can dip down to 2-ohms.

Well boys I just got sacked this week. Isn't that a kick in the nuts! I just happened to get the speakers the same night. I think my receiver options will be leaning toward the more fiscally conservative type now. However I refuse to buy a piece of crap and hook it up to these speakers!

I was reading the specs about the Denon AVR-2105 and the wattage was rated at 8 ohms and it also said high current-low impedance amp design. Is this telling me you would want to avoid hooking up 4 ohm speakers to this amp?

Thank you so much for the advice and yes my friends, Sirblastalot likes to be able to hear his indoor speakers outside.

It has been recommended that the Denon's along with HK's and NAD can drive a 4 ohm load. Personally, if I were to get a 4 ohm speaker I would get a seperate amp to drive it. That is just me. I also believe the 2105 has pre-outs.

Check out the Onkyo TX-SR 601 (you can get it as low as $300). I have one and love it. There's a very postive review of it driving the M80's here, so you know it can drive 6 and 4 ohm loads. Just make sure it's not in a small confined space so it can be allowed to stay cool:

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/onkyo_TX-SR601_review_01.html

Particularly, check out pg. 6.

-JT

sir blast,
Harman Kardon AVR 430 Don't be put off by the 65w/ch - with it's high current, I doubt you could tell the difference against a competitors 85 to 90 w/ch. Plus it has pre-outs, so you can add a separate power amp down the road.

Also, the HK AVR 525 is well proven, and I found no less than 6 on ebay.

Also:
Denon AVR 1905

in reply to:
Check out the Onkyo TX-SR 601 (you can get it as low as $300). I have one and love it. There's a very postive review of it driving the M80's here, so you know it can drive 6 and 4 ohm loads. Just make sure it's not in a small confined space so it can be allowed to stay cool:

im not trying to say you are wrong because i did check out the link. but i have the onkyo txsr600 and when i talked to someone at axiom about 6months or so ago i was pretty sure that they told me they did not recommend the m80 onkyo 600 combo but im not sure about the onkyo 601 but i would assume its ability to drive a 4 ohm load would be the same. so iwould check with axiom before buying the onkyo.