I am thinkin about buying some M80ti's and an EP350 for my setup, or maybe M60ti's and an EP175 depending on how much money I can pull together. So, what recievers would you reccommend for this, probably at around US$400, I think, I'm in australia and not quite sure of the exchange rate. But, yeah anyway, Any suggestions would be grealty appreciated.
I like the Onkyo equipment, for $400 you could get the TX-SR502 or maybe the TX-SR601. Personally, I would try to find a deal on the TX-SR701 it has pre amp out connections for a future amp.( my hangup
)
Keep in mind that the M80ti's are 4-ohm speakers. According to Onkyo the receivers above can drive a 4-ohm load. I've never tried it myself.
Now I'm not stuck on Onkyo, there are other brands like Denon and HK that will do the job.
Tom
There are many choices, but on this forum some of the ones mentioned most often in that price range, would be the
Denon AVR-1804,
Harmon Kardon AVR 230,
Onkyo TX-SR601, and
Yamaha RX-V650.
If you wouldn't mind getting a refurbished receiver, check out the prices at
eCOST. You could probably pick up a slightly higher grade receiver for the same price. The consensus of opinion here is that buying a refurbed unit is perhaps less dangerous than buying a new one, because whatever problem there was, has been addressed and the unit has been thoroughly checked out. One of the fellows here just had the first problem with a refurbed DVD player. But things like that are a rarity.
Good advice, above, about being certain the receiver you get can drive a 4 ohm speaker, should you go for the M80s. The M60s are a lighter load at 8 ohms.
Here's a good article about 4 ohm loads.
http://www.audioholics.com/FAQs/000726_4ohm_speakers.php
I am probably one step ahead of you as I just bought the Yamaha RX-V650 receiver - next step purchasing speakers. I went considered the Onkyo, Denon and HK (230 and 330) models noted above. One feature I was looking for was A+B speaker selection switch which eliminated the Onkyo and HS as they integrate the "B" into Zone 2, providing A AND B (as does Yamaha and Denon) but not the switch for A OR B. This is important if you have a 4 ohm speaker (like my ancient EPI 100's that I will eventually sell on ebay) and want to run in a separate zone/room as none will support A and B with 4 ohm...it has to be either A or B.
What I dislike about the Yamaha is the remote. It is non-learning and none of the codes recognized my cable box. At that pricepoint, I believe Onkyo, Denon and HK as also non-learning so plan on purchasing a universal remote with decent ones $125 up. I purchased the UCR-200 which is so new it is not available mailorder yet.
If you want to avoid the ohm issue and preserve the future expansion to "B" or "Zone 2", I would strongly consider the Axiom 60's over the 80's. If leaning towards the 80's, download and read the manuals for the receivers to doublecheck and make sure will support 4 ohms. I thought the Onkyo, and I know the Denon specified 6 ohm or better. Denon's specification is what narrowed my search to Yamaha.
After looking at your suggestions and reading some reviews on Audiholics (where i first came across Axiom) I think I've settled on the Onkyo TX-SR601. it looks pretty good for it's price
Very nice choice and am sure will be happy. That was also my first choice, but unfortunately the features didn't meet my needs. I particurally like the corporate policies of Onkyo (and HK) as they are very merchant and consumer friendly, as opposed to Denon and Yamaha who enforce price controls and warranty service by limiting to "authorized dealers." But that is a different rant. I purchased from Nice Electronics for $360 who internally warranty, rather than $499 from "authorized dealer". Very tempted to purchase from "authorized dealer", copy receipt for records, then return unopened - but haven't.
If you are looking for a universal remote, the thread I started on audioholics gives a good discussion of Harmony, Sony, Pronto, and Home Theater/URC moderately priced models. Audioholics also has a full review of the Home Theater MX-700, and I believe they are working on a review of a Harmony model.
chunk-
i have the onkyo 701.. this is a great unit, and i am sure the 601 will be excellent for you.. the remote for the 701 is a 'learning' remote, so i think the 601 remote will be also.
make sure when you place it in your entertainment center or on your stereo rack, that you leave plenty of room for it to breath.. my 701 gets pretty warm, so i would allow for plenty of cool air to get to it.
good luck.
bigjohn
chunkYE I have that receiver and have had no problems at all with it. The ONLY 'complaint' I have so far is that when I want to set the input from my DVD to multichannel (for SACD and DVD-A) I have to get up and press a button on the front of the receiver. I have not been able to find a button on the remote that does the same thing. I will want to upgrade, but that has to do with a disease I have (upgrade-itis) more than an actual (VS perceived) need to upgrade!
BigWill is right. The remotes are the same for the 701 and 601. I have the 601 and it can get pretty warm. I've never had it get two hot to touch, but I only have M22s (and vp150 and QS8s). He is also right about the need for ventilation. If you are running the M80s I can imaging that the 601 will get toasty (but will perform without a glitch).
Did you read the article that tleigh linked? They said that the 601 did quite well with the M80s.
Another question, with most electronic equipment you cannot use the American version in Australia as the power Supply is different(240V/50Hz) So does this in anyway affect the speakers? Or should this be fine becuase the receiver handles the power?
Chunk, as you say, the receiver has to be properly designed to handle the different power supply, but once it does this it gives the speakers exactly what they need.
Are the Axiom Subs "active" is that the right term. i mean do they have a separate power supply. If they are, do aiom make an australia power compatible version. and do the other companies such as HSU and SVS also make subs compatible with the australian power supply. The power supply issue (and lack of money)are the only things really stopping me from buying all this stuff.
This might be a question for Axiom and other potential subwoofer companies. I couldn't find any thing that answers you question. Anybody???
i would email the company on that. i am the last guy to be giving electronic advice??
bigjohn
I know at the start of this "thread/post"??? I said i was looking at getting a reciver for about $400, but after thinking about it. I've decided to ditch the sub and get a better receiver as from what I've been reading the M80's have adequate bass. So what would anyone recommend in about the US$1000 dollar range, that would be good for the M80's. I will be adding a sub later, but right now I just want some thing to crank my J5 on.
I have an Integra DTR-7.4 and it drives 4 ohm loads without a problem. You can negotiate deals with the vendors, I paid $899 for mine.
I was actually leaning more towards an Onkyo or a Denon.
tleigh-
i had heard that onkyo and integra were sister companies?? have you ever heard anything about that?? i had never put much thought to it until i went to the integra website. if you look at integras and onkyos website side by side, they are fairly identical. even how they list their stats and specs of each receiver looks identical, exact words and all.. just curious if you have ever looked at that..?.
even the face of the receiver and design are similar. they just seem too identical to not be related in some way!!
bigjohn
Basically Integra is to Onkyo as Lexus is to Toyota
Mark
well then, by god, i gotta damn fine toyota.. so to speak!!
bigjohn
I read that audioholics review about the onkyo tx-sr601 powering the M80's. So would I be right to assume the onkyo tx-sr701could do it aswell, maybe even better?
Bigjohn-
Yes, it's like Mark said.
I actually got a better deal on the Integra than the Onkyo receiver. I really like the Net-tune feature.
Both units are great. The TX-SR701 has more power and is THX certified. The TX-SR701 has pre outs for a future amplifier.
Personally, I think the TX-SR701 would perform exceptionally.
Do some research though (just in case) .
Hi Chucky,
It has been a long time since my last visit and your message with your intention to get either m80s or m60s caught my attention.
Believe me, I've done more than my share of research on the above speakers and was close on investing in a pair. What stopped me was the lack of opportunity to listen to them in Melbourne before buying. To be totally dependent on verbal recommendations was taking too much of a punt, especially when the listening preference of everyone is different. Just like you, I raised the query here and someone suggested listening to Monitor Audio speakers which are the closest Axiom in terms of similarity in make and sound. To make the long story short, I ended up matching my NAD T761 receiver with a pair of MA Silver 8s (similar to M60s) That was about a year ago and so far, the combination is still the best I have ever experienced. The clarity and detail of the music has never failed to impress all of my friends. Eg: I can actually hear the sound of the spectrum hitting the guitar strings in Cat Stevens's "Morning Has Broken" or the crystal clear dynamics in Roy Orbison's duet with KD Lang in "Crying"
Nevertheless, curiosity is still getting the best in me. I still want to listen to Axiom m60s or m80s, if I get a chance. If you do decide on the Axiom, I would love to hear what you think of them. By the way, I would suggest emailing the the guys at Axiomaudio on the cost to ship a pair of Axiom speakers over to you. From memory, it was quite a sum but things would be changed by now.
All the best...............
Done some research and e-mailed Amie a couple of times, foud out that with shipping and tax, to get a pair of M80's to my door is 2000 Australian dollars. So this has cut into my budget a fair bit, then I realised that I only wanted this for stereo, not surround sound. So what is a good stereo reciver for powering a pair of M80's?