Selection of AVR for music (80%) + movies (20%)

[AMITNOIDA]

After purchasing Oppo BD-83 and Panasonic 42V20 plasma, I think it is now the time to go for an AVR and 2 front speakers to start with. Later the center speaker, subwoofer and rear speakers can be added depending on fund availability.

As the AVR will be connected to my PC (with Asus Xonar Esence soundcard) as well for music, I want to purchase an AVR with good music playing capability. I don't need much of video upscaling in AVR as the Oppo would do the same to a decent level. So, I have given the importance of music while selecting AVR and thinking for Marantz SR 5005 priced at around Rs. 48-50k.

The speaker I am thinking is Quad 11L - a small BS. Their price is at around Rs. 30k. My room size is 14 x 11 ft and speaker placement will have to be compromised with hardly one foot separation behind the speaker. I have heard that Quad 11L will not perform bad with 1 ft space behind.

How do you feel and rate the above pairing for a music + movie set up?

 

[Kittu]

You can also consider yamaha 667 @ 37k .. Its more musical compared with other brands in same price range.

 

[venkatcr]

As the AVR will be connected to my PC (with Asus Xonar Esence soundcard) as well for music, I want to purchase an AVR with good music playing capability. I don't need much of video upscaling in AVR as the Oppo would do the same to a decent level. So, I have given the importance of music while selecting AVR and thinking for Marantz SR 5005 priced at around Rs. 48-50k.

Connecting the sound card through a DAC may give better results than connecting it directly. That is my personal experience with a Asus STX card.

Have you heard the SR 5005 with particular requirement for music? It may not be correct to assume that it will have the same sound signature as it two channel brothers.

Cheers

 

[Ben10]

Connecting the sound card through a DAC may give better results than connecting it directly. That is my personal experience with a Asus STX card.

Have you heard the SR 5005 with particular requirement for music? It may not be correct to assume that it will have the same sound signature as it two channel brothers.

Cheers

Hi guys,
I have some queries can you please help me out here.

When we speak about DAC , does it mean 2.1 audio or 5.1 audio.

Currently i am connecting my souncard optical out to my AVR .
Can i route my audio as:
soundcard optical out ---> DAC --->AVR.
Will it make any improvement in sound quality.My AVR is NADT752.



i was planning to BUY XONAR ST , does a DAC better option than XONAR.
Can you advise any good DAC ( under 10000 ).


Currently i am using my AVR optical input , i can also use coaxial input if sound quality is better.

I know there are lots of question but i know guys can help me here.

 

[AMITNOIDA]

Connecting the sound card through a DAC may give better results than connecting it directly. That is my personal experience with a Asus STX card.

Have you heard the SR 5005 with particular requirement for music? It may not be correct to assume that it will have the same sound signature as it two channel brothers.

Cheers

Thanks Venkat for your response. Yes I have heard SR 5005 with audio CD and Quad 11L speakers. It is definitely not at the same level as pure 2 channel amp of Marantz. AVR as pure audio generally can not match a pure 2-channel. But the Marantz AVR + Quad spkr delivered decent performance and I was not dissatisfied.

 

[venkatcr]

When we speak about DAC , does it mean 2.1 audio or 5.1 audio.

An external DAC is generally used for 2.0 audio. Not 2.1, 5.1, or 7.1.

Currently i am connecting my souncard optical out to my AVR . Can i route my audio as: soundcard optical out ---> DAC --->AVR.
Will it make any improvement in sound quality.My AVR is NADT752.

When you connect a sound card using an optical or coaxial digital cable, you are sending the data is digital form to the receiver. The receiver process the data including the DAC conversion.

Instead of sending the data to the AVR, you can route the sound for two channel audio in digital form to an external DAC. The DAC will then give you two analogue outputs that you connect to the receiver. You set the receiver to play in Stereo or Pure Direct mode and listen to the music.

i was planning to BUY XONAR ST , does a DAC better option than XONAR. Can you advise any good DAC ( under 10000 ).

This depends upon the amplifier. Since you are using a NAD, their claim is that the NAD receiver is as good as two channel amps. I would suggest you experiment with a DAC, and use that only if you like the sound.

