Suggestions for AVR for my Focals

escheng -- Tue, 04/01/2008 - 22:12

Hi all,

I'm hoping to get some suggestions from you experts on this great site!

I'm moving into a new home and am putting together a home theater system.

So far, I've assembled Focal 1027 Be's for my fronts, Focal 1000 Be center and a Pioneer Kuro Elite 60" plasma. I already have an Essex Audio sub and there are Boston Acoustics speakers already in the walls that I'll re-configure for the surrounds. I have a PS3 for BD source too.

I'm not sure what AVR or Pre/pro + Amp to match. I don't fully understand all the technical numbers involved to determine what components are good enough to drive these speakers adequately.

What's available to me locally that I've narrowed down to are Arcam (AVR350 or AVP700/P1000) or Denon (4308ci or 5308ci). Other brands that are available locally are Cambridge Audio, Marantz, Rotel and Krell (too expensive!). The big box stores are available too.

I'm leaning toward the Denon's because they have Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio processing.

- Any opinions between the Arcam and Denons?

- Any suggestions of other components to consider?

- Should I base my choice on the presence of TrueHD and DTS HD MA?
- If so, how do I choose between the two Denons?

- How do I know if a particular model is "good enough" to drive a certain set of speakers? (Match the impedance and watts figures between the speakers and the AVR?)

I know that's a lot of questions, but any suggestions/advice for me to think about would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance!!
Emil

Tom Martin -- Wed, 04/02/2008 - 09:29

It is worth reading this review of an Onkyo receiver to help think about whether you want Audyssey room correction (the Denon's you list have it):

http://magazine.playbackmag.net/playback/200712/

This one on a Sony receiver may also be of interest:

http://magazine.playbackmag.net/playback/200802web/

Many receivers may have the ability to use 4 of the seven channels on board for main L/R speakers, but I've definitely seen it with Onkyo and Denon. This doesn't exactly double your power if the Focal's are suited to bi-amping but it does help.

CEO and Editorial Director, Nextscreen LLC

escheng -- Wed, 04/02/2008 - 18:08

Thanks for your input. The articles are great!! Especially the one on the Sony set-up by Robert Harley. That really explained a lot. I will definitely check out these AVR's.

As for Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA being described as "lossless," how then do they compare to DVD-A and SACD?

Tom Martin -- Wed, 04/02/2008 - 19:04

In principle they should be similar to DVD-A and SACD. But as I understand it, there are no plans to deliver music in these new formats.

Tom Martin -- Tue, 04/08/2008 - 13:58

Here is another interesting AVR from Sherwood:

http://magazine.playbackmag.net/playback/200804web/

Chris Martens -- Wed, 04/16/2008 - 12:12

escheng,

You raised some excellent questions. Let me suggest a framework for thinking through the decision on which AVR (or controller/amp combo) to buy. Since you have very good Focal speakers, I'll assume you place an extremely high premium on what I call "core sound quality" (as do the editors at Playback and The Absolute Sound, BTW). So, one key question, which should probably be considered separately from issues of features or functions, is:

1) Does the component I'm considering offer core sound quality good enough to do justice to my speakers (and to meet my personal expectations)?

To put it bluntly, all the gongs and whistles in the world are not going to turn a mediocre amplifier into a good one. Expert recommendations can help, here, but at the end of the day the only real answer is to listen and then decide. However, features do also play a role, and one that is not isolated from the "sound quality" question. So two other questions to ask are these:

2) Is my room and/or are my speakers such that they might benefit from a good room/speaker EQ system?

The standard audiophile view is that the less circuitry between you and the sound the better, and that viewpoint has a certain validity. However, I've personally observed many speakers/rooms where a good room/EQ function made the entire system sound not just a little but a LOT better--even in purist audiophile terms.

Roughly speaking, you can subdivide AVRs into those that do or don't provide auto EQ systems. Among those that do, you can subdivide AVRs in those whose EQ systems optimize sound for one or two listening locations vs. those that optimize sound for multiple locations (the Audyssey-equipped systems). Finally, there's a distinct pecking order among Audyssey-equipped systems (starting with the 2EQ version, then MultEQ, then MultEQ XT, and at the top of the pyramid MultEQ XT with Pro installation/calibration and Audyssey Dynamic EQ functions enabled).

3) Do I/should I care about Dolby TrueHD and/or DTS-HD Master Audio?

Many pundits argue about various workaround strategies (use the "Uncompressed 5.1" soundtrack, or "let the player convert TrueHD to PCM," etc., etc.) for choosing components that don't support Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio. But personally, I think it makes more sense at this point to choose components that support TrueHD and Master Audio in the first place.

Whenever you invest in higher-end electronics it is desirable to try for some measure of "future proofing," so I would encourage you to choose components that either support Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio now, or for which already planned/announced firmware updates will later add TrueHD or Master Audio decoding.

The new advanced codecs really do sound great.

Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision