Need some pointers for auditioning AVRs in Mumbai

[rajadeep]

Hey guys,
I am gonna need a little help here... I would like to know some shops where I can audition the following AVRs...

Yamaha A810 (I dont think avenue sound has is anymore in stock that y need another shop that might have it)

Onkyo 717/709

HK 3600(again dont think Avenue Sound has them in stock now so cant audition there)...

My choice of AVR's has been fairly restricted coz of my Uncle demanding I only get an AVR with atleast 5.1 pre outs... As most know companies have been phasing preouts out of their mid & lower models thus making me choose between either older models(like the 3600 or v667) or buy costlier models like the A810 & the NR717... Any other suggetions for AVRs with Preouts would be much appreciated ... Anyone willing to join me on my hunt for AVRs is most welcome & appreciated ...

 

[prosenjit]

better to buy pre used 5.1 pre out model.yes now at mid end they are phasing out pre out models.....hope I would be in mumbai.I would love to join you....

 

[kneo]

Rajadeep - Did you finalize any AVR yet? Where did you audition them?

 

[just4kix]

Hey guys,
I am gonna need a little help here... I would like to know some shops where I can audition the following AVRs...

Yamaha A810 (I dont think avenue sound has is anymore in stock that y need another shop that might have it)

Onkyo 717/709

HK 3600(again dont think Avenue Sound has them in stock now so cant audition there)...

My choice of AVR's has been fairly restricted coz of my Uncle demanding I only get an AVR with atleast 5.1 pre outs... As most know companies have been phasing preouts out of their mid & lower models thus making me choose between either older models(like the 3600 or v667) or buy costlier models like the A810 & the NR717... Any other suggetions for AVRs with Preouts would be much appreciated ... Anyone willing to join me on my hunt for AVRs is most welcome & appreciated ...

I have a used Onkyo TX-DS747. It has pre-amp 5.1 out. It lacks DTS and HDMI. It is in excellent working condition. PM me if interested.

 

[rajadeep]

Rajadeep - Did you finalize any AVR yet? Where did you audition them?

Kneo I decided on a AVR on the day of the Avenue Sound meet itself... And I think u know the one I picked ... I was trying to test other products to see if I am making the right choice... As always I really like Yamaha ... My hate for denon still lingers on... I had a chance to review the Onkyo 709 too... It is a fantastic avr for movies but seriously lacks in the music department... My choice still remains the HK 3600... Infact I got it at a very good rate in the US... My parents are landing tomm morning @ 4:00 with it ... Btw I have some news for u on the speaker wire front which I will post once I reach home in ur other thread...

 

[jayantadak]

@rajadeep,

I use a Denon AVR 1604, and somewhat tend to believe that Yamaha would hve been better than Denon. Well even you have pointed out that it is better to steer clear from Denon, would like to share your views on what made you think so ? I as far as I think I found them a bit underpowered for movies.

Secondly can you tell me why AVR's with pre-out are preferred, do they have any added advantage. Pls enlighten me. Do you have any idea where I could get new Yamaha-663 ,667or 863 AVR ( I know they have been phased out)

 

[rajadeep]

Srry for the late reply... I am currently traveling to Punjab & the net service is quite sketchy on the train... Anyway as to the question of pre outs... Well the avrs with preouts let u add an external amp instead of using the one pre built into the avr... I bought one with preouts so as to keep me future safe... Whenever I get bored of the sound & I am hit by the upgrade bug all I have to do is add a nice powerful amp to my system & I get a new,more powerful sound exp...
Regards to ur question about what is specifically wrong with the denon avrs, there is a nice comparative review in the reviews section which sums up my feelings quite nicely... Basically I feel denon avrs are not lively enough & just saying they are warmer sounding avrs is just not a good enough explanation for me... I am still to find anyone who will go to a showroom with me & test denon & yamaha avrs & say that denon is even worthwhile let alone better... Still find it hard to believe how many ppl rave about denon... Anyway finding older Yamaha avrs will be a uphill task... You can see if someone is selling it in the for sale section... The other option is eBay.com but u will have to use a service like borderlinx to import it... V667 is pretty cheap on eBay(290$)... Another option is the marantz 5005 which a FM is selling in the for sale section for around 30k I think...

 

[spirovious]

Whenever I get bored of the sound & I am hit by the upgrade bug all I have to do is add a nice powerful amp to my system & I get a new,more powerful sound exp...

... Basically I feel denon avrs are not lively enough & just saying they are warmer sounding avrs is just not a good enough explanation for me...

Poweramp cannot change the sound much as it will amplify what pre-amp will send.I connected Rotel 2 ch poweramp to my Yamaha 667 & signature didn't change.I can feel a better sound in movies by 10% only.With music,I couldn't.

Recently I compared Denon 1912 again with Yamaha.Yamaha has surely lively sound with big soundstage. But Denon with MultEQ-xt(from Audyssey) certainly did some changes.Warm sound disappeared & it sounded well with warm Tannoys.It made good atmosphere.First time Denon sounded good with Tannoy.If I turn off multieq XT,the old warm signature again appeared.

 

[TheCoolestOne]

Recently I compared Denon 1912 again with Yamaha.Yamaha has surely lively sound with big soundstage. But Denon with MultEQ-xt(from Audyssey) certainly did some changes.Warm sound disappeared & it sounded well with warm Tannoys.It made good atmosphere.First time Denon sounded good with Tannoy.If I turn off multieq XT,the old warm signature again appeared.

Owning a Denon 1912 myself, I have found that without the Multi Eq- XT, it sounds just like a basic HTIB system. Its the Multi Eq-XT feature which sets it apart and makes it sound more lively even at lower volumes.