At around 10K, the only DAC I can think of is the Beresford DAC.

Currently i am using my AVR optical input , i can also use coaxial input if sound quality is better.

There is no difference between an optical and a coaxial cable for transfer of digital data, at least for short lengths.

Cheers

 

[Asit]

Amit,
Quad 11L (or L2) speakers need proper care with placements. I have heard them extensively, even considered buying them for my 2nd system (now placed in my son's room). But I don't think that placing them just 1 foot away from the backwall will do justice to them (if I remember correctly they are rear-ported). In addition, I think they need proper matching with the amp (in this case the avr). Unless paired correctly, they may sound bright.

Regards.

 

[AMITNOIDA]

Amit,
Quad 11L (or L2) speakers need proper care with placements. I have heard them extensively, even considered buying them for my 2nd system (now placed in my son's room). But I don't think that placing them just 1 foot away from the backwall will do justice to them (if I remember correctly they are rear-ported). In addition, I think they need proper matching with the amp (in this case the avr). Unless paired correctly, they may sound bright.

Regards.

Thanks Asit. I have read your thread on selection of your second speaker today morning. Placement at 1 ft away from rear wall..... hmm.. I have to do something for a home demo before finalisation. Sid (Siddharth Trehan) did have Quad 11L2 earlier in a 10x10 ft room and he shared that he had to put some towel in the rear port to control boominess. I have to be careful. Breathing space around the speaker (specially behind the speaker) is important, which I had experienced myself with BE-718.

BTW, any other speaker can you suggest? I have heard PSB Synchrony with NAD amp. The sound is to my liking but it's price is much above my budget and they are also rear ported. I need a speaker, which is not very finicky for its placement and does not mind if pushed towards wall.

For AVR I am satisfied with Marantz SR5005. It is a balanced AVR compared to Denon and has Pre-out. I may go for it, unless some other AVR brand/model is found to be of better match with the speaker, which I will finally select.

 

[venkatcr]

I need a speaker, which is not very finicky for its placement and does not mind if pushed towards wall.

Why don't you look at front ported speakers, or speakers that can be hung on the wall (on-wall) such as Motion series from Martin Logan or the Mythos from Deftech? Since you are going in for an AVR you can always add low frequencies with a sub. I am sure there are lots of other speakers such as these.

Cheer

 

[AMITNOIDA]

Why don't you look at front ported speakers, or speakers that can be hung on the wall (on-wall) such as Motion series from Martin Logan or the Mythos from Deftech? Since you are going in for an AVR you can always add low frequencies with a sub. I am sure there are lots of other speakers such as these.

Cheer

Is there any dealer for Martin Logan or Deftech at Delhi? Once I happened to hear in-wall speaker of Deftech (The model I have forgotten - may be Myhthos) at Bangalore. They were actually an array of small drivers with covering grill. The sound seemed to me loud without depth and seemed the sound coming to my face, but it was a casual hearing. I didn't have time to hear critically. In wall speaker is not my cup of tea, as they will be used about 80% of time as 2-channel audio and I will prefer a proper bookshelf over in-wall flat panels.

For rear speakers, which will be used only while playing the movie can be thought of in-wall. Wharfadale has a VFM bipolar wall hanging speaker, which I have kept in mind for rear speaker duty.

My requirement is proper bookshelf at 30 k max which can be placed quite closer to wall. The common theory of front-ported speaker does not require much of space behind them may not always be true. Usher BE-718 is one example. It requires around 3 ft behind although they are front ported.

 

[AMITNOIDA]

Asit,
When you have heard Quad 11L for your second speaker, it might be 11L2. Now Quad has reintroduced11L classic with twin rear port. Because of twin port the air linear velocity through the port may have reduced and might be helpful in placing the speaker comparatively closer to the wall. I may be wrong in interpretation. But, when I have asked Denny (Bass n Treble Delhi) whether the 11L classic can be placed at 1 ft from the wall, he said yes. One can read the following to get further input.
Quad 11L Classic Bookshelf Speaker - eCoustics.com