Need some advice on which receiver to get. Use it for music and home theater. Budget: $1,000.
I'd really like to make the most of my new speakers - totem arros. They were the right solution for me - as they have great sound and aren't big at all.... Now i've learned that some believe they are a little "bright," whatever that means... i want to get a decent receiver to compliment them. the totem people sent me these suggestions (but i think a couple of them are older models): Rotel rsx 1055 Arcam avr 200 Yamaha rv 2300 Denon 3803 Harmon Kardon Avr 430
I live in a nyc apartment so i won't be really shaking the walls. For me it is about great sound quality at moderate volumes.
I think you should at least audition a NAD T763 perhaps. You won't get better music reproduction for that price. I got the model down (budget issues) and love it. I tried it against similar products from Denon, HK, and Yamaha and NAD was the obvious winner. I can't talk for Rotel and Arcam. Don't rule out NAD just yet though!
The Yamaha RX-V2500 is under 1,000 and offers more bang for the buck than the others listed, IMO.
The Rotel and HK models you listed are overpriced and underpowered IMO.....Junk I would never buy. I'd never consider a 60wpc botique brand receiver if you expect your speakers to perform well.
Both the Dennon and Yammi you listed is nice though.
Any company who sells a 60Watt receiver for 1200 like rotel should be completely ignored.
The look is often a common complaint -- I had it at first. Now that I have a few NAD items they look sharp toghether though. I believe that you can get the T-Series stuff in titanium colour or something silvery at least.
NAD claims they save the money on exterior and put it towards the interior.
I know the Arros well. Great speakers, and yes a touch bright (if you find they are a little bright you can reduce this by adding Totem Beaks). Arros can be a bit difficult to drive so you want a fairly pokey amp. I suggest the following:
NAD T753 (Titanium is quite nice looking - for a NAD)
Denon 3805 (not so hot musically, but very good surround sound)
Rotel RSX 1056 - excellent machine but probably out of your price range
Arcam AVR200 (I guess the Arcam AVR250 is out of your price range - a real shame since that's probably the best machine I've mentioned here)
Just for the record (since Frank mentioned it) I have a NAD T753 and musically it's amazing -- for cinema it is still great but it is definitley a music-first surround receiver. However, mine is Grey not Titanium -- I didn't know the option existed when I picked mine up!
I originally was driving all of my speakers with it. 2xEnergy Speaker Systems C-5s (L&R) and my rears (2xPSB Alpha B Series). When I get it soon i'll be also driving an Energy C-C3 Centre.
I did however (since I had it hanging around) connect my Main L&R speakers to an older 2 channel NAD amp at 120WPC. Eitherway it worked very well. This way just has more punch for stereo playback.